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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: Reconstruction of the M-1 Belarus highway section is more than half complete

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    “We are carrying out systematic work across the country to expand and modernize roadways on key highways and city roads where this is necessary to improve transport accessibility. These measures allow us to increase the capacity of the road network, reduce travel time, reduce accidents and minimize logistics costs. In particular, we are reconstructing the M-1 Belarus high-speed highway from the 66th to the 84th km. We will expand this section from four to six lanes. Currently, specialists are constructing the roadbed at the site; 80% of the excavation work has been completed to date, amounting to about 440 thousand cubic meters. At the same time, work is being carried out to install the road surface. 178 thousand tons of asphalt concrete have already been laid, which is almost half of the planned volume. As of today, the overall readiness of the site is more than 50%. There is still a lot of work ahead, it is important to maintain the current momentum,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    The Deputy Prime Minister added that work is underway at the site to install a cable duct for the installation of an automated traffic control system. Barrier and reinforced concrete parapet fencing are being installed; 10 km and 14 km, respectively, have been installed so far. In addition, for safe travel at night, it is planned to install outdoor lighting lines in the dividing strip of the road throughout the site. Currently, the foundations of lighting poles are being installed on the section from the 66th to the 71st km.

    According to the Chairman of the Board of the state company Avtodor, Vyacheslav Petushenko, construction and installation work is being carried out on the reconstruction site to erect 12 artificial structures. These are bridges, overpasses and overground pedestrian crossings.

    “The main artificial structures at the site are two bridges across the Nara and Kapanka rivers. The bridge across the Nara river is 45% complete. A reinforced concrete monolithic superstructure has already been installed here, the embankment is being filled on the approaches with subsequent installation of transition slabs. The bridge across the Kapanka river is half ready, now it is being prepared for laying asphalt concrete on the junctions and the bridge deck. Also among the key structures are two overpasses. One is part of the interchange at the 74th km, and the other is in the turnaround loop from the village of Lyakhovo at the 72nd km. Their readiness is 70 and 50%, respectively. Small artificial structures are also being built in parallel. These include culverts necessary to ensure uninterrupted water flow under the roadway and prevent flooding, which directly affects road safety,” said Vyacheslav Petushenko.

    For the convenience of drivers and passengers, a rest area is being set up at the 74th km of the M-1 “Belarus”. Here, excavation work, road surface construction and storm sewer installation are nearing completion. At the moment, the site is being prepared for the installation of asphalt concrete pavement.

    In total, 355 units of equipment and approximately 1,080 people are involved in the reconstructed section.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: You can obtain permits in a comprehensive manner on “Gosuslugi”.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The State Services portal now offers the opportunity to obtain a set of permits through a single application. An entrepreneur only needs to select the type of activity, fill out the form, and the system will send his application to the relevant departments. The new approach to issuing permits was developed as part of the optimization of permitting activities in Russia.

    On the portal, permits are grouped according to the principle of conducting a certain activity. Each activity has its own set of permits. The first such comprehensive service available to organizations and individual entrepreneurs is “Opening a Pharmacy”. It includes permits that are necessary for carrying out pharmaceutical activities, a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion, and a sanitary and epidemiological examination. Previously, an application for each of them was submitted in turn. The entrepreneur had to independently monitor the readiness of each permit in order to apply for the next one. Now he can fill out one comprehensive application. This takes an average of 10 minutes, the system automatically sends it to the relevant departments. If approved, the entrepreneur receives the entire set of permits within three months.

    The list of such complex scenarios for filing applications is being expanded as part of the project to optimize and automate permitting processes.

    “We are working consistently to reduce the administrative burden on businesses, including in permitting activities. We have already halved the time it takes to issue permits and the number of documents requested. Our main task today is to combine various types of permits for a typical situation. That is, we are talking about the fact that through one application it is possible to obtain several types of permits at once,” commented Deputy Prime Minister – Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko.

    The Government proposes to enshrine the possibility of obtaining comprehensive permits electronically through the State Services portal in legislation. To this end, a corresponding draft law was submitted to the State Duma in June. In addition, the document provides for the proactive provision of permit issuance services. It is planned that an entrepreneur will receive a notification from the state on the State Services portal with an offer to extend the permit. The application for extension will already be pre-filled.

    The bill also proposes to amend (approximately) 70 industry laws to consolidate the reduction in the timeframes and number of documents required to obtain permits for each type separately. On average, the number of documents required to be submitted for a permit has been reduced by 2 times – from 8 to 4. The timeframe for reviewing all types of permits has also been reduced by 2 times on average – from 43 to 19 days.

    More than 400 types of permits can now be obtained on “Gosuslugi”. In total, over 1 million applications were submitted through the government services portal in Russia in 2024, and over 408 thousand in the first five months of 2025.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev: A military-historical memorial complex dedicated to the Kuril landing operation is being created on Shumshu

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev, the progress of work on the creation of a camp and memorial complex on Shumshu was inspected. The Kuril Island was visited by Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Denis Andreyev and First Deputy Governor of the Sakhalin Region Sergei Baidakov.

    “Shumshu is a significant page in our history. In fact, World War II ended on this island. Our soldiers defeated superior enemy forces and demonstrated mass heroism. At the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a military-historical memorial complex dedicated to the Kuril landing operation is being created on the island. It will perpetuate the feat of the Red Army soldiers who, in August 1945, at the cost of their lives, snatched victory from a superior enemy – the Imperial Japanese Army,” said Yuri Trutnev.

    A search expedition will be launched on July 1st. About 100 patriots from different regions of Russia will take part in it. An expedition of such a scale has never been conducted on the island. Thanks to this, many fallen heroes will find a name and will be buried with military honors.

    “We have assessed the readiness to open the search camp and memorial complex. The work is proceeding at a good pace. Shumshu Island is a heroic place where one of the most important battles took place, which put an end to World War II. Here you can literally touch history, and thanks to the implementation of the project on the instructions of the President, young people from different regions of Russia will soon have such an opportunity. A large-scale search expedition is also ready to begin work, which, I am sure, will open many heroic pages in the history of our country,” Denis Andreev noted.

    “The camp is now almost 100% deployed. On June 30 and July 1, the participants of the search expedition will arrive. The reenactors’ camp will be deployed in the area of Mys Kurbatov. Sappers from the Eastern Military District and specialists from the Pacific Fleet are currently working there, and the military is also tidying up the lighthouse. We assess the readiness as high. Everything is on schedule, but the task is very ambitious. Every day we solve many issues related to equipment, materials, and logistics. But we will do everything to ensure that the order of the head of state Vladimir Putin to perpetuate the feat of the participants of the Kuril landing operation is fulfilled. Our governor Valery Limarenko also puts this task as a priority,” said Sergey Baidakov.

    Sakhalin searchers have already begun reconnaissance work on the island.

    “Spring came early this year, the weather is good, and the mood is fighting. The goal of the reconnaissance is to find the supposed places of death of the soldiers, mark the points on the ground. And when all the searchers arrive, we will conduct targeted excavations. We have already managed to find buttons from military uniforms, personal belongings of soldiers. We are studying all the finds and working with them,” said Artem Bandura, head of the regional branch of the Search Movement of Russia.

    Shumshu is also currently preparing to welcome youth tourist groups. Participants in patriotic movements from different parts of Russia will see with their own eyes the places where history unfolded and will become ambassadors of this Far Eastern victory in their regions.

    The first group is expected to arrive on July 15. Each day the children will have a schedule – lectures, meetings with historians, writers and SVO members, walks along tourist trails, search work.

    “We are developing four tourist routes called “Roads of Shumshu Island”. The longest one is a ring route – 50 km. It goes through the entire island and through the most iconic battle sites. There are also three radial routes from 5 to 8.5 km long, so that groups can comfortably move around the island and touch history,” said Artem Lazarev, Minister of Tourism of the Sakhalin Region.

    Let us recall that the key events dedicated to the opening of the memorial complex – the competition in sports triathlon “Height 171” and military-historical reconstruction – will take place in the second half of August, on the day of the beginning of the Kuril landing operation. About 150 people from two dozen regions of Russia and friendly countries will take part in the reconstruction.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Rector’s Club”: Vladimir Stroyev reminded about the engineering competencies of the State University of Management at the IOT-meeting

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev spoke at the Rector’s Club discussion on the topic of “Educational policy in the context of the Priority 2030 program”, which was held as part of the Fourth All-Russian IOT-meeting in the studio of the Russian Society “Knowledge”.

    Vladimir Stroyev shared his opinion on regulating the volume of paid admission to study at universities:

    “While the mechanism of changes has not been officially announced, it is only known that the reduction will take place on September 1. Now we continue to work as usual, understanding that our situation may be simpler than that of many colleagues, because the State University of Management grew out of the Moscow Engineering and Economics Institute and has strong engineering competencies along with training managers of various profiles – not only civil servants, but also managers of specific industries.

    We have a wide range of engineering specialties: electric power engineering, mechanical engineering, transport, construction, chemical industry. The recently published rating of the Ministry of Labor confirmed the demand for our graduates – GUU took 11th place, which is not bad, although we can strive higher. Our system of cooperation with industry partners helps to create competitive developments and form practical competencies of future engineers and managers,” concluded Vladimir Vitalievich.

    The rector also emphasized that in addition to its main educational activities, the State University of Management is actively developing the scientific sphere, supporting projects of the Student Design Bureau, which regularly wins competitions and receives state grants.

    During the discussion, the President of SFedU Marina Borovskaya, the Director of the Mashuk Knowledge Center, Deputy General Director of the Russian Society “Knowledge” Anton Serikov, the Rector of Tyumen State University Ivan Romanchuk, the Rector of Cherepovets State University Olga Lyaginova, the Director of the Department for Work with Educational Organizations of the Russian Society “Knowledge” Albina Bikbulatova, the Chairman of the Council of the IOT Consortium of Universities, General Director of CUSTIS Vladimir Rakhteenko, the Director of the Odintsovo Branch of MGIMO Elena Kozlovskaya and others shared their vision of various aspects of modern education.

    The All-Russian IOT-meeting is one of the key annual events of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia in the track “Designing the Future”. The IOT-meeting is focused on discussions and exchange of experience of rectors, vice-rectors, heads of PIS and IT teams of universities that are planning and already implementing flexible educational models.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plans for UK to become sustainable finance capital of the world

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Plans for UK to become sustainable finance capital of the world

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband outlines plans to support banks and large companies in developing climate transition plans.

    • Government welcomes views on supporting banks and large companies to set out their climate transition plans  
    • Energy Secretary announces plans will “help unlock billions in clean energy investment” and grow the economy  
    • delivers on commitment to make the UK the “sustainable finance capital of the world” as part of the Plan for Change

    To help “unlock billions in clean energy investment”, the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has today outlined plans to support banks and large companies in developing climate transition plans when addressing the Climate and Innovation Forum as part of London Climate Action Week (25 June).  

    The UK is consistently ranked first in the world for sustainable finance, and 70% of FTSE 100 companies have already voluntarily developed many of the key elements of a transition plan. Widespread transition planning will help provide long-term certainty and clarity to help scale the sustainable finance industry as part of our modern industrial policy. 

    The government’s clean energy superpower mission is already delivering economic growth, with net zero sectors growing 3 times faster than the overall economy last year, according to CBI Economics. Since July, over £40 billion of private investment has also been announced into the UK’s clean energy industries – creating good jobs for working people and driving long-term growth.  

    As part of the government’s Plan for Change, the government wants to help stimulate billions of pounds a year of private investment to deliver the government’s clean energy superpower mission and make the UK the “sustainable finance capital of the world”.  

    To support this growth, the government will take forward recommendations from last year’s Transition Finance Market Review to consult on transition plan requirements in order to catalyse the growing transition finance market. The design of any future transition plan requirements will be aligned with the Prime Minister’s commitment to reduce regulatory compliance costs by 25%. 

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    This government is determined to make the UK the sustainable finance capital of the world as we seize the huge economic opportunities provided by clean energy. 

    Through our clean energy superpower mission and industrial strategy, we can win this global race and accelerate investment into these sectors – growing the economy, turbocharging the transition to net zero and delivering on our Plan for Change. 

    Our plans will transform our leading financial services sector into a global hub for green investment.

    Minister for Competition and Markets Justin Madders said:  

    We want to work with businesses to develop a “common sense” sustainable reporting framework that is transparent, clear and proportionate for those investing in the UK. 

    These measures will enhance competition in the sustainability assurance sector, helping to deliver on our Plan for Change and kickstart economic growth.

    Rt Hon Lord Alok Sharma KCMG, Chair of the UK Transition Finance Council said: 

    A clear message from the Transition Finance Market Review was that high quality disclosure and information are vital for investors and a pre-condition to a flourishing sustainable and transition finance market.  

    I therefore very much welcome the government taking forward recommendations from the Review to consult on corporate transition plan requirements.  

    The UK can become the pre-eminent global financial centre for raising transition finance, but this is a time-limited opportunity, and that is why it will be vital to move quickly from consultation to implementation.

    The government is publishing 3 consultations on: 

    • how to take forward the government’s commitment on transition planning to support the market to invest in sectors that will deliver the clean energy superpower mission
    • new UK Sustainability Reporting Standards to provide clear, comparable information for investors on sustainability related financial risks and opportunities to enable them to make informed investment decisions
    • the development of a voluntary registration regime for the providers of assurance of sustainability reporting, supporting growth in this important sector

    Transition planning means businesses set out a roadmap that outlines how they intend to adapt and transform their operations, strategies, and business models to align with their climate goals. 

    This is a vital part of the government’s commitment to secure Britain’s position as the sustainable finance capital of the world and will help businesses and investors seize the opportunities from the clean energy transition.  

    A recent survey of financial institutions conducted by South Pole found that 84% of UK-based financial institutions find companies with transition plans more attractive to invest in. 

    Supporting British industry and creating good, skilled jobs up and up down the country is core to the government’s industrial strategy and plan to grow the economy, ensuring businesses can take advantage of the transition to new low carbon technologies as they reduce their emissions. This will allow UK industry to remain competitive globally and support the millions of manufacturing jobs in regions across the UK – as well as future-proofing existing sectors, and increasing economic resilience to climate impacts. 

    Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive at SSE plc said: 

    SSE has long been a firm supporter of credible, transparent transition planning. As an early adopter of climate transition plans, we’ve seen first-hand how they can build investor confidence and accelerate progress toward net zero. 

    We welcome the UK Government’s ambition to become the sustainable finance capital of the world and fully support the work of the Transition Plan Taskforce and the Transition Finance Market Review. 

    As the UK’s clean energy champion, we want to see the UK remain the best place in the world to attract transition finance and deliver the investment needed for a just and ambitious energy transition.

    Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group, said: 

    The Aldersgate Group welcomes today’s announcement as a significant step forward in creating a first-in-class green regulatory framework. 

    Using the feedback from these consultations to develop clear financial guardrails will help strengthen the transparency, interoperability, and credibility of climate-related financial disclosures. This is essential to support the measures in the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, unlocking private sector investment in the UK’s low carbon economy.  

    We are particularly pleased to see the consultation on how best to take forward the government’s commitment on transition planning. Climate transition plans are a vital tool to help real economy companies integrate climate into strategic and operational decision-making, while also enabling financial institutions to align capital allocation, stewardship, and risk management with the transition to net zero.

    James Alexander, CEO of UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), said:  

    We welcome the government’s commitment to bringing forward the consultation on climate transition plans for banks and large companies. These are essential for enhancing growth and global competitiveness as the UK and other countries decarbonise.  

    Further dialogue between the government and industry on the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards is also very encouraging. We look forward to ministers taking forward these commitments, which will help future-proof our economy over the coming years.

    Heather McKay, Programme Lead, UK Sustainable and Resilient Finance at E3G, said:  

    The delivery of the government’s growth mission relies on ensuring Britain is a world-class destination for green and transition finance.  

    The clean economy is our ticket to a high-growth future, and credible transition plans – as part of a future-fit regulatory regime – are fundamental to unlocking the investment required to seize this opportunity.  

    The release of this highly anticipated consultation package is a welcome step towards turning this vision into reality.

    Claudine Blamey, Chief Sustainability Officer at Aviva, said:  

    We welcome this consultation as an important next step in understanding how transition planning is rolled out across the UK economy, helping businesses understand the steps needed to transition, supporting a greener, more prosperous future.

    Andrew Ninian, Director for Stewardship, Risk and Tax at the Investment Association, said:  

    We want the UK to remain at the forefront of sustainable finance. Ensuring that reporting standards are focused on the issues that impact the financial performance of companies is vital to achieve this.  

    Transition planning should enable investors to understand how climate risks and opportunities affect a company’s value and how they are adapting their business strategy to reduce their climate impact, in order to provide a sustainable future and grow the UK economy.  

    International comparability is also key, and with companies already preparing for reporting in line with ISSB, endorsing the standards will allow investors in UK companies to fully understand their long-term sustainability risks and simplify reporting expectations in the UK and globally.

    Ian Bhullar, Director, Sustainability Policy, UK Finance said: 

    The financial services industry backs proportionate, internationally aligned sustainability reporting. Many firms have already published transition plans and use their customers’ plans to make low-carbon financing decisions.  

    Better reporting by a range of companies will provide information that lenders and investors can use to increase green finance flows. UK Finance welcomes these consultations and will work with government to ensure they support growth in the UK economy.

    Faith Ward, Chief RI Officer, Brunel Pension Partnership said: 

    I hugely welcome the HMG announcements today. Having been deeply involved in supporting the International Sustainability Standards Board and Transition Plan Taskforce, I am delighted to see the UK take this vital step to regain its leadership role as global centre for green finance. 

    Investors want to allocate capital to growing businesses that are taking action to address climate and sustainability risks – and that are looking to business opportunities so that they deliver financially over the long term. They need globally consistent reporting on climate and sustainability actions, alongside critical insights into corporate plans for the transition.

    Bruno Gardner, Head of Climate Change and Nature, Phoenix Group said: 

    As a long-term investor, policy developments that provide greater certainty around the net zero transition enhance the UK’s role as the leading centre of sustainable finance.  

    Transition plans are critical to helping investors like Phoenix Group manage the risks of climate change and direct capital towards companies that are best equipped to navigate the transition to net zero, ensuring the best outcomes for our customers.  

    We welcome all three consultations and the government’s engagement with the private sector, which is a significant step towards giving investors greater policy certainty and enabling us to being net-zero by 2050.

    Notes to editors   

    DESNZ analysis of Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) data showed that global investment into low carbon sectors amounted to £1.6 trillion in 2024, with total investment in UK low carbon sectors representing 1.8% of GDP, the second highest share within the G7.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sellafield Ltd engineers win IChemE Young Engineers Awards

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Sellafield Ltd engineers win IChemE Young Engineers Awards

    Graduate engineers at Sellafield Ltd have won a prestigious award at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Young Engineers Awards.

    Sellafield Ltd’s winning team at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Young Engineers Awards for Innovation and Sustainability 2025

    A team of design engineer graduates from Sellafield Ltd won the the Quality Education category at the prestigious Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Young Engineers Awards for Innovation and Sustainability.

    The IChemE awards celebrate groundbreaking ideas in chemical engineering and supports IChemE’s vision for a more sustainable world.

    The winning team—Joseph Carter, Alana Prior, Lara Hill, and Ben Hilton—were recognised for their project, A Novel Approach to Chemical Engineering Work Experience, which enhances Sellafield Ltd’s design engineering work experience programme.

    Since taking charge of the programme’s process engineering section last September, the team introduced a practical phase separation activity, improved guidance for volunteers, refined the volunteering process to cover all 10 annual work experience weeks, and developed new resources for West Cumbria’s newly established design engineering work experience.

    Their initiative aims to inspire future engineers by making chemical engineering more accessible, addressing skills shortages in the industry. Demand for chemical engineers in the UK has surged by 55% in the last five years, with an annual shortfall of up to 59,000 engineering professionals.

    Team member, Ben Hilton, said:

    We’re thrilled to have received this recognition from IChemE. Sellafield has great early careers programmes, and their work experience initiative is a fantastic way to get young people interested in engineering careers. We’ve been lucky to be part of the graduate programme, and it’s great to see young professionals getting the opportunity to shape and lead these schemes

    On behalf of the rest of the team, I’d like to thank all of the volunteers and colleagues who supported this initiative. Their dedication and expertise have been invaluable in making the work experience programme as engaging and impactful as possible. Without their commitment, none of this would have been possible.

    Head of education, skills and social mobility, Michelle Lambon-Wilks, said:

    We are immensely proud to see this talented group of graduates receive recognition from IChemE. Their dedication and hard work have been truly outstanding, and this achievement is well deserved.

    At the heart of our mission is a commitment to delivering high-quality early careers programmes that provide a strong foundation for professional success. We actively listen to those taking part, value their insights, and continuously refine our initiatives based on their feedback—ensuring they are as impactful and effective as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China and Kazakhstan work together to fight border fires

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    URUMQI, June 25 (Xinhua) — The ongoing summer heat wave has increased the risk of forest and grassland fires in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which borders Kazakhstan, with fires most common in the border areas of the two countries, which are rich in wetlands, mountains and dense vegetation.

    The Xinjiang General Forest Fire Brigade accredited in the above-mentioned county (hereinafter referred to as the “Ili Fire Brigade”) is responsible for internal fire safety along the 800-km border line. In order to prevent fires from breaking out, the fire brigade is currently actively practicing various firefighting scenarios. They are equipped with special-purpose equipment, including helicopters and armored tracked fire trucks.

    Under the influence of various factors, forest and steppe fires on the borders of the two countries can pose a threat to both environmental safety and human safety. In recent years, the Ili fire brigade, consisting of 200 people, has taken part in fire and rescue operations in the border area three times.

    The last fire on the border occurred late at night three years ago. More than 130 people and over 30 vehicles, as well as 800 units and sets of firefighting equipment and communication and command devices were sent to the scene. As a result of their coordinated actions, the large fire was extinguished within 4 days.

    In early June this year, the Ili Fire Brigade and representatives of the firefighters of Kazakhstan took part in joint exercises near the Dulat checkpoint, which involved numerous forces. Six years ago, a secondary forest caught fire in the area adjacent to the same border crossing on the territory of Kazakhstan. As was established following a meeting between the border guards of the two countries, the fire was caused by grass burning and did not require the participation of the rescue forces of China to extinguish it. Thus, the fire brigade simply broke through a fire barrier 63 km long and about 50 m wide along the border line on the Chinese side, effectively preventing the indiscriminate spread of the fire.

    “If a fire breaks out on the border between China and Kazakhstan, our side must take the initiative and actively participate in the rescue operation, and if necessary, at the request of the Kazakh side, a cross-border firefighting operation can be carried out” – this is the principle that prevails in the actions of the Ili Fire Brigade.

    To combat forest and grassland fires in border areas, China has set up several teams ready to go to fight similar cross-border fires, said Cao Lihong, a research fellow at the Belt and Road Development Research Institute at Ili Normal University.

    She stressed that China and Kazakhstan’s joint response to common natural disasters is a concrete embodiment of the good-neighborliness and friendship between the two countries. According to her, China and Kazakhstan are continuously exploring ways to resolve problems arising in cooperation in firefighting and rescue work, thereby deepening mutual trust and cooperation, which can provide wisdom and useful experience for other countries in dealing with similar border fires. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mainland China has promised comprehensive assistance to Taiwanese compatriots in evacuating from the Iran-Israel conflict zone

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The Chinese mainland will make every effort to help evacuate Chinese citizens, including Taiwan compatriots, affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Wednesday.

    The Chinese Embassy in Israel recently issued an announcement asking Chinese citizens, including Taiwanese compatriots, who hold a mainland entry card to register for evacuation assistance due to rising tensions in the region.

    Zhu Fenglian said at a press conference that some Taiwanese compatriots have now been safely evacuated to neighboring countries.

    “We always reach out to our Taiwanese compatriots in a timely manner to provide them with the necessary assistance, whether it is during natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes, or emergency evacuations related to conflicts and wars,” she stressed. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China launches special campaign to combat illegal dumping of solid waste

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — China has launched a three-year special campaign against illegal dumping and disposal of solid waste, Ministry of Ecology and Environment spokesperson Pei Xiaofei said at a press conference on Wednesday.

    It will include thorough checks and enforcement actions against illegal activities of this kind, he added.

    The series of activities will focus on combating the illegal dumping of hazardous waste, solid industrial waste and construction waste. The campaign will also target the illegal dismantling and processing of scrapped motor vehicles, unusable electrical and electronic equipment, waste new energy equipment and batteries that have reached the end of their service life.

    The ministry representative stressed that those persons whose guilt in illegal dumping, burial and disposal of solid waste that will cause serious environmental pollution or economic losses to state property is proven and subject to criminal liability in accordance with the law will be brought to trial as soon as possible.

    Pei Xiaofei also called on the public to participate in the campaign, asking people to report cases of illegal dumping and disposal of waste on official websites, by phone numbers or by email. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China remains Uzbekistan’s main trading partner

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Tashkent, June 25 (Xinhua) — The volume of trade between Uzbekistan and China in January-May 2025 amounted to 5.4 billion US dollars, and China retained its position as the main trading partner of Uzbekistan, Uzbek media reported on Tuesday, citing data from the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

    This figure is reported to be 8 percent higher than last year.

    The report says that after China on the list are Russia and Kazakhstan, with USD 4.8 billion and USD 1.7 billion, respectively.

    It is noted that Uzbekistan’s total exports amounted to $14.8 billion, while imports amounted to $16.4 billion. The country mainly imports machinery and equipment for vehicles, as well as various industrial goods from abroad. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Unknown details of the poet’s biography. The Strochenovsky lecture hall opened in the S.A. Yesenin Museum

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Strochenovsky Lecture Hall has opened in the Moscow State Museum of S.A. Yesenin, where scholars talk about little-known pages of the poet’s biography. The first lecture by Professor Yaroslav Leontyev of the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, which opens the cycle, is dedicated to Yesenin’s political quest in the 1910s.

    1918. At the height of the Civil War, Sergei Yesenin writes the poem “The Jordanian Dove,” which contains the following lines:

    The sky is like a bell,

    The moon is the language,

    My mother is my homeland,

    I am a Bolshevik.

    For many, such a statement comes as a surprise, but Professor Yaroslav Leontiev came to the conclusion that this was a peculiar attempt to obtain an indulgence from the victorious Bolsheviks.

    Unlike his peers, who were passionately interested in political ideas, Sergei Yesenin was not fanatical, but he did not escape the political temptations of the era. In his youth, he was close to the ideas of Leo Tolstoy, but this interest quickly faded away. Later, while working in the printing house of Ivan Sytin, the poet came into contact with social democrats, socialist revolutionaries, anarchists – and even came under police surveillance.

    Having moved to Petrograd, Yesenin found himself in the editorial office of Severnye Zapiski, a magazine with a liberal-populist orientation. Here he met Leonid Kannegiser, the publisher’s nephew, also an aspiring poet, who in 1918 would shoot the chairman of the Petrograd Extraordinary Commission, Moisei Uritsky. They became close friends – Kannegiser even came to visit Yesenin in Konstantinovo.

    Zinaida Reich is a career Socialist Revolutionary

    Another fateful meeting took place in the editorial office of the newspaper “Delo Naroda” (People’s Cause), the central organ of the Socialist Revolutionary Party (SRs). Here Yesenin met Zinaida Reich, a technical employee of the editorial office. But she was not just a typist – already in high school, Zinaida participated in the SR circle, and in 1917 she headed the party distribution society.

    Through his wife, Yesenin found himself in the very center of the party’s activities, met its leaders, Maria Spiridonova and Boris Kamkov, and also spoke at rallies and published in Socialist Revolutionary publications. In his 1923 autobiography, Yesenin claimed: “I worked with the Socialist Revolutionaries not as a party member, but as a poet.”

    An unexpected political turn

    After the armed conflict between the Left Socialist Revolutionaries and the Bolsheviks in July 1918, Yesenin abruptly changed course. The very line “I am a Bolshevik” appeared, and the poet began to get closer to the communists – for example, he spoke with Lev Kamenev at the opening of a monument to the poet A.V. Koltsov. Yesenin even wrote an application to join the RCP(b), to which the journalist Georgy Ustinov persistently persuaded him. But at the last moment, Sergei Alexandrovich changed his mind and annulled the application. “He claimed that he was to the left of the Communist Party,” notes Yaroslav Leontyev.

    Trotsky, Dzerzhinsky and others

    Thanks to his acquaintance with Yakov Blumkin (a former Left Socialist Revolutionary who had gone over to the Bolsheviks and who had murdered the German ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach), Yesenin gained access to the highest echelons of power – he met with Lev Trotsky, Anatoly Lunacharsky, Mikhail Kalinin, Felix Dzerzhinsky, and the People’s Commissar of Food Alexander Tsyurupa.

    But the poet does not break old ties: he continues to perform in Left SR clubs, works on the poem “Pugachev”. Even abroad, traveling with Isadora Duncan, he clashes with representatives of the White émigrés, and in New York he visits an old friend – a member of the Central Committee of the Left SRs, Veniamin Levin.

    Decembrist parallel

    Of particular interest is Yesenin’s connection with the Decembrist theme. On December 14, 1917, he spoke at an evening in memory of the Decembrists, organized by the Left Socialist Revolutionaries. And his last visit, now to Leningrad, was in December 1925 – exactly 100 years after the uprising on Senate Square.

    “How can one not draw parallels between two national geniuses – Pushkin and his friendship with the Decembrists and Yesenin with his friends, who were actively involved in politics, and some of them even created it themselves,” Yaroslav Leontyev reasons.

    A New Look at the Poet

    The Strochenovsky Lecture Hall, named after the address of the house-museum on Bolshoy Strochenovsky Lane, is intended as a place where Yeseninists can share not only their knowledge of the poet, but also their Yesenin spirit. Museum director Oleg Robinov emphasizes: these are people for whom Yesenin is a guide in life.

    A poet understandable to everyone. The director of the S.A. Yesenin Museum talks about the updated main exhibition and immediate plans

    The poet’s political connections are just one of the pages of his biography that they plan to reveal in the new lecture hall. The next lectures will be devoted, for example, to his political contacts in the 1920s and other mysterious parallels with the Decembrists.

    You can attend the meetings of the Strochenovsky lecture hall with an entrance ticket to the museum. The first lecture will take place on June 26 at 19:00.

    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/155824073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Yellow Network Appoints Alessio Treglia and Hongtao as CTOs to Accelerate Chain-Agnostic Web3 Infrastructure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    (From left to right: Hongtao J & Alessio Treglia) 

    San Francisco, CA, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — – Yellow Network, the modular infrastructure powering real-time cross-chain settlement and next-gen Web3 applications, announces the appointment of Alessio Treglia and Hongtao J as Co-Chief Technology Officers. The hires mark a key milestone in Yellow’s growth as it scales developer adoption and institutional-grade infrastructure. Together, as Co-CTOs, Alessio and Hongtao lead Yellow’s full infrastructure stack, including:

    • The Yellow SDK – a developer-first toolkit for building scalable, cross-chain dApps (led by Alessio)
    • NeoDAX – a modular brokerage framework for institutional trading (led by Hongtao)

    Alessio Treglia is an open-source veteran and blockchain systems expert who led engineering at Jur AG and Ignite Global (Tendermint). He served on the board of the OceanBlue Foundation, creators of the T-Grade Network, the first to introduce Cosmwasm smart contracts for Cosmos blockchains and the innovative “token of engagement.” Alessio has launched modular blockchain products, including a Polkadot SDK-based solochain, and now leads development of the Yellow SDK, delivering Web2-grade tooling for cross-chain dApp builders.

    “We’re building the rails for global-scale, real-time crypto applications,” said Treglia. “Developers today want powerful SDKs and plug-and-play infrastructure, not blockchain headaches. Yellow delivers exactly that.”

    Hongtao, former Head of Exchange Tech at BybitX and m2.com, has architected regulated trading platforms, matching engines, and custody systems. With over a decade of experience leading global teams across APAC and the UAE, he brings proven execution in scaling secure, real-time financial infrastructure. He now oversees NeoDAX, Yellow’s institutional-grade trading framework designed for non-custodial, real-time brokerage.

    “Speed, security, and compliance aren’t optional; they’re table stakes,” added Hongtao. “Yellow is one of the few teams designing with all three from day one. I’m excited to scale NeoDAX and help build the network quietly becoming Web3’s backend.”

    These appointments come at a time when demand is growing for chain-agnostic, high-performance tools. Yellow’s SDK, powered by Nitrolite, along with its NeoDAX broker framework, is quickly becoming an essential infrastructure for builders and institutions in DeFi, fintech, and gaming.

    “This is more than a leadership expansion -it signals our commitment to scaling with world-class engineering,” said Alexis Sirkia, Captain and Chief Executive of Yellow Network. “Alessio and Hongtao bring unmatched depth in blockchain architecture, financial infrastructure, and cross-chain scalability. They’ll lead Yellow’s two most critical product pillars: the SDK and NeoDAX.”

    About Yellow Network

    Yellow is building the next generation of blockchain infrastructure, chain-agnostic, developer-first, and ready for real-world use. With a modular architecture including the Yellow SDK, NeoDAX, ClearSync, and Clearnet, Yellow enables real-time, cross-chain settlement and high-performance Web3 applications. From DeFi and gaming to institutional finance, Yellow provides the invisible engine powering the next billion users. Learn more at yellow.org. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BigCommerce and Feedonomics Team Up with Perplexity to Help Brands Excel at AI Product Search

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC), a leading open SaaS ecommerce platform for B2C and B2B businesses, and Feedonomics, a leading data feed management solution, today announced their customers now have access to cutting-edge AI-powered search engine Perplexity to optimize visibility and relevance for brands in AI search results.

    In the shift from traditional SEO to AI search, it is critical that merchants ensure their products can be syndicated to the right marketplaces and advertising channels or owned channels so they can be found in order to drive traffic and sales. Historical data scraping is inefficient and often inaccurate for large language models. Feedonomics now provides Perplexity with pre-optimized, structured product data, ensuring that the LLM understands and recognizes merchants’ products, leading to superior search results that favor the brand.

    “AI-powered search is redefining how consumers discover and engage with products online,” said Sharon Gee, senior vice president of product for AI at BigCommerce and Feedonomics. “For consumer brands, this represents a pivotal moment to lead with innovation. By delivering high-quality product data directly to LLMs, brands ensure their products surface more accurately and contextually. Ensuring quality data feeds are optimally structured and accessible to AI search channels is a strategic imperative for driving relevance, loyalty and growth in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.”

    Generative AI is projected to play a much more important role in ecommerce overall as consumers grow more accustomed to the technology and as retailers rely on it to offer customers a more personalized, relevant experience. Emarketer predicts AI agents and other AI tools will influence as much as 19% of global Cyber Five sales this year—up to $61 billion in spending—as both shoppers and retailers ramp up their use of the technology.

    “With Feedonomics powering our product data, we have confidence that our catalog is being presented accurately and optimally to drive results with AI search platforms,” said Owen Spencer, director of enterprise applications at adventure brand Revelyst, the parent company of Bell, Bushnell, CamelBak, Fox Racing, Giro and other notable brands. “Improved visibility and stronger brand consistency are critical for traffic and conversion. Having structured and channel-optimized data in place allows us to take more control of how our products appear in AI-driven experiences, and that is a game-changer for our ecommerce performance in the AI era.”

    As commerce adopts agentic shopping, where AI agents research, recommend and even act on behalf of consumers, the quality of the product catalog is critical. As agentic purchasing evolves, the need for flawless data transfers and optimized, conversion-ready storefronts become paramount. Together, BigCommerce, Feedonomics and Makeswift provide the data and storefront software that enable this critical connectivity and better performance for merchants on virtually any ecommerce platform to optimize revenue.

    “Some aspects of the AI future are already clear—consumers want agentic experiences throughout their shopping journey, and they turn to Perplexity for accurate answers they can trust,” said Taz Patel, head of advertising and shopping at Perplexity. “When our systems can ingest clean, well-organized product information — with rich attributes, consistent taxonomy and up-to-date availability — the results speak for themselves: more relevant search experiences, higher conversion rates and better alignment with shopper intent. With Feedonomics delivering AI-ready data to Perplexity’s powerful and highly-trusted answer engine, we are setting a new standard for ecommerce search.”

    Speak to a BigCommerce or Feedonomics team member at kiosk 207 at the CommerceNext Growth Show through June 25.

    Join the Perplexity beta program here: https://www.bigcommerce.com/dm/perplexity-beta-program/

    About BigCommerce
    BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading open SaaS and composable ecommerce platform that empowers brands, retailers, manufacturers and distributors of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. BigCommerce provides its customers sophisticated professional-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries and numerous industries rely on BigCommerce, including Coldwater Creek, Harvey Nichols, King Arthur Baking Co., MKM Building Supplies, United Aqua Group and Uplift Desk. For more information, please visit www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    About Feedonomics
    Feedonomics is a leading data management platform powering omnichannel growth for the world’s top brands and retailers. With its flexible technology and full-service support team, Feedonomics facilitates a variety of data and order management use cases across industries such as ecommerce, automotive, employment, travel, real estate, and more. Feedonomics has thousands of active customers, integrations with hundreds of ecommerce platforms and channels, and strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Amazon, Meta, Google, Microsoft and TikTok. For more information, please visit www.feedonomics.com or follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

    About Perplexity
    Perplexity is an AI-powered answer engine that draws from credible sources in real time to accurately answer questions with in-line citations, perform deep research, and more. Founded in 2022, the company’s mission is to serve the world’s curiosity by bridging the gap between traditional search engines and AI-driven interfaces. Each week, Perplexity answers more than 150 million questions globally. Perplexity is available in the app store and online at https://www.perplexity.com.

    BigCommerce® is a registered trademark of BigCommerce Pty. Ltd. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact:
    Brad Hem
    pr@bigcommerce.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Media Advisory – Energy Sector Gains New Edge in Vegetation and Methane Emissions Monitoring with Maxar and Satelytics Partnership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PERRYSBURG, Ohio, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maxar and its partner Satelytics are announcing today an expansion of their offerings to the energy industry. In addition to the methane monitoring solution that has been on the market for several years, Satelytics is now introducing a vegetation encroachment solution that leverages Maxar’s very high-resolution satellite imagery.

    Monitoring vegetation growth along utility lines and pipelines

    Caption: Satelytics’ vegetation monitoring product leverages Maxar’s very high-resolution satellite imagery to identify vegetation, like the coniferous tree in the above screenshot, that could possibly fall on electrical distribution networks. This alert enables a utility company to go into the field and mitigate specific vegetation issues instead of spending time monitoring the whole transmission line from a truck.

    Satelytics will generate risk profiles of vegetation in and around customer assets using mono- and stereo-imagery collections from the Maxar constellation, including the recently launched WorldView Legion satellites. This solution will lean on Maxar’s collection capability of 6 million sq km of capacity per day, which significantly outpaces any other commercial provider.

    Monitoring vegetation growth along utility lines or pipelines with Maxar’s 30 cm-class resolution satellite imagery and Satelytics’ value-added insights allows an energy company to prioritize sending ground crews to specific locations that are known to need trimming maintenance instead of having ground crews drive the entire lengths of lines, which can be hundreds of miles in distance. This targeted vegetation maintenance allows the energy company to reduce search time and increase efficiency of field crews, proactively identify and address potential threats outside the immediate corridor, verify completed work and optimize contractor management, and improve overall grid reliability by reducing vegetation-related outages.

    • “Maxar’s recently expanded capacity with the new WorldView Legion satellites creates new opportunities for us to reliably collect fresh, very high-resolution satellite imagery along our customers’ rights-of-way to analyze for vegetation encroachment. Our customers will benefit from the high-quality of Maxar’s imagery as value-added products like our vegetation risk assessments improve with better input data.”

    — Sean Donegan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Satelytics

    Producing methane detection alerts

    Maxar’s WorldView-3 satellite hosts a shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensor that collects imagery in wavelengths outside what the human eye can see. Satelytics uses this SWIR sensor to create a methane detection and measurement product for energy companies. Duke Energy’s Piedmont Gas division, a local distribution company that operates in the Midwest and Southeast U.S., uses Satelytics’ methane solution to improve operational efficiency, safety and reporting by quickly finding leaks, repairing them and reducing emissions across a five-state service territory. Since the beginning of 2022, Duke Energy has reduced recordable leaks by over 85% using Satelytics’ solution. To learn more about Satelytics’ methane detection and quantification alerts, read their blog post.

    • “Satelytics has been innovating with Maxar’s very high-resolution satellite imagery for nearly a decade, and we’re excited to see them expand their offerings to include vegetation management for utilities. The quality, currency and accuracy of our data enables use cases that require precision to make informed decisions and Satelytics is taking it a step further with their energy industry-focused products.”

    — Todd Surdey, SVP and GM of Enterprise at Maxar

    Geospatial insights for informed monitoring and mitigation
    The combined power of Maxar’s high revisit, very high-resolution satellite imagery and Satelytics’ AI-driven algorithms provides energy companies with early detection geospatial insights and alerts that enable informed decision-making and minimize environmental risks.

    About Satelytics
    Satelytics is a software company producing geospatial analytics for early detection, location and — in many instances — quantification of our customers’ most pressing challenges. The Ohio-based company uses science, software, and technology to deliver valuable services to customers to identify problems before they become disasters – environmentally, financially, or otherwise.

    About Maxar Intelligence
    Maxar Intelligence is a leading provider of secure, precise geospatial insights. Operating the most advanced commercial Earth observation constellation in orbit, we use the power of very high-resolution satellite imagery and software technology to deliver mission success on Earth and in space. Our secure, AI-powered products and services deliver ground truth in near real-time to keep nations safe, improve navigation, protect our planet, speed up disaster response and more. For more information, visit www.maxar.com.

    Media Contact:

    Michele Nachum
    Firecracker PR
    michele@firecrackerpr.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/223f51a2-25c9-4d75-b653-4eb05608a42d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f28ffb1d-70d8-4426-8d43-c3604a6a0eea

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ARKO Corp. Unveils its First Enhanced Food and Beverage Pilot Store in Ashland, VA, Launches New Food Concept fascraves

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RICHMOND, Va., June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO), a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest convenience store operators in the United States, proudly announces the opening of its first food-focused remodeled store in Ashland, Virginia, located at 10030 Sliding Hill Rd. This milestone location also marks the debut of fas craves, ARKO’s innovative new food brand that will be a key feature of future store remodels across its nationwide network.

    This flagship location is the first of eight initial sites—six remodels and two new-to-industry builds—launched as part of a pilot program focused on delivering a relevant and delicious menu of hot and cold grab-n-go items. The new concept debuts a crave-worthy prepared food and dispensed beverage concept designed for today’s on-the-go consumer. Whether it’s a quick breakfast, a convenient lunch, or an afternoon snack, fas craves offers flavorful, satisfying options throughout the day.

    The new menu includes Hot and Cold Grab-n-Go, Roller Grill, Bakery, and Dispensed Beverages, with standout offerings like crispy chicken biscuits, zesty potato wedges, mozzarella sticks, jumbo chicken wings, the Ultimate Chicken Tender, Tyson® chicken sandwiches and Pub burgers. Beverage selections are equally enticing, featuring nitro cold brew, bean-to-cup always fresh hot and iced coffee, iced teas, lemonades, Frazil Slush and Café Tango frozen coffee.

    “This new food concept remodel and the introduction of fas craves represent a bold step forward in how we serve our customers,” said Arie Kotler, President & CEO at ARKO Corp. “We’re focused on transforming the convenience experience — not just with updated stores, but with food offerings that truly resonate with today’s on-the-go consumer.”

    The remodeled store is designed to attract new customers, with a layout that’s easy to shop and a product assortment shaped directly by customer feedback. It includes modernized features such as digital menu boards and a brighter, more contemporary interior design, creating a seamless and elevated shopping experience.

    To celebrate the first day of operation on June 25th, customers can enjoy special food deals including two savory crispy Ultimate Chicken Tenders and a small side of potato wedges for just $4.99, and any fountain drink, tea, or lemonade for only 99 cents.

    While the store opens on June 25th, a formal grand opening celebration is planned for July 16–29, featuring additional promotions and community-focused events.

    fas craves will continue to roll out alongside store remodels throughout ARKO’s network, bringing delicious and crave-worthy options to more customers nationwide.

    While customers are enjoying our new delicious food and beverage menu, they can take advantage of our exciting Fueling America’s Future promotion and save up to $2 off a gallon of gas by enrolling in our fas REWARDS loyalty program, purchasing participating products, and entering their phone number at the pump to watch the price get reduced and the savings add up!

    About ARKO Corp.

    ARKO Corp. (Nasdaq: ARKO) is a Fortune 500 company that owns 100% of GPM Investments, LLC and is one of the largest operators of convenience stores and wholesalers of fuel in the United States. Based in Richmond, VA, our highly recognizable Family of Community Brands offers delicious, prepared foods, beer, snacks, candy, hot and cold beverages, and multiple popular quick serve restaurant brands. We operate in four reportable segments: retail, which includes convenience stores selling merchandise and fuel products to retail customers; wholesale, which supplies fuel to independent dealers and consignment agents; fleet fueling, which includes the operation of proprietary and third-party cardlock locations, and issuance of proprietary fuel cards that provide customers access to a nationwide network of fueling sites; and GPM Petroleum, which sells and supplies fuel to our retail and wholesale sites and charges a fixed fee, primarily to our fleet fueling sites. To learn more about GPM stores, visit: www.gpminvestments.com. To learn more about ARKO, visit: www.arkocorp.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This document includes certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the Company’s expected financial and operational results and the related assumptions underlying its expected results. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by use of words such as “accretive,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “guidance,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to, among other things, changes in economic, business and market conditions; the Company’s ability to maintain the listing of its common stock and warrants on the Nasdaq Stock Market; changes in its strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; expansion plans and opportunities; changes in the markets in which it competes; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including those relating to environmental matters; market conditions and global and economic factors beyond its control; and the outcome of any known or unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings. Detailed information about these factors and additional important factors can be found in the documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable law.

    Media Contact
    Jordan Mann
    ARKO Corp.
    investors@gpminvestments.com

    Investor Contact
    Sean Mansouri, CFA
    Elevate IR
    (720) 330-2829
    ARKO@elevate-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Salsify Names Cory McIntyre as Vice President of Global Network, Strengthening Commitment to PXM Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Salsify, the leading product experience management (PXM) platform that empowers brands, retailers, and distributors to win on the digital shelf, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Cory McIntyre as Vice President of Global Network. This strategic move underscores Salsify’s dedication to transforming digital commerce through its robust PXM global network.

    With over 24 years of experience shaping the digital product content landscape, McIntyre’s career has been defined by driving innovation and optimizing strategies for brands and retailers. Her foundational experience includes 17 years leading teams at Gladson, an early industry pioneer, and two years heading business development and sales operations at its acquiring company, Syndigo. Arriving at Salsify from roles at SPINS and Pinto, McIntyre’s expertise in scaling customer-focused enterprise platforms makes her the ideal leader to advance Salsify’s global network initiatives.

    “The PXM global network is the future of commerce—not just for brands and retailers, but for the connected experiences consumers demand,” McIntyre said of her vision for this role, emphasizing the need for an infrastructure that efficiently enables the collaboration between brands, retailers, and shoppers. “The network eliminates friction, accelerates speed to market, and enables meaningful connections between all stakeholders along the value chain. With AI and automation layered into this ecosystem, Salsify isn’t just meeting today’s needs; we’re preparing to power the highly personalized, AI-driven conversational commerce of tomorrow.”

    Three key factors drove McIntyre’s enthusiasm for stepping into this role:

    • A Visionary Platform: Working across the digital content ecosystem, McIntyre has watched Salsify pioneer PXM capabilities, leveraging AI and innovative solutions like Open Catalog to revolutionize retail.
    • Culture of Collaboration: She praised Salsify’s thoughtful and passionate leadership, as well as its approach to fostering a culture where ideas, growth, and teamwork thrive.
    • Strategic Impact: With a background in tackling complexity through strategy, market knowledge, and hands-on leadership, McIntyre will help Salsify deliver exponential value across the network.

    Salsify’s Commitment to the PXM Network

    The PXM global network serves as a linchpin for uniting brands, retailers, and distributors through a seamless flow of product content. McIntyre echoed the importance of enabling personalized, efficient, and scalable commerce, stating that “clients don’t just need data pipelines; they need intelligence, agility, and solutions that solve real problems.”

    McIntyre’s priorities include delivering tangible platform value to customers, expanding and fortifying the network through strategic partnerships, and accelerating the customer experience across every touchpoint. She aims to generate momentum in AI-powered integration, reduce operational lift for stakeholders, and build a more connected ecosystem with consumer success at its core.

    Rob Gonzalez, Salsify’s co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer, shared his excitement about the appointment, stating, “Cory’s expertise and leadership are directly aligned with our mission to deliver efficient and scalable digital shelf solutions. Her proven ability to turn strategy into impactful outcomes makes her an invaluable addition to our team.”

    About Salsify
    Salsify helps thousands of brand manufacturers, distributors, and retailers in over 140 countries collaborate to make every product experience matter. The company’s Product Experience Management (PXM) platform enables organizations to centralize all of their product content, connect to the commerce ecosystem, and automate business processes in order to deliver the best possible product experiences across every selling destination.

    Learn how the world’s largest brands, including Mars, L’Oreal, The Coca-Cola Company, Bosch, and ASICS, as well as retailers and distributors, such as DoorDash, E.Leclerc, Carrefour, Metro, and Intermarché use Salsify every day to drive efficiency, power growth, and lead the digital shelf. For more information, please visit: www.salsify.com.

    Media Contact:
    Carolyn Adams
    carolyn@bluerunpr.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1eaa81c-7a0a-4ee7-bd0c-9d55b9b50c3a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Hyper-responsive load management system for hyperscalers: MARA and TAE Power Solutions partner for first-of-its-kind grid efficiency platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Advanced power management system will meet accelerating energy needs of data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations with real-time optimization, reduced peak loads and fast frequency response

    Fort Lauderdale, FL, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MARA (NASDAQ: MARA), a leading digital energy and infrastructure company, and TAE Power Solutions, a company commercializing proprietary power management systems derived from fusion energy research, today announced a strategic collaboration to jointly develop a high-frequency, real-time responsive load management system that can be modularly deployed up to GW scales, to meet the energy demand of hyperscale data centers, digital asset compute and other power-intensive industrial operations.

    High-Performance Computing (HPC) requires an ultra-responsive energy resource because of unpredictable loads that can spike or drop in a microsecond. This rapid variability in energy use puts stress on data center equipment and the local utility grid.

    To mitigate the consequences of load volatility, MARA will leverage TAE Power Solutions’ proprietary power management technology to deliver a 10MW clean energy storage network that provides first-of-its-kind microsecond-responsive, controllable load balancing.

    The TAE Power Solutions platform is part of an innovative power supply system originally developed for parent company TAE Technologies’ (TAE) fusion energy research. Today, TAE Power Solutions’ power storage and delivery systems are integral to TAE’s fusion progress, along with TAE’s advanced particle beam technology and cutting-edge machine learning tools co-developed with support from Google.

    At the core of the strategic collaboration will be the TAE Power Solutions D-Series BESS, a flexible and robust platform developed for large commercial and industrial (C&I) and utility-scale applications, designed to operate as a grid-responsive energy module that can be easily integrated into new or existing facilities.

    TAE Power Solutions’ system uses advanced hardware, real-time control and machine learning–driven algorithms to continuously monitor and balance battery temperature, State of Charge (SOC) and State of Health (SOH) on a microsecond time scale. This high-speed feedback unlocks precision load balancing and fast frequency response, which are essential for maintaining power stability and grid efficiency.

    “Meeting the demands of today’s compute infrastructure isn’t just about adding more energy, it’s about making better use of the power we have,” said Fred Thiel, CEO of MARA. “In MARA’s flexible data centers, unused, underutilized or otherwise stranded energy resources are tapped to secure the world’s preeminent blockchain ledger, converting clean energy that would otherwise go to waste into economic value. By collaborating with TAE Power Solutions, we’ll have the ability to respond in real-time to operational demands, reducing the impact of volatile HPC loads and reinforcing resiliency within high-tier data centers.”

    “As more advanced technologies like AI and HPC become part of daily life, it’s essential that the power systems supporting them can keep up with demand without burdening local electrical grids,” said Kedar Munipella, CEO of TAE Power Solutions. “Our platform is built to deliver reliable, real-time power without putting added strain or cost on utilities or their customers. Together with MARA, we’re enabling the next generation of digital infrastructure to grow in a way that’s not only scalable, but also resilient and responsible.”

    The first prototypes are scheduled for deployment by late summer of this year, with larger scale commercialization expected to start in early 2026.

    Media contacts:

    MARA:
    mara@wachsman.com 
    TAE:
    press@tae.com

    About MARA

    MARA (NASDAQ:MARA) deploys digital energy technologies to advance the world’s energy systems. Harnessing the power of compute, MARA transforms excess energy into digital capital, balancing the grid and accelerating the deployment of critical infrastructure. Building on its expertise to redefine the future of energy, MARA develops technologies that reduce the energy demands of high-performance computing applications, from AI to the edge. Learn more at www.mara.com

    About TAE Power Solutions

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Wallet Adds Digital Key Compatibility for Mercedes-Benz

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced that Samsung Wallet will support digital key compatibility for Mercedes-Benz vehicles starting in July 2025. With this new integration, Galaxy users1 can now experience a more seamless way to lock, unlock and start their Mercedes-Benz2 vehicle from their smartphone.
    “We’re excited to bring Mercedes-Benz drivers the incredible convenience that comes with Samsung Digital Key access,” said Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of Digital Wallet Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our collaboration with Mercedes-Benz advances our vision of providing effortless access to tech-enabled experiences across the Galaxy ecosystem.”
    “Bringing convenience and luxury to our customers is our top priority as we strive to bring them the best vehicle experience possible,” said Stefan Blossey, Director of Body-/Comfort-E/E, UX Components at Mercedes-Benz AG. “Samsung Digital Key allows Mercedes-Benz to continue offering our customers convenient access and connectivity to their vehicles.”

    Samsung Wallet is a versatile platform that allows Galaxy users to organize digital keys, payment methods, identification cards, and more — all in one secure and easy-to-use application. Launched in June 2022, and backed by defense-grade security from Samsung Knox, Samsung Wallet smoothly integrates across the broader Galaxy ecosystem to offer powerful connectivity and fortified protection for users in their everyday lives.
    With the addition of the Mercedes-Benz Digital Key on Samsung Wallet, users can experience a new level of convenience at their fingertips. Once inside the vehicle, Samsung’s Digital Key enables drivers to start their vehicle without using their physical key or even removing their smartphone from their pocket. Users can also securely share the digital key with friends or family, through an easy-to-use interface that lets owners grant or disable access as needed.

    The integration of the Mercedes-Benz Digital Key in Samsung Wallet is also backed by Samsung’s commitment to providing a safe, secure and reliable mobile experience for users. Digital keys are securely embedded within the device, meeting rigorous EAL6+3 security standards for protection against unauthorized access. By utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies, a standardized communication protocol set by the Car Connectivity Consortium, the digital key provides precise functionality, significantly reducing the risk of unwanted attempts to access the vehicle.
    If a device containing the digital key in Samsung Wallet is misplaced or stolen, users can log in to the SmartThings Find service to remotely lock or delete the device, securing access to the digital key and further safeguarding their vehicle. With biometric or PIN-based user authentication requirements, Samsung Wallet helps to protect vehicles by keeping access private and secure.4
    Availability
    Digital Key functionality for select Mercedes-Benz vehicles will roll out starting July 2025 in select regions5 worldwide. Users can register their Digital Key through the Mercedes Me application.

    Mercedes-Benz AG at a glance
    Mercedes‑Benz AG is part of the Mercedes‑Benz Group AG with a total of around 175,000 employees worldwide and is responsible for the global business of Mercedes‑Benz Cars and Mercedes‑Benz Vans. Ola Källenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. The product portfolio comprises the Mercedes‑Benz brand with Mercedes‑AMG, Mercedes‑Maybach and G‑Class with their all-electric models as well as products of the smart brand. Mercedes‑Benz AG is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-end passenger cars. In 2024 it sold around 2,4 million passenger cars and vans. In its two business segments, Mercedes‑Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with more than 30 production sites on four continents, while gearing itself to meet the requirements of electric mobility. At the same time, the company is constructing and extending its global battery production network on three continents. As sustainability is the guiding principle of the Mercedes‑Benz strategy and for the company itself, this means creating lasting value for all stakeholders: for customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of the Mercedes‑Benz Group. The company thus takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.
    1 Samsung Wallet Digital Key support is available on select devices, including: Galaxy S21 Ultra/S21+, S22 Ultra/S22+, S23 Ultra/S23+, S24 Ultra/S24+, S25 Ultra/S25+, S25 Edge, Note20 Ultra, Z Fold2, Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, Z Fold6, Z Fold Special Edition.
    2 Mercedes-Benz vehicles supporting Digital Car Key differ per region, in the US these include: E-Class Sedan W214, E-Class Wagon S214, Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV Z296, EQS Sedan V297, EQS SUV X296, EQE Sedan V295, EQE SUV X294, S-Class Sedan W223, S-Class Sedan Long V223, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Z223, Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé C192, Mercedes-AMG SL R232, Mercedes-Maybach SL Z232, C-Class Saloon W206, C-Class Estate S206, GLC SUV X254, GLC Coupé C254. For the full breakdown per region, please visit https://moba.i.mercedes-benz.com/baix/cars/dck-compatibility/landingpage/index.html.
    3 Evaluation Assurance Level6+, for which a product must be evaluated for specific protection against side-channel attacks or other advanced attack vectors, plus additional, more extensive testing and verification of the product’s security functions.
    4 Requires compatible device, SmartThings and Samsung account.
    5 Available regions include: Abu Dhabi, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and USA.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Wallet Adds Digital Key Compatibility for Mercedes-Benz

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced that Samsung Wallet will support digital key compatibility for Mercedes-Benz vehicles starting in July 2025. With this new integration, Galaxy users1 can now experience a more seamless way to lock, unlock and start their Mercedes-Benz2 vehicle from their smartphone.
    “We’re excited to bring Mercedes-Benz drivers the incredible convenience that comes with Samsung Digital Key access,” said Woncheol Chai, EVP and Head of Digital Wallet Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our collaboration with Mercedes-Benz advances our vision of providing effortless access to tech-enabled experiences across the Galaxy ecosystem.”
    “Bringing convenience and luxury to our customers is our top priority as we strive to bring them the best vehicle experience possible,” said Stefan Blossey, Director of Body-/Comfort-E/E, UX Components at Mercedes-Benz AG. “Samsung Digital Key allows Mercedes-Benz to continue offering our customers convenient access and connectivity to their vehicles.”

    Samsung Wallet is a versatile platform that allows Galaxy users to organize digital keys, payment methods, identification cards, and more — all in one secure and easy-to-use application. Launched in June 2022, and backed by defense-grade security from Samsung Knox, Samsung Wallet smoothly integrates across the broader Galaxy ecosystem to offer powerful connectivity and fortified protection for users in their everyday lives.
    With the addition of the Mercedes-Benz Digital Key on Samsung Wallet, users can experience a new level of convenience at their fingertips. Once inside the vehicle, Samsung’s Digital Key enables drivers to start their vehicle without using their physical key or even removing their smartphone from their pocket. Users can also securely share the digital key with friends or family, through an easy-to-use interface that lets owners grant or disable access as needed.

    The integration of the Mercedes-Benz Digital Key in Samsung Wallet is also backed by Samsung’s commitment to providing a safe, secure and reliable mobile experience for users. Digital keys are securely embedded within the device, meeting rigorous EAL6+3 security standards for protection against unauthorized access. By utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies, a standardized communication protocol set by the Car Connectivity Consortium, the digital key provides precise functionality, significantly reducing the risk of unwanted attempts to access the vehicle.
    If a device containing the digital key in Samsung Wallet is misplaced or stolen, users can log in to the SmartThings Find service to remotely lock or delete the device, securing access to the digital key and further safeguarding their vehicle. With biometric or PIN-based user authentication requirements, Samsung Wallet helps to protect vehicles by keeping access private and secure.4
    Availability
    Digital Key functionality for select Mercedes-Benz vehicles will roll out starting July 2025 in select regions5 worldwide. Users can register their Digital Key through the Mercedes Me application.

    Mercedes-Benz AG at a glance
    Mercedes‑Benz AG is part of the Mercedes‑Benz Group AG with a total of around 175,000 employees worldwide and is responsible for the global business of Mercedes‑Benz Cars and Mercedes‑Benz Vans. Ola Källenius is Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes‑Benz AG. The company focuses on the development, production and sales of passenger cars, vans and vehicle-related services. Furthermore, the company aspires to be the leader in the fields of electric mobility and vehicle software. The product portfolio comprises the Mercedes‑Benz brand with Mercedes‑AMG, Mercedes‑Maybach and G‑Class with their all-electric models as well as products of the smart brand. Mercedes‑Benz AG is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-end passenger cars. In 2024 it sold around 2,4 million passenger cars and vans. In its two business segments, Mercedes‑Benz AG is continually expanding its worldwide production network with more than 30 production sites on four continents, while gearing itself to meet the requirements of electric mobility. At the same time, the company is constructing and extending its global battery production network on three continents. As sustainability is the guiding principle of the Mercedes‑Benz strategy and for the company itself, this means creating lasting value for all stakeholders: for customers, employees, investors, business partners and society as a whole. The basis for this is the sustainable business strategy of the Mercedes‑Benz Group. The company thus takes responsibility for the economic, ecological and social effects of its business activities and looks at the entire value chain.
    1 Samsung Wallet Digital Key support is available on select devices, including: Galaxy S21 Ultra/S21+, S22 Ultra/S22+, S23 Ultra/S23+, S24 Ultra/S24+, S25 Ultra/S25+, S25 Edge, Note20 Ultra, Z Fold2, Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5, Z Fold6, Z Fold Special Edition.
    2 Mercedes-Benz vehicles supporting Digital Car Key differ per region, in the US these include: E-Class Sedan W214, E-Class Wagon S214, Mercedes-Maybach EQS SUV Z296, EQS Sedan V297, EQS SUV X296, EQE Sedan V295, EQE SUV X294, S-Class Sedan W223, S-Class Sedan Long V223, Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Z223, Mercedes-AMG GT Coupé C192, Mercedes-AMG SL R232, Mercedes-Maybach SL Z232, C-Class Saloon W206, C-Class Estate S206, GLC SUV X254, GLC Coupé C254. For the full breakdown per region, please visit https://moba.i.mercedes-benz.com/baix/cars/dck-compatibility/landingpage/index.html.
    3 Evaluation Assurance Level6+, for which a product must be evaluated for specific protection against side-channel attacks or other advanced attack vectors, plus additional, more extensive testing and verification of the product’s security functions.
    4 Requires compatible device, SmartThings and Samsung account.
    5 Available regions include: Abu Dhabi, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom and USA.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aberdeen Armed Forces Day flag design winner announced

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    A “vibrant and thoughtful” design by Marley Smith, a Primary Six pupil, at Broomhill School, has been selected as the artwork to be printed on 2,000 hand-held flags for Aberdeen’s Armed Forces Day parade on Saturday (28 June).

    The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, in his role as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant and the Lady Provost of Aberdeen Hazel Cameron chose Marley’s artwork, from 278 entries. 

    The Lord-Lieutenant of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron said: “The Lady Provost and I found it very difficult to choose the winners and overall winner as the artwork submitted from pupils from across the city was outstanding.  We both agreed that Marley’s vibrant and thoughtful design which is now on 2,000 hand-held flags will look great as spectators wave them as the parade goes by.

    “The ‘design a flag’ competition not only showcases the creativity of our young people but also highlights the community’s strong support for our Armed Forces.”

    Residents and visitors alike are invited to watch the parade, which will feature more than 1,000 serving military personnel, veterans, and cadets, who will parade through the city centre, where they will be joined by massed pipes and drums and vintage military vehicles.

    The parade will start at Albyn Place at 11am, then make its way along Union Street, Union Terrace, Schoolhill, Upperkirkgate, Broad Street, and finish at the Castlegate, at approximately 11.30am. 

    On Broad Street, the Lord-Lieutenant, joined by representatives from the UK’s Armed Forces, will take the salute outside Marischal College in front of the City’s official flagpole.

    More information about the parade including details of temporary road closures, can be viewed here.  

    While Marley Smith was the winner of the 8-10 year age group category and overall winner, Ebonie Ross, from Kirkhill School won the 5-7 year old age group category, and Olivia Munro, from Hazlehead School, was the winner of the 11-12 year old age group category.

    The three winners each received a family pass to the Gordon Highlanders Museum and a Hobbycraft gift voucher.   

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Town Hall Bike Park to launch new membership scheme

    Source: City of Leicester

    A NEW annual membership scheme is being introduced at Leicester’s main bike park, in the city’s Town hall Square.

    From Monday 7 July, cyclists using the secure parking offered at the Town Hall Bike Park will need to have an Active Leicester Cycle Hub membership.

    Current Active Leicester members can simply add Cycle Hub membership to their existing account.

    Membership cards will need to be scanned when leaving a cycle at the Bike Park.

    Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “Secure and reliable bike parking is a really important element of encouraging more people to cycle into the city centre. The new membership scheme will make parking quicker and easier and will continue to provide excellent value for money.”

    Membership will cost £10 per year but will be free for 12 months for anyone signing up before Monday 7 July.

    There will no fee for daily parking for members.

     However, there will be a £5 per night charge for any bikes not collected on the same day.

    Joining is easy and can be done in the Bike Park or online at to www.leicester.gov.uk/cycleleicester

    Membership for the Bike Park can also be arranged at any city council leisure centre.

    It’s planned that the new membership scheme will be rolled out to all secure cycle parking hubs across the city, including St Margaret’s bus station, Park and Ride sites, the railway station and city leisure centres.

    Over 30,000 bikes were parked at the Town Hall Bike Park last year. It is expected that this will increase to over 35,000 this year.

    The Town Hall Bike Park is open between 8am to 6.30pm from Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 6pm on Saturdays, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry School’s Arts Week celebrates young talent and cultural legacy

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry City Council and Cultural Education Partnership (CCEP) is proud to announce the launch of the very first Coventry School’s Arts Week, that’s been taking place across the city this week.

    This exciting new initiative brings together children and young people from schools across Coventry to celebrate creativity, self-expression and the rich cultural life of our city. Organised by CCEP – a vibrant network of professionals and organisations committed to lifelong learning – this landmark event aims to showcase the artistic talents of our youngest residents while nurturing a passion for arts and culture from an early age.

    The Coventry Cultural Education Partnership supports learning opportunities for children and young people aged 0–30, drawing on the strengths of both the creative and cultural sectors and the city’s formal education settings. By coming together, schools, artists, educators and cultural organisations are working in unison to inspire the next generation and open doors to new opportunities.

    So far, the week has already seen the Sky Arts Bus at West Coventry Academy. This initiative is aimed at promoting and celebrating arts in education. The bus provided arts-related activities and resources for students.

    There has also been the launch of a school’s art exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery on Tuesday 24 June. This free exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into childhood artistic development and is open throughout the summer holidays. Last night also saw seven music groups from Coventry Music and nine schools come together to perform at Butterworth Hall at Warwick Ars Centre, with a further nine schools performing throughout the day to each other.

    Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: “I am incredibly proud to see initiatives like Coventry School’s Arts Week taking place in our city. It provides a chance to showcase our young people, their creativity, and the opportunities we create together. This is about more than just art—it’s about confidence, collaboration and giving every child the chance to shine.”

    This Friday (27 June) at 11am there will be a city-wide school’s performance of “Lady Godiva’s Birthday Suit The Musical”, by Aaron Ashmore. The performance will bring together around 750 pupils from schools across the city to share their musical retelling of the legendary local story.

    The project is a collaboration between Coventry Music, Coventry Cultural Education Partnership (CCEP), Child Friendly Coventry, and national partners including the Royal Ballet and Opera. Every school in Coventry has been gifted a free copy of the musical to use in school.

    Aaron Ashmore, Local Coventry Author said: “To see so many young people bring this story to life with such energy and creativity will be incredibly inspiring. Lady Godiva is a symbol of courage and community – and that’s exactly what this performance is about.”

    On Saturday 28 April, as part of the art’s week festival there will be a ‘Booknic’ taking place at War Memorial Park between 11am – 3pm. This is a free reading picnic that encourages people to relax, eat and chat about books. There will also be a range of sport and art activities.

    Families are invited to meet next to the playground in the War Memorial Park at 11am to take part in a carnival-style parade.

    After the parade, families can stay and enjoy activities such as author and illustrator events; book trails; a giant book swap; library events; circus skills; skateboarding; tennis and much more.

    Mark Steele, Coventry Music Lead and Chair of Coventry Cultural Education Partnership said: “Creative and Cultural Education is crucial for young people, so having the opportunity to sing, dance and act with other pupils across the city is so important to develop hidden talents and skills in students”.

    To keep up to date with the latest news, sign up for our Your Coventry email newsletter or follow the Council on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

    More information about Booknic 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Almost half a million people saw the museum’s exhibits on Red Square — Sobyanin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    More than 472 thousand people visited immersive museum on Red Square. About this in his telegram channel Sergei Sobyanin reported.

    “The exhibition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the 1945 Victory Parade consisted of several thematic zones. Each one told about the unwavering spirit of the people during the war years,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    Among the unique objects of the open-air museum was the Victory train “We are from Berlin”, consisting of two carriages and an open platform, where songs were performed and a fragment of a front-line performance was shown.

    In addition, the historical fountain of the Victors was recreated using modern technologies. An exhibition called “Moscow Meets Victory” was also organized here, which included personal belongings of military leaders who participated in the Victory Parade.

    “On Red Square, one could see various theatrical performances and retro cars from the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. The guests were accompanied by more than 300 volunteers,” added Sergei Sobyanin.

    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/mayor/tkhemes/1299505/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Launches Management System Advisory Service to Support the Introduction of Nuclear Power, Conducts First Mission to Saudi Arabia

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    An IAEA team of experts visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to conduct the first IAEA Management Systems Advisory Service (IMSAS) mission. (Photo: DNEC).

    The IAEA conducted its first-ever management systems advisory service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 19 to 22 May 2025.

    The IAEA Management Systems Advisory Service (IMSAS) was established to support newcomer countries in developing robust and effective nuclear infrastructure, in response to findings from the Agency’s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) missions that highlighted inconsistencies in the implementation of management systems among countries embarking on new nuclear power programmes.

    As part of the IAEA’s broader commitment to support countries in introducing nuclear power in their energy mix, IMSAS helps nuclear organizations develop and maintain management systems appropriate to the current phase of the nuclear power programme. A management system is a set of interrelated or interacting elements — including organizational structure, responsibilities, resources, and processes — established to achieve organizational objectives in an efficient and effective manner.

    Saudi Arabia is embarking on a nuclear power programme as part of its strategy to transition towards a diversified energy sector and building national capabilities in advanced energy technologies, all as part of its Vision 2030. In support of this plan, Saudi Arabia is following the IAEA’s Milestones Approach and actively cooperates with the IAEA through a coordinated Integrated Workplan to support its nuclear infrastructure development.

    In November 2024, Duwayhin Nuclear Energy Company (DNEC), which is designated as the owner/operator for the first nuclear power plant, requested the IAEA to conduct the IMSAS mission to review whether the current management system in DNEC is appropriate and adequate to support its current and planned activities.

    During its review, the IMSAS team – comprised of four external experts from Hungary, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as well as three IAEA staff members – reviewed documentation and conducted technical discussions with the DNEC in Riyadh.

    “The IMSAS team found that DNEC has a well-developed management system that effectively supports the organization in carrying out its current and future activities. We commend DNEC on the efforts undertaken to date to develop its management system, which will help support the safe and effective implementation Saudi Arabia’s nuclear power programme,” said Liliya Dulinets, Section Head of the IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section.

    In its draft final report, issued at the closing session, the mission team identified four good practices by DNEC. These included the development of its management system using a structured, project-based approach that ensures effective planning and coordination; the clear documentation of governance and management frameworks, which provides staff with a solid understanding of roles and responsibilities; and the transition to a fully electronic management system to enhance accessibility and usability.

    Two recommendations and four suggestions were also noted. These included opportunities for improvement related to enhancing the consistency of the management system documentation, formalizing the approach to process development, and elevating the level of ownership of the management system within the organization.

    “Our objective in requesting the mission was to have the IAEA conduct a cold-eye review of how we manage our day-to-day operations, particularly our management system,” said Khalid Al Gazlan, DNEC CEO. “The results of the mission were excellent, and the recommendations and suggestions provided will greatly support our continuous improvement efforts. We remain committed to cooperating with the IAEA through the Integrated Work Plan across all phases of our project, to ensure the establishment of a competent Owner-Operator; we thank the IAEA and the IMSAS team for this constructive and productive mission. This mission was a testament that the Kingdom is moving confidently towards building a sustainable civil nuclear program, supported by national competencies and strong international partnership.”

    The final mission report will be provided to DNEC within three months.

    About IMSAS

    IMSAS was established to support the review of management systems in countries embarking on new nuclear power programmes. It provides a structured approach for the self-assessment of the management systems of the regulatory body and owner/operator organization, as well as an independent review conducted by IAEA and international experts.

    IMSAS missions help organizations develop and maintain effective management systems consistent with the current phase of the nuclear power programme. It assists these organizations in aligning their management systems with IAEA standards and international good practices to support the implementation of current and planned activities. Additionally, IMSAS enables the identification of strengths and weaknesses through a combination of self-assessment and independent review, providing recommendations for improvement and highlighting good practices.

    The IAEA offers its Member States a wide array of review services. For the introduction of nuclear power, the Agency’s peer review service include, for example, the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) and the Stakeholder Engagement Advisory Service for Nuclear Power Programmes (SEAS).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China to host screening of joint Chinese-Russian film “Red Silk,” dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The Chinese-Russian retro detective action film “Red Silk” will hit Chinese screens in September 2025 to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, it was announced at the recently concluded 27th Shanghai International Film Festival.

    On February 20 of this year, the film was presented in Russia, becoming a blockbuster on the local film market. According to the search engine Yandex, as of May 11, 2025, the film’s box office receipts in the Russian Federation exceeded 688 million rubles, and the total receipts in Russia and the CIS countries were more than 695 million rubles.

    The plot of the film by Russian director Andrei Volgin revolves around a joint historical episode of China and the USSR in 1927, when a courier of the Chinese Communist Party carries secret documents to Moscow along the Trans-Siberian Railway that will determine the future of China and the USSR. Under the guise of ordinary passengers, foreign intelligence agents and real thugs are hiding, ready to do anything for the documents. A young Red Army soldier and a former tsarist agent have to unite to expose a common enemy.

    Film critics noted that “Red Silk” represents an in-depth collaboration between Chinese and Russian filmmakers, which affected not only the development of the idea and content creation, as before, but also pre-production preparation, coordination of efforts during filming, post-production and final editing, as well as the final release and marketing.

    “In recent years, exchanges in the film industry between China and Russia have noticeably increased, thanks to which cooperation between the two countries in the film industry has moved from the initial stage of jointly shooting individual films to a new architecture of interaction along the entire film production chain,” famous Chinese film critic Liang Jiashan told The Paper media platform during the Shanghai Film Festival.

    Let us recall that 2024-2025 were designated as the Cross Years of Culture of China and Russia. In early May 2025, the 18th meeting of the Subcommittee on Cooperation in Cinematography of the Chinese-Russian Commission on Humanitarian Cooperation was held in Moscow, where both sides reached consensus on a wide range of issues, including joint organization of film exhibitions, mutual promotion of domestic films, joint production of films, training of young specialists and development of film-making equipment. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 June 2025 Departmental update Momentum builds to protect immunization post World Health Assembly

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Several high-level side events were convened, including on measles and rubella, meningitis, polio and outbreak response, to elevate the critical role of immunization in protecting public health and building resilient systems. The declaration of 17 November as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day also reinforced the global call to scale up HPV vaccination efforts. 

    The World Health Assembly also marked the midpoint of the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). As highlighted in WHO’s latest progress report, the world is not on track to meet IA2030 targets. Too many children remain unreached, and the consequences are visible in rising outbreaks of measles, yellow fever, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. Member States stressed the urgency of reaching “zero-dose” children and strengthening primary health care as the platform for integrated immunization services. 

    These challenges underscore the importance of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s upcoming high-level pledging summit on 25 June, co-hosted by the European Union and the Gates Foundation. The summit aims to raise at least US$ 9 billion to support the next phase of Gavi’s strategy (2026–2030), which seeks to protect 500 million more children and save at least 8 million lives. The Director-General will join global partners to advocate for robust and sustained support, particularly in the face of climate-related emergencies, conflict, and pandemic threats. 

    As WHO and partners reaffirm the value of immunization as a health and economic investment—with a return of US$ 54 for every dollar spent—this is a defining moment to align political will, resources, and innovation to close the immunization gap and deliver on our IA2030 vision. 

    Click here to subscribe to the Global Immunization Newsletter.

    “,”datePublished”:”2025-06-25T08:04:07.0000000+00:00″,”image”:”https://www.who.int/images/default-source/searo—images/countries/timor-leste/5s-timor-leste/child-happy-after-receiving-health-checkup.jpg?sfvrsn=916df625_1″,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”World Health Organization: WHO”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg”,”width”:250,”height”:60}},”dateModified”:”2025-06-25T08:04:07.0000000+00:00″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.who.int/news/item/25-06-2025-momentum-builds-to-protect-immunization-post-world-health-assembly”,”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”@type”:”NewsArticle”};
    ]]>

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Operation Vala Umgodi nets 142 suspects

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Operation Vala Umgodi nets 142 suspects

    The South African Police Service (SAPS) says Vala Umgodi operations continue to be conducted across the country to combat illegal mining and associated criminal activities.

    The most recent operations have led to the arrest of 142 suspects of different nationalities for illegal mining activities.

    “These suspects were arrested for illegal mining related offences and various other crimes that include, among others, trespassing, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of unpolished diamonds, unlawful possession of explosives, contravention of Immigration Act and drug trafficking,” the police said in a statement.

    Police made several notable arrests and confiscated large quantities of gold bearing material in the past week.

    In a series of targeted interventions, Operation Vala Umgodi teams successfully apprehended 130 undocumented foreign nationals directly involved in illicit mining activities and related offences across the Free State province. 

    Police actions led to the seizure of substantial quantities of gold-bearing material and equipment crucial to these illegal activities, as well as three unlicensed firearms, 16 rounds of ammunition and a vehicle.

    In the Northern Cape, on 17 June 2025, members executed intelligence-driven operation and arrested 15 suspects for contravention of the Immigration Act, illegal mining activities and possession of suspected unpolished diamonds in the Koingnaas and Beefmaster illegal mining camps, respectively. The team seized unpolished diamonds and a significant quantity of dagga.

    On 19 June 2025, four suspects were arrested for trespassing, contravention of the Immigration Act in the Free State. One suspect was also arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm, a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) uniform, dagga and suspected gold bearing material. The team also arrested three suspects aged between 45 and 32 years, after being found in possession of gold-bearing material at Theunissen. Police also seized packaged and sealed food items destined for the illegal miners underground, along with explosive detonators.

    An intelligence-driven disruptive Vala Umgodi operation conducted at the Clovedene Informal Settlement in Crystal Park, Ekurhuleni in Gauteng, led to the arrest of eight illegal foreign nationals and suspected illegal miners. Police confiscated equipment used for illegal mining activities.

    In Limpopo, on 17 June 2025, the Sekhukhune District’s Operation Vala Umgodi team apprehended nine suspects aged between 22 and 44 years for illegal mining and contravention of the Immigration Act. Several items including three wheelbarrows, a generator, a jackhammer, two shovels, three chisels, and bottles of petrol were confiscated.

    In KwaZulu-Natal, on 17 June 2025,  40-year-old Sydwell Shane Mkhantswa appeared briefly in the Kwa-Mbonambi Periodical Court in connection with a case of theft of minerals over R800 000 from Richards Bay Minerals (RBM). Further investigation linked the suspect with another Kwa-Mbonambi case of theft of minerals in which he allegedly delivered RBM minerals to Isipingo in Durban, where police found over R24 million worth of suspected stolen minerals. 

    “Operation Vala Umgodi remains committed to dismantling illegal mining syndicates and ensuring law and order to the affected provinces as well as safeguarding the country’s mineral resources,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Centre approves ₹417 crore Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Gautam Buddha Nagar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The central government has approved the establishment of a ₹417 crore Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The new cluster aims to significantly boost local manufacturing, encourage innovation, and attract substantial investments into the electronics sector.

    Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Minister of State, Jitin Prasada, reviewed the project on Wednesday and instructed officials to work closely with the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure faster implementation.

    About the Project

    To be developed by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), the EMC will span 200 acres and is projected to draw approximately ₹2,500 crore in new investments. Speaking on the occasion, Vaishnaw highlighted that the EMC will generate 15,000 new jobs and create world-class infrastructure, aligning perfectly with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting “Make in India” and “Viksit Bharat.”

    Industry Impact and Products

    The cluster is set to support a broad range of industries, including:

    * Consumer electronics

    * Automotive and industrial electronics

    * Medical devices

    * Computer hardware

    * Communication equipment

    Startups and MSMEs will benefit greatly from this EMC as it will offer world-class plug-and-play infrastructure along with shared amenities. Some key facilities include standard factory sheds, electricity and water provisioning, sewage treatment, skill development centres, health centres, hostels, and more — all of which will help reduce logistics and setup costs.

    Strategic Location

    Strategically located along the Yamuna Expressway and Eastern Peripheral Expressway — with proximity to the Palwal–Khurja Expressway — the EMC enjoys strong multimodal connectivity by road, rail, and air. Its position close to the Jewar International Airport and railway hubs, along with surrounding industrial areas like the Medical Device Park, MSME & Apparel Park, and the Aviation Hub, further enhances its accessibility and appeal for potential investors.

    About EMC 2.0 Scheme

    To date, about ₹30,000 crore have been invested across EMCs under the scheme, attracting 520 companies and creating over 86,000 jobs. The new EMC in Uttar Pradesh underscores India’s commitment to becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse and will help establish a robust foundation for electronics companies looking to set up their operations in India.

  • ‘Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Pradhan’ — Remembering Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s Resounding Call: Vice-President Pays Tribute on The Leader’s Balidan Diwas

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    lign=”center”>Article 370 Bled Jammu & Kashmir; Along With Draconian 35A, It Deprived People of Basic Human Rights – VP
    NEP 2020 Reaffirms India’s Belief in Education as Self-Awakening, Not Just Skill-Building, Highlights VP
    Our Universities Are Not Meant To Just Hand Out Degrees. They Have To Be Crucibles of Innovation And Sanctuaries of Ideas, Says VP
    Education Brings About Equality, Education Decimates Inequities. Education Gives Life to Democracy, Stresses VP
    Universities Must Allow Space for Disagreement, Debate, Dialogue and Discussion; Abhivyakti, Vaad Vivaad, Anant Vaad Are Inalienable Facets of Our Democracy, Urges VP
    Establish Institutions of Uncompromising Excellence in AI, Climate Tech, Quantum Science — Then Bharat Will Lead, Others Will Follow, Underlines VP
    Vice-President Addresses the Inaugural Session of the 99th Annual Meet and National Conference of Vice Chancellors (2024–2025) In Uttar Pradesh

    The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today paid homage to Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, saying, “It’s a great day in the history of our nation. One of the finest sons of our soil, it is his balidan diwas today — Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. He gave the slogan — एक विधान, एक निशान और एक प्रधान ही होगा देश में दो नहीं होंगे. He said so during the campaign in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 1952.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1937053832418410692

    Shri Dhankhar further added, “We suffered from Article 370 for too long. It bled us and the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 and the draconian Article 35A deprived people of their basic human rights and fundamental rights. We had a visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a Home Minister in the shoes of Sardar Patel, Amit Shah. Article 370 does not exist now in our Constitution. It was abrogated on 5th August 2019, and the legal challenge to the Supreme Court failed on 11 December 2023. I therefore cannot be at a more befitting place than this to pay tribute to one of the finest sons of our soil. My tributes to him.”

    Addressing the inaugural session of the 99th Annual Meet and National Conference of Vice Chancellors (2024–2025), organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), at Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Dhankhar said, highlighting the National Education Policy, “I must share with you something which happened after more than 3 decades, that has really changed the landscape of our education. I am making reference to the ‘National Education Policy’ 2020. As Governor, State of West Bengal, I was associated with it. Some major inputs — in the hands of thousands — were taken into consideration for the evolution of this policy.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1937060609058800015

    “The policy resonates with our civilizational spirit, essence, and ethos. It is a bold reaffirmation of India’s timeless belief that education is the awakening of the self — not just for education of skills.”

    “I have firmly believed — education is a great equalizer. Education brings about equality as no other mechanism does. Education decimates inequities. As a matter of fact, education gives life to democracy.”

    Congratulating the Government of Uttar Pradesh, he stated, “My congratulations to the Government of Uttar Pradesh. The Chief Minister has done a great initiative. IT was given ‘Industry Status’. That has a huge consequence for positive development. Another aspect for which UP is getting increasingly recognized is at the school education level. The transparency and accountability in administration is becoming a hallmark.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1937054543826784674

    Applauding India’s national progress, the Vice-President said, “India has emerged as a land of opportunity, of entrepreneurship, of startups, of innovation, of unicorns. In every parameter where growth and development can be gauged, we are rising.”

    On the role of universities, the Vice-President emphasized, “Our universities are not meant to just hand out degrees. The degrees must carry great weightage. Universities must be sanctuaries of ideas and ideation, crucibles of innovation. These places have to catalyse big change.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1937059527398224310

    “That responsibility lies on the Vice-Chancellors in particular and the academia in general. I appeal to you, there must be space for disagreement, debate, dialogue and discussion. That is how the mind cells are activated. Abhivyakti, Vaad Vivaad, Anant Vaad — these are inalienable facets of our civilisation, of our democracy.”

    Highlighting India’s potential to lead in knowledge domains, he said, “When you look around the world, you’ll understand its significance. The state of education defines not only the state of academics, but the state of the nation. We cannot remain perpetual students of Western innovation when our demographic dividend position says, as the world’s knowledge epicenter.”

    “And when we look back in our ancient history, we are reminded of our rich past. It is time Bharat must build world-class institutions, not just to teach, but to pioneer. These are not mere disciplines. These are levers of assurance of our sovereignty in all times to come.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1937061917761376261

    Calling for equitable expansion of higher education, the Vice-President observed, “A lot of our institutions have remained brown-field. Let us fall in line with the global groove — let’s go green. Greenfield institutions alone bring about equitable distribution. There is clusterization in metros and Tier 1 cities. Many regions remain untouched.”

    “Let’s go in for greenfield institutions in such areas. Vice Chancellors are not only the watchdogs, but impregnable bulwarks against commodification and commercialisation of education. One of our fundamental objectives is to ensure affordability, reach, and accessibility of quality education for ordinary people.”

    Concluding his address with a call to establish leadership in emerging domains, the Vice-President asserted, “Establish institutions of uncompromising excellence in emerging domains — artificial intelligence, climate change, climate technology, quantum science, digital ethics — then Bharat will lead, others will follow. That’s a challenge.”

    “Education is not just merely for public good. It is our most strategic national asset. It is integrally connected not only with our development journey in infrastructure or otherwise, it assures national security also.”

    “Friends, I am before academicians and therefore I will reveal my thought process a little more critically for your analysis. Impossible choices define our character and strength. We must not take the easy route. Impossible choices define that we really have a great inheritance. Taking the easy path is getting into mediocrity, and then into irrelevance and insignificance.”

    “Universities are crucibles to generate such choices. They prepare minds. They prepare people to be intrepid — to go in for impossible choices.”

    Shri Sunil Kumar Sharma, Minister for IT and Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education and Research Group; Prof. Vinay Kumar Pathak, President, AIU; and Dr. (Mrs.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, AIU, and other dignitaries were also present.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Legal routes for climate justice in Africa

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    By Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Anglia Ruskin University

    Climate change lawsuits have become a new way for countries to assert their rights against actions that degrade the environment. But African countries have yet to fully exploit this route.

    In the Netherlands, the court found that greenhouse gas emissions breached the rights to life and private and family life that are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.

    In Germany, the court found that the government had breached the Climate Protection Act by not setting out a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after 2030. This meant that future generations would unfairly bear the burden of trying to limit climate change.

    Africa is the continent that’s most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. At the same time, it has contributed least in the world to greenhouse gas emissions.

    However, African countries have not taken up many climate court cases, mainly because they lack resources. They are also hampered by weak climate laws, limited expertise to gather and present evidence in court, and their economic reliance on extractive industries which they may not want to sue in court.

    One of the few African climate lawsuits was brought by the South African environmental justice group EarthLife Africa Johannesburg. It took the country’s environment ministry to court to cancel the government’s approval of new coal-fired power plants. The Pretoria high court held that the approval was unlawful because it had failed to consider how new coal-fired power stations would make climate change worse.

    Another case was filed in 2020 by civil society groups that sued the governments of Uganda and Tanzania over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline for breaching human rights and damaging the environment. The East African Court of Justice dismissed the case after the activists missed the deadline to file documents. The groups have appealed against the dismissal, but this highlights some of the difficulties in bringing international climate litigation.

    In May 2025, the Pan African Lawyers’ Union asked the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for an advisory opinion (still to be issued) on the obligations of African states to protect human rights in a time of climate crisis. This case was brought in collaboration with the Africa Climate Platform, the Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa, Natural Justice, resilient40, and other environmental justice organisations.

    I am an environmental justice researcher who examines how ecocentrism (valuing the entire interests of ecosystems over human interests or individual companies interests) can be taken forward in African legal systems.

    I argue that Africa should use three key international legal routes to amplify its voice in litigating against climate change.

    1. The International Court of Justice

    In December 2024, the International Court of Justice agreed for the first time to provide an advisory opinion on what states are obliged to do to fight climate change and set out the legal consequences for states that do not meet these obligations.

    In late 2024, the court accepted inputs from countries that had already been affected by climate change. These included members of the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States and the African Union, and South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Senegal. The court will hand down the opinion in late 2025.

    Even though International Court of Justice advisory opinions are not legally binding, these proceedings were a milestone. They provided African countries with a good platform to raise their demands about the obligations of countries to protect the climate system in this time of global warming.

    2. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

    In June 2023, the African Union submitted a written statement in support of the request made by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. The island states had asked the tribunal to set out how governments were obliged by the international marine treaty to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

    This was the first time the tribunal had formally considered the impacts of climate change on the marine environment. The African Union relied on important international environmental legal principles in its statement. These include the duty to avoid polluting the atmosphere and to prevent harm that takes place across borders.

    These principles have been used by different countries in lawsuits previously. These cases form the legal basis for many climate lawsuits today.

    The tribunal’s advisory opinions are not legally binding, but they also contribute to the development of international law, and again, could be useful for Africa to assert a strong, unified legal voice in the global fight for climate justice.

    3. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

    This 1992 convention has been ratified by many African states. It is a central international legal framework that guides global action on climate change. It has been the foundation for many international agreements on how governments will prevent climate change.

    African countries will need to include international climate change agreements into their laws and policies. Not all African countries have climate change laws. Countries with climate change laws include Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa. More must follow.

    Africa lacks the resources to prevent the worst effects of climate change and recover from the damage caused by global warming.

    African countries must now take climate lawsuits forward to demand accountability, shape climate policies and safeguard the future.

    By embracing regional mechanisms like the African court, using international legal instruments, and developing national climate laws, Africa can assert a strong, unified legal voice in the global fight for climate justice.

    Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Lecturer in Law, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –