Propex will promote Isis, the company’s innovative platform of backings made with woven PCR PET, at FloorTek Expo.

One of my few superpowers is that I’m really good at overcomplicating my life. When then future Mrs. D4L and I got engaged last year, we started planning a fall wedding. We started off with small ceremony with just immediate family and close...

For the first time, CRI awarded the Joseph J.Smrekar Memorial Award to three recipients: John Bradshaw of Shaw Industries Group, Inc., Ashley Young of Mohawk Industries, Inc., and Shawn McGill of Engineered Floors.

February 6, 2015 This week on Basic Black’s roundtable: • With the rise of television shows like Black-ish and Empire and the newly-released movie Black and White, we ask if Hollywood is on the way to realistic portrayals of families of color.
• A measles outbreak earlier this week at Disneyland in California re-ignited the debate over vaccinations - with oftentimes limited access to healthcare are children of color at particular risk?
Panelists: - Latoyia Edwards, Anchor, NECN - Phillip Martin, Senior Reporter, WGBH News - Kim McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature and publishing, Emerson College - Donna Patterson, Assistant Professor fo Africana Studies, Wellesley College

March 27, 2015 As Women’s History Month comes to a close we ask, what should be on the agenda for women’s issues as the presidential political campaign ramps up? Later in the show, we look at why the tide has turned on the Boston’s bid for the 2024 Olympics. And later, is there anything to be learned from Starbucks’ much criticized “Race Together” campaign? Panelists: - Callie Crossley, Host, Under The Radar with Callie Crossley, 89.7 WGBH
- Kim McLarin, Associate Professor of Writing, Literature and Publishing, Emerson College
- Shirley Leung, business columnist for The Boston Globe
- Yi-Chin Chen, Interim Executive Director, Hyde Square Task Force
- Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, CEO, IBA – Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción

4 awesome discoveries you probably didn't hear about this week -- Episode 31

4 awesome discoveries you probably didn't hear about this week -- Episode 32

A large The Actor statue is placed on stage during 21st Annual SAG Awards Behind The Scenes At The Shrine Auditorium Jan. 23, 2015 in Los Angeles.; Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Click here for KPCC's Awards Tracker

This Sunday's Screen Actors Guild Awards aren't as high profile as the Academy Awards, or even the Golden Globes, but they serve as one of the best predictors of who's going to take home a gold statue come Oscar night. Here's why.

Who votes for the SAG Awards?

SAG Award nominees are chosen by a committee of about 2,100 of the guild's members, according to awards news site Gold Derby. Then, all of the 111,228 members of the Guild have the chance to vote for their picks.

Meanwhile, the acting nominees for the Academy Awards are chosen by the 1,100 members in the Academy's actors branch, before being voted on by the Academy's full 5,700 members. Those actors are all part of SAG, so you're likely to see a strong correlation most years between the awards, particularly in the acting category.

How often do the SAG Awards predict the Oscar winners?

The SAG Awards have proven to be the best Oscar predictor in the acting category of any other major awards season prize since they began in 1995, both in nominations and winners. Of the 20 nominations and four winners from each shows, the overlap between the SAG Awards (aka "the Actors") and the Academy Awards in the last few years:

• 2009: 18 nominations; 3 winners
• 2010: 19 nominations; all 4 winners
• 2011: 17 nominations; all 4 winners
• 2012: 16 nominations; 3 winners
• 2013: 15 nominations; 3 winners
• 2014: 14 nominations; all 4 winners

This year, 17 nominees crossed over between the awards shows, with the Oscars matching up on all five nominations for best supporting actor and four of the five nominations in the other three acting categories.

Where have the SAG Awards differed from the Oscars?

SAG voters have lined up with the Academy on Best Actor 16 out of 20 times. The last time they differed from the Oscars was 2003, when Johnny Depp won at the SAG Awards for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl" before Sean Penn took the statue home at the Oscars for "Mystic River."

For Best Actress, SAG last split from Oscar in 2011, going with Viola Davis for "The Help" over eventual Oscar winner Meryl Streep for "The Iron Lady." They've matched up 14 out of 20 years.

In the supporting categories, the SAG Awards haven't fared as well. They went 12 for 20 in Best Supporting Actor, and 13 for 20 in Best Supporting Actress. That one also has an asterisk — one of those was a tie, so if you don't count that one, they're also only 12 for 20.

What does this all mean for the Oscars?

The SAG Awards remain the ones to watch when it comes to the acting awards — though their Best Ensemble category, the SAG Awards version of Best Picture, doesn't have a particularly strong correlation to the Oscars Best Picture winner. (For that, you'll want to watch for the Producers Guild Awards.)

We're tracking awards season and what experts are predicting; see KPCC's Awards Tracker below or click here to see the full page. You can watch the Screen Actors Guild Awards this Sunday at 5 p.m. Pacific, 8 p.m. Eastern on both TBS and TNT.

Disclosure: Mike Roe, along with other members of KPCC's staff, are members of the Screen Actors Guild as part of their employment with KPCC.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Jerry "The King" Lawler with Jim Ross.; Credit: WWE

Jim Ross is the most famous pro wrestling play-by play commentator of all time. He's a native Californian, but grew up in Oklahoma and took his trademark drawl into doing commentary. He's worked in wrestling for more than 40 years, calling matches on shows seen by millions of people around the world.

This weekend, he's in the Bay Area for Wrestlemania weekend (the first Wrestlemania in Northern California, and the first in California in 10 years). Ross no longer commentates for WWE, but he's still a storyteller, online and in person. He hosts regular live storytelling shows with stories from his decades-long career and a bit of comedy, along with a live guest, and he also has a huge online presence including a podcast that went to number one in sports its first week out.

Ross has been watching wrestling since he was a kid.

"My dad wasn't a big fan of it. He missed the point. The point is not whether it's real or if it's staged. The point is, are you entertained by it, or not? And I was," Ross said.

He's been at ringside for numerous historic matches, helping the wrestlers to tell their stories ever since he got his first job in wrestling out of college at 22.

"The greater the star, the easier it is to tell their story," Ross said. "Those participants make music. They make different kinds of music, and the announcers, the broadcasters, have to be able to provide the adequate lyric to the competitors' music."

Ross's voice is so powerful that it's become a meme online to pair his voice with another dramatic footage, from sports and beyond — you can even find it paired with dramatic moments from shows like "Breaking Bad" and "Game of Thrones." Ross says that the first time he saw someone do that was with a hit by Michigan running back Jadaveon Clowney, a video which went viral and sparked others to do likewise.

The JR Treatment

"I get sent these memes all the time. 'Hey JR, check this one out.' Or people will say, somebody will make a great dunk at an NBA game, and somebody will say 'I can't wait to see this get the JR treatment.' And now there are major sports websites that will send out a tweet, 'Here's a great play from Sunday's 49er-Charger game that's got the JR treatment.' So now it's got a name. 'The JR Treatment.'"

Those viral videos have even helped him land new commentating roles since leaving WWE. He did a call of a fight between NASCAR drivers for the Daytona 500 for a special pre-show video, and it's led to him having opportunities in traditional sports.

"It's been done in boxing, and MMA. Believe it or not, I've gotten feelers that we're entertaining now from a variety of combat sports entities that actually heard what my call would sound like doing their product," Ross said. "It had my tone, had my inflection, had my level of enthusiasm."

Ross also played a huge role behind the scenes, working as WWE's executive vice president of talent and signing future stars like the Rock, Mick Foley and more. He says that Mick Foley's match against the Undertaker in 1998's Hell in a Cell match was his most memorable to call.

"I have people walk up to me and start quoting my commentary when Undertaker threw Foley off the Hell in a Cell, this massive cage with a roof on it, that was about 17 feet high from the roof to the floor," Ross said. "It looked like no human being, quite honestly, could survive that fall. You don't practice falls like that in wrestling school."

Ross has managed to stay relevant with the help of a popular podcast and 1.3 million followers on Twitter, where he regularly dispenses his thoughts on wrestling and beyond. He started doing that podcast after being lobbied to do it by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and continues to try new things.

"I was very reluctant to engage in social media, and primarily because we sometimes get set in our ways, especially the older we get," Ross said. "But change, for any of us, in any walk of life, whether it's your diet, it's your relationships, the way you approach your job, or any changes that you need to affect, whether it's on doctor's orders, your significant other's suggestions — change is not always a negative thing. So I got on Twitter, and then Twitter connected me to so many people."

While some may feel that pro wrestling, given its predetermined results, doesn't need real athletes, Ross disagrees and says there are plenty of reasons to want real athletes.

"They're competitive. They don't want to be on the second team. They want to be in the game. And they've been in that mindset since some of them were in little league, or Pop Warner football, or elementary school wrestling, or whatever it may be."

He says they also understand how to be coached and how to play well with others, as well as handling the bumps and bruises that come with the territory and the difficult travel schedule.

"I don't know that anybody in any entity, unless you're the most well-traveled comedian or entertainer, has that. Because the thing about pro wrestling is it doesn't have an off-season, so you don't get a chance to really go recharge your batteries. You've got to maintain that competitive edge to survive."

Ross says there's one match he wishes he had another shot at calling: Ric Flair's retirement match against Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 24 in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl. While Ross has traditionally been a play-by-play commentator, that night he was assigned to be a color commentator, which gave him some different challenges.

"I thought I had great stories to tell because of my relationship with Ric — I've known him for 25 years — and I didn't think that I contributed as much to that match from an emotional standpoint as I could. I was obligated to get in soundbites and get in, get out," Ross said. "That's the biggest match at the biggest stage, and I love both those guys, and I really wanted to be extra special that night, and I just don't know in my heart that we got there."

He says California has its own wrestling legacy to be proud of. The California Wrestlemania match that Ross says he'll always remember: Bret Hart versus Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 12 in Anaheim, where two now wrestling legends wrestled for more than an hour.

He also thinks the economics of Wrestlemania make a lot of sense for whichever city hosts it, thanks to the travelers it draws in from around the world. Cities now bid to try to bring in Wrestlemania, Ross says. With Los Angeles gearing up to build a new stadium, Ross has a Wrestlemania prediction for that stadium.

"I will bet you money — I will bet you some of my barbecue sauce — if L.A. builds a stadium, that Wrestlemania will be one of the first non-football events in that stadium. And they will sell it out. They'll fill every seat. And it'll be great for the city, and the businesses of Los Angeles.

Ross says that what made him a great broadcaster is the same thing that can make someone a success in wrestling or anywhere else — most importantly, don't talk down to your audience.

"You have to be a fan of the genre, or a fan of the game, and you have to be willing to prepare and be ready for your broadcast," Ross said. "You have to be willing to tell the story that the average fan — not the hardcore fan, but the average, casual fan can understand and relate to. ... You know, we're storytellers, and some people are just natural-born storytellers."

Ross plans to continue telling stories for the foreseeable future, on stage, online, calling matches in the legit sports world and wherever else his life takes him. He's even gotten into acting — you can see him in the new film "What Now."

"I think retirement is overblown. How many days can you go fishing? How many rounds of golf can you play?" Ross said. "I had the idea when I left WWE after 21 years, I'm going to reinvent myself. I'm not going to become a trivia answer. ... I don't think you're going to read anywhere, anytime soon, that Jim Ross has finally retired — until you read my eulogy."

Listen to the audio for the full hour-long interview with Jim Ross, talking his career past, present and future — along with the origins of his signature barbecue sauce.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Police say TSA agent Gerardo Hernandez was shot and killed last Friday at the base of the escalators of LAX Terminal 3, and not at the checkpoint gates.  Paul Ciancia is accused of killing Hernandez and wounding several others.  Ciancia remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Steve Julian: Business analyst Mark Lacter, how did the airlines respond to shooting and its aftermath?

Mark Lacter: Generally pretty well, Steve, considering that the airport was effectively closed for several hours on Friday, and most of Terminal 3 was out of commission until Saturday afternoon.  You know, there's always this precarious balance in operating airlines and airports, even in the best of circumstances.  Just so many flights coming in and going out, and so many thousands people using the facility at any given time - and it really doesn't take much to upset the balance.  So, when you have something horrific take place and you see all those travelers stranded outside the terminals, the ripple effects are enormous - not just at LAX but all over the country.

Julian: More than a thousand flights were either canceled or delayed on Friday.

Lacter: And, there was a further complication because the airlines flying out of Terminal 3 are not the legacy carriers like United, American, and Delta that have all kinds of resources, but smaller operations with less flexibility.  It's not like there's an empty aircraft just sitting in a hangar waiting to take passengers wherever they want to go.  Actually, the airlines have gotten better at arranging re-bookings when there's a snowstorm or some other emergency that gives them advance warning.  But obviously, there was no advance warning last Friday, so the carriers needed to improvise in handling passengers whose flights were cancelled.

Julian: What did they do?

Lacter: One step was waiving the fees normally charged to re-book flights (and that's gotten to be a pretty penny).  Another was waiving the difference in the price of the original ticket and the re-booked ticket.  But, the policies varied according to the airline, and we heard about travelers not receiving hotel or food vouchers, or having to buy a brand new ticket on another airline if they wanted to avoid the wait - and that can be expensive.  Which raises another issue: planes tend to be completely full these days because airlines have been cutting back on the number of flights.  And that can be a problem if you're taking a route that doesn't have too many flights in the first place.  So, it gets really complicated.

Julian: Why do you think we haven't we heard more horror stories from passengers?

Lacter: Well, look at the cities that the airlines in Terminal 3 fly to - New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas.  They're all served by several other carriers.  L.A. to New York, in particular, is one of the busiest routes in the world, which means that it's also one of the most competitive.  So, even if your flight was cancelled, there's a good chance you'd be able to find space by Saturday (which is normally a slower day for air travel).  This is a big reason, in general, why people like LAX.

Julian: Why don't other local airports handle more of the load?

Lacter: You might remember a few years ago local officials were promoting something called "regionalization" - the idea was that as LAX maxed out on the number of passengers it was allowed to handle each year, then other airports would make up the difference - places like Ontario, Bob Hope in Burbank, and John Wayne in Orange County.

Julian: Right, and they talked about easing traffic congestion by spreading around the flights.

Lacter: Well, regionalization never happened because, first of all, passenger levels at L.A. International didn't come close to maxing out.  But, more importantly, because the airlines decided that using LAX was more efficient for everything from handling baggage to arranging international connections.  So, through the first nine months of the year, passenger traffic at LAX is up 4.2 percent from a year earlier, while at Ontario traffic was down 9.3 percent.  And, we've seen that John Wayne, Bob Hope, and Long Beach are all struggling.  Of course, the challenge at a busy place like LAX is making it as safe as possible, and that will no doubt become a priority in the weeks ahead.

Mark Lacter writes for Los Angeles Magazine and pens the business blog at LA Observed.com.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

There are still a couple dozen tickets left for one of the most interestingly-cast performances of H.G. Wells, Orson Welles and Howard Koch's "War of the Worlds." On Saturday, Jan. 17,  generations of Star Trek actors will take on the world's most famous radio show.

The cast — directed by Jim Fall — features: René Auberjonois (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”), Michael Dorn (“Star Trek: TNG”), Dean Haglund (“The X-Files”), Walter Koenig ("Star Trek"), Linda Park ("Star Trek: Enterprise"), Jason Ritter (“The Event”), Tim Russ (“Star Trek: Voyager”), Armin Shimerman (“Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”) and Wil Wheaton, playing... Orson Welles.

The performance is a fundraiser for Sci-Fest LA, the new annual science fiction play festival, so tickets aren't cheap — but they're scarce, and this looks like a memorable night.

KPCC and "Off-Ramp" celebrated the 75th anniversary of the broadcast last year by distributing the original 1938 performance, and a new documentary, internationally... introduced by George Takei, another original Trek actor you might have heard of.

War of the Worlds: Sat., Jan. 17,  8 PM; The Acme Theatre, 135 North La Brea Ave. LA CA 90036

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Get ready for some very hard, yet rewarding, work. Being an agent of change for the better is always rewarding, no matter what the industry, profession or hobby. Anything worth accomplishing is going to take a lot of work—just look at what we have seen at the recent Summer Olympics.

Discover AppatMe, the fresh approach to online dating! Using AI, our platform creates deeper, personalized connections for singles across the U.S., moving beyond random matches to deliver tailored, meaningful encounters.

The county said the 32-hour workweek has attracted a host of new talent: Applications have spiked 85.5% and open positions are being filled 23.75% faster, while more employees are staying in their jobs -- separation (employees quitting or retiring) dropped by 48%. And 84% of employees said their work-life balance was better.

Derek Law is the Librarian and Head of Information Resources Directorate at the University of Strathclyde, Professor in the Department of Computing and Head of the Centre for Digital Library Research, University of Strathclyde. He has worked in several British universities since 1970 and have published over 150 book chapters, articles and conference papers since then, some of them republished in seven other languages. Most of his work has been to do with the development of networked resources in higher education and with the creation of national information policy. Recently I have worked on the use of wireless technology in developing new methods of teaching and learning. Derek was awarded the Barnard prize for contributions to Medical Informatics in 1993, Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1999 and was awarded an honorary degree by the Sorbonne in 2000. Derek gave the opening keynote plenary talk.

Derek Law has worked in several British universities and published and spoken at conferences extensively. Most of his work has been to do with the development of networked resources in higher education and with the creation of national information policy. This has been combined with an active professional life in professional organisations related to librarianship and computing. A committed internationalist he has been involved in projects and research in over forty countries. He was awarded the Barnard prize for contributions to Medical Informatics in 1993, Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1999, an honorary degree by the Sorbonne in 2000, the IFLA medal in 2003, Honorary Fellowship of CILIP in 2004 and was an OCLC Distinguished Scholar in 2006. He is currently Chair of the new JISC Services Management Company and Programme Consultant for the Libraries of the Future Horizon Scan. Derek gave a plenary talk entitled "Headlights on Dark Roads".

Marieke Guy is a research officer in the Community and Outreach Team at UKOLN. She has recently worked on the Good APIs project, which aimed to provide JISC and the sector with information and advice on the factors that encourage use of APIs. Last year she was involved in the JISC PoWR (Preservation of Web Resources) project. Since returning to work after her third lot of maternity leave (!) Marieke has become a remote worker and is the remote worker champion at UKOLN. In this role has worked on a number of initiatives aimed specifically at remote workers and written several articles on remote working and related technologies. She maintains a blog entitled Ramblings of a Remote Worker.

Marieke Guy is a research officer in the Community and Outreach Team at UKOLN. She has chaired IWMW for the last 4 years (with one short-break in which she had a baby!). Marieke is currently working on a digital preservation guide for JISC. In the past she has been involved in many JISC and cultural heritage projects from the technical (Good APIs, ePrints, Subject Portals), to the not-so-technical (Web 2.0 workshops for museums, libraries and archives) and the in-between (JISC PoWR, Nof-digitise, Ariadne). Marieke is UKOLN's remote worker champion and last year won the Remote Worker of the year accolade. She has worked on a number of initiatives aimed specifically at remote workers and written several articles on remote working and related technologies. She maintains a blog entitled Ramblings of a Remote Worker. Marieke is co-chair of the event and will be giving the welcome with Brian Kelly.

Japanese food production company, Kaiteki Fresh has announced a new state-of-the-art hydroponic facility in Bunyip, one hour east of Melbourne. The multi-million dollar investment will be the first facility of its kind outside of Asia, and will create 40 new local jobs. Kaiteki Fresh Australia, a subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, is a global leader in food production and technology.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 2:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Veteran and Military Services

What do students who have served in the military think about their experiences at U-M? What made them join the military? What did they do while they were in the military? These are just some of the questions you will hear answered by a group of students who have served in the US military and are now studying at the University of Michigan!

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 12:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Veteran and Military Services

Since WWI and before, women have served vital supportive roles in the U.S. military. Now women are serving along side their male counterparts in some of the most dangerous work in the military. Often they have to overcome sexist stereotypes, sexual harassment or worse all while serving their country. Come and hear their stories of perseverance, grit and courage when they honorably served in the U.S. military.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 10:00am
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Veteran and Military Services

Since 1778 when Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin became the 1st servicemember dismissed from the military for homosexuality, persons who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender have faced discrimination in the military. Since the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" LGBTQ+ service members have been allowed to serve openly in the US military and federal benefits have been extended to cover their dependents. Come hear veterans talk about their service, sacrifice and discrimination they faced while serving their country.

The post Government could save £21m by allowing four-day week appeared first on Personnel Today.

Aggreko, a global provider of modular, mobile power and related solutions, has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of the equipment rental business of ICS Group Inc., a provider of portable climate control services in Canada.

Posted by Nanog News on Nov 13

11/18/2024 - 12:00 PM - Venue: Pueblo Country Club

11/17/2024 - 11:30 AM - Venue: Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center

11/16/2024 - 11:30 AM - Venue: Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center

Rate cuts by year-end

• Fed: 20 bps (81% probability of rate cut at the upcoming meeting)

2025: 75 bps

• ECB: 34 bps (62% probability of 25 bps rate cut at the upcoming meeting)

2025: 145 bps

• BoE: 4 bps (85% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)

2025: 56 bps

• BoC: 33 bps (67% probability of 25 bps rate cut at the upcoming meeting)

2025: 95 bps

• RBA: 2 bps (92% probability of no change at the upcoming meeting)

2025: 40 bps

• RBNZ: 55 bps (80% probability of 50 bps rate cut at the upcoming meeting/20% for a 75 bps cut)

2025: 170 bps

• SNB: 32 bps (72% probability of 25 bps rate cut at the upcoming meeting)

2025: 70 bps

Rate hikes by year-end

• BoJ: 13 bps (51% probability of 25 bps rate hike at the upcoming meeting)

2025: 44 bps

*where you see 25 bps rate cut, the rest of the probability is for a 50 bps cut

mobile voice and data services to the OSCE centre in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

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TASHKENT, 20 May 2015 – A two-day workshop on cyber and ICT security issues began in Tashkent today. The event brought together some 40 participants, including 10 international experts from Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Switzerland, UK, USA as well as representatives of the national parliament, judiciary, ministries for information technology, foreign affairs, academia and law enforcement agencies.

The event facilitated discussions among international and national experts on global, regional and bilateral efforts to enhance international Cyber Security. Best practice and lessons learned in investigations in the field of counter-narrative strategies to counter extremism online as well as countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes were also debated. Participants also discussed current threats in cybercrime, local legislations and strategies in use.

“Cybercrime is a new kind of threat that makes people vulnerable to cyber-criminals who can commit crimes against victims located thousands of kilometres away”, stated Deputy Head of Police Academy, Abror Otajonov, in his opening remarks. “This threat to our security can only be addressed by ensuring close international cooperation and adopting comprehensive national policies and developing relevant capacities”.

Ben Hiller, Cyber Security Officer of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, said: ”With its comprehensive and inclusive approach the OSCE represents a bridge between different national and international approaches to tackling cyber/ICT threats and allows various stakeholders dealing with different cyber threats to move forward in a complementary manner.“

This event was organized in co-operation with the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, as part of the multi-year support provided by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan to the National Police Academy to improve the staff training system. 

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TASHKENT, 21 September 2015 – An OSCE-organized week-long training course for Uzbek law enforcement bodies on identifying and tracing illegitimate assets and the various instruments of asset forfeiture and recovery began today in Tashkent.

Experts from the Basel Institute of Governance will share international best practices with senior representatives in charge of international legal co-operation and the fight against corruption and money laundering within the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Interior and other law enforcement bodies.

“The ability to launder ill-acquired assets outside of the jurisdiction of their country of origin is one of the major enablers of corrupt behaviours,” said Ambassador Gyorgy Szabo, Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan. “This is why the OSCE regards the identification and recovery of illegitimate assets, no matter where they might be hidden, as a crucial element of the fight against corruption.”

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan organized the training course jointly with the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation, the Basel Institute of Governance and the General Prosecutor’s Office of Uzbekistan.

During the course, participants will also learn about the mechanisms of international mutual legal assistance and how they can be used during anti-corruption investigations.

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TASHKENT, 15 October 2015 – An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion introducing representatives of local law enforcement bodies to the methodology of a national assessment of money-laundering and terrorism-financing risks in Uzbekistan was held today in Tashkent.

International experts invited by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan presented the results of their work on devising a comprehensive and tailored methodology for conducting a national risk assessment in the country.

“The OSCE continues to support international efforts that have made national risk assessment the standard in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism,” said the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan Gyorgy Szabo. “We see this as an essential step on the road to eliminating money laundering and terrorism financing in Uzbekistan.”

The discussion is part of a wider process of consultations with representatives of Uzbek law-enforcement agencies and the private sector to implement a national risk assessment on money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

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TASHKENT, 5 November 2015 – Addressing and preventing human trafficking in the hospitality and tourism sector is the topic of a two-day OSCE-supported training course, launched today in Tashkent, for 25 representatives from Uzbekistan’s tourism infrastructure, airlines, airport services and police.

The course, organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the National Inter-agency Commission on Counteracting Human Trafficking, aims to contribute to preventing human trafficking through awareness raising and developing the anti-trafficking codes of conduct for personnel.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan Gyorgy Szabo said the training course would help representatives from private businesses develop corporate responsibility for preventing human trafficking in the tourism infrastructure.  

Astrid Winkler, representative of the ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes), said that “It is important that all stakeholders, including the tourism business, understand what human trafficking is and take a stance against it. Business can do a lot in terms of prevention.”

The training course is part of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s project to assist Uzbekistan in combating the trafficking in human beings.

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TASHKENT, 7 April 2016 – The implementation of traffic management and effective road safety measures were the focus of an OSCE-supported roundtable discussion for some 40 representatives of the Interior Ministry, Parliament, state agencies, media and civil society, and a two-day seminar for 25 traffic police officers, held in Tashkent from 5 to 7 April. 

The roundtable saw discussions focus on the measures Uzbekistan has been taking in implementing the state programme on traffic safety and ways to strengthen road traffic security. Three experts from Turkey and Serbia shared best practices on traffic management, public awareness campaigns and road safety measures implemented in their countries. Special emphasis was put on the importance of effective communication between different stakeholders with the overall aim of preventing traffic accidents and promoting good practices.

“It is important to maintain a constructive dialogue between different stakeholders involved in implementing newly-adopted regulations aimed at enhancing the efficiency of traffic-safety measures and raising awareness among the population about road-related risks,” said Nataša Rašić, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

Following the roundtable discussion, officers from the Interior Ministry’s Traffic Safety Police Department enhanced their knowledge during a seminar about best practices in enforcing traffic regulations. The experts from Turkey and Serbia provided a comprehensive overview of the road safety situation in their countries while highlighting the advantages of integrated road systems and new technologies in road safety, including the video control of roads.

The seminar’s participants also exchanged views on new methods of traffic police training and stressed the importance of improving driver education as well as the procedures for granting driver’s licences.

The events were organized in co-operation with the Interior Ministry as part of a joint project aimed at improving the efficiency of traffic safety measures in Uzbekistan.

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TASHKENT, 12 July 2016 – A three-day seminar for journalists to improve their skills in reporting on human trafficking, organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the Office of the Prosecutor General, began yesterday.

The seminar brings together 26 journalists from all the regions of Uzbekistan to discuss the challenges of reporting on human trafficking and effective ways to overcome them by drawing on international and national good practices. “For better coverage of human trafficking, it is important to both see it as a global phenomenon and understand its specifics in your own country,” said Anatoly Verbin, an international media expert, addressing the media specialists.  

Ambassador John MacGregor, the Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, said that OSCE anti-trafficking commitments include the cultivation of partnership with journalists to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the complexity of the phenomenon, which is a composite of many serious crimes as well as denials of rights. “Prevention of human trafficking cannot be effective if the media do not join us in raising awareness of this crime. The trafficked persons need understanding and assistance in restoring their rights, not moral accusations, judgment or pity,’’ he noted.

Gyulnoza Rakhimova, the head of the press service of the Office of the Prosecutor General, stressed that the training will cover current legislative and law enforcement practices, how to make the information more interesting for readers and not to violate the rights of victims of trafficking.”

The training is part of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s project to assist Uzbekistan in combating trafficking in human beings and to develop a comprehensive victim-support system through expert advice and information.

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BISHKEK, 8 July 2016 – As part of the first phase of the two-day military Command-Staff Exercise ‘Barrier 2016’, representatives of the State Border Service (SBS), local authorities and civil society of Osh region focused on border security and management problems during a roundtable discussion and video-conference supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The discussions, held at the SBS headquarters, aimed to promote co-operation between the military, law enforcement agencies and civil society and improve the existing mechanisms of co-ordination. Participants were able to directly ask border management-related questions to the deputies of Jogorku Kenesh (the parliament), government officials and SBS representatives.

Head of the SBS Colonel Abdikarim Alimbaev detailed the complex measures taken by the Service to strengthen the Kyrgyz-Uzbek and Kyrgyz-Tajik border areas, such as improving the infrastructure of border units and setting additional border barriers and posts. “Through improved relations with neighbouring countries, the strengthening of border security and management will ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State and in this way safeguard peace and stability in the specific border areas and in the broader Central Asian region,” he said.

Daniele Rumolo, acting Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek highlighted the crucial significance of border security for Kyrgyzstan: “Effective counter-efforts to the current challenges remain the most relevant strategic priority for continuous co-operation and also an important aspect of OSCE activities in the framework of transnational threats. The OSCE Centre in Bishkek greatly values its engagement and interaction with the Kyrgyz Government and the SBS, and expresses its readiness to further develop the co-operation in this field.”

Vice Prime-Minister on border issues Jenish Razakov stressed the importance of co-operation between security and law enforcement agencies and local governments, stating that in their absence it would be impossible to resolve border crises. He also noted that in the past two years such joint exercises to enhance the combat readiness of units have demonstrated positive results.

On 8 July, following the roundtable discussion and video-conference in Bishkek, the practical phase of the ‘Barrier 2016’ simulation exercise took place in Osh with the participation of the Special Forces Unit, the SBS, Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Command-Staff Exercise ‘Barrier 2016’ was held jointly by the SBS and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek as part of the Centre’s project to enhance the ability of the Kyrgyz Government to engage in regional co-operation on border security and management. 

VIENNA, 17 April 2015 – In a new interactive campaign launched today, the OSCE is inviting members of the public to send in photos, videos and social media messages on how we can work together to make security a reality and promote peace through co-operation.

The campaign “Co-operation matters” aims to show that everyone, as part of a global community, has a stake in efforts to make the world a safer and more peaceful place. It is part of a series of events commemorating the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, the key founding document that brought the OSCE into being and guides its comprehensive approach to security to this day.

The public can get involved by using the hashtags #WeCooperate and #OSCE and submitting their entries via Twitter, Instagram, or directly to the campaign webpage and/or the OSCE Facebook page. The best entries will be published on the website with prizes of a gadget reflecting different areas of security and cooperation every two weeks and a visit to an OSCE event for the best overall entry. Details of the campaign as well as the rules for taking part are available on the campaign webpage.  

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BISHKEK, 12 July 2016 – A two-day training course on effective investigation of cases of torture conducted by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with the General Prosecutor’s Office and its Prosecutors’ Training Centre ended today in the Kyrgyz capital.

Twenty-four public prosecution officers from Chui, Issyk-Kul, Jalalabad, Talas and Osh provinces had a chance to enhance their knowledge of the notion of “torture” as a criminal offence and the criteria for efficient investigation of torture allegations. The participants also received a comprehensive insight into the mechanisms of prevention of gender-based violence and the specifics of victim assistance.

“According to the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, human rights and fundamental freedoms have supreme value. No one may be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In this regard, prevention of torture and effective investigation of torture allegations represent one of the key priorities in the work of the prosecutorial bodies,” said Damira Kaimova, Director of the Prosecutors’ Training Centre under the General Prosecutor’s Office.

The training elicited a vigorous debate among the participants on the challenges arising during investigation of torture allegations. The attendees also exchanged best practices applied within their respective duty stations to address these challenges.

The training course is part of the OSCE Centre’s project on promoting a comprehensive approach to the rule of law, administration of justice, prevention of torture and capacity building.         

BISHKEK, 20 July 2016 - A series of three-day training courses for police investigators on investigating murders which were committed with the use of explosives, firearms and cold arms are being held from 14 July until 6 August 2016 in Bishkek, Balykchy and Osh cities by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry and the Kyrgyz State Judicial Academy.

Some 150 officers will be trained during the courses, which will see them acquire knowledge and skills on techniques for crime scene screening, searches, questioning of suspects and witnesses, and other methods of investigation. Forensic expertise will also be covered.

“Investigative authorities have important law enforcement functions. The outcome of their work forms the basis for the consideration of criminal cases in court, the imposition of just punishments, and the fair administration of justice,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, acting Head of the OSCE Centre’s Police Matters Programme. “The investigation of serious crimes requires high professionalism and the guarantee of mandatory enforcement.”

The courses are being organized as part of the OSCE Centre’s project on combating organized crime.

BISHKEK, 28 July 2016 – A two-day training conducted by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek for 14 defence lawyers and 12 officers from the Prosecutor’s office on the right to liberty and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention, ended today in the Kyrgyz capital.

The workshop focused on the international framework for measures of restraint, as well as the internationally recognized constitutional right to institute proceedings in cases of violations.

The detention of minors, persons with disabilities, women with children, or defendants in need of continued medical treatment and hospitalization were among the topics discussed, and participants learned more about their specific concerns to ensure that the restraint measures taken comply with human rights standards.

“The right to liberty is a basic fundamental right, protected by international human rights law and enshrined in the Kyrgyz Constitution,” said Anete Erdmane, acting Senior Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre. “To ensure that restrictions on liberty are applied in compliance with the law and that other human rights are not violated as a result of the deprivation of liberty, it is important that prosecutors and lawyers are aware of the relevant standards and obligations. In line with its mandate, the OSCE Centre works to improve the administration of justice and strengthen the rule of law in Kyrgyzstan.”

The course was delivered by Ulugbek Azimov, a well-known national expert in the field, while  Sergey Poduzov, an international human rights law expert from Russia, also led a training session.

The training course is part of the OSCE Centre’s project on promoting a comprehensive approach to the rule of law, administration of justice, prevention of torture, and capacity building. 

BISHKEK, 29 July 2016 – Some 30 police officers of different ranks from seven regions of Kyrgyzstan are taking part in a summer school training programme, which closes tomorrow in Issyk-Kul, on the topical issues of police reform, conducted by the Kyrgyz Association of Women Police and the Interior Ministry, with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.  

The training course, which began on 18 July 2016, aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the police on the regulatory and legal changes enacted as part of the police reform. The participants will also improve their capacity in the field of human rights and gender equality.

As part of the ‘Police reform measures’ adopted by the Kyrgyz Government in 2013, basic provisions such as the framework for comprehensive evaluation of police activities and mechanisms for the interaction between police and civil society institutions were developed with the support of OSCE experts and approved by the Government in 2015. These provisions create a legal basis for the openness and accessibility of the police, as well as co-ordination of actions by police and civil society in ensuring public safety and preventing crime.

"One of the main objectives of the police reform is to build the capacity of the police by enhancing their knowledge on the regulatory and legal changes in order to achieve sustainable results,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, acting Head of the OSCE Centre’s Police Matters Programme. “The OSCE Centre in Bishkek is ready to provide extensive support to such training courses."

Kaana Aidarkul, Head of the Kyrgyz Association of Women Police, said: “Our Association played the main role in the development of the police reform regulatory framework. With the support of the OSCE Centre, members of our Association train police officers to apply these provisions, as well as to enhance their communicative and professional competences with respect to human rights and gender equality."

The summer school was organized as part of the OSCE Centre’s police reform project.

BISHKEK, 30 July 2016 – To mark today’s World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek supported a public awareness-raising campaign and held a public discussion with academic representatives in Bishkek and Osh.

On 29 July, in co-operation with the State Service on Migration, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and local partners, the OSCE Centre raised public awareness about the risks of human trafficking in Bishkek and Osh.

Information material such as pocket calendars with the hotline number and contact information of the Kyrgyz Embassies in the five top migrant destination countries were distributed among the public. Illustrated silhouettes of people, symbolizing victims of trafficking, were displayed on posters in public places with stories in the Russian and Kyrgyz languages narrating their experience of human trafficking.

“Public awareness campaigns play an important role in the prevention of trafficking in human beings,” said William Leaf, OSCE Senior Field Representative in Osh. “The OSCE works to assist the government in improving its education and outreach efforts at the local and central levels in line with its commitments to prevent and combat all forms of human trafficking.”

In addition to the awareness-rising campaign, today the representatives of five local universities in Osh participated in a roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Centre in co-operation with the Centre for Support of International Protection. The discussion focused on the ways of promoting inter-disciplinary research efforts among students and professors on the scope, tendencies and root causes of human trafficking in southern Kyrgyzstan.  

“As trafficking in human beings is a complex phenomenon, it requires a multi-disciplinary approach, covering, among others, socio-economic, legal, migration, human rights, gender and law enforcement aspects,” said Akylbek Tashbulatov, Director of the Centre for the Support of International Protection. “The academic community have the necessary research potential and tools to positively contribute to the development of such an assessment.”

The events were organized as part of the OSCE Centre’s project on addressing human trafficking in Kyrgyzstan through grassroots initiatives and multi-agency cooperation.

The Kyrgyz Government, in co-ordination with the Parliament and the Public Council of the Interior Ministry, on 30 June 2016 issued, as a result of the advocacy efforts of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, a decree authorizing the establishment of a working group on police reform.

The working group, chaired by the Head of the Department on Defence, Law Enforcement and Emergency, Sagynbaev Damir, under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office, includes members of the Parliament, Heads of Ministries, relevant State agencies, the Defence Council, as well as representatives of international organizations, including the OSCE Centre and civil society. The first meeting of the working group is expected to take place on 12 July 2016.

Through the continuous support of the OSCE Centre’s programme on Police matters, the Forum of Parliamentarian Women successfully advocated for the establishment of the working group with the aim of strengthening parliamentary control over the police reform.

“The OSCE Centre in Bishkek welcomes the initiative of the Government to engage in a reform of the police as a starting point for a comprehensive security sector reform,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, Acting Head of Police Affairs of OSCE Centre in Bishkek. “The OSCE will continue assisting Kyrgyz authorities in their efforts through expert and methodological assistance, information sharing, analysis of best practice, and technical support.”  

The OSCE Centre, as part of its police reform project, provided Kyrgyz authorities with international expertise on issues related to police reform and the development of relevant legislation and mechanisms to ensure that this significant effort is carried out in compliance with international standards and OSCE commitments.

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Fifty-two representatives of Local Crime Prevention Centres (LCPCs) in Kyrgyztsan, including members of the courts of Aksakals (local elders), women and youth councils completed a two-day workshop supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek  on 7July 2016 in Osh, with the aim of enhancing interactions between the police, civil organizations and the public.

Participants improved their practical skills on analyzing security situations and applying problem-solving methods, and in strengthening effective communication with the police and other stakeholders. LCPC members learned about the development and implementation of crime prevention projects and programmes. Participants also revised the normative-legal documents that regulate LCPCs and crime prevention activities.

“Preserving public order and preventing crime is the shared responsibility of the police, local self-government bodies, and local communities,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, acting Head of Police Affairs at the OSCE Centre. “This training course seeks to strengthen this collective, consultative approach and the LCPCs’ capacity to foster community engagement in crime prevention and to strengthen the effectiveness of the partnership with police in addressing community security concerns.”

The workshop was conducted at the Community Policing Training Centre by a local expert and trainers from the Main Directorate for Public Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and of the Ministry’s Academy.

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BISHKEK, 20 July 2016 - A series of three-day training courses for police investigators on investigating murders which were committed with the use of explosives, firearms and cold arms are being held from 14 July until 6 August 2016 in Bishkek, Balykchy and Osh cities by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry and the Kyrgyz State Judicial Academy.

Some 150 officers will be trained during the courses, which will see them acquire knowledge and skills on techniques for crime scene screening, searches, questioning of suspects and witnesses, and other methods of investigation. Forensic expertise will also be covered.

“Investigative authorities have important law enforcement functions. The outcome of their work forms the basis for the consideration of criminal cases in court, the imposition of just punishments, and the fair administration of justice,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, acting Head of the OSCE Centre’s Police Matters Programme. “The investigation of serious crimes requires high professionalism and the guarantee of mandatory enforcement.”

The courses are being organized as part of the OSCE Centre’s project on combating organized crime.

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BISHKEK, 29 July 2016 – Some 30 police officers of different ranks from seven regions of Kyrgyzstan are taking part in a summer school training programme, which closes tomorrow in Issyk-Kul, on the topical issues of police reform, conducted by the Kyrgyz Association of Women Police and the Interior Ministry, with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.  

The training course, which began on 18 July 2016, aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the police on the regulatory and legal changes enacted as part of the police reform. The participants will also improve their capacity in the field of human rights and gender equality.

As part of the ‘Police reform measures’ adopted by the Kyrgyz Government in 2013, basic provisions such as the framework for comprehensive evaluation of police activities and mechanisms for the interaction between police and civil society institutions were developed with the support of OSCE experts and approved by the Government in 2015. These provisions create a legal basis for the openness and accessibility of the police, as well as co-ordination of actions by police and civil society in ensuring public safety and preventing crime.

"One of the main objectives of the police reform is to build the capacity of the police by enhancing their knowledge on the regulatory and legal changes in order to achieve sustainable results,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, acting Head of the OSCE Centre’s Police Matters Programme. “The OSCE Centre in Bishkek is ready to provide extensive support to such training courses."

Kaana Aidarkul, Head of the Kyrgyz Association of Women Police, said: “Our Association played the main role in the development of the police reform regulatory framework. With the support of the OSCE Centre, members of our Association train police officers to apply these provisions, as well as to enhance their communicative and professional competences with respect to human rights and gender equality."

The summer school was organized as part of the OSCE Centre’s police reform project.

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This report is for the media and the general public.

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic decreased at both BCPs.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 19 permanent international staff members, including the Chief Observer (CO). The Mission is supported administratively by a Vienna-based staff member.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border

The profile of the people crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage;
2. Persons in military-style outfits;
3. Families (often including elderly people and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits decreased overall from 12,017 to 11,778[1] per day for both BCPs compared to last week. The average net flow for both BCPs went from plus 16 (i.e. more entries to the Russian Federation) to minus 95 (i.e. more exits from the Russian Federation).

The Donetsk BCP continued to experience more traffic than the Gukovo BCP. The cross-border movements registered at both BCPs accounted for just 35 per cent of all entries/exits in Rostov region.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of men and women in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions increased from 80 last week to 85 this week at both BCPs; 49 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, while 36 of them crossed into Ukraine. Approximately 72 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP. Men and women continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed by foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since many of the private vehicles have tinted windows, and buses and minivans have drawn curtains.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

During the reporting period, the OTs observed families, often with elderly people and/or children, crossing at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage or travelling in heavily loaded cars. Seven families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation while four were observed crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (Luhansk region) and cities in the Russian Federation. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses do not state their route; instead they just have a sign on the windshield stating “Irregular”.

Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” routes or destinations were noted: Luhansk-Sevastopol; Rovenki-Kyiv; Luhansk-Kyiv; Stakhanov-Gelendzhik; Kharkiv; and Sevastopol.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses. The majority of long-distance coaches commuting between Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation have licence plates issued in Luhansk region.

Trucks

The OM continued to observe trucks crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. Compared to the previous week, the number of trucks increased from 679 to 710; 391 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 319 crossed to Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs were registered in Luhansk region.

Separately, the OTs also observed tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. The number of tanker trucks decreased from 56 last week to 48 this week. These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks mainly had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks have hazard signs, indicating that they are transporting propane or a mix of propane with butane.

All trucks undergo systematic inspection by Russian Federation officials, which may include an X-ray check. No X-ray checks could be observed at the Gukovo BCP since the OT has no view of the mobile X-ray unit, but it could be heard operating several times during the reporting period. One hundred and two X-ray checks were observed at the Donetsk BCP. Out of the 102 trucks scanned during the reporting period, 68 trucks (67 per cent) were bound for Ukraine; the remaining 34 trucks (33 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] crossing the border in both directions and at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly registered in Luhansk region; however, the OTs frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation.

Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans increased from 247 to 319; 138 crossed to the Russian Federation and 181 to Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains running on the train tracks located approximately 150 metres south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 21 occasions; the OTs estimated that fourteen trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and seven trains were bound for Ukraine. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was informed about the trains bound for Ukraine. Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP and unfavourable light conditions.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border have licence plates issued in Luhansk region or in the Russian Federation. On two separate occasions the OT also noticed cars with Hungarian and Belarusian plates.

The OTs continued to observe vehicles with Ukrainian licence plates, including articulated trucks with “LPR” or “Novorossiya” stickers, or in rare cases “DPR” stickers on their licence plates masking the Ukrainian flag.

During the reporting period the OTs observed ambulances on three occasions. The OTs on the spot could not confirm if there were persons requiring medical treatment on board.

On 28 July at 14:20 hrs the OT at Donetsk BCP noticed that the BCP was closed (fence doors were locked) and the lines were cleared from pedestrians and all the visible barriers were lowered. OT observed border guards walking up and down talking on the radios. At the same time one SUV (Ford), with Russian Federation registration plates with two persons in military style outfit inside, underwent an X-ray check. The SUV was entering the Russian Federation from Ukraine. After the X-ray check the Russian Federation customs officers performed a detailed check of the luggage inside the vehicle. At 14:50 hrs the BCP was opened again. Around 16:00 hrs the SUV left the BCP.

On 30 July at 16:00 hrs at the Donetsk BCP one minivan for funeral services crossed the border from the Russian Federation to Ukraine. The OT could not confirm if it had cargo or passengers.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the reporting period from 19 July to 26 July 2016 see the attachment here.

[1] Data received from Rostov region Border Guard Service.

[2] Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving license C1).                             

Related Stories

• Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 26 July 2016
• Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 5 July 2016
• Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 12 July 2016

"I want to face my wife's killers, look them in the eyes, and balance the scales." Dark. 20th Century Studios has unveiled an official trailer for The Amateur, a thrilling new revenge movie from British director James Hawes (who also directed a bunch of episodes of that spy series "Slow Horses" if you want to get a sense of his cinematic style). The film follows a nerdy CIA cryptographer / software geek who manages to blackmail his own agency into training him to let him go after a group of terrorist who killed his wife in London. He realizes his bosses will not act due to conflicting internal priorities, so he takes things into his own hands. Rami Malek stars as Charles Heller, along with Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne. This reminds me of Jason Bourne at first glance, with him hopping around cities in Europe outsmarting everyone over there. Might turn out really good? Certain looks unsettling and thrilling. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for James Hawes' thriller The Amateur, direct from YouTube: Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder […]

New releases that hit cinemas in Thailand this week.