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  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Wins Gold in AVA Digital Awards for Integrated Marketing Campaign

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung was named a Gold Winner of the 2025 AVA Digital Awards program, an annual, international competition that recognizes excellence in digital communications. The company received this distinction for its integrated marketing campaign, “Samsung Celebrates Big Ideas, Small Businesses,” which aimed to spotlight the lifeblood of the U.S. economy – small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
    The Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) launched the AVA Digital Awards program over 30 years ago to honor creative professionals and teams from across industries for the planning, concept, direction, design and production of both digital campaigns and projects. Samsung’s multifaceted campaign set itself apart from other nominees through its use of marketing strategy, social media and influencer marketing, content marketing, customer relationship management (CRM) and email marketing, web development and public relations to promote how SMBs are actively using display technology and software to achieve their unique business goals.

    SMBs featured in the campaign included:
    Harvest Gap Brewery
    Wrigleyville Sports
    Figurella
    Beach People Studio
    SB Korean BBQ
    Through the campaign, Samsung garnered over 1 million impressions and 30K engagements across its social channels and notable media placements in publications such as Commerce magazine, the official magazine of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ). As a result of its product giveaway and a special holiday pricing promotion hosted in tandem with the campaign, Samsung awarded Big Spoon Creamery, an Alabama-based artisan ice cream company, a Samsung Pro TV and a one-year subscription to the all-in-one content management system Samsung VXT.

    “As a long-time partner of SMBs, this campaign served as an amazing opportunity to shine a light on many incredible entrepreneurs currently using our display technology within their businesses,” said Sukhmani Mohta, Chief Marketing Officer of the Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “We are proud to not only take home Gold in the AVA Digital Awards, but also to amplify the unique brand stories of our SMB customers on a larger stage.”
    To learn more about how Samsung’s digital signage innovations help small businesses engage their customers, please visit samsung.com/us/business/displays.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Bipartisan Lawmakers Demand Trump Reinstate NLRB Member Wilcox

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Congressional Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) led every Democratic senator and a bipartisan group of 213 Representatives in urging President Trump to immediately reinstate National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member Gwynne Wilcox. The lawmakers called on the president to restore the NLRB’s ability to protect the rights of American workers to organize and collectively bargain, which were already impaired by understaffing at the agency, and are now effectively lost the lack of quorum on the NLRB.

    “We are writing to express our deep frustration at the unprecedented and illegal firing of National Labor Relations Board Member Gwynne Wilcox and the negative impact this will have on working people across the country,” wrote Sanders and the lawmakers. “This firing violates the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), renders the Board unable to effectively enforce federal labor law, and profoundly undermines the independence of the agency.”

    Congress created the NLRB nearly 90 years ago as an independent, non-partisan federal agency to protect workers nationwide by enforcing the NLRA, which guarantees the rights of workers to join together in collective action, including by organizing unions, negotiating contracts, and going on strike. The lawmakers pointed to specific federal statute that restricts the president’s ability to remove NLRB members for reasons other than neglect of duty or malfeasance. They also clarified that Wilcox’s firing without a hearing or cause expressly violated that law.

    “Workers rely on the NLRB to safeguard their rights to organize and collectively bargain to better their working conditions,” continued the lawmakers. “However, by firing Member Wilcox and leaving the five-seat NLRB with only two Members, you have left the Board without a quorum and effectively shut down its decision-making ability. This simply encourages bad employers to violate the law and trample on workers’ rights, while workers subjected to illegal union-busting will face significant delays in receiving the justice to which they are entitled.”

    Since Trump fired Wilcox, grocery store workers in Philadelphia have already seen their labor rights eroded as large corporations are allowed to violate labor law with no recourse available for their employees. After Whole Foods workers voted overwhelmingly to form a union, the company, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is “attempting to exploit some of the disruption Trump has caused,” according to the Washington Post, by not abiding by the outcome of the union election.

    “We urge you to reverse your decision and to immediately reinstate Member Wilcox to the NLRB to ensure that working people are afforded the protections to which they are entitled under the law,” concluded Sanders and the lawmakers.

    Read the full text of the letter here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Labour ‘Knows the Price Of Everything but the Value of Nothing’

    Source: Party of Wales

    During First Minister’s Questions today (Tuesday 4th February 2025), Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS challenged the Labour Welsh Government for presiding over crises facing the education and culture sectors.

    Last week, Cardiff announced plans to cut 400 jobs to merge departments and axe courses – including music and nursing.

    This announcement came after months of warning from the Higher Education sector over possible job cuts.

    Wales’ cultural institutions are also struggling. Wales’ National Museum has closed temporarily due to safety concerns over the deteriorating condition of the building.

    Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

    “As each day goes by, institutions of cultural, educational and national importance are being dismantled one by one – proving that Labour knows the price of everything but the value of nothing.

    “Wales’ National Museum has closed temporarily and 400 jobs are on the line at Cardiff University.

    “We see cuts to Arts Council, and the loss of the National Theatre. Now a world renowned music department within Wales’ largest university is being closed – the land of song being silenced on Labour’s watch.

    “And at the height of an NHS nursing crisis – Labour’s message is that it doesn’t care about those who want to make a career out of caring for others.

    “After almost 26 years, Labour are lurching from one crisis to another and their lack of vision and ambition for Wales is plain for all to see. Only Plaid Cymru offers Wales the fresh start it desperately needs.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government’s first Collision and Casualty Reduction Plan published13 February 2025 The Government of Jersey has published its first ‘Collision and Casualty Reduction Plan’, which sets out plans to support a reduction in number of people seriously injured or killed on roads reduced.… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    13 February 2025

    The Government of Jersey has published its first ‘Collision and Casualty Reduction Plan’, which sets out plans to support a reduction in number of people seriously injured or killed on roads reduced. 

    View the plan here: States Assembly | Assembly Reports​ 

    This is the first time Jersey has adopted a plan focused on the reduction of collisions and casualties. It aligns Jesey with best practice from countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands who have successfully reduced road casualties through implementing the ‘Safe System Approach’. 

    Initial targets of the plan aim for a 50% reduction of people being seriously injured or killed on roads over the next decade, while working towards the long-term goal of ‘Vision Zero’ where no one is seriously injured or killed on roads. 

    The plan acknowledges that while human error is inevitable, the severity of collisions can be significantly reduced through forgiving road design, safer vehicles, appropriate speeds, better driver behaviour and effective post-collision care and response, and learning lessons from collisions to try and prevent similar collisions occurring in the future.

    The Minister for Infrastructure, Connétable Andy Jehan, said: “I am very pleased to see this plan, the first of its kind in Jersey, being published. Of course, no loss of life on our roads is acceptable and this plan is a commitment to every Islander that we are taking decisive, coordinated action to reduce road harm and protect our community. 

    “We all have a role to play in making our roads safer. Whether you drive a car, ride a bike, or walk, your decisions matter. Together, we can build a road system where safety is prioritised, and lives are saved.:​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New report highlights key sources of air pollution in Oxford

    Source: City of Oxford

    A new report has been published by Oxford City Council, providing a breakdown of the key sources of air pollution in the city. 

    The Oxford Source Apportionment report, which was conducted by Ricardo Group, highlights that road transport remains the highest contributor to NOx emissions, while domestic wood burning is the largest contributor to particulate pollution (PM2.5) in the city. 

    The report examines the contributions of different sectors to air pollution in Oxford (transport, domestic combustion, point sources, other transport, and other emissions), focusing on nitrogen oxides (NOX – a combination of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).  

    The report is based on air pollution data measured in 2022, as well as modelling on the impact of the introduction of 159 electric buses in Oxford through the Government’s ZEBRA scheme. 

    The report found that while road transport remains the largest source of NOX pollution (32%), domestic combustion—particularly wood burning—is the leading cause of harmful PM2.5 emissions (24%). 

    Key findings of the report: 

    • Road transport remains the largest contributor to NOX pollution – accounting for 32% of total NOX emissions.
    • Domestic combustion accounts for 26% of total NOX emissions.
    • Point sources (emissions from sources at a known location that can be directly mapped such as industry or commercial buildings) contribute 20% of total NOX emissions.
    • Other road transport (including boats, and military aircraft) accounts for 9% of total NOX emissions.
    • Other emissions (including rail and aircrafts, non-road mobile machinery, industry, waste, solvents, agriculture, and production processes) accounts for 13% of total NOX emissions.
    • Domestic wood burning is the highest contributor to PM2.5 pollution, accounting for 24% of total PM2.5 emissions.
    • Buses contribute 4% to total NOX emissions, reflecting a significant (28%) reduction since the previous source apportionment study, due to Oxford’s transition to electric buses. 

    Road Transport 

    Road transport remains the largest single contributor to NOX pollution, with diesel vehicles dominating emissions: 

    • Cars (petrol and diesel) account for 48% of total NOX emissions.
    • Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) account for 19%.
    • Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) account for 26%.
    • Buses contribute 4% to total NOX emissions, reflecting a significant (28%) reduction since the previous source apportionment study, due to Oxford’s transition to electric buses. 
    • Private hire and Hackney taxis account for 2%. 

    Since the previous Source Apportionment Study, road transport NOX emissions have dropped from 40% to 32%, primarily due to the introduction of electric buses under the government’s ZEBRA scheme. Buses now contribute to 4% to total NOX emissions in the city. 

    Since the previous Source Apportionment Study, road transport NOX emissions have dropped from 40% to 32%, primarily due to the introduction of electric buses under the government’s ZEBRA scheme. Buses now contribute to 4% to total NOX emissions in the city. 

    Hotspot Locations 

    In addition to transport emissions across the whole city, the report also looked at pollution in three ‘hotspot’ locations – St Clement’s, Botley road and Worcester Street – which have historically seen high levels of air pollution and are key roads for vehicles to travel into and across the city.  

    The findings show: 

    • Cars are the biggest contributors to NOX across all three locations.
    • LGVs and HGVs follow as the next most significant contributors.
    • Buses have seen a reduction in their contribution to NOX emissions, following the transition to electric in 2024.
    • Private hire taxis contribute more to NOX emissions than Hackney Carriages – with both sources combined accounting for 2% of NOX. 

    Domestic Combustion 

    The report highlights that the domestic combustion sector (which includes emissions from burning wood, coal, and gas to heat homes) is responsible for 35% of total PM2.5 emissions citywide – with wood burning alone accounting for 25%.  

    When looking at the specific sources of PM2.5 within the domestic combustion sector: 

    • Wood burning accounts for 70% of all PM2.5 emissions relating to domestic combustion.
    • Commercial heating (in businesses and institutions) contributes 15%.
    • Gas and coal (domestic others) burning contributes 14%.
    • Smokeless fuels account for just 1%.

    Other sources of emissions 

    Other sources of NOX emissions in Oxford includes: 

    • Point sources (such as industry and commercial buildings) contribute 20% of total NOX emissions.
    • Other road transport (including boats, and military aircraft) accounts for 9% of total NOX emissions.
    • Other emissions (including rail and aircrafts, non-road mobile machinery, industry, waste, solvents, agriculture, and production processes) account for 13% of total NOX emissions. 

    There is no safe level of air pollution  

    In Oxford, the main pollutant of concern is nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Over the past few years, Oxford’s air quality has improved significantly, and since the introduction of the city’s current Air Quality Action Plan in 2021, NO2 levels across Oxford have seen a 18% average reduction.  

    Oxford is currently in compliance with the UK’s legal limit for NO2 in all areas of ‘relevant exposure’ within the city (40 µg/m³). However, there is ultimately no safe level of NO2 exposure.  

    In September 2021 the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a much ‘safer’ annual mean level of NO2 of 10 µg/m³. Under its current Air Quality Action Plan, which was established in January 2021, Oxford has set its own voluntary annual mean target for NO2 of 30 µg/m³) to be achieved across the city by 2025.  

    Next Steps 

    The report will inform the Council’s upcoming Air Quality Action Plan, which will be updated in 2026 following public consultation later this year.

    An Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) outlines the actions that the Council and its partners will take to improve air quality in Oxford within a certain period of time.The Council’s current Air Quality Action Plan can be read here. 

    For more information on air quality in Oxford, visit the Council’s Air Quality pages.  

    Comment 

    “This latest source apportionment study shows us to the key sources of toxic air pollution in Oxford, and what areas we need to focus on to improve air pollution across the city.  

    “We can see that there has been a significant reduction in the contribution of buses to NOX levels following the introduction of the 159 electric bus fleet. However, cars remain the largest contributor to this pollution.  

    “The report also highlights that we must address the growing issue of domestic wood burning, which is now the largest source of harmful PM2.5 pollution in Oxford. Many people may not realise that even modern wood stoves produce dangerous emissions. By reducing wood burning and supporting zero-emission transport, we can continue to improve Oxford’s air quality for everyone.” 

    Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council

    “The modelled impact that the new fleet of electric buses is having on air quality in Oxford in such as short space of time is remarkable. We are incredibly proud to have put together the successful bid alongside the bus companies to bring them to the city, and this new report shows why it was such an important initiative in creating a cleaner, greener county.” 

    Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management

    “We’re proud of the massive step change in emissions buses have delivered in Oxford over the last decade to help provide radically cleaner air for the communities we serve. 

    “This has been sustained over several years with the move to ultra-low emission vehicles and more recently zero emission vehicles, following significant investment by both companies.  

    “However, overall Oxford’s air is not benefitting as much as it could be due to the steadily increasing proportion of car and van emissions. The data clearly demonstrates that it’s vital for Oxford’s health that suitable measures are introduced to help reduce the volume of private vehicles on the city’s roads to achieve even greater improvements in air quality.” 

    Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Three projects to boost local businesses awarded grants

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Three projects including an event to boost to city centre footfall, further targeting of the Love Local Card, and trips for cruise ship visitors including a seabird safari with potential dolphin spotting are to take place in the next few months.

    Aberdeen City Council’s Finance and Resources Committee yesterday agreed to spend £135,700 on the projects – Freebie Fortnight, Love Local Card, and the development of the travel trade tours offered by the Council’s Countryside Ranger Service.

    Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The Council is committed to working with city centre businesses and others to drive up occupancy levels on Union Street and make our city centre an even better place to visit, work, shop, live , invest and do business.”

    Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: Aberdeen City Council is continuing to support business in the city centre and increase footfall through these initiatives which have been developed in partnership with the business community.”

    A report to committee said £115,000 is to be allocated to Freebie Fortnight, which is aimed at strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems and supporting the development of SMEs.

    Freebie Fortnight proposal will be run in co-ordination with local retail and hospitality businesses to boost city centre footfall, visitor numbers, and local spend.

    The aim is to have about 20 local retailers participating in Freebie Fortnight. Each will be asked to select an in-store offering of value up to either £5 or £10, to be made available to a set number of customers per day over the period, for free. Customers will need to use a verbal code to access the offering. The funding from UKSPF would meet the cost of this offering, reimbursing each participating business.

    There will be a particular emphasis on targeting businesses adjacent to current city centre works and disruption on Union Street Central and the new market building. It is expected that funding will support about 20 businesses to take part, and criteria will be set around these being local SMEs with fewer than three stores, rather than national chains.

    The report said a total of £10,000 is to be spent on Love Local Card online development and promotion. There are more than 300 businesses in the city signed up to the Aberdeen Gift Card which is the most successful in the UK for the second year running.

    Aberdeen Gift Cards can be used in both local independents as well as national chains and offer the opportunity of aggregate spend, in person in the city, and not online. The Gift Card is therefore a major boost to the local economy, local spend and visitor numbers.

    To continue this momentum, a key area for growth for the Aberdeen Gift Card is corporate sales. Where organisations and businesses adopt the Gift Card for use as staff gifts, staff benefits and staff rewards, there is opportunity for increased spend and awareness of the Gift Card. The grant money will be used to support Aberdeen Inspired to target corporate sales growth of the Gift Card by developing and launching a webpage including video and case study content and increase engagement.

    The travel tour fairs by the Countryside Rangers Service was awarded £10,700. Last year, the service began working with the Council’s Tourism Officer to introduce new tours targeted at the travel trade, with cruise tourism being a catalyst for the activity. The initial offer is focused on a seabird safari with potential dolphin spotting, a minibeast safari looking at insects and woodland areas, and a night-time moth-spotting trail.

    The grant funds will be used to purchase equipment and kit to support the existing programme, expand the offer to include a wider area, and enhance the night-time tour with telescopes. The tours align to the Destination Strategy developed with VisitAberdeenshire which includes a focus on outdoor and adventure tourism experiences distinct to the region.

    The grants were from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund managed by Aberdeen City Council.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Shisha lounge fined for breaching smoke-free regulations

    Source: City of Leicester

    A SHISHA lounge that breached smoke-free regulations has been ordered to pay a total of £8,500 in fines and costs after being convicted of a series of offences.

    Environmental health officers from the public safety team at Leicester City Council made visits to Amoura Lounge – a restaurant on two floors at 25 Royal East Street, Leicester, which also offers shisha for smoking. Officers visited in April and June last year as part of work to check its compliance with smoke-free regulations.

    Premises legally have to be more than 50 per cent open to the air for smoking to be permitted. Inspectors found the premises to fall short of that, but on both occasions they witnessed groups of people smoking on the premises.

    On both occasions, officers left a report with staff stating that smoking must cease with immediate effect until such time as the premises were less than 50% enclosed.

    Inspectors also served an improvement notice, ordering the bar to supply details of its health and safety risk assessment by 22 May 2024. This was not provided.

    Representatives from Amoura Lounge attended the court hearing on 5th February.

    Leicester magistrates fined the business a total of £2,500, plus a victim surcharge of £1,000 and ordered that they contribute £5,000 towards costs.

    Leicester City Council’s head of regulatory services, Rachel Hall, said: “Smoke-free legislation is designed to protect the public and employees from the inhalation of second-hand smoke, which is known to cause serious health issues, including forms of cancer. It’s also very important that businesses comply with health and safety laws that are there to keep everyone safe.

    “The message is clear: all shisha café owners in Leicester must operate within the law and their premises will be visited regularly. If they don’t comply then they can expect robust and appropriate enforcement action to protect employees and customers alike.”

    (Ends)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government sets out plans for ‘e-invoicing’ overhaul to cut paperwork

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Government consultation on electronic invoicing launched

    • Government launches 12-week e-invoicing consultation on plans to cut paperwork for businesses and help improve productivity.
    • Proposals expected to save businesses time and money and speed up payments, creating the conditions to grow the economy, part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change.
    • Will help businesses get tax right first time with fewer invoicing and VAT return errors.
    • UK stakeholders and businesses urged to comment.

    UK businesses are, for the first time, being invited to have their say on the government’s electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) proposals.

    E-invoicing is the digital exchange of invoice information directly between buyers and suppliers. It could help businesses get their tax right first time, reduce invoicing and data errors, improve the accuracy of VAT returns, help close the tax gap and save time and money. It usually results in faster business to business payments, leading to improved cash flow and less paperwork.

    This will help cut down time and resources businesses spend managing their tax affairs so they can be more productive. It forms part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change for a tax system that supports economic growth.

    Examples of where e-invoicing has improved cash flow include:

    • Australian Government agencies who are paying their suppliers within 5 days compared to 20 days for other forms of invoices.
    • a UK NHS trust where e-invoices are ready for processing within 24 hours, compared to 10 days under paper invoicing. Their e-invoices are typically paid almost twice as quickly than paper invoices, with supplier queries reduced by an average of 15%.

    Examples of the wider benefits to business of e-invoicing are highlighted by software providers:

    • Xero see e-invoicing as the next digital revolution for small firms, simplifying how businesses invoice customers and get paid faster. Firms will save money on chasing payments, improve cash flow and reduce fraud risks.
    • a published business research report from Sage* shows that e-invoicing streamlines routine tasks like data entry and tax filing, driving annual productivity gains of around 3% in the UK, supporting the government’s broader growth agenda.

    The 12-week consultation ‘Promoting electronic invoicing across UK businesses and the public sector’ was published today (13 February 2025) by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The deadline for comment is 7 May 2025.

    James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury said:

    As part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, we have begun our work to transform the UK’s tax system into one that is focused on helping businesses and the economy to grow.

    E-invoicing simplifies processes, reduces errors and helps businesses to get paid faster. By cutting paperwork and freeing up valuable time and money, it will help improve firms’ productivity and their ability to grow and succeed.

    Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports, said:

    Small businesses are at the heart of our economy and vital to our growth mission. The potential of digitising taxes, speeding up payments and streamlining administrative tasks will provide real benefits to the economy, supporting smaller firms and boosting growth.

    This is why we want to make sure e-invoicing works for SMEs, because cash flow can make all the difference between staying afloat or going under.

    The consultation applies to business invoicing. It will gather views on standardising e-invoicing and how to increase its adoption across UK businesses and the public sector. It also explores how different e-invoicing models could align a business with their customers’ businesses. People can take part whether or not they currently use e-invoicing.

    HMRC and the DBT want to hear the opinions of self-employed people, businesses of all sizes, representative and industry bodies, charities and public sector organisations.

    Topics that the government is interested in exploring include:

    • different models of e-invoicing
    • whether to take a mandated or voluntary approach to e-invoicing, and what scope of mandate might be most appropriate in the UK and for businesses
    • whether e-invoicing should be complemented by real time digital reporting.

    The government will also engage with a broad range of businesses and interested stakeholders to secure their views at various events, including face-to-face discussions.

    Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, will host a business round table at the Darlington Economic Campus and Government Hub this afternoon (13 February 2025), where he and Business and Trade Minister, Gareth Thomas, will discuss the consultation and listen to the opinions of industry bodies, regional stakeholders and local businesses in the North East.

    It follows a visit earlier in the day by James Murray MP to software developer Sage’s Newcastle headquarters, where he met with accountants to discuss government support for small businesses and how HMRC is working to deliver its priorities. Sage is one of the providers of software for HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme. A full list of software providers for MTD can be found on GOV.UK.

    Further Information

    The consultation ‘Promoting electronic invoicing across UK businesses and the public sector’ is available on GOV.UK.

    A Welsh language version is available on request.

    The consultation will run for 12 weeks from Thursday 13 February to Wednesday 7 May 2025.

    E-invoicing technology has been in use for more than 20 years and an increasing number of countries require businesses to use e-invoices for at least some transactions. There is global recognition for standards in enabling e-invoicing, particularly in international trade. Around 130 countries have or are in the process of implementing e-invoicing structures and standards (including data they should include and their format).

    ‘Failure to take reasonable care’ and ‘error’ accounted for 22% of the VAT tax gap in the 2022 to 2023 tax year. Industry research** shows that 80% of businesses globally manually enter their supplier invoice data into their accounting system, typically around 10% of entered data has some form of error. Adopting e-invoicing can automate this data entry and reduce opportunities for error.

    HMRC and the DBT want to understand how differing approaches may integrate with current business systems. This will support development of a UK approach to e-invoicing that improves business productivity by reducing admin burdens and helping businesses to get their tax right. There will be no immediate change in response to this consultation and responses will be used to inform future decision-making.

    Enquiries about the consultation and responses to it should be sent to: einvoicingconsultation@hmrc.gov.uk or by clicking a link in the consultation document.

    People interested in joining business round tables and other events to contribute to future e-invoicing policy development can contact: einvoicingengagement@hmrc.gov.uk

    A future e-invoicing consultation was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, on 23 September 2024 in a package of reforms to improve the UK’s tax system.

    This was confirmed for ‘early 2025’ in the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024.

    The published studies as referenced are: *’E-invoicing: Paving the way to a Connected, Real-time Economy’ (Sage)/ **’Billentis – The Global E-invoicing and Tax Compliance Report’

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Finns travelling to UK need an Electronic Travel Authorisation

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Visitors travelling to the UK on a European passport will need an ETA from 2 April 2025. Travellers can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025 onwards.

    Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are being introduced worldwide for visitors to the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have a UK immigration status. 

    Eligible Europeans can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025. 

    An ETA is a digital permission to travel. Applying for an ETA is quick and simple. The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA app.  

    An ETA permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner. 

    The introduction of ETAs is in line with the approach many other countries have taken to border security, including the US and Australia.

    How do I apply for an ETA?  

    Information on who can get an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK is available on GOV.UK. 

    The easiest way to apply for an ETA is through the UK ETA app, which can be downloaded from Google Play or Apple App Store. You can also apply on GOV.UK.

    Please use the official UK ETA app or the GOV.UK site to apply for your ETA to avoid scam sites. 

    How long does it take? 

    Most applicants get an automatic decision in minutes when applying through the UK ETA app, which means spontaneous trips to the UK are still possible.

    Visitors are advised to allow three working days for a decision on their application, but this is to take account of the small number of cases which need further review. It is always better to apply for your ETA well in advance. 

    To apply for an ETA, applicants need to:

    1. Pay a fee (currently £10)
    2. Provide contact information and passport details
    3. Provide a valid photo, complying with rules for digital photos on GOV.UK
    4. Answer a set of questions

    NOTE: You must travel using the same passport you used when you applied for your ETA. If you get a new passport, you will need to get a new ETA.

    For more information and regular updates on ETAs, please visit GOV.UK 

    Video introduction: What is an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)?  

    Video introduction: How to Apply For a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Upcoming US Law Webinars – March 2025

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    We hope you will join us in March for the next offerings of our Orientation to Law Library Collections webinar, which will feature the State Law Library of Montana as part of our 50 State Law Libraries Outreach Project. The 50 State Law Libraries Outreach Project aims to strengthen the ties between the Law Library of Congress and state law libraries by sharing information about our collections, products, and services with one another and with the public. Franklin Runge, state law librarian, will present from the State Law Library of Montana during the webinar. The State Law Library of Montana presenter notes that:

    “[t]he mission of the State Law Library of Montana is to provide legal information and resources, to enhance knowledge of the law and court system, and to facilitate equal access to justice statewide. The need for reliable legal information was a priority for early western settlers, and in 1881, the Law Library was established by the Territory of Montana’s Legislative Assembly. Over the past two years (2023-2024), 73% of our reference interactions have been with members of the general public. We also serve the legal research needs of Montana’s bench and bar through reference services, training opportunities, and maintaining relevant collections. In tandem with our access to justice and reference work, the Law Library is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive collection of Montana law. The present Constitution of Montana was drafted, adopted, and ratified in 1972, and it ushered in a period of transparency and accountability in state government. This transparency has resulted in the Law Library compiling and maintaining a fantastic collection of legislative histories, which are frequently requested by judges, lawyers, and historians.”

    The Law Library will also offer A Lunch and Learn webinar, which will focus on using secondary sources to conduct legal research, and the Orientation to Legal Research webinar, which will focus on federal legislative history in March. We hope you will join us by registering for these upcoming webinars!

    An Orientation to Law Library Collections featuring the State Law Library of Montana

    Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST

    Content: This webinar is designed for patrons who are familiar with legal research, and would instead prefer an introduction to the collections and services specific to the Law Library of Congress. Some of the resources attendees will learn about include the Law Library’s research guides, digital collections, and the Guide to Law Online, among others.

    Instructors: Anna Price. Anna is a legal reference librarian at the Law Library. Anna holds a B.S. in communications from Ithaca College, a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Washington iSchool.

    Register here. 

    Flyer announcing the Lunch and Learn webinar titled, Using Secondary Sources in Legal Research. Created by Taylor Gulatsi.

    A Lunch and Learn Webinar: Using Secondary Sources in Legal Research 

    Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

    Content: This webinar will provide an overview of secondary sources such as legal encyclopedias, treatises, and dictionaries. In addition, the webinar will provide practical examples to show how these resources are used in practice. The presentation will demonstrate how secondary sources are an important step in the legal research method and how they can guide researchers to primary sources. Many of the materials and content for this webinar have come from the Law Library’s research guide, Legal Research: A Guide to Secondary Resources.

    Instructors: Olivia Kane-Cruz. Olivia Kane-Cruz is a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Olivia holds a B.A. in political science from Humboldt State University (Cal Poly Humboldt), a J.D. and a master’s of environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School, and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Washington.

    Register here. 

    An Orientation to Legal Research Webinar: Federal Legislative History 

    Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

    Content: This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. federal legislative history resources, including information about the methods of identifying and locating them. In tackling this area of research, the focus will largely be on finding these documents online.

    Instructor: Louis Myers. Louis Myers holds a B.A. in history from Kent State University, a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law, and an M.L.I.S. from Kent State University.

    Register here.

    To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research Institute. Please request ADA accommodations at least five business days in advance by contacting (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDIA – Parish priest: May the new government of the capital Delhi “give more attention for the poor and the marginalized”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Foto di Aquib Akhter su Unsplash

    New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) – “The priorities in a city of millions like New Delhi are to ensure education and health care for all 32 million inhabitants. Our hope is that the new city government, now led by the Baraytya Janata Party (BJP), will launch programs that are not only aimed at the needs of the middle class or entrepreneurs, the business class, but that it will also be able to take care of the suburbs and the less well-off people,” said Father Sankar Savarimuthu, parish priest and spokesman for the Archdiocese of Delhi, after the local elections that gave power to the party of Indian Prime Minister Naraytya Janata on February 8. The BJP has thus defeated the opposition for the first time in 27 years, after the city had previously been governed by the Congress Party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Father Savarimuthu, who has a direct relationship with the people as parish priest of St. Matthew’s Church in the east of the city, notes: “The Indian federal government in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his nationalist BJP party had a kingdom without a capital, like a body without a head, because for 27 years Delhi had been administered by the opposition.” “The will of the people,” he continues, “was clear. And it was in some ways an expected result after AAP leader Kejriwal was arrested along with two other key party members over the past two years on charges of accepting bribes.” “The BJP’s victory,” he continues, “underlines the ambition and pride of the nationalists. The government will have to be measured against the complex reality of a megalopolis of 32 million people. We will see what approach is taken when the city executive is formed. Today I would say that the urgency is above all to ensure health and education services for all citizens. The attitude of Christians is one of waiting: they hope for more attention to the poor and the marginalized.”Another aspect dear to the Catholic Church, says the priest, “is not to encourage the division of society along communal lines. In the city and throughout India, what is needed is social peace, not division or discrimination on religious, caste or ethnic grounds. This is something that is dear to us and for which we will continue to work with an always constructive approach,” he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 13/2/2024)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/ARGENTINA – Diocese of La Rioja celebrates the Tinkunaco festival as part of the 90th anniversary of its foundation

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 13 February 2025

    Arcidiocesi di La Rioja

    La Rioja (Agenzia Fides) – The Diocese of La Rioja celebrated the 90th anniversary of its foundation and the beginning of the Jubilee Year. Bishop Dante Braida presided over the numerous masses and participated in most of the religious and festive activities not only in the capital but also within the diocese, strengthening faith and a sense of community.Numerous events were on the programme for the anniversary year of the diocese, which was held under the motto “90 years of faith, hope and mission” and extended from January 1 to November 24. These include the indigenous “Tinkunaco” festival, which is celebrated every year on December 31st to commemorate the uprising of the Diaghiti people, an ancient people who rebelled against the Spanish in the Andean regions of northwestern Argentina (as well as in the Chilean region of Norte Chico) in 1593.Bishop Braida heads the Social Pastoral Commission on behalf of the Argentine Bishops’ Conference (CEA), a role that underlines his commitment to social issues and his ability to address issues such as poverty, inequality and exclusion that so afflict the country. Always committed to social issues in La Rioja and throughout the country, Braida is actively involved in initiatives that address the country’s social priorities, such as unemployment and the protection of human rights. He is close to the people, visiting parishes, participating in popular festivals, holding discussions with the faithful and promoting youth pastoral programs together with the diocese. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 13/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Meeting of the Catholic and Protestant delegation in Goma with the M23 rebels Catholic and Protestant delegation: “Armed struggle is not a solution”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “The aim was to convince them that armed struggle is not a solution and that we come with a proposal that can contribute to building a lasting peace, hence the so-called ‘Social Pact for Peace and Coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo’”, said Donatien Nshole, Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Congo (CENCO). Monsignor Nshole was part of the delegation of CENCO and the Church of Christ in Congo (Église du Christ au Congo, ECC) that met yesterday, February 12, in Goma with the leaders of the M23 militia, the pro-Rwandan rebel movement that took control of the city at the end of January.The delegation met in particular with Corneille Nangaa, coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), the political wing of the M23. “We are continuing the tour we started in Kinshasa (with President Félix Tshisekedi, see Fides, 4/2/2025) to sensitize all the political parties that are important for resolving the crisis and building lasting peace,” explained the Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference. The delegation of the two churches presented in particular the “methodology of the social pact for coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo”. The rebel leadership responded that they were “open to dialogue”. Monsignor Nshole said he was convinced that there was room for negotiations to resolve the conflict peacefully. “We explained our dynamics for dialogue and our interlocutors have agreed to participate in it”. The Social Pact for Peace and Coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo aims to seek dialogue involving all stakeholders, including rebels and socio-political actors in exile. To give a regional dimension to their initiative, CENCO and ECC have asked for the support of the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, current President of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the President of Kenya, William Ruto, President of the East African Community (AEC). (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 13/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, Hamed A. Martin, 42 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly Brady after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Martin was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, in July 2022, Martin distributed methamphetamine on several  occasions.  A search warrant executed at his residence in August 2022, resulted in the recovery of a firearm along with evidence of drug distribution.   

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department.  Also assisting in the investigation were the Drug Enforcement Administration and the DEA’s North Central Laboratory.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.

    This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

    This case was also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: February achievements of athletes from GUU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    We haven’t reported anything about the achievements of athletes from the State University of Management for a long time, we are correcting the situation.

    Hockey

    The new 2025 year has started off stunningly for the GUU hockey team! GUUSI won three out of three games in the regular tournament of the Moscow Student Hockey League of the XXXVII Moscow Student Sports Games. The teams of MADI, EMERCOM and the Financial University were defeated (8:4, 15:2, 6:3, respectively). The atmosphere at all the games was simply incredible. The team showed excellent preparation, demonstrating strength and coherence in each attack.

    We wish you to continue in the same spirit and strive for new victories! And to help our guys morally, we invite you to their next game, which will take place on February 15 at 18:15 at the Yuzhny Led arena at the address: ul. Marshal Savitsky, 7. GUSI will play against the RANEPA team.

    Basketball

    On February 2, the GUU women’s basketball team defeated the Eagles Team with a score of 70:64. The game was held in the WBL LOV Division of the Amateur Basketball League – ABL.

    Volleyball

    On February 11, the women’s team of the State University of Management confidently beat the team from Moscow University of Finance and Law with a score of 3:1. The game was held as part of the 2nd stage of the XXXVII Moscow Student Sports Games.

    eSports

    On February 9, a friendly tournament “Battle of Universities” was held in the Tekken 8 competitive program. The following universities took part in the competition: GUU, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, RANEPA, MAI, MSU, HSE. Our team of cyber athletes took 8th place out of 16 possible. This is the golden mean, and we know that many more victories await us ahead.

    We wish all our athletes good luck and high results in future tournaments!

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/13/2025

    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 United Nations: Nineteenth International Capacity-building Seminar on Trade and Transport Facilitation and data sharing

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    This event is organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Government of Turkmenistan, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), with the participation of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Organisation for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), the railway agencies of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Eurasian Development Bank, and other partners from the States participating in the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).

    This event is part of the implementation of the for the Digitalization of Multimodal Data and Document Exchange along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor Using UN Legal Instruments and Standards, which was adopted by the SPECA Summit on 24 November 2023 in Baku. It follows up on the request of the SPECA Governing Council for capacity-building on the UN/CEFACT standards.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Petroleum liquids supply growth driven by non-OPEC+ countries in 2025 and 2026

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-depth analysis

    February 13, 2025

    We forecast that worldwide production of petroleum and other liquids in 2025 and 2026 will grow more in non-OPEC+ countries than in OPEC+ countries in our February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). We estimate that total world petroleum and other liquids supply increased by about 0.6 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2024 and will increase by 1.9 million b/d in 2025 and 1.6 million b/d in 2026. Increasing crude oil production from four countries in the Americas—the United States, Guyana, Canada, and Brazil—drives this growth. Because of ongoing production restraint among OPEC+ countries, we forecast the group’s production to grow by 0.1 million b/d in 2025 and 0.6 million b/d in 2026.

    Global petroleum liquids production outside of OPEC+ grew by 1.8 million b/d in 2024 and grows by 1.8 million b/d in 2025 and 1.0 million b/d in 2026 in our forecast. We forecast production will grow from 2024 to 2026 by 0.5 million b/d in Canada, 0.3 million b/d in Guyana, and 0.3 million b/d in Brazil. Most of the forecast growth comes from the United States, where we expect production to grow by 1.1 million b/d over the same period.

    The United States continues to produce more crude oil and petroleum liquids than any other country. U.S. crude oil production increased to 13.2 million b/d in 2024 due partly to improved efficiency with fewer rigs. We expect production of petroleum liquids in the United States to increase by 0.6 million b/d in 2025 and by 0.5 million b/d in 2026. The Permian region accounts for about 50% of U.S. crude oil production of 13.7 million b/d in 2026 in our forecast. Further, the growth in the Permian offsets contractions in other regions.

    In 2024, Canada was the fourth-largest oil producing nation, trailing only the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. We forecast production of petroleum and other liquids to grow in Canada by 0.3 million b/d in 2025 and 0.2 million b/d in 2026, starting at 6.0 million b/d in 2024. Production growth in Canada is supported by the start-up of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion that transports oil to Canada’s West Coast for access to export markets from landlocked Alberta.

    We expect producers in Brazil to add new Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units to existing fields in the Santos Basin. The Alexandre de Gusmão will be the fifth FPSO installed at the Mero field and will begin production in mid-2025. Also in 2025, the FPSOs Almirante Tamandaré and P-78 in the Búzios field in the Santos Basin plan to begin operations. We forecast that these new projects will increase petroleum liquids production in Brazil by 0.1 million b/d in 2025 and 0.2 million b/d in 2026.

    We forecast that petroleum liquids production in Guyana will increase by 0.2 million b/d in 2025 and 0.1 million b/d in 2026, driven by the start-up of the Yellowtail project within the Stabroek block. The development of the Stabroek block includes three projects, Yellowtail, Uaru, and Whiptail, where we expect the combined production capacity to reach approximately 1.3 million b/d by the end of 2027.

    Production from OPEC+ members accounted for 47% (35.7 million b/d) of global crude oil production in 2024. We forecast that OPEC+ crude oil production will increase by 0.1 million b/d in 2025 as the group gradually increases production in line with the timeline agreed to at the meeting held in December 2024. In addition, the voluntary cuts of 2.2 million b/d that were announced in November 2023 will be extended until the end of March 2025 and then gradually phased out by the end of September 2026. The additional voluntary production cuts of 1.65 million b/d that were announced in April 2023 were extended until the end of December 2026.

    We expect OPEC+’s share of global oil production to decrease by one percentage point to 46% in 2025 and 2026, compared with 53% in 2016 when the expanded group was initially formed. OPEC’s surplus crude oil production capacity was 4.6 million b/d in 2024, 103% (2.3 million b/d) more than in 2019.

    Saudi Arabia is the largest oil producer in OPEC by volume, representing about a third of the group’s total supply. In 2024, Saudi Arabia produced 9.0 million b/d, down 13% (1.4 million b/d) compared with 2022—before OPEC+ announced the extension of its additional voluntary cuts.

    Among the OPEC+ members, Russia was the largest crude oil producer in 2024, averaging 9.2 million b/d. After Russia and Saudi Arabia, the largest producers by volume were Iraq (4.4 million b/d), the United Arab Emirates (2.9 million b/d), and Kuwait (2.5 million b/d).

    Principal contributor: Kenya Schott

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Meeting With the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence John Healey

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot provided the following readout:

    On February 12, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with his United Kingdom counterpart, Secretary of State for Defence John Healey at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The two Secretaries discussed the UK-hosted Ukraine Defense Contact Group that followed their meeting that day and the need to set the stage for negotiations to stop the fighting and reach an enduring peace. Ahead of Thursday’s NATO Defense Ministerial, the two leaders also highlighted the need for increased Allied defense investments and greater burden-sharing by European Allies.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tomorrow Today: Reimagining the College Experience at HackUConn 2025

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Imagine a campus the size of a city.

    Wouldn’t it be great if there were an easier way to get from one end to another when you only have 15 minutes between classes?

    Or, if there were a better way of knowing when you were registering for classes that you would have to sprint from one end of campus to the other – in the rain, sleet, snow, or hail – to get from one class to the next on time?

    Or, if there was something that could be done to fix that college-life problem that you just haven’t been able to stop thinking about since your first day on campus?

    Because as much as you might love being a college student, no matter how great a university might be, there’s always something – be it something big, or just something small – that you hope could be done just a little bit better. A little bit smarter. A little bit more efficiently.

    Chances are that UConn undergraduates have a lot of ideas about what some of those things could be, which is why student organizers are inviting all undergraduate students to help imagine the “Universities of Tomorrow” at HackUConn 2025 – a hackathon event that aims to bring together young innovators and industry experts for a non-stop, fast-paced innovation and invention competition focused on improving the college experience for students all across the globe.

    “In the past year leading up to HackUConn, I’ve heard several suggestions from peers and friends about how to further improve their college experience,” says Preethika Rao ’27 (BUS), planning team co-lead for HackUConn. “We wanted to give many a chance to expand on these ideas with HackUConn this semester.”

    A hackathon is a chance for creative thinkers, problem solvers, and anyone eager to make a difference to come together for the greater good. Students of all majors and backgrounds are invited to collaborate and innovate solutions to real-world challenges, whether you’re into design, business, marketing, or simply passionate about creating positive change.

    First launched in 2016 as a way to help contribute to the University’s now thriving and collaborative entrepreneurial culture, HackUConn is the University’s flagship hackathon and an annual tradition – supported by the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation – that offers an opportunity for students to step outside of their comfort zone and gather ideas, attend workshops, gain insight from mentors, and compete for prizes during the 20-hour in-person event.

    “If you have an idea, if you want to create change within your local community, then this is the innovation competition for you,” says planning team co-lead Julian “Juju” Setiadi ’25 (ENG).

    This year’s HackUConn will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28 (with check-in starting at 4:00 p.m.), and will run until noon on Saturday, March 1, at the Peter J. Werth Residence Tower on the UConn Storrs campus.

    Students are encouraged to register by Friday, February 21. Students can register individually and then join a team at the event, or have the option of building a team before the event and registering together, though teams cannot bring in prior work – hacking can only be done during the event’s announced hacking period.

    “Many have this misconception that HackUConn is only for comp sci and engineering majors, but this isn’t the case – no matter what your major is, you can definitely contribute to HackUConn and the team you eventually will become a part of,” Rao says. “It’s a great opportunity to make entrepreneurial ideas a reality. It’s also a good way to gain exposure to various fields and make long-lasting connections with others participating in HackUConn as well as the judges.”

    Over the course of the 20 consecutive hours, the student teams will brainstorm, prototype, and pitch their solutions to a panel of judges, who then select the winning ideas.

    Some previous HackUConn winners have gone on to pitch their ideas to UConn’s Get Seeded, which gives students opportunities to earn seed funding and mentorship through the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Education, or CCEI, to help launch an entrepreneurial idea.

    “Student participants can expect to learn more about themselves, figuring out how they can really challenge their minds to come up with innovative solutions,” Setiadi says. “With HackUConn, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. The event is a roller coaster of emotions, but I believe that you’ll come out of it knowing more about yourself than you did before. If you manage to win the event, that will also be a great accomplishment to add onto your résumé.”

    Each year, the planning team’s hope for the event, according to Aaron Rosman ’16 (CAHNR) ’21 MBA, operations manager for the Werth Institute and advisor for the student organizing team, is to find a theme that students relate to, so they can take part in coming up with innovative ideas for change.

    “You are not alone in your thoughts and feelings!” says Rosman. “There are so many other students that share a similar viewpoint as you, and our goal is to connect you with them. Excitingly, you’re already an expert on this year’s HackUConn theme. By having step foot on our campus, you are prepared to be a part of our event. Help take your thoughts to the next stage and innovate what the university of tomorrow will look like with us!”

    HackUConn is free, and food is provided for all participants. For more information, or to register for this year’s HackUConn, visit werth.institute.uconn.edu/events/hackuconn.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Assistance needed for people leaving and staying in Goma DRC following weeks of violence

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Hundreds of thousands of displaced people sheltering in camps in and around the city of Goma, in Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province, have been severely impacted by extreme violence over the past three weeks, and many are now leaving the camps, according to our Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams on the ground. As departures from the camps accelerate, MSF calls for the movement of people to be voluntary and for urgent humanitarian assistance to be provided wherever it is most needed.

    Since fighting subsided in Goma, and with M23/AFC (Alliance Fleuve Congo) now in control of parts of the region, many movements have been observed in the displaced persons camps and on the roads. Some camps are emptying at speed, with large numbers of people heading towards neighbouring areas, including towards their places of origin. MSF staff have also observed displaced people heading towards the city of Goma, while some displaced people from camps that have been destroyed are heading for the remaining camps west of Goma.

    “This week, some camps have been largely emptied in just a few hours,” says Thierry Allafort-Duverger, head of MSF’s emergency programmes in Goma. “People are leaving with what little they have. We don’t know in what conditions they will travel home or what they will find there. But it is crucial that these movements are voluntary and that the reception conditions in their areas of returns are safe.”

    Numerous internally displaced people in the Bulengo camp, located next to Goma, are leaving the camp, while others are staying. Democratic Republic of Congo, February 2025.
    Daniel Buuma

    Displaced people appear to be leaving the camps for a number of reasons. Many residents of the camps mention evacuation orders that were reportedly given by members of the M23, while others receive official messages to the contrary. Others express a desire to leave after years surviving in desperate conditions. Some people, however, are choosing to stay on in the camps, unsure of security conditions and what they may find at home.

    “The messages remain confused and unclear, but what is certain is that the population is very worried, oscillating between rumours and reality,” says Allafort. “Families are extremely vulnerable. Humanitarian aid is more than necessary, both for those who are leaving and those who are staying. Unfortunately, we are seeing that a number of NGOs have been unable to resume their activities or have suspended their services, dismantling their structures in the camps.”

    People’s vulnerability and need for assistance is illustrated by the fact that, in recent days, MSF teams have witnessed some people dismantling humanitarian facilities and taking with them anything that could potentially be of use: chairs, metal sheeting, tarpaulins, ropes and so on. Other people, however, have tried to protect MSF structures from looting.

    “This happened in several places where MSF was working, such as Lushagala, where an MSF clinic and a cholera treatment centre disappeared in the space of a few hours on Monday,” says Allafort.

    For people leaving the camps, MSF is particularly concerned about the level of access to health services when they get to their places of return. After several years of war, many health facilities have been looted or abandoned and will be unable to provide adequate medical care to those who need it, either now or in the longer term.

    For the past three years, living conditions in the camps around Goma have been desperate, even scandalous. But the situation in people’s places of return is likely to be equally disastrous if NGOs, UN agencies and authorities fail to provide the minimum level of essential services. Humanitarian organisations must be guaranteed access to all places of return, says MSF, and returnees must be able to access essential health services, including support for survivors of sexual violence. Failure to provide these services risks exacerbating people’s health needs.

    To ensure a minimum level of healthcare for displaced people in areas of return, MSF has set up mobile clinics on roads leading out of Goma to the east and the north. We are also carrying out assessments in the areas to which people are returning.

    Even as the situation in and around Goma is evolving rapidly, MSF teams continue to provide vital assistance to people still living in the camps. This includes providing medical care, malnutrition treatment, cholera treatment and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF is also distributing clean water and food and reinforcing sanitation in the camps. Meanwhile our medical teams in Kyeshero and Virunga hospitals in Goma are caring for people wounded in the violence.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: Book about Xi’s thoughts on improving ethnic work published

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A book about the thoughts of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on enhancing and improving ethnic affairs work has been published and distributed nationwide.
    The book elaborates on the essence, principles, contents, and practical requirements of Xi’s thoughts in this regard, explaining them from the perspectives of historical context, key tasks, main priorities, and essential guarantees.
    The book, jointly published by the People’s Publishing House and The Ethnic Publishing House, provides useful material for Party members, officials and the public to study Xi’s thoughts on promoting work related to ethnic affairs.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hamas says to implement Gaza ceasefire agreement

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it would continue implementing the ceasefire agreement with Israel as signed, including the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages according to the agreed timetable.

    In a statement, Hamas said its delegation had held talks in Cairo with mediators to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner-for-hostage exchange, especially in the wake of what it described as “the successive Israeli violations” of the deal.

    The discussion focused on the necessity of implementing all provisions of the agreement, especially with regard to securing housing for Gazans and the urgent entry of prefabricated houses, tents, heavy equipment, medical supplies, fuel, and the continued flow of relief, as well as other things as stipulated in the agreement, it said.

    The statement added that mediators from Egypt and Qatar had confirmed their commitment to addressing obstacles and closing gaps to ensure implementation.

    Hamas announced on Monday that the handover of the hostages who were scheduled to be released on Saturday would be postponed until further notice.

    In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that his country would resume “intense fighting” if Hamas fails to meet the deadline, without specifying the number of hostages to be released.

    Hamas’ decision prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to suggest that Israel cancel the agreement entirely, saying all hostages must be freed by noon on Saturday or he would “let hell break out.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: At least 28 injured as car rams into crowd in Munich

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    At least 28 people, including children, were injured after a car plowed into a crowd in Munich, Germany, on Thursday, local police reported.

    According to Munich police, some of the victims sustained serious injuries.

    Bavarian State Premier Markus Soeder described the incident as a “suspected attack.” Authorities identified the driver as a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, who was detained at the scene.

    “There is no further danger from him at the moment,” Munich police spokesman Thomas Schelshorn said.

    Media reports indicated that the crowd was participating in a demonstration linked to a strike when the crash occurred. Bavarian Radio cited an eyewitness who claimed the driver deliberately drove into the group.

    The incident comes as Munich braces for heightened security ahead of the Munich Security Conference, a major gathering of foreign policy experts and global leaders set to begin on Friday. The conference venue is located approximately 1.6 km from the crash site.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China launches hotlines, awareness campaigns to bolster mental health services

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

    BEIJING, Feb. 13 — A total of 18 provincial-level regions in China, including Beijing, Shanghai and Zhejiang, have launched the 12356 mental health assistance hotline, aiming to provide the public with more accessible, high-quality mental health services, a Chinese health official said on Thursday.

    Other provinces are actively progressing with similar initiatives to ensure comprehensive mental health services coverage nationwide, Hu Qiangqiang, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC), said at a press conference.

    Hu noted that the NHC has designated 2025 to 2027 as “pediatrics and mental health service years,” and outlined other key measures such as promoting mental health knowledge among key groups and guaranteeing that every city-level region has at least one hospital with specialized psychological and sleep disorder clinics.

    During the period, over 5,000 lectures on mental health will be organized nationwide, according to Hu. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Most SEARCHED Army questions 2024

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    About the U.S. Army:
    The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.
    Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
    Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L
    Connect with the U.S. Army online:
    Web: https://www.army.mil
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
    X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts #2024 #MostAskedQuestions

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgG6hGDPO1s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government allocated 2.5 billion rubles to support farmers in the Kursk region

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    2.5 billion rubles have been allocated from the Cabinet’s reserve fund to support agricultural producers who suffered in the Kursk region. The order to this effect was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    The allocated funds will be used to compensate farmers for losses in livestock and aquaculture facilities. Support will be provided to 20 agricultural producers.

    The decision was made on the instructions of the President. The head of state gave it following a meeting on the situation in border regions in 2024.

    Also, on the instructions of the head of state, a whole range of support measures have been envisaged in these regions, including the provision of subsidies to organizations and individual entrepreneurs for partial compensation of expenses for paying employees for forced downtime, an annual deferment of taxes and insurance premiums for individuals and organizations, expanded budget financing of medical institutions, grants for the restoration or relocation of production, the supply of vehicles for mobile trade, benefits for equipment leasing, free economic zones with special conditions for entrepreneurial activity.

    The issue of allocating funding to affected agricultural producers was considered and approved. at the Government meeting on February 13.

    “I would like to draw the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture: resources must be sent to Kursk farmers as soon as possible. Despite the complexity of the situation in the region, people continue to work and strive to preserve their farms. It is important to help them with this,” Mikhail Mishustin emphasized.

    The document will be published…

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Meeting With German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot provided the following readout:

    On February 12, on the margins of the UDCG and NATO Defense Ministerial at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held a bilateral meeting with his German counterpart, Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius. The Secretary and the Minister discussed supporting diplomatic efforts to achieve a durable peace in Ukraine, the need for European leadership on continental security, and the close friendship between the German people and U.S. service members and their families in Germany. Both leaders affirmed that a strong focus on Allied defense spending—including meeting a spending target aligned with the demands of the strategic environment—is necessary for Europe’s long-term defense and deterrence goals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Crime down in Finsbury Park as police work with local authorities and the community

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A coalition of local authorities, police and partner organisations have worked together for over a year to significantly reduce violent crime, robbery and burglary in the Finsbury Park area.

    Love Finsbury Park was launched on 6 December 2023 as a partnership between the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police, three local authorities and other organisations determined to work together and make the area safer.

    In the project’s first year, violent crime, robbery and burglary have significantly reduced in the Finsbury Park area, including:
    Business Burglary – reduction of 27%
    Residential Burglary – reduction of 24%
    Personal Robbery – reduction of 21%
    Violent Crime with Injury – reduction of 14%

    During the year, officers from the Met and British Transport Police made over 600 arrests as the number of police patrols in the area was significantly increased.

    Police officers have seized a significant number of weapons, stolen phones and drugs, as well as locating individuals in the area who were wanted on warrant for previous offences.

    Inspector Ross Hickman, one of the senior officers policing Finsbury Park, explained: “A policing framework called ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ is being used to deliver positive outcomes as part of Love Finsbury Park. The ‘Clear’ phase involves targeted arrests and crime disruption through partnership working. Accordingly, much of the Met’s focus has been on identifying and arresting those involved in organised crime, the vast majority relating to the supply of drugs.

    “Since December 2023, a total of 17 search warrants were executed at addresses in the Finsbury Park area in intelligence-led operations targeting organised crime. Further operations are being planned as we continue to work at pace in the ‘Clear’ phase of this ‘Clear Hold Build’ framework.

    “I am looking forward to moving on with the project, and into the next phases. ‘Hold’ means stabilising the area to stop offenders moving in to fill the void. The ‘Build’ phase is focused on community-driven action to address the causes of criminality and prevent it from happening again.

    “Our work with partners, including the London Boroughs of Hackney, Haringey and Islington, will become increasingly crucial. Joint action – like our recent success in securing funding to improve lighting under the bridge on Stroud Green Road – is central to the success of Love Finsbury Park.”

    Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, said: “We’re already seeing positive results. Love Finsbury Park is building long-term improvements to community safety by driving out crime and tackling the issues that make residents feel unsafe.

    “Alongside the police interventions, we’ve been working with residents, local councillors, businesses and partners to understand and address these local concerns. During this first phase, we have increased our enforcement patrols and CCTV surveillance, and created campaigns calling out street-based harassment like catcalling. We’ll continue building on our progress as we move into the next phases focused on preventative actions.”

    Cllr Angelo Weekes, Executive Member for Community Safety at Islington Council said: “Islington has supported the police’s targeted operations and arrests as we take action to protect our residents and ensure their safety. We meet weekly with the police, sharing intelligence and CCTV footage and work together to engage with businesses, colleges and places of worship in Finsbury Park.

    “We commission a patrol service to detect, deter and disrupt anti-social behaviour in Finsbury Park station, Blackstock Road and certain estates. We know there is more work to be done and look forward to continuing to work together to make Finsbury Park safer and more welcoming for everyone.”

    Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Ajda Ovat, commented: “It’s fantastic to see the success that the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ project is having in tackling serious and organised crime in the Finsbury Park area.

    “As the scheme progresses and moves from stage to stage, it remains fundamentally important that community groups, residents and stakeholders continue to engage with our police partners and council staff from Haringey, Hackney and Islington as part of a tri-borough approach.

    “That way, we can continue to create a far safer Finsbury Park for residents and visitors to experience and enjoy.”

    The first police operation tackling organised crime took place on the very first day of the project, in December 2023. 70 officers executed three search warrants on shops on Blackstock Road which were believed to be linked to criminal activity in which seven people were arrested.

    A recent co-ordinated police operation took place on 12 December 2024, and led to the recovery of 112,000 tablets of Pregabalin (a Class C drug), dozens of wraps of cocaine, £3,000 in cash and several Rolex watches. One man was arrested at an address in Sotheby Road and, acting quickly on evidence recovered there, a subsequent seven males were arrested nearby.

    Love Finsbury Park is a true partnership involving the community at every stage. Anyone with information about those involved in the supply of drugs, burglary or robbery in the Finsbury Park area is urged to speak with local officers, call police on 101, message @MetCC or share what you know anonymously with Crimestoppers.

    British Transport Police Chief Inspector Cheryl Ling, who oversees Finsbury Park, said: “I’m extremely pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve so far with the significant reduction in violent crime, but there is still plenty of work to do to keep those numbers down.

    “We will continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police and our other policing and local partners to deter crime, and we are determined to make our communities and the railway network safer for everyone.”

    Inspector Hickman concluded: “My colleagues are focused on continuing to deliver results. I am pleased to see these much improved crime statistics, but I want to hear local people saying that they actually feel safer. That’s a real incentive for us to come to work every day to protect the public, deter or arrest those who want to profit from criminal activity and build on this successful first year.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: I Am Navy Medicine: Hospital Corpsman Third Class Cohwen Houchin

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point bid Fair Winds and Following Seas to Hospital Corpsman Cohwen Houchin on Wednesday, February 12 and recognized him for his outstanding service.

    Houchin served aboard the facility from May 2023 to February 2025 in the Pharmacy and Materials Management Departments. During his time here, he processed over 6,200 prescriptions and facilitated the distribution of over $500,000 in supplies to support 24 departments.

    He was also a member of the facility’s Honor Guard and displayed exceptional military bearing and professionalism during 21 events. Cohwen received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in recognition of his exceptional service.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Kaltura Recognized in the 2025 Gartner® Market Guide for Meeting Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kaltura (Nasdaq: KLTR), the Video Experience Cloud, today announced that it has been recognized as a Representative Vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for Meeting Solutions.  
     
    Kaltura’s AI-infused, real-time-conferencing experience component, Kaltura Room, powers a wide array of synchronous meeting experiences, from marketing, sales, and customer success to teaching, learning, training, certification, corporate communication, collaboration, and more. Kaltura Room is embedded into numerous Kaltura products, including Video Portal, Virtual Events & Webinars, Virtual Classroom, and LMS & CMS extensions, and is tightly integrated into other experience components that support on-demand and live video streaming.
     
    For virtual events and webinars, Kaltura Room adds powerful synchronous engagement functionalities beyond video, including chat, Q&A, quizzes, and polls along with flexible settings. These settings enable organizers to customize attendee participation, such as the ability to easily bring audience members to the stage or create breakout rooms, add lower thirds and interludes, leverage an advanced scene manager, and more. Event organizers can integrate session content with peace of mind through storyboards, content-sharing integrations, and collaborative whiteboards.   

    Kaltura Room is also infused with AI-powered tools that enhance real-time engagement, content creation, and accessibility. The AI-driven engagement agent continuously monitors session dynamics, provides real-time insights, alerts organizers when participation levels drop and proactively recommends tailored interactive strategies such as polls and notifications to boost re-engagement. Additionally, sentiment analysis monitors chat discussions, helping moderators gauge audience reactions and adjust the session dynamics accordingly. AI-driven Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) ensures accurate captions for recordings, AI-driven while real-time noise cancellation enhances audio clarity during live meetings, creating a seamless and immersive experience for all participants. 
     
    Within Kaltura’s Video Portal, Kaltura Room enables organizations to create a unified learning environment that bridges between live and on-demand content, converting real-time sessions into structured, searchable training modules.  

    In Kaltura’s Virtual Classroom, Kaltura Room is the main experience component. It is used by customers like Berlitz, which delivers language and cultural training to students and professionals across over 70 countries, to provide live synchronous teaching and learning for instructors and students. 

    Kaltura Room generates comprehensive and granular engagement analytics that help marketers and learning and development professionals evaluate participation and knowledge retention, optimize content and campaigns, and adjust workflows. Kaltura Room also offers flexible customization options that enable organizations to create highly branded, bespoke engaging experiences. 

    “At Kaltura, we’re transforming meeting solutions with AI. By embedding real-time engagement analytics, dynamic sentiment analysis, and automated speech recognition, we’re creating adaptive, intelligent meeting experiences that redefine digital collaboration. Our AI-driven approach empowers organizations to connect and innovate more effectively, anticipating needs and driving engagement in ways that traditional solutions simply can’t match. We are honored by Gartner’s recognition and are committed to continue leading the AI transformation in this space, and set new standards for interactive, data-powered communication,” said Navi Azaria, Chief Product and Engineering Officer at Kaltura.  

    To learn more about Kaltura’s interactive, AI-infused video solutions that increase engagement and boost business outcomes, visit here. To view a complimentary copy of the Gartner Market Guide for Meeting Solutions, click here.  

    Gartner Disclaimer 

    Gartner, Inc. Market Guide for Meeting Solutions. Christopher Trueman, Lacy Lei, etl. 28 January 2025.

    GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

    Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
     
    The Gartner content described herein (the “Gartner Content”) represents research opinion or viewpoints published, as part of a syndicated subscription service, by Gartner, Inc. (“Gartner”), and is not a representation of fact. Gartner Content speaks as of its original publication date (and not as of the date of this Earnings Call Script), and the opinions expressed in the Gartner Content are subject to change without notice. 

    About Kaltura 
    Kaltura’s mission is to power any video experience for any organization. Kaltura’s AI Video Experience Cloud offers live, real-time, and on-demand video products for enterprises of all industries, as well as specialized industry solutions, currently for educational institutions and for media and telecom companies. Underlying our products and solutions is a broad set of Media Services that are also used by other cloud platforms and companies to power video experiences and workflows for their own products. Kaltura’s Video Experience Cloud is used by leading brands reaching millions of users, at home, at school, and at work, for events, communication, collaboration, training, marketing, sales, customer care, teaching, learning, and entertainment experiences. For more information, visit www.corp.kaltura.com. 

    The MIL Network –