Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
The treasury bills for sale have the following stock exchange codes:
| Name | Stock exchange code | Maturity |
| DGTB 03/03/25 25 / I | 98-19740 | 3 March 2025 |
| DGTB 02/06/25 25 / II | 98-19823 | 2 June 2025 |
The sale will settle on 3 February 2025 at the stop-rate for each serie. In case of bid on stop-rate a pro-rata ratio may occur.
The deadline for bidding is 10.15 on the day of the auction.
Source: Scottish Greens
Scottish Greens echo calls from the Scottish Trade Union Council to stop endangering the lives of workers.
Storm Éowyn caused mass chaos across Scotland on Friday, with schools, public transport, and football all being cancelled due to high winds.
However, many hospitality and retail businesses remained open despite a red weather warning from the Met Office. Now, Scottish Greens Co-Leader Lorna Slater MSP is calling on the UK Government to protect workers from extreme weather events.
Extreme weather events such as Storm Éowyn will only become more frequent with the looming climate breakdown. The Met Office’s red weather warning is a rare precaution but one that many Scots could become more used to in coming years.
Despite advice to remain at home, many businesses forced their employees to travel to work during the storm. Many bartenders, shop workers, and waiters all had to brave 100mph winds to attend work.
Scottish Greens Co-Leader Lorna Slater said:
“Red weather warnings are rare, but the damage that they do is severe. It’s appalling that any business forced workers to ignore government advice and come into work during one of the worst storms for a long time.
“We’ve seen the devastating impact of Storm Eowyn on communities across Scotland, with hundreds of thousands of homes losing power, railways brought to a standstill, and, tragically, the loss of life.
“As the climate crisis worsens, we will face increasing climate chaos, so we must be prepared to protect communities and workers against these extreme weather events.
“The best thing the UK government can do is take real action to tackle the climate crisis and reduce emissions, but they must also adapt to the damage already done.
“Governments must face the reality of climate breakdown and adapt legislation to protect workers; we need to see robust rights in place for workers to stay safe during red weather warnings by rejecting shifts or avoiding unnecessary travel.”
Source: City of Winchester
As part of the council’s ongoing commitment to support a vibrant local economy, Cabinet agreed the investment, which will see improvements delivered at pace this year.
£305,000 will be spent to improve CCTV provision, tackle anti-social behaviour at the Park and Ride sites and upgrade payment machines. A further £40,000 will be invested to improve and upgrade the multi-storey phone signal.
As part of the improvements programme budget, further resurfacing works will take place at St Catherine’s Park and Ride facility, alongside improved signage, enhanced cycle storage and new digital signs, supporting the council’s commitment to become a carbon neutral district by 2030.
Cllr Kelsie Learney, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, said: “Tackling the climate emergency and improving air quality across the Winchester district, whilst ensuring our town centres thrive, underpins the significant investment we are making.
“Our ambitious programme of works over the coming year will improve the visitor experience by ensuring our Park & Ride, Park and Walk and cycle parking facilities are well maintained, safe and accessible, which supports the Winchester Movement Strategy.”
Winchester City Council’s Park and Ride and Park and Walk facilities have both seen an increase in user numbers over the last 12 months, which is supported by positive city centre footfall data which also shows an increase over the same time period.
Later this year, Middle Brook Street car park will be upgraded to become a Pay and Display facility. This enables the council to provide disabled parking spaces closer to the shops, make entry and exit easier, and improve traffic flow along Friarsgate. This will require some phased closure periods, but the council is committed to minimising disruption and ensuring users are kept well informed throughout the process.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
The 2025 Shenzhen-Hong Kong marathon and the 15th National Games athletics (marathon) test event will be held in Shenzhen and Hong Kong on February 23.
The Shenzhen Bay Bridge will serve as a link connecting Shenzhen and Hong Kong, with a closed-loop arrangement to be adopted throughout the event.
To ensure it runs smoothly, the Shenzhen Bay Port’s operating hours will be adjusted as appropriate on the day. Details of the bridge’s closure time and related arrangements for vehicles and traffic will be announced in due course.
The public and visitors are advised to monitor the relevant announcements and duly arrange their itineraries.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Poland and UK suspended
Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Poland and UK suspended
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The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 28) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Kutno District of ??ódzkie Region in Poland, and in Hambleton District of North Yorkshire County and East Lindsey District of Lincolnshire County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong. A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 6 600 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland, and about 910 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat and about 1 340 000 poultry eggs from the UK last year. “The CFS has contacted the Polish and British authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, January 28, 2025Issued at HKT 17:15
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Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As one of the leading global green steel producers, with 15 million tons/year crude steel capacity, Tosyalı continues to expand its efforts to produce its energy. Tosyalı invests in cutting-edge technology, artificial intelligence, and renewable and clean energy sources, adhering to the principle of eco-efficiency.
Tosyalı is making significant strides toward becoming a fully integrated green steel producer. Tosyalı achieved a global milestone by reaching 235 MW of installed capacity with its SPP project, which covered all its facilities, making it the holder of the world’s largest rooftop solar power installation.
Tosyalı is embarking on an even larger project, and the company has signed an agreement with GE Vernova and its regional provider Inogen for the first 120 MWp of the 1,2 GW self-consumption SPP project. The first project is scheduled to become operational in 2025, while the 1,2 GW capacity project is targeted for completion in 2027.
Fuat Tosyalı, Chairman of Tosyalı Holding, announced at Davos 2025: “With this investment, Tosyalı will generate approximately 50% of its self-consumption from solar energy.”
During his interview at the World Economic Forum, Fuat Tosyalı highlighted, “We continue to invest in advanced clean energy technologies under our vision of ‘Tosyalı for a sustainable life.’ We have taken the first step toward one of the world’s largest self-consumption SPP projects with a capacity of 1,2 GW by initiating the first project in Osmaniye. We are happy to collaborate with GE Vernova, one of the world’s leading companies in this field, and Inogen, Turkey’s leading EPC contractor. These panels will be deployed across SPP sites in eight provinces. By doing so, we aim to meet approximately 50% of our energy needs from solar energy, making us stronger and more independent in energy usage and strengthening our position among the world’s leading green steel producers.”
Tosyalı’s 1,2 GW project stands out as one of the largest self-consumption-focused projects carried out under a single umbrella in Turkey and worldwide.
Contact:
Emre Ersezer
eersezer@medyaevi.com.tr
Photo accompanying the announcement: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/17372b3b-1aff-43c0-ab66-2bc8b0b2a007
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
eQ Plc Stock Exchange Release
28 January 2025, at 11:00 am
Shareholders of eQ Plc, who control over 60 per cent of the outstanding shares and votes, have proposed to the Annual General Meeting to be held at 25 March 2025 concerning the number of members of the Board of Directors, their remuneration and reimbursement of their costs, and the nomination of members of the Board of Directors.
Proposal relating to number of persons on the Board of Directors
The shareholders propose no changes to the number of the Board members, i.e. that six persons be elected to the Board of Directors, or five persons, if a person proposed by the shareholders is prevented from being a Board member of the company.
Decision relating to the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors
The shareholders propose no changes to the compensation of the Board members, i.e. that the Chair of the Board of Directors receives 5,000 euros per month, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors receives 4,000 euros per month and the members of the Board of Directors receive 3,000 euros per month. In addition, a compensation of 750 euros per meeting is proposed to be paid for all the Board members for each attended Board meeting and travel and accommodation expenses are reimbursed according to the effectual guidelines of eQ Plc.
Nomination of the Board of Directors
The shareholders propose that Päivi Arminen, Nicolas Berner, Georg Ehrnrooth, Janne Larma and Tomas von Rettig are re-elected to the Board of Directors and Caroline Bertlin will be elected as a new member to the Board. If one of the persons proposed by the shareholders is prevented from being a Board member of the company, such persons will be elected who are not prevented from being Board members. The term of office of the Board members ends at the close of the next Annual General Meeting.
Caroline Bertlin (born 1978) is an experienced business leader with vast experience in the Nordics and internationally. Bertlin is based and has spent most of her career in Sweden. Currently she is engaged in strategy and funding of energy infrastructure for Nordion Energi. Prior to that she was the CEO of Nordisk Renting and Managing Director in NatWest Structured Finance (2016-2023). Previously she worked as Head of Restructuring, Turnaround CEO and Project Lead for Strategic projects in the NatWest Group (2009-2015). Earlier experience includes portfolio management and analyst positions within banking and alternative investments. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Nordisk Renting AB (2016-). Caroline Bertlin holds a Master of Science (Economics) degree from Hanken School of Economics.
All nominees have given their consent to the proposal. In addition, the nominees have indicated that on selection, they will select Georg Ehrnrooth as Chair of the Board of Directors.
Helsinki, 28 January 2025
Additional information: Juha Surve, Group General Counsel, tel. +358 9 6817 8733
Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki, www.eQ.fi
eQ Group is a Finnish group of companies specialising in asset management and corporate finance business. eQ Asset Management offers a wide range of asset management services (including private equity funds and real estate asset management) for institutions and individuals. The assets managed by the Group total approximately EUR 13.3 billion. Advium Corporate Finance, which is part of the Group, offers services related to mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and equity capital markets.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
In the Prospectus published by IDEX Biometrics ASA (“IDEX” or the “Company”) on 13 November 2024, IDEX informed that the Company had requested arbitration at the Oslo Chamber of Commerce concerning a receivable from a customer who had not yet paid. Zwipe AS (“Zwipe”), the customer in question, disclosed in its prospectus dated 4 December 2024 that it was in arbitration regarding a warranty dispute with IDEX related to the delivery of parts communicated in its annual report 2023 and that the total dispute amount was around NOK 7.1 million.
The Oslo Chamber of Commerce has on 27 January 2025, rendered its decision on the matter, which is a final resolution of the dispute. Zwipe has been ordered to pay USD 702,000 excl. VAT to lDEX plus late payment interest. The warranty counterclaim from Zwipe was dismissed in its entirety. Zwipe was further ordered to compensate IDEX for its legal costs, and pay for the full arbitration costs.
Zwipe shall pay IDEX the receivable and the award of legal fees within 14 days from the date of the decision.
This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to MAR article 17 and section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange release was published by Marianne Bøe, Head of Investor Relations on 28 January 2025 at 10:05 (CET).
For further information contact:
Marianne Bøe, Head of Investor Relations, +47 91800186
Kristian Flaten, CFO, +47 95092322
E-mail:ir@idexbiometrics.com
About IDEX Biometrics
IDEX Biometrics ASA (OSE: IDEX) is a global technology leader in fingerprint biometrics, offering authentication solutions across payments, access control, and digital identity. Our solutions bring convenience, security, peace of mind and seamless user experiences to the world. Built on patented and proprietary sensor technologies, integrated circuit designs, and software, our biometric solutions target card-based applications for payments and digital authentication. As an industry-enabler we partner with leading card manufacturers and technology companies to bring our solutions to market.
For more information, visit www.idexbiometrics.com
Trademark Statement
IDEX, IDEX Biometrics and the IDEX logo are trademarks owned by IDEX Biometrics ASA. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The Environment Agency has launched its final consultation today on a permit application to open a landfill site at Lower Hare Farm in Whitestone near Exeter.
The Environment Agency is ‘minded to’ issue a permit to operate a landfill based on information from previous consultations
GRS Stone Supplies Ltd needs an environmental permit from the Environment Agency to operate the proposed site. The company has provided all the information needed, and the Environment Agency is now likely to grant the permit, unless new information gives a reason not to.
Two previous consultations by the Environment Agency received a good deal of interest, resulting in the site being declared as one of “High Public Interest”.
An environmental permit sets the conditions which GRS Stone Supplies Ltd must meet when operating the landfill site. It covers the management and operation of the site and the control and monitoring of emissions.
When the Environment Agency considers a permit application, it reviews the design of the proposed site, how it will be operated, the emissions it will generate (to air, water and land) and whether it will meet the required standards. Partner organisations, including the UK Health Security Agency, are consulted as part of the process.
Issues such as suitability of the site, operating hours and traffic management to and from it, are matters for the planning authority, not the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency can only consider issues covered by the environmental permit and can only refuse a permit application based on technical information.
Once the consultation closes, all the comments received will be reviewed before a final decision is made. GRS Stone Supplies Ltd has the right to appeal if the permit is refused. The company will need to have both an environmental permit and planning permission in order to operate a landfill site.
Anyone wishing to comment on the application, can do so by using the online consultation portal, Citizen Space: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/psc/ex4-2hw-grs-stone-supplies-limited-epr-lb3502ht-a
or by:
Email: pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk
Post:
Environment Agency Permitting and Support Centre,
Land Team,
Quadrant 2,
99 Parkway Avenue,
Sheffield,
S9 4WF.
If you need help accessing this consultation in another format, please contact us by:
We may charge for copying costs.
Please use the application reference number, EPR/LB3502HT/A001. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on 10 March, 2025.
Published 28 January 2025
Source: City of Oxford
Councillor Louise Upton is set to become the new Lord Mayor of Oxford.
The ceremonial role will see Councillor Upton carry out a wide range of civic engagements during 2025/26, from leading Oxford’s Remembrance service to school visits and charity events.
Councillor Susan Brown, the Leader of Oxford City Council, made the announcement at the Council meeting last night (27 January).
She also announced that Councillor Mike Rowley will be the Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford, and Councillor Andrew Gant will be the Sheriff of Oxford for 2024/25.
The Lord Mayor, Deputy and Sheriff will be sworn in at the traditional mayor making ceremony in Oxford Town Hall in May.
The ceremony will see the outgoing Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Rowley, officially step down and hand over their chains of office to Councillor Upton.
The bells of Carfax Tower will then be rung by the Oxford Society of Change Ringers to commemorate the ceremony.
Councillor Louise Upton was born in Shropshire and first came to Oxford to study for a degree in Biochemistry at New College, Oxford, where she also captained the university’s Women’s Football Team. After that came a PhD in Cell Physiology from University College London. Since then she has worked as a research scientist, first in Paris for several years and then for 25 years at the University of Oxford, where she continues to teach neuroscience.
Councillor Upton was elected to Oxford City Council in 2013 and represents Walton Manor ward. She is currently Cabinet Member for Planning, and for many years held the role of Cycling Champion.
The Lord Mayor generally carries out more than 300 engagements each year. These cover a wide range, from Royal visits and leading Oxford’s annual Remembrance Sunday service to small community group meetings and charity events.
The Lord Mayor also raises money for charity during their year-long term of office. Councillor Upton has chosen The Gatehouse, OXSRAD and TRAX to be her Lord Mayor’s charities for 2024/25.
The first recorded Mayor of Oxford is Laurence Kepeharme, 1205-1209. Mayors’ names stretch in an unbroken line until 1962, when the dignity of the Lord Mayor was granted to Oxford by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“I am so looking forward to being the Lord Mayor. We live in one of the most vibrant, most historic, most diverse cities in the UK, and I will be incredibly proud to represent every single one of our citizens.
“The number of engagements is daunting, but it will be an amazing opportunity to meet many of the wonderful people who make Oxford tick.”
Councillor Louise Upton
Source: City of Canterbury
At the end of last year, the government published a white paper which outlined its desire to devolve decision making and spending power from Whitehall to the regions.
To do this, the government wants to create region-wide strategic authorities led by elected mayors.
To complement its devolution agenda, the government also wants to see local government reorganisation.
The latter will see the abolition of Kent County Council (KCC), Medway Council and the 12 district councils, of which Canterbury City Council is one.
They will be replaced by unitary authorities serving populations of roughly a minimum of 500,000 people, carrying out most of the tasks currently undertaken by KCC and Canterbury.
At the start of January, KCC and Medway Council asked to be part of the government’s Devolution Priority Programme.
This is effectively a fast-track to reform that allows the historic county of Kent to shape the process and benefit from any extra money available.
The government will let KCC know its decision soon.
If it is a yes, the government will pass a law to postpone KCC’s elections which were due to take place in May this year.
In that instance, elections for a mayor and strategic authority will take place in May 2026.
Then, in the coming weeks, the government will write to councils to ask them to submit their proposals for unitary councils – including how many and what areas should be covered by each new council – by March of this year.
There are still a lot of unknowns about the future shape of local government in the district and lots of decisions to be made.
Despite the uncertainty, Leader of the Council, Cllr Alan Baldock, welcomes the government’s proposals but says the city council and its staff must maintain a laser-like focus on delivering the top-quality services that Canterbury is known for, and its residents rely on.
He said: “While we all think strategically about the historic county of Kent’s future and how council services should be shaped, Canterbury City Council will still be here for a number of years and we are all determined, councillors and officers, to deliver the council’s priorities and the best possible services for our residents.”
On devolution and local government reorganisation itself, he said: “There is a huge number of factors to consider when thinking about the best way of delivering services.
“And there will be huge amounts of day-to-day detail that will need to be thrashed out.
“We do know that there are likely to be three or four unitary councils delivering services on the ground in the county while working with the mayor and the strategic authority.
“While no decisions have been made, our district is likely to be covered by an east Kent unitary which brings together our neighbouring councils – Ashford, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe and Thanet – as well as some of the services currently delivered by KCC.
“Such a grouping would serve around 660,000 people which is close to the optimal size for a unitary authority.
“Everyone needs to remember that arrangements to create such an authority are some way off and would be no earlier than 2027, more likely 2028.
“Elections for councillors to be part of that new unitary authority would need to be held.
“As Leader, I am not afraid to admit the change is daunting, for our staff especially, and at all levels of the organisation.
“But I am sure that, far from being the end, it will be the beginning of new and exciting times.
“We will need the very best team possible, officers and councillors alike.
“I have been here long enough to know we have the commitment to punch above our weight and create a better future alongside those neighbouring councils we have served alongside for years and years.”
There is lots of information about devolution and local government reorganisation online.
KCC has its devolution web pages and the Local Government Association also has an online devolution hub.
Published: 28 January 2025
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Festive atmosphere everywhere as Spring Festival comes
Source: European Central Bank
28 January 2025
According to the January 2025 bank lending survey (BLS), euro area banks reported a renewed net tightening of credit standards – banks’ internal guidelines or loan approval criteria – for loans or credit lines to enterprises in the fourth quarter of 2024 (net percentage of banks of 7%; Chart 1). Banks also reported broadly unchanged credit standards for loans to households for house purchase (net percentage of 1%), whereas credit standards for consumer credit and other lending to households tightened further (net percentage of 6%). For firms, the net tightening followed the unchanged credit standards seen in the third quarter and was higher than banks had expected in the previous survey round. It was driven by higher perceived risks related to the economic outlook, the industry-and-firm-specific situation and banks’ lower risk tolerance. For loans to households for house purchase, the stability of credit standards, after three quarters of easing, was in contrast to the strong net easing that banks had expected in the previous quarter. Credit standards tightened further for consumer credit, mainly owing to higher perceived risks. For the first quarter of 2025, banks expect a further net tightening of credit standards for loans to firms and consumer credit, and a small net tightening for loans to households for house purchase.
Banks’ overall terms and conditions – the actual terms and conditions agreed in loan contracts – remained broadly unchanged for loans to firms and consumer credit, but eased strongly for housing loans. For loans to firms, the contribution to easing from lower lending rates and narrower margins on average loans was broadly offset by stricter collateral requirements and other terms and conditions, such as loan covenants, to compensate for the higher perceived risks. For housing loans, lower lending rates and margins on average loans were the main drivers of the net easing. For consumer credit, lending rates had an easing impact, offset by widening loan margins.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, demand from firms for loans or the drawing of credit lines increased slightly (Chart 2), while remaining weak overall. Loan demand from firms was supported mainly by declining interest rates, with fixed investment having a still-muted impact after its small positive contribution in the previous quarter. Net demand for housing loans continued to increase strongly, driven mainly by declining interest rates, substantiating still further the signs of a rebound from the strong declines seen in housing loan demand over previous years. Demand for consumer credit and other lending to households increased slightly, supported by declining interest rates, whereas spending on durable goods and consumer confidence, among other factors, dampened demand for consumer credit. In the first quarter of 2025, banks expect loan demand to remain broadly unchanged for firms and to increase further for households, especially for housing loans.
Euro area banks’ access to funding worsened somewhat for retail funding, money markets and debt securities in the fourth quarter of 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, banks expect access to funding to remain broadly unchanged across all market segments.
In response to the new regulatory or supervisory requirements in 2024, euro area banks reported a net increase in their required capital as well as increases in their liquid and risk-weighted assets. Banks also reported a net tightening impact on credit standards stemming from the requirements, especially for loans to firms, with further net tightening expected in 2025.
Euro area banks reported that non-performing loan ratios and other indicators of credit quality had a net tightening impact on their credit standards for loans to firms and consumer credit in the second half of 2024, the largest since the height of the pandemic and the period of balance sheet clean-up in 2014-17. By contrast, for housing loans credit quality had a neutral impact on bank lending conditions. Banks expect these developments to continue in the first half of 2025.
Banks’ credit standards tightened further in all main economic sectors in the second half of 2024, especially in commercial real estate (CRE), wholesale and retail trade, construction and energy-intensive manufacturing. Banks also reported a net decrease in loan demand in CRE, construction and energy-intensive manufacturing. For the first half of 2025, banks expect a further net tightening of credit standards in most economic sectors, except for services. They expect muted loan demand in all sectors but residential real estate, for which they expect a moderate increase.
Banks reported that the changes in excess liquidity held with the Eurosystem had a neutral impact on bank lending conditions in the second half of 2024. They expect similar effects in the first half of 2025.
The quarterly BLS was developed by the Eurosystem to improve its understanding of bank lending behaviour in the euro area. The results reported in the January 2025 survey relate to changes observed in the fourth quarter of 2024 and changes expected in the first quarter of 2025, unless otherwise indicated. The January 2025 survey round was conducted between 10 December 2024 and 7 January 2025. A total of 155 banks were surveyed in this round, with a response rate of 99%.
Changes in credit standards for loans or credit lines to enterprises, and contributing factors
(net percentages of banks reporting a tightening of credit standards, and contributing factors)
Source: ECB (BLS).
Notes: Net percentages are defined as the difference between the sum of the percentages of banks responding “tightened considerably” and “tightened somewhat” and the sum of the percentages of banks responding “eased somewhat” and “eased considerably”. The net percentages for “Other factors” refer to an average of the further factors which were mentioned by banks as having contributed to changes in credit standards.
Changes in demand for loans or credit lines to enterprises, and contributing factors
(net percentages of banks reporting an increase in demand, and contributing factors)
Source: ECB (BLS).
Notes: Net percentages for the questions on demand for loans are defined as the difference between the sum of the percentages of banks responding “increased considerably” and “increased somewhat” and the sum of the percentages of banks responding “decreased somewhat” and “decreased considerably”. The net percentages for “Other factors” refer to an average of the further factors which were mentioned by banks as having contributed to changes in loan demand.
For media queries, please contact William Lelieveldt, tel.: +49 69 1344 7316.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
This video snapshot shows Shenzhou-19 astronauts Cai Xuzhe (C), Song Lingdong (R) and Wang Haoze sending their Spring Festival greetings from China’s Tiangong space station on New Year’s Eve. [Photo/Xinhua]
Shenzhou-19 astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze sent their Spring Festival greetings from China’s Tiangong space station in a video released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on New Year’s Eve.
The trio, dressed in blue jumpsuits adorned with red traditional auspicious cloud patterns, held two pieces of Chinese paper-cutting featuring the character “fu,” symbolizing good luck.
“At this moment, I miss my family and friends even more. I wish you all a prosperous Year of the Snake, filled with good fortune and happiness,” said Cai, the crew commander.
This is Cai’s second time working and living in China’s space station, but his first time celebrating the Spring Festival there. In 2022, he spent six months in the space during the Shenzhou-14 mission.
“I am fortunate to have lived in a great era and fulfilled my space dream,” said Song, as he wished young people a bright and promising future.
Wang, with her hands forming a heart shape above her head, said, “In the new year, may all your dreams come true.”
Song and Wang are China’s first post-90s astronauts to enter the space station. Wang is also the first female space engineer to work in the space station.
The astronauts have decorated the space station, orbiting about 400 km above Earth, with red couplets and the character “fu.” Their New Year’s Eve dinner includes dumplings, symbolizing reunion and prosperity, alongside a variety of dishes such as roast chicken, smoked fish, beef and lettuce. They will also enjoy staple foods and soups like eight-treasure rice pudding, snow fungus soup, and tomato egg soup, complemented by orange juice and a candy gift pack.
The three astronauts entered the space station on Oct. 30, 2024. In nearly three months, they conducted a series of scientific experiments and technical tests, and completed tasks such as the installation of space debris protection devices on the space station during two spacewalks.
According to the CMSA, they will carry out 86 space science research and technology experiments during the six-month stay, covering various fields including space life science, microgravity fundamental physics, space material science, space medicine and new space technologies. They will also engage in science education, public interest activities, and other payload tests.
This is the third Spring Festival since the full completion of the Chinese space station. Nine crew members from Shenzhou-15, Shenzhou-17 and Shenzhou-19 have welcomed the New Year and the Spring Festival in space.
Source: China State Council Information Office
South Korea’s Go association on Tuesday apologized over disputed rules that led Chinese Go player Ke Jie to withdraw from the decisive third game of the LG Cup finals last week.
The Korea Baduk Association (KBA) said in a statement that it apologizes to the Go fans who had high expectations for the Jan. 23 final match between world-class players Ke and South Korea’s Byun Sang-il.
The winner of the LG Cup, governed by South Korea’s Go rules, was determined in an unprecedented manner due to a violation regarding where to place captured stones.
The KBA acknowledged that the rules, revised in November, had been pre-notified but said Chinese players may not have had sufficient time to adapt.
Expressing hope that the incident would not damage trust between South Korea and China, the KBA called for the issues to be resolved smoothly. The association also pledged to hold discussions with Chinese and Japanese Go associations to establish unified rules for the game, known as weiqi in China and baduk in South Korea.
The controversy erupted during the third game of the finals when Ke was penalized for failing to place a captured stone on the lid of the container. He requested a rematch, which was denied, and then withdrew from the match.
Ke had also been penalized during the second game for lifting stones without placing them on the container’s lid. He lost that game to Byun.
According to the revised Go rules of South Korea, if a captured stone is not placed on the lid of the container, the player will receive a warning and a 2-point penalty. Two warnings will lead to a forfeit.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
TRIPOLI, Libya, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ —
In an exclusive interview with Energy Capital & Power (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com), Berislav Gašo, Member of the Executive Board and Executive Vice President of Energy at OMV, discusses the company’s exploration efforts in the Sirte Basin and shares an optimistic perspective on Libya’s oil and gas sector.
OMV has resumed exploration activities in Libya’s Sirte Basin after a 13-year hiatus, signaling renewed confidence in the country’s oil and gas sector. What key factors led to the decision to resume exploration activities, and what role do you see Libya playing in OMV’s overall upstream strategy moving forward?
Indeed, OMV was among the first international companies to resume exploration activities in the region. Libya plays an important role in OMV’s Energy portfolio with successful exploration efforts being crucial for adding value and bringing in new volumes. A testament to these strong bonds with the country is the spudding of the Essar well in the C103 license within the Sirte Basin, which was the first OMV-operated exploration well drilled in Libya since the 1990s. OMV’s ongoing exploration efforts will be pivotal in generating growth and solidifying our energy business in Libya.
The ESSAR Prospect is a key focus of OMV’s exploration efforts in Libya. What are the main objectives of this campaign, and how do you assess the potential for additional discoveries in the Sirte Basin?
Today, our exploration activities in Libya are mainly focused on the Sirte Basin, where we are an operator, and the Murzuq Basin, where we are a partner. We are currently drilling the Essar well, which will be followed by the Alhilal well within the same license. This infrastructure-led approach leverages the proximity of these wells to existing producing fields, enabling efficient tie-ins to nearby production facilities for rapid additional output. Beside our drilling activities in C103, OMV is also working diligently on maturing leads in our other exploration licenses within the Sirte Basin.
OMV is collaborating with Zueitina Oil Company (ZOC) on the drilling of the B1-106/4 well. Can you discuss the importance of this partnership and how OMV plans to integrate local expertise and resources in the execution of its exploration projects in Libya?
Synergies between ZOC and OMV are a crucial backbone of our drilling activities. OMV’s exploration is carried out by ZOC, as our integrated service provider. By working with a local operator, we can efficiently share drilling rigs between OMV-operated exploration and ZOC-operated development projects in our licenses, resulting in more effective use of the rig utilization. Through this collaboration, OMV benefits from local expertise and fosters a culture of open communication and knowledge transfer. Furthermore, we transmit drilling data to our headquarters in Vienna via real-time data streaming services, where it is processed to ensure safe and efficient operations.
What are your expectations for the broader outlook of Libya’s oil and gas sector over the next few years?
The outlook for the Libyan oil and gas sector in the coming years is promising, driven by the National Oil Corporation’s strategy to increase production. An upcoming bidding round is expected to attract interest and open up new opportunities for exploration and production. Libya’s vast untapped reserves and strategic location make it a major player in the global energy market, but sustained progress will depend on ensuring security, regulatory reforms and investment in infrastructure. Tackling these challenges could spur growth in the sector and increase its contributions to the national economy.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ —
Connecting 300 million Africans to electricity within the next five years is within reach through collaborative effort and commitment to implementation, participants at the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, heard on Monday.
The summit is organized by the Government of Tanzania and Mission 300, an unprecedented collaboration between the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank Group and global partners to address Africa’s electricity access gap using new technology and innovative financing.
Nearly 600 million Africans lack electricity, a critical resource for economic development and job creation.
Speaking during the first panel discussion of the opening day of the two-day Summit, African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina set the summit’s tone of action and implementation, emphasizing practical solutions to achieve the ambitious goal, from regulatory reforms to private sector engagement. He called for active involvement from a wide range of stakeholders, including bilateral and multilateral institutions, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and foundations.
“This is mission critical… Our mission here is to say we need everybody… It’s not about us, it’s about those who are not here, and we must listen and hear and make sure this is an action-driven summit… We can’t do Mickey Mouse business… We can’t have a situation where Africa does not have enough electricity,” Adesina told the audience, which included several African energy ministers, international development partners and private sector titans, civil society organizations, and foundations, attending the first day of the summit.
The second day of the summit will see the participation of several heads of state from across Africa, who will join more than 1,500 other participants. Together they will chart Africa’s course toward universal access to energy.
“We have a clear path to reaching these 300 million people,” Dr. Adesina stressed, distinguishing the initiative from previous efforts. He emphasized that the program seeks to transform Africa’s vast potential into reality through comprehensive electrification.
“With power, Africa will not just meet expectations but exceed them, becoming a competitive and prosperous continent,” he added.
Mission 300 will incorporate robust accountability measures, including country-specific monitoring and evaluation systems and the Africa Energy Regulatory Index to track progress. “This is all about accountability, transparency, and delivery while letting Africa develop with pride,” Adesina stated.
Adesina highlighted the devastating toll of traditional cooking methods based on firewood and charcoal, resulting in the death of 600,000 women and children annually due to smoke exposure.
The crisis extends beyond energy access, affecting environmental sustainability through deforestation and biodiversity loss. “It’s not just about energy transition,” Adesina said. “This is about dignity. Africa must develop with dignity and pride, and access to clean cooking solutions is fundamental to achieving this goal.” He praised Tanzania for developing a comprehensive national strategy to address this issue.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga expressed optimism about the initiative, saying its ambitious objectives are achievable through hard work, particularly in ensuring a conducive environment for the private sector to participate. He emphasized the need for predictability of currencies, regulatory frameworks and land acquisition to incentivize investments supporting Mission 300.
In his remarks, Rajiv Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, called global philanthropists to support the initiative.
“Please join us in getting behind the ideas of this initiative and the country compacts that the leaders will be signing. What is at stake is the future of African economies, the future of African young people, and the future of our world,” he said, adding that his foundation was committing $65 million to the program.
Speaking after the fireside chat, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized that energy access is not merely about power delivery, but about what that power will connect and enable. “It is important that we see food systems at the helm of all of this, and that they are powered by the energy that you will connect,” she stated. Mohammed explained how energy connectivity would catalyze transformative change in rural communities, particularly for women and youth, through access to digital financial services, online education, and e-commerce opportunities.
However, she stressed that realizing these ambitions would require significant financial engineering and private sector engagement. “The private sector’s got to lean in and it won’t lean in if the message is that your finance environment is not conducive to us,” she noted, calling for reforms in credit rating systems and financial architecture. “When you want to put together the financing for energy it is not easy and it requires many people at the table in parallel with what we are doing, the policy and the regulation, designing these pipelines and getting the money ready.”
The summit is expected to yield two significant outcomes: the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, outlining commitments and practical actions from African governments to reform the energy sector, and the first set of National Energy Compacts, which will serve as blueprints with country-specific targets and timelines for implementation of critical reforms.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Specialists from the city services complex decorated the central streets and alleys of the capital in honor of the Chinese New Year, which will begin on January 29. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.
“On Manezhnaya and Tverskaya squares, in Kamergersky Lane, Kuznetsky Most Street and Tverskoy Boulevard, festive arches were additionally decorated with traditional red Chinese lanterns. The all-season “starry sky” in Kamergersky Lane will be painted in red shades, decorative consoles in the form of scrolls with congratulations appeared on the street lamps,” said Pyotr Biryukov.
The central entrance to the Moscow Zoo was decorated with light boxes, flags and glowing light discs. Chinese red lanterns and light panda figures were placed on the territory.
In recent years, Moscow has formed a sufficient stock of festive elements, allowing to decorate the metropolis. All light and decorative structures are multifunctional. They can be used repeatedly, changing their appearance.
Project“Winter in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which until February 28 unites various events of the capital. Citizens and tourists are invited to remember traditions and history, warm up with tea and hot buns, go skating, skiing and tubing, watch ice shows, give gifts to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, show care for those who need it.
Muscovites and guests of the capital are offered a huge selection of events in the open air and in cultural and sports institutions. The atmosphere of winter traditions has engulfed the entire city – more than 1.9 thousand sites are open. The largest festivals of the capital are organically woven into the project: “Moscow Estates”, “Moscow Tea Party”, “City of Light”, “Snow and Ice in Moscow” and many others. All information about the project and winter season events can be foundin a special sectionmos.ru.
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Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
In the Eastern Administrative District of the capital, 10 non-residential real estate objects were built using extra-budgetary funds in 2024. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.
“In 2024, 10 non-residential real estate objects with a total area of about 40 thousand square meters were built in the east of Moscow using extra-budgetary funds. Among them are four kindergartens, retail, household and utility facilities, a church, and an industrial building. New buildings were built in the districts of Golyanovo, Sokolniki, Preobrazhenskoye, Metrogorodok, Kosino-Ukhtomsky, Bogorodskoye, Severnoye Izmailovo. As a result, more than 465 jobs appeared in the east of the capital,” said Vladimir Efimov.
The buildings house educational, sports and entertainment facilities, and additional workspaces have appeared.
“Four new kindergartens with a total area of over 10.4 thousand square meters are designed for 555 pupils. The largest of them was built in the Bogorodskoye district and transferred to the capital’s education system. This kindergarten with an area of over 4.3 thousand square meters is designed for 275 places,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy of the capital
This three-story building was equipped with 11 group cells, a full-cycle food service unit, a medical office, a gym and a music room. The area around the kindergarten was adapted for walks and sports.
Mosgosstroynadzor experts checked all stages of construction of non-residential buildings in the Eastern Administrative District, the agency chairman added Anton Slobodchikov. The inspectors carried out a total of 169 control and supervision activities, which allows us to guarantee the high quality and safety of buildings after they are put into operation.
Earlier Sergei Sobyanin told, that in 2024 more than 80 social infrastructure facilities were built in the capital.
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Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The third season of the Moscow Theatre Festival-Competition of School Theatres “Live Stage” has begun in the capital. More than 20 thousand students from schools and colleges of the city will take part in it. This was reported by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.
“Moscow education is not only fundamental sciences, but also comprehensive creative development. Theater workshops operate on the basis of the capital’s schools, colleges and centers of additional education, where children, under the mentorship of famous directors and actors, participate in acting master classes and master stage professions. Theater is not just art, but first and foremost a space for intellectual experimentation. It trains the flexibility of thinking, imagination, concentration. Therefore, we are pleased to open a new season of the large-scale theater project of the capital’s schools “Live Stage”. This is a serious festival, where children not only act, but can also declare themselves on the stage of Moscow theaters, create colorful scenery, and get advice from professionals. The competition is very popular among young Muscovites; over 20 thousand schoolchildren are taking part in it in the new season – 30 percent more than last year,” noted Anastasia Rakova.
The festival is being held for the third time. As part of the project, outstanding Russian actors and directors become mentors to young Muscovites throughout the year. They help them select a repertoire, participate in rehearsals, promote the development of a creative association and prepare the children for the big stage.
Future artists will present their productions in two traditional categories: “Dramatic Performance”, “Musical Performance” and this year’s new categories: “Theatrical Olympus” and “Historical Memory”.
For several years, “Theatre Olympus” was a separate competition, but last year it became one of the nominations of the “Live Stage” project. Groups that organize small-scale performances – short productions with a small number of actors – can take part in it. The best will receive grant support.
The nomination “Historical Memory” is dedicated to significant events and outstanding personalities of different eras. Participants will prepare performances based on reliable facts. The children will have to conduct research and use archival documents in organizing the production.
Last year, 30 best productions reached the finals, which were watched by more than seven thousand spectators in April. There are several categories in the Dramatic Performance nomination. In one of them, School Melpomene, the winner was the pedagogical theater of teenagers of Academic School No. 1534 with the production Romeo and Juliet, and the Country of Buffoonery studio of School No. 1353 named after General D. F. Alekseev with the fairy tale The Little Humpbacked Horse. The first place in the Musical Performance nomination was won by the Sounds of Music musical studio of the Sinegoriya extracurricular activities center.
In the category “Blessed Thalia”, the victory went to the children’s theater “Gallagrant” of the children’s creativity center “Sviblovo”. In second place was the theater “Ostrov trekuri” of school No. 45 named after L.I. Milgram, in third place was the puppet theater studio “Prevrashchenie” of school No. 1249. Separately, the jury awarded special prizes for the achievements of the participants, including a careful attitude to family values, a bright debut, the power of artistic words, the most daring idea and an original adaptation of a work. The productions were presented on the stages of the Boris Shchukin Theater Institute, the Children’s Musical Theater of the Young Actor, the Moscow New Drama Theater, the Palace on the Yauza and the Shchukino Culture and Art Center.
The organizer of the competition-festival is the Moscow Center for Educational Practices of the capital Department of Education and ScienceLast academic year, over 15,000 schoolchildren and college students from more than 500 children’s and youth theaters took part in the festival.
You can find out more about additional education in the capital in Telegram channels “Moscow education” And “Moscow Center for Educational Practices”.
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Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The city has put three non-residential premises in the west of the capital up for auction. This was reported by the head of the capital’s Department of Competition Policy Kirill Purtov.
“Commercial properties in basements, on the first and ground floors of residential buildings and business centers, located in areas with developed infrastructure, are in demand among entrepreneurs. The city currently offers two properties for sale and one for rent in the Prospekt Vernadskogo area. The winners of the auction will be able to open various service businesses in them: shops, pharmacies, pick-up points, educational and other institutions, and in the rental lot – catering establishments. Open auctions in electronic form will be held from February 3 to March 11,” said Kirill Purtov.
Two free-use premises with an area of 128.1 and 683.6 square meters are located on Leninsky Prospect AndUdaltsova street and have a separate entrance.
The third commercial property the city plans to lease to businesses is located on Lobachevsky street. Its area is 566.4 square meters. It is possible to open a catering establishment there. All three lots are connected to the main communications: electricity, sewerage and water supply.
The city regularly puts commercial properties up for auction. Currently, entrepreneurs have access to more than 310 non-residential premises and buildings. Application campaigns will end between January 29 and February 27. Registration is required to participate in the auction. on the electronic trading platform “RoselTorg” and enhanced qualified electronic signature.
Moscow is a city that develops entrepreneurship. The capital puts various properties up for auction, and the showcase of the offered objects is Moscow Investment Portal. In the section “Property from the city” All necessary information about the lots is published: photographs, documentation, conditions and form of implementation. Here you can also take a 3D tour of the objects. It is convenient to participate in city auctions remotely – the entire procedure takes place online.
Development of electronic services for business corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.
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Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Five years ago, Moscow began concluding transactions based on the results of auctions in electronic format. During this time, more than 12.1 thousand contracts have been drawn up with buyers and tenants of city property. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property Maxim Gaman.
“At the beginning of 2020, the Moscow investment portal began to conclude electronic contracts for the sale and purchase of non-residential real estate based on the results of auctions. In 2021, tenants of premises and plots received a similar opportunity, and in 2023 – buyers of land for the construction of private residential buildings. Thus, the entire process of selling capital property was transferred to a digital format. This made it possible to increase the circle of potential auction participants who no longer need to waste time visiting various authorities to complete documents. Since 2020, based on the results of competitive procedures, the city has conducted over 12.1 thousand online transactions, of which about 2.8 thousand were in 2024,” said Maxim Gaman.
The electronic auction format has been in operation for 11 years, but until 2020, the execution of documents, registration of property rights and signing of contracts were carried out exclusively on paper. The process consisted of 11 stages, and buyers had to personally visit various authorities to submit, sign and receive documents.
Now you can draw up a purchase and sale or lease agreement, as well as an act of acceptance and transfer of an object in a few minutes through your personal account on the Moscow investment portal. The capital’s office is responsible for registering rights in Rosreestr. Department of City Property.
In the capital Department of Information Technology they said that the section “Property from the city” on the investment portal contains full information about available lots. Online tools help find suitable movable and immovable property – from parking spaces to business premises or land plots for the construction of residential buildings. A detailed description of each lot includes information about connected utilities, transport and social infrastructure, as well as photographs and a 3D tour. Here you can also sign up for an inspection and find out about the deadlines for submitting applications, the format of the auction and the venue.
To participate in the auction, you will need to register on the electronic trading platform “RoselTorg” and enhanced qualified electronic signature.
Development of electronic services for business corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State”.
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Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
On the platform “City of Ideas” the project has started, dedicated to the fish markets “Moscow – on the wave”. They invite you to share initiatives for the development of popular gastronomic spaces until January 30. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.
“City residents will offer options for events and weekly promotions, ideas for introducing new services and filling social networks of “Moscow – on the Wave”. At the same time, participants will discuss the assortment and seasonal design of fish markets,” said Natalia Sergunina.
There are two Moscow-on-the-Wave fish markets in the capital. The first opened in November 2023 in the Kosino-Ukhtomsky District, the second in September 2024 in Mitino. Visitors can expect more than 600 items of goods from three oceans and 13 seas, as well as food courts, areas for master classes and an open kitchen. Chef competitions, concerts and theatrical performances are also held here.
In 2024, the City of Ideas platform turned 10 years old. Users share suggestions on how to make life in the capital even more comfortable. The project is being developed Department of Information Technology of Moscow and the State Institution “New Management Technologies”.
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Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The triage system, modern equipment, the principle of a digital clinic and 11 multidisciplinary operating rooms – doctors flagship center of the City Clinical Hospital (CCH) No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov provide emergency and planned care to patients with a wide range of illnesses. During the first month of operation, the medical facility received almost six thousand people, its specialists performed hundreds of high-tech operations and thousands of diagnostic studies.
How the new flagship is designed and equipped, what are the advantages of the “doctor to patient” principle, how advanced equipment helps save lives, and how much the Moscow healthcare system has improved thanks to the opening of the fifth emergency care center – in a report by mos.ru.
Flagship center of City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov opened December 20, 2024 on Leninsky Prospekt (building 10, block 7). The seven-story building is located on the territory of the First City Hospital, one of the oldest and largest clinics in the capital.
One of the 27 buildings of the medical facility was completely reconstructed over the course of three years to become the new flagship; it is easy to find by the signs and the blue sign with the logo of the capital city. Department of Health— the letter M enclosed in a heart. Heated overground walkways connect the building with neighboring buildings.
The center’s patients undergo a full diagnosis and, if necessary, undergo surgery, followed by recovery in intensive care and hospital treatment, as indicated.
“Our flagship center represents almost all medical specialties: surgery, traumatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, gynecology, urology and others. The staff consists of 350 people, including academicians and doctors of science. To equip the center, we purchased about 2.8 thousand units of medical equipment and furniture, including an angiographic system, a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, a whole-body X-ray computed tomography system and a mobile C-arm X-ray machine. After providing the necessary assistance, patients are either discharged for outpatient observation or sent to inpatient departments for further treatment,” says Daria Tuul, head of the emergency medical care center of City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov.
The flagship center of City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov meets modern medical standards. In the lobby and emergency department there are soft chairs and sofas, boxes for patients’ personal belongings, water coolers and coffee machines, snow-white calla lilies bloom in wooden tubs. Navigation stripes are applied to the floor – red, yellow and green, showing the directions of the corresponding flows, on the walls – illuminated signs and large screens for educational videos. The doors open at the touch of a button.
To the right of the main entrance is the emergency medical care department, where patients are brought by ambulances. In a spacious heated vestibule, patients are transferred to gurneys. Red category patients who require urgent care are taken to the anti-shock room, where a team of resuscitators is already waiting for them, or to the operating room.
Such patients are immediately connected to monitors that track temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, lung saturation and other vital signs. Among the modern equipment that the anti-shock room is equipped with are artificial lung ventilation and ultrasound devices, an indirect heart massage system, an anesthesia and respiratory apparatus and an electric cardiac pacemaker.
“While the ambulance is transporting the patient, the doctors collect the anamnesis and transmit the information to us online, that is, we already understand with what preliminary diagnosis and in what condition the person will be admitted, whether he has chronic diseases, where he was taken from and how long it took. All this information is displayed on the screens in the anti-shock room and the admissions department. According to the regulations, red stream patients should receive assistance in the first minutes after admission,” explains Roman Emelin, an anesthesiologist-resuscitator at the flagship center of City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov.
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The “heart” of the flagship center is a multidisciplinary operating block located on two floors. For the first time, City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov has an integrated digital operating room with automated data transfer, visualization and intelligent control. Sensors and high-resolution video cameras allow you to observe the surgical process in great detail on large screens and broadcast it to anywhere in the world, consulting with experts and training colleagues from Moscow and other regions.
The hybrid operating room allows for simultaneous surgical interventions for various pathologies. Thanks to sophisticated angiographic equipment, doctors can penetrate the finest vessels and simultaneously perform operations on the head, chest, abdomen or limbs without moving patients.
“In addition to the digital operating room with telemedicine and hybrid, we have nine multi-profile operating rooms equipped with the most modern equipment. Anesthesia and respiratory devices, defibrillators, endoscopic video stands, surgical microscopes, portable scanners, artificial blood circulation devices, X-ray arc and other advanced equipment allow us to perform any surgical interventions,” explains Vadim Konstantinov, a resuscitation specialist and anesthesiologist at the flagship center of City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov.
After the operation, patients are transferred to the intensive care unit on the second floor. There are 11 beds, including two single boxes. Patients are under constant medical supervision for 24 hours. Each bed, which is separated by thick screens, has a syringe dispenser, an artificial lung ventilation device, a vital signs monitor, and for greater comfort, heated blankets powered by the electrical network are provided. The department is equipped with defibrillators, electrocardiographs, portable ultrasound machines, and pneumatic mail. Radiologists and endoscopists visit patients, so they leave the ward only to have a CT or MRI scan. After stabilization, patients are transferred to other hospital departments, where they stay until discharge.
New clinics, artificial intelligence and digitalization: how Moscow healthcare developed in 2024Scientific projects of Moscow medical organizations will receive grant support — SobyaninFirst flagship: how the center of the V.V. Veresaev hospital accepts its first patients
The distribution of incoming patients is done using a digital triage system. At two medical stations, their temperature, blood pressure, and pulse are measured, and after a brief anamnesis, they are distributed into yellow and green streams. Each patient receives a bracelet of the corresponding color, and if necessary, clips. Red indicates a risk of falling, yellow indicates the presence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, and turquoise indicates an allergy to medications or food.
“The red line takes patients to the anti-shock ward, and the yellow and green lines take them to the examination rooms, which are located on the first floor. There are seven of them, each with a surgeon, traumatologist, neurosurgeon, ophthalmologist, neurologist, otolaryngologist, maxillofacial surgeon, urologist and gynecologist. The center has all the latest diagnostic equipment: a CT scanner, digital X-ray, expert-class ultrasound machines, vital function monitors,” says Marat Magomedov, deputy chief physician for emergency care at the flagship center of City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N.I. Pirogov.
In addition to the six-bed examination and shock wards, the first floor houses a diagnostic ward, an isolation ward for infectious patients, and five multi-profile operating rooms for emergency interventions, including hybrid and digital ones. The second floor is occupied by six operating rooms for scheduled patients, as well as an intensive care unit with 11 beds. The hospital’s inpatient departments are located from the third to the sixth floors: neurosurgery, two traumatology departments, and cardiovascular surgery. The seventh floor houses a diagnostic complex. The minus first and minus second floors are allocated for technical premises.
The center provides care on a doctor-to-patient basis. After a quick check-in at the emergency department, further examinations and procedures, except for CT and MRI, are performed at the patient’s bedside. And digitalization provides specialists with online access to patients’ medical records using tablets.
The doctors are assisted in their work by employees of the capital’s government service centers. They perform administrative functions and also create a comfortable environment for patients and their accompanying relatives.
Construction of a new clinic in Kommunarka is planned to be completed in 2025Sobyanin spoke about the first year of work of the new centers of the Botkin HospitalTesting, examination stations and interview. How to get the status of “Moscow doctor”From the triage system to the “space” operating room: how the flagship center of the O.M. Filatov Hospital No. 15 is organized
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Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
In 2024, more than 5.5 thousand city residents living in 102 old houses in the south-east of the capital completed documents for comfortable housing under the renovation program. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman.
“Over 5.5 thousand Muscovites from 102 old houses received keys to apartments in new buildings in the south-east of the capital in 2024. Of these, in Lublin, over 1.4 thousand city residents signed contracts with the Department for comfortable housing under the renovation program, in Kuzminki – over 1.2 thousand people, almost 900 – in the Nizhegorodsky district. The rest live in Vykhino-Zhulebino, Kapotnya, Lefortovo, Ryazansky, Yuzhnoportovy districts and in Tekstilshchiki,” he said.
In total, last year in the South-Eastern Administrative District, the paperwork for apartments was completed and residents of 73 old houses completely moved into new buildings.
“In 2024, about 1.9 thousand families who moved to the South-East Administrative District used the city’s help in moving. Thanks to the “Moving Assistance” service, residents can order movers and a truck for free. Specialists will help to disassemble and pack things, and then move them from the old apartment to the new one. You can use the service online by leaving a request on the mos.ru portal, or at resettlement information centers, which are located on the first floors of new buildings,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy
As noted in Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow, will help you prepare for your planned move general instructions, available in the super service “Moving under the renovation program” on the mos.ru portal. With its help, you can find out how the move is organized and get information on the documents required to draw up a contract, as well as use links to useful services. If you configure the parameters of the move, the super service will provide the opportunity to read the instructions taking into account a specific life situation.
In total, since the start of the program, more than 31.1 thousand Muscovites from 173 old buildings in the southeast have received modern housing.
In the South-Eastern Administrative District of the capital, 818 buildings, in which more than 164 thousand city residents live, are included in the renovation program.
Renovation program approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin instructeddouble the pace of program implementation.
Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction rates and volumes. Over the past five years, within the framework of the national project “Infrastructure for life” The volume of construction and commissioning of residential buildings in the capital has doubled – from three million to five to seven million square meters per year.
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Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The Moscow Transport Museum is celebrating five years since its opening. On January 28, 2020, it received its name and became a subordinate organization of the capital’s Department of Transport and Development of Road Transport Infrastructure.
“In five years of work, the Moscow Transport Museum has become one of the key transport and technical museums of the capital. On behalf of Sergei Sobyanin, we are engaged in preserving the transport heritage and strive to increase interest in it through various projects. The museum is very popular – more than one million people have already visited our exhibitions, festivals, lectures, master classes and excursions,” said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry
The museum is engaged in the restoration and storage of exhibits, exhibition, publishing, research and educational activities. Its collection contains 1,515 artifacts and 237 units of equipment. There are also exhibits that are unique in world history: for example, the only horse-drawn tram from 1872 recreated on the original chassis, one of the two surviving BF tram cars in the world, a KIM-10-50 passenger car, a SVARZ crane platform, a ZIS-154 bus, as well as the only surviving B.
Since 2020, the institution’s employees have restored 20 exhibits and 76 artifacts, and performed local repairs on 16 items. Most of them can be seen in the permanent exhibition. This year, the museum continues a large-scale program to restore unique equipment, including buses, trams, metro cars, and cars.
Over five years, 32 exhibitions were held here, 59 special projects were implemented, 626 educational events, 1845 excursions were organized, and eight books were published. The museum collection was replenished with 17.5 thousand archival files and more than six thousand publications.
“From the very beginning, we created the Moscow Transport Museum as a living public space that answers an important question: what moves the city? We consider transport as part of urban culture and study it as a system, the main aspect of which is the relationship with a person. This is a museum about people and for people – all our projects, from children’s master classes to festivals for thousands, are designed to unite a variety of visitors and show them the amazing world that the topic of transport opens up. Over the past five years, the museum team has done a huge amount of work, which can be expressed in numbers, but the most significant thing is the growing love and interest in our projects and the urban culture of movement,” added Oksana Bondarenko, Director of the Moscow Transport Museum.
Many major projects were implemented in the USSR Transport Pavilion at VDNKh. In 2021, the exhibition “Muscovite’s Dream” opened there (it was visited by 140 thousand people), a year later – the exhibition “You are here. Always. Today. The day after tomorrow” (it attracted 85 thousand visitors). In November last year, the exhibition opened “You look 100%!”, over 25 thousand people visited it during 2.5 months of work. In addition, the museum regularly holds thematic exhibitions at the Northern and Southern river terminals.
Since 2021, the museum has had its own tour desk. In addition to tours of the exhibition and the storage facility, employees organize walks on the metro, as well as around the Northern and Southern river terminals.
“New Era of the Moscow Metro” is the most popular year-round tour of the stations of the Big Circle Line (BCL). During the walk, guides talk about the innovative technologies used in the design of the stations, reveal the meaning of hidden messages and symbols left by the architects. Participants will learn how the design of the platforms reflects the features of the areas where the stations are located, how new lines are built, and how the metro works in general.
In summer, visitors show great interest in exploring the museum’s collections. Here you can see over 100 exhibits of passenger cars, trucks and city vehicles from the USSR – taxis, police cars, rare Moskvichs, buses and legendary cars from the 1980s. Guests are also shown how museum employees restore equipment.
The Moscow Transport Museum has introduced virtual tours of its exhibitionsSimulators, installations and virtual reality: how the Moscow Transport Museum will introduce its permanent exhibition
In 2022, the first Retroreis festival took place — since then, it has annually brought together tens of thousands of people interested in transport culture. Since 2023, as part of the city’s Night at the Museum event, the Tour of Cultures museum rally has been held, in which the capital’s largest institutions participate.
That same year, the Moscow Transport Museum organized the first scientific and practical conference, “Museums of Movement — Museums in Motion.” Its goal was to unite museum and transport communities to discuss similar tasks, as well as expand professional interaction. After the conference, an annual experience exchange program was launched.
This year, the museum team continues to work on creating a permanent exhibition, which will be located in the garage of the architect Konstantin Melnikov on Novorizhanskaya Street (building 27). The building, which is a monument of avant-garde architecture, is currently undergoing restoration. It will be returned to its historical appearance.
Moscow Transport Museum — is an open urban space and research center. Its collections include more than 250 examples of passenger cars, trucks, buses, trolleybuses, taxis, city service vehicles, bicycles and motorcycles. The exhibits can be seen at exhibitions and transport infrastructure facilities.
Simulators, installations and virtual reality: how the Moscow Transport Museum will introduce its permanent exhibitionUnique roof trusses restored in Konstantin Melnikov’s garage
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.
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https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149404073/
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The capital will host the Chinese New Year festival for the second time from January 28 to February 9. Residents and tourists will enjoy master classes, festive processions, drum shows, performances by artists, traditional Chinese dishes and themed souvenirs.
You can see all the festival sites in the Moscow Transport app. Thanks to this, guests will be able to easily plan a route to any of them and find out a description of each.
“For the second year in a row, we have added the Chinese New Year festival to the Moscow Transport app. We have posted a poster for each of its points and added the ability to build a route to the selected site – this will allow residents and guests of the capital to plan their time. At the request of Sergei Sobyanin, we are creating more convenient and useful functions in our mobile applications for the comfort of users,” said Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry
Finding festival sites in the app is easy. To do this, you need to move the bottom menu up, go to the “Interesting” section and click on the festival logo. After all the sites open, you should select the one you need and plot a route. You can download the app by link.
The Moscow Transport app was launched in 2017. During this time, it has been downloaded more than eight million times. It combines all city routes in one service. A single platform allows users to get the best solution based on their personal needs, budget, and preferences. The app is convenient for both drivers and passengers of public transport. It makes it easy to manage the Troika card, make biometric payments for travel, order trips, buy tickets (including for river cruises), activate charging for electric vehicles at city stations, and use many other services.
Project “Winter in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which until February 28 unites various events of the capital. Citizens and tourists are invited to remember traditions and history, warm up with tea and hot buns, go skating, skiing and tubing, watch ice shows, give gifts to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, show care for those who need it.
Muscovites and guests of the capital are offered a huge selection of events in the open air and in cultural and sports institutions. The atmosphere of winter traditions has engulfed the entire city – more than 1.9 thousand sites are open. The largest festivals of the capital are organically woven into the project: “Moscow Estates”, “Moscow Tea Party”, “City of Light”, “Snow and Ice in Moscow” and many others. All information about the project and winter season events can be found in a special section Mos.ru.
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https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149299073/
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
State Highway 29 at Te Poi is blocked following a serious crash.
It involved one vehicle and was reported about 8:10pm.
One person is believed to be in serious condition.
The Serious Crash Unit is attending and the road is currently blocked at the intersections of State Highway 29 and State Highway 24.
Motorists are asked to take alternate routes.
ENDS
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Financial results for nine months ended December 31, 2024
Financial results for nine months ended December 31, 2024
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The Government announced today (January 28) its financial results for the nine months ended December 31, 2024. Expenditure and revenue from April to December 2024 amounted to HK$524.2 billion and HK$349.7 billion respectively, resulting in a deficit of HK$70.5 billion after taking into account HK$114.6 billion received from issuance of Government Bonds and repayment of HK$10.6 billion principal on Government Bonds. A Government spokesperson said that the deficit for the period was mainly due to the fact that some major types of revenue including salaries and profits taxes are mostly received towards the end of a financial year. The revised estimates for the current financial year will be published along with the 2025-26 Budget. The fiscal reserves stood at HK$664.1 billion as at December 31, 2024. Detailed figures are shown in Tables 1 and 2. TABLE 1. CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT (Note 1)
Month endedDecember 31, 2024HK$ million
Nine months endedDecember 31, 2024HK$ million
Revenue
101,403.9
349,677.1
Expenditure
(52,635.2)
(524,217.4)
Surplus / (Deficit) before issuance and repayment of Government Bonds
48,768.7
(174,540.3)
Proceeds received from issuance of Government Bonds
23,934.7
114,588.2
Repayment of Government Bonds*
(38.0)
(10,555.5)
Surplus / (Deficit) after issuance and repayment of Government Bonds
72,665.4
(70,507.6)
Financing
Domestic
Banking Sector (Note 2)
(72,152.2)
67,227.5
Non-Banking Sector
(513.2)
3,280.1
External
–
–
Total
(72,665.4)
70,507.6
* Being repayment of principal on Government Bonds and does not include the associated interest and other expenses.
Government Debts as at December 31, 2024 (Note 3) HK$293,210 millionDebts Guaranteed by Government as at December 31, 2024 (Note 4) HK$132,387 million TABLE 2. FISCAL RESERVES
Month endedDecember 31, 2024HK$ million
Nine months endedDecember 31, 2024HK$ million
Fiscal Reserves at start of period
591,412.4
734,585.4
Consolidated Surplus / (Deficit) afterissuance and repayment of Government Bonds
72,665.4
(70,507.6)
Fiscal Reserves at end of period(Note 5)
664,077.8
664,077.8
Notes: 1. This Account consolidates the General Revenue Account and the following eight Funds: Capital Works Reserve Fund, Capital Investment Fund, Civil Service Pension Reserve Fund, Disaster Relief Fund, Innovation and Technology Fund, Land Fund, Loan Fund and Lotteries Fund. It excludes the Bond Fund, the balance of which is not part of the fiscal reserves. The Bond Fund balance as at December 31, 2024, was HK$229,943 million. 2. Includes transactions with the Exchange Fund and resident banks. 3. The Government Debts, with proceeds credited to the Capital Works Reserve Fund, comprise: (i) the Green Bonds (equivalent to HK$203,686 million as at December 31, 2024) issued under the Government Sustainable Bond Programme. They were denominated in US dollars (US$9,950 million with maturity from January 2026 to January 2053), euros (5,330 million euros with maturity from January 2025 to November 2041), Renminbi (RMB39,000 million with maturity from January 2025 to July 2054) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$42,000 million with maturity from May 2025 to October 2026); (ii) the Infrastructure Bonds (equivalent to HK$34,597 million as at December 31, 2024) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. They were denominated in Renminbi (RMB6,000 million with maturity from December 2025 to November 2034) and Hong Kong dollars (HK$28,230 million with maturity from November 2025 to December 2039); and (iii) the Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$54,927 million (with maturity in October 2027 and may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders) issued under the Infrastructure Bond Programme. They do not include the outstanding bonds with nominal value of HK$178,169 million and alternative bonds with nominal value of US$1,000 million (equivalent to HK$7,764 million as at December 31, 2024) issued under the Government Bond Programme with proceeds credited to the Bond Fund. Of these bonds under the Government Bond Programme (including Silver Bonds with nominal value of HK$96,669 million, which may be redeemed before maturity upon request from bond holders), bonds with nominal value of HK$53,357 million will mature within the period from January 2025 to December 2025 and the rest within the period from January 2026 to May 2042. 4. Includes guarantees provided under the SME Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2001, the Special Loan Guarantee Scheme launched in 2008, the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme launched in 2012, and the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Cross-boundary Passenger Transport Trade, the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Battery Electric Taxis and the Loan Guarantee Scheme for Travel Sector launched in 2023. 5. Includes HK$249,751 million, being the balance of the Land Fund held in the name of “Future Fund”, for long-term investments up to December 31, 2030. The Future Fund also includes HK$4,800 million, being one-third of the actual surplus in 2015-16 as top-up.
Ends/Tuesday, January 28, 2025Issued at HKT 16:30
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Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Advance release calendar for monthly financial results
Advance release calendar for monthly financial results
******************************************************
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region releases a monthly summary of its financial results and debts in compliance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard. The timetable for the release of the monthly data for the 2025-26 financial year is as follows:
Month
Release date
———-
—————–
April 2025
May 30, 2025
May 2025
June 30, 2025
June 2025
July 31, 2025
July 2025
August 29, 2025
August 2025
September 30, 2025
September 2025
October 31, 2025
October 2025
November 28, 2025
November 2025
December 31, 2025
December 2025
January 30, 2026
January 2026
February 27, 2026
February 2026
March 31, 2026
March 2026 (provisional)
April 30, 2026
In addition to press releases, the summary of financial results and debts will also be published on the Treasury’s website (www.try.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, January 28, 2025Issued at HKT 16:30
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