NewzIntel.com

Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Researchers Are at the Forefront of Using AI for Weather Forecasting

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Weather forecasting is not easy. The truth is that predicting future weather conditions over broad, or even narrow, swathes of Earth’s surface comes down to complex microphysical processes, and as College of Engineering Associate Professor and UConn Atmospheric and Air Quality Modeling Group Leader Marina Astitha puts it, nature is chaotic.

    Astitha and her research group are at the forefront of exploring ways to improve weather prediction using AI and machine learning to enhance existing physics-based models. They developed new methods for the prediction of snowfall accumulation and wind gusts associated with extreme weather events in three recent papers in the Journal of Hydrology, Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems, and another in the Journal of Hydrology.

    Postdoctoral researcher Ummul Khaira Ph.D. ’24 led the snowfall prediction work during her time as a Ph.D student. Ph.D candidate Israt Jahan is passionate about building models that improve predictions of damaging wind gusts from storms.

    The researchers met with UConn Today to discuss the importance and everyday applications of enhanced forecasting capabilities using these new technologies.

    Are there forecasting challenges that are unique to the Northeast?

    Astitha: There are characteristics about the Northeast that make it particularly difficult to make weather predictions for. This is especially true for winter weather because we have Nor’easters that can come from either the center of the country or from the Gulf. Some move slowly, and they are highly predictable. Some can be what we call a bomb cyclone, where they rush up here and dump a lot of snow in a small amount of time.

    For weather forecasting, we traditionally use numerical weather prediction models that are based on physics principles and have seen large improvements over the last 20-30 years. We have been running our own weather forecasting system at UConn since 2014, based on physical models. However, numerical weather prediction comes with its own challenges due to uncertainty in parameterizations that are necessary when no physical laws are known for a specific process.

    For windstorms, wind gusts specifically are a complicated variable. It’s wind, but the way we observe it and the way we model it is different.

    Can you explain more about the physics used in numerical weather prediction models?

    Astitha: Precipitation is a microscale process.  As air rises and cools, clouds form, and within those clouds, tiny cloud droplets develop through complex microphysical interactions. Over time, some of these droplets grow large enough to become raindrops or snowflakes. Once they reach a critical size, gravity causes them to fall to the ground as precipitation. This entire process is governed by microphysical processes.

    We try to predict such microphysical processes embedded in numerical weather models by solving many equations and parameterizations. These models describe our atmosphere as a 3D grid, dividing it into discrete boxes where we solve equations based on first principles (motion, thermodynamics, and more).  This approach poses a major challenge: even with increased resolution, each grid cell often represents a large volume of air, typically one to four square kilometers. Despite efforts to refine the grid, these cells still encompass vast areas, limiting the model’s ability to resolve smaller-scale processes.

    Numerical prediction is what got me here. 20 years ago, I could run a code to numerically solve physics equations of the atmosphere, and then I could tell approximately what the weather would be like the next day. That, to me, was mind-blowing!

    Once you run one deterministic model, you get one answer that the temperature is going to be, say 75 degrees tomorrow in Storrs. That’s one potential realization of the future. Models like that are not capable of giving us an exact answer, because nature is chaotic. I’ve always had the mindset of looking at multiple models to have an idea of that uncertainty and variability, and if 10 different realizations give you 74, 75, or 76 degrees, you know you’re close.

    Khaira: Few things are more humbling than a snowfall that defies prediction. My work lies in embracing that uncertainty in the chaos and building models not to promise perfection, but to offer communities and decision makers a clearer window into what might lie ahead.

    How is your recent research helping with the challenges of numerical weather prediction?

    Astitha: Imagine a Nor’easter coming our way during wintertime; they come with a lot of snow and wind. We work with the Eversource Energy Center and we’re interested not only on the scientific advancement, but also the impact and accuracy in predicting when and where that storm is going to happen in Connecticut. Weather prediction accuracy influences the estimation of impacts; for example, power outages. We might underestimate or overestimate the impact by a lot. That makes winter storms of particular interest because of the impact they have on our society, our transportation networks, and electrical power distribution networks.

    Five years ago, we decided to test whether a machine learning framework could help with wind gust and snowfall prediction. It comes with its own challenges and uncertainties, but we quickly saw that there is a lot of promise for these tools to correct errors and do better than what numerical weather prediction can do and at a fraction of the time. Machine learning and AI can help improve the analysis of wind gusts and snowfall, but these systems are not perfect either. We want to be able to better predict storms over Connecticut and the Northeast US, which is why we started this exploration with ML/AI, even though most of the research out there about how to implement AI in weather prediction is either at the global scale or much coarser resolution, but we’re getting there.

    Can you talk about the everyday impact of the research?

    Astitha: An example is when the trees are full of leaves like they are in late spring and summer, and a storm comes in with a lot of rain and intense wind. Whole trees can come down and topple the power lines, which causes many disruptions around the state.

    Our close collaboration with the Eversource Energy Center involves our immediate collaborators taking this weather prediction information and operationally predicting power outages for Connecticut and other service territories. That information can go to the utility managers, so they can prepare two to three days in advance, indicating a direct link from science and engineering to the application and to the manager.

    I understand people’s frustrations and the need for answers about weather forecasts and impacts of storms. You want to know if your family is going to be safe and if you should or should not be out during particular times of the day. We’re doing this research to improve the reliability and accuracy of weather forecasting, so communities and stakeholders are aware of what’s happening when the storm hits their area and can take appropriate actions.

    Jahan: It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work has the potential to improve early warnings and give communities more time to prepare. By combining AI and uncertainty analysis, we’re not just making gust predictions more accurate – we are helping decision-makers plan with greater confidence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Researchers Are at the Forefront of Using AI for Weather Forecasting

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Weather forecasting is not easy. The truth is that predicting future weather conditions over broad, or even narrow, swathes of Earth’s surface comes down to complex microphysical processes, and as College of Engineering Associate Professor and UConn Atmospheric and Air Quality Modeling Group Leader Marina Astitha puts it, nature is chaotic.

    Astitha and her research group are at the forefront of exploring ways to improve weather prediction using AI and machine learning to enhance existing physics-based models. They developed new methods for the prediction of snowfall accumulation and wind gusts associated with extreme weather events in three recent papers in the Journal of Hydrology, Artificial Intelligence for the Earth Systems, and another in the Journal of Hydrology.

    Postdoctoral researcher Ummul Khaira Ph.D. ’24 led the snowfall prediction work during her time as a Ph.D student. Ph.D candidate Israt Jahan is passionate about building models that improve predictions of damaging wind gusts from storms.

    The researchers met with UConn Today to discuss the importance and everyday applications of enhanced forecasting capabilities using these new technologies.

    Are there forecasting challenges that are unique to the Northeast?

    Astitha: There are characteristics about the Northeast that make it particularly difficult to make weather predictions for. This is especially true for winter weather because we have Nor’easters that can come from either the center of the country or from the Gulf. Some move slowly, and they are highly predictable. Some can be what we call a bomb cyclone, where they rush up here and dump a lot of snow in a small amount of time.

    For weather forecasting, we traditionally use numerical weather prediction models that are based on physics principles and have seen large improvements over the last 20-30 years. We have been running our own weather forecasting system at UConn since 2014, based on physical models. However, numerical weather prediction comes with its own challenges due to uncertainty in parameterizations that are necessary when no physical laws are known for a specific process.

    For windstorms, wind gusts specifically are a complicated variable. It’s wind, but the way we observe it and the way we model it is different.

    Can you explain more about the physics used in numerical weather prediction models?

    Astitha: Precipitation is a microscale process.  As air rises and cools, clouds form, and within those clouds, tiny cloud droplets develop through complex microphysical interactions. Over time, some of these droplets grow large enough to become raindrops or snowflakes. Once they reach a critical size, gravity causes them to fall to the ground as precipitation. This entire process is governed by microphysical processes.

    We try to predict such microphysical processes embedded in numerical weather models by solving many equations and parameterizations. These models describe our atmosphere as a 3D grid, dividing it into discrete boxes where we solve equations based on first principles (motion, thermodynamics, and more).  This approach poses a major challenge: even with increased resolution, each grid cell often represents a large volume of air, typically one to four square kilometers. Despite efforts to refine the grid, these cells still encompass vast areas, limiting the model’s ability to resolve smaller-scale processes.

    Numerical prediction is what got me here. 20 years ago, I could run a code to numerically solve physics equations of the atmosphere, and then I could tell approximately what the weather would be like the next day. That, to me, was mind-blowing!

    Once you run one deterministic model, you get one answer that the temperature is going to be, say 75 degrees tomorrow in Storrs. That’s one potential realization of the future. Models like that are not capable of giving us an exact answer, because nature is chaotic. I’ve always had the mindset of looking at multiple models to have an idea of that uncertainty and variability, and if 10 different realizations give you 74, 75, or 76 degrees, you know you’re close.

    Khaira: Few things are more humbling than a snowfall that defies prediction. My work lies in embracing that uncertainty in the chaos and building models not to promise perfection, but to offer communities and decision makers a clearer window into what might lie ahead.

    How is your recent research helping with the challenges of numerical weather prediction?

    Astitha: Imagine a Nor’easter coming our way during wintertime; they come with a lot of snow and wind. We work with the Eversource Energy Center and we’re interested not only on the scientific advancement, but also the impact and accuracy in predicting when and where that storm is going to happen in Connecticut. Weather prediction accuracy influences the estimation of impacts; for example, power outages. We might underestimate or overestimate the impact by a lot. That makes winter storms of particular interest because of the impact they have on our society, our transportation networks, and electrical power distribution networks.

    Five years ago, we decided to test whether a machine learning framework could help with wind gust and snowfall prediction. It comes with its own challenges and uncertainties, but we quickly saw that there is a lot of promise for these tools to correct errors and do better than what numerical weather prediction can do and at a fraction of the time. Machine learning and AI can help improve the analysis of wind gusts and snowfall, but these systems are not perfect either. We want to be able to better predict storms over Connecticut and the Northeast US, which is why we started this exploration with ML/AI, even though most of the research out there about how to implement AI in weather prediction is either at the global scale or much coarser resolution, but we’re getting there.

    Can you talk about the everyday impact of the research?

    Astitha: An example is when the trees are full of leaves like they are in late spring and summer, and a storm comes in with a lot of rain and intense wind. Whole trees can come down and topple the power lines, which causes many disruptions around the state.

    Our close collaboration with the Eversource Energy Center involves our immediate collaborators taking this weather prediction information and operationally predicting power outages for Connecticut and other service territories. That information can go to the utility managers, so they can prepare two to three days in advance, indicating a direct link from science and engineering to the application and to the manager.

    I understand people’s frustrations and the need for answers about weather forecasts and impacts of storms. You want to know if your family is going to be safe and if you should or should not be out during particular times of the day. We’re doing this research to improve the reliability and accuracy of weather forecasting, so communities and stakeholders are aware of what’s happening when the storm hits their area and can take appropriate actions.

    Jahan: It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work has the potential to improve early warnings and give communities more time to prepare. By combining AI and uncertainty analysis, we’re not just making gust predictions more accurate – we are helping decision-makers plan with greater confidence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Costs and Benefits of Year-Round Schooling

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Editor’s Note: Kristin Simmers prepared the following research brief (unabridged version) with the Center for Education Policy Analysis, Research, and Evaluation (CEPARE). The full brief examines year-round education for districts exploring its adoption. Below is an executive summary.

    Year-round education (YRE) redistributes the traditional 180-day school calendar by incorporating shorter, more frequent breaks. Proponents argue that YRE can reduce learning loss, alleviate school overcrowding, and address educational inequities. However, findings on its effectiveness are varied, and evidence suggests outcomes may be influenced by the specific model and implementation context. This brief examines the academic, operational, and financial implications of YRE and key considerations for districts exploring its adoption.

    YRE can be implemented as a single-track or multi-track system. In a single-track model, all students follow the same year-round calendar with scheduled intersession breaks, which can be used for remediation and enrichment. Research suggests these programs may help mitigate some learning loss, particularly for disadvantaged students, though the overall academic impact is modest and inconsistent. For example, a Virginia study found that while Black and Hispanic students in YRE schools showed greater gains in state test scores than their peers in traditional calendar schools, participation in intersession programs varied greatly, and there was no significant academic impact on the general student population (Brown et al., 2012). These findings suggest that the observed academic gains among certain student groups in YRE schools may be influenced more by the additional instruction provided during intersession than by the year-round calendar itself.

    Multi-track YRE, designed primarily to ease overcrowding, staggers student attendance schedules and generally increases school capacity by 20-33% without building new facilities. While this model offers operational and financial benefits, research indicates little to no academic advantage in model adoption, and some students in lower-resourced tracks may even experience negative academic outcomes. For example, a California study found slight declines in reading and math scores among students in multi-track YRE schools, particularly in the first few years of implementation (Graves, 2011). Additionally, Wake County, North Carolina, which rapidly implemented multi-track YRE to address overcrowding, saw no overall academic gains but did succeed in reducing school population pressures (Graves et al., 2013). However, the YRE transition faced legal challenges from parents who opposed mandatory enrollment in multi-track YRE systems (McMullen & Rouse, 2012), and the district now actively includes parents in their school assignment process (Wake County Public School System, n.d.).

    While YRE offers potential benefits, research findings are mixed and suggest its success depends on careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful implementation. &#8212 Kristin Simmers

    Implementing YRE requires careful consideration of financial, logistical, and community factors. Single-track YRE may increase costs due to intersession programming, staffing, and year-round operations, while multi-track models require complex scheduling and transportation coordination. Family schedules, childcare availability, and extracurricular activities must also be considered. Additionally, teacher workload and retention remain key concerns, as anecdotal reports on YRE’s impact on teacher stress are inconsistent.

    Case studies from Greenwood, South Carolina, and Wake County highlight the role of local context. Greenwood 50 adopted single-track YRE in 2021 to improve low test scores and found that attendance at intersession remediation programs surpassed that of traditional summer school remediation. While test scores improved, other factors, such as smaller class sizes, may have contributed to these outcomes (Gregory & Turcotte, 2022).

    For districts considering YRE, successful implementation may include:

    • Defining objectives about whether YRE implementation will address overcrowding, improve academic outcomes, or both
    • Engaging educators, families, and stakeholders throughout the decision-making process
    • Ensuring equitable access to remediation and enrichment
    • Securing funding for intersession programs when appropriate
    • Considering a phased approach or pilot program before full-scale adoption

    While YRE offers potential benefits, research findings are mixed and suggest its success depends on careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful implementation.

    CEPARE produces high-quality research, evaluation, and policy analysis that informs leaders and policymakers on a range of pressing issues, with a particular focus on enhancing social justice and equity across p-20 educational settings in Connecticut and beyond. Learn more about CEPARE, or access the PDF version of this rapid research brief (including all references and appendices), at cepare.uconn.edu. 

    Kristin Simmers is a Ph.D. candidate in the Learning Sciences program at UConn’s Neag School of Education. She has over 16 years of international teaching experience and holds an MS in elementary education, MS Ed. in curriculum and instruction, and graduate certificates in special education and English as a second language.  Her research explores teachers’ understanding of the brain and learning, emphasizing the connection between education research and classroom practice. She promotes a transdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, and health to enrich educational research. Through her various professional roles, she works to bridge the gap between research and practice, fostering meaningful collaboration across disciplines.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Costs and Benefits of Year-Round Schooling

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Editor’s Note: Kristin Simmers prepared the following research brief (unabridged version) with the Center for Education Policy Analysis, Research, and Evaluation (CEPARE). The full brief examines year-round education for districts exploring its adoption. Below is an executive summary.

    Year-round education (YRE) redistributes the traditional 180-day school calendar by incorporating shorter, more frequent breaks. Proponents argue that YRE can reduce learning loss, alleviate school overcrowding, and address educational inequities. However, findings on its effectiveness are varied, and evidence suggests outcomes may be influenced by the specific model and implementation context. This brief examines the academic, operational, and financial implications of YRE and key considerations for districts exploring its adoption.

    YRE can be implemented as a single-track or multi-track system. In a single-track model, all students follow the same year-round calendar with scheduled intersession breaks, which can be used for remediation and enrichment. Research suggests these programs may help mitigate some learning loss, particularly for disadvantaged students, though the overall academic impact is modest and inconsistent. For example, a Virginia study found that while Black and Hispanic students in YRE schools showed greater gains in state test scores than their peers in traditional calendar schools, participation in intersession programs varied greatly, and there was no significant academic impact on the general student population (Brown et al., 2012). These findings suggest that the observed academic gains among certain student groups in YRE schools may be influenced more by the additional instruction provided during intersession than by the year-round calendar itself.

    Multi-track YRE, designed primarily to ease overcrowding, staggers student attendance schedules and generally increases school capacity by 20-33% without building new facilities. While this model offers operational and financial benefits, research indicates little to no academic advantage in model adoption, and some students in lower-resourced tracks may even experience negative academic outcomes. For example, a California study found slight declines in reading and math scores among students in multi-track YRE schools, particularly in the first few years of implementation (Graves, 2011). Additionally, Wake County, North Carolina, which rapidly implemented multi-track YRE to address overcrowding, saw no overall academic gains but did succeed in reducing school population pressures (Graves et al., 2013). However, the YRE transition faced legal challenges from parents who opposed mandatory enrollment in multi-track YRE systems (McMullen & Rouse, 2012), and the district now actively includes parents in their school assignment process (Wake County Public School System, n.d.).

    While YRE offers potential benefits, research findings are mixed and suggest its success depends on careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful implementation. &#8212 Kristin Simmers

    Implementing YRE requires careful consideration of financial, logistical, and community factors. Single-track YRE may increase costs due to intersession programming, staffing, and year-round operations, while multi-track models require complex scheduling and transportation coordination. Family schedules, childcare availability, and extracurricular activities must also be considered. Additionally, teacher workload and retention remain key concerns, as anecdotal reports on YRE’s impact on teacher stress are inconsistent.

    Case studies from Greenwood, South Carolina, and Wake County highlight the role of local context. Greenwood 50 adopted single-track YRE in 2021 to improve low test scores and found that attendance at intersession remediation programs surpassed that of traditional summer school remediation. While test scores improved, other factors, such as smaller class sizes, may have contributed to these outcomes (Gregory & Turcotte, 2022).

    For districts considering YRE, successful implementation may include:

    • Defining objectives about whether YRE implementation will address overcrowding, improve academic outcomes, or both
    • Engaging educators, families, and stakeholders throughout the decision-making process
    • Ensuring equitable access to remediation and enrichment
    • Securing funding for intersession programs when appropriate
    • Considering a phased approach or pilot program before full-scale adoption

    While YRE offers potential benefits, research findings are mixed and suggest its success depends on careful planning, stakeholder engagement, and thoughtful implementation.

    CEPARE produces high-quality research, evaluation, and policy analysis that informs leaders and policymakers on a range of pressing issues, with a particular focus on enhancing social justice and equity across p-20 educational settings in Connecticut and beyond. Learn more about CEPARE, or access the PDF version of this rapid research brief (including all references and appendices), at cepare.uconn.edu. 

    Kristin Simmers is a Ph.D. candidate in the Learning Sciences program at UConn’s Neag School of Education. She has over 16 years of international teaching experience and holds an MS in elementary education, MS Ed. in curriculum and instruction, and graduate certificates in special education and English as a second language.  Her research explores teachers’ understanding of the brain and learning, emphasizing the connection between education research and classroom practice. She promotes a transdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from cognitive science, neuroscience, psychology, and health to enrich educational research. Through her various professional roles, she works to bridge the gap between research and practice, fostering meaningful collaboration across disciplines.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Upexi, Inc. June 2025 Monthly Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAMPA, Fla., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Upexi, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPXI), a brand owner specializing in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of consumer products with diversification into the cryptocurrency space, today released its June 2025 monthly update.

    “June was a particularly active and successful month,” stated Upexi CEO Allan Marshall. “We increased our SOL balance during June by 8%, demonstrating continued growth while also continuing to earn an 8% staking yield. And we delivered on key initiatives, gaining listed options on Nasdaq, announcing our intention to tokenize our equity via Superstate, and joining Webull’s Corporate Connect Service platform. Looking ahead, we are laser-focused on increasing Upexi’s visibility and raising capital in an accretive fashion for the benefit of shareholders.”

    Below are a few highlights from June.

    Treasury Update as of June 30, 2025

    • Treasury: Upexi held 735,692 SOL, up 8.2% from the previously disclosed 679,677 SOL as of May 28.
    • Net Asset Value: Using the June 30 price of $154.74 per SOLi, the 735,692 SOL are valued at $113.8 million.
    • SOL per Share: Using 38.2 million shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2025, approximately 0.0192 SOL per common share, or $2.97 per common share.
    • Staking: Substantially all the treasury SOL are being staked, earning a ~8% yield.
    • Locked SOL: Approximately 58% of the portfolio was locked SOL when purchased at a mid-teens discount to the SOL spot price and provides for built-in gains for shareholders.

    Business Initiatives

    Upexi Events / Multimedia Recap

    Solana Monthly Recap

    • Network Performance: Solana recorded strong growth and market share numbers across most major metrics, including daily active addresses and application revenue, detailed more in the chart below.
    • Firedancer Progress: Jump Crypto’s high-performance client Firedancer launched a delegation program for its hybrid Frankendancer client, which has already amassed 8% of total Solana stake.
    • Institutional Adoption: French bank Societe Generale announced plans to launch a stablecoin on Ethereum and Solana, fintech giant Fiserv revealed a forthcoming Solana stablecoin launch, Moody’s Ratings tested tokenized securities credit ratings, and Solana Policy Institute submitted compliant tokenized securities frameworks to the US SEC.
    • Solana ETF Progress: Prospective spot SOL ETF issuers submitted updated S-1 filings and Rex-Osprey revealed the upcoming launch of its Solana staking ETF, which occurred after month end.
    • Application News: RWA firm Backed launched tokenized equities, decentralized vehicle data platform DIMO expanded to Japan, decentralized science startup CUDIS announced its upcoming CUDIS token on Solana, DEX aggregator Jupiter paused DAO voting, memecoin launchpad pump.fun outlined a $1b fundraise, and memecoin Bonk launched web3 game Bonk Arena.
    • Price: SOL entered June at $157 and finished the month nearly unchanged at $155. Using daily close prices, Solana bottomed at $132 on June 22nd and peaked at $165 on June 10th.
    Solana Major Metrics, June 2025
      June 2025 YoY Growth Market Share
    Daily Active Addresses, m 4.8 200% 38%
    Daily Transactions, $b 3.0 67% 70%
    Dex Volumes, $b 182 347% 28%
    Fees, $m 31 -43% 23%
    Application Revenue, $m 147 33% 42%

    Sources: Artemis, Blockworks. Note: Market share calculated using Ethereum, Avalanche C-Chain, Sui, Solana, Base, Polygon POS, BNB Chain, Tron, and Cardano.

    About Upexi, Inc.
    Upexi is a brand owner specializing in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of consumer products. The Company has entered the cryptocurrency industry and cash management of assets through a cryptocurrency portfolio. For more information on Upexi’s treasury strategy and future developments, visit www.upexi.com.

    Follow Upexi on X – https://twitter.com/upexitreasury
    Follow CEO, Allan Marshall, on X – https://x.com/marshall_a22015
    Follow CSO, Brian Rudick, on X – https://x.com/thetinyant

    Forward Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. For example, the Company is using forward looking statements when it discusses the anticipated use of proceeds. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with business strategy, potential acquisitions, revenue guidance, product development, integration, and synergies of acquiring companies and personnel. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward- looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Company Contact
    Brian Rudick, Chief Strategy Officer
    Email: brian.rudick@upexi.com
    Phone: (216) 347-0473

    Media Contact
    Gasthalter & Co.
    Upexi@gasthalter.com

    Investor Relations Contact
    KCSA Strategic Communications
    Valter Pinto, Managing Director
    (212) 896-1254
    Upexi@KCSA.com

    ___________________________
    i Closing price of SOL as quoted on coinmarketcap.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sergei Guriev, Dean of London Business School, Joins the Group of Thirty

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WASHINGTON and LONDON, July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — London Business School is pleased to announce that Professor Sergei Guriev, the School’s Dean, has joined The Group of Thirty (G30).

    Sergei Guriev brings a unique breadth of expertise, in areas ranging from corporate governance and contract theory to political economics, labor mobility, and the economics of development and transition. He is currently Dean of London Business School, Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research, Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France, and a Global Member of the Trilateral Commission. Guriev previously served as Professor of Economics and Provost at Sciences Po, Paris and Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He was earlier Rector of the New Economic School in Moscow from 2004-2013, and served on various Russian councils including the Commission on Open Government.

    The Group of Thirty, founded in 1978, is an independent global body comprised of economic and financial leaders from the public and private sectors and academia. It aims to deepen understanding of economic and financial issues, and of the international repercussions of decisions taken in the public and private sectors. Members participate in the Group in their personal capacities, not on behalf of any organization, public or private, to which they may be affiliated. A full list of current G30 members is available at http://group30.org/members.

    Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Chair of the Board of Trustees, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Sergei into the Group of Thirty. He brings an outstanding record in academia, unique insights on economies at various stages of advancement, and political economy. He will be a valuable addition to our debates.”

    Raghuram Rajan, Chair of the G30, said: “I look forward to Sergei’s contributions to the Group’s meetings and work program. His background and research on geo-politics and corruption, as well as his exemplary contributions to public service, will no doubt expand the Group’s discussions as we navigate an increasingly polarized and volatile world.”

    Sergei Guriev stated: “I thank Tharman, Raghu, and the G30 for the offer of membership. I’m honored to be part of the Group and look forward to actively contributing in the years to come on shared priorities and concerns.”

    For media enquiries, contact Christopher Moseley on +44 7511 577803 / email cmoseley@london.edu.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fe8db0e-0fd1-45e6-a6af-90881cafeeb3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Staying positive might protect against memory loss

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Christian van Nieuwerburgh, Professor of Coaching and Positive Psychology, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Want to remember things better as you get older? The secret might be surprisingly simple: focus on feeling good.

    Recent research involving over 10,000 people aged 50 and above has found that people with higher wellbeing perform better on memory tests as they age. The study, which followed participants for 16 years, checked their wellbeing and memory every two years.

    The researchers expected that good memory might improve wellbeing, but found no evidence for that. Instead, it was wellbeing that predicted better memory performance over time.

    The study also found that the link between wellbeing and memory stayed strong even after taking things like depression into account. This means wellbeing may affect memory on its own, not just through effects on mood.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    However, the study’s authors acknowledge some limitations that should be taken into account when considering the real-life application of their findings.

    The study relied on people reporting their own wellbeing, which can be biased – some people might overestimate how good they feel. The research also can’t prove that wellbeing directly causes better memory – other factors like income or life experiences might play a role.

    Also, the memory tests used were relatively simple and might not capture the full complexities of how memory works in real life.

    Despite these limitations, the study offers a compelling reason to invest in your wellbeing now. Here are five evidence-based strategies to increase the positive emotions in your day-to-day experiences.

    Five strategies to boost your wellbeing now

    1. Be grateful

    Some people feel better when they keep a gratitude journal.

    2. Engage in acts of kindness.

    Being kind can boost the wellbeing of both initiators and receivers of kindness.

    3. Nurture your most important relationships

    Positive relationships are important for our wellbeing. These should be nurtured and maintained.

    4. Be more present.

    In a distracted world, being present in the moment can be difficult. Being present is the opposite of multitasking. This takes intentional practice and you can develop it through meditation or mindfulness practices.

    5. Do things that lead to a “flow” state.

    Being in a flow state means that we are fully engaged in an activity. It is a mental state where a person feels fully involved and enjoys a process or activity that provides just the right balance of challenge and reward. People often talk about this as “being in the zone”. Finding an engaging hobby or sport is a good way of increasing flow moments.

    Ensuring that you and the people around you experience positive emotions regularly is not just about feeling good in the moment. It is also an important investment for the future, ensuring better mental health and wellbeing for yourself and others. What will you do?

    Christian van Nieuwerburgh 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.

    – ref. Staying positive might protect against memory loss – https://theconversation.com/staying-positive-might-protect-against-memory-loss-259617

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Online therapy as effective as in-person therapy, finds large study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fabian Lenhard, Researcher, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet

    Chay Tee/Shutterstock.com

    When COVID arrived early in 2020, pandemic restrictions made in-person mental health care difficult or impossible. Both therapists and patients had to adapt almost overnight. For many in the field, it felt like a gamble: could this screen-based format offer the same level of support for people struggling with depression, anxiety or trauma?

    Evidence has been growing, but until now few studies have compared treatment outcomes before and during the pandemic. Research my colleagues and I conducted offers new insights into this period.

    We followed 2,300 patients treated in Sweden’s public mental health system over six years – three years before and three years during the pandemic – and tracked outcomes for common conditions including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

    We found that nearly half of visits shifted online during the pandemic (up from just 4% pre-COVID), yet treatment outcomes did not decline – they remained stable, despite the rapid transition.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Patients filled out regular questionnaires during treatment to track their progress, using standard mental health assessments that measured depression and anxiety symptoms. We examined the degree of symptom improvement and the number of patients who transitioned from severe to manageable symptoms.

    Fully 38% of depressed patients recovered, along with 56% of those with generalised anxiety disorder, 46% with OCD and 59% with PTSD. These recovery rates were almost identical before and during the pandemic.

    Recovery rates were the same during the pandemic.
    AlessandroBiascioli/Shutterstock.com

    As long as care is done well

    We aren’t certain why remote care works, but one reason might be that the most important aspects of good therapy – things like building trust between patient and therapist, using evidence-based treatments and regular follow-up – can still occur online. In fact, for some people, meeting by video can make it easier to show up and feel comfortable. Our study suggests that, when care is done well, whether it’s in person or online doesn’t make much difference.

    Online care also helps with everyday difficulties. It’s often easier for people who live far away, have trouble getting around or have busy schedules to get help from home. And during a health crisis like the pandemic, being able to keep up with treatment probably helped many people stay on track instead of falling behind.

    Still, the findings come with limits. The study did not include children, people in acute psychiatric crisis or those with severe psychotic disorders — groups for whom in-person care may still be essential. And while online therapy offers flexibility, it also requires access to a private space, stable internet and the ability to engage through a screen — conditions that aren’t guaranteed for all patients.

    Just turning on a webcam isn’t enough. The clinics in this study followed proven treatment methods and kept a close eye on how patients were doing. These steps probably made a big difference and are important for making remote care work.

    Rather than being a temporary fix, online mental health care has become a core part of the system. Our study offers strong evidence that remote care, when well implemented, can match in-person treatment in effectiveness, even during something as challenging as a pandemic.

    There is no one-size-fits-all model – and not all patients will benefit equally from internet-based treatments. But giving people the choice – and maintaining high standards of care regardless of delivery method – appears to be a key to success.

    Because in the end, what matters most isn’t where care happens. It’s that it happens and that it works.

    Fabian Lenhard works as the Head of Data & Analytics for WeMind Psychiatry and is affiliated as a researcher at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

    – ref. Online therapy as effective as in-person therapy, finds large study – https://theconversation.com/online-therapy-as-effective-as-in-person-therapy-finds-large-study-259959

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: There are many things Americans voters agree on, from fears about technology to threats to democracy

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emma Connolly, Research Fellow, Digital Speech Lab, UCL

    During his recent public spat with Donald Trump, Elon Musk tweeted a poll asking if a new political party would better represent the 80% of voters in the middle. Hundreds of thousands of people responded and more than 80% answered “yes”.

    The middle is still overlooked in US politics. This is because there is a perception that Republicans and Democrats have nothing in common, and therefore no issue will win support from both centrist Republicans and Democrats.

    Polarisation is problematic as it is linked to “democratic backsliding” – the use of underhand tactics in political processes. Worst of all, it poses a threat to democracy.

    Many think that polarisation is fuelled by echo chambers created on social media platforms. These only expose people to beliefs similar to their own.

    However, I study how narratives emerge on social media, and ways to investigate them. My work has two aims: first, to identify political issues that are likely to cross party lines, and a wider goal of exploring the role of social media in mitigating, rather than exacerbating, levels of polarisation.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Earlier this year, for example, I sorted through 12,000 posts from Republican and Democrat voters on subreddits (online forums discussing specific topics). Using a technique I developed in my PhD research, I analysed attitudes to contested political issues around the time of Trump’s inauguration. Like other researchers, I am finding that there are things both sides often agree on, and that not every issue splits neatly across party lines.

    Pew Research shows what Democrats and Republicans agree on.

    Although it’s a complex topic, people from both parties are worried about levels of free speech on social media. According to my work and other sources, some Democrats accuse TikTok of censoring hashtags such as #FreeLuigi (a reference to Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson).

    Meanwhile, some Republicans are saying they are flooded with what they see as left-wing content pushed by the algorithms. Despite their differences, Republicans and Democrats agree that social media platforms need to be more transparent about the way they work.

    Both sides worry about the rise of authoritarianism and the growing negative influence of artificial intelligence in shaping the US’s future. There is a sense among some members of the two parties that the real enemies aren’t each other, but powerful corporations who hold too much power.

    People on both sides of the political divide can be distrustful of tech companies and big businesses, where billionaires have power regardless of who’s in charge. Divisions of “up v down” could be alternatives to seeing divisions as “left v right”.

    Some people are worried about the creation of a massive database of citizens’ details, and how their details could be used, or abused. Recently Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene said she would have opposed Trump’s “big, beautiful, bill”, had she read the AI clause thoroughly. The clause stops states from passing laws to regulate AI systems for the next ten years.

    What do people agree on?

    On the topic of protecting democracy, there are some suggestions that many Republicans and Democrats agree this is important, and under threat. In my study, some Republican and Democrat voters object to the possibility of Trump having a third term, aligning with the findings of several recent polls on the subject, and even among Trump’s most loyal support groups.

    Both Republicans and Democrats want “the best” leaders who could get things done fast and efficiently. But it would appear that people on both sides are concerned about the “slash-and-burn” way that Doge (the Department for Government Efficiency, the new agency tasked with cutting federal spending) is working.

    Also, deciding who is the best leader isn’t always about agreeing with specific policies. Instead, it’s about delivering decisive, efficient action. Even Republicans who don’t back everything Trump is doing say that at least he is doing something, especially in relation to immigration.

    Many Republicans criticise the left, and former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in particular, but for unclear messaging, as much as any one policy. They (and others) put her loss down to a lack of direction and clarity on key issues (among other things). This probably resulted in failing to win votes from independents and moderate Republicans and many Democrats are frustrated that the party still hasn’t addressed this.

    Research suggests that Democrat and Republican voters often agree that polarisation causes gridlock and prevents progress, but believe voices from the middle are not being heard. Some Republicans and Democrats also share a concern that both parties are more focused on fighting each other than on solving problems, with 86% of Americans believing this.

    Some Republican voters in the posts I am analysing suggest that working together to get things done would be positive, supporting findings from the US and abroad. Other important factors rather than political party, such as religion or family or everyday life experiences can bring people from both sides together.

    So, Americans might not be as divided as one might think. Levels of polarisation feel high but this could be skewed by the extreme views of a minority on both sides. And it isn’t helped by some sensationalist media reporting.

    Lots of people get their news from social media platforms which reward and monetise engagement. Posts that fuel division are often the most visible, but they rarely tell the whole story. Divisive views are also often shared by those who are themselves the most polarised.

    Like Musk’s online poll, research is starting to suggest that there is still a sizeable moderate middle in the US today who are open to compromise through clear messaging. These voters can make all the difference, especially if parties can frame issues in ways that appeal across the divide. With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, both sides might want to listen to them more.

    Emma Connolly 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.

    – ref. There are many things Americans voters agree on, from fears about technology to threats to democracy – https://theconversation.com/there-are-many-things-americans-voters-agree-on-from-fears-about-technology-to-threats-to-democracy-258440

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The online world comes with risks – but also friendships and independence for young people with disabilities

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andy Phippen, Professor of IT Ethics and Digital Rights, Bournemouth University

    Kleber Cordeiro/Shutterstock

    “In the real world, I’m a coward. When I’m online, I’m a hero.”

    These words, paraphrased from a conversation with a young man with autism, have stayed with us throughout the years of research that underpin our recently published book exploring the relationship between children with special educational needs and disabilities and digital technology.

    We’re constantly bombarded with warnings about the potential dangers of digital technology, especially for children. But this quote captures something we might miss. The digital world can be a vital space of empowerment and connection.

    In our work, we’ve found that digital technology offers more than just access to learning for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. It opens doors to social lives, creative outlets and even employment opportunities that might be closed to them in the offline world. And yet, this potential is too often overshadowed by fears about the risks and harms they might encounter online.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Adolescence, the Netflix drama that delves into the hidden dangers of growing up in a digital world, has taken up a lot of the national conversation around social media, cyberbullying and online exploitation. But there is another show on Netflix that has received far less attention.

    The Remarkable Life of Ibelin is a powerful documentary that tells the story of Mats Steen, a young Norwegian man with a severe disability who found freedom, friendship and purpose in the online world of gaming. Though physically limited by Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Mats, known as “Ibelin” in World of Warcraft, built a rich life online.

    After his passing at 25, his gaming friends revealed just how much he had meant to them. Some travelled to his funeral. The film challenges stereotypes about online gaming. It shows it as a source of connection, compassion, and real human bonds.

    We’ve spoken to many young people with special educational needs and disabilities who echo the same themes. Online spaces offer a sense of identity and capability they don’t always feel offline.

    We found that the benefits of digital engagement for children with special educational needs and disabilities are extensive. It enhances communication: tools such as voice interfaces and text-to-speech software help those with speech or language difficulties express themselves confidently. Online platforms create spaces for friendships, especially for those who find face-to-face interaction challenging.

    Young people can build meaningful relationships online.
    Frame Stock Footage/Shutterstock

    Digital tools can also foster independence. Calendar apps can be useful for those with ADHD, or assistive technology for learners with dyslexia. And for education, tailored online content can bridge the gap between mainstream and specialist learning environments.

    But the digital world isn’t an equal playing field. Children with special educational needs and disabilities face disproportionate levels of online harm, including grooming, cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content. Crucially, they often lack the tools or support to report harm or seek help.

    This, of course, raises concerns for the parents, carers and teachers of young people with special educational needs and disabilities. We’ve found that parents, carers and teachers we’ve spoken to often reach for a “prohibition first” approach – feeling young people will be safer if they do not have the access to the internet and social media that a young person without their needs might enjoy.

    Safeguarding and empowerment

    We’ve been asked questions such as “What apps should I ban?” or “How do I stop my child going on the dark web?” These questions reflect a risk-averse mindset that fails to appreciate the value of digital engagement. Risk cannot be eliminated, but it can be managed. And, more importantly, opportunity must be protected.

    Too often, safeguarding strategies are done to children, not with them. It’s a good idea for parents and teachers of all children to talk to them about their digital life: what brings them joy, what worries them, where they feel confident or confused. Children are more likely to talk about fears or bad experiences if they feel believed, respected and understood. Make yourself a safe adult to talk to: one who listens without panic.

    While banning apps or limiting access might be useful in some cases, it should not be the starting point for safeguarding. It’s worth considering whether there are skills that a child could learn that would allow them to use technology safely.

    What’s more, online safety lessons are best when adapted to the communication style, cognitive ability and emotional maturity of an individual child. Visual aids, social stories, or interactive games may work better than text-heavy advice.

    Fear can limit what technology can offer the children who may need it most. For young people with special educational needs and disabilities, digital spaces are not simply entertainment, they are platforms for agency, creativity, relationships and voice.

    The role of adults here is to ensure these spaces are not only safe, but welcoming and empowering. That means moving past automatic restrictions and toward thoughtful, inclusive strategies that support children who might gain the most from using these technologies. We don’t need more bans. We need more belief.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The online world comes with risks – but also friendships and independence for young people with disabilities – https://theconversation.com/the-online-world-comes-with-risks-but-also-friendships-and-independence-for-young-people-with-disabilities-260443

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Attorney General’s speech at Summer School in the Law of the Council of Europe.

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Attorney General’s speech at Summer School in the Law of the Council of Europe.

    The Attorney General delivered a speech ‘The Implementation of Strasbourg Court Judgments at National Level – Subsidiarity in Action’ at the Summer School in the Law of the Council of Europe.

    Introduction

    Thank you, Professor Garde.

    I am delighted to be addressing you this morning at the opening of what I am sure will be a fascinating Summer School on the Law of the Council of Europe.

    Your theme could not be more topical – the effectiveness of the Council of Europe in Tackling the Pressing Challenges of our times. 

    For what pressing challenges we face.

    Conflicts rage around the world, new threats are posed by climate change, growing inequality, mass migration, and by emerging artificial intelligence.

    The substantive challenges are numerous, global and complex.

    And they have to be addressed in an ever more challenging political environment of polarised public discourse fuelled by social media, tempting many towards the easy solutions offered by populist leaders.

    In light of these pressing challenges, we must renew our commitment to a strong international rules-based system, underpinned by an unequivocal commitment to the rule of law.

    This is why, since taking office, I have spoken repeatedly of my government’s commitment to the rule of law. Of how it will act as our lodestar.

    This should not be contentious. The Council of Europe’s body of constitutional experts, the Venice Commission for Democracy through Law, in their Rule of Law Checklist note that the rule of law is a concept of universal validity.

    The “need for universal adherence to and implementation of the Rule of Law at both the national and international levels” was endorsed by all Members States of the United Nations in 2005.

    Lord Bingham, one of the UK’s most distinguished judges, described the rule of law as “one of the greatest unifying factors—perhaps the greatest—and as an ideal worth striving for, in the interests of good government and peace, at home and in the world at large.”  

    What do we mean, though, by the rule of law in the Council of Europe context?

    It is not just rule of law; it clearly means much more than that in the European legal tradition.

    The Venice Commission, after long reflection on what conception of the rule of law fits best with European constitutional traditions, summarised the rule of law as the presence of six key elements:

    legality; legal certainty; the prohibition of arbitrariness; access to justice before independent and impartial courts; respect for human rights and non-discrimination; and equality before the law.

    This European conception of the rule of law was heavily influenced by Tom Bingham’s account in his wonderfully accessible book, The Rule of Law.

    A cornerstone of that rules-based system in Europe is of course the Council of Europe. Formed, you will recall, in the aftermath of World War Two. When we had seen the worst of humanity.

    But out of those horrors, a group of like-minded states came together with a pledge to uphold the rule of law, democracy and human rights.

    And for over 75 years, the Council, has stood as the conscience of Europe. It has sought to unite us around those shared values. 

    And those values have served us well. They have formed a foundation for European peace and prosperity.

    I consider that they remain the best hope of protecting us from the threats we face today, and those which are no doubt coming tomorrow. 

    At the heart of the Council of Europe system is the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

    A shared statement of the rights, which all of us in the European family of nations hold dear.

    Based on the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and drafted by a British lawyer, David Maxwell Fyfe.

    The rights it contains reflect long-standing traditional common-law rights in our country. 

    The supranational system of human rights protection that has been built on those British foundations is one of the great achievements of the post-War period. 

    Its very durability demonstrates how well it has combined effective legal protection for the rights of individuals with a sensitivity to the importance of elected governments in our democratic societies.

    So my own view on one of the central questions that you will be considering at your Summer School is that the Council of Europe has proved extraordinarily effective at protecting the foundational European values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. 

    It has also, for most of its 75 years, succeeded in uniting Europe around those shared values.

    This does not mean of course that every aspect of the Council of Europe must be preserved in aspic.  International organisations and their institutions must always evolve to ensure that they continue to serve their central purpose and that they retain the public confidence of every generation. 

    That means we must be prepared to build on our existing mechanisms, developing them where necessary to ensure that they can deal with today’s pressing challenges.

    Of course, we must always remain vigilant to guarantee that such updating strengthens the protection of our shared values rather than weakening them, whilst ensuring that such reform balances liberty with responsibility, individual rights with the public interest.

    There are many ways in which the operation of the Council of Europe’s institutions could be improved. 

    There is considerable scope, for example, to build on the recent explicit recognition of the principle of subsidiarity in the preamble to the ECHR – for example by helping states to better implement the Convention at national level so that the subsidiary role of the Court becomes less and less required as national protection of ECHR rights improves. 

    We should not be afraid – indeed, must not be afraid – of discussing how the European system for the protection of human rights can be improved to ensure that the public are confident that it continues to serve the central purpose on which everyone agrees: that human rights require effective legal protection. 

    Rather, we should be confident that we can demonstrate the value of this remarkable piece of institution-building and find imaginative ways of improving its operation in practice, which secures its democratic legitimacy, and ensures it is fit to meet the challenges we face, without weakening its protections.

    The execution of judgments, which I know is one of the themes you will be exploring at the Summer School, is one such area in which there is considerable scope to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the ECHR system, and on which the UK has taken a significant lead, so it is to this that I now turn.

    The Importance of Language

    First, I want to make a small but important point about language.

    The first step towards enhancing the democratic legitimacy of the ECHR is to talk about it in a way that is accessible and readily understandable by ordinary people.

    The phrase “the execution of judgments” fails that test.

    “Execution” is a lawyer’s term. The public’s understanding of execution is that it has something to do with capital punishment.

    Insofar as non-lawyers understand the meaning of the term, the execution of a court judgment sounds like a merely formal step in which the Government does what the court in its judgment has told it to do.

    As I will go on to explain, that does not reflect the reality following a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, which very often leaves considerable scope to the democratic branches to decide how best to respond to the Court’s judgment.

    If we care about the democratic legitimacy of the ECHR, as we do and as we must, we therefore need a different language in which to talk about what happens following a finding of a violation by the European Court of Human Rights.

    Talking about the “implementation” of judgments is preferable to talking about their “execution”.

    But even “implementation” downplays the scope for democratic debate and political choice when a State considers how it should respond to an adverse judgment against it.

    It is important to frame the discussion in a way which makes clear to ordinary people the scope that usually remains for democratic debate when deciding how to respond.

    The obligation to comply with Court judgments

    In Article 46 of the Convention States, including the UK, have made an important commitment.  They have undertaken to abide by any final judgment of the European Court of Human Rights to which they are a party.

    This obligation, voluntarily entered into by all Council of Europe member states, is a crucial foundation of the international legal order in Europe.  It is key to ensuring the Convention is effective in practice. As the Venice Commission, in their report on the Polish judges case put it: ‘the right to individual petition would be illusory if a final binding judgment of the European Court of Human Rights remained unenforced.”

    Everyone agrees that it is a crucial feature of the rule of law that no-one is above the law.  That must include governments. If governments disregard decisions of the courts, then it undermines the rule of law.

    As the Venice Commissions puts it in their Rule of Law Checklist, “Judicial decisions are essential to the implementation of the Constitution and of legislation. The right to a fair trial and the Rule of Law in general would be devoid of any substance if judicial decisions were not executed.”

    The Convention recognises this, and Article 46 goes on to give the Committee of Ministers the responsibility for ensuring that judgments are given effect. It also includes a power for the Committee to refer cases back to the Court if they consider that a judgment is unclear, or that a Party is not abiding by their obligations.

    Subsidiarity in responding to Court judgments

    However, it is vital to understand the nature of the process that follows a final judgment of the Court of Human Rights that a state has violated the Convention.

    A recurring criticism of the European Court is that it erodes national sovereignty; that when it finds States in breach of the Convention, there is a democratic deficit. Too often their judgments are mischaracterised as an anti-democratic exercise in dictation from abroad.

    Confidence risks being undermined by misconceptions about the relationship between the European court and state parties.

    I therefore want to emphasise the critical role that national authorities have in implementing those judgments.  

    The principle of subsidiarity, captured by Protocol 15 which formally introduced the concept into the preamble to the Convention, means that States have primary responsibility for implementing the Convention rights into their national system.

    It states, ‘the High Contracting Parties, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, have the primary responsibility to secure the rights and freedoms defined in this Convention’.  This recognises that it is domestic authorities with the power and understanding to ensure rights compliance in each country, in light of their cultural values.

    That means that States have to have an effective legal framework which gives practical and meaningful effect to those rights.  In the UK that is the Human Rights Act.

    But it also means that, following a finding of a violation of Convention rights by the Court, states also have the primary responsibility to find a way to give effect to those rulings in a way that works for their particular national context.

    The responsibility for implementing judgments is therefore a shared responsibility between the branches of the State, including the democratically elected branches. This ensures that no judgment ends in Strasbourg. That it finds full, timely implementation at a national level.

    It goes hand in hand with the margin of appreciation – the recognition from the European Court that different countries have different legal, cultural, and social contexts, and therefore, they should be given flexibility in how they interpret and apply the Convention rights.

    Subsidiarity is not subordination; the European Court institutions must still ensure that national authorities keep to their obligations, but the main responsibility for working out how to do so rests with the states, in accordance with their democratic processes. Balancing national sovereignty with respect for universal rights.      

    Subsidiarity is a vital link between the mutually reinforcing principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

    The process for the implementation of judgments is an example of subsidiarity in action: all arms of the state, and civil society, playing their part in deciding the most appropriate way of giving effect to the rulings of the European court.

    UK processes

    Before saying a little about how the UK gives effect to judgments from the European Court, it is worth recalling that the UK has the lowest per capita rate of violations of any party. Last year there were just three judgments against the UK, one finding a violation, one finding no violation and one which was settled. So perhaps with less adverse judgments, we have an easier job ensuring that they are implemented.

    But even with that concession in mind, the UK does implement the judgements of the European Court with a current closure rate of around 98%.

    I want to now offer some reflections on our approach and why I see it as subsidiarity in action.

    The European Convention is given further effect in domestic law through the architecture of the Human Rights Act 1998. That architecture includes a power in section 10 to respond to adverse judgments from the courts – both the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts.

    This enables the Executive a ‘fast track’ way of introducing legislation into Parliament to remedy the breach of Convention rights which the court has found. How to respond to any adverse decision therefore falls to the democratically elected government to decide.

    But as well as the Executive, the legal framework of the Human Rights Act, and the institutional human rights machinery that has been built in the UK, ensures that both Parliament and civil society also play their part.

    The Joint Committee on Human Rights is the Parliamentary Committee responsible for examining matters relating to human rights. It scrutinises government legislation to ensure that it is compatible with human rights. It also systematically scrutinises the Government’s response to human rights judgments of courts. Where that response is by way of a Remedial Order, the Committee’s terms of reference require it to report on any Remedial Order made under the Human Rights Act, prior to consideration by both Houses of Parliament.

    As part of this process, the Committee often calls for evidence and welcomes input from civil society.

    This system allows for considerable democratic input into the process of responding to a Court judgment. It also offers a high level of democratic scrutiny, ensuring action is taken in response to adverse judgments to protect rights, but recognising that there might be a range of possible responses which satisfy the judgment. It therefore supports the rule of law values of transparency and accountability.

    Let me illustrate with an example. In May 2021 the Grand Chamber found a violation of Articles 8 and 10 in the case of Big Brother Watch and Others v the UK.

    These cases each challenged elements of the UK’s investigatory powers regime. At the time of the judgment, enhanced safeguards had already been introduced, however, there remained issues with Convention compliance.

    The then Government laid before Parliament a proposed Remedial Order to introduce further safeguards into the regime, in particular to offer further protections for journalistic material.

    The Joint Committee on Human Rights published their report, recommending one change to further protect rights. This was accepted by Government. Representations were also received from the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office and the UK Intelligence Community, which were also taken into account.

    The Remedial Order was passed by Parliament and amended the regime to better safeguard the rights of all. An action report of the steps taken was sent to the Committee of Ministers, who closed their supervision of the judgment.

    This is just one example of how the democratically elected government, and Parliament have responded to a judgment from the European Court to ensure not just rights compliance, but rights compliance in the national interest, and on the terms of a sovereign Parliament. The process for responding to a judgment of the Court is subsidiarity in action. Understanding and explaining it as such is vital for maintaining confidence in the credibility and legitimacy of the Convention.

    Conclusion

    We must counter the common perception of the Court’s judgments as a foreign imposition on our national sovereignty and reflect the more nuanced reality. The proper implementation of judgments is an essential pillar of the rule of law.

    But it is also subsidiarity in action; the national authorities, including the democratic branches, debating and deciding how best to respond to a Court judgment, and then working in partnership with the Council of Europe institutions to give effect to our shared values.

    I therefore welcome the focus of this Summer School on this very important issue. There is no justice for victims if judgments are not enforced, because a judgment without execution is a right without remedy. But to secure the public’s confidence in the democratic legitimacy of the system, institutional mechanisms and processes must be developed to ensure meaningful opportunities for political debate about how best to respond to Court judgments.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Curiosity Blog, Sols 4589 – 4592: Setting up to explore Volcán Peña Blanca

    Source: NASA

    Written by Abigail Fraeman, Deputy Project Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    Earth planning date: Thursday, July 3, 2025
    The team was delighted this morning to learn that Wednesday’s drive had completed flawlessly, placing us in a stable position facing a ~3 foot high ridge located ~35 feet away.  This ridge is the eastern edge of a feature the team has informally named “Volcán Peña Blanca.” This feature certainly looked intriguing in orbital images, but once we saw Curiosity’s pictures of it from the ground, we decided it was cool enough to spend the time to investigate it closer.  The images from the ground show a lot more detail than is visible in orbit, including clear sedimentary structures exposed along the ridge face which could provide important clues about how the rocks in the boxwork-bearing terrain were initially deposited – dunes? Rivers? Lakes? The team picked their favorite spot to approach the ridge and take a closer look during Wednesday’s planning, so Curiosity made a sharp right turn to take us in that direction.  Using today’s images, we refined our plan for the exact location to approach and planned a drive to take us there, setting us up for contact science on Monday.
    We had the opportunity to plan four sols today, to cover the U.S. 4th of July holiday weekend, so there was lots of time for activities besides the drive.  Curiosity is currently sitting right in front of some light toned rocks, including one we gave the evocative name “Huellas de Dinosaurios.” It’s extremely unlikely we’ll see dinosaur footprints in the rock, but we will get the chance to investigate it with APXS, MAHLI, and ChemCam.  We also have a pair of ChemCam only targets on a more typical bedrock target named “Amboro” and some pebbles named “Tunari.”  Mastcam will take a high resolution of mosaic covering Volcán Peña Blanca, some nearby rocks named “Laguna Verde,” a small light colored rock named “Suruto,” and various patterns in the ground. Two ChemCam RMI mosaics of features in the distant Mishe Mokwa face and environment monitoring activities round out the plan.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Curiosity Blog, Sol 4588: Ridges and troughs

    Source: NASA

    Written by Lucy Thompson, APXS Collaborator and Senior Research Scientist at the University of New Brunswick, CanadaEarth planning date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025As we traverse the boxwork terrain, we are encountering a series of more resistant ridges/bedrock patches, and areas that are more rubbly and tend to form lower relief polygonal or trough-like features. We came into planning this morning in one of the trough-like features after another successful drive. The science team is interested in determining why we see these different geomorphological and erosional expressions. Is the rock that comprises the more resistant ridges and patches a different composition to the rock in the troughs and low relief areas? How do the rocks vary texturally? Might the resistant bedrock be an indicator of what we will encounter when we reach the large boxworks that we are driving towards?We managed to find a large enough area of rock to safely brush (target – “Guapay”), after which we will place APXS and MAHLI to determine the composition and texture. ChemCam will also analyze a different rock target, “Taltal” for chemistry and texture, and we will also acquire an accompanying Mastcam documentation image. The resistant ridge that we are planning to drive towards (“Volcan Pena Blanca”) and eventually investigate will be captured in a Mastcam mosaic. ChemCam will utilize their long-distance imaging capabilities to image the “Mishe Mokwa” butte off to the southeast of our current location, which likely contains bedrock layers that we will eventually pass through as we continue our climb up Mount Sharp.After a planned drive, taking us closer to the “Volcan Pena Blanca” ridge, MARDI will image the new terrain beneath the wheels, before we execute some atmospheric observations. Mastcam will make a tau observation to monitor dust in the atmosphere and Navcam will acquire a zenith movie. Standard DAN, RAD and REMS activities round out the plan.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: St Petersburg University and the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences are launching a joint program to train archaeologists | Saint Petersburg State University

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    During the training, future archaeologists will acquire a solid theoretical base, the necessary technical competencies for working with archaeological equipment, material sources, and will also have the opportunity to develop analytical skills for the correct interpretation of finds. The curriculum includes disciplines on the study of the material culture of Eurasia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe, the history of landowning and nomadic civilizations – from the Stone Age to the New Age.

    The practice-oriented disciplines include mastering methods of field and desk research, including 3D modeling, as well as immersion in issues of legal regulation of the protection of cultural heritage sites. In addition, students will take courses in Chinese and Hindi.

    A bachelor’s program has been opened at St. Petersburg State University in the 2025/26 academic year “Archeology” with additional qualifications: “History and Social Science Teacher”, “Curator of Museum Values” or “Museum Objects Accounting Specialist”. This direction is implemented in online form with the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where students conduct practical training and research work.

    The classes will be taught by leading teachers of St Petersburg University and research fellows of the Institute of the History of Material Culture (IHMC) of the Russian Academy of Sciences — recognized experts in the field of studying the Paleolithic era, Finno-Ugric, Slavic-Russian, Scandinavian and Caucasian archeology, the New Age and the art of the Ancient East. Among them are Alexander Ocherednoy, Senior Research Fellow of the Paleolithic Department of the IHMC, Margarita Kholkina, landscape archeology specialist and Associate Professor of St Petersburg University, Evgenia Tkach, Academic Secretary of the IHMC, and other scientists.

    Telegram channel of the employees of the Paleolithic Department of the Institute of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences “It all started in the Paleolithic” (provided by Ksenia Stepanova)

    On a voluntary basis, students will be able to take part in archaeological expeditions: in Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Republic of Tuva, the North Caucasus, Crimea, the Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions, one of the largest Stone Age sites Kostenki in the Voronezh region, as well as in the territories of the near abroad. Immersion in a professional environment is not only gaining valuable practical experience for future archaeologists, but also an opportunity to contribute to the study and preservation of Russia’s cultural heritage.

    The university implements programs of additional education, including in areas dedicated to history. For example, advanced training for specialists “Protective archeology and preservation of cultural heritage sites” and online course “History of Russian Literature”. The full list of courses is presented on the SPbU website in the section “Additional education”.

    As noted by the head of the educational program “Archaeology”, professor of St. Petersburg State University Igor Tikhonov, the new direction of training continues the traditions of the Russian school of studying applied historical science. “For the first time, the resources of the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which is the successor of the Imperial Archaeological Commission created in 1859, and the oldest department of archeology of St. Petersburg State University, which has existed since 1936, have been fully combined. This is a real combination of the potential of one of the leading academic institutions of our country and the educational traditions and practices of St. Petersburg University. The Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences is also the main employer for university students,” the professor added.

    Graduates can focus on professional activities in scientific institutes, museums and government agencies, manage educational and tourism projects, work in publishing houses or teach in secondary specialized educational institutions. Potential employers include the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the State Hermitage Museum and other organizations.

    Admission to the program started on June 20.

    Read more

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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  • Heatwaves, droughts and wildfires costing Europe billions each year

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Extreme heat and worsening drought situations are gripping large parts of Europe, sparking wildfires, triggering red alerts and intensifying global calls for effective climate actions. Driven by climate change, scientists warn, these conditions signal a new era of drought, threatening food security, energy security, ecosystems and economies.

    The worrying part is that heatwaves and wildfires are constantly growing deadlier and costlier. If the European Environment Agency (EEA) is to be believed, heatwaves and wildfires are costing Europe billions of euros every year. Estimatedly, in 2023 alone, such climate-related disasters cost around 45 billion euros to 38 European countries, including EU, other European Economic Area (EEA) members, and cooperating countries.

    If we take into account the total economic losses from weather and climate related calamities, they exceeded 790 billion euros across the European Economic Area, comprising 32 EEA member states and six Western Balkan countries between 1980 and 2023.

    In recent years, Europe has faced an alarming rise in climate-driven calamities like extreme weather conditions, particularly heatwaves and wildfires. These disasters are endangering lives and ecosystems, while at the same time imposing severe economic burdens on governments, local communities and industries. Germany, Italy, France and Spain faced the highest economic losses, however, as per the environmental agency, little of this damage was insured.

    According to the European Environment Agency, the leading causes of the damage are floods, storms, wind and hail, while heatwaves cause the most deaths in majority of the countries. As far as economic losses are concerned, they may vary from year to year and country to country, but trends suggest there is a sharp rise in economic damage, which may go beyond 50 billion euros annually.

    There is little doubt that people across the world are struggling with sweltering hot temperatures fuelled by climate change, but the way the sweltering summer is gripping southern Europe, parts of the US and the UK is unprecedented.

    The scourge of the rising temperature can be understood from the fact that southern Spain experienced 46 degrees Celsius temperature a few days earlier, which is a new record for the month of June. According to the national weather agency, Barcelona has set a new record for its hottest month in June this year, forcing the authorities to urge people to seek shelter from this excruciating heat condition.

    A number of countries including France and Italy, have stationed their ambulances near tourist hotspots to treat people if they suffer from heatstroke. Among the vulnerable are people over 65 years of age, pregnant women, children and those with chronic health conditions.

    In June, fires caused by the heat and strong winds struck France, Turkey, Greece, Italy and a few other countries, making situations worse than even expected. Germany, the largest economy of Europe and the third largest globally, is also facing a similar situation, as the temperature this year is hovering around 40 degrees Celsius. The town of Andernach in western Germany recorded 39.3 degrees Celsius, marking the highest temperature so far this year, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). Germany’s all-time heat record is 41.2 degrees Celsius, recorded on July 25, 2019.

    The worsening heat situations have forced quite a few countries to issue heat alerts. Sixteen regions in France including Paris and other parts of southern and eastern Europe have heat alerts in place. The soaring temperatures forced its Climate Minister, Agnes Pannier-Runacher to call the situation an unprecedented one. Heat alerts are also in place in several parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Britain and Balkan countries like Croatia. Several countries have recorded their hottest June this year.

    Besides emergency services being put in place in several countries and warnings being issued for people to stay inside as much as possible, around 200 schools across France are either closed or partially closed as a result of the heatwave conditions.

    Heatwaves are impacting many parts of Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, North America and a few others also, but the way Europe is facing heat conditions calls for urgent measures, as the region is not known for such heatwave conditions.

    Studies suggest more than two-thirds of the heatwave conditions have hit Europe since 2000 and the conditions are gradually worsening. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report shows that by 2050, around half of the people in Europe may be exposed to heatwave conditions during summer.

    It is also undeniably true that the effects of heatwave conditions are more pronounced in cities, as urban environments are significantly warmer than rural areas due to a large number of paved surfaces, huge multi-story buildings, large number of all kinds of vehicles and several other heat-generating sources.

    A new UN report says droughts have risen 30% since 2000, now affecting all sectors from agriculture and energy to healthcare and infrastructure. Owing to very high temperatures, the economic distress of people is growing fast.

    Just as COVID-19 strained the insurance sector, rising temperatures are now compounding the pressure, with insurers reassessing the risks and costs of covering properties in high-risk zones across Europe.

    Public infrastructure is also not immune to the stress being thrown upon by rising temperatures. Roads, railways, power grids and hospitals also suffer heatwave-related wear and tear. Wildfires destroy homes, farmlands and forests, which require billions for reconstruction and recovery.

    The economic toll can be gauged from the fact that some countries are already losing up to 10% of GDP annually, as suggested by some environmental and economic reports. The OECD warns drought-related costs could double again by 2035.

    Hence, environmentalists and those who understand these damaging trends urge urgent global investment in early warning systems, drought monitoring, nature-based solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure. Without strong action and better implementation of national plans, droughts could spiral into global economic and humanitarian shocks.

    Clearly, the need for urgent and coordinated action has never been more critical, as heatwaves intensify across Europe and the globe, driven by accelerating climate change. Mitigating these impacts requires multi-fold efforts, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow global warming and investing heavily in adaptation measures to protect people, economies and ecosystems from escalating heat extremes.

    For Europe, this means upgrading infrastructure to withstand extreme heat, expanding green urban spaces to reduce the urban heat island effect and strengthening public health systems to respond to heat-related health conditions. Since the majority of the countries in Europe are not prepared to face such heatwave conditions, they need to improve early warning systems, ensure access to cooling centers for vulnerable populations and integrate climate resilience into housing and city planning.

    On global scale, cooperation and coordination among countries are essential, as climate change-related calamities are not going to be restricted to a few regions. Hence, sharing technology, funding nature-based solutions like reforestation and watershed restoration and supporting climate-vulnerable regions are key to having a holistic solution. The world also requires a proactive and science-driven approach along with an equity-based climate strategy before the human and economic cost becomes unmanageable for us.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Innovations in Materials Science. International Conference Held at Polytechnic University

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    From July 4 to 6, the Polytechnic University hosted the international scientific conference “Implementation of Innovations. New Materials and Additive Technologies” (VINMiAT-25). Scientists and experts in the field of materials science discussed the latest achievements in the creation of new materials and equipment design.

    The organizers were the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, PJSC Gazprom and SPbPU.

    The conference considered modern achievements of science and technology in the field of physical and chemical processes for obtaining new materials and designing technological equipment, problems of implementation and commercialization of innovative technologies of the country’s fuel and energy complex, as well as new approaches to solving urgent problems in modern materials science.

    The plenary session was held in the research building of Technopolis Polytech. It was opened by the rector of SPbPU, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy.

    I am pleased to welcome you to the international scientific conference “Implementation of Innovations. New Materials and Additive Technologies”. This significant event brought together leading representatives of the scientific community, experts in the field of materials science, as well as students and postgraduates. I am confident that the results of our joint work will find practical application in various industries, contributing to the technological development of our country,” noted Andrey Rudskoy.

    The Deputy Head of Department of PJSC Gazprom, Maxim Nedzvetsky, gave a welcoming speech, expressing gratitude to the Polytechnic University for the excellent organization and emphasizing the relevance of the issues discussed.

    At the plenary session, Director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU Anatoly Popovich made a report on the experience and prospects for the development of additive and laser technologies. As the chief designer of the Scientific and Technical Complex “New Materials, Technologies, Production” within the framework of the project “Strategic Technological Leadership”, Anatoly Popovich paid special attention to the manufacture, repair and restoration of components of power engineering in various ways. He also assessed the prospects for the development of the additive technology industry.

    Head of the Department of PJSC Gazprom Viktor Seredenok spoke about the implementation of innovative projects in the company. Associate Professor of the Higher School of Physics and Technology of Materials of the Institute of Metallurgical Engineering and Technology Oleg Panchenko gave a report “New Technological Approaches in Welding”. He presented a number of technologies that are being implemented at the Polytechnic University. These are electric arc welding with a consumable electrode with cold metal transfer and a non-consumable electrode with a focused arc, manual laser welding, friction stir welding of steels, as well as process automation technologies.

    Head of the structural division of the Russian Quantum Center (International Center for Quantum Optics and Quantum Technologies) Anton Guglya devoted his speech to quantum and related technologies in the oil and gas sector. Deputy Chief Engineer for Additive Technologies at UEC Aviadvigatel Alexander Aksenov shared his experience of using additive technologies in the company.

    Representatives from Russia, Uzbekistan, Belarus and China participated in the conference. Their work was organized into several sections:

    nature-like materials and additive technologies for their production; welding and related technologies; technology for producing powder, composite materials and coatings; equipment, automation and robotics of innovative technologies; physical and chemical processes and innovative technologies in modern materials science; implementation of innovations in high-tech products at PJSC Gazprom.

    Specialists from the research laboratory “LiAT” of IMMiT SPbPU presented three reports. The research group analyzed residual deformations of a welded joint using different welding methods. The report presented the results of the influence of the welding method on the level of residual deformations, energy input and the width of the heat-affected zone, as well as on technical and economic characteristics.

    A separate presentation was devoted to the restoration of nozzle blades made of cobalt and nickel alloy using laser cladding. SPbPU scientists created a laser cladding technology and developed measures to prevent cracks. The cladding blades successfully passed operational tests.

    Mikhail Kuznetsov, Head of the Research Laboratory “LiAT” of IMMiT, presented a series of robotic systems for the implementation of laser welding, laser cladding and direct laser deposition processes in industrial production conditions. Among the developments are the mobile laser cladding system “Nomad”, direct laser deposition systems, as well as laser and hybrid laser-arc welding. Special attention was paid to the laser foil welding system and the system for applying a porous coating to hip joint cups. The participants’ attention was drawn to examples of the systems’ application for solving industrial partners’ production problems.

    Participation in VINMiAT-2025 is very important for understanding the development trend of industry and science in the field of additive technologies, as well as identifying points of contact for further interaction with industry, commented Mikhail Kuznetsov.

    At the sections, experts considered various issues: research into the mechanical properties of continuously reinforced nature-like polymer composites, development of biocompatible titanium-tantalum composites using selective laser melting, 3D printing of metal products using melt extrusion technology, implementation of innovations at Gazprom Transgaz Saratov, the procedure for admitting MTRs for use at Gazprom facilities, modern solutions in instrument making using machine vision and FDM technology, and much more.

    A cruise on a motor ship with an excursion program was organized for the conference participants. A meeting was held on board the motor ship, where reports were presented by representatives of PAO Gazprom and its subsidiaries, scientific and educational institutions and enterprises.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mikhail Mishustin appointed Dmitry Volvach as head of the Federal Accreditation Service

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Order dated July 7, 2025 No. 1831-r

    The Federal Accreditation Service (Rosaccreditation) is headed by Dmitry Volvach. The order on his appointment to this position was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    Document

    Order dated July 7, 2025 No. 1831-r

    Dmitry Volvach was born in 1972 in Moscow.

    In 1996, he graduated from the Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in physics, in 1998, from the Law College – Specialized Institute of Jurisprudence of the Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in jurisprudence, and in 2001 from the All-Russian State Tax Academy with a degree in finance and credit. Candidate of Legal Sciences.

    From 1998 to 2000, he worked in the Interdistrict Inspectorate of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Taxes and Duties No. 40 for the city of Moscow.

    Since 2000, he has worked in various positions in the Ministry of Taxes and Duties of the Russian Federation, and later in the Federal Tax Service. From 2019 to 2021, he was deputy head of this department.

    Since March 2021, he held the post of Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.

    Nazariy Skrypnik, who until now headed the Federal Accreditation Service, has been relieved of his post at his request.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting with the head of North Ossetia Sergei Menyailo

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Working meeting of Dmitry Chernyshenko with the head of North Ossetia Sergey Menyailo

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko held a working meeting with the head of the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania Sergey Menyailo. The parties discussed issues of developing tourism, sports, education, science, and youth policy.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized that one of the Government’s priority tasks is the development of domestic tourism.

    “The unique nature and culture of North Ossetia make it attractive to travelers. To develop this area, the republic actively uses state support measures of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”. Thus, within the framework of the competitive selection for 2025-2027, applications were submitted for the implementation of projects to create modular non-capital accommodation facilities. Based on the results of the competition, North Ossetia will receive about 1 billion for three years – this is the second place in terms of volume among all subjects of Russia,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko also noted the importance of each subject’s contribution to achieving the common goal set by President Vladimir Putin – to involve 70% of Russian citizens in systematic physical education and sports by 2030. To achieve this, it is necessary, among other things, to work on the level of provision with sports facilities.

    The Deputy Prime Minister added that the national project “Youth and Children” contributes to the development of education, science and youth policy in the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania. For example, it plans to build new buildings for general education organizations. Within the framework of the federal project “Professionalism”, three clusters have been created by industry: pedagogy, law enforcement and management, tourism and services.

    Thanks to the republic’s participation in the “Region for the Young” program, the first stage of the capital renovation of the Youth Palace was carried out, and a number of events in the field of youth policy were held.

    “The development of the education sector is one of the main priorities of the socio-economic policy of North Ossetia, to which we pay special attention and which today accounts for more than a third of the republican budget. Following the implementation of the national project “Education”, in 2024 alone, more than 4.6 billion rubles were allocated from the federal budget for the development of education in the region. I would like to express my gratitude for such support, as well as for the attention that the Russian Government is paying to the region – literally the day before, an order was signed to include new projects in the list of activities for the socio-economic development of North Ossetia, the implementation period of which has been extended until 2028. This includes the construction of a school for 500 students for residents of new microdistricts of Vladikavkaz and a school for 200 students in the village of Chermen, Prigorodny District,” said Sergei Menyailo.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: The best students of the Pre-University of the State University of Management received medals and applied for admission

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On July 8, not only applicants from different parts of Moscow, but also the best students of the GUU Pre-University came to the Admissions Office of the State University of Management.

    Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov and Director of the Pre-University of the State University of Management Marina Grigorieva presented thirteen students with medals from the Moscow Department of Education and Science “For Special Achievements in Education” and wished them successful admission.

    Most of the graduates came with their parents and brought documents to submit to the university that had become their home.

    Sofia Varenik, who graduated from the Pre-University this year with a gold medal, told us about her path to the award.

    “I have been an excellent student since the first grade, my example was my mother, who also received a gold medal upon graduation. I will not say that it was easy. The main thing in achieving success in any endeavor is patience, determination, the ability to wait and work. The Pre-University has a very comfortable atmosphere, excellent conditions, and the teachers and classmates have become a real family over these two years. We are going to continue to keep in touch,” Sofia shared.

    Earlier we told you how the graduation of the Pre-University of the State University of Management and the graduation of the students of the State University of Management went, and on our channel in Zen you can find out the rules for admission to the State University of Management, what has changed in the Admissions Campaign of 2025, as well as get acquainted with the institutes of the State University of Management and get useful advice.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InvestHK signs MOU with Xi’an Hi-Tech Zone to foster Shaanxi-Hong Kong partnership in empowering enterprises’ global expansion (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (July 8) cohosted the “Shaanxi-Hong Kong Collaboration: Leveraging Hong Kong Strengths to Support Shaanxi Tech Companies in Going Global” seminar in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, in collaboration with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government and the Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology. The event was also co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu (CDETO), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s Shaanxi Liaison Unit, Shaanxi Province Xixian New Area Development and Construction Management Committee, and the Xi’an High-Tech Industries Development Zone Management Committee.
          
         The Director of the CDETO, Mr Enoch Yuen; the Director-General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Shaanxi Provincial Government, Ms Yao Hongjuan; and Vice President of the Shaanxi Association for Science and Technology Mr Lv Jianjun delivered welcome remarks to guests and the media. Mr Yuen said, “The National 14th Five-Year Plan explicitly designates Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub, while Shaanxi serves as a key national base for technology and industry, with strong capabilities in energy and chemical engineering, equipment manufacturing, and aerospace, among others. Both Hong Kong and Shaanxi place great importance on the development of the innovation and technology industry, and frequent high-level exchanges between the two places have continued to deepen in recent years. We look forward to deeper collaboration, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths in taxation, finance, and global connectivity, while combining them with Shaanxi’s strong industrial foundation and innovative vitality, to achieve a mutually beneficial partnership.”
          
         Ms Yao stated that efforts will be made to actively promote and deepen economic, trade, and investment co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong, particularly in the fields of innovation and technology, as well as new quality productive forces. These efforts aim to help enterprises in both regions seize development opportunities and achieve complementary advantages. Mr Lv also delivered remarks at the event.
          
         One of the key highlights of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between InvestHK and the Xi’an High-Tech Industries Development Zone Management Committee, marking a solid step forward for Shaanxi and Hong Kong in promoting the international development of enterprises in the central and western regions.
          
         Xi’an High-tech Zone is one of the first national high-tech zones approved by the State Council. In 2024, Xi’an High-tech Zone ranked fifth in the country and first in the central and western regions in the comprehensive evaluation of national high-tech zones. The zone focuses on developing innovative industries such as optoelectronic information, smart manufacturing, biomedicine, automobiles, new materials and energy. It has successfully built two “hundred-billion-level industrial clusters” in the automobile industry and electronic information. At present, the zone has become the world’s largest production base for flash memory chips and new energy vehicles.
          
         Under the MOU, the Xi’an High-Tech Industries Development Zone Management Committee will encourage enterprises in the zone to utilise Hong Kong as a base for expanding overseas business. InvestHK will provide enterprises with information on the business environment and policies in Hong Kong, as well as support services for companies investing and operating in Hong Kong. The signing of this MOU establishes a structured collaboration framework, combining Hong Kong’s unique strengths as an international financial centre and Xi’an High-Tech Zone’s innovation capabilities to empower enterprises in accessing global resources efficiently and seizing early opportunities in international markets.
          
         The Head of the Go Global Unit/Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of Western China of InvestHK, Mr Jason Gan, and the Director of the Science and Technology Innovation Bureau of the Xi’an High-Tech Industries Development Zone, Mr Gao Yuntian, signed the memorandum of co-operation on behalf of their respective sides. Mr Gan said after the signing, “There are tremendous opportunities for co-operation between Shaanxi and Hong Kong in developing new quality productive forces and contributing to China’s high-quality development. As a vital bridge between the Mainland and international markets, Hong Kong has long been committed to providing comprehensive support for Mainland innovation-driven enterprises. We hope to further leverage the complementary advantages of the two places to assist high-quality enterprises in the zone to go global via Hong Kong, and work together to explore new innovative co-operation.”
          
         The Head of Innovation & Technology of InvestHK, Mr Andy Wong, delivered a keynote speech and highlighted Hong Kong’s competitive edge in the I&T sector. “We possess a number of competitive advantages in developing innovation and technology, including world-class academic research and talent, cutting-edge R&D infrastructure, robust intellectual property protection, and the strong support of the HKSAR Government. In 2024, InvestHK supported 120 innovation and technology companies to set up or expand in Hong Kong, making it the top sector among those we assisted. This reflects the international community’s confidence in and recognition of Hong Kong’s I&T development, and further affirms the city’s strategic role as a two-way platform between the Mainland and global markets. Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector has recently made remarkable progress in several areas. For example, the first batch of regulatory sandbox pilot projects for the low-altitude economy has been launched, serving as a new engine for Hong Kong’s future development. In addition, the city’s new drug approval mechanism has been updated to accelerate the market entry of new pharmaceuticals. I sincerely hope that I&T enterprises in Shaanxi will seize the diverse opportunities offered by Hong Kong to expand into international markets,” he said.

         Senior Manager of the Leasing and Operations Department of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited Mr Tandy Tan and Associate Director of the Research and Innovation Office of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Mr Victor Zhao also shared the opportunities of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Center and highlighted Hong Kong’s R&D capabilities in empowering new quality productive forces raised from Hong Kong universities. Deputy Director of the Science, Technology Innovation and New Economy Bureau, Shaanxi Province Xixian New Area Ms Han Ping also shared the latest developments on Shaanxi’s I&T industry construction centre.
          
         This event featured a panel discussion with industry leaders from professional services in Hong Kong, especially in financial professional services. Guest speakers from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, HSBC and Deloitte Tax shared insights on how Hong Kong’s financial and professional services can accelerate Mainland firms’ global expansion.
          
         The seminar included a dedicated exchange session to provide on-site consulting services for corporate representatives interested in expanding to Hong Kong. The event attracted 190 representatives from Shaanxi enterprises, institutions and local media.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by CE at South China Morning Post China Conference 2025 (English only) (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the South China Morning Post China Conference 2025 today (July 8):

    Ms Catherine So (Chief Executive Officer of the South China Morning Post), Ms Tammy Tam (Editor-in-Chief of the South China Morning Post), Mr Steve Finch (President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Asia), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

    Good morning. It’s a pleasure to join you here, once again, at the South China Morning Post’s annual China Conference – the 11th edition.

    More than 700 of you are here for this year’s gathering. Some 300s are joining us, virtually, at this forum for business, trade, finance, investment and technology. All of you keen on getting the latest intelligence and insights, developments and business opportunities – in Hong Kong, throughout China and beyond. 

    The theme of this China Conference is “Where Capital Meets Innovation” – an apt description of the strengths of China, our country, and how Hong Kong contributes to its rise. That provides the world with much-needed certainty, especially in this difficult time.

    This year’s international trade uncertainties, and chaos, may well continue amidst the rise of protectionism and unilateralism. The global economy is grappling with profound instability, escalating geopolitical risks and the wholesale reshaping of long-existing trading systems.

    In spite of a damaged global trade order, the expanding trade and capital flows of China, our country, help buoy the economy of the region and the world.

    The Mainland economy has sound fundamentals, a vast domestic market and the robust policies in place to withstand external challenges. In the first quarter of this year, the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) grew by 5.4 per cent, and key economic indicators have kept improving since the beginning of the second quarter – simply said, China, our country, is well on its way to achieving the official growth target of around 5 per cent for 2025.

    As for Hong Kong, our economy expanded solidly by 3.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, supported by visible increases in exports and the resumption of moderate growth in overall investment expenditure. We forecast real GDP growth of 2 per cent to 3 per cent in this year.

    Last week, we celebrated the 28th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s establishment. That happy occasion was a welcome opportunity to thank our country for championing Hong Kong through the “one country, two systems” principle, as well as the national strategies and made-for-Hong Kong initiatives it supports us with.

    Last month, the World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Hong Kong third in the world in global competitiveness, up two places from the previous year, and up four places from 2023.

    It marks Hong Kong’s return to the global top three for the first time since 2019, reflecting our commitment to change in face of today’s rising challenges.

    There’s a lot more to be grateful for. In April and May, Hong Kong’s merchandise exports showed double-digit, year-on-year growth, while visitor arrivals also brought double-digit, year-on-year increases in the second quarter.  

    And Hong Kong, in the first half of this year, has been the world’s largest IPO (initial public offering) fundraising market, raising over US$13 billion. That’s up a whopping 22 per cent, compared with the full-year figure last year.

    It speaks of Hong Kong’s long-standing appeal as a safe haven for Chinese and international capital and a bridge for global investors. 

    Hong Kong is, after all, the most internationalised city in the country. We offer the world a market-friendly business environment underpinned by the rule of law. We are the only common law jurisdiction in our country, with a legal system and regulatory regime similar to most global financial hubs. And we present business and investment advantages unmatched by any other city in the world.

    Last year, the total number of local registered companies reached its record high, surpassing 1.46 million. And the total number of non-local companies registered here also reached a record high, and was over 15 000. Both figures continue to show encouraging growth this year. 

    Since January 2023, Invest Hong Kong, our dedicated investment promotion agency, has assisted more than 1 300 Mainland and overseas companies in setting up or expanding their business in Hong Kong. These companies bring in foreign direct investment of over US$21 billion to our economy, creating over 19 000 jobs.

    When I assumed office as Chief Executive three years ago, I established the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises. My aim is to offer, through this Office, one-stop facilitation services and  tailor-made incentives to attract strategic enterprises to our city and foster innovation and economic growth. 

    The Office has brought in 84 strategic companies, from such high-tech industries as advanced manufacturing and new energy technology, AI and data science, fintech and life and health technology. The strategic companies will invest about US$6.4 billion in the next few years, creating over 20 000 jobs. 

    We also launched a new scheme in May this year to create a company re-domiciliation regime to attract companies to Hong Kong. It provides a convenient, safe and secure pathway for companies to re-domicile to Hong Kong. Different companies have already expressed their interest to the regime and two international insurance giants – as Mr Finch is surely aware – have announced they will officially re-domicile to Hong Kong. Good business always makes right decisions.

    These companies all gave their strong vote of confidence in the development of Hong Kong and the country, and will help attract a wealth of partners and related companies to this part of the globe.

    Another strong advantage Hong Kong offers to overseas companies here, old or new, is our easy access to the Mainland market. We are certainly a front runner in this regard. 

    That’s in no small part thanks to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, or CEPA, our de facto free trade agreement with the Mainland that provides preferential treatment to Hong Kong companies, facilitating smoother access to the Mainland’s vast market.

    A new amendment agreement under the CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services entered into force this March. It includes the removal of the qualifying period requirement on Hong Kong service suppliers in most sectors, meaning our many new companies can also benefit from the arrangement’s facilitation measures in accessing the Mainland market.

    Together with new initiatives that allow Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law and choose Hong Kong as the seat for arbitration in their operation in a range of Mainland cities, CEPA provides a wide range of innovative enhancements that help a world of investors better capitalise on China’s growth opportunities, with the help of Hong Kong’s world-class professional services.

    Then there’s technological innovation, including artificial intelligence. AI advancements are transforming production, business and consumption patterns. They are redefining the core competitiveness of economies.

    These trends create new opportunities for Hong Kong, particularly in our deepening integration with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a cluster city development that brings together Hong Kong, Macao, and nine southern cities on the Mainland.

    With a population exceeding 87 million and a GDP of more than US$2 trillion last year, similar to the size of the 10th largest economy in the world, the Greater Bay Area is among the most open and economically vibrant regions in the country. 

    The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster, which includes three of the Greater Bay Area’s core cities, has been ranked second, globally, for five consecutive years in the Global Innovation Index, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization. 

    Drawing together Hong Kong’s research capabilities and business competitiveness, as well as the Mainland’s innovation and advanced manufacturing prowess, the Greater Bay Area endeavours to become a world-leading I&T (innovation and technology) hub.

    One spectacular example is the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, an area that straddles our boundary with Shenzhen. It will develop into a cutting-edge advanced technology centre that converges the strengths of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Last November, the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Government published the Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park in the co-operation zone.

    The Park’s first three buildings have been completed, and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute opened last November at Hong Kong Park.

    That’s just the beginning. Artificial intelligence, new energy vehicles, the low-altitude economy, fintech, and more, are thriving in the Greater Bay Area. And as the Park enters into the operational phase this year, more of these companies will be joining us.

    Beyond I&T, we have seen the successful introduction of a wide variety of policy initiatives with the Greater Bay Area, including measures for the two-way flow of talent, schemes for supporting youth innovation, entrepreneurship and employment, and policies to facilitate mutual travel.

    And the promise of further co-operation between Hong Kong and the rest of the Greater Bay Area and the Mainland is boundless.

    Ladies and gentlemen, when we talk of China’s might, many of us immediately look to the maiden visit to Hong Kong over the past weekend of the first domestically built aircraft carrier of China, our country, the Shandong. Although the fleet has just bid us farewell yesterday, the awe and pride it drew among the people of Hong Kong over its five-day visit will be long-lasting.

    More than a display of maritime strength, the fleet showcases our country’s commitment to peacekeeping and regional stability. And much like how the Shandong docked in our safe harbour, Hong Kong is where the country anchors its trust.

    In this era of fogged horizons, China does not just project power – it radiates investible stability. And Hong Kong is the “super connector” and “super value-adder” that links the world with opportunities from China’s growth and certainties. A link you can always bank on.

    Amid an ever changing geopolitical landscape and constantly escalating uncertainties, Hong Kong is the place that promises security and development. This certainty of security and development is precisely what a world of investors need and thirst for. 

    Together, we will fully seize development opportunities, keep boosting our competitiveness, undertake reforms for progress, and foster innovation. The wisdom and wealth of experience of the people of Hong Kong will help the Pearl of the Orient shine brighter than ever on the world stage.

    My thanks to the South China Morning Post for organising this essential, always eventful, annual gathering. 

    I wish you all a rewarding conference. And the best of business in the second half of 2025, a year that will surely be full of opportunities and rewards. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments to Urban Forestry Advisory Panel

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (July 8) the appointment of 16 individuals as non-official members to the Urban Forestry Advisory Panel (UFAP) for a term of two years from July 1, 2025. 

    The new non-official members are Ms Winnie Cheng Mee-kun, Professor Huang Songyi, Professor Jim Chi-yung, Professor Derrick Lai Yuk-fo, Dr Peter Yau and Dr Allen Zhang Hao. The reappointed non-official members are Mr Paul Chan Yuen-king, Professor Wendy Chen Yan, Professor Chu Lee-man, Dr Dong Hui, Professor Anthony Leung Kwan, Mr Hincent Ng Yu-hin, Dr Shi Shulin, Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet, Professor Charles Wong Man-sing and Mr Yiu Vor. 

    A spokesman for the DEVB said, “The UFAP comprises local and overseas experts from different fields including urban forestry, plant science, engineering and landscape architecture related academics, professionals and experts, and provides advice on urban forestry policies and initiatives from multiple perspectives.”

    Appointed by the Secretary for Development, members of the UFAP advise the DEVB on management strategies, applied research and development in respect of urban forestry, as well as positive capacity building initiatives for the urban forestry related industries. 
    ​
    The membership of the new term of the UFAP is set out below:  

    Chairman
    ————
    Head of Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section, DEVB

    Non-official members
    —————————
    Mr Paul Chan Yuen-king
    Professor Wendy Chen Yan
    Ms Winnie Cheng Mee-kun*
    Professor Chu Lee-man
    Dr Dong Hui
    Professor Huang Songyi*
    Professor Jim Chi-yung*
    Professor Derrick Lai Yuk-fo*
    Professor Anthony Leung Kwan
    Mr Hincent Ng Yu-hin
    Dr Shi Shulin
    Mr Chiky Wong Cheuk-yuet
    Professor Charles Wong Man-sing
    Dr Peter Yau*
    Mr Yiu Vor
    Dr Allen Zhang Hao*

    Official members
    ———————
    Head of Tree Management Office, DEVB
    Representative of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
    Representative of Highways Department
    Representative of Housing Department
    Representative of Leisure and Cultural Services Department

    * New non-official members

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Strategies to attract international professionals from third countries to the EU – E-002642/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002642/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Joachim Streit (Renew)

    In an increasingly globalised labour market, the EU is competing with other economies, in particular the US, for highly skilled international talent. While the US Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme allows international graduates to work in the country for up to three years without prior job offers, there is no comparable flexible model in the EU. The extensions of the OPT in 2008 and 2016 resulted in a 400 % increase in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) participants – a clear indication of its effectiveness in tying highly qualified third-country nationals to the US labour market[1].

    While Germany allows third-country nationals with a German degree to stay for up to 18 months to seek employment, this approach is limited to that country and not harmonised across the EU. At the same time, it is clear that many international students prefer to go to the US, including as a result of restrictive EU visa policies and a lack of awareness of career prospects. Given the acute shortage of skilled workers in areas such as health, AI and STEM, there is an urgent need for an overall EU strategy to actively attract international talent from third countries.

    • 1.Is the Commission planning to develop an EU model of employment-related follow-up support, akin to the OPT model, allowing third-country nationals with an EU university degree to transition temporarily into the EU labour market?
    • 2.What funding instruments are there currently at EU level for international talent outside the higher education sector, in particular with regard to professional integration or qualified employment?

    Submitted: 30.6.2025

    • [1] https://www.pewresearch.org/global-migration-and-demography/2018/05/10/number-of-foreign-college-students-staying-and-working-in-u-s-after-graduation-surges/
    Last updated: 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – New study maps key regions for killer whales in Australian waters – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University
     
    While well documented in the Northern Hemisphere and Antarctica, much less is known about killer whales  (Orcinus orca) in Australia. However, orcas are actually sighted year-round in all coastal states and territories and a new Flinders University study has now mapped this across three key regions.
     
    Research led by Flinders University’s Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL) models the distribution of killer whales in Australian waters, shedding light on habitat preferences and uncovering ecological distinctions between populations.
     
    In collaboration with the Cetacean Research Centre of WA, Project ORCA and Killer Whales Australia, the paper published in Ecology and Evolution collates 1310 sightings of killer whales around the country from the past four decades. Species distribution modelling is used to pinpoint places of high habitat suitability in southeast, southwest, and northwest Australia – notably the Bonney Upwelling (South Australia / Victoria), Bremer Sub-basin (Western Australia), and Ningaloo Reef (WA).
     
     “This work greatly increases our understanding of killer whales in Australian waters and identifies areas of biological importance for management and monitoring,” says Flinders University CEBEL PhD candidate Marissa Hutchings, lead author of the article.
     
    “Not only now do we have a nationwide picture, but our findings also support the idea that at least two ecologically distinct forms of killer whales exist in Australia – a temperate and a tropical form.”
     
    The research calls for stronger conservation measures to protect these unique populations – “particularly given their role as apex predators in the marine ecosystem and the fact that some of their most important habitats are currently only partially protected by legislation,” she says.
     
    “More research will be vital in ensuring that this species can be adequately managed in a changing environment, but this will only be made possible by collaboration between researchers, citizen scientists, and marine users to improve the size and accessibility of datasets on both killer whales and their prey.”
     
    Another author on the paper, Flinders University Associate Professor Guido Parra, says differences in range and drivers of occurrence are important to recognise because anthropogenic stressors such as commercial fishing, marine tourism, offshore drilling, and chemical pollutants are becoming increasingly prevalent in Australia.
     
    Senior author Flinders Associate Professor Luciana Möller says the study complements ongoing research into the genetics, feeding ecology and diversification of Australia’s killer whale populations – as well as highlights the usefulness of citizen science data.
     
     “We hope this study will help inform the conservation of this species, which is still considered data deficient and remains to be adequately protected under Australian Government legislation.”
     
    The article, ‘Species distribution modeling of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Australian waters’ (2025) by Marissa J Hutchings (Flinders University), Guido J Parra (Flinders) and John A Totterdell (Cetacean Research Centre of WA), Rebecca Wellard (Project ORCA & Curtin University), David M Donnelly (Killer Whales Australia), Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo (Flinders) and Luciana Möller (Flinders) has been published in Ecology and Evolution (Wiley) DOI: 10.1002/ece3.71359.  First published: 3 July 2025
     
    Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Royal Society for South Australia (RSSA) Small Research Grants Scheme. Researchers thank research collaborators and citizen scientists for providing the supporting data.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – New study maps key regions for killer whales in Australian waters – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University
     
    While well documented in the Northern Hemisphere and Antarctica, much less is known about killer whales  (Orcinus orca) in Australia. However, orcas are actually sighted year-round in all coastal states and territories and a new Flinders University study has now mapped this across three key regions.
     
    Research led by Flinders University’s Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL) models the distribution of killer whales in Australian waters, shedding light on habitat preferences and uncovering ecological distinctions between populations.
     
    In collaboration with the Cetacean Research Centre of WA, Project ORCA and Killer Whales Australia, the paper published in Ecology and Evolution collates 1310 sightings of killer whales around the country from the past four decades. Species distribution modelling is used to pinpoint places of high habitat suitability in southeast, southwest, and northwest Australia – notably the Bonney Upwelling (South Australia / Victoria), Bremer Sub-basin (Western Australia), and Ningaloo Reef (WA).
     
     “This work greatly increases our understanding of killer whales in Australian waters and identifies areas of biological importance for management and monitoring,” says Flinders University CEBEL PhD candidate Marissa Hutchings, lead author of the article.
     
    “Not only now do we have a nationwide picture, but our findings also support the idea that at least two ecologically distinct forms of killer whales exist in Australia – a temperate and a tropical form.”
     
    The research calls for stronger conservation measures to protect these unique populations – “particularly given their role as apex predators in the marine ecosystem and the fact that some of their most important habitats are currently only partially protected by legislation,” she says.
     
    “More research will be vital in ensuring that this species can be adequately managed in a changing environment, but this will only be made possible by collaboration between researchers, citizen scientists, and marine users to improve the size and accessibility of datasets on both killer whales and their prey.”
     
    Another author on the paper, Flinders University Associate Professor Guido Parra, says differences in range and drivers of occurrence are important to recognise because anthropogenic stressors such as commercial fishing, marine tourism, offshore drilling, and chemical pollutants are becoming increasingly prevalent in Australia.
     
    Senior author Flinders Associate Professor Luciana Möller says the study complements ongoing research into the genetics, feeding ecology and diversification of Australia’s killer whale populations – as well as highlights the usefulness of citizen science data.
     
     “We hope this study will help inform the conservation of this species, which is still considered data deficient and remains to be adequately protected under Australian Government legislation.”
     
    The article, ‘Species distribution modeling of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Australian waters’ (2025) by Marissa J Hutchings (Flinders University), Guido J Parra (Flinders) and John A Totterdell (Cetacean Research Centre of WA), Rebecca Wellard (Project ORCA & Curtin University), David M Donnelly (Killer Whales Australia), Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo (Flinders) and Luciana Möller (Flinders) has been published in Ecology and Evolution (Wiley) DOI: 10.1002/ece3.71359.  First published: 3 July 2025
     
    Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Royal Society for South Australia (RSSA) Small Research Grants Scheme. Researchers thank research collaborators and citizen scientists for providing the supporting data.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – New study maps key regions for killer whales in Australian waters – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University
     
    While well documented in the Northern Hemisphere and Antarctica, much less is known about killer whales  (Orcinus orca) in Australia. However, orcas are actually sighted year-round in all coastal states and territories and a new Flinders University study has now mapped this across three key regions.
     
    Research led by Flinders University’s Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Lab (CEBEL) models the distribution of killer whales in Australian waters, shedding light on habitat preferences and uncovering ecological distinctions between populations.
     
    In collaboration with the Cetacean Research Centre of WA, Project ORCA and Killer Whales Australia, the paper published in Ecology and Evolution collates 1310 sightings of killer whales around the country from the past four decades. Species distribution modelling is used to pinpoint places of high habitat suitability in southeast, southwest, and northwest Australia – notably the Bonney Upwelling (South Australia / Victoria), Bremer Sub-basin (Western Australia), and Ningaloo Reef (WA).
     
     “This work greatly increases our understanding of killer whales in Australian waters and identifies areas of biological importance for management and monitoring,” says Flinders University CEBEL PhD candidate Marissa Hutchings, lead author of the article.
     
    “Not only now do we have a nationwide picture, but our findings also support the idea that at least two ecologically distinct forms of killer whales exist in Australia – a temperate and a tropical form.”
     
    The research calls for stronger conservation measures to protect these unique populations – “particularly given their role as apex predators in the marine ecosystem and the fact that some of their most important habitats are currently only partially protected by legislation,” she says.
     
    “More research will be vital in ensuring that this species can be adequately managed in a changing environment, but this will only be made possible by collaboration between researchers, citizen scientists, and marine users to improve the size and accessibility of datasets on both killer whales and their prey.”
     
    Another author on the paper, Flinders University Associate Professor Guido Parra, says differences in range and drivers of occurrence are important to recognise because anthropogenic stressors such as commercial fishing, marine tourism, offshore drilling, and chemical pollutants are becoming increasingly prevalent in Australia.
     
    Senior author Flinders Associate Professor Luciana Möller says the study complements ongoing research into the genetics, feeding ecology and diversification of Australia’s killer whale populations – as well as highlights the usefulness of citizen science data.
     
     “We hope this study will help inform the conservation of this species, which is still considered data deficient and remains to be adequately protected under Australian Government legislation.”
     
    The article, ‘Species distribution modeling of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Australian waters’ (2025) by Marissa J Hutchings (Flinders University), Guido J Parra (Flinders) and John A Totterdell (Cetacean Research Centre of WA), Rebecca Wellard (Project ORCA & Curtin University), David M Donnelly (Killer Whales Australia), Jonathan Sandoval-Castillo (Flinders) and Luciana Möller (Flinders) has been published in Ecology and Evolution (Wiley) DOI: 10.1002/ece3.71359.  First published: 3 July 2025
     
    Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Royal Society for South Australia (RSSA) Small Research Grants Scheme. Researchers thank research collaborators and citizen scientists for providing the supporting data.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Malawi Launches Second Edition of Pathogen Genomic Surveillance Strategy and Implementation Plan

    Source: APO


    .

    The Malawi Ministry of Health, launched its updated plan for the implementation of its Genomic Surveillance Strategy that was produced with technical support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) on 3 July.

    As pathogen genomics provides a powerful approach towards the investigation, management, and surveillance of infectious diseases, the plan is geared to include integration of multi-pathogen genomic surveillance into existing public health systems, research and development.

    The second version of the plan is aligned to Africa CDC Pathogen Genomics Surveillance Policy Framework and identified priority list of pathogens and use cases for genomic surveillance in Malawi and the region.  The strategy has a robust, comprehensive, fully integrated, harmonized and well-coordinated mechanisms to guide monitoring of the implementation of the plan and evaluate impact.  The improved plan has a National Genomics Committee comprising of a steering committee, advisory group and laboratories from public, private and academia. The first genomic strategy was launched in 2023 and runs to 2030

    In his opening remarks, Secretary for Health Dr. Samsom Kwazirira Mndolo emphasized the critical role of genomics in monitoring antimicrobial resistance, disease outbreak detection, response and prevention as well in precision medicine. 

    He underscored the role of the plan as a roadmap for implementing a robust one health genomic surveillance system across the country with different multi stakeholders, ministries and partners.

    “We have been front runners in genomics, but we lost the opportunity to learn from others, so we decided to revisit and update the 2023 plan,” said Dr Mndolo.

    “This moment marks the dawn of a new era, where science, innovation, and determination converge to build a stronger, more resilient health system for all starting from Malawi by leveraging genomic sequencing power to identify and track pathogens enabling early detection, tracking and characterization of pathogens,” said Dr Lul Riek, Director for the Southern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre.

    Dr Riek said by integrating pathogen genomic sequencing into its healthcare infrastructure, it aims to enhance its health security and swiftly respond to emerging and reemerging threats effectively. “This makes Malawi one step ahead of other countries in disease detection and response,” he said.

    “In the face of several emerging and reemerging health threats including Disease X ” a hypothetical emerging pathogen, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the resurgence of Mpox, Marburg, Cholera and other epidemics, we have witnessed firsthand the urgent need for resilient public health surveillance systems that can provide timely and actionable data,” said Dr Francis Chikuse, Senior Technical Officer for Public Health at Africa CDC.

    “The National Multi Pathogen Genomic Surveillance Strategy is not just a response to these challenges but a proactive step toward building a robust system that leverages the power of molecular diagnostics and sequencing to safeguard the health of the of Malawians and beyond,” said Dr Chikuse.

    He said, Africa CDC in partnership with public, private and philanthropic sectors is enhancing continent-wide sample referral and data sharing strategy, systems, and governance to promote trusted, quality assured and timely data sharing as well as support the design and pilot implementation of high-impact public health priority genomic surveillance and use-cases and facilitate the utility of genomics data for policy, decision making, research and development of pandemic materials. In 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the historic Pandemic Agreement to enhance global collaboration and to create a more equitable response to future pandemics.

    Africa CDC is working with 16 Member States including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Malawi, Zambia, Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Morocco, Togo, South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, Namibia, to develop their national pathogen genomics strategies. Through this collaboration, Malawi becomes the second country after Zambia to launch their genomic strategy.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • ‘No palm oil’ label is misleading marketing tactic, says IFBA

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Food and Beverage Association (IFBA) has termed the growing trend of “No Palm Oil” labels on consumer products as misleading and described it as a marketing gimmick rather than a scientifically backed health claim.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, the association expressed concern that selective branding tactics were creating confusion among consumers, despite palm oil being widely used and consumed in India since the 19th century.

    “Palm oil has a recognised role in a healthy and balanced diet. Despite this, labels such as ‘No Palm Oil’ mislead consumers by prioritising marketing over science,” said Deepak Jolly, Chairperson of the IFBA, citing the Ministry of Health’s dietary guidelines.

    The association pointed out that palm oil is among the most affordable and versatile edible oils, used extensively by leading global brands due to its long shelf life and nutritional stability.

    It also cautioned that the rise of such labelling practices is encouraging consumers to make food choices based on social media trends rather than verified scientific evidence. “These narratives distract from the importance of overall nutritional balance and can undermine India’s efforts towards self-reliance, ultimately harming farmers, producers, consumers and the national economy,” Jolly said.

    India consumes about 26 million tonnes of edible oil every year, of which nearly 9 million tonnes is palm oil.

    Shilpa Agrawal, Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at IFBA, noted that the Dietary Guidelines for Indians–2024, released by the ICMR–National Institute of Nutrition, recognise the role of tocotrienols found in palm oil in lowering cholesterol and supporting heart health. The guidelines recommend a rotation of edible oils, including palm oil, to maintain a balanced fatty acid profile, she added.

    The association also lauded the government’s National Mission on Edible Oils–Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹11,040 crore, which aims to expand oil palm cultivation and reduce India’s dependence on edible oil imports.

    “Consumers should be cautious of influencers who exaggerate claims without understanding nutrition science. Marketing tactics such as ‘Palm Oil Free’ labels are no substitute for balanced dietary advice,” the IFBA said.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKAEA launches International Fellowships Scheme for fusion

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UKAEA launches International Fellowships Scheme for fusion

    UKAEA has launched the International Fellowships Scheme to help expand the global talent pool supporting the fusion industry.

    Remote Handling Control Room at UKAEA’s Culham Campus – Image Credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

    • UKAEA to fund UK-based post-doctoral Fellows in fusion research
    • First collaboration established with Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University
    • Partnership marks a major step forward in advancing global collaboration in fusion research and talent development

    The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has launched the International Fellowships Scheme, an initiative to help expand the global talent pool supporting the fusion industry.

    The Scheme is part of the UKAEA’s Fusion Opportunities in Skills, Training, Education and Research (FOSTER) Programme, which aims to train, support, and empower the next generation of professionals, who will help deliver fusion power to the grid.

    The first International Fellowships Scheme partner is Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU), which is ranked among the world’s top 15 universities by the QS World University Rankings.

    The scheme is designed to create high-impact post-doctoral research opportunities through collaborations between UK-based and international institutions. Under this initiative, Fellows will be recruited in complementary pairs, with one Fellow employed and primarily based in the UK, and the other employed and primarily based overseas. Working together in areas of shared interest to help build scientific knowledge across borders and solve key fusion challenges.

    NTU is building on the pilot phase of the scheme and has begun recruiting its first Fellows.

    Nick Walkden, Head of Fusion Skills Operation and Delivery at UKAEA, said:

    As a sector, we have recognised the need to develop the next generation of research leaders for fusion and have launched a programme of international fellowships for post-doctoral candidates to do just this. I’m excited that the first of these exciting opportunities is in collaboration with NTU, which shares our passion and drive, and I look forward to seeing our respective Fellows undertake their exchange programme in coming years.

    Professor Simon Redfern, Dean of the College of Science, NTU Singapore said:

    We are delighted to partner with the UK Atomic Energy Authority on the FOSTER International Fellowships Programme, which aligns with our commitment to advancing frontier research and nurturing global scientific talent in fusion energy. In recent years, our scientists have enjoyed a number of beneficial collaborations with international partners to pioneer innovative approaches in fusion science and decarbonisation. FOSTER marks an important next step.

    This new partnership with UKAEA will further strengthen cross-border research, enhance institutional capabilities, and accelerate our shared ambition to realise clean, sustainable energy through fusion. It also builds on longstanding ties between NTU researchers and their counterparts in the UK, and ensures that this spirit of collaboration continues to grow across future generations of scientists.

    Each fellowship will run for two years and include a minimum of 12 weeks of exchange between host institutions, enabling cross-cultural research experience and skill development. UKAEA will support the UK-based Fellow while the international partner institution will support the internationally employed Fellow.

    Part of the Fusion Futures Programme, FOSTER supports 32 projects with a vision to build a fusion skills ecosystem – with international reach – that can train, develop, and grow the fusion generation who will deliver fusion energy to the grid.

    FOSTER works with likeminded organisations committed to advancing the landscape of fusion science and technology through post-doctoral research opportunities.

    The first cohort of the International Fellowships Scheme with NTU is expected to start in Autumn 2025.

    More information about FOSTER and UKAEA’s International Fellowships Scheme can be found online.

    International organisations interested in pursuing a fellowship, either with UKAEA or another UK-based organisation, or if you have any further questions, please email fusionskills@ukaea.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: St Petersburg University mathematicians helped simplify signal synchronization in navigation and communication systems | Saint Petersburg State University

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The proposed calculation method avoids the inaccuracies that were allowed by previously used approaches and offers engineers simple formulas that are convenient for use in real projects.

    Phase-locked loop systems are widely used in satellite navigation and wireless communication devices. They provide precise synchronization of the frequency and phase of the signal coming to the device and the signal generated by the device itself. For example, in the case of a Wi-Fi connection between a router and a phone, the signals from the devices may differ slightly due to interference or instability of the transmitter (router). The phase-locked loop system compares the characteristics of the incoming signal and adjusts them to those characteristic of the device. This reduces the number of errors in the transmission of information, even if the original signal is “noisy”.

    Research results, supported with a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RSF), published in a scientific journal IEEE Access.

    However, phase-locked loop systems operate stably only if a number of conditions are met. For example, there are limitations on the so-called hold range, the frequency difference at which synchronization can still be maintained. Another important parameter is the capture range, i.e. the frequency spectrum within which synchronization is guaranteed under any initial conditions. At the same time, it is difficult to accurately determine the capture range, since its calculation requires solving systems of nonlinear equations with a large number of variables. Previously, engineers used approximate methods that could lead to errors, and therefore did not always ensure stable operation of the system.

    Researchers from St. Petersburg University analyzed operation of one of the most common phase-locked loop systems and found a simpler way to accurately calculate its capture range. To do this, scientists from St. Petersburg State University used a mathematical method of replacing variables, which allows equations used in other approaches to be reduced to a simpler form. In addition, the researchers used graphs to display how the state of the phase-locked loop system changes over time when transmitting and receiving signals with different parameters (frequencies and phases).

    We have proposed a comprehensive approach that combines qualitative analysis of the system and the theory of hidden oscillations, the creation and development of which was this year. was noted State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology.

    Head of the Department of Applied Cybernetics at St. Petersburg State University, Head of the Laboratory of Information and Control Systems at the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Nikolay Kuznetsov

    “This approach allowed us to obtain an accurate formula for the capture range and avoid a situation where the device unexpectedly loses synchronization, which can be critical in the case of systems used in navigation and energy. In the future, we plan to develop methods of the theory of hidden oscillations for the analysis of more complex phase-locked loop systems and collaborate with engineers to create prototypes of such systems based on the proposed methods of analysis and synthesis. The relevance of this work is associated with the import substitution program in Russian electronics and a wide range of engineering applications,” explained Nikolai Kuznetsov, Head of the Department of Applied Cybernetics at St. Petersburg State University, Head of the Laboratory of Information and Control Systems at the Institute of Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor.

    St Petersburg University mathematician receives State Prize in Science and Technology

    The derived formulas made it possible to correct inaccuracies previously proposed approaches, in particular ignoring hidden oscillations that can lead to loss of synchronization. Computer modeling confirmed that the calculations accurately describe the real behavior of the automatic frequency control system, which makes them suitable for practical use.

    Saint Petersburg State University is the oldest university in Russia. It was founded on January 28 (February 8), 1724, when Peter the Great issued a decree establishing the University and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Today, SPbU is one of the largest scientific and educational centers. More than 20 thousand students study here, more than 15 large laboratories and 23 resource centers have been created, which are part of the country’s leading Science Park. Graduates of the University have repeatedly become Nobel and Fields Medal laureates.

    Recently, the Northern capital has officially celebrated a new holiday: Saint Petersburg State University Day. contributed in the Law of St. Petersburg “On Holidays and Memorable Dates in St. Petersburg”.

    In February 2025, a ceremony was held during which Roscosmos cosmonauts handed over To the University flag “300 years of St. Petersburg State University”, which made its way to the International Space Station and back.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –