Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Tax gap estimated at 5.3%
The estimated tax gap for the 2023 to 2024 tax year is £46.8 billion.
The government has announced plans to raise a further £7.5 billion through its measures to close the tax gap.
The largest share of the gap is from small business non-compliance.
The tax gap estimate – the difference between what tax is expected to be paid and actually paid – was 5.3% for the 2023 to 2024 tax year, figures published today (19 June 2025) show.
While £46.8 billion was unpaid in the 2023 to 2024 tax year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collected £829.2 billion, representing 94.7% of all tax due.
Every year, HMRC estimates the tax gap using the most up to date information available, though figures may be revised as more data becomes available. In line with standard practice, previous years’ tax gap estimates have been amended as part of today’s announcement, including the tax gap for the 2022 to 2023 tax year, which has been revised upwards from 4.8% (£39.8 billion) to 5.6% (£46.4 billion). This is due to improvements in data quality, the availability of more up-to-date information and methodology changes.
Some of the key findings from this year’s calculations show:
small businesses represent the largest proportion of the tax gap (60%)
Corporation Tax accounts for 40% of the total tax gap
failure to take reasonable care (31%), error (15%) and evasion (14%) are among the main behavioural reasons for the overall tax gap
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP, has set out his three priorities for HMRC: closing the tax gap, improving customer services, and modernising and reforming the tax and customs system.
Mr Murray said:
Every pound of tax uncollected puts a greater burden on honest taxpayers and deprives our public services of vital funding.
In our first year in office, we have set out plans to raise an extra £7.5 billion through the most ambitious ever package to close the tax gap. We are determined to go further and faster to make sure everyone pays their fair share, and help to deliver our Government’s Plan for Change.
HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme is helping to reduce the element of the tax gap caused by error and failure to take reasonable care. Up to the end of the 2029 to 2030 tax year, MTD for VAT is predicted to deliver more than £4 billion in tax revenue by reducing errors. MTD for Income Tax will be introduced from April 2026 and is expected to generate £1.95 billion in additional tax revenue by the end of the 2029 to 2030 tax year.
As announced at Spending Review 2025, £1.7 billion will be provided to HMRC over four years to fund an additional 5,500 compliance and 2,400 debt management staff – to ensure more of the tax due is paid, to fund public services. Measures to close the tax gap announced by the Chancellor at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025 will raise an extra £7.5 billion in revenue.
HMRC’s tax gap estimates are official statistics produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics, which assures objectivity and integrity. Tax gap estimates are reviewed each year to reflect updated data and methodologies.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Compensation for Post Office Capture victims
Postmasters who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software today have certainty about the structure, scope and eligibility criteria for redress.
Over £1bn paid out in financial redress to thousands of postmasters across the UK affected by the Horizon IT Scandal as part of our Plan for Change
Details of the Capture Redress Scheme announced today, marking ongoing commitment to right past wrongs for those affected.
Scheme to provide fair redress and a common sense approach, with claims reviewed by independent panel.
Postmasters who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software today have certainty about the structure, scope and eligibility criteria for redress.
Capture was a faulty computer system used by postmasters in the 1990s, before the Horizon scandal.
In a move to right the wrongs of the past, the government has set out the details for the Capture Redress Scheme, designed to provide fair compensation for those who suffered financial shortfalls due to the Capture software between 1992 and 2000.
This follows the government’s acceptance of findings from the independent investigation by Kroll Associates, which concluded there was a reasonable likelihood that Capture created financial shortfalls for postmasters.
The scheme is expected to open for applications in Autumn 2025, with an initial phased rollout for 150 claimants to ensure the process is fair, proportionate and accessible before wider implementation.
This announcement follows on the footsteps of the government confirming that £1 billion has paid out in compensation to over 7,300 postmasters affected by the Horizon IT Scandal, and the opening of the Horizon Shortfalls Scheme Appeals process for all eligible postmasters in May.
Post Office Minister Gareth Thomas said:
“We are committed to delivering fair and swift redress for all postmasters affected by Post Office software failures as part of our Plan for Change. Today’s announcement represents another important step in righting the wrongs of the past and rebuilding trust in the Post Office.”
A fair and accessible approach
The Capture Redress Scheme has been specifically designed to address the unique challenges of cases dating back over two decades, where documentation may be limited. The Government will set out funding to cover postmasters’ legal costs in the coming weeks.
The scheme features:
A straightforward two-stage process: an initial eligibility review followed by an independent panel assessment
Prompt preliminary payments for eligible claimants, ensuring early acknowledgement of loss
A holistic assessment approach that considers both financial losses and wider personal impact
A guided scoring and banding model for consistency in awards while maintaining flexibility
Who can apply
Postmasters are eligible to apply if they:
Were a postmaster between 1992 and 2000
Used the Capture system in their branch
Suffered a financial shortfall as a result of a Capture software error
Applications from relatives of deceased postmasters or those needing additional support will also be accepted.
Independent assessment
All eligible claims will be reviewed by an independent panel of experts operating entirely separately from government. The panel will:
Take a holistic view of each claim, avoiding drawn out legal processes and providing fair redress even where evidence is low.
Use a balance of probabilities standard of proof
Recommend appropriate payment levels
Provide claimants the right to appeal in certain circumstances
Notes to editors
The Capture system was used in Post Office branches between 1992 and 2000, predating the better-known Horizon system.
Those with criminal convictions related to Capture should pursue their cases through the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) or its Scottish equivalent.
Further details on applying to the Capture Redress Scheme will be published in the coming months.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on UKHSA announcing a rabies case in an individual that had contact with an animal in Morocco.
Dr Chris Smith, Clinical Associate Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:
“Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease. Although cases in UK travellers are very rare, this recent tragic case underscores the importance of awareness and timely treatment.
“Rabies is endemic in many parts of the world, including popular holiday destinations such as Morocco, Turkey, India, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. All human rabies cases reported in the UK since 1902 have been acquired abroad: typically through dog bites. Since 1946, 26 imported cases have been reported, with the most recent prior to this being in 2018, following a bite from a cat in Morocco.
“Travellers to countries where rabies is present should seek pre-travel advice regarding vaccination.
“Rabies is usually transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most often dogs, but also cats and bats. Even a minor scratch or lick on broken skin can pose a risk. If exposed, immediate first aid is essential: the wound should be thoroughly washed with soap and water, and prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) – including a course of rabies vaccinations and, in some cases, rabies immunoglobulin – should be sought. These interventions are highly effective when started early.”
“The key public health messages are:
Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease
Seek pre-travel advice regarding vaccination when visiting high-risk countries
Avoid contact with animals abroad; if bitten or scratched, seek medical care immediately — don’t wait for symptoms to appear”
Oxford City Council is proud to announce that its Housing Needs Team has been named Housing Team of the Year at the LGC Awards 2025, held on 11 June in London.
The LGC (Local Government Chronicle) Awards, now in their 29th year, are the premier event in the local government calendar, celebrating excellence and innovation across the UK. With over 1,200 attendees and more than 100 expert judges, the ceremony recognised the very best in council achievements from across the country.
Oxford’s Housing Needs Team stood out in an incredibly competitive field, impressing judges with its multi-pronged and data-driven strategy to prevent homelessness, its commitment to the Housing First approach, and its strong partnerships with health and other services across the county. The team was praised for its innovative prevention efforts, tangible success in reducing rough sleeping, and its compassionate, long-term focus on improving outcomes for people in temporary accommodation.
This was a very impressive, multi-pronged strategy with an innovative approach to preventing homelessness and improving outcomes for people already in temporary accommodation. The award is a real acknowledgment of many years of hard graft, difficult decision-making and delivery.
Comment
“I’m absolutely thrilled that our Housing Needs Team has received this national recognition.
“Their commitment, creativity and relentless focus on reducing homelessness in incredibly challenging circumstances is nothing short of inspirational. This award is a testament to years of hard work, strong partnerships and a shared belief that everyone deserves a safe and stable home. I could not be prouder of the team.” Councillor Linda Smith, Cabinet Member for Housing
The LGC Awards underwent a rigorous judging process, with teams presenting their work to panels of senior local government leaders. In a year with a record number of entries, being shortlisted was an achievement in itself – and to win is a powerful endorsement of Oxford’s approach to tackling homelessness and housing insecurity.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Press release
Overcrowded jails fuel prisoner violence
Violence is rife in overcrowded, unsafe prisons, with offenders nearly twenty per cent more likely to be involved in assaults in too full jails, new research published today (19 June) reveals.
Direct link drawn between overcrowded conditions and increased violence for first time
Landmark sentencing reforms mean offenders who behave badly can be held in prison for longer, part of the Government’s Plan for Change
New £40 million investment this year to tackle violence, contraband and drones
The rate of prisoner-on-prisoner assaults in men’s prisons increased by 11 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year as they operated at over 99% capacity. The rate of assaults on hard-working prison staff rose by 13 per cent during the same period.
This is the first time a direct link has been drawn between increased violence behind bars and the capacity crisis inherited by the Government that put the public at risk.
It reinforces the need for the 14,000 more prison places and landmark sentencing reforms set out by Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood last month which will ensure prisons never run out of space again. The changes will help to cut reoffending and keep our streets safe, part of the Government’s Plan for Change.
Under these reforms, release from prison will be earned. Offenders who behave badly will be held in prison for longer – helping to reduce violence and drug use. It will mean staff can focus more time on rehabilitating prisoners to reduce the chance of them reoffending on release.
The Government has also announced today a £40 million investment in new security measures this year to clamp down on the contraband that fuels violence behind bars. This includes £10 million on anti-drone measures such as exterior netting and reinforced windows.
Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, James Timpson, said:
These stark findings confirm what we’ve already seen – dangerously full prisons lead to more crime and more violence. This not only risks the safety of our hardworking staff but means our prisons are failing one of their most important functions – cutting crime.
We must end this chaos. That is why as part of our Plan for Change we are reforming sentencing and building 14,000 extra prison places by 2031. Our £40 million new investment will also help combat the flow of contraband which creates unsafe environments in our jails.
The research found that over a one-year period, crowded environments increase the likelihood of an offender being involved in a violent incident by 19 per cent.
The £40 million will fund a range of security enhancements this financial year including window replacements, CCTV and control room upgrades, vehicle gates, biometrics and floodlighting. These improved measures will boost safety, combat the influx of drone activity and clamp down on suspected wrongdoing behind bars.
It comes as the National Crime Agency – in conjunction with HM Prisons and Probation Service, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Regional Organised Crime Units – has launched a new initiative stepping up efforts to thwart criminals attempting to smuggle contraband into jails via drones.
Two senior police leads will also be embedded into the Corruption and Crime Unit within the Prison and Probation Service to enhance cooperation in tackling key areas like corruption and organised crime in prisons.
The investment builds on action the Government has already taken to protect staff from violence, including the rollout of protective body armour for prison officers working within high-security settings and a trial of tasers beginning later this summer.
The Government has set aside £7 billion to fund 14,000 extra places by 2031 to deliver the prison capacity needed to keep the public safe.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
First ever Entrepreneurship Advisor appointed to the Treasury
Alex Depledge MBE appointed by the Chancellor as first ever Entrepreneurship Advisor appointed to Treasury to address barriers for high growth businesses.
New appointment to support growth in build up to Autumn Budget
This is on top of the significant steps the government has already taken to support entrepreneurs through increased R&D funding and extending the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust schemes, delivering on our Plan for Change
Entrepreneurs will now have a direct line to government and will benefit from additional expertise within the Treasury as the Chancellor has appointed Alex Depledge MBE as her Entrepreneurship Adviser.
Over the coming months, Alex will advise the Chancellor on the government’s entrepreneurship landscape, focusing on addressing the key barriers faced by businesses seeking to start up and scale up in the UK.
Reducing barriers for business, entrepreneurs and investors is key to boosting economic growth and delivering the government’s Plan for Change.
Alex brings with her extensive entrepreneurship experience, having successfully built several businesses from the ground up, including Resi and Helpling, formerly known as Hassle.com. She knows what it takes to build a successful business and will be in a position to offer invaluable advice to boost growth for the businesses of the future.
The government has already taken significant steps to support start-ups since taking office. We have extended the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust schemes to 2035 and increased R&D funding to £22.6 billion per year by 2029/30 to support the growth even more innovative businesses of the future, this support will allow them to invest and take on new staff, putting more money into working people’s pocket.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:
Start-ups, scale-ups and other small businesses drive the innovation that keeps Britain growing, delivering our Plan for Change.
We have a long list of successful start ups, scale ups and small businesses across the UK – with the greatest density of scale ups among the seven major industrial countries in the G7.
Having Alex on the team will bring invaluable expertise with her experience building successful businesses from the ground up, and I look forward to working with her.
Alex Depledge MBE, said:
I’m honoured to be appointed as the Chancellor’s first-ever Entrepreneurship Advisor, a ground-breaking move that puts high-growth businesses at the heart of economic thinking.
It’s the first time an entrepreneur has held this role, and it signals a bold commitment from government to back the scale-ups and innovators powering the UK forward.
There are over 34,000 scale-ups in the UK — just 0.6% of SMEs — yet they generate a staggering £1.4 trillion in turnover, contributing 55% of all SME revenues.
This is a chance to rewrite the playbook on how we support entrepreneurs, and I’m here to make sure we take full advantage of it.
Customers of Leeds City Council will soon benefit from faster, more convenient access to services, after senior councillors gave the nod for work to begin on a new customer services transformation programme.
At yesterday’s meeting of the executive board, councillors approved an investment of £12 million over three and a half years, to transform the channels and mechanisms available to everyone who needs to contact the council. This includes residents, businesses, visitors and partner organisations – anyone who might need contact the council to pay, book, tell, register, apply or check.
The initiative is designed to improve how people interact with the council—offering more online self-service options, reducing wait times, and making it easier for customers to get the support they need, when they need it and in a way which suits them. These changes will give residents greater control and flexibility, while maintaining access to telephone and in-person services for those who prefer them.
Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council executive member for communities, customer services and community safety, said: “The council currently receives around 276,000 contacts per month from customers, so it is vital that we offer a modern and efficient service which meets the standards our customers expect.
“This is about improving our services, not replacing them. By giving people more control over how and when they contact us, we can reduce waiting times and deliver a faster, more efficient service – all while saving public money.”
Among the anticipated benefits of the programme are:
Quicker resolution of queries, with 60–80% of contacts expected to be resolved at first point.
Reduced need for follow-up contact, thanks to improved staff access to a single customer view.
Shorter call handling times and a stronger connection between staff and customers.
Empowered staff who are better equipped to intervene earlier and improve outcomes.
The initiative will also deliver significant cost savings for the council by reducing avoidable demand, reducing manual processes through increased automation, and increasing digital self-service options.
Ultimately, the Customer Transformation Programme aims to build a sustainable, customer-first culture within the council, underpinned by continuous improvement and smarter use of technology.
By simplifying processes and embracing innovation, Leeds City Council is investing in a better future for customers—one where every interaction is quicker, easier, and more effective.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand, Nattakrit Vongjarean, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Dr. Kao congratulated Deputy Secretary General Nattakrit on his recent appointment and acknowledged Thailand’s active role in enhancing parliamentary engagement within ASEAN. Both sides exchanged views on strengthening collaboration between ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), particularly in support of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the promotion of regional awareness.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of House Representatives of Thailand appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Residents and guests of Moscow can attend free functional training classes at almost 50 addresses. Classes are held in parks, at the Summer in Moscow project sites, at the Northern and Southern river terminals and in other places within the framework of the project “Sports Weekend”. It is organized Moscow City Sports Department and government service centers “My Documents”.
Functional training consists of cardio and strength exercises using your own body weight. During the training, all muscles are involved, which helps to strengthen and harmoniously develop the body’s muscles and increase endurance. In addition, athletes’ metabolism speeds up, which allows them to burn more calories at rest.
You can choose suitable sites and sign up for functional training atofficial website project.
In addition, Muscovites can prepare to meet the strength standards of the Ready for Labor and Defense (GTO) complex with the project “GTO in parks” in 10 parks of the capital. The project was created for those who like to do sports in the fresh air and want to test their physical fitness with the help of complex tests.
“GTO in Parks” is training with professional instructors, as well as meeting standards in 10 park areas of the capital. You can find out the schedule, locations of classes and tests, and sign up for them atproject website. Free training is held every weekend throughout the summer for participants over 18 years old. Both adults and children from six years old can complete the standards.
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 events 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.
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
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — A rocket left a glittering trail in the sky as it flew over waters off east China’s Shandong Province.
The launch, organized by Chinese aerospace company Galactic Energy, successfully placed four satellites into orbit, marking the company’s fifth consecutive successful space launch from a sea-based platform.
The flight, which took place on May 19, was a shining example of the rapid development of China’s commercial space industry.
From coastal launch sites to orbital bases, a new generation of private Chinese aerospace enterprises is redefining the country’s access to space, characterized by greater launch frequency, precision and innovation.
Building on this momentum, China’s commercial aerospace sector is now entering an era of rapid development driven by technological breakthroughs, expanded launch capabilities and accelerated construction of space infrastructure.
Rockets, satellites and launch sites are the three main components of the commercial division of China’s space industry. Last year, China opened its first launch site for commercial flights, giving the country the final link in the commercial space ecosystem and paving the way for fully integrated development.
China plans to launch several reusable rockets in 2025. As for satellites, large constellations like Spacesail Constellation (China’s commercial low-orbit satellite network) continue to launch, while demand for small satellites is growing rapidly.
China’s commercial space market is expected to exceed 2.5 trillion yuan (about $348 billion) this year.
“Space is an important resource that we have yet to tap, and we are very optimistic about the commercial space sector,” said Galactic Energy Executive President Xia Dongkun.
In 2024, the country’s government work report called commercial space a “new driver of economic growth.” Authorities in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities soon after rolled out targeted support measures and action plans to improve the structure of the commercial aerospace industry.
The Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone, also known as Beijing E-Town, is home to more than 160 aerospace enterprises that have formed a growing cluster, accounting for 75 percent of the country’s commercial rocket development and assembly operations.
As China’s commercial aerospace ecosystem continues to evolve, coordination between market forces and government support measures lays a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
Today, the number of commercial space companies in China has exceeded 500, and the number of satellites in orbit continues to grow steadily.
With the development of low-orbit satellite internet, some commercial satellite companies are moving towards mass production and increased profitability.
At Geespace’s satellite factory in Taizhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, an intelligent network system coordinates all stages of design, R&D, production, testing and operation.
After more than 60 general assembly operations, the components are transformed into a satellite, thereby reducing the production cycle to 28 days. The production speed has increased by 10 times, and production costs have been significantly reduced.
“In the satellite manufacturing industry, the advantages of commercial aerospace companies in low-cost mass production are becoming increasingly clear,” said Zhang Shijie, chief scientist at GalaxySpace.
“The industry is moving from small-scale custom development to large-scale production. The ability to assemble satellites like computers is no longer a dream, but a reality,” he added.
China’s commercial rockets are not only crossing the skies from sea to space, but also opening a new era of innovation and industrial transformation. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, June 19 (Xinhua) — Uzbekistan and China are strategic partners in promoting green development, Sarvar Rakhmatullaev, a leading researcher at the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said in an interview with Xinhua.
He noted that in the era of global climate challenges and energy transformation, international cooperation in the field of sustainable development is of particular importance. One of the most striking examples of such interaction is the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China in the field of green economy: two countries united by a common vision of an environmentally sustainable future are demonstrating an exemplary model of interstate cooperation that can become a catalyst for green transformation of all of Central Asia, the scientist emphasized.
According to S. Rakhmatullaev, in recent years, a remarkable transformation has been observed in relations between Uzbekistan and China, turning bilateral interaction into the embodiment of successful interstate cooperation. Thanks to the active efforts of the leaders of the two states, these relations have reached a new, higher level with the establishment of an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in a new era, he added.
Economic indicators eloquently testify to the scale of the progress achieved: the most significant trend of recent years has been the transition from traditional forms of cooperation to the environmental agenda, the expert said. Today, there is a significant dynamic of interaction between Uzbekistan and China in green energy, which implies cooperation in the use of technologies that promote environmental efficiency and sustainability, including innovative solutions and advanced developments to achieve environmental goals, the agency’s interlocutor said.
S. Rakhmatullaev noted that in recent years, China has secured its status as the undisputed leader in the field of renewable energy and green technologies. The green development policy has become one of the priority tasks of the Chinese government, it is based on the concept of the ecological civilization of China, aimed at balanced and sustainable development, harmonious coexistence of man and nature, the expert added. -0-
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Cornishman report and safety flyer published
Fatal accident on board a beam trawler 44 nautical miles south-south-west of the Isles of Scilly, England, with the loss of 1 life.
Today, we have published our accident investigation report into the fatal accident to a deckhand on board the beam trawler Cornishman (PZ 512) 44 nautical miles south-south-west of the Isles of Scilly, England on 6 February 2021.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Neil Hornby appointed Interim Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency
Neil Hornby will lead the agency as the recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive continues
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has appointed Neil Hornby as its interim Chief Executive Officer.
Neil’s term began on 9 June 2025. The appointment follows former RPA Chief Executive Paul Caldwell’s decision to step down and retire from the Civil Service earlier this year. The recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive is currently underway.
Neil brings extensive experience to the position, having previously served as Chief Executive of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), as well as in senior government roles working on marine and fisheries, nuclear energy, flood risk management, soils and animal health.
Neil Hornby, Interim Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency, said:
I am delighted to join the Rural Payments Agency at such an important time for British agriculture.
I look forward to working with our dedicated team to provide a great service to farmers, landowners and rural communities across the country.
Furthermore, Adrian Belton has been appointed as Chair of the Agency Management Board. The board provides leadership to the RPA, advising on strategy and ensuring high standards of corporate governance are maintained. Adrian brings a wealth of expertise to the role, having previously served as Chief Executive of the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) for six years.
Adrian Belton, Chair of the Agency Management Board said:
I’m excited to begin my role as Chair of the AMB, where I’ll focus on strategically supporting the RPA in the years ahead.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
AAIB Report: ATR 42-500, G-LMSA
ATR 42-500 (G-LMSA), engine failure during cruise, north-east of Aberdeen International Airport, 23 July 2024
Damage to No 1 engine second stage power turbine, looking from exhaust outlet
Whilst in the cruise, the aircraft suffered a contained failure of the No 1 engine and a subsequent fire inside its cowlings due to a leak from the fuel return line which had become sufficiently loose following the engine failure to result in fuel leakage. The flight crew correctly followed the checklist procedures to shut down the engine, and the fire was extinguished. The aircraft landed without further incident.
Although this is the only known instance of this fuel line becoming loose, the aircraft manufacturer has commenced a safety review to identify any possible safety actions which would further reduce the likelihood of leakage from the fuel return line.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
AAIB Report: Mini Nimbus C, G-CFHG
Fatal accident involving a Mini Nimbus C (G-CFHG), Barlavington, Sussex, 5 June 2024
Flightpath of G-CFHG (colour coded to show climb and descent rate) and overview data plot
The pilot took off with the intention to conduct an endurance flight lasting five hours. In the early stages of the flight the pilot successfully gained height in two separate thermals. After approximately 30 minutes of flying, the pilot turned 180° to track back towards the airfield. Without any further significant height gains, the glider eventually descended through the height at which BGA guidance suggests a field landing should be initiated. The glider’s flightpath suggests the pilot did not intend to commit to a landing and at low level an apparent attempt was made to gain height in a thermal. The glider gained a small amount of additional height, but during this manoeuvre two loss of control events occurred, both consistent with a stall and wing drop. The pilot appeared to recover controlled flight during both incidents but lost height and following the second recovery, the glider came into contact with the tops of trees. This resulted in significant damage to the glider, and it struck the ground causing fatal injuries to the pilot. The pilot was appropriately trained, experienced and qualified to conduct the flight and the weather was suitable, although described as challenging by other pilots who flew that day. Whilst not considered to be causal, a contributory medical factor could not be excluded. It was not possible to determine why the pilot elected not to follow the relevant training to conduct a field landing at the appropriate opportunity.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Excellent performance of Hong Kong’s higher education system showcases effectiveness of government measures He stressed that the Government attracts quality talent from around the world and nurtures local talent through various measures such as scholarship programmes to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to serve the country’s needs. Starting from the 2024/25 academic year (AY), the non-local student quota for UGC-funded institutions has been doubled from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, raising non-local undergraduate enrolment from 19.9 per cent (2023/24 AY) to 23.2 per cent. The Government will further foster collaboration among the eight UGC-funded universities, including supporting the jointly established Heads of Universities Committee’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation to continue to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand worldwide.
The spokesman added that the Government will continue to promote the strengthening of global exchanges and connections of research personnel and teams of local universities and support them to broaden research networks and co-operation areas with their overseas counterparts.
The Government attaches great importance to the quality of teaching and learning at universities and invests substantial resources to step up support for the high-quality development of Hong Kong education. For the 2025–2028 triennium, approximately 78 per cent of the Block Grant will be allocated to support teaching and learning. Compared with the 2022-2025 triennium, the Teaching Development and Language Enhancement Grant provided by the UGC will increase by $100 million to approximately $920 million. The key themes of the Grant – including the integration of generative artificial intelligence and innovative technologies in education, the sharing of exemplary practices in teaching and learning, and the enhancement of students’ well-being and personal development – are aligned with current trends in education and societal needs. The most recent round of quality audits conducted by the Quality Assurance Council under the UGC also reaffirms the high quality of educational experiences offered by UGC-funded universities.
To dovetail with the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Government will leverage the vast opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, supporting cutting-edge research conducted by the eight UGC-funded universities through the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the UGC. Over 20 research funds and scholarship programmes operate under the RGC, with more than 1 500 new projects receiving funding annually. These measures will help foster a robust research environment and further consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international post-secondary education hub. Issued at HKT 17:06
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
The State University of Management entered the top 10 best economic universities in Moscow according to RIA Novosti.
On the eve of the start of the admissions campaign, the publication presented a selection of the best universities in the capital based on data on the programs offered, educational conditions, and positions in various rankings.
GUU was included among the best economic universities in Moscow. The authors noted the practice-oriented approach to teaching, which allows students to gain real work experience and develop the necessary skills.
Let us recall that our university is a recognized leader in project-based learning and is a federal innovation platform for the implementation of the project “Interregional educational and methodological center for project-based learning, project-based learning as a technology for practical training.”
Earlier, the State University of Management was included in the annual ranking of the best universities in Russia RAEX-100, became one of the leaders of the first National Ranking of Graduates’ Employment, and the works of SUM students were noted as some of the best in the All-Russian competition of final qualification works in the format “Startup as a Diploma”.
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.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUNMING, June 19 — The 9th China-South Asia Expo opened on Thursday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, drawing representatives from 73 countries, regions and international organizations, as well as more than 2,500 enterprises.
The six-day event has brought together all South and Southeast Asian nations, featuring 16 exhibition halls, nearly 70 percent of which are dedicated to professional sectors such as manufacturing, green energy, the coffee industry, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Two South Asia-themed pavilions with nearly 800 booths have been set up, with India and Pakistan each hosting 140 booths.
Nearly 40 economic and trade events are scheduled during the expo, including forums and procurement matchmaking meetings aimed at deepening regional cooperation.
The expo was first held in Kunming in 2013, the same year China put forward the Belt and Road Initiative. It has since facilitated over 110 billion U.S. dollars in foreign trade transactions and served more than 20,000 enterprises.
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the Yunnan provincial government, the expo serves as a key platform to strengthen economic and trade links between China and South Asian nations.
In 2024, trade between China and South Asian countries neared 200 billion U.S. dollars, doubling over the past decade with an average annual growth rate of 6.3 percent, according to MOC data.
China remains committed to high-level opening up and is advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development, a process that will create valuable opportunities for cooperation with countries around the world, including those in South Asia, vice minister of commerce Yan Dong said at the opening ceremony.
Yan also expressed China’s readiness to deepen trade and investment ties, expand cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, low-carbon development, artificial intelligence and biomedicine, and jointly promote an open world economy.
eThekwini Municipality strengthens ties in UAE to advance smart city
The eThekwini Municipality has embarked on a high-level international engagement mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reinforcing its commitment to sustainable urban development, cutting-edge transport systems, and smart city transformation.
City Manager, Musa Mbhele is currently leading a series of high-level strategic engagements with government and business leaders in Abu Dhabi to explore strategic partnerships that could unlock economic opportunities and introduce advanced infrastructure innovation solutions.
This follows a successful initial round of discussions with major Abu Dhabi institutions, which laid a robust foundation for collaboration in integrated mobility, urban planning, and digital governance.
Key objectives of the UAE mission
The current leg of the mission, taking place from 16 to 19 June 2025, aims to: • Finalise agreements with the Integrated Transport Center (ITC) and the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) to implement forward-looking transport innovations aligned to the needs of the eThekwini region. • Explore technology-driven investment platforms with Maqta Technologies, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, focusing on digital investment portals, such as the Single Window and the proposed “Invest in KZN” prototype. • Consolidate the Abu Dhabi-Dubai-KZN knowledge exchange corridor, focusing on smart logistics, sustainable infrastructure, and advanced technologies in customs clearance and risk analytics through platforms like BorderVision, RiskLab, and BorderMeter.
Mbhele is joined by Project Executive in the Chief Operations Office, Lungelo Buthelezi, and Acting Head of the eThekwini Transport Authority, Nelisiwe Zama.
On 16 June, the team led constructive discussions with senior leaders in Dubai’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, centred on building urban spaces, where mobility is seamless, sustainable, and intelligently connected.
“As urban landscapes evolve, the integration of smart transport systems, thoughtful urban planning, and municipal coordination has become more crucial than ever. We are in the United Arab Emirates to leverage international best practices.
“By embracing innovation and strategic planning, we pave the way for a connected and resilient urban future for our city of Durban,” said Mbhele.
Collaboration with UAE mobility and infrastructure leaders
The eThekwini delegation also engaged with key stakeholders in Abu Dhabi’s intelligent mobility and digital infrastructure sectors.
Among the stakeholders included Dr Emily Mogano, Vice President of Partnerships at the Sheikh Maktoum NEO Technologies Office, who expressed enthusiasm for the growing collaboration.
Senior representatives from the UAE’s transport sector, led by Minister Abdulla Al Hashmi, Director of Traffic Systems at the Integrated Transport Center, shared insights on Abu Dhabi’s Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). These include smart mobility advancements, traffic infrastructure optimisation, and road safety enhancements driven by cutting-edge technologies.
Al Hashmi emphasised the UAE’s readiness to collaborate with eThekwini on solutions tailored for Durban’s urban context.
These engagements underscores eThekwini’s commitment to proactive global cooperation and innovation-driven development, positioning Durban as a hub for international investment, mobility innovation, and smart governance. – SAnews.gov.za
Every year, some 100 billion garments are produced worldwide, and 92 million tonnes of clothing waste end up in landfills. Given this enormous amount of waste, it is logical to think that the only way forward is to degrow fashion. But can fashion and degrowth co-exist?
Degrowth is defined as the planned reduction of production and consumption in a way that ensures equitable living. Degrowth principles, such as sufficiency, cooperation and care, clash with growth principles of maximization, commodification and efficiency. For the fashion industry, which is responsible for immense resource extraction and waste creation, reducing resource throughput and ensuring equitable value creation pose enduring challenges.
While some governments and corporations encourage consumers to shop responsibly and reduce waste, collective responsibility is needed to facilitate a degrowth transition, which urges a fundamental shift in the way designers, manufacturers and brands approach fashion waste. Will circular practices help create a just and equitable industry? Is it possible to produce clothing locally and differently than “fast fashion” retailers?
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Upcycling as a radical rethinking of our relationship with waste
In a recent study, we explored how the circular fashion practice of upcycling – creative and caring transformation of discarded or waste clothes into something of higher value – pushes industry actors to rethink their relationship to fashion waste and give it value as a resource compatible with degrowth values. We examined how upcycling is practiced across institutions – brands, manufacturers, designers and NGOs – in Turkey, one of Europe’s largest textile producers.
It is important to note that while conversations about recycling – the practice of breaking down textile waste into raw material through mechanical or chemical processes – are prevalent in the fashion world, the painful fact is that only 1% of clothes are recycled into new garments, meaning the majority of fashion waste is doomed to remain as waste. Through upcycling, on the other hand, waste is treated as a resource. Rather than viewing clothes as disposable, upcycling enables us to understand and care about our clothes’ journey and the people and ecosystems behind them. Converting discarded food into natural dyes for colouring fabric, or using sailcloth to make handbags, creates value through the creativity, materials, skill sharing, and caring involved.
As part of green-growth efforts, some circular fashion actors treat waste as a commodity and try to maximize growth through efficient waste reduction. However, this is incompatible with degrowth. We need to reduce production of textiles and make use of existing textile waste, not just discard textile waste efficiently.
Relational ways of working with waste, technology, nature and people
Our research highlights the importance of the socio-ecological value of waste in industry upcycling practices. Such value is generated through social and solidarity networks of relations around waste, including between designers, manufacturers and upcycling brands, and involving nature and technology.
We emphasise the growing interest in the story of waste material, which is reinforcing strong connections to waste and its origins. Upcycling designers highlight local and material heritage in the production of upcycled clothes, which is necessary to foster the ecological and material consciousness required for a degrowth transition. Designers we interviewed evoked the idea that “nature doesn’t waste anything”, and mentioned being inspired by and mimicking nature’s cycles in the design process.
We also reflect on the kind of technology needed to support more relational, localised systems. The practices of upcycling designers and small brands highlight the value of the creation of waste-sharing platforms among industry actors. These platforms serve as waste libraries and provide opportunities to purchase different kinds of textile waste for upcycling.
Making waste valuable
Industry actors we interviewed said they are not simply trend chasers focused on profit, but seeking to build alternative ways of working with each other, nature, waste and technology. For example, designers partnered with local women in rural areas in Erzurum, Mugla and Kilis provinces to upcycle discarded fabrics into handwoven garments, preserving cultural heritage. A brand collected food waste to create natural textile dyes, collaborating with local cafés and friends in Istanbul. During the Covid-19 crisis, solidarity networks emerged between hospitals, textile manufacturers and designers to make upcycled uniforms for doctors and nurses. We have observed that manufacturers also repurpose waste to give gifts to employees, children and others. These practices aim to reduce waste and reconnect people to waste material, and enable the sharing of local knowledge and skills.
Our data also demonstrates a concern over lack of circular literacy among industry actors. Currently, access to upcycling knowledge and skills, as well as waste material, happens through knowledge hubs and waste-sharing platforms. For example, working with sectoral representatives and local governments, one knowledge hub created a circular economy guide to raise industry awareness about ways to revalue and reduce textile waste.
Upcycling is still a niche circular practice, and access to waste resources for initiatives, as well as lack of public funding and policy support for projects, remain important concerns. Nonetheless, when it is grounded in local communities, new narratives about materials, and care, upcycling can foster degrowth values in fashion.
Handan Vicdan ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
New drainage standards tackle pollution in England’s communities
Developers encouraged to reduce pollution, protect communities from flooding and benefit nature as part of government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes.
extensive wildflower green roof
In a move to tackle water pollution and protect communities from flooding, the government is updating the national standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for the first time in a decade.
The new standards – welcomed by the construction industry – will give developers clearer guidance on how to create rainwater management systems that mimic the natural environment and deliver better outcomes.
Suggested features include spaces designed to collect and filter rainwater, which will relieve pressure on our crumbling sewage system and prevent pollution overflowing into our waterways.
Impermeable surfaces such as roads and pavements increase the risk of flooding in heavy downpours, as the excess water has nowhere to go. By introducing materials designed to soak up water, new developments will be better protected against flooding.
The new standards will also encourage design features like green roofs and soakaways. These provide a place for nature to thrive and improve a building’s energy efficiency –reducing energy bills, bringing mental and physical health benefits to communities by expanding access to nature and supporting wildlife.
The updated standards signify the government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes sustainably without delaying the planning process and comes following the record £104 billion secured from private sector investment to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said:
The Government will introduce new standards to tackle water pollution, protect communities from flooding and make our new towns beautiful.
Nature recovery and growth can go hand in hand, and these new standards will enable the sustainable building of 1.5 million homes as part of the Plan for Change.
Key features of the new standards include:
Reducing flood risk by actively managing surface water on site
Improving water quality before it enters rivers and streams
Provide community benefits by creating more attractive and resilient places to live and work
Prioritising solutions that enhance biodiversity and green space
Encouraging water efficiency, by enabling the reuse of rainwater through harvesting and collection systems
Emphasising long-term maintenance and performance
To support the government’s Plan for Change, the updated standards are aligned with the National Planning Policy Framework and will complement wider planning reforms which will take place later this year. Developers are encouraged to innovate and demonstrate how their systems meet the outcomes, rather than follow a one-size-fits-all checklist.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2
News story
Government to invest over £100m in water company fines to local environmental projects
The Government will invest water company fines into local projects across the country to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas
The Government will invest water company fines into local projects across the country to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.
Over £100m in fines and penalties levied against water companies since October 2023, as well as future fines and penalties, will be reinvested into projects to clean up our waters which could include local programmes to address pollution and improve water quality.
When water companies breach their environmental permits – for example by releasing excessive pollution into a river – that is a criminal offence. The most serious cases, like illegal sewage spills, see water company fines issued and criminal prosecutions for water bosses.
This Government is clear that the current volume of sewage being discharged to our waters is unacceptable. We have launched an independent review, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, to reset the water sector regulatory system and deliver a fair deal for customers and investors.
The Government is committed to cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas with increased enforcement against polluting water companies, a record investment to fix broken pipes and a generational review of the sector as part of its Plan for Change.
Secretary of State Steve Reed said:
We inherited a broken water system with record levels of sewage being pumped into waters.
But the era of profiting from failure is over. A record 81 criminal investigations have been launched into water companies under this government and Ofwat recently announced the largest fine ever handed to a water company in history.
This Government will invest money collected through fines into local projects to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.
More detail on the projects and programmes that this funding will go towards will be set out in due course.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
On the Black Sea coast, a new thematic shift “Engineers of meanings: designers of a new reality” of the All-Russian children’s center “Smena” and the public organization “Movement of the First” was launched. The educational strategy for the professional training of engineers of meanings in the field of communication activities, which has been implemented by the Higher School of Media Communications and Public Relations of the Humanitarian Institute at SPbPU since 2020, for the first time became the conceptual logic of the educational shift for the country’s studying youth.
70 college students who came to the “Nastvornik” camp from all over the country were welcomed by the head of the Center for Innovative Pedagogical Technologies of the All-Russian Children’s Center “Smena” Roman Khevsokov and the director of the Higher School of Music and Social Sciences of the State University of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Marina Arkannikova. In her welcoming speech, she noted the high level of organization of the camp and the substantive content of the program of events.
You have two unforgettable weeks ahead of you. I wish you to take away from the Black Sea coast a sea of impressions, new knowledge and, of course, friends. And I will finish with the words of Robert Rozhdestvensky: “If you exist, be the best, if you exist, be the first. It is harder and easier to be the first!” said Marina Arkannikova.
On the day of the grand opening of the shift, a visionary lecture and master class on the topic “Engineers of meanings as visionaries of the communications industry and cultural sovereignty of Russia” took place. The speaker spoke about the strategy of national security of Russia in terms of preserving and developing the cultural sovereignty of the country, as well as about civil initiatives that form the value-semantic principles of the cultural code of the nation and protection from information aggression in the context of mental wars and cancel culture. For their interest in the discussion and thoughtful reasoning, the distinguished listeners were awarded the book “Engineers of meanings: from concept to professionalization”, prepared under the scientific editorship of Marina Sergeevna and published by the Polytechnic University.
The students of the educational program are participants of the All-Russian project “First Student” and winners of the competitive selection, who showed the highest results in motivation, in the desire for development and readiness to think strategically and on a large scale. For two weeks, from June 12 to 25, a course of professional skills, a series of business quests from the State Corporation “Rosatom”, a festival of professions “Masters of the Future”, a workshop “Smart City” will be organized for them. The participants of the shift will be able to get acquainted with the possibilities of professional growth in the field of children’s self-government in the primary organizations of the “Movement of the First”, will be engaged in the development of projects and their own first business, and will also be able to become part of a friendly society that will definitely support their ideas and meanings.
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.
SPECIAL REPORT:By Saige England in Ōtautahi and Ava Mulla in Cairo
Hope for freedom for Palestinians remains high among a group of trauma-struck New Zealanders in Cairo.
In spite of extensive planning, the Global March To Gaza (GMTG) delegation of about 4000 international aid volunteers was thwarted in its mission to walk from Cairo to Gaza to lend support.
The land of oranges and pyramids became the land of autocracy last week as peace aid volunteers — young, middle-aged, and elderly — were herded like cattle and cordoned behind fences.
Their passports were initially seized — and later returned. Several New Zealanders were among those dragged and beaten.
While ordinary Egyptians showed “huge support” for the GMTG, the militant Egyptian regime showed its hand in supporting Israel rather than Palestine.
A member of the delegation, Natasha*, said she and other members pursued every available diplomatic channel to ensure that the peaceful, humanitarian, march would reach Gaza.
Moved by love, they were met with hate.
Violently attacked “When I stepped toward the crowd’s edge and began instinctually with heart break to chant, ‘Free Palestine,’ I was violently attacked by five plainclothes men.
“They screamed, grabbed, shoved, and even spat on me,” she said.
Tackled, she was dragged to an unmarked van. She did not resist, posed no threat, yet the violence escalated instantly.
“I saw hatred in their eyes.”
Egyptian state security forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the Global March activists. Image: GMTG
Another GMTG member, a woman who tried to intervene was also “viciously assaulted”. She witnessed at least three other women and two men being attacked.
The peacemakers escaped from the unmarked van the aggressors were distracted, seemingly confused about their destination, she said.
It is now clear that from the beginning Egyptian State forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the GMTG.
Authorities as provocateurs The peace participants witnessed plainclothed authorities act as provacateurs, “shoving people, stepping on them, throwing objects” to create a false image for media.
New Zealand actor Will Alexander . . . “This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience every day.” GMTG
New Zealand actor Will Alexander said the experience had inflated rather than deflated his passion for human rights, and compassion for Palestinians.
“This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience everyday. Palestinians pushed into smaller and smaller areas are murdered for wanting to stand on their own land,” he said.
“The reason that ordinary New Zealanders like us need to put our bodies on the line is because our government has failed to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
“Israel has blatantly breached international law for decades with total impunity.”
While the New Zealanders are all safe, a small number of people in the wider movement had been forcibly ‘disappeared’,” said GMTG New Zealand member Sam Leason.
Their whereabouts was still unknown, he said.
Arab members targeted “It must be emphasised that it is primarily — and possibly strictly — Arab members of the March who are the targets of the most dramatic and violent excesses committed by the Egyptian authorities, including all forced disappearances.”
Global March to Gaza activists being attacked . . . the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
This did, however, continuously add to the mounting sense of stress, tension, anxiety and fear, felt by the contingent, he said.
“Especially given the Egyptian authorities’ disregard to their own legal system, which leaves us blindsided and in a thick fog of uncertainty.”
Moving swiftly through the streets of Cairo in the pitch of night, from hotel to hotel and safehouse to safehouse, was a “surreal and dystopian” experience for the New Zealanders and other GMTG members.
The group says that the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare.
“For 20 months our hearts have raced and our eyes have filled in unison with the elderly, men, women, and children, and the babies in Palestine,” said Billie*, a participant who preferred, for safety reasons, not to reveal their surname.
“If we do not react to the carnage, suffering and complete injustice and recognise our shared need for sane governance and a liveable planet what is the point?”
Experienced despair Aqua*, another New Zealand GMTG member, had experienced despair seeing the suffering of Palestinians, but she said it was important to nurture hope, as that was the only way to stop the genocide.
“We cling to every glimmer of hope that presents itself. Like an oasis in a desert devoid of human emotion we chase any potential igniter of the flame of change.”
Activist Eva Mulla . . . inspired by the courage of the Palestinians. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Ava Mulla, said from Cairo, that the group was inspired by the courage of the Palestinians.
“They’ve been fighting for freedom and justice for decades against the world’s strongest powers. They are courageous and steadfast.”
Mulla referred to the “We Were Seeds” saying inspired by Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos.
“We are millions of seeds. Every act of injustice fuels our growth,” she said.
Helplessness an illusion The GMTG members agreed that “impotence and helplessness was an illusion” that led to inaction but such inaction allowed “unspeakable atrocities” to take place.
“This is the holocaust of our age,” said Sam Leason.
“We need the world to leave the rhetorical and symbolic field of discourse and move promptly towards the camp of concrete action to protect the people of Palestine from a clear campaign of extermination.”
Saige England is an Aotearoa New Zealand journalist, author, and poet, member of the Palestinian Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA), and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.
*Several protesters quoted in this article requested that their family names not be reported for security reasons. Ava Mulla was born in Germany and lives in Aotearoa with her partner, actor Will Alexander. She studied industrial engineering and is passionate about innovative housing solutions for developing countries. She is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA).
New Zealand and other activists with Tino Rangatiratanga and Palestine flags taking part in the Global March To Gaza. Will Alexander (far left) is in the back row and Ava Mulla (pink tee shirt) is in the front row. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
SPECIAL REPORT:By Saige England in Ōtautahi and Ava Mulla in Cairo
Hope for freedom for Palestinians remains high among a group of trauma-struck New Zealanders in Cairo.
In spite of extensive planning, the Global March To Gaza (GMTG) delegation of about 4000 international aid volunteers was thwarted in its mission to walk from Cairo to Gaza to lend support.
The land of oranges and pyramids became the land of autocracy last week as peace aid volunteers — young, middle-aged, and elderly — were herded like cattle and cordoned behind fences.
Their passports were initially seized — and later returned. Several New Zealanders were among those dragged and beaten.
While ordinary Egyptians showed “huge support” for the GMTG, the militant Egyptian regime showed its hand in supporting Israel rather than Palestine.
A member of the delegation, Natasha*, said she and other members pursued every available diplomatic channel to ensure that the peaceful, humanitarian, march would reach Gaza.
Moved by love, they were met with hate.
Violently attacked “When I stepped toward the crowd’s edge and began instinctually with heart break to chant, ‘Free Palestine,’ I was violently attacked by five plainclothes men.
“They screamed, grabbed, shoved, and even spat on me,” she said.
Tackled, she was dragged to an unmarked van. She did not resist, posed no threat, yet the violence escalated instantly.
“I saw hatred in their eyes.”
Egyptian state security forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the Global March activists. Image: GMTG
Another GMTG member, a woman who tried to intervene was also “viciously assaulted”. She witnessed at least three other women and two men being attacked.
The peacemakers escaped from the unmarked van the aggressors were distracted, seemingly confused about their destination, she said.
It is now clear that from the beginning Egyptian State forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the GMTG.
Authorities as provocateurs The peace participants witnessed plainclothed authorities act as provacateurs, “shoving people, stepping on them, throwing objects” to create a false image for media.
New Zealand actor Will Alexander . . . “This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience every day.” GMTG
New Zealand actor Will Alexander said the experience had inflated rather than deflated his passion for human rights, and compassion for Palestinians.
“This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience everyday. Palestinians pushed into smaller and smaller areas are murdered for wanting to stand on their own land,” he said.
“The reason that ordinary New Zealanders like us need to put our bodies on the line is because our government has failed to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
“Israel has blatantly breached international law for decades with total impunity.”
While the New Zealanders are all safe, a small number of people in the wider movement had been forcibly ‘disappeared’,” said GMTG New Zealand member Sam Leason.
Their whereabouts was still unknown, he said.
Arab members targeted “It must be emphasised that it is primarily — and possibly strictly — Arab members of the March who are the targets of the most dramatic and violent excesses committed by the Egyptian authorities, including all forced disappearances.”
Global March to Gaza activists being attacked . . . the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
This did, however, continuously add to the mounting sense of stress, tension, anxiety and fear, felt by the contingent, he said.
“Especially given the Egyptian authorities’ disregard to their own legal system, which leaves us blindsided and in a thick fog of uncertainty.”
Moving swiftly through the streets of Cairo in the pitch of night, from hotel to hotel and safehouse to safehouse, was a “surreal and dystopian” experience for the New Zealanders and other GMTG members.
The group says that the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare.
“For 20 months our hearts have raced and our eyes have filled in unison with the elderly, men, women, and children, and the babies in Palestine,” said Billie*, a participant who preferred, for safety reasons, not to reveal their surname.
“If we do not react to the carnage, suffering and complete injustice and recognise our shared need for sane governance and a liveable planet what is the point?”
Experienced despair Aqua*, another New Zealand GMTG member, had experienced despair seeing the suffering of Palestinians, but she said it was important to nurture hope, as that was the only way to stop the genocide.
“We cling to every glimmer of hope that presents itself. Like an oasis in a desert devoid of human emotion we chase any potential igniter of the flame of change.”
Activist Eva Mulla . . . inspired by the courage of the Palestinians. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Ava Mulla, said from Cairo, that the group was inspired by the courage of the Palestinians.
“They’ve been fighting for freedom and justice for decades against the world’s strongest powers. They are courageous and steadfast.”
Mulla referred to the “We Were Seeds” saying inspired by Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos.
“We are millions of seeds. Every act of injustice fuels our growth,” she said.
Helplessness an illusion The GMTG members agreed that “impotence and helplessness was an illusion” that led to inaction but such inaction allowed “unspeakable atrocities” to take place.
“This is the holocaust of our age,” said Sam Leason.
“We need the world to leave the rhetorical and symbolic field of discourse and move promptly towards the camp of concrete action to protect the people of Palestine from a clear campaign of extermination.”
Saige England is an Aotearoa New Zealand journalist, author, and poet, member of the Palestinian Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA), and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.
*Several protesters quoted in this article requested that their family names not be reported for security reasons. Ava Mulla was born in Germany and lives in Aotearoa with her partner, actor Will Alexander. She studied industrial engineering and is passionate about innovative housing solutions for developing countries. She is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA).
New Zealand and other activists with Tino Rangatiratanga and Palestine flags taking part in the Global March To Gaza. Will Alexander (far left) is in the back row and Ava Mulla (pink tee shirt) is in the front row. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Faced with the choice in their daily lives, their work or their politics, why do some people decide to keep quiet, to censor themselves in anticipatory obedience, even if they’re not ordered to do so?
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly, we talk to self-censorship expert Daniel Bar-Tal about what drives people to censor themselves, and its consequences for society.
It was Daniel Bar-Tal’s experiences serving in the Israeli army that prompted him to begin studying self-censorship. “ I was observing all kind of phenomenon that are going on within a country that is engaged in intractable conflict,” he told us.
Bar-Tal, an emeritus professor in the school of education at Tel Aviv University, began to notice that self-censorship was essential in societies, like Israel, living in conflict. He explains:
There are all kind of directives which develop censorship, in the army, in school, teachers are told what they should do and say. But self-censorship is going beyond this. So it means that nobody tells you that you must say A or B or C, but you feel an obligation by yourself to say certain things without any order from above.
Bar-Tal assembled a team of researchers from different disciplines to examine how self-censorship plays out across different sectors of a society, from politics to academia to journalism. They found three main motivations why people self-censor: as a defence mechanism for their in-group; out of fear; and to win rewards.
Listen to Bar-Tal talk about his research into self-censorship on the latest episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, which includes an introduction from Beth Daley, executive editor at The Conversation U.S. about self-censorship currently happening in parts of American academia.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Daniel Bar-Tal does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre (www.BRICSCompetition.org), in collaboration with mathematicians, programmers, ecologists and biologists from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA, Vienna), has developed a systemic approach to deepen the understanding of how digital ecosystems function. The research group proposes applying mathematical models and biological theories from the natural sciences to describe processes in the digital economy. Their comprehensive approach to analysing and regulating ecosystems is built on analogies between natural and digital ecosystems—both are complex adaptive systems that share structural and functional characteristics. The results have been published in the interdisciplinary journal npj Complexity in the open-access article “An ecological perspective to master the complexities of the digital economy” (Elena Rovenskaya, Alexey Ivanov, Sarah Hathiari, Daria Kotova, Ursula M. Scharler, Gergely Boza) (www.nature.com) and in the Springer Nature Research Communities “Behind the Paper” post “Taming the Digital Giants: Why Regulators Need an Ecological Lens on Platform Power” (Elena Rovenskaya, Alexey Ivanov, Sarah Hathiari, Daria Kotova, Ursula M. Scharler, Gergely Boza) (www.communities.springernature.com).
The scientists formulated this idea as the 5M System (5M Framework), which describes the digital realm in ecological terms and draws analogies between natural and digital phenomena across five levels: Micro (“genes”) — elements of technology, knowledge, and business strategy (including user behaviour data); Meso (“species”) — products; Macro (“ecosystems”) — digital platform ecosystems; Mega (“biomes”) — wider societies hosting platform ecosystems; Meta — interactions among the four previous levels occur here.
For example, optimal foraging theory can explain why Uber avoids sparsely populated areas: like an animal that leaves a food-poor patch because the energy gained per unit of search time is too low, Uber steers clear of rural zones where ride requests are infrequent, driver utilisation drops, and the “return” on each kilometre driven fails to justify the effort. The flexibility of digital-product boundaries is akin to the blurred definition of biological species, within which finer subspecies are often distinguished: LinkedIn can be viewed either as a Microsoft service or as a set of related products—job marketplace, professional social network, advertising platform, and so on.
Elena Rovenkaya, the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Program Director and Principal Research Scholar:
“Digital ecosystems are an entirely new economic object, fundamentally different from the standard economic agents regulators are used to dealing with. The analogy we propose between natural and digital ecosystems will allow antitrust authorities to look at digital ecosystems from a new angle and obtain intuitive explanations for business strategies that often seem complex. Moreover, applying well-established mathematical and ecological approaches may be more effective than designing new methods from scratch.”
Aleksey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre:
“The published article is expected to be the first in a series of interdisciplinary publications devoted to new antitrust approaches for regulating the digital environment. In the AI sector and adjacent fields, the number of partnerships and investment agreements resembling mergers is growing, yet companies often evade antitrust scrutiny by sidestepping formal filing thresholds. A systemic-analysis response—particularly mathematical modelling and the systems-mapping method that the BRICS Centre is developing with partners—can depict a complex phenomenon in a model of all its cause-and-effect links. This will significantly accelerate research and make antitrust analysis more precise.”
In the future, the researchers also plan to create a digital tool using AI for BRICS antitrust coordination — the “Merger Radar.” This system will detect economic-concentration deals and shape preliminary positions on such transactions.
The article forms part of the BRICS Centre’s research track on the antitrust challenges created by digitalisation. The project was launched in 2018 to provide expert and methodological support to antitrust agencies in the BRICS Working Group for Research on Competition Issues in Digital Markets; in 2019 the Centre first highlighted the threats posed by digital platforms and the need for special oversight; from 2020 the Working Group shifted its focus to ecosystem regulation — today the most advanced debate in antitrust law. At the 7th BRICS Competition Conference (China, 2021) the Centre publicly presented the “eco-antitrust” concept; in 2022, in Brazil, it organised the first BRICS Digital Competition Forum, which has since been held annually. At the latest forum, in autumn 2024, representatives of Brazil’s antitrust authority CADE announced the drafting of a new bill to regulate ecosystems, which is now before the Brazilian parliament. The experts are currently analysing the impact of AI on competition and preparing a new report.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.
The award-winning VUKA Group (www.WeareVuka.com) has officially launched the Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS), a purpose-driven, high-level continental gathering that will take place from 21 to 23 October 2025 in Johannesburg. Designed as Africa’s flagship platform for carbon finance, CMAS brings together policymakers, investors, standards bodies, developers and corporates to drive practical, inclusive climate action and unlock Africa’s carbon value at scale.
Carbon markets are quickly becoming one of Africa’s most promising opportunities for climate finance and sustainable development. Yet the complexity of validation, verification, regulation and monetisation continues to challenge project developers, financiers and governments alike.
“This isn’t mining or retail. The returns, timelines and requirements are different,” says Olivia Tuchten, Principal Climate Change Advisor at Promethium Carbon. “There’s money to be made and good to be done – but only if stakeholders upskill and understand the process.”
CMAS is Africa’s response – a strategic event focused on building confidence, closing knowledge gaps and accelerating real transactions.
Strategic Moment: Africa’s Carbon Future and the Global Agenda
The timing of CMAS is particularly significant. With growing global momentum around carbon pricing and the operationalisation of Article 6, the outcomes of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in November are expected to influence the future architecture of global carbon markets.
As the G20 debates issues like carbon border adjustment mechanisms and international credit standards, Africa must be ready to respond with a united, informed voice. CMAS provides a platform for African stakeholders to strategically align, share technical insights, and sharpen positions – not only for G20, but also in preparation for COP30, where climate finance and carbon market governance will again take centre stage.
“We are in the right place and at the right time today to ensure that Africa benefits from carbon markets,” says Prof Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank.
A Unique Value Proposition: What Sets CMAS Apart
Pan-African Focus with Global Reach: Prioritising African leadership while connecting to international buyers, standards and financiers.
Ministerial Roundtable(21 October): A closed-door session convening African environment, climate and finance ministers to align policy priorities and amplify Africa’s voice at COP30 and G20.
Deal-Making Platforms: Investor roundtables, project showcases, deep-dive workshops and curated networking designed to convert conversations into transactions.
Integrity & Compliance: Navigate voluntary and compliance carbon markets with rigor, exploring Article 6, regional frameworks and global best practice.
Project Visibility: Spotlight on investable, Africa-based carbon projects with real climate and community impact.
Pre-COP30 Momentum: CMAS will help unify African market positions and technical readiness in the lead-up to multilateral climate finance negotiations.
Advisory Board: A Multi-Sectoral Powerhouse
To ensure CMAS reflects Africa’s diverse needs and opportunities in carbon markets, an influential advisory board has been convened, including:
Andrew Gilder – Director, Climate Legal, South Africa
Andrew Ocama – Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, Uganda
Bianca Gichangi – Regional Lead – Africa, VCMI, Kenya
Brett Stacey – Director, Carbon Zero Verification, United Kingdom
Dr Olufunso Somorin – Regional Principal Officer, AfDB, Kenya
Heather McEwan – Regional Representative, Verra, South Africa
Javier Mazanares – CEO, Allen Manza, Panama
Lawrence Cole-Morgan – Carbon Credit Trading Lead, Standard Bank, South Africa
Mathis Granjon – Trader, Green Steps, Netherlands
Maxime Bayen – Operating Partner, Catalyst Fund, Spain
Olivia Tuchten – Promethium Carbon, South Africa
Reshma Shah – Lead, Carbon Markets, FSD Africa, Kenya
Bernardin Uzayisaba, Carbon Market Programme Specialist, UNDP, South Africa
Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Government of Nigeria
A Pathway to African Ownership
“Africa is still not maximising its potential. We need to do things differently,” says Olufunso Somorin, AfDB. “One of the challenges is that there are many good project developers who have very good ideas, but they don’t have the resource to jumpstart their idea into an investable project.” Somorin continues: “The AfDB has created the African Carbon Support Facility, and we are hoping to start off with a $100 million capitalisation.” Among the goals are supporting countries towards market-creating policy shifts, and the bulk of the funds will provide resources to project developers and assist in validation costs. “The AfDB wants to increase the number of African-owned, African-based and African-led project developments on the ground,” he adds.
According to Lawrence Cole-Morgan, Standard Bank, “the carbon markets provide Africa with the ability to monetise its significant carbon sequestration potential to fund socio-economic development and badly needed adaptation, while making a meaningful contribution to combatting climate change.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Ocama, Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, is of the opinion that “each country is at a different level of readiness to actively participate in the carbon markets. To the seven Alliance countries, these markets are an important avenue for finance owing to their accountability and the measurability of their outcomes.”
Event Details
21 October – Pre-Summit Day
Carbon 101 seminar
High-impact dialogue by the Global Trust Project
22–23 October – Main Summit
Plenaries
Ministerial Roundtable
Investor roundtables
Hands-on workshops
Sector-focused dialogues
Deal-making and networking
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Organised by VUKA Group
With more than 20 years of experience delivering high-impact B2B events across Africa, VUKA Group is the independent, B-BBEE-compliant force behind platforms like Africa’s Green Economy Summit, Enlit Africa, Smarter Mobility Africa, and DRC Mining Week.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
On Cynologist Day, June 21, a festival will be held in the cynological park on Timurovskaya Street (building 5) “A dog is a friend in the service of the Fatherland”. It will bring together professional dog handlers, rescue dogs and pet owners. Starts at 11:00.
Representatives of canine services of law enforcement agencies, leading training centers, search and rescue teams and social projects in which dogs have become true partners and heroes will gather at the site in Tsaritsyno. The meeting is part of the “Friend, Rescuer, Defender” series of events of the “Pets in Moscow” and “Summer in Moscow” projects.
Elite of service dog breeding
Visitors will see demonstration performances by four-legged dogs assisting specialists from various departments, including the Canine Service Center of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the city of Moscow, the Federal Customs Service of Russia, the Russian National Guard, and Emergency Rescue Squad No. 6 of the Moscow Fire and Rescue Center.
You can also see dogs from the legendary school of service dog breeding – the “Red Star” kennel. It is rightfully considered the pride of the country. During the Great Patriotic War, more than 16 thousand handlers were trained here and 33 thousand dogs were trained, which were sent to the front line as part of regiments and battalions. The four-legged ones searched for mines, destroyed enemy equipment, pulled the wounded from the battlefield and served as messengers. Now the kennel continues to train the best service dogs of the country.
Visitors will see how the service’s tailed employees instantly carry out the dog handler’s commands, find the necessary items in a matter of seconds, and demonstrate iron restraint even in the presence of loud music among a large number of people.
Faithful friend and helper
A special part of the program is a demonstration of service dogs. Such animals connect a person with the outside world. The Center for the Development of Mobility, Inclusion, Rehabilitation and Activity of People with Disabilities “MIRA” will show unique pairs – mentors with disabilities and their faithful dogs. Dogs not only help their owners in everyday life, but also perform in sports competitions and even participate in dance shows together with people.
Detective dogs
The dogs of the LizaAlert search team will demonstrate their skills. They have participated in the most difficult operations to find missing people and know how to not be distracted by noise, remember complex smells, walk tens of kilometers, and navigate the city and the countryside.
The team’s specialists will tell you how to join the ranks of volunteers, which breeds are best suited for search work, what skills dogs are taught, and how to supervise the work of a four-legged partner. In addition, at the meeting you can learn more about the important mission of saving human lives.
A program for the whole family
Guests of the canine park will be able to visit the veterinary mobile and receive advice from a veterinarian on the health of pets, their proper nutrition, vaccinations and prevention. There will be a platform where you can use the services of professional groomers. Cynologists will explain to everyone who wants to where to start training, how to properly communicate with a dog in everyday life and what to do if a tailed friend stubbornly does not follow commands.
Thematic activities have been prepared for children. Games, master classes, competitions, quizzes and unusual photo zones await the children.
“Pets in Moscow”— a project of the “My District” program, within the framework of which modern dog walking areas are being created in the capital. Today, there are already 79 such spaces in the city, including two dog parks. They are suitable not only for free walks with pets and their effective training, but also for large dog competitions and exhibitions.
“My area”— a comprehensive program of the Mayor of Moscow for the development of the urban environment. Its goal is to create comfortable living conditions in all areas of the capital. Important components are the arrangement of convenient courtyards, parks and modern social infrastructure facilities near houses.
Cycle of events “Friend, savior, protector” covers more than 200 meetings for communication between professional dog handlers, veterinarians, groomers, zoopsychologists with dog owners and those who are just planning to get a four-legged friend. The cycle is aimed at popularizing a responsible attitude towards animals and increasing the level of knowledge of city residents about the maintenance, upbringing and role of dogs in society.
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 events 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 the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.
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
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
From June 21 to 24, the Red Square will be open immersive museum in the open air. The large-scale exhibition is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory Parade.
The museum will tell about the events of the Great Patriotic War. Several thematic zones are envisaged, including “Moscow Meets Victory”, the Victory Train “We Are from Berlin”, the Park of the Victors, and a theater stage. For the first time, the historical Fountain of the Victors will be recreated on the museum site, which will take you back to the distant June of 1945. The appearance of the structure will be the same as it was 80 years ago.
“The exhibition will occupy more than 16 thousand square meters. Residents and guests of the capital will be shown how Moscow greeted the victors and celebrated the Victory. The museum will also introduce many historical facts. A unique part of the exhibition will be a copy of the historical fountain of the Victors. Such patriotic events are important for every person, they cultivate both a sense of love for the Motherland and respect for its history and culture,” shared
Ekaterina Dragunova, Chairman of the capital’s Committee for Public Relations and Youth Policy.
The exhibition “Moscow Greets Victory” will be divided into thematic blocks, each of which will reveal one of the spheres of the capital’s life at that time – from cinema and sports to transport, trade and festive events. The illustrations will show a vivid transition from war to peace. Guests will study modules with display cases and artifacts, graphic material, maps, infographics, as well as authentic items of the Victory’s commanders.
The “Shell” stage and flower kiosk will become a symbol of a peaceful and happy life. Musicians will perform on the traditional Moscow park stage. Here, everyone will be able to join the Victory Waltz accompanied by a military orchestra.
The Victory train “We are from Berlin” will also be located on Red Square. It consists of two carriages and an open platform. Soldiers-actors will perform songs and show scenes from military life.
As part of the exhibition, guests will be able to see 20 units of military and civilian equipment of those times from the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. Immersive performances will be held on stage. Guests and residents of the capital will be treated to musical and poetic sketches, as well as productions.
More than 300 Moscow volunteers will help visitors find their way around.
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