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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ESAs respond to the European Commission’s rejection of the technical standards on registers of information under the Digital Operational Resilience Act and call for swift adoption

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – the ESAs) today issued an Opinion on the European Commission’s (EC) rejection of the draft Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) on the registers of information under the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). The ESAs raise concerns over the impacts and practicalities of the proposed EC changes to the draft ITS on the registers of information in relation to financial entities’ contractual arrangements with ICT third-party service providers.   

    The draft ITS proposed by the ESAs were rejected by the EC on the grounds that it is necessary to allow financial entities the choice of identifying their ICT third-party service providers registered in the EU either by using the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) or by using the European Unique Identifier (EUID). 

    In the ESAs view, the EC’s proposal of adding an additional identifier, allowing EU-based companies to use the EUID, will cause unnecessary complexity and could have negative impacts on the implementation of DORA by financial entities, competent authorities and the ESAs. 

    The ESAs note that, although the EUID is available free of charge to EU-registered companies, its introduction in the registers of information would entail unforeseen implementation and maintenance efforts for the financial entities. In particular, it would limit the access to and  the possibility for verification of the information by the financial entities and competent authorities. This would lead to a potential increase in the overall reporting burden for financial entities in the context of DORA. In addition, the coexistence of two identifiers could bring additional complexity that would negatively impact the quality of data used, and risk delays in the designation of critical ICT third-party service providers (CTPPs) by the ESAs.

    If the EC decides to proceed with the introduction of the EUID, despite the above concerns, additional changes to the draft ITS will be necessary. The Opinion indicates how the draft ITS should be adapted further to cater for the use of the EUID. Without these changes, the ITS could not be practically applied for a proper identification of the ICT third-party service providers, which would negatively impact the designation of CTPPs. The ESAs also note that in the case of co-existence of both LEI and EUID, the financial entities should be given the preference for using LEI, especially where both identifiers are available to them, and for the case of groups, it is important to ensure homogeneity in the registered identification codes for all ICT third-party service providers.

    The ESAs call for the final decision on the use of identifiers and the swift adoption of the draft ITS by the EC. This is particularly relevant for the ESAs, who will be designating CTPPs in 2025. Finally, leveraging on the experience of the dry run exercise, the ESAs call financial entities to increase their implementation efforts in order to be ready to submit their registers of information to the competent authorities in the first half of 2025.

    Background and legal basis

    Article 28(9) of DORA (Regulation (EU) 2022/2554) mandates the ESAs to develop draft ITS to establish the standard templates for the register of information referred to in Article 28(3) of DORA. The draft ITS was developed and submitted by the ESAs to the EU Commission on 17 January 2024.

    The registers of information maintained by the financial entities serve as an important input for the ESAs’ work on the designation of CTPPs that will be subject to the oversight by the ESAs.

    On 3 September 2024, the European Commission, acting in accordance with the procedure set out in the fourth subparagraph of Article 15(1) of the ESAs Regulations, notified the ESAs of the rejection of the ITS on the basis of the envisaged mandatory use of the LEI to identify ICT third-party service providers under Article 3(5) and (6) of the draft ITS.

    Pursuant to Article 15(4) of the ESAs Regulation, the ESAs prepared this Opinion on the proposed amendments to the draft ITS by the EU Commission. In addition, the ESAs also suggested some other changes to the draft ITS based on the experience and feedback received from the industry during  the ‘dry run’ exercise the ESAs carried out during 2024 to support the industry in the preparation for submission of the registers of information and to test the reporting process. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft held regional GTO competitions for the first time

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Rosneft organized for the first time regional competitions to pass the standards of the All-Russian physical culture and sports complex “Ready for Labor and Defense” (GTO).

    The competition, which took place in Tyumen, was attended by 180 amateur athletes from 17 subsidiaries of the Company. The geography of the participants covered 6 regions of Rosneft’s presence: Tyumen Oblast, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Sakha Republic, Udmurt Republic and Irkutsk Oblast.

    Supporting mass sports in the regions of its operations is one of Rosneft’s key priorities. The Company’s athletes take part in all major mass sports competitions held in our country and win prizes. Rosneft supports amateur sports and carries out large-scale work to popularize a healthy lifestyle among both its employees and the population in the regions of its operations.

    Over the course of two days, participants demonstrated their strength, agility and endurance by passing GTO standards in 13 disciplines, including 50m swimming, short and long distance running, kettlebell snatch, long jump, bends, pull-ups, push-ups and shooting.

    87 oil industry athletes passed the GTO standards for the first time this year. The oldest participant in the competition was 62 years old at the time of the competition.

    In addition, the event included competitions in functional all-around. On the first day of the competition, teams of three people overcame 6 tests: rowing, push-ups, jumping on a box, long jump, squats and throwing a ball into a basket. On the second day, athletes competed for victory in the game “Sniper” and a mixed relay race over different distances.

    The award ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the All-Russian Physical Culture and Health Complex “Ready for Labor and Defense” in the Tyumen Region, Honored Master of Sports of Russia Natalia Proskuryakova. The winners of the competition were awarded diplomas, cups and certificates.

    Rosneft is holding GTO competitions for the second year in a row, which are attracting more and more employees of the Company. This year, about 800 employees representing 71 subsidiaries and the central management office of the Company took part in the competitions in Moscow.

    Reference:

    The development of the sports movement is one of Rosneft’s key priorities. For active support and systematic work to popularize the GTO complex, in 2023 Rosneft became the winner of the Champion award, established by the Roscongress Foundation’s sports platform RK-Sport and the Reputation educational forum.

    The All-Russian Physical Culture and Sports Complex “Ready for Labor and Defense” (GTO) is a full-fledged program and regulatory framework for the physical education of the country’s population, aimed at developing mass sports and improving the health of the nation. The GTO complex provides for preparation for the implementation and direct implementation by the population of various age groups (from 6 to 70 years and older) of established regulatory requirements for three difficulty levels corresponding to the gold, silver and bronze badges of distinction “Ready for Labor and Defense” (GTO).

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 16, 2024

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220919/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Business Tendency Survey results published16 October 2024 ​​​Statistics Jersey have today published the results of the Business Tendency Survey for September 2024. Chief executives and managing directors were asked for their opinions on the current situation… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    16 October 2024

    ​​Statistics Jersey have today published the results of the Business Tendency Survey for September 2024.

    Chief executives and managing directors were asked for their opinions on the current situation of their business compared to three months earlier and their expectations for the next three months.​

    Please note that the Business Tendency Survey was discontinued in September 2024; please see the statement from the Chief Statistician for further details. The statistical publication calendar​ has been updated to remove previously planned release dates after October 2024. 

    We would like to thank all respondents for their valuable participation over the years.

    Business activity indicator

    • The headline all-sector business activity indicator was moderately positive, at +10 percentage points (pp); this means the proportion of businesses that reported an increase was 10 pp higher than those that reported a decrease.
      • the business activity indicator was strongly positive for the finance sector (+28 pp) and neutral for the non-finance sector (+2 pp)

    Current indicators

    • One of the eight current indicators was extremely negative (input costs), one indicator was moderately negative (profitability), and two indicators were moderately positive (product prices and business activity), while the other four current indicators were neutral.
      • for the finance sector, there were five positive current indicators: two strongly positive and three moderately positive, whilst there was one strongly negative indicator (input costs) and two were neutral
      • for the non-finance sector, one of the eight current indicators was extremely negative (input costs), one was strongly negative (profitability), and one was moderately negative (business optimism); in contrast, one indicator was strongly positive (product prices) and the other four were neutral
    • The overall picture was essentially the same as last quarter; the only notable changes being a moderate increase in the employment indicator and a moderate decrease in the product prices indicator.

    Outlook for next quarter – the three months to December 2024

    • The outlook for future business activity was moderately positive (+19 pp). 
      • the indicator was strongly positive for finance (+46 pp) and neutral for non finance (+7 pp)
    • The overall future employment outlook was moderately positive (+10 pp).
      • the indicator was strongly positive for finance (+40 pp) and neutral for non finance (-3 pp)
    • The overall future input costs outlook was extremely negative (-51 pp).
      • the indicator was strongly negative for finance (-35 pp) and extremely negative for non finance (-58 pp)
    • The overall future product prices outlook was strongly positive (+30 pp).
      • the indicator was moderately positive for finance (+20 pp) and strongly positive for non finance (+35 pp) 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Get set for Yo! Wolves October half term fun

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    It promises another school holiday packed with a huge array of activities at venues across the city from Monday 28 October until Friday 1 November, 2024. To book places, please visit Yo! Wolverhampton Young Opportunities.

    Highlights include dance, music and drama with the Curiosity Club, an adventure camp with UK S Futures, the chance to enjoy the wonderful world of VR and PlayStation with Learnplay Foundation, and Halloween baking with Let Us Play.

    This October’s Yo! Wolves half term programme follows a fantastic summer which saw nearly 4,000 children, young people and families enjoy over 30,000 activities and a daily meal during the 6 week school holidays.

    The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Director of Children’s Services, Alison Hinds, said: “We’re really excited to announce our Yo! Wolves October half term programme. Places are limited so please book your activities as soon as you can – and we are busy planning for the Christmas holidays too.”

    For full details of events for October half term go to Yo! Wolverhampton Young Opportunities or follow the council on social media at X, Facebook and Instagram.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cost of living support for Plymouth residents this winter

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Residents struggling with the cost of living crisis will be given extra support this winter, which includes help to pay for food and energy bills.

    Plymouth City Council has been given a further £2.2 million from the Department of Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund to help local people during the next six months.

    The funding will be used to support residents, with a particular focus on:

    • Families with children that are in crisis, facing a cash shortfall or in debt
    • Preventing homelessness and supporting those who are affected by homelessness
    • Energy grants, supporting older people with fuel payments.

    Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities, said: “We’re pleased to have received a further six months of funding from the Household Support Fund, and I would like to thank the Government for this funding. This provides a lifeline to residents struggling with the cost of living which is extra important during the cold winter months.

    “We will be targeting our support to the most vulnerable groups in our community, including those unable to afford food and fuel, or people at risk of homelessness, making sure that there is help available for those who need it.”

    The way the funding will be distributed in Plymouth has been confirmed following an executive decision signed today.

    Grants will be given to community organisations to run warm, welcoming spaces during the colder months, with an application process due to open. The Welcoming Spaces scheme has been running since 2022 to provide people with warm and safe spaces to spend time in. Many of the spaces offer extras such as free Wi-Fi, refreshments or group activities.

    The funding will be used to provide food vouchers during school holidays to families with children that are eligible for Free School Meals. This will include the upcoming October half-term, Christmas holiday and February 2025 half-term.

    The scheme will be distributed directly to residents by Citizens Advice Plymouth via an application process. Eligible applicants will receive food and fuel vouchers, as well as help to purchase essential household goods. There will be a phased approach when the funding opens, determining who is eligible to apply, details of the application process and key dates will be shared on the Council’s website.

    Applications will reopen in November, for more information: Household support fund | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK

    Local organisations and charities will also receive funds to help their work, including Plymouth Energy Community (PEC), who support people on a referral basis.

    Grants for energy will be available through Plymouth Energy Community, with a particular focus on supporting older people with fuel payments over the winter.

    Distributing the bulk of energy support through PEC will bring significant added values as people will have access to their on-going core offers of support, information and guidance through the winter months.

    If you need support, please visit the cost of living hub:  Cost of living | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN holds discussions with the Dutch Ambassador-at-large for cybersecurity

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with H.E. Ernst Noorman, the Dutch Ambassador-at-large for cybersecurity. They exchanged views on the potential cooperation activities to advance mutual priorities on cybersecurity within the framework of the ASEAN-Netherlands Development Partnership.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN holds discussions with the Dutch Ambassador-at-large for cybersecurity appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Metropolis project to be expedited

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Executive John Lee says the Government will expedite the implementation of economic and housing-related projects in the Northern Metropolis while maintaining a prudent fiscal position, highlighting that some 60,000 housing units will be completed in the next five years.

    Unveiling his third Policy Address today, Mr Lee said the Government is taking an innovative approach to advancing the development of the Northern Metropolis. This involves exploring the establishment of a pilot industrial park by means of granting some of the logistics sites in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (NDA) to a company established and led by the Government.

    The company will, in accordance with the Government’s industrial policies, be responsible for formulating the park’s development and operational strategies, and will decide whether to accept strategic investment. Details will be announced in the first quarter of next year.

    Separately, the Government will also consider flexible disposal of land to meet the development needs of individual industries, with a view to driving industrial development.

    Moreover, the Government will adopt, on a pilot basis, a large-scale land disposal approach, under which sizable land parcels with commercial value and earmarked for the provision of community facilities will be selected and granted to successful bidders for collective development. 

    This approach is aimed at speeding up development of the land parcels, enabling a more co-ordinated approach to their design. Three land parcels, each of 10 to 20 hectares, have been identified as pilot sites.

    Entering maturity

    Noting that the Northern Metropolis project will gradually enter its maturity phase, Mr Lee said that in the next five years some 60,000 housing units there, involving about 10 new public rental housing estates, will be completed and ready for intake. 

    In the same period, the first batch of land at the San Tin Technopole will be offered to the market, and the new Huanggang Port building, providing co-location of immigration and customs clearance, will be completed.

    In the subsequent five‑year period, the number of new housing units will increase by about 150,000, with over 10 million sq m of gross floor area becoming available for economic uses. The first joint-user government building, in Kwu Tung North, will also be put to use, and the expanded North District Hospital will be ready for service.

    As for transport infrastructure, construction of the Northern Link Main Line is scheduled for completion in 2034, and the Northern Metropolis Highway (San Tin Section) is set to open in 2036.

    Mr Lee said that apart from enhancing the quality of life of Hong Kong people, these developments will significantly boost the city’s economic growth and bolster its technology industries, while providing a living environment that will help to attract talents and encourage them to settle in Hong Kong for good.

    The way forward

    The Government will seek funding for the first stage of the San Tin Technopole’s infrastructure and begin construction works this year. The target is to deliver about 20 hectares of new innovation and technology (I&T) sites in phases, beginning in 2026-27, for the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation’s development and operation. 

    In addition, the second phase of the Yuen Long South NDA will begin in mid-2025. The preliminary development proposal for Ngau Tam Mei will be announced imminently, with land being reserved for developing the Northern Metropolis University Town, a third medical school and an integrated teaching hospital. 

    This will be followed by the announcement of preliminary development proposals for the New Territories North New Town and the Ma Tso Lung area before the end of this year.

    The rezoning process for Sandy Ridge in the North District will begin this year, with its I&T sites being expanded to 10 hectares.

    I&T zone

    Mr Lee said the “Development Outline for the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone” will be published later this year.

    It will set out innovative policies to facilitate the flow of personnel, materials, capital and data between the Hong Kong Park and the Shenzhen Park in the zone, making the co-operation zone a crucial source of new quality productive forces for the country.

    In addition, the Government is boosting both the speed and quantity of the Hong Kong Park project, which will be developed in two phases from west to east.

    The first-phase development’s gross floor area will be doubled to 1 million sq m. Construction of the first three buildings will be completed in phases, from the end of this year.

    The first batch of tenants, from the life and health technology, AI, data science and other pillar industries, will begin to move in next year. The remaining five buildings will be completed in the coming five years.

    The Government is also exploring with the Mainland authorities the trial implementation of innovative facilitation measures.

    These include facilitating cross-boundary travel of designated personnel from the two parks, enabling the cross-boundary movement of materials by using low altitude, unmanned aerial vehicles, and facilitating cross-boundary fund transfers by Mainland enterprises settling in the Hong Kong Park.

    Bay area strengths

    Turning to Greater Bay Area (GBA) development, Mr Lee said he has established the Steering Group on Integration into National Development to lead the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and all sectors of the community to be more proactive in promoting the integrated development of Hong Kong and the Mainland, particularly the Mainland cities of the GBA.

    The Chief Executive said the Government will continue to promote GBA development by building a higher level of connectivity, facilitating policy innovations and breakthroughs, pursuing wider harmonisation of rules and mechanisms, and expediting the co-ordinated development of I&T and related industries.

    The Government will work with the Dongguan Municipal Government, among others, to jointly develop a permanent Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Dongguan Logistics Park.

    It will also seek to combine the strengths of the HKIA and Zhuhai Airport by enhancing the Fly Via Zhuhai Hong Kong direct passenger service and promoting the development of the international air-cargo business in collaboration with the Zhuhai Municipality.

    On recognition of professional qualifications, Mr Lee said that following the establishment, in collaboration with Guangdong, of an evaluation mechanism in relation to post titles for the first batch of Hong Kong engineering professionals, the Government will do the same for other construction professions on a gradual basis. 

    The Government is also collaborating with Guangdong and Macau to create GBA Standards on the skill levels of skilled workers in the construction sector, and will adopt the “One Examination, Multiple Certification” arrangement. Under this arrangement, those who pass examinations adopting the GBA Standards can concurrently obtain vocational skill certificates issued by the three places.

    To accelerate development of the pharmaceutical industry, the Government will work to enable the cross-boundary use of data, samples, drugs and medical devices through the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform and the Real World Study & Application Centre in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving about $1.6 billion

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving about $1.6 billion
    Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving about $1.6 billion
    ****************************************************************************

         Hong Kong Customs mounted an operation codenamed “Spark II” yesterday and today (October 15 and 16). Five local men, aged between 34 and 71, were arrested for conspiracy or aiding to “deal with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence” (commonly known as money laundering) under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO). They included a former compliance officer and a company secretary of a money changer, a bank staff member and former company directors. The total amount involved was about $1.6 billion.         In October last year, Customs mounted an operation codenamed “Spark” and cracked down on a money changer suspected of money laundering in which the compliance officer laundered about $600 million from unknown sources by setting up a shell company. After an in-depth follow-up investigation, it was further found that the compliance officer manipulated two other shell companies and opened a total of 23 accounts at a number of local banks to deal with over 4 000 suspicious transactions since 2020. Meanwhile, the investigation also found that a bank staff member was suspected of assisting the relevant arrested persons to evade the bank’s monitoring of customers’ transactions.          During the operation, a number of mobile phones were seized and the five persons who were suspected of assisting in dealing with the suspected crime proceeds in the accounts were arrested.          The investigation is ongoing. All arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.          Customs reminds members of the public that they risk committing the crime of money laundering if they use bank accounts to assist in dealing with money from unknown sources, regardless of whether a monetary reward is involved.          Under the OSCO, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.          Members of the public may report any suspected money laundering activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 16, 2024Issued at HKT 17:12

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Operation Narsil disrupts network of child abuse websites designed to generate profits from advertising

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    3 August 2023

    Tracking the money made by perpetrators and preventing the revictimization of children

    LYON, France — INTERPOL has concluded a two-year global operation to bring to justice criminals operating networks of child sexual abuse websites designed to generate profits from advertising.

    Running from December 2021 to July 2023, Operation Narsil also targeted the finance mechanisms used by the website administrators to conduct their online advertising campaigns.

    Over two years, INTERPOL member countries worked together using INTERPOL’s Worst of List (IWOL), sharing targeted intelligence, pinpointing suspects and coordinating arrests of the people managing the websites.

    Created in 2010, IWOL contains a watchlist of websites containing extreme child abuse material.  The General Secretariat headquarters works with law enforcement in all regions so that national Internet service providers close down these websites.

    “Operation Narsil sends a strong message to the criminals making money from these websites that INTERPOL, and its alliance of police forces in 195 member countries, know where they are, what they are doing, and how to find them,” said Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL Secretary General.

    “Every time a person clicks on these images, they are effectively entering a crime scene. Identifying and removing these websites reduces the availability and potential normalization of online child abuse material, and, most importantly, reduces the re-victimization of the children abused,” added Secretary General Stock.

    Worldwide crime trend

    In one case, a brother and sister, both in their early thirties, were arrested as a result of IWOL digital clues and intelligence provided by the global police community pointing investigators to the suspects in Argentina.

    Investigations by Argentina’s Victim Identification Office in the Anti Cyber Crimes against Minors Division and the Specialised Cybercrime Prosecution Unit (UFECI), working with Federal Courts in Mendoza Province, led to the identification and arrest of the two suspects.

    Fourteen electronic devices were seized from their home as well as cash and credit cards. The siblings are thought to have created, maintained and financially benefitted for more than a decade from websites featuring child sexual abuse material and associated advertising campaigns.

    “Given the technological complexities of this case and the degree to which the criminal activity went undetected, these arrests highlight the importance of police cooperation across regional, national, and international borders,” said the Head of Argentina’s Federal Police, Juan Carlos Hernandez, who also serves as delegate for the Americas on INTERPOL’s Executive Committee.

    Argentina’s Federal Police search electronic devices seized during Operation Narsil for child abuse images

    Officers of Argentina’s Federal Police review materials seized during Operation Narsil

    Argentina’s Federal Police reviewing seized materials

    Officers of Argentina’s Federal Police review visitor statistics to the suspect’s sites

    “With synchronized arrests across continents, this operation confronted global networks that profit from child abuse images and videos. INTERPOL is a strong global network of officers fully committed to putting an end to the online abuse of children, and we applaud the action and incredible results countries have achieved in Operation Narsil,” added Argentina’s Police Chief.

    Local crime, global cooperation

    Working with the Prosecutor’s Office, Bulgarian law enforcement identified and arrested a 34-year-old man who made his living operating an online forum that facilitated the sharing of child sexual abuse materials.

    Bulgarian Police closed the online forum he had been running since 2020 and which is thought to have facilitated access to thousands of media files depicting serious child sexual abuse material.

    Following the arrest, investigations are ongoing to identify forum users.

    In one case during the Russian leg of Operation Narsil, police authorities arrested two 24-year-old citizens for the production and online circulation of materials depicting the sexual violation of minors. Authorities searched the suspects’ homes, seizing computer equipment containing specialized software for creating and administrating websites, and removable hard drives containing child sexual abuse material.

    With the support of US Homeland Security Investigations, Thai police arrested a 45-year-old Thai national for the possession and online distribution of child sexual abuse material. His arrest came after police executed a search warrant at his residence, uncovering large amounts of child sexual abuse material and financial transaction records associated with online distribution of the abuse photos.

    Narsil – meaning a longsword which tackles all evil – is one of the first INTERPOL operations to focus on identifying, locating and arresting the people receiving advertising revenues from website visitors interested in viewing the site’s child sexual abuse content.

    INTERPOL has been monitoring websites disseminating child sexual abuse imagery for more than 13 years and, in collaboration with law enforcement partners across the world, has seized more than 20,000 domains.

    Operation Narsil involved investigations triggered by law enforcement in Austria, Argentina, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL and UNICEF sign cooperation agreement to address child sexual exploitation and abuse

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    13 April 2023

    The two organizations to coordinate efforts to support governments in protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse, including in digital environments

    LYON/NEW YORK – INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell have signed an agreement of cooperation that will support national governments around the world to prevent and address online child sexual exploitation and abuse and other child protection issues.

    Under the new agreement, the two organizations will cooperate in supporting national law enforcement agencies globally to improve their response to sexual exploitation and abuse crimes against children, including by:

    • Supporting the establishment of specialist units or teams to investigate online child sexual exploitation and abuse, and strengthening the effectiveness of such teams where they already exist.
    • Advancing training and systematic professional development so that law enforcement personnel have up-to-date knowledge and skills in victim and offender identification, digital forensics for online child sexual exploitation and abuse, child-friendly and survivor-centered interviewing, and use of the INTERPOL International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database.
    • Promoting and facilitating better linkages between law enforcement and social services and other victim service providers to ensure that victims and survivors receive coordinated and multi-disciplinary support throughout the criminal justice process and beyond to support their holistic recovery.

    “Every day, investigators around the world undertake painstaking and heroic work to identify victims and the perpetrators of online child sexual exploitation and abuse – but tackling this issue extends beyond law enforcement,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock. “This agreement is an acknowledgement that safeguarding children takes all of us. UNICEF plays a crucial role in child protection globally. Through closer cooperation, their knowledge and resources will help improve law enforcement activities on the ground.”

    According to the latest available data from UNICEF, up to 20 per cent of internet-using children in 12 low- and middle-income countries said they have experienced online sexual exploitation or abuse in the previous year, while data from national hotlines and clearing houses suggest a proliferation of child sexual abuse content online in recent years.

    While some countries have law enforcement units dedicated to child protection and victims, many lack the specialized staff, skills and resources needed to effectively investigate cases—especially those involving digital elements—conduct victim identification, and safeguard children. The new partnership aims to fill these critical capacity gaps and promote greater investment and coordinated action to ensure victims and survivors receive the support they require and perpetrators face justice.

    “Child sexual abuse and exploitation is a global scourge. Collaboration across sectors and across borders is key to addressing this problem,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Working with INTERPOL will help us bring law enforcement expertise to our country programs and strengthen protection measures for every child.”

    The INTERPOL-UNICEF agreement seeks to leverage the global reach and specific strengths of each organization to protect and improve the lives of children threatened by online exploitation and other forms of violence. INTERPOL’s global law enforcement networks span 195 member countries, while UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories, and through its child protection programmes, supports governments and partners to prevent and respond to all forms of violence against children, including in digital environments.

    About INTERPOL

    INTERPOL’s Crimes Against Children unit works to identify and rescue young victims of sexual abuse, block access to child sexual abuse material, and prevent sex offenders from travelling abroad to abuse children or escape justice. INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database helps investigators make connections between victims, abusers and places. To date, more than 34,000 victims in the ICSE database have been identified by law enforcement around the world. Many more unidentified victims are documented in the database as part of the ongoing global effort to locate them and their criminal abusers.

    This agreement is the latest of many that INTERPOL has signed with UN entities in its longstanding cooperation with the United Nations.

    About UNICEF

    UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

    For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit http://www.unicef.org
    Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Colombia: Two arrested for live streaming child sexual abuse

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    Authorities have safeguarded victims aged 19 months, 7 and 9.

    LYON, France – Colombia police have safeguarded three children and arrested their mother and aunt, accused of live streaming the children’s sexual abuse for profit.

    Australian authorities first brought the case to INTERPOL’s attention in December 2022 after finding a video depicting child sexual abuse on the Darknet. The video material was uploaded to INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database, where specialized officers from around the world could consult and analyse it for clues.

    One month later, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation alerted INTERPOL’s Crimes against Children (CAC) unit to the possible identity of one of the offenders, pinning their likely location as Colombia. The CAC unit confirmed their hypothesis, uncovering a number of clues and prepared a comprehensive victim identification report for Colombian authorities.

    Upon reception and investigation, Colombia’s national police confirmed the location and identity of the children and the two offenders. They found that the mother and aunt had been using specific platforms to produce and sell made-to-order, live sexual abuse video material for ‘customers’ abroad.

    On 22 February, Colombian authorities carried out a coordinated rescue-and-arrest operation, working with child protection services to safeguard the children and ensure they receive medical and psychological care.

    INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said, “This appalling case shows that live streaming child sexual exploitation is not confined to any region, it is global, and as in this case, usually involving very young children.

    “We will continue to work with Colombian investigators to analyse seized devices, identify further victims and review data to find the individuals who were ordering and facilitating the horrific abuse from behind their screens,” concluded Secretary General Stock.

    Today the ICSE database links 68 countries and connection of additional countries is ongoing. Since its launch, the database has assisted in the identification and documentation of more than 33,000 victims and 14,900 offenders worldwide.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Australian support for enhanced INTERPOL database to combat online child abuse

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    18 November 2022

    LYON, France – The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is contributing AUD 815,000 for a significant enhancement to INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database.

    The ICSE database is a ground-breaking tool to advance child exploitation investigations through strengthened global information sharing.

    The upgrade, known as ICSE Next Generation, is designed to speed up the process by which investigators identify victims in child exploitation material, through integration of the latest technologies for improved text, audio and video analysis, facial recognition, and artificial intelligence.

    Launched 13 years ago, ICSE currently connects specialist investigators in 68 countries and has so far assisted in the identification of more than 31,000 victims, including 860 victims in Australia.

    On average, around seven victims are identified every day.

    Offenders identified

    In addition, more than 14,000 offenders have been tracked and arrested by law enforcement, including 349 in Australia.

    AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the AFP’s partnership with INTERPOL to support the upgrade of the database highlighted the commitment of law enforcement to protecting children around the world, while bringing offenders to justice.

    AFP Commissioner Kershaw and Secretary General Stock announce the boost to the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database.

    “We know we can’t win this important battle alone. The advancement of this database is a game changer for how law enforcement around the world can work together to protect our society’s most vulnerable – our children,” he said.

    Commissioner Kershaw said child protection investigations would be bolstered with law enforcement agencies avoiding duplication of effort by triaging online child exploitation material multiple times in multiple jurisdictions.

    Target, track and disrupt

    “This specialized tool means our investigators will be faster and more efficient than ever before, allowing us to quickly target, track and disrupt those seeking to harm and exploit children around the world – and most importantly, bring them to justice.

    “The AFP is proud to partner with INTERPOL, along with our state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement counterparts, to combat this insidious crime,” concluded Commissioner Kershaw.

    “The AFP’s decision to provide this funding underlines its strong and unwavering commitment to child protection, as well as its confidence in INTERPOL’s ICSE database which is a vital policing tool.” Jürgen Stock, INTERPOL Secretary General

    “We are seeing a consistent, and worrying, increase in the amount of online child sexual abuse and exploitation material, where every image is evidence of a crime.

    “Only through global cooperation, supported by the latest technologies, can law enforcement effectively work to identify and rescue victims around the world,” concluded Secretary General Stock.

    The AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and AFP Child Protection Operations frequently contribute to the ICSE database, ensuring that investigators in other countries can benefit from the work undertaken in Australia to help identify victims.

    In May 2022, the ACCCE VIU hosted the third National Victim Identification Taskforce, during which more than 3,500 files were de-conflicted against the ICSE database, with images from 55 newly-identified victims added for potential identification.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: INTERPOL Secretary General: More specialist units needed to investigate online child abuse

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    20 October 2022

    NEW DELHI, India – For more than 20 years, INTERPOL has served as a unique and powerful cooperation platform to combat online child sexual exploitation.

    Currently containing more than 4.3 million videos and images, INTERPOL’s International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database enables investigators to make connections between victims, abusers, and locations from across all regions.

    Through leads generated via ICSE, to date more than 30,000 victims have been identified around the world.

    However, in addition to significant under-reporting of online child sexual exploitation and abuse cases, many countries do not have specialized units dedicated to this crime type, with others lacking necessary legislation to support investigations.

    A Resolution endorsed by delegates at the 90th General Assembly highlights the urgent need for member countries to develop units and connect to and use the ICSE database to develop a stronger victim-centric process of identifying and safeguarding children.

    “Each and every child should be protected from sexual exploitation and abuse, and from re-victimization after images have been shared online,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

    “Data sharing between law enforcement and across regions is essential. If information is not shared globally, victims around the world remain unidentified and their abusers avoid justice. Neither can be acceptable.

    “INTERPOL remains unwavering in its commitment to assist member countries in their efforts to address child exploitation and related crimes. These are crime areas where silos cannot be created, whether by one agency, or one region. There is too much at stake,” concluded Secretary General Stock.

    Currently 68 member countries are connected to the ICSE database. Greater participation will result in more victim identifications by linking parallel enquiries and avoiding duplication of efforts in investigating material related to already solved cases.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Spend “One Day at the University” with GUU

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On November 23, the State University of Management invites schoolchildren of grades 9-11 and their parents to spend “One Day at the University”.

    At the presentation “About Studying,” guests will be told about the opportunities for entering the university and the “GUU Leaders” program, about what specialty can be obtained by studying at our University, and why GUU is the best in management education.

    As part of the “I am a student” block, those gathered will get acquainted with the world of youth movements, clubs of interest, volunteering, social projects, KVN, sports associations and creative communities, learn about what students do in their free time, as well as about additional bonuses upon admission.

    All visitors will be given a tour of the university, where they will be shown the multi-level scientific and educational complex of the first management university, which includes a co-working space, a library, lecture halls, laboratories, a canteen, buffets, a cafe, a sports complex and a well-equipped swimming pool.

    In addition, there will be a “Meeting with Parents” where university representatives will answer all questions of interest.

    We are waiting for everyone on November 23 at 10:00 in the lobby on the 1st floor of the Laboratory Building (the sign above the entrance says “Admissions Committee”).

    Pre-registration is required to participate.

    We remind you that you will need a passport to enter the university grounds.

    For a century, GUU has confidently held the position of the leader in management education in Russia. The university has more than 12 thousand students in 14 bachelor’s degree programs, 11 master’s degree programs, and postgraduate students in 8 scientific specialties. The university is among the Top 10 universities in terms of salaries of young specialists in the legal field, economics, and finance.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 11/23/2024

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Spend “One Day at the University” with GUU

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: We invite you to the presentation of the Student Theatre of the State University of Management

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On October 22, 2024, our university will host a presentation of the SUM Student Theatre.

    “We do theatre because we have the impression that we have never been ourselves and that we can finally be ourselves” (Louis Jouvet)

    The GUU Student Theatre opens its doors to new talents! Regardless of your experience, we welcome everyone who wants to become part of our friendly team.

    Fill out the questionnaire for an interview and come to our open lesson, where you will get a unique chance to touch the magic of theatrical craft and find out what is really hidden behind the scenes.

    Date: October 22 Time: 19:00 Place: A-124

    This is a great opportunity not only to reveal your talents, but also to make new friends. We look forward to seeing you!

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 10/16/2024

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    We invite you to the presentation of the Student Theatre of the State University of Management

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: ‘Distance is not a problem’: HSE develops cooperation with think tanks of BRICS countries

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    At the end of September Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) HSE held a meeting with representatives of analytical centers from Brazil, India, and Egypt. The participants considered the possibilities of cooperation, including conducting joint surveys and comparative studies, and discussed the formation of common databases and joint publications on foresight and scientific and technical policy. A decision was also made to prepare a draft multilateral agreement on the establishment of the BRICS Foresight Research Association.

    Leonid Gokhberg, First Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Director of the ISSEK, welcomed the participants and presented an overview of HSE research activities in areas of possible cooperation, focusing in particular on those conducted by the team of the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge.

    ISSEK comprises 19 research centres and two international laboratories, with over 240 employees, making it the largest research unit of the Higher School of Economics. The key areas of the institute’s activities are statistical measurements and forecasting of development directions in science, technology, innovation, education, the digital economy and creative industries. ISSEK scientists analyse scientific, technical and innovation policies implemented in Russia and around the world, and study the factors of sustainable economic growth, social welfare and competitiveness.

    ISSEK is implementing a number of large-scale research projects. The Doing Science in Russia study analyzes the current state of Russian science and its development prospects. The Russian Cluster Observatory, which studies the innovative and creative development of cities and regions, publishes two ratings: the Innovative Development Rating of Russian Regions and the HSE Global Cities Innovation Index. In the third, recently published edition, the authors examine more than 1,000 agglomerations with the largest number of high technologies and creative leaders from 144 countries. Hundreds of ISSEK research projects use the results of the unique iFORA big data mining system developed by its team.

    Leonid Gokhberg outlined potential areas of cooperation between ISSEK and foreign partners in the framework of joint research, publications and courses in such areas as foresight, the use of big data, scientific and technical policy, the business climate in the field of science and technology, the digital economy, the creative economy, and innovative urban development.

    The Director of the ISSEK also proposed the creation of a BRICS Foresight Research Association, which would promote cooperation in the field of futures research.

    Fernando Rizzo, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies and Management in Science, Technology and Innovation (CGEE, Brazil), introduced the audience to the history and activities of the organization. CGEE was founded in 2001 and has 115 employees. The center supports decision-making processes on topics related to science, technology and innovation. CGEE experts evaluate and monitor public policies, identify promising technologies and competencies, conduct foresight studies, and provide strategic consulting services for decision-making. CGEE includes several research observatories: Information Services for Science, Technology and Innovation; Space Technology Observatory; Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory; Innovation Observatory for Sustainable Cities; Bioeconomy Observatory; Digital Transformation Observatory.

    In 2024, CGEE organized the 5th National Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation, a major event that attracted a total of 30,000 participants from 27 Brazilian states. The conference presented the Brazilian Plan for Artificial Intelligence (BPAI) 2024-2028.

    Dr. Mohamed Ramadan Rezk, Director of the Egyptian Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory (ESTIO, Egypt), began his presentation with the surprising idea that foresight existed as far back as Ancient Egypt, where the future, i.e. life after death, was depicted on bas-reliefs. In its modern sense, foresight research began in Egypt in 1975, when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations conducted a study on the demographic impact of potential development strategies from 1975 to 1985. ESTIO was established in February 2014 as a subordinate organization of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) to develop science, technology and innovation indicators, conduct foresight studies and raise awareness of foresight in Egypt. Later, in 2021, the North African Applied Systems Analysis Center (NAASAC) was established as a collaboration between ASRT, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and the National Planning Institute of Egypt. Its activities include developing an online educational program on applied research; organizing joint applied research on issues relevant to decision makers in Egypt, North Africa and the Arab States; and providing advisory services to governments and businesses. ASRT conducts foresight research in areas such as energy, water, the impact of COVID-19 on society, and climate change.

    Dr. Gautam Goswami, Principal Scientist, Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC, India), shared the strengths of his organization. TIFAC is a technology think tank under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. It brings together eminent experts from government agencies, research institutes, universities and industry. TIFAC focuses on areas such as assessing the country’s technology needs and forecasting promising areas of technology development. Since 1996, TIFAC has been publishing a series of reports called “The Future of Technology” (the first and second editions set the forecast horizon for 2020 and 2035; the report “The Future of Technology – 2047” is currently being prepared). The council’s experts also prepare other short- and long-term foresight reports, as well as the Technology Market Research Report, which tracks new technologies, collects patent information, and maintains databases of technologies and experts. TIFAC also provides foresight training to industry professionals, government officials, and academics.

    Iwao Ohashi from Japan, Advisor for Japan and Asia Pacific Countries to the Association of Industrial Parks of Russia, shared his opinion on the prospects for Russia’s technological development under sanctions. He believes that Russia should develop cooperation in technology and innovation with the BRICS countries. Joint foresight studies are also very important, and Iwao Ohashi believes that the creation of the BRICS Foresight Research Association would be a very promising idea. Mr. Ohashi noted that in the near future, China will most likely become a global leader in innovation. At the same time, he emphasized that “we need to make a strategic bet on the creation of Russian innovation centers within the country and in its regions, as well as invite foreign experts to Russia.”

    Following the presentations, ISSEK scientists exchanged ideas for cooperation with foreign participants. Dirk Meissner, Head ofLaboratory of Innovation Economy and academic director of the master’s program “Governance in the field of science, technology and innovation“, mentioned cooperation with colleagues from the University of Campinas in Brazil. “Geographical distance is no longer a problem,” said Dirk Meissner, emphasizing the importance of communication and education online.

    Liliana Proskuryakova, Head of DepartmentLaboratory for Science and Technology Research, noted the issues of health care, energy and water resources as cross-cutting themes in the participants’ speeches. A comprehensive analysis of these basic needs of humanity can determine the priorities of cooperation, in addition, this agenda is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals that are relevant for our countries. Mikhail Gershman, Director Center for Scientific, Technical, Innovation and Information Policy, head of the project “Making Science in Russia”, invited colleagues to join forces in the framework of comparative cross-country studies of the working conditions of scientists and state scientific and technical policy. Ekaterina Streltsova, director Center for Statistics and Monitoring of Science and Innovation, proposed establishing cooperation to conduct joint research on technological development, including using patent analysis tools.

    Evgeny Kutsenko, Director of the Russian Cluster Observatory, spoke about the project’s scientific plans, including cluster development, unicorn companies and creative industries. The possibilities of strengthening joint projects based on the results of big data analysis were demonstrated by showing the system developed at ISSEKiFORA, expert of the Center for Strategic Analytics and Big Data of the ISSEK Maria Antasheva.

    “I am pleased to meet you. CGEE started collaborating with HSE many years ago. And when Alexander Sokolov suggested intensifying scientific ties, most of the CGEE staff, who already had experience interacting with the Higher School of Economics, knowing the high level of its research, readily supported this idea,” said Fernando Rizzo, Director of CGEE. “At our center, we work in various areas, including sustainable cities, bioeconomy, energy, airspace, agriculture and education. Among the potential areas of our international cooperation, I see training and education in AI and data science, the use of generative AI for research and innovation, joint data infrastructure and the use of predictive modeling in big data analysis.”

    The meeting participants agreed to strengthen international ties and implement projects in areas of mutual interest, including within the framework of the planned multilateral agreement to create the BRICS Foresight Research Association.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.hse.ru/nevs/expertise/975578115.html

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £21 million approved to help boost Sheffield City Centre businesses A project aimed at providing more space for people, allowing businesses to expand and for people to shop, eat and spend more time in Sheffield City Centre has been given a major investment boost. 16 October 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    A project aimed at providing more space for people, allowing businesses to expand and for people to shop, eat and spend more time in Sheffield City Centre has been given a major investment boost.

    South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, together with local leaders, has approved £21million of investment into the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project.

    The funding will help Sheffield City Council to deliver the project, improving public spaces and connecting key developments like the improvements on Fargate, Heart of the City and The Moor.

    Connecting Sheffield: City Centre will also provide more space for people and will allow businesses to use more outdoor space for people to shop, eat and spend time – subject to licences. It is part of a drive by the council to boost the city centre.

    In addition, the project will provide new, connected walking, wheeling and cycling routes in the city centre which, coupled with changes to make bus journeys more reliable, will give people more choice in how they travel.

    Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said,

    “Sheffield is changing. It’s transforming into an incredible city offering something for everyone whether you’re a resident here or visiting from further afield. Our Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project links up all the key areas in the city centre. From the Heart of the City’s great shops, services, dining, and entertainment to our fantastic shopping experience at The Moor and the new Fargate project as it nears completion. This investment will contribute further to the ongoing transformation of our cleaner, greener, more thriving city centre.

    “By giving you more space in the city centre, and more choice in how you travel, we can reduce congestion on the roads to make bus journeys more reliable. We’re also introducing safer walking, wheeling, and cycling routes that will connect to other parts of the city. The changes we’ve already made to improve reliability of bus journeys mean the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project will make travelling into the city centre by bus an even more realistic option too.”

    Construction is due to start on the project in January 2025, and the Traffic Regulation Orders to make the required changes to roads are being advertised until Thursday 17 October. To view the orders and comment, visit http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/roads-pavements/traffic-orders

    Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, said: “Building a healthier, wealthier and happier South Yorkshire is central to my ambition as South Yorkshire’s Mayor.

    “This important city centre project will not just give us greater freedom and choice about how we travel and move, but will also support our plans to make South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country.

    “It is part of the steps we are taking across our region to build new walking and cycling routes over the next three years – creating better places and more opportunities for us all to move more and move differently.”

    Funding was approved by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Board on 8 October and forms part of SYMCA’s £166 million Transforming Cities Fund investment across South Yorkshire.

    You can find more information on the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project via Have Your Say Sheffield: https://haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk/connecting-sheffield-city-centre

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Discharge for the 2022 budget: European Council and Council – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    In April 2024, the European Parliament decided to postpone its decision on granting discharge to the European Council and the Council for the 2022 budget owing to a number of critical observations. Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control has re-examined the situation but, given the Council’s lack of willingness to cooperate on the discharge procedure, it cannot take an informed decision. It therefore recommends in this second and final report not to grant discharge to the two institutions. Since 2009, Parliament has refused discharge to the two institutions for each financial year. The vote is scheduled for the October II plenary part-session.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Draft amending budget No 2/2024: 2023 surplus – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The purpose of Draft Amending Budget No 2/2024 (DAB 2/2024) to the EU’s 2024 general budget is to enter the €632.6 million surplus from implementation of the 2023 budget as revenue into the 2024 budget. Inclusion of the surplus will lead to a corresponding reduction in Member States’ gross national income (GNI) contributions to the 2024 budget. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the Council’s position on DAB 2/2024 during the October II plenary session.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU will provide a new macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan of up to €35 billion to Ukraine as part of a G7 initiative to support Ukraine with a loan of up to US$50 billion (€45 billion). The new Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism will provide revenues originating from immobilised Russian sovereign assets, so that Ukraine can service and repay loans from the EU and other G7 lenders. Parliament is expected to adopt the proposal during its October II plenary sitting.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Closing the EU skills gap – Insights from the Draghi report – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The success of the green and digital transitions depends on their being conducted in a socially fair way, with attention paid to securing quality jobs and ensuring enough skilled workers are available to perform them. Given the existing shortages in terms of both occupations and skills, reskilling and upskilling of the EU labour force are vital. The start of the new legislative cycle has energised the debate on the EU approach to tackling skills gaps, and MEPs are due to debate a Commission statement on closing the skills gap during the October II session.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Asia’s skyrocketing space race: A competition for peace? – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Over the past 20 years, new Asian players have emerged in the competition for space. Until the end of the 20th century, Japan – the only Asian country admitted to the International Space Station – played a leading role in the region. However, the beginning of the 21st century has seen the rise of other countries’ space capabilities, fuelling a new space race. China has made sizeable progress, outpacing Russia as the main competitor to the United States. Beijing aims to be the world’s leading space power by the mid-2040s and has integrated its space activities in the army structure. China is planning to build a permanent research station on the lunar south pole and a solar power station in space. China and Russia are increasingly teaming up in space projects. India has showed the capability to perform low-cost missions, including the successful landing on the Moon in August 2023, making it the fourth country to achieve this. South Korea has a relatively recent space history, but aims to rank among the world’s top five space powers by 2045. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have revealed ambitious space policies; the UAE aims to establish the first inhabitable human settlement on Mars by 2117. Meanwhile, despite the narrative of a shared vision for humanity in space, China is accumulating major counter-space capabilities, including that of seizing control of a satellite, rendering it ineffective. The Chinese army has meanwhile designated outer space as a warfighting domain. There is also concern around the claimed pacific purpose of Iran’s space programme, potentially supporting its intercontinental ballistic missile capacities. North Korea is also developing a space programme. The European Union (EU) economy, society and security are increasingly reliant on space services. The April 2021 Space Regulation established the EU space programme and the EU Agency for the Space Programme. The EU’s space strategy for security and defence was adopted in March 2023.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Protecting consumers and tackling unfair competition by boosting EU oversight in e commerce and imports – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU’s new product safety rulebook contains obligations for economic operators (i.e. manufacturers, importers and distributors) which import products from third counties, as well as specific rules for online marketplaces. This legislation was signed into law on 10 May 2023 and will apply from 13 December 2024. During the October II part-session, Parliament will debate a statement from the Commission on product safety and unfair competition, with regard in particular to online imports from third countries.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Single Sky: Modernising airspace management – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Following lengthy negotiations, the Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on 6 March 2024 on rules for more efficient air traffic management and to improve sustainability in the aviation sector. The Council adopted the agreed text on 26 September 2024 and it now needs to be adopted by Parliament.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Guidelines for the Member States’ employment policies – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Under the EU Treaties, Member States have to consider their economic and employment policies as a common concern, and coordinate their action within the Council. The Council adopts employment guidelines that must be reflected in the Member States’ employment policies and reform programmes. Before adopting these guidelines, Parliament is consulted on the draft, but the Council is not bound by Parliament’s opinion. During the October II plenary session, Parliament is due to adopt an opinion on this year’s employment guidelines, based on the report from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – What if we ran out of copper? – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Copper is a relatively common element with a variety of suppliers, and that should typically mean a stable market. However, the copper market has recently been showing unusual instability. New EU legislation, though not always directly related, seems to be having a significant impact on copper prices. This is the case for the Chips Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act – designed to make EU industry more resilient by improving strategic autonomy – but also for laws concerning energy, artificial intelligence and digitalisation. New factors, including looming shortages in strategic raw materials – such as copper – may strongly influence political action.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Importance of cities and regions in the EU for green, social and prosperous local development – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Regions and cities play an important role in the implementation of EU laws, as many EU policies are executed at local or regional level. Regions and cities are usually the first point of contact between citizens and political authorities. Engaging with them can have a positive impact on the implementation of EU policies, and may also help to bring the EU closer to its citizens, thus enhancing its democratic legitimacy. During the October II plenary session, the European Commission is due to give a statement on the topic. A debate in the European Parliament comes at a time when the future of cohesion policy – the main policy supporting regions and cities – is at stake.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Wopke Hoekstra – Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Wopke Hoekstra has served as the Commissioner for Climate Action since October 2023. In this role, he represented the European Union at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in November 2023. Starting in early 2024, Hoekstra, along with the Executive Vice-President in charge of the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, has been communicating on behalf of the Commission regarding its 2040 climate target and managing climate risks. He has also been representing the Commission in clean transition dialogues with industry. From 2011 to 2017, Hoekstra was a Member of the Dutch Senate representing Christian Democratic Appeal (the CDA), affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament. In October 2017, he became the minister of finance, a position he held until 2022, also becoming the leader of the CDA in 2020. From January 2022 he served concurrently as deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. Prior to taking on the role of Commissioner, he stepped down from both of those positions in July 2023. Born in 1975, Hoekstra studied law at Leiden University, from which he graduated in 2001. In 2005, he obtained an INSEAD MBA degree. Early in his career Hoekstra held commercial posts at Shell. In 2006, he joined global consulting company McKinsey, becoming a partner in 2013. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Joseph Síkela – International Partnerships – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Josef Síkela (Mayors and Independents Party, STAN) affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP), has served as the Czech minister for industry and trade since December 2021. In this position, his focus has been on reducing his country’s reliance on Russian gas, developing the use of renewable energy sources and securing stakes in German and Dutch liquefied natural gas (LNG). Síkela has served in various banks, notably as the head of the Slovak Savings Bank and as board member of the Austrian Erste Group Bank. Born in 1967 in Rokycany, Czechia, Síkela studied foreign trade economics at the Prague University of Economics and Business.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Teresa Ribera Rodríguez – Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Teresa Ribera Rodríguez has held senior posts in the Spanish government since 2018, most recently serving as third vice-president of the government and minister for ecological transition and demographic challenge (2021-2024), fourth vice-president of the government and minister for ecological transition and demographic challenge (2020-2021) and minister for ecological transition (2018-2020). Since 2000, Ribera Rodríguez has been involved in the international climate negotiations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. From 2013 to 2014, she was advisor on energy and climate programme at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, and in 2019, she was responsible for organising the UNFCCC COP25 in Madrid. Member of the Spanish parliament, representing the Socialist party, since 2019, Ribera was state secretary for climate change and biodiversity in a previous government from 2008 to 2011. Born in 1969 in Madrid, Ribera Rodríguez holds a law degree from Madrid’s Complutense University and a diploma in constitutional law and political science from the Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

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