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  • MIL-OSI: Metasphere Updates on Strategic Projects and Plans for Future Developments

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Metasphere Labs Inc. (“Metasphere” or the “Company”) (CSE: LABZ) (OTC: LABZF) (FRA: H1N) , a leader in blockchain, metaverse, and decentralized identity technology, is pleased to update its stakeholders on the recent advancements and strategic decisions across its key partnerships.

    Delivery of Project for Bluesphere Ventures

    On November 1, 2024, Metasphere completed and delivered its work for Bluesphere Ventures Inc., which was initially announced in March 21, 2024. This milestone highlights Metasphere’s capability to meet demanding timelines, furthering progress toward the shared vision of “Ents World,” an eco-conscious open metaverse initiative.

    Termination of Partnership with Bot Ventures

    Following the May 8, 2024 announcement, Metasphere has decided to reprioritize its resources, mutually agreeing with Bot Ventures to terminate the decentralized identity project (the “Termination”). Metasphere retains the developed assets and may explore launching the project independently in the future, although no immediate plans are in place. There are no costs related to the Termination.

    Advancement of VR Platform with ARCannabis

    As part of its definitive agreement with ARCannabis announced on June 21, 2024, Metasphere is finalizing the development of a VR retail platform, with delivery expected by the end of this quarter. This immersive experience will redefine customer interactions within virtual reality.

    Development of CarbonBot Protocol with Ecoblox and Pure Sky

    Significant progress has been achieved on the carbon-aware routing protocol collaboration with Ecoblox and Pure Sky, announced in July 9, 2024. The project now operates collectively under the CarbonBot brand, deviating from initial plans for a public benefit corporation. While the protocol was not showcased at MWC Americas, the partnership is considering participation in MWC 2025 in Barcelona. The completed Carbon Offsetting Protocol is available on GitHub, with plans underway for an audit by either an ISO or UN-certified VVB (Verification and Validation Body), potentially making it the first recognized carbon offsetting protocol to meet stringent environmental standards, following which it will be submitted to the Pure Sky Registry to be voted on by its members.

    Future Focus: TON Blockchain and Metaverse Development on Telegram

    As Metasphere looks forward, its focus will shift toward metaverse and mini-app development on the Telegram Messenger platform, leveraging the Telegram Open Network (TON) blockchain. This strategic shift aligns with Metasphere’s mission to democratize access to decentralized applications within widely adopted social ecosystems, offering secure, scalable solutions that foster community-driven interactions.

    About Metasphere Labs Inc.

    Metasphere Labs Inc. is a leading developer of Web3 and metaverse strategies. The company specializes in integrating blockchain technology into real-world applications, with a focus on environmental sustainability and social impact. Metasphere is passionate about applying decentralized solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

    For more information, please contact:
    Metasphere Labs Inc.
    Natasha Ingram, CEO
    Email: info@metasphere.earth
    Phone: 604-687-2038

    Forward-Looking Information

    This news release contains “forward-looking statements.” Statements in this news release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development of the carbon credit protocol initiative, other open metaverse and blockchain projects, and the development of virtual world projects.

    The material assumptions supporting these forward-looking statements include, among others, that: the Company could mitigate the risks associated with the blockchain and NFT industry; the ability to compete with other businesses in the NFT, metaverse and blockchain markets; the availability of sufficient funding to carry out the Company’s business development plans; favourable market conditions; and the market acceptance for its products.

    Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including: the continued growth and adoption of NFT, metaverse and blockchain offerings; the cost of developing and designing NFTs and metaverses is economically viable; the Company being able to attract and retain a sufficient workforce with desired skillsets to develop the Company’s digital offerings; the availability of offerings provided by third-parties in the NFT, metaverse development and online gaming market to identify potential transactions; the increasing adoption of NFTs as a solution for various online gaming, entertainment and collectible uses; the Company having the ability to mitigate the risks associated with the blockchain and NFT industry; and the ability to compete with other businesses in the NFT, metaverse development, content creation and collectibles market.

    Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including: the risk that the Company’s offerings are not accepted by the consumer, the risk that other competitors may offer similar digital offerings; the risk that there may be negative changes in general economic and business conditions; the risk that the Company may have negative operating cash flow and not enough capital to complete the development of any of its technologies; the risk that the Company may not be able to obtain additional financing as necessary; the risk that there may be increases in capital and operating costs; the risk that the NFT technology may be subject to fraud and other failures; the risk that there may be technological changes and developments in the blockchain that make the NFT solutions obsolete; risks relating to regulatory changes or actions which may impede the development or operation of the blockchain solutions; the risk that other competitors may release similar blockchain offerings; the potential future unviability of the NFT market in general; the volatile cost of the amount of computational effort required to execute specific operations on the blockchain, and other general risks involved in the blockchain solutions.

    Risks and uncertainties about the Company’s business are more fully discussed in the Company’s disclosure materials, including its reports filed with the Canadian securities regulators and which can be obtained from www.sedarplus.ca.

    Any of these risks may cause the Company’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Further, although the Company has attempted to identify factors that could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, levels of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. These forward- looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and Canada. Although the Company believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. The Company does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

    SOURCE: METASPHERE LABS INC.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: KH Group’s financial information and Annual General Meeting in 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KH Group Plc
    Stock Exchange Release 4 November 2024 at 11:30 am EET

    KH Group’s financial information and Annual General Meeting in 2025

    KH Group Plc will publish financial reports in 2025 as follows:

    – Financial Statement Release for 2024 on Friday, 21 March 2025
    – Annual Report for 2024 on week 13
    – Business Review for January-March 2025 on Tuesday, 6 May 2025
    – Half-Year Report for January-June 2025 on Friday, 15 August 2025
    – Business Review for January-September 2025 on Friday, 31 October 2025

    All financial reports will be published in Finnish and in English approximately at 8 o’clock.

    KH Group adheres to a 30-day silent period prior to publishing of financial reports.

    Annual General Meeting

    KH Group’s Annual General Meeting is planned to be held on Tuesday, 6 May 2025. The Board of Directors will convene the Annual General meeting with an invitation to be published later.

    KH GROUP PLC

    Ville Nikulainen
    CEO

    FURTHER INFORMATION:
    CEO Ville Nikulainen, tel. +358 400 459 343

    DISTRIBUTION:
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.khgroup.com

    KH Group Plc is a Nordic conglomerate operating in business areas of KH-Koneet, Indoor Group and Nordic Rescue Group. We are a leading supplier of construction and earth-moving equipment, furniture and interior decoration retailer as well as rescue vehicle manufacturer. The objective of our strategy is to create an industrial group around the business of KH-Koneet. KH Group’s share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Landsbankinn hf.: Offering of covered bonds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Landsbankinn will offer covered bonds for sale via auction held on Wednesday 6 November at 15:00. An inflation-linked series, LBANK CBI 30, will be offered for sale and a non-indexed series, LBANK CB 29.

    In connection with the auction, a covered bond exchange offering will take place, where holders of the inflation-linked series LBANK CBI 24 can sell the covered bonds in the series against covered bonds bought in the above-mentioned auction. The clean price of the bonds is predefined at 100.

    Expected settlement date is 13 November 2024.

    Covered bonds issued by Landsbankinn are rated A+ with stable outlook by S&P Global Ratings.

    Landsbankinn Capital Markets will manage the auction. For further information, please call +354 410 7330 or email verdbrefamidlun@landsbankinn.is.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City to turn Orange and say ‘no’ to interpersonal violence

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The annual Orange Wolverhampton campaign, which begins on Monday 25 November, aims to raise awareness of the city’s continuing drive to end domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called honour-based violence, sexual violence and stalking and harassment.

    At the same time, it highlights the advice and support that is available to victims from local and national organisations such as The Haven Wolverhampton, St George’s Hub, Karma Nirvana and the City of Wolverhampton Council.

    The campaign runs from 25 November, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until 10 December, UN Human Rights Day, and supports the UN Orange the World campaign to end violence against women and girls. In Wolverhampton, there is a strong focus on ending interpersonal violence against all individuals, whether they are female or male.

    This year’s campaign includes a variety of online and in person events to enable as many people as possible to get involved, and will begin with a flag raising ceremony outside the Civic Centre on 25 November at 11am. All are welcome.

    There will be an Orange Wolverhampton information point at the Mander Centre on Monday and Tuesday, 2 and 3 December, between 10.30am and 4.30pm, raising awareness and handing out ribbons.

    There are also craft workshops with Changing Lives, a series of virtual Lunch and Learn sessions with The Haven Wolverhampton, ROSHNI, Black Country Women’s Aid, DORCAS and Changing Lives, virtual Spotlight Sessions on domestic violence with Sikh Women’s Aid and drop in session with Wolverhampton Homes, DORCAS and ROSHNI.

    A Round Table Event for male survivors and professionals will be hosted by St George’s Hub, which is also holding a workshop to help identify the hidden male victims of honour-based violence.

    Wolverhampton’s Domestic Abuse Champions will be at Wednesfield Library on Friday 29 November to talk to people about any concerns they may have in confidence, and Orange Wolverhampton runners will be taking part in the parkruns at West Park and East Park during the 16 days of activism.

    The programme ends with an Orange Walk led by ROSHNI on Tuesday 10 December through the city. Full details of the events will be added to the Orange Wolverhampton website, shortly.

    Scores of organisations across Wolverhampton are set to support this year’s campaign in a range of ways, from holding ‘wear orange’ days, wearing orange pin badges, turning their websites and social media channels orange, lighting their buildings orange, flying orange flags, sharing key messages about the campaign with staff, customers and service users, and much more.

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “The Orange Wolverhampton campaign is a great way for us to all say ‘no’ to interpersonal violence and help raise awareness of the advice and support available to victims and survivors in Wolverhampton.

    “We’re hoping that thousands of people will get involved again this year, perhaps by holding or joining one of the many events that will be taking place across the city, or visiting the Orange Wolverhampton information stand in the Mander Centre on 2 and 3 December.”

    The Orange Wolverhampton campaign is co-ordinated by Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, Wolverhampton Voluntary and Community Action, and the council.

    For more information and to sign up to this year’s campaign, please visit the Orange Wolverhampton website to find details of events and resources, and to add any events you or your organisation is planning.

    Anyone suffering from domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so-called ‘honour-based’ violence or sexual violence, or knows someone who is, should call the relevant helpline:

    • The Haven Wolverhampton 24 hour helpline for women – 08000 194400
    • St George’s Hub support for male victims – 01902 421904
    • Karma Nirvana helpline for victims of so-called ‘honour-based’ violence and forced marriage – 0800 5999 247
    • Wolverhampton Adult Social Care – 01902 551199
    • Wolverhampton Children’s Social Care – 01902 555392
    • West Midlands Forced Marriage and Honour-Based Violence Helpline – 0800 953 9777
    • National Domestic Violence helpline for women – 0808 2000 247
    • National Domestic Violence helpline for men – 0808 8010327
    • NSPCC Female Genital Mutilation helpline – 0800 028 3550
    • In an emergency, always call police on 999.

    For more information about the work of Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together, please visit Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City getting digi with it

    Source: City of Norwich

    Refurbishment work is moving at pace to create a new Digital Hub at Townshend House in Norwich city centre.

    The hub, which will be operated by HQ, part of International Workplace Group, the world’s largest provider of hybrid working solutions, is due to open its doors in the Spring, is set help make the city a digital powerhouse.

    It is one of eight key projects in the £25m Town Deal programme which is funded by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHCLG)’s Levelling Up Fund following a successful bid by Norwich City Council as part of its drive to deliver regeneration, new skills, infrastructure and jobs in the city.

    And to see how works were shaping up this week was Cllr Mike Stonard, Leader of Norwich City Council.

    Cllr Stonard said: “Things are really shaping up here and I am really looking forward to seeing the new Townshend House become the City’s Digital Hub – it really will be a major milestone in our mission to make Norwich a digital and creative powerhouse. It’s all part of our plans to make a more prosperous Norwich and fit for the future.”

    Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder of International Workplace Group PLC, commented: “With a growing digital community, Norwich is a fantastic place for us to boost our expansion plans across Norfolk and the East of England. The need for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to soar across the world as hybrid working becomes the new normal. We are very pleased to work with the council to open our latest state-of-the-art workspaces to support the thriving digital industry in Norwich.”

    The former ITV Anglia HQ, which is owned by Norwich City Council, will provide new and additional workspaces for digital businesses in Norwich. 

    Set to open in Spring 2025, The Digital Hub will provide space for established firms and start-ups across a range of industries including digital, creative and media, while International Workplace Group’s Design Your Own Office service allows companies to tailor their space entirely to their requirements. The new HQ workspace location will include facilities including private offices, meeting rooms, co-working and creative spaces.

    Local Growth Minister, Alex Norris, said: “It’s fantastic to hear work is under way to create a new Digital Hub in Norwich, another step forward in making the city centre a destination for the tech and creative industry is the economic growth we want to see across all towns and cities. It is vital our communities keep creating innovative flexible new spaces like this to attract new startups and investors to the area and help local people to fully embrace the jobs of the future.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal for witnesses to serious collision in Hammersmith

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating a serious road traffic incident in Hammersmith are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage or CCTV footage to come forward.

    Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 12:50hrs on Wednesday, 30 October to reports of a collision involving a delivery van and a woman on a service road outside The Ark on Talgarth Road, W6.

    Emergency services attended and provided first aid. The woman was taken to hospital where she remains due to her serious injuries.

    The van driver who stopped at the scene was not arrested. They are co-operating with police officers and the investigation.

    Detectives from the Roads and Transport Policing Command are leading the investigation.

    Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information or footage should contact the witness line on 020 8543 5157 or call police on 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting 3378/30Oct.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MedSafetyWeek 2025: Preventing side effects 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The ninth annual #MedSafetyWeek takes place this week, with regulators from 94 countries and 107 organisations taking part across the globe. 

    #MedSafetyWeek forms part of international efforts to raise awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects to national medicines regulatory authorities such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).  

    This year’s campaign, which runs from 4 to 10 November, focuses on the importance of using medicines correctly to prevent side effects. 

    This means taking the right medicines, at the right time, in the right way and at the right dose, and carefully following instructions for use of medical devices. Following these steps can drastically reduce the risk of some side effects and safety issues.  

    When side effects do arise, this MedSafetyWeek, we ask that they are reported directly to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme and local reporting systems as soon as possible. Anyone can make a report: patients, parents, carers and healthcare professionals.  

    Reporting to the scheme allows the MHRA to not only identify new adverse effects but also gain more information about known adverse effects. This helps to improve the safety of medicines and healthcare products for all patients. 

    Safety concerns about medical devices, blood factor and immunoglobulin products, e-cigarettes and defective, low-quality or fake healthcare products should also be reported on the Yellow Card website. 

    This year’s MedSafetyWeek theme of ‘preventing side effects’ aligns with the third World Health Organization (WHO) Global Patient Safety Challenge: Medication Without Harm.  

    Preventable side effects contribute significantly to an increasing burden on patients and healthcare services, with studies consistently showing that between one third and a half may be potentially preventable.  

    Anticipating and managing side effects is key to reducing this burden and protecting patients from avoidable harm.  

    Please support #MedSafetyWeek by sharing, liking and reposting our social media posts: 

    Yellow Card scheme 

    In the UK, the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme is a critical source of information for us as the regulator to monitor the safety of healthcare products once they are on the market.   

    Importantly, Yellow Card reports can help to identify previously unknown side effects – or adverse drug reactions (ADRs) – and provide new safety knowledge to ensure risk is minimised.  

    Examples include a report of a three-month-old baby who was prescribed Gaviscon Infant to manage reflux and two days later had severe constipation. 

    MHRA experts investigated the report and found six other reports of constipation with Gaviscon Infant in children. The ages of the patients varied between two weeks and nine months, except for one child who was a one-year-old.  

    As the medicine is indicated for children aged one to two years, it appeared that in the vast majority of these cases the product had been prescribed by a healthcare professional in an unapproved patient age group. 

    It was decided that regulatory action was needed to make the product information clearer with the relevant warnings and precautions. 

    Yellow Card Biobank 

    The Yellow Card Biobank is an MHRA and Genomics England pilot project with the goal of increasing understanding of how a patients’ genetic makeup may increase their risk of side effects from prescribed medications.  

    The MHRA is currently looking for patients who have experienced severe skin reactions when taking allopurinol or severe bleeding when taking direct oral anticoagulants to join the study, before mid-January 2025. 

    If you or your patient have experienced a side effect to either of these drugs please complete a Yellow Card report. If you have any questions on the Biobank study, please email Yellowcardbiobank@mhra.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: St Austell angler fined for not having a rod licence

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    It would have been cheaper for an angler to have bought a rod licence after he was caught and fined.

    Money raised from the sale of rod licences supports the sport, fish stock and pays for improvements

    William Greaves, 39, from Moorland Road, St Austell, pleaded guilty to fishing without a rod licence at Bilberry Lake, St Austell. He was fined £40 and ordered to pay a £16 victim surcharge at Swindon Magistrates Court on 29 October 2024.  

    Benjamin Pessl, Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, said: 

    Money from rod licence sales is put back where it came from to improve the experience of anglers and fisheries. Not doing that cheats everyone. 

    Buying a rod licence is not expensive. Always check your licence is in date before you go out fishing

    Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence. A 1-day licence costs from just £6 and an annual licence costs from just £30 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 – 16-year-olds. Licences are available from www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. 

    The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported. 

    Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

    Background

    William Greaves was charged with: 

    On 21 April 2024 at Bilberry Lake, St Austell, in a place where fishing is regulated fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line, contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of Bishop of Coventry: 4 November 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster to be appointed as Bishop of Coventry.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster to be appointed as Bishop of Coventry, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth following his appointment as Dean of Windsor.

    Background

    Sophie was educated at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford and trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. She served her title at St Peter’s, Shipley, in the former Diocese of Bradford (now in the Diocese of Leeds) and was ordained priest in 1998.

    She took up the role of Mission Partner with the Church Mission Society in 2000, serving at Uganda Christian University in Mukono, before returning to the UK in 2003 to take up the role of Resident Minister of St John the Evangelist, Churt with Rushmoor, in the Diocese of Guildford. In 2010, Sophie was appointed Vicar of St Andrew’s, Burgess Hill, in the Diocese of Chichester, and from 2013 was additionally Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands. In 2015, Sophie was appointed Canon Missioner of Durham Cathedral and Diocesan Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry, in the Diocese of Durham.

    In 2020, Sophie took up her current role as Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster, in the Diocese of Sheffield

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nature’s role in economy

    Source: Scottish Government

    Jobs and sectors dependent on sustainable natural world.

    Scotland’s natural assets contribute more than £40 billion to the economy and support around 260,000 jobs, according to new research. 

    The Importance of Natural Capital to the Scottish Economy report highlights the vital economic contribution the natural world makes to Scotland and highlights the value of the ecosystems and the services they provide. 

    Important industries such as agriculture, fishing and aquaculture, forestry, water, food and drink and renewables all rely upon the continued availability of high-quality natural resources.

    The research investigates the economic impact of natural capital, which is defined as “the renewable and non-renewable stocks of natural assets, including geology, soil, air, water and plants and animals that combine to yield a flow of benefits to people.” 

    The Scottish Government conducted the research to provide the most up-to-date reflection of the true value of nature to the Scottish economy, as it is often undervalued or not included in economic assessments. The study demonstrates the link between the threats to Scotland’s economic performance, and the economic opportunity associated with increasing nature dependent sectors.

    The Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) makes clear that working with and investing in nature is a top priority of Scotland’s wellbeing economy. 

    Speaking while visiting Blackthorn Salt in Ayrshire, which produces salt through filtering sea water, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:  

    “This research reinforces the vital role of our natural capital in supporting many of our vital industries – a connection that is often under-represented when we look at economic performance. Blackthorn Salt is an excellent example of a business that is dependent on natural capital, using sustainable, traditional methods to produce an exceptional products that provides jobs and can be found in kitchens across the country and beyond.

    “The twin crises of climate change and nature loss are inextricably linked, nature offers some of the best ways to protect us from the worst impacts of climate change, so it is essential that we work with partners across the public sector and private investors to protect biodiversity and reduce our emissions as we support sustainable businesses utilising our incredible landscapes and ecosystems.”

    NatureScot Chief Executive, Francesca Osowska said:

    “Nature is vital for our quality of life and that of future generations. In Scotland we are fortunate to have rich and varied landscapes and habitats, with individuals and businesses willing to step up to the challenge of stopping nature loss with hard work and investment.

    “NatureScot is responding to this urgent need with leadership of vital programmes such as the £250m Peatland ACTION fund, the £65m Nature Restoration Fund and the innovative new Facility for Investment Ready Nature Scotland (FIRNS) which aims to both restore nature and benefit communities. “

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tung Chung water supply resumes

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The fresh water supply of Tung Chung Town area was gradually resumed from about 10am today, Director of Water Supplies Roger Wong said.

    Due to emergency repair works on a fresh water pipe at Cheung Tung Road near Siu Ho Wan Water Treatment Works of Lantau Island, the area’s fresh water supply was affected from 10pm yesterday.

    Around 120,000 Tung Chung residents were affected, Mr Wong told a media session.

    The department’s preliminary investigation found that the pipe involved was watermain with a diameter of 1,200mm, which supplies potable water to the Tung Chung area.

    The department will thorougly investigate the incident and compile a report to the Development Bureau as early as possible.

    Mr Wong noted that the failure mode is very rare, as the leakage occurred at the bottom of the pipe.

    “Normally it is on the top side or both sides of the pipe because this is the area that is subject to most vibrations from the traffic.”

    He also explained why the expected time of water resumption was postponed from 6am to 10am and apologised for any confusion caused.

    “Because of the complicatedness of the work and also the large scale resumption of water, we needed to do extra flushing in order to ensure the quality of water to the public. We had to adjust the water resumption time in the morning. We should apologise to the residents of Tung Chung.”

    Mr Wong added that seven water trucks and 60 water tanks were dispatched to provide an emergency water supply to the affected users during the incident.

    Given the severity of the incident and the extensive area affected, an emergency response mechanism was activated in collaboration with relevant government departments to handle the situation swiftly.

    About 80 members from seven District Services & Community Care Teams worked overnight in the affected estates and villages to assist the residents.

    The Home Affairs Department has been closely monitoring the situation and dispatched staff to the scene to inspect and co-ordinate.

    The Housing Department has also been in close contact with the Water Supplies Department.

    Additionally, the relevant property services offices and management offices immediately issued emergency notices to inform the affected residents and distributed bottled water.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CHP investigates case of severe paediatric enterovirus infection

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (November 4) investigating a case of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) infection, and again urged the public and institutions to maintain strict hand, personal and environmental hygiene.
     
         The case involves a 12-year-old boy with congenital heart disease. He developed fever and seizure on October 31. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Caritas Medical Centre and was admitted for management on the same day. The patient is now in a stable condition.
     
         A laboratory test of his cerebrospinal fluid specimen was positive for EV. The clinical diagnosis was meningitis.
     
         Initial enquiries by the CHP revealed that the patient had no travel history during the incubation period. His father and mother developed upper respiratory tract infection symptoms two weeks ago and have both already recovered. His other home contacts have remained asymptomatic. The school he attends has had no reported outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease. The CHP’s investigations are ongoing.
     
         A spokesman for the CHP said that as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, the public should be vigilant and observe the following preventive measures:
     

    Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet and changing diapers;
    Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
    Maintain good ventilation; and
    Thoroughly clean toys or appliances that are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.

     
         Children suffering from EV infection should stay at home and avoid contact with other children until they have recovered.
     
         The public may visit the CHP’s page on hand, foot and mouth disease and EV71 infection for more information. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Aerospike Database on Kubernetes Enabled 95 Million Transactions per Second on E-commerce Platform for Festive Sale

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aerospike Inc. (“Aerospike”), the real-time database, announced that Flipkart, India’s homegrown e-commerce marketplace, sustained performance of its in-house Aerospike database platform at a rate of 95 million transactions per second (TPS) supporting its annual flagship, The Big Billion Days (TBBD).

    Flipkart continues to set new benchmarks in e-commerce by transforming the way India shops online during the festive season. To deliver a superior e-commerce experience to the world’s most populous nation, multiple application teams at Flipkart leveraged Aerospike and its Kubernetes Operator, Aerospike Kubernetes Operator (AKO). This combination ensures low-latency, high-throughput database operations at sustained performance levels rarely seen anywhere in the world, powering use cases that require sub-millisecond query times.

    Operational Efficiency and Cost Optimization

    By automating database management and scaling with AKO, Flipkart optimizes resource utilization, reducing infrastructure costs while efficiently handling peak loads without overprovisioning. This ensures Flipkart delivers a cost-effective, world-class e-commerce experience.

    Global Availability and High Resilience

    Aerospike assures high availability and resilience across distributed operations, which is critical for a large-scale event. Aerospike empowers businesses to operate with confidence, knowing their infrastructure can handle massive demand. AKO enhances this with self-healing capabilities and built-in redundancy, ensuring resilience in case of failure—critical for a seamless customer experience.

    A Breakthrough for Kubernetes in Hyperscale Data Operations

    “While Kubernetes initially rose to popularity for its ability to run stateless microservices, Flipkart’s success with the Aerospike Kubernetes Operator validates the use of the container orchestration system for operating durable data platforms at hyperscale,” said Srini Srinivasan, PhD, CTO and founder of Aerospike. “The achievements of Flipkart are incredible—there are very few companies in the world that work on this level of transactional throughput.”

    The Aerospike Kubernetes Operator continues to rapidly grow among customers in all sectors and geographies. In the past 12 months, Aerospike has added capabilities to AKO, making it easier to automate all aspects of operating, upgrading, backing up and restoring, and scaling up and down database clusters.

    Read about the latest enhancements to the Aerospike Kubernetes Operator for empowering operations teams.

    About Aerospike

    Aerospike is the real-time database built for infinite scale, speed, and savings. Our customers are ready for what’s next with the lowest latency and the highest throughput data platform. Cloud- and AI-forward, we empower leading organizations like Adobe, Airtel, Criteo, DBS Bank, Experian, Flipkart, PayPal, Snap, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, our offices include London, Bangalore, and Tel Aviv.

    Aerospike is a registered trademark of Aerospike, Inc.

    Contact:
    John Moran
    Look Left Marketing
    aerospike@lookleftmarketing.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Tanzania marks record agricultural achievement as African Development Bank President Adesina urges investment in Africa

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    DES MOINES, United States of America, November 4, 2024/APO Group/ —

    • Tanzania achieves 128% food self-sufficiency, one of continent’s two successful cashew nut processors
    • If you are not investing in Africa, what are you doing? – Akinwumi Adesina

    Tanzania is setting new benchmarks in food self-sufficiency across Africa, raising hope that the fight against hunger and malnutrition on the continent is achievable.

    President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania said her country had reached 128 percent food security and is now exporting surplus to neighbouring countries.  

    She was speaking on Thursday 31 October during a high-level session at the World Food Prize Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue in Iowa, moderated by the president of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina. The session, entitled “Bold Measures to Feed Africa,” also featured the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio.

    President Suluhu Hassan told a packed auditorium, that after achieving food sufficiency, “we are now working on quality, accessibility and affordability, and how to minimize post-harvest loses.”

    Adesina praised President Suluhu Hassan’s leadership and strong political will for Tanzania’s success. He said the growing commitment of other African nations, underscores the continent’s readiness for large-scale investment in agriculture and food production.

    He recalled how the African Development Bank’s 2023 Dakar 2 Food Summit ignited commitment across Africa for country-specific food and agriculture compacts. The summit, co-hosted by the government of Senegal and the African Union, was attended by 34 African Heads of State and Government. It has mobilized more than $72 billion to date.

    President Suluhu Hassan said Tanzania left Dakar 2 summit with a signed compact and determination to implement increasing productivity as well as the political will to create institutions and support structures for its farmers.

    “We realized that not investing in agriculture is much more costly than investing in the sector,” she said.

    Tanzania has broken another record by becoming a processor and net exporter of cashew nuts, which for nearly all African countries, are processed in Asia. The country has also succeeded in rural electrification with nearly 100 percent of its 12,300 villages with electricity, President Suluhu Hassan said.

    Backed by investment from the African Development Bank, Tanzania’s Creating jobs for Youth and Women programme is targeting the country’s 65% youth population with training in farming, agriculture, livestock and crop farming.

    The Tanzanian leader said each youth is given 10 acres of land and is supported by training, already 11,000 have benefitted and this year’s harvest has begun. “We thank the African Development Bank for supporting that program,” she said.

    Joining Adesina on stage, President Bio of Sierra Leone shared his country’s success with the Feed Salone program, which has cut rice imports by 20 million tons and spurred agricultural productivity.

    Until then the nation had not paid enough attention to food security and Bio said he had focused on education during his first term. “Agriculture is the basis of development,” President Bio stated.

    The Feed Salone programme has helped boost agricultural productivity to feed the nation and to enable them export. “Already we have reduced rice imports by 20 million tons,” he said.

    “We are here to share the Sierra Leone story and invite investors. We are an ambitious nation and want to succeed to attract investors,” President Bio said.

    Adesina highlighted the African Development Bank’s efforts to reshape global perceptions of Africa and drive investment in critical sectors like agriculture.

    He said the event and the Africa Dialogue, also hosted by the African Development Bank in Iowa, was intended to break stereotypes and showcase Africa’s potential, a continent that is home to 65% of the world’s remaining arable land and has the technology to turn Africa into a global food basket.

    “This is why we bring African leaders here so you can hear from them directly,” Adesina said.

    The 2024 Norman E. Borlaug Dialogue gathers experts worldwide to inspire innovative solutions to global hunger. This year’s theme, “Seeds of Opportunity, Bridging Generations and Cultivating Diplomacy,” champions collaboration, legacy, and hope in the fight for food security.

    Adesina recalled the words of Norman E. Borlaug to him shortly before his death in 2009 at 95 years old.

    “He told me keep on scoring goals for Africa,” Adesina said. “If you are not investing in Africa, what are you doing?”

    Learn more about the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa High 5 priority here (http://apo-opa.co/4htLM6p).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: Appointment of Bishop of Coventry: 4 November 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster to be appointed as Bishop of Coventry.

    The King has approved the nomination of The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster to be appointed as Bishop of Coventry, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth following his appointment as Dean of Windsor.

    Background

    Sophie was educated at the Universities of Leeds and Oxford and trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. She served her title at St Peter’s, Shipley, in the former Diocese of Bradford (now in the Diocese of Leeds) and was ordained priest in 1998.

    She took up the role of Mission Partner with the Church Mission Society in 2000, serving at Uganda Christian University in Mukono, before returning to the UK in 2003 to take up the role of Resident Minister of St John the Evangelist, Churt with Rushmoor, in the Diocese of Guildford. In 2010, Sophie was appointed Vicar of St Andrew’s, Burgess Hill, in the Diocese of Chichester, and from 2013 was additionally Assistant Diocesan Director of Ordinands. In 2015, Sophie was appointed Canon Missioner of Durham Cathedral and Diocesan Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry, in the Diocese of Durham.

    In 2020, Sophie took up her current role as Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster, in the Diocese of Sheffield

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Election called for Leicester’s next Young People’s Council

    Source: City of Leicester

    SCHOOLS and community groups have this week begun the process of selecting and electing candidates for Leicester’s next Young People’s Council.

    The Young People’s Council aims to provide a voice for young people in the city by ensuring their views are represented in the local decision-making processes that affect them.

    Young people, who must be living or attending school in Leicester, can stand for election with their school, college, youth group or community group where they will need to campaign for votes to win a seat on the Young People’s Council.

    Voting will take place in the participating schools and community groups over the coming weeks with all elected candidates due to attend a swearing-in ceremony at the Town Hall Council Chambers early in the new year.

    Deputy city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell said: “Leicester’s Young People’s Council is a fantastic opportunity for young people. It gives them the space and opportunity to influence decision-makers, voice their opinions to a wide range of audiences and know that their contributions are being valued and heard.

    “Being a member of the Young People’s Council is also a great way to build confidence, meet friends and learn new skills.

    “Perhaps most importantly though, the Young People’s Council provides a valuable perspective on the issues and plans that we need to consider as a council, particularly around services for children and young people.”

    Sera Shortland, head of citizenship at new College Leicester, said: “As a school we have taken part in the YPC elections for many years. Young people have a lot to offer democracy, being the future of the country. They bring fresh perspectives, energy, and ideas and want to get involved in decision-making and so it’s important that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that will affect them.

    “When young people have access to decision-makers and are offered opportunities through such a brilliant initiative, it has the potential to change lives. Hopefully, this will have a ripple effect on other young people, who will go out and vote in the future.”  

    The Young People’s Council meets monthly at City Hall to discuss issues affecting young people and discuss actions to tackle them. Members will also be invited to sit at agreed scrutiny committees and work with local councillors to offer young people’s surgeries and attend some community meetings.

    Candidates must be aged between 11 and 19 years old, or up to 25 years old for young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).

    Young People’s Council members can hold their seats for up to two years.

    The selection and election process for the next Young People’s Council launched today (Monday 4 Nov) with about 35 local schools and community groups already signed up to participate.

    Leicester’s Young People’s Council is organised by the city council rights and participation service. This aims to support and empower young people to be involved in and shape decisions that affect their lives, including how the council plans, delivers and evaluates services for children, young people and parents.

    Sam Merry, rights and participation service manager at Leicester City Council added: “The Young Peoples Council is a well-established and highly regarded forum within the city council. Its reach within the local authority helps to demonstrate to young people that they do have a right to be heard and to influence decisions that affect them.

    “We’re very excited to launch the election period the next Young People’s Council.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: START-Ed initiative meeting | UNECE

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    WP.6 recommends Governments to encourage education establishments to introduce standardization into their curricula and particularly within universities for students studying law, economics and management.

    WP.6 established the initiative on Education on standardization (START-Ed) at its twenty-second session in November 2012. This initiative groups together experts from academia to promote good practices and to share national experience.

    START-Ed Group has elaborated a model programme on education on standardization and relevant teaching materials; a number of universities in the UNECE region already used these tools and have started teaching standardization to their students.

    During the regular meetings of the initiative there are invited guest speakers from academic institutions elaborating on their work and discussing and progressing START-Ed work items. All WP.6 START-Ed members and interested experts are welcome to join these meetings.

    Draft Agenda

    Time

    Agenda item

    Moderator/Speakers

    14:00 – 14:02

    Welcome and approval of the agenda

    WP.6 Secretariat

    Tauno Kangur

    14:02 – 14:07

    Reminder or WP.6 procedures

    WP.6 Secretariat

    14:07 – 14:37

    Invited guest speaker: Prof. Vladislav Fomin (Vilnius University) – 30 minutes (15 minutes presentation followed by discussion / QA)

    Prof. Vladislav Fomin,

    participants

    14:37 – 15:07

    Invited guest speaker: Prof. Philippe le Coustumer (Université de Bordeaux, expert AFNOR/ISO) – 30 minutes (15 minutes presentation followed by discussion / QA)

    Prof. Philippe le Coustumer, participants

    15:07 – 15:37

    Invited guest speaker: Prof. Sandra Feliciano (Porto Polytechnic) – 30 minutes (15 minutes presentation followed by discussion / QA)

    Prof. Sandra Feliciano, participants

    15:37 – 15:52

    Future activities of START-Ed

    Coordinator, Secretariat, meeting participants

    15:52 – 15:57

    Any other business

    Coordinator

    Secretariat

    15:57

    Next meeting

     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shenzhou-18 mission returns samples for extraterrestrial habitation research

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

    BEIJING, Nov. 4 — The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft has returned to Earth with 34.6 kilograms of space station experimental samples, encompassing microorganisms, alloy materials and nanomaterials that are difficult to prepare on Earth, the Science and Technology Daily reported on Monday.

    The retrieved samples are poised to advance the development of space fiber lasers, facilitate the creation of extraterrestrial materials and explore the prospects of Earth life spreading through the cosmos.

    The Shenzhou-18’s return capsule, carrying three Chinese astronauts, returned to Earth in the early morning on Monday, after completing a six-month space station mission.

    The scientific experimental samples brought back by the spacecraft included a total of 55 types, spanning 28 science projects across areas such as space life sciences, space materials science and microgravity combustion science.

    The life science specimens comprise methane-generating archaea, radiation-resistant microbes and microorganisms that inhabit rocks. These are anticipated to lay the scientific groundwork for investigating the potential habitability of extraterrestrial environments and to assess the capacity of microorganisms to adapt to the challenges of outer space.

    Part of the returned samples are high-temperature resistant alloys, fiber optics and optical coatings. These innovative materials hold the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing of next-generation aerospace turbine blades, space-adapted fiber lasers and precision medical repairs.

    The spacecraft also returned nanoparticles derived from methane combustion, which are intended to facilitate the future synthesis of critical particulate materials for extraterrestrial environments.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Main venue for 7th CIIE

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



    Main venue for 7th CIIE

    Updated: November 4, 2024 17:24 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. The 7th CIIE will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 4, 2024 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Exhibitors prepare for products display at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A volunteer poses for photos at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows a view of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A volunteer poses for photos at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Volunteers pose for photos at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China’s Shanghai, Nov. 4, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Business “ready to support” UK with £500m investment following Chancellor’s first budget

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    US firm confirms £500m investment in biomedical research, supporting government’s plan to attract private investment and grow the UK economy.

    • New biomedical hubs will create over 2000 new jobs and boost scientific discoveries which will save lives
    • Expansion of world-leading research laboratories in Cambridge set to inject millions of pounds into British economy every year

    A US firm has announced a £500 million investment into a UK research campus following the Chancellor’s first budget, supporting government plans to attract private investment and its industrial strategy.

    The investment from San Francisco-based developer Prologis will create thousands of jobs, spearhead lifesaving biomedical breakthroughs and generate millions of pounds for the British economy every year. It comes just two days after the Budget pledged to unleash private investment to kickstart economic growth.

    The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has welcomed the vote of confidence from business, which will expand a centre of excellence for medical research in Cambridge.

    The Prologis investment funds a 115,000 square ft expansion to Cambridge Biomedical Campus – a world-leading biomedical cluster which currently generates £4.2 billion each year for the UK economy.

    The new development will house high-tech labs, supporting clinical trials and diagnostic services. It will inject millions into the British economy every year and create over 2,120 highly-skilled jobs – in roles from research to diagnostic.

    The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is a world-leading life sciences cluster for biomedical research, healthcare, and education, which combines collaborations among academia, industry, and healthcare.

    Research conducted at Cambridge Biomedical Campus addresses the most pressing global healthcare challenges, including developing techniques for spotting cancer early and understanding dementia – while contributing significantly to the economy and currently employing over 22,000 staff, many of whom are in highly-skilled roles.

    Today’s announcement from Prologis also builds on the £63 billion worth of investments secured at government’s record breaking International Investment Summit last month – creating 38,000 jobs in the UK.

    Securing investment is central to the government’s mission to deliver economic growth which will create jobs, improve living standards, and make communities and families across the country better off.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    This investment from Prologis – just two days after this government’s first Budget – is a vote of confidence in our plan for the UK economy.

    After also attracting £63bn at the International Investment Summit, it’s clear Britain is back in business. Economic growth is my number one mission, and unleashing private investment will play a major role in kickstarting it.

    Paul Weston, Regional Head at Prologis UK, said:

    There is a lot riding on this pivotal first Budget and strong support from the private sector to follow through on investment pledges will be critical. The government’s commitment to unlock Foreign Direct Investment matches our own focus on partnering with public and private stakeholders to invest and deliver the infrastructure needed for sustainable, long-term growth. 

    Steps already taken through the launch of the National Planning Policy Framework and the Green Paper for the Industrial Strategy are paving the way for a stronger, more resilient industrial base. These initiatives will ensure the UK remains at the forefront of industrial innovation and Prologis are ready to support the government’s ambitions, providing the spaces that can unlock growth and development.   

    We look forward to furthering our collaboration and investment activity, ensuring the UK continues to lead on a global stage.

    Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said:

    The UK’s life sciences sector is central to our ambitions for the UK – from driving economic growth through to saving and improving lives through better treatments. 

    Major investments like this from Prologis, bringing the sector’s largest global companies under one roof in Cambridge, is another vote of confidence in the UK’s approach to long-term growth.

    Coming just days after the Chancellor raised public funding for R&D to record levels, this underlines how this Government is in lockstep with business in our joint ambition to make sure everyone in the UK benefits from advances in science and technology.

    The government is delivering its growth mission by prioritising stability, investment, and reform to drive prosperity across the UK. The Budget takes the difficult decisions to put the public finances on a sustainable path to create the conditions for growth, and to create a stable economic environment for businesses to invest.

    Supported by the new fiscal framework, the Budget increases public investment by more than £100 billion over the next five years to boost growth and help crowd in private investment in the long run. This includes investing in transport, kickstarting the delivery of 1.5 million homes, supporting new industries and job creation, and protecting record R&D funding through a record £20.4 billion investment.

    The government will also work in partnership with the private sector to further increase investment. The government has created the National Wealth Fund to catalyse over £70 billion of private investment, set out plans for a modern Industrial Strategy to support investment in growth-driving sectors.

    The government has also published a Corporate Tax Roadmap to provide businesses the certainty they have called for. This confirms our commitment to cap the rate of Corporation Tax at 25% – the lowest in the G7 – for the duration of this parliament while maintaining full expensing and the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance and keeping the current rates of research and development reliefs, to drive innovation. 

    The Chancellor also set out how this government will transform the way it delivers infrastructure, including publishing a 10-year infrastructure strategy, establishing the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, delivering ambitious planning reform. 

    At last month’s investment summit, the Prime Minister also committed to get rid of regulation that needlessly holds back investment and to upgrade the UK’s regulatory regime to make it fit for the modern age and ensure it’s not acting as a barrier for growth.

    The Budget has set out a clear plan to fix the foundations of the economy and begin a decade of national renewal by protecting working people, fixing the NHS, and boosting investment to deliver growth and prosperity for all parts of the country.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dons player delivers refurbished football boots to Northfield Academy

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Aberdeen Football Club player Angus MacDonald and Aberdeen FC Community Trust (AFCCT) visited pupils at Northfield Academy to deliver refurbished football boots on Thursday 31 October. The visit was a part of a CIF initiative called Re-Kicks that aims to provide ‘free kicks’ to budding young players in Aberdeen helping them to feel pitch ready.

    A call for old football boots was shared at the end of last season with a range of sizes being generously donated to the cause which were then sent to CIF to repair. The boots are cleaned and regenerated into match-ready pairs and sent back to organisations that are included in the initiative. Thanks to CIF, Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust received 50 pairs of boots to send out to partner schools.

    During his visit to the academy, Angus MacDonald got a chance to see the project in full swing with the Northfield pupils playing a football match. Following the football match, the pupils then had an opportunity to ask the centre-back about his footballing career. The questions ranged from childhood stories to experiencing the atmosphere at Aberdeen FC’s home, Pittodrie Stadium.

    Councillor Martin Greig, the Convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Research has shown that young people feel more confident when they are wearing the right kit, and the refurbished football boots will enable more young people at Northfield Academy to enjoy football. Who knows, it might even lead a pupil going on to become a future international footballer, like former Northfield Academy pupils Martin Boyle and Rachael Boyle (nee Small).”

    AFCCT is grateful for the opportunity from CIF to give the gift of football to partner schools with this Re-Kicks project. A huge thank you to CIF for their continued support on this initiative.

    To find out more information, contact AFCCT at: info@afcct.org 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: One month after the tragic school bus crash in Khu Khot, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety to promote and launch the UN-JCDecaux campaign for road safety in Thailand

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Bangkok from 30 October to 6 November 2024. During his visit, he will meet with the Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, key government officials, representatives of the international community, private, and public sectors to promote road safety initiatives and advocate for enhanced measures, particularly on wearing quality helmets. His visit will be also the occasion to launch the UN-JCDecaux campaign #MakeASafetyStatement in the country.  The Special Envoy will also speak at the UNESCAP/Alliance française Road Safety Seminar on 4 November.  This aligns with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, aiming to halve road fatalities by 2030.

    The visit of the Special envoy comes one month after the tragic bus road crash which caught fire while travelling on an outbound lane in Khu Khot in the Pathum Thani Province, resulting in 23 deaths of which were mainly school students.

    The silent pandemic

    Every year, the staggering toll of road-related fatalities claims the lives of 1.19 million people, leaving countless others with severe injuries. This silent pandemic overwhelmingly affects developing nations, where over 90% of the road traffic fatalities occur. Furthermore, road crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years.  

    According to the World Health Organization, road crashes kill 18,218 people in Thailand each year, representing a road traffic fatality rate of 25/100,000 population, while the rate is in 15.7/100,000 in South-East Asia and 6.5/100,000 in Europe (WHO 2021). Despite the recent efforts of the country, Thailand is still ranked on the top worst countries in term of road fatalities.  This is therefore urgent to act for increasing road safety in the country.

    “Every life lost to preventable road accidents is a tragedy that reverberates through our communities and our country. This recent tragedy has reminded us of the urgent need for effective and sustained action. Road safety is not merely a matter of law enforcement but a shared societal responsibility. We owe it to our citizens, especially our children, to make our roads safer“, stated the new Prime Minister, H.E. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

    Road crashes have a significant social and economic burden, particularly in Thailand.  “In addition to the human tragedy, road crashes trap countries into a vicious circle of poverty, costing till 6% of the GDP. Given their social and economic cost, road crashes are jeopardizing the entire sustainable development agenda. Now is the time for change, and I am looking forward to working with the Government of Thailand to stop the carnage on the roads.” stressed the UNSG’s Special Envoy Todt.

    Wearing a safe helmet

    If the causes of road crashes are multiple such as the non-reliability of the vehicles and of the road’s infrastructure and design, the lack of post-crashes services, weaknesses in the road safety management, a dangerous road user’s behavior is still one of the main reasons costing lives on the road. On the mitigation of the risk factors for the road users, wearing a helmet responding to the UN standards is definitively a game changer. Wearing a quality helmet can reduce the risk of injuries by 69%.

    Knowing that Thailand has the highest rate of motorcycle-related deaths in the world, representing more than 70% of the road traffic fatalities in the country, wearing a safe helmet is an absolute emergency.              

    #MakeASafetyStatement

    During his visit in Thailand, the Special Envoy will launch the UN Global Road Safety Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of life-saving road safety measures. Launched globally in cooperation with JCDecaux Global under the motto #MakeASafetyStatement, it will run through 2025 in over 80 countries in the world.   

    The campaign seeks to reduce risk factors, especially in urban areas, enabling people to walk, live, and enjoy their environment safely.  Sixteen global, and dozens of national, celebrities have joined forces to advocate for simple and effective road safety rules.  Key messages include wearing a seat belt, driving safely, wearing a helmet, not texting and driving, not driving under the influence or while tired, and respecting pedestrians.

    Participating celebrities in the campaign include Football Legend Mr. Didier Drogba, F1 Driver Mr. Charles Leclerc, Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Ms. Michelle Yeoh, Tennis Legend Mr. Novak Djokovic, Musician Ms. Kylie Minogue, Motorcycle racer Mr. Marc Marquez, Supermodel Ms. Naomi Campbell, Actor Mr. Patrick Dempsey, Musician and Inspirational leader Mr. Youssou N’Dour, Actress Ms. Julie Gayet, Actor Mr. Michael Fassbender, Football icon Mr. Ousmane Dembélé, Double Olympic Champion Ms. Faith Kipyegon, F1 Driver Mr. Mick Schumacher, Actor Jean Reno and Cyclist Champion Tadej Podacar.

    Risk factors that are too often neglected                                                                                                                 

    Only seven countries in the world (France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden) have laws that comply with WHO best practices for all the risk factors – speeding, drink driving, UN-standard motorbike helmet use, seatbelts and child restraint systems.

    Media representatives are cordially invited to cover the launch of the campaign, mission and Memorandum of Agreement on Road Safety Cooperation between the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Public Health at the press conference on 6 November 2024 at 1.30 PM at the Ministry of Transport (Ratcharotsamosorn Assembly Hall) in Bangkok, with:

    • Mr. Suriya Jungroongruangkit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport
    • Mr. Somsak Thepsutin, Minister of Public Health
    • Mr. Jean Todt, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for road safety,   
    • Ms. Michaela Friberg-Storey, UN Resident Coordinator to Thailand, presents the work of the UN in road safety in Thailand.
    • Mr. Arnaud de Ruffray, President of JCDecaux Thailand presents the UN-JCDecaux campaign for road safety in Thailand.
    • Ms. Saisunee Jana, Paralympic gold Medalist

     

    About the Special Envoy

    The former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). The Special Envoy contributes, among other things, to mobilize sustained political commitment to make road safety a priority; to advocate and raise awareness of UN legal instruments on road safety; to share established good practices in this area; to strive to generate adequate funding through strategic partnerships between the public, private and non-governmental sectors. Special Envoy brochure and X account.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Update on cluster of Candida auris cases in Princess Margaret Hospital

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Update on cluster of Candida auris cases in Princess Margaret Hospital
    Update on cluster of Candida auris cases in Princess Margaret Hospital
    **********************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:     Regarding an earlier announcement on Candida auris carrier cases, the spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital made the following update today (November 4):      Following a contact tracing investigation, one more patient, an 83-year-old male in a Medicine and Geriatrics ward, was identified as a carrier of Candida auris without signs of infection. The patient is now being treated in isolation and is in stable condition.      The ward concerned has adopted the following enhanced infection control measures: 

    Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures;
    Applied stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene of staff and patients; and
    Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned.

          The hospital has reported the case to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up and will continue to closely monitor the situation.

     
    Ends/Monday, November 4, 2024Issued at HKT 18:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo to debate motion on further enhancing housing ladder

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LegCo to debate motion on further enhancing housing ladder
    LegCo to debate motion on further enhancing housing ladder
    **********************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:       The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (November 6) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on further enhancing the housing ladder. The motion, moved by Mr Vincent Cheng, is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Louis Loong, Mr Leung Man-kwong, Ms Joephy Chan, Dr Wendy Hong, Mr Kenneth Leung and Dr So Cheung-wing will move separate amendments to Mr Cheng’s motion.       Ms Doreen Kong will also move a motion on implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and earnestly addressing people’s concerns and difficulties in daily life. The motion is set out in Appendix 2. Dr Johnny Ng, Dr So Cheung-wing, Dr Hoey Simon Lee and Professor Priscilla Leung will move separate amendments to Ms Kong’s motion.       Meanwhile, Mr Ma Fung-kwok will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislation. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 3.       Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.            The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

     
    Ends/Monday, November 4, 2024Issued at HKT 18:35

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by DSJ at Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024 (English only) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following are the closing remarks by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024 under Hong Kong Legal Week 2024 today (November 4):Professor Ignacio Tirado (Professor Ignacio Tirado, Secretary-General of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,      It is a great honour for me to deliver the closing remarks of the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024, a remarkable event co-organised by UNIDROIT and the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.      I am especially delighted to see Ignacio and Anna (the Deputy Secretary-General of UNIDROIT, Professor Anna Veneziano) again in person today. It brings back my memories of my visit to UNIDROIT’s Secretariat in the beautiful city of Rome last year, where I attended an insightful conference co-organised by UNIDROIT and the Chinese Embassy in Italy. I still recall the generous hospitality extended to me by Ignacio and Anna during my visit. I sincerely hope that we have been able to reciprocate that same warmth and hospitality during your time here in Hong Kong.     Today’s Summit has been nothing short of inspiring. We have been privileged to hear insightful presentations from distinguished officials, industry players and experts from Hong Kong and overseas, including high-level officials from several renowned international organisations of UNIDROIT, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Hague Conference on Private International Law. We are also honoured to have had a senior official from Mongolia to share her insights, which have further enriched our discussions.     The quality and depth of these presentations have been commendable, addressing critical issues pertinent to the evolving landscape of international private law. The topics explored by our expert panellists are both timely and relevant not only to Hong Kong, but also to the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. I am confident that the insights shared today will contribute significantly to ongoing discussions within our legal communities and other stakeholders.      As we reflect on today’s Summit, one overarching theme has particularly stood out, that is the importance of legal certainty and predictability. In an increasingly globalised world, where cross-border transactions are growing in volume and complexity, the harmonisation and modernisation of private law are more important and essential than ever. Reducing legal uncertainties is not merely an academic or technical exercise. It directly benefits businesses by enabling them to operate with greater confidence and facilitating smooth cross-border commercial activities. Legal certainty and predictability fostered by international private law will therefore be a “springboard to opportunities” for the Asia-Pacific region, as encapsulated in the theme of today’s Summit. Panel 1: Harnessing Opportunities from Digital Assets, Tokenisation and Carbon Credits      In our first panel, we delved into the need for a consistent approach to the legal treatment of digital assets across jurisdictions.      The advent of technologies such as distributed ledgers has paved the way for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, which are now integral to various sectors of our economy and financial markets.     In order to unlock the potential of the digital economy, a clear and certain legal framework is vital. Such clarity instils trust in technology, ensures platform resilience and protects the rights of consumers and businesses alike. In this context, the UNIDROIT Principle on Digital Assets and Private Law which provides a common framework addressing legal issues related to the holding, transfer and use of digital assets, are particularly relevant to Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific.      Today’s discussion offered much to consider about integrating international principles with local laws in each jurisdiction to achieve harmonisation and consistency. As an international financial hub, Hong Kong is committed to promoting the integration of real economy and digital economy, and fostering the development of the digital economy.Panel 2: Unleashing Economic Potential Through Secured Transaction Law Reform in the Asia-Pacific Region     The benefits and role of harmonised secured transactions law in promoting economic growth across the Asia-Pacific region was discussed in Panel 2.      Secured transactions are essential for businesses seeking access to credit and working capacity. As a leading international trading hub with a robust legal system, Hong Kong is the prime destination for Mainland and overseas enterprises establishing their international headquarters to manage offshore trading and supply chain operations. In fact, Hong Kong ranks at the top globally in terms of international trade and business legislation according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2024 by the International Management Development Institute.      Our experts in Panel 2 examined the importance of international instruments supporting secured transactions, while exploring UNIDROIT’s contribution to secured transactions law, such as the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and its various Protocols, as well as the recent adopted Model Law on Factoring. Such efforts are crucial for enhancing access to credit for businesses across the Asia-Pacific Region to unleash our economic potential. Panel 3: Gateway to International Investment and Sustainability     The experts at Panel 3 brought our attention to the need for reducing legal uncertainties surrounding international investment contracts for both states and private investors.      In this regard, the panel introduced the UNIDROIT’s ongoing international investment project, which seeks to modernise, harmonise and standardise international investment contracts by developing clear guidance to foster consistency in these vital agreements. It also addresses recent developments in international investment law, such as the increasing focus on corporate social responsibility and sustainability.      These topics are of particular relevance to Hong Kong, given its role as an important gateway between China and the global markets. Hong Kong’s unique arrangements with Mainland China enhance its appeal as a jurisdiction for international investment and arbitration. Investments from Hong Kong into Mainland China enjoy the substantive protections offered by the investment agreement under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. Moreover, we are the first common law jurisdiction where parties involved in arbitrations seated in Hong Kong can seek interim measures from Mainland courts, such as asset preservation.     This synergy between Hong Kong’s legal infrastructure and its strategic relationship with Mainland China not only bolsters investor confidence but also further strengthens Hong Kong’s position as a leading centre for international legal and dispute resolution services within the Asia-Pacific region.Panel 4: Building Bridges by Strengthening Engagement in the Asia-Pacific Region     Finally, Panel 4 discussed building bridges to strengthen engagement and capacity building has been identified as a key to strengthening engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. This involves not only improving legal infrastructure but also developing skilled professionals capable of handling the complexities of international private law.      The Panel highlighted the significance of legal co-operation and legal talents development. Capacity building initiatives among international organisations and Asia-Pacific economies are crucial in equipping our region’s government officials, practitioners and other stakeholders with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complex international legal landscape. Amid the growing demand for legal expertise driven by increasing international trade, these initiatives foster collaboration and nurture skilled legal professionals, thereby improving access to justice regionally and beyond.      Hong Kong is deeply committed to enhancing its status as a regional hub for capacity building. With a strong pool of legal and dispute resolution professionals who possess extensive international experience, the Department of Justice has been actively involved in organising and supporting various training and development programmes across different areas of law and practice. For example, we have co-organised or supported multiple editions of the Investment Law and Investor-State Mediator Training and the China-AALCO Exchange and Research Program on International Law in Hong Kong.      As noted by our Secretary for Justice during his opening remarks, the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy will be officially launched this Friday, and we warmly invite all of you to join us to witness this significant moment. Building on our strong foundation in capacity-building and our close collaboration with UNIDROIT and other international organisations, the Academy will regularly offer practical training courses, seminars and international exchange programmes aimed at promoting collaboration among legal professionals, judges and government officials throughout Asia Pacific and beyond. Already in the pipeline for the Academy is to support the organisation of the Second Edition of The Hague Academy of International Law’s Advanced Course in Hong Kong.Conclusion      Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to announce that we have successfully concluded the Asia-Pacific International Private Law Summit 2024. The success of this Summit is a testament to the collective efforts and dedication of UNIDROIT, my colleagues at the Department of Justice, and your active participation. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to making this Summit a resounding success.      As we wrap up today’s event, we also mark the end of the first day of the Hong Kong Legal Week 2024. We warmly welcome you all to participate in the exciting events we have prepared for you throughout this week.     Thank you once again! I wish you all an enriching experience throughout the Hong Kong Legal Week 2024. For those visiting abroad, I hope you enjoy your time in Hong Kong.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei Releases Antenna Digitalization White Paper, Opening a New Chapter for the Antenna Industry Nov 04, 2024

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei Releases Antenna Digitalization White Paper, Opening a New Chapter for the Antenna Industry
    Nov 04, 2024

    [Istanbul, Türkiye, November 4, 2024] At the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024 (MBBF 2024), Huawei released its Antenna Digitalization White Paper. The white paper explores new trends and key innovation directions in antenna digitalization and envisions the key role of the antenna industry in the mobile AI era.
    Andy Sun, President of Huawei Antenna Business Unit, delivering a keynote speech

    AI is driving a new wave of technological transformations in many sectors, including wireless networks. For networks to become more intelligent, further innovation is needed in wireless network infrastructure. Antennas are a crucial component of wireless networks, and their digitalization will play a key role in the future.
    The white paper states that network intelligence and automation require building digital capabilities for remote management and multidimensional adjustment of antennas.
    Remote management requires antennas to be capable of providing real-time, accurate information to network systems, including engineering parameters and beam shapes. This will help building comprehensive data models to support intelligent networks, providing all necessary information for intelligent optimization.
    Multidimensional adjustment means that antenna parameters, such as signal radiation directions and radiation beam shapes, can be remotely adjusted in real time. This enables greater flexibility and expanded possibilities for intelligent network optimization.
    The Antenna Digitalization White Paper explores Huawei’s latest innovations in antennas. Andy Sun, President of Huawei Antenna Business Unit, remarked: “This white paper reflects the collective vision and insights of our partners, industry scholars, and Huawei’s own experts. It integrates our in-depth analysis and prospects of the antenna industry in the mobile AI era. Antenna digitalization is an inevitable foundation for intelligent networks. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with industry partners worldwide to promote antenna digitalization through innovation, and contribute to the construction of even more intelligent and efficient wireless networks.”
    For more information, click to download the Antenna Digitalization White Paper.
    The 15th Global Mobile Broadband Forum, with a tagline of ‘5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era’, runs from October 30 to 31 in Istanbul, Türkiye. It will be hosted by Huawei with support from our industry partners GSMA and GTI. Together with operators, vertical industry leaders, and ecosystem partners, we will share the industry’s latest advancements and explore new opportunities. Industry stakeholders will discuss how to achieve 5.5G business success in the Mobile AI era, and leverage the success of 5G to attain even greater achievements with 5.5G. For more information, please visit MBBF2024 at: https://www.huawei.com/en/events/mbbf2024

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei Releases Antenna Digitalization White Paper, Opening a New Chapter for the Antenna Industry

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: Huawei Releases Antenna Digitalization White Paper, Opening a New Chapter for the Antenna Industry

    [Istanbul, Türkiye, November 4, 2024] At the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024 (MBBF 2024), Huawei released its Antenna Digitalization White Paper. The white paper explores new trends and key innovation directions in antenna digitalization and envisions the key role of the antenna industry in the mobile AI era.
    Andy Sun, President of Huawei Antenna Business Unit, delivering a keynote speech

    AI is driving a new wave of technological transformations in many sectors, including wireless networks. For networks to become more intelligent, further innovation is needed in wireless network infrastructure. Antennas are a crucial component of wireless networks, and their digitalization will play a key role in the future.
    The white paper states that network intelligence and automation require building digital capabilities for remote management and multidimensional adjustment of antennas.
    Remote management requires antennas to be capable of providing real-time, accurate information to network systems, including engineering parameters and beam shapes. This will help building comprehensive data models to support intelligent networks, providing all necessary information for intelligent optimization.
    Multidimensional adjustment means that antenna parameters, such as signal radiation directions and radiation beam shapes, can be remotely adjusted in real time. This enables greater flexibility and expanded possibilities for intelligent network optimization.
    The Antenna Digitalization White Paper explores Huawei’s latest innovations in antennas. Andy Sun, President of Huawei Antenna Business Unit, remarked: “This white paper reflects the collective vision and insights of our partners, industry scholars, and Huawei’s own experts. It integrates our in-depth analysis and prospects of the antenna industry in the mobile AI era. Antenna digitalization is an inevitable foundation for intelligent networks. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with industry partners worldwide to promote antenna digitalization through innovation, and contribute to the construction of even more intelligent and efficient wireless networks.”
    For more information, click to download the Antenna Digitalization White Paper.
    The 15th Global Mobile Broadband Forum, with a tagline of ‘5.5G Leads Mobile AI Era’, runs from October 30 to 31 in Istanbul, Türkiye. It will be hosted by Huawei with support from our industry partners GSMA and GTI. Together with operators, vertical industry leaders, and ecosystem partners, we will share the industry’s latest advancements and explore new opportunities. Industry stakeholders will discuss how to achieve 5.5G business success in the Mobile AI era, and leverage the success of 5G to attain even greater achievements with 5.5G. For more information, please visit MBBF2024 at: https://www.huawei.com/en/events/mbbf2024

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Do one thing – get on the HMRC app

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    HMRC is reminding people to download the HMRC app to access HMRC services such as Child Benefit and their National Insurance number.

    Apple and the Apple Logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademark of Google LLC.

    • Talk Money Week is an annual awareness initiative – the theme this year is “Do One Thing”
    • 1.7 million customers use the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) app every month, with 29 million sessions launched between July and September 2024 and 711,000 new users in the same period
    • HMRC has today launched a new advertising campaign promoting the app, aimed at 18-34-year-olds

    This Talk Money Week (4 – 8 November), taxpayers are being urged to “Do One Thing” and get on the HMRC app to save time and simplify managing their money and tax.

    More than 1.7 million people are already using the HMRC app every month, which enables users to access services such as making a Child Benefit claim, finding their National Insurance number and a tax calculator to estimate their take-home pay.

    Between July and September 2024, 711,382 new users downloaded the app, and there was a 39% increase in app activity compared to the same period last year – up from 20.93 million sessions to 29.22 million. And nearly £300 million has been paid to HMRC via the app so far this financial year.

    HMRC is encouraging anyone who hasn’t yet downloaded the free and secure HMRC app, one of the UK’s top-rated finance apps, to do one thing and get on it today.

    The most popular features used on the app between July and September this year were:

    • check State Pension contributions– 1.9 million sessions
    • manage Child Benefit – 1.6 million sessions
    • view annual tax summaries – 1.4 million sessions

    Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

    One of the main priorities for HMRC is improving its customer services and this incredibly useful and user-friendly app is a great example of how tax can be made much easier for people.

    Whether you’re a student looking for your National Insurance number or a new parent wanting to claim Child Benefit, the HMRC app has a range of tools for you, at your fingertips. I urge everyone to download it today.

    The HMRC app is rated 4.7/5 and 4.8/5 respectively on the Google Play and Apple Store and ranks among both of their top 10 finance apps.

    HMRC has launched a new advertising campaign today aimed at 18-34-year-olds to “get on it” with the app, showcasing how it can help them remain in control of their tax affairs and finances amidst their busy daily lives. This includes an attention-grabbing new advert streaming on multiple video on demand channels that can also be viewed on the HMRC YouTube channel.

    You’re on it – Download the HMRC app

    Further information

    Download the app from Google Play or Apple Store

    The HMRC app is bilingual and available in Welsh.

    You can use the HMRC app to:

    • check your tax code, National Insurance number, and income and employment history from the past five years
    • view and manage Child Benefit, Tax Credits, and your State Pension forecast
    • access tax details, including your Unique Taxpayer Reference and income information
    • use tools like the tax calculator to estimate take-home pay, and check for National Insurance contribution gaps
    • make payments for Self Assessment, Simple Assessment, and even set payment reminders
    • access your Help to Save account and claim refunds if you’ve overpaid tax
    • track forms and correspondence with HMRC
    • update personal information like your name and address
    • save your National Insurance number to a digital wallet and opt for electronic communications from HMRC
    • use HMRC’s digital assistant for guidance and support

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKHSA issues health advice following the half-term break

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding parents of the simple steps they can take to reduce the spread of stomach bugs and winter illnesses.

    As children across the country return to their classrooms after the half term break, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding parents of the simple steps they can take to reduce the spread of stomach bugs and winter illnesses to ensure they stay healthy this term and keep strong this winter.   

    We are now beginning to see cases of flu and norovirus increasing as we head into the winter months, with norovirus activity in the past two weeks more than double the 5-season average for the same 2-week period and flu steadily increasing over the past few weeks.

    Teaching good hygiene habits

    Parents are urged to encourage good hygiene habits in their families, such as handwashing and using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes. Regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or using hand sanitiser when convenient, is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs.

    Knowing when to keep your child at home and when to send them to school

    Children are encouraged to stay in school or nursery with symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or slight cough (if otherwise well and do not have a high temperature), but should stay home if they’re displaying symptoms such as having a fever (they should stay home until the fever has passed and they are well enough to attend) or diarrhoea and vomiting (children should stay home for at least 48 hours after these symptoms clear up).

    Stopping the spread of stomach bugs

    Stomach bugs spread easily in schools and nurseries. If you or your child have diarrhoea and vomiting, washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will help stop infections from spreading. Don’t prepare food for others if you have such symptoms or for 48 hours after symptoms stop. If you are unwell, you should also avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to avoid passing on the infection to those more vulnerable. It’s important that all children are given the opportunity to start the year in good health, which is why it’s important not to return to school, nursery or work until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.

    Getting vaccinated

    Infections such as flu, which see a seasonal increase in winter, are easily protected against with vaccination. All primary school age children, those aged 2 years (who have turned 2 years old before the  1 September 2024) and all 3 year olds (and secondary school children from Year 7 to Year 11) are eligible for the flu vaccine, which beyond protecting the children themselves and the school community, will also protect elderly relatives.

    It’s also important to ensure your children are up-to-date with their routine vaccinations, which protect against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and polio. UKHSA is continuing to see cases of measles, which is easily prevented with vaccination. If parents are unsure of their child’s vaccination status, they can check their child’s red book or contact their local GP.  

    Dr Richard Pebody, Director, Clinical & Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said:

    As children return to school after the half term holidays, it’s important that they get off to the best start possible ahead of winter. Staying healthy and taking simple steps to reduce the spread of illness will ensure children and their families experience less disruption at this important time of year.

    Each winter, we see an increase in acute respiratory and gastro-intestinal illnesses, however it only takes simple steps to reduce the spread of most of these infections. By following advice on good hygiene habits, knowing when to keep your child off school and taking up the opportunity to get vaccinated, parents are protecting their children and the wider school community.

    UKHSA’s e-bug resources for all ages can help you to explain and discuss hygiene habits and their importance, to your child or teenager.

    NHS UK also provides easily accessible guidance for parents to help manage winter illness at home.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study suggesting association between many pesticides and prostate cancer

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in Wiley Cancer looks at an association between pesticides and prostate cancer incidence. 

    Prof Paul Pharoah, Professor of Cancer Epidemiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said:

    “The epidemiological design used to evaluate the association between pesticides and prostate cancer incidence and mortality in this study is called an ecological study.  In an ecological study the unit of analysis is the population in a given area, and so the correlation studied is that between pesticide levels in a given area and prostate cancer rates in the same area.  It is important to note that pesticide exposures and prostate cancer occurrence in individuals was not studied.

    “Ecological studies are very prone to bias and can give rise to the ecological fallacy – the assumption that group level correlation also applies to individuals.  Ecological studies are generally regarded as hypothesis generating rather than hypothesis testing.  The well-known mantra that correlation does not mean causation is particularly applicable to ecological studies.

    “While several associations were identified, no data to suggest that these associations are causal is presented.  It is notable that of the four pesticides associated with both incidence rates and mortality rates of prostate cancer three are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency of the USA as not likely to be carcinogenic or have evidence of non-carcinogenicity.”

    ‘Pesticides and prostate cancer incidence and mortality: An environment‐wide association study’ by Simon John Christoph Soerensen et al. was published in Wiley Cancer at 08:01 UK Time Monday 4 November 2024. 

    DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35572

    Declared interests

    Prof Paul Pharoah: I have previously provided expert testimony in for the defence in glyphosate and lymphoma litigation

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –