NewzIntel.com

Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Preston City Council commissions research to unlock opportunities for local food producers

    Source: City of Preston

    Preston City Council has funded two new research projects to help better understand the region’s local food supply chain – who produces food in Lancashire, what they produce, and how they can be better supported to access public sector contracts. 

    The research, recommended by the Preston Climate Jury and discussed by the Central Lancashire Procurement Practitioners group, will help map the local food supply system. 

    Researchers from Edge Hill University and Social Research Consultancy, Sustainable Solutions, will lead the work. They will carry out surveys and in-depth interviews with farmers, producers, buyers and public sector organisations.

    The aim is to identify business opportunities, supply chain gaps and procurement challenges across Lancashire. 

    Councillor Sarwar, Cabinet Member for Climate Change at Preston City Council said: 

    ”Food systems are a main driver of climate change in the UK, and I am delighted to see Preston City Council moving forward with the People’s Climate Jury recommendation to increase access to locally produced food. This is a practical step towards a more local, low-carbon food system, and is also about fairness and supporting our farmers to thrive.” 

    Councillor Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building at Preston City Council said: 

    ”Preston has long been a leader in Community Wealth Building, this work exploring access to contracts for local food producers will be another area in which Preston is a forerunner.” 

    The findings will support Preston City Council, local anchor institutions and other public sector buyers to improve access for small producers, contributing to climate goals and the council’s Community Wealth Building strategy. 

    Sven Batke, Chair of the Greenhouse Innovation Consortium and one of the founders of EcoEdge at Edge Hill University said:  

    “To support food producers and create pragmatic, tangible outcomes that deliver net benefits for our local economy, it is essential that we work collectively and adopt data-driven approaches that are effective. This initial work will help us better understand key challenges and identify opportunities for the food sector in Lancashire.” 

    John Whitton from Sustainable Solutions said:  

    ”Farmers and growers in Lancashire are keen to support local and sustainable food initiatives that support access to public sector contracts. How to do this in practice remains elusive and is the focus of this project.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three people missing in underground parking lot after heavy rains in central China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    CHANGSHA, June 20 (Xinhua) — Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in Longshan County of central China’s Hunan Province, leaving three people missing after they were trapped in an underground parking lot, local authorities said Friday.

    According to the propaganda department of the CPC Longshan County Committee, the water level of the Guoli River in the county has risen sharply after several days of heavy rain, causing the worst flooding in history and backflow of water into an underground garage in a local community.

    Four locals were reported to have broken into the garage on Thursday, attempting to move their cars. One of them was rescued early Friday morning at 4:35 a.m. and is now in a stable condition. Firefighters are currently continuing search and rescue efforts for the others.

    Recall that heavy rains have hit Longshan County since Wednesday evening, flooding several residential complexes. Local authorities raised their flood emergency response to the second-highest level at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Community support boosts Angola’s cholera response

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

    Download logo

    In the heart of Boa Vista, a neighbourhood in Angola’s capital, Luanda, 48-year-old mother of three Maria Teresa da Silva is joining other community members to spread awareness of the ongoing cholera outbreak. When the first cases were reported in her community in mid-January 2025, she joined a group of concerned women eager to contribute to the response.

    With support from local authorities, they began educating neighbours, distributing hygiene products and promoting cholera prevention practices. “We live in a community,” she says. “We must find time and support each other to protect our health and save lives.”

    Community involvement in this low-income urban neighbourhood has helped to curb the outbreak: no new cholera cases have been reported for four consecutive weeks, since 19 May.

    “At first, many families didn’t seek health services. Lack of information was the biggest challenge,” says the municipal administrator of Ingombota, Mika Kaquesse. Local authorities organized 800 community awareness sessions, built water tanks, distributed hygiene products and implemented sanitation sensitization campaigns.

    “We know that prevention is key in cholera control ‒ clean water, sanitation and information,” says Dr Genoveva Mafu, clinical coordinator at the Boa Vista cholera treatment centre. “It was frightening at first, but teamwork and partner support made all the difference.”

    The Ministry of Health in Angola, with support from World Health Organization (WHO), has trained more than 8000 community mobilizers to support the response and around 4450 community leaders in early detection, oral rehydration solution preparation and household water treatment.

    Health authorities have conducted sensitization campaigns with community and religious leaders, community listening sessions, and engaged with multiple sectors such as environment, fisheries, water and energy, youth and the military to ensure a coordinated and culturally appropriate response. This has resulted in more than 8 million people reached with messages on cholera prevention.

    “Community-based activities have increased public trust in health services and strengthened local epidemiological surveillance,” says Mateus Mariano Miguel, president of the Boa Vista Residents Committee. “The community responded massively. We continue working, even without new cases, because we know prevention must never stop.”

    Health authorities have also trained 1000 health workers and activated almost 140 surveillance teams conducting case management, active case finding, and infection prevention and control. Nationwide, 166 rapid response teams have been deployed and 180 cholera treatment centres have been established to manage and treat cases.

    In just over five months, Angola has recorded over 26 000 cases and nearly 750 deaths. This marks the worst cholera outbreak in the country in almost two decades. Thanks to a multisectoral and multipronged approach, the past two weeks have shown encouraging trends. As of 14 June 2025, the number of new weekly cases has dropped to 826 – the lowest levels since March. Weekly deaths have decreased to the lowest levels since January and the weekly case fatality rate has declined to 1.5% from a high of 8.8% in January 2025.

    “While the situation remains serious, these improvements demonstrate the impact of the ongoing response and provide hope that the outbreak can be brought under control soon. We must continue to reinforce collaboration because when communities are empowered and engaged, lives can be saved and dignity restored,” says Dr Indrajit Hazarika, WHO Representative in Angola.

    – on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mobile clinics enhance access to health care services in Niger

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

    Download logo

    In Niger, West Africa’s largest country by land surface, access to health care services is a major challenge. Just one in two people has access to health services. One of the ways to bridge the gap is through mobile clinics in remote areas and deploying medical teams from health districts to villages. 

    Among the main beneficiaries of the initiative are pregnant women. They are now able to receive emergency assistance and care for timely detection of any complications. Mariama, 42, who suffered complications after a fall, is grateful to have received care thanks to a mobile clinic. Ordinarily, she would have had to travel for a whole day to the nearest district health facility in Dosso town from her home in the southwest of Niger. 

    “As I was preparing to make the trip, I was informed of a mobile clinic in our area, and I went there the very next day. The team midwife consulted me and discovered that I had premature rupture of membranes,” she recounts. 

    Under the initiative “mobile clinic teams visit villages that are hard to reach for health care in general and reproductive health services for women and children in particular,” says Nafissatou Salifou Panga, midwife and Reproductive Health Focal Point for Dosso health district. “It is a huge relief that pregnant women are able to benefit from care that detects risks in time and provides them with appropriate care.” 

    Thanks to the care and follow-up she received, Mariama gave birth safely. Like Mariama, 267 pregnant women in Dosso and Filingué districts benefited from mobile clinic consultations in 2024. In all, almost 28 000 people were consulted and 3767 women received reproductive health services. Around 16 000 women were sensitized by community outreach teams on reproductive, maternal and neonatal health in the two districts. In Mariama’s case, the community health teams shared awareness messages that enabled her to be informed in time of the arrival of the mobile clinic.

    By reaching populations far from health centres, the mobile clinic initiative also helps to improve health coverage at district and national levels. For example, the maternal mortality ratio fell from 441 per 100 000 live births in 2017 to 350 in 2023, according to World Bank data. 

    Dr Aissatou Laouali, in charge of the reproductive health programme with World Health Organization (WHO) in Niger, says the initiative helping to accelerate efforts towards health for all. “For vulnerable populations, rapid access to quality health care is vital. Through these initiatives, we hope to move forward in solving the challenges particularly faced by mothers and children living in remote areas.”
    To ensure service quality, the district, in collaboration with WHO, organizes planning meetings and field supervision trips and supports the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene in improving maternal and child health, in particular by providing technical guidelines, standards and protocols for reproductive, maternal and child health. 

    Other support includes training health workers and improving the facilities in mother-and-child health centres, regional and district hospitals, and integrated health centres. WHO also supports training of health providers to ensure quality of care and health surveillance to curb maternal mortality.  

    Niger has maintained the mobile clinics introduced earlier. In 2024, with support from WHO and donor financing, operational and medical equipment and supply needs of the mobile clinics were catered for. Additionally, 56 health workers and community outreach officers were trained in reproductive health in Dosso and Filingué districts.

    “I was very satisfied with the care provided … I encourage the women in my community to come to the mobile clinic for any health problem,” says Mariama. “If I hadn’t gone to the centre after the incident, I would have had an infection with the risk of losing my baby.”

    – on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Oxford City Council publishes results from Annual Housing Complaint Performance & Service Improvement Report

    Source: City of Oxford

    Oxford City Council has published its annual Housing Complaint Performance & Service Improvement report. 

    The report was discussed at Cabinet this week. It covers all complaints about our function as a landlord to over 8,000 households, and any that would come under the jurisdiction of the Housing Ombudsman, handled from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 by the Council or ODS.   

    It does not include complaints about other Council services which would come under the scope of the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman. 

    Key findings  

    Stage 1 complaints for 2024/25 were down 26.7% but there were more Stage 2 and more Housing Ombudsman determinations. The majority of all complaints were responded to within timescales.  

    Detailed findings from the report are: 

    • The total number of Stage 1 complaints handled in 2024/25 (414), is lower than the previous year (565)
    • The total number of Stage 2 complaints during 2024/25 was higher (51) than the previous year (30)
    • ODS handled 188 (down from 431 in 23/24) and the Council handled 226 (up from 134) Stage 1 complaints
    • ODS handled 13 (up from 11 in 23/24) and the Council handled 38 (up from 19 in 23/24) Stage 2 complaints
    • For ODS, of the complaints responded to within 2024/25 at Stage 1 and 2, 100% were responded to within target
    • For complaints handled by the Council within that period, 48.6% of Stage 1and 83.8% at Stage 2 were responded to within target. This was due to vacancies within the Customer Care & Complaints team, staff absence in the team and in other service areas, and the increased volume of enquiries
    • Seven Housing Ombudsman determinations were received. Within those, there were six findings of service failure, three of maladministration, one of no maladministration, and two of reasonable redress.  

    Learnings and next steps 

    The Council aims to improve its complaints process in 2025/26 with a focus on resident involvement, transparency, and service improvement.  

    As part of a wider review of its Tenant Involvement Strategy, it will explore new ways to involve residents in shaping and monitoring the complaints process — including the formation of a quarterly resident panel to review data, spot trends, and ensure accountability. 

    The Council will also improve how it captures and uses complaints data, with upgraded IT systems. 

    IT improvements made in 2024/25 have already had an impact, particularly within ODS, where clearer processes, improved communication, and better identification of service requests have led to a reduction in complaints.  

    In 2025/26, a more stable staff team will support a new work programme focused on embedding learning and tackling root causes of issues raised through complaints. 

    Comment 

    “We know that when things go wrong, it can be frustrating and complaints are one of the most important ways we can learn, improve, and rebuild trust with our tenants. 

    “I’m pleased to see that fewer residents needed to complain overall, and that changes already made – especially at ODS – are having a real impact. 

    “But we also recognise there’s more to do. We’re committed to improving response times, involving tenants more directly in shaping services, and making sure we act on what complaints are telling us. Every complaint is a chance to get better, and we’re determined to make that happen.” 

    Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Refugee Week: Scotland must stand up for refugees

    Source: Scottish Greens

    20 Jun 2025 Human Rights

    More in Human Rights

    The Scottish Government must challenge the UK Labour Government’s plans to extend refugee camps and displace people living in hotels, say the Scottish Greens.

    Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs, Angus Robertson, calling on him to use his influence to make it clear that Scotland believes the UK Government’s plans for migrant camps are morally wrong.

    The SNP wrote to Westminster last year while the Conservatives were still in power, making clear its position in favour of using hotels over “large sites” such as camps or boats. In the letter, the Scottish Government described these as “unsuitable and entirely counter to integration principles.”

    In her letter to Angus Robertson, Maggie has called on the Scottish Government to stand “firmly and vocally” against these plans, to maintain Scotland’s history as a welcoming, compassionate country for people rebuilding their lives after fleeing their home country.

    Maggie said:

    “We must not surrender to the normalisation of anti-migrant hate. The majority of Scots want to live in a welcoming country, one that values people and community over scapegoating and exclusion.

    “If the Scottish Government means what it says, that it wants to lead a progressive Scotland, then they must show it. It is time they stick to their words, represent the people of Scotland, and tell the UK Labour Government that we say “not in our name” to unsafe, dehumanising camps.

    “Since dropping the commitment to introduce a Human Rights Bill for Scotland, the Scottish Government has to work hard to build back trust and show they really do stand up for people’s freedoms. The bare minimum they must do is prove that they are a cut above this spineless UK Labour Government.

    Text of letter sent by Maggie Chapman to Angus Robertson, Cab Sec for External Affairs

    Dear Angus,

    Scotland has a long history of being a warm and welcoming home to the millions who live here. We have tried to uphold the principles of belonging and sanctuary in the Scottish Parliament, and you and I have both welcomed all that Scotland has done to protect the most vulnerable, including those seeking refuge here.

    It is these shared values that prompt me to write to you today. As Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs and a proud representative of Scotland’s Parliament, I urge you to stand firmly and vocally against the UK Government’s proposals to displace refugees into asylum camps. Refugees have the same rights to dignity, respect and safety as everyone else. And asylum seekers, those fleeing persecution and violence, have the right to seek sanctuary and safety here. The proposed camps are in no way a solution to the issues of underfunded public services, the housing emergency or anti-social behaviour, for which immigrants and refugees are too often blamed.

    It is not certain that these camps would save public money, and even if they do, they are still wrong – in terms of human rights and ethics. The human and social costs of these camps: disruption to local communities, increased threats to those forced into the camps, and negative mental health effects for those made unnecessarily vulnerable, cannot be justified.

    Less than a year ago asylum hotels were attacked. Bricks and mortar served there as something to protect those inside, but they should be protected by a government who stands for them. Shirley-Anne Somerville wrote to the UK Government last year and made clear that the Scottish Government does not support using large sites, such as camps, to house refugees. I ask that you reaffirm that belief, and that you make it clear to this new UK Government.

    The best thing that can be done to support asylum seekers out of hotels is to lower their barriers to integrating into society. From cruel policies like No Recourse to Public Funds and preventing access to work to lack of access to legal aid and other public services, asylum seekers are not supported to contribute to our society, never mind recover from the trauma they will have experienced before arriving in the UK. Asylum seekers want to contribute to public life but are being held back by policies crafted by those who most vocally criticise their inability to give back to the UK.

    The majority of people support the UK being a safe haven for refugees. If we allow other narratives to dominate, we risk stoking the far-right tide that your own party has claimed is a threat to Scotland as we know it. You have the power to stand for something better.

    This is a test of our principles and values. If we do not choose to stand for and with the most vulnerable, then we fail our moral duty as politicians to ensure Scotland is on the right side of history.

    I look forward to your response.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Think before you drive — alcohol can linger until morning 20 June 2025 Think before you drive — alcohol can linger until morning

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Festival-goers are being urged to think carefully before getting behind the wheel the morning after drinking, as part of a summer safety campaign.

    With the Isle of Wight Festival underway and other summer events just around the corner, the Isle of Wight Council is reminding drivers that alcohol can remain in your system well into the next day — and that driving while still over the limit can have serious consequences.

    Partners from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safer Roads Partnership, will be raising awareness through targeted messaging and face-to-face engagement at ferry terminals in Lymington, Portsmouth and Southampton.

    As part of the campaign, drivers are being introduced to the Morning After calculator — a free online tool designed to help people estimate how long it takes for alcohol to leave their system.

    Lewis Campbell, the council’s road safety officer, said: “We know many people wouldn’t dream of drink driving on a night out — but they may not realise they’re still over the limit the next morning.

    “The Morning After calculator is a helpful tool for understanding how long alcohol can remain in your system. But it’s not a guarantee — and it certainly shouldn’t be used to justify getting behind the wheel.

    “If you’re drinking any amount of alcohol — even just one drink — you should leave the car at home and plan alternative transport. And remember, the calculator won’t help you if you are caught drink driving.

    “What it can do is give you a rough idea of when it might be safe to drive the next day. It can also help you decide when to stop drinking if you know you’ll need to drive in the morning. However, to be clear, there is no safe level of alcohol when it comes to driving.”

    The consequences of drink driving can be severe. Offenders face fines, driving bans, and even prison. And it’s not just about being caught while driving — simply being found in a stationary vehicle while intoxicated, with the keys in the ignition, could result in a £2,500 fine, a three-month prison sentence, and a driving ban.

    Red Funnel and Wightlink support this campaign by offering the vehicle ferry ports as engagement venues. And this year, Red Funnel is providing additional support by offering free advertising space on screens at terminals and onboard vessels, helping to spread the message to both residents and visitors.

    Nigel Lane, operations manager for Red Funnel, said: “We’re proud to support this important campaign. With so many people travelling to and from the Island for events, it’s vital that everyone understands the risks of morning-after drink driving.”

    Colin Evans, road safety programme manager for National Highways South-East, added: “We want people to enjoy the festival season, but we also want everyone to get home safe and well and that means making smart choices about when to stop drinking if you plan to drive the next day.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • PM flags off first export locomotive from Marhowra Plant, Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant for export to the Republic of Guinea, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

    This marks the first export locomotive manufactured at the plant. These locomotives are equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based control systems, and ergonomic cab designs, incorporating features such as regenerative braking technology.

    On the same day, the Prime Minister also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur, via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah.

    During a public meeting in Siwan, the Prime Minister was felicitated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects across the water, rail, and power sectors.

    To strengthen railway infrastructure in the region, he inaugurated the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, worth over ₹400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this route.

    The Prime Minister also inaugurated six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange programme, with a total outlay of over ₹1,800 crore. These plants aim to serve the population across the region.

    In addition, he laid the foundation stone for water supply, sanitation, and sewage treatment infrastructure worth over ₹3,000 crore in several towns across Bihar. These projects aim to provide clean and safe drinking water to residents.

    The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Bihar. Standalone BESS units will be installed at 15 grid substations across the state, including in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. The capacity of each battery system will range from 20 to 80 MWh. These systems are expected to reduce electricity procurement costs for distribution companies by supplying stored energy to the grid during peak demand, ultimately benefiting consumers.

    The Prime Minister also released the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) in Bihar. He handed over keys to a few beneficiaries as part of the Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 completed houses under the scheme.

  • PM flags off first export locomotive from Marhowra Plant, Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant for export to the Republic of Guinea, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

    This marks the first export locomotive manufactured at the plant. These locomotives are equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based control systems, and ergonomic cab designs, incorporating features such as regenerative braking technology.

    On the same day, the Prime Minister also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur, via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah.

    During a public meeting in Siwan, the Prime Minister was felicitated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects across the water, rail, and power sectors.

    To strengthen railway infrastructure in the region, he inaugurated the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, worth over ₹400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this route.

    The Prime Minister also inaugurated six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange programme, with a total outlay of over ₹1,800 crore. These plants aim to serve the population across the region.

    In addition, he laid the foundation stone for water supply, sanitation, and sewage treatment infrastructure worth over ₹3,000 crore in several towns across Bihar. These projects aim to provide clean and safe drinking water to residents.

    The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Bihar. Standalone BESS units will be installed at 15 grid substations across the state, including in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. The capacity of each battery system will range from 20 to 80 MWh. These systems are expected to reduce electricity procurement costs for distribution companies by supplying stored energy to the grid during peak demand, ultimately benefiting consumers.

    The Prime Minister also released the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) in Bihar. He handed over keys to a few beneficiaries as part of the Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 completed houses under the scheme.

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nyhontso calls for bold action to reverse Native Land Act legacy

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Mzwanele Nyhontso, has called for bold and decisive steps to reverse the legacy of the Native Land Act of 1913.

    Reflecting on the 112th anniversary of the enactment of the Natives Land Act of 1913 in South Africa, which came into effect on June 19, 1913 (Act No. 27 of 1913), Minister Nyhontso said the legislation left an indelible mark on the country’s history.

    “This legislation had a profound and devastating impact on the lives of Black people. It was a calculated, cruel instrument and strategy of mass dispossession, that successfully entrenched racial segregation and economic inequality,” Nyhontso said.

    The Native Land Act restricted Black South Africans to only 7% of the land, forcing them into designated “native reserves”, while reserving the rest of the country’s land for white ownership.

    Crucially, it prohibited Black citizens from owning land outside these areas, stripping millions of their ability to farm and sustain their families.

    The Minister said through the prohibition of Black South Africans, from owning land outside the designated so called native reserves, the act “stripped millions of their ability to sustain themselves, their families, and communities, through farming which was the main economic activity”.

    “The immediate aftermath of the passing of the Native Land Act was the violent and merciless eviction of people from their land, their cattle and crops were confiscated, and their homes were destroyed. Up until that point in history, the African had led a lifestyle of self- sufficiency.  

    “Black people were stripped of their dignity, effectively forcing them into exploitative farm labour contracts. The act laid the foundation for the migrant system that provided a constant supply of cheap labour for the mines and industries,” the Minister said.

    Nyhontso reaffirmed the department’s commitment to reversing this legacy through the implementation of appropriate legislation, policies and land reform programmes.

    He said the department will intensify its efforts to restore land rights to the historically dispossessed and the equitable redistribution of land.  – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Allocation of £1million for cost-of-living support approved

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    City initiatives that provide cost-of-living support will benefit from a share of £1million, after allocations were approved at last week’s (11 June) Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee.

    Organisations including Food Poverty Action Aberdeen (£271,197) AberNecessities (£175,242), Aberdeen Cyrenians (£48, 600) and Bethany Christian Church (£4,364) will all receive funding to help tackle issues such as infant formula shortages, food procurement and supporting vulnerable women.

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “A total of 14 initiatives will receive an allocation of £1million to help tackle poverty and alleviate the cost-of-living crisis.

    “The range of community groups and charities receiving funding will ensure that they can make a real difference within communities across Aberdeen.”

    Anti-Poverty and Inequality Vice-Convener Councillor Desmond Buchanan said: “We thank the External Advisors for undertaking this work on behalf of the committee to ensure the fair allocation of funding to organisations and initiatives across the city.  This approach further demonstrates what successful partnership working can achieve.”

    The committee’s External Advisors met to review potential recipients and agree on the allocation of the £1million funding.  The advisers also considered suggestions identified through the previous year’s Committee visits.

    Full list of allocated funding:

    • AberNecessities (support for underprivileged children), £161,113
    • AberNecessities (infant formula), £14,129
    • Food Poverty Action Aberdeen (food procurement), £271,197
    • Aberdeen City Council, Revenues & Benefits (winter clothing), £130,000
    • Aberdeen City Council, Revenues & Benefits (discretionary housing payments), £100,000
    • Aberdeen Cyrenians (Community Hub rent and energy costs), £48,600
    • Aberdeen Performing Arts (Christmas panto package for low income families), £10,000
    • Bethany Christian Church (supporting vulnerable women in Torry), £4,364
    • SCARF (fuel poverty), £95,000
    • Aberdeen Care and Repair (financial advice for elderly and disabled people and unpaid carers), £38,359
    • CFINE (Cash First infant formula). £12,000
    • CFINE (community pantries), £66,500
    • CFINE (SAFE financial advice outreach), £28,738
    • SHMU (poverty awareness), £20,000

    Phil Mackie, External Advisor said: “In developing the proposals, the External Advisors sought to strike a balance between allocating funds that can minimise harm by providing immediate support to those in need, whilst also supporting action that advocates for long-term systemic change.

    “This has not been without its challenges; for example, we recognise that this means reducing the level of direct support for people in the short term, but this is balanced by allocations that will help to reduce the overall need for support in the longer term.”

    As well as agreeing the Cost-of-living Fund allocations for 2025/26, the committee also reviewed a full year evaluation of the outcomes achieved from the Cost-of-Living Funding allocated for 2024/25 which highlighted the good work that the fund supported last year.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Employment and vacancies statistics for March 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Employment and vacancies statistics for March 2025 
    Employment statistics
     
    In March 2025, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 714 400 persons. The import and export trade engaged 349 800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 314 000 persons, financing and insurance 232 700 persons, retail trade 230 800 persons, and food and beverage services 218 900 persons.
     
    Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of accommodation services (4.0% or 1 500 persons), human health services (3.9% or 6 000 persons), and real estate (3.7% or 5 100 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of retail trade (-4.6% or -11 100 persons), wholesale (-3.4% or -1 700 persons), information and communications (-3.3% or -3 600 persons), and food and beverage services (-2.8% or -6 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
     
    Vacancies statistics
     
    Among the 55 170 private sector vacancies in March 2025, 5 660 were from the industry of education, 5 050 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 4 950 from residential care and social work services, 4 860 from food and beverage services, and 4 660 from financing and insurance.
     
    Vacancies decreased in all the selected industries in March 2025 over a year earlier. Decreases were more notable in the industries of transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-5 080 or -58%), human health services (-2 760 or -43%), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-1 670 or -25%), education (-1 660 or -23%), and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-1 550 or -31%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.
     
    Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of service and sales workers (20 200 vacancies), professionals (10 120 vacancies), and associate professionals (8 390 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.
     
    Seasonally adjusted statistics
     
    For discerning the latest trend in employment and vacancies in the private sector, it is useful to look at changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with December 2024, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by less than 0.05% and decreased by 7.3% respectively in March 2025. The changes over three-month periods in the seasonally adjusted series of employment and vacancies are shown in Table 4.
     
    Other information
     
    The above employment and vacancies statistics were obtained from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites conducted by the C&SD. In the former survey, some economic activities (e.g. those dominated by self-employment, including taxi operators and hawkers) are not covered. Therefore, the respective employment and vacancies figures relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, employment and vacancies figures relate to manual workers only.
     
    A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:
    “Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, March 2025”
    (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452″Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2025″
    (    www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452 
    Users can browse and download these publications at the website of the C&SD.
     
    Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email:     employment@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Gate Releases May 2025 Transparency Report: Brand Revamp Ignites Strategic Acceleration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PANAMA CITY, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gate, a global leader in cryptocurrency trading, has released its May 2025 Transparency Report, revealing remarkable growth across key business indicators. Amid improving market sentiment and a maturing regulatory landscape, the platform recorded historic highs in trading volume and user activity, accelerated brand globalization efforts, advanced compliance achievements, and further expanded its Web3 ecosystem.

    Trading Volume and User Base Hit New Milestones
    In May 2025, Gate saw a substantial year-over-year increase in total trading volume, driven by strong performance in both spot and futures markets. Futures trading, in particular, has become a primary growth engine for trading activity. Gate now ranks second globally in 24-hour spot trading volume, reinforcing its position among the world’s leading exchanges.

    The platform’s user base surpassed 27 million registered users, reflecting continued global momentum and growing brand influence. Meanwhile, Gate Earn has seen explosive growth, now supporting nearly 1,000 digital assets with $2 billion in total assets under management. Its Dual Investment product now supports 60 tokens, and remains one of the most popular structured finance offerings on the market.

    This month, Gate was also honored with the “Best Crypto Exchange 2025” award by Entrepreneur Middle East, recognizing the platform’s excellence in user protection, operational stability, and regulatory compliance.

    Global Brand Revamp: New Domain Gate.com and New Logo Launched
    On May 19, Gate officially launched its new domain, Gate.com, alongside a redesigned logo, marking a bold step forward in its global rebranding strategy. This upgrade unifies visual identity across global operations and enhances international recognition and user trust. The rebrand coincides with Gate’s vision of becoming the “Next-Generation Crypto Exchange”, a platform at the intersection of global compliance, user-centric design, and Web3 innovation.

    The rebranding covers all Gate entities globally, including licensed operations in Japan, Dubai, and Europe, delivering a consistent and professional brand presence worldwide.

    Product Ecosystem Expansion Drives Growth in User Engagement and Assets
    In May, Gate’s continuous product innovation led to a significant boost in its platform ecosystem. The relaunch of Launchpad sparked market excitement, with the debut project Puffverse (PFVS) oversubscribed by more than 93,800%, attracting 35,000 participants and raising $656 million. Gate Alpha, focusing on meme asset trading, launched hundreds of projects in May, distributed over $1 million in airdrops, and generated billions in trading volume. Launchpool introduced nearly 20 new projects, distributed over $3 million in rewards, and peaked at over 1,000% annualized returns. HODLer Airdrop launched nearly 30 projects, attracted more than 170,000 participants, distributed over $800,000 in rewards, and saw over $38 million in total staking volume. CandyDrop launched nearly 20 airdrop campaigns, drawing over 500,000 participants with a prize pool close to 3 million USDT. The synchronized growth of these core product lines demonstrates Gate’s leading edge in product innovation and user attraction.

    Accelerating Asset Transparency and Compliance Leadership, Reserve Ratio Reaches 128.57%
    As of May 2025, Gate’s total reserve assets reached $10.865 billion, with an impressive reserve ratio of 128.57%, far exceeding the 100% industry benchmark. BTC, ETH, and USDT reserves all maintained surplus coverage, with BTC reserve ratio at 137.69%. These figures reflect Gate’s long-standing commitment to transparency and financial strength.

    On the compliance front, Gate Technology FZE, a part of Gate, has obtained a VASP License under the regulation and supervision of VARA in Dubai to provide exchange services and is permitted to serve institutional investors, qualified investors, and retail investors. This milestone marks another significant step forward in Gate’s global compliance strategy.

    Expanding Web3 Culture with Brand Campaigns and Global Events
    In May, Gate intensified its brand presence through multiple high-profile events. Gate 12th Anniversary Global Celebration concluded in Dubai, where CEO Dr. Han outlined the vision of Gate as the next-generation crypto exchange. SPORT3 DUBAI 2025 united Web3 and sports through cross-industry activities. Gate hosted global KOLs at Inter Milan’s home stadium and celebrated Bitcoin Pizza Day with custom pizza deliveries to users and partners. At the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, Gate CBO Kevin Lee represented the brand in collaboration with Oracle Red Bull Racing. Gate’s NFT drop with Red Bull Racing exceeded 1 million mints, engaging over 200,000 participants. Yann Sommer, Serie A champion and Inter‘s goalkeeper, joined as a Gate Friend, symbolizing the platform’s commitment to asset security.

    Promoting Education, Research, and Social Responsibility, Demonstrating Platform Impact
    In May, Gate continued to make strides in educational outreach and social responsibility. Gate Learn released educational content and courses covering trending topics such as DeFi, RWA, and AI, helping users systematically enhance their understanding. Gate Research deepened its efforts in policy interpretation and market analysis, strengthening its expertise in critical areas like meme coins, public chains, and ETFs. During the same month, Gate Charity partnered with Forum Animal to launch a public welfare campaign in São Paulo, Brazil, calling for an end to animal testing and promoting global awareness around animal welfare and ethics, demonstrating the platform’s enduring commitment to sustainable values.

    A New Chapter Begins, Advancing Toward Industry Leadership
    May 2025 marks a pivotal chapter in Gate’s journey. With a newly unified brand identity, record-breaking business growth, and deeper integration across product, compliance, and community initiatives, Gate is accelerating its path toward becoming a truly global, next-generation crypto platform.

    As the company moves beyond its 12th anniversary milestone, Gate remains committed to innovation, compliance, and user empowerment, opening the gate to a more open, secure, and sustainable Web3 future.

    About Gate
    Gate, founded in 2013 by Dr. Han, is one of the world’s earliest cryptocurrency exchanges. The platform serves over 27 million users with 3,600+ digital assets and pioneered the industry’s first 100% proof-of-reserves. Beyond core trading services, Gate’s ecosystem includes Gate Wallet, Gate Ventures, and other innovative solutions, while its global partnerships extend to top-tier sports brands like Oracle Red Bull Racing in F1 and Inter.

    For more information, please visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

    Media Contact:
    Loyo at loyo@gate.com

    Disclaimer:
    This content does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation. You should always seek independent professional advice before making investment decisions. Gate may restrict or prohibit certain services in specific jurisdictions. For more information, please read the User Agreement via https://www.gate.com/user-agreement.

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Gate. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2094b08d-a56f-4b60-87ee-08786b74ed79

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Living as a humanitarian and refugee in Lebanon

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    My name is Muhammad Sunallah, and I am a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon.

    Mohammad Sunallah has been working with MSF in Lebanon since 2011. Lebanon, June 2025.
    © Salam Daoud/MSF

    I was born and raised in the Ain El-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp located in Saida, southern Lebanon. Established following the Nakba in 1948, it’s one of 12 Palestinian refugee camps in the country. It might be the largest one, but it always felt too small. The concrete walls surrounding it block the view of the ‘outside world’.

    Like millions of refugees around the world, I did not choose to become a refugee. In 1948, my grandparents were forced to leave Deir El-Asad in Acre, heading for an unknown destination. My father was a young child, and my mother was just an infant. “In three days, the situation will improve, and you will return,” my great grandmother told my grandfather. Why have those three days turned into 77 years?

    I, like other Palestinian refugees, have gone through identity crises morphed by accumulating traumas, the first of which stems from growing up away from our homeland. From a young age I knew I was Palestinian, but I didn’t know what that actually meant. I have never seen Palestine, I have never stepped on its soil, I have never played in its neighbourhoods. My internal wounds grew bigger when I realised that every “I have never” in these statements was realistically “I will never”. What is a refugee who does not have a homeland to return to?

    Growing up, I wanted to become a doctor and help people who needed medical care. But I soon faced the harsh reality that as a refugee I could not practice medicine in this country. Choosing that path would mean I had leave Lebanon, which I was not willing to do. So, I decided to become a nurse.

    When I joined Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in 2011, my appreciation for nursing as a profession doubled.

    I initially worked with MSF inside Ain El-Hilweh camp for many years, during which our activities took many shapes. Much like other Palestinian camps in the country, Ain El-Hilweh hosts Syrian refugees who fled the war that started in 2011. In 2015, I moved to MSF’s project in south Beirut, where we ran two clinics in the Shatila and Bourj El-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camps.

    In 2017 and 2023, several armed clashes broke out in Ain El-Hilweh camp. MSF launched emergency responses in both years, which I joined to support my community. I’ve also taken part in several emergency vaccination campaigns supporting Ministry of Health efforts.

    In 2020, we also witnessed the Beirut Port explosion, yet another trauma in the country that shook me just as it shook the city. MSF’s emergency response included providing essential healthcare, dressing wounds, ensuring people with non-communicable diseases had their medication, mental health services, and donating clean water, drinking water and hygiene kits. At that point, I was no longer just a refugee supporting refugees.

    In September 2024, Israel escalated its war in Lebanon, which required an emergency response yet again. But this response was not like prior ones; it was much larger as the deadly war retraumatised many Lebanese people, migrants, and refugees alike. MSF went from operating one mobile medical team to 22 teams across Lebanon. We worked hard to provide health care and medication to the displaced wherever they were, in shelters, overcrowded apartments, or even on the streets.

    This latest emergency response lasted for two months, but the war did not stop with the declaration of a ceasefire. We are still witnessing Israel bombing in south Lebanon and the southern suburb of Beirut, and Israeli forces are still in Lebanon. We are still supporting people who were displaced and have not found homes or even villages to return to. It pains me greatly for Lebanon to suffer from Israel’s war that steals lives, hope, and memories, just as is happening in Palestine.

    I may not know who I am to Lebanon, but I’m certain of what Lebanon is to me. After spending 39 years in this country, it is no longer the closest thing to home: it has become home. It is a homeland I sing for; a homeland I feel a sense of belonging and loyalty to.

    My family members who emmigrated from Lebanon always ask me why I don’t leave it like they did, and I always answer them that this country needs me just as I need it. My mission is to serve the Lebanese society, which includes Lebanese people, migrants, and refugees—the Palestinian and Syrian.

    I am raising my 7-year-old son as though he’s a dual citizen, Palestinian on his father’s side and Lebanese on his mother’s side. But the bitter reality is that my son lacks both citizenships because his mother can’t pass it down to him. No matter how much I try to protect him from the traumas that are passed down through Palestinian generations, trauma is inevitable. But we find ways to cope, in search of belonging. We persevere, and we thrive.

    On World Refugee Day, I say: my name is Muhammad Sunallah, and I am a husband, a father, a nurse, and a humanitarian worker. But I am who I am today because I am a refugee.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Living as a humanitarian and refugee in Lebanon

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    My name is Muhammad Sunallah, and I am a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon.

    Mohammad Sunallah has been working with MSF in Lebanon since 2011. Lebanon, June 2025.
    © Salam Daoud/MSF

    I was born and raised in the Ain El-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp located in Saida, southern Lebanon. Established following the Nakba in 1948, it’s one of 12 Palestinian refugee camps in the country. It might be the largest one, but it always felt too small. The concrete walls surrounding it block the view of the ‘outside world’.

    Like millions of refugees around the world, I did not choose to become a refugee. In 1948, my grandparents were forced to leave Deir El-Asad in Acre, heading for an unknown destination. My father was a young child, and my mother was just an infant. “In three days, the situation will improve, and you will return,” my great grandmother told my grandfather. Why have those three days turned into 77 years?

    I, like other Palestinian refugees, have gone through identity crises morphed by accumulating traumas, the first of which stems from growing up away from our homeland. From a young age I knew I was Palestinian, but I didn’t know what that actually meant. I have never seen Palestine, I have never stepped on its soil, I have never played in its neighbourhoods. My internal wounds grew bigger when I realised that every “I have never” in these statements was realistically “I will never”. What is a refugee who does not have a homeland to return to?

    Growing up, I wanted to become a doctor and help people who needed medical care. But I soon faced the harsh reality that as a refugee I could not practice medicine in this country. Choosing that path would mean I had leave Lebanon, which I was not willing to do. So, I decided to become a nurse.

    When I joined Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in 2011, my appreciation for nursing as a profession doubled.

    I initially worked with MSF inside Ain El-Hilweh camp for many years, during which our activities took many shapes. Much like other Palestinian camps in the country, Ain El-Hilweh hosts Syrian refugees who fled the war that started in 2011. In 2015, I moved to MSF’s project in south Beirut, where we ran two clinics in the Shatila and Bourj El-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camps.

    In 2017 and 2023, several armed clashes broke out in Ain El-Hilweh camp. MSF launched emergency responses in both years, which I joined to support my community. I’ve also taken part in several emergency vaccination campaigns supporting Ministry of Health efforts.

    In 2020, we also witnessed the Beirut Port explosion, yet another trauma in the country that shook me just as it shook the city. MSF’s emergency response included providing essential healthcare, dressing wounds, ensuring people with non-communicable diseases had their medication, mental health services, and donating clean water, drinking water and hygiene kits. At that point, I was no longer just a refugee supporting refugees.

    In September 2024, Israel escalated its war in Lebanon, which required an emergency response yet again. But this response was not like prior ones; it was much larger as the deadly war retraumatised many Lebanese people, migrants, and refugees alike. MSF went from operating one mobile medical team to 22 teams across Lebanon. We worked hard to provide health care and medication to the displaced wherever they were, in shelters, overcrowded apartments, or even on the streets.

    This latest emergency response lasted for two months, but the war did not stop with the declaration of a ceasefire. We are still witnessing Israel bombing in south Lebanon and the southern suburb of Beirut, and Israeli forces are still in Lebanon. We are still supporting people who were displaced and have not found homes or even villages to return to. It pains me greatly for Lebanon to suffer from Israel’s war that steals lives, hope, and memories, just as is happening in Palestine.

    I may not know who I am to Lebanon, but I’m certain of what Lebanon is to me. After spending 39 years in this country, it is no longer the closest thing to home: it has become home. It is a homeland I sing for; a homeland I feel a sense of belonging and loyalty to.

    My family members who emmigrated from Lebanon always ask me why I don’t leave it like they did, and I always answer them that this country needs me just as I need it. My mission is to serve the Lebanese society, which includes Lebanese people, migrants, and refugees—the Palestinian and Syrian.

    I am raising my 7-year-old son as though he’s a dual citizen, Palestinian on his father’s side and Lebanese on his mother’s side. But the bitter reality is that my son lacks both citizenships because his mother can’t pass it down to him. No matter how much I try to protect him from the traumas that are passed down through Palestinian generations, trauma is inevitable. But we find ways to cope, in search of belonging. We persevere, and we thrive.

    On World Refugee Day, I say: my name is Muhammad Sunallah, and I am a husband, a father, a nurse, and a humanitarian worker. But I am who I am today because I am a refugee.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: You’re Invited: Join the First-Ever Virtual Samsung Members Connect from Anywhere in India

    Source: Samsung

     
     
    No matter where you are, step into the world of Galaxy AI, the Galaxy Ecosystem, and more, online this 25th June.
     
    For the very first time, Samsung Members Connect is going virtual and every Galaxy user across India is invited.
     
    At Samsung, we’re always listening. Over the years, many of you especially those outside Delhi-NCR have expressed your desire to be part of the Members Connect experience.
     
    We heard you. This year, we’re opening the doors to everyone. Whether you’re in Guwahati or Goa, Himachal or Hyderabad, you can now be a part of this exciting journey from the comfort of your home.
     
    What to Expect on 25th June 2025
    The Virtual Samsung Members Connect will be an immersive, content-rich experience that brings together the latest from the world of Galaxy:
     
    Galaxy AI – Explore how AI is reshaping creativity, communication, and productivity on Galaxy devices.
    Galaxy Ecosystem – Discover the power of connected living across your phone, tablet, watch, and more.
    Samsung Wallet – Learn how to simplify your daily life with digital payments and more.
    Samsung Health – Dive into features that are helping millions lead healthier lifestyles.
    Camera Deep Dive – Get tips, tricks, and insights to shoot like a pro with your Galaxy camera.
    Samsung SmartThings – Explore how an AI-powered home makes life more comfortable
     
    Whether you’re a power user, a curious explorer, or someone looking to get more out of your Galaxy device—there’s something for everyone.
     
    Why You Should Join
    No location barriers – Attend from anywhere in India
     
    Curated sessions led by Samsung experts
     
    Engaging activities, surprises and community interaction
     
    Be among the first to hear what’s next for Galaxy AI and more
     
    How to Register
    Head to the Samsung Members app and look for the “Virtual Samsung Members Connect” banner.
     
    Register now – It’s free and open to all Galaxy users.
     
    Once registered, you’ll receive the event link on your registered email ID before the event.
     
    This is more than just a virtual session—it’s your front-row seat to the Galaxy universe.
     
    Don’t miss out. Be there on 25th June 2025.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: You’re Invited: Join the First-Ever Virtual Samsung Members Connect from Anywhere in India

    Source: Samsung

     
     
    No matter where you are, step into the world of Galaxy AI, the Galaxy Ecosystem, and more, online this 25th June.
     
    For the very first time, Samsung Members Connect is going virtual and every Galaxy user across India is invited.
     
    At Samsung, we’re always listening. Over the years, many of you especially those outside Delhi-NCR have expressed your desire to be part of the Members Connect experience.
     
    We heard you. This year, we’re opening the doors to everyone. Whether you’re in Guwahati or Goa, Himachal or Hyderabad, you can now be a part of this exciting journey from the comfort of your home.
     
    What to Expect on 25th June 2025
    The Virtual Samsung Members Connect will be an immersive, content-rich experience that brings together the latest from the world of Galaxy:
     
    Galaxy AI – Explore how AI is reshaping creativity, communication, and productivity on Galaxy devices.
    Galaxy Ecosystem – Discover the power of connected living across your phone, tablet, watch, and more.
    Samsung Wallet – Learn how to simplify your daily life with digital payments and more.
    Samsung Health – Dive into features that are helping millions lead healthier lifestyles.
    Camera Deep Dive – Get tips, tricks, and insights to shoot like a pro with your Galaxy camera.
    Samsung SmartThings – Explore how an AI-powered home makes life more comfortable
     
    Whether you’re a power user, a curious explorer, or someone looking to get more out of your Galaxy device—there’s something for everyone.
     
    Why You Should Join
    No location barriers – Attend from anywhere in India
     
    Curated sessions led by Samsung experts
     
    Engaging activities, surprises and community interaction
     
    Be among the first to hear what’s next for Galaxy AI and more
     
    How to Register
    Head to the Samsung Members app and look for the “Virtual Samsung Members Connect” banner.
     
    Register now – It’s free and open to all Galaxy users.
     
    Once registered, you’ll receive the event link on your registered email ID before the event.
     
    This is more than just a virtual session—it’s your front-row seat to the Galaxy universe.
     
    Don’t miss out. Be there on 25th June 2025.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE Executive Secretary in Kyiv at launch of work on Ukraine’s State Housing Policy Strategy and to advance support for green recovery

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    In Kyiv amid some of the deadliest and most devastating attacks on Ukraine’s capital, a UNECE team led by Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean has expressed renewed solidarity with the people of Ukraine and full support to national and local recovery efforts. 

    Faced with acute damage to its ageing housing stock, Ukraine is looking not only to restore what was lost but to rethink and rebuild its housing systems, institutions, and approaches to reflect the needs of a modern, resilient, and inclusive country. 

    The housing sector has been among the hardest hit: an estimated 13% of all housing stock in the country has been damaged or destroyed, affecting more than 2.5 million households, according the joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4) commissioned by the Ukrainian Government, the World Bank Group, the European Commission and the UN.  

    UNECE is supporting the government to prepare for the recovery of the housing sector through the development of the State Housing Policy Strategy. The Strategy is guided by the draft Law “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy”, which was prepared with UNECE support through the UN4UkrainianCities initiative. 

    This week in Kyiv, UNECE joined the World Bank and other partners  for the launch of the development of the Strategy, which will be a decisive step for the entire housing policy system — from mechanisms for addressing housing needs to the management of housing stock, from support for internally displaced persons to the restoration of damaged housing. Specifically, the Strategy will define directions, mechanisms, key changes, and indicators for monitoring progress, and outline the scope of needs and planned funding sources.  

    The aim of the project is to ensure that Ukraine’s State Housing Policy Strategy reflects both domestic needs and international commitments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UNECE will support the government through recommendations on policy design, housing delivery mechanisms, and institutional reforms that are grounded in international experience. 

    In Kyiv, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean emphasized that “Ukraine’s State Housing Policy Strategy can serve as a foundation for an updated housing policy that goes beyond regulatory changes and establishes a long-term, integrated vision — and, ultimately, contributes to a better quality of life for millions of Ukrainians.” She highlighted UNECE’s longstanding partnership with Ukraine in this area.  

    The Strategy will focus on: the international and national context; housing stock (condition), including on the extent of destruction and recovery; exercising the right to housing; financing and construction of new housing; housing stock management; restoration of the housing stock; affordability of housing; transparency of housing policy. 

    The UN4UkrainianCities initiative, launched by UNECE and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and supported by GIZ, works in close cooperation with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and the cities of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. It focuses on building back better in Ukraine and the two cities, including by developing a new, modern housing policy that can be effectively implemented at the local level.  

    Supporting a green and resilient recovery  

    Expressing UNECE’s readiness to continue supporting the green recovery of Ukraine, Ms. Molcean discussed with Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Ms. Svitlana Grynchuk, the country’s strong engagement despite the extreme challenges posed by the war, harnessing in particular UNECE’s Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Since 2022, Ukraine has acceded to the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention and the GMO amendment under the Aarhus Convention, and signed a bilateral agreement with Romania on the Implementation of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention). UNECE is also supporting Ukraine’s transition to a climate-resilient and net-zero economy — by integrating green policies, financial mechanisms and stakeholder collaboration — through the Platform for Action on the Green Recovery of Ukraine, established jointly with UNEP and OECD. 

    In meetings with Ukrainian high-level officials, the Executive Secretary further reaffirmed commitment to supporting Ukraine to address challenges in housing and other areas of UNECE expertise, in particular in energy and environmental protection. She met with Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, Ms. Natalia Kozlovska, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Ms. Y.Svyrydenko, and Deputy Chair of Verkhovna Rada, Ms. Olena Kondratyuk, as well as heads of Verkhovna Rada Committees. 

    Photo credit: Press Service of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Community leaders call on United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to support demilitarization of Tripoli

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

    Download logo

    Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Aeneas Chuma chaired a meeting with the Tripoli Center Outreach Committee Monday to discuss de-escalation efforts in Tripoli. These leaders, who has contributed to brokering and sustaining the truce since the May crisis, have been pivotal in preventing violence through community engagement. The Mission has facilitated targeted mediation meetings to reinforce their peacebuilding capacities, encourage coordination with official security institutions, and amplify local ownership in sustaining stability.

    During the same week, UNSMIL’s SIS met with notables and community leaders from across the western region as part of ongoing efforts to support local peacebuilding. The meeting followed up on previous engagements and recognized their critical role in sustaining the truce. Participants discussed ways to further contribute to the implementation of local security arrangements and enhance coordination with official institutions. UNSMIL reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive dialogue and community-driven stabilization. “UNSMIL and IC need to urge all parties to refrain from provocative speech and actions,” one of the notables said. 

    During the meetings, the leaders shared their efforts and presented recommendations for peace initiatives. Participants stressed the need for a disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program, warning of the risks of military presence in residential areas. “We share the demands of Tripoli’s people and aim to demilitarize the capital,” stated the participants. UNSMIL expressed its intention to increase collaboration and ensure that local voices continue to shape both local and national peace processes.

    – on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: “Don’t Lose This Golden Chance”- President Museveni Advises Ugandans on the Parish Development Model (PDM)

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

    Download logo

    He said he began the fight against poverty in the 1960s and he has been able to come up with various poverty alleviation programs to ensure that his dream is realized.

    “Don’t lose this chance because it’s a big support to you. Wako, who was poor, is now a rich man. He is blessed now with three cows and a milling machine because his family embraced the PDM program. I know that we are all not equal but when you embrace the PDM program you will eradicate poverty in your households,” he said.

    President Museveni made the remarks today during his PDM assessment tour at Mr. Muwereza Wako ‘s farm situated at Buyego cell, Buvuma sub-county in Buvuma district.

    Mr. Wako, a PDM beneficiary, owns three cows and a milling machine.

    The President, who was pleased to visit Mr. Wako’s farm, said that the government has for years been sending resources to the public to curb poverty but in one way or the other some government officials have been mismanaging it.

    President Museveni however narrated that the government now gives each parish Shs.100m annually and in his next five years’ term in office, each parish will have received Shs.500m.

    He revealed that the first batch which received Shs.1m PDM money each, two years back will return it to their parishes with an interest of Shs.120,000, to give chance to other adults to benefit.

    The President supported Mr. Wako with Shs.12m to purchase an acre of land at Shs.10m and use the Shs.2m to buy livestock like goats and pigs.

    In response, Mr. Wako commended the President for initiating the PDM program that has enabled a section of Ugandans to improve their standard of living through wealth creation. He asserted that he was so poor to an extent that he couldn’t afford food for his family but currently he is called a rich man.

    Mr. Wako and his wife Mirembe Eseza together with their eight children live on half an acre of land and according to the farmer, the PDM money has enabled him to add value to his family through wealth creation.

    He said on 21st June 2023, he received Shs. 1 million PDM cash and after the bank charges, he remained with Shs. 980,000.

    Mr. Wako noted that using the PDM money, he added some of his savings to buy a bull and a cow which conceived and gave birth to a calf in May 2024.

    During the same month, he sold a bull at Shs.1m and used it to purchase an old milling machine at Shs.2.5m.  

    Mr. Wako explained that the machine seller allowed him to clear his remaining balance of Shs.1.5m in installments. He asserted that he started using the machine which fetched him money to clear the balance.

    The PDM beneficiary revealed that the milling machine earns him Shs. 15,000 every day, after deducting Shs. 5,000 for fuel, thus remaining with Shs. 10,000 and he earns a total of 300,000 per month. The dairy cow gives him 3 litres of milk. He sells two litres at Shs.1000 each and earns a total of Shs. 60,000 per month. The cow dung and urine is used as fertilizers in his garden.

    – on behalf of State House Uganda.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Botafogo shock PSG 1-0 at Club World Cup

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

    Igor Jesus scored the winning goal as reigning South American champions Botafogo stunned newly crowned UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in FIFA Club World Cup Group B on Thursday.

    Paris Saint-Germain, one of the favorites in the 32-team tournament, had cruised past Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the first round last Sunday, while Botafogo defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1.

    Jesus netted a solo goal in the 36th minute, capitalizing on a deflection off a defender. The Brazilian club then held firm through a wave of second-half attacks from the French powerhouse, handing Paris Saint-Germain its first loss since May 3.

    Paris Saint-Germain registered 16 shots but only two on target, while all four of Botafogo’s attempts were on goal.

    “A lot of people wondered, but we showed how strong Botafogo is,” Jesus said. “It was a difficult game, and we had to defend well, and we did our job and scored a goal.

    “We’re really happy. We knew how important this game was. One team was the champion of the Champions League, the other team was the champion of South America,” added Jesus.

    Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique said it’s normal for any team to lose matches in a world-level tournament. “This competition is very intense and difficult. Every team is motivated, especially against our team. I sometimes think our team struggled against their defense. I think Botafogo is one of the toughest defensive teams in the tournament.”

    Botafogo now leads the group with six points, three ahead of both Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. All four teams, including the Sounders, who have lost both matches, remain in contention for a spot in the knockout stage. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman charged with murder of Jennifer Abbott

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A woman has been charged with murder following a death in Camden.

    Nancy Pexton, 69 (10.04.1956), of Gloucester Place, Westminster was charged on Friday, 20 June.

    She is remanded in custody to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 20 June.

    Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 18:00hrs on Friday, 13 June to a report of an unresponsive woman at her home in Mornington Place, Camden.

    Officers attended and found a woman with stab injuries. She was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

    She was identified as 69-year-old Jennifer Abbott.

    Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Woman charged with murder of Jennifer Abbott

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A woman has been charged with murder following a death in Camden.

    Nancy Pexton, 69 (10.04.1956), of Gloucester Place, Westminster was charged on Friday, 20 June.

    She is remanded in custody to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 20 June.

    Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 18:00hrs on Friday, 13 June to a report of an unresponsive woman at her home in Mornington Place, Camden.

    Officers attended and found a woman with stab injuries. She was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

    She was identified as 69-year-old Jennifer Abbott.

    Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Young Minds, Big Dreams: How Bengaluru’s Students Are Reimagining India’s Future with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

    Source: Samsung

    Young Indians are ready to step up and solve real-world problems
     
    Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, a national innovation challenge for 14-22 year olds, is transforming campuses in Bengaluru into launch pads of the future.
     
    Launched on April 29, the latest season of the innovation contest is spreading across India through a series of design thinking workshops and Open Houses—reaching not just major metros but also the vibrant heartlands of the Northeast. The programme encourages youth to identify real-world issues in their communities and develop meaningful tech-based solutions.
     
    This year, the programme will offer INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams, along with opportunities for hands-on prototyping, expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty, and valuable investor connects—giving young minds the support they need to bring their ideas to life.
     
    In Bengaluru, more than 3,000 students from five leading schools and colleges came together this month to dream big, think bold and build solutions for India’s future. As part of the programme’s roadshows and open houses, classrooms were transformed into buzzing hubs of ideas and inspiration.
     
    From medical colleges to high schools, the message was clear: young Indians are ready to step up and solve real-world problems—armed with empathy, technology and a passion to bring meaningful change.
     
    At Dr Chandramma Dayananda Sagar Institute of Medical Education and Research, students gathered to explore how health and innovation intersect. For Ritwika, the experience was transformative.
    “The workshop helped me understand how to really think—not just of ideas, but of how to plan and build them. I’ve always been bothered by how we manage waste around us. Now, with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, I want to work on better waste segregation systems. It made me realise that we’re not just students—we can be problem solvers.”
     
    Similar energy echoed through Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, where Rudra left the workshop thinking not just as a medical student, but as a changemaker.
     
    “I finally understood what design thinking really means,” he said. “It’s not just a process—it’s a mindset. I want to work on ideas around energy conservation that help society at large. This programme gave me the clarity I needed to start.”
     
    The spark wasn’t limited to colleges alone. In schools like National Centre for Excellence, Sandeepani School, and AECS School, younger students were just as fired up to bring change.
     
    Deeksha, a student passionate about the environment, found her path through technology.
     
    “I used to think solving environmental problems needed years of research. But this workshop taught me to first define the problem clearly—and then start thinking of practical solutions. With Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, I want to build tech-based solutions for sustainability. There’s so much scope here—and I believe I can make a difference.”
     
    The programme is not just about problem-solving—it is also about planting the seeds of entrepreneurship. For Anish, the workshop became the launchpad for a bigger dream.
     
    “Before this, I didn’t know where to begin. But Samsung Solve for Tomorrow gave me the foundation to think like a founder. I want to work on issues around wildlife conservation and eventually start up in this space.”
     
    Across each workshop, one thing was consistent—the commitment Samsung has made to empower India’s youth, encouraging them to look at their communities, identify pressing problems, and innovate with purpose.
     
    As the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow roadshows wrap up in Bengaluru, they leave behind not just filled notebooks, but lit-up minds—ready to reimagine India, one solution at a time.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Building Solutions for Bharat: Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Sparks Change Across North India

    Source: Samsung

    Young changemakers at HDFC School, Gurugram
     
    In classrooms across Punjab and Haryana, something powerful is happening. Students are no longer just preparing for exams—they’re preparing to change the world.
     
    Through the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow programme, workshops and open houses recently swept through towns and cities like Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Talwandi, Dhuri, and Gurugram, igniting a spark of innovation among hundreds of young minds. From government schools to premier universities, students are now dreaming of solving India’s most pressing problems—armed with empathy, purpose, and the courage to act.
     
    Launched on April 29, 2025, this latest season of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a national innovation challenge that equips students with design thinking tools to identify real-world problems and build tech-based solutions that matter. The programme offers INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams, alongside expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty, investor connects, and prototyping support to help turn big ideas into tangible change.
     
    At Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar, the energy in the room was palpable. Chestha, an engineering student with a passion for rural development, walked in with a question and walked out with a mission.
     
    “I’ve always wondered why farmers still struggle with outdated irrigation systems,” she said. “This workshop helped me think through the problem and sketch out a low-cost, AI-based solution for real-time soil and water monitoring. I now believe it’s actually doable—and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has given me the tools to begin.”
     
    Over in Guru Kashi University, Talwandi, Vatsal found a different calling.
     
    “I’ve been interested in the mental health crisis, especially among teenagers in smaller towns. The workshop helped me design a tech-enabled peer support platform focused on accessibility and anonymity. It feels good to know that ideas like these can get real support. For the first time, I feel like I can make something that truly matters.”
     
    In Patiala’s DAV Public School, the spirit of problem-solving had taken over. Astha, a Class 11 student with an eye for social impact, was brimming with purpose.
     
    “I want to address the lack of menstrual hygiene awareness in rural schools. During the workshop, I mapped out an idea for a mobile app and a local ambassador network. It’s a small step, but it could mean the world to someone. Solve for Tomorrow made me believe that even at 16, I can start something.”
     
    Meanwhile, in Gurugram’s HDFC School, the air was thick with big ideas and bigger ambitions. Rishika, a student driven by climate action, left the session inspired.
     
    “I’ve been worried about the carbon footprint of everyday transportation,” she shared. “This workshop gave me the confidence to explore green mobility solutions—like creating an app that promotes micro-mobility options in school campuses and societies. It’s early, but I’ve started thinking like a designer, a problem-solver.”
     
    The movement didn’t stop there. From BCM Arya Model School in Ludhiana to Guru Teg Bahadur Public School in Bardwal (Dhuri), and KR Mangalam in Gurugram, every workshop was filled with passionate young voices. Some wanted to work on clean energy. Others dreamt of solving water scarcity. What united them all was the belief that they could shape the future—not someday but starting now.
     
    Across every region, one thing stood out—the unwavering commitment Samsung has made to democratizing innovation and nurturing India’s next generation of visionaries.
     
    As the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow roadshows continue their journey, they’re not just delivering workshops—they’re sparking revolutions of thought. And in the hearts of students from Punjab’s villages to Gurugram’s classrooms, the seeds of a better tomorrow are already taking root.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM Sounds Alarm Over Suspension of Life-Saving Transport in South Sudan

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Geneva/Juba, 20 June 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is deeply alarmed by the suspension of its life-saving transport services for thousands of displaced people in South Sudan due to critical funding shortfalls. With humanitarian needs on the rise and more people fleeing violence in neighbouring Sudan, IOM is urgently appealing for USD 6.5 million to resume this vital support and prevent vulnerable people from being left stranded.

    “The people arriving in South Sudan have already endured unimaginable trauma – conflict, displacement, and profound loss,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “It is unconscionable that, after surviving so much, they are now left stranded at the border without the means to reach safety or rebuild their lives. We cannot allow financial constraints to determine whether people live with dignity or languish in desperation. The time to act is now. This lifeline must be restored – urgently.”

    Onward transport assistance (OTA) is a critical lifeline for those undertaking long and dangerous journeys as a result of the war in Sudan. It allows people to move safely and with dignity from border entry points to their destinations of choice within South Sudan, where they can reconnect with their families, find protection, and access services and opportunities for recovery.

    Following the depletion of available funding, OTA operations were drastically reduced and temporarily suspended on 1 June 2025. This suspension has put further strain on host communities, increased the risk of tensions and disease outbreaks, and limited access to already scarce resources such as water, health services, land, and livelihoods. Currently, only one bus and one truck are departing daily from the Joda border to Renk – far below what is needed to meet the scale of the emergency.

    IOM operates OTA through a multi-modal transport network, using barges, buses, and aircraft, depending on the security and accessibility of specific routes. Travel from border areas like Renk to destinations such as Wau, Juba, or Bentiu can take more than five days.

    Since May 2023, IOM has supported over 570,000 new arrivals in South Sudan with transportation from entry points to transit centers, and more than 250,000 people to their final destination. The need for this service is now greater than ever as people continue to flee Sudan’s warzone and arrive in South Sudan’s fragile northern regions.

    As the crisis continues, population movements are shifting, with new waves of arrivals from other areas placing additional strain on already overstretched border communities and services. These new arrivals are compounding South Sudan’s already dire humanitarian crisis, marked by years of conflict, disease outbreaks, and climate shocks.

    Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, nearly 1.2 million people have crossed into South Sudan, which continues to maintain an open-door policy for those fleeing violence. Of these arrivals, 32 per cent have been identified as Sudanese refugees and 68 per cent are South Sudanese returnees.

    Thousands continue to cross into South Sudan each week. However, since April 2025, approximately 85,000 people have crossed from South Sudan into Sudan. This includes South Sudanese refugees and Sudanese nationals returning home, primarily due to insecurity and the lack of essential services in South Sudan.

    Many of those arriving at border areas like Renk are exhausted, malnourished, and without the financial or physical means to continue their journeys. They face urgent medical needs or serious protection risks, including unaccompanied or separated children, older people, persons with disabilities, and those requiring referral to specialized care.

    With 125,000 new arrivals expected between July and the end of the year and 43,000 people in urgent need of transport assistance, IOM warns that the crisis will only deepen in the absence of immediate funding. IOM calls on donors and partners to urgently step in and restore this critical service, ensuring safe, dignified onward movement for those fleeing conflict and seeking protection in South Sudan.

    For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • Gujarat to mark Yoga Day with state-level event in PM Modi’s hometown Vadnagar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Gujarat will mark the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21 with a state-level event in Vadnagar, the hometown of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The main celebration will take place at Sarmishta Lake, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Health Minister Rishikesh Patel, and Minister of State for Sports Harsh Sanghavi expected to attend.

    Prime Minister will lead the national event from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. More than 1.5 crore people are expected to participate across over 60,000 locations in the state.

    Yoga sessions will be held in 45,000 primary schools, 12,500 secondary schools, 2,600 colleges and three universities, involving around 5.73 lakh students and teachers. Events are also planned across 18,226 gram panchayats, 251 taluka panchayats, and all 33 district police headquarters.

    The state government has extended the campaign to 287 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), 1,477 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 6,500 wellness centres, 30 prisons and 1,152 police stations. Mass yoga sessions are also scheduled at 100 Amrit Sarovar lakes.

    In the run-up to the event, yoga and ‘surya namaskar’ sessions were held at 11 locations in Vadnagar, including Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Tana-Riri Garden, Kirti Toran, the Vadnagar Museum, and the local railway station. Additionally, over 35 large-scale yoga events — each with more than 1,000 participants — were organised in Junagadh, Porbandar, Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad.

    Last year, Gujarat recorded the highest participation in the country with 1.31 crore people taking part in Yoga Day activities.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow has sold about 100 historical objects at auction in 3.5 years

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Since 2022, business representatives have purchased almost 100 architectural monuments from the city through auctions. Department of City Property concluded purchase and sale agreements for buildings and premises with a total area of over 16,000 square meters. This was reported at the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Ekaterina Solovieva, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of City Property.

    “The capital’s architectural monuments of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as the early 20th century, are especially attractive to investors. Since 2022, the city has sold almost 100 cultural heritage sites at auction – non-residential buildings and premises in them – with a total area of over 16 thousand square meters. Among them, for example, is the house of the non-class artist Adrian Silversvan of the 19th-20th centuries, as well as the dacha of Alexander Levenson in the Novo-Peredelkino district. Each cultural heritage site is exclusive due to its history. Entrepreneurs can profitably use architectural monuments when implementing projects,” noted Ekaterina Solovyova.

    Investors will be able to purchase a historic building in Novo-PeredelkinoCity puts artist Adrian Silverswan’s house up for auction

    The sold areas are located in identified cultural heritage sites (CHS), as well as in CHS of federal and regional significance. They are located in seven administrative districts of Moscow. According to the terms of the purchase and sale agreements, the winners must use the buildings and premises in accordance with the security obligation. It also provides for restoration and reconstruction work, which the new owners agree with the capital Department of Cultural HeritageThe organizer of the auction is Moscow City Department of Competition Policy.

    More information about current offers from the city is published onMoscow investment portal.

    Development of electronic services for business corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Digital Economy”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    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 access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155519073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Summer cinema “Moskino Muzeon” invites you to the opening of the season

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Summer cinema “Moschino Muzeon” will begin its work on June 26. The season will open with the screening of the romantic melodrama “Piter FM” by director and screenwriter Oksana Bychkova. The film will be released again on July 3. The film is full of bizarre coincidences and semi-mystical chance encounters that take place against the backdrop of the urban landscape of St. Petersburg.

    The event will start at 20:00. Before the screening, at 20:15, viewers will enjoy a performance by the pop-rock band Gorod 312, whose composition Vne zona dostupnosti became one of the calling cards of the film. The band will perform their main hits. At 20:45, there will be an autograph session with the band members. The film will be presented at 21:10 by producer Elena Glikman and the lead actress Ekaterina Fedulova. The screening will be held with the support of the K24 film distribution company.

    In addition, during the summer season, the cinema will present auteur films, new releases, festival hits and world classics. Screenings of films in the original language with Russian subtitles are also planned.

    This year, Moskino Muzeon will become even more convenient: the cinema is equipped with a roof that protects the seating area from rain, and the updated venue will have 190 seats available for viewers.

    The cinema is located at the address: Krymsky Val Street, Building 2, Muzeon Arts Park, on the square near the dry fountain. You can get there from the Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya metro stations. Tickets can be purchased online – on the website or through the app “Moschino”.

    Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports programs are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    State Budgetary Cultural Institution “Moscow Cinema” (Moskino) is an organization within the structure Department of Culture, which oversees the development of the capital’s cinemas, filming and other citywide projects in the field of cinema. The Moskino cinema chain provides viewers of all ages with the opportunity to watch not only entertaining films, but also art-house films, Soviet films and rare cinema classics on the big screen.

    The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino Film Park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino Film Factory, the Moskino Cinema Network, the Film Commission and the Moskino Film Platform.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    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 access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155530073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US entry into conflict with Iran will lead to a spiral of escalation in the region – D. Peskov

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, June 20 /Xinhua/ — The possible entry of the United States into the conflict between Israel and Iran will only lead to a new round of confrontation and increased tension in the region, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sky News.

    Asked what Russia’s reaction would be to the possibility of a US strike on Iran, he said “the situation is extremely tense and poses a danger not only to the region but to the world.”

    “The expansion of the geography of the conflict, the expansion of the number of participants in the conflict is potentially even more dangerous. This is our position. This will only lead to a new round of confrontation and increased tension in the region. In principle, this is extremely dangerous,” noted D. Peskov. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –