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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Members approve 2025/26 Area Roads Capital Programme for Badenoch and Strathspey

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Members of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee today (10 February 2025) approved the Area Roads Capital Programme for 2025/26.

    The local allocations capital budget for 2025/26 remains to be established which will be calculated from the approved capital budget allocation being adjusted for any acceleration or slippage in the previous financial year for each area allocation, and analysis of the road condition survey results.   

    Consequently the 2025/26 area capital roads programme is currently based on the previous year’s baseline £18.1m Highland Area Roads Budget allocation. Should the approved 2025/26 budget differ from the previous budgets then the programme will be appropriately adjusted.

    The 2024/25 baseline budget for Badenoch and Strathspey area was £900,300.

    The 2024/25 Roads Budget local allocation for Badenoch and Strathspey area can be found in the report at Appendix 1. The 2025/26 programme is scheduled in Appendix 2 of the same report. 

    Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, Cllr Russell Jones, said: “Members fully understand the challenges faced by our roads manager when it comes to fixing the issues on every road that requires attention, especially after another severe winter.  

    “Members would therefore like to commend the area roads team for their continued efforts to maintain our local road network.”

    Cllr Jones concluded by saying: “Members were given the opportunity to review and agree the proposed resurfacing and surface dressing programmes at their Ward business meetings and I am pleased that today we have agreed a number of programmed schemes that can be prioritised for capital funding allocation.” 

    The priority routes approved by Members today include resurfacing on:  

    • Forest Road & Seafield Avenue, Grantown (U3186)
    • Bridge of Brown (A939)
    • The Square, Grantown (A939)
    • Woodside Avenue, Grantown (U2837)
    • Deshar Road, Boat of Garten (C1128)
    • Grampian View, Aviemore (U3186)
    • Old Glen Road, Newtonmore
    • Golf Course Road, Newtonmore (C1135)

    10 Feb 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Cultural Code of the Celestial Empire: How to Do Business in China

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    © Mikhail Dmitriev / Higher School of Economics

    By 2035, China will overtake the United States in terms of GDP and become the world’s largest economy. Today, there are over 108 million entrepreneurs and 50 million industrial enterprises in this country. Last year, economic growth was 4.8%. This opens up unique opportunities for Russian companies. HSE experts explained how to enter one of the most promising markets.

    The HSE Expert Club “Eastern Perspective” held a business session “China: Five Steps to Entering the Market That Will Bring Profits”. The club was created by HSE experts to discuss tools, trends and insights on cooperation between Russia and the countries of Southeast Asia, the Near and Middle East, and North Africa. The participants were addressed by experts with successful experience in the Chinese market. The meeting was moderated by Deputy Director Marketing Communications Directorate HSE University Dmitry Chubarov.

    Sergey Mikhnevich, Managing Director of the Department of International Multilateral Cooperation and Integration of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Coordinator of Russian Business Participation in the Business Twenty, Executive Secretary, Member of the Presidium of the Business Council of the Eurasian Economic Union, spoke about a possible strategy for working with the Chinese business community and GR. First of all, he noted that China is the largest trading partner for Russia, but the volume of trade is quite concentrated and is mostly tied to one or two large projects. At the same time, there is currently a shortage of good experts in China in our country. Even the number of Russians who know Chinese and study this country has noticeably decreased in recent years.

    The speaker noted a number of markers of the Chinese approach to the market, related to the consideration of national characteristics, that is, the adaptation of foreign experience to their own realities and capabilities. He assigns a key role to the government of the PRC, since certain attributes of socialism are preserved in the country, which affects, among other things, the system of development of the Chinese economy and various methods of managing it. First of all, the Chinese market is a market of tough competition with directive management methods.

    “Despite the fact that for 10-12 years the PRC has been placing a big bet on increasing the role of the domestic market as an economic driver, exports also play a colossal role. At the same time, many companies enter the Chinese market not to sell their products, but to use the country’s production capabilities and then export goods to the target market, be it the Russian Federation or the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. There are quite a few such examples in a variety of economic sectors, because China’s import needs are really very high,” he said.

    According to the expert, China currently has a need for such areas as green development, ensuring the sustainability of supply chains for goods and raw materials, and the formation of new dynamic and stable sales markets.

    Professor Faculty of World Economy and World PoliticsNatalia Guseva, head of the HSE educational programs “Business with the East”, presented the educational programs “Eastern Perspective” for entrepreneurs working with countries of the Near and Middle East, North Africa, and the Indo-Pacific region.

    The flagship five-month program “Eastern Perspective: Strategy and Tactics for Building a Business” combines the experience and practices of entering new markets in developed countries of the Global East. Intensive three-month program “Eastern Perspective: The Basics of Building a Business” is aimed at obtaining practical knowledge on business development, launching international projects in various sectors of the economy with countries of the Global East.

    Three-week program «Eastern Perspective: The Practice of Building a Business in China“focuses on knowledge, strategies and practices for building a successful business in this country.

    “We want to give listeners new knowledge and share successful cases, and sometimes failed cases, when a company loses tens and hundreds of thousands, or even millions, due to mistakes. It is very important to understand what strategy you are going to use to enter the Chinese market and how you are going to compete there,” Natalia Guseva emphasized. “For example, why do they only talk about how to export products? Why not create a local enterprise? Why not make direct foreign investments? Why not think about licensing or franchising, depending on the specifics of the product or services provided?”

    Anastasia Nasedkina, founder of a Chinese marketing agency, spoke about the peculiarities of the Chinese market Matessa, author of educational courses on Chinese advertising platforms Baidu, WeChat, Weibo, Douyin (Ocean Engine). According to her, there are a number of significant differences from the Russian and European markets that need to be understood. For example, the Chinese in most cases trade and conduct business via mobile phones, not from a desktop computer, so to enter the Chinese market, a company does not need a website: its functionality will be replaced by the official WeChat account. For the same reason, social networks are serious tools for business development there. Analogues of WhatsApp, FB, Inst and VK, which are used in China: WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, Kuaishou, QQ.

    A foreign company must register a legal entity – this will allow it to promote the brand without strict restrictions. In addition, having a legal entity increases audience loyalty. A verified WeChat account will provide a credit of trust even for a young company: legal entity accounts are strictly checked, and this takes up to six months.

    One of the most popular online platforms for watching and sharing short videos is Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Its audience is very diverse: about 60% of users are between the ages of 18 and 35, followed by the audience of 35-50 years old. The platform is popular in various regions of China, with a significant portion of users coming from first- and second-tier cities, that is, developed and wealthy provinces. The platform has a built-in Douyin Shop, where you can sell products if you have a registered trademark.

    In addition, live broadcasts conducted by the brand’s official account are popular in the country. In 2021, they already accounted for 57% of all broadcasts on the Douyin platform. The content on these accounts consists of simple and short videos, the editing of which mainly comes down to adding background music and effects.

    Entering the Chinese market should always begin with research, notes Anastasia Nasedkina. It is necessary to analyze the demand of the target audience, competitors, as well as the economic and political landscape. It is also important to assess the brand’s presence in the digital environment, the adaptation of the product and service to local preferences, the ability to ensure fast and hassle-free payment for purchases through local services.

    It is also important to pay attention to national rules of negotiation. Here, the strict hierarchy of age and position, the Chinese desire to “not lose face,” as well as cultural differences with Western views on topics such as worldview, relationships, family, etc. are important.

    “When you enter the Chinese market and hire employees there, you need to somehow build interaction with them, and it is important to either have a person who understands all these cultural differences and peculiarities and can build communication, or to immerse yourself and thus build a team in China. The Chinese market is quite complex, but with proper preparation and understanding, with the right strategy, you can enter it and gain a foothold in one or two years,” she summed up.

    In conclusion, the moderator of the event, Dmitry Chubarov, once again invited the business session participants to take the HSE educational programs dedicated to the East. He emphasized that the expertise and cases that will be discussed will not be based on abstract textbooks, but on the daily successful practice of both Russian and international companies.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: On Russian Science Day, scientists and postgraduates were awarded at the Polytechnic University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On the Day of Russian Science, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University held many events: open lectures, seminars, quizzes, round tables, webinars and competitions. And the main event of the holiday was the award ceremony for the winners of the “Graduate Student of the Year” competition, the most active SPbPU scientists in the media and journalists popularizing science.

    Congratulating scientists, postgraduates and students on the holiday, Vice-Rector for Research Yuri Fomin emphasized that unprecedented attention is being paid to support of scientific activity at the federal level today.

    At a recent meeting of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Science and Education, it was discussed that it is necessary to ensure the superiority of domestic science-intensive technologies and products in vital areas. Polytechnic scientists are making their contribution to solving this problem. We are proud of their achievements and grateful to active popularizers of science who attract young people to research work, said Yuri Vladimirovich.

    After the greeting, the Vice-Rector for Science presented awards to the winners and prize-winners of the first-ever “Postgraduate of the Year” competition and their academic supervisors. In the field of natural and exact sciences, first place was taken by Polina Shinkevich from the Civil Engineering Institute (scientific supervisor Natalia Politaeva), second and third places went to Physics and Mechanical Institute postgraduate students Daniil Provodin (scientific supervisor Vadim Davydov) and Anna Ponomarenko (scientific supervisor Alexander Yashin).

    In the field of technical sciences, first place went to Ksenia Velmozhina from ISI (scientific supervisor Natalia Politaeva), and second place went to postgraduate students from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Ekaterina Volokitina (scientific supervisor Nikolai Razumov) and Salbek Beketov (scientific supervisor Sergei Redko).

    In the field of humanities and social sciences, all prize places went to postgraduate students of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade:

    The first was won by Grigory Kulkaev (scientific supervisor Oleg Kichigin), the second by Alexey Melnik (scientific supervisor Alexander Babkin), and the third by Maria Rodionova (scientific supervisor Tatyana Kudryavtseva).

    “At the very beginning of their journey, all young scientists go through postgraduate studies,” noted Yuri Fomin. “That is why it was important for us to launch this competition, to emphasize the role of postgraduate students and their scientific supervisors, and we hope that the new tradition will be supported and gain momentum.”

    Also, together with the Head of the Public Relations Department Marianna Dyakova, Yuri Fomin awarded the Polytechnic scientists who demonstrated maximum media activity in 2024. These are researchers and experts who gave comments in federal and regional media, actively collaborated with journalists in preparing materials.

    Marianna Dyakova thanked those who regularly appear on the Polytechnic’s media resources and help with the preparation of materials in the media: Thank you for creating the image of our university, its reputation. We understand that it is difficult to distract scientists from their scientific work, but this is also important work for the university, and we really appreciate those who find time for it.

    Among those awarded were: Head of the Laboratory of Lightweight Materials and Structures Oleg Panchenko, Director of the Scientific and Educational Center (SEC) “Mechanical Engineering Technologies and Materials” Pavel Novikov, Director of the SEC “Nanotechnologies and Coatings” Alexander Semencha, Head of the Scientific Research Laboratory (SRL) for the Analysis of Biomedical Images and Data Ekaterina Pchitskaya, Head of the Laboratory nano- and microencapsulation of biologically active substances Alexander Timin, research fellow at the Nanobiotechnology Research Complex Natalia Morozova, head of the Food Quality Control Laboratory Maria Kireeva, head of the System Dynamics Research Laboratory Angi Skhvediani, head of the General and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Evgenia Pochkaeva.

    In honor of Russian Science Day, the university also thanked journalists who regularly cover the Polytechnic University’s scientific activities in the media. As Marianna Dyakova emphasized, the media always show great interest in SPbPU, and the university is grateful to many of them for their attention. And Russian Science Day is a good reason to thank the most active information partners: producer of the Directorate of Socially Significant Thematic Programs and Special Projects of the Saint Petersburg TV Channel Natalia Lomonosova, senior correspondent of Rossiyskaya Gazeta Marina Ledyaeva, special correspondent of the TASS news agency Sergei Rybakov.

    On the eve of Science Day, representatives of the Student Scientific Society also made a presentation about their activities at the Polytechnic University. The head of the organization, Mikhail Udovichenko, told which institutes the SSS is actively working in and where it is not yet, and called on students to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the association, attend events and propose ideas. Viktor Klinkov, head of the educational laboratory of applied chemistry and candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, told students about his experience and path to science. And Angelika Gerner, head of the youth scientific competitions sector of the Office for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs, and Ekaterina Linnik, director of the Center for Scientific Publications, told students about the available opportunities for participating in competitions, receiving grants, and writing scientific articles.

    Photo archive

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have disconnected from Russia’s energy grid and connected to Europe

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    Plugged off Russia
    Plugged into Europe

    We celebrate the Baltic States’ energy independence.

    We’re cutting the last remaining links with Russia.

    Freedom from threats and blackmail, at last.

    A truly historic day.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws1n4cTeGFk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation launches to help shape Plymouth’s disability adaptation services

    Source: City of Plymouth

    A consultation has launched to help shape the Council’s independent living assistance policy.

    Last year, Plymouth was granted £3m to help deliver disability adaptions in the city.

    Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are financial grants provided by the government to support individuals with disabilities in adapting their homes to improve accessibility and safety.

    The grant provides essential funding to help disabled individuals live safely and independently at home. Whether it’s installing ramps, adapting bathrooms, or making other vital changes, this support transforms everyday living for those who need it.

    Over the past two decades, DFGs have become a key tool in supporting the inclusion of disabled people, allowing them to maintain autonomy, dignity and reduce reliance on care. 

    Over the last three years, the Council have supported over 500 adaptations in homes.

    Teresa recently had a ramp installed on the outside of her home, in the below video, she explains how much this has made a difference to her life.

    Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities, said: “The consultation is imperative to shaping our independent living assistance policy.

    “The adaptations make a huge difference to people’s lives. It is important to hear from residents like Teresa who have had adaptations made in their home to support their life, and how this has made a difference for her, to help shape our services for the future.

    “We ask residents to please fill out the consultation to help us shape our services for the future, and if you have had adaptations made in your home, please let us know.”

    The consultation closes on Friday 14 March.

    As part of the consultation, we will be holding two in-person workshops on 26 February.

    If you feel you could benefit from home adaptations, please email the Community Connections Team at [email protected]

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Live Here Love Here award for Dromore environmental group

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Liz Burke-Jones from Higher Ground Community Gardening Group, Julie Reynolds from Higher Ground Community Gardening Group, Lord Mayor of ABC Borough, Cllr Sarah Duffy, Lynda Surgenor, Live Here Love Here Manager, Deirdre Shannon from Higher Ground Community Gardening Group, and Brian Shannon from Higher Ground Community Gardening Group.

    Dromore’s Higher Ground Community Gardening Group were crowned the ABC Borough Regional Champions at last week’s Live Here Love Here Community Awards.

    Live Here Love Here, a people-powered campaign dedicated to improving the local environment and fostering civic pride, revealed the winners of its 2025 Community Awards at Belfast City Hall on Thursday, February 6.

    The event hosted by TV presenter Joe Mahon, brought together over 150 guests – including DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, local leaders, environmental advocates and volunteers – to honour the outstanding contributions of voluntary community groups across Northern Ireland working to improve the environment and promote civic pride.

    Sponsored by Power NI and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), nine local councils, and the Housing Executive, the awards serve as a vital platform for recognising the power of collective action in tackling community environmental challenges such as dog fouling, littering, biodiversity loss, transformation of neglected spaces, and environmental education.

    On the night, 12 awards were presented to celebrate the achievements of local community groups, including the Regional Champions Awards, which honoured volunteers from Live Here Love Here’s nine partner council areas.

    Dromore’s Higher Ground Community Gardening Group received Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s Regional Champions Award for its work in organising litter picks, revitalising neglected spaces, and planting around the area to enhance its appearance which in turn has fostered civic pride and created momentum for ongoing improvements.

    Tidy Banbridge was also recognised as runners-up in this category for its environmental efforts, which include litter picks and forming community partnerships, with a focus on supporting local youth groups and revitalising neglected flower patches.

    Lord Mayor of ABC Borough, Cllr Sarah Duffy explained how the volunteers in Dromore and Banbridge are leading by example. She said, “I would like to congratulate Dromore’s Higher Ground Community Gardening Group for their Regional Champions Award and also congratulate Tidy Banbridge who were runners-up. As well as the practical improvements they are making, these volunteers are inspiring more people to take care of the environment and developing a sense of pride in their communities, which is great to see.”

    Lynda Surgenor, Live Here Love Here Manager, said, “The Community Awards resonate because they celebrate the unsung heroes in our communities who are driving real environmental change through volunteer work. This year, the theme ‘Community Connections’ made it even more special as we honoured groups that demonstrate the power of collective action. Whether it’s transforming vacant land into thriving green spaces or mobilising locals to restore and protect local waterways, these groups are proving that no action is too small to make a difference. We’re reminded that, together, we can build a cleaner, greener, and more connected Northern Ireland.”

    She added, “We also want to thank DAERA, Power NI, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, and our nine council partners for their continued support, which ensures the ongoing success of Live Here Love Here.”

    For more information on the Live Here Love Here campaign and the Community Awards, visit liveherelovehere.org.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Spectra 2025 draws thousands to city centre

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    A giant slinky, an inflatable castle, a huge neon colouring wall and a high-powered light beam sharing a morse code message with the universe, were just some of the illuminated exhibits on display as thousands of visitors from across Scotland and the UK took to the streets of Aberdeen to experience Spectra, Scotland’s Festival of Light.

    Over 100,000 visits were recorded across the four-day free-to-attend event, which ran from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 February. Featuring 15 artworks from artists from both the UK and Australia, as well as an assortment of entertainment from street performers to dancers, and musicians, this year’s event marked the festival’s 11th year of lighting up the city.

    Councillor Martin Greig, cultural spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council, said: “Spectra offers an unrivalled cultural feast f light installations and entertainment. It’s great that thousands came out in such numbers to enjoy the festival. It has been a wonderful opportunity for people in the city to get together and make Spectra 2025 such a success. Many visitors have come to our wonderful city to experience the amazing images and sounds. I would like to thank the brilliantly talented artists who have created these inspiring artworks.

    “Our production team, Live Event Management, deserve sincere thanks for their splendid work to make this festival happen. We are all grateful for the very generous sponsorship from Burness Paull, Vattenfall, First Aberdeen, Aberdeen Inspired and EventScotland. Their funding support has made a huge difference and is much appreciated.

    “The festival theme of Journeys was especially appropriate as the city gets ready to host the Tall Ships Races in a few months time. This will be another opportunity to keep our profile up. A majestic fleet of ships will return for the first time in almost 30 years. This is going to be a very exciting time for the Granite City as it hosts another major free celebration for residents and visitors to enjoy together.”

    Fiona Doherty, an Aberdonian who now lives in Livingston, attended the festival for the first time after winning a social media competition. She visited on Sunday with her husband and two-year little girl.

    She said: “It’s been amazing to visit Spectra. I’m originally from Aberdeen but previously never visited the festival so it was great to have the opportunity to finally attend with my daughter after winning the competition!

    It’s been lovely to travel up from Livingston for the night. Taking the train made for a really easy and stress-free trip, with my little girl enjoying the views along the way as well as the lights and atmosphere of Spectra. We’ll definitely visit again in the future!”

    Scott Morrice is from Aberdeen and is a regular visitor to Spectra. He said: “Spectra is such a wonderful spectacle for the city. I come every year and it’s really great to see so many people out and about at a time when the city centre might need a bit of a boost.”

    Highlights of the festival included a 50m long multi-sensory walkway by Kent-based Lucid Creates, which explored the contrast between light and dark using strobes of light, the heartbeats of over 65 Aberdonians, a sprawling illuminated fungal network and a virtual exhibition by artist Craig Barrowman and local artists in partnership with Look Again at RGU’s Gray’s School of Art.

    A specially commissioned art piece by Aberdeen Art Gallery and Scottish artist, Council Baby, took pride of place in the Gallery’s magnificent Sculpture Court area which saw a large-scale video installation projection comprising of four striking stained-glass designs inspired by works in the city’s collection and visits to the area, with each animated panel capturing different aspects of Aberdeen’s rich history. The piece will continue to feature at the gallery as part of its permanent collection.

    The iconic ABERDEEN letters by Aberdeen Inspired also featured a special design for the occasion outside Marischal College. The letters will now return to their usual position in Union Terrace Gardens.

    Eventgoers are being invited to share their thoughts and feedback on Spectra by completing the visitor survey. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Are high-rise housing policies working for London?

    Source: Mayor of London

    London has many more high-rise homes than the English average, but how much is known about whether they work for Londoners?

    A lot of work looking at the experiences of residents in tall buildings originated in the 1960s and 1970s and focused on social housing. In recent decades, there has been a shift in the types of homes being delivered by tall buildings towards private accommodation.

    Tomorrow, the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will ask the Deputy Mayor for Planning, and guests from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Boroughs about how they set policies and make decisions around the delivery of tall buildings in London.

    The guests include:

    Panel 1 – 10am – 11.15am:

    • Michael Ritchie, Place Shaping Manager, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
    • Michael Forrester, Head of Development Management, Lewisham Council

    Panel 2 – 11.30am – 12.30pm: 

    • Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service
    • Alan Smithies, Principal Strategic Planner, GLA

    The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 11 February from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
     
    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
     
    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
     
    Follow us @LondonAssembly.
     
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Further work planned on Lydney Harbour in Gloucestershire

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Environment Agency is continuing to carry out improvement works to Lydney Harbour to give the historic site a sustainable and prosperous future. 

    Aerial view of Lydney Harbour

    Most recently, the improvement works have included the refurbishment of the outer sea gates and desilting works which enable the safe passage of boats in the harbour.

    The next stage of the project focuses on the piers, which were closed due to safety concerns. The Environment Agency plans to replace the current temporary green mesh fencing with new pedestrian fencing, similar to that what has been installed elsewhere on the site. This will allow improved access to more of the piers. Work to repair the site surfacing and restore harbour fixtures to improve access for Lydney Yacht Club will also take place.

    The Environment Agency will be consulting the Forest of Dean Council and Historic England to agree the design and obtain the required permissions before works take place. The exact positioning of the fencing will be determined once it has obtained Scheduled Monument Consent.  Construction is expected to start in Spring 2026.

    In the coming months, the Environment Agency will also install additional pontoons to improve access for boat owners in the inner harbour. It will also introduce new signage to keep the public informed and undertake repair works on one of the bridges.

    The Environment Agency met the Harbour’s Community Leaders’ Group on 27 January to provide an update and to discuss the forthcoming work. 

    Martin Quine, Place Manager for Gloucestershire, from the Environment Agency, said: 

    I’d like to thank the Community Leaders’ Group and the public for their patience and continuing interest in the future of Lydney Harbour.   

    We fully appreciate how important Lydney Harbour is to all those who use and visit it.  

    Our main objective remains to establish a facility that not only meets the existing health and safety standards but also brings a sustainable and prosperous future.  

    We have been working closely with Historic England throughout the whole process and will continue to do so.   

    A dedicated email inbox has also been set up for any questions the public might have. The address is Lydney-harbour@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Additional information

    The Environment Agency is the landowner and harbour authority of Lydney Harbour and has a duty of care to protect the public from harm.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Call for Entries: 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

    Source: United Nations

    UNESCO has opened submissions for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, recognizing outstanding conservation efforts across the region. The Awards celebrate private sector projects and public-private partnerships that demonstrate excellence in preserving historical sites while fostering community engagement.

    Since 2000, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation have honored 305 projects across 27 countries for their thorough understanding of historical significance, technical achievements, and impact at local, national, and regional levels. By spotlighting best practices, the Awards have helped shape regional conversations on heritage’s role in sustaining cities, societies, and the environment.

    This year, UNESCO especially welcomes submissions for projects conserving heritage sites that are integral to the region’s history but remain underrecognized or at risk of neglect. These include cultural landscapes, technological, industrial, and agricultural heritage, 20th-century sites, vernacular architecture, and cultural routes. Winning projects of this nature will be highlighted in a dedicated exhibition as part of the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Awards.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Projects must have been completed within the last 10 years (February 2015 – May 2025 if the pre-existing use was retained, or May 2024 if a project involved a new use). Examples of eligible projects include:

    • Houses, commercial and institutional buildings
    • Historic towns and villages
    • Archaeological sites and cultural landscapes

    How to Apply

    Projects must be sent by mail to UNESCO Bangkok and postmarked no later than 31 May 2025. Winners will be announced in November 2025.

    Submission requirements

    Applicants must complete the entry form online and submit a project dossier, including:

    • A detailed project description in the official format.
    • Supporting documentation, such as architectural drawings and high-quality photographs.

    For submission details and application forms: click here

    Awards

    In 2024, eight projects from five countries received awards, including:

    • Award of Excellence – Inari-yu Bathhouse Restoration Project (Tokyo, Japan)
    • Award of Distinction – Gunan Street Historic Block Conservation Project (Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China) with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development; Abathsahayeshwarar Temple Conservation Project (Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu, India)
    • Award of Merit – Guanyin Hall Teahouse Conservation Project (Sichuan Province, China); Helou Pavilion Conservation Project (Shanghai, China) with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development; BJPCI Conservation Project (Mumbai, India); Observatory Tower Conservation Project (Christchurch, New Zealand)
    • Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts – Rabindhorn Building (Bangkok, Thailand)

    For more details on previous award recipients: UNESCO Heritage Awards Winners

    Supporting Partnership

    Since 2021, the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation (NTFCF) has supported the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This partnership advances transformative heritage practices across the region through diverse activities that amplify the Awards’ impact.

    Contact Information

    For project submissions:

    Culture Unit
    UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
    Email: heritageawards@unesco.org

    For media inquiries:

    Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) Team
    UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
    Email: cpe@unesco.org

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The 2024 Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention are now available in Portuguese

    Source: United Nations

    The Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention set forth the procedures for the protection and conservation of World Heritage properties, the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, the granting of International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund, and the mobilization of national and international support in favor of the Convention.
    They have been revised in 2024 by the World Heritage …

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: PU Prime Launches ‘Feather Your Trades’ Promotion to Support Traders and Enhance Confidence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PU Prime is launching Feather Your Trades, a promotion aimed at supporting traders in managing losses and maintaining confidence in their trading activities. Running from 15 January to 15 February 2025, clients can redeem up to $30 in Trade Loss Vouchers to offset losses on eligible closed trades.

    How It Works

    • Clients can access $30 in Trade Loss Vouchers, distributed in $5 increments (6 vouchers in total), through the PU Prime App.
    • These vouchers can be applied to offset losses on eligible closed trades.
    • The initiative encourages traders to adapt their strategies and continue engaging confidently with the markets.

    Eligibility
    The promotion is open to both new and existing clients holding Standard or Islamic Standard Accounts. Each client is eligible to redeem the vouchers once during the promotional period.

    Benefits of the Promotion

    • Convenient Access: Vouchers can be redeemed and applied directly through the app.
    • Supportive Approach: Helps offset losses, allowing traders to focus on refining their strategies.
    • Accessible to All: Designed for traders of all experience levels.

    This initiative reflects PU Prime’s commitment to fostering resilience and adaptability in trading.
    For media inquiries, the PR team can be contacted at media@puprime.com.

    About PU Prime
    Founded in 2015, PU Prime is a leading global fintech company providing innovative online trading solutions. Today, they offer regulated financial products across various asset classes, including forex, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Committed to providing advanced technology and educational resources, PU Prime supports traders and investors at every stage, from beginner to professional. With a presence in over 120 countries and exceeding 40 million app downloads, PU Prime is dedicated to enabling financial success and fostering a global community of empowered traders.

    Contact

    Hong Qianyi
    PU Prime
    media@puprime.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1d4e0d4-7304-40a6-bd50-86a4057119bf

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Exploring the New PU Prime Website: A Fresh Look for a Prime Experience

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PU Prime has unveiled its newly redesigned website, offering an intuitive, seamless, and dynamic experience for both traders and investors. This upgrade focuses on more than just a fresh look, emphasizing enhanced accessibility and improved navigation across PU Prime’s extensive range of services, making it easier for users to engage with the platform.

    What’s New

    • Optimized Navigation: Improved menus and a responsive layout make it easier to quickly locate essential information.
    • Mobile Optimization: The website is now fully optimized for all devices, ensuring a smooth browsing experience on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
    • Enhanced Design: Featuring a clean and modern aesthetic, the redesigned website offers an engaging and intuitive experience for accessing market insights, trading tools, and educational resources.

    Easier Access to Products and Insights
    PU Prime’s redesigned website places its core products—Forex, commodities, shares, ETFs, and more—front and center, streamlining access for users to explore and trade. Additionally, the new knowledge hub provides valuable insights and resources, empowering users to stay informed and navigate the markets effectively.

    A New Perspective on PU Prime’s Journey
    PU Prime has unveiled a teaser of its new brand awareness video, now featured on the Homepage and About Us page. This creative and lighthearted video takes viewers on a journey through time, from the Stone Age to the present, offering a unique perspective on PU Prime’s origins.

    To watch the full video and explore PU Prime from a fresh perspective, users can find it here.

    Looking to the Future
    The redesigned website reflects PU Prime’s commitment to continually enhancing the trading experience. Future updates and innovations will further align with the evolving needs of users, ensuring a dynamic and user-focused platform.

    For media inquiries, the PR team can be reached at media@puprime.com.

    About PU Prime
    Founded in 2015, PU Prime is a leading global fintech company providing innovative online trading solutions. Today, PU Prime offers a diverse range of financial products across various asset classes, including forex, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Committed to providing advanced technology and educational resources, PU Prime supports traders and investors at every stage, from beginner to professional. Their trading platform serves a wide-reaching international audience, with over 40 million app downloads worldwide. PU Prime is dedicated to enabling financial success and fostering a global community of empowered traders.

    Contact

    Hong Qianyi
    PU Prime
    media@puprime.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f9700339-5415-4b32-8850-a9b3dc96596b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN convenes town hall meeting with ASEAN Secretariat staff in 2025

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today convened a town hall meeting with the ASEAN Secretariat staff members. This annual town hall meeting, facilitated by the ASEAN Secretariat Staff Welfare Committee, provides an opportunity for Dr. Kao to engage with staff members on issues related to employee welfare and well-being, as well as to chart out the work priorities of the ASEAN Secretariat in 2025.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN convenes town hall meeting with ASEAN Secretariat staff in 2025 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s trade-in campaign for consumer goods in full swing during Spring Festival holiday

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

    China’s trade-in campaign for consumer goods in full swing during Spring Festival holiday

    BEIJING, Feb. 10 — Chinese consumers made the most of the country’s trade-in campaign, which covers goods such as mobile phones, home appliances and automobiles, during the recent Spring Festival holiday, with mobile phone sales surging by 182 percent year on year, official data showed on Monday.

    The trade-in sales volume of automobiles, home appliances, furniture and digital products reached 8.6 million units during the holiday from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, with total sales exceeding 31 billion yuan (about 4.32 billion U.S. dollars), according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

    During the Spring Festival period, provincial-level regions such as Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, Hubei and Guangdong all achieved trade-in sales exceeding 1.5 billion yuan, placing them among the top performers nationwide.

    China started to offer subsidies for electronic products trade-in from Jan. 20 as the country expanded the scope of consumer goods trade-in program to further boost consumption, which provides consumers with up to 500 yuan a piece on the purchase of digital products.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ilchester Estate pays nearly £28,000 for over abstracting water

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Environment Agency used powers to impose a Variable Monetary Penalty after the estate took more water from the Dorset Frome than it was licensed to do.

    Ilchester Estate has a licence to abstract water from a spring on the headwaters of the Dorset Frome chalk stream

    Ilchester Estate, located in Dorset, has a licence to abstract water from a spring on the headwaters of the chalk stream Dorset Frome at Evershot. The water is used to supply houses, offices, gardens and farms that go to make up the Ilchester Estate. The current annual charge invoiced by the Environment Agency under its charges scheme for the abstraction licence is £120. The estate then sets its own charges for supplying the abstracted water to businesses and residents on the estate.  

    Enough excess water to fill 3 Olympic swimming pools taken

    The licence allows the estate to abstract up to 66.6 cubic metres of water a day, but following an investigation by the Environment Agency, it was found that between December 2022 and July 2023 the authorised licence limit had been exceeded by a total of nearly 7,500 cubic metres – around three Olympic size swimming pools worth of water. Between December 2022 and January 2023 Wessex was officially in a drought.   

    Now the estate has paid a variable monetary penalty (VMP) of £19,777.69, plus costs of £8,298.60, to the Environment Agency. The penalty came after the agency had previously warned the estate to stop over abstracting water.

    In 2018 the estate was advised by the Environment Agency of how an increase to their permitted abstraction levels could be applied for. Instead, the estate said steps would be taken to reduce the amount of water being taken, but amounts abstracted continued to be above the permitted level each year through to 2023.  

    Conditions ‘flouted’ during drought

    Carolyn Lane, senior environment officer for the Environment Agency, said:

    Chalk streams are stunningly beautiful, but ecologically sensitive, watercourses. Where companies or individuals hold licences to take water from them, they cannot ignore the conditions attached and take as much water as they like. 

    In this case, the Ilchester Estate not only deliberately flouted the conditions, they did so during a drought, when it is likely that damage will have been done to the river and the surrounding environment it supports.

    The headwater reaches of the Dorset Frome have been endorsed as a Flagship Chalk Stream catchment by Wessex Water. It is one of only 200 chalk streams in the world, of which 85 per cent are in the UK. The streams contain mineral-rich pure water and are havens for wildlife. 

    Background

    To operate other than in accordance with a licence is an offence; Ilchester Estates has committed a relevant offence; namely breach of s.24 Water Resources Act 1991. 

    Variable Monetary Penalties (VMPs) are a civil sanction, brought in under the provisions of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 and Environmental Civil Sanctions (England) Order 2010. 

    The Environment Agency may use a VMP when there is evidence of negligence or mismanagement; when there is an environmental impact; to remove an identifiable financial gain or saving as a result of the breach; or where prosecution is not necessary or can be avoided to get the most appropriate outcome, in accordance with our Enforcement and Sanctions Policy. 

    VMPs were initially capped at £250,000 for each offence, but the cap was removed for offences committed on or after 1 December 2023.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government has approved a mechanism for issuing treasury infrastructure loans until 2030

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The decision was made on the instructions of the President.

    Document

    Resolution of January 25, 2025 No. 48

    Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a resolution approving the rules for providing treasury loans for the implementation of infrastructure projects until 2030. Regions will be able to receive them for a period of up to 15 years at 3% per annum.

    Loans will be provided on a priority basis for infrastructure projects in the housing and utilities sector, as well as for the purchase of public transport, the creation of transport, engineering, energy and tourism infrastructure facilities, infrastructure facilities of industrial parks and industrial technology parks, special economic zones, territories of advanced development, innovative scientific and technological centers and other purposes. The projects will be approved by the Presidium of the Government Commission for Regional Development.

    “We need to carefully select projects taking into account feedback from citizens,” Mikhail Mishustin emphasized atmeeting with deputy prime ministers on February 10.

    Treasury infrastructure loans will be provided within the framework of the new national project “Infrastructure for Life” and will be a continuation of infrastructure budget loans – the most capital-intensive instrument of the Government’s socio-economic initiative “Infrastructure Menu”.

    The President instructed the Government to ensure the provision of budget loans to regions in 2025–2030 for the implementation of infrastructure projects following the Address to the Federal Assembly in 2024.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Samaraneftegaz has replenished its oil reserves by 180%

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Samaraneftegaz (part of the Rosneft oil production complex) increased its industrial grade oil reserves by 19 million tons by the end of 2024, which made it possible to replenish oil production by 1.8 times.

    Such indicators were achieved due to the successful application of new engineering and technological solutions in geological exploration. At the fields developed for a long time, 12 new deposits were discovered with an increase in reserves in the categories АВ1С1 В2С2 in the amount of 2.3 million tons.

    In 2024, Samaraneftegaz geologists built five exploration wells, during testing of which industrial oil flows with flow rates of up to 80 m3/day were obtained.

    Work on reprocessing and reinterpretation of seismic exploration data was carried out at the Zimarny, Nikolsko-Spiridonovskiy, Festivalny, Novo-Krutyakovskiy and Teleginskiy license areas. Based on their results, a detailed geological model was obtained, which allows specifying the drilling points of exploration and appraisal wells, reducing geological risks when drilling deep wells in the study area.

    Currently, Samaraneftegaz is working on 132 fields. Their development is carried out using, among other things, horizontal and directional wells, which allow increasing flow rates and oil recovery factors.

    Replenishment of reserves and their consistent introduction into development is one of the key elements of Rosneft’s strategy. Samaraneftegaz is conducting targeted work to increase the mineral resource base. One of the areas is revaluation of reserves taking into account the introduction of new technologies, clarification of the geological structure of deposits, additional exploration of poorly studied areas and development of methods for commissioning new deposits.

    Samaraneftegaz participates in auctions for the right to use subsoil. The work done has allowed the company to increase its reserves by 119 million tons of oil over the past five years.

    Reference:

    JSC Samaraneftegaz, a subsidiary of NK Rosneft, carries out production activities in the Samara and Orenburg regions. Cumulative production since the beginning of development in 1936 exceeds 1.3 billion tons of oil and more than 87 billion m3 of gas.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 10, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Lawtech consultation body meets

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Consultation Group on LawTech Development held its first meeting today to discuss development strategies and policies to promote the use of lawtech in the legal and dispute resolution industry.

    The consultation group, established by the Department of Justice in January, is chaired by Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan and comprises representatives from the legal and dispute resolution sector, law schools and experts on the application of lawtech.

    The consultation body will provide advice and assistance to the department regarding the promotion and development of lawtech in Hong Kong.

    Mr Cheung explained that lawtech can enhance efficiency and productivity of Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution industry, noting that it can improve efficiency and service quality, save costs and enhance competitiveness with the use of artificial intelligence, document automation and electronic file management.

    This would advance the city’s position as a major international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, he added.

    The Deputy Secretary for Justice also said that the Government will actively consider the recommendations of the consultation group to formulate and implement strategies to promote the use of lawtech.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: New strategy for Sweden’s global development cooperation on migration, returns and voluntary repatriation 2024–2028

    Source: Government of Sweden

    New strategy for Sweden’s global development cooperation on migration, returns and voluntary repatriation 2024–2028 – Government.se

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    International development cooperation strategies from Ministry for Foreign Affairs

    Published

    The strategy for Sweden’s global development cooperation on migration, returns and voluntary repatriation is an important part of the implementation of the Government’s new reform agenda for development assistance. The strategy is worth SEK 3 billion in total and applies for the years 2024–2028.

    Download:

    This strategy will help to counteract irregular migration and stimulate well-functioning returns that can contribute to sustainable growth and development in receiving countries, and effective action for voluntary repatriation. Development assistance will also contribute to effective measures to strengthen migrants’ and refugees’ enjoyment of their rights in partner countries, support host communities, and strengthen asylum and migration management in partner countries.

    Swedish development assistance can be made conditional, with the aim of ensuring that receiving countries follow principles of international law and cooperate with Sweden on matters concerning readmission of their nationals, including the removal of impediments to enforcement such as not issuing travel documents.

    The strategy will complement and reinforce other parts of Sweden’s work on migration and development assistance – globally, regionally and bilaterally. Particular emphasis will be placed on coherence with Sweden’s bilateral and regional strategies that include migration objectives within development cooperation, not least in countries that Sweden prioritises in terms of returns. Interventions guided by the strategy will be coordinated with relevant missions abroad and, where possible, contribute to overall Swedish development cooperation in priority countries. The approach can be incentive-based and promote good cooperation in the area of migration. In addition, the strategy will support migration-related interventions in accordance with the Government’s priorities in countries or situations where there is no applicable country or regional strategy.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Move Digital Leads AI Revolution in 2025, Expands High-Level Consulting for Family Offices Worldwide

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAHE, SEYCHELLES, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Move Digital, under the leadership of CEO Kristof Schöffling, is setting a groundbreaking trajectory for 2025, transitioning from an AI-first company to a premier consulting powerhouse for major family offices across Monaco, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bangkok, and other global financial hubs. This strategic shift positions Move Digital as the go-to advisor for high-net-worth individuals and influential organizations seeking cutting-edge AI solutions and investment exposure.

    AI-Powered Transformation Meets Elite Advisory Services

    Move Digital has long been at the forefront of technological innovation, pioneering AI-driven applications that enhance efficiency, accessibility, and user experience. Now, as the AI revolution accelerates, the company is expanding its impact beyond software—providing strategic counsel to family offices, corporations, and private investors looking to harness AI for competitive advantage.

    Schöffling’s approach is clear: AI is not just a trend; it is an economic force that, when applied correctly, redefines industries. Move Digital is uniquely positioned to advise on AI’s integration into business operations, offering solutions that improve efficiency, optimize workflows, and create long-term value.

    “Artificial intelligence is no longer a niche for tech firms—it’s a transformative asset for global investors and enterprises. Move Digital is committed to bridging the gap between AI innovation and strategic investment, ensuring that businesses and high-net-worth individuals worldwide gain real exposure to its potential,” Schöffling stated.

    Monaco: A Hub for AI Innovation and Strategic Investment

    A major focus of Move Digital’s consulting division is Monaco—a global center for wealth management and economic innovation. The firm collaborates closely with leading family offices in the principality, guiding them on AI adoption, investment strategies, and the integration of smart AI solutions into corporate infrastructures.

    Through direct engagements with high-net-worth individuals and wealth managers, Move Digital provides tailored insights into the evolving AI landscape, helping stakeholders identify lucrative opportunities and future-proof their portfolios.

    Beyond Monaco, the firm’s advisory reach extends across Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bangkok, and other financial capitals, ensuring its clients stay ahead in the rapidly advancing AI ecosystem. Move Digital’s expertise spans AI-powered automation, investment allocation strategies, and enterprise-level AI deployments, enabling organizations to leverage intelligent systems for maximum efficiency.

    Expanding AI’s Role in Global Business and Investment

    Move Digital’s shift into high-end consulting aligns with the increasing demand for AI-focused expertise among family offices, institutional investors, and multinational corporations. The firm’s deep understanding of both AI development and its real-world applications allows it to offer exclusive insights into AI-driven wealth strategies, operational efficiencies, and next-gen technology adoption.

    As businesses and investors seek to navigate the complex AI landscape, Move Digital stands as a trusted partner—delivering tailored solutions that transform industries and secure long-term technological and financial advantages.

    About Kristof Schöffling

    Kristof Schöffling is a serial entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in emerging technologies. His leadership at Move Digital has established the company as a premier force in AI innovation and high-end consulting, helping businesses and investors capitalize on the future of artificial intelligence.

    About Move Digital

    Move Digital Limited is a global technology and consulting firm specializing in AI applications, strategic AI investment advisory, and smart AI solutions for enterprise efficiency. With operations spanning Monaco, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bangkok, and other major financial hubs, the company empowers family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and corporations to integrate AI for maximum impact.

    Media Contact

    Brand: Move Digital Limited

    Contact: Kristof Schöffling

    Email: hello@movedigital.io

    Website: https://movedigital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK E-petition debate relating to inheritance tax relief for working farms – Monday 10 February

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    The Petitions Committee has scheduled a debate relating to inheritance tax relief for working farms.

    Ben Goldsborough MP has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. The Government will send a Minister to respond.

    Read the petition:
    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700138

    Find petitions you agree with, and sign them: https://petition.parliament.uk/

    What are petition debates?

    Petition debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

    Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on the issues raised in the petition at the end of the debate.

    The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions to parliament started on petition.parliament.uk

    Find out more about how petition debates work: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/content/194347/how-petitions-debates-work/

    Stay up-to-date
    Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

    Thumbnail image ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6bSH3jCJ48

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE cybersecurity points of contact from Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus visit the Netherlands

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE cybersecurity points of contact from Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus visit the Netherlands

    OSCE cybersecurity points of contact from Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus visit the Netherlands | OSCE
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    Home Newsroom News and press releases OSCE cybersecurity points of contact from Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus visit the Netherlands

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE Economists Describe the Portrait of a Russian Remote Worker and Platform Employee

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    In Russia, mostly married women aged 30–39 with higher education living in large cities work remotely, while platform employment is more typical for men of the same age with a wide range of qualifications from megacities. This is the conclusion reached by economists from the Higher School of Economics after analyzing digital forms of employment in the Russian labor market. The study was published in a preprint of the series “Problems of the labor market”.

    Modern technologies have changed the labor market, making remote and platform employment popular forms of work. Russia has not remained on the sidelines: remote work attracts women with higher education living in large cities, and platform employment is more typical for men working in the transport sector or in retail.

    Platform employment is work via online platforms where specialists find clients, communicate with them, and provide services or sell goods. This is how taxi drivers, couriers, psychologists, tutors, copywriters, and designers work.

    Remote employment is work that is performed outside of an office or other work premises provided by the employer. It can be organized with or without the use of digital technologies.

    Deputy Director Center for Labor Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics Rostislav Kapelyushnikov and senior lecturer Department of Applied Economics Faculty of Economic Sciences, National Research University Higher School of Economics Daria Zinchenko conducted a study on the specifics of digital forms of employment in the Russian labor market. The study covers the period from 2020 to 2023.

    Scientists have found that in Russia, women work remotely, making up about 60% of the workforce, while men work remotely, making up 40%. According to the researchers, this is due to two circumstances. Firstly, there are traditionally more women among workers engaged in mental work (white collars), while physical work (blue collars), which is more often done by men, requires personal presence, which makes remote employment virtually impossible. Secondly, remote work allows you to devote more time and attention to family responsibilities, which traditionally fall on women.

    Among remote workers in Russia, employees aged 30–39 (36.5%) predominate; they live in cities and have higher education. Remote employment is most often used in the field of information technology, where every eighth person works online. Then come scientific and technical activities — 7%, finance and real estate transactions — 4%. This form of employment is even less common in administrative activities — about 2.5%. The outsider in this list is agriculture: there are practically no remote employees in this industry.

    In platform employment, as in remote employment, the largest group is workers aged 30 to 39. Most Russians who work in platform employment mode, like remote workers, live in large cities (82%); almost 40% have higher education. However, unlike remote work, platform employment is widely represented by blue-collar jobs with different qualification requirements, so it is more skewed towards the male audience (58%). If we talk about industries, platform employment is most often used in the field of transport and trade (about 20%), construction (about 10%) and manufacturing (slightly more than 7%). In sectors such as agriculture, mining, electricity and water supply, platform employment is almost never used.

    “Today, a significant portion of Russian workers have accumulated real experience working in these non-standard modes and are able to switch to them quickly and painlessly,” notes Daria Zinchenko, one of the authors of the study.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scientists in Scotland develop new method to understand wildfires past and present Scientists in Scotland have developed a new method to understand the heat and intensity of fires that burned out millions of years ago, which could unlock our understanding of wildfires during past and present periods of climate change.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    California WildfireScientists in Scotland have developed a new method to understand the heat and intensity of fires that burned out millions of years ago, which could unlock our understanding of wildfires during past and present periods of climate change.
    Scientists in Scotland have developed a new method to understand the heat and intensity of fires that burned out millions of years ago, which could unlock our understanding of wildfires during past and present periods of climate change.
    Developed by geoscientists at the university of Aberdeen – Dr Thomas Theurer, Dr Dmitri Mauquoy, Professor. David Muirhead, Dr Clemens von Scheffer, and Daniel Coathup – and fire engineers at the university of Edinburgh – Professor Rory Hadden, Dr Zakary Campbell-Lochrie, and Sergio Vargas Córdoba – the new technique to analyse charcoal can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ago.
    They published their findings in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.
    The increase in wildfire activity is a major global concern, especially for vulnerable wetland ecosystems that play a key role in storing carbon and fighting climate change.
    Last month’s devastating wildfires in California, which destroyed or damaged more than 18,000 homes and structures, brought to global attention how the size of the areas affected by wildfires is growing, individual fires have increased in intensity and the fire season has extended.
    The recently published Forest Fires 2023 report, says this shows ‘the undeniable effects of climate change’.
    In addition to the devastation caused by fires which spread rapidly across forests and moorlands, so called ‘zombie fires’ also burn in peatland, smouldering deep in the soil, and can release 100 times the carbon that a wildfire does
    Wildfires have occurred throughout geological history, including during periods of extreme climate change.

    As charcoal can persist within rocks for hundreds of millions of years, this method can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ag” Dr Thomas Theurer

    In creating a method to measure historical events, scientists applied state-of-the art analyses using a laser, called Raman spectroscopy, to charcoals created during experiments at the University of Edinburgh Rushbrook Fire Laboratory simulating wildfire.
    It is the first calculation of wildfire energy release measured from charcoal chemistry, the team say, that can be applied to complex, natural fuel mixes and wildfire reconstructions of any age.
    Dr Thomas Theurer, a research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, said: “As geoscientists, we can study simultaneous changes in ancient plant communities, climate, and fire that are often preserved in rock, and begin to understand the drivers of intense fire activity in the past, and how this modifies ecosystems.
    “As charcoal can persist within rocks for hundreds of millions of years, this method can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ago.”
    Dr Dmitri Mauquoy, Senior Lecturer in Geosciences at the University of Aberdeen added: “Current methods to estimate ancient fire temperatures, called ‘geothermometry’, study specific changes in charcoal chemistry that result from the temperatures experienced during a wildfire event. However, energy release and transfer in wildfires is a complex process that cannot be understood through temperature measurements alone. Therefore, these methods may not be as accurate or useful in understanding ancient fire behaviour as previously thought.
    “The method we have developed allows us to quantify the energy release from wildfires using charcoal remains – the first and only method of its kind that is non-destructive and universal to complex, natural mixes of vegetation as fuel.”
    Understanding modern wildfire activity and how it may change with escalating climate change is complicated by the modification of environments by humans throughout history – such as forestry, agriculture, and fire suppression.
    “By applying this new method, we are able to get insights into how past fire activity has changed with climate change, independent of human interference, in a way that allows comparison to modern wildfire activity,” said Professor Rory Hadden, Personal Chair of Fire Science at the University of Edinburgh.  
    “This allows us insights we can use to assess and contextualise predictions of future fire activity, and how they may impact global ecosystems and populations.“As charcoal is a commonplace by-product of fire, it is exciting to think how this method might be applied to other areas of study, such as archaeology, forensic fire investigations, and fire safety science more broadly.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mummy’s micro morsel discovered in museum’s tiny treasure trove

    Source: City of Leeds

    A crumb of bread entombed thousands of years ago alongside an ancient Egyptian’s mummified remains has been discovered amongst an astonishing collection of microscopic treasures in Leeds.

    Believed to be up to 3,000 years old, records show the tiny morsel was originally unearthed in Thebes, the site of some of the most famous and spectacular archaeological finds of the last century.

    Collected and preserved by an unknown Victorian microscopist, it has since been stored as part of a collection of previously uncatalogued slides, which have only recently begun to be documented at the Leeds Discovery Centre.

    Stored in small, wooden trays, the collection is thousands strong and is being painstakingly reviewed as part of a volunteer project.

    And remarkably, the piece of bread is not the only astonishing miniature marvel found during the work.

    Another slide contains a mote of dust from the infamous Krakatoa volcanic eruption of 1883, one of the most destructive events of its kind in recorded history, which was so loud it was heard more than 1,900 miles away.

    The miniscule speck itself landed on the deck of a ship called the Arabella, which was sailing 1,000 miles to the west of the Indonesian island.

    Specimens of microscopic sea creatures found during one of history’s most renowned and influential scientific voyages are also among the amazing array of slides.

    The HMS Challenger left Sheerness on the north Kent coast in 1872, embarking on an unprecedented mission to circumnavigate the globe and comprehensively explore the deep seas for the first time.

    Returning three and a half years and 68,890 nautical miles later, the crew had gathered marine plants and animals, sea-floor deposits and rocks from the depths which completely changed scientific understanding of the oceans.

    Examples found in the Leeds collection today include small disc-like fossils called orbitolites, which were gathered 18 fathoms down off the coast of Fiji.

    Also part of the collection is a fully miniaturised late Victorian copy of The Times, with all 12,500 words shrunk down to a size where they can only be read with the aid of extreme magnification.

    The slides are now in the process of being carefully catalogued by volunteer Stephen Crabtree, who initially began working with the museum to study fossilised plants.

    His studies soon revealed a hoard of historical treasures, with slides created by noted Victorian microscopists including James Lomax, Walter Hemingway and James Spencer.

    Clare Brown, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of natural sciences, who has supervised the slides project, said: “What began as a fairly routine cataloguing exercise has slowly uncovered a remarkable archive that includes of some of the most important moments in scientific history.

    “Discovering a morsel of ancient Egyptian bread was particularly surprising, and the fact we can connect the Leeds collection to bread baked thousands of years ago on a different continent is fascinating.

    “We don’t know exactly how or where many of these slides were collected, but we do know that each one of them was meticulously preserved for study and posterity by a diligent microscopist more than a century ago.

    “That in itself is evidence of how important they thought these specimens were and how much they wanted future generations to see and be inspired by them. We’re extremely grateful to them, and to Stephen for following in their footsteps and rediscovering their work all these years later.”

    Once the collection has been documented and photographed, the aim will be to add it to a national database so it can be viewed and accessed by academics, experts and the public.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “Leeds has a truly world class museum collection and it speaks volumes about its quality and scale that we’re still making such amazing discoveries today.

    “Our museums play such an important part in preserving history and heritage so that visitors have the chance to learn, and engage with it for many years to come.”

    The Leeds Discovery Centre is open to the public for free, pre-booked visits. For more information, please visit:  https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-discovery-centre

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair returns to first direct arena Leeds

    Source: City of Leeds

    The Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair takes place this week, showcasing a range of paid employment and educational opportunities from across Leeds and the wider region.

    Everyone is welcome at the free-to-attend event, organised by Leeds City Council, which is being held at the first direct arena Leeds, between 1-7pm on Wednesday, 12th February 2025.

    On the day, over 100 exhibitors will be providing information, advice, and live apprenticeship vacancies. 

    Visitors can find out about the different types of apprenticeships on offer, what they involve, and how they work, including higher and degree apprenticeships.   

    A wide range of sectors will be represented at the fair, including accounting, business and administration, catering and hospitality, construction, creative design, care services, digital, education, engineering, finance, hair and beauty, health, law, protective services and many more.

    Deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: “Apprenticeships offer something for everyone, from hands-on learning to degree-level qualifications, providing a fantastic route into a wide range of careers. 

    “Over the years, this fair has aided the journey of thousands of people into highly skilled and rewarding jobs. As the fastest-growing city in England, we continue to attract more quality employers each year, which is reflected in the range of apprenticeship opportunities to be showcased at this year’s fair. 

    “I would recommend anyone considering an apprenticeship to attend and find out more about opportunities in Leeds.”

    Exhibitors who will be there on the day to showcase their apprenticeship opportunities include Springfield Training, Leeds Manufacturing Festival, Jet2, Appris, Bank of England, CML, Royal Navy, KPMG, The Coders Guild, JCT 600, plus many more.  

    The event is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. Tickets are available to book online in advance at: https://bit.ly/larf25

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The sphere of intellectual property was discussed at the Polytechnic University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    An interregional conference entitled “Development of the intellectual property sphere in the regions of the Russian Federation” was held at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    The co-hosts of the round table were the Chairperson of the Board of the Intellectual Property Development Fund, Patent Attorney of the Russian Federation Natalia Petrova and the Head of the Regional Department of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) Dmitry Mitroshin. In their welcoming speech, they emphasized the importance of the event, which brought together representatives of various services and departments from several regions of Russia. Natalia Borisovna noted that intellectual property is important for the development of the country and the implementation of national projects that require new technologies.

    On behalf of SPbPU, the participants were greeted by Vladimir Glukhov, Advisor to the Rectorate, who emphasized the need to improve intellectual property management and solve problems with copyright protection.

    The head of the Center for Strategic Communications of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) Darya Shipitsyna spoke about the current situation in the sphere of intellectual property. She emphasized that the government of the country is taking measures to protect intellectual property and support companies implementing innovations. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation has developed a package of preferences, which includes 17 benefits for high-tech enterprises participating in the development of technologies: from the provision of loans to grant support.

    Anna Aleksandrova, head of the FIPS analytical center, spoke online and told how to set up intellectual property management processes for regional development purposes. Leading researcher Marina Ivanova presented tactics and strategy for intellectual property management in the regions.

    Representatives of leading universities from Moscow, Kazan, Mordovia, Yakutia, Tyumen, Kaluga, and Samara also shared their opinions.

    Director of the SPbPU Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Ismail Kadiev presented the experience of the Polytechnic University, on the basis of which the Center for Technology and Innovation Support was created ten years ago. He said that the Polytechnic has created all the necessary infrastructure to support the activities of inventors, and provides assistance in preparing applications and preparing documents for obtaining patents. The SPbPU TISC ranks first among similar centers in the Russian Federation.

    The round table was organized by the Intellectual Property Development Fund, the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR), SPbPU, the Center for Scientific and Technical Information of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Commission for the Implementation of Effective Mechanisms for Regulating Intellectual Property in the Subjects of the Russian Federation of the Public Council under the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, and the St. Petersburg Regional Office of Delovaya Rossiya.

    As part of the round table at the Boiling Point — Polytech, a strategic session entitled “The Image of the Future Intellectual Property Market in the Regions of the Russian Federation” was also held. Participants in the “Universities and Research Institutes” block presented best practices and proposed increasing the number of technology brokers in universities and research institutes, using local regulations of leading universities, replicating the experience of creating intellectual property and technology transfer centers, applying an IT system for intellectual property management, and developing agreements with state corporations and on company orders.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Associate Professor of SPbGASU Awarded the Title of “Honorary Sports Judge of Russia” in Sambo

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Roman Motylev

    Head of the Department of Construction Organization at SPbGASU, Associate Professor Roman Motylev was awarded the title of “Honorary Sports Judge of Russia” in Sambo. The corresponding order was signed by the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Mikhail Degtyarev on February 4, 2025.

    “I have been practicing sambo since the fifth grade – since 1987. This type of martial arts allows you to stand up for yourself and learn to overcome various difficulties. For almost forty years, I have not only remained faithful to sambo, but also tried to develop. I am a master of sports of Russia in sambo, I have the third dan in judo. I consider the assignment of the title of honorary judge to be reaching the pinnacle in this area,” said Roman Vladimirovich.

    Since 2015, he has been the chairman of the panel of judges of the regional branch of the All-Russian Sambo Federation of St. Petersburg, a member of the referee commission of the All-Russian Sambo Federation, since February 2022 – a judge of the international and all-Russian category in sambo (license A), since 2023 – a first category judge in SBE (MMA), since 2025 – a second category judge in judo.

    “From 2009 to 2013, I worked as a first-category sambo coach, and for more than ten years at the Department of Physical Education at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. As an honorary sports judge of Russia in sambo, I aim to control the correctness and purity of refereeing, and to develop sambo as an international and Olympic sport,” concluded Roman Motylev.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Spaghetti Government

    Source: ACT Party

    The Haps

    The country turned 185 on Thursday, but not everyone wanted to celebrate and debate. David Seymour’s address is here. They turned their backs and took his microphone, but nobody actually tried to argue that division based on ancestry is better than liberal democracy.

    Spaghetti Government

    Just over a year ago the New Zealand Initiative, a think tank, released a short and brilliant report on Government in New Zealand. Cabinet Congestion: The Growth of a ministerial maze.

    The gist of the report is that our Government has far more Ministers, and far more portfolios, than similar-sized countries. For example the Government of Ireland has fifteen ministers with eighteen portfolios and eighteen departments.

    Once upon a time New Zealand was roughly like that. Cabinet had sixteen ministers who all attended the main Cabinet meeting. Each Minister had one or two departments they were responsible for, and that was also their portfolio. For example, if you were the Minister of Police, you were responsible for Police, Police was your portfolio, and you were the only Minister of Police.

    Then came the MMP and the Government required multiple parties. It meant the Bolger Government needed to share power, but wouldn’t. Instead, Ministerial power was diluted with a little water in the wine.

    National negotiated the position of ‘Treasurer’ for Winston Peters, because they couldn’t imagine giving up Finance. The idea of a Minister outside Cabinet was also born, meaning Ministers who don’t attend the main Cabinet meeting. Four of these new Ministers meant 20 in total.

    Not to be outdone, Helen Clark formed an even bigger Government three years later. Cabinet expanded to 20 Ministers, and Ministers outside cabinet doubled to eight. Then there were 28.

    Not much has changed since then, except for an eruption of portfolios and departments. We now have a Ministry for Pacific Peoples, and a Ministry for Ethnic Affairs. Then there are portfolios without a specific department, including Racing, Mental Health, Auckland, the South Island, to name a few of the 78 Portfolios that now exist.

    There are other complications. For example needing to pick nearly 30 Ministers from a Government majority of just over 60 MPs affects quality. It means nearly half of MPs are Ministers when their ‘side’ is in Government. There’s been more than a few in recent years who wouldn’t have got a job like being a Minister otherwise.

    Most Ministers have multiple portfolios, around three to four on average. They’ll be less effective at, say, improving foreign relations if they’re also responsible for local government (Nanaia Mahuta was terrible at both). They’ll be less effective because they can’t specialise, but also because a specialist is less likely to be appointed in the first place.

    On the other hand, many departments have multiple ministers. There are three in Education, but that’s nothing compared with the 18 that MBIE is responsible to. Who is in charge?

    As the Initiative report argues, confusion empowers the bureaucracy. They can face multiple Ministers who themselves have many other jobs, often in totally unrelated areas. This makes it extremely difficult to shrink Government, or get much done at all.

    Some will criticise ACT for creating the Minister for Regulation. The Party would respond that restricting how other people can use their property is the most important government power to restrain besides taxing and spending. The latter has the Minister of Finance and Treasury, but who restrains regulation?

    ACT is now at the centre of government for the first time, and sits at the table that’s been set over the last thirty years of MMP. If the Party was charged with setting the table, there would be fewer placemats.

    How would we do it again? Any future Government should stick to three rules when it’s being set up.

    1. Every Minister sits in Cabinet so they’re part of every discussion.
    2. Every Minister has a department, so there are no portfolios that don’t involve managing a department.
    3. No Department has more than one Minister, so every public servant knows who they’re accountable to.

    This would mean getting rid of about half the portfolios and eight Ministers. It would go a long way to improving government efficiency and allow the government to get a lot more done much faster with much less ‘resource.’

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –