5 Year Experiment of 4m band in Kazakhstan

Letter #16-02-16-1/2372 published 15th May 2017 from the Kazakhstan States Committee on Communication, Informatization and Mass Media of the Ministry of Information and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan, states that amateur radio service members are granted general access to the 4m band in the spectrum portion of 70.0 - 70.5 MHz for the period 1st May 2017 - 1st May 2022 on secondary basis.
 
This extension and broadening of the 4m band allocation in Kazakhstan has been achieved due to the efforts of the Association of the Amateur Radio Services of Kazakhstan.
 

Geoparks Communications Weekend

Ireland's South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will, for the 10th consecutive year, take part in the Geoparks Communications weekend which takes place this year over the weekend of 3-4th June 2017 to coincide with European Geoparks week.
 
The event is co-ordinated by Martin G3VOF of the Riviera Amateur Radio Club and awards are available for working Geopark stations including the main station GB6GEO. Although most activity is in Europe, a number of stations will be QRV from Geoparks around the world.
 
The South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will be QRV as EI2GEO from the Copper Coast Geopark in County Waterford. As the Geopark event is not a contest, operation tends to be relaxed with ample time and an ideal location to experiment with antennas and equipment. There is also a strong social aspect to the event with barbeque and drinks on Saturday night. Activity will be mainly on HF (SSB and CW). For more information about EI2GEO please see
 
South Eastern Amateur Radio Group - http://www.searg.ie

WIA Trials Online Exams

The Wireless Institute of Australia has been working toward some online assessments for some time and has introduced a trial exam system as a 'proof of concept' exercise
 
There are currently two trial theory assessments at the Standard level [equivalent UK Intermediate] and in future, these will include a couple of Advanced theory assessments. 
 
The trials are on the Assessor Information System website - 
https://secure.iig.com.au/silvertrain/assessors/index.php?cmd=trialexam
 
WIA story - http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2017/20170513-1/index.php