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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Economics: IPAA Announces Michael Hillebrand as New Board Chairman 

    Source: Independent Petroleum Association of America

    Headline: IPAA Announces Michael Hillebrand as New Board Chairman 

    Jan 28, 2025 IPAA Announces Michael Hillebrand as New Board Chairman 

    Posted at 09:53h in Press Releases by

    IPAA Board Appoints Hillebrand, Huntley & Huntley CEO, as Chairman for 2024-2026 Term 

    WASHINGTON – The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) board of directors are pleased to announce Michael “Mike” A. Hillebrand, the chief executive officer of Pennsylvania-based Huntley & Huntley, as board chairman for a two-year term through 2026. IPAA advocates for thousands of oil and natural gas producers that develop 90 percent of wells nationwide. The IPAA board approved Hillebrand at the association’s annual meeting in late fall, and Hillebrand officially assumed the role this month.

    “Mike brings fantastic business and technical expertise to the role of chairman, coupled with a passion for industry and association advocacy,” said Jeff Eshelman, IPAA president and chief executive officer. “Past-chairman Steve Pruett, the president and chief executive officer of Elevation Resources, has been invaluable in expanding IPAA’s reach in Texas and the Permian Basin. I look forward to working with Mike on deepening our roots and relationships in my home state of Pennsylvania and throughout the Appalachian Basin formations.”

    Hillebrand is a principal shareholder and chief executive officer of one of the world’s oldest and continuously existing oil and gas companies, Huntley & Huntley (founded in 1912), the founder, shareholder, and board member of its institutional joint venture, Olympus Energy, the fifth largest shale producer in southwestern Pennsylvania. Mr. Hillebrand has thirty-nine years of combined experience in both vertical and horizontal well drilling, completions, and operations, as well as all operating and financial aspects of oil and natural gas business development, assembly and acquisition, and marketing.

    He has played a key leadership role in securing over $1.1 billion of capital funding and/or commitments into several of Huntley’s affiliated companies. One of those companies, Olympus Energy, now operates nearly 100,000 acres and in one of SW Pennsylvania’s last undeveloped core Marcellus, deep Utica and Upper Devonian unconventional shale positions, now producing over 600 mmcf/d.

    Mr. Hillebrand is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering. He is member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the current Chairman of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA).

    For the full IPAA Board of Directors, visit https://www.ipaa.org/board-of-directors/

    ###

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján Introduce Resolution Condemning Pardons of Individuals Found Guilty of Assaulting Capitol Police Officers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    Resolution comes after Trump pardons 1,500 criminals convicted of violently assaulting police officers
    WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced a new resolution condemning the pardons of individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers.
    The resolution follows the reckless action by President Trump, on the first day of his second term, to grant full, complete, and unconditional pardons to over 1,500 people charged, and in many cases already convicted and incarcerated, with committing crimes in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and to commute the sentences of 14 others, including leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, far-right militias. Among those pardoned by Trump were 169 people who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers on January 6th. During the siege of the Capitol that day, over 80 U.S. Capitol Police Officers were assaulted, as well as over 60 officers from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
    The senators’ resolution, condemning the pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers, simply states: “Resolved, That the Senate disapproves of any pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police officers.” This week, Senate Democrats will seek unanimous consent on the Senate floor to pass the resolution.
    “These criminals used flagpoles, fire extinguishers and bear spray to assault the police securing the Capitol on January 6. No one who assaults a police officer should be given a ‘get out of jail free card’ from the President,” said Heinrich.
    “What took place at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th is a stain on American history. The events of that have left a scar on many, including the law enforcement officers that defended the Capitol. President Trump’s pardons of violent criminals is a betrayal of the rule of law and our brave law enforcement officers,” said Luján. “I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in condemning this vicious attack on law enforcement and in showing the nation that political violence is unacceptable.”
    According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, approximately 1,572 defendants have been federally charged with crimes associated with the attack of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. This includes approximately 598 charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder, including approximately 171 defendants charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer. As proven in court, the weapons used and carried on the Capitol grounds during the January 6th attack include firearms; OC spray; tasers; edged weapons, including a sword, axes, hatchets, and knives; and makeshift weapons, such as destroyed office furniture, fencing, bike racks, stolen riot shields, baseball bats, hockey sticks, flagpoles, PVC piping, and reinforced knuckle gloves.
    Among others, the individuals who assaulted law enforcement officers and were granted full, unconditional pardons by President Trump this week include:
    Rockne Gerald Earles, of Chama, N.M., who pled guilty last year to two felony assault charges on Capitol Police officers. In one attack, captured on video, Earles wrestled a police officer to the steps outside the Capitol Building. That officer was later hospitalized with a concussion and missed 45 days of work due to his injuries. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors recommended a sentence of 52 months in prison for Earles.
    Taylor James Johnatakis, of Kingston, Washington, was convicted of three felonies in November 2023, including assaulting officers. Prosecutors said that he “coordinated a violent assault on a line of police officers defending” the Capitol and that video shows he “used a metal barricade to attack officers head on and grabbed one officer to prevent him from defending himself against other attacking rioters.”
    Julian Khater, who assaulted a U.S. police office—Brian Sicknick—and later pled guilty to assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon.
    Robert Palmer, who attacked police with a fire extinguisher, a wooden plank, and a pole.
    Tyler Bradley Dykes of Bluffton, South Carolina, who was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for stealing a police riot shield and twice using it against officers. He pleaded guilty to two felony counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers.
    Devlyn Thompson, who hit a police officer with a metal baton.
    Andrew Taake, of Houston, Texas, who was sentenced to a little more than six years for assaulting law enforcement officers with bear spray and a metal whip.
    Christopher Quaglin, who federal prosecutors said “viciously assaulted numerous officers” and was one of the most violent rioters, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
    David Dempsey, who, according to prosecutors, “was one of the most violent rioters,” and received 20 years in prison. Prosecutors also said Dempsey had a “very significant history of arrests and convictions” prior to the January 6th attack.
    Daniel Rodriguez, of Fontana, California, who plunged a stun gun into the neck of Washington Police Officer Michael Fanone multiple times.
    Ryan Nichols, of Longview, Texas, who assaulted officers with pepper spray, and later on Jan. 6, at his hotel room, he called for additional violence.
    Howard Richardson, of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, who struck a police officer three times with a flagpole, hard enough to break the flagpole.
    Robert Sanford, from Chester, Pennsylvania, who hit two police officers in the head with a fire extinguisher and threw a traffic cone at another officer.
    Jonathan Munafo, of Albany, New York, who punched a police officer, stole the officer’s riot shield, and struck a Capitol office window with two poles.
    The resolution is led by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
    The text of the resolution is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Writes Fox News Digital Op-ed Challenging Elon Musk to Cut $2 Trillion in Waste By Taking On Billionaires and Giant Corporations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    January 28, 2025
    “Here’s something President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and I agree on: the federal government throws away trillions of dollars on wasteful spending.”
    “Instead of cutting help for people who rely on Medicare, Social Security and the VA, let’s focus on the billionaires and billionaire corporations who are feasting off the American taxpayer.”
    Warren Op-Ed in Fox News Digital
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, published an op-ed outlining her recommendations for cutting government waste to make government more efficient and save taxpayers money. In a public letter last week, Warren proposed 30 recommendations for President Trump and Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, to cut at least $2 trillion in government waste over the next decade. 
    Musk has already walked back his goal of $2 trillion of cuts. Unlike the Republican plans, none of these recommendations would cut access to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and other programs that tens of millions of Americans count on–and instead focus on waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending. 
    Read the full op-ed here and below: 
    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Trump, Musk and I agree on something important. And I’ve got 30 ways to get it doneJanuary 28, 2025
    Here’s something President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and I agree on: the federal government throws away trillions of dollars on wasteful spending. I have spent years trying to squeeze government waste out of our budget, and I’m ready to work with Musk to make government more efficient and save taxpayers money. But here’s the thing: we need to focus in the right place. Instead of cutting help for people who rely on Medicare, Social Security and the VA, let’s focus on the billionaires and billionaire corporations who are feasting off the American taxpayer.
    After promising his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would cut $2 trillion in government waste, Musk’s ambition is rapidly shrinking. Within weeks, he cut his goal in half to $1 trillion– all before he’s actually cut a single dollar. I don’t want Musk to fold so quickly. I crunched the numbers and found $2 trillion that we could cut over the next 10 years by focusing on the guys who are getting rich off our government. Last week, I sent Musk my blueprint to do just that. 
    Congressional Republicans’ initial plans call for cuts to government programs that millions of Americans rely on to pay their bills each month – things like Social Security, money to cover nursing home costs, and help buying private health insurance. Scrapping essential services is not efficiency; it is cold-hearted cruelty. Tossing old folks out of nursing homes or telling people that their insurance has been cancelled won’t save money; it just makes lives tougher for the families that struggle to pick up the slack. If Musk and the Republicans take that route, it will be a disaster for working people and I will fight back.
    But we don’t have to cut the programs Americans rely on. We can eliminate at least $2 trillion of government waste over the next decade without cutting programs that help our grandparents, our veterans, and our children. In fact, I have 30 specific proposals to do just that. I’ll share a few of them now, but you can read all about them in my letter to Musk here.
    Here are a few examples of government waste we could start with. First, we could negotiate better contracts for the Department of Defense. In 2023, the DoD spent $440.7 billion on contracts – and giant contractors overcharge us on nearly everything. The Air Force pays over 7,500% more on soap dispensers than regular Americans do. The Army pays $71 for pins that should cost less than a nickel. Spending is so out of control at DoD that it is the only agency in government that cannot pass a simple audit. American taxpayers are sick of getting scammed by overpaid military contractors. My recommendations on Defense spending alone would save nearly $200 billion in the next 12 years. 
    Taxpayers are also getting swindled by for-profit health insurance companies. Right now, about half of all seniors have been lured into a privatized Medicare program called Medicare Advantage. This program was started to lower costs for seniors, but over time the insurers figured out how to boost their profits by manipulating claims and denying coverage. It’s so bad now that the non-partisan Medicare Payment Advisory Commission estimates that privatized Medicare insurers overcharged taxpayers by nearly $83 billion in 2024 alone, while other independent researchers put the dollar figure at $140 billion. Rooting out their dirty tactics could save more than a trillion dollars over ten years without cutting Medicare benefits by one penny.
    Cracking down on health care profiteering isn’t a partisan issue. I’ve partnered with Republican Josh Hawley of Missouri to claw back billions more from corporations that are cheating the government on health care costs. He’s not the only Republican who agrees that we need to stop corporations from overcharging taxpayers for lifesaving medications: President Trump has voiced support for another one of my proposals to cut wasteful spending, Medicare price negotiations. By expanding this program to bring the prices down for the most expensive drugs covered by Medicare, the government could save taxpayers another $200 billion over the next decade.
    We can bring down the deficit by cutting spending, but we can also improve our financial position by making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share. Hedge funds and private equity companies use loopholes to avoid paying anywhere between $1.4 billion and $18 billion each year – that’s an easy fix. By closing just one big estate tax exemption loophole abused by the ultra-rich, the US government could save another $60 billion per year. We should close those loopholes – and fully fund the IRS to catch wealthy tax cheats who think they’re above the law.  
    My list of cuts and loophole closers will save $2 trillion. So where are Elon Musk, Donald Trump and the DOGE project? Why give up so quickly on beating back the defense contractors, health insurance giants, and other huge companies that are ripping off the American people? If Musk and Trump have the courage to cut this waste, I’ve got a plan and 30 specific recommendations to get it done.
    Democrat Elizabeth Warren represents Massachusetts in the United States Senate.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump 2.0: the rise of an ‘anti-elite’ elite in US politics

    Source: The Conversation – France – By William Genieys, Directeur de recherche CNRS au CEE, Sciences Po

    US president Donald Trump is surrounded by a new cohort of politicians and officials. While one of his campaign promises was to overthrow the “corrupt elites” he accuses of flooding the American political arena, his second term in office has elevated elites chosen, above all, for their political loyalty to him.

    The media’s focus on Trump’s comments on making Canada the 51st US state and annexing Greenland and billionaire Elon Musk’s support for some far-right parties in Europe has obscured the ambitious programme to transform the federal government that the new political elite intends to implement.

    In the wake of Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the Republican elites most loyal to the MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) leader, who staunchly oppose Democratic elites and their policies, are operating amid their party’s control over the executive and legislative branches (at least until the midterm elections in 2026), a conservative-dominated Supreme Court that includes three Trump-appointed justices, and a federal judiciary that shifted right during his first term.

    However, the political project of the Trumpist camp consists less of challenging elitism in general than attacking a specific elite: one particular to liberal democracies.

    Castigating democratic elitism

    Typical anti-elite political propaganda, along the lines of “I speak for you, the people, against the elites who betray and deceive you,” claims that a populist leader would be able to exercise power for and on behalf of the people without the mediation of an elite disconnected from their needs.

    Political theorist John Higley sees behind this form of anti-elite discourse an association between so-called “forceful leaders” and “leonine elites” (who take advantage of the former and their political success): a phenomenon that threatens the future of Western democracies.

    Since the Second World War, there has been a consensus in US politics on the idea of democratic elitism. According to this principle, elitist mediation is inevitable in mass democracies and must be based on two criteria: respect for the results of elections (which must be free and competitive); and the relative autonomy of political institutions.

    The challenge to this consensus has been growing since the 1990s with the increased polarization of American politics. It gained new momentum during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, which was marked by anti-elite rhetoric from both Republicans and Democrats (such as senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren). At the heart of some of their diatribes was an aversion to “the Establishment” on the east and west coasts of the United States, where many prestigious financial, political and academic institutions are based, and the conspiracy notion of the “deep state”.

    The re-election of Trump, who has never admitted defeat in the 2020 presidential vote, growing political hostility and the direct involvement of tech tycoons in political communication –especially on the Republican side– further reinforce the denial of democratic elitism.

    Trump’s populism from above: a revolt of the elites

    The idea that democracy could be betrayed by “the revolt of the elites”, put forward by the US historian Christopher Lasch (1932-1994), is not new. For the anthropologist Arjun Appadurai, it is a particular feature of contemporary populism, which comes “from above.” Indeed, if the 20th century was the era of the “revolt of the masses”, the 21st century, according to Appadurai, “is characterized by the ‘revolt of the elites’.” This would explain the rise of populist autocracies (such as those currently led by Viktor Orban in Hungary, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey and Narendra Modi in India, and formerly led by Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil), but also the election successes of populist leaders in consolidated democracies (including those of Trump in the US, Giorgia Meloni in Italy, and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, for example).

    As Appadurai explains, the success of Trumpian populism, which represents a revolt by ordinary Americans against the elites, casts a veil over the fact that, following Trump’s victory in November, “it is a new elite that has ousted from power the despised Democratic elite that had occupied the White House for nearly four years.”

    The aim of this “alter elite” is to replace the “regular” Democrat elites, but also the moderate Republicans, by deeply discrediting their values (such as liberalism and so-called “wokeism”) and their supposedly corrupt political practices. As a result, this populism “from above” carried out by the President’s supporters constitutes an alternative elite configuration, the effects of which on American democratic life could be more significant than those observed during Trump’s first term.

    Beyond the idea of a ‘Muskoligarchy’

    The idea that we are witnessing the formation of a “Muskoligarchy” –in other words, an economic elite (including tech barons such as Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Marc Andreessen) rallying around the figurehead of Elon Musk, whom Trump asked to lead what the president has called a “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) –is seductive. It perfectly combines the vision of an alliance between a “conspiratorial, coherent, conscious” ruling class and an oligarchy made up of the “ultra-rich”. For the Financial Times columnist Martin Wolf, it is even a sign of the development of “pluto-populism”. (It is also worth noting that former president Joe Biden, in his farewell speech, referred to “an oligarchy… of extreme wealth” and “the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex.”)

    However, some observers are cautious about the advent of a “Muskoligarchy.” They point to the sociological eclecticism of the new Trumpian elite, whose facade of unity is held together above all by a political loyalty, for the time being unfailing, to the MAGA leader. The fact remains, however, that the various factions of this new “anti-elite” elite are converging around a common agenda: to rid the federal government of the supposed stranglehold of Democratic “insiders.”

    An ‘anti-elite’ elite against the ‘deep state’

    In his presidential inauguration speech in 1981, Ronald Reagan said: “Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” The anti-elitism of the Trump elite is inspired by this diagnosis, and defends a simple political programme: rid democracy of the “deep state.”


    Although the idea that the US is “beleaguered” by an “unelected and unaccountable elite” and “insiders” who subvert the general interest has been shown to be unfounded, it is nonetheless predominant in the new Trump Administration.

    This conspiracy theory has been taken to the extreme by Kash Patel, the candidate being considered to head the FBI. In his book, Government Gangsters, a veritable manifesto against the federal administration, the former lawyer writes about the need to resort to “purges” in order to bring elite Democrats to justice. He lists around 60 people, including Biden, ex-secretary of state Hillary Clinton and ex-vice president Kamala Harris.

    Government Gangsters, Kash Patel’s controversial book.
    Google Books

    The appointment of Russell Vought as head of the Office of Management and Budget at the White House, a person who is known for having sought to obstruct the transition to the Biden Administration in 2021, also highlights the hard turn that the Trump administration is likely to take.

    Reshaping the state around political loyalty

    To “deconstruct the administrative state”, the “anti-elite” elites are relying on Project 2025, a 900-plus page programme report that the conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation, which published it, says was produced by “more than 400 scholars and policy experts.” According to former Project 2025 director Paul Dans, “never before has the entire movement… banded together to construct a comprehensive plan” for this purpose. On this basis, the “anti-elite” elite want to impose loyalty to Project 2025 on federal civil servants.

    But this idea is not new. At the end of his first term, Trump issued an executive order facilitating the dismissal of statutory federal civil servants occupying “policy-related positions” and considered to be “disloyal”. The decree was rescinded by president Biden, but Trump on his first day back in office signed an executive order that seeks to void Biden’s rescindment. As President, Trump is also able to allocate senior positions within the federal administration to his supporters.

    The “anti-elite” elite not only want to reduce the size of the state, as was the case under Reagan’s “neoliberalism”, but to deconstruct and rebuild it in their own image. Their real aim is a more lasting victory: the transformation of democratic elitism into populist elitism.

    Les auteurs ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possèdent pas de parts, ne reçoivent pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’ont déclaré aucune autre affiliation que leur organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Trump 2.0: the rise of an ‘anti-elite’ elite in US politics – https://theconversation.com/trump-2-0-the-rise-of-an-anti-elite-elite-in-us-politics-248180

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Engineering the social: Students in this course use systems thinking to help solve human rights, disease and homelessness

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Raúl Ordóñez, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Dayton

    An engineering education can equip students to work on broader social issues. Photosomnia/E+ via Getty Images

    Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

    Title of course:

    Engineering Systems for the Common Good

    What prompted the idea for the course?

    As a control systems researcher, I have long felt that control systems – and systems science in general – have much to contribute to solving social problems.

    Control systems make other systems behave in some desired manner. Think of the cruise control in a car, which keeps its speed constant, or the thermostat in a house that regulates temperature.

    I wanted to know whether engineers could treat society and social phenomena as systems in the engineering sense. That way, students and researchers could mathematically model and even simulate these phenomena using computers.

    Control systems engineering offers a set of powerful analysis and design tools. I wanted to know whether my students and I could apply these methods to things such as policymaking to help address societal problems.

    What does the course explore?

    In this course, students learn fundamental systems theory concepts, such as block diagrams, feedback loops and discrete-time dynamics. They apply these concepts to mathematically model and analyze social systems.

    In the class, I talk with the students about human rights. We think about how this powerful idea applies to social systems. This systems framework helps us approach social justice issues in a methodical, mathematical manner.

    In Raúl Ordóñez’s class at the University of Dayton, students take engineering concepts and apply them to societal issues.
    Shawn Robinson/University of Dayton

    Students use simulation software to model systems such as disease epidemics, the viral spread of ideas, the tragedy of the commons and homelessness, among others.

    Importantly, they learn that some social phenomena can be methodically studied and engineered, in a quantifiable manner. For example, they can use numbers and data to experiment and evaluate how introducing vaccines affects disease spread.

    By the end of the course, students gain a deeper understanding of the connection between engineering principles and tools and human rights and society.

    Why is this course relevant now?

    This course helps bridge the gap between engineering and social sciences by bringing concepts from human rights and social justice to engineering students. It teaches them how the powerful engineering tools they learn throughout the engineering curriculum can directly serve the common good.

    What’s a critical lesson from the course?

    The course is a concrete step toward teaching engineering and science students that engineering has more to offer to society than its direct applications. Students learn that a partnership between the humanities and engineering is not only possible but strongly desirable for the advancement of the common good.

    What materials does the course feature?

    There is no one textbook that deals with all the topics in this course, although the book “Humanitarian Engineering: Advancing Technology for Sustainable Development,” third edition, by Kevin M. Passino, is a very useful resource. I have mostly developed my own materials, including my set of lecture notes, projects and numerical simulation code.

    Many engineers use tools in engineering to help people and communities.

    What will the course prepare students to do?

    The course aims to prepare students to apply common engineering tools such as differential equations, signals and systems, systems analysis, mathematical models and numerical simulation to the analysis of social problems, with an emphasis on human rights implications.

    It also introduces social modeling as a powerful method for understanding social issues and assessing how various policies affect human rights.

    My goal is to produce engineering students who can meaningfully contribute to policymaking by using engineering tools to assess the consequences of social and economic policies.

    Dr. Kevin M. Passino was my doctoral research adviser at the Ohio State University, where I did my PhD.

    – ref. Engineering the social: Students in this course use systems thinking to help solve human rights, disease and homelessness – https://theconversation.com/engineering-the-social-students-in-this-course-use-systems-thinking-to-help-solve-human-rights-disease-and-homelessness-242893

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aimee Pugh Bernard, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    If a health claim about a dietary intervention sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
     Mizina/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated a vast landscape of misinformation about many topics, science and health chief among them.

    Since then, information overload continues unabated, and many people are rightfully confused by an onslaught of conflicting health information. Even expert advice is often contradictory.

    On top of that, people sometimes deliberately distort research findings to promote a certain agenda. For example, trisodium phosphate is a common food additive in cakes and cookies that is used to improve texture and prevent spoilage, but wellness influencers exploit the fact that a similarly named substance is used in paint and cleaning products to suggest it’s dangerous to your health.

    Such claims can proliferate quickly, creating widespread misconceptions and undermining trust in legitimate scientific research and medical advice. Social media’s rise as a news and information source further fuels the spread of pseudoscientific views.

    Misinformation is rampant in the realm of health and nutrition. Findings from nutrition research is rarely clear-cut because diet is just one of many behaviors and lifestyle factors affecting health, but the simplicity of using food and supplements as a cure-all is especially seductive.

    I am an assistant professor specializing in medical education and science communication. I also train scientists and future health care professionals how to communicate their science to the general public.

    In my view, countering the voices of social media influencers and health activists promoting pseudoscientific health claims requires leaning into the science of disease prevention. Extensive research has produced a body of evidence-based practices and public health measures that have consistently been shown to improve the health of millions of people around the world. Evaluating popular health claims against the yardstick of this work can help distinguish which ones are based on sound science.

    To parse pseudoscientific claims from sound advice about health and nutrition, it’s crucial to evaluate the information’s source.
    tadamichi/Getty Images

    Navigating the terrain of tangled information

    Conflicting information can be found on just about everything we eat and drink.

    That’s because a food or beverage is rarely just good or bad. Instead, its health effects can depend on everything from the quantity a person consumes to their genetic makeup. Hundreds of scientific studies describe coffee’s health benefits and, on the flip side, its health risks. A bird’s-eye view can point in one direction or another, but news articles and social media posts often make claims based on a single study.

    Things can get even more confusing with dietary supplements because people who promote them often make big claims about their health benefits. Take apple cider vinegar, for example – or ACV, if you’re in the know.

    Apple cider vinegar has been touted as an all-natural remedy for a variety of ailments, including digestive issues, urinary health and weight management. Indeed, some studies have shown that it might help lower cholesterol, in addition to having other health benefits, but overall those studies have small sample sizes and are inconclusive.

    Advocates of this substance often claim that one particular component of it – the cloudy sediment at the bottom of the bottle termed “the mother” – is especially beneficial because of the bacteria and yeast it contains. But there is no research that backs the claim that it offers any health benefits.

    One good rule of thumb is that health hacks that promise quick fixes are almost always too good to be true. And even when supplements do offer some health benefits under specific circumstances, it’s important to remember that they are largely exempt from Food and Drug Administration regulations. That means the ingredients on their labels might contain more or less of the ingredients promised or other ingredients not listed, which can potentially cause harms such as liver toxicity.

    It’s also important to keep in mind that the global dietary supplements industry is worth more than US$150 billion per year, so companies – and wellness influencers – selling supplements have a financial stake in convincing the public of their value.

    Misinformation about nutrition is nothing new, but that doesn’t make it any less confusing.

    How nutrition science gets twisted

    There’s no doubt that good nutrition is fundamental for your health. Studies consistently show that a balanced diet containing a variety of essential nutrients can help prevent chronic diseases and promote overall well-being.

    For instance, minerals such as calcium and iron support bone health and oxygen circulation in the blood, respectively. Proteins are essential for muscle repair and growth, and healthy fats, like those found in avocados and nuts, are vital for brain health.

    However, pseudoscientific claims often twist such basic facts to promote the idea that specific diets or supplements can prevent or treat illness. For example, vitamin C is known to play a role in supporting the immune system and can help reduce the duration and severity of colds.

    But despite assertions to the contrary, consuming large quantities of vitamin C does not prevent colds. In fact, the body needs only a certain amount of vitamin C to function properly, and any excess is simply excreted.

    Companies sometimes claim their supplement is “scientifically proven” to cure illness or boost brain function, with no credible research to back it up.

    Some companies overstate the benefits while underplaying the hazards.

    For example, wellness influencers have promoted raw milk over pasteurized milk as a more natural and nutritious choice, but consuming it is risky. Unpasteurized milk can contain harmful bacteria that leads to gastrointestinal illness and, in some cases, much more serious and potentially life-threatening diseases such as avian influenza, or bird flu.

    Such dietary myths aren’t harmless. Reliance on nutrition alone can lead to neglecting other critical aspects of health, such as regular medical checkups and lifesaving vaccinations.

    The lure of dietary myths has led people with cancer to replace proven science-backed treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, with unproven and misleading nutrition programs.

    How to spot less-than-solid science

    Pseudoscience exploits your insecurities and emotions, taking advantage of your desire to live the healthiest life possible.

    While the world around you may be uncertain and out of your control, you want to believe that at the very least, you have control over your own health. This is where the wellness industry steps in.

    What makes pseudoscientific claims so confusing is that they use just enough scientific jargon to sound believable. Supplements or powders that claim to “boost immunity” often list ingredients such as adaptogens and superfoods. While these words sound real and convincing, they actually don’t mean anything in science. They are terms created by the wellness industry to sell products.

    I’ve researched and written about reliable ways to distinguish science facts from false health claims. To stay alert and find credible information, I’d suggest you follow a few key steps.

    First, check your emotions – strong emotional reactions, such as fear and anger, can be a red flag.

    Next, check that the author has experience or expertise in the field of the topic. If they’re not an expert, they might not know what they are talking about. It’s always a good idea to make sure the source is reputable – ask yourself, would this source be trusted by scientists?

    Finally, search for references that back up the information. If very little or nothing else exists in the science world to back up the claims, you may want to put your trust in a different source.

    Following these steps will separate the facts from fake news and empower you to make evidence-based decisions.

    Aimee Pugh Bernard is an unpaid board member for Immunize Colorado

    – ref. Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience – https://theconversation.com/nutrition-advice-is-rife-with-misinformation-a-medical-education-specialist-explains-how-to-tell-valid-health-information-from-pseudoscience-246478

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Getting mail to your door is just one part of what the postmaster general does

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jena Martin, Professor of Law, St. Mary’s University

    Postal workers sort through mail and packages. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

    The postmaster general is responsible for getting billions of pieces of mail across the globe, managing hundreds of thousands of employees and caring for some of the country’s most vulnerable Americans.

    The agency is currently run by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who served in President Donald Trump’s first administration and during President Joe Biden’s term as well. He is one of the few key advisers to serve in both Trump administrations.

    I’m a law professor who has studied the United States Postal Service and the role of the postmaster general.

    Here’s what having the job of overseeing the Postal Service entails. Spoiler: It’s about more than getting your mail delivered.

    Sprawling duties of the postmaster

    The postmaster general overseas a vast operation.

    Over 44% of the world’s mail is processed and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, making it the largest delivery service in the world.

    In 2023 alone, the Postal Service handled 116.2 billion pieces of mail. And while processing and delivering mail is the key component of the Postal Service’s mission, it has other responsibilities as well.

    In many ways, in fact, it’s the nondelivery parts of the organization that have the biggest impact on the U.S. economy.

    In 2023, USPS owned or leased 22,873 properties around the country. To place this in perspective, the General Services Administration – known as “America’s landlord” – owns or leases only 8,800 properties.

    The agency also paid US$2 billion in salary and benefits to its 525,469 career employees and processed more than 8.5 million passport applications.

    Finally, USPS has a mandate that supports the health of many Americans. The service’s “last mile” delivery commitment ensures that all Americans – even those living in rural communities – receive mail delivery six days a week. This is particularly important for people without easy access to medical services, as it often provides lifesaving medications to people in need.

    Those are all official duties. Unofficially, the Postal Service has long been known to assist elderly citizens and respond to emergency situations that occur on letter carriers’ routes. In early January 2025, for example, a Massachusetts mail carrier was able to save a house from burning by quickly extinguishing a fire.

    As my co-author Matt Titolo and I have written elsewhere, “Americans depend on USPS for a host of essential services including food, medicine, paying bills, shopping, and running small businesses.”

    Deep roots in US history

    That deep connection with communities has been a part of USPS since its founding. In fact, the postal system is older than the nation itself, with Benjamin Franklin serving as the first head of the organization beginning in 1775.

    When the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1789, it included Article 1, Section 8 – generally known as the postal clause – which explicitly gives Congress the power “to establish Post Offices and post Roads” and “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper” to implement the task.

    A faded postcard sent in 1912.
    Jena Ardell via GettyImages

    Until 1971 the postmaster general was a Cabinet-level position and fifth in the presidential line of succession – coming right after the attorney general and right before the secretary of the Interior. The postmaster general was removed from the Cabinet, and the line of succession, in 1971 when Congress reorganized the Post Office and gave it its new name of the U.S. Postal Service.

    Since that reorganization, the president no longer has the power to appoint – or fire – the postmaster general. That power lies with the Board of Governors of the Postal Service, whose members are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.

    The future of the Postal Service

    Over the years, postmaster generals have discussed moving USPS away from its roots as a service-oriented organization and toward a typical business operation. Presidential candidates, including Trump, have called for either full or partial privatization of the agency.

    Indeed, USPS faces continuous deficit problems. But privatization and a resulting focus on profits would likely increase the cost of mailing a letter, a change that would disproportionately affect low-income individuals and small businesses – and could even result in service cuts to rural areas, making life for Americans living there harder and less healthy.

    As Forbes reports, critics and proponents of the move to privatize acknowledge it could result in “fewer days of mail services, longer mail delivery timelines or less access to USPS services.”

    This story is part of a series of profiles of Cabinet and high-level administration positions.

    Prof. Martin’s husband has been employed with the Postal Service for the last twenty-nine years.

    – ref. Getting mail to your door is just one part of what the postmaster general does – https://theconversation.com/getting-mail-to-your-door-is-just-one-part-of-what-the-postmaster-general-does-246861

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Medical research depends on government money – even a day’s delay in the intricate funding process throws science off-kilter

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aliasger K. Salem, Associate Vice President for Research and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa

    Of the tens of thousands of grant applications submitted to the National Institutes of Health, only around 1 in 5 is funded. Sean Gladwell/Moment via Getty Images

    In the early days of the second Trump administration, a directive to pause all public communication from the Department of Health and Human Services created uncertainty and anxiety among biomedical researchers in the U.S. This directive halted key operations of numerous federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health, including those critical to advancing science and medicine.

    These operations included a hiring freeze, travel bans and a pause on publishing regulations, guidance documents and other communications. The directive also suspended the grant review panels that determine which research projects receive funding.

    As a result of these disruptions, NIH staff has reported being unable to meet with study participants or recruit patients into clinical trials, delays submitting research findings to science journals, and rescinded job offers.

    Shorter communication freezes in the first few days of a new administration aren’t uncommon. But the consequences of a freeze lasting weeks or potentially longer underscore the critical role the federal government plays in supporting biomedical research. It also brings the intricate processes through which federal research grants are evaluated and awarded into the spotlight.

    I am a member of a federal research grant review panel, as well as a scientist whose own projects have undergone this review process. My experience with the NIH has shown me that these panels come to a decision on the best science to fund through rigorous review and careful vetting.

    How NIH study sections work

    At the heart of the NIH’s mission to advance biomedical research is a careful and transparent peer review process. Key to this process are study sections – panels of scientists and subject matter experts tasked with evaluating grant applications for scientific and technical merit. Study sections are overseen by the Center for Scientific Review, the NIH’s portal for all incoming grant proposals.

    A typical study section consists of dozens of reviewers selected based on their expertise in relevant fields and with careful screening for any conflicts of interest. These scientists are a mix of permanent members and temporary participants.

    I have had the privilege of serving as a permanent chartered member of an NIH study section for several years. This role requires a commitment of four to six years and provides an in-depth understanding of the peer review process. Despite media reports and social media posts indicating that many other panels have been canceled, a section meeting I have scheduled in February 2025 is currently proceeding as planned.

    Evaluating projects for their scientific merit and potential impact is an involved process.
    Center for Scientific Review

    Reviewers analyze applications using key criteria, including the significance and innovation of the research, the qualifications and training of the investigators, the feasibility and rigor of the study design, and the environment the work will be conducted in. Each criterion is scored and combined into an overall impact score. Applications with the highest scores are sent to the next stage, where reviewers meet to discuss and assign final rankings.

    Because no system is perfect, the NIH is constantly reevaluating its review process for potential improvements. For example, in a change that was proposed in 2024, new submissions from Jan. 25, 2025, onward will be reviewed using an updated scoring system that does not rate the investigator and environment but takes these criteria into account in the overall impact score. This change improves the process by increasing the focus of the review on the quality and impact of the science.

    From review to award

    Following peer review, applications are passed to the NIH’s funding institutes and centers, such as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases or the National Cancer Institute, where program officials assess the applications’ alignment with the priorities and budgets of institutes’ relevant research programs.

    A second tier of review is conducted by advisory councils composed of scientists, clinicians and public representatives. In my experience, study section scores and comments typically carry the greatest weight. Public health needs, policy directives and ensuring that one type of research is not overrepresented relative to other areas are also considered in funding decisions. These factors can change with shifts in administrative priorities.

    Grant awards are typically announced several months after the review process, although administrative freezes or budgetary uncertainties can extend this timeline. Last year, approximately US$40 billion was awarded for biomedical research, largely through almost 50,000 competitive grants to more than 300,000 researchers at over 2,500 universities, medical schools and other research institutions across the U.S.

    Getting federal funding for research is a highly competitive process. On average, only 1 in 5 grant applications is funded.

    Medical research often follows a strict timeline.
    gorodenkoff/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Consequences of an administrative freeze

    The Trump administration’s initial freeze paused some of the steps in the federal research grant review process. Some study section meetings have been postponed indefinitely, and program officials faced delays in processing applications. Some research groups relying on NIH funding for ongoing projects can face cash flow challenges, potentially resulting in a need to scale back research activities or temporarily reassign staff.

    Because my own study section meeting is still scheduled to take place in February, I believe these pauses are temporary. This is consistent with a recent follow-up memo from acting HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink, stating that the directive would be in effect through Feb. 1.

    Importantly, the pause underscores the fragility of the research funding pipeline and the cascading effects of administrative uncertainty. Early-career scientists who often rely on timely grant awards to establish their labs are particularly vulnerable, heightening concerns about workforce sustainability in biomedical research.

    As the NIH and research community navigate these pauses, this chapter serves as a reminder of the critical importance of stable and predictable funding systems. Biomedical research in the U.S. has historically maintained bipartisan support. Protecting the NIH’s mission of advancing human health from political or administrative turbulence is critical to ensure that the pursuit of scientific innovation and public health remains uncompromised.

    Aliasger K. Salem receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. He serves on the Executive Board of the American Association for Pharmaceutical Scientists.

    – ref. Medical research depends on government money – even a day’s delay in the intricate funding process throws science off-kilter – https://theconversation.com/medical-research-depends-on-government-money-even-a-days-delay-in-the-intricate-funding-process-throws-science-off-kilter-248290

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Competitiveness Compass: Europe is shifting gears and seizing opportunities

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    Europe must shift gears, seize every opportunity, and stand united to secure its place in the global economy.

    Discover how the Competitiveness Compass charts the way to a stronger, more innovative, and cohesive Europe.

    To find our more about the Competitiveness Compass, follow this link: https://europa.eu/!hktDFx
    You may need to copy and paste the link in a new browser window.

    #europeancommission #europeanunion

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MNDcK89WWA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Middle East: Minister for Development’s statement, 28 January 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Development Minister Anneliese Dodds gave an oral statement to the House of Commons on the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and effect on humanitarian aid.

    With permission, I will update the House on the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and detail our latest efforts to get aid to those in desperate need.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, this is a fragile ceasefire – but it brings much-needed hope for the Israeli and Palestinian people.

    The agreement to end the fighting and release the hostages is what this Labour government has been pressing for from the moment we came to office.

    I thank Qatar, Egypt and the US for their tireless efforts, and echo the Prime Minister in wishing Emily Damari and the other former hostages well as they begin to recover from their horrific ordeals.

    We continue to call, Madam Deputy Speaker, for their immediate release of all those still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones, including the remaining hostages with links to the UK.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, civilians in Gaza have endured suffering that defies belief, and this deal brings hope that they can start to rebuild their lives.

    In the days since the guns were silenced, Israel has opened up mechanisms to surge in aid.

    The UN and aid organisations have been working tirelessly to deliver the humanitarian aims of the ceasefire agreement.

    After so much time waiting at the border – delays I saw for myself in December – trucks are now streaming in.

    Partners on the ground report that more than 200,000 food parcels have been dispatched to more than 130 distribution points since the ceasefire.

    This government has been at the forefront of the humanitarian effort in Gaza since we came to office.

    Overturning the suspension of funding to UNRWA and then boosting our support. Supporting UK-Med field hospitals to help the injured. Working with Egypt to support those Medevac-ed out of Gaza and providing vital resources to UNICEF and the World Food Programme.

    Today, I am pleased to announce that the UK is investing in the ceasefire.

    UK support will be distributed to the UN and key medical partners, so that tens of thousands of civilians get the healthcare, food and shelter they need.

    That support will amount to £17 million from the UK to get more aid into Gaza and restore services. The figure also includes £2 million for the World Bank to support the construction and restoration of critical water and energy infrastructure.

    The UK has already helped around 284,000 people in Gaza to access water, sanitation and hygiene services.

    Today’s uplift brings our commitment for the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Palestinian refugees in the region to £129 million this financial year.

    I am also pleased to announce to the House that this morning, Jordanian air force helicopters started landing in Gaza with UK-funded medical supplies and logistical support from UK armed forces.

    I thank Jordan for their excellent commitment to getting aid in, in such challenging circumstances. We will continue to support our Jordanian partners in this initiative.

    But more action is needed.

    The air bridge to Gaza is no substitute for road routes, which must remain open.

    We also call on Israel to allow more essential items like tents, mattresses and medical equipment in.

    As people start to move home, basic services need to be put back in place, and unexploded bombs and mines cleared.

    Without this, even more lives will be lost.

    And of course, the UN and humanitarian agencies must be able to operate freely.

    This Government has repeatedly stated the need for UNRWA to continue its lifesaving assistance to the people of Gaza, Jerusalem and the West Bank.

    The Knesset legislation taking effect on the 30th of January risks impeding the progress made since the ceasefire. Israel must allow the agency to continue to operate.

    The legislation does not and cannot change the fact that Israel has a responsibility under international law to facilitate humanitarian assistance.

    As the UN Security Council heard last week, a million Gazan children need support to process their traumatic experiences – their suffering cannot be underestimated.

    And around fifteen and a half thousand patients need medical evacuation, according to the World Health Organisation. Routes must be opened for them to get this treatment.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, the UK and wider international community stand ready to support Palestinians as they begin to rebuild their lives, their homes and their communities.

    We are under no illusions concerning the scale of the challenge ahead.

    The overwhelming majority of homes in Gaza are damaged or destroyed. The economy has collapsed. And basic services, including energy and water, have been knocked out.

    So, we are working with partners to urgently find ways to

    best finance and support recovery and reconstruction efforts.

    It is essential that the coming surge of assistance is properly coordinated, and with the access and security to reach those in need.

    The Palestinian Authority has a crucial role to play and we are providing technical and financial assistance to the Authority, including to support the urgent recovery of basic services.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, the UK has always been clear that this ceasefire is just the first step. We must build confidence on all sides to help sustain it, progress through all its phases and turn it into a lasting peace that assures the security of Israelis and Palestinians alike.

    The UK will focus all of our efforts on keeping up the momentum, using every diplomatic channel available.

    As you will know, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for the Middle East kept up the drumbeat of engagement during their visits to Egypt and the United Nations last week.

    We will keep up the pace until every hostage is released, aid reaches all those in need, and Palestinians are able to rebuild their homes and their lives.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement on arbitrary detentions of UN personnel in Yemen

    Source: Government of Sweden

    Statement on arbitrary detentions of UN personnel in Yemen – Government.se

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    Statement by Ministry for Foreign Affairs

    Published

    Sweden echoes the EU statement and strongly condemns the latest round of arbitrary detentions by the Houthis of seven UN personnel working in Yemen.

    Sweden reiterates the demand by the UN Secretary‑General for the immediate and unconditional release of all personnel from the UN, international and national non‑governmental organizations, and diplomatic missions, including those detained in 2021, 2023, and 2024. The continued arbitrary detention of aid workers is unacceptable and negatively impacts the ability to deliver life‑saving humanitarian aid in Yemen. 

    Sweden calls on the Houthis to act in the best interest of the Yemeni people and underscores the obligations of all parties to armed conflict under international humanitarian law to allow and facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance, as well as to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government opens discussions with Community Pharmacy England over 25/26 funding contract

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The consultation will set the future direction for the community pharmacy sector.

    The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has entered into consultation with Community Pharmacy England (CPE) regarding the 2024/25 and 2025/26 funding contractual framework.

    The discussions will set the future direction for community pharmacy as it plays a vital role in supporting delivery of the reforms set out in the government’s Plan for Change.

    A letter signalling the start of the consultation was sent to CPE on Monday.

    Moving the focus of care from hospitals into the community is one of the three core shifts outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan, which will be published later this year. The government has previously outlined its ambition to make better use of pharmacists’ skills and training to deliver more services for patients within their local communities.

    Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock said:

    Community pharmacists are at the heart of local healthcare, and they have a vital role to play as we shift from hospital to community, giving patients better access to care, closer to home, through our 10 Year Health Plan.

    We have inherited a sector that is suffering from years of underfunding and neglect, but we recognise the hard work pharmacists undertake every day to deliver for patients.

    I am committed to working closely with Community Pharmacy England to agree a package of funding that is reflective of the important support that they provide to patients up and down the country. I am confident that together we can get the sector back on its feet and fit for pharmacies and patients long into the future.

    Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Community Pharmacy England said:

    We are relieved that discussions on the arrangements for community pharmacy are now commencing.

    Community Pharmacy England will consider very carefully if the proposals that the Government is putting on the table address the severity of the funding crisis in community pharmacy.

    Everyone in community pharmacy shares the Government’s ambition for a vibrant community pharmacy sector, playing a vital role in delivering long term health plans, but this can only be achieved if the sector is put on a sustainable financial footing.

    Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care for NHS England, said:

    The NHS knows just how important pharmacies are to local communities – they offer people convenient care close to home which is a key ambition of the 10 Year Health Plan.

    We recognise that pharmacies are under pressure, and we are committed to working with the sector and government to ensure that patients can continue to receive high-quality care building on the exceptional work of teams over the past few years to develop and expand new services for patients.

    ENDS.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Happy Data Protection Day!

    Source: European Union 2

    If someone asked you to answer 100 questions about your personal life to sell the answers, would you agree? Most likely not.

    It can be difficult  to keep in control over your personal data and to keep it safe. From online shopping and browsing to social media, with every click, share and login-in you leave behind a digital trail. The GDPR ensures that your data can only be used in ways you agree to and that you can access any information about yourself.

    But do people actually know how to protect their data? 
    We asked passers-by on the streets of Brussels.

    Happy Data Protection Day!

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU sends power generators to storm-struck Ireland

    Source: European Union 2

    Following Ireland’s request for assistance relating to power outages caused by the record-breaking storm Éowyn, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated. The EU has immediately mobilised 13 power generators from the Commission’s own strategic reserve, rescEU, hosted in Poland. 4 power generators offered by Denmark via the Mechanism will also soon reach Ireland and help provide electricity on the ground.

    The EU also activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service and has provided analytical support to the national authorities.

    The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre continues to closely monitor the situation and remains in constant contact with the national authorities, ensuring that additional assistance can be promptly channelled if needed.

    EU Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib, said: “Extreme weather events, like storm Éowyn, increasingly put Europe’s disaster resilience to the test. But they also demonstrate the growing strength of our joint preparedness and solidarity efforts. Our thoughts are with all those affected and with the first responders in Ireland who are doing their best to bring life back to normal. I thank Denmark for their prompt offer of assistance, and Poland for their excellent collaboration in hosting and delivering the rescEU power generators to Ireland. We are in this together.”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Simpson Cosponsors Bill to Codify President Trump’s Executive Border Action into Law

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Rep. Simpson Cosponsors Bill to Codify President Trump’s Executive Border Action into Law

    Washington, January 28, 2025

    WASHINGTON—Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson cosponsored H.R. 273, the REMAIN in Mexico Act, a bill that codifies one of President Trump’s successful immigration policies. This legislation is led by Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX) and has bipartisan support from over 100 members of Congress.
    “Under President Trump’s first administration, the American people understood the meaning of a secure border, largely due to President Trump’s successful Remain in Mexico border policy. The Biden administration’s reckless decision to repeal this policy fueled a surge of illegal immigration pouring into our communities over the last four years. Congress must codify this proven Trump policy into federal law to keep Americans safe. I am proud to cosponsor this commonsense bill to help secure our southern border and strengthen our national security,” said Rep. Simpson.
    President Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy is officially known as the migrant protection protocols, first implemented by the Trump administration in January 2019. The protocols allow the U.S. government to return foreign individuals who entered the U.S. via the southern border to Mexico to await immigration proceedings.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hinton — Alberta RCMP Traffic – Roving Traffic Unit makes significant drug seizure

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Oct. 23, 2024, at approximately 9:30 p.m., an officer with the Alberta RCMP Traffic – Roving Traffic Unit, conducted a traffic stop with a pickup truck on Highway 16 near Hinton, Alberta. During the course of the traffic stop, the investigator made several observations that led him to be suspicious that the lone male occupant was in possession of illegal drugs. The driver was detained for a drug investigation, and a Police Service Dog was deployed around the exterior of the vehicle. The canine provided a positive indication around the vehicle for the odour of a controlled substance, leading to the driver’s arrest, and subsequent search of his vehicle.

    A total of 68 kilograms of cocaine, and a loaded handgun were seized from the vehicle.

    A 36-year-old individual, a resident of Edmonton, has been charged with the following:

    • Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking

    • Unsafe storage of a firearm

    • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

    • Possess a firearm when knowing it possession is unauthorized

    • Possess a prohibited weapon

    • Possess a firearm in a motor vehicle

    • Possess a restricted weapon without registration/licence

    After a judicial interim release hearing, a subsequent court appearance, the individual has been remanded into custody until Nov. 21, 2024.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Wabamun — Alberta RCMP Community Response Team recover stolen vehicles in Wabamun

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Nov. 22, 2024, police were notified of a GMC Sierra that was stolen near Entwistle, Alta. and was being GPS tracked by its owner. Officers from the Alberta RCMP Community Response Team, Parkland and Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Units were able to locate the vehicle. When a safe opportunity presented itself, officer moved in and arrested all three occupants two of which attempted to flee on foot. Continued investigation led officers to a stolen Subaru Outback at a nearby residence associated to the three individuals.

    A 34-year-old individual, a resident of Spruce Grove, Alta., was charged with the following:

    • Possession of property obtained by Crime (x2);
    • Failure to comply with release order (x5);
    • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
    • Operate motor vehicle while prohibited.

    A 40-year-old individual, a resident of Spruce Grove was charged with the following:

    • Possession of property obtained by crime;
    • Failure to comply with release order;
    • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

    An 18-year-old individual, a resident of Spruce Grove, was charged with the following:

    • Possession of property obtained by Crime;
    • Failure to comply with release order;
    • Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

    All three individuals also had outstanding warrants on property related offenses in the Parkland County and Camrose areas at the time of the arrest.

    All individuals were taken before a justice of the peace. The 34-year-old and 18-year-old individuals were remanded into custody and the 40-year-old individual was released on bail with their next court date set for Nov. 27, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Stony Plain, Alta.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Airdrie — Airdrie RCMP search warrant leads to drug seizure

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Nov. 28, 2024, the Airdrie RCMP Crime Reduction Unit paired up with the RCMP Special Investigation Sections, RCMP Emergency Response Team and Calgary Police Tactical Team, and executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant. The search warrant was for two residences located in the Temple and Huntington Hills neighbourhoods of Calgary.

    As a result of the investigation, police seized the following:

    • Canadian currency as proceeds of crime
    • Unstamped tobacco cigarettes
    • Suspected controlled substances including:
      • fentanyl, fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, powder and crack cocaine

    In addition, police located an illegal cannabis grow operation where 265 cannabis plants in various stages of growth were seized.

    A 52-year-old individual, a resident of Calgary, has been charged with the following offences:

    • Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x3)
    • Cultivate more than four cannabis plants
    • Selling tobacco products
    • Fraud under $5000 (defrauding the Government of Alberta for tobacco tax)
    • Possession of proceeds of crime over $5000
    • Theft of electricity

    The individual was taken before a justice of the peace and was released on a release order with conditions. The individual is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 8, 2025, at the Calgary Courts Centre in Calgary, Alberta.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Names 50 U.S. Schools as State Winners in the Solve for Tomorrow STEM Competition, Vying for a Share of $2 Million in Prizes

    Source: Samsung

    Gen Z and Gen Alpha students across the nation have accepted the challenge to boldly solve pressing community issues using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Today, Samsung Electronics America announced that 50 U.S. public middle and high schools are moving forward as State Winners in the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM competition. Each of these schools has been awarded a $12,000 Samsung technology prize package, including a Samsung Video Kit to showcase their proposed STEM solution. The full list of State Winners can be viewed at Samsung.com/Solve.
    “Congratulations to all the incredible State Winners in the 2024-2025 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition,” said Allison Stransky, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics America. “Solve for Tomorrow was born from Samsung’s deep belief in the power of STEM to improve lives and transform communities. It’s truly inspiring to see these bright Gen Z and Gen Alpha innovators harnessing emerging technologies, with nearly half of their STEM solutions incorporating AI, to address critical societal issues with creativity, determination, and purpose.”

    By combining problem-based learning(PBL), STEM disciplines, social impact entrepreneurship, and environmental stewardship, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow engages middle and high school students to drive meaningful societal progress. Through hands-on, real-world experiences, the competition inspires young minds to see STEM as a pathway to becoming changemakers and pursuing fulfilling, impactful careers. The State Winner honor marks a key milestone toward the ultimate prize—being named one of three National Winners, each unlocking $100,000 for their school. Overall, Samsung will award more than $2 million* in prizes to this year’s participating schools.
    Ingenuity & Empathy Drive Gen Z & Gen Alpha STEM Solutions
    Samsung Solve for Tomorrow State Winners are redefining STEM’s potential—not as a field reserved for those attending elite institutions, but as a universal tool for solving real-world problems. Impressively, 58% of the State Winners represent Title 1 schools, aligned with Samsung’s commitment to bringing equitable STEM opportunities to underrepresented communities. Among the State Winners are several all-girl teams breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields, while 48% of teams are from middle schools, showing Gen Alpha’s early passion for innovation and social good.

    The competition also provides a unique glimpse into the priorities of America’s Gen Alpha and Gen Z.  As a group, the State Winners are most concerned with environmental sustainability and climate disasters (28%), public health (26%), and accessibility (20%), followed by public safety and mental health. The student team from Oklahoma is using drones and AI to predict and manage wildfire risks, providing real-time data to firefighters and helping mitigate the devastating effects of climate events. In Arkansas, another school is addressing oral cancer detection by developing an AI-powered mobile app for affordable, non-invasive screenings, making early detection more accessible in rural areas and addressing public health disparities.
    “These 50 State Winners are recasting the role of STEM in solving matters close to their lives and their communities,” said Salman Taufiq, Head of Brand Marketing, Samsung Electronics America. “By addressing real-world issues with empathy and advanced technology like AI, machine learning, drones, and virtual reality, they’re preparing to lead in a rapidly evolving, impact-focused workforce.”
    The competing entries are embracing cutting-edge technologies like AI (42%), 3D printing (34%), and robotics (14%) to bring their ideas to life. Mississippi’s State Winner is developing an AI-driven app that uses biometric sensors to detect the early signs of anxiety in students with autism, giving them and their teachers real-time alerts to help prevent panic attacks. Meanwhile, Nevada’s team are designing a low-cost, fully recyclable modular prosthetic arm using 3D printing, enabling a classmate with a partial arm amputation to participate fully in orchestra performances.

    Innovation & Mentorship Power Next Phase of Competition
    For the next phase of the competition, State Winners will receive a $12,000 prize package, including a Samsung Video Kit consisting of a Galaxy Book and a Galaxy Z Flip to help create a three-minute STEM solution pitch video. The video must demonstrate how STEM is being applied to address the community issue outlined in the student teams’ Activity Plans. State Winners must submit their videos by the deadline of Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Judges will review the submissions to select 10 National Finalists, who will be announced in mid-March and are invited to participate in a live pitch event in April 2025.
    Samsung employees will once again serve as one-on-one mentors to the State Winners, guiding student teams through project development and prototype building. Using their professional expertise, mentors will also help teams create compelling video pitches for their STEM solutions to advance to the National Finalist phase.

    National FinalistsBased on their State Winner pitch videos, 10 National Finalists will be chosen to participate in a live pitch event and present their project to a panel of judges. Seven of these schools will be awarded $50,000 in Samsung technology and classroom supplies.
    National WinnersBased on the live pitch presentations, judges will name three National Winners, each earning a $100,00 prize package.
    From the 50 State Winners, one school will be selected for the Rising Entrepreneurship Award, receiving an added $25,000 prize package to nurture and develop their STEM solution into a venture extending beyond the competition.
    One of the 50 State Winner schools will be recognized with a Sustainability Innovation Award for driving sustainable change through STEM innovation, and an additional $25,000 prize package, including Samsung ENERGY STAR® technology.
    From the National Finalists, one Community Choice Winner, selected through online voting by the general public, will receive an additional $10,000 in prizes on top of their National Finalist winnings.
    One Employee Choice Winner will be chosen by Samsung employees from among the National Finalists to receive $10,000 in prizes in addition to their National Finalist winnings.
    *$2 million prize is based on an estimated retail value.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Launches New Environmental and Social Policy to Drive Sustainable Trade

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

    JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB), unveiled its new Environmental and Social (ES) policy. This policy reinforces ITFC’s commitment to embedding sustainable practices across its trade finance operations, recognizing the essential role trade finance and trade development can play in mitigating climate change and promoting social equity.  

    ITFC’s member countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change, social challenges, and economic inequality. This ongoing climate crisis requires  urgent action. With trade being responsible for 20-30% of global CO₂ emissions, ITFC is aligning its operations with international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to make trading greener in its markets of operations. By championing responsible and inclusive trade finance, ITFC aims to reduce its carbon footprint while supporting its member countries in achieving sustainable economic growth. 

    This new ES policy is focused on 5 key areas: 

    • Environmental Action. ITFC is proactively incorporating green practices throughout every aspect of its operations and work environment. By prioritizing digitization, implementing paperless solutions, and enhancing energy efficiency, we aim to lead by example in embracing environmentally responsible initiatives and  demonstrating our commitment to sustainability.  

    • Sustainable and Inclusive Trade Finance. ITFC aims to increase its share of financing in goods and services that promote sustainability. By prioritizing sectors that strengthen resilience, such as sustainable agriculture, financial inclusion, and eco-friendly supply chains, ITFC is contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth in our member countries. 

    • Empowering for Sustainable Impact. Through capacity-building programs and technical assistance, ITFC will help businesses and governments reduce climate risks, advance social inclusion, and access green financing opportunities. 

    • Innovative Treasury Solutions. ITFC is dedicated to increasing investment in Shariah-compliant sustainable financial instruments, including exploring the issuance of green Sukuk to bolster climate-resilient trade and development for ITFC member countries.  

    • Credible Assessment and Disclosure. ITFC is committed to adopting best practices to embed environmental and social considerations in its transactions and projects. We aim to transparently disclose our ES performance, adhering to international best practices, promote accountability and build trust with our stakeholders. 

    On this note, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO ITFC stated: “Our work in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions have given us firsthand insight into the reality of climate change. From rural landscapes to urban centers, we are witnessing the effects of an accelerating environmental shift and as we remain true to our commitment to powering sustainable growth, it has become imperative for the Corporation to fully streamline and operationalize its new direction towards sustainability and climate change.” 

    ITFC’s new environmental and social policy reflects its vision to foster economic growth that is both inclusive and sustainable, setting a new standard for trade finance institutions globally. ITFC remains committed to fostering intra-OIC trade, enhancing member countries’ capacities to adopt green energy solutions. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New humanitarian support for Gaza as ceasefire allows operations to scale up

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Minister for Development announces new £17 million package to support thousands of civilians across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    • UK aid package will ensure healthcare, food and shelter reaches tens of thousands of civilians and supports vital infrastructure across the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    • Minister for Development, Anneliese Dodds announces £17 million package and reiterates need for much more aid to enter Gaza with the support of UN agencies including UNRWA.

    • Comes as 300,000 people now confirmed treated by UK-Med at field hospitals in Gaza thanks to UK funding.

    Thousands of civilians in Gaza will receive humanitarian aid funded by the UK.

    Food assistance programmes, water and sanitation services and maternal and children’s healthcare are some of the areas which will be scaled up with new funding.

    This will build on UK efforts over the past 15 months which have ensured more than half a million people have received essential healthcare in Gaza.  

    Within this £17 million package announced today, £2 million in funding for the World Bank will support critical water and energy infrastructure construction and restoration across the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including in Gaza. The UK’s ongoing support has meant 284,000 people in Gaza already have improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services. 

    This announcement brings the total UK support for the OPTs this financial year to £129 million, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to playing a leading role in alleviating Palestinian suffering and helping to build security and economic recovery in the Middle East. This will help drive UK security, in support of the Government’s Plan for Change. 

    It comes as a Jordanian-led helicopter initiative flying aid directly to Gaza has started delivering lifesaving UK-funded medicines to civilians today. As well as providing up to £500,000 of supplies onboard, the UK has also deployed military planners to assist with logistics. Speaking in the House this afternoon, Minister Dodds will underscore the UK’s pride in working with Jordan – who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to deliver aid via all routes possible – to get the airbridge up and running in such challenging circumstances.

    Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds said: 

    The scale of suffering in Gaza cannot be overstated and the UN and its agencies, including UNRWA, must be allowed by Israel to do their vital work.  

    This announcement is part of the UK’s investment in the ceasefire deal, scaling up aid operations and helping the most desperate people access healthcare, water, food and shelter.  

    We must seize this opportunity to get a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza, all the hostages released and a path towards a viable Palestinian state.

    Minister Dodds emphasised the UK will also continue to support the crucial role played by UN agencies and NGOs operating in Gaza. This includes UNRWA, which has played a vital role in the increase in humanitarian assistance since the ceasefire earlier this month.

    Ahead of the upcoming implementation of Israel’s UNRWA legislation on 30 January, which risks jeopardising the humanitarian response in Gaza and the delivery of essential services in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the UK has urged Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its lifesaving operations for Palestinian refugees. Israel has a responsibility under international law to facilitate humanitarian assistance. Minister Dodds will again reiterate that humanitarian operations must not face a cliff edge on 30 January.

    The Minister for Development also confirmed that the UK provided an additional £4.5 million to UK-Med last year. The charity deploys staff, many of whom work in the NHS, to crisis-hit areas around the world to deliver life and limb-saving healthcare. NHS staff who work for UK-Med typically deploy to Gaza for a four-week period, supporting lifesaving efforts and gaining essential trauma experience.

    UK funding has helped doctors in Gaza treat more than 300,000 patients in Gaza with a range of medical conditions as well as treating injuries directly associated with the conflict. This funding is on top of the £5.5 million announced for the charity on the Foreign Secretary’s first visit to Israel and the OPTs in July last year. 

    UK-Med CEO, David Wightwick said:

    After more than two decades in humanitarian work, I have never seen a crisis of this scale and severity.

    That’s why UK Government funding is vital in providing support to UK-Med to deliver life-saving care to over 300,000 patients in Gaza during 2024. 

    I want to thank our 400-strong team on the ground for their determination, professionalism and tireless work to address the health impacts of this devastating conflict.

    This government’s steadfast support for UNRWA, including £41m of support this financial year, has helped the organisation deliver its humanitarian operation and provide essential services such as education, social care and vaccinations across the OPTs and to Palestinian refugees in the region.  

    Notes to editors 

    • The £17 million package announced today consists of: 
    • £15 million of UK funding comes from the Crisis Reserve pool to be allocated to partner agencies. 
    • £2 million of funding for the World Bank to deliver water and energy infrastructure across the OPTs, including in Gaza 
    • An additional £4.5 million of funding to UK-Med has previously been allocated and spent but not announced  
    • UK-Med operate two field hospitals in Gaza, Deir Al Balah and Al Mawasi. The Al Mawasi field hospital has, among other facilities, an operating theatre, a maternity unit and physical rehabilitation services for patients. At Deir Al Balah, UK-Med staff deliver primary care and see over 400 patients a day.  *This air bridge to Gaza is no substitute for the road routes. The terms of the ceasefire must be adhered to, so that many more trucks can safely and effectively distribute aid within Gaza.
    • Footage – b-roll of UK aid to Gaza via Jordanian helicopters and UK-Med field hospital

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: The number of energy-efficient houses under construction has increased by 14%

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The Russian construction industry is increasingly using technologies aimed at increasing energy efficiency. Thus, according to DOM.RF, at the beginning of 2025, almost 3.7 thousand apartment buildings with energy efficiency of A and higher are being built. This is 14% more than the year before. This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

    “The development of energy-efficient housing construction in the country has become possible thanks to comprehensive approaches developed to improve the infrastructure. This is also facilitated by the green GOST R created by the Ministry of Construction and DOM.RF for apartment buildings. Also, to stimulate the construction of such housing, targeted financial support measures are being introduced in the country and systematic work is being carried out to improve the quality of data on the energy efficiency of the housing stock. All this together gives citizens comfortable living, since utility costs are significantly reduced in such houses. As of January 1, 2024, 3,139 energy-efficient houses were under construction, and a year later – already 3,667. The total living area of green buildings is 43.7 million square meters,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    At the beginning of 2025, Moscow became the leader in the construction of energy-efficient housing, reaching 12.4 million square meters. It is followed by the Moscow Region (4.4 million square meters) and the Tyumen Region (2.4 million square meters). Next on the list are the Sverdlovsk Region (2 million square meters), Primorsky Krai (1.8 million square meters), St. Petersburg (1.7 million square meters) and Krasnoyarsk Krai (1.1 million square meters).

    “Over the year, the geography of energy-efficient housing construction has expanded and now covers 82 regions. The share of green buildings among all buildings at the construction stage is also steadily growing – from 24.5% in 2021 to 32% at the beginning of 2025. All this is the result of comprehensive work on the sustainable development of the industry, which the Russian Government is carrying out together with DOM.RF. It includes the development of green standards, the launch of targeted measures to support high-quality projects within the framework of preferential project financing with a cluster approach and the creation of conditions for the transition of developers to a closed-loop economy,” said Vitaly Mutko, General Director of DOM.RF.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: International Winter Academy on Nuclear Energy for Students from China Concluded

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The International Winter Academy on Energy has ended at the Institute of Energy. This project is aimed at developing international educational cooperation in energy with universities in different countries. This winter, the Nuclear Energy module was organized for Chinese students from Harbin Engineering University, Sichuan University, Shandong University, and Tsinghua University.

    The staff of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering have been conducting classes in a hybrid format since the pandemic. The transition to online classes was inevitable then, and now it has become a convenient option for students who, for various reasons, cannot come.

    We will continue to accept students both online and in person, as there is demand for this. Our program is short-term, it covers both basic and special aspects of energy, so we provide some participants with the opportunity to study after their main classes and after finishing work, – said Ekaterina Sokolova, associate professor at HSE and founder of the academy.

    The Winter Academy received the “status” of an academy when the organizers and founders of the project realized that education is not the only area of cooperation in which students, teachers from foreign universities and polytechnics are interested.

    Now the program includes not only lectures and intensive courses, but also case studies and presentations of scientific research. The Academy participants presented projects on various topics: “Artificial Intelligence on the Path to Sustainable Energy”, “Small Modular Reactors”, “Nuclear Energy and Climate Change”, etc.

    Students wrote review articles and provided examples of the latest developments in their country, Russia and the world, based on the knowledge they had gained during the program. They presented their research results on the final day at the energy forum.

    The guys visited the laboratory of the Scientific and Educational Center “Thermal Physics in Power Engineering”, where Professor Vladimir Mityakov of the Higher School of Engineering and Technology gave a tour in English, showed the work of the wind tunnel and the results of experiments conducted with its help. Associate Professors of the Higher School of Engineering and Technology Khashayar Sadeghi and Hadi Seyed accompanied the students of the Academy, assistant Alexey Tarasenko gave a lecture on the basics of probabilistic safety analysis.

    We would like our academy to be able to provide not only knowledge, but also the skills required for conducting scientific activities and writing articles. The guys get acquainted with the Polytechnic, with teachers and students. We hold events that teach them to work in a team, overcome the language barrier and develop the skill of communicating with future colleagues and scientists. The language of science is, first of all, the language of cooperation, both in education and in culture, – shared Ekaterina Andreyevna.

    A cultural program was prepared for the Academy participants. The children visited the Hermitage and the Yusupov Palace. Senior lecturer of the Higher School of Architecture and Technical Ethics Natalia Donmez and specialist of the SPbPU History Museum Maria Zavyalova conducted a bilingual excursion dedicated to the history of the Polytechnic University.

    The academy’s organizers plan to attract Russian students and students from international educational programs to obtain different opinions and come to new solutions.

    In the near future, IE employees will begin preparing for the spring program on hydrogen energy, which is very popular. Scientists Competence Center for Advanced Nuclear Technologies in the Area of Sustainable Development and Decarbonization of Energy create a course taking into account the latest industry developments.

    In the summer, the team is preparing for the arrival of several delegations from China and students from other countries for modules on electric power, oil and gas industry, nuclear power, and renewable energy sources.

    Students can follow the updates and recruitment to the academy as tutors on the IE website.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Results of the International Festival of the Merry and Inventive: the Scientific and Methodological Center of KVN will open at the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    From January 21 to 25 this year, the fourth All-Russian forum “KVN – School of Leaders” was held in Sochi as part of the International Festival “KiViN-2025”. The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the State University of Management and the Television Creative Association “AMiK”.

    The goal of the Forum is to strengthen and further develop the youth movement of the Club of the Merry and Resourceful among employees of federal and regional executive authorities involved in the implementation of youth policy and educational work, as well as specialists from higher education institutions involved in programs in the same areas.

    The central event of the Forum was the panel discussion “KVN – School of Leaders”. The participants were greeted via videoconference by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Olga Petrova. The speakers of the panel discussion were:

    — Tatyana Omelchuk – representative of the Department for Public Projects of the Presidential Administration; — Vladimir Stroyev – rector of the State University of Management; — Alexander Maslyakov – general director of TTO “AMiK”; — Anton Serikov – general director of the Mashuk Knowledge Center; — Ruben Partevyan – deputy general director of TTO “AMiK”; — Pavel Pavlovsky – vice-rector of the State University of Management.

    The participants discussed the scale of the KVN movement in Russian universities, which involves about 22 thousand activists from all over the country, who played about 650 games at their universities last year. “KiViN-2025” brought together more than 550 teams in Sochi. All of them represent enormous potential for the development of youth policy and creative industry in their regions.

    In order to develop the university movement of the cheerful and resourceful, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, it was decided to create a Scientific and Methodological Center for KVN on the basis of the State University of Management, which will help everyone who wants to organize their games, leagues and cups, teach them how to interact with the management of universities, seek financial support outside of universities, and set the right vector for the development of student KVN in Russia.

    The Forum program was rich and diverse. Key tasks and goals were presented at the introductory session. During the first day, participants also had a unique opportunity to meet with the management of TTO “AMiK”, discuss the prospects for the development of the KVN movement, and exchange their experiences with each other in an informal setting.

    The second day opened with a lecture on the role and importance of the movement of the cheerful and resourceful in achieving the national goal – revealing the potential of each person, developing their talents and nurturing patriotism and social responsibility. Later, the participants had the opportunity to talk with the head of the Safe Internet League Ekaterina Mizulina. During the day, master classes were held on the legal aspects of organizing KVN games, as well as issues of interaction between official children’s leagues and regional branches of the “Movement of the First”.

    The third day of the forum included a workshop on “Creative and motivational aspects of organizing Club games in educational institutions.” A strategic session on new forms of integrating the KVN movement into state youth policy was also held with the participation of representatives of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

    The last, fourth day, January 24, gave the participants the opportunity to attend a lecture on the formation of federal standards for organizing KVN games and training teams of various levels. This was followed by a strategic session dedicated to children’s KVN, issues of its development and interaction at the local level.

    The organizers expressed confidence that the Forum will be an important step towards strengthening and further developing the KVN youth movement in Russia, contributing to the formation of a new generation of leaders capable of making a significant contribution to the future of the country.

    At the International Festival “KiViN-2025” the State University of Management was represented by four teams: “Singlplayer”, “Ikhnie”, “Fildepersovye” and “Kontora”. The guys coped with dignity, showing brilliant performances and a high level of training.

    “Singlplayer” once again made it to the second round of the festival and eventually received an invitation to the show “League of Cities” on TNT. “Fildepersovye” made it to the second round for the first time, performed in front of Alexander Maslyakov and got the opportunity to play in the Central Leagues of the International Union of KVN. “Kontora” made a successful debut at the Sochi festival and received an “increased rating”, which is a significant achievement for newcomers and gives the right to perform in the Central Leagues.

    Moreover, these three teams were nominated for the “Break of the Day” after their performances in the first round. The editors only award this nomination to 5 out of 80-90 teams whose performances were the funniest and most memorable.

    The KiViN-2025 festival for the teams of the KVN League of the State University of Management was incredibly successful. We are proud of the guys for their work, creativity and desire to win. Congratulations to everyone and wish them great success in the next season!

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 01/28/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The ensemble “Zori Rossii” in the cultural center of F.A. Iskander – library No. 36

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A concert by the ensemble “Zori Rossii” under the direction of Antonina Melnik, former soloist of the State Academic Russian Folk Choir named after M.E. Pyatnitsky, will be held in the F.A. Iskander Cultural Center – Library No. 36.

    The program will feature Russian folk songs, including famous pieces that have long been part of the national culture. After the concert, guests will be able to chat with the band members and take memorable photos.

    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 access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/afisha/event/330025257/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Origami. Funny animals” in the club “Atom”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Atom club will host an origami master class. Participants will create animal figures — from playful kittens to graceful cranes — and, under the guidance of an experienced teacher, will learn the basics of this ancient art. The class will tell you about the best types of paper, useful tools, and important techniques that will help you achieve excellent results. The crafts you create can become both an original decoration for your home and a touching gift.

    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 access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/afisha/event/330027257/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Changes Coming for Two Disaster Recovery Centers in Georgia

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    he Disaster Recovery Center in Jefferson County will close permanently at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan.  30. The recovery center in Coffee County will close at its current location at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, and reopen at a new location at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. 
    The centers’ standard hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except Fulton County center, where the hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed Saturday. All centers are closed on Sundays.
    Jefferson County (closing permanently 6 p.m. Jan. 30)
    National Guard Bid-EOC
    1841 Hwy. 24 West
    Louisville, GA 30434
    Coffee County (location through 6 p.m. Jan. 29)
    The Atrium         
    114 N. Peterson Ave
    Douglas, GA 31533
    Coffee County (new location as of 10 a.m. Jan. 30)
    Coffee County Service Center         
    1115 West Baker Hwy
    Douglas, GA 31533
    Residents can visit any open center. They can find the center closest to them by going to fema.gov/drc. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. 
    FEMA provides help to all disaster survivors, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. Our top priority is ensuring that disaster assistance is reaching people in need.
    Homeowners and renters in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Stephens, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wheeler and Wilkes counties can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the State of Georgia and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed.
    If you are in an affected county, you are encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages.
    For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance – YouTube.
    For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/helene/georgia. Follow FEMA Region 4 @FEMARegion4 on X or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel Also, follow Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton on X @FEMA_Cam.
    ###
    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.
    Learn more at fema.gov/helene/georgia
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA To Offer Tips for Home Repair and Rebuilding in the Upstate

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA To Offer Tips for Home Repair and Rebuilding in the Upstate

    FEMA To Offer Tips for Home Repair and Rebuilding in the Upstate

    COLUMBIA, S.C. – Residents repairing and rebuilding following Hurricane Helene can visit two Home Depot locations in Spartanburg County to get tips and advice on making homes stronger and safer against storms and other hazards. The Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists will be available Jan. 27-Jan. 31, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., to answer questions and share home-improvement tips and other proven building methods to prevent or lessen damage from future disasters. They will also share techniques for rebuilding hazard-resistant homes. This free information is geared toward do-it-yourselfers and general contractors.The locations are:Home Depot, 121 Dorman Center Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29301 Home Depot, 2300 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307FEMA specialists can answer questions and discuss topics such as:Techniques for home repair and rebuilding.Methods for preventing damage from future disasters.Tips for reducing your disaster risk – whether you own or rent a home.FEMA is encouraging South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helen to apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible. The deadline to apply is Jan. 28, just one day away. The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center, apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or by calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day, and the help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. 
    martyce.allenjr
    Tue, 01/28/2025 – 14:15

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: “Risks in Focus 2025” – Climate change, geopolitics and a weak economy could put pressure on Germany’s financial system

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    In 2025, companies in the German financial sector should ensure that their risk management incorporates more comprehensive Information on the consequences of climate change. According to BaFin, physical risks such as extreme weather or natural disasters in the form of major fires, droughts or floods could have a much greater impact on banks’ loan portfolios and insurers’ loss amounts in future.
    In this year’s “Risks in Focus”, BaFin describes these increasing physical risks as a relevant trend for the financial sector. At a press conference to mark the publication, BaFin President Mark Branson explained: “The environment in which companies in the financial sector have to operate is highly challenging because, for many risk drivers – such as climate change, geopolitical upheavals and quantum leaps in technological progress – we lack relevant historical experience. This makes it all the more important for companies in the financial sector to think in terms of scenarios, manage risks wisely and prepare themselves for potential shocks with well-stocked capital and liquidity buffers.”

    In 2025, BaFin will focus particularly on six risks

    In its outlook on risks, BaFin explains at the beginning of each year where the financial system in Germany is particularly vulnerable and which risks are most capable of jeopardising financial stability or the integrity of German financial markets. BaFin also highlights what it considers to be relevant trends that companies in the financial sector should be paying attention to. For financial institutions, the outlook provides a useful guideline for their own risk management. It also gives an overview of BaFin’s supervisory priorities for the current year.

    In total, BaFin is focusing on six risks and three trends for the German financial sector:

    Opportunities and risks from three trends

    Alongside these risks, BaFin has identified three trends that offer opportunities for the economy and the financial sector, but that also harbour considerable risks: sustainability issues, digitalisation and geopolitical upheavals. In addition to the physical risks of advancing climate change, BaFin also sees risks in the uncertainties and costs associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy (transition risks). In BaFin’s view, “greenwashing”, i.e. attempts to sell products based on unfounded claims that they are particularly environmentally friendly or responsible, also still poses risks.

    Digitalisation and geopolitics

    When it comes to digitalisation, BaFin is concerned with increasing cyber risks, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, volatility in the market valuation of cryptoassets and, most recently, the future use of quantum computers. Although high-performance quantum computers have yet to be used on a mass scale, in the interests of IT security, financial companies should already be preparing for their potential application. In the future, quantum computers will be able to crack data encryption methods that are currently considered secure. Criminals could therefore steal data now to decrypt later with the aid of quantum computing. The development of protection plans is therefore crucial.

    According to Branson, “Many companies are aware of all these risks and have invested in their IT security. It is important to us that companies continuously monitor current developments and threats. They must also prepare for crisis situations and adapt their security measures. This is what we expect of them. It is also what their customers expect of them.”

    In terms of geopolitics, clear trends towards market fragmentation and increasing tensions between countries were observed in 2024. This could continue, with repercussions for the entire financial system. Although they are not an independent risk type, geopolitical crises can influence and exacerbate other relevant risks. The German financial system is particularly susceptible because of Germany’s close international trade links and the high export dependency of its economy.

    Contact:Jacque­line Juk­nat

    Head of Communications
    Phone: +49 (0) 228 / 4108 – 4629

    Contact:Christoph Blu­men­thal

    Head of Press Relations and Social Media
    Phone: +49 (0) 228 4108-7094

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: François Villeroy de Galhau: For a high speed and safe journey into the financial future

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Ladies and gentlemen,
    It is a great pleasure to welcome you to this high-level conference organised by the Banque de France on speed and innovation, and how they could be disruptive for financial markets and market infrastructures. Let me thank Emmanuelle Assouan and her teams for setting up this event. I would also like to extend my warm thanks to all participants from industry, public authorities and central banks who will give their views during three roundtables today, including my colleagues and friends Andrea Maechler, Piero Cipollone and Naoto Shimoda.

    It is a première for a Banque de France conference to be held here at the Cinémathèque française, which is definitely an excellent venue for our theme of today: we are here in the place where speed is made art. As you know, cinema was invented in France by the Lumière brothers in the late 19th century. During the projection in 1896 of one of their very first movies, The arrival of a train at La Ciotat station, the audience was so overwhelmed by the moving image of a train coming directly at them that people ran away. But we do not fear speed anymore, on the contrary: it has become a key success factor in financial markets and market infrastructures, yielding high benefits. Transactions and their settlement have already become dramatically swifter over the last decades – notably in France, which was at the forefront in dematerialising securities – and will continue gathering speed. I will first elaborate on the reasons why, in a fast-moving environment, resilience must be preserved in order to ensure financial stability (I). Our public-private partnership has to evolve, with a view to enhancing cross-border payments and the holistic project of creating a shared ledger (II). 

    I. A fast-moving financial system whose resilience must be preserved in order to ensure financial stability

    Markets are undergoing structural changes, all driven by increased speed aimed at achieving higher efficiency. Automation and high-frequency trading are driving a rise in daily trading volumes; new participants have emerged, and incumbents have evolved. Nowadays, robots and algorithms are unlocking new possibilities, while artificial intelligence offers the promise of value added in trading, customer relationships and investment decisions. From photography to digital movies, from local theatres to global web platforms, cinematography has gone through technological revolutions over the years. However, whether it’s in cinema or finance, speed is not a goal per se. The social utility of certain accelerations such as high-frequency trading remains to be seen, and they carry risks. We must reflect on new guardrails to protect against possible increased market volatility – and even potential flash crashes caused by poorly coordinated algorithms that can amplify massive sell-offs.
     
    Post-market processes are keeping pace with this acceleration in trading: settlement is getting ever faster. A few years ago, implementing T+2 (i.e. ensuring settlement within two days of transaction execution) was a major step forward for all players, as enshrined in the European CSDR regulation.i Nowadays we are once again aiming for more ambitious targets, with an objective of T+1 in Europe in 2027 – as has already been the case in the United States, Canada and Mexico since end-May last year. Interestingly, across the Atlantic, this evolution was driven by market players, who saw in the shortening of the settlement cycle an opportunity to further reduce liquidity, counterparty and operational risks. The American experience also shows that T+1 yields direct financial benefits, in particular a significant lowering of CCP margins. T+1 therefore received overall support in ESMA’s and the Commission’s public consultations. I trust that we are all well aware of the operational requirements and challenges to be met:ii  preparatory work must start now, with the adaptation of IT systems and further automation of processes. It is also important to coordinate with the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and to pay due attention to the consequences in terms of shorter cut-offs – notably for FX transactions.
     
    The tokenisation of assets is obviously another groundswell movement, which could further enhance the straight-through processing of trade and post-trade activities, and paves the way for yet another acceleration with a widespread implementation of T+0. It has the potential to generate even greater savings both for the financial industry and end-users. To date, the nascent DLTiii  finance has used new forms of commercial bank money as settlement assets, such as tokenised deposits or so-called stablecoins. As experience has shown in the last few years, they are far from immune, and Europe has made the right step by adopting the MiCA regulation. Failing to regulate crypto-assets and non-banks today would merely sow the seeds for tomorrow’s financial crisis.
     
    Beyond these regulatory issues, it has become more and more apparent that we currently lack the anchor provided by central bank money, which drastically reduces counterparty and liquidity risks, and crucially ensures the finality of payments. A wholesale central bank digital currency would ensure convertibility between tokenised assets, exactly as central banks currently ensure convertibility between commercial bank monies, allowing for delivery-versus-payment and payment-versus-payment. In short, tokenised central bank money would provide a “safety pivot”, and serve as a reliable basis of trust on which these new technologies could realise their full potential.

    II. A step further with the interlinking of fast-payment systems and a European shared ledger to meet the challenges of transition and growth

     
    Central banks must therefore keep up with these developments,iv  in order to explore the potential of DLT and foster innovation while preserving the anchoring role of central bank money. Building among others on the Banque de France’s pioneering experiments between 2020 and 2023,v  the Eurosystem conducted a series of new experiments on wholesale CBDC between April and November 2024,vi  with the active involvement of the Banque de France, Banca d’Italia and Bundesbank as solution providers. We witnessed active industry participation in the Eurosystem experiments, and I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to your strong commitment – which, I believe, also reflects the growing awareness of the need for a safe settlement asset.
     
    Together, we successfully tested numerous and very diverse use cases, ranging from primary issues to cross-currency payments, repos, margin calls and asset management, to give a few examples. Actual settlement was even tested for the lifecycle management of securities and secondary market transactions. With this ambitious programme, we have further delivered on our learning-by-doing approach, which is of the essence. As announced, the Eurosystem will draw lessons from the exploratory work, including on how to facilitate the provision of central bank money settlement for wholesale asset transactions on DLT platforms. Clearly, it is in the interest of both European commercial banks and the public sector to work together towards a tokenised European framework: money is and will remain a public-private partnership, which has to evolve.
     
    As regards cross-border payments, the Eurosystem has launched initiatives to help improve them, including exploratory work on linking TIPS with other fast-payment systems such as UPI in India. We thereby support the G20 roadmap for creating a faster, cheaper, more transparent and accessible global payments ecosystem, while ensuring secure and reliable instant payments. The G20 roadmap also foresees, in the longer term, the use of tokenisation to further enhance cross-border payments.
     
    We now need to bring all these advances together to create a global motion picture, in a holistic manner. Here, the idea of a “unified ledger” put forward by the BISvii  looks like more than a promising technology: a rallying concept, or even a utopia. This next-generation market infrastructure would take one day in the future the shape of a shared, seamless and programmable platform that integrates central bank money, commercial bank money and tokenised financial assets – which would call for redefined and improved public-private partnerships. Accordingly, in April 2024 the BIS launched Project Agorá,viii  to explore the tokenisation of cross-border payments to improve the existing correspondent banking model. This major project brings together seven central banks worldwide, including the Banque de France which represents the Eurosystem, and a large group of private financial firms. But a first and necessary step towards such a global infrastructure should be to build regional shared ledgers – one of which would be European.
     
    A European shared ledger could prove an efficient means to overcome European market fragmentation and current inefficiencies, by facilitating the provision of seamlessly connected services across Europe. It would therefore act as a catalyst for a Savings and Investments Union, and provide tools such as green bonds and securities to finance the green transition, at a time where we have to mobilise Europe’s private savings surplus of more than EUR 300 billion a year. In short, it would be an important lever for achieving our climate but also digital transformations, which are among our main challenges; it would also help Europe to gain in both size – by unifying its single market – and speed. Achieving this ambitious vision requires moving forward step by step, in a phased approach. Rather than replacing existing infrastructures which have already helped to reduce fragmentation in Europe – like the harmonised settlement system T2S –, this new shared infrastructure would tackle markets which still rely on manual processes and lack standardisation, such as OTC markets and unlisted stocks. A crucial first step will be to make central bank money available on this infrastructure: this makes it all the more important to offer a wholesale CBDC solution in the short term to prepare this long term target.

    Let me conclude with Billy Wilder, the director of Some like it hot. He once gave this sound piece of advice: “If you have a problem with the third act, the real problem is in the first act.” This leads me to a twofold conclusion: first, that it is the right time to engage in the design and experimentation of market infrastructures of the future; second, that fast-paced transformations should not be at the expense of past achievements in financial stability, and increase risks. Central bank money must remain the settlement asset at the core of the financial system, whether tokenised or not. Under this condition, our common technological breakthroughs could contribute to meeting our major challenges. Thank you for your attention. 

    MIL OSI Economics –