Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Blooming flowers boost rural tourism of Guiding County, SW China’s Guizhou
Category: Tourism
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MIL-OSI China: Blooming flowers boost rural tourism of Guiding County, SW China’s Guizhou
Tourists take selfies at a scenic spot in Panjiang Town of Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, on April 1, 2025. Guiding County, with a development model integrating agriculture and tourism, has vigorously developed specialty industries such as canola, yellow peaches and roxburgh roses planting in recent years. In the spring, when the flowers are in full bloom, more and more people are coming to the county, boosting rural tourism in sectors such as catering, homestays and transportation. [Photo/Xinhua] Tourists in traditional clothing are pictured at a yellow peach planting base in Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, on April 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] An aerial drone photo shows the scenery of a scenic spot in Panjiang Town of Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, on April 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] A tourist cycles at a scenic spot in Panjiang Town of Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, on April 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] A drone photo taken on April 1, 2025 shows tourists visiting a yellow peach planting base in Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua] A drone photo taken on April 1, 2025 shows tourists in traditional clothing posing for pictures at a yellow peach planting base in Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua] A drone photo taken on April 1, 2025 shows tourists visiting a yellow peach planting base in Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua] A panoramic drone photo taken on April 1, 2025 shows a scenic spot in Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua] Tourists take photos at a scenic spot in Panjiang Town of Guiding County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, on April 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua] -
MIL-OSI Africa: Gauteng targets R300 billion in investments to boost economy
Source: South Africa News Agency
Gauteng Economic Development MEC, Lebogang Maile, says the province is aiming to secure at least R300 billion in investment pledges at the Gauteng Investment Conference (GIC), to be held in Johannesburg.
The MEC was speaking during a media briefing on the state of readiness of the province to host the conference, to be held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, in Sandton, on 3 April 2025.
“Leaders across all tiers of government, including Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, Premier of Gauteng Premier Lesufi, and Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, will provide inputs at the conference. The keynote address will be delivered by the Deputy President, who also serves as the Leader of Government Business in South Africa, His Excellency, Paul Mashatile.
“Of equal significance is the large contingent of leaders across the business and government sectors on the African continent, the African diaspora and the globe. With over 50 companies represented, the conference will be a convergence point of the world’s most important companies in various sectors,” Maile said.
The Gauteng province is of importance for South Africa’s economy and contributes at least 33% to the national Gross Domestic Product, and nearly 7% of sub-Saharan Africa’s output.
“The [GIC] is a transformative event in affirming the place of the Gauteng province in the continental economy. We are asserting that the development of Gauteng is in the best interest of South Africa, the Southern African Development Community and the continent broadly.
“Thus, investment in the economy of Gauteng extends beyond the confines of its provincial borders into other lands across the entire continent,” the MEC said.
Furthermore, the conference will also serve as a platform for critical dialogue that will “enable direct engagement between policy makers, investors and industry experts”.
“This will ensure that we come out with tangible and applicable outcomes. The sessions will focus on, amongst other things, public-private infrastructure investments, as well as key Gauteng most dynamic and high growth sectors, including…advanced manufacturing, green and renewable energy, ICT [information and communication technology] and data infrastructure, transport and logistics, smart property development and urban regeneration, as well as tourism and the creative economy,” he said.
Maile emphasised that these sectors are critical to ensuring development on a provincial, national and continental level.
“Investment in these sectors offers the most reliable instrument for ensuring sustainability and development, offering a clear path to economic prosperity that is anchored on inclusive growth, environmental protection and human development,” Maile said. – SAnews.gov.za
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MIL-OSI Global: With its executive order targeting the Smithsonian, the Trump administration opens up a new front in the history wars
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Tucker, Professor of History, Wesleyan University
A portrait of President Donald Trump in the ‘America’s Presidents’ exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery. Win McNamee/Getty Images I teach history in Connecticut, but I grew up in Oklahoma and Kansas, where my interest in the subject was sparked by visits to local museums.
I fondly remember trips to the Fellow-Reeves Museum in Wichita, Kansas, and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. A 1908 photograph of my great-grandparents picking cotton has been used as a poster by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
This love of learning history continued into my years as a graduate student of history, when I would spend hours at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum learning about the history of human flight and ballooning. As a professor, I’ve integrated the institution’s exhibits into my history courses.
The Trump administration, however, is not happy with the way the Smithsonian Institution and other U.S. museums are portraying history.
On March 27, 2025, the president issued an executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which asserted, “Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth. Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.”
Trump singled out a few museums, including the Smithsonian, dedicating a whole section of the order on “saving” the institution from “divisive, race-centered ideology.”
Of course, history is contested. There will always be a variety of views about what should be included and excluded from America’s story. For example, in my own research, I found that Prohibition-era school boards in the 1920s argued over whether it was appropriate for history textbooks to include pictures of soldiers drinking to illustrate the 1791 Whiskey Rebellion.
But most recent debates center on how much attention should be given to the history of the nation’s accomplishments over its darker chapters. The Smithsonian, as a national institution that receives most of its funds from the federal government, has sometimes found itself in the crosshairs.
America’s historical repository
The Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846 thanks to its namesake, British chemist James Smithson.
Smithson willed his estate to his nephew and stated that if his nephew died without an heir, the money – roughly US$15 million in today’s dollars – would be donated to the U.S. to found “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.”
The idea of a national institution dedicated to history, science and learning was contentious from the start.
An 1816 portrait of British chemist James Smithson.
Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty ImagesIn her book “The Stranger and the Statesman,” historian Nina Burleigh shows how Smithson’s bequest was nearly lost due to battles between competing interests.
Southern plantation owners and western frontiersmen, including President Andrew Jackson, saw the establishment of a national museum as an unnecessary assertion of federal power. They also challenged the very idea of accepting a gift from a non-American and thought that it was beneath the dignity of the government to confer immortality on someone simply because of a large donation.
In the end, a group led by congressman and former president John Quincy Adams ensured Smithson’s vision was realized. Adams felt that the country was failing to live up to its early promise. He thought a national museum was an important way to burnish the ideals of the young republic and educate the public.
Today the Smithsonian runs 14 education and research centers, the National Zoo and 21 museums, including the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which was created with bipartisan support during President George W. Bush’s administration.
In the introduction to his book “Smithsonian’s History of America in 101 Objects,” cultural anthropologist Richard Kurin talks about how the institution has also supported hundreds of small and large institutions outside of the nation’s capital.
In 2024, the Smithsonian sent over 2 million artifacts on loan to museums in 52 U.S. states and territories and 33 foreign countries. It also partners with over 200 affiliate museums. YouGov has periodically tracked Americans’ approval of the Smithsonian, which has held steady at roughly 68% approval and 2% disapproval since 2020.
Smithsonian in the crosshairs
Precursors to the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the Smithsonian took place in the 1990s.
In 1991, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which was then known as the National Museum of American Art, created an exhibition titled “The West as America, Reinterpreting Images of the Frontier, 1820-1920.” Conservatives complained that the museum portrayed western expansion as a tale of conquest and destruction, rather than one of progress and nation-building. The Wall Street Journal editorialized that the exhibit represented “an entirely hostile ideological assault on the nation’s founding and history.”
The exhibition proved popular: Attendance to the National Museum of American Art was 60% higher than it had been during the same period the year prior. But the debate raised questions about whether public museums were able to express ideas that are critical of the U.S. without risk of censorship.
In 1994, controversy again erupted, this time at the National Air and Space Museum over a forthcoming exhibition centered on the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima 50 years prior.
Should the exhibition explore the loss of Japanese lives? Or emphasize the U.S. war victory?
Veterans groups insisted that the atomic bomb ended the war and saved 1 million American lives, and demanded the removal of photographs of the destruction and a melted Japanese school lunch box from the exhibit. Meanwhile, other activists protested the exhibition by arguing that a symbol of human destruction shouldn’t be commemorated at an institution that’s supposed to celebrate human achievement.
Protesters demonstrate against the opening of the Enola Gay exhibit outside the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in 1995.
Joyce Naltchayan/AFP via Getty ImagesRepublicans won the House in 1994 and threatened cuts to the Smithsonian’s budget over the Enola Gay exhibition, compelling curators to walk a tightrope. In the end, the fuselage of the Enola Gay was displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. But the exhibit would not tell the full story of the plane’s role in the war from a myriad of perspectives.
Trump enters the fray
In 2019, The New York Times launched the 1619 project, which aimed to reframe the country’s history by placing slavery and its consequences at its very center. The first Trump administration quickly responded by forming its 1776 commission. In January 2021, it produced a report critiquing the 1619 project, claiming that an emphasis on the country’s history of racism and slavery was counterproductive to promoting “patriotic education.”
That same year, Trump pledged to build “a vast outdoor park that will feature the statues of the greatest Americans to ever live,” with 250 statues to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
President Joe Biden rescinded the order in 2021. Trump reissued it after retaking the White House, and pointed to figures he’d like to see included, such as Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Betsy Ross, Sitting Bull, Bob Hope, Thurgood Marshall and Whitney Houston.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with honoring Americans, though I think a focus on celebrities and major figures clouds the fascinating histories of ordinary Americans. I also find it troubling that there seems to be such a concerted effort to so forcefully shape the teaching and understanding of history via threats and bullying. Yale historian Jason Stanley has written about how aspiring authoritarian governments seek to control historical narratives and discourage an exploration of the complexities of the past.
Historical scholarship requires an openness to debate and a willingness to embrace new findings and perspectives. It also involves the humility to accept that no one – least of all the government – has a monopoly on the truth.
In his executive order, Trump noted that “Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn.” I share that view. Doing so, however, means not dismantling history, but instead complicating the story – in all its messy glory.
The Conversation U.S. receives funding from the Smithsonian Institution.
Jennifer Tucker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. With its executive order targeting the Smithsonian, the Trump administration opens up a new front in the history wars – https://theconversation.com/with-its-executive-order-targeting-the-smithsonian-the-trump-administration-opens-up-a-new-front-in-the-history-wars-253397
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Views sought for 3 tourism projects
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The Development Bureau (DEVB) today invited the market to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for eco-tourism development proposals at ex-Lamma quarry site, South Lantau Eco-Recreation Corridor, and Pak Nai and Tsim Bei Tsui.
Following the Chief Executive’s announcement in the 2024 Policy Address to promote island and coastal tourism in Hong Kong, the DEVB has been working on the land use and project planning aspects of three projects under large-scale land disposal.
The three projects involve developing the ex-Lamma quarry site into an area for resort and outdoor recreational uses; developing Cheung Sha, Pui O, Shui Hau and Shek Pik into the South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor; and developing Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai into eco-tourism nodes.
This is the first time in recent years that the Government has initiated large-scale land disposal for the building of new tourism and recreation areas. It is also striving to make full use of corporate participation and market forces in the implementation.
Featuring islands or coastal destinations in rural settings with rich natural resources and water bodies, all three projects present opportunities for public-private collaboration in promoting tourism and recreational developments while capitalising on local and rural characteristics.
The DEVB added that it is launching the three EOIs before starting any statutory planning process, demonstrating goodwill to garner feedback from the market before finalising development requirements.
The bureau believes that this process would help ensure the ultimate development schemes to be more attuned to market interests and considerations.
The three projects differ in development scales, characteristics, objectives, timelines and deliverables. Through the three EOI exercises, the DEVB hopes to collect market views and suggestions on the respective developments early in order to formulate appropriate development parameters and implementation details, for incorporation into statutory plans and land tender documents.
It also wishes to have market feedback on alternative implementation approaches that can help speed up the developments.
Interested parties must submit their EOIs by noon on July 2.
The DEVB will hold briefing sessions on the EOI invitations on April 14.
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MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnicians at the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Egypt
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The international student construction team “Dune” has completed its work in Egypt. 49 people from different parts of our country worked at the construction site of the first Egyptian nuclear power plant “El-Dabaa”. Polytechnic University was represented in the team by fifth-year student of IPMET Darina Zaitseva and sixth-year student of ISI Maria Khorosheva.
The International Student Construction Team “Dune” was founded in 2021 and is a labor project of the All-Russian Youth Public Organization “Russian Student Teams”. The host organization of the labor project is the holding company “TITAN-2” (a strategic partner of the State Corporation “Rosatom”). This is one of the largest holdings that carries out construction, installation and other types of work at construction sites in Russia and abroad.
Darina Zaitseva worked at the construction site of the nuclear power plant in the economics and finance directorate (control and other expenses department). She kept a register of memos on employee transfers, processed documents and entered information into a special program. Based on the results of her work, Darina was recognized as the best fighter in the detachment.
Of course, this is an unforgettable experience. Both in terms of working in another country and in terms of working on a project of such a scale! I never thought that I would ever be able to take part in the construction of a nuclear power plant. Immersion in another culture, completely different from ours, gave me vivid impressions. It is one thing to come as a tourist, and another to live for two months in constant interaction with local residents. And I want to say a big thank you for the fascinating excursions to the management of the TITAN-2 holding. In general, no matter how you look at it, this entire trip was filled with new experiences and unforgettable emotions! – said Darina.
Maria Khorosheva worked in the quality control directorate, visiting the construction site daily as part of the inspection commission. In addition to work, excursions were organized for the children to the Alexandria Library, the World War II Museum in El Alamein, and, of course, to Cairo to visit the famous pyramids of Giza.
Working on such a large-scale project once again proved to me how much I love construction. It was very interesting not only to watch, but also to participate in the construction of a unique industrial building, such as a nuclear power plant. For me, this experience showed what kind of construction industry I would like to work in. And, of course, I went abroad for the first time and fulfilled my childhood dream – to visit Africa! – shared Maria.
El Dabaa NPP is the first nuclear power plant in Egypt. It is being built in the city of the same name in the Matrouh Governorate on the Mediterranean coast, approximately 300 kilometers northwest of Cairo. El Dabaa consists of four power units with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts each, equipped with Russian-class VVER-1200 water-moderated reactors of the latest third generation.
In 2022, workers at the El Dabaa NPP successfully completed the course of Russian as a foreign language and received certificates. The training was organized by the Rosatom Technical Academy as part of the comprehensive training of specialists. The training complex, designed for accelerated language acquisition, was developed by teachers of the Center for Russian as a Foreign Language (Center for RCL) of the Higher School of International Educational Programs of SPbPU.
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.
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ROADMAP FOR TEXTILE SECTOR
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 02 APR 2025 1:00PM by PIB Delhi
Government in order to achieve Textile 2030 vision has been focusing on high-tech & high-growth product segments, leveraging inherent strengths, developing large scale plug and play infrastructure, keeping sustainability at the core, while ensuring large-scale livelihood opportunities, providing impetus to traditional sectors including handloom and handicrafts and becoming Atma-nirbhar in raw material value chain by implementing various schemes/initiatives across the country. The major schemes/initiatives include PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme which seeks to create a modern, integrated , world class textile infrastructure; Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme focusing on Man Made Fibre (MMF) Fabric, MMF Apparel and Technical Textiles to boost large scale manufacturing and enhancing competitiveness; National Technical Textiles Mission focusing on Research Innovation & Development, Promotion and Market Development; SAMARTH – Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector with the objective providing demand driven, placement oriented, skilling program; Silk Samagra-2 for comprehensive development of sericulture value chain; National Handloom Development Program for end to end support for handloom sector. Ministry of Textiles is also implementing National Handicrafts Development Programme and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme for promotion of handicraft artisans. Under these schemes, support is provided for marketing, skill development, cluster development, direct benefit to artisans, infrastructure and technology support etc.
The textile industry is one of the largest sources of employment generation in the country, employing over 45 million people directly. A total of 35,874 USD million exports of Textiles & Apparel including Handicrafts were reported during 2023-24.
Further, for global branding of Indian Textile, Government has registered Kasturi Cotton India’s brand as a trademark to give a unique identity to Premium Quality Indian Cotton.
A successful Global Mega Textile Event BHARAT TEX 2025 was organized in February, 2025 by Textile Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and supported by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India to showcase, India’s prowess as a premier textile manufacturing hub, encompassing the entire value chain from raw materials to finished products. The event highlighted diversity and richness of Indian textiles, while emphasizing the industry’s manufacturing strength, global competitiveness as well as its commitment to sustainability and circularity.
For upliftment of handloom weavers in Assam, the following support has been provided during last ten years and current year:
- 88 Small Handloom Clusters and 2 Mega Handloom Clusters have been taken up for financial assistance of Rs.89.45 crore benefitting to 68,652 handloom workers. Out of these, one Small handloom cluster at Harangajao in DimaHasao district has been taken up for financial assistance of Rs.94.23 lakh benefiting 626 handloom workers.
- To integrate Craft promotion with tourism, Craft Handloom Village has been set up at Mohpara (Assam).
- More than 1.09 lakh beneficiaries enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
- Total 15.10 lakh kg of yarn supplied under Transport Subsidy & Price Subsidy benefitting more than 39,000 handloom organisations/weavers.
For the upliftment of artisans need based assistance is provided under National Handicrafts Development Programme and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme for end-to-end support through marketing events, skill development, cluster development, formation of Producer Companies, direct benefit to artisans, infrastructural and technology support, research and development support etc. which benefit the traditional crafts and artisans throughout the country including of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts in Assam.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
DHANYA SANAL K
(Lok Sabha US Q5011)
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages Programme
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 02 APR 2025 3:13PM by PIB Delhi
The Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV) initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) primarily aims to develop existing 100 coastal fishermen villages situated close to coastline in all coastal States and Union Territories(UTs) including in Karnataka as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV). The objectives of Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen villages(CRCFV) initiative are to (i) create sustainable economic and livelihood opportunities to fishers living in coastal fishermen villages situated along the seashore, (ii) development of need based fisheries infrastructure in the coastal villages, (iii) develop the coastal fishermen villages as climate resilient and gorgeous fishing villages to attract tourist and coastal trade, (iv) promote to harness local fisheries potentials in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive, equitable and eco-friendly manner for economic prosperity of fishers, (v) provide safety and security of fishermen in coastal villages, (vi) improving the quality of lives of local fishers through accelerating fisheries and allied economic activities, (vii) make availability, fishing implements, techniques, infrastructure for post harvest& processing activities, safe landing &berthing, marketing, access to credit and extension services, (viii) involving local fishermen organizations, fisheries cooperatives, FFPOs, Non-Governmental Organizations in development and management of fisheries, (ix) exploring coastal tourism based on the traditional knowledge, local culture and heritage, (x) development of fisheries entrepreneurship, empowering of local youths and women through skill and entrepreneurship development and (xi) provide social security cover to fishers in the coastal villages.
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries Animal Husbandry and Dairying in consultation with the Government of Karnataka has identified five coastal fishermen villages in Karnataka to develop as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages under PMMSY and the villages identified in the State are; (i) Uppunda Madikal, (ii) Koteshwara, (iii) Kadekar, (iv) Bailuru and (v) Mattadahitlu. Under the Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV), 70% of unit cost/estimated cost is envisaged towards creation of infrastructure facilities in the village and 30% of unit cost/estimated cost is towards creation of fisheries economic activities in the village. Based on the gap analysis study in consultation with Government of Karnataka need based activities like establishment of multipurpose fisheries centres, high mast lighting pole & lighting, fish vending kiosks, net mending yards, ice plants/cold storages, fish drying yards, shore protection works etc have been envisaged for development in the identified villages in Karnataka to make the villages climate resilient and economically vibrant fishermen villages. The State-wise number of coastal fishermen villages for development as Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages are envisaged in proportion to the total number of coastal fishermen villages in the State and at present, there is no proposal for expanding the coverage of Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Village programme beyond the identified 100 coastal fishermen villages.
This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 2nd April, 2025.
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Promotion of tribal art and culture in Madhya Pradesh
Source: Government of India
Promotion of tribal art and culture in Madhya Pradesh
Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing “Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission” (PMJVM) scheme through TRIFED to preserve and promote tribal art, culture: Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das UikeyPosted On: 02 APR 2025 3:06PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey informed in Rajya Sabha today that Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India under the Centrally Sponsored scheme ‘Support to Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)’ extends financial support to 29 Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) in States/Union Territories (UTs) including Tribal Research Institute Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on the basis of the Annual Action Plan submitted by the States/UTs subject to the approval of the Apex Committee chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Under the Scheme, proposals relating to infrastructural needs, research & documentation activities and training & capacity building programmes, organization of tribal festivals, yatras for promotion of unique cultural heritage and tourism and organization of exchange visits by tribals are organized so that their cultural practices, languages and ritual are preserved and disseminated. TRIs are primarily institutions under the administrative control of the State Government/UT Administration. The Ministry undertakes following initiatives for the preservation/documentation and promotion of tribal art, culture and handicrafts which are as under:
Tribal Research Institutes organize different events like National Tribal Craft Mela, National/State Tribal Dance Festival, Art Competition, Workshop – cum – Exhibition on Tribal paintings and state-level tribal poet and writers meet.
- Research studies/publication of books/documentation including audio visual documentaries for promotion of rich tribal cultural heritage which includes preservation of tribal languages.
- Research and documentation of Indigenous practices by tribal healers and medicinal plants, Adivasi Languages, agriculture system, dances and paintings, organization of literary festivals, publication of books written by tribal writers/ authors, translation works and literature competitions, etc. Preparing Bilingual Dictionaries, Trilingual Proficiency Modules, Primers for students of Class I, II and III in tribal languages under Multi-Lingual Education (MLE) Intervention in the line of New Education Policy 2020. Publishing Varnamala, local rhymes, and stories in tribal languages. Publishing books, journals on different tribal languages to promote tribal literature. Documenting folklore, and folktales of different tribes for preservation and promotion of tribal folk tradition. Collecting oral literature (songs, riddles, ballads etc.)
- Ministry has developed a searchable digital repository where all research papers, books, reports and documents, folks’ songs, photos/videos are uploaded. The repositories can be visited at https://repository.tribal.gov.in/ (Tribal Digital Document Repository)
- Government of India has declared 15th November as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas to honor all the tribal freedom fighters to remember and acknowledge their contribution to the freedom struggle and cultural heritage, and to re-energize the efforts for the socio-economic development of the tribal regions. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs along with other central ministries, state governments, and other institutions are celebrating the glorious history of its tribal people, culture, and achievements since 2021.
- Development of bilingual Primers for the preservation of tribal languages and enhancement of learning achievement levels amongst the Scheduled Tribe Students.
- Tribal cultural exchange programmes.
Further, Ministry of Tribal Affairs sanctioned Raja Shankar Shah Kunwar Raghunath Shah Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at Jabalpur and Shri Badal Bhoi Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh to acknowledge the heroic and patriotic deeds of tribal people and to exhibit rich tribal cultural heritage of the region. Both the museums were inaugurated on 15.11.2024 on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.
Moreover, as informed, Tribal Research Institute Madhya Pradesh has documented Bhili, Baigani, Korku, Mawasi and Gondi languages through folk tales, folklores etc organized tribal festival (Adirang) at Balaghat, Chhindwara, Shahdol &Betul district which included craft mela, photo exhibition and tribal food stalls besides tribal dances and video documentation of 9 Gond forts.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing “Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission” (PMJVM) scheme through TRIFED to preserve and promote tribal art, culture and handicrafts and for socio-economic development of tribal communities across the country including Madhya Pradesh. TRIFED organizes “Aadi Mahotsav” annually at Delhi to showcase tribal products at the national level. TRIFED undertakes retail marketing of tribal products through its TRIBES India Outlets & E-Commerce platforms. It also organizes Exhibitions like Aadi Bazaar, Aadi Chitra etc. at various parts of the country.
Further, under the scheme of Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM), TRIFED undertakes empanelment of tribal artisan and procurement of various tribal products from them for generating livelihood opportunities for tribal communities.
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RN/PIB
(Release ID: 2117732) Visitor Counter : 93
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MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – NEW TIMING: ICM “Affordable Housing for All” – Wednesday 9 April 2025, 15:00-18:00 – Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Source: European Parliament
The European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) will host an Interparliamentary Committee Meeting (ICM) titled “Affordable Housing for All – Policy Approaches and Best Practice Cases in the Member States.” The event will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels (Antall 6Q2) on Wednesday, 9 April 2025, from 15:00 to 18:00.
Organised in cooperation with the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis (HOUS), the meeting will address the escalating housing crisis across Europe and explore policy solutions at both the EU and Member State levels. Discussions will focus on the social and economic impacts of rising housing costs, mass tourism, and short-term rentals, which have limited access to affordable housing and affected employment and social welfare. The event will bring together representatives from the European Parliament, national parliaments, EU institutions, and key NGOs to assess these challenges and align efforts with the European Affordable Housing Plan. Participants will also exchange successful strategies and best practices to identify effective, adaptable housing policies across the EU.
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF UNION TERRITORIES
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:20PM by PIB Delhi
The Government has taken various steps for the economic development of Union Territories (UTs) through strategic interventions across various sectors including tourism, digital/telecom connectivity, road/air/sea connectivity, governance reforms, industry, employment, etc. This has led to sustainable economic growth, attracted investments and improved living standards.
Tourism has been identified as a key sector due to its multiplier effect. The Government is actively promoting various kinds of traditional and experimental forms of tourism like eco-tourism, wildlife tourism, adventure tourism, spiritual and wellness tourism, heritage tourism, tourist circuits, astro-tourism, cruise tourism, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism etc. For example, the first-ever dark sky reserve of the country has been set up in Hanle in the UT of Ladakh; the UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNH&DD) has developed world-class sea fronts and premier river fronts; eco-tourism resorts are being developed in the island UTs. All these initiatives have resulted in a boost to tourism and other allied economic activities in the UTs.
Internet/broadband and mobile/digital connectivity in all the UTs, including the Island UTs, have been considerably enhanced. Connectivity has been revolutionised in the island UTs through the commissioning of the Chennai Andaman Nicobar Islands (CANI) Optical Fiber Cable Project at a cost of about ₹ 1,224 crore in A&NI and the Kochi Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Cable Project (KLI Project), with a cost of about
₹1,072 crore in Lakshadweep. In the UT of A&NI, bandwidth utilization (including inter-island) has increased from 4.1 Gbps to 233 Gbps, internet speed has increased from 100 kbps to up to 300 Mbps, total mobile connections have increased to about 7.5 lakh and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH)
services have increased to more than 37,365. 5G services were also launched in the UT. Similarly, with the commissioning of the KLI Project, bandwidth utilization (including inter-island) has increased to 149 Gbps, internet speed availability is up to 1 Gbps, total mobile connections have increased to about 87,000 and FTTH services have increased to 7,500. These projects have benefitted the public significantly through enhanced online access in the fields of education, tele-medicine, e-commerce, digital governance, tourism etc.
The various initiatives of the Government have led to reduced cost of data, increased mobile and internet/broadband penetration, increase in internet teledensity, and higher internet/broadband speeds directly to home and offices across the UTs.
The Government has also been focusing on development of air, road and sea connectivity in the UTs. Strategic infrastructure like roads, expressways, construction of new tunnels/bridges, development of ports, expansion of airports, development of helipads etc. has been created in the recent years. A new terminal building of Veer Savarkar International Airport at Sri Vijaya Puram has come up with a capacity to handle 50 lakh passengers per year; ‘Azad Hind Fauj Setu’ on Humphrey Strait has significantly improved the road connectivity in the island UT of A&NI.
Several infrastructure projects to boost road connectivity have also been completed/underway in other UTs, like the construction of the Z-Morh tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir and the construction of the Zojila tunnel in the UT of Ladakh.
Several steps have been taken to bring in governance reforms in the UTs and to promote ease of doing business. To promote industry and business activities, steps have been taken to significantly reduce compliance burden. Single window clearance systems have been put in place to enable faster clearance of proposals. UTs have implemented suitable policies to promote businesses and entrepreneurship including industrial policy, land allotment policy, start-up policy, logistics policy, policies to promote handicrafts, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through suitable incentivisation etc. Investment promotion schemes have been formulated which provide for capital and interest subsidy. The thrust sectors identified are tourism, manufacturing, production, IT and ITes, shipping, agriculture, fisheries etc.
The Government is also focused on employment generation and skill development. The Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme, PM Vishwakarma, Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, PM SVANidhi etc. are being effectively
implemented in the UTs with an aim to generate employment, and to provide financial and skill development support. UTs have also identified certain priority economic sectors for accelerated economic growth of UTs, based on their unique strengths and resources, such as developing a Blue Economy, transforming into regional knowledge/IT/medical hubs, promoting tourism etc.
The Government’s policy of zero tolerance towards corruption and introduction of IT enabled initiatives have brought greater accountability, transparency and financial transformation resulting in a big push to businesses in the UTs and also promoting them as new drivers of economic prosperity (Aatmanirbhar Arthavyavastha) and Viksit Bharat.
Initiatives under Aatmanirbhar Bharat have been taken to provide better services to consumers and improvement in operational and financial efficiency in electricity distribution in certain UTs.
Further, a robust monitoring mechanism has been put in place to monitor the implementation of various flagship/development schemes and programmes of Government of India in the UTs.
It is the endeavour of Government of India to make UTs role models of good governance and development. Moreover, it is envisioned to holistically
develop the island UTs as global hubs of tourism, raise the standard and quality of living of residents in UTs, create better infrastructure including social infrastructure, achieve saturation of health and educational indicators, enhance health infrastructure to ensure universal access to quality healthcare, promote green energy etc. This is a continuous process.
The Government has taken various positive initiatives to promote renewable and green energy in Union Territories through various schemes i.e. National Solar Mission, PM-KUSUM, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the National Green Hydrogen Mission etc.
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the UTs are providing additional subsidy in addition to the central subsidy for installation of rooftop solar in residential and government buildings. Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Plants are being promoted and installed in the UTs. The UT of Jammu & Kashmir has installed a 100kW solar power project in Dal Lake. Further, Pilot Green Hydrogen Plant are also being set up in UT of Ladakh. In addition, initiatives for waste-to-energy have been undertaken for the promotion of clean and green energy.
To promote green energy generation and consumption, the Government of India has notified the Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022. In line with the
above, the UTs of Puducherry and Delhi have implemented Green Energy Open Access (GEOA). In the UT of Puducherry, Green Energy Tariff has been notified. The UTs have notified various policies, including renewable energy policy, solar policy, EV policy etc. Further, in some of the UTs, generation- based incentive is given to the consumers for generation of solar energy.
These initiatives have resulted in reduced carbon emissions and reduced the electricity cost for the consumers.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
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RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS
(Release ID: 2117799) Visitor Counter : 66
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Development Bureau invites market to submit expressions of interest for three island and coastal tourism projects
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Development Bureau (DEVB) today (April 2) invites the market to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) within three months for eco-tourism development proposals at ex-Lamma quarry site, South Lantau Eco-Recreation Corridor, and Pak Nai and Tsim Bei Tsui.
The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address (PA) to promote island and coastal tourism in Hong Kong. Along with other initiatives to be spearheaded by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the DEVB has been working on the land use and project planning aspects of three projects under large-scale land disposal, which are to develop the ex-Lamma quarry site into an area for resort and outdoor recreational uses; to develop Cheung Sha, Pui O, Shui Hau and Shek Pik into the South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor; and to develop Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai into eco-tourism nodes.This is the first time in recent years that the Government has initiated large-scale land disposal for the building of new tourism and recreation areas. The Government is also striving to make full use of corporate participation and market forces in the implementation. All three projects are on islands or coastal destinations in rural settings with rich natural resources and water bodies. They all present opportunities for the Government to collaborate with the private sector in promoting tourism and recreational developments while capitalising on local and rural characteristics.
Ex-Lamma Quarry Site
The proposal to develop two Eco-tourism Nodes at Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai was generally supported in the public engagement exercise on the Broad Land Use Concept Plan for the Lau Fau Shan area in 2024, with the former to be positioned as a “Thematic Activity Node” and the latter a “Tranquil Scenic Node”. This EOI exercise aims to collect market proposals based on the more detailed development parameters for these two Nodes the Government has formulated following the public engagement. On implementation, given the substantial sizes of the two Eco-tourism Nodes (87 hectares for Tsim Bei Tsui and 33 hectares for Pak Nai), the future developer(s) may develop and operate the whole or part(s) of the Tsim Bei Tsui Eco-tourism Node, the whole or part(s) of the Pak Nai Eco-tourism Node, or the whole or part(s) of both Eco-tourism Nodes. In other words, there can be more than one developer.(b) Ex-Lamma Quarry site (www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/index.html(c) South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor (www.lantau.gov.hk/en/our-projects/leisure-and-recreation/eco-recreation-corridor/index.html
Interested parties must submit their EOIs by noon on July 2 (Wednesday).
The DEVB will hold three briefing sessions, one for each of the EOI invitations on April 14 (Monday). For details of the briefings, please refer to the respective Invitation Documents for the three EOIs.
Taking account of the views and suggestions received through the EOI exercises, the DEVB will suitably refine the development parameters and requirements for the three projects. The land tender arrangements and timings will be firmed up thereafter, with reference to the market feedback received. -
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Supporting the local industry workers and economic sectors affected by pollution caused by the ILVA steelworks – E-001216/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001216/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Valentina Palmisano (The Left)The Commission has launched the Clean Industry Pact and the Steel Action Plan.
One of the only steelworks in the EU which uses coal to produce steel, the Taranto-based Acciaierie d’Italia (formerly ILVA) needs a yearly output of at least 6 million tonnes in order to turn a profit. However, the health impact assessment for these production levels was negative because operations would exceed the health risk threshold.
While production has plateaued at 2 million tonnes, 4 000 of the steelworks’ 12 000 employees have been temporarily laid off. The only way to safely ramp up production levels would be decarbonise the plant, but this process would, according to independent scientific studies, only be completed between 2040 and 2050 at the earliest.
In the light of the above:
- 1.What kind of financial support will the Commission provide for the Acciaierie d’Italia workers who risk losing their jobs?
- 2.What measures will the Commission take to protect the health of workers whose exposure to polluting substances exceeds the limits set by Directive 2010/75/EU, and will the Commission set up a fund specifically to compensate workers who have been exposed to asbestos and other carcinogens?
- 3.Is the Commission aware that funds worth EUR 400 million which were initially supposed to finance projects to clean up contaminated aquifers and sites in the area have since been reallocated to the Taranto steelworks so that they can keep production going, and what steps will the Commission take to ensure that the above clean-up operations – which are vital for the development of other sectors, including agriculture, animal rearing, mussel farming and tourism – go ahead?
Submitted: 21.3.2025
Last updated: 2 April 2025 -
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool and Dublin reignite twin city agreement
Source: City of Liverpool
Liverpool and Dublin have begun the process of reinvigorating their twinning agreement.
A sister city arrangement was signed back in 1997 as a mark of the long and shared history between the two.
Now, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, has visited Liverpool to meet with her counterpart Cllr Richard Kemp, Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, and Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram.
They have discussed mutually beneficial ways in which the two cities can work together in areas such as culture, tourism and the wider economy.
Councillor Robinson said: “Here in Liverpool, 75% of us have some form of Irish heritage, so it was brilliant to welcome the Lord Mayor of Dublin, so we could talk about how we reinvigorate our partnership.
“We have a great opportunity to work together post-Brexit, and focus on some of the economic links that we share as two cities and how we can strengthen that over the years ahead.”
Lord Mayor Blain said: “It is my immense pride and pleasure to visit the city of Liverpool to reactivate the twinning agreement between Dublin and Liverpool.
“Our two cities have long shared a much cherished connection and I hope that this visit will help strengthen those bonds.
“Dublin and Liverpool have strong historic cultural, social and economic connections which extend across all aspects of Liverpool’s renowned reputation for music and arts, commerce and industry, sport and education.
“I am looking forward to visiting the University of Liverpool Materials Innovation Factory and Institute of Irish Studies as part of my visit, and wish to thank them for hosting us.
“Like many Dubliners, I have a family connection to the City of Liverpool, it is a place I have visited many times and am always struck by the warmth and welcoming of the people. I hope that my visit will be seen as a reciprocation of this warmth and welcoming from the people of Dublin.
“My sincere thanks to The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Richard Kemp CBE, and to the Leader of Liverpool City Council, Liam Robinson, for their gracious invitation and their eagerness to develop this connection even further.”
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MIL-OSI Economics: Star Alliance: ITA Airways Set to Start Integration into Star Alliance
Source: Lufthansa Group
ITA Airways has officially received approval to start the integration process into Star Alliance following a verdict by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). Building on its induction into the Lufthansa Group earlier this year, this decision paves the way for its much anticipated entry into the world’s largest airline alliance. The onboarding process will now move at full throttle.
Celebrating the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias stated: “In early 2026, ITA Airways is expected to officially join the Star Alliance network as a full member. The decision by our Chief Executive Board underscores the strong confidence our members have in ITA Airways. As a gateway for Italy, its addition strengthens our global network, offering seamless and connected journeys to more travellers worldwide.”
Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said: “We are excited to join the Star Alliance network and to bring the excellence of Made in Italy into the alliance, further enhancing its global reach. This is a significant milestone in ITA Airways’ growth, and we look forward to offering our customers the future privileges of the world’s largest airline network.”
ITA Airways will add 360 daily flights to the Alliance network, further strengthening the Alliance’s footprint in the European region. The biggest growth will come from its home cities, especially Rome and Milan, which are currently served by 16 Star Alliance members collectively.
Leveraging their legacy within the Alliance, Lufthansa Group is mentoring ITA Airways through its integration journey into Star Alliance.
“I am proud that ITA Airways will become the fifth hub airline of the Lufthansa Group to join Star Alliance. As the mentor of the membership process, we will do our utmost to ensure a smooth and swift integration. ITA Airways’ future membership will provide Star Alliance customers with many new opportunities for personalised travel planning. I am confident that ITA Airways will be an excellent addition to the Star Alliance portfolio,” said Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group.
Upon completing induction, the Star Alliance network will grow to 26 member airlines, offering over 18,000 daily flights connecting 192 countries.
About Star Alliance
Established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, the Star Alliance network was founded on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since its inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience throughout the entire Alliance journey.
The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.
Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers 17,500 daily flights to over 1,150 airports in 189 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner Juneyao Airlines.
Star Alliance Press Office:
+65 8729 6691; mediarelations@staralliance.com
About ITA Airways
ITA Airways is the Italian reference carrier. The Company is 59% owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and 41% by Deutsche Lufthansa AG. ITA Airways operates both passenger and cargo air transport services, providing Italy with high-quality connectivity to international destinations, supporting tourism and foreign trade, as well as domestic connectivity within the Country, also leveraging integrated mobility.
Through strong digitization of processes to ensure the best possible experience and personalized services, ITA Airways places customer service at the core of its strategy. This is combined with a commitment to sustainability, which encompasses environmental aspects (such as a young, technologically advanced fleet to reduce environmental impact), social aspects (a strong focus on its employees and the communities in which it operates), and governance aspects (integrating sustainability into internal strategies and processes).
For press information:
Pietro Caldaroni, Chief Communication Officer
Mail: media@ita-airways.com
About Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa Group is a global aviation group with worldwide operations and a total of more than 300 subsidiaries and equity investments. The company’s mission is to connect people, cultures, and economies in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, safety, quality, reliability, and innovation are main priorities. The Lufthansa Group comprises the Passenger Airlines and Aviation Services segments.
The Italian airline ITA Airways is the newest member of the Lufthansa Group, with the Group having a 41 percent stake in the airline. Now, the network carriers consist of Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways. These airlines offer their customers a premium experience, with high-quality products and services. The multi-hub strategy offers passengers a comprehensive route network along with the greatest possible flexibility for their journey. Eurowings is positioned as a carrier with an exclusive focus on point-to-point traffic on European short- and medium-haul routes. The Passenger Airlines segment also includes the regional airlines Lufthansa CityLine, Lufthansa City Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss Air, Discover Airlines and the equity investment in SunExpress, the joint venture with Turkish Airlines. Since the summer of 2021, Discover Airlines has complemented the Lufthansa Group’s offering in the growing segment of leisure travel.
Aviation Services comprises the segments Logistics and MRO, as well as additional businesses, which in particular include Lufthansa Aviation Training and Lufthansa Systems.
The Lufthansa Group is currently investing in its onboard product, with both Lufthansa’s Allegris and SWISS Senses showcasing an entirely new travel experience. Lufthansa’s Allegris can already be experienced on certain long-haul routes. The full revamp will also include lounges, ground processes, individuality, and exclusivity.
Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines are already members of the Star Alliance.
For press information:
Thomas Jachnow, Senior Manager Media Relations
Deutsche Lufthansa AG
lufthansa-group@dlh.de
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MIL-OSI China: Five cities eye globally attractive consumption
Source: China State Council Information Office
China will accelerate the transformation of five major cities — Shanghai; Beijing; Guangzhou, Guangdong province; Tianjin; and Chongqing — into global consumption centers on par with New York and London, and create globally attractive retail environments, as part of the country’s latest moves to boost consumption.
The document, formulated by the Ministry of Commerce, said China aims to further expand domestic demand and promote high-standard opening-up.
The country will actively promote the debut economy by supporting high-quality domestic and foreign brands to launch new products and exhibitions, and providing Customs clearance convenience for new imported products.
The government will support the holding of events such as fashion weeks and car expos in these five cities. It will also work to attract high-quality global brands to launch their first stores, establish research and development design centers as well as regional headquarters, the document said.
It is critical to adapt to local conditions for developing the debut economy. Shanghai has been doing well in attracting debuts of global brands in China and launching pop-up stores, the ministry said.
In the recently delivered Government Work Report, boosting consumption was listed as a top priority among this year’s tasks.
As part of measures to build global consumption centers, China plans to further expand its unilateral visa-free entry policy in an orderly manner, and better leverage the role of tax refund stores and tax refund policies by opening more such stores and optimizing tax refund procedures for overseas visitors.
Since late 2023, China has launched unilateral visa-free policies for multiple countries, encouraging more overseas travelers to visit the nation. Last year, the number of inbound foreign visitors in the above-mentioned five cities doubled the 2023 figures, said the National Immigration Administration.
“In those five cities, the number of tax refund stores for overseas visitors accounted for 60 percent in the country last year, and total sales made up for over 70 percent of the value nationwide,” said Li Gang, director-general of the department of market operation and consumption promotion of the Ministry of Commerce, during a news conference earlier in Beijing.
Besides trendy products, foreign tourists have also favored domestic time-honored brands and specialty products. Tong Ren Tang, a venerable traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, has seen a growing number of foreign visitors take advantage of tax refund procedures at its stores in the Qianmen area of Beijing, and the products they buy mainly include traditional Chinese patent medicines and medicinal materials.
Compared to overseas metropolises, there is still a gap between China and developed countries. The government will guide the building of a group of featured commercial complexes, and encourage sales of more domestic trendy products at tax refund stores, the ministry said.
In addition, China plans to organize various large-scale consumption promotion activities, support the hosting of more high-level international sporting events and performances, and increase the supply of high-quality services.
In late March, the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix took place in Shanghai, attracting fans from home and abroad. The guideline noted that China plans to hold more motor racing events, foster new consumption scenarios such as recreational vehicle camping, and further expand the aftermarket consumption of automobiles.
Meanwhile, China will encourage the innovative growth of the cruise market and low-altitude tourism. The country will also promote the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and big data in the consumption market, and accelerate the promotion of smart home appliances, new energy vehicles and other smart products, the document said.
In the first two months, total retail sales of consumer goods in China reached 8.37 trillion yuan ($1.15 trillion), up 4 percent year-on-year, with the growth rate 0.5 percentage point higher than the whole year figure last year, the ministry said.
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MIL-OSI Russia: Moskino Cinema Park to Host Student Filming Days
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
On the weekend of April 5 and 6, the Moskino cinema park will become a creative territory for young filmmakers and anyone who wants to get to know the world of cinema better.
Make your own film and meet experienced filmmakers
Camera operators, directors and producers will be able to film their course and diploma theses for free on location at the Moscow Cathedral Square cinema park, Prince Andrey’s Chambers, the area near the Tu-154 aircraft and the natural chromakey, as well as in the Moscow of the 1940s set. For filming you need register.
On April 5, from 15:00 to 16:00, the educational center will host a lecture by Irina Glebova, Dean of the Production Department of the Institute of Cinema and Television (GITR). The winner of numerous awards will talk to the audience about detective films and the principles of creating such films. On April 6, from 15:00 to 16:00, producer Pavel Kirillov will talk to the audience about the creative aspects of producing films and television, and will also answer questions.
From 17:00 to 18:00, the Gonzaga Theatre will host a creative evening with theatre and film actor and stage fencing teacher Sergei Chudakov, who will talk about the acting profession, participation in projects, and show fencing tricks.
On the second floor of the educational center on April 5 and 6 at 13:00 and 15:30, two master classes are planned: on makeup (it will be conducted by Svetlana Shevtsova) and on creating hairstyles (Irina Konovalova will teach). During the classes, you can learn how makeup is applied to professional actresses and how original images of heroines are created through styling. Participation is included in the cost of an entrance ticket to the cinema park. You can buy it by link.
Remember your childhood or feel like a student
This weekend, the baroque Gonzaga Theatre will host the play When I’m Little Again, performed by the Little Family Theatre. On April 5, viewers will be able to see the production at 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM, and on April 6, at 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM. Visitors will be treated to a story about childhood memories, filled with joy, carefree pranks, and bright dreams.
Fans of tasks on logic, speed and attention will be able to take part in the quest “Time for a retake”. They will have to remember the school curriculum and answer a number of questions, imagining themselves as a student at an exam. This quest will appeal not only to schoolchildren and students, but also to those who have long since graduated. In addition, children and teenagers will be interested in the games “Record Book”, “Retake” and others. In the relay race “Record Book” participants will need to balance on one leg and juggle balls, and in the game “Retake” you will need to unite into a team to confuse the teacher and prevent him from taking the cheat sheet. Guests of the cinema park will also find many other similar games.
On both days at 12:00 and 15:35, master classes on creating postcards from colored soap will be held in the central square, at 13:10 and 16:45 — paintings on cardboard using texture paste, and at 14:20 and 17:55, participants will mold magical characters from airy plasticine. Attendance at the events is included in the price of the entrance ticket to the cinema park.
Join the production and see the long-awaited premieres
On the locations of “Berlin Streets” and “Moscow in the 1940s”, staged filming based on the Soviet films “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson” and “Operation Y and Shurik’s Other Adventures” will once again take place, and everyone is invited to join in. You can play in one of the scenes from the film in a movie costume and with props, as well as receive photos and a video as a souvenir, throughout the weekend. Participation is included in the price of the entrance ticket to the cinema park.
On April 5 and 6, the Moskino Kinopark cinema invites you to screen the most anticipated Russian films of this spring. The program includes the comedy Batya 2. Ded, a continuation of the beloved story about family, growing up and nostalgia for childhood. In the film Palma-2, viewers will experience exciting adventures. This is a story about a boy, his faithful shepherd and a bear cub who have to go through the dangers of the forest. Young dreamers will be delighted with The Frog Princess, a kind and funny fairy tale about how miracles happen if you believe in them. Fans of historical films will enjoy the drama The Prophet. The History of Alexander Pushkin, a new look at the life of the great poet. Tickets are already on sale on the website.
You can get to the Moskino cinema park not only by your own car, but also by free transport. Buses run every 25 minutes on routes M1 and M2 from the Salaryevo and Teply Stan metro stations. You can find out more about the route and see the schedule on the cinema park’s website in the section “How to get there”.
The Moskino cinema park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s “Moscow – City of Cinema” project and an object of the Moscow cinema cluster, which is being developed by the capital Department of Culture. The first stage has already been completed here: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been equipped, including the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow in the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Yurovo Airport”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “Deaf Village”, “Partisan Village”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and others.
The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino film park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino film factory, the Moskino cinema chain, the film commission and the Moskino film platform.
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MIL-OSI Russia: The Theatre Boulevard Festival was among the winners of the national award Event of the Year
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The first open street festival “Teatralny Boulevard” took first place in the nomination “Best City Festival” and second place in the nomination “Cultural Event of the Year”, and also received the industry Grand Prix in the “Socio-Cultural Event of the Year” block of the annual national award “Event of the Year”.
“Teatralny Boulevard became the favorite festival of last summer among city residents and guests of the capital. The “Event of the Year” award is a victory not only for the Department of Culture, but also for the festival artists and every spectator who became part of it. This year, “Teatralny Boulevard” will return in an updated format and will cover even more venues,” said Alexey Fursin, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department of Culture.
In 2025, the annual national award “Event of the Year” is held for the 13th time. It has already found its audience and fame among industry professionals. The goal of the award is to increase the importance of the event industry as an industry that contributes to the development of the creative economy of Russia. This year’s award ceremony took place on April 1 at the Vladimir Mayakovsky Moscow Academic Theater.
The Theatre Boulevard Festival was held as part of the Summer in Moscow project from July 15 to August 31, 2024. Its goal was to attract a new audience to theatres and concert halls and to tell about the repertoire. More than 600 thousand people took part in the festival, and 76 leading Moscow and independent theatre companies took to the streets of the city. Every passerby was able to immerse themselves in the world of art and get acquainted with the whole variety of theatre genres.
The venues were dedicated to different types of art. Thus, on Tverskoy Boulevard, one could listen to operetta, Strastnoy Boulevard was dedicated to immersive and visual theatre, and Tsvetnoy Boulevard hosted circus performances. The stage on Sretensky Boulevard was dedicated to stage design and costumes, and the site on Chistoprudny Boulevard — to experimental theatre. The main stage was located in the amphitheater on Pokrovsky Boulevard. On weekdays, open rehearsals, master classes and creative laboratories were held there, and on weekends — performances, concerts and musical-poetic programs.
On improvised stages, one could see performances by the Moscow Sovremennik Theatre, Lenkom Mark Zakharov, Moscow Theatre Oleg Tabakov, Moscow Drama Theatre named after N.V. Gogol and others. The program brought together over 1.6 thousand beginning and famous artists. The festival presented more than 480 theatrical and musical productions.
In addition, residents of the capital and tourists were invited to open rehearsals, master classes and creative laboratories. Concerts and meetings with leading directors of the country were also held for guests. More than a thousand units of props for performances were created during creative classes.
The “Theater Boulevard” festival has become one of the favorites among Muscovites and guests of the capital. According to the results of the voting in the “Active Citizen” project, the favorites of the audience were the circus performances on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, the performances of the musical theater artists on Pushkinskaya Square and the operetta on Tverskoy Boulevard. Their opinion was expressed from above 190 thousand MuscovitesMore than 90 percent of voters supported the idea of holding a street theatre festival annually.
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MIL-Evening Report: New NZ TV series Happiness gives us an engaging musical peak behind the amateur theatre curtain
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Camp, Senior Lecturer, School of Music, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Warner Bros Discovery The last few decades have seen many attempts to make musical TV shows.
Some of them applied the aesthetics of musicals (where people spontaneously sing and dance) to the television form, such as the recent cult series Schmigadoon! (2021–23) and the less successful medieval-set Galavant (2015–16).
Others have foregrounded music by being backstage musicals, or “backstagers”, about the creation of musicals. Glee (2009–15), about the American high school show choir scene, was the most successful of these. It led to imitators like Smash (2013–14), about a Marilyn Monroe musical; 2018’s Rise, a major flop about a high school producing Spring Awakening; and, my favourite, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019–23), a meta-fictional take on the Disney musical canon.
Backstagers have usually been more successful and also easier to produce than true through-and-through musicals for television, as they place their stories in settings that allow for the more or less “natural” presence of song and dance as part of the shows being staged. This acts as a bridge for audience members who might baulk at the singing and dancing fantasies inherent to the musical genre.
With their new show Happiness, Kip Chapman and Luke Di Somma have created a welcome New Zealand answer to this style of musical TV show.
Creating a musical
Charlie (Harry McNaughton) has returned from New York to his hometown of Tauranga, having been dismissed from helming a Broadway revival of Cats.
In a desperate attempt to demonstrate competency for a renewal of his visa – and to please his mum Gaye (Rebecca Gibney) – he decides to help out the local amateur musical theatre society Pizzaz (“the finest large-scale yet boutique classical musical theatre company in Tauranga”) with their latest production, an original musical called The Trojan Horse, based on the Iliad.
The first number in the first episode is an airport flash mob set to Backstreet’s Back, which Charlie’s mum has arranged to welcome her son home. While the nod to the Backstreet Boys is fun, it would have been more effective to start the show with an original musical number. As many writers of musicals have argued, one has to set up the “rules” of a musical in the first ten minutes, otherwise there is a risk of confusing the audience.
This number hints that Happiness might be a jukebox musical, but thankfully that is not the case. On the contrary, it has a whole set of new songs.
Happiness takes an affectionate look at community musical theatre.
Warner Bros DiscoveryThe score that Luke Di Somma has written for the show-within-the-show is a convincing pastiche of standard musical theatre styles. There is lots of Les Misérables high drama, Chicago showbiz razzle-dazzle, and Dear Evan Hansen pop balladry.
The songs carefully tread the line between portraying the well-meaning amateurishness of The Trojan Horse and being clever and competent enough in themselves to retain the audience’s interest.
This collection of stylistic nods, at least among the songs heard in the first two episodes I was able to preview, is typical of musical theatre writing as it is currently done. Di Somma has nicely balanced his own personal style (on display in earlier works like That Bloody Woman and The Unruly Tourists) with the needs of Happiness’s pastiche to create a score that wouldn’t be out of place on any musical stage.
An affectionate take
Happiness takes an affectionate look at community musical theatre, with details like the mismatched teacups and homemade lamingtons available during rehearsal breaks, the amusingly stuffed prop and costume store, and the mix of ages and experiences in the cast.
Backstagers are good fodder for TV as they can involve a wide variety of eccentric characters among the show’s cast and crew. The first episode does a good job of introducing them all. The usual backstage tropes are all there, like the young ingenue overshadowed by the haughty star and the put-upon music director (Marshayla Christie) trying to get her voice heard by the out-of-touch stage director (Peter Hambleton).
Happiness brings a specific New Zealand spin to the backstage musical.
Warner Bros DiscoveryThis all makes Happiness fairly predictable, but it is also well observed and always engaging. A specific New Zealand spin comes with details such as the look of the the barn-like space that houses Pizazz, the Number Eight Wire attitude shown by the crew (they have $167 to make the Trojan Horse prop), and poking a bit of fun at the Kiwi accent. In one scene, Charlie suggests that local star Jacqui (Jessie Lawrence) as Helen of Troy might try it without the “Classical” English accent – which only ends up strengthening her Kiwi vowels.
I hope that Warner Discovery, which produces the show, will distribute it abroad. Happiness paints New Zealand musical theatre talent in a positive light and shows what the locals can do, while also being very entertaining in its own right. It is a welcome addition to the “let’s put on a show” backstager genre.
Happiness is available on Three and ThreeNow from tomorrow.
Gregory Camp 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. New NZ TV series Happiness gives us an engaging musical peak behind the amateur theatre curtain – https://theconversation.com/new-nz-tv-series-happiness-gives-us-an-engaging-musical-peak-behind-the-amateur-theatre-curtain-253025
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MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER REVEALS: WITH TRUMP’S DESTRUCTIVE TARIFFS SET TO START TOMORROW, THE COST TO UPSTATE NY IS A $7 BILLION GUT PUNCH, WITH $6,000+ IN HIGHER PRICES FOR FAMILIES PER YEAR; SENATOR SAYS WE MUST…
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Contact: Ryan Martin, 202-680-0427
SCHUMER REVEALS: WITH TRUMP’S DESTRUCTIVE TARIFFS SET TO START TOMORROW, REVEALS THE COST TO UPSTATE NY IS A $7 BILLION GUT PUNCH , WITH $6,000+ IN HIGHER PRICES FOR FAMILIES PER YEAR; SENATOR SAYS WE MUST STOP DAMAGING TRADE WAR WITH ALLIES LIKE CANADA AND PROTECT NY FAMILIES, BUSINESSES & JOBS
Trump’s Tariffs – Set To Start Tomorrow – Could Raise Prices On New Yorkers As Much As $6,500 For Gas, Groceries, Cars And Everyday Goods – All While Decimating Small Businesses, Killing Good-Paying Jobs, Shrinking 401K’s And Damaging Upstate NY’s Vital Tourism Industry
Schumer Says Stock Market Is Already Hitting Lowest Point In Years Due To Trump Tariff Chaos, Hurting Upstate Seniors’ Retirements – And Leading To Fears Of A Recession
Schumer: Trump’s Tariffs Mean Higher Prices, Lower Life Savings And Lost Jobs For Upstate Families
With President Trump’s “Liberation Day” for his destructive tariffs set to start tomorrow, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today revealed data on the devastating impacts of this unstrategic and damaging tariff war on Upstate New York’s families, small businesses, and jobs – increasing costs for families by up to $6,500 for gas, groceries, cars, and common goods and potentially impacting 150,000+ jobs in directly targeted industries across Upstate New York. The senator said he has gotten calls from farmers, worried workers, and factory owners scrambling in the face of coming tariffs, and said it will be NY businesses, seniors and working- and middle-class class families who will be footing the bill for this tariff war – in the form of higher prices, a slower economy and shrinking life savings.
“Tomorrow Trump says he will begin imposing his destructive sweeping tariffs, and if that happens it will be a gut punch to Upstate NY’s economy. Plain and simple, Trump’s tariffs are a tax increase on Upstate New York, a massive new destructive national sales tax for all of America,” said Senator Schumer. “Trump’s tariff war has already created chaos, and the economic uncertainty is causing the stock market to fall, hurting seniors’ retirements, cratering consumer confidence, and jeopardizing the jobs of thousands of New Yorkers. If this tariff war continues, it could devastate Upstate NY’s economy in ways we haven’t seen since the height of the pandemic. President Trump has said straight up that he doesn’t care if prices go up – Well, I do. I am all for addressing trade imbalances. In fact, Trump should be spending far more time going after China’s long-standing trade cheating that has robbed upstate NY of jobs for far too long, rather than picking a trade war with Canada that will only cost more NY jobs and drive up prices for everyone.”
Schumer explained that consumers bear the cost of tariffs, and Trump’s tariff war is expected to increase costs for American families by up to $6,500 according to the latest analysis of his sweeping plans. According to the Yale Budget Lab, this would increase costs for the average American family by up to:
Schumer added, “Trump’s tariffs are already slowing sales, and tourism from Canada is down, hurting Upstate’s restaurants and Main Streets. No matter which way you slice it, costs are going to sky rocket for consumers. If you’re in Upstate New York, you’ll feel it first, and worse than just about anywhere in the country. We need everyone, especially NY Republicans, to stand up against Trump’s senseless, job-killing, cost-increasing tax on Upstate New Yorkers.”
Rising costs will force families to reconsider how they spend their money, which is already causing consumer confidence to plummet said Schumer, and NY families and businesses are expected to pay approximately $7.17 billion total due to Trump’s tariffs, including and $568 million on steel and aluminum.
According to the New York Times, nearly 8 million Americans work in industries targeted by Trump’s tariffs, including approximately 159,400 in Upstate New York. A regional breakdown of jobs in industries directly impacted by tariffs based on the New York Times analysis can be found below, which does not even account for all the related jobs such as the tourism industry that are also being impacted by the damage of this trade war:NY Region
Jobs In Industries Directly Targeted by Tariffs Most At Risk
Capital Region
14,400
Western New York
30,100
Rochester-Finger Lakes
33,200
Central New York
16,100
Hudson Valley
27,800
Southern Tier
17,300
Mohawk Valley
10,000
North Country
6,100
UPSTATE NY TOTAL
155,000
Canada is New York State’s top importer and exporter, last year importing $20.5 billion of goods from Canada and exporting $17.4 billion. 70% of Canadian imports are used to manufacture American-made products. Every day, $2.5 billion worth of goods cross the United States-Canada border. People across Upstate New York will especially feel the impact of Trump’s tariffs on Canada given the interconnection of Upstate NY’s economy and trade with Canada.
What Upstate NY Will See
Impacts
Increasing costs for businesses in every industry
$6 billion in lumber and wood products for the U.S. homebuilding industry came from Canada in 2024, exacerbating costs for affordable housing.
Canadian tourism slowing down, hurting local businesses
The Canadian government is encouraging Canadians to boycott travel to the United States, according to the New York Times. Maine has been seeing significant cancellations and Upstate New York could be next on the chopping block, which would have devastating impacts especially with the summer tourist season rapidly approaching.
45% of Quebecois who had planned vacations in the U.S. this year were now canceling those plans, leading to $3 billion in lost revenue for U.S. businesses, according to the Quebec Tourism Industry Alliance.
Car crossings from Canada through Plattsburgh in the North Country were down 16% from February 2024, according to the Albany Times Union. There is a projected overall 21% reduction in American travel from Canada.Higher costs at the grocery store for families and local restaurants
Canada leads in exports of grain, livestock and meats, poultry, and more, according to CNN. In 2023, the United States imported about $40 billion in agricultural food products from Canada, ranging from baked goods to canola oil, according to Eater.
70% of maple syrup globally comes from Canada, and more than 60% of maple exports went to the United States which would get more expensive, according to the New York Times.
The price of beef could rise because Canadian ranchers are afraid of Trump’s tariffs and shrinking cattle herds, according to Reuters. Beef and pork account for nearly $4 billion in Canadian imports, according to Eater.
The price of groceries could increase by $185 – or approximately 3% – every year, according to Eater.Nearly 160,000 Upstate New York jobs in industries targeted by tariffs at risk, plus many more in related industries like tourism
Over 680,000 New York jobs depend on trade with Canada. Nearly 160,000 jobs in Upstate New York are in industries directly targeted by Trump’s tariffs and at risk, according to the New York Times.
The U.S. Travel Association warned that even a 10% reduction in Canadian travelers would translate to $2.1 billion in lost spending and jeopardize 140,000 hospitality jobs nationwide, according to Forbes, many of which would be in Upstate NY as one of the most popular close by destinations.Higher electricity, heating, and gas bills for our families, small businesses, and manufacturers
Electricity is a $7 billion commodity market in New York, and the state imports hundreds of millions of dollars of Canadian electricity annually.
While the amount varies by month and year, the reliable clean power imported from Canadian dams is critical, and a tariff on Canadian electricity imports would likely raise rates for New Yorkers.
In response to the Schumer-Hochul letter to New York energy regulators on the tariffs, agency staff assert that electricity costs could increase by $42 to $105 million per year, and that:
Gasoline prices could increase by $26 million per year
Heating oil costs could increase by $57 million per year
Diesel costs could increase by $48 million per year
Propane costs could increase by $16 million per year; and
Natural gas costs could increase by $4.4 million per yearTrump has already delayed the start of his tariffs twice, creating uncertainty for families and small businesses and triggering volatility for the American economy. Trump’s tariff uncertainty is causing the stock market to fall, hurting Upstate New York seniors’ retirements. According to Bloomberg, the stock market rout has intensified in anticipation of Trump’s next tariff rollout, with concerns about recessions leaving the S&P 500 Index on track for its worst quarter compared to the rest of the world since the 1980s.
Trump in February declared an emergency on fentanyl, which is how he is justifying tariffs on goods from Canada. Schumer explained that less than 0.2% of fentanyl entering the United States comes from Canada, and instead of helping combat the fentanyl crisis, these tariffs will only harm American families, small businesses, and jobs. Schumer said the Senate will vote on a resolution later today terminating Trump’s national emergency that is justifying his destructive tariffs that would require Republican support. -
MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: The expansion of the dimensions of the overpass on the Adler bypass has been completed
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Marat Khusnullin: The expansion of the dimensions of the overpass on the Adler bypass has been completed
Marat Khusnullin: The expansion of the dimensions of the overpass on the Adler bypass has been completed
Marat Khusnullin: The expansion of the dimensions of the overpass on the Adler bypass has been completed
Previous news Next news
Marat Khusnullin: The expansion of the dimensions of the overpass on the Adler bypass has been completed
The Adler bypass will become part of a prospective highway from the M-4 Don highway to Sochi and will connect the village of Kudepsta with the village of Vysokoye. The existing overpass at the 6th km of the A-149 Adler – Krasnaya Polyana road has been expanded at the construction site. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.
“Road construction is an important part of our daily work. This is due to the fact that roads are an important and integral element that guarantees the comprehensive development of territories. The connectivity of territories and the safety of citizens on short and long-distance trips depend on their quality and reliability. Thus, on the instructions of the President, we are building bypasses of cities, which help reduce travel time, relieve the street and road network of transit transport and improve the environmental situation. Among them is the Adler bypass, which will connect the Kudepsta microdistrict and the village of Vysokoye. As part of the project, the overpass on the 6th km of the A-149 Adler – Krasnaya Polyana highway is being reconstructed. Specialists have already completed the installation of all metal consoles, thanks to which the dimensions of the structure were increased from one to two lanes. The artificial structure will be part of the future interchange at the Eastern Portal of the Adler Bypass and will later become an integral part of the prospective highway connecting the M-4 “Don” highway with the city of Sochi,” said Marat Khusnullin.
Today, road workers have started the next stage: transferring sections of the overpass from temporary to permanent supports, laying networks, and installing noise barriers. Road workers will begin laying layers of asphalt on the overpass using the integrated Superpave technology in the near future. This innovative approach is aimed at creating asphalt concrete surfaces that are resistant to cracking due to temperature fluctuations, deformation, and fatigue failure.
The launch of traffic on the overpass in both directions for guests and residents of Sochi is planned for the beginning of the tourist season.
Chairman of the Board of the state-owned company Avtodor Vyacheslav Petushenko added that the construction of the Adler bypass is divided into several stages.
“Currently, as part of Stage IV in Kudepsta, we have completed the driving of pile foundations and grillages for 30% of the supports of future artificial structures. The height of some supports of the new bridge crossing over the river has already reached the height of the Kudepsta viaduct on the A-147 highway. It is important to note that the project is complex, since it is being implemented in mountainous terrain and dense urban development. This requires the use of special engineering solutions. Thus, at the Eastern Portal near Ivanovskaya Street, we have completed the driving of all 23 bored piles with frames made of fiberglass reinforcement. They will help to contain the slope when the tunnel boring machine cuts into it. In road construction, this technology is used quite rarely – and mainly in the construction of tunnels,” said Vyacheslav Petushenko.
The high-speed road bypassing Adler will significantly reduce travel time to Sochi airport and Krasnaya Polyana, and will remove transit transport from the resort area of Adler. In addition, the implementation of the project will improve the environmental situation of the Black Sea coast and give an additional impetus to the development of the tourism potential of the southern regions.
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.
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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India – Chile Joint Statement (April 01, 2025)
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 01 APR 2025 6:11PM by PIB Delhi
At the invitation of Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, the President of the Republic of Chile, H.E. Mr. Gabriel Boric Font is on a State visit to India from 1-5 April, 2025, commemorating the completion of 76 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. President Boric is accompanied by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Mining, Women and Gender Equality and Cultures, Arts and Heritage, Members of Parliament, Senior Officials and a large number of business leaders. Apart from New Delhi, President Boric will visit Agra, Mumbai and Bengaluru. This is the first visit of President Boric to India. Both President Boric and Prime Minister Modi had first met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024.
President Boric was accorded a warm and ceremonial welcome on arrival at Air Force Station Palam. Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with President Boric at Hyderabad House on 1 April 2025. He met President Droupadi Murmu who also hosted a Banquet in his honour and his accompanying delegation. Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India called on President Boric.
President Boric and Prime Minister Modi recalled the historic diplomatic ties that were established in 1949, growing trade linkages, people-to-people linkages, cultural ties and also the warm and cordial bilateral relations between both countries. They expressed desire for further expanding and deepening of the multifaceted relationship between the two countries in all areas of mutual interests.
During their meeting, the two leaders comprehensively reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations spanning a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, health and pharmaceuticals, defence and security, infrastructure, mining and mineral resources, agriculture and food security, green energy, ICT, digitization, innovation, disaster management, cooperation in science and technology, education and people-to-people linkages. The two sides agreed to continue regular exchanges at various levels to give further momentum to the bilateral relationship.
The two leaders noted that trade and commerce has been a strong pillar of the bilateral relations. While highlighting the positive effects generated by the expansion of the India-Chile Preferential Trade Agreement in May 2017, which has resulted in substantial increase in bilateral trade, the two leaders emphasized the need for further strengthening of bilateral trade mechanisms that could open new opportunities for expansion of bilateral trade. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the recent increase in visits of business delegations from both sides, which is strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Boric for bringing in a large business delegation, which will help in intensifying business interaction between the two countries. Both agreed to continue the discussions for further enhancement of the trade relations.
President Boric conveyed that India is a priority partner for Chile in the global economy and stressed the need to explore strategies for enhanced and diversified trade between the two countries. The President and the Prime Minister acknowledged signing of the mutually agreed Terms of Reference and welcomed the launch of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial agreement to achieve a deeper economic integration. The CEPA will aim at unlocking the full potential of the trade and commercial relationship between India and Chile, boosting employment, bilateral trade, and economic growth.
To further promote trade relations as well as people-to-people interactions, President Boric announced Chile’s decision to grant a Multiple Entry Permit for Indian businesspersons which will streamline the visa process. Prime Minister Modi welcomed and valued this measure, as it reflects the willingness of both parties to facilitate trade and investment and the shared commitment to deepening bilateral relations between Chile and India. Acknowledging the people-to-people linkages as an important pillar to promote bilateral ties and to facilitate business, tourism, student and academic exchanges, Indian side has already put in place a flexible visa regime, including by extending e-visa facility for Chilean travellers to India.
Both leaders recognised the strategic importance of critical minerals for emerging technologies, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy transitions, both leaders agreed to accelerate collaboration in exploration, mining and processing along with research and development to promote investment across the entire critical mineral value chain for mutual benefit. They stressed on the need for building trusted and resilient supply chains including for critical minerals and advanced materials. The two sides agreed to work together on initiatives to strengthen supply chains and local value chains by fostering mutually beneficial partnerships and understandings in mining and minerals, including the possibility of long-term supply of minerals and materials from Chile to India.
Both leaders agreed to explore the opening up of new avenues for cooperation in health and pharmaceuticals, space, ICT, agriculture, green energy, traditional medicine, Antarctica, Science & Technology, management of natural disasters, sports, Startups, cooperatives, and audiovisual co-production, through the exchange of experiences and good practices among the agencies responsible for these matters.
President Boric acknowledged the role of the Indian pharmaceutical industry as one of the world leaders, and an important partner for Chile in the supply of affordable and high-quality products. Both sides agreed to facilitate private sectors of the two countries to increase trade in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical devices. Both sides agreed to work on enhancing cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors and address market access issues for Indian pharmaceuticals, as well as advancing in the recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia by Chile.
The two leaders noted the importance of traditional medicines and Yoga in preserving health and wellbeing of people and directed their officials for an early conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on Traditional Medicines to promote a more sustainable lifestyle. Towards this, both countries agreed to collaborate and intensify the promotion and use of evidence-based, integrative, Traditional Medicine, Homeopathy, and Yoga by signing an MoU.
Both sides agreed to work on promoting investments in infrastructure projects in each other’s countries. Chilean side welcomed Indian companies to participate in infrastructure projects including in railway sector.
The two leaders encouraged the two sides to work together to explore substantial areas for bilateral defence cooperation, including capacity building and defence industrial collaboration. Both agreed to share knowledge in developing and enhancing each other’s capabilities under the existing formal defence cooperation agreement in place. Indian side highlighted that Chile has been kept on priority while offering opportunities in training at Defence Services Staff College, NDC, NDA and HDMC, apart from slots for specialised courses in mountain warfare and peacekeeping operations previously made available. Indian side expressed its desire to receive and train Chilean military in areas of mutual interests.
Both leaders expressed their happiness on signing of the Letter of Intent to strengthen existing Antarctic cooperation, which will further facilitate partnership in Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources agendas bilateral dialogues, joint initiatives and academic exchanges related to Antarctica and Antarctic policy. Both India and Chile are Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty and reaffirmed their commitment to deepen scientific understanding of Antarctic for the benefit of both parties and the global community.
The two sides welcomed the adoption and opening for signature of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), as a key legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and reiterated the resolve of their respective countries to preserve, protect and promote biodiversity, from land to sea, and agreed to work together and support each other in international forums dealing with these issues. Both countries reaffirmed their intention to strengthen a vision from the Global South in multilateralism, through cooperation and joint efforts, based on the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and the right to development.
Recalling the two countries’ decades-long partnership in space, the two leaders noted the ongoing engagements in the space sector between the two countries, including the launching of a satellite belonging to Chile (SUCHAI-1) by India in 2017 as a co-passenger under a commercial arrangement. Both leaders emphasized the importance of further cooperation to promote training and capacity building and research in space and astrophysics. In this regard, they welcomed the constitution of Space Executive Committee by Chile to work on cooperation including in the areas of exploration in space, R&D, training, satellite building, launch and operation and peaceful use of outer space with ISRO, IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) and Startups.
Both leaders noted their respective dynamic information and digital technology sectors and stressed the need to explore synergies to enhance cooperation in this field. They expressed mutual interest in growth of investment, joint ventures, technological development and markets in the IT and digital space, including promoting collaboration in Digital Public Infrastructures (DPI), thereby democratizing access to digital services for people and businesses. Both leaders acknowledged the efforts by the two sides in exploring early implementation of cooperation in the digital payments sectors. They committed to work for developing closer cooperation between the vibrant Startup ecosystems of the two countries. Both leaders expressed their desire for advancing on signing of an understanding on cooperation in the areas of Digital Transformation to facilitate deeper engagement between tech communities of both countries.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to reformed multilateralism and for comprehensive reforms of the UN Security Council, including its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership to make it more representative, accountable, transparent, inclusive and effective, reflecting the geopolitical realities of the 21st Century. The Chilean side reiterated its support for India’s candidature for a permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. The two sides agreed to work together for promotion of democratic principles and human rights to strengthen the world peace stressing the importance of resolving all disputes through peaceful dialogue.
Both leaders reaffirmed their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross border terrorism and shared their resolve to stand together in common fight against global terrorism. They agreed that terrorism must be combated through concerted global actions.
The two leaders called upon all UN member countries to implement the UNSC Resolution 1267 and work towards eliminating terrorist safe havens and infrastructure and disrupt terrorist networks and all terror financing channels. Both reiterated their commitment to work together in Financial Action Task Force (FATF), No Money For Terror (NMFT) and other multilateral platforms to combat terrorism. The two leaders also reiterated the importance of early finalization of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
The two leaders committed themselves to the vision of a rules-based international order that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, ensures freedom of navigation and overflight as well as unimpeded lawful commerce, and that seeks peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, notably the UNCLOS.
Prime Minister Modi appreciated the participation of Chile in all the three editions of the “Voice of Global South” Summits, reflecting the commitment in bringing together countries of the Global South to share their development perspectives and priorities. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Boric for sharing his valuable perspectives and ideas at the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit held in August 2024 and noted that both countries have strong convergence on several contemporary global issues, including on the need for effective global governance reforms and equitable access for Global South countries to clean and green technologies. President Boric welcomed India’s leadership in strengthening engagements between countries of Global South.
President Boric appreciated India’s leadership in G20 which brought the development agenda to centre stage and acknowledged the transformative and inclusive role of technology, with a focus on unlocking the potential of digital public infrastructure (DPI). Both Leaders recognized that India’s G20 Presidency has championed Voice of the Global South by bringing to fore key initiatives and outcomes, such as inclusion of African Union in G20, promotion of Lifestyles for sustainable development (LiFE), advancements in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), reforms of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and focus on women-led development. In this regard, and with the aim of promoting greater integration and representativeness within the G20, India will support the inclusion of Chile and Latin American countries in the discussions as G20′ guest countries.
The two sides recognized the challenges for their economies presented by climate change and the transition to low emissions climate resilient economies. Accordingly, they expressed keen desire to promote clean energy and sustainable development through development of more efficient energy technologies. The two leaders called for increased joint investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, utilization and storage technologies, energy efficiency, and other low-carbon solutions that will have the potential to accelerate sustainable economic growth and foster job creation.
President Boric welcomed India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and reiterated strong support as a member since November 2023. Prime Minister Modi appreciated Chile joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in January 2021 aiming to make systems and infrastructure resilient to achieve the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, both leaders valued Chile’s offer of hosting the 7th Meeting of the ISA Regional Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Recognizing the growing significance of technology enabled learning solutions, skills development, and institutional capacity building, India and Chile reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation in these areas. Both countries have agreed to facilitate partnerships between EdCIL (India) Limited and key Chilean institutions, including the Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities (CRUCH), the Chilean Ministry of Education, and technical training centres (CFTs), thereby focusing on digital learning, research exchanges, smart education infrastructure, and vocational training programs, leveraging the strengths of both nations to drive innovation and knowledge-sharing in education.
Prime Minister Modi, highlighting the transformational changes taking place in education sector in India under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, encouraged leading Chilean universities to strengthen academic and research partnerships with Indian institutions and build institutional linkages through joint/dual degree and twinning arrangements. Given mutual strengths of both countries in astronomy and astrophysics, both leaders agreed to strengthen institutional engagements in these domains. The two leaders welcomed the proposal for establishment of an ICCR Chair on Indian Studies in one of the universities in Chile and directed the officials to examine the feasibility for an early implementation.
Both leaders welcomed the ongoing cooperation in training and capacity building in the field of diplomacy and noted the potential for further enhancement for cooperation in this area, in line with global diplomatic endeavours and new technology making diplomacy more efficient.
The two leaders acknowledged the role of cultural ties in bringing the people of the two countries closer to each other. They lauded the rich and diverse cultural heritage of India and Chile and appreciated the long-standing cultural exchanges between the two nations. The leaders applauded the growing interest in the study of the cultures and languages in both countries with Spanish being among the popular foreign languages in India. They stressed the mutual interest in further strengthening India – Chile cultural cooperation and the reinforcement of cooperation among cultural institutions of the two countries. They welcomed the signing of new Cultural Exchange Program to promote bilateral exchanges in music, dance, theatre, literature, museums and festivals.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction on the progress made to finalise the agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters which will lead to strengthening linkages between the relevant agencies to counter illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and, in general, to investigate, prevent and suppress contraventions of Customs laws, as well as sharing of best practices and capacity building. They also welcomed the efforts by two sides to sign an agreement on cooperation in the disability sector which would contribute to a more humane and just society where no one is left behind. The two leaders directed their officials to conclude these documents at an early date.
Both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining regular interaction on matters of mutual interest. They reiterated their willingness to build on opportunities to promote and expand the bonds of cooperation and understanding that characterizes the bilateral relationship.
President Gabriel Boric thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for warmth and hospitality accorded to him and his delegation during the visit and invited him to pay an official visit to Chile at a mutually convenient time.
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MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – EMPL ICM on “Affordable Housing for All” – Wednesday, 9 April 2025, 15:00-18:00 – Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Source: European Parliament
The European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) will host an Interparliamentary Committee Meeting (ICM) titled “Affordable Housing for All – Policy Approaches and Best Practice Cases in the Member States.” The event will take place at the European Parliament in Brussels (Antall 6Q2) on Wednesday, 9 April 2025, from 15:00 to 18:00.
Organised in cooperation with the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis (HOUS), the meeting will address the escalating housing crisis across Europe and explore policy solutions at both the EU and Member State levels. Discussions will focus on the social and economic impacts of rising housing costs, mass tourism, and short-term rentals, which have limited access to affordable housing and affected employment and social welfare. The event will bring together representatives from the European Parliament, national parliaments, EU institutions, and key NGOs to assess these challenges and align efforts with the European Affordable Housing Plan. Participants will also exchange successful strategies and best practices to identify effective, adaptable housing policies across the EU.
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MIL-Evening Report: William Wordsworth’s last home is up for sale – returning it to a private residence would be a loss for the UK’s cultural heritage
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Wilcockson, Research assistant, University of Glasgow
Until recently, fans of William Wordsworth could visit his final home, Rydal Mount and Gardens, nestled in the heart of England’s green and beautiful Lake District. Renowned as one of the most prominent British poets, the works of Wordsworth (1770-1850) include what is widely regarded as the most famous poem in the English language, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.
So it’s not surprising that his immaculately maintained house and gardens, with breathtaking views of Lake Windermere and Rydal Water, once attracted 45,000 visitors a year.
However, rising costs, a fall in visitor numbers to 20,000 or fewer per year, and the residual effects of the pandemic have placed the future of the museum in question.
The current owners have put Rydal Mount on the market for the first time since 1969 for £2.5 million – meaning this important piece of literary heritage, depending on who buys it, could become closed to the public.
The house was bought by Mary Henderson, Wordsworth’s great-great-granddaughter, in 1969 and opened as a writer’s house museum a year later.
Rydal Mount was originally a small 16th-century cottage. By 1813, there was enough room for Wordsworth, his wife Mary and three surviving children, plus Wordsworth’s sister-in-law Sara and sister Dorothy – author of the Grasmere Journal, which detailed the household’s life.
Leaving the cramped conditions of the more famous Dove Cottage behind them, it was at Rydal Mount that Wordsworth truly settled, building a “writing hut” and extensively landscaping the grounds to his own design.
This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.
Next to Rydal Mount is Dora’s Field, which also has literary significance. Here, the poet is believed to have planted 1,847 daffodils to mark his daughter Dora’s memory, following her death from tuberculosis aged 42. These daffodils still bloom every spring.
While living at Rydal Mount, Wordsworth revised his epic “The Prelude” and wrote many other popular poems. This too is the house where he died in 1850. It was only when Mary died in 1859 that the family’s tenancy of the house came to an end.
Visitors get to step into the house where all this happened and see a wealth of rare objects, including a rare portrait of Dorothy and Wordsworth’s letter to Queen Victoria refusing the job of Poet Laureate (which he later accepted).
Owning England’s heritage
Visitors go to literary museums to experience the “spirit of the place”, to “encounter” the author and absorb some of their creativity. One recent visitor to Rydal Mount was so disappointed not to meet Wordsworth personally that they wrote a disparaging review, telling of their confusion that the poet “wasn’t in” and “when [they] asked when he would be home, all [they] got was blank stares.”
Wordworth is so closely connected to the Lake District that marketing strategies have used him to promote the area since the 1800s. Rydal Mount has had an integral role in maintaining these traditions. The estate agent’s advert is keen to stress the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of England’s heritage” and the “superb gardens … designed by Wordsworth himself”.
In selling the museum as it is, there is a real risk that Rydal Mount could become a private home lost to the public eye – much like Greta Hall, the home of Wordsworth’s fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which has long been privately owned.
Prospective closure is not uncommon for smaller museums in 2025. A recent report noted that three in five small museums fear closure because of declining revenue and footfall. 2020 was the 250th anniversary of Wordsworth’s birth and should have been a bumper year of events and tourism for the Lake District. Instead, the pandemic ravaged the celebrations and left tourist attractions in financial peril that many have not recovered from.
William Wordsworth lived at Rydal Mount for 37 years and died there.
Wikimedia, CC BYCritics will argue that even if Rydal Mount does close, there are still three more Wordsworth homes open to visitors (Dove Cottage, the favourite of tourist guides, Wordsworth House and Garden, and Allan Bank). Even Wordsworth’s old school is a museum.
The closure of Rydal Mount would inevitably boost these other sites’ visitor numbers – particularly Dove Cottage, which is on the same (albeit long) road as Rydal Mount. And the condition of Wordsworth’s last home could potentially be improved by a private owner with ample funds to upkeep the house.
However, it is also true that public appreciation of museums remains high, with 89% of adults in a 2024 YouGov survey advocating for their importance to UK culture, and 54% registering disappointment if their local museum were to close.
While the British Museum has experienced its highest visitor numbers since 2015, more needs to be done to save regional museums and writer’s house museums from closure. The sale of Rydal Mount into private hands may prove a severe loss to literary history, leaving the Lake District much the poorer for it.
Amy Wilcockson 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. William Wordsworth’s last home is up for sale – returning it to a private residence would be a loss for the UK’s cultural heritage – https://theconversation.com/william-wordsworths-last-home-is-up-for-sale-returning-it-to-a-private-residence-would-be-a-loss-for-the-uks-cultural-heritage-253561
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MIL-OSI Africa: North West traditional horse racing gives the economy a leg up
Source: South Africa News Agency
The inaugural Lobelo la Dipitsi Traditional Horse Racing event, held at Bloomtech Lodge in Vryburg at the weekend, celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the North West province while also stimulating local economic growth.
According to the North West Provincial Government (NWPG), Lobelo la Dipitsi represents a significant milestone in the province’s initiative to use traditional sports for economic development.
The race attracted an influx of visitors from across the province and neighbouring countries such as Botswana and Namibia, boosting tourism and fostering cross-border collaboration.
A key feature of the event was the small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMME) exhibition, which showcased 69 stalls supported by the Department of Economic Development, Conservation, Environment, and Tourism (DEDECT)and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
These enterprises, ranging from flea market vendors to informal traders, displayed a variety of artisanal products, including handcrafted African-themed clothing, footwear, organic herbs, spices, perfumes, and wooden vases.
The gathering was attended by Premier Lazarus Mokgosi and the DEDECT MEC, Bitsa Lenkopane with the MEC emphasising the race’s role in economic transformation, saying it is not just a celebration of cultural heritage but also a strategic initiative to drive local business growth.
This platform empowers Black entrepreneurs, facilitates job creation, and strengthens the local economy.
“Through the North West Gambling Board, we envisage empowering emerging race associations with compliance in terms of acquiring relevant licenses with gambling legislations.”
During a walkabout of the flea market, the MEC engaged directly with small business owners to assess their experiences and the impact of the event on their enterprises.
She alluded to the fact that the department will continue to offer support to small businesses and cooperatives to ensure that their products are well packaged, properly labelled, and adhere to the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) requirements.
“The economic activity generated by the event reaffirmed the potential of public-private partnerships in promoting sustainable economic development.”
The event reached its highlight with an exciting prize-giving ceremony, officiated by the province’s leadership.
Lenkopane commended the participation of young riders and the involvement of regional partners from Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho, highlighting the significance of this initiative in fostering strong economic and cultural ties.
“I am confident that Lobelo la Dipitsi has the potential to grow into a flagship event on North West’s tourism calendar,” she added.
She further extended her gratitude to the event sponsors, including GBets, Goldrush, Sunbets, CGM and other contributors, for their commitment to making the event a reality.
She also expressed gratitude to community members and horse riders for their enthusiastic participation and support.
Lobelo la Dipitsi will be rotated annually across the districts of the province, ensuring continued economic impact, cultural preservation, and regional integration.This groundbreaking initiative has reinforced the NWPG’s commitment to empowering local communities through strategic events and sustainable economic initiatives. – SAnews.gov.za
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MIL-OSI Global: William Wordsworth’s last home is up for sale – returning it to a private residence would be a loss for the UK’s cultural heritage
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amy Wilcockson, Research assistant, University of Glasgow
Until recently, fans of William Wordsworth could visit his final home, Rydal Mount and Gardens, nestled in the heart of England’s green and beautiful Lake District. Renowned as one of the most prominent British poets, the works of Wordsworth (1770-1850) include what is widely regarded as the most famous poem in the English language, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.
So it’s not surprising that his immaculately maintained house and gardens, with breathtaking views of Lake Windermere and Rydal Water, once attracted 45,000 visitors a year.
However, rising costs, a fall in visitor numbers to 20,000 or fewer per year, and the residual effects of the pandemic have placed the future of the museum in question.
The current owners have put Rydal Mount on the market for the first time since 1969 for £2.5 million – meaning this important piece of literary heritage, depending on who buys it, could become closed to the public.
The house was bought by Mary Henderson, Wordsworth’s great-great-granddaughter, in 1969 and opened as a writer’s house museum a year later.
Rydal Mount was originally a small 16th-century cottage. By 1813, there was enough room for Wordsworth, his wife Mary and three surviving children, plus Wordsworth’s sister-in-law Sara and sister Dorothy – author of the Grasmere Journal, which detailed the household’s life.
Leaving the cramped conditions of the more famous Dove Cottage behind them, it was at Rydal Mount that Wordsworth truly settled, building a “writing hut” and extensively landscaping the grounds to his own design.
This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.
Next to Rydal Mount is Dora’s Field, which also has literary significance. Here, the poet is believed to have planted 1,847 daffodils to mark his daughter Dora’s memory, following her death from tuberculosis aged 42. These daffodils still bloom every spring.
While living at Rydal Mount, Wordsworth revised his epic “The Prelude” and wrote many other popular poems. This too is the house where he died in 1850. It was only when Mary died in 1859 that the family’s tenancy of the house came to an end.
Visitors get to step into the house where all this happened and see a wealth of rare objects, including a rare portrait of Dorothy and Wordsworth’s letter to Queen Victoria refusing the job of Poet Laureate (which he later accepted).
Owning England’s heritage
Visitors go to literary museums to experience the “spirit of the place”, to “encounter” the author and absorb some of their creativity. One recent visitor to Rydal Mount was so disappointed not to meet Wordsworth personally that they wrote a disparaging review, telling of their confusion that the poet “wasn’t in” and “when [they] asked when he would be home, all [they] got was blank stares.”
Wordworth is so closely connected to the Lake District that marketing strategies have used him to promote the area since the 1800s. Rydal Mount has had an integral role in maintaining these traditions. The estate agent’s advert is keen to stress the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of England’s heritage” and the “superb gardens … designed by Wordsworth himself”.
In selling the museum as it is, there is a real risk that Rydal Mount could become a private home lost to the public eye – much like Greta Hall, the home of Wordsworth’s fellow poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which has long been privately owned.
Prospective closure is not uncommon for smaller museums in 2025. A recent report noted that three in five small museums fear closure because of declining revenue and footfall. 2020 was the 250th anniversary of Wordsworth’s birth and should have been a bumper year of events and tourism for the Lake District. Instead, the pandemic ravaged the celebrations and left tourist attractions in financial peril that many have not recovered from.
William Wordsworth lived at Rydal Mount for 37 years and died there.
Wikimedia, CC BYCritics will argue that even if Rydal Mount does close, there are still three more Wordsworth homes open to visitors (Dove Cottage, the favourite of tourist guides, Wordsworth House and Garden, and Allan Bank). Even Wordsworth’s old school is a museum.
The closure of Rydal Mount would inevitably boost these other sites’ visitor numbers – particularly Dove Cottage, which is on the same (albeit long) road as Rydal Mount. And the condition of Wordsworth’s last home could potentially be improved by a private owner with ample funds to upkeep the house.
However, it is also true that public appreciation of museums remains high, with 89% of adults in a 2024 YouGov survey advocating for their importance to UK culture, and 54% registering disappointment if their local museum were to close.
While the British Museum has experienced its highest visitor numbers since 2015, more needs to be done to save regional museums and writer’s house museums from closure. The sale of Rydal Mount into private hands may prove a severe loss to literary history, leaving the Lake District much the poorer for it.
Amy Wilcockson 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. William Wordsworth’s last home is up for sale – returning it to a private residence would be a loss for the UK’s cultural heritage – https://theconversation.com/william-wordsworths-last-home-is-up-for-sale-returning-it-to-a-private-residence-would-be-a-loss-for-the-uks-cultural-heritage-253561
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MIL-OSI Russia: The results of the conference “Reconstruction and Restoration of Architectural Heritage” were summed up at SPbGASU
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Presidium of the round table “Additional professional education in restoration”. From left to right: Chairperson of the Russian Association of Restorers, Acting Director of the State Autonomous Cultural Institution of the Leningrad Region “International Restoration Center” Tatyana Chernyaeva; Professor of the Urban Planning Department of SPbGASU Sergey Semenov; First Vice-Rector of SPbGASU Svetlana Golovina; Director of the Higher Engineering School of RUT (MIIT) Boris Igolnikov; General Director of REMMERS LLC Andrey Babich
The anniversary 5th National (All-Russian) scientific and practical conference with international participation “Reconstruction and Restoration of Architectural Heritage” (RRAN-2025) was held at the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering from March 24 to 28.
The conference was attended by representatives of the Russian Ministry of Culture, state bodies for the protection of monuments, higher education institutions training architect-restorers, restoration specialists from all over Russia and abroad. The partners of the conference were the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (KGIOP) of the Government of St. Petersburg and the Non-Commercial Partnership “Russian Association of Restorers (Rosregionrestavratsiya)”. The conference was held with the participation of the companies “Friedlander Paints”, OOO “REMMERS” and OOO “RUNIT”.
Plenary session
At the plenary session “Features of Preservation and Development of Restoration Professions,” those gathered discussed prospects for cooperation, outlined development paths for the industry, and discussed new challenges facing restoration architects.
Mikhail Mamoshin, chief architect and project manager at Mamoshin Architectural Workshop LLC, spoke about the reconstruction of the Church of the Holy Blessed Princes Boris and Gleb in St. Petersburg. The church was built in 1866–1882 and operated until 1934. Then, for over 40 years, it was used for other purposes, and in 1975, the building was demolished to make way for a new route for the Sinopskaya Embankment. Interest in the reconstruction of this site arose after the publication of an album dedicated to the lost churches of the Northern capital, which was prepared at the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering by Professor Sergei Vladimirovich Semenov and Associate Professor Nadezhda Aleksandrovna Akulova. Later, the Foundation for Assistance to the Restoration of Historical and Cultural Sites in St. Petersburg, with the support of the Union of Architects of St. Petersburg, published the book “The Lost Churches of St. Petersburg”. In 2019, the foundation announced its decision to recreate this temple. The team led by Mikhail Mamoshin was entrusted with carrying out the design work.
Yulia Bogacheva, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments, gave a report entitled “Heritage Protection and Digitalization”. The audience learned about the KGIOP archive, the funds of which were formed in the 1930s and include documents from the beginning of the 18th century to the present day. In 2015–2017, 2,700 storage units were digitized and placed in the committee’s information system. Olga Olegovna reviewed the main digital systems and technologies used in the implementation of control (supervisory) activities, and emphasized the need for a modern comprehensive solution integrated with regional and federal geographic information systems (GIS). According to the speaker, digital transformation is impossible without the creation of a geographic information system of cultural heritage sites (GIS OKN). The implementation of the project will improve the quality and efficiency of recording, identifying, preserving, using, popularizing and state protection of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) in St. Petersburg, and automate information exchange. The KGIOP representative also spoke about plans to develop solutions based on information regulation technologies (IRT) together with SPbGASU for analyzing and assessing the condition of architectural monuments, monitoring the condition of monuments, etc.
Ekaterina Tribelskaya, head of the architecture department at the Moscow State Academic Art Institute named after V. I. Surikov at the Russian Academy of Arts, presented the architecture department of her university, noting that they are attentive and careful about preserving cultural heritage sites, and research them as part of coursework and diploma theses.
Anna Smirnova, CEO of Kraski Friedlander LLC, gave a presentation entitled “Brand Cities. Cultural Heritage and Identity in Historical Cities.” The speaker listed the reasons why a city needs its own brand: this will attract investment and tourists, support traditions, create conditions for business development, and much more. In addition, this will preserve important historical foundations of color perception and preserve the identity of the environment.
Yulia Yankovskaya, Head of the Urban Planning Department at SPbGASU, gave a report entitled “Compositional and Artistic Aspects of Architectural and Urban Planning Design – History and Modernity.” Yulia Sergeevna said that the Russian architectural school has always focused on compositional and artistic training. This is our global brand, which our Western and Eastern colleagues are guided by. Its outstanding representatives worked at SPbGASU – Yuri Kurbatov (1934-2020) and Vladimir Antoshchenkov (1933-2024). Unfortunately, according to Yulia Yankovskaya, this brand has recently begun to lose ground.
In her presentation, Yulia Sergeevna showed the evolution of compositional training in architecture and architectural education and the development of ideas about extra-leftist form-building in the 20th–21st centuries, emphasizing that this is also a legacy that needs to be known, preserved and developed.
In addition, Yulia Sergeevna drew the attention of the audience to two new topics discussed at the conference. One of them is monumental art in architecture and urban development. A round table and exhibition at the Faculty of Architecture, which will last until April 4.
The conference program, in addition to five main sections in a number of areas, also included two round tables, two master classes, a lecture block, and two days of visiting restoration sites in St. Petersburg and its suburbs.
Round table “Additional professional education in restoration”
The round table began with a ceremony to sign an agreement on interuniversity cooperation between the Russian University of Transport and SPbGASU. The document was signed by Boris Igolnikov, Director of the Higher Engineering School of the Russian University of Transport (RUT (MIIT)) and Svetlana Golovina, First Vice-Rector of SPbGASU.
The parties intend to exchange experience and information, organize internships for students and postgraduates, and hold joint events. Boris Igolnikov reported that the two universities are already actively interacting. The signing of the agreement will allow this interaction to reach a new level.
Round table “Architecture, art, technology – integration mechanisms in a historical city”
The focus of the participants of the round table “Architecture, art, technology – integration mechanisms in a historical city” was the digitalization of architectural and urban planning activities, which is being actively implemented at the state level, and its impact on the creative process of the architect and artist.
Those gathered also considered the role of the architect-restorer, the architect-urban planner, who combines the compositional-artistic historical and creative principles, which are important to take into account when preserving and developing the environment, which is especially important when designing and organizing space and allows for the life of a modern person.
Participants noted the need for proper management of this process, the inclusion of an urban architect and a restoration architect, the need to correctly set boundaries between areas where digitalization is important and necessary, and those where creative search remains a priority.
Section “Experience of practical restoration and modern materials (synthesis of science and practice)”
At the section “Experience of Practical Restoration and Modern Materials (Synthesis of Science and Practice)”, participants presented modern technologies for adapting architectural monuments, ensuring the possibility of their effective and safe operation, taking into account modern requirements. Alexey Kharitonov, associate professor of the Department of Construction Materials Technology and Metrology of SPbGASU, moderator of the section, reported that these technologies provide for minimal intervention in historical structures and materials, as they are based on the continuity of traditional construction techniques.
“We exchanged experience in selecting restoration materials and technological schemes for conducting work using completed projects as an example. The participants were very interested in discussing the problem of capillary water suction in brick walls: completely new and scientifically substantiated ideas about the mechanism of moistening the walls of buildings and structures made of brickwork were presented. Draft national standards were presented, designed to regulate the requirements for the quality of work on the restoration of brickwork and plaster finishing,” said Alexey Kharitonov.
Section “Monumental art in urban planning”
At this section, experts discussed the issues of integrating works of monumental art into architecture and urban planning. If this process is well-established within the framework of restoration and reconstruction of historical monuments, then when including such works of art in modern architecture, the interaction of the architect and the monumental artist often turns out to be insufficient. Experts see the reason for this in the exclusion of this aspect from the educational process of architectural and artistic and architectural and construction universities. As a consequence, there is a lack of cooperation skills and, moreover, an understanding of the role of monumental art in modern architecture and the urban environment.
“Our colleagues from the Department of Architecture at the V. I. Surikov Moscow State Academic Art Institute told us about training in this type of interaction (work between architects and sculptors as part of a third-year course project and a diploma project (in the latter case, it is optional)). Such interaction is not observed in other educational institutions, so the initiative of the Department of Urban Development at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering to include the works of students of monumental painting in projects to transform the urban environment is very important. It is necessary to develop this area both in object design and in architectural-environmental and urban development design,” said Yulia Yankovskaya, moderator of the section.
Master classes
The highlights of the conference were the master classes from the company “Friedlander Paints”: “Lime paint as part of a systematic approach to restoration based on the principle of “like to like”” and “Restoration of brick and stonework”. Experienced professionals demonstrated work on restoring the surfaces of architectural monuments, shared advice on working with materials and tools, and original paint application techniques.
The construction company REMMERS presented an exhibition stand at the conference, telling about its restoration projects, and the magazine Vestnik Restoratsii, which it publishes. The publication was of great interest to the conference participants and students of SPbGASU.
Visiting restoration sites
Thematic excursions were organized for the conference participants. In the Yusupov Palace on the Moika Embankment, they viewed the ceremonial interiors that had recently undergone restoration. In the building of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, they got acquainted with the progress of the restoration work that was being completed. They viewed restoration objects in one of the palace and park suburbs of St. Petersburg – in Peterhof.
During the conference, specialists were also able to undergo advanced training.
Those gathered came to a general consensus on the need to create a single center for the development of restoration technologies.
Following the conference, a collection of scientific articles will be published.
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.
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MIL-OSI United Nations: Sint Maarten Trust Fund
Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
Mission
In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the island of Sint Maarten. The World Bank estimated the damages and losses caused by Hurricane Irma to Sint Maarten to be $2.73 billion. Ninety percent of all infrastructure was affected, with tourism-the country’s biggest industry taking a huge hit.
Due to Sint Maarten’s location and dependence on tourism, it is highly vulnerable to natural disasters, which may happen more frequently due to climate change. Sint Maarten needs to be prepared.
The Sint Maarten Reconstruction, Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund was launched in April 2018 as a tripartite partnership between the government of the Netherlands, government of Sint Maarten, and the World Bank to help the country rebuild stronger and more sustainably to support longer-term development priorities.
The current fund portfolio is US$519 million, with recipient-executed projects addressing the country’s most critical needs-strengthening institutions, building capacity, making infrastructure climate-resilient, and improving social and economic cohesion.
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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.
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Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
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MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Promoting local produce
Source: Scottish Government
£100,000 funding for Regional Food Fund.
Encouraging small businesses to thrive and foster collaboration amongst producers and food groups to promote local produce.
The Scottish Government is providing £100,000 funding for the sixth round of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Regional Food Fund.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to Scottish food business for projects aimed at elevating Scotland’s food and drink industry, enhancing food tourism and showcasing the best local produce the country has to offer.
Since 2021, the Scottish Government has provided over £500,000 to the fund, which has supported 104 collaborative projects, varying from creative artwork to increase customer numbers, new equipment and regional marketing campaigns.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:
“Scotland’s food and drink industry is worth £15 billion to the Scottish economy; it is one of the country’s largest employers and is already well-recognised and established across the world.
“However, we realise how vital engaging with regional markets is in achieving our industry strategy and growth ambitions for the next ten years. That’s why, through remarkable initiatives like the Regional Food Fund, we are providing small projects the opportunity to promote and showcase their regional goods.
“This funding enables businesses to raise awareness of locally available produce to communities and showcase some of Scotland’s most exciting food and drink ventures.”
Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink, Fiona Richmond said:
“As the Regional Food Fund enters its sixth round, we look forward to reviewing a diverse range of applications. Over the years, the fund has supported everything from food and drink festivals and campaigns to collaborative initiatives showcasing the journey from field to fork. This highlights the strength of the desire for local produce and the growing food tourism scene in Scotland.
“The fund encourages regional collaboration and celebrates unique food and drink stories that continue to nurture and elevate Scotland’s thriving food culture, making it a renowned destination for food experiences.”
Background
Applications for the sixth round of the fund are now open on the Scotland Food & Drink website. The closing date for applications is 17:00 on 30 April 2025.
All application guidance and application forms are available on the Scotland Food & Drink website, along with previous successful applicants and success stories.
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MIL-OSI Russia: Since the beginning of the school year, Moscow schoolchildren and college students have made over 400 thousand trips as part of the Museums for Children project
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Since the beginning of this academic year, Mosgortrans tourist buses have transported over 400 thousand Moscow schoolchildren and college students from more than a thousand educational institutions as part of project “Museums for Children”This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.
During the last academic year, schoolchildren and college students from more than 950 educational institutions made over 460 thousand trips on Mosgortrans buses.
“We have been participating in Sergei Sobyanin’s project “Museums for Children” for seven years now. Our transport provides comfortable and safe trips to museums and exhibition halls for Moscow schoolchildren and college students. Since 2018, Mosgortrans buses have transported more than 1.9 million students,” said Maxim Liksutov.
The Mosgortrans State Unitary Enterprise charter service uses 100 tourist-class buses. The cabin has up to 50 seats, climate control and a TV. To ensure that passengers always stay in touch, there are USB ports for charging phones. Comfortable seats are equipped with seat belts, tables and individual lighting.
The safety of the trips is ensured by professional drivers. Before leaving on a trip, all of them undergo a mandatory medical examination. The buses have bright identification signs, so they are always visible on the road. The transport is equipped with flashing beacons on the roof and signs “Caution, children!”
“Museums for Children” is a special project of the Mayor of Moscow, which appeared in September 2017. Thanks to it, Moscow schoolchildren and college students have the opportunity to visit the capital’s museums and exhibition halls for free at any time. Today, more than 110 museum and exhibition sites are participating in the project.
How to order a bus for an organized group of schoolchildren or college students, you can find out on the website and by phone: 7 495 951-08-67.
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/152039073/
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