NewzIntel.com

Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Victory Anniversary at the Center of Legal Discussion: Conference Opening at the Polytechnic

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The plenary session of the XXVI annual All-Russian scientific and practical conference with international participation “Problems of Law in Modern Russia” was held in the conference hall of the Academic Council of Peter the Great Polytechnic University. The event is traditionally held by the Higher School of Jurisprudence and Forensic Science of the Humanitarian Institute of SPbPU. This year’s conference acquired special significance in connection with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    The plenary session was opened by the Vice-Rector for Security of SPbPU Alexander Airapetyan. He congratulated everyone on the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, noting the importance of the scientific and practical events of the Polytechnic University, which play a fundamental role in consolidating security and maintaining unity. The Director of the Higher School of Law and STE Dmitry Mokhorov welcomed the conference participants, congratulated them on the Great Victory Day, reflecting the fateful milestones of polytechnic thought in Russian and Soviet reality.

    Traditionally, the event brought together leading scientists and representatives of the professional community from the system of state and municipal administration, the judicial system, law enforcement agencies, the legal profession, notaries, forensic examination and representatives of the real sector of the economy.

    The guests of the event delivered welcoming remarks. Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member Nations, Director of the International Institute for Monitoring the Development of Democracy, Parliamentarism and Observance of Electoral Rights of Citizens of the CIS Member States Ivan Mushket read out a greeting from the Secretary General – Head of the Secretariat of the Council of the IPA CIS Dmitry Kobitsky. In his address, Dmitry Kobitsky emphasized the importance of the unity and courage of the Soviet people, noting that the Victory in the Great Patriotic War is a common heritage, and also called for confronting racism and xenophobia, recalling the criminal actions of Nazism, recognized by the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg.

    Law should serve as a tool for maintaining justice, protecting human rights and freedoms, and we must work on its development together, noted Dmitry Kobitsky.

    The President of the Leningrad Region Bar Association, Denis Laktionov, greeted his colleagues on behalf of the legal community and emphasized the practical importance of the traditional conference “Problems of Law in Modern Russia” for the industry.

    Olga Safronova, Director of the Legal Department of the North-West Bank of Sberbank PJSC, noted the demand for significant events aimed at legal education and educating young people in the spirit of respect for the law and historical justice, emphasizing that the modern realities of the development of scientific and technological progress require us to take adequate professional measures to protect state interests and the rights of citizens, especially in the field of cybersecurity.

    Representatives of legislative and executive bodies of federal and regional authorities, courts, the prosecutor’s office, the Investigative Committee, and law enforcement agencies sent welcoming words to the organizing committee and participants.

    The scientific part of the plenary session included reports on the issues of historical justice of the Nuremberg Trials in the context of modern understanding, the role of the prosecutor’s office during the war and the problems of cybersecurity in the modern social and legal reality. The participants were addressed by Vladimir Mikhailov, Senior Justice Advisor, Senior Prosecutor of the Criminal and Judicial Department of the Leningrad Region Prosecutor’s Office, Artem Klinitsky, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Law and European Economics, and representatives of the North-West Bank of Sberbank Olga Safronova, Natalia Eroshenko and Kirill Yakovlev.

    At the end of the meeting, a video trailer for the historical film “Blockade Justice” was shown, containing rare archival footage of the activities of the courts, prosecutors and lawyers during the Great Patriotic War.

    On the first day of the conference, work was carried out in the sections “Theoretical-historical and public-law sciences”, “Private law (civil) sciences”, “Criminal-law sciences”. More than 250 people took part in the conference in person and over 70 section reports were presented, and an online broadcast with the possibility of open connection was also conducted. Abstracts of the reports will be published in a collection based on the results of the conference, and the best articles will be sent to the journals of the Higher Attestation Commission and the Russian Science Citation Index.

    The conference will include a round table (International teleconference St. Petersburg – Baku) “Modern Methods of Engineering and Technical Expertise”; a discussion platform “Application of Special Expert Knowledge in Legal Practice”; a round table “Counteracting Terrorism and Cybercrime”; master classes on forensic examination; a round table “Economic and Legal Regulation of Environmental Safety”; a discussion platform “East – West: Paths of Cultural Dialogue”; an International Theoretical and Practical Dialogue – Prospects for Development and Integration (Russia – Uzbekistan); a discussion platform (International teleconference St. Petersburg – Andijan) “Modern Trends in Legal Education and Enlightenment”; an exhibition of scientific, educational and educational-methodical works on jurisprudence and forensic examination.

    The detailed program can be found aton the website of the Higher School of YuISTE.

    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 USA: First Genetic Counseling Professional Science Master’s Students Graduate

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The first graduates from the University of Connecticut’s Professional Science Master’s (PSM) in genetic counseling were hooded last Tuesday. The program was ten years in the making and is the first such accredited program at a public university in New England.

    “Watching our first cohort graduate today was nothing short of incredible,” says program director and UConn Health pediatric genetics counselor Maria Gyure. “These graduates didn’t just complete a program – they helped build it. I couldn’t be prouder to send them out into the world as the next generation of genetic counselors. We have no doubt they will serve as exemplary ambassadors for our program and make meaningful contributions to the communities they serve.”

    From left to right: Samantha Wesoly, Lila Aiyar, Kathryn Cavanna, Heather Gaddy, Natalie Cartwright, Mariangelie Beaudry, Karina Mancini, Stephanie Auger, Matthew Ruegg, and Maria Gyure (Rachel O’Neill/UConn Photo)

    The two-year program is uniquely positioned to give students broad experience in both research and clinical genetics. The Genetic Counseling PSM is housed under the auspices of the Institute for Systems Genomics (ISG). The ISG includes researchers and clinicians at UConn Health, Connecticut Children’s, and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine. Those relationships, along with others, allow students to participate in a series of 10-week fieldwork rotations throughout their training. Students are placed in clinical rotations in diverse areas, including prenatal, pediatric, cancer, cardiovascular, and metabolic genetic counseling, as well as a laboratory rotation. An enrichment rotation gives students the opportunity to tailor a fieldwork experience aligned with their individual interests, in specialty clinics, industry, and advocacy.

    They are also required to take part in a genetic research project beginning in the second semester. This graduating class focused on areas including forensic genetic genealogy, the human right to health, barriers to newborn genomic research, underrepresented populations in rare disease research, among others.

    “The graduating class of 2025 represents a remarkable achievement, not only for the outstanding students in the program, but for the leadership and faculty that have made this program possible,” says ISG director Rachel O’Neill.

    UConn’s tuition is generally more affordable than the private university genetic counseling programs elsewhere in the region, making it more accessible for potential students. Interested potential students are encouraged to look at the program’s homepage as applications open in the fall.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • APEC highlights ‘fundamental challenges’ in global trade as tariffs overshadow meeting

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group adopted a statement on Friday that cited “fundamental challenges” facing the global trading system, but stopped short of discussing a joint response to U.S. tariffs looming large over its meeting.

    The annual gathering is the first major multilateral trade gathering since U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs that hit more than half of the 21 members of the bloc with U.S. import duties in excess of the 10% minimum.

    “We are concerned with the fundamental challenges faced by the global trading system,” APEC members said in the joint statement.

    They also said they remained committed to APEC as the main forum for regional economic cooperation and addressing the economic challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region.

    The statement expressed support for the continued role of the World Trade Organization, while noting its shortcomings.

    “We recognise the importance of the WTO to advance trade issues, and acknowledge the agreed-upon rules in the WTO as an integral part of the global trading system.”

    The statement also said that “the WTO has challenges and needs meaningful, necessary, and comprehensive reform to improve all its functions, through innovative approaches, to be more relevant and responsive in light of today’s realities”.

    The Trump administration views the WTO as a body that has enabled China to gain an unfair export advantage and has recently moved to suspend U.S. funding to the institution.

    Kim Yong Jin, a management professor at Sogang University in Seoul, said the joint statement reflected U.S. claims “they are at a disadvantage under WTO, and that needs to be fixed.”

    APEC warned at the start of the meeting that exports from a region that accounts for around half of world trade would slow sharply this year as a result of the U.S. tariffs.

    Earlier on Friday, some diplomats from member countries had expressed doubts the group would even be able to adopt a joint statement, although they said South Korea Minister for Trade, Cheong In-kyo, had pushed hard for some consensus.

    “There was new momentum created through these meetings to overcome a difficult situation … as APEC urged a trans-regional effort to break through uncertainties engulfing the global economy,” Cheong told a briefing.

    In February, a Group of 20 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in Cape Town failed to agree a joint communique after top officials from several countries, including the United States, skipped it.

    Cheong said there was no “official” discussion about a joint response to U.S. tariffs, despite pressure from some members for such talks.

    “From our standpoint, it is difficult to jointly respond because each country is in a completely different situation,” he said.

    APEC is a non-binding regional economic forum established in 1989 to facilitate deepening ties in the Asia-Pacific region, with the United States, China, countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan among its member economies.

    BILATERAL MEETINGS

    For many of the member economies, the attendance of U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer raised the stakes of the conference held on South Korea’s Jeju Island, ahead of a leaders’ summit scheduled later in the year.

    On the first day, many, if not all, of the representatives had or sought a meeting with Greer, according to host country officials.

    Greer met China’s Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang on Thursday, less than a week after their first face-to-face talks in Geneva on May 10-11, where they agreed to significantly lower tariffs for 90 days.

    Beijing’s commerce ministry spokesperson, He Yongqian, told a press conference that China was always open to discussing economic and trade relations with the United States through offline communication, but gave no details on the substance of the latest talks.

    According to a statement from the ministry, China’s Li said at the APEC meeting that in recent years individual economies had implemented so-called reciprocal tariffs, which provoked global trade frictions and strong dissatisfaction and opposition from many trading partners.

    Greer also spoke with South Korea’s Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, three weeks after Seoul and Washington held their opening round of trade talks, and ministers from Malaysia and Taiwan, yielding optimism that further talks would lead to reduced tariffs.

    (Reuters)

  • IIFT sets up first overseas campus in Dubai, marking historic step in global expansion

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major stride towards internationalising Indian higher education, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has announced the establishment of its first overseas campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The move marks a significant milestone in IIFT’s 62-year history and underscores India’s growing presence in the global education landscape.

    The announcement was made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday. The new campus has received the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Education, along with No Objection Certificates from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

    Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the development as a reflection of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of making India a global hub for education. “This truly reflects the spirit of NEP 2020, marking a new chapter in the internationalisation of Indian education and its growing role in shaping global thought leadership. It is also a testament to the strengthening India-UAE partnership,” he said.

    Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal described the Dubai campus as a turning point in IIFT’s journey. “This represents India’s emergence as a provider of world-class education, especially in the field of international trade,” he noted, while applauding the institute’s continued focus on aligning academic and research efforts with national priorities.

    Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of IIFT, expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who supported the initiative. Reaffirming the institute’s commitment to excellence, he said, “We aim to transform IIFT into a world-class institution through our Dubai campus by excelling in education, training, and research in international trade.”

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Talent and tenacity is celebrated in champion style at 2025 Leeds Sports Awards

    Source: City of Leeds

    Organised by Sport Leeds and Leeds City Council, the ceremony is held each year to celebrate the achievements of athletes – of all ages and levels – as well as coaches, administrators and volunteers.

    And the 2025 edition of the event – hosted at Leeds’s Carriageworks Theatre – did exactly that, with close to 20 different awards being presented to some extremely deserving recipients.

    The evening’s winners included Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair Rugby League coach and former player James Simpson, who took home the coveted Sporting Pride of Leeds title.

    Previous recipients of the award – which recognises work done by an individual, club or organisation to raise the profile of the city as a centre of sporting excellence – include Rob Burrow, Eddie Gray and Josh Warrington.

    A Lifetime Achievement Award, meanwhile, went to Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington. The same award was presented posthumously to former Rhinos chief scout Bob Pickles.

    Joan Young’s tireless work supporting netball across the city was recognised with a Special Contribution Award.

    Local, national and international athletics stalwart Dr Ian Richards and City of Leeds Diving Club fundraisers Fiona Croft and Becky Simmonds were all winners in the Outstanding Sports Volunteer category.

    There were awards, too, for local stars of the Olympics and Paralympics, including Georgie Brayshaw, Katy Marchant, Tom Pidcock, Hannah Cockroft and Kadeena Cox.

    Crossgates Harriers took first place in the Community Club category, with a highly-commended mention going to Methley Athletic AFC.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said:

    “The Leeds Sports Awards is one of the highlights of our city’s sporting calendar and an event that means a huge amount to many people.

    “It’s an opportunity to salute the sporting community as a whole, with the important contribution made by grassroots organisations – as well as volunteers and other unsung heroes – being rightfully celebrated alongside the high-profile achievements of Leeds Rhinos, Leeds United and our Olympians and Paralympians.

    “Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at this year’s awards, you have done yourself and the city proud.”

    FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND ‘HIGHLY COMMENDED’ RECIPIENTS

    Young Sportsperson (sponsored by Technogym)

    Winner: Yaried Alem

    Highly commended: Matilda Potter and Amy Wright               

    Young Disability Sportsperson (Sponsored by Technogym)

    Winner: Oliver Porter     

    Highly commended: Lucas Town               

    Sportsperson (Sponsored by Technogym)

    Winners: Georgie Brayshaw, Katy Marchant and Tom Pidcock

    Disability Sportsperson (Sponsored by Technogym)

    Winners: Hannah Cockroft and Kadeena Cox

    School Achievement (Sponsored by YPO Sports)

    Winner: St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School

    Highly commended: Dave Curtis                                  

    Community Coach (Sponsored by Evans Homes)

    Winner: Charlotte Williams

    Highly commended: Elaine Brown and Pete Makowski

    Community Club (Sponsored by Evans Homes)

    Winner: Crossgates Harriers

    Highly commended: Methley United AFC

    Student Sport Champion (Sponsored by Leeds Trinity University)

    Winner: Max Burgin

    Highly commended: Luke Whitehouse                                               

    Outstanding Sports Volunteer (Sponsored by Rosterfly)

    Winners: Dr Ian Richards, Fiona Croft and Becky Simmonds

    Inspirational Community Champion (Sponsored by University of Leeds)

    Winner: Come Outside – Jovanni Sterling and Rob Lattibeaudiere

    Highly commended: Anthony Hall

    Performance Coach (Sponsored by Yorkshire Sport Foundation)

    Winner: Dave Murray

    Highly commended: Rhys Davey, Paul Moseley and Adam Smallwood

    Performance Club (Sponsored by Weetwood Hall Hotel)

    Winner: City of Leeds Diving Club

    Highly commended: Leeds Gymnastics Club

    Sustainability Champion (Sponsored by Zoggs)

    Winner: K.E.E.P.

    Highly commended: Yorkshire Cricket Foundation                                         

    Sporting Pride of Leeds (sponsored by first direct arena)

    Winner: James Simpson

    Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Leeds City Council)

    Winner: Gary Hetherington

    Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Leeds City Council)

    Winner: Bob Pickles

    Special Contribution Award (Sponsored by Leeds City Council)

    Winner: Joan Young

    Note to editors:

    Sport Leeds was established in 2002 and has since become a dynamic sports network with a strong reputation in the city and region. It serves as the strategic partnership for organisations involved in promoting and developing sports and active recreation in Leeds. The network includes professional and amateur sports clubs, universities, colleges, school clusters and other important sporting organisations from within the city, region and beyond.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese-Kazakhstani elite engineering institute will be created on the basis of cooperation between SZPU and KazNU

    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, May 16 (Xinhua) — A China-Kazakhstan Elite Engineering Institute will be established based on cooperation between the Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU) of China and the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi (KazNU), the NWPU website reported.

    The agreement on the establishment of the above-mentioned institute, which will be located in the Kazakh branch of SZPU in Almaty, was concluded recently within the framework of the 1st Meeting of Ministers of Education “China-Central Asia” between SZPU and KazNU.

    The establishment of elite engineering institutes abroad is a project developed by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China on the basis of unified planning in the field of international cooperation.

    The Chinese-Kazakhstan Elite Engineering Institute will establish cooperation with enterprises of both countries in the field of training highly qualified engineers with an innovative approach, said SZPU Rector Song Baowei.

    SZPU is located in Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province /Northwest China/. The university, which belongs to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the PRC, is one of the most important centers in the country for scientific research and training of specialists in the field of aviation, astronautics, navigation, etc.

    In recent years, NWPU has been actively cooperating with research institutions in the countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. In May 2023, NWPU and KazNU signed an agreement to open a Kazakhstan branch of the Northwestern Polytechnical University of China. The branch was opened five months later in Almaty. Thus, according to the data, Kazakhstani students were given the opportunity to do an internship in Xi’an. Upon completion of their studies, they will receive diplomas from two universities. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Giant: John Lithgow’s masterful turn explores Roald Dahl’s antisemitism – and wider questions about children’s literature

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kristina West, Lecturer in Children’s Literature, Royal Holloway University of London

    Back in 2023, a bitter debate erupted over the editing of Roald Dahl’s children’s books. His publishers, Puffin Books, had worked with Dahl’s estate (now owned by Netflix) to remove references to violence, body size, mental health, gender and skin colour. Now, a new play about an incident in Dahl’s later life is focusing on another controversy.

    Giant (written by Mark Rosenblatt) is playing at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre until August 2. It features a masterly performance by John Lithgow in the role of Dahl. The play tracks the fallout from his 1983 review of God Cried, a photographic book by Catherine Leroy and Tony Clifton about the Israeli army’s siege of west Beirut.

    However, in Rosenblatt’s blend of fact and fiction, the very real controversy arose not from the review, but from an interview Dahl gave that many Jewish and non-Jewish readers objected to as antisemitism (others saw it as a justified critique of Israel’s actions during the Lebanon war). This is melded with an imaginary situation in which Jewish representatives from Dahl’s British and American publishers visit his home to calm the backlash.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Rosenblatt explores the tensions in this response both as it related to Dahl and to conversations across the world on the recent and ongoing attacks in Palestine and Israel.

    Perhaps reflecting the controversy over Dahl’s language in his children’s books, this play, too, is engaged with conversation, language and word choices. The words we use about others, how that language is interpreted and meaning is formed, and discussions about language are all at the centre of the story. As is the discourse between different forms, styles, and times of writing, and the tension between spoken and written language.

    While Rosenblatt’s script is centred on Dahl’s comments on Israel and Jewish people, it also engages with his spoken misogyny. This includes his repeated insulting epithets for American publisher Jessica Stone (Aya Cash) and his hectoring of housekeeper Hallie (Tessa Bonham Jones). It is no coincidence that the play is set right before the release of The Witches (1983), now a centre of complaints about Dahl’s written misogyny.

    The trailer for Giant.

    And while the play begins with some genuinely comic moments, the night I saw it the audience audibly gasped during the scene in which Dahl told The New Statesman that “even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on [the Jews] for no reasons”. It’s a quote taken directly from Dahl’s real interview with journalist Michael Coren in 1983.

    In its engagement with the power of language and the potential effects of a political statement on the sales of Dahl’s books, the play returns viewers to the debate over cancel culture and the place of politics in and around children’s literature.

    Today, such controversy centres on Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and the impact of her position on transgender rights on her millions of child and adult fans. But such criticisms of children’s authors for being too political have been made for decades.

    Cancel culture

    Lithgow’s performance as Dahl adds another layer of complexity to the debate on age appropriateness and the validity of political comment. He centres his aged Dahl in a time of flux, unsettled and unwell, dealing with the renovation of his house. This is reflected in some clever staging in which the house as a place of sanctuary, work and rest has become a claustrophobic space in which people are on top of each other, nothing is where it belongs, and the only solace to be had is in a decent glass of wine.

    He is also about to marry his long-term mistress, Felicity Crossland (Rachael Stirling), after divorcing his even longer-term wife. You can almost hear the creak of his knees as he moves around and feel the aches in his back as he stretches that gaunt frame.

    Lithgow’s performance of age seems to explain some of Dahl’s crabby responses. As such, perhaps, the audience is tempted to ask questions that have been asked about “classic” literature before: is old age justification for prejudicial viewpoints? Is misogyny acceptable when someone was born in 1916? Is antisemitism excusable if someone is unwell?

    While Rosenblatt and Lithgow may open the door to questions such as these, they close that door pretty firmly by the end of the play. The shock value of Dahl’s phone interview in which he exerts an agency belying his age and clearly demonstrates his antisemitism leaves the audience in little doubt as to the final message.

    But with Dahl damned by his own antisemitism, what next? Is the play calling on cancel culture for Dahl? Is it claiming that his political views and language choices mean that we shouldn’t read The Witches to our children, in edited form or not?

    Perhaps it leaves us rather back where we began: with questions over language, with debate, with more discussion on intent, and meaning, and appropriateness of language. We also need to question the rights of an individual – especially a celebrated children’s author – to express controversial views against the rights of an individual or group, especially when demonstrably abhorrent. And this conversation isn’t going to end any time soon.

    Giant is at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre until August 2 2025.

    Kristina West does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Giant: John Lithgow’s masterful turn explores Roald Dahl’s antisemitism – and wider questions about children’s literature – https://theconversation.com/giant-john-lithgows-masterful-turn-explores-roald-dahls-antisemitism-and-wider-questions-about-childrens-literature-256530

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Struggle icon, Duma Nokwe, awarded honorary title of Senior Counsel

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has posthumously awarded struggle veteran human rights lawyer, Advocate Dumalisile (Duma) Philemon Pearce Nokwe, the honorary title of Senior Counsel (SC or Silk) for the Republic of South Africa.

    Nokwe passed away in 1978 while in exile in Zambia.

    “The posthumous honour bestowed on the first African advocate of the Supreme Court is a high honour that recognises Advocate Nokwe’s expertise and contribution to the legal profession.

    “President Ramaphosa has conferred the status of Senior Counsel on Adv Nokwe in line with the provisions of the Legal Practice Act of 2014, which governs this status and sets out the criteria for its conferral.

    “In this instance, the Legal Practice Council and the Duma Nokwe Group of Advocates made an application to the President for Advocate Nokwe’s posthumous appointment as a Senior Counsel,” the Presidency said in a statement.

    Nokwe’s remains were repatriated to South Africa in 2024 and his reburial will be held on Saturday.

    “The President has bestowed this conferral on the late Adv Nokwe on the eve of the esteemed legal practitioner’s reburial in West Park Cemetery, Johannesburg, tomorrow, Saturday, 17 May 2025. He will be reburied along with his wife, Mrs Vuyiswa Malangabi-Nokwe who passed away in 2008.

    “President Ramaphosa has accorded Advocate Nokwe a Special Provincial Official Funeral and the President will deliver a tribute at tomorrow’s ceremony,” the statement read.

    Struggle icon

    Nokwe held a BSc degree from the University of Fort Hare and a diploma in education, which he used to foray into teaching in Krugersdorp.

    However, his political activities led his imprisonment during the Defiance Campaign aimed at the apartheid government in 1952.

    He was banned and restricted in 1953 by the racist government following his participation in the World Youth Festival and visits to the then Soviet Union, China and Britain.

    “He subsequently studied law, obtained an LLB degree and became the first black advocate to be admitted to the Johannesburg Society of Advocates. The Native Affairs Department of the time debarred him from taking chambers with his white colleagues in the Johannesburg city centre and this development led to Adv Nokwe devoting himself to the liberation struggle.

    “He was put on trial for treason and was subjected to banning orders, arrests and assault by the police,” the presidency said.

    His political activism and fight for the freedom of South Africans led to him having to leave the country.

    “He was elected Secretary-General of the African National Congress in 1958 and mobilised communities against apartheid until the underground leadership directed him to leave South Africa in January 1963.

    “Advocate Nokwe campaigned against the apartheid state on global platforms including those of the Organisation of African Unity and African Union and remained an activist until he passed in Lusaka in January 1978,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Preston Markets Loved for 150 Years

    Source: City of Preston

    This week, as part of ‘Love Your Local Market’ fortnight, Preston Markets is proud to announce the 150th anniversary of its iconic Victorian canopy.

    Standing tall since 1875, this striking structure has sheltered generations of traders and welcomed countless visitors, becoming one of Preston’s most recognisable city centre landmarks.

    To mark the occasion, Preston Markets will host a two-day Victorian-themed celebration on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 August. Visitors can expect traditional characters such as Victorian strong men, penny-farthing-riding policeman along with live performances and family-friendly activities. A special heritage tour will offer insights into the markets rich history whilst a curated display – developed in collaboration with a history student from the University of Lancashire will showcase the markets’ story through the decades. More details will be announced.

    ‘Love Your Local Market’ is a UK wide initiative celebrating local markets and the traders who provide fresh quality produce and services to their communities.

    Originally held on Preston Flag Market with street traders dotted around the town, Preston Market evolved significantly after the arrival of the railway in 1838. This economic boost paved the way for the construction of a permanent canopy, completed in November 1875 which quickly became a symbol of Preston’s thriving market culture.

    Today, 150 years on, the canopy still provides a home for local traders and a popular space for visitors. It now shares space with beloved statues of Wallace and Gromit characters adding a playful touch to its historic setting.

    Councillor Martyn Rawlinson, cabinet member for Resources at Preston City Council said:

    Preston Markets have always been at the heart of Preston and it is fantastic to see them celebrated this way, Market traders work incredibly hard all year-round providing quality goods and services.

    “Marking the 150 year anniversary of the iconic, market canopy honours not only the heritage but also the vital role our markets continue to play in Preston’s future.”

    If you have a personal memory or family story linked to Preston Markets, we’d love to hear from you. Email markets@preston.gov.uk – selected stories may be included in a special display inside the Market Hall.

    To stay up to date with celebration details, including competition and event anouncements visit Preston Markets and follow @prestonmarkets on Instagram and Facebook.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Top Prize Awarded in Lunar Autonomy Challenge to Virtually Map Moon’s Surface

    Source: NASA

    NASA named Stanford University of California winner of the Lunar Autonomy Challenge, a six-month competition for U.S. college and university student teams to virtually map and explore using a digital twin of NASA’s In-Situ Resource Utilization Pilot Excavator (IPEx). 
    The winning team successfully demonstrated the design and functionality of their autonomous agent, or software that performs specified actions without human intervention. Their agent autonomously navigated the IPEx digital twin in the virtual lunar environment, while accurately mapping the surface, correctly identifying obstacles, and effectively managing available power.

    Adam dai
    Lunar Autonomy Challenge team lead, Stanford University

    Dai added, “It pushed us to find solutions robust to the harsh conditions of the lunar surface. I learned so much through the challenge, both about new ideas and methods, as well as through deepening my understanding of core methods across the autonomy stack (perception, localization, mapping, planning). I also very much enjoyed working together with my team to brainstorm different approaches and strategies and solve tangible problems observed in the simulation.” 
    The challenge offered 31 teams a valuable opportunity to gain experience in software development, autonomy, and machine learning using cutting-edge NASA lunar technology. Participants also applied essential skills common to nearly every engineering discipline, including technical writing, collaborative teamwork, and project management.
    The Lunar Autonomy Challenge supports NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII), which is part of the Space Technology Mission Directorate. The LSII aims to accelerate technology development and pursue results that will provide essential infrastructure for lunar exploration by collaborating with industry, academia, and other government agencies.

    Niki Werkheiser
    Director of Technology Maturation and LSII lead, NASA Headquarters

    “To succeed, we need input from everyone — every idea counts to propel our goals forward. It is very rewarding to see these students and software developers contributing their skills to future lunar and Mars missions,” Werkheiser added.  
    Through the Lunar Autonomy Challenge, NASA collaborated with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Caterpillar Inc., and Embodied AI. Each team contributed unique expertise and tools necessary to make the challenge a success.
    The Applied Physics Laboratory managed the challenge for NASA. As a systems integrator for LSII, they provided expertise to streamline rigor and engineering discipline across efforts, ensuring the development of successful, efficient, and cost-effective missions — backed by the world’s largest cohort of lunar scientists. 
    Caterpillar Inc. is known for its construction and excavation equipment and operates a large fleet of autonomous haul trucks. They also have worked with NASA for more than 20 years on a variety of technologies, including autonomy, 3D printing, robotics, and simulators as they continue to collaborate with NASA on technologies that support NASA’s mission objectives and provide value to the mining and construction industries. 
    Embodied AI collaborated with Caterpillar to integrate the simulation into the open-source  driving environment used for the challenge. For the Lunar Autonomy Challenge, the normally available digital assets of the CARLA simulation platform, such as urban layouts, buildings, and vehicles, were replaced by an IPEx “Digital Twin” and lunar environmental models.
    “This collaboration is a great example of how the government, large companies, small businesses, and research institutions can thoughtfully leverage each other’s different, but complementary, strengths,” Werkheiser added. “By substantially modernizing existing tools, we can turn today’s novel technologies into tomorrow’s institutional capabilities for more efficient and effective space exploration, while also stimulating innovation and economic growth on Earth.”
    FINALIST TEAMS
    First PlaceNAV Lab teamStanford University, Stanford, California

    Second PlaceMAPLE (MIT Autonomous Pathfinding for Lunar Exploration) teamMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

    Third PlaceMoonlight teamCarnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

    OTHER COMPETING TEAMS

    Lunar Explorers
    Arizona State University
    Tempe, Arizona

    AIWVU
    West Virginia University
    Morgantown, West Virginia

    Stellar Sparks
    California Polytechnic Institute Pomona
    Pomona, California

    LunatiX
    Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering
    Baltimore

    CARLA CSU
    California State University, Stanislaus
    Turlock, California

    Rose-Hulman
    Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
    Terre Haute, Indiana

    Lunar Pathfinders
    American Public University System
    Charles Town, West Virginia

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: High technology to help people: Polytechnicians win prosthetics championship

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The regional stage of the high-tech championship in the competence “Design and manufacture of prostheses and orthoses” was held at the Institute of Secondary Vocational Education of SPbPU.

    The students demonstrated their understanding of 3D scanning, modeling, circuit design and programming, as well as how to work with 3D printing and assemble robotic prostheses. The participants not only demonstrated their knowledge, but also applied it in practice.

    The industrial expert of the championship was the head of the innovation technologies department of the Federal Scientific and Educational Center for Medical and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation named after G. A. Albrecht of the Ministry of Labor of Russia Mikhail Golovin. He consulted the experts of the evaluation groups, provided valuable recommendations and a practical approach to prosthetics. His experience and knowledge became an important resource for the participants, helping them improve their work.

    Students from colleges of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University and the North-West Institute of Management of RANEPA took part in the championship.

    The winner of the championship was Violetta Molodtsova from the ISPO SPbPU, expert – Daria Malyuk. Second place was taken by Daria Bolotnova from the ISPO SPbPU, expert – Karina Babieva. Third place went to Nikita Mostovoy from the faculty of secondary vocational education of the North-West Institute of Management RANEPA, expert – Evgeny Polubotko.

    It was a test of myself, knowledge and endurance. It’s like a race against time, when you see a solution and the only thing left for you is to spend all your energy on implementing it within the given time frame, – shared Violetta Molodtsova.

    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 Nations: New Permanent Representative of Rwanda Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Urujeni Bakuramutsa, the new Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented her credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    Prior to her appointment to Geneva, Ms. Bakuramutsa had been serving as Ambassador of Rwanda to Jordan since December 2023.  She served as Director of the Cabinet of the Office of the President of Rwanda from March 2020 to December 2023.  She also held the post of Permanent Secretary at the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation from October 2018 to March 2020.

    Ms. Bakuramutsa served as Minister Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations in New York from October 2016 to October 2018.  She was Director General of the Imbuto Foundation in Kigali from May 2014 to October 2016.  She started her career working in the private sector, first in California, United States from November 2006 to December 2011, and then in Kigali, Rwanda from January 2012 to May 2014.

    Ms. Bakuramutsa holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Sacramento State University in the United States.  She was born in 1979 in Burkina Faso and is married with three children.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CR25.020E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Alexia Maddox, Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Education Futures, La Trobe University

    De Visu/Shutterstock

    Australia’s move to ban under-16s from social media is receiving widespread praise. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore and Japan, are also now reportedly considering similar moves.

    The ban was legislated in November 2024 and is due to take effect in December 2025. The law says social media platforms can’t use official IDs such as passports to check Australian users’ ages, and shouldn’t track Australians. But it doesn’t specify the alternative.

    To test alternative methods, the federal government commissioned a trial of currently available technologies designed to “assure” people’s age online. Run by the Age Check Certification Scheme, a UK-based company specialising in testing and certifying identity verification systems, the trial is in its final stages. Results are expected at the end of June.

    So what are the technologies being trialled? Are they likely to work? And how might they – and the social media ban itself – alter the relationship all of us have with our dominant forms of digital communication?

    Dead ends for age verification

    Age verification confirms a person’s exact age using verified sources such as government-issued IDs. Age assurance is a broader term. It can include estimation techniques such as analysing faces or metadata to determine if users meet age requirements.

    In 2023 the federal government rejected mandating verification technologies for age-gating pornography sites. It found them “immature” with significant limitations. For example, database checks were costly and credit card verification could be easily worked around by minors.

    Nonprofit organisation Digital Rights Watch also pointed out that such systems were easily bypassed using virtual private networks – or VPNs. These are simple tools that hide a user’s location to make it seem like they are from a different country.

    Age assurance technologies bring different problems.

    For example, the latest US National Academies of Sciences report shows that facial recognition systems frequently misidentify children because their facial features are still developing.

    Improving these systems would require massive collections of children’s facial images. But international human rights law protects children’s privacy, making such data collection both legally and ethically problematic.

    Flawed testing of innovative tech?

    The age assurance technology trial currently includes 53 vendors hoping to win a contract for new innovative solutions.

    A range of technology is being trialled. It includes facial recognition offering “selfie-based age checks” and hand movement recognition technologies that claim to calculate age ranges. It also includes bespoke block chains to store sensitive data on.

    There are internal tensions about the trial’s design choices. These tensions centre on a lack of focus on ways to circumvent the technology, privacy implications, and verification of vendors’ efficacy claims.

    While testing innovation is good, the majority of companies and startups such as IDVerse, AgeCheck, and Yoti in the trial, will likely not hold clout over the major tech platforms in focus (Meta, Google and Snap).

    This divide reveals a fundamental problem: the companies building the checking tools aren’t the ones who must use them in the platforms targeted by the law. When tech giants don’t actively participate in developing solutions, they’re more likely to resist implementing them later.

    Google recently proposed storing ID documents in Google Wallet for age verification.
    nitpicker/Shutterstock

    Unresponsive tech companies

    Some major tech companies have shown little interest in engaging with the trial. For example, minutes from the trial’s March advisory board meeting reveal Apple “has been unresponsive, despite multiple outreach attempts”.

    Apple has recently outlined a tool to transmit a declared age range to developers on request. Apple suggests iOS will default the age assurance on Apple devices to under 13 for kids’ accounts. This makes it the responsibility of parents to modify age, the responsibility of developers to recognise age, and the responsibility of governments to legislate when and what to do with an assured age per market.

    Google’s recent Google Wallet proposal for age assurance also misses the mark on privacy concerns and usefulness.

    The proposal would require people over 16 to upload government-issued IDs and link them to a Google account. It would also require people trust Google not track where they go across the internet, via a privacy-preserving technology that remains a promise.

    Crucially, Meta’s social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram also do not let you login with Google credentials. After all, they are competitors. This raises questions about the usefulness of Google’s proposal to assure age across social media platforms as part of the government’s under-16s ban.

    Meanwhile, Google is also suggesting AI chatbots should be directly targeted and available to children under 13, creating something akin to a “social network of one”, which are out of scope of the ban.

    Rather than engage with Australian age verification systems, companies such as Apple and Google are promoting their own solutions which seem to prioritise keeping or adding users to their services, or passing responsibility elsewhere.

    For the targeted platforms that enable online social interactions, delay in engagement fits a broader pattern. For example, in January 2025, Mark Zuckerberg indicated Meta would push back more aggressively against international regulations that threaten its business model.

    A shift in internet regulation

    Australia’s approach to banning under-16s from using social media marks a significant shift in internet regulation. Rather than age-gating specific content such as porn or gambling, Australia is now targeting basic communication infrastructure – which is what social media have become.

    It centres the problem on children being children, rather than on social media business models.

    The result is limiting childrens’ digital rights with experimental technologies while doing little to address the source of perceived harm for all of us. It prioritises protection without considering children’s rights to access information and express themselves. This risks leaving the most vulnerable children being cut off from digital spaces essential to their success.

    Australia’s approach puts paternal politics ahead of technical and social reality. As we get closer to the ban taking effect, we’ll see how this approach to regulate social communication platforms offers young people respite from the platforms their parents fear – yet continue to use everyday for their own basic communication needs.

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

    – ref. A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed – https://theconversation.com/a-trial-is-testing-ways-to-enforce-australias-under-16s-social-media-ban-but-the-tech-is-flawed-256332

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Spanish scholar highlights AI’s role in cross-cultural exchange

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

    Juan Manuel Corchado, rector and AI professor at the University of Salamanca, delivers a lecture titled “From Understanding to Dialogue: The Power of AI to Unite People and Nations” at Tsinghua University in Beijing, May 15, 2025. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn]

    For two nations with rich cultural heritages and growing technological ambitions like Spain and China, artificial intelligence (AI) offers a unique opportunity to forge deeper ties, said Juan Manuel Corchado, rector and chair professor of artificial intelligence, computer science and cybersecurity at the University of Salamanca.

    During a recent visit to China from May 13-15, Corchado led a Spanish academic delegation that met with representatives from some of China’s top universities, including Peking University and Tsinghua University, to explore opportunities for educational cooperation and AI-powered cultural exchange.

    In an interview with China.org.cn, Corchado elaborated on how AI can facilitate cultural exchange and strengthen academic ties between China and Spain, and his views of AI as a powerful enabler for stronger bilateral ties.

    He explained that advanced AI models, such as large language models (LLMs) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, have the capability to “analyze the cultural context of a conversation” and adjust their responses to respect local traditions and customs. This contextual awareness helps avert misunderstandings and promotes culturally sensitive communication. Moreover, AI can analyze cultural trends and perspectives, providing valuable insights to support international decision-making.

    He also emphasized AI’s ability for “smart translation,” which goes beyond simple language conversion by accurately interpreting idiomatic expressions unique to each culture while maintaining their original meaning. Additionally, Corchado pointed out that AI enables “real-time multilingual communication,” effectively breaking down language barriers and fostering collaboration and mutual understanding across nations.

    Beyond language, Corchado highlighted that AI can identify and understand philosophical concepts unique to certain cultures. For example, AI models can explain the differences between Western and Eastern thought, further bridging cultural divides and enhancing cross-cultural dialogue.

    As a concrete example of AI’s application in cultural exchange, Juan Corchado highlighted the University of Salamanca’s plan to open a Confucius Institute at the end of this month, integrating AI into its teaching approach.

    “The Confucius Institute will promote Chinese language and culture,” Corchado said. “But now that we offer all our students courses in AI, we believe we can combine AI with Confucius education.”

    He explained that the university provides AI courses to all students because everyone has the ability to adopt AI to become a better professional. Taking advantage of current AI advancements alongside Chinese language learning, the university plans to use innovative tools such as the latest generative AI models and RAG technology to develop specialized systems for teaching Chinese language and culture.

    “We can customize all the information we have about China to meet the needs of each individual user,” Corchado noted. “This is a great advantage. By combining the traditional Confucius teaching approach with the power of AI, we aim to create knowledge that reaches far more people, adapting to their specific learning needs.”

    Reflecting on his visit to China 10 years ago, he said he was struck this time by the country’s remarkable progress. “I’m impressed with the level of technology you apply in society to all elements, and how everything is so well thought out and made for the people,” he said.

    Corchado was also particularly impressed by the close relationship between Chinese universities, society and industry. “I visited several companies that are proud of their cooperation with universities,” he said. “And the universities, in turn, proudly speak of how many of their former students are now working at top technology companies such as DeepSeek and Lenovo. This synergy between academia and industry is impressive and shows how education directly benefits society.”

    Corchado praised China’s leadership in AI, attributing it to a powerful combination of investment, infrastructure and talent. “I believe the top power in AI worldwide is China,” he said. “You have the funding to develop large language models like DeepSeek and to build the computing clusters they require. But even more important is the human capital to develop these platforms.”

    “I’ve studied several Chinese tech firms, and I’m really impressed by the level of knowledge and capability I’ve seen,” he said.

    Acknowledging China’s leading role in AI, Corchado stressed the importance of collaboration. “We need to be closer to those who know more than us, to learn more,” he said, emphasizing the critical role academic institutions can play in fostering cross-cultural understanding, especially in the age of AI.

    He highlighted the University of Salamanca’s longstanding engagement with China. “We are a more than 800-year-old university with one of the strongest Asian studies programs, especially focused on China,” he said.

    The university hosts around 600 Chinese students annually — roughly one-tenth of its international student body — and receives many more for short-term courses. In addition to academic partnerships, Salamanca’s science park is also home to companies doing business with China, strengthening links across education, research and industry.

    “Universities trust each other. We are accustomed to collaborating, communicating and working jointly on projects. This kind of cooperation helps us not only to accomplish academic goals, but also to gain a deeper understanding of one another’s cultures,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Announces Second Fiscal Quarter and Recent Operational Highlights and Provides Corporate Outlook 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, N.Y., May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced its second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2025 and more recent operational highlights and provided an outlook on its expectations and goals for 2025 and beyond.

    “We started 2025 with a view to build on a successful 2024, and have done just that, pursuing and executing on our objectives efficiently,” said Jay Yu, Founder, Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear. “The acquisition of the rebranded, high technology readiness level stationary KRONOS MMR™ and portable LOKI MMR™ microreactors, which were finalized at the start of the year, has put us in a leading position in the microreactor race in U.S. We have solidified our relationship and working agreements with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) for the KRONOS MMR and are now working to construct the first research microreactor on campus grounds in the U.S. We are confident our efforts at UIUC will lead to eventual commercialization of many KRONOS MMRs being constructed throughout many industries across the world. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the Fuel Qualification Methodology Topical Report for the KRONOS MMR, which is a major milestone for the commercial microreactor sector in general and crucial for the eventual construction of the microreactor system on campus grounds. In the coming months, we expect to begin the process of geological characterization, including subsurface investigations, which will lead to our construction permit applications and other future project milestones.”

    “In addition, NANO Nuclear has amassed dozens of domestic and international patents through our KRONOS and LOKI acquisition. We are also further expanding our current intellectual property protections with over a dozen new patent applications surrounding our microreactor portfolio, and supplementary technologies like our ALIP pump system,” continued Mr. Yu. “This year has also seen us commit to a new, multimillion dollar demonstration facility in Westchester County, New York, where the development of non-nuclear components, including commercializing the ALIP technology, will take place. Furthermore, our team has grown, and we have attracted many full-time engineers, regulatory and licensing experts, led by a world class Chief Technical Officer and Head of Reactor Development, Dr. Florent Heidet. This positive start to the year positions us well to achieve further milestones during the rest of 2025 and lays a solid foundation for achieving our longer term demonstration, regulatory licensing and commercialization goals.”

    2025 Operational Highlights

    Financial Achievements

    Operating Activities

    • $5.6 million used in operating activities during the six months ended March 31, 2025, reflecting NANO Nuclear’s ongoing scale-up in operations and research and development.

    Investing Activities

    • $12.7 million used in investing activities during the six months ended March 31, 2025, which includes $9.1 million for the acquisition of the KRONOS and LOKI assets and $3.6 million for investment in property and equipment primarily related to the build out of NANO Nuclear’s new demonstration facility in Westchester, New York, which is now operational.

    Financing Activities

    • $108.4 million raised during the six months ended March 31, 2025. NANO Nuclear had cash and cash equivalents of $118.6 million as of March 31, 2025, up from $28.5 million on September 30, 2024. These cash resources demonstrate not only strong investor support, but also an efficient use of investor capital to advance the Company’s business goals since its May 2024 initial public offering. The Company also has the liquidity to drive further value going forward.

    Selected for Inclusion into MSCI USA Index

    • Selected to be included in the MSCI USA Index, effective as of February 28, 2025, following the February index review by MSCI Inc. The MSCI USA Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the U.S. market. With 576 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in the US.

    “We have been focused while executing on our capital and technology development roadmap while putting in place cost controls and maintaining a solid financial foundation. With a strong balance sheet and strong investor support, we are well-positioned to advance our initiatives for the remainder of this year and beyond” concluded Mr. Yu.

    Technological Advancements

    Acquisition of Tech Ready Patented Energy Systems

    • NANO Nuclear closed the acquisition of select nuclear energy technology assets on January 10, 2025, including the patented KRONOS MMR Energy System and LOKI MMR reactor from Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC).
      • Acquisition immediately added one of the highest technology readiness level advanced nuclear reactors in development and significantly expanded NANO Nuclear’s patent portfolio.
      • KRONOS has well-developed projects at UIUC and Chalk River, Ontario, where NANO Nuclear is seeking to be the first company in the U.S. and in Canada to build and license a microreactor intended for research and commercial use.
      • The KRONOS MMR™ is a stationary reactor system and designed to produce power up to 45 megawatts thermal (MWth) power.
      • The LOKI MMR™ is a compact portable nuclear reactor designed to provide between 1 MWth and 5 MWth of power.

    Acquisition and Further Expansion of Intellectual Property Protections

    • Series of patents that were acquired from USNC alongside its reactor technologies serve to strengthen NANO Nuclear’s intellectual‑property protections for its portfolio of modular nuclear technologies currently in development.
      • Filed four new separate utility patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) related to NANO Nuclear’s Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology.
      • Filed six additional patents surrounding the components and designs of the ZEUS™ portable microreactor on March 27, 2025.

    Fabrication and Assembly of Key Non-Nuclear Components

    • Engaged Thermal Engineering International (TEi), a Babcock Power Inc.® company, to carry forward the design and fabrication of several heat exchangers for its portable ODIN™ nuclear microreactor project.
      • TEi is a leading supplier of heat transfer technology to the electric power generation industry for over 100 years.
    • Assembled the first reactor core hardware of its ZEUS microreactor for initial non-nuclear testing.
      • The hardware consists of a half‑scale (1:2) block, and the initial testing phase will evaluate its thermo‑mechanical performance under expected prototypical ZEUS operating conditions.

    Operational Growth

    Addition of Key Personnel and Leaders

    • Darlene T. DeRemer transitioned into a new corporate role with NANO Nuclear as its Executive Director of Corporate Finance, having previously served as the Chairwoman of NANO Nuclear’s Executive Advisory Board for Institutional Finance. Ms. DeRemer is the Chair of the ARK Invest ETF Trust Board, co-founder of Grail Partners LLC. and has over 25 years of experience as a leading adviser in the financial services industry.
    • Florent Heidet, Ph.D. joined NANO Nuclear as Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development. Dr. Heidet is a world-renowned expert on advanced nuclear reactor technologies, leveraging two decades of nuclear engineering and project management expertise. Dr. Heidet was previously the Head of Engineering at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC).
    • Andrew Steer, Ph.D. joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks as NANO Nuclear’s Head of Regulatory Engagement. Dr. Andrew Steer is a nuclear safety case and regulatory engagement expert with over 18 years of experience in the nuclear industry.
    • Brent Hamilton was appointed as the Company’s Director of Quality Assurance. Mr. Hamilton has over 26 years of quality control, quality engineering, and quality assurance experience, primarily in nuclear construction for commercial nuclear, Department of Energy projects, and nuclear fuel manufacturing.
    • James Leybourn joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. Mr. Leybourn is a Chartered Physicist with over 12 years’ experience of Physics and Engineering within the U.K. nuclear industry.
    • Simon Boddington joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. Mr. Boddington is a reactor physicist with over 10 years of industry experience covering pressurized water reactors as well as thermal and fast spectrum molten salt reactor designs.
    • Radwan Nassim Kheroua joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Nuclear Systems Engineer, Mr. Kheroua previously served as a Research Engineer in Reactor Thermal-Hydraulic Modeling at Framatome.
    • Luke Godfrey joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Senior Nuclear Engineer, Mr. Godfrey previously served as Lead Thermohydraulic Engineer at Moltex, focusing on molten salt heat transfer, coupled reactor system modeling, and safety case development.
    • Jake Miles joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Nuclear Engineer, Mr. Miles earned a BSc in Physics from the University of Leeds and later completed a Master’s degree in Nuclear Energy at the University of Cambridge.

    Recruitment Drive

    • Recruitment drive initiated with a focus on Midwestern United States to expand engineering and project development teams in proximity to UIUC and the KRONOS reactor project.
      • Effort seeks to support construction permit application activities as well as eventual demonstration and construction activities.
      • NANO Nuclear is actively recruiting top talent across a variety of critical disciplines.

    New York State Demonstration Facility

    • Established a dedicated, multimillion dollar, purpose-built demonstration facility in Westchester County, New York.
      • Will house demonstrations of the operation and viability of several non-nuclear parts and components of NANO Nuclear’s microreactors in development.
    • Engaged aRobotics Company to oversee the retrofit and build-out of Westchester County demonstration facility.
      • aRobotics has been recognized with multiple honors, including the NATO DIANA Challenge, the NYC Department of Building Challenge, and active contracts with all major branches of the U.S. Military.
    • Build-out and retrofitting of the Westchester Facility completed in early May.
      • Facility is now operational, with testing to commence shortly and continue throughout 2025, focusing on ZEUS components and the Company’s patented ALIP technology.

    Canadian Demonstration Reactor

    • Reestablishing KRONOS MMR demonstration reactor in Canada.
      • Positions NANO Nuclear to advance its technology efficiently from construction and demonstration to regulatory licensing and, ultimately, commercialization throughout North America.

    Partnerships, Collaborations and Government Awards

    SBIR Phase 1 Application

    • Announced backing for a U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I proposal, submitted in partnership with the City University of New York–City College (CCNY) and Advanced Engineering Solutions LLC.
      • The SBIR Phase 1 proposal is “Investigation of Microreactor Cooling and Development of a Smart Alarming System for Reactor Pressure Vessel Surface Temperature Monitoring” – and aims to develop advanced cooling techniques and monitoring systems for microreactor transport safety.

    KRONOS MMR™ Construction Pathway

    • Signed a strategic collaboration with the UIUC to construct the first research KRONOS MMR on a major research university campus.
      • Site has been selected and preparatory work towards a Construction Permit application has been initiated. NANO Nuclear will begin the process of geological characterization, including subsurface investigations, to support preparation of a Construction Permit Application for submission to the NRC.
        • This preparatory work is essential to understanding the environmental parameters of the site, including critical inputs to safety analysis, to ensure the utmost reliability and safety of the facility, and support NANO Nuclear’s Preliminary Safety Analysis Report and Environmental Report.
      • Establishes UIUC as key collaborator in the licensing, siting, public engagement, and research operation of the KRONOS MMR™.

    Nuclear Regulatory Commission Communication on KRONOS

    • Pre‑application work on the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System is progressing in cooperation with the UIUC following the NRC’s update to the project’s landing page (NRC Project No. 99902094), formally naming NANO Nuclear as the reactor’s designer.
    • The NRC issued its final Safety Evaluation (SE) approving the Fuel Qualification Methodology Topical Report (FQM TR) to be used for the KRONOS MMR™.

    LIS Technologies and the Department of Energy Low Enriched Uranium IDIQ Award.

    • Entered a collaboration to support LIS Technologies, the only U.S. origin and patented laser enrichment company, to address the fuel supply chain issues which could potentially affect the mass deployment of all advanced reactor systems for all nuclear reactor companies.
      • LIS Technologies was one of six companies selected to address the LEU supply chain, with NANO Nuclear as its principal subcontractor, responsible for addressing the conversion, mining, and milling requirements of the IDIQ award.

    Shareholder Suit Dismissal

    • A Clark County, Nevada judge has completely dismissed the shareholder lawsuit titled Latza v. Walker, et al., (Case No. A-24-900423-B). The judge granted both dismissal requests filed by the Company and by its officers and directors, ending the case in their favor.

    Corporate Outlook

    SBIR Projects

    • The SBIR Phase III project surrounding NANO Nuclear’s ALIP technology will advance towards its conclusion, with the Company’s new Westchester demonstration facility expected to play a key role in its advancement.
    • Company anticipates early indicators surrounding a separate SBIR Phase I project application filed in partnership with CCNY and Advanced Engineering Solutions LLC.

    Advances in Demonstration Reactor Preparations

    • NANO Nuclear anticipates further clarity on the advancement of its KRONOS MMR demonstration reactor plans in both the United States and Canada.
      • Next steps in the development of pre-construction permit application with UIUC anticipated this year.
        • NANO Nuclear is currently planning drilling work at the UIUC site intended for the construction of the KRONOS reactor system, to provide the Company with the geological characterization necessary to submit a ‘Permit to Construct’ application to the NRC. NANO Nuclear is aiming to be the first microreactor company in the U.S. to file for this permit.
      • NANO Nuclear intends to enter the licensing process under Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) oversight and has been in discussions with the Canadian Nuclear Laboratory (CNL) about the selected site for the project at Chalk River. NANO Nuclear is aiming to be the first company to build a licensed microreactor in Canada intended for commercial deployment.

    Advances in Non-Nuclear Component Development

    • NANO Nuclear anticipates the receipt of, and revision & eventual finalization of TEi designs for ODIN™ heat exchangers.
    • Company intends to begin the testing phase of its 1:2 scale ZEUS™ reactor core hardware, which will evaluate its thermo‑mechanical performance under expected prototypical operating conditions.
      • Testing is expected to continue through 2025.

    Hiring Drive Expectations

    • NANO Nuclear anticipates making substantial progress in its hiring initiative throughout 2025, in support of additional permit and licensing advances and eventual demonstration & construction activities in Midwestern USA.

    “We’ve made meaningful progress across several key initiatives in the first half of the fiscal year and we’re now focused on accelerating our efforts in the second half of fiscal 2025,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “We have grown our technical and regulatory teams as we begin testing non-nuclear components and pursue construction permits. We have acquired and are developing a robust portfolio of patents and other IP and are planning to expand it further as the year progresses. Our ambitions don’t stop with just our reactors, we see enormous potential across the nuclear industry in areas such as nuclear transportation, fuel enrichment, and nuclear consulting services that we are actively developing to grow our business and resources. We have also made inroads in our discussions and coordination with regulatory and licensing bodies, which will play a crucial role in the near and long term. All in all, the last six months have put us on solid footing as we look to capitalize on upcoming opportunities throughout the remainder of the year.”

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR™Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR™, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
    NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements include those related to the Company’s development, demonstration, licensing and commercial plans, goals and strategies. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Gaelic Psalms and hymns to be showcased at the British Academy, London The beautiful psalms and hymns of the Gaelic-speaking Hebrides will make a rare appearance at the British Academy in London on Thursday 22 May 2025 – and will be live-streamed to audiences around the world.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Dr Frances WilkinsThe beautiful psalms and hymns of the Gaelic-speaking Hebrides will make a rare appearance at the British Academy in London on Thursday 22 May 2025 – and will be live-streamed to audiences around the world.
    Ethnomusicologist Dr Frances Wilkins, who is a senior lecturer at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, will be travelling to London with the celebrated Gaelic singer, Kristine Kennedy, from Lewis, to take part in a special event at the British Academy, titled ‘Memory Through Music: Celebrating Sung Histories’.
    Dr Wilkins, who lives on Skye, said: “Musical storytelling has for centuries been used as a means of preserving cultural knowledge and experience across the globe, in a way that is often overlooked in written records.
    “This event aims to bring these histories to life, through a combined exploration of Breton ballads, Gaelic spiritual singing, UK rap and grime, and Islamic singing from the Balkans. ‘Memory Through Music’ will bring academics and performers together to explore the enduring impact of these traditions on our cultural heritage and understanding.”
    During the event, Dr Frances Wilkins, will provide an overview of the little-researched sacred song repertoires in Hebridean communities. This will include the iconic Gaelic psalm singing tradition and songs from the rich bardic tradition of the islands. Kristine Kennedy will be singing some of the most iconic songs from the tradition.
    Dr Wilkins added: “It is a privilege to be taking part in this event, which celebrates the some of the most important aspects of Scotland’s cultural heritage.
    “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to speak about this topic alongside Kristine Kennedy, one of Scotland’s finest Gaelic singers.”
    Highlands-based Kristine Kennedy said: “It’s been a real joy to collaborate with Frances who has really embraced our precious Gaelic spiritual songs which hold such a special place in my heart. I look forward to sharing them with a wider audience.”
    Dr Wilkins has been researching the sacred song traditions of the West Highlands and Hebridean communites since 2018. She has conducted extensive research and produced an archive of over 300 song recordings (found at www.seinn.org), touring exhibition, and numerous publications. The exhibition, ‘Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of Highland and Island Communities’, has been touring Hebridean communities since January 2024. It is currently on display at Comunn Eachdraidh Nis in Ness (Island of Lewis) until November 2025.
    The Memory Through Music: Celebrating Sung Histories’ event, which starts at 18:30, will be held at the British Academy in Carlton House Terrace, London.
    It is free to attend but booking is required. It will be live-streamed to allow people to watch it from anywhere in the world.
    For more details visit Memory through melody: celebrating sung histories | The British Academy.
    Further details on Dr Wilkins’ research can be found at www.franceswilkins.com
    ENDS
    Note to editors
    Event details:
    Title
    ‘Memory Through Music: Celebrating Sung Histories’.
    Time
    Thursday 22 May 2025: 18:30-20:00
    Venue
    The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH & Online: Vimeo
    Website
    https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/memory-through-melody/
    Price
    Free (in person/online)
    Sailm is laoidhean Ghàidhlig ri thaisbeanadh aig Acadamaidh Bhreatainn, Lunnainn
    Bidh sailm is laoidhean àlainn nan Eileanan Gàidhlig a’ nochdadh gu tearc aig Acadamaidh Bhreatainn ann an Lunnainn air Diardaoin 22 Cèitean 2025 – agus thèid an craoladh beò gu luchd-èisteachd air feadh an t-saoghail.
    Bidh an t-eòlaiche-ciùil eitneòlach, an Dr Frances Wilkins, a tha na h-òraidiche àrd-ìre aig an Ionaid Elphinstone, Oilthigh Obar Dheathain, a’ siubhal a Lunnainn leis an t-seinneadair Gàidhlig ainmeil, Cairistìona Cheanadach, à Leòdhas, gus pàirt a ghabhail ann an tachartas sònraichte aig Acadamaidh Bhreatainn, leis an tiotal ‘Cuimhne tro Cheòl: A’ comharrachadh Eachdraidh Seinnte’.
    Thuirt an Dr Wilkins, a tha a’ fuireach san Eilean Sgitheanach: “Tha sgeulachdas ciùil air a bhith air a chleachdadh airson linntean mar dhòigh air eòlas agus eòlas cultarail a ghleidheadh air feadh an t-saoghail, ann an dòigh a thèid a dhìochuimhneachadh gu tric ann an clàran sgrìobhte.
    “Tha an tachartas seo ag amas air na h-eachdraidh sin a thoirt beò, tro sgrùdadh còmhla air baileadan Breatannach, seinn spioradail Gàidhlig, rap is grime RA, agus seinn Ioslamach bho na Balkans. “Bidh ‘Cuimhne tro Cheòl’ a’ toirt luchd-acadaimigeach agus luchd-ciùil còmhla gus buaidh mhaireannach nan traidiseanan seo air ar dualchas agus ar tuigse chultarail a sgrùdadh.”
    Rè na tachartais, bheir an Dr Frances Wilkins sealladh farsaing air na clàran-ciùil òran naomha nach eil air an rannsachadh gu mòr ann an coimhearsnachdan Innse Gall. Bidh seo a’ toirt a-steach traidisean suaicheanta seinn nan sailm Gàidhlig agus òrain bho dhualchas beairteach bàrdachd nan eilean. Bidh Cairistìona Cheanadach a’ seinn cuid de na h-òrain as suaicheanta bhon traidisean.
    Thuirt an Dr Wilkins: “’S e urram a th’ ann a bhith a’ gabhail pàirt san tachartas seo, a tha a’ comharrachadh cuid de na taobhan as cudromaiche de dhualchas cultarail na h-Alba.
    “Tha mi air leth toilichte gun d’ fhuair mi an cothrom bruidhinn mun chuspair seo còmhla ri Cairistìona Cheanadach , aon de na seinneadairean Gàidhlig as fheàrr ann an Alba.”
    Thuirt Cairistìona Cheanadach, a tha stèidhichte air a’ Ghàidhealtachd: “Tha e air a bhith na fhìor thoileachas co-obrachadh le Frances a tha air gabhail ri ar n-òrain spioradail luachmhor Gàidhlig aig a bheil àite cho sònraichte nam chridhe. Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith gan roinn le luchd-èisteachd nas fharsainge.”
    Tha an Dr Wilkins air a bhith a’ dèanamh rannsachaidh air traidiseanan òrain naomha choimhearsnachdan na Gàidhealtachd an Iar agus Innse Gall bho 2018. Tha i air rannsachadh farsaing a dhèanamh agus tha i air tasglann de chòrr is 300 clàradh òrain a thoirt gu buil (ri lorg aig www.seinn.org), taisbeanadh siubhail, agus iomadh foillseachadh. Tha an taisbeanadh, ‘Seinn Spioradail: Sacred Soundscapes of Highland and Island Communities’, air a bhith a’ siubhal choimhearsnachdan Innse Gall bho Fhaoilleach 2024. Tha e an-dràsta ri fhaicinn aig Comunn Eachdraidh Nis ann an Nis (Eilean Leòdhais) gu Samhain 2025.
    Thèid an tachartas ‘Cuimhne tro Cheòl: A’ Comharrachadh Eachdraidh nan Seinn’, a thòisicheas aig 18:30, a chumail aig Acadamaidh Bhreatainn ann an Carlton House Terrace, Lunnainn.
    Tha e an-asgaidh a bhith an làthair ach feumar àite a ghlèidheadh. Thèid a chraoladh beò gus leigeil le daoine coimhead air bho àite sam bith san t-saoghal.
    Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh tadhail air Cuimhne tro fhonn: a’ comharrachadh eachdraidh nan seinn | Acadamaidh Bhreatainn.
    Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu rannsachadh an Dr Wilkins aig www.franceswilkins.com
    CRÌOCH
    Nota do luchd-deasachaidh
    Fiosrachadh mun tachartas:
    Tiotal
    ‘Cuimhne tro Cheòl: A’ comharrachadh Eachdraidh nan Seinneadairean’.
    Ùine
    Diardaoin 22 Cèitean 2025: 18:30-20:00
    Àite
    Acadamaidh Bhreatainn, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, Lunnainn, SW1Y 5AH & Air-loidhne: Vimeo
    Làrach-lìn
    https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/events/memory-through-melody/
    Prìs
    An-asgaidh (gu pearsanta/air-loidhne)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The management and students of the State University of Management laid flowers on Mamayev Kurgan

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On May 15, 2025, as part of the implementation of the tourist and volunteer program in Volgograd, dedicated to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the management and students of the State University of Management laid flowers in the Hall of Military Glory on Mamayev Kurgan.

    The ceremony was attended by the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev, vice-rectors Dmitry Bryukhanov and Vitaly Lapshenkov, as well as about 30 students of our university.

    After the ceremony, Vladimir Stroyev spoke with the participants of the tourist and volunteer program, emphasizing the importance of preserving historical memory. The rector spoke about the significance of the Battle of Stalingrad, a turning point in the war, about the fortitude and unity of the people, which became the key to the Great Victory. “History is not just the pages of textbooks, it is lessons of courage, patriotism and fortitude,” Vladimir Vitalyevich noted.

    The Volgograd State University of Management’s tourist and volunteer program began on May 14. On the first day, our students helped reconstruct the Mass Grave and the Stella to the Heroes who died in the battles for Stalingrad. Then, a walking tour of the city took place, during which the volunteers saw the armored boats BK-13 and BK-31, which were part of the Volga Flotilla, visited the legendary defense sites of the city – Pavlov’s House and Gerhardt’s Mill – as well as other monuments.

    The program will last until May 17. Our students will help veterans of the Great Patriotic War, clean up burial sites and take part in the restoration of monuments.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 05/16/2025

    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: Artificial Intelligence – a Partner or a Replacement for Humans?

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The All-Russian scientific-practical and educational-methodical conference with international participation “Fundamental and applied research in the field of management, economics and trade” was held at the Polytechnic University.

    The plenary session of the conference was devoted to the discussion of cross-industry solutions using artificial intelligence in various sectors of the economy. The session was opened and the discussion was moderated by the chairperson of the conference program committee, director of the scientific and educational center for information technology and business analysis “Gazprom Neft”, professor of the Higher Engineering and Economics School of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade of SPbPU Irina Rudskaya.

    Welcoming the participants of the conference, which opened in the White Hall of SPbPU, Vice-Rector for Research Yuri Fomin recalled that the university has chosen three relevant areas in its development strategy until 2030, including the development of artificial intelligence technologies.

    It is gratifying that our university is increasingly having discussion platforms on this topic. This is important for working out the decisions being made, finding answers to the questions that AI poses to us, said Yuri Vladimirovich.

    In turn, Vladimir Shchepinin, Director of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade of SPbPU, noted that within the framework of the conference, the institute is holding a plenary session in the format of a panel discussion for the first time, as well as a competition of scientific works of students and postgraduates, according to the results of which the winners will receive scholarships from the institute’s fund, formed together with industrial partners.

    For two hours, the panelists kept the audience’s interest alive. The tone and theme were set by Yuri Fomin, who oversees the AI development direction at SPbPU.

    For us, cross-industry is everything related to engineering, not a specific segment. This is our competitive advantage. Today, we earn about two hundred million rubles a year on such developments using AI, and by 2030, we plan to reach one and a half billion rubles, concentrating on performing applied tasks for our partners, – said Yuri Fomin and spoke about some of the projects being implemented today.

    The Vice-Rector for Research also identified the main barriers that prevent more effective use of AI in the real sector of the economy. The first barrier is the lack of clear formalization of the business process, and for the implementation of AL technologies there must be a clear sequence of actions. The second barrier is insufficient digitalization: correct data is obtained from correctly digitized business processes. Incorrect data leads to making incorrect decisions.

    All speakers, starting with the Vice President, Director of the North-West Macroregional Branch of PJSC Rostelecom Alexander Loginov, spoke about overcoming such barriers and other tasks. He noted that the data really should be reliable, and that infrastructure and personnel are also needed to use AI. Alexander Evgenievich cited the results of one foreign study, according to which more than 60% of employees hide from management that they use AI, and 66% blindly trust all the information received. All participants in the discussion agreed that the solutions and answers offered by neural networks should be verified. This is especially important in such a field as medicine, although the largest number of datasets have been collected here and most of the data is carefully verified. As Petr Shegai, Deputy Director General for Science at the National Medical Research Center of Radiology of the Russian Ministry of Health, explained, Russian AL technologies for medicine, based on data collected in the country, today make it possible to prescribe treatment and help to partly equalize the opportunities of experienced and novice doctors, although, of course, any final decision on the appointment is made by a person.

    Svetlana Merkushina, Executive Director of the Sber Education Industry Center, spoke about the main trends related to data analysis, the advantages of using AI, including reducing the risk of human factor and accelerating all processes. Any AI is data plus algorithms that increase productivity. But what needs to be done to make AI truly generative? According to Maxim Patrushev, Deputy Head of the Kurchatov Complex of NBICS-nature-like technologies at the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, there is no answer to this question yet, but methods for increasing productivity using AI are being actively created, big data is being analyzed for decision-making, and options for solutions in working with genes are being calculated. For example, scientists at the NRC are working on the Controlled Evolution software.

    Continuing the topic of possible solutions, Director of the Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexey Soldatenko emphasized the possibilities of using AI to solve the problem of food security, increase agricultural yields and reduce labor costs. AI is actively used in breeding, development of animal nutrition, and “smart” video surveillance of animal behavior. Among the problems identified in the implementation of new technologies, Alexey Vasilyevich named an insufficiently developed regulatory framework, and also noted that technologies will change so rapidly that they will have to be mastered constantly.

    The importance of continuous training was also highlighted by the rector of the Gazprom Neft Corporate University, Ilya Dementyev, who noted that each employee of their company undergoes additional training three times a year. Summing up the discussion, Ilya Aleksandrovich identified another problem – a lack of understanding of the essence of artificial intelligence.

    We need to think about whether we have reached a point of singularity, when the technologies being created are used by people who do not understand what they are using. Therefore, we need to stimulate not only the development of technologies, but also the development of education in the field of artificial intelligence. And it is important that there is a demand from within – from the teachers themselves, who must understand how to use AI in teaching, and from students, who must understand what competencies they will need, the speaker noted.

    The panel discussion ended with a conversation with the audience. The speakers answered questions about how they see the labor market changing, what skills employers need, what language models are best to use, and what ethical issues remain unresolved. There was no clear answer to the last question, “What is artificial intelligence?” And while there is no understanding of what is in the “black box,” according to experts, it is worth asking more about how to use it rather than what AI is.

    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: Polytechnic and HR policy: how to attract specialists from the regions

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The third seminar in a series of events devoted to current issues of attracting labor resources from other regions of the Russian Federation was held in St. Petersburg. The organizer was the Labor Resources Center, which provides city employers with personnel through the implementation of the Labor Migration subprogram of the state program Assistance to Employment of the Population in St. Petersburg.

    The key issues of the seminar were the specifics of attracting and retaining specialists from other regions, the capabilities and support measures of the Labor Resources Center, as well as the experience of employers in organizing the relocation of employees. Business representatives, HR specialists and experts in the field of labor migration discussed the best practices of employee relocation, legal aspects of employment and tools for the adaptation of new personnel at the seminar.

    Specialists from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University also spoke at the event. Acting Director of the Center for Professional Retraining of the Directorate of Continuing Education and Industry Partnership Tatyana Uskova spoke about the university’s advanced experience in the field of network partnership with employers in the implementation of additional professional programs, as well as about participation in the federal project “Active Measures to Promote Employment” of the national project “Personnel”.

    The Personnel project provides employers with unique opportunities to improve the qualifications and professional competencies of their personnel, which allows them not only to adapt to the modern requirements of the labor market and form a personnel reserve capable of solving problems of any level of complexity, but also to build sustainable partnerships with educational organizations and other interested parties. According to Tatyana Aleksandrovna, such connections make it possible to pool resources, exchange experience and knowledge, and jointly develop and implement educational programs that meet the requirements of the time.

    The seminar became an important platform for discussing issues of attracting and adapting personnel from other regions of Russia. It was noted that the implementation of this project provides citizens with the opportunity for free professional retraining and employment, and employers can improve the qualifications of employees and form a modern personnel reserve, strengthening their competitive advantage. The joint efforts of educational institutions and employers open up great prospects for the sustainable development of human capital and economic growth of the country.

    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: The second meeting of the joint dissertation council of the State University of Management and the Belarusian State Technical University named after V.G. Shukhov took place

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On May 15, a meeting of the joint dissertation council was held, created on the basis of the BSTU named after V.G. Shukhov and the State University of Management in the scientific specialty 2.9.9. “Logistics transport systems”. The main issues on the agenda were dissertation research for the academic degrees of Doctor of Science and Candidate of Science.

    The meeting, chaired by the rector of the V.G. Shukhov BSTU Sergey Glagolev, was held with a full quorum: out of 13 council members, 10 were present in the hall, three joined remotely.

    Colleagues from the Yelets State University named after Bunin were invited as guests: Director of the Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Technical Systems Sergei Shubkin, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechatronic and Radioelectronic Systems Sergei Dobrin and Senior Lecturer of the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Mechatronic and Radioelectronic Systems Vladimir Volkov.

    Three candidates presented their dissertations for preliminary hearing. Roman Khalturin was the first to present his research on the topic of “Methodology of resource allocation in passenger transport systems based on the theory of decision-making under uncertainty”. Dmitry Nikitin’s dissertation topic was “Method of optimization of the management structure of multi-level logistics transport ecosystems”. Nikolay Solovyov devoted his dissertation to the method of ensuring the unity of efficiency measures for various types of transport in logistics transport systems. Following the presentations, the council members asked questions and expressed comments and suggestions that should be taken into account in the further development of the dissertations.

    Another issue on the agenda was the consideration and approval of the regulations for the work of the joint dissertation council, which was presented by the director of the Transport and Technology Institute Ivan Novikov. The preparation of the document was initiated at the first meeting of the council, which was held at the State University of Management in Moscow. Rector Sergey Glagolev emphasized that this is the first joint dissertation council in Russia in the field of logistics transport systems, created on the basis of two educational organizations.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 05/16/2025

    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: The State University of Management will tell you how to become the most sought-after specialist in the social and humanitarian fields

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The Center for the Implementation of Social and Humanitarian Projects of the State University of Management invites students to a unique educational program aimed at developing students’ professional and personal competencies.

    Students of all courses in the social and humanitarian fields are invited to participate.

    Invited experts will reveal key aspects of effective communication, teach how to work with digital technologies, talk about the value and ideological foundations of our country, and help determine professional guidelines. Participants will receive relevant knowledge and skills that modern specialists need to build a successful career.

    The program includes lectures and master classes on the topics:

    formation of a professional image and preparation of a competitive resume; development of effective communication skills; civilizational foundations of our country’s existence; digital technologies in the activities of social scientists and humanists.

    The students who show the best results during their studies will be able to undergo an internship with the prospect of employment in key organizations in the socio-political sphere, publish their materials in leading federal media, receive practical recommendations on employment, and also find a team of like-minded people for their own projects.

    The event will take place on May 20, 27, 29 in auditorium 211 “Dynamix” (Boiling Point, Information Technology Center of the State University of Management) and on May 22 in the Scientific Library of the State University of Management, reading room No. 3.

    To register, you must fill out the form.

    Let us recall that Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Olga Petrova took part in the grand opening of the Center for the Implementation of Social and Humanitarian Projects of the State University of Management.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 05/20/2025

    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: A preliminary discussion of the final qualifying work carried out on the assignment of the Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage of the Leningrad Region took place

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Participants in the discussion of student works (from left to right): Nadezhda Akulova, Svetlana Volkova, Vladimir Tsoi, Olga Dmitrieva, Marina Shcherbakova and Kristina Borisevich

    On May 12, a preliminary discussion of bachelor’s final qualification works, which students of our university are completing on topics proposed by the Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage of the Government of the Leningrad Region, took place in the architectural workshops of SPbGASU. Vladimir Tsoi, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Leningrad Region – Chairman of the Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, and the committee staff took part in the discussion: Svetlana Volkova, Head of the Department for the Implementation of the Powers of the Russian Federation in the Sphere of Cultural Heritage Sites, Olga Dmitrieva, Chief Specialist of the Department for the Implementation of the Powers of the Leningrad Region in the Sphere of Cultural Heritage Sites, Marina Shcherbakova, Consultant of the Department for the Implementation of the Powers of the Leningrad Region, and Kristina Borisevich, Chief Engineer of the Department, took part in the discussion.

    The meeting took place within the framework of the SPbGASU development project in the field of restoration “Scientific and Educational Laboratory for Restoration and Renovation of Architectural Heritage” (NOL RAS) and work with final qualifying works at the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage.

    New life for the Svirskaya Pobeda memorial park in Lodeynoye Pole

    Student Sofia Mironova is working on the project “Regeneration of the territory of the memorial park “Svirskaya Pobeda” in the city of Lodeynoye Pole” under the supervision of associate professors of the Department of Architectural and Urban Heritage Nadezhda Akulova and Nina Petukhova.

    The student told about the history of the park. On June 21, 1944, a unique operation took place in its place, which went down in history as the feat of the “false landing” during the crossing of the Svir River: 16 soldiers, risking their lives, went to the opposite bank of the Svir to attract the attention of the enemy and reveal his firing positions. Marshal Meretskov, who commanded the Karelian Front, ordered the creation of a memorial here. The park was laid out during the war by the efforts of servicemen and city residents. These events were reflected in the concept of the project.

    Today, the memorial park area has fallen into disrepair. A survey of city residents showed that they would like to see it revived while preserving the “memory of the place.”

    “The concept provides for the creation of a memorial to 16 heroes, the improvement of the Alley of Memory, the trees of which were planted by war participants, the restoration of the Lodeynoye Pole Museum of History and Local History, and the creation of viewing platforms on the river bank, one of which will also be a memorial. The park is planned to be divided into zones: an active zone with an exhibition of military equipment, a memory zone with a sculptural group dedicated to the heroes, and a recreational zone. The Svirskaya Pobeda Memorial Park is a memory that we must pass on to future generations,” said Sofia Mironova.

    “On the SAILS of the past to the space of the future”

    Alexey Volkov shared details of his project “Restoration and adaptation of the Narva flax-jute manufactory complex with renovation of the Parusinka territory in Ivangorod” (headed by Nadezhda Akulova). The goal of the aspiring architect-restorer is to preserve the historical and cultural features of the environment by creating a comfortable high-tech space integrated into the historical area.

    “The area is located 150 kilometers from St. Petersburg on the state border with Estonia, which runs along the Narva River. The factory village owes its origin and development to the Stieglitz family, who founded the Cloth and Flax Spinning Manufactories. The factory buildings have survived to this day with major losses, dissonant volumes, and structures in a state of emergency. Existing development projects for the area do not solve the main problems – a significant improvement in the quality of life of city residents, the development of tourism and, most importantly, the preservation of unique cultural heritage sites,” shared the student, who called his concept “On the SAILS of the Past to the Space of the Future.”

    The project envisages the restoration of the compositional and planning structure of the factory-residential district, where the main center of attraction is the historical factory complex, around which the everyday, cultural and business environment is concentrated, meeting the modern needs and demands of the city. Alexey is confident: the renovation of the territory with the development of a scientific, educational and cultural environment on it can become an example for other large integrated development projects.

    Boarding house for the elderly in an old manor

    Darya Kondratyuk presented the project “Albrecht Estate in the Village of Kotly, Kingissepsky District”, on which she is working under the supervision of Nadezhda Akulova. The ensemble “Albrecht Estate” is a cultural heritage site of federal significance. According to the student, the village of Kotly, despite the ruined state of the ensemble, is attractive to tourists. Thanks to volunteer initiatives, the festival “Kotelskie Marketplaces” is held there, which attracts attention to this site.

    Some of the design solutions are aimed at improving the estate park, which can be included in a single route with ecotourism sites developing in the vicinity of the estate.

    The project envisages the adaptation of the Albrecht Estate ensemble into a boarding house for the elderly. At the same time, it is necessary to preserve the historical heritage and create a comfortable environment for the older generation. The comprehensive approach includes the restoration of buildings, landscaping and infrastructure development, which will increase the attractiveness of the area for tourists and local residents.

    Daria believes that the restoration and adaptation project she developed for modern use will help preserve the estate’s heritage for future generations.

    Student work received high marks

    Vladimir Tsoi highly praised the student projects: “The work of SPbGASU students is valuable from different points of view. Firstly, sometimes it is the first “approach to the projectile”, which is needed to understand the development prospects of a particular territory, subject complex or monument. When I was in charge of the Vyborg United Museum-Reserve, in partnership with SPbGASU we organized an exhibition of diploma theses dedicated to Vyborg and its environs. This was a revelation for the townspeople and guests. It was very relevant, interesting, and inspired fresh thoughts. Subsequently, some of the ideas were embodied in restoration projects, while others have not lost their relevance and are waiting to be implemented.

    The second reason for the value of student work is its subject matter. The project of the memorial park “Svirskaya Pobeda” in Lodeynoye Pole is, in my opinion, a completely finished product offering specific spatial architectural solutions for a specific object. Not conceptual, but subject. Therefore, cooperation with SPbGASU is very important for us.

    The Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage of the Government of the Leningrad Region was created in 2020 and immediately began to cooperate with SPbGASU in various areas. We have signed a framework agreement, we plan to develop and deepen it.”

    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-Evening Report: Ben Roberts-Smith has lost an appeal in his long-running defamation case. Here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia

    The full Federal Court has dismissed Ben Roberts-Smith’s appeal to have his defamation case loss overturned.

    It is important in seeking to understand this judgement to know the history of the case.

    In June 2023, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko handed down a 726-page judgement in the defamation case that Roberts-Smith, the most highly decorated serving member of the Australian Defence Force, had brought against Nine Entertainment news outlets.

    Reporters for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Canberra Times and The Age had alleged, in 2018, that Roberts-Smith, a patrol commander with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, was a war criminal. They maintained he had murdered unarmed Afghan prisoners and civilians, and bullied fellow soldiers.

    These press reports were particularly galling to a man who had been awarded the Medal of Gallantry, the Victoria Cross, and a Commendation for Distinguished Service.

    He sued Nine Entertainment (then referred to as Fairfax Publications) and their investigative journalists.

    Submissions in the trial ended in July 2022 after 110 days of evidence. In the result, Justice Besanko determined that Nine Entertainment had not defamed Roberts-Smith. The judge found the reporting was capable of being deemed defamatory, but that most of the imputations were substantially true. That being the case, he upheld the defence of truth and contextual truth not only in relation to the allegations of murder, but also with respect to imputations regarding Roberts-Smith’s character.

    Roberts-Smith appealed to the full Federal Court. The appeal hearing ran for ten days in February 2024. Today, 15 months later, the appeal court consisting of Justices Nye Perram, Anna Katzmann and Geoffrey Kennett has dismissed his appeal.

    Because the case had national security implications, there is in place for a short period, a non-publication order over what is referred to as the “open court” reasons for judgement. The judges ordered that their reasons will not be available
    “until either the Commonwealth notifies the court and the parties that it has no objection to publication […] or 4pm on May 20, 2025, whichever is earlier”.

    In recent times it has become the practice of the Federal Court, in cases of public interest, to provide a summary to accompany the orders, available immediately. The summary provided to the public is not a complete statement of the conclusions reached. The only authoritative statement of the court’s reasons is that contained in the judgement that will be made available in due course.

    There are, however, a couple of matters that bear noting now.

    The first is that the appeal judges were unanimous in their support for the conclusions of the trial judge. In 2023, Justice Besanko made numerous adverse findings about the credibility of the evidence of Roberts-Smith, and the evidence of the witnesses whom he called on his behalf. Roberts-Smith sought to challenge all of those adverse findings and to point out errors in the trial judge’s findings. But it was to no avail.

    The appeal court’s summary states

    Having carefully considered all these matters, we are unanimously of the opinion that the evidence was sufficiently cogent to support the findings that the appellant murdered four Afghan men and to the extent that we have discerned error in the reasons of the primary judge, the errors were inconsequential. Accordingly, the appeal must be dismissed with costs.

    There is another, secondary matter arising from a side issue to the appeal, which bears mentioning here. When the draft judgement of the appeal court was close to completion, Roberts-Smith’s lawyers filed an application to lodge an amended notice of appeal. It referred to an audio recording that was sent anonymously to them in March this year. The recording purported to be a portion of a telephone conversation between investigative journalist Nick McKenzie and a witness whose identity is the subject of suppression orders.

    In this call, McKenzie was alleged to have admitted to using Roberts-Smith’s ex-wife as a source regarding her former husband’s legal strategy. Roberts-Smith’s lawyers said had they known of McKenzie’s alleged journalistic misconduct, they would have structured their arguments differently during the defamation trial.

    On the Federal Court website today, two judgements have been released in relation to the so-called McKenzie tape. The first gave the Roberts-Smith team a glimmer of hope. The appeal court judges determined that the application for them to hear the recording was, in fact, appropriate, and that the content was therefore admissible evidence in consideration of a new claim of miscarriage of justice.

    However, the second judgement extinguished any hope of this occurring. The appeal court judges concluded there was, in fact, no miscarriage of justice in not allowing the recording to be considered by a court.

    It’s been seven years since the allegations regarding Ben Roberts-Smith’s involvement in war crimes first surfaced. Roberts-Smith has indicated his intention to appeal to the High Court. This case may yet still have a way to run.

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

    – ref. Ben Roberts-Smith has lost an appeal in his long-running defamation case. Here’s why – https://theconversation.com/ben-roberts-smith-has-lost-an-appeal-in-his-long-running-defamation-case-heres-why-223543

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese and Russian universities develop cooperation in the field of music education

    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, May 16 (Xinhua) — Tianjin Foreign Studies University (TFU) and the Volgograd State Conservatory named after P.A. Serebryakov recently signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation, which marked the beginning of in-depth cooperation between the parties in the field of music education. The signing of this document took place in the city of Tianjin in northern China.

    The agreement was signed at the opening ceremony of the relevant course as part of the event on the visit to China of the Russian delegation of teachers “Chinese Language Bridge”, organized by the Center for International Language Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China with the assistance of TUIL, the Zhongxinshe news agency reports.

    TUIA Rector Li Yingying noted the solid foundation of cooperation between TUIA and Russian universities, stating that the current cooperation will open up new opportunities for the parties in the field of music education.

    Representatives of the Volgograd State Conservatory named after P. A. Serebryakov, in turn, expressed hope for broader cooperation with TUIYA in academic, research and cultural activities in the future. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU InterGames – a celebration of sports and spring!

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    InterGames is a mass sports festival that has been held for several years now as part of the famous Interweeks NSU.

    The stadium traditionally gathered entire generations of active recreation enthusiasts — more than 1,700 people of all ages: students of NSU and other Novosibirsk universities, students of the SUNC and VKI, children and adults of Akademgorodok. Twenty-five sites with various interesting sports competitions and national competitions awaited them. The NSU swimming pool hosted open swimming competitions “InterPlavaniye 2025”. And fans of team sports took part in mini-football matches (18 teams) and 3×3 basketball (28 teams).

    At the opening of the event, more than 100 female students performed brilliantly with an incendiary composition on the steps, athletes of various types of martial arts and the national team of sports aerobics demonstrated their skills.

    All the contests and competitions were bright and memorable, the most popular was “Volleyball” with a huge inflatable ball, in which 570 people tried their hand. Also of great interest were the contests: “Caterpillar”, “Pants for three”, “Darts”, “Artist” and, of course, “Hobbyhorsing” – 400-500 people participated in each of them.

    The most active participants were rewarded with memorable gifts; in the end, more than 200 people who took part in at least 15 different competitions received prizes.

    The Department of Physical Education thanks all the participants, organizers, teachers and student volunteers who helped to hold such a grand celebration.

    Link to video

    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-Evening Report: With a new minister for early childhood education, what can the federal government do to make centres safer?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Victoria Minson, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education, Australian Catholic University

    This week, more reports emerged of horrific abuse of children at childcare centres.
    An ABC investigation reported young children had suffered burns and been verbally abused. In another case, a baby was repeatedly slapped by an early childhood educator.

    This follows claims of sexual abuse and neglect earlier this year.

    On Tuesday, we also saw the appointment of Victorian senator Jess Walsh as the new minister for early childhood education. As a former head of the union responsible for the sector, Walsh comes to the role with a thorough understanding of early education issues. She will also sit in cabinet.

    What does Walsh and the re-elected Albanese government need to do to better ensure children’s safety in early childhood education and care? Here are three ideas.



    Read more:
    Amid claims of abuse, neglect and poor standards, what is going wrong with childcare in Australia?

    1. Design safer centres

    One place to start is how centres are set up.

    “Safety by design” is a concept used in other sectors (such as online safety) and has its origins in crime prevention. It means planning spaces and systems to prevent harm before it happens. This could include changing the environment, routines or rules.

    For example, clear lines of sight in a room help educators watch children, and each other, more easily. Secure entrances ensure only authorised people can come into a centre.

    But safety isn’t just about buildings; it also depends on people. Educators need the right training to spot risks and signs of harm, and to act early.

    This means building their capability: not just knowing what to do, but feeling confident to speak up and raise concerns. This confidence needs to be encouraged by managers and leaders in centres – staff should be supported to speak openly.

    2. Conduct a thorough investigation

    Australia has a system to monitor quality standards in early childhood services via the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority or ACECQA. This body oversees a National Quality Framework.

    On Friday, National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds said Australia needs to “urgently strengthen” regulatory frameworks.

    The recent reports of abuse and noncompliance certainly raise a series
    of questions: how could this happen? How could “trained professionals” think this treatment of children is OK?

    Multiple systemic failures could be the answer – meaning the mechanisms or processes in place to stop situations going from unacceptable to unfathomable, failed.

    A federally convened taskforce could investigate these breaches of child safety to identify risks and failures and prevent further cases of harm. Rather than yet another long inquiry, a taskforce could help get to the root of the problems and recommend solutions that can be implemented quickly.



    Read more:
    How can you tell if your child’s daycare is good quality?

    3. Boost the status of early childhood education

    Governments can also invest in the ongoing professionalisation of early childhood educators. They can do this by insisting on higher qualifications, pay, professional development and a strong ethical framework.

    In turn, this can enhance the ability of those in the sector to prevent and respond to abusive practices.

    Admittedly, the federal government has taken steps to increase requirements around qualifications and pay. But early childhood professionals continue to endure low status in the community.

    The people who work in early childhood services are not “babysitters” – they are trained educators. Early childhood education is also more than a means to increase productivity, by enabling parents to work. It provides education and care to children at a crucial time in their development.

    None of these perceptions help the sector or the service it provides. The whole community needs to understand the vital role it plays in our society – just like schools or hospitals.

    If Australians appreciate and value early childhood education, they can advocate for (or at least support) improvements and investments.

    A final word to parents

    It is understandable parents might find recent headlines about abuse and neglect in early childhood centres distressing. Keep in mind, 91% of early childhood services have been assessed as at least meeting national quality standards.

    If you have any concerns about your service, you can contact the regulatory authority in your state or territory.

    Victoria Minson is the Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) (Accelerated) at Australian Catholic University. The Victorian offering of the course has received funding from the Victorian government and Victorian Department of Education. Victoria also receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Daryl Higgins receives funding from the Australian Research Council, the National Health and Medical Research Council, and Australian Government and state/territory government departments.

    – ref. With a new minister for early childhood education, what can the federal government do to make centres safer? – https://theconversation.com/with-a-new-minister-for-early-childhood-education-what-can-the-federal-government-do-to-make-centres-safer-256802

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Waste-to-energy in Australia: how it works, where new incinerators could go, and how they stack up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Abbas, Associate Dean (Research), University of Sydney

    Martin Mecnarowski, Shutterstock.

    Every year, Australia buries millions of tonnes of waste in landfills. But these sites are filling fast, recycling has its own limitations, and most waste export is banned. So councils and state governments are looking for alternatives.

    Several large-scale incinerators have been proposed, to turn municipal solid waste into electricity. One is already up and running in Perth’s outer suburbs.

    The A$1.5 billion Parkes Energy Recovery project planned for New South Wales would be Australia’s biggest. However, community backlash over potential health risks could put the plan in doubt.

    As chemical engineers, we recognise the potential benefits of this technology. Modern facilities operating around the world show these processes can be efficient, safe and environmentally controlled. However, minimal risk does not mean zero risk. Understanding both the benefits and challenges is crucial to address community concerns.

    What is waste-to-energy?

    Waste-to-energy, also known as energy-from-waste, can transform waste otherwise destined for landfill into electricity, heat or fuel.

    This does not replace recycling. Instead, it offers a solution for materials that are difficult or impossible to recycle. Care must be taken, however, to ensure waste-to-energy technologies complement rather than supplant recycling efforts.

    How does it work?

    There are three main types of waste-to-energy technologies:

    1. Thermal: use heat to generate steam, which spins turbines to create electricity. The heat can come from burning waste, producing carbon dioxide, water and ash. Alternatively, solid waste can be turned into gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide). This process is known as gasification.

    2. Biological: use microorganisms to break down organic matter in the waste stream, producing biogas, mainly methane. This is then used for power or heat generation.

    3. Chemical: use processes such as pyrolysis or hydrothermal liquefaction to convert hard-to-recycle materials into fuels or chemicals. These can feed into industrial and manufacturing processes.

    What’s holding Australia back?

    When most Australians hear about making energy from waste, they think of
    old-fashioned incinerators. Those outdated facilities released smoke and toxins into the air.

    But modern incinerators use advanced air pollution control systems that capture harmful emissions.

    Some use static electricity to remove dust or smoke particles from the gas stream. Other pollution control systems include acid gas scrubbers, catalytic converters and fabric filters.

    This can cut emissions of fine particles by up to 99%.

    The volume of waste sent to landfill is also reduced by up to 90%. What remains includes incinerator bottom ash and fly ash. Often these can be reused in making concrete, pavement and other construction materials. But regulatory issues will need to be overcome before this can happen in Australia.

    Introducing the Parkes project

    The Parkes Energy Recovery project, announced in March, promises to process around 600,000 tonnes of waste a year. This should generate at least 60 megawatts of electricity – enough to power 80,000 homes.

    To receive development approval, the project must comply with stringent environmental and health standards. This includes preparing an Environmental Impact Statement and Human Health Risk Assessment. The NSW Environment Protection Authority may then issue an Environment Protection Licence. Such a licence requires ongoing monitoring and frequent audits.

    Extensive community consultation is underway.

    Other projects around Australia

    There are two waste-to-energy plants in Western Australia, one at Kwinana and another under construction at East Rockingham. A third plant has been given the go-ahead in Victoria, at Maryvale.

    Kwinana received its first delivery of waste in July 2024.

    Licences to build other major waste-to-energy facilities have been issued in Victoria. Various proposals are also being considered in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

    Australia’s first standalone, large-scale waste-to-energy plant in WA | ABC News.

    Taking tips from overseas

    A shortage of landfill sites in cities across Europe and Asia originally promoted investment in waste-to-energy technology. These power plants are now commonplace in Germany, the Netherlands and Japan, substantially reducing reliance on landfill.

    The Amager Bakke plant in Copenhagen shows how such facilities can also enrich a community. This award-winning building doubles as a public recreation space, complete with a rooftop ski slope.

    In China, the proposed Shenzhen East Waste-to-Energy Plant could process 5,000 tonnes of waste a day. That works out to 1.8 million tonnes of waste a year, if run continuously.

    One of the world’s largest waste-to-energy plants is in Shenzhen, China (Dezeen)

    Waste-to-energy and the circular economy

    Waste-to-energy technology is useful in the transition to a circular economy. This is an economy where resources are continually cycled through the system and never wasted.

    Reusing, recycling and reducing waste must remain top priorities. Waste-to-energy technology should then be used as a last resort, extracting value from hard- or impossible-to-recycle materials.

    It’s certainly better than sending waste to landfill. When buried underground, waste can leach toxins into soil, ground and surface water. The potent greenhouse gas methane is also released when food rots in landfill.

    Over-reliance on waste-to-energy could supplant more sustainable circular recycling efforts. But incineration plants are being scaled back in Europe, as the focus shifts to reuse.

    Copenhagen’s power plant is also a ski slope (The Impossible Build)

    The case for waste-to-energy

    Despite its potential, waste-to-energy technology remains controversial in Australia. Some local communities remain concerned about emissions and potential long-term health risks. Environmental groups also question the potential effects on recycling rates.

    Nevertheless, growing awareness of the limitations of recycling, increasing landfill levies, bans on waste exports, and ambitious federal and state circular economy strategies are making waste-to-energy a more pragmatic option. Stringent regulation and community consultation will be necessary to get these projects off the ground.

    Responsible use of modern waste-to-energy technology can generate electricity and heat for homes with minimal emissions, and can extend benefits that serve local communities. It can also complement Australia’s renewable energy targets while taking a better approach to managing waste.

    Professor Ali Abbas is Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Sydney Faculty of Engineering. He is Australia’s Chief Circular Engineer (Circular Australia), and Founder and Executive Director Innovation at Scimita Group, a Deep Tech Innovation House working in sustainable technologies. He has previously advised government and industry on energy-from-waste and circular economy topics.

    Dominic Bui Viet is a Research Fellow at The University of Sydney in the Faculty of Engineering. He has previously received funding from a Cooperative Research Centre projects grant to conduct research into pyrolysis technologies for waste management.

    Eric Sanjaya is a Research Fellow at The University of Sydney, Faculty of Engineering. He has previously advised government and industry on energy-from-waste and circular economy topics

    – ref. Waste-to-energy in Australia: how it works, where new incinerators could go, and how they stack up – https://theconversation.com/waste-to-energy-in-australia-how-it-works-where-new-incinerators-could-go-and-how-they-stack-up-254395

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: World-first reusable space debris collector set to revolutionise sector

    Source:

    16 May 2025

    Paladin founder and CEO, Harrison Box, with Triton

    University of South Australia based startup Paladin Space has demonstrated the world’s first space payload capable of capturing debris from multiple targets and storing it on satellites for recycling, reducing the cost of space debris removal and making the process more sustainable.

    The company showcased their technology, called Triton, at a private demonstration event yesterday at UniSA’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC).

    The next steps will be to demonstrate the technology in orbit, secure pilot customers and perform qualification testing for a space mission. The company is also expecting to share news of an overseas expansion in coming months.

    South Australian Treasurer and Minister for Defence and Space Industries Stephen Mullighan says the potential of this innovative product demonstrates the impact South Australian based space startups are having in leading advances in space technology.

    “Space start-ups play a critical role in accelerating the growth of the South Australian space industry and strengthening our economic resilience and relevance,” Minister Mullighan said.

    “Paladin Space’s innovative technology, which has been developed right here in South Australia, is a perfect example of what’s possible when you foster an environment that nurtures bold ideas. It’s an example of homegrown ingenuity where South Australia is developing innovative ideas aimed at solving global challenges.”

    Space debris is a growing issue that poses significant threats to satellites and space missions. The large volume of debris, combined with its high velocity, creates a collision risk with potential to damage satellites and space infrastructure.

    A report by Northern Sky Research found that the ‘In-Orbit Servicing Market’ is expected to reach $4.7b by 2031, and roughly half of that market is debris removal and salvaging.

    Founder of Paladin Space, Harrison Box says their product will be able to capture multiple pieces of debris in a single mission.

    “Triton will make the process of debris removal more sustainable and cost effective while also being able to eject its contents on space targets, preserving the spacecraft in orbit to be reused for other missions,” he says.

    Their solution means Triton will eject its contents from the parent satellite at a very specific time so that it’s trajectory will not interfere with anyone else’s satellites. Shortly after ejection, Triton will descend into the Earth’s atmosphere, causing it to burn up completely within a matter of hours.

    The team are designing Triton to be compatible with future in-orbit recycling solutions so its contents can be delivered in-orbit as materials for manufacturing.

    “We are designing Triton to be able to dock easily with these in-orbit manufacturing stations so that the contents it collects can be recycled into metal rods or sheets for manufacturing satellites,” Mr Box says.

    “Not only is this practice sustainable, but incredibly cost effective for satellite manufacturers to ‘skip’ the launch phase of a mission and simply build their assets in space.”

    The Triton container is designed to capture many small pieces of debris such as fragments from collisions, however, the product is scalable depending on the mission. If a customer wants a larger volume, they could achieve 600mm (0.6m) cubed, or smaller missions may only require 300mm (0.3m) cubed.

    Paladin Space participated in UniSA’s space accelerator program Venture Catalyst Space in 2023, supported by the South Australian Space Industry Centre.

    Deputy Director: Business Incubation at the University of South Australia Craig Jones says the novel technology has the potential to make a huge impact on the space debris market.

    “Triton is on course to revolutionise the space debris industry and contribute to manufacturing in space, a mind-blowing proposition. We look forward to seeing it in action one day soon,” Jones says.

    “From placing second at an ICC global space hackathon, to participating in the Venture Catalyst Space program in 2023, we are incredibly proud to have played a small part in supporting this team to build their enterprise,” he says.

    Box says UniSA’s support and infrastructure continue to be instrumental to the success of his business.

    L-R, Harrison Box, Stephen Mulligan MP, Peter Stevens and Craig Jones

    “The advice I received in the early days helped to shape everything from our pitch deck to the financial accounting for our business, including areas like employability, beach-head markets, problem validation and general customer acquisition practices.

    “Having an office space to prototype and run our business from was also a game-changer that allowed Paladin Space to be put on the map, and I am still honoured to be a resident at the Innovation & Collaboration Centre – despite the team growing larger.”

    Box says he plans to keep his company headquarters in South Australia as they grow for as long as the government continues to support the space industry.

    Venture Catalyst Space, has supported 40 startups that have collectively raised almost $43 million in additional investment and grants, while creating almost 240 space jobs.

    About Harrison Box:

    • Box has a Masters in Aerospace Engineering with first-class honours from the University of Glasgow.
    • He spent a year of his study at the University of California where he led a team to design and build a liquid rocket engine test stand in the Mojave desert.
    • During his time at university he worked as a Powertrain Engineer at Nissan and a Avionics Engineer for a flight hardware company before becoming a Systems Engineer for BAE Systems. He spent two years working for multiple fast-jets in various countries, then was a Concept Engineer doing a variety of R&D work on military fast-jets for the remaining year before moving to Australia and becoming a Senior Systems Engineer for a novel radar project.

    Media contact: Megan Andrews, Megan.andrews@unisa.edu.au, 0434 819 275

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: World’s largest car carrier built by China sets sail

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

    An aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2025 shows the naming ceremony of the car carrier Anji Ansheng at Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

    SHANGHAI, May 15 — Anji Ansheng, China’s domestically built ocean-going car carrier and the world’s largest such carrier in terms of capacity, set sail on its maiden voyage to Europe on Thursday evening, carrying approximately 7,000 China-made vehicles.

    The departure from Shanghai marks a milestone achievement, surpassing a record set just weeks earlier by BYD Shenzhen, which is a domestically built car carrier from the major Chinese automaker BYD. That vessel had previously held the title of the world’s largest car carrier in operation.

    “The fact that this record has been broken again in less than a month reflects the rapid rise of China’s mid-to-high-end manufacturing sector, and the resilience and vitality of the country’s foreign trade despite complex global conditions,” said Gao Yuning, deputy director of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University.

    Anji Ansheng measures 228 meters in length and 37.8 meters in width, with a maximum capacity of carrying 9,500 standard vehicles, said Zhuang Jingxiong, general manager of SAIC Anji Logistics Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of SAIC Motor Corporation Limited.

    The vessel integrates advanced energy-saving technologies and intelligent low-carbon systems, achieving world-class energy efficiency. It is also incorporated with a methanol-refueling design, laying the foundation for achieving carbon neutrality in the future.

    “China’s large-scale construction and delivery of vehicle carriers are propelling the country’s ocean-going auto transport capacity to new heights,” said Zheng Hehui, deputy general manager of China Merchants Industry Holdings, a subsidiary of the China Merchants Group.

    According to SAIC, the company had delivered over 5.5 million vehicles to international markets by the end of 2024, placing it among China’s top car exporters. SAIC’s annual overseas sales have surpassed 1 million units for three consecutive years.

    China’s automobile exports exceeded 6.4 million units in 2024, maintaining the top global position for a second consecutive year, according to the General Administration of Customs of China.

    Data from January to April 2025 shows that the country exported more than 1.93 million vehicles during the period, a year-on-year increase of 6 percent.

    Take the Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal — from where Anji Ansheng set sail — as an example. Despite global trade uncertainties in the first four months this year, the port exported 740,000 vehicles during the period, a year-on-year increase of 25.1 percent.

    “This momentum reflects not only the rising competitiveness of Chinese brands but also the strong capabilities of China’s auto industry,” Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association, said.

    China’s growing competitiveness was also evident at the recent 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, which attracted more than 12,000 overseas dealers.

    “China is doing a great job in terms of technology, and the cars are very reliable. People have confidence in Chinese cars. I think they see Chinese cars as offering a good balance between price and quality,” said Agustin Garcia, CEO of Spain’s Sarmovil Auto Group.

    SAIC’s Anji Logistics now operates one of the world’s leading vehicle shipping fleets. By 2026, its ocean-going fleet will grow to 22 vessels, with routes covering Western Europe, Mexico, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and other key export destinations for Chinese automakers.

    “For automakers, owning a fleet ensures stable export operations, reduces transportation costs, and guarantees timely delivery of products to overseas customers,” said Xie Xiaowen, an expert from the China Communications and Transportation Association.

    MG cars produced by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) are parked next to the car carrier Anji Ansheng to be shipped in east China’s Shanghai on May 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2025 shows the car carrier Anji Ansheng at Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Cars are driven onto the car carrier Anji Ansheng at Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal in east China’s Shanghai, May 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2025 shows the car carrier Anji Ansheng at Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo taken on May 15, 2025 shows the ceremony of the maiden voyage of the car carrier Anji Ansheng at Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A panoramic aerial drone photo taken on May 15, 2025 shows the car carrier Anji Ansheng at Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Vietnam ties develop steadily with closer cooperation, exchanges

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

    In Pingxiang, a border county in south China’s Chongzuo city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, flat-bed and container trucks carrying fruits, building materials and industrial equipment are lining up to cross the China-Vietnam border.

    The county, home to around 130,000 people, has witnessed the rapidly growing trade and even closer practical cooperation between the two neighboring countries in recent years, which also gave a strong boost to local trade and economic development and brought more benefits to the people of both countries.

    After China and Vietnam normalized their relationship over 30 years ago, they forged a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2008, and the two countries have been maintaining communication at all levels, and working together to step up synergy in development strategies, facilitate practical cooperation, promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges and advance regional connectivity.

    With joint efforts, the two countries’ cooperation has been advancing steadily. China has remained Vietnam’s biggest trading partner and the second largest export destination, while Vietnam has continued to be China’s biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Bilateral cooperation in such areas as investment, infrastructure and green energy has also flourished.

    Statistics of China’s customs showed that the two countries’ trade increased by 19.7 percent to 230.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, the first time in history surpassing the 200-billion mark. It is a hard-won achievement amid the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the staggering global economy.

    The booming cross-border fruit trade has been one of the new highlights of bilateral trade in recent years. Thanks to fast transportation, cold chain logistics and the development of e-commerce, Vietnam’s fruit exports to China have increased rapidly year by year, and the China-Vietnam border city Chongzuo has become the largest city for import and export of border fruits trade in China.

    In the third quarter this year, the foreign trade volume of Chongzuo jumped to 78.12 billion yuan (10.6 billion dollars) with a surge of nearly 50 percent year-on-year.

    On Sept. 19, after years of small-scale trade around the border areas, fresh durians from Vietnam were officially exported to China for the first time, offering new opportunities to durian growers, packers and producers in the country.

    Eyeing the huge potential of China’s market with over 1.4 billion consumers, Rang Dong Agricultural Product Import-Export Company in Vietnam’s southern Long An province hopes to deliver more fresh and processed fruits to China, especially after the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership came into effect on Jan. 1.

    Nguyen Tat Quyen, the company’s director, said that besides the gigantic size, the Chinese market has another big advantage, namely being close to Vietnam, and convenient for road, sea and air transport.

    During the 14th meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in July, the two sides agreed to bolster their Belt and Road cooperation, work together to build a mechanism for ensuring and promoting the stability of industrial and supply chains, strengthen port construction and facilitate customs clearance.

    As a flagship project of Belt and Road cooperation, the China-constructed Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line project in Hanoi, the first of this type in the Southeast Asian country, has transported millions of Vietnamese since its commercial operation in November last year.

    The metro project has greatly facilitated the travel of residents along the route. Many residents have begun to abandon the traditional travel mode of motorcycles and choose to take the metro.

    “Taking these trains, I will no longer have to worry about congestion every morning while going to work,” said Hoang Thi Huong, a 30-year-old passenger from Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan district, hoping that more urban railway projects will be constructed to ease transportation in the city.

    The past years have also witnessed growing friendship and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. An increasing number of Chinese films and TV series have gained popularity in Vietnam, while the flourishing bilateral ties have attracted more and more Vietnamese students to study and work in China.

    “As a Vietnamese student in China, I’m familiar with both countries, and I hope to help promote exchanges and make the two countries better understand each other,” said Nguyen Huyen Trang, a medical student at Guangxi University in China.

    Seeing the bright development prospect of China, Nguyen said he plans to find a job related to China-Vietnam medical cooperation and stay in Guangxi. “The experience of studying in China will give me more advantages in this regard,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –