Category: Sport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Showcase for local suppliers interested in fusion energy

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Showcase for local suppliers interested in fusion energy

    Businesses across Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire find out more about fusion energy at an event at Gainsborough Golf Club.

    STEP’s James Heaton and a local supplier – Image credit: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd.

    More than 120 representatives from small and medium enterprises located close to the home of STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) at West Burton gathered recently for a local supplier engagement event, hosted by the team who are bringing fusion energy to the UK.

    Howard Wilson, STEP’s Director of Science and Technology introduced the session with a presentation on fusion, STEP, plus supporting site information about West Burton where the prototype fusion energy power plant will be built.

    Presenting from the local district councils, Julie Beresford Head of Growth and Economic Prosperity and Sally Grinrod-Smith Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities demonstrated support for STEP from nearby local authorities and their fluid approach to hosting STEP. They covered the history of the area and identified the socio-economic opportunities that will result from the STEP Programme in the future.

    Since the early days of the programme, the STEP team has worked closely in partnership with district and county councils. Both Julie and Sally observed the high levels of engagement on the day and commented on the positive nature of the event and the numerous business enquiries that have followed.

    Commercial team members Andrew Atkinson and Ryan Cload represented the supply chain at STEP. Andrew commented:

    It’s very important to the local economy that STEP brings opportunities to the area. Our initial priority is to establish what services we have on our doorstep and create the right channels of engagement to enable effective ways of future working with local businesses. This event was a great way to share information about STEP and it was encouraging to see the networking that took place amongst the local business representatives.

    Helping to bring the work of STEP to life, a series of local case studies were given, to explore the early relationships already established with STEP. Clive Anderson from Elite Signs of Gainsborough commented on his long-established relationship with the site and what it meant to the business to be able to continue working with the STEP team. He welcomed future requests as the site works continue to grow. Photographer Chris Vaughan’s work was showcased, and he commented that he felt part of the team when commissioned to work for STEP.

    The STEP team always create time for questions when spending time in the community to aid understanding of fusion. These covered the technical side of fusion, site transport, water licences, apprentices, skills and the processes behind tenders for work. The website also includes an area with frequently asked questions which are updated regularly.

    Following the presentations, a speed-dating session was held with the local businesses to give them a chance to share information about their companies, the nature and size of their business and plans for future growth. The range of industry was vast and covered engineering, skills, security, transport, accommodation, catering, manufacturing, materials and many more.

    For those who may have missed this event, future similar events are planned for the local area with all events published and shared with people who have registered their interest on our website: step.ukaea.uk. You can also follow our social channels @STEPtoFusion.

    Notes to Editors

    STEP is a major technology and infrastructure programme to build the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant and to create a UK-led fusion industry. STEP will demonstrate net energy, fuel self-sufficiency and a route to commercialisation. This will catalyse new ideas and technology that will benefit multiple industries and help secure our future on this planet. STEP is a government-funded industry partnership programme led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of UKAEA Group.

    The West Burton site was selected in October 2022 as the home for STEP. The site is currently a demolition zone, with extensive works to decommission the former coal-fired power station, alongside this activity, the STEP Programme is preparing site characterisation information in readiness for construction.

    Local Authorities in the area recently reported on the potential local impact of jobs and investment in the area. Headlines from Nottinghamshire County Council’s ‘Newsroom’ available here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government unveils proposals to transform Fort Regent into a 21st century leisure destination02 April 2025 The Government of Jersey, through its Regeneration Steering Group, has unveiled ambitious proposals to redevelop Fort Regent, restoring its status as the Island’s premier leisure and entertainment… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    02 April 2025

    The Government of Jersey, through its Regeneration Steering Group, has unveiled ambitious proposals to redevelop Fort Regent, restoring its status as the Island’s premier leisure and entertainment hub. 

    The transformation will create a vibrant, modern destination for socialising, entertainment and recreation, with a strong emphasis on facilities for children and young adults. 

    In collaboration with the Jersey Development Company, JDC, the Government’s property development arm, practical and sustainable plans have been developed that balance heritage with state-of-the art leisure and entertainment facilities. 

    Key Features of the proposed redevelopment: 

    Internal transformations 

    • Gloucester Hall redeveloped into a flexible 2,500 seat acoustic theatre, enhancing Jersey’s ability to attract larger live performances and events, and provide flexibility for DJ events, conferences, conventions and/or a show court for sporting events. 
    • Queens Hall (the Rotunda) converted into a multi-functional entertainment complex over two floors, incorporating: A 12-lane ten-pin bowling facility; Arcade and battle café style games space; A six-screen cinema (relocated from the Waterfront) 
    • The Piazza and adjacent perimeter Garrison Rooms redesigned as an arts and culture hub, providing spaces for performing arts, music and artist studios surrounding a large covered space for hosting exhibitions, events and live performances, and serving as the home of Jersey’s winter ice rink. 
    • The former Active Gym space repurposed as a multi-activity facility for all ages, featuring: A ‘Ninja Warrior’-style active play zone; Sky Trail; Climbing and bouldering activities.
    • Additionally, some of the remaining perimeter rooms and Don Theatre are proposed to become egaming zones, virtual golf, cafés and a bar. 

    New outdoor amenities 

    • A destination skatepark catering to all ages 
    • A pump track for BMXers and Mountain Bikers 
    • A play and heritage trail
    • A 500m running track 
    • A teenage zone with a 3×3 ball court and a dedicated social space for older children and teenagers. 

    External enhancements 

    • Improved accessibility and a new entrance building 
    • A cable car link to the Fort 
    • A hotel (on the site of the former swimming pool) 
    • A relocated children’s nursery 
    • A rooftop bar and restaurant with panoramic views over St Helier 
    • Landscaped gardens 
    • Uplighting of the Fort’s external walls Cost and funding strategy 

    This initiative is part of a broader Government strategy for longer-term, ongoing investment in Jersey’s infrastructure, housing, healthcare, public spaces and sport, leisure and recreational facilities. 

    The cost of the Fort Regent redevelopment is estimated at £110 million –  excluding the new hotel which will be privately funded. 

    Financing for the project will come from the following sources, details for which are under development: 

    • Revenues from Fort Regent: Income from rental agreements, events revenue and other commercial activities. 
    • Borrowing: To prevent further delays, enabling immediate investment while spreading repayment over time. 
    • Existing Capital Budget contributions: Allocations from annual capital budgets. 
    • Additional Government contributions: Public sector efficiency savings and budget surpluses, where available. 

    Funding proposals will be presented to the States Assembly once the design and costs have been finalised. 

    Government and JDC statements 

    Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham: “​​The long-overdue redevelopment of Fort Regent Leisure Centre represents a transformational investment in Jersey’s community. Working with the Jersey Development Company, we have developed an ambitious plan that delivers modern, high-quality leisure and recreational facilities with a particular focus on children and young adults. I look forward to hearing Islanders’ views during the consultation process and to seeing Fort Regent fully revitalised as a vibrant social hub at the heart of Island life.”

    Minister for Infrastructure, Connétable Andy Jehan: “I am very pleased to share these exciting plans for the future of Fort Regent. I hope that islanders will look closely at what is proposed and give us their feedback, including where they think the plans can be improved. We are listening and want to be sure that the regeneration meets the needs and ambitions of the public. 

    “Our aim is for Fort Regent to once again be the Island’s premier family leisure and entertainment venue with a wide range of activities, including sport. This consultation marks a turning point, where we can bring Fort Regent back into proper use and make it the vibrant community asset we all know it can be.”

    Lee Henry, CEO of JDC: “Jersey Development Company is honoured to have been entrusted by Government to regenerate Fort Regent. The Fort is a much-loved community asset and we look forward to engaging with the community on the exciting vision for its regeneration. We have carefully ensured that the proposals respect the heritage and focus on delivering much needed all-weather amenities for children, young adults and families. The consultation on the proposals has launched and we hope to hear from as many Islanders as possible in order to inform the plans and we look forward to receiving the community’s views.”

    The full proposals can be viewed at www.jerseydevelopment.je/fort-regent​

    Public Consultation and next steps: 

    JDC invites all islanders to contribute their views by participating in an independent public survey, which will be open from Wednesday 2 April to Sunday 18 May 2025.https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/FortRegentSurvey-4insight/ 

    A public presentation will be held on 22 April at the Pomme d’Or Hotel 5:30pm-7pm to ask questions and provide feedback. To register your attendance via Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/4l6Yh9W. ​Additionally, JDC will conduct presentations for local secondary schools to establish the views of the under-18s. 

    The results of the consultation will be published in June. The first Planning Application for the roof refurbishment will be submitted in August 2025.

    ​Once the Fort is fully vacated, by December 2025, redevelopment will commence in early 2026, with completion scheduled for December 2028.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council looks to buy land for new food waste service

    Source: City of Derby

    Space for a new weekly food waste collection service will be created if plans to buy land are approved at Council Cabinet on Wednesday 9 April. 

    The current depot at Stores Road is already operating at capacity so more space is needed for the new service. A 7.5-acre brownfield site (the same size as 5 football pitches) has been identified on Stores Road. The new site will be home to a Highways Hub, creating space in the Council’s existing depot for the new food waste service. Funding for the purchase of the site will come from the Stores Road Depot Scheme, part of the current Capital Programme. 

    Under ’Simpler Recycling’ regulations, the Council has to implement separate, weekly food waste collections to residents in April 2026. As the Council currently provides fortnightly food waste collections mixed with garden waste, £1.6m of capital funding has been provided by Defra to enable the purchase of 14 new collection vehicles, food waste caddies and hiring new colleagues to collect the waste. 

    Defra announced an additional £0.5m in revenue funding for Derby in March 2025 to support delivery of the service including communicating to residents about the new service and delivery of caddies.

    Weekly food waste collections mean residents won’t have to use their black or brown bins for their food waste and will only need to present a small collection caddy. Households will receive a kitchen caddy and a collection caddy. Residents using their brown bins to recycle food waste need to ensure they don’t place food waste in the brown bin from April 2026. 

    Ahead of the service launching, the Council will be sharing messages with residents about their food waste collection day, how to present their caddies and what can be placed in them as well as how to reduce food waste. Any food waste collected in caddies will be sent for recycling, contributing positively to Derby’s recycling rate and reducing the cost of disposal of general waste. 

    Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Safety and Leisure commented: 

    “We know that food waste makes up a big chunk of the waste in some black bins in the city and costs a significant amount to dispose of. Introducing weekly food waste collections brings a lot of benefits to residents including helping them reduce food waste which saves money but ensuring food waste in the city is recycled is also far better for the environment. 

    “We’re undertaking the groundwork now to help make Derby a cleaner, greener city in the future.” 

    The next Cabinet meeting takes place on Wednesday 9 April and can be watched on the Derby City Council YouTube channel. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Mosbilet service offers a personal selection of events based on your interests

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A personalized selection of events based on your interests is displayed on the service’s main page “Mosbilet” in the “Especially for you” block. These can be performances, concerts, exhibitions, lectures, excursions, film screenings, sports or free events for children.

    “Every week, hundreds of interesting events for visitors of different ages and with different interests take place in the capital’s museums, theaters, concert halls, libraries and other cultural institutions. Often, it is difficult for city residents and visitors to navigate them, and the service

    “Mosbilet” on the mos.ru portal will help not only to buy tickets, but also to get a personal selection of events,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Culture Alexey Fursin.

    To do this, you just need to tell the service about your interests. After that, the system will show several of the most relevant offers.

    “The Mosbilet service allows everyone to find activities to their liking. Residents and visitors of the city can independently customize the list of recommendations, for example, indicate that they are interested in exhibitions, concerts, sports competitions or events for children, and from the genres they prefer comedies and musicals. After that, the algorithms will select several events that are most suitable for this request. The personal selection is available to all residents and visitors of the capital without restrictions,” the press service noted.

    Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.

    You can get a personal selection in the “Especially for you” block on the main page of the “Mosbilet” service. To do this, click on the “Configure a selection of recommendations” button and mark the types of events you are interested in in the list provided.

    For some event categories, you can also specify the direction, for example, the “Exhibition” type: the user specifies the topic here – for example, painting, contemporary art or photography. And in the “Sport” category, he notes what sports competitions he is interested in. When choosing leisure for children, you can specify the age – up to six years, from six to 12 or over 12.

    The service will analyze your preferences and create a selection based on the specified parameters.

    About the Mosbilet service on the mos.ru portal

    “Mosbilet” is the official ticket sales service on the mos.ru portal, with the help of which you can buy tickets to theaters, museums, concert halls and other institutions under the jurisdiction of the capital Department of Culture, without commission and markups. The service page contains announcements of the most anticipated events, season premieres, events within the framework of city festivals, exhibitions, performances and concerts that will take place in the coming weekend.

    You can buy a ticket directly in the service. This can be done conveniently using authorization via Mos ID — an account on the mos.ru portal. If the user has a standard or full account, then you will not need to enter the last name, first name, patronymic, and visitor information — just leave the default value “Mos ID” in the document selection field. If the account is simplified, then the required fields will need to be filled in manually.

    In addition, authorized users will be able to use QR codes for tickets inmobile applications “My Moscow”, “My ID” and “Gosuslugi Moskvy”. This will allow you not to present a document when entering events that are held from March 15 under the new rules for visiting theaters, concert halls and other city institutions with seats. Guests will only need to show the ticket inspector the QR code; they will not need to take the document with them.

    mos.ru answered the main questions about visiting cultural eventsIt will be possible to purchase a ticket through commercial ticket systems using Mos IDSergei Sobyanin: Moscow is developing digital services in the cultural sphere

    On new rules for visiting theaters and concert venues

    Since March 15, new rules for visiting theaters and concert venues under the jurisdiction of the capital’s Department of Culture have been in effect in Moscow. According to them, tickets for performances and concerts with seating can only be purchased with one of the documents from the approved list. In addition, the document must be shown at the entrance to the event. Detailed information about the pilot project has been published Here.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152052073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy: granted extension to the Golfinho licence production phase to 2042 by ANP  

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BW Energy granted extension to the Golfinho licence production phase to 2042 by ANP  

    BW Energy is pleased to announce the extension of the Golfinho licence by Brazilian oil and gas regulator ANP. The production phase under the Golfinho concession contract has been extended to 2042 from previously 2031, following ANP’s approval of the Company’s field development plan in November 2024.   

    “The extension supports our long-term plans for developing the Golfinho field, initially through improved operational performance of existing infrastructure and later targeting several proven low risk in-field development opportunities. We see a significant potential for long-term value creation at Golfinho” said Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Energy. 

    BW Energy is the operator with 100% working interest in the Golfinho licence following the August 2023 acquisition of the Golfinho and Camarupim Clusters. It is located in the Espírito Santo Basin with water depths between 1,300 and 2,200 metres. Hydrocarbons are produced to the FPSO Cidade de Vitória, which BW Energy acquired and has operated since November 2023. The field has been producing since 2007.  

    For further information, please contact:

    Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy, +33.7.81.11.41.16 

    ir@bwenergy.com  

    About BW Energy:  

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 599 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2025. 

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: From projects to expeditions: what children do in environmental clubs

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Distinguishing animals by their tracks, determining the quality of water in reservoirs and finding their way around the area are all things that students of environmental clubs open in the capital’s schools and institutions of additional education can do. Children participate in campaigns, go on hikes and expeditions, conduct research and implement projects. We tell you about the activities that help schoolchildren become real defenders of nature.

    Moscow Palace of Pioneers: from expeditions to Kamchatka to space exploration

    You can study the laws of nature and get acquainted with natural sciences at the environmental education center inMoscow Palace of Pioneers on Sparrow Hills (Kosygina Street, Building 17, Buildings 4, 5). There are classes for children from five to 18 years old.

    “We introduce children to natural sciences. The center has more than 100 clubs in a variety of areas – from botany and zoology to medicine and organic chemistry. Among them, there is a unique one – a biogeography club, which helps children understand the relationship between biology and geography. Schoolchildren are told about the features of the climate, types of soil and plants. Our goal is to instill in children a love for nature and teach them to protect it. We show how important it is to take care of the environment, because it is a source of inspiration and knowledge,” says the head of the environmental education center, Alexey Bobrov.

    To make studying sciences more exciting, a botanical garden has been opened in the Palace of Pioneers. Classes are held there for young biologists of the environmental education center. The botanical garden has a rich collection – more than five thousand species of plants from all over the world. Future zoologists can also get in touch with nature. A zoological museum has been created for them in the Palace of Pioneers, which contains four thousand exhibits. There is also a special living corner. It is home to basilisk lizards that look like small dragons, giant New Guinea grasshoppers, macaws, guinea pigs, chinchillas, meerkats and other animals.

    From a young age, children in the environmental education center’s clubs develop projects and even participate in research by the state corporation Roscosmos. Children plan biological experiments that cosmonauts then conduct in flight. For example, for one of the studies, a container with duckweed leaves was sent into orbit. Together with the cosmonauts, the children tracked how the plant develops in zero gravity.

    In the spring, students from different clubs at the center form teams and go to the Moscow region, where they have practical classes and conduct field research. The kids work in forests, meadows, rivers and swamps. Like real scientists, they take soil and water samples and then analyze them in a mobile laboratory. In addition, schoolchildren learn to identify species of animals, plants and mushrooms. Anyone can go on such an adventure starting in the third grade.

    “From the age of 14, young ecologists, together with teachers from our center, go on expeditions to regions of Russia or other countries. Such trips last up to six weeks. During them, the children take samples on assignment from Russian research institutes or study flora and fauna, collect minerals. Schoolchildren have already visited Karelia, Baikal, Chukotka, the North and South Caucasus, and even China. Last summer, the children were in Kamchatka, where they studied plants and marine life from the Red Book, watched birds, and even saw a brown bear,” says Alexey Bobrov.

    According to him, the knowledge and skills acquired in eco-clubs often help schoolchildren choose their future profession. Many of them enter the natural science departments of the country’s leading universities and build a career in science.

    Northern rivers, smoking volcanoes and mountain peaks: what hikes Moscow schoolchildren and students have been onWinter Garden, Ship Laboratory and Robot Workshop: How the Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Gory Is Organized

    Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani”: from preschoolers to future scientists

    The environmental center also offers great opportunities for young biologists. Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani” (Ogorodnaya Sloboda lane, building 6, building 1). Popular areas include the sections “Young connoisseurs of nature”, “Zoological research” and “Our pets”, where children study animals and the conditions in which they are kept, if they are domestic, or ways to preserve them as a species, if they live, for example, in forests, steppes or swamps.

    “Each program is designed for two to three years. If the child wants to develop further, he can choose any other section. We have sections for children of different ages – from preschoolers to graduates. We strive to teach children to take care of nature,” says Andrey Rodionov, a teacher of additional education, head of the environmental center of the Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani”.

    Classes for the youngest children (from age five) are held in a playful manner. Together with teachers, they go to parks, where they close their eyes and listen to the singing of birds or the rustling of leaves. Older children conduct laboratory research with microscopes, study the habits of animals and learn to care for them.

    In addition, the center’s students traditionally participate in the All-Russian environmental social and educational project “Ekolyata”. They plant trees and hold clean-up days, defend their work at competitions and forums. Recently, the children performed in the library of the Moscow Zoo with the program “Ekostinye Ekolyata: “Amazing is Nearby””, dedicated to the Red Book of Russia. Young ecologists presented projects to preserve rare animals of the country and endangered species of the planet. The ideas interested scientists – now they await further development.

    Thanks to the classes at the center, the children created a project of an invisible ecological shield — a system of ionizing nets, developed jointly with the participants of the physics club section “Robotics in Space”. Initially, the schoolchildren went to Lefortovo Park and examined local ponds, took water samples and analyzed its composition. The nets retain ions of heavy metals and other harmful impurities, preventing them from settling on water and plants.

    And the guys from the robotics section will work on creating automated systems for cleaning networks from pollution and maintaining their magnetization. This approach will help effectively protect the capital’s water bodies from pollution.

    Herbariums, microscopes and wild animals: what schoolchildren study in the Moscow Zoo’s young biologists’ clubAmur tiger, anteaters and potto: how the scientific department of the Moscow Zoo helps to preserve rare animals

    Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”: the world under the microscope

    Schoolchildren are invited to get to know nature betterPalace of Children and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”. Each branch holds classes for children aged five to 15. For example, in the “Island of Freedom” palace division (65 Svobody Street, Building 1), children conduct research, study plants and animals, and participate in environmental campaigns.

    “One of the most interesting areas is “The World Under the Microscope”, where children conduct natural science research. During lessons, they use microscopes with digital screens, binoculars, laboratory sets for experiments and interactive boards. In addition, the “Amazing Nearby” club is popular. At different times of the year, children go to natural areas, where they learn to identify the tracks of hares and squirrels or distinguish beaver teeth marks – gnawings – from broken branches. They also observe how nature changes with the onset of new seasons,” says Anna Lukyanchikova, an additional education teacher at the Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”.

    This year, the Undiscovered Islands Children and Youth Creativity Palace opened a club called “Birds: Amazing Ornithology.” Its participants try to observe birds and learn how their living conditions are affected by proximity to humans. There are groups for every age. Registration is open from September to May.

    “In addition, for interested children, we hold master classes where they can make crafts related to the topics of the classes. For example, if we study fauna, we make animal figurines. We also organize eco-quests. During them, children solve riddles, look for animal tracks and study nature in a playful way. In addition, we participate in clean-up days and feed birds. It is important to take care of what surrounds us and try to preserve it,” adds Anna Lukyanchikova.

    Moscow Children’s and Youth Center for Ecology, Local History and Tourism: Go on a Hiking Trip

    Environmental education helps not only to learn more about nature, but also to develop personal qualities, the director is sure Moscow Children and Youth Center for Ecology, Local History and Tourism (Odesskaya street, house 12a) Dmitry Morgun.

    “Nature is a book that a child needs to be taught to read. To do this, we develop thematic programs and invite zoologists, botanists, ecologists, geographers and other experts to classes. More than 7.5 thousand people study at our center. Clubs are open to children from 10 to 16 years old. Younger schoolchildren study nature, and older students offer solutions to environmental problems, go on hikes and expeditions across the regions of Russia. During trips, under the guidance of teachers, children learn to pitch tents, cook over a fire and navigate the terrain. This not only develops practical skills, but also helps them develop leadership qualities and learn to work in a team,” says Dmitry Morgun.

    Schoolchildren bring back rock samples, fossils and animal photographs from expeditions, which they then display at exhibitions in the center. Today, the exhibitions “Plant Diversity,” “Mammals of Russia,” and “Paleontological Finds in the Central Federal District” are open there.

    The center’s students can study the nature of Russia not only on long expeditions, but also in the natural areas of Moscow. This spring, the center opened a club called “Young Naturalist Path.” Classes are held in the Losiny Ostrov National Park. The children learn to assess the environmental situation, find solutions to improve the environment, study plants and observe animals. Employees of the Losiny Ostrov Ecocenter the capital’s Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection talk about the importance of preserving biodiversity.

    Closer to the summer holidays, a “Field Eco-School” will open for schoolchildren. Children will walk routes in parks every day, observe seasonal changes, and study flora and fauna.

    “Nature will always be the center of attention. Therefore, if a parent sees that a child is interested in ecology, it is necessary to support such interest. And the capital has all the opportunities for this,” says Dmitry Morgun.

    Enroll a child You can join an environmental club on the mos.ru portal in the “Education” section. The window that opens will show filters for selecting an institution and direction. You can also specify the most convenient area or the nearest metro station. It is recommended to enroll in clubs at the beginning of the school year, as the number of places is limited.

    From Art to Science. The Best Educational Programs for Children in MoscowRobots, biochemistry and composites for the Arctic: what innovative developments are being created by Moscow schoolchildrenFrom artistic fencing to eSports. What unusual sections do young Muscovites attend?

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152067073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Young People’s Fund grant recipients aim to empower Porirua youth

    Source: Porirua City Council

    Recipients of the latest Young People’s Fund grants will run programmes ranging from boxing to podcasting, all aimed at positively impacting tamariki and rangatahi living in Porirua.
    This round of funding included two Tier 1 grants – $50,000 a year for three years, as well as five Tier 2 grants – one-off payments of $6000.
    This year’s Tier 1 funding recipients are the Cannons Creek Youth Charitable Trust – which runs the Cannons Creek Boxing Academy, and Voice of Aroha.
    The Cannons Creek Youth Charitable Trust will use the funding to provide their boxing programmes to local students aged 9-19 at no cost. Those involved in the charity say the programme will be “life changing” for participants.
    As well as learning boxing skills, the sessions include a check-in process and understanding of the academy’s value system.
    “This grant is acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication that the Cannons Creek Boxing Academy team and the Cannons Creek Youth Charitable Trust Board have put in over the last few years in growing and developing the academy to what it is today,” says Cannons Creek Youth Charitable Trust Te Tumu Whakahaere, Paegan Edmonds-Topia.
    The second Tier 1 recipient, Voice of Aroha, aims to equip Porirua young people with the skills and confidence to tell their stories, raise their voices, and create positive change in their communities.
    Over the three years they will run workshops on digital media production, podcasting, and public speaking, with a focus on issues such as mental health, identity and belonging.
    A panel of rangatahi aged 16-24 years-old representing a cross-section of the Porirua community worked with council officers to consider the applications for the Young People’s Fund before making recommendations to the council.
    Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says choosing the recipients this year was tough as there were so many excellent applicants.
    “There are many worthy projects out there for supporting our city’s young people. We’re happy to provide this assistance to a range of projects focusing on the environment, health and wellbeing, and diversity and inclusion.”
    Five organisations received Tier 2 funding this year:
    Holy Family School – for their Pa Harakeke (Harakeke Garden) project which comprises a labyrinth of harakeke complemented by clusters of edible and coastal plants, and areas for students to relax and meditate.
    Wellness Within – to run workshops aiming to educate, inspire, and support as many tamariki as possible in leading healthy, balanced lives and enhancing their overall wellbeing.
    Porirua Multicultural Council – for projects to support the identity of young people in Porirua from different communities and help them into the workforce.
    Wellington Access Radio – to support three short-run radio shows/podcasts with three different groups of young people in the Porirua community.
    Alofa Tunoa Trust –

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Could you watch 8 plays in 12 hours? How The Player Kings creates binge-worthy Shakespeare

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirk Dodd, Lecturer in English and Writing, University of Sydney

    Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove

    Some say Shakespeare invented the “history play” – but he had a lot of help.

    Shakespeare was mainly writing comedies in the early 1590s when he is believed to have coauthored the play we now call Henry VI Part 2 with Christopher Marlowe and others.

    Following the commercial success of this play and its coauthored sequel, Henry VI Part 3, a rival theatre company wrote a prequel play we now call Henry VI Part 1. Studies suggest Shakespeare was never a primary author of this play, but he did contribute to it later.

    As previous coauthors died, all three Henry VI plays fell into Shakespeare’s lap by 1595, and he was tasked with editing all three plays together as a trilogy (or a tetralogy, with his Richard III).

    After the success of this first tetralogy, Shakespeare reached further back in time to write Richard II, followed by the two Henry IV plays, then Henry V.

    By 1599, Shakespeare had two tetralogies to his name (or two “Henriads”, as Shakespeare scholars dub them), dramatising the hundred-odd years, and various reigns, between Richard II and Richard III (1377–1485).

    These eight plays have now been stitched together by director Damien Ryan as The Player Kings, which can be watched over two nights or as one performance lasting from 11:30am to 11:00pm.

    This is binge-worthy Shakespeare, stupendously absorbing and exquisitely realised.

    A modern history

    Ryan begins in the 1950s, before evolving to catch up with contemporary times when we see a sniper drone launched against Richard III. Lily Moody and Ruby Jenkins’ stylish costumes lend a sense of chronology to the historical plights.

    Richard II is elegantly 1950s, but the wayward Prince Hal channels 1960s Mick Jagger. Jack Cade’s rebellion in Henry VI is working-class 80s (one character wears a Back to the Future t-shirt). The devilish Richard III is cool black leathered nonchalance.

    Video design from Aron Murray: a red light lab for developing the queen’s portrait.
    Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove

    Ryan is a master of delighting his audiences by delivering Shakespeare’s lines faithfully with unexpected visual scenarios. In Richard II, the king and queen partake in a royal photo shoot. This segues into a scenario where technicians develop the black and white photos under red lights, all the while speaking Shakespeare’s lines.

    In a sequence from Henry VI, the blue and white tiles of the court transform into a shimmering pool for a languid pool party. Ryan praises Shakespeare in the program for letting “his form match his content, which is the very point of poetry”. Ryan also achieves this with his exciting direction.

    Kate Beere’s dynamic and malleable set combines a grassy knoll with other green spaces and a tiled court centre stage, joined to a rutted cement staircase and backed by a windowed entrance. This doubles as a screen for historical footage of 20th century social upheavals, with video design from Aron Murray. News cameras are brought onstage to project live footage of a monarch’s “comms” with the populace, a place where egos and diplomacy clash.

    Perched atop all this is the musical nest of composer Jack Mitsch, who plays guitars and drums underpinning the drama.

    Brilliantly performed

    The acting is second to none. Sean O’Shea gives a mesmerising performance as Richard II, a flippant self-centred king genuinely attached to his favourites.

    Katrina Retallick’s Queen Isabel is vibrant and assured. Longstanding doyens of Australian theatre, Peter Carroll and John Gaden, are paired up as the two gardeners.

    Gareth Davies as the banished, but soon-to-be usurping Henry Bolingbroke plays a psychological game as he slowly wrests the crown from Richard, prompted more by political survival than ordained succession. Christopher Stollery is controlled, astute and forceful as Northumberland.

    The Boar’s Head Tavern becomes a 60s ‘lock-in’ of counterculture mayhem.
    Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove

    Ryan’s casting of his two young sons in Henry IV is inspired. Oliver Ryan performing Prince Hal and Max Ryan as Harry Hotspur adds poignancy to these rivals who must duel each other to the death.

    The Boar’s Head Tavern becomes a 60s “lock-in” of counterculture mayhem, with Emma Palmer delivering a superbly stoned Doll Tearsheet. Steve Rodgers’ Falstaff is raw and straight from the pub, licentious to the max, and prone to mooning the crowd. Lulu Howes’ wild Lady Hotspur yearns for her distracted husband’s attention. Andrew Cutcliff gives a thundering and manly impression of King Henry V.

    The rarely performed Henry VI plays are fused together in an embroiling dynastic power-play. Outstanding performances include Davies as a delicate King Henry VI, unschooled in the vicious brutalities of monarchical contest, and Henaway as a commanding Joan of Arc.

    The acting is second to none: Max Ryan (Hotspur) and Lulu Howes (Lady Hotspur).
    Brett Boardman/Sport For Jove

    As civil strife erupts between the “white-rosed” Lancastrians and the “red-rosed” Yorkists, we see the early rise of “that valiant crook-back prodigy”, Richard of Gloucester (Gamble), who murders his way to becoming King Richard III. In that final play, Palmer gives a vociferous Margaret of Anjou.

    Glued to the action

    Eight plays delivered in two 4.5 hour sessions, and yet Sport for Jove is mindful of audience comforts. Each session has two intermissions and most blocks run less than 90 minutes. The acting and dynamism on stage works so well that the crowd I attended with was glued to the action from first word to last, 12 hours later.

    While Shakespeare made history with these plays, The Player Kings becomes history in the making: a landmark Australian production.

    The Player Kings from Sport for Jove is at the Seymour Centre, Sydney, until April 5.

    Kirk Dodd 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. Could you watch 8 plays in 12 hours? How The Player Kings creates binge-worthy Shakespeare – https://theconversation.com/could-you-watch-8-plays-in-12-hours-how-the-player-kings-creates-binge-worthy-shakespeare-252042

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Calls for Healthier Options for Students at Ag Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
    WASHINGTON – Today,U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) spoke with Dr. Eve Stoody, Director of Nutrition Guidance and Analysis Division at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, during a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Ag) hearing. Sen. Tuberville asked Dr. Moody about the important role dairy plays in children’s development. As a founding member of the Senate Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Caucus, Sen. Tuberville noted the many health benefits that come from a calcium-rich diet and expressed support for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, which would add 2% and whole milk options back in schools.
    Read Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below and watch on YouTube and Rumble.

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Doctor, for being here today.
    My former profession was working with students and kids. I traveled to hundreds and hundreds of high schools across the country in all 50 states. I ate at [cafeteria] lunch rooms and the food [was mostly] atrocious. [In] 2010, we did basically do away with milk for some reason [that] I can’t imagine. I’ve got a new granddaughter. My [daughter-in-law] is breastfeeding. We looked at the formula that we could have been feeding my new granddaughter. [If] we wanna do away with something, we [should] do away with that because it’s nothing but sugar. We’re going to look at something that’s so important to our kids growing up and their physical attributes of growing up to an adult, we’re looking at [the] possibility of milk being detrimental [to our kids’ development]. [It is] mind boggling to me, but I guess there’s a lot more smarter people. You know, I used to have a training table for players all of our athletes, and you put milk, and you put tea, you put water out there—they’d drink the milk, [the] athletes. And there’s a reason that they look a lot better than a lot of our kids nowadays. But at the end of the day, we have to make a decision, what’s better [for our kids]? I can’t believe we’re even getting involved in this. 
    But, you know, science improves and changes over time. We know that our nutrition standards should not be what they were in 2010. They have to change—have to change. As nutrition and science data has changed, can you discuss the [2025] Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s conclusions on dairy consumption’s effect on children?”
    STOODY: “And just to clarify, just to make sure I heard you correctly, you were referencing the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee?”
    TUBERVILLE: “Yes, ma’am.”
    STOODY: “Thank you. The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee did an extensive review. They are convened as an external advisory committee. And the 2025 Committee had 20 members. They did an extensive review on all aspects of the diet, including dairy, data analysis, a number of systematic reviews, and food pattern modeling. At the end of the day, they looked at a lot of new evidence. There is evidence that’s looking at food sources of saturated fat, so […] dairy that has different amounts of saturated fat, these different types that are exactly the conversation today. They also did a number of food pattern modeling analyses. And what that does is [it] looks at what happens if you change the amount of dairy in a pattern. At the end of the day, they found that you can’t reduce the amount of dairy in a dietary pattern – that the amount that’s recommended still holds and that’s in large part because of all the nutrients that dairy provides. It’s a good source and the major source of Calcium, Vitamin D, and about a dozen other nutrients in the diet. At the end of the day, their recommendations to the Departments, and I’ll note that […] that is our advice to the Departments. We’re informing the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines. But their advice was to maintain the current guidance. Now we are at a point in [both] Secretary Rollins and Kennedy have acknowledged their commitment to supporting the development of the Dietary Guidelines to be released later this year. And they have also discussed doing a line-by-line review of the Committee’s report and basing the next edition of the dietary guidelines on science. So, there will, I expect, be a lot more discussion related to the topic of dairy as well as other aspects of the diet. But at the end of the day, I think the […] 2025 Committee continued to emphasize the importance of dairy in a healthy dietary pattern.”
    TUBERVILLE: “So, at the end of the day, don’t you agree that any milk—2%, whole milk—is much better for our kids growing up than soda?”
    STOODY: “Yes. I think the point of the Dietary Guidelines is that there is flexibility. There’s a number of different options within the dairy food group and whether that be fat free, low fat, reduced fat, whole milk, it’s important to make selections that are right, that support individual needs and preferences, and in that context of the larger dietary pattern.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Repeal Tax on Certain Firearm Purchases

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353April 1, 2025
    Cotton, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Repeal Tax on Certain Firearm Purchases
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today reintroduced the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act, legislation that would remove a burdensome tax imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act.
    Senators John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Rick Scott (R-Florida), and Tim Sheehy (R-Montana) are co-sponsors of the legislation. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (Iowa-02) introduced companion legislation in the House.
    “Law-abiding Americans who exercise their Second Amendment rights should not be subject to unnecessary taxes and restrictions preventing them from doing so. Passed into law in 1934, the National Firearms Act needs to be amended. Our legislation will remove the red tape that places an undue financial burden on would-be gun owners,” said Senator Cotton.
    “The Second Amendment is a Constitutional right that is not to be infringed. Law-abiding gun owners should not be forced to pay an unconstitutional firearm tax. This bill will remove unnecessary financial barriers on lawful gun owners from the antiquated 1934 National Firearms Act and protect the Second Amendment rights of Iowans and Americans,” said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.
    Text of the legislation may be found here.
    Background:
    The 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates short-barreled shotguns and rifles, automatic firearms and suppressors. In addition to background checks and registration, NFA regulated items have a $200 tax.
    The ATF has acknowledged the tax was intended “to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions” of firearms. The $200 tax, unchanged since 1934, is equivalent to $4,741 in today’s dollars.
    From 2018 to 2023, ownership of NFA regulated items have grown by more than 230% as more sportsmen, shooters and firearm enthusiasts exercise their Second Amendment right.
    The RIFLE Act does not modify the current checks and registration; it solely removes the federally mandated financial burden on law-abiding gun owners.
    The legislation is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Proclaims April Sikh Heritage Month

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on April 1, 2025

    The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed April as Sikh Heritage Month. This month is dedicated to recognizing and honouring the rich culture, history and contributions of the Sikh community.

    “Our government values the cultural richness, hard work and community spirit that the Sikh community contributes to Saskatchewan,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross said. “That is why I am pleased to announce that today the Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed the month of April as Sikh Heritage Month.”

    Sikh Heritage Month provides opportunities to learn about Sikh culture and traditions while educating future generations. It is also a time to recognize the contributions the Sikh communities have made to our province in various fields such as business, arts, education and public service.

    “Sikh Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the rich history, culture and contributions of the Sikh community,” Guru Nanak Free Kitchen Regina and Calgary Founder Sandeep Sandhu said. “It reminds us of the values of equality, service and compassion, and celebrates the resilience and strength of a diverse community that continues to shape our shared future.”

    Throughout the month, various events and activities will take place in communities across the province.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EPFO Expands Banking Network, 15 Additional Banks Empanelled for Collection of EPFO Contributions Taking Total Number to 32 Banks

    Source: Government of India

    EPFO Expands Banking Network, 15 Additional Banks Empanelled for Collection of EPFO Contributions Taking Total Number to 32 Banks

    EPFO 3.0 will make EPFO as Accessible and Efficient as Banks: Dr. Mandaviya

    With nearly 8 crore active members and more than 78 lakh pensioners, EPFO provides benefits that ensure social security for millions – Union Minister

    Posted On: 01 APR 2025 5:13PM by PIB Delhi

    EPFO entered into agreements with 15 additional Public/Private Sector Banks in the presence of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Youth Affairs & Sports and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, in New Delhi today. The newly empanelled 15 banks will enable direct payment of nearly Rs. 12,000 Crore in annual collections and enable direct access to employers who maintain their accounts with these banks. For enabling employers covered under the Act to pay their monthly contributions, EPFO has already empanelled 17 banks, taking the total to 32.

    Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in his address, stated that the country’s progress towards a “Naya Bharat” is being significantly supported by institutions like the EPFO, which plays a crucial role in shaping the nation’s future. With nearly 8 crore active members and more than 78 lakh pensioners, EPFO provides benefits that ensure social security for millions, he added.

    He emphasized how EPFO continues to evolve and adapt, with the recent implementation of EPFO 2.01, a robust IT system that has significantly improved claim settlements. He said in the Financial Year 2024-25, EPFO settled record over 6 crore claims, a 35% increase compared to the 4.45 crore claims settled in the previous year (2023-24).

    Dr. Mandaviya pointed out that customer satisfaction has risen significantly, and EPFO is actively working on evolving towards EPFO 3.0 to make it as accessible and efficient as banks. He said that a significant milestone was also marked with the introduction of the Centralized Pension Payment System. “This system will benefit over 78 lakh pensioners, enabling them to receive their pensions in any bank account across the country. Previously, pensioners were required to have an account in a specific zonal bank, this compulsion has now been removed,” Union Minister explained.

    Dr. Mandaviya also touched upon the significant reforms EPFO has introduced recently. “Auto claim settlement process is a major reform which has improved claim processing speed. With auto-processing, claims are now being settled in just three days. In FY 2024-25, we settled 2.34 crore claims under this system, a 160% increase from the 89.52 lakh claims in 2023-24″, Union Minister said.

    Union Minister expressed happiness that EPFO is offering 8.25 % interest rate to its beneficiaries. The participation of banks in service delivery would further enhance efficiency of EFFO and improve good governance.

    Looking ahead, Dr. Mandaviya reiterated EPFO’s commitment to continuous improvement. “We are focused on providing Ease of Living for members and Ease of Doing Business for employers. With the continued support of our banking partners, employers, and members, we are determined to take strong strides toward realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat, while further strengthening our social security framework.”

    EPFO, one of the largest social security Organisations in the world has been taking a series of efforts to simplify processes for members and enhance employers’ experience in transacting with it. In FY 24-25, EPFO has collected over Rs. 3.41 Lakh Crore in contributions remitted by employers through 1.25 Crore electronic challan cum returns (ECRs) till 20th March 2025.

    Earlier, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPFO in its 236th Meeting held on 30.11.2024 had approved the empanelment of all Agency Banks listed with RBI and Scheduled Commercial banks with collection share more than or equal to 0.20% of total EPFO collection as additional banks authorised to collect EPFO contributions. From 1st April 2025, the total number of empanelled banks has gone up to 32, providing employers with a wider array of choices for remittance to EPFO.

    The empanelment of new banks will bring seamless integration of EPFO collections/dues payments by employers, further reducing the need of aggregator payment mechanism for employers, which will help both EPFO & employers to reduce transactional delays and thereby strengthening operational efficiency. This will yield financial benefits for EPFO, as dues remitted through empanelled banks will be available for investment on T+1 day, compared to T+2 day through aggregator. This will also significantly reduce costs to EPFO payable for name validation of members’ accounts held in non-empanelled banks. EPF members will also be benefitted by this empanelment in a big way. Now when members will seed their bank accounts maintained in these banks, these will be verified in a speedier manner by these banks instead of routing these through any other channel.

    This initiative will enhance both the Ease of Doing Business and the Ease of Providing Service for employers and it will also translate these benefits for the members, reducing lags in payments of their contributions. Further, it will also help employers to interact with these banks directly for grievances related to payment of dues.

    Shri Ramesh Krishnamurthi, Central PF Commissioner, MD/CEO and senior officers of banks, Ministry of Labour & Employment and EPFO were also present on the occasion.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2117341) Visitor Counter : 138

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hinson, Cotton Introduce the RIFLE Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-01)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act. Under current law, there is a $200 tax on the transfer and purchase of firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act. This legislation would remove the existing $200 tax on firearms sold to law-abiding gun owners. 

    “The Second Amendment is a Constitutional right that is not to be infringed. Law-abiding gun owners should not be forced to pay an unconstitutional firearm tax. This bill will remove unnecessary financial barriers on lawful gun owners from the antiquated 1934 National Firearms Act and protect the Second Amendment rights of Iowans and Americans.”  Congresswoman Ashley Hinson

    “Law-abiding Americans who exercise their Second Amendment rights should not be subject to unnecessary taxes and restrictions preventing them from doing so. Passed into law in 1934, the National Firearms Act needs to be amended. Our legislation will remove the red tape that places an undue financial burden on would-be gun owners.” – Senator Tom Cotton

    “The National Rifle Association applauds Representative Hinson’s leadership on the Second Amendment and her reintroduction of the RIFLE Act. This $200 punitive tax has only ever served as a financial barrier for law-abiding Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”  John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA

    “The tax stamp requirement for firearms and suppressors listed as controlled items under the National Firearms Act was intended to suppress Americans’ desire to fully-exercise their Second Amendment rights. It was – and is – a ‘sin tax. However, there is no sin in exercising a Constitutionally-protected right. We appreciate the leadership of Representative Hinson and Senator Cotton to eliminate this tax that only serves as a barrier to law-abiding citizens keeping and bearing arms.”  Lawrence G. Keane, National Shooting Sports Foundation Senior Vice President and General Counsel

    Congresswoman Hinson introduced this bill alongside 27 original co-sponsors: Representatives Richard Hudson (NC-09), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), John Moolenaar (MI-02), Mark Amodei (NV-02), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Michael Rulli (OH-06), Clay Higgins (LA-03), Mike Collins (GA-10), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), John McGuire (VA-05), Andy Harris (MD-01), Andy Barr (KY-06), Bob Onder (MO-03), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Troy Downing (MT-02), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Adrian Smith (NE-03), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01).

    Background:

    • Under current law, there is a $200 tax on the transfer and purchase of firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA).
      • According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the $200 transfer tax was intended to “to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions” of firearms.
      • The federal government intentionally placed a financial barrier on the Second Amendment, discriminating against individuals based on their income.
    • The RIFLE Act would remove this infringing tax on firearms governed under the NFA, including short-barreled rifles and silencers.
      • This legislation would also ensure that pistols with stabilizing braces would not be subject to the $200 transfer tax.
      • This legislation does not modify any current background check provisions; it solely removes the federally-mandated financial burden on law-abiding gun owners.

    The bill was first covered by Breitbart News here. Full bill text can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Meet the 2024 ACT Women’s Awards winners

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Winners Glenda Stevens, Joanne Farrell and Mijica Lus

    The recipients of the 2024 ACT Women’s Awards have been announced.

    The awards recognise women and gender diverse people who have made an outstanding contribution to the lives of women and girls in the ACT.

    Meet the 2024 ACT Women’s Awards winners:

    2024 ACT Woman of the Year: Joanne Farrell – Founder and Director, Build Like a Girl

    Joanne (Jo) Farrell is a champion for women in the building industry.

    In 2020, she founded Build Like a Girl, a not-for-profit program that supports women of all backgrounds and ages to work in trades. Since then, Jo has helped 33 women gain full-time employment. She regularly assists with programs, initiatives and services aimed at improving the participation rate of women in trades, which is currently just 2 per cent.

    “I’m really honoured to be nominated and recognised for the work,” Jo said.

    “I just turn up every day and try and do the work and promote the industry for other women to work in and try and change the negative cultural behaviour we have across the board.

    “For me it is a recognition of that work and hopefully other women feel encouraged to come and work in our industry with us.”

    Jo is not only the recipient of 2024 ACT Woman of the Year but was also named 2024 ACT Australian of the Year.

    2024 ACT Senior Woman of the Year: Glenda Stevens – CEO, Fearless Women

    Glenda is a community leader and expert in a range of social policy areas.

    Glenda started Fearless Women, a program that provides girls and young women in the ACT with a support service to help them find their voice. It offers short-term counselling, equips girls and women with the tools and resources they need, and offers longer term mentoring support.

    “It’s really exciting to see a young person who was frightened and stressed to be able to feel the exhilaration of achieving something,” Glenda said.

    “For her to feel that sense of achievement and satisfaction is really good for her growth, and it’s good for all of us because we’re receiving the benefits of a wonderful young person.”

    2024 ACT Young Woman of the Year: Mijica Lus – Founder, Aurosokwo Project

    For the last six years, Mijica Lus has volunteered her time and effort with various not-for-profits in the ACT in areas of education, media, health care and human services.

    Mijica leads the Aurosokwa Project, which supports multicultural communities through cross collaboration.

    “If it’s helping with food pantries, decreasing homelessness, supporting mental health initiatives and youth services as well, that’s what the project is about,” Mijica said.

    “I’m really excited to contribute to a city that has given me so much, and this is one way of showing my appreciation.”

    2024 ACT Woman of the Year – Special Commendation Award: Delfina Shakespear, football match official

    Delfina Shakespear is a National and State-level Football Match Official. She volunteers as a mentor, educator, and administrator, and provides strategic advice to Capital Football.

    She is committed to empowering the next generation of female referees.

    Delfina fearlessly speaks up against abuse and poor treatment faced by referees. She actively promotes cultural change through media engagement and initiatives like Reduce Abuse.

    “Seeing the girls and women that I’ve mentored succeed, strive for their goals and push through all the challenges is the most rewarding thing,” Delfina said.


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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Story Dogs return to Libraries ACT

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Year 7 student Sara is benefiting from reading sessions with Story Dog Lucky and his owner, Ron.

    Year 7 student Sara has never felt comfortable reading in front of her class.

    The Lanyon High School student would avoid it at all costs. That is, until her mother discovered the Story Dogs program at Libraries ACT.

    The program is ideal for reluctant readers or those facing reading challenges.

    It pairs a student with a trained dog and their volunteer owner, creating a relaxed, supportive environment for reading aloud.

    Sara attends Tuggeranong Library on Friday afternoons to read to Lucky, a 21-month-old golden retriever.

    ‘I like the experience and since I don’t generally like reading in front of other people, I like reading in front the dog,” Sara said.

    “It makes the experience a bit calmer. I am happy to keep doing this for a while.”

    After only two sessions, Sarah’s mum, Rae, has noticed a difference.

    “At school she always refused to talk in front of the class, but I have definitely seen a change,” Rae said.

    “She finds the dog listens. It doesn’t judge and it’s fun. She might now associate the dog with talking out loud and this has really helped for someone who refuses to stand up and read.”

    During her session, Lucky rests by Sara as she makes her way through a pile of story books.

    Though concentrating hard, she touches and pats him as she reads.

    Lucky’s owner, Ron, a retired public servant, listens but remains quiet.

    “It’s great doing this. Last week, we had a little girl come in who is dyslexic and she just sat there on the rug with Lucky and held onto him the whole time. She started off a bit hesitant but after a minute she was right. It really calmed both her and him. Lucky is new to this too, so they were both learning at the same time,” Ron said.

    “I used to coach football, so I know the satisfaction of being able to teach kids.”

    The Story Dogs program is available for children aged 7–12 at Tuggeranong, Dickson and Gungahlin libraries.

    Each child gets 20 minutes of one-on-one reading time with a Story Dog, under the watchful eye of a friendly volunteer like Ron.

    Students who feel anxious or stressed during learning activities can find the presence of a furry friend reassuring.

    Reading to a Story Dog can:

    • promote relaxation
    • lower blood pressure
    • eliminate fear of judgement
    • allow children to learn at their own pace.

    “It’s wonderful to see the progress and you get as much out of it yourself as for anyone else,” Ron said.

    Story Dogs sessions require bookings and are held during school terms at:

    • Gungahlin Library: Wednesdays, 4:00pm to 5:20pm
    • Dickson Library: Fridays, 4:00pm to 5:20pm
    • Tuggeranong Library: Fridays, 4:00pm to 5:20pm.

    Registrations open seven days in advance.

    Further resources

    Register your child for a Story Dog session

    Canberra dog-owners interested in volunteering with the program can contact Story Dogs.


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    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is the risk of brain injury from contact sports being overstated by the media?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Christian Yates, Senior Lecturer in Mathematical Biology, University of Bath

    PeopleImages/Shutterstock

    More and more people are worried about the long-term effects of contact sports on the brain. In football (soccer), studies have found that repeatedly heading the ball can lead to memory problems and an increased risk of serious brain diseases. This has led to rules limiting heading the ball in youth leagues and calls to protect professional players in similar ways.

    In American football, research shows a high number of former players have a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This has prompted the National Football League (NFL) to change some rules and introduce better safety equipment.

    Rugby, a sport known for its hard collisions, is also becoming more aware of head injuries. As a result, new rules require players to rest after a concussion – and there are stricter rules about preventing head contact during games.

    Some older players are taking legal action because of the brain injuries they suffered. Lawyers are representing over 500 former players from both rugby union and rugby league, claiming that repetitive head impacts during their careers caused long-lasting brain damage.

    The lawyers argue that the sports’ governing bodies failed to protect these former players from the effects of blows to the head.

    A recent BBC article said that “almost two-thirds of the claimants in a concussion lawsuit against rugby league authorities” had symptoms of CTE. Two-thirds is a lot, but is it really that surprising?

    It’s important to remember that the players in this lawsuit are a self-selecting sample. These people have been chosen for inclusion in the class action lawsuit precisely because they have evidence of brain damage. We should expect a high prevalence of conditions like CTE in this sample. So we must be careful not to infer something about all rugby players that is not supported by the data.

    However, perhaps the BBC article is not so troubling, since the condition for selection – that the players were part of the lawsuit – is clearly stated. More problematic are articles in which the conditions for the selection of the studied sample are not so clearly laid out.

    Another BBC article, published in 2023, summarised the results of studies investigating the prevalence of CTE in the brains of deceased rugby players. It reported that “68% of the brains had traces of the brain condition CTE”. This might suggest to readers that CTE is very common among all rugby players.

    In American football, the problem appears to be even more prevalent. In 2017, the BBC ran an article with the headline: Brain disease affects 99% of NFL players in study. The piece led with the sentence: “A study of American football players’ brains has found that 99% of professional NFL athletes tested had a disease associated with head injuries.”

    This sounds extremely alarming and might lead readers to surmise that nearly all professional NFL players will develop CTE. The study also surveyed the brains of college and high-school students, concluding: “Of the 202 total players, 87% were found to have traces of CTE,” giving the impression that most American football players at all levels might expect to develop CTE.

    Selection bias

    CTE research is difficult because the disease can only be diagnosed by examining samples of a patient’s brain tissue after their death. Consequently, for the NFL study, researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine, who conducted the research, drew their sample from the VA Boston Healthcare System’s “brain bank”.

    The bank, established to better understand the long-term effects of repetitive head trauma, holds hundreds of donated brains potentially damaged through sporting or military activities.

    And herein lies the problem. Many of the brains held in the bank were donated by families who suspected that their loved ones had CTE. The study hugely overrepresented players who were likely to have CTE in comparison to the general American football-playing population.

    To their credit, the scientists who conducted this research were at pains to point out their sample was not representative and should not be used to draw population-level conclusions.

    In particular, the conclusion that many sports fans reading the headlines will have come to – that a huge proportion of American football players will suffer from CTE – is not supported by the study. Somehow, that message got lost between the research article and the media’s reporting of it.

    The eye-catching statistics about the prevalence of CTE in rugby players, derived from a study at the University of Glasgow, are the result of a similar misrepresentation of the underlying research. In this case, the brains that were analysed came from three brain banks (from Scotland, the US and Australia).

    All of these repositories take donations of brains from people who were more likely to have suffered from neurological conditions, and so are unlikely to be representative of the underlying population of ruby players.

    The weight of evidence linking repetitive blows to the head to brain harm (particularly to CTE) is growing stronger. Studies comparing footballers to the general population show the increase in neurological conditions among football players is probably not a statistical fluke.

    However, if we seek to truly understand the risks of undertaking these contact sports, loved by billions, then we need to look beyond the startling headlines. Selection bias, caused by a disparity in the reasons why brains are donated for study, means it’s not enough just to sample from the brains we have available in order to establish an estimate of the prevalence of such diseases.

    Instead, we need to understand who is missing from the studied population, and use that information to infer how a potentially biased sample might cause the statistics we read in the headlines to be unrepresentative.

    Christian Yates 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. Is the risk of brain injury from contact sports being overstated by the media? – https://theconversation.com/is-the-risk-of-brain-injury-from-contact-sports-being-overstated-by-the-media-253378

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI: BTCC Exchange and Red Eagle Foundation Raise £30,000 for Disadvantaged Children at Kent Construction Golf Cup Featuring Premier League Legend Matt Le Tissier

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCC, the world’s longest-serving crypto exchange, proudly partnered again with the Red Eagle Foundation for a successful Kent Construction Golf Cup on March 27, 2025 at the prestigious London Golf Club. As a headline sponsor, BTCC helped raise £30,000 after costs to support disabled, disadvantaged, and terminally ill children across the UK.

    Now in its second collaboration with the Red Eagle Foundation, BTCC continues to give back and support causes that make a difference. The Kent Construction Golf Cup brought together 28 teams from across the industry for an exciting day of competition and fundraising on the Heritage course at the London Golf Club.

    Highlights included lively entertainment by comedian Aaron James, a Q&A session with sports television pundit Scott Minto and Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier, and an exciting competition featuring former European Tour player Steven Tiley. AIMIS took home the top prize, with Clean Slate Demolition securing second place.

    Aaryn Ling, Head of Branding at BTCC, shared her appreciation for Matt Le Tissier’s involvement in the event. “Partnering with the Red Eagle Foundation for the second time is our way of giving back,” said Aaryn. “Matt Le Tissier’s support was phenomenal — his presence helped drive both energy and donations.”

    BTCC’s ongoing partnership with the Red Eagle Foundation will continue, with more charitable initiatives already in the works to support disadvantaged children.

    As a token of appreciation for its loyal community, BTCC will also be launching a giveaway featuring a signed shirt by Matt Le Tissier. Fans and supporters are encouraged to stay tuned for more details on the exchange’s X (Twitter).

    About BTCC

    Founded in 2011, BTCC is a leading cryptocurrency exchange committed to making crypto trading reliable and accessible. With a decade-long track record, BTCC offers a secure platform for crypto trading with its community-driven campaigns.

    Official website: https://www.btcc.com/en-US

    X: https://x.com/BTCCexchange

    Contact: press@btcc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ICON grant helps pro cyclist launch business

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Chloe and her husband launched Hosking Bikes in February 2023.

    In 2023, Canberran Chloe Hosking made the switch from pro-cyclist touring around Europe to launching her own bike company here in Canberra with the help of an ICON grant.

    “I never set out to start a bike company, just like I never intended to become a professional cyclist, I came home with a lot of ideas,” Chloe said.

    “With my husband Jack’s experience in start-up software companies and all of my industry connections, we launched Hosking Bikes in February 2023 and had bikes in market by June.

    “Most business owners will know that capital raising is often one of the hardest parts of starting a business, so the grant was a huge help,” she said.

    Chloe received $30,000 in matched funding last year from the ICON grant program. This enabled her to develop prototypes and help with marketing activities.

    ICON grants are currently open and close 16 April 2024.

    The ICON grants are delivered by the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN), which receives funding from the ACT Government to support entrepreneurs, innovators and start-ups, like Hosking.

    Chloe wanted to create a bike tailored to the needs of women.

    “Over the years, I felt I wanted to change the lack of female representation in the industry,” she said.

    “When you look at the top five cycle brands, only 13 per cent of the executive and board are women. And a recent study showed that 50 per cent of the women in the industry are thinking about leaving.

    “The only way to change that is to have people in the room to change the narrative.”

    Wanting to see more women on bikes, Hosking Bikes is one way she’s making it more accessible.

    “Cycling has given me so much, and I want women to experience the joy that I got and get from cycling. Even if they don’t go pro.

    “Creating a brand like Hosking Bikes that champions getting more women on bikes is the way to do that. We’ve also created a bike that’s half the cost of other bikes and we’re very focused on building an inclusive community to support more women into the sport,” she said.

    Chloe has some wise words for any women looking to start a business.

    “Believe in yourself 100 per cent. As an athlete you learn that you lose a lot more than win, but you keep working toward success, even if it’s not a race.

    “But also, don’t let them doubt you! They will, but ignore them!” she said.

    Previous ICON grant recipients include Future Swirl and Your Season.

    For more on ICON grants, visit the CBRIN website.

    Be the first to know about grants and funding to support Canberra businesses – subscribe to the CBR Business update e-newsletter.


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    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 10 FREE egg-citing activities for secondary school-aged kids this Easter

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    The Spring Sessions programme runs from Monday 7 April, to Saturday 19 April, at multiple locations across Portsmouth, ensuring activities are easily accessible.

    Spring Sessions is an extension of HAF Fun Pompey (HAF), which can now offer free food and activities to all 11 to 16-year-olds from low-income families in PO1 to PO6 thanks to funding from the Household Support Fund.

    The funding allows secondary school children in the city who don’t qualify for free school meals or HAF, but may still need support, to enjoy free activities and a hot meal during school holidays.

    There are loads on offer to suit lots of personality types, including:

    • Trampolining at Flip Out
    • Finding calm through music, art and yoga
    • Professional musical theatre workshop
    • Skate and scooting at Pitt Street Skate Park
    • Football at Goals
    • Laser quest, archery & adventure activities at Fort Purbrook.

    Cllr Nicholas Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, said: ” We know that school holidays can be a tough time for families, which is why I’m so pleased we can use some of the funding from the household support fund to offer these free sessions to kids 11 and over in the city. It’s a great opportunity to get out, meet new people, and learn something new over the holidays, and it doesn’t cost a thing! Get involved!”

    Booking is required, and spaces are limited. eequ.org/portsmouthcitycouncilsessions

    Any questions? Phone 07901 100537 or email eptengagement@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

    The activities available are:

    Flip out
    Monday 7 & Wednesday 9 and 16 April, 6pm to 9pm

    Go beyond bouncing with stunt boxes to jump off, trampolines and hoops to play slam ball, soft foam pits to flip into and so much more at Flip Out Portsmouth. There are three hours of fun to be had, plus a delicious meal.

    Book now


    Music, art & yoga

    Friday 11 April, 11.30am to 3pm

    If high-action sports aren’t for your tweens & teens, they can try out the newest Session activity – Creative Calm at The Base in The Guildhall. They can learn to find their zen with yoga, arts & crafts, music and pizza.

    This activity is perfect for those looking for a more peaceful way to spend their school holidays, or anyone looking for a way to find calmness through creative outlets!

    Book now

    Professional musical theatre workshop
    Thurs 10 April, 11.30am to 3pm

    Discover the magic of musical theatre with a day of singing, dancing, and acting in a fun and supportive space! No experience? No problem. Build confidence, make new friends, and find out more about the BASE, the free creative space for young people in Portsmouth.

    Book now

    Skate, scoot & pizza party

    Enjoy a free skate session at Pitt Street Skatepark, Portsmouth’s first indoor space of its kind. All kit is provided, but if you want to bring your own skates, board or helmet you can. Even if you’ve never been on a board or skates, this session is the perfect opportunity to learn something new.

    Book now

    Football & pizza party
    Tuesday 8 & 15 April, 10am to 1pm

    Whether you can bend it like Beckham or are completely new to the game, come along to Goals to play five-a-side on the best small-sided football pitches in Portsmouth. When it’s time for a breather, there’ll be free pizza, burgers and drinks. Goals’ top coaches will also be running skill sessions on the cutting-edge, all-weather surfaces and you’ll then have the chance to use your new skills in matches with your friends.

    Book now

    Laser quest, archery & adventure activities
    Saturday 19 April, 11-2pm

    Get down to the Peter Ashley Activity Centre to join in on free Laser Tag, Archery, Bouldering, Air Rifle shooting, with a free lunch included in the beautiful and historic location of Fort Purbrook.

    Book now

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Y Canghellor yn darparu diogelwch ac adnewyddiad cenedlaethol i Gymru

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Y Canghellor yn darparu diogelwch ac adnewyddiad cenedlaethol i Gymru

    Mae’r Canghellor yn addo creu “cyfnod newydd o ddiogelwch ac adnewyddiad cenedlaethol” wrth iddi gyflwyno Datganiad y Gwanwyn i hybu twf economaidd.

    • Mae’r Canghellor yn addo creu “cyfnod newydd o ddiogelwch ac adnewyddiad cenedlaethol” wrth iddi gyflwyno Datganiad y Gwanwyn i hybu twf economaidd, diogelu pobl sy’n gweithio a chadw Prydain yn ddiogel.
    • Ar gyfartaledd, bydd pobl ledled y DU £500 y flwyddyn yn well eu byd erbyn diwedd tymor y senedd hon o’u cymharu ag o dan y llywodraeth flaenorol, gan roi mwy o arian ym mhocedi pobl.
    • Mae twf wrth galon y Cynllun ar gyfer Newid, a gall Prydain ddechrau adeiladu diolch i’r dyraniad gwariant cyfalaf ychwanegol gwerth £13 biliwn, ochr yn ochr â £2.2 biliwn o gyllid ar gyfer amddiffyn y flwyddyn nesaf.

    Ar gyfartaledd, bydd pobl ledled y DU £500 yn well eu byd o 2029, o’i gymharu â rhagolwg yr hydref yr OBR, gan helpu i gyflawni’r Cynllun ar gyfer Newid, wrth i’r Canghellor gyhoeddi Ddatganiad y Gwanwyn heddiw (dydd Mercher 26 Mawrth) sy’n manteisio ar y cyfleoedd sydd ar gael mewn byd sy’n newid.

    Cadarnhaodd yr OBR hefyd fod disgwyl i economi’r DU dyfu’n gyflymach na’r disgwyl o 2026 ymlaen ac y bydd yn uwch na’r hyn a nodwyd yn eu rhagolwg yr hydref erbyn 2029 – gan godi i 9.5% o’i gymharu â 9.2%.

    Nododd y Canghellor sut mae’r llywodraeth yn gwarchod diogelwch gwladol ac yn manteisio i’r eithaf ar botensial sector amddiffyn y DU ar gyfer twf drwy gadarnhau y bydd cynnydd o £2.2 biliwn yng nghyllideb amddiffyn y DU gyfan yn 2025-26.

    Mae Datganiad y Gwanwyn yn cyflawni cynlluniau gwariant Llywodraeth y DU sy’n canolbwyntio ar ei hamcanion craidd, sef dod â sicrwydd a sefydlogrwydd i bobl sy’n gweithio ledled y DU.

    Mae’n dilyn y Gyllideb yn yr hydref lle cyhoeddodd y Canghellor y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn cael setliad o £21 biliwn yn 2025/26 – y mwyaf mewn termau real yn hanes datganoli. Mae hyn yn cynnwys £1.7 biliwn yn ychwanegol drwy fformiwla Barnett, gyda £1.5 biliwn ar gyfer gwariant o ddydd i ddydd a £250 miliwn ar gyfer buddsoddiad cyfalaf.

    Mae’r mesurau a gymerwyd heddiw yn golygu cynnydd pellach o £16 miliwn drwy symiau canlyniadol o dan Barnett yn 2025/26. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i gael dros 2.0% yn fwy y pen na gwariant cyfatebol Llywodraeth y DU yng ngweddill y DU, sy’n golygu £4 biliwn yn fwy yn 2025-26.

    Bydd cyllid grant bloc Llywodraeth Cymru o 2026-27 ymlaen yn cael ei gadarnhau yng Ngham 2 yr Adolygiad o Wariant, sy’n dod i ben ar 11 Mehefin 2025. Bydd Prif Ysgrifennydd y Trysorlys yn cwrdd â’i gymheiriaid o’r llywodraethau datganoledig i drafod eu blaenoriaethau cyn i’r adolygiad gael ei gwblhau.

    Dywedodd Jo Stevens, Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru:

    Mae Datganiad y Gwanwyn heddiw yn mynd ymhellach ac yn mynd ati’n gyflymach i sicrhau twf economaidd, diogelwch cenedlaethol ac adnewyddu ledled Cymru a gweddill y DU.

    Drwy gywiro sylfeini ein heconomi, rydyn ni eisoes wedi dechrau cyflawni’r newid y pleidleisiodd pobl Cymru drosto naw mis yn ôl.

    Mae’r £16 miliwn sydd ar gael heddiw drwy Fformiwla Barnett yn ychwanegol at y setliad mwyaf erioed gwerth £21 biliwn a gyhoeddwyd ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru yng Nghyllideb yr Hydref diwethaf, gan roi hwb i wariant ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus fel y GIG, ac mae rhestr aros eisoes wedi bod yn disgyn yng Nghymru.

    Rydym wedi gwneud yn siŵr na fydd unrhyw deulu yng Nghymru’n talu ceiniog yn fwy o dreth yn eu cyflogau ac rydym wedi codi’r isafswm cyflog a’r cyflog byw i hyd at 140,000 o weithwyr yng Nghymru.

    Rydyn ni’n creu degau o filoedd o swyddi newydd drwy Barthau Buddsoddi Cymru, Porthladdoedd Rhydd a drwy brosiectau twf lleol a mewnfuddsoddi. Bydd buddsoddiad heddiw mewn amddiffyn hefyd yn rhoi hwb i’r diwydiant yng Nghymru. Ac rydyn ni wedi darparu bargen well i weithwyr dur Cymru ac, am y tro cyntaf, £25m i gadw tomennydd glo Cymru’n ddiogel.

    Mae’r Datganiad y Gwanwyn hwn yn rhoi hwb i dwf economaidd, yn amddiffyn pobl sy’n gweithio ac yn cadw ein gwlad yn ddiogel.”  

    Amddiffyn

    Rydym yn mynd ymhellach ac yn mynd ati’n gyflymach i warchod ein diogelwch gwladol a manteisio i’r eithaf ar y potensial o dwf economaidd yn sector amddiffyn y DU.

    • Rydym yn cynyddu’r gyllideb amddiffyn o £2.2 biliwn yn 2025-26, gan gynyddu’r gwariant ychwanegol ar amddiffyn i fwy na £5 biliwn ers Cyllideb yr Hydref.
    • Mae hyn yn codi gwariant ar amddiffyn i 2.36% y flwyddyn nesaf a bydd yn cael ei fuddsoddi mewn gosod Arfau Ynni Cyfeiriedig ar longau’r Llynges Frenhinol bum mlynedd yn gynt na’r disgwyl, darparu cartrefi gwell i deuluoedd milwrol a moderneiddio Safle Llynges Ei Fawrhydi yn Portsmouth.
    • Neilltuwyd isafswm o 10 y cant ar gyfer gwariant ar gyfarpar gyda thechnolegau datblygol fel dronau a systemau awtonomaidd, technolegau â defnydd deuol, a galluoedd a bwerir gan ddeallusrwydd artiffisial, fel bod gan filwyr Prydain yr adnoddau sydd eu hangen arnynt i ymladd ac ennill mewn rhyfeloedd modern.
    • Rhoi’r dechnoleg newydd hon yn nwylo ein lluoedd arfog yn gyflymach drwy leihau biwrocratiaeth, gydag uned newydd Arloesi Amddiffyn y DU yn y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn yn arwain ymdrechion i ddod o hyd i dechnoleg addawol a sicrhau bod y rhain yn cyrraedd y rheng flaen yn gyflym, gan gryfhau sector technoleg y DU a chynyddu buddsoddiad preifat.
    • Creu prosesau caffael pwrpasol ar gyfer gwahanol fathau o offer milwrol, gan ddysgu gwersi o’n cefnogaeth gyflym i Wcráin i gymell targedau amser cyflymach ar gyfer rhoi tanciau, awyrennau ac offer hanfodol eraill newydd ar waith ar gyfer rhyfela modern.
    • Mae’r llywodraeth hon yn benderfynol o drawsnewid y sector amddiffyn i fod yn beiriant ar gyfer twf drwy ganolbwyntio’r buddsoddiad hwn ar y meysydd hynny sy’n rhoi hwb i gapasiti cynhyrchiol yr economi, fel buddsoddi mewn arloesi a thechnolegau newydd. O ganlyniad i’r cynnydd mewn gwariant ar amddiffyn i 2.5%, mae’r llywodraeth yn amcangyfrif y gallai hyn arwain at GDP o tua 0.3% yn uwch yn y tymor hir, sy’n cyfateb i tua £11 biliwn o GDP yn arian heddiw.
    • Bydd buddsoddiad y llywodraeth mewn amddiffyn hefyd yn cefnogi ei chenhadaeth fwyaf blaenllaw, sef sicrhau twf economaidd. Bydd dinasyddion y DU yn cael eu diogelu rhag bygythiadau gartref ar yr un pryd â chreu amgylchedd sefydlog lle gall busnesau ffynnu, a chefnogi prentisiaethau a swyddi medrus iawn ledled y DU.
    Twf

    Hybu twf economaidd yw prif genhadaeth Llywodraeth y DU, er mwyn i ni allu rhoi mwy o arian ym mhocedi pobl sy’n gweithio ar draws pob rhan o’r DU.

    Mae Llywodraeth y DU eisoes wedi gwneud cynnydd sylweddol yn y cynllun hwn ar gyfer twf yng Nghymru, gan gynnwys cadarnhau ffocws Parth Buddsoddi Wrecsam a Sir y Fflint ar weithgynhyrchu uwch i ddenu gwerth £1 biliwn o fuddsoddiad a chreu hyd at 6,000 o swyddi; a £1.5 biliwn o fuddsoddiad uniongyrchol gan Lywodraeth y DU mewn prosiectau sy’n cefnogi twf ledled Cymru.

    Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn gadarn ei chefnogaeth i’r cymunedau dur. Drwy Fwrdd Pontio Tata Steel Port Talbot, mae’n darparu gwerth £80 miliwn i helpu gweithwyr, y gadwyn gyflenwi, busnesau lleol ac adfywio. 

    Bydd gweithredoedd y llywodraeth hon drwy gydol Cyllideb yr Hydref a Datganiad y Gwanwyn, os cânt eu cynnal, yn arwain at gynnydd o 0.6% yn lefel y GDP go iawn erbyn 2034-25.

    Daeth yr OBR i’r casgliad bod y rheol sefydlogrwydd yn cael ei bodloni o £9.9 biliwn a bod y rheol buddsoddi yn cael ei bodloni o £15.1 biliwn. Mae’r ddwy reol yn cael eu bodloni ddwy flynedd yn gynnar, sy’n golygu mai dim ond benthyca ar gyfer buddsoddi y mae’r llywodraeth o 2027-28 ymlaen ac mae’r ddyled ariannol net yn gostwng.

    Nid yw’r llywodraeth yn fodlon â ffigurau twf tymor byr, ac mae’n mynd ymhellach ac yn mynd ati’n gyflymach heddiw i wella hyn.

    Mae’r Canghellor wedi cyhoeddi buddsoddiad cyfalaf pellach o £13 biliwn dros oes y Senedd er mwyn mynd ymhellach o ran twf, ac mae hynny’n ychwanegol at y cynnydd o £100 biliwn a gyhoeddwyd yng Nghyllideb yr Hydref. Bydd hyn yn cyflawni’r prosiectau sydd eu hangen i ysgogi buddsoddiad preifat, hybu twf ac yn gwthio strategaeth ddiwydiannol fodern y DU yn ei blaen.

    Gyda’i gilydd, mae’r buddsoddiad cyfalaf ychwanegol hwn yn gwrthbwyso’r arbedion bach ar wariant o ddydd i ddydd ac yn golygu y bydd cyfanswm gwariant adrannol yn cynyddu dros y pum mlynedd nesaf, o’i gymharu â’r cynlluniau yn yr hydref.

    Diwygio

    Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn benderfynol o wneud y sector cyhoeddus yn fwy cynhyrchiol ac o wella gwasanaethau ar gyfer pobl sy’n gweithio. Ond mewn byd sy’n newid, mae angen i ni fynd ymhellach a mynd ati’n gyflymach i sicrhau ein bod yn gallu darparu’r gwasanaethau cyhoeddus y mae pobl sy’n gweithio yn poeni fwyaf amdanynt.

    Mae’r llywodraeth wedi dangos ei hymrwymiad i wneud y penderfyniadau anodd sydd eu hangen i sbarduno effeithlonrwydd a diwygio’r wladwriaeth – lleihau aneffeithlonrwydd a dyblygu biwrocrataidd; a rhoi diwedd ar wariant gwastraffus gan y llywodraeth drwy ganslo miloedd o gardiau credyd y llywodraeth.

    Mae cael mwy o bobl i mewn i swyddi hefyd yn ganolog i genhadaeth y llywodraeth o ran twf. Mae’r system les hon wedi methu ac yn siomi pobl drwy ofyn iddynt brofi’r hyn na allant ei wneud, yn hytrach na chanolbwyntio ar yr hyn y gallent ei wneud gyda’r cymorth iawn – mae’n caethiwo pobl oherwydd bod ofn arnynt roi cynnig ar waith, ac oherwydd diffyg cefnogaeth a chymhellion ariannol gwael.

    Bydd y system nawdd cymdeithasol bob amser yn gwarchod y rhai hynny na allant fyth weithio, a dyna pam y mae’r llywodraeth hon yn cynnig premiwm ychwanegol a fydd yn diogelu eu hincwm. A bydd yn dod â diwedd i’r drefn o ailasesu pobl sydd â’r cyflyrau gydol oes mwyaf difrifol i roi urddas a sicrwydd iddynt.

    Helpu mwy o bobl i gael gwaith yw un o nodau canolog y diwygiadau hyn, a dyna pam mae’r llywodraeth yn mynd i’r afael â chymhellion i fod yn segur drwy ddiddymu’r WCA, ail-gydbwyso Credyd Cynhwysol, a buddsoddi mwy mewn cymorth cyflogaeth.

    Byddwn bob amser yn cefnogi’r rheini sydd â chyflyrau iechyd tymor hir drwy’r Taliad Annibyniaeth Bersonol, a fydd yn parhau i fod yn fudd-dal pwysig nad yw’n seiliedig ar brawf modd ar gyfer pobl anabl a phobl sydd â chyflyrau iechyd tymor hir.  Ond bydd y diwygiadau hyn yn gwneud y system yn fwy penodol a chynaliadwy er mwyn sicrhau bod rhwyd ddiogelwch ar gael i’r rheini sydd ei hangen fwyaf.

    Mae’r Canghellor wedi cadarnhau y byddwn yn creu Cronfa Trawsnewid gwerth £3.25 biliwn i gefnogi’r gwaith sylfaenol o ddiwygio gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, manteisio ar gyfleoedd technoleg ddigidol a Deallusrwydd Artiffisial (AI), a thrawsnewid darpariaeth rheng flaen i ryddhau arbedion i drethdalwyr yn y tymor hir.

    Cyhoeddodd y Canghellor hefyd becyn o fesurau i gau’r bwlch treth, gan godi £1 biliwn y flwyddyn erbyn 2029-30. Amcangyfrifwyd fod bwlch treth y DU yn tua £40 biliwn yn 2022-23.

    Edrych Ymlaen

    Mae Datganiad y Gwanwyn yn adeiladu ar Gyllideb yr Hydref a’r penderfyniadau a wnaed ers hynny i sicrhau sefydlogrwydd i economi Prydain a sbarduno twf economaidd.

    Bydd y llywodraeth yn nodi ei chynlluniau ar gyfer gwariant a diwygiadau allweddol i’r sector cyhoeddus yn yr Adolygiad o Wariant a fydd yn dod i ben ar 11 Mehefin 2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Presidio Unveils AI-Powered Solutions to Transform Fan Engagement and Increase Monetization for Sports and Media Industries

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Presidio, a leading technology services and solutions provider, today announced the launch of its Sports, Media and Entertainment practice with new, innovative tailored cloud-based, AI-powered solutions and services. As organizations in these industries look for new ways to engage viewers, increase revenue, and deliver richer fan experiences, Presidio’s new Captivate suite of AI-powered metadata solutions is designed to transform content discovery, audience interaction, and betting engagement.

    Built on Presidio’s proven expertise with industry leaders including the National Hockey League (NHL) and DraftKings, Captivate is an innovative audience experience solution with accelerators that leverage AWS for scalability, flexibility, and intelligence to drive immersive experiences and dynamic monetization opportunities specifically for the Sports, Media and Entertainment industries. By integrating AI-driven content curation with real-time data processing, Presidio Captivate enables organizations to deliver tailored, high-impact experiences faster and more efficiently. These include:

    • AI Metadata Extraction: automatically extracts rich metadata from live streams and digital video archives to allow for enhanced discoverability and personalized content experiences. 
    • Virtual Panel for Video Optimization: a virtual control room allows the ability to dynamically adjust camera angles and visual elements in real-time. This ensures high-quality viewing experiences by automatically adapting to varying network conditions and audience demands.
    • Second Screen Application: creates interactive audience experiences with real-time stats, behind-the-scenes insights, social media engagement and exclusive offers on second screens or embedded within existing apps.

    “We’ve worked with Presidio on a wide range of innovative projects spanning modernizing our IT infrastructure, developing and managing mission-critical applications and enhancing streaming and production experiences for fans. Their cloud-first solutions, combined with deep expertise in media workflows, have allowed us to advance the NHL and transform the way we engage with fans, deliver content, and operate as a league,” said Grant Nodine, NHL Senior Vice President, Technology.

    “Our extensive success solving technology challenges for high-profile sports, media and entertainment customers provides invaluable insights into their specific and continuously evolving challenges. From ideation to execution across AI-powered fan experiences to optimizing operations and everything in between, we’re helping our customers excel in a rapidly shifting and competitive market,” said Roger Sherwood, Industry Practice Director at Presidio.

    Discover how Captivate is redefining fan engagement here and if you’re attending NAB 2025 April 5–9, 2025 attend our session in the AWS theater “Unlocking the Future of Fan Engagement with Presidio & the NHL

    About Presidio

    At Presidio, speed and quality meet technology and innovation. Presidio is a trusted ally for organizations across industries with a decades-long history of building traditional IT foundations and deep expertise in AI and automation, security, networking, digital transformation, and cloud computing. Presidio fills gaps, removes hurdles, optimizes costs, and reduces risk. Presidio’s expert technical team develops custom applications, provides managed services, enables actionable data insights and builds forward-thinking solutions that drive strategic outcomes for clients globally. For more information, visit www.presidio.com.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Academic Council discussed the development of the corporate information system and the tasks of the Office of Technological Leadership

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The meeting of the Academic Council on the last day of March traditionally began with a formal part.

    Rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy awarded the “For Merit” badge of distinction to the CEO of the BuildHouse company, a 1988 graduate of the metallurgical faculty, Alexey Evstratov, noting his contribution to strengthening the university’s image, forming and replenishing the target capital of the Endowment Fund, promoting the development of the Polytechnic Museum, and involving graduates in university events and charity events.

    Andrey Rudskoy also presented the “For Merit” badges to Mikhail Volkov, Deputy General Director of the Zvezda plant for general issues; Dmitry Sachava, Head of the Advanced Technologies Marketing Department of the Computer Engineering Center; Dmitry Shamansky, Leading Specialist of the Advanced Technologies Marketing Department of the Computer Engineering Center; Nina Suratova, Head of the Scientific Literature Department and Curator of the University’s Information and Library Complex; and Natalia Sokolova, Director of the Information and Library Technologies Center.

    Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation, 1978 Physics and Mechanics Faculty graduate Alexey Borovkov was awarded a commemorative medal and gratitude from the university for facilitating the development of the Endowment Fund.

    For her great personal contribution to the development of the Endowment Fund and the Polytechnic Ambassadors’ Community and in connection with the anniversary, the university’s gratitude was received by the executive director of the fund, associate professor of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering and the Higher Engineering and Economics School of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, and a 1992 graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Production Management, Olga Novikova.

    The ceremonial part continued with the presentation of diplomas for conferring scientific degrees. Aleksey Chechevikin received a diploma of candidate of technical sciences. Diplomas of candidates of economic sciences were received by employees and postgraduate students of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade: Ekaterina Mikhel (scientific supervisor – Professor Andrey Zaytsev); Victoria Brazovskaya (scientific supervisor – associate professor Svetlana Gutman); Daria Kryzhko (scientific supervisor – Professor Irina Rudskaya); Chen Leifei (scientific supervisor – Professor Alexander Babkin); Ivan Samokhvalov (scientific supervisor – Professor Vladimir Glukhov); Vitaly Nikolaenko (scientific supervisor – Professor Olga Kalinina); Vyacheslav Melekhin (scientific supervisor – Professor Mikhail Afanasyev).

    Andrey Rudskoy presented certificates of conferring the academic title of “professor” to Elena Aleksandrova, chief research fellow at the Higher School of Cybersecurity, and Olga Vlasova, director of the Scientific and Educational Center “Fundamentals of Medical and Biomedical Technologies”.

    Certificates for conferring the academic title of associate professor were received by: Maria Bortkovskaya, Konstantin Greshnevikov, Mikhail Enuchenko, Alexey Kultyshev, Anatoly Novik, Irina Ptukhina, Sergey Rozov, Nina Rumyantseva and Dmitry Sharapov.

    SPbPU Academic Secretary Dmitry Karpov announced that by order of the President of the Russian Federation, employees of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” under the leadership of Alexey Borovkov were awarded a scholarship from the Defense Industry Complex for scientists, designers, technologists and other engineering and technical workers of organizations implementing the state defense order in 2024.

    Another achievement of the SPbPU PISh is the resolution of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences dated June 25, 2024, based on the results of the competitive selection among student works in the field of “Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics and Control Processes” to a master’s student of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” Lilia Nezhinskaya awarded the medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a prize for young scientists. Lilia’s scientific supervisor is Alexey Borovkov.

    A letter of thanks from the Ministry of Education and Science for their contribution to the development of practice-oriented education in the Russian Federation within the framework of the Service Learning program was presented to Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov and Director of the Humanities Institute Natalia Chicherina.

    Victor Dashonok, Academic Program Development Specialist for the RISC-V Alliance, presented letters of gratitude for organizing and conducting the course “RISC-V Ecosystem: Development and System Programming” to Vera Loboda, Director of the Higher School of Electronics and Microsystems Engineering, Associate Professor Mikhail Enuchenko, Associate Professor Dmitry Budanov, as well as Pavel Drobintsev, Director of the Higher School of Software Engineering, and Assistant Nadezhda Stepina.

    Several Polytechnic University employees were awarded SPbPU honorary certificates. Head of the Department for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs Natalia Leontyeva was recognized for high professional achievements and effective work, and Chief Specialist of the Quality Control Department Igor Sechin was recognized for many years of work and high professionalism.

    Leading Manager of the Protocol and Organizational Service Anastasia Kedo, leading specialist Galina Kolmykova and specialist Maria Pagurskaya were awarded for their active participation in the implementation of particularly important projects and the holding of events at a high professional level that enhance the image of the university.

    Polytechnic athletes were also awarded honors.

    Coaches of the Student Sports Club “Black Bears-Polytech” Stepan Verbitsky, Evgeny Chupalov and Anatoly Dimitropulo, as well as students Dmitry Gultyaev, Pavel Timofeev and Petr Shlokkin presented the Polytech team, which brought from the XI tournament of the Association of Football Federations “North-West” among youth teams named after Anatoly Turchak first place cup and gold medals.

    On March 16, the Polytechnicians performed brilliantly at the Saint Petersburg University Dance Sport Championship. The university’s honor was defended by the pairs Anastasia Nazarova and Arseniy Bauman (1st place), Stefania Aldoshina and Gleb Gusev (1st place), Sofia Gordeeva and Arseniy Afonin (2nd and 3rd places). The team’s coach is Askar Isabaev.

    Students Kamilla Khakimova, Grigory Gavrilash and Maxim Telepanov took second place at the Saint Petersburg Student Sambo Competition. Coach: Grigory Galkin.

    After the congratulatory part, the members of the Academic Council moved on to the agenda of the meeting. Vice-Rector for Information Technology Andrey Lyamin spoke about the development of the university’s corporate information system.

    “The strategic goal of developing information technologies at the university is to strengthen the university’s position in the field of science, education and innovation by creating a global digital scientific and educational ecosystem, as well as dynamic and sustainable development to ensure Russia’s technological leadership,” noted Andrey Lyamin. “Information technologies at the university are developing in several directions: information infrastructure and information security, corporate and accounting information systems, portals and web resources.”

    Andrey Vladimirovich covered each area in detail, provided statistical and analytical data. He noted that special attention is paid at SPbPU to building a unified user support service (caliper@spbst.ru), in 2024, 9,685 requests were received there, user satisfaction was 4.9 out of 5. Andrei Vladimirovich also reported that a set of measures carried out by SPbPU to work with its own web portals brought the Polytechnic website tofirst place in the February ranking of media activity of Russian universities.

    The Academic Council meeting discussed personnel changes at the university. On April 1, Maria Vrublevskaya assumed the post of Vice-Rector for Personnel Policy, and Oleg Rozhdestvensky headed the SPbPU Office of Technological Leadership. Oleg Igorevich presented a report to the members of the Academic Council on the tasks of the new structural unit. He recalled that on October 29, 2024, a strategic session was held under the chairmanship of the head of the Russian government Mikhail Mishustin on the development of educational organizations that provide training for engineering personnel and scientific developments for technological leadership. Based on its results, 40 universities were to formulate development strategies until 2030–2036. SPbPU developed such a strategy, and on its basis, the University Development Program was created at the beginning of 2025, which Polytechnic successfully defended. Within the framework of this program, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Office of Technological Leadership is being created.

    Oleg Rozhdestvensky spoke in detail about the management structure for the implementation of the SPbPU Development Program and answered questions.

    The members of the Academic Council also voted to award the academic title of associate professor to representatives of the Humanities Institute: Darina Barinova, Juntao Wang, Elena Krylova and Evgenia Tsimerman.

    Scientific Secretary Dmitry Karpov reported on monitoring the implementation of the decisions of the Academic Council.

    Among the current issues discussed at the meeting were the approval of tuition fees for the 2025/2026 academic year for different categories of citizens; approval of chief designers of key scientific and technological areas; the results of the 2024 competition of educational and scientific publications; prevention of offenses and the prevention of illegal actions among young people; the introduction of a working program for the education of students and the implementation of youth policy, etc. The meeting also approved the new corporate style of the university.

    Photo archive

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Study Finds Brain Training Also Helps Caregivers of Dementia Patients

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While a particular brain training app —BrainHQ from Posit Science — has already been shown to prevent cognitive decline and improve brain health in older adults, researchers at the University of Rochester and Stanford University have now found that the same app can improve cognitive health in family members who are providing care to loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias.

    “Anyone who has been a family caregiver knows how mentally demanding and exhausting that vital role is,” observed Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science. “We applaud the independent researchers who designed and ran this new study for taking these issues seriously and for recognizing that the benefits of BrainHQ shown in studies of other populations could also address the brain health challenges experienced by caregivers.”

    According to the Alzheimer’s Association, each year more than 11 million Americans are providing an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care (valued at more than $346 billion) to people living with dementia.

    The chronic stress of caregiving, this new study notes, is known to be associated with many health risks for caregivers, including accelerated cognitive aging (declines in attention, processing speed, and memory), greater risks of ill health and mortality, as well as diminished emotional well-being. Family caregivers are often older adults themselves, with challenges in adapting to the ongoing stressors of caregiving. Such stressors include watching a family member’s declining functional ability and increasing neuropsychiatric symptoms (apathy, mood disturbance, and agitation), as well as behavioral changes. Those stressors are often compounded by feelings of loss of a significant relationship with a loved one, as well as by family conflict around care.

    In this randomized controlled study published in Innovation and Aging, a peer-reviewed journal of the Gerontological Society of America, the researchers reported they had enrolled 195 caregivers (aged 55-85) and randomized them into either the intervention group, which was assigned five exercises organized as a regimen on the BrainHQ app, or into an active control group, which was assigned educational videos (e.g., public television series on cooking, travel, or history, and other documentaries) that participants self-selected from a study website. Participants in both groups were asked to engage in their assigned activity for 30 minutes per session, across 3 sessions per week, for 8 weeks (12 hours, in total).

    All participants were assessed (at baseline, after 8 weeks, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups) on measures of processing speed and attention, working memory under stress, and emotion reactivity to laboratory and caregiving stressors.

    The researchers found that the BrainHQ group had significantly improved processing speed and attention performance as compared to the active control group, and these differences persisted through the 6-month follow-up. In the 6-month follow-up, working memory performance under stress was significantly better among the BrainHQ compared to the active control group. At 12 months, caregivers in the BrainHQ group reported less negative emotion in response to behavioral symptoms of their care recipient. There were no group differences on acute emotion reactivity to the laboratory stressor at any time point.

    The researchers conclude, “Evidence from this clinical trial suggests that with continued development, targeted, neuroplasticity-based cognitive training has strong potential to strengthen stress adaptation and emotional resilience in caregivers of a family member with ADRD” [Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias].

    BrainHQ exercises have shown benefits in more than 300 studies. Such benefits include gains in cognition (attention, speed, memory, decision-making), in quality of life (depressive symptoms, confidence and control, health-related quality of life) and in real-world activities (health outcomes, balance, driving, workplace activities). BrainHQ is offered by leading health and Medicare Advantage plans, by leading medical centers, clinics, and communities, and by elite athletes, the military, and other organizations focused on peak performance. Consumers can try a BrainHQ exercise for free daily at https://www.brainhq.com.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: An exhibition about students who are ambassadors of Moscow colleges has opened in the center of Moscow

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The photo exhibition “Professionals Around Us” has opened on Chistoprudny Boulevard and in Yekaterininsky Park. The exhibition features 19 inspiring stories of students from Moscow colleges who found their calling thanks to secondary vocational education. You can visit the exhibition until April 30.

    “The heroes of the project include a rescuer, a builder, a teacher, and a programmer. Each of them shared their success story and talked about the opportunities that open up for college graduates. We invite everyone to meet young professionals in Moscow,” the press service of the capital’s

    Department of Education and Science.

    Polina Durova, a final-year student at the Moscow Educational Complex “West”, is a pastry chef. She started working while still a student in a prestigious restaurant. In 2023, she won the “Young Professionals” championship in the “Pastry” category. Polina masterfully creates sculptures from caramel and chocolate, and regularly improves her skills in international pastry and cooking master classes. The girl said that she began her path in the pastry business in early childhood, when she watched cooking shows with her parents. Even then, she realized that creating desserts is a real art. Polina entered college because she decided to devote herself to her favorite hobby. According to her, she became a professional there – thanks to experienced mentors and constant practice. In college, Polina began to participate and win professional skills competitions, and the doors to the world of haute cuisine opened for her. The girl began to collaborate with the best restaurants in the city. She is currently studying in college and works as a pastry chef at a private production facility, where she creates desserts for true connoisseurs.

    Another hero of the exhibition, a final-year student of the Technical Fire and Rescue College named after Hero of the Russian Federation V.M. Maksimchuk, Philipp Smirnov, said that he decided on his future profession back in his school years, when he was in the cadet class. Once he helped a drowning man and realized that he would be a rescuer. Philipp is convinced that for this you need to be a professional, and the college promotes this. Now the young man already has the status of a rescuer, he works as a sailor-rescuer and industrial climber.

    Muscovites will also learn the story of Yegor Burinsky, a second-year student at the P.A. Ovchinnikov Polytechnic College. He learned about his profession at a college festival in 2023. It was there that Yegor first heard about the “Machine and Equipment Adjuster in Mechanical Processing” program. He was interested in how modern CNC machines work, and he decided to master this specialty. Having chosen targeted training, Yegor signed an agreement with the United Engine Corporation “Salut”. This provided a unique opportunity to begin professional practice in his first year. After just a month of studying at the college, Yegor began working in a real production facility.

    At the exhibition, you can learn about the successes of Milena Galyamova, who studies correctional pedagogy in primary school. The girl organizes events for the wards of children’s hospices of the CSKA and Vozmozhnost foundations. In addition, among the heroes is Alina Taekina, who is studying to be a graphic designer. Last year, she collaborated with one of the publishing houses and became a prize winner of the Moscow Masters and Young Professionals championships.

    Earlier, a large-scale college forum was held in the capital. It was attended by 60 thousand people. The event brought together 48 colleges that presented more than 140 in-demand specialties in 10 sectors of the Moscow economy. More than 120 master classes were organized for schoolchildren. Famous TV presenters, coaches, scientists and athletes shared their experience with the guests.

    You can learn more about the in-demand professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges in the section“Colleges” on the portal“School.Moscow”, in the telegram channel“Colleges of Moscow” and in the community on the social network VKontakte.

    Practical classes for students of Moscow colleges are held in modern workshops and laboratories. This contributes to the formation and development of professional skills in students and corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Youth and Children”.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152030073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: CECO Environmental Announces Completion of the Divestiture of Its Fluid Handling Business to May River Capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ADDISON, Texas, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CECO Environmental Corp. (Nasdaq: CECO), a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company whose solutions protect people, the environment and industrial equipment, today announced it has completed the previously announced divestiture of its Fluid Handling business (also known as its Global Pump Solutions, or GPS, business) contained in its Industrial Process Solutions segment to May River Capital, effective March 31, 2025.

    The enterprise value of the transaction is approximately $110 million, paid in cash at closing. The Company intends to use the proceeds from this transaction to pay down debt and to fund future strategic growth investments.

    The GPS business consists of three niche leadership severe service industrial metallic, fiberglass and thermoplastic centrifugal pump brands – Dean, Fybroc and Sethco – which joined the CECO family through an acquisition in 2013. The business operates from strategic locations in Indianapolis, Indiana and Telford, Pennsylvania, and services over 1,500 customers globally.

    “I am pleased to have completed our previously announced divesture of GPS, which enables greater alignment of our portfolio of leading environmental solution businesses against our high growth opportunities in energy and industrial markets,” said Todd Gleason, CECO’s Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that the GPS business is well positioned as a niche leader in its respective end markets and applications, and we also believe that we have found the right buyer and future home to ensure its continued success and development of the GPS team. This sale will – after our recent acquisitions of Verantis Environmental and Profire Energy – create additional capacity for further investment in CECO’s growth and business expansion, and execution of our strategies in Industrial Air, Industrial Water, and the Energy Transition.”

    EC M&A and Koley Jessen were the primary financial and legal advisors to CECO for the transaction. Paul Hastings and TD Securities served as legal and financial counsel to May River Capital.

    ABOUT CECO ENVIRONMENTAL
    CECO Environmental is a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company, serving a broad landscape of industrial air, industrial water, and energy transition markets globally through its key business segments: Engineered Systems and Industrial Process Solutions. Providing innovative technology and application expertise, CECO helps companies grow their business with safe, clean, and more efficient solutions that help protect people, the environment and industrial equipment. In regions around the world, CECO works to improve air quality, optimize the energy value chain, and provide custom solutions for applications in power generation, petrochemical processing, refining, midstream gas transport and treatment, electric vehicle and battery production, metals and mineral processing, polysilicon production, battery recycling, beverage can production, and produced and oily water/wastewater treatment along with a wide range of other industrial applications. CECO is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “CECO.” Incorporated in 1966, CECO’s global headquarters is in Addison, Texas. For more information, please visit www.cecoenviro.com.

    About May River Capital
    May River Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on partnering with lower middle-market industrial growth businesses. The firm invests in high-performing companies in advanced manufacturing, engineered products and instrumentation, specialized industrial services, and value-added industrial distribution services. For more information, please visit www.mayrivercapital.com.

    SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
    Any statements contained in this Press Release, other than statements of historical fact, including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended, and should be evaluated as such. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance. We use words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “will,” “plan,” “should” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed under “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and may be included in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and include, but are not limited to: the effect of the divestiture of our Global Pump Solutions business on business relationships, operating results, and business generally, disruption of current plans and operations and potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the transaction, diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations in connection with the integration of recent acquisitions, the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and other charges related to the transaction, the achievement of the anticipated benefits of transactions, our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize the synergies from acquisitions, as well as a number of factors related to our business, including the sensitivity of our business to economic and financial market conditions generally and economic conditions in CECO’s service areas; dependence on fixed price contracts and the risks associated therewith, including actual costs exceeding estimates and method of accounting for revenue; the effect of growth on our infrastructure, resources, and existing sales; the ability to expand operations in both new and existing markets; the potential for contract delay or cancellation as a result of on-going or worsening supply chain challenges or other customer considerations; liabilities arising from faulty services or products that could result in significant professional or product liability, warranty, or other claims; changes in or developments with respect to any litigation or investigation; failure to meet timely completion or performance standards that could result in higher cost and reduced profits or, in some cases, losses on projects; the potential for fluctuations in prices for manufactured components and raw materials, including as a result of tariffs and surcharges, and rising energy costs; inflationary pressures relating to rising raw material costs and the cost of labor; the substantial amount of debt incurred in connection with our strategic transactions and our ability to repay or refinance it or incur additional debt in the future; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations; our ability to repurchase shares of our common stock and the amounts and timing of repurchases; our ability to successfully realize the expected benefits of our restructuring program; economic and political conditions generally; our ability to optimize our business portfolio by identifying acquisition targets, executing upon any strategic acquisitions or divestitures, integrating acquired businesses and realizing the synergies from strategic transactions; and the unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including cyber security threats, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities or public health crises, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. Many of these risks are beyond management’s ability to control or predict. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material aspects from those currently anticipated. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements as they speak only to our views as of the date the statement is made. Except as required under the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we undertake no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Company Contact:
    Peter Johansson
    Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
    888-990-6670

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Steven Hooser and Jean Marie Young
    Three Part Advisors
    214-872-2710
    Investor.Relations@OneCECO.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council seeks views on its sports and leisure centres

    Source: City of Leicester

    PEOPLE in Leicester are being asked for their views on the sports and leisure centres owned and run by Leicester City Council.

    The council wants to hear from people who use its seven leisure centres with swimming pools located across the city, and from users of the Saffron Lane athletics track. It also wants to hear from people who choose not to use them, so it can understand why not.

    Assistant city mayor for sports, leisure and culture, Cllr Vi Dempster, said: “Over the last five years we have invested in our leisure centres, enhancing and improving our facilities and expanding our programmes and activities. As a result, visitor numbers have increased to more than 1.5 million and leisure centre membership now stands at 20,000.

    “It’s important that we understand what makes our leisure centres appealing for people to use, so I would encourage people to tell us their views. This survey is for all city residents, so we really want to hear from people who don’t currently use our leisure centres, as well as those who do.”

    People can give their views online until 11 May at consultations.leicester.gov.uk

    Paper versions to fill in are also available at council venues, including libraries and leisure centres.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • EIB to co-finance with a €95 million loan, the construction and operation of student housing and new academic facilities
    • Campuses in cities of Heraklion and Rethymno will benefit from 2,833 new rooms to accommodate up to 4,846 students
    • EIB also providing technical assistance for energy efficiency, climate adaptation, PPP best practices and project management

    The University of Crete in Greece will benefit from €95 million in European Investment Bank (EIB) financing to help build affordable student housing and upgrade campus facilities as part of a pioneering Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project awarded to the AKTOR Group.

    The EIB financing, which is backed by the InvestEU programme, will co-finance the expansion of the university’s campuses in two locations, Heraklion and Rethymno, with 2,833 rooms and apartments to be built, creating up to 4,846 beds. In total, the project will involve the construction of more than 109,000 square meters of student housing and academic spaces, including a new 800-seat amphitheatre at the Rethymnon campus.

    The new buildings created will also be highly energy efficient, performing better than the Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in Greece, as well as include climate adaptation measures.  

    “Investing in university infrastructure is not just about building new facilities—it’s about shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and strengthening the social fabric of our communities,” said EIB Vice-President, Yannis Tsakiris. “Greek universities must have the resources to attract and nurture the next generation of talent, and this project is a crucial step in that direction. At the same time, the shortage of affordable and sustainable student housing is a growing challenge across Europe. With this new financing for the University of Crete, we are not only addressing this urgent need but also delivering on our commitment to support education, sustainability, and economic growth. This investment is a tangible example of how the EIB is turning vision into action, ensuring that students have access to modern, energy-efficient spaces where they can learn, live, and thrive.

    ”We are envisioning, planning, and—through important synergies such as the one with the EIB and AKTOR—implementing a broad and coherent plan for the upgrading of public universities,” said Sofia Zacharaki, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.“Ensuring access to quality, free housing for thousands of students, in both new and renovated student residences across the country, is a cornerstone of this plan. Through beneficial public-private partnerships for the Greek state, with a total budget of 700 million euros, we are creating new student residences, increasing the number of available beds to 21,000 from the current 12,457, while also undertaking extensive renovations of existing facilities. It is essential—and this is exactly what is being delivered through the project involving student residences and new academic spaces in Crete—that there is long-term provision and commitment to maintenance and technical management, so that, over time, both taxpayers’ money and the smooth functioning of the public university’s legacy are safeguarded, always for the benefit of Greek families, students, learning, and progress.”

    Unlocking sustainable development via PPP

    The University of Crete procured the project through a 30-year PPP agreement, with the contract awarded to the AKTOR Group of Companies and implemented through its subsidiary Talaia Estia SA. The total long-term financing of €190 million is co-financed equally by the EIB and Piraeus Bank.

    Further to the financial contribution EIB has provided technical assistance focused on three pillars:

    • enhancement of the technical specifications associated with energy efficiency, lifecycle global warming potential calculations, climate change adaptation measures and compliance to the EU Taxonomy technical screening criteria
    • cooperation with the Greek PPP Unit in the ongoing development of the contractual framework in accordance with best practices and the experience gained from similar previous projects
    • provision of best practice tools and capacity building for the University’s PPP contract management team to manage the Partnership Agreement during its 30-year tenor, delivered with InvestEU advisory funding support.

    “Collaboration between public and private sectors and institutional banks, such as the EIB, can improve the daily life of citizens, produce sustainable innovations and solve important problems, supporting social progress,” explained AKTOR Group Chairman and CEO, Alexandros Exarchou. “We undertake this ambitious project with great responsibility as it will be the first of its kind in Greece and we aim to mobilize our resources to deliver state-of-the-art facilities that will stand as an example of high quality, green and modern infrastructure. Our youth is our future, and they deserve the finest environment that will allow them to evolve. At AKTOR Group, our mission is to contribute to progress and prosperity through our actions and investments, and we are committed to a sustainable future and creating value for our shareholders and society.”

    ”We are very proud to co-finance this project as we consider education as a key factor for sustainable development,” added Piraeus Executive General Manager, and Head of CIB, Theodore Tzouros. “Piraeus plays a leading role in supporting infrastructure projects, as part of its strategic commitment to contribute to the economic growth and the prosperity of Greek society. This student housing and academic facilities project at the University of Crete has a strong social impact as it will support the students who need affordable housing and will serve the needs of the local community.”

    Tackling the affordable housing issue with concrete solutions

    The lack of affordable and sustainable housing, especially for students, is a growing challenge across Europe, particularly in regions with strong tourism-driven real estate markets such as Crete. This investment will not only expand student accommodation capacity but will also enhance access to higher education for students from lower-income backgrounds, and strengthen the university’s competitiveness, as well as its academic and social impact.

    The announcement comes after the EIB Group announced at the EIB Forum its action plan to support housing, which includes a new housing one-stop-shop portal to provide advice and finance to support innovation in the construction sector, build affordable homes and invest in energy efficiency and the renovation of housing stock across Europe. The EIB Group is planning investments of around €10 billion over next two years with the aim of delivering 1.5 million new or renovated housing units across Europe.

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU Judokas Take Third Place at Universiade

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Judo is another sport of the 48th Universiade of Higher Education Institutions of the Novosibirsk Region, which added a fourth bronze medal to NSU’s team standings. More than 130 athletes from 12 universities took part in the competition in 8 weight categories for men and 7 categories for girls.

    In the individual competition, our students won 5 medals in different weight categories.

    Second places were taken by:

    Nikita Biryuchkov (GGF)

    Sofia Lisitsa (GI)

    Sofia Balashova (FIT)

    Ksenia Burkova (MMF)

    Third place went to Arina Polyachenkova (IFP)

    Also competing as part of the NSU team were:

    Egor Vlasov, Polina Lobankova and Ivan Perfilov (EF)

    Ivan Rogov and Ksenia Pogorelova (GGF)

    Vladimir Tkachev and Andrey Kirilenko (MMF)

    Artem Urukov and Egor Semenov (FF)

    Alexey Seleznev and Artem Chuvashov (FIT)

    Vladimir Mokichev and Evgenia Malakhovskaya (FEN)

    Leonid Grobivkin (GI), Gleb Zhilin (IIR), Sergey Budyakov (IFP) and Ivan Zaguzin (IMPZ)

    Congratulations to athletes and coaches Anastasia Pyankova and Sergey Tsvetkov on their successful performance!

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Lifestyle – MPs Lead by Example as Fit 4 Office Challenge Wraps Up

    Source: Exercise NZ

    As the Fit 4 Office (F4O) Challenge concludes, Exercise New Zealand (ExerciseNZ) congratulates all participating Members of Parliament for prioritising movement, proving that even the busiest schedules can accommodate physical activity.

    Over the past three weeks, 11 MPs from across the political spectrum tracked their activity using Myzone heart rate monitors, demonstrating the benefits of regular movement while engaging in friendly competition. The challenge set a baseline goal of 1,000 Myzone Effort Points (MEPs), with top performers exceeding 3,000 MEPs—an exceptional display of commitment. MEPs measure exercise intensity based on heart rate, rewarding effort rather than just time or distance. The longer participants sustained an elevated heart rate in an active zone, the more MEPs they earned.

    Top Finishers

    ExerciseNZ is proud to recognise the top MPs who led the way in total MEPs. Competition for the top spot remained fierce throughout the challenge, with Julie Anne Genter, Celia Wade-Brown, and Mark Mitchell each leading at various points. Ayesha Verrall also held the top position for several days, demonstrating a strong commitment—primarily through running. Their efforts highlight the broader dedication to movement and exercise within Parliament, setting a strong example for all New Zealanders.

    Congratulations to all MPs who participated in paving the way for a more active and healthier Aotearoa. The top finishers and their final MEP totals as of 11:59pm, March 27, are:

    Julie Anne Genter – 4,758 MEPs
    Celia Wade-Brown – 4,455 MEPs
    Mark Mitchell – 3,703 MEPs

    We also acknowledge Jan Tinetti and Ayesha Verrall, who each surpassed 2,000 MEPs—doubling the initial challenge goal. Notably, Mark Mitchell recorded the most regular high-intensity workouts, exemplifying leadership as Minister of Sport and Recreation.

    ExerciseNZ CEO Richard Beddie commended all MPs for their dedication:

    “The Fit 4 Office Challenge was designed to inspire movement and show how achievable it is to prioritise physical activity. Seeing MPs embrace the challenge, support each other, and set an example for New Zealanders has been fantastic. This isn’t just about competition—it’s about reinforcing the message that every movement counts toward better health.”

    Movement Matters – Beyond the Challenge

    Though the F4O Challenge has ended, the need for regular movement continues. Physical inactivity costs the New Zealand economy over $2.3 billion annually, including $650 million in healthcare costs—highlighting that movement isn’t just a personal benefit but a national one.

    ExerciseNZ encourages all New Zealanders to stay active beyond this challenge. The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. Throughout the challenge, MPs engaged in diverse activities to meet these recommendations, including gym workouts, yoga, Pilates, cycling, walking, tramping, and even rollerblading. Their participation proves that staying active doesn’t have to feel like a chore—it can be an enjoyable way to socialise, de-stress, and improve overall well-being.

    ExerciseNZ, alongside Myzone, thanks all MPs for their participation and commitment to leading by example. Their efforts demonstrate that, despite demanding schedules, physical activity is achievable for everyone. While the challenge has ended, the journey toward a healthier and more active Aotearoa continues.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Oxford Street pedestrianisation faces London Assembly scrutiny

    Source: Mayor of London

    In September 2024, the Mayor of London announced renewed plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street.1 A consultation on the proposals, including the potential establishment of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) for the area, was launched in February.

    Once established, MDCs are controlled by the Mayor and can have a range of powers – including becoming the planning authority for their area. With a two-thirds majority vote, the London Assembly has the power to veto the designation of a Mayoral Development Area – a necessary step for the Mayor to take before an MDC is established.

    Tomorrow, the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will ask Council leaders, local groups, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL) about the proposals and their potential impact on the area.

    Panel 1 – 10.00 – 11.15

    • Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council
    • Cllr Richard Olszewski, Leader of Camden Council
    • Dee Corsi, Chief Executive of New West End Company
    • Tim Lord, Chair of the Executive Committee, The Soho Society

    Panel 2 – 11.20 – 12.30

    • Dr Will Norman, Walking and Cycling Commissioner, GLA
    • David Rowe, Director of Investment Delivery Planning, Transport for London

    The meeting will take place on Wednesday, 2 April from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

    Follow us @LondonAssembly.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom