Reacting to the Polish government’s new migration strategy which cites the threat of Russia and Belarus using migration to ‘destabilize the country’ and proposes temporary suspension of the right to seek asylum, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe, Dinushika Dissanayake said:
“Suspending the right to seek asylum is flagrantly unlawful and Prime Minister Tusk knows this. EU member states like Poland are playing politics with the rights of refugees and migrants. From Poland to Finland, Greece and Germany, so-called emergencies are being weaponized to enact laws that gravely undermine access to asylum and the protection from refoulement.
“These proposals endanger the rights of people seeking safety. They penalize people who may have been subject to violence and trafficking, or lured to EU borders under false pretenses. They provide for a temporary and territorial suspension of ‘the right to submit asylum applications’, affecting both people crossing ‘irregularly’ along the land border and to those at official border crossing points, referring to Finland’s recently passed law on this issue.
“These proposals are also blatantly inconsistent with the newly approved EU crisis and force majeure regulation as part of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. States have a range of tools available to respond to security concerns, which must in all cases uphold human rights, including the right to asylum, as protected by the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights.
“Since 2021, the EU has been tolerating practices enacted by Poland, Latvia and Lithuania at their borders with Belarus that go beyond all powers granted to them under EU law, and more recently at Finland’s border with Russia. It is high time for the European Commission to take its role as guardian of the treaties seriously and send a clear message that fundamental rights cannot be bent to political interests.”
Background
States refer to “instrumentalization” of migration to designate actions by third states or other actors that facilitate irregular migration movements into another country in an attempt to destabilize it.
The plans for the suspension of asylum applications form part of Poland’s strategy on migration for 2025-2030, approved by the Government on 15 October 2024.
These plans are the latest in the Polish government’s efforts to undermine the human rights of refugees and migrants arriving at the Polish-Belarussian border. The proposal also comes as Poland, together with Lithuania and Latvia (in separate but similar cases), faces imminent scrutiny at the European Court of Human Rights for the situation of a group of Afghan people seeking asylum who were stranded at the border with Belarus in 2021, as the Polish authorities allegedly prevented from accessing asylum and summarily returned them.
Source: The White House
The Biden-Harris Administration continues its response and recovery efforts across the Southeast and Appalachia following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Nearly 8,000 Federal personnel remain on the ground working side-by-side with State and local officials to help survivors with recovery and rebuilding.
As part of our commitment to remaining with impacted communities as long as it takes, under President Biden’s direction, the Administration has already approved more than $1.8 billion in assistance for hurricane recovery efforts.
This includes assistance for individuals – including funding for temporary housing, essential needs like food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies – as well as public assistance to states for costs related to debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and courthouses.
In North Carolina, where the Administration continues to surge resources, more than $100 million in assistance has been approved for more than 77,000 survivors.
This funding supplements additional investments announced by President Biden during his visit to Florida this weekend, where he awarded more than $600 million from the Department of Energy to six projects across the Southeast to enhance the reliability and resilience of the electric grid in the face of more extreme weather events.
Specific funding for impacted communities includes:
For those affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA has approved over $911 million, which includes $581 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $330 million for public assistance costs like debris removal and other activities to save lives, protect public health and safety, prevent damage to public and private property, and restore public infrastructure.
For individual assistance related to Hurricane Helene, specific funding approved includes:
Florida: More than $213 million for 71,000 survivors
South Carolina: More than $132 million for 146,000 survivors
Georgia: More than $119 million for 118,000 survivors
North Carolina: More than $100 million for 77,000 survivors
Tennessee: More than $11.8 million for 2,400 survivors
Virginia: More than $4.7 million for 1,500 survivors
For those affected by Hurricane Milton, FEMA has already approved over $620 million, which thus far includes $16 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $604 million in public assistance.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered over $48 million in tentatively approved disaster loan funding to survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA also has hundreds of staff working on the ground supporting communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in 48 disaster recovery centers, as well as in loan processing and customer service centers.
Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout impacted states:
Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are opening throughout the affected communities to provide survivors with in-person assistance. These centers serve as “one stop shops,” offering help with applications for FEMA assistance, information on available resources from other Federal agencies, and guidance on navigating the recovery process. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams remain on the ground in neighborhoods in all affected states helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary resources.
Survivors can visit Disaster Recovery Centers in the following cities/towns:
Florida:
Twelve Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Bradenton, Branford, Glen Saint Mary, Homosassa, Lake City, Largo, Live Oak, Madison, Perry, Sarasota, and Tampa, and more will open in the coming days and weeks. DRCs will support survivors impacted by both Helene and Milton. In addition, 120 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
North Carolina:
Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva. FEMA expects to open up to ten more Disaster Recovery Centers in impacted communities in the coming days. More than 1,200 FEMA staff are on the ground, and 379 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
Georgia:
Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Valdosta, Douglas, Sandersville and Augusta. 152 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
South Carolina:
Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Anderson, Greenville, Barnwell, Batesburg, Easley, and North Augusta. 92 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
Tennessee:
One Disaster Recovery Center is open in Erwin. 48 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
Virginia:
Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Damascus, Dublin, Independence, and Tazewell. 57 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
Additional assistance to agriculture producers includes:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee recovering from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible for food assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 households in North Carolina and 54,692 households in Tennessee are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses. Through this program, which USDA makes available through states in the aftermath of disasters, people who may not be eligible for SNAP in normal circumstances can participate if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.
USDA also announced additional assistance to help agriculture producers impacted by Hurricane Helene in the recovery process. Producers will receive over $233 million in indemnities for losses from Hurricane Helene. These payments will directly help farmers and rural communities recover.
Currently, Hurricane Helene estimated indemnities by state include:
Georgia: $207.7 million
Florida: $12.8 million
Alabama: $5.0 million
North Carolina: $4.1 million
South Carolina: $4.1 million
Virginia: $61,000
The Biden-Harris Administration continues its response and recovery efforts across the Southeast and Appalachia following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Nearly 8,000 Federal personnel remain on the ground working side-by-side with State and local officials to help survivors with recovery and rebuilding.
As part of our commitment to remaining with impacted communities as long as it takes, under President Biden’s direction, the Administration has already approved more than $1.8 billion in assistance for hurricane recovery efforts.
This includes assistance for individuals – including funding for temporary housing, essential needs like food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies – as well as public assistance to states for costs related to debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, and courthouses.
In North Carolina, where the Administrationcontinues to surge resources, more than $100 million in assistance has been approved for more than 77,000 survivors.
This funding supplements additional investments announced by President Biden during his visit to Florida this weekend, where he awarded more than $600 million from the Department of Energy to six projects across the Southeast to enhance the reliability and resilience of the electric grid in the face of more extreme weather events.
Specific funding for impacted communities includes:
For those affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA has approved over $911 million, which includes $581 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $330 million for public assistance costs like debris removal and other activities to save lives, protect public health and safety, prevent damage to public and private property, and restore public infrastructure.
For individual assistance related to Hurricane Helene, specific funding approved includes:
Florida: More than $213 million for 71,000 survivors
South Carolina: More than $132 million for 146,000 survivors
Georgia: More than $119 million for 118,000 survivors
North Carolina: More than $100 million for 77,000 survivors
Tennessee: More than $11.8 million for 2,400 survivors
Virginia: More than $4.7 million for 1,500 survivors
For those affected by Hurricane Milton, FEMA has already approved over $620 million, which thus far includes $16 million in assistance for individuals and affected communities and over $604 million in public assistance.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered over $48 million in tentatively approved disaster loan funding to survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA also has hundreds of staff working on the ground supporting communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in 48 disaster recovery centers, as well as in loan processing and customer service centers.
Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout impacted states:
Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are opening throughout the affected communities to provide survivors with in-person assistance. These centers serve as “one stop shops,” offering help with applications for FEMA assistance, information on available resources from other Federal agencies, and guidance on navigating the recovery process. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams remain on the ground in neighborhoods in all affected states helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary resources.
Survivors can visit Disaster Recovery Centers in the following cities/towns:
Florida:
Twelve Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Bradenton, Branford, Glen Saint Mary, Homosassa, Lake City, Largo, Live Oak, Madison, Perry, Sarasota, and Tampa, and more will open in the coming days and weeks. DRCs will support survivors impacted by both Helene and Milton. In addition, 120 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
North Carolina:
Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva. FEMA expects to open up to ten more Disaster Recovery Centers in impacted communities in the coming days. More than 1,200 FEMA staff are on the ground, and 379 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
Georgia:
Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Valdosta, Douglas, Sandersville and Augusta. 152 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
South Carolina:
Six Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Anderson, Greenville, Barnwell, Batesburg, Easley, and North Augusta. 92 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
Tennessee:
One Disaster Recovery Center is open in Erwin. 48 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
Virginia:
Four Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Damascus, Dublin, Independence, and Tazewell. 57 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are going into neighborhoods to connect with survivors.
Additional assistance to agriculture producers includes:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that people in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee recovering from Tropical Storm Helene may be eligible for food assistance through the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Approximately 982,930 households in Georgia, 152,572 households in North Carolina and 54,692 households in Tennessee are estimated to be eligible for this relief to help with grocery expenses. Through this program, which USDA makes available through states in the aftermath of disasters, people who may not be eligible for SNAP in normal circumstances can participate if they meet specific criteria, including disaster income limits and qualifying disaster-related expenses.
USDA also announced additional assistance to help agriculture producers impacted by Hurricane Helene in the recovery process. Producers will receive over $233 million in indemnities for losses from Hurricane Helene. These payments will directly help farmers and rural communities recover.
Currently, Hurricane Helene estimated indemnities by state include:
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Marat Khusnullin took part in a meeting of the State Duma committees in preparation for the government hour
October 16, 2024
Marat Khusnullin took part in a meeting of the State Duma committees in preparation for the government hour
October 16, 2024
Previous news Next news
Marat Khusnullin took part in a meeting of the State Duma committees in preparation for the government hour
Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin took part in an extended joint meeting of three relevant committees in preparation for government hour.
On the eve of the government hour, the participants discussed the key areas of the new national project “Infrastructure for Life”, the main tasks for the country’s infrastructure development in the coming years, including the housing and utilities sector.
“On the instructions of the President, we are forming a new national project “Infrastructure for Life”, in which one of the key blocks is the modernization of the public utility infrastructure. We must form a clear plan and a set of specific mechanisms – how exactly we will improve the quality of existing public utilities for Russians and develop housing and communal services in the future. In particular, we must take into account that by 2030 the task is to build 1 billion square meters of housing. Thus, to fulfill all the tasks set in the housing and communal services sector, it is necessary to strictly account for the existing volume of public utility networks, their capacity, improve executive discipline, and develop related infrastructure. As part of the new national project, we will also determine master plans for at least 200 settlements, which, among other things, must have verified schemes of public utility networks. In general, we have a lot of, but very important, work ahead of us. By 2030, we will allocate 4.5 trillion rubles to modernize the public utility infrastructure, which will improve the quality of services provided to about 20 million people,” said Marat Khusnullin.
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Construction and Housing and Utilities Sergey Pakhomov noted that there is a lot of joint work to be done with the Government related to the modernization of the housing and utilities infrastructure. “In addition to choosing the vector of this process, we also need to strengthen the staffing. The industry already uses modern technologies, their implementation will be more widespread, but today there is no one to service the new equipment from both a methodological and practical point of view. Objectively, we need to strengthen the staff, since the housing and utilities industry has a profound impact on many related industries and on the economy of the country as a whole. And most importantly, the state of the industry affects the mood of our residents,” said Sergey Pakhomov.
According to Nikolai Shulginov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Energy, in order to improve the reliability of the electric grid complex, the committee ensured the adoption of Federal Law No. 185-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Electric Power Industry” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”. It launches a mechanism for creating system-forming territorial grid organizations in each region of Russia, which become single centers of responsibility for the electricity supply of regions and the elimination of accidents on electric grids. “Taking into account law enforcement practice, we consider it appropriate for the Government and the Ministry of Energy of Russia to consider the issue of introducing a similar mechanism for “picking up” heat supply facilities with a high accident rate of regional and municipal owners by owners of heat generation facilities that have heat supply sources, main networks, loops on their balance sheets and operate efficiently,” said Nikolai Shulginov.
“We continue to actively prepare for the government hour, where during the meeting we will tell our colleagues from the deputy corps about the current national and federal projects, plans, challenges and new solutions aimed at improving the housing and utilities sector, including within the framework of the national project being formed “Infrastructure for Life”. In this part, the Ministry of Construction of Russia has organized work on promptly responding to emerging issues and developing solutions for the effective modernization of the utilities infrastructure and improving the quality of services provided. Thanks to the support of our President, we are preparing a new federal project “Modernization of Utilities Infrastructure”, which includes current and planned support measures,” noted the head of the Ministry of Construction Irek Faizullin.
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.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Collision with trees during takeoff, Langham Airfield, Norfolk, 10 October 2023
This statement provides an update on the ongoing AAIB investigation into an accident involving a Socata TB-20 which struck trees during takeoff at Langham Airfield, Norfolk.
The investigation into this accident has been completed and the investigation report will be published in the near future.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Several countries gave a joint statement on the establishment of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) in response to the termination of the mandate of the Panel of Experts for the UNSC 1718 Sanctions Committee in April this year.
The Republic of Korea, Japan, the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and New Zealand gave a statement on their recent establishment of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions regarding the DPRK:
We, the participating states of the MSMT, are aligned in our commitment to uphold international peace and security and to safeguard the global non-proliferation regime and address the threat arising from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs, which are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).
In light of the veto which disbanded the UN Security Council’s 1718 Committee Panel of Experts this year, we hereby express our intention to establish the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), a multilateral mechanism to monitor and report violations and evasions of the sanction measures stipulated in the relevant UNSCRs. The goal of the new mechanism is to assist the full implementation of UN sanctions on the DPRK by publishing information based on rigorous inquiry into sanctions violations and evasions attempts.
We underscore our shared determination to fully implement relevant UNSCRs regarding the DPRK, reaffirm that the path to dialogue remains open, and call on all states to join global efforts to maintain international peace and security in the face of the ongoing threats from the DPRK.
We are deeply concerned by the Polish government’s plan to suspend the right for people to seek asylum in Poland.
This is a major escalation in a series of actions to dehumanise migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
MSF urges the Polish government to change their course of action and ensure migrants and refugees are protected in the country.
Warsaw- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is deeply concerned by the Polish government’s plan to suspend the right for people to seek asylum in Poland. Such a suspension will have predictable dramatic consequences for people seeking safety in Europe. MSF calls on the Polish authorities to drastically change course of action and take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and rights of refugees and migrants.
While the full details of the government’s plan are yet to be disclosed, MSF warns that such restrictive and punitive measures against people seeking safety, denying them legal pathways to protection, would only lead to more harmful border practices at the Poland-Belarus border and further expose already vulnerable people to life-threatening conditions.
“The Polish government’s willingness to further restrict and suspend the right to seek asylum is extremely concerning and risks leading to more unchecked pushbacks and violence against people crossing the border,” says Uriel Mazzoli, MSF Head of Mission in Poland.
“The new Polish government had an opportunity to reform the country’s asylum and reception system but has instead only deepened existing and dangerous political rhetoric, rooted in a ‘crisis’ narrative, further normalizing a militarized response, violent practices and denial of humanity to people seeking safety in the European Union,” says Mazzoli.
Since November 2022, MSF teams have treated over 400 people, many of them stranded for weeks in uninhabitable forests and exposed to violent practices at the border. Given the extreme conditions of deprivation people experience in the border area, MSF patients suffer from a wide range of severe medical conditions ranging from exhaustion, hypothermia, dehydration, trench foot to mental health issues.
In 2024, our teams have also witnessed a sharp increase in people carrying the scars of physical assaults, including bruises and dog bites. In July 2024, MSF teams treated for the first time injuries related to the use of rubber bullets being fired. Additionally, half of people MSF has seen in 2024 have reported having been pushed back, some of them several times.
This latest announcement represents a further escalation of an already extremely hostile environment for people on the move and those providing humanitarian assistance to them. In June 2024, the Polish authorities imposed a ban on access to the border zone, which has prevented civil society and humanitarian organizations from accessing people in need in these areas.
Layers of barbed wire on the Poland-Belarus border at the river in Kozłowe Borki. Poland, January 2024.Jakub Jasiukiewicz/MSF
Despite official requests for unrestricted and independent access to the entire border region, MSF has been granted access to only a limited part of the buffer zone. This buffer is an exclusion zone along 60 kilometers of the country’s border with Belarus and includes key locations where most people on the move have been crossing the border since 2021.
Not only does this ban prevent the delivery of essential assistance, but it also enables much of the violence reported by people we treat to take place out of sight.
“The restrictions on humanitarian and medical aid at the Poland-Belarus border are already alarming, with entire zones where humanitarian workers are prevented access and a legislation that could favor the use of violence by state authorities,” says Mazzoli. “Delaying assistance and medical care to people at the border can have life-threatening consequences as many of the patients we see experience health issues that can rapidly deteriorate.”
The suspension of territorial asylum will have far-reaching consequences on the capacity of people seeking safety in Poland to access medical care and protection. Worryingly so, such extraordinary measures are becoming the despicable new normal in the European Union (EU), where governments and institutions have increasingly seized upon the notion of ‘crisis’ as a reason to derogate from minimum standards and people’s rights.
Over recent years, MSF teams have witnessed many examples of the detrimental consequences of policies that put border controls above human life across our projects in Greece, Libya, the Central Mediterranean Sea and Belgium. For too long now, EU member states have been waging a war on some of the world’s most vulnerable people under the guise of ‘instrumentalisation’ by third countries.
MSF calls on the Polish authorities to retract the announced suspension of the right to seek asylum and to end this gross dehumanisation of refugees and migrants and the increasing militarisation of responses towards them.
MSF activities in Poland: After a short intervention along the Poland–Belarus border region in 2021, MSF teams returned in the Podlasie region, near the border with Belarus, in November 2022. Since then, our medical team provides basic medical care through mobile teams in remote locations and organise emergency referrals and follow-up, in close cooperation with other organisations and civil society groups. Furthermore, since 2022, MSF supports the Polish Ministry of Health to offer medical and psychosocial care to patients with tuberculosis.
You could also be interested in
Mental health
A mental health crisis among refugees and migrants in Greece
Voices from the Field10 Oct 2024
Lebanon
Israeli bombardment in Lebanon is causing mass displacement and urgent humanitarian needs
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
The festival “I want to go to gamedev!” has ended at the business school. It was organized by a team of teachers and graduates of the “Game Project Management” program. More than 220 representatives of the gaming industry gathered at the HSE campus on Shabolovka: from beginners to developers, scriptwriters and other gamedev professionals. The initiators of the project offered a vibrant program so that participants could immediately immerse themselves in showcase projects, master classes and discussions, lectures from industry gurus – neither theoretical nor practical aspects of game development were forgotten. The festival partner is the company “Virtual Glasses”.
The showcase zone became a special highlight of the event – students of the Game Project Management program launched their projects here. One of them was the game Twilight Wars, created by graduates and teacher Sergey Golubkin, which was recently released in early access on the VK Play platform. Participants were lucky to see the premiere from the Terrabyte Games team and blogger Daria Ostrovskaya – the game Run Away from Me: Alexandra – and many other promising projects. The children’s development project KnigaKit, developed by a graduate of the program and winner of the All-Russian competition Start the Game, the stand of the Vengeance Games studio with their projects Azrael: Herald of the Death and Shadows of Vengeance, the cooperative shooter Ironwaste from the team of a 21games graduate.
A separate area of the festival was dedicated to virtual and augmented reality technologies. The latest VR developments were tested here, such as the role-playing VR shooter “Dixotomia” and the new VR game “Smasher VR” from the BHS team.
A special guest of the festival was Anastasia Shalunkova with the team of one of the largest communities of independent developers – “Gamedev Schrödinger”. They held a master class on creating mascots and organizing online communities and discussed with the participants the future of “Gamedev Schrödinger” and cooperation with regional developers. Together with them, partners from the All-Russian competition “Start the game” took part in the event, which became a social lift for many developers. They held many activities and presented branded gifts.
The lecture part of the festival started with a greeting from Vyacheslav Utochkin, head of the Game Project Management program. The first speaker, Konstantin Sakhnov, producer and founder of Vengeance Games, talked about how to become a game designer, what skills are needed for this and how to prepare for work in the industry. Oleg Dobroshtan picked up the topic of project management and talked about the importance of assembling the right team and keeping it motivated. Sergey Chekmaev, writer, screenwriter, literary producer, member of the Board of the Union of Writers of the Russian Federation, and Nikolay Kalinichenko, Chairman of the Union of Writers of the Russian Federation, announced the release of books on game franchises. Vyacheslav Utochkin and Sergey Zykov, teachers of the Game Project Management program, together with representatives and members of the Union of Writers, presented a book in the RealRPG genre about a game designer who finds himself in the world of a game. The series of announcements was completed by the news about the opening of the Dzen Games Studio, created by future students of the “Game Project Management” program with the support of teachers.
Ilya Boytsov, another speaker at the festival, founder of the Midhard studio, also a graduate and teacher of the HSB program, shared his experience of working in the gaming industry, spoke about the risks and successes of his path. The speech by Andrey Malakhov, game director of Mensa Studio, was devoted to pitching projects and evaluating ideas at the early stages of development.
The final chord of the event was a round table, where invited experts and guests discussed current trends in game design. The discussion was attended by famous figures in the gaming industry: Konstantin Sakhnov, game producer and founder of the Vengeance Games studio, Vladimir Agarev, creative director of the Jay-Joy studio, Olga Maksimenkova, associate professor of the Faculty of Computer Science at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and Denis Pozdnyakov, co-owner of the Vintorog and Contrast Games studios. The speakers discussed artificial intelligence in game development, the growth of indie projects, and new opportunities for developers through government funds and grants.
The “I Want to Be in Gamedev!” festival at the Higher School of Business of the National Research University Higher School of Economics has become a landmark event for everyone interested in the gaming industry.
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.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Water resources are healthy following the wettest 12 months in England since 1836
The changing climate means we will see more extreme weather in the coming years, the National Drought Group heard at its latest meeting today (16 October 2024), which was attended by Water Minister Emma Hardy.
The Environment Agency chaired a routine meeting of the expert group today in which it was confirmed that water resources are currently healthy following the wettest 12 months (October 2023 to September 2024) on record in England. However, the Group discussed that flood and drought should be viewed as different sides of the same coin and England needs to be prepared for an increase of both in the coming years.
Despite recent warnings about flood preparedness, the Environment Agency reiterated that droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in future, and we need to be ready for all rainfall scenarios. Extreme dry weather can come unexpectedly, as happened in the summer of 2022, and can impact our lives in various ways, including on agriculture. At the meeting, attendees heard about the challenges farmers and growers have experienced this year in managing the variable weather conditions. The importance of making the environment more resilient to the impacts of all weather extremes was also discussed.
It comes a week after the Environment Agency warned there were significant areas of under-delivery against water resource management plans, meaning improvements are needed in order to manage water supplies efficiently and sustainably.
Chairing the meeting, Environment Agency Director of Water, Helen Wakeham said:
Heavier rainfall and drier summers are the shape of things to come, and this will be an enormous challenge over the next few decades.
As well as preparing for floods, we must ensure we are resilient to drought, and we cannot be complacent even when water resources are healthy.
Water companies must deliver on their commitments to improve infrastructure and rollout smart water meters, but we can all take small steps to reduce demand such as installing a water butt to capture rain to water the garden.
Water and Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:
Population growth and climate change is putting tremendous pressure on our water system, and we all saw in 2022 how quickly drought can take hold.
We need to be prepared for all eventualities and the government is taking decisive action to improve the resilience of our precious water supplies.
This Government will secure investment to upgrade our crumbling water infrastructure, which in turn will help fix leaks and ensure water is used more efficiently.
The National Drought Group – which includes the government, regulators, water companies, farmers, conservation experts and the Met Office – heard about the current water resources situation:
The last 12 months has been the wettest October to September on record since 1836 for England. Some parts of the country received more than three times the average rainfall in September.
Reservoir storage across England was at 76% of total capacity at the end of September.
River flows in September were normal or higher at three-quarters of sites, with a third ‘exceptionally high’ for the time of year.
Groundwater levels usually continue to decline in September and, despite the wet weather, this is the case for the majority of sites. However, we are now seeing groundwater levels in early October rising in many aquifers in response to the exceptionally wet September.
Water resources
By 2050, England will need to find an additional 5 billion litres of water a day to meet demand for public water supply. This is more than a third of the 14 billion litres of water currently put into the public water supply. To bridge the gap between supply and demand, proposed developments over the next three decades include nine new reservoirs. However, earlier this month the EA warned of under-delivery against these plans, noting that some water companies wouldn’t have had sufficient water supply to meet planned levels of resilience in the event of a drought last year.
In the last six months, regulators – including the EA, Ofwat and Natural England – have been working with all water companies on their final 2025-2030 Water Resource Management Plans. National Drought Group members also heard that the EA will launch an eight-week public consultation in the coming weeks on how drought is managed in England, calling for public views on the document and input into its operational area drought plans.
Further information
The meeting follows recent measures announced by the government and the Environment Agency to drive improvements across the water sector.
100% of storm overflows are monitored which helps the Environment Agency to inspect water companies and ensure they are operating within their permits.
The EA is implementing a fourfold increase in water company inspections to hold companies to account – 4000 will be carried out by the end of March 2025, and 10,000 in 2025/26.
The EA is recruiting up to 500 additional staff and using more data-driven analytics to identify any non-compliance and take action.
The EA is conducting its largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Tough enforcement action has already led to over £151m in fines since 2015.
In his first week, the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector.
After writing to Ofwat, the Secretary of State has secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Ofwat will also ensure that when money for investment is not spent, companies refund customers, with money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends or salary increases.
Water companies will place customers and the environment at the heart of their objectives. Companies have agreed to change their ‘Articles of Association’ – the rules governing each company – to make the interests of customers and the environment a primary objective.
There will be strengthened protection and compensation for households and businesses when their basic water services are affected. Subject to consultation, the amount of compensation customers are legally entitled to when key standards are not met will more than double. The payments will also be triggered by a wider set of circumstances including Boil Water Notices.
The Secretary of State has announced that the Government will be carrying out a review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.
The Water (Special Measures) Bill has been introduced to Parliament. It will:
Strengthen regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking.
Give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met.
Boost accountability for water executives through fitness and proprietary tests.
Introduce new powers to bring automatic and severe fines.
Require water companies to install real-time monitors at every sewage outlet with data independently scrutinised by the water regulators.
Wendel completes the acquisition of c.50% of Globeducate, a leading international K-12 education group
Wendel (Euronext: MF.FP) has completed the acquisition of c.50% of Globeducate, one of the world’s leading international K-12 education groups, from Providence Equity Partners, (“Providence”), a premier private equity firm specializing in growth-oriented investments in media, communications, education and technology.
Wendel invested €625 million of equity, at an Enterprise Value of c.€2 billion1, to join Providence, which has been the Globeducate reference shareholder since 2017, and both firms will now own c.50% of the group.
Founded in 1972 in Spain, Globeducate provides K-12 (primary and secondary) education through a network of 67 premium bilingual and international schools, as well as online programs, across 11 countries mostly in Europe. The Group employs more than 6,000 people, including 4,000 highly qualified teachers.
Globeducate schools provide more than 40,000 students with a world-class education adhering to high academic standards. Globeducate students representing a wide range of backgrounds, benefit from a comprehensive and innovative educational experience – as well as first-class pastoral care – to prepare them to become ‘global citizens who can shape the world’. Many students achieve top grades and are typically accepted into higher education programmes at 50 of the world’s top 100 universities. School facilities are modern and well-appointed, having benefited from significant investment in recent years. Importantly, Globeducate aligns closely with Wendel’s strategy and values.
Providence has been the majority shareholder of Globeducate since 2017. Under Providence’s ownership, Globeducate has delivered double-digit average annual revenue growth through a combination of organic growth new developments, and accretive external growth, with 23 international accretive acquisitions completed over the period and opportunities in the pipeline.
Globeducate is expected to achieve revenue2 of c.€440 million, c.80% of which would be generated in Europe, and EBITDA3 of c.€120 million in its financial year ending August 2025.
Agenda
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Q3 2024 Trading update – Publication of NAV as of September 30, 2024 (post-market release)
Thursday, December 6, 2024,
2024 Investor Day.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Full-Year 2024 Results – Publication of NAV as of December 31, 2024, and Full-Year consolidated financial statements (post-market release)
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Q1 2025 Trading update – Publication of NAV as of March 31, 2025 (post-market release)
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
H1 2025 results – Publication of NAV as of June 30, 2025, and condensed Half-Year consolidated financial statements (post-market release)
1 EV including IFRS 16 impacts. Excluding IFRS 16, EV stands at c.€1.86 billion.
2 Including ongoing acquisitions under exclusivity (c.€25 million).
3 Including ongoing acquisitions under exclusivity (c.€9 million). Including IFRS 16 impacts. EBITDA excluding IFRS 16 impacts stands at c.€96m.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Engaging men to support gender equality in focus at Warsaw Human Dimension Conference
Katri Viinikka, Ambassador for Gender Equality at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, speaking at event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) CHANGE project and OSCE Gender Issues Programme’s WIN project during this year’s Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. (OSCE/Piotr Dziubak) Photo details
The critical role of men in supporting gender equality was discussed at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) CHANGE project and OSCE Gender Issues Programme’s WIN project during this year’s Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.
“Advancing gender equality has been a key area of ODIHR’s work since its foundation more than 30 years ago,” said Tea Jaliashvili, ODIHR Director’s Alternate/First Deputy Director. “The vital role that men and boys play in achieving this objective has not always been taken into account in the past, making our discussions even more important.”
“Men have a pivotal role to play in challenging the attitudes, behaviours and social norms that perpetuate gender inequality and allow violence against women to persist. After all, how can we expect to succeed if 50 per cent of the population do not stand in solidarity with women in the pursuit of equality?” emphasized Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues and Head of the Gender Issues Programme.
During the event, which was also supported by the Delegations of Ireland and Norway to the OSCE, international experts discussed the need to balance men’s engagement with continued support for traditional advocates for gender equality. They shared experiences and insights and identified opportunities to increase men’s engagement and strengthen support for gender equality initiatives across the OSCE region.
“Men must be active allies in this fight, working alongside women to challenge toxic behaviours and standing against all forms of violence. We must engage men and boys in education, prevention, and in promoting respect and equality,” said Liliana Palihovici, OSCE Special Representative on Gender.
“Unconscious bias of decision-makers and employees in public administration, that is not addressed sufficiently through education and in society, much more often than ill intent, affects people’s individual experiences. If mistrust and lack of understanding of the different perspectives is at least part of the problem, then surely dialogue is a key part of the solution,” said Wojciech Brzozowski, Poland’s Deputy Ombudsman and Professor at Warsaw University.
The event was also an opportunity to present the forthcoming OSCE policy and practice recommendations for engaging men in gender equality and ODIHR Sarajevo Recommendations on Engaging Male Politicians as Critical Actors for Gender Equality in Politics.
Two men have been arrested by detectives investigating a fatal shooting in Barking.
Police were called at approximately 04:35hrs on Sunday, 13 October to reports of a man injured in Linton Road, Barking.
Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a man suffering a gunshot injury. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services he was pronounced dead on scene.
He has today been named as Hanif Redwood, who was aged 32. His family continue to be supported by specialist officers.
A special post mortem revealed that he died of a single gunshot wound to the head.
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder, they remain in custody in an East London police station.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rodgers, who is leading the investigation, said: “We continue to work at a fast pace to progress this investigation. We have made two arrests which is a positive step forward into building a picture of what happened on Sunday night.
“Hanif was an innocent member of the public whose life was tragically taken far too soon. Hanif was a father of two, this painful loss will forever effect his family.
“We will continue to support Hanif’s family and will update them at every point possible. We ask for you to respect their privacy during this unimaginably difficult time.
“Despite the two arrests, we are appealing for anyone who was present in the area who may have seen or heard anything relating to this incident to please get in touch. I want to stress to you that Hanif was a hardworking, innocent man – we need to understand why this attack was carried out.
“You can submit any footage or information via this link.
“I want to thank the community for their patience as we carried out all our relevant enquiries. Your support does not go unnoticed. We will have extra patrols in the area – please do voice any of your concerns to officers.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD1295/13OCT. You can upload information and material online.
You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Projects on the Indus River in Pakistan are helping to tackle biodiversity loss. Salik Javed/Shutterstock
When negotiations at Cop15 – the UN’s biodiversity conference – ended in December 2022, many delegates breathed a sigh of relief.
Threatening snowstorms outside the convention centre in Montreal, Canada seemed to lift just as the political weather changed and the long-awaited Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework was agreed. It’s mission: to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a society living in harmony with nature by 2050.
Fast forward two years and governments, businesses, representatives of Indigenous people and local communities, experts from environmental groups such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and scientists will gather for the follow-up Cop16 meeting in Cali, Colombia, from October 21. Many due to attend, including myself, wonder whether the promise made to “halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030” is achievable.
Initial signs are not promising. For starters, no international targets for biodiversity have ever been met.
Only a handful of countries, including China, Canada and France, have submitted new national biodiversity plans demonstrating how they will implement the promises made two years ago. Most countries, including the UK, (that’s more than 80% in total) haven’t submitted their full plans.
Countries can also submit updates for the 23 targets listed in the framework. The UK and others have submitted targets such as promising to reduce the impact of pollution on nature and ensuring that 30% of land is effectively protected in line with the framework.
But crucial questions remain about how those goals will be reached. To make Cop16 effective, three things need to happen.
1. Decide on a plan
When delegates gather in Cali, questions of implementation will be front and centre of the negotiations. The first challenge is that the approach for monitoring progress on all 23 targets – including issues such as improving access to nature in cities, reducing harmful subsidies and restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems – is yet to be agreed.
For some, the approach that has been developed so far lacks ambition in crucial areas. Indicators suggested for monitoring progress on reducing the impacts of consumption on nature remain very weak for example. For others, it may prove too challenging.
For example, countries with limited access to data might not be able to track alien species or assess how critical services provided by nature to make societies more resilient might be affected by climate change. Getting agreement at the Cop16 negotiations will be vital in order to hold countries to account as the 2030 deadline set to achieve all of the targets approaches.
2. Find the funds
Another crucial issue is funding: who will pay for the action required? The global biodiversity framework fund (GBFF) was established in 2023 to provide financial support.
Yet so far, it has only attracted contributions of around US$230 billion (£176 billion) from a small group of countries including Canada, the UK, Germany, Japan and Spain. Leaders gathering in Cali, and especially those from developing countries, are calling for more funding and for greater control over how it is allocated.
The next UN biodiversity conference will be held in Cali, Columbia from October 21 to November 1. Tudoran Andrei/Shutterstock
In Montreal, countries agreed to make sure that the impacts on nature were considered across different policy areas (such as building new roads or developing new energy sources) and in economic sectors, from fishing to agriculture and mining to tech.
They agreed that groups most likely to be affected by the loss of nature, including Indigenous people and local communities, women and youth, should help make key decisions. While targets such as protecting 30% of the land and sea for nature are crucial, progress will only happen if nature is put on everyone’s bottom line.
Delivering real change
The urgent need for action is not lost on delegates gathering in Cali. There is a real risk that the promise countries made in Montreal to deliver “transformative action by governments, and regional and local authorities, with the involvement of all of society” won’t be met.
But there are some hopeful signs of transformative change to conserve and restore nature and ensure its sustainable use.
Take, for example, the Tree Equity Partnership in Detroit, US. This partnership between the city, US-based charity American Forests and the local non-profit charity Greening of Detroit aims to plant 75,000 trees. This will create places of beauty, biodiversity and climate resilience in underserved neighbourhoods and generate 300 new jobs in the city.
In Pakistan, the Living Indus initiative is an umbrella organisation that has identified 25 projects involving local and regional governments, businesses and communities working together to restore the ecological health of the Indus river.
Businesses are also calling for real change. More than 170 investors have signed a pledge developed by a coalition of financial institutions called the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation to take action for nature across their portfolios.
New science-based standards are being developed to drive the mainstreaming of biodiversity action through their companies and associated supply chains. Cop16 is expected to see increased interest from the private sector and a focus on tackling climate change and biodiversity together.
These projects are successfully tackling the root causes of global biodiversity loss. They integrate solutions and deal with social and environmental issues – poverty and exploitation, climate risks and land use change. Tackling these problems is just as vital as the need for sustainable production and consumption plus investment that works for, not against, nature.
Projects such as these are the ones that give scientists and conservationists like me – and organisations like WWF that I work with – hope. We want to see more projects that take action on nature, climate and social justice together. If Cop16 can make even a small step in this direction, the world will be travelling towards making real progress by the end of this decade.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Harriet Bulkeley receives funding from the European Commission and currently serves as an advisor to the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Every year the Spanish ministry of culture awards prizes for different artistic disciplines. From next year onwards, the country’s national bullfighting award will be withdrawn. The current Spanish minister of culture, the Barcelona-born Green politician Ernest Urtasun, supports the prohibition of what has long been known as Spain’s “national fiesta”.
At the awards ceremony held at the Reina Sofia Museum last week, the minister refused to applaud this year’s winner for “sustained excellence in bullfighting”, Julián López El Juli, the recently retired Madrid-born matador. El Juli retorted to the slight by holding out his hand and publicly calling out the minister’s lack of respect as evidence that he was unfit to hold office.
Bullfighting predates football as a form of mass entertainment, and has been a source of inspiration for artists and intellectuals for centuries. It still has its followers in the present day, but young urban Spaniards are increasingly sensitive to the undeniable cruelty involved. Bullfighting was banned in Catalonia in 2011. Bullfights, known as corridas, are still staged in much of the rest of Spain, but it can be career suicide for artists, politicians or intellectuals to be associated with them.
So I, like many in Spain and the Basque Country, didn’t expect the jury of the 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival to award its highest accolade, the Concha de Oro (Golden Shell), to a bullfighting documentary. The director of Tardes de Soledad (Afternoons of Solitude) is Albert Serra, an iconoclastic filmmaker from Gerona, a fiercely pro-independence province of Catalonia.
The trailer for Tardes de Soledad.
For five years, Serra and his crew have been following the exploits of two rising stars with the ambition to become figuras, the term for that handful of elite matadors like El Juli, who appear on the most lucrative and prestigious bills.
Bullfighting and the screen arts have history in and beyond Spain. During cinema’s infancy, early filmmakers the Lumière brothers filmed matadors in Madrid. At annual village fairs, Spaniards would pay to enter a tent and watch recordings of professional corridas. The Valencian Vicente Blasco Ibánez’s 1908 novel Blood and Sand has a strong claim to being the earliest literary text to be written with a future film adaptation in mind.
In 1951, Hollywood actress Ava Gardner (a close friend of Ernest Hemingway, author of bullfighting novel Death in the Afternoon) starred alongside Catalan matador Mario Cabré in Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, which featured corridas in Gerona (the city’s bullring was demolished in 2006). Spanish television started broadcasting bullfights in 1956. Nearly 70 years later, Movistar Spain shut down its dedicated bullfighting channel in March 2023.
Oscar-winning writer and director Pedro Almodóvar – who received a lifetime achievement award at San Sebastian this year – has his Madrid offices close to the world’s premiere bullring, Las Ventas. In 1986 he portrayed the world of bullfighting in Matador, starring a very young Antonio Banderas, later returning to the subject in Talk to Her (2002).
This film, which won Almodovar the Oscar for best screenplay, contains scenes in which a female matador is gored in the picturesque bullring in Aranjuez. The British Board of Film Censorship insisted on cuts, and Almodóvar faced legal challenges from animal rights groups. According to Spanish law, corridas are permitted and can be filmed. The legal situation becomes thornier if a bull is killed by a professional matador for the sole purposes of the event being captured on film.
The trailer for Talk to Her.
Documenting the glory and the horror
Nothing is staged for Serra’s documentary. He followed the Peruvian Andrés Roca Rey, a box-office phenomenon often dismissed by serious aficionados as a crass populist; and the more refined Pablo Aguado, a native of Seville.
Serra connected better with Roca Rey, capturing his fears and solitude in an often hostile professional environment. Pay-for-view television channel Canal+ set a new gold standard for broadcasting bullfights with technical panache. Serra makes no attempt to replicate this labour. Placing the camera at the eye level of the bull and the matador results in a far more graphic and gruesome spectacle.
The Catalan filmmaker is amongst world cinema’s masters of sound design, and the audience is privy to the bull’s breathing as well as conversations between the matador and his team once the afternoon’s activities in the sand have come to a bloody conclusion.
Tardes de Soledad is likely to anger and unnerve aficionados and abolitionists alike. Industrial farming is arguably crueller than bullfighting, but recognising this fact is not automatically a defence of the “national fiesta”. It might just be that any hypothetical prohibition needs to framed alongside a wider reassessment of our relationship with, and responsibility to, non-human creatures.
Some abolitionists suggest that, even though bulls are sold for meat afterwards, it is death and torture being employed for entertainment that renders corridas so problematic. Psychological desensitisation is a real risk, especially when children are in attendance.
Aficionados claim bullfighting is a rare opportunity to address our own mortality in a society in which death and nature are increasingly kept at a distance. Almodóvar’s pristinely shot bullfighting scenes nevertheless show how ritualised beauty – the vivid stylised outfits, the music, the choreography and the architecture – often divert attention from the blood.
Serra’s harrowing footage might even shake some enthusiasts out of their complacency. Can so much animal and human suffering be justified in the name of an ancestral art? Conversely, Tardes de Soledad registers the poetry, pain and pathos of bullfighting in and beyond the arena. Dialogues between Roca Rey and his entourage establish a new benchmark for depicting the interior world of a matador, more unforgiving and empathetic than anything by Hemingway.
A rallying call at anti-bullfighting demonstrations is: “It’s not culture, it’s torture.” Serra’s documentary warrants the Concha de Oro for showing the terms are not mutually exclusive.
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
Duncan Wheeler does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Celebrities can have huge influence and reach enormous audiences. That’s why Kamala Harris was happy to recently gain the endorsement of musician Taylor Swift.
Due to their media attention and massive fan bases, some Hollywood stars and musicians can appear more powerful than traditional politicians. And these perceptions of influence may also translate into actual impact.
Indeed, some celebrities have taken up causes, using their fame to overtly push for change (for instance, Bob Geldof and Princess Diana). Others endorse politicians, or successfully run for office themselves (for instance, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronald Reagan).
While it may seem like celebrities who pivot to politics are able to trade on their pre-existing notoriety, few celebrities are well known beyond their fan bases and many people would expect them to lack the gravitas of world leaders.
However, results of our recent exploratory study conducted in the UK shows that at least one celebrity, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, stands out. He achieved public recognition, leadership and trust ratings as high as the most well-known politicians.
Indeed, our study found that The Rock’s recognition was on par with the Nobel prize-winning, two-term US president Barack Obama. He was also considered more trustworthy than many politicians.
In the study, we invited 251 participants to evaluate the faces of 40 seasoned politicians and celebrities to assess their leadership potential and perceived personality traits.
Only six of the faces had close to universal recognition. Former US presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, former UK prime minister Boris Johnson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson scored 90% or above. By contrast, US president Joe Biden and Russian president Vladimir Putin were each recognised by 80%.
Interestingly, The Rock was also judged to be more considerate, competent, credible, intelligent and trustworthy than most politicians.
When asked to indicate how strongly participants felt about each figure’s leadership potential, the results were surprising. Biden scored 64%, higher than Putin’s 56%, which was in turn higher than Trump and Boris Johnson who both received 42%.
But a much larger percentage, 72%, rated The Rock as a strong leader, only bettered by Obama’s score of 87%. In our statistical models, two key personality traits, competency and credibility, predicted The Rock’s perceived potential as a national leader.
The Rock’s fame, stemming from his wrestling career persona, television presence, and Hollywood stardom, seem to demonstrate the impact of a well-maintained media image. His expertise in wrestling’s “kayfabe” style of performance (a dramatic wrestling style that is presented as genuine) has greatly boosted his public persona as an authentic “nice guy”.
This early experience, and a strong screen presence, is likely to have contributed to leadership scores similar to Obama. Here it seems that The Rock’s heavily cultivated media personality has translated into perceptions of effective leadership.
This idea connects with the theory of mediated authenticity , which suggests that positive perceptions arise when audiences view media figures in a favourable light. The Rock’s wrestling persona has allowed him to build a connection to his fans and he seems to have developed this further with his Hollywood roles.
What can Trump and Harris learn?
Politicians must also connect with the public. Boris Johnson, for example, did well in the 2019 UK election because he knew how to connect and leveraged this ability to his advantage.
However, leaders also need to be seen as knowledgeable and trustworthy to make an enduring positive difference.
The Rock was asked about political ambitions.
Some theorists of power argue that social influence derives from being well-liked, not just being famous. Of course, The Rock is famous for his nice guy image, along with his movie catalogue and perpetually perfect physique. His perceived leadership potential could come from being both popular and seen as a good role model.
The Rock’s potential has been spotted by political parties. He describes himself as an independent and back in 2023 he revealed that he had been approached by multiple political parties about possibly running for office.
Can you be a ‘nice’ populist?
The last few years has seen the rise of numerous political leaders around the world, who have been labelled with the term “populist”. Leading figures on this list include Trump, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi, former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and Boris Johnson. However, these leaders tend not to be highly trusted.
The erosion of trust in politicians and political systems is a significant issue that can lead to decreased engagement with the democratic process, regardless of political level. This ultimately results in a civic structure that fails to represent the people it is meant to serve.
With the US presidential election just weeks away, and still virtually tied, political strategists for both of the major parties must confront a key question: how much trust does each candidate have from the public?
Like it or not, The Rock’s wrestling persona relied on building a genuine connection with fans through his kayfabe-style performance, and his friendly image. The careful cultivation of this has given him enduring popularity and, as an unintended consequence of that performance, leadership appeal on the national stage.
When you are perceived as being a genuinely nice leader, our early research suggests, trust will follow. Something that more politicians clearly need to understand.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Tensions are running high in the Middle East. The murderous attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 2023 kicked off a spiral of violence in the region. That has culminated, a year later, in Israel mounting a ground invasion of Lebanon. The invasion, which Israel says aims to confront and destroy Hezbollah, follows 12 months of tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Iran, which have gradually escalated in intensity.
Given that Hezbollah is closely associated and supported by Iran, there is mounting concern that this conflict could become a major flashpoint in international relations. The worry is that this war might provide the spark that causes the next global conflict.
To understand how dangerous the situation could be, it’s worth looking at the theory of conflict escalation. In 1997, Austrian economist Friedrich Glasl published his nine-stage model of conflict escalation, which is generally accepted as the most sophisticated study of how conflicts can develop from disputes to all-out conflict (a step he gives the rather ominous name of “Together into the abyss”).
Nine stages of confict escalation. Graphic by Swinnall, original from Sampi. Derived from: Konflikteskalation nach Glasl.svg, CC BY-NC
The first level is when a conflict is readily or easily resolved, but when a resolution is not achieved, positions on either side of the argument harden and frustration begin to mount. The next step naturally occurs when conflict parties seek to make their case, hoping to gain advantage in the court of global opinion.
Stage three of the model sees the adversaries beginning to take action. Neither side wants to yield advantage to the other, while any sense that discussion might mitigate the conflict has disappeared in mutual antagonism and mistrust. Accordingly at stage four, the conflict parties resort to an “us v them” rhetoric in an attempt to build coalitions and attract support. Stage five, described as “loss of face”, is when one or other of the antagonists feels they have become tarnished in the eyes of the community as a whole. Reputation no longer matters as much as achieving their ends. Sometimes one side or the other commits an act that it feels has isolated it, which only serves to harden it position.
In stage six, threats or ultimatums are issued. This can lead to hostilities spiralling as the conflict parties seek credibility by putting a timescale on a threat, which in turn will heighten the pressure on both sides. This can also bind another of the warring parties to a course of action from where there is little opportunity to retreat. This facilitates the move to stage seven, where the antagonists begin to trade the first limited blows in response to the threats they have made.
The world is watching the US election campaign unfolding. Sign up to join us at a special Conversation event on October 17. Expert panellists will discuss with the audience the upcoming election and its possible fallout.
In stage eight, the offensive blows intensify, with the focus on trying to injure – or even destroy – the adversary’s capacity for response or call into question the legitimacy of the other side’s leader. Often this can lead to one or another of the parties fragmenting into warring factions, making the situation increasingly uncontrollable.
As the conflict hurtles into stage nine, the threat to one or another of the parties has become existential, who are now falling “together into the abyss”. All sense of caution is abandoned as the only goal is the total annihilation of the adversary. A state of total war.
What stage are we at?
After years of animosity and denunciation on both sides, the conflict between Israel and Iran has now progressed to the stage that both sides have exchanged limited blows against each other. Reports have linked Iran to the planning of the Hamas attack on October 7. Tehran has recently denied having any part in the massacre. Hezbollah, which is more closely linked to the Islamic Republic, has carried out a year-long barrage of rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel. In response, Israel has now directly struck against Iran’s proxy, invading southern Lebanon to engage and attempt to destroy Hezbollah.
Both sides clearly want to demonstrate their power and influence in the region. But the stakes could rise if Iran feels an urgent need to protect its proxies. For Israel, its leaders have long argued that its very existence is at stake.
In terms of Glasl’s stages of escalation, the two countries appear to have reached stage seven, where they are launching limited blows against each other while avoiding direct confrontation. Both want to make their adversary consider whether the cost of continuing is worth the potential rewards that can be gained.
Iran’s air attacks on Israel suggest that while Iran can see that its regional position is being threatened and is still seeking to support the non-state actors in Gaza and Lebanon, the way in which they have conducted their attacks suggest that Tehran does not feel itself powerful enough to escalate further than it already has.
The only direct blows the two powers have launched against each other have been from the air. Iran has now launched two (large) barrages of rockets against Israel, one in April this year and again at the end of September. Both bombardments were announced in advance and neither has resulted in Israeli casualties.
Israel responded in April with a targeted strike against an Iranian airbase close to one of the country’s nuclear installations. It has yet to directly respond to the latest Iranian barrage, but Netanyahu has said Israel would target Iran’s military installations “based on Israel’s national security needs”.
Analysts believe that both sides – so far at least – are using these limited strikes to signal their unwillingness to escalate. But there is a great deal at stake. Iran will feel its position as a regional power threatened by Israel’s ground campaign in Lebanon. Meanwhile Israel has repeatedly declared that it is fighting for the security of its people. Neither appears to want a wider conflict – and their allies certainly wouldn’t encourage them if they did.
So it’s clear that – up to now at least – neither Israel nor Iran wants to venture any further down the road to “the abyss” as envisaged by Glasl’s nine-stage model.
Matthew Powell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
In accordance with the Monetary Policy Committee Rules of Procedure, the minutes of the Committee’s most recent meeting have been published on the Bank’s website. The minutes are published two weeks after the announcement of the Committee‘s decision.
The arrival of Oscar Austin expands U.S. Navy capabilities in the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility. Oscar Austin is now assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 60 / Commander, Task Force (CTF) 65 and U.S. 6th Fleet.
“USS Oscar Austin’s arrival to Naval Station Rota strengthens our commitment to maintaining a forward presence in Europe,” said Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. “The addition of this ship to our forces in the region provides our Allies with an added layer of security and assurance, and serves as a powerful symbol of the enduring partnership between the United States and Spain.”
Modernized with the latest Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) upgrade, USS Oscar Austin offers a key capability for the U.S., directly contributing to extended deterrence by providing Allies and partners protection against the threat of ballistic missile attack. The second U.S. Navy destroyer to shift its homeport to Naval Station Rota, scheduled to arrive in 2026, also has the latest Aegis BMD upgrade.
“Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are true multi-mission ships, capable of providing maritime security, conducting anti-air and anti-submarine warfare, and providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” said Capt. Alex Mamikonian, commodore, DESRON 60 and CTF 65. “Bringing USS Oscar Austin to Spain enhances our ability to maintain ready and postured forces to assure, deter and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.”
Oscar Austin departed Norfolk, Va. Sept. 30 to transit to Spain and assist in providing full coverage and protection for all NATO European populations, territories and forces against the increasing threats posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles.
The initial decision to base destroyers out of Spain is part of the U.S. European Phased Adaptive Approach announced by President Obama in 2009. Since its announcement, the U.S. has broadened its Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capabilities in theater including increasing FDNF-E from four to six and the finalization of the second Aegis Ashore site in Poland.
Oscar Austin is the first Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and proudly bears the name of Pfc. Oscar P. Austin, United States Marine Corps. Oscar Austin was commissioned on August 19, 2000, in Norfolk, Va. Oscar Austin is ballistic missile defense, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare capable. The ship can embark two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to assist in anti-submarine and other warfare areas. Destroyers can work with Carrier Strike Groups, Surface Action Groups, Expeditionary Strike Groups or independently.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
Leaders of the Member States of the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held their first summit on 16 October 2024 in Brussels under the theme “Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity” to celebrate the deepening cooperation between the two blocs.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Sergei Sobyanin met with students of the Science and Technology University, College and Educational Centre “Sirius”. The meeting was held in the “Atom” hall in Sochi. The Moscow Mayor spoke about new solutions in the sphere of improving the quality of life in cities using the example of the strategy for the development of the capital until 2040 and answered questions.
According to the Mayor of Moscow, the main idea of the development strategy is to make the capital the best city in the world.
“For our city to be the best, it must have the most powerful economy in our country, it must have the best opportunities for every person, the best urban environment, and it must be a global center of attraction that the whole world would know and strive to come to Moscow,” said Sergei Sobyanin.
The capital has a large-scale public transport infrastructure – underground, surface and water. Over the past 14 years, the city has built a large number of new metro stations, equal in number to those built throughout the history of Moscow. An above-ground metro has appeared – four Moscow Central Diameters, which allow you to get to the Moscow region and nearby areas. In addition, a decision has been made to build a high-speed railway (VSM-1) to St. Petersburg.
“This is the President’s project, a high-speed railway (HSR) connecting St. Petersburg and Moscow, then Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Voronezh. I think that most of you live in one or another region where this project should come. This means that the entire country will be closer, travel options will be more comfortable, accessible, and the country will develop differently,” the Moscow Mayor emphasized.
The new rail framework will become a powerful impetus for regional development. The HSR-1 (Moscow-St. Petersburg), the construction of which began in 2024, will cover more than 80 percent of the Russian population. The speed of trains will reach 400 kilometers per hour.
New centers of economic activity are being created in the capital. In addition to the historical center, there will be six more comparable in size. They will be located in abandoned depressed areas where a large number of transport highways intersect. Thus, all districts of Moscow will receive their own modern center for life, work and leisure.
One such center of economic activity is “Yuzhny Port – Tekstilshchiki”It is being created as part of the world’s largest industrial zone reorganization project.
The city is implementing a complex renovation program that has no analogues in the world. It includes 5,175 buildings. City residents are moving from outdated apartments to new, modern and comfortable ones. In 2024, housing was provided for the resettlement of more than 170 thousand Muscovites. In addition, as part of the renovation program, over 400 social facilities will be built and more than 200 thousand jobs will be created.
The capital is renewing its urban environment and creating comfortable public spaces. Moscow is developing not just residential areas, but complex districts with parks, squares and embankments where you can work and relax. They are becoming mini-cities with high-quality infrastructure, where there is everything necessary for life.
The world’s largest monument restoration program is in effect in the capital. More than 2,100 of them were restored in 2011–2024. More than 150 more monuments are planned to be restored annually.
“In total, more than two thousand monuments have been restored, are in very good condition and continue to serve Muscovites not only as monuments, but also as life, business, public and city organizations,” said Sergei Sobyanin.
Instead of old cultural centers, multifunctional recreation and entertainment centers are appearing in the city. The largest cinema park “Moskino” was built in TiNAO.
The capital can be proud of its unique, accessible and best healthcare system in the world. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) helps to recognize diseases from CT, MRI and ultrasound images. With the help of AI, it will be possible to predict health problems for each resident and conduct preventive work. The average life expectancy in the capital is expected to approach 80 years.
Digital technologies are also being implemented in the education system. The world’s largest project, the Moscow Electronic School, allows for the creation of a digital twin of each student and the personalization of their development trajectory. Secondary vocational education is being revived. The capital is dramatically improving its quality and doubling the number of colleges. 75 percent of vacancies on the labor market are for workers with this type of training.
The digital ecosystem is developing. Its 90 key projects cover all areas of city life, from public utilities to city services, transport, and education.
The digital system of Moscow services is the best in the world according to the United Nations. The mos.ru portal offers 420 electronic services. They allow you to draw up documents and social benefits, pay bills, and transmit meter readings.
A digital twin of a city is a project that helps to see its future for decades to come, plan development, design buildings, structures, engineering and social infrastructure, ensuring a comfortable life for Muscovites.
The capital is becoming safer thanks to new technologies, artificial intelligence systems, video surveillance, and facial recognition. The crime rate in Moscow is one of the lowest among world cities.
The capital’s economic structure corresponds to the world level: it has a powerful industry, government services, transport, logistics, creative industry, etc. Labor productivity in Moscow is twice as high as the national average.
“Well, Moscow ultimately occupies a worthy place among all the cities of the world in terms of economy, despite the fact that the largest financial centers of the world are ahead of us. Despite the sanctions, despite the sanctions war declared against us, despite the difficulties, the SVO and so on, Moscow today is one of the world leaders. It is very important that it maintains its leadership. It is the locomotive of the country’s development, and I hope that you will carry this flag further and develop our beautiful capital and wonderful Russia,” the Mayor of Moscow concluded.
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.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Dmitry Grigorenko took part in the forum of innovative financial technologies Finopolis 2024 in Sochi
Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko took part in the session “Digital technologies serving society: a new look at fintech and government services” as part of the Finopolis 2024 forum of innovative financial technologies in Sochi.
He noted that Russia is currently integrated into the global IT space. This is proven by the fact that our country faces the same digitalization challenges as all other countries. The key tasks remain the development of data transmission and processing infrastructure, the introduction of artificial intelligence, information protection, overcoming regulatory barriers and adaptation to changes in consumer expectations.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that these challenges concern both public and private institutions, including the banking sector.
“We have designed a national project, “Data Economy”. This is the basis for work. But it is important to remember that plans alone will not lead to results. Therefore, the main challenge in digitalization is to implement everything planned,” said Dmitry Grigorenko.
Today, the financial sector is helping to implement measures aimed at creating a safe digital space for citizens and businesses. In particular, together with the Bank of Russia, the Government is developing the architecture of a single anti-fraud platform. It is expected that it will ensure online interaction between government agencies, banks, telecom operators and digital platforms to combat telephone fraud. In addition, the platform will allow for the prompt identification and blocking of phishing sites, fraudsters’ phone numbers, as well as their accounts and cards, stolen accounts and suspicious transactions.
Currently, the development of a legislative initiative to combat cyber fraud is also being discussed together with the banking sector. It is aimed at eliminating the current problem of fraud, when criminals issue microloans to third-party accounts or anonymous electronic wallets.
It is assumed that the initiative will establish a ban on issuing microloans to third parties and will establish a requirement for the loan amount to be transferred exclusively to the borrower’s bank account. To open an account, the borrower will have to undergo an identification procedure – this can be done using biometrics or in person at the bank.
Earlier, as part of the work to combat cyber fraud, the Government approved a procedure for self-prohibition on the issuance of consumer loans and microloans. The corresponding resolution has been signed.
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.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Denis Manturov took part in the opening of the Kyakhta customs and logistics terminal on the Russian-Mongolian border
19 hours ago
First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov took part in the opening of the new Kyakhta customs and logistics terminal on the Russian-Mongolian border via video link. The event was also attended by the head of Buryatia, Aleksey Tsydenov.
“A modern, technologically advanced complex has been created for cargo handling, temporary storage, customs clearance of goods, radiation and phytosanitary control. The formed infrastructure will increase the efficiency of customs procedures when moving goods across the Russian-Mongolian border. We currently have 10 border crossings in this direction. Among them, the Kyakhta automobile checkpoint is one of the busiest. The new terminal will allow us to expand bottlenecks and increase throughput. This is especially important given the growing role of Asian countries in the global economy and the reorientation of significant volumes of our foreign trade to this direction. The counter flow of goods with the states of the eastern macroregion will continue to expand. Therefore, today’s event, we can safely say, contributes to the development of Russia’s foreign economic activity,” Denis Manturov noted.
“The terminal that opens today in Kyakhta is the first and so far the only such facility. Kyakhta is the main checkpoint and communications hub between Russia and Mongolia. And the growing cargo flow is exactly what meets the task set by the President of increasing the throughput capacity of international transport corridors by one and a half times. The new infrastructure for handling cargo and handling vehicles creates all the necessary conditions for increasing throughput capacity,” said Alexey Tsydenov.
The total area of the terminal is 188.8 thousand square meters. The customs control zone is designed to accommodate 80 trucks at a time. Temporary storage warehouses can accommodate up to 350 trucks. There are also two accredited laboratories on the territory of the terminal, which will allow checking the quality of supplied products and other goods. All this will increase throughput: clearance at the point will take no more than 10 minutes.
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.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Dmitry Chernyshenko and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ held a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago
October 16, 2024
Dmitry Chernyshenko during a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago
October 16, 2024
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ during a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago
October 16, 2024
A meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago was held
October 16, 2024
Marat Khusnullin at a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago
October 16, 2024
Previous news Next news
Dmitry Chernyshenko and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ held a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago. Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin also took part in the event.
During the meeting, the most important issues of implementing measures to preserve and develop the Solovetsky Archipelago were discussed.
In his speech, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill noted that the Government of the Russian Federation has done a great deal of work to organize effective interaction between government agencies and the Church in order to preserve the spiritual, cultural and natural heritage of the Solovetsky Archipelago, as well as to develop its infrastructure.
As part of the implementation of the decisions of the Board of Trustees, meetings of the headquarters on issues of preserving and developing the Solovetsky Archipelago are regularly held at the Government site under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. Representatives of federal and regional authorities, as well as representatives of the Church, participate in these meetings.
Dmitry Chernyshenko noted that the meeting was held with a new composition: by decree of President Vladimir Putin, six new members were included in the board of trustees, and a new chairman of the foundation’s board, Andrei Guts, was appointed.
“Let me remind you that President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on celebrating the 600th anniversary of the founding of the first monastic settlement on Solovki in 2029. Preparations for this date are of particular importance, because the Solovetsky Archipelago is simultaneously one of the most important religious sites, a point of attraction for pilgrims and tourists, it bears the imprint of the turning point in the history of our country and, in addition, is a unique natural landmark. In anticipation of the 600th anniversary, the Government is carrying out comprehensive work. The federal budget provides funds for the restoration of cultural heritage sites and the construction, reconstruction of transport, utilities and social infrastructure. I would like to note that research work is being carried out that will help determine the optimal annual flow of pilgrims to Solovki,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.
In connection with preparations for the celebration in 2029 of the 600th anniversary of the founding of the first monastic settlement on the Solovetsky Archipelago, an organizing committee has been created, and plans have been prepared for the main and additional events to prepare for and conduct the celebration.
Schedules for construction and restoration work until 2029 have been drawn up and approved by the co-chairs of the board of trustees. The implementation of activities on the Solovetsky Archipelago is carried out in accordance with the schedules.
Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov said that in the summer of 2024, a set of educational and outreach events for children and youth related to the study of the heritage and history of the Solovetsky Archipelago was held for the first time on the Solovetsky Archipelago. Schoolchildren visited the day camp “Roads of Victory”, took part in thematic shifts and programs, including a student tour guide team.
“Together with the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, Rosmolodezh, the Ministry of Defense, the government of the Arkhangelsk region, the Directorate for the Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago and in cooperation with the Russian Orthodox Church, we have prepared a draft plan of events for next year, which includes holding a shift of the “Movement of the First”, a regional youth sea expedition “Young Fleet of Pomorye”, educational programs of a patriotic nature, an interregional labor project of the Russian student teams “Solovki”, excursion and educational programs, volunteer shifts and schools, as well as other events,” noted Sergey Kravtsov.
In conclusion, His Holiness the Patriarch thanked Dmitry Chernyshenko for the great work done to preserve the spiritual, cultural and natural heritage of the Solovetsky Archipelago and develop its infrastructure. He also expressed confidence that, through joint efforts, the tasks set will be accomplished by the 600th anniversary of monastic life on Solovki and the ancient monastery will shine in its former glory.
The meeting of the board of trustees took place in the Patriarchal Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It was also attended by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin, First Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Utilities Alexander Lomakin, Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for the Preservation and Development of the Solovetsky Archipelago Andrei Guts, Abbot of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery Bishop Porfiry of Ozersk, Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region Alexander Tsybulsky and others.
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.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19)
Washington, D.C. – Recently, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation released a report showing that swing state voters overwhelmingly believe that the rising national debt is a critical campaign issue.
According to the report, more than 90 percent of voters across seven key states – Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – say that it’s important for presidential candidates to have a plan to rein-in the national debt.
“The numbers don’t lie – the American people are concerned about our country’s unsustainable fiscal path, and rightfully so,” said House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19). “Record deficit spending is devaluing the dollar, weakening our economy, and pushing us closer to a debt crisis. We must rein-in Washington’s out-of-control spending and restore fiscal sanity before it’s too late. Instead of reducing the size of government and living within our means, we borrow from the future – placing a deferred tax on our children. We must reverse the Biden-Harris spending spree, fix the broken health care and welfare system, and reignite economic growth by lowering taxes, cutting regulations, and incentivizing work.”
Background:
The poll was commissioned by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the nature and urgency of key fiscal challenges threatening America’s future, and to accelerating action on them.
Read Chairman Arrington’s statement on the CBO report showing that the Biden-Harris Administration raised the deficit to $1.8 trillion in FY24 HERE.
Read more about the sharp decline in consumer confidence HERE.
Read more about how interest payments on the debt have skyrocketed by 153 percent under Biden and Harris HERE.
Following the meeting held today on the margins of the 75th International Astronautical Congress, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell and Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Teodoro Valente issued this readout.
– Milan, Italy
Following the meeting held today on the margins of the 75th International Astronautical Congress, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell and Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Teodoro Valente issued this readout:
Building on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the CSA and ASI, both Agencies are advancing potential collaboration on CubeSats in the spirit of the Italy–Canada Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation.
The two Agencies are actively discussing opportunities to address common challenges and strengthen their partnership in line with mutual goals and interests. Specifically, the CSA and ASI intend to advance cooperation in the development of their respective CubeSat programs, including scientific and technological demonstration missions, with the objective of developing jointly the expertise required to ensure the success and prosperity of the Canadian and Italian space sectors.
Additionally, both Agencies aim to foster advanced industrial collaboration in the space sector. The two Agencies are committed to initiating a technical dialogue in fields such as quantum technologies and cybersecurity for civil space systems. They will also collaborate within the framework of the Artemis Accords to ensure the safety and sustainability of space exploration.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing vessels”
October 16, 2024
Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing vessels”
October 16, 2024
Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing vessels”
October 16, 2024
Previous news Next news
Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing vessels”
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of “Incident No. 42” “Fishing Vessels”. With the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Agency for Fisheries, other interested departments, the United Shipbuilding Corporation, shipyards and the industry business community, current issues of construction of the fishing fleet were considered.
“In the second half of 2024, four vessels were delivered to customers: two fishing vessels and two crab vessels. In total, 30 vessels have been built to date within the first stage of investment quotas. Six more should be delivered by the end of the year,” said Dmitry Patrushev. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the achieved dynamics cannot be reduced.
The implementation of the second stage of investment quotas is also ongoing. An auction for crabs has already taken place, as well as two bidding campaigns for other types of aquatic bioresources. As a result, contracts for the construction of 31 vessels have been concluded, one of which has been delivered to the investor.
The meeting participants paid special attention to issues related to the termination of contracts with investors who were unable to fulfill their obligations, as well as the extension of the construction deadlines for the first stage of crab catchers. Dmitry Patrushev recalled that the initial deadlines for 20 current contracts expire on October 30 of this year. The issue of extending the construction deadlines was discussed. In this regard, Rosrybolovstvo, together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture, must promptly develop decisions on terminating contracts, extending deadlines, or transferring the construction of vessels to other shipyards.
Following the meeting, Dmitry Patrushev instructed interested federal executive bodies to ensure the timely delivery of financial resources to shipbuilding organizations.
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.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Rick Scott (R-FL) today announced legislation to appropriate $20 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to help states recover following Hurricanes Francine, Helene, and Milton. The DRF assists individuals, households, states, and non-federal government entities with recovery following natural disasters. As a result of an above-average hurricane season, the DRF is quickly dwindling.
“Americans help Americans. FEMA needs resources to help those impacted by Hurricanes Milton, Helene, and Francine,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Related to this, I will continue working to make flood insurance affordable again.”
“Unfortunately, this is a hurricane season no one will soon forget. The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is the front line for states, and our constituents, to receive support in the aftermath of natural disasters. While assessments of the full extent of these storms are underway, the DRF cannot be allowed to be depleted. I am proud to announce my colleagues and I will be introducing a bill to provide additional funding to support communities affected by the recent hurricanes,” said Senator Rubio.
“It is alarming that FEMA has spent almost half of its disaster fund, and there are still weeks left in hurricane season. Congress must take action to ensure critical agencies have sufficient resources to help those impacted by natural disasters recover while also maintaining long-term rebuilding projects,” said Senator Cornyn.
“I’ve been on the ground in Florida surveying damage and talking to Floridians for weeks as our state prepared for and now responds to and recovers from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. What’s clear is that Florida families and businesses need their federal government to show up where they are and help them get back on their feet. This bill, providing $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, will ensure that the agency has what it needs to provide immediate aid to folks in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and other states impacted by disasters while our local communities determine their needs from FEMA, SBA, USDA and other federal agencies. The federal government’s response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Unfortunately, I am already hearing from local officials and families in Florida that are frustrated by the fact that these disasters have stretched FEMA’s current resources too thin. That is unacceptable. No state is immune from disasters and I hope that none of our colleagues in the Senate will object to the quick passage of this needed funding. Even with this bill, I continue to urge Majority Leader Schumer to bring back the Senate to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants, and I’m glad that, in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done. While Floridians are incredibly resilient and will rebuild stronger than ever, it’s going to be an all hands on deck effort at the local, state and federal level to come together and support these communities. I’m going to keep fighting like hell to deliver the federal resources Floridians need to recover,” said Senator Scott.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR
October 16, 2024
Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR
October 16, 2024
Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR
October 16, 2024
Previous news Next news
Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR
On the eve of Road Workers Day, a ceremonial opening of sections of highways took place in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, as well as in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
“Thanks to the President’s systemic support, the joint work of the Government and the regions, and the advanced financing of infrastructure development, over the past six years, more than 100 thousand km of roads have been built, reconstructed, and repaired in the regions. Updating the country’s road framework and opening new sections is another important step towards improving the quality of life of our citizens, reducing travel time, connecting cities, and improving road safety. Today, we are launching traffic on new sections of the M-5 Ural highway and the R-242 Perm-Yekaterinburg highway, as well as sections on the R-280 Novorossiya highway in the DPR and two road sections in the LPR. I would also like to express my gratitude to the heads of the regions and builders for their professionalism, responsible attitude, and significant contribution to our common cause,” said Marat Khusnullin.
Thus, in the Moscow Region, two new sections of the M-5 “Ural” highway, 11 km and 21 km long, were opened: the bypass of the village of Oktyabrsky and Ulyanino – Nepetsino. They complete a large-scale reconstruction of the highway, within the framework of which a new road direction from Moscow to Kolomna was built. More than 2 million people live in the area of attraction of these objects.
Also in the Sverdlovsk region, sections of the R-242 Perm – Yekaterinburg highway were opened after major repairs, which will become part of the M-12 “East”. Their length is about 34 km. The modernized sections will be among the key ones for the full launch of the M-12 route to Yekaterinburg.
In addition, road sections in new regions of the country have been opened after major repairs. In particular, 10 km of the R-280 “Novorossiya” highway from the border with the Rostov region to the city of Novoazovsk have been opened in the Donetsk People’s Republic. There, a lot of work is being done to expand the roadway to four lanes. The highway connects Rostov-on-Don with Mariupol, Melitopol and Simferopol and is part of the land route to Crimea. Two more major repairs have been opened in the Lugansk People’s Republic. The first is more than 26 km long on the 43R-21 highway, which reaches the border with the DPR. It has high social significance for the region and connects many settlements that have no other access roads. The second is between Lugansk and Alchevsk, 23.7 km long on the R-150 highway. The road connects Lugansk with Donetsk and is in high demand among local residents.
“Today we are opening road facilities in several regions of Russia. Federal road workers have done a great deal of work to make the movement of residents of the regions even more comfortable and safe. The road industry is rapidly developing, new highways are being built, and existing ones are being modernized. We are monitoring the development of the regions and trying to provide them with the necessary transport accessibility,” said Transport Minister Roman Starovoit.
Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov noted that the Moscow Region section was the narrowest section of the M-5 Ural highway and has now been significantly widened.
“I would like to thank the builders, engineers, and specialists for the early delivery of the facility. And on behalf of the residents, I would like to convey words of gratitude to our President, to whom we once appealed and received support. Today, we are opening two very important sections of the road that will radically change the quality of life of 1.5 million residents of the urban districts of Ramenskoye, Lyubertsy, Zhukovsky, Bronnitsy, and Kolomna. Transport accessibility will improve for both those who travel by public transport and those who drive their own cars. I would like to thank Marat Shakirzyanovich Khusnullin and the Government of Russia for their assistance in financing – today we have the opportunity to deliver this very important facility before 2025. There are a large number of federal and regional highways in the Moscow Region, and we are grateful that much attention is being paid to their modernization. This is of fundamental importance for a huge number of people,” said Andrei Vorobyov.
The head of the DPR Denis Pushilin emphasized the high social significance of the R-280 “Novorossiya” highway and its influence on the development of the economic, social and infrastructural components of the region.
“Today we are opening a major overhaul of the R-280 “Novorossiya” highway, which is part of the land route to Crimea and connects the Donetsk People’s Republic with the Rostov and Zaporizhia regions, and also passes through the Kherson region. The first stage is 10 km, and by the end of the year all 37 km will be built and traffic will be launched. This is an unprecedented pace for us, and a significant result for the Russian Federation. Such a speed of construction was achieved due to convenient logistics – inert material is mined here, in the republic,” said Denis Pushilin.
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.
Headline: Azure Cobalt 100-based Virtual Machines are now generally available
We are excited to announce the general availability of the new Azure Cobalt 100 Virtual Machines (VMs). These VMs run on Microsoft’s first fully custom Arm-based Cobalt 100 CPU and represent a significant milestone in our end-to-end approach to building cloud infrastructure.
Today we are announcing the general availability of the new Azure Cobalt 100-based Virtual Machines (VMs). These VMs run on Microsoft’s first 64-bit Arm-based Azure Cobalt 100 CPU, which has been fully designed in-house. They represent a significant milestone in our journey in designing and building out our cloud infrastructure, with optimization and customization across every layer of the infrastructure stack—from silicon, to servers, to services. Through vertical integration across hardware and software, Azure Cobalt 100-based VMs are one of Microsoft’s latest examples of innovating to enhance and optimize our cloud infrastructure with an end-to-end systems approach, to deliver the right mix of performance, power efficiency, and scale for our customers.
The Cobalt 100-based VMs consist of our new general purpose Dpsv6-series and Dplsv6-series and our memory-optimized Epsv6-series VM series. They offer up to 50% better price performance than our previous generation Arm-based VMs, making them an attractive option for a wide range of scale-out and cloud-native Linux-based workloads, including data analytics, web and application servers, open source databases, caches, and more.
The new Azure Cobalt 100-based VMs deliver leading performance across various workloads compared to previous generations of Azure Arm-based VMs: up to 1.4x CPU performance, up to 1.5x performance on Java-based workloads, and up to 2x performance on web servers, .NET applications, and in-memory cache applications compared to the previous generation Azure Arm-based VMs. These VMs also support 4x local storage IOPS (with NVMe) and up to 1.5x network bandwidth compared to the previous generation Azure Arm-based VMs.
The new VMs are broadly available in Canada Central, Central US, East US 2, East US, Germany West Central, Japan East, Mexico Central, North Europe, Southeast Asia, Sweden Central, Switzerland North, UAE North, West Europe, and West US 2. The number of regions will continue to expand in 2024 and beyond with Australia East, Brazil South, France Central, India Central, South Central US, UK South, West US 3, and West US coming soon.
Customer adoption and scenarios
We have been working with several internal and external customers during the preview period. For example, IC3, the platform that powers billions of customer conversations in Microsoft Teams, is serving its growing customer base more efficiently, achieving up to 45% better performance on Cobalt 100-based VMs.
We’re also delivering Cobalt 100-based VMs to many of our independent software vendor (ISV) partners offering platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) solutions on Microsoft Azure.
“The Cobalt 100, Microsoft Azure’s new Arm-based processor, represents a huge step forward for optimizing performance and productivity. Cadence and Microsoft’s collaboration helps our mutual customers tackle the demands of giga-scale compute that advanced-node silicon design demands. The Cobalt 100 helps our thousands of electronic design automation (EDA) and systems customers meet their ever-increasing demands for throughput to speed time-to-market.” —Mahesh Turaga, Vice President (VP) of Cloud Business Development, Cadence
“We are really excited about the new Cobalt 100 VMs. We are making them the primary platform for our Databricks SQL Serverless offering on Azure, as they offer outstanding efficiency and allow us to deliver significant price-performance improvements to our customers. Customers using our Azure Databricks classic Jobs offering will also greatly benefit from Cobalt VMs by selecting them for their Jobs cluster nodes, achieving noticeable performance improvements while keeping operating costs down.” —Michael Kiermaier, VP of Business Strategy and Operations, Databricks
“At Elastic, we are driving innovation and cost-efficiency by enabling customers to leverage our Search AI-powered observability, security, and search solutions on Arm-based architecture. Azure Virtual Machines with Cobalt 100 Arm CPUs enables Elastic to deliver better throughput and up to 37% improved performance compared to Azure’ previous generation Arm based VMs.” —Uri Cohen, Vice President, Product Management, Elastic
“At Rescale, our mission is to elevate innovation by providing the best tools in high performance computing, data, and AI to organizations of every size to deliver engineering and scientific breakthroughs that enrich humanity. We have tested the Azure Cobalt 100 VMs to power our high-performance computing platform and found it to deliver about a 40% improvement in performance compared to Azure’s previous generation Arm-based VMs. We look forward to upgrading our Azure infrastructure to these new VMs and offer comparable performance improvements to our customers so they can tackle complex challenges with greater speed and efficiency.” —Adam McKenzie, Chief Technology Officer, Rescale
“Siemens EDA continues to expand its partnership with Microsoft to develop innovative solutions for our mutual silicon and electronic systems customers. Our collaboration around Microsoft Azure Cobalt 100 Arm-based VMs running analog, standard-cell, memory, and digital verification workloads has demonstrated compelling performance and economic benefits. The general availability of these new VMs marks an important milestone for the industry, highlighting its fast-growing reliance on continuously advancing hardware and software platforms optimized for high throughput and efficiency.” —Craig Johnson, Vice President, Siemens EDA Strategy
“We have extensively tested Azure’s new Cobalt 100 VMs and compared them to the previous generation Arm VMs on Azure using Snowflake workloads. We’re thrilled with the significant improvements in performance. And now, we’re excited to adopt these latest Cobalt 100 VMs and share that performance improvement with our customers!” —Gabe Bryant, Senior Manager, Snowflake
“In the face of unprecedented compute and memory demands driven by increasingly sophisticated systems, designers are leveraging the cloud to scale their computing resources. Our close collaboration with Microsoft Azure facilitates the adoption of Arm architecture-based compute resources by providing customers with industry-leading, AI-driven EDA tools enabled on the Azure cloud to help them address the escalating workload demands.” —Sanjay Bali, senior vice president of EDA strategy and product management at Synopsys
“Templafy relies on the stability and scalability of Microsoft Azure to run our document generation platform for enterprises worldwide, and we’re excited about the new Azure Cobalt 100 VMs. After evaluation we’ve observed significant performance improvements, including approximately 25% higher throughput and 35% lower CPU usage compared to Azure’s previous generation Arm-based VMs. We look forward to harnessing these advancements to enhance our platform’s performance and deliver even better experiences for our customers when it comes to their critical business documents.” —Marco van Kimmenade, Director of Engineering, Templafy
Synergy with our technology partners
We value the collaboration with our technology partners.
“The Cobalt 100 processor is a fantastic example of how Arm-based silicon, supported by a robust software ecosystem, is addressing the growing compute complexity of modern infrastructure,” said Mohamed Awad, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Infrastructure Business, Arm. “Following years of collaboration with Microsoft to bring Arm-based VMs to market, the general availability of Cobalt 100 marks an important milestone in our partnership, and demonstrates the power, efficiency and flexibility of Arm Compute Subsystems in driving the workloads of the future.”
The journey to Arm: Embracing innovation and customer benefits
Microsoft has a longstanding history of contributing to Arm architecture and integrating Arm technology. This experience has enabled us to develop important industry standards that prepared the Arm architecture for datacenter-scale computing. We have also been working closely with Arm on industry initiatives such as ServerReady and SystemReady and received industry recognition for both initiatives. Our journey into Arm-based VMs is based on a vision to deliver superior price-performance and power efficiency. The Cobalt 100-based VMs embody this vision by offering these benefits. By embracing Arm-based VMs, we have been able to offer our customers a unique combination of performance and cost effectiveness.
Developer ecosystem
The developer ecosystem for Arm continues to thrive and has seen tremendous progress in the last couple of years. Major developer platforms and languages such as C++, .NET, and Java provide Arm-native versions. We have invested in Arm-specific optimizations for each of these platforms and languages so we’re fully leveraging the capabilities of the Arm architecture.
The larger ecosystem has embraced Arm with many popular infrastructure and deployment solutions now available with native Arm support. GitHub Actions, GitHub’s continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) workflow engine, is an integral part of many developers’ workflows and used to continuously build, test, and deploy apps. This is now available for Arm in two flavors—self-hosted runners that can be hosted on an Arm VM or on local Arm hardware, and GitHub-hosted runners.
Containers are a popular deployment target for many reasons: a streamlined development workflow, isolation and security, efficient resource utilization, portability, and reproducibility. Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) now supports the creation of Arm agent nodes as well as mixing x86 and Arm architecture nodes within a cluster.
Specifications
You can select from a range of Azure Virtual Machines of three memory ratios for a given vCPU size, giving you the flexibility to choose the configuration that works best for your workloads in terms of CPU performance and memory needs. All these VM series are available with and without local disks so that you can deploy the option that best fits your workload.
The new Dpsv6-series and Dpdsv6-series general-purpose VMs offer up to 96 vCPUs and 384 GiB of RAM (4:1 memory-to-vCPU ratio). They are ideal for scale-out workloads, cloud-native solutions like AKS, small to medium open-source databases, application servers, and web servers. Arm developers can use these VMs in CI/CD pipelines, development, and test scenarios.
The new Dplsv6-series and Dpldsv6-series VMs provide up to 96 vCPUs and 192 GiB of RAM (2:1 memory-to-vCPU ratio). They are perfect for media encoding, small databases, gaming servers, microservices, and workloads that don’t need high RAM per vCPU.
The new Epsv6-series and Epdsv6-series memory-optimized VMs offer up to 96 vCPUs and 672 GiB of RAM (up to 8:1 memory-to-vCPU ratio). These VMs are designed for memory-intensive workloads such as large databases, in-memory caching applications, and data analytics.
The new virtual machines support all remote disk types such as Standard SSD, Standard HDD, Premium SSD and Ultra Disk storage. To learn more about various disk types and their regional availability, please refer to Azure managed disk type. Disk storage is billed separately from virtual machines. You can deploy these new VMs using existing methods including the Azure portal, SDKs, APIs, PowerShell, and the command-line interface (CLI).
You can learn more about the new Azure Cobalt 100-based VMs by visiting the specification pages: Dpsv6-series, Dpdsv6-series, Dplsv6-series, Dpldsv6-series, Epsv6-series, Epdsv6-series.
Pricing
To learn more about the pricing of Azure Cobalt 100-based VMs, please visit the Azure Virtual Machines pricing and Pricing calculator pages.
You can also take advantage of Reserved Instances, Azure savings plan for compute, and Spot Virtual Machines to lower your costs. Reserved VM Instances can reduce costs and improve your budget forecasting through upfront one-year or three-year commitments. For a limited time, you can save up to 15% more when you purchase one-year Azure Reserved Virtual Machine (VM) Instances for select Linux VMs. This offer is available between from October 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. See here for more details. The Azure savings plan for compute gives you the flexibility to save across multiple Azure services, including Azure VMs. Spot Virtual Machines can significantly reduce the cost of running in Azure and further optimize your cloud spend for workloads that can tolerate interruptions and have flexible execution time.
A new era of price performance and power efficiency
The general availability of Azure Cobalt 100-based VMs marks the beginning of a new era in Azure’s infrastructure. With our custom silicon program, we are delivering exceptional price performance and power efficiency to our customers. We are excited to see the impact of these innovations on our customers’ businesses and we look forward to bringing even better solutions to our customers in the future.
Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey.
For questions, please go to Azure Support and our experts will be there to help you.
We, the participating states of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), are aligned in our commitment to upholding international peace and security, safeguarding the global non-proliferation regime and addressing the threat arising from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK’s) weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, which are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).
October 16, 2024- Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
“We, the participating states of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), are aligned in our commitment to upholding international peace and security, safeguarding the global non-proliferation regime and addressing the threat arising from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK’s) weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, which are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs).
“In light of the veto which disbanded the UN Security Council’s 1718 Committee Panel of Experts this year, we hereby express our intention to establish the MSMT, a multilateral mechanism to monitor and report violations and evasions of the sanction measures stipulated in the relevant UNSCRs. The goal of the new mechanism is to assist in the full implementation of UN sanctions on the DPRK by publishing information based on rigorous inquiry into sanctions violations and evasion attempts.
“We underscore our shared determination to fully implement relevant UNSCRs regarding the DPRK; reaffirm that the path to dialogue remains open; and call on all states to join global efforts to maintain international peace and security in the face of the ongoing threats from the DPRK.”
Signed: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, U.K, and U.S.
