NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Security: Court Finds Three Miami-Area Tax Return Preparers in Contempt and Orders Disgorgement of Ill-Gotten Fees as a Sanction

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    A federal court in Miami today issued an order holding Gerald Vito, James Eleby and Kwame Thomas in contempt for violating a permanent injunction that prohibited Vito and Eleby from preparing, filing or assisting in the preparation or filing of federal tax returns for others.

    According to the complaint filed against Vito and Eleby in March 2021, the defendants prepared tax returns that significantly understated their customers’ tax liabilities by claiming deductions for fabricated or inflated charitable deductions, medical expenses, and employee business expenses. The complaint further alleged that the defendants significantly understated their customers’ tax liabilities by reporting false or inflated business losses. On Dec. 27, 2021, the court issued a default judgment of permanent injunction that barred Gerald Vito and James Eleby from preparing tax returns for others.

    Following a hearing in September, the court found that the United States demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that Vito and Eleby violated the permanent injunction by continuing to prepare tax returns for others. The court further found that Thomas, who was not a defendant in the original complaint, violated the injunction by working alongside Eleby to prepare returns in violation of the injunction.

    For these violations, the court held Vito, Eleby and Thomas in civil contempt and ordered that they disgorge, in the aggregate, $988,789.56 in fees they earned while violating the injunction. Vito and Eleby were further ordered to disclose to the government the names of all taxpayers for whom they prepared returns after Dec. 27, 2021, notify those taxpayers of the injunction against them, vacate the premises at which they prepare returns and file an affidavit of compliance with these terms.

    Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information.

    In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Frontex co-leads international maritime operation with major drug seizures

    Source: Frontex

    Frontex co-led a large-scale international operation targeting maritime drug smuggling. The action was run by Belgian Customs from 16 September to 15 October 2024 under the Cannabis, Cocaine, and Heroin EMPACT priority.  

    The operation focused on combating cocaine smuggling via sea from Latin America to European countries, monitoring and inspecting vessels to detect cocaine smuggled via methods like drop-off/handover at sea, underwater attachment, and rip-on at sea. 

    It involved 12 European countries, the USA, Europol, and MAOC (N). It led to impressive results: seizing 930 kg of cocaine and 4,950 kg of hashish, as well as 4 arrests. Of the 525 ships analysed, 73 were checked. 

    Frontex provided technical and operational support with the deployment of an underwater drone, vessel trackers, analysts and Cross Border Crime Detection Officers to assist with rummaging and control inspections. Aerial surveillance was conducted jointly by Belgium and Frontex with daily flights, contributing to the operation’s success.

    Participants 

    Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Poland, Europol, The Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics), the US and liaison officers in Latin America

    About EMPACT 

    The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) tackles the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the EU. EMPACT strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKHSA priorities in 2024 to 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Letter from Health Minister Andrew Gwynne MP confirming the UK Health Security Agency’s role and priorities for the financial year 2024 to 2025.

    Documents

    Letter from Andrew Gwynne MP to Professor Dame Jenny Harries, UKHSA Chief Executive

    HTML

    Details

    This is a letter from Minister Andrew Gwynne MP to Professor Dame Jenny Harries confirming the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) priorities for 2024 to 2025.

    The letter provides an overview of UKHSA’s strategic remit, priorities, core capabilities and key deliverables for the financial year.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnicians took silver at the Robofinist festival

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    In October, as part of the international festival Robofinist, the hackathon “StarLine Unmanned” was held, bringing together teams from all over Russia. Polytechnic was represented by two teams from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU – “Turtleboys” and “Just robotics”.

    The hackathon’s objective was to develop a system for autonomously rescuing a robot from a labyrinth. Participants were provided with two robots: a “rescuer” equipped with a lidar and a depth camera, and a “rescued” robot equipped only with encoder odometry.

    The Turtleboys team consists of first-year Master’s students of the Higher School of Automation and Robotics Egor Pykhalov, Ivan Shevtsov, Georgy Kazantsev and IMMIT 2024 graduate Sergey Zemsky. The team demonstrated impressive results and took second place, just short of the championship.

    There wasn’t enough time to fully debug the solution on real robots, but victory was so close, the guys shared.

    The team would like to thank the Polytech Tower for providing equipment that helped prepare for the hackathon.

    “Just robotics” are first-year master’s students of the Higher School of Architecture and Rural Affairs (HSAR) Vladislav Malykhin, Anton Tyurin and this year’s graduate of the Institute of Metallurgy and Metallurgy (IMMT) Artem Kondratyev. They also demonstrated a high level of preparation and creativity.

    The StarLine Unmanned Hackathon has become an excellent platform for showcasing talent and sharing experiences among young specialists in the field of robotics.

    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: Students of the State University of Management learned about the work of the Management Center of the Urban Economy Complex

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On October 22, 2024, 1st and 3rd year students of the educational programs “Urban Studies and City Management”, “State and Municipal Administration”, accompanied by associate professors of the Department of State and Municipal Administration Irina Milkina and Bayrta Ubushaeva visited the Management Center of the City Economy Complex (MCC UHS).

    The center was created to promptly respond to problems related to monitoring the operation of housing and communal services facilities in Moscow. Analysts monitor various deviations around the clock, as well as analyze the causes of incidents and make forecast estimates. Today, a single technological platform combines all key sources of information. This facilitates the process of making strategic management decisions online.

    As part of the excursion, the students visited the 112 Service call center, the data processing center, and the situation room of the Central Control Center of the State Emergency Service.

    The students were shown the importance of coordinating the work of all services using specific examples, as well as the use of modern technologies to prevent problems. Often we do not notice the colossal work that is being done to improve the comfort of life of city residents. The participants of the excursion also learned that all the work of the Control Center is strictly regulated in order to promptly and effectively make decisions on the work of city services.

    The employees spoke about the importance of the work of not only the Central Office of the KGH, but also the “112 Service”. The work schedule of this capital service is 24 hours a day, since it is designed to provide emergency assistance and respond to calls at any time, so operators must always be at the workplace. And in order for operators to work effectively and not be overloaded after processing a dozen emotional calls, it is important that the work schedule and rest schedule are strictly observed, so when one employee is resting, another one comes to replace him.

    Students noted that despite the complexity and specificity of the work, the creation of this Center helps to improve the efficiency of urban management thanks to a modern information system.

    Malika Yarmukhamedova, 3rd year student: “I was pleased with the tour! I think that visiting this complex is very useful for development in urban studies. We were clearly shown all the components of the urban economy of the city of Moscow and the efficiency of their use. A puzzle of how city services function and coordinate came together in my head.”

    Ulyana Laryushina, 3rd year student: “Many thanks to the Center’s staff for clearly demonstrating how city services management functions. It was interesting to learn about modern technologies used in this area and to understand how decisions are made in emergency situations.”

    Ilya Dubodelov, 3rd year student: “I was pleased to talk to real specialists in the field of municipal services. I learned a lot of new things in this area, and was also amazed by the technologies used by the Center for Management of the Municipal Services Complex, and the overall coherence of all departments.”

    The State University of Management thanks the Department of Housing and Public Utilities of the City of Moscow, the State Budgetary Institution “MAC” and the State Budgetary Institution “System 112” for the opportunity to visit an important facility for managing the capital’s municipal economy.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/24/2024

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A large-scale national (all-Russian) conference with international participation dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Department of Geotechnics is being held at SPbGASU

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Leading Engineer, Assistant Professor of the Department of Geotechnics, Scientific Secretary of the Conference Philipp Kalach, Anatoly Osokin, Rashid Mangushev, Evgeny Rybnov, Askar Zhusupbekov, Alexander Vikhrov

    On October 23, the National (All-Russian) Scientific and Technical Conference with international participation “Modern Methods of Design, Underground Construction and Reconstruction of Foundations and Bases” opened at SPbGASU.

    Welcoming the participants, Rector of SPbGASU Evgeny Rybnov emphasized that since 2003, holding conferences on geotechnics at our university has become a tradition. During this period, 17 all-Russian and international conferences have been held, which invariably arouse the interest of specialists in the field of mechanics and soils, foundations, foundations and engineering geology.

    “The large number of participants confirms the importance of geotechnics as the most important area of ​​construction science and serves as a tribute to the scientific traditions and achievements of the Department of Geotechnics of St. Petersburg State University of Civil Engineering, founded in 1934. Over the years, famous scientists in our country and abroad, honored scientists of the RSFSR, professors Tsytovich, Vasiliev, Maslov, Dalmatov, Sotnikov, Mangushev, worked on it. In the last two years, the department has been headed by Honored Builder of Russia, laureate of awards from the Government of Russia and St. Petersburg, Candidate of Technical Sciences Anatoly Ivanovich Osokin. Since its formation, the department has been one of the leading departments of our university, which has trained many engineers, candidates and doctors of technical sciences. The department has created and is successfully developing a scientific school for the development of current issues in construction geotechnics. First of all, this is research on improving foundation construction on weak and highly compressible soils, including pile foundations and foundations for high-rise buildings, research on the development of deformations of structures and their prediction, research on frozen and thawing soils and their use as foundations for structures. The department is also conducting research on improving methods for constructing underground structures, consolidating foundation soils and strengthening the foundations of buildings during their reconstruction, and developing numerical methods for calculating the foundations of underground structures. Over the past 15 years, employees of the department have published numerous textbooks and teaching aids, monographs, reference books on geotechnics, which have become reference books for engineers and teachers of universities in Russia, the CIS countries and the Far Abroad,” said Evgeniy Rybnov.

    He specified that the conference will provide an opportunity for geotechnical specialists to exchange the latest scientific achievements, establish new useful contacts, and also get acquainted with historical and recently built unique objects of St. Petersburg.

    As reported by the corresponding member of RAASN, the head of the scientific school, the director of the Scientific and Production-Consulting Center of Geotechnology of SPbGASU, professor Rashid Mangushev, over the past 20 years the university and the department of geotechnics have regularly held such conferences. This year the conference is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the department. It is attended by specialists from 23 cities and 13 countries, including the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia. More than 110 reports will be heard.

    The President of the Russian Society for Soil Mechanics, Geotechnics and Foundation Engineering, Vyacheslav Ilyichev, called St. Petersburg a monument to geotechnics.

    “To build such a city now, we would need surveys, soil research methods, and computer programs. That didn’t exist back then, but the city was built: for centuries and beautifully. Geotechnics has been developing for many years, and the leading universities of St. Petersburg, where outstanding scientific schools have been created and highly qualified specialists are trained, play a major role in this. Domestic science has always been the basis of our country’s technological independence. And we continue to serve as this basis,” noted Vyacheslav Ilyichev.

    A member of the Council of the National Association of Surveyors and Designers (NOPRIZ), President of the Association of SRO “Baltic Association of Designers”, a graduate of LISI (now SPbGASU), who previously held the positions of dean, vice-rector of our university, Alexander Vikhrov confirmed that decades ago, young specialists really did not have any tools except a slide rule. But science developed, and before his eyes such tools appeared and improved

    “90 years – is it a lot or a little? For history – a particle. Despite the solid anniversary, the department is only at the beginning of its development, it keeps up with the times and continues to make a great contribution to solving modern problems of the industry, city, country, world,” says Alexander Vikhrov.

    SPbGASU and, in particular, the Department of Geotechnics have been interacting with the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (KGIOP) of St. Petersburg for many years, the acting chairman of the committee, Alexey Mikhailov, emphasized in his welcoming address. He noted the high level of involvement of students and postgraduates in current urban issues in the field of urban development and adaptation of cultural heritage sites to modern use.

    “Our city is quite young, but it contains almost 10% of all historical and cultural monuments of the country. Along with preserving the cultural heritage and historical environment, we must develop the infrastructure of the metropolis for the comfortable life of citizens and tourists. To successfully solve this problem, we need to be guided by modern scientific research in the field of soil mechanics and geotechnics, exchange experience in the design, construction and reconstruction of complex geotechnical objects in various engineering and geological conditions,” said Alexey Mikhailov.

    The President of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Association, Honorary Doctor of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and graduate of the department, Askar Zhusupbekov, confirmed that the Department of Geotechnics has always been famous for its outstanding world-class scientists and talented students.

    “Continuing the traditions, the department is developing. Last year, the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Association held a large-scale international scientific and technical conference, which was attended by 982 people from 88 countries. And I would like to proudly note that the most representative and largest delegation was from your university. SPbGASU demonstrates high scientific achievements and knows how to organize effective scientific and practical platforms within its walls, which include the current conference,” concluded Askar Zhusupbekov.

    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 Germany: Results of the 2024 LSI stress test

    Source: Deutsche Bundesbank in English

    The profitability of Germany’s small and medium-sized banks and Sparkassen (less significant institutions, or LSIs) improved significantly in 2023. The institutions achieved stronger earnings during the period of higher interest rates; they have further expanded their capital resources and appear to be prepared even for serious adverse scenarios. These were among the findings of the sixth LSI stress test and accompanying survey, which were conducted this year by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and the Deutsche Bundesbank.
    “The banks are on more solid ground. Most institutions have good capital ratios and are capable of handling the very demanding challenges posed in this year’s stress test,” said Raimund Röseler, BaFin’s Chief Executive Director of Banking Supervision, while presenting the stress test results in Frankfurt. The scenario assumed in this year’s test was far more challenging than in the last exercise two years ago. In total, the shock caused the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio to decrease by 3.7 percentage points to 14.5 percent. The stress effect was mainly driven by credit and market risks.
    Under the scenario presented in the stress test, the number of institutions that experience difficulties lies in the medium double digits. These institutions would not meet the supervisory capital requirements in the case of a major economic downturn. The number of impacted institutions is twice as high as in the 2022 LSI stress test – mainly due to the tougher scenario specifications.
    “Institutions should continue to expand their capital resources and not erode their solid baseline unless absolutely necessary. The economic situation remains uncertain. We will closely monitor the outlier institutions. If necessary, we will take supervisory countermeasures at an early stage,” Röseler declared.
    Results of the survey on the current and future earnings and risk situation show that institutions are anticipating an increase in loss allowances. Banks and Sparkassen are still willing to take on additional risks on their books and increase their lending. However, their plans foresee a greater increase in CET1 capital than in risk-weighted assets, which leads to a moderate rise in the CET1 ratio and takes more than sufficient account of the additional risks they plan to assume.
    “Our analysis shows that the majority of banks and Sparkassen are less optimistic with regard to commercial real estate. Supervisors will continue to closely monitor this segment,” said Michael Theurer, the member of the Executive Board responsible for banking supervision at the Deutsche Bundesbank. The outlook is more positive for residential properties, but lower market values are expected for buildings in need of renovation to meet energy efficiency standards. The banks and Sparkassen consider the greatest challenges to be recruitment, increased competition for deposits and the slowdown in economic activity. “In particular, challenges arising from demographic change will have a longterm impact on the banking sector. Institutions need to begin adapting to this development early and take a forward-looking approach,” Theurer advised.
    1,200 small and medium-sized German credit institutions took part in the stress test conducted by the Deutsche Bundesbank and BaFin. The participating institutions represent approximately 91 percent of all credit institutions in Germany and approximately 40 percent of the aggregate total assets. The results of the stress test are incorporated into the supervisory activities of the Deutsche Bundesbank and BaFin.
    Annex
    Earnings
    BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank collected the institutions’ own planned and forecast figures in the survey. The institutions were also asked to simulate their earnings for the period from 2024 to 2028 in five interest rate scenarios predefined by the supervisors. The institutions performed these calculations assuming a static balance sheet, meaning they were not able to adjust their portfolios.

     

    Scenario
    Yield curve
    Balance sheet assumption

    1

    Planned scenario
    Institution-specific assumptions
    dynamic

    2

    Steady interest rate level
    +/-0 bp as at 01.01.2024
    static

    3

    Positive interest rate shock
    + 200 bp as at 01.01.2024
    static

    4

    Negative interest rate shock
    − 100 bp as at 01.01.2024
    static

    5

    Gradual interest rate increase
    + 40 bp annually as at 01.01.
    static

    6

    Inverse turn
    + 200 bp to − 60 bp as at 01.01.2024
    static
    Table 1: Methodological rules and interest rate scenarios in the survey (2024–2028); “bp” stands for “basis points”
    On the basis of their own planned and forecast figures, the surveyed credit institutions reported in the second quarter of 2024 that they expect their return on assets to increase by 45% over the next five years (2022: + 18%). Return on assets is defined as the profit for the year before tax in relation to total assets. However, this highly positive projection is based on the optimistic assumption that interest rates will remain steady or even slightly increase in the medium to long term.
    Resilience
    On average, the institutions surveyed expect to increase their CET1 ratio from a level of 18.2% to 19.4% by 2028. They plan to do so despite the larger increase in risk-weighted assets, which can be traced to an upturn in the volume of business and increased risk-taking.
    Stress test used for determining Pillar 2 guidance
    Stress testing examines the resilience of institutions under adverse economic conditions and estimates the consequences for their capital resources. To this end, the banks and Sparkassen simulated their earnings and resilience for the years 2024 to 2026 according to baseline and stress scenarios predefined by the supervisors. The stress scenario for this year’s test entails a dramatic economic downturn resulting in interest rate risks, credit risks and market risks, among others. Other components of the banks’ profit and loss accounts were extrapolated based on historical data, partially with discounts.
    The supervisory authorities aimed to determine whether the capital resources of the credit institutions were still adequate over a three-year period in a stress scenario. After a capital depletion of 3.7 percentage points (the largest decrease in the CET1 ratio over the three-year scenario horizon), the small and medium-sized institutions in Germany still had a CET1 ratio of 14.5% on aggregate, which represents a sound capital basis.
    The stress test identifies the vulnerabilities of each individual institution. The risks revealed in the stress test also factor into the calculation of Pillar 2 guidance. An institution’s failure to comply with this recommendation acts as an important early warning threshold for supervisors. Institutions that are particularly vulnerable can be subjected to even closer supervision at an early stage. This helps further strengthen the stability of the German banking market.

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI German News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Company and its two responsible officers fined $64,200 for contravening Employment Ordinance

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Rayland International Cooperation Limited and its two responsible officers, a director and a manager, were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its two responsible officers pleaded guilty at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (October 24) and were fined a total sum of $64,200.
          
         The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay an employee wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods totalling about $260,000, and also failing to pay the awarded sum of about $630,000 within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The two responsible officers concerned were prosecuted and convicted for their consent, connivance or neglect in the above offences.
          
          “The ruling helps disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors, managers and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO, as well as the sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board,” a spokesman for the LD said.
          
          “The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees’ statutory rights,” the spokesperson added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Civil society from both banks meet donors to discuss partnership, challenges and successes

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Civil society from both banks meet donors to discuss partnership, challenges and successes

    Civil society organizations (CSOs) from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River, donors and development partners engaged in discussions in groups during the OSCE Mission’s Donors’ Forum, 23 October, Chisinau. (OSCE/Ecaterina Leuca) Photo details

    On 23 October, the OSCE Mission’s Donors’ Forum united nearly 90 civil society organizations (CSOs) from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River and over 30 donors and development partners. Civil society shared positive experiences, achievements and challenges. One highlight was that organizations from both banks conducted successful information campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention and healthcare. As for challenges, civil society members noted their limited capacity and resources, and suggested that donors help with small-scale projects, and not just large ones.
    “The Forum helps us present our ideas and initiatives, and learn about new opportunities for funding and cooperation. We can interact with colleagues from other NGOs, gain experience and build partnerships. Such events are important for building trust between communities on both sides of the river, for peaceful and sustainable development of the society”, – Margarita Cojuhar from the Transdniestrian Media Center said after the Forum.
    The Chair of Legal Center in Causeni, Ion Oboroceanu, shared his impressions: “Cooperation between CSOs on both banks of the Dniester is crucial for the promotion and protection of human rights, thus facilitating access to impartial justice for the vulnerable groups we represent.”
    The Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Kelly Keiderling noted: “Any settlement of the Transdniestrian issue requires that residents of Transdniestria and the members of Transdniestrian civil society groups feel connected to the life of all of Moldovan society. We need you, the people on both banks of the Nistru/Dniester River, to raise awareness about the social, economic, and political challenges you face. We need you to extend protection to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable. We need you to widen the reach of political-civil rights to more citizens.”
    Since 2013, our Mission has held the Donors Forum to assist civil society from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River, donors and development partners meet and exchange information.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Nolan Principles – keeping the public front of mind

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Reflecting on 30 years since the formation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

    To mark 30 years of the Committee’s work, Prof. Mark Philp, Chair of CSPL’s Research Advisory Board, blogs on the continuing importance of the Nolan Principles in setting out the understanding between those in public office and the public. This blog is based on a longer academic paper (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30th-anniversary-of-the-nolan-principles).

    Marking 30 years since the creation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

    PDF, 75 KB, 2 pages

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Planning Inspectorate Performance update – October 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Performance and other updates following the publication of our latest official monthly statistics.

    On a regular basis, we publish the latest official statistics on appeals performance), which represent the greatest volume (in terms of number of cases) of the work of the Planning Inspectorate. 

    We also update the appeals handling times data to give customers the latest information on the average time it takes to receive a decision and provide an update on our other main casework areas. 

    Appeals 

    Our appeal cases are dealt with in one of three ways: written representations, hearings, or inquiries. Ministerial performance measures include an expectation to reduce average decision times over time and make our decision speeds more consistent. All our decision times are measured from the day we receive a valid appeal through to the day we issue a decision. This is the same approach as Local Planning Authorities. 

    We have made 18,176 appeal decisions in the last 12 months, an average of 1,515 per month. We now have 13,214 open cases. 

    We remain committed to removing our casework backlog so that all our casework is decided in consistent timeframes, whilst maintaining high standards in our decisions. We are currently focusing on reducing the number of older planning appeals by written representations appeals and enforcement appeals by hearing. 

    Following a consultation the frequency of the publication of these statistics will move from monthly to quarterly. We believe quarterly publications provide a better indicator of performance, less affected by temporary fluctuations than monthly releases. The next quarterly update will be on January 23, 2025. 

    Median decision times 

    The median decision time for cases decided in September was 27 weeks. The average over the past 12 months was 28 weeks. 

    Median decision times vary a little month to month, but decisions after hearings and inquiries continue to be made quicker, on average, compared to a year ago. This is most noticeable in relation to enforcement appeals by inquiry, where decisions are taking less than half the time, on average.

    12 months to September 2024 median decision time September 2024 median decision time
    Planning appeals by written representations 27 weeks 26 weeks
    Planning appeals by hearing 24 weeks 22 weeks
    Planning appeals by inquiry 30 weeks 33 weeks
    Enforcement appeals by written representations 51 weeks 40 weeks
    Enforcement appeals by hearing 63 weeks 102 weeks
    Enforcement appeals by inquiry 54 weeks 22 weeks
    All appeals 28 weeks 27 weeks

    National Infrastructure 

    We have a high number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs)  at various stages, but we continue to meet all statutory deadlines: 

    •  62 where we are providing advice before submission. 
    •  18 submitted and at acceptance, pre-examination, or examination. 
    •  4 where we are preparing our recommendation. 
    •  9 where the relevant Secretary of State is considering our recommendation. 

    Earlier this month development consent was granted by the Secretary of State for Transport for the Immingham Eastern Ro-Ro Terminal. 

    Local Plans 

    There are currently 45 live Local Plan examinations in progress. 

    We encourage Local Planning Authorities (LPA) to use our advisory visits to help them get their plans in good shape and deal with challenges well before submission.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The results of the internship of Russian specialists in Belarus have been summed up

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The final part of the internship of Russian specialists in the Republic of Belarus took place in Minsk and facilities close to the country’s capital.

    On October 21, members of the Russian delegation took part in a contact exchange with companies representing businesses and potential B2B partners from Belarus. The event was opened by the Director of the Federal Resource Center, Alexey Bunkin. The head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in the Republic of Belarus, Yury Makushin, also addressed the Russian and Belarusian participants with an opening speech.

    During the event, the current state of foreign trade relations between Russia and Belarus, promising export and import directions, the peculiarities of local buyers’ perception of Russian products, issues of certification, logistics and mutual settlements were discussed, and numerous personal meetings, conversations and exchange of contacts took place.

    Then a visit to the office of the Free Economic Zone “Minsk” took place. The deputy head of the FEZ administration spoke in detail about its functioning, features in comparison with other zones, answered questions from members of the Russian delegation.

    Next, the internship participants visited the production facilities of ZAPAGROMASH LLC, the CIS leader in the production of agricultural machinery, including for feeding and keeping cattle, and Minsk Tractor Plant OJSC, the oldest enterprise in the republic and the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery.

    During the visits, the delegation members learned about the history of the companies, examined samples of manufactured equipment and a number of production shops, including assembly shops, and discussed issues of interest to them with the management of the enterprises, with special attention paid to the topic of ensuring social security for workers.

    In the evening of the same day, Alexey Bunkin held a briefing with the internship participants, during which the results of the work were summed up, the achieved results were presented, and the prospects for the development of subsequent similar projects were discussed.

    On the final day of the internship, October 22, the delegation visited the Great Stone Industrial Park. They were given a thorough introduction to the history of the park’s creation and its present day, had a dialogue with the deputy head of the administration with answers to numerous questions, and toured the territory.

    The Russian delegation then moved to the building of the Belarusian State University of Economics and took part in a session on business education as part of the Second Forum of the Scientific and Educational Consortium “Eurasian Network University”, held by the State University of Management. Leading specialists from a number of consulting companies in the Republic of Belarus spoke to the internship participants.

    Also in the BGEU building, the vice-rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov and Alexey Bunkin presented certificates of advanced training in the program “Economic cooperation in the agro-industrial complex” to the participants of the Presidential program for training management personnel.

    The business program of the internship of Russian specialists in Minsk ended in the same place where it began – in the building of the Trade Mission of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus. The meeting was attended by the representative of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus Ilya Fedorov, the head of the department for promoting direct foreign investment and import substitution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus Anastasia Dedyulya, the head of the production and marketing department of the KUP “Myasomolprom” of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee Tatyana Volozgina, a number of heads of commercial and manufacturing enterprises from the agro-industrial complex.

    The Russian and Belarusian participants once again considered possible areas and prospects for cooperation, and exchanged contacts for further interaction. Moreover, the discussion was based on information and experience gained during their stay in Belarus.

    The results of the intensive practice-oriented internship of Russian specialists in Belarus were familiarization with successful examples of entrepreneurship, establishment of contacts with both representatives of local businesses and Russian representative bodies that ensure the state interests of Russia in the sphere of foreign economic activity in Belarus.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/24/2024

    Internships for Russian specialists in the Republic of Belarus took place in Minsk and facilities close to the country’s capital.

    On October 21, members of the Russian delegation took part in a contact exchange with companies representing businesses and potential B2B partners from Belarus….

    ” data-yashareImage=”https://guu.ru/wp-content/uploads/Беларусь-2024-1.jpg” data-yashareLink=”https://guu.ru/%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%b2%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%bd%d1%8b-%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%be%d0%b3%d0%b8-%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%b6%d0%b8%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%ba%d0%b8-%d1%80%d0%be%d1%81%d1%81%d0%b8%d0%b9%d1%81%d0%ba/”>

    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 Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN participates in the 11th AMCA Plus Three Meeting

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn today participated in the 11th AMCA Plus Three Meeting held in Melaka, Malaysia. The meeting discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in culture and the arts through the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan in Culture and the Arts (2022-2025).

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN participates in the 11th AMCA Plus Three Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Rosneft Supplies Bashkir Hospital with High-Tech Medical Equipment

    Source: Rosneft

    Headline: Rosneft Supplies Bashkir Hospital with High-Tech Medical Equipment

    Bashneft (a subsidiary of Rosneft) has supplied the central district hospital in the city of Yanaul in the Republic of Bashkortostan with a modern high-tech computer tomography system.

    Rosneft is committed to the principles of social responsibility and traditionally pays special attention to creating a favourable social environment in the regions of operation. The healthcare sector is one of the Сompany’s key areas of support.

    To accommodate the new medical tomography complex, a separate block of the hospital was renovated and equipped in accordance with all safety requirements. The high-precision equipment enables high-quality diagnostics of patients, including examination of diseases of blood vessels and bone structures, abdominal cavity, brain, pelvic organs and many others.

    The high-tech medical complex is now available to 43,000 residents of Bashkortostan’s Yanaul District, who previously had to travel to other districts of the republic for check-ups.

    In total, more than 50 projects on construction and reconstruction of medical institutions have been implemented over the last 5 years within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement between Bashkortostan and Rosneft.

    For example, the «Lubumy Malysh» («Beloved Baby») inclusion center in Ufa features a successfully operating neurostudio. In the village of Verkhneyarkeevo, Ilishevsky District, there is a medical complex for 500 visits a day. A maternity ward with modern medical equipment serves the residents of Staryye Turbasly village. Modern modular polyclinics have been built in two villages in the Duvansky District. In the village of Petrovskoye, Ishimbaysky District, a rural district hospital built with the support of Bashneft started operating after a major overhaul. In February this year, a polyclinic was opened in the village of Nagayevo, on the outskirts of Ufa, serving 320 people a day and 12,000 people from three neighbouring settlements.

    Reference:

    Bashneft is one of the oldest oil and gas enterprises in the country engaged in oil extraction and processing. Bashneft’s main production facilities are located in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Oil and gas exploration and production are also carried out in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area–Yugra, Nenets Autonomous Area, Orenburg Region and the Republic of Tatarstan.

    Rosneft
    Information Division
    September 10, 2024

    Keywords: Social News 2024

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Rosneft Organises Clean Shores Environmental Festival in Nefteyugansk

    Source: Rosneft

    Headline: Rosneft Organises Clean Shores Environmental Festival in Nefteyugansk

    RN-Yuganskneftegaz (Rosneft’s largest producing asset) organised the Clean Shores environmental festival in Nefteyugansk. More than 500 employees and their family members attended the event, which was held for the fourth time.

    The festival programme included a clean-up and many interactive activities aimed at improving the environmental culture of the residents. The environment-oriented initiative was held on the territory of the memorial complex – «R-63 well» and the embankment of the Yugansk Ob river. Volunteers made a significant contribution to the health of the environment by collecting household waste and old tyres for recycling on the embankment.

    The festival had themed sections: games for children and mini-GTO, a quiz and workshops. An exhibition of specialised machinery was held near the memorial stele.

    On the same day, RN-Yuganskneftegaz employees planted 60 cherry trees in Nefteyugansk in honour of the 60th anniversary of the first Ust-Balyk oil being sent to the refinery. The event took place in the street named after Alexander Filimonov, an outstanding Soviet oilman, hero of socialist labour and honorary resident of the city.

    The event was attended by representatives of the Nefteyugansk administration, young specialists of the enterprise, activists of the Movement of the Firsts, students of Rosneft classes, residents and guests of the city.

    Environmental volunteering is an integral part of Rosneft’s volunteer movement. The Company’s employees are actively involved in cleaning up natural coastal and urban areas, as well as in interactive events aimed at promoting an environmental culture among the younger generation.

    Reference:

    RN-Yuganskneftegaz pays great attention to the conservation of natural resources and environmental protection by implementing various environmental programmes. Including compensatory reforestation and artificial propagation of aquatic bioresources.

    Rosneft
    Information Division
    September 11, 2024

    Keywords: Environmental news 2024

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Announces New Medications Tracking Feature for Samsung Health in India

    Source: Samsung

     
    India’s largest consumer electronics brand, Samsung announced that it has added the Medications tracking feature1 to the Samsung Health app2 to help users manage their health more comprehensively.
     
    The feature will not only allow users to keep track of their prescribed or over-the-counter medication regime but will also offer important medical information and tips. The feature can help in tracking medication adherence consistency for those, who are on a medication journey for hypertension, diabetes, PCOS, PCOD and other chronic diseases that require timely doses.
     
    “Samsung is a brand that puts its customers first and continuously works on products and services to improve their daily lives. We aim to build a holistic health platform for people to understand and manage their health better by connecting devices and services. With the addition of Medications feature for India in the Samsung Health app, we believe users will be able to manage their medications more conveniently, improve adherence, and ultimately maintain better health,” said Kyungyun Roo, Managing Director, Samsung Research Institute, Noida.
     
    The Medications feature, the result of a collaborative effort between R&D, Design and Consumer Experience teams at Samsung, has been designed keeping in mind the needs of Indian consumers. Upon entering the name of a select medication into the Samsung Health app, the Medications feature will provide users with detailed information including general descriptions, as well as its possible side effects.
     
    In addition, the new feature will provide information on adverse reactions from drug-to-drug interactions and other relevant safety guidance. Users can set up alerts to remind them both when to take their medications and when to refill them seamlessly through the Samsung Health App.
     
    These alerts can be fine-tuned to the need of the individual user, so the medications can be prioritized depending on their importance to the user, with Samsung Health sending reminders ranging from “gentle” to “strong”. Galaxy Watch users will also receive reminders right on their wrist so they can stay on top of their medication schedules, even when away from their phones.
     
    The Samsung Health app already provides a range of advanced health offerings spanning sleep management3, mindfulness programmes and irregular heart rhythm notification4 capabilities. The introduction of the Medication tracking feature in India will further reinforce Samsung’s commitment to create holistic wellness experiences for its users, enabling them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
     
    The Medications tracking feature will be available on the Samsung Health app in India via the app updates.
     
     
     
    1Samsung Health Medications feature is intended to help users manage their medication list and schedule. Information provided is evidence-based content licensed from Tata 1mg.
    2Requires smartphone with Android 10.0 or later and Samsung Health app version 6.28 or later. Availability for the features may vary by device.
    3Sleep features are intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. The measurements are for your personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice.
    4The IHRN feature is only available in select markets. Available on Wear OS devices version 4.0 or later. It is not intended to provide a notification on every episode of irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib and the absence of a notification is not intended to indicate no disease process is present. It is not intended for users with other known arrhythmias. The features are supported via the Samsung Health Monitor app. Availability may vary by market or device. Due to market restrictions in obtaining approval/registration as a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), it only works on watches and smartphones purchased in the markets where service is currently available (however, service may be restricted when users travel to non-service markets). This app can only be used for measuring in ages 22 and over.
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: UN Secretary-General’s video message to the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    strong>Download the video: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergr…

    Monsieur le President, Excellencies, Friends of Lebanon,

    I welcome this initiative by President Macron and underscore our commitment to realizing the aims of this conference and supporting the people of Lebanon.

    We do so in the context of a region that is reeling, and Lebanon in utter turmoil.

    The past year has brought daily exchanges of fire across the Blue Line.

    We are gravely concerned about the safety and well-being of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line – but we must recognize that the conflict has recently taken on an entirely different nature and scale.

    Each day that passes only deepens the misery and suffering of people in Lebanon.

    Since last October, over 2,300 people have been killed in Lebanon, and at least 50 in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan.

    More than half of the deaths in Lebanon have occurred since the dramatic escalation in Israeli strikes on 23 September.

    Many of those killed were children and women.

    More than 1.2 million people have been displaced or affected in Lebanon.

    And in the last year, more than 60,000 have been displaced in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan.

    We see continued intense aerial bombardment by Israel in densely populated areas in Lebanon – including Beirut – and ground incursions across the Blue Line … as well as ongoing missile, drone and rocket attacks by Hizbullah into Israel.

    An immediate ceasefire is needed now – along with meaningful steps towards full implementation of Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701.

    The sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected.

    Civilians must be protected.

    Civilian infrastructure must not be targeted.

    Obligations under international law must be upheld.

    I urge friends of Lebanon to support the ongoing humanitarian response efforts, including by providing rapid funding of the Lebanon Flash Appeal.

    I call on Lebanon’s leaders to take resolute steps towards ensuring fully functional state institutions to address the country’s pressing political and security challenges.

    And I encourage partners to strengthen their support for those state institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, which are a vital part of a secure – and peaceful – path forward.

    I salute the brave women and men of our peacekeeping force in Lebanon — UNIFIL – and the UN family across the country, who are striving to implement their mandates in such challenging conditions.

    Let me be clear: Attacks against UN peacekeepers are completely unacceptable.

    They are in breach of international law, against international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime.

    I also pay tribute to humanitarian workers working to help communities in dire need.

    Excellencies,

    We know what is happening in Lebanon today is not an isolated phenomenon.

    We had the abhorrent terror attacks by Hamas on October 7th and the taking of hostages.

    Since then, Israeli military operations in Gaza have caused death and destruction at a speed and scale beyond anything in my years as Secretary-General.

    We have seen the impacts from Syria to Iraq to Yemen.

    Now we see the growing threat of a major conflagration between Israel and Iran that would upend the entire region.

    We need a ceasefire in Lebanon – as we need a ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages.

    Escalation after escalation is leading to the unimaginable for the people of the region – including the people of Lebanon for whom we have all come together today.

    Let us show our solidarity with action to ease the suffering and push for peace.

    Thank you.
    *****
    Monsieur le Président, Excellences, Chers amis du Liban,

    Je salue cette initiative du Président Macron et je souligne notre engagement à réaliser les objectifs de cette conférence et à soutenir le peuple libanais. 

    Nous le faisons dans le contexte d’une région en pleine tourmente, et d’un Liban totalement bouleversé. 

    L’année écoulée a été marquée par des échanges de tirs quotidiens de part et d’autre de la Ligne bleue. 

    Nous sommes gravement préoccupés par la sécurité et le bien-être des civils des deux côtés de la Ligne bleue – mais il faut reconnaitre que le conflit a récemment pris une tout autre nature et dimension. 

    Chaque jour qui passe ne fait qu’aggraver la misère et la souffrance du peuple libanais. 

    Depuis octobre dernier, plus de 2 300 personnes ont été tuées au Liban, et au moins 50 en Israël et dans le Golan occupé par Israël. 

    Plus de la moitié des décès au Liban sont survenus depuis l’escalade dramatique des frappes israéliennes le 23 septembre.

    Un grand nombre des personnes tuées étaient des enfants et des femmes. 

    Plus de 1,2 million de personnes ont été déplacées ou affectées au Liban. 

    Et au cours de la dernière année, plus de 60 000 personnes ont été déplacées en Israël et dans le Golan occupé par Israël. 

    Nous observons des bombardements aériens intenses et continus menés par Israël dans des zones densément peuplées du Liban – y compris Beyrouth – et des incursions terrestres à travers la Ligne bleue… ainsi que des attaques continues de missiles, de drones et de roquettes du Hezbollah vers Israël. 

    Un cessez-le-feu immédiat est nécessaire – accompagné de mesures significatives vers la pleine mise en œuvre des résolutions 1559 et 1701 du Conseil de sécurité. 

    La souveraineté et l’intégrité territoriale de tous les pays doivent être respectées. 

    Les civils doivent être protégés. 

    Les infrastructures civiles ne doivent pas être prises pour cible. 

    Les obligations en vertu du droit international doivent être respectées. 

    J’exhorte les amis du Liban à soutenir les efforts humanitaires en cours, notamment en finançant rapidement l’Appel éclair pour le Liban. 

    J’appelle les dirigeants libanais à prendre des mesures résolues pour assurer le bon fonctionnement des institutions de l’État afin de relever les défis politiques et sécuritaires urgents du pays. 

    Et j’encourage les partenaires à renforcer leur soutien à ces institutions étatiques, y compris les Forces armées libanaises, qui sont une composante vitale dans la construction d’un avenir sûr et pacifique.

    Je salue les femmes et les hommes courageux de notre force de maintien de la paix au Liban – la FINUL – et la famille des Nations Unies dans tout le pays, qui s’efforcent de remplir leurs mandats dans des conditions si difficiles. 

    Soyons clairs : les attaques contre les Casques bleus de l’ONU sont totalement inacceptables. 

    Elles sont contraires au droit international, contraires au droit international humanitaire, et peuvent constituer un crime de guerre. 

    Je rends également hommage aux travailleurs humanitaires qui s’efforcent de venir en aide à des populations en détresse. 

    Excellences, 

    Nous savons que ce qui se passe aujourd’hui au Liban n’est pas un phénomène isolé. 

    Nous avons connu les abominables attaques terroristes du Hamas le 7 octobre et l’enlèvement des otages. 

    Depuis, les opérations militaires israéliennes à Gaza ont causé des morts et des destructions à une vitesse et à une échelle dépassant tout ce que j’ai connu durant mes années en tant que Secrétaire général. 

    Nous en avons vu les conséquences – en Syrie, en Irak ou au Yémen. 

    Aujourd’hui, nous voyons la menace croissante d’une conflagration majeure entre Israël et l’Iran qui bouleverserait toute la région. 

    Nous avons besoin d’un cessez-le-feu au Liban – tout comme nous avons besoin d’un cessez-le-feu à Gaza et de la libération immédiate de tous les otages. 

    Escalade après escalade, la situation devient chaque jour plus inimaginable pour les populations de la région – y compris pour le peuple libanais, qui est au cœur de la réunion d’aujourd’hui. 

    Montrons notre solidarité – agissons pour soulager les souffrances et faire avancer la paix. 

    Merci. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government opens applications for £100,000 interim payment to the estates of victims of Infected Blood Scandal

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Estates of people who died as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal can now apply to receive an interim payment of £100,000, in advance of a comprehensive compensation scheme.

    Infected Blood Compensation Scheme: UK Government Update – 24 October 2024

    The estates of people who died as a result of the Infected Blood Scandal can now apply to receive an interim payment of £100,000 from today. This is the first time this group has ever received compensation. 

    Personal representatives of a deceased person’s estate, including partners, parents, siblings and children, are urged to apply by completing a form on gov.uk. 

    Applications will be processed by the Infected Blood Support Schemes, which will administer the payments.

    This interim payment comes in advance of a comprehensive, government-funded compensation scheme for infected and affected victims of infected blood.

    The compensation scheme is UK-wide and will be delivered by the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA), an independent arm’s length body led by Sir Robert Francis KC. The scheme was established in law in August and expects to make payments by the end of this year.

    Today’s announcement marks the first time that this group of the infected blood community has ever received compensation.

    It also fulfils the commitment placed on government by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 and helps deliver on Recommendation 12 of the Infected Blood Inquiry’s Second Interim Report, which recommended that “an interim payment of £100,000 should be paid to recognise the deaths of people who, to date, hadn’t been recognised.” 

    Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, said:

    “I hope that today is seen as another important milestone for victims and campaigners who have waited far too long for justice.

    “We are committed to acting on the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry and these payments are an important step forward in providing substantial compensation to the families of victims of infected blood.

    “No amount of compensation can fully address the suffering as a result of this scandal, but we are doing everything possible to deliver life-changing sums to people infected and affected.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ocean Maid report and flyer published

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Grounding and subsequent loss of a stern trawler on Cairnbulg Point, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

    Image courtesy of Alex Young and www.marinetraffic.com

    Today, we have published our accident investigation report into the grounding of the stern trawler Ocean Maid (BA 55) on Cairnbulg Point near the port of Fraserburgh, Scotland on 24 October 2022. The vessel later broke up and sank.

    The report, available via this link, contains details of what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations.

    A safety flyer to the fishing industry has also been produced with this report.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World Polio Day: MHRA trains worldwide laboratories in early detection of polio using breakthrough advanced technology

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is highlighting our work training multiple World Health Organisation (WHO) polio laboratories around the world.

    Today, World Polio Day, 24 October 2024, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is highlighting our work training multiple World Health Organisation (WHO) polio laboratories around the world using an advanced molecular direct detection method that can halve detection times – supporting the global effort to eradicate polio and helping save lives.

    In collaboration with Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh, Biosurv International and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we have trained 25 countries in just over one year on the use of a technique called Direct Detection by Nanopore Sequencing (DDNS). This method can speed up the detection of polio outbreaks, saving public health authorities crucial time and money. This includes training laboratories in Pakistan, one of the last two countries where polio remains endemic, with the number of cases increasing this year.

    It is vitally important to detect polio early, as the infection moves rapidly within a population. By the time the first signs of polio appear in a country, many hundreds of people are typically already infected and can unknowingly pass on the virus to others who may not be fully vaccinated and protected. The virus – most commonly transmitted through contact with infected faeces via contaminated food and water – multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis.

    Training worldwide in-country laboratories in rapid detection – using the DDNS method –enables samples to be tested in the country where the outbreak originated, rather than being sent to specialist laboratories abroad. This means the costs and delays of transport and testing can be reduced from an average of 42 days to an average of 19 days – a time saving that saves lives.

    A study published in Nature Microbiology last year, showed that our research, jointly conducted with partners, using the DDNS method to detect polio outbreaks can halve the detection time. This research indicated that DDNS tests done locally, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, over a six-month period were an average of 23 days faster than the standard method, with over 99% accuracy.

    Training laboratories in the DDNS method takes one to two weeks and is carried out by scientists from the MHRA, as well as colleagues from Imperial College London. It involves a combination of theoretical and practical sessions covering all aspects of the DDNS method from sample processing, nucleic acid extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing, analysis and interpretation of results.

    The training also encompasses methodological troubleshooting and utility of the detailed quality assurance programme associated with the method. The University of Edinburgh provides the bioinformatics expertise and have created purpose-designed analytical software to process the sequencing data produced by the method. Biosurv International support supply chains and participate in training and quality control review of data. 

    Javier Martin, Principal Scientist in Virology at the MHRA said:

    This worldwide training in the DDNS method for rapid detection of polio is a key strand in the global fight to eradicate polio, alongside vaccination programmes.

    Carrying out this work with our partners, which is the result of years of research, plays an essential part in managing outbreaks that threaten the global eradication effort and will help make polio a disease of the past.

    We are already initiating collaboration with laboratories in Africa training them to monitor different virus threats, such as Hepatitis E. The potential use of this faster detection technique has almost limitless possibilities for the protection of global health.

    Dr Alex Shaw, Research Fellow in the School of Public Health at Imperial College London talked about the potential that this DDNS method has for use with other diseases:

    The WHO has identified delays in detection as one of the major challenges facing their Polio eradication strategy 2022–2026. Training 25 countries in the past year to detect polio faster allows us to identify where outbreaks are and which polio strain is present much more quickly, allowing us to act at the earliest opportunity.

    This advanced sequencing technology is not only being used to strengthen poliovirus surveillance but is also easily adapted for the detection of other organisms. The worldwide training programme will, therefore, provide a foundation of skills and experience that can be redirected to the genomic surveillance of other pathogens, as needed.

    The most recent laboratory training programme was conducted in Angola and Tanzania and included scientists from Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, Eritrea, Malawi and Rwanda. We conducted training at the MHRA South Mimms site for European laboratories in June 2024 (Germany, France, Finland, Netherlands, Italy and Ukraine).

    Scientists at the MHRA and their partners will continue to support the testing and validation of DDNS as a polio detection technique and to train WHO laboratories around the world in how to use it. We will travel to Thailand in mid-November 2024 to train scientists from Thailand, India and Indonesia. Additional training activities and implementation visits are planned for 2025 onwards.

    Notes to editors 

    1. The ‘Sensitive poliovirus detection using nested PCR and nanopore sequencing: a prospective validation study’ was published in August 2023 in Nature Microbiology. The research was jointly conducted by researchers at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa who implemented DDNS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for the detection of polio outbreaks in collaboration with the MHRA, Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh and various laboratories of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN), with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
    2. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks. 
    3. The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care. 

    For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AAIB Report: Boeing 737-8K5, G-TAWD, 20 October 2023

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Lateral runway excursion, Leeds Bradford Airport, 20 October 2023

    Aircraft final position

    After touching down at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) in stormy weather, the aircraft began to yaw left of the runway centreline. When the pilot flying increased the right rudder input to correct the deviation, both pilots reported feeling a significant judder from the nose gear. This prompted the pilot flying to reduce the right rudder input and, although there were repeated brief right pedal inputs, the aircraft continued to deviate from the centreline and left the runway. The aircraft sustained minor damage and there were no injuries.

    The investigation found that one of the aircraft’s nosewheel bearings had suffered a catastrophic failure, likely during the rollout at LBA. The resultant juddering was unexpected, and the crew were uncertain as to its impact. However, the investigation found that there was in fact no mechanical impediment to the use of additional rudder and braking to prevent the runway excursion.

    Read the report.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Agricultural Census Statistics, June 2024

    Source: Scottish Government

    An Accredited Official Statistics Publication

    The June Agricultural Census 2024 shows a drop in the numbers of livestock in Scotland with the long-term trend in declining cattle numbers continuing.

    In 2024, there were 1.67 million cattle, a decrease of 2.4% when compared with the five year average (2019-2023) and a decrease of 0.9% when compared with 2023. Other livestock results show that the total number of sheep decreased by 3.8% to 6.47 million and the total number of pigs decreased by 6.5% to 315,500 pigs.

    The area of land used for growing cereals (wheat, barley, oats and other cereals) decreased by 0.8% compared with the five year average following a mixed year in 2024. The area used to grow winter crops (wheat, winter barley and winter oats) decreased. Spring planted crops (spring barley and spring oats) increased when compared with the five year average due to an increase in the area used to grow spring barley.

    The agricultural census also showed that the total workforce on agricultural holdings in Scotland increased by 0.5% to 67,400 people in 2024 when compared with the five year average.

    Background

    The June Agricultural Census provides an annual update on trends in agricultural activity across the country. It covers all main types of farming and the number of people working on agricultural holdings in Scotland. The agricultural census in 2024 also included questions on slurry destination and agricultural machinery.

    The full statistical publication is available on the Scottish Government website. 

    Official statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2 rescued from coal mine collapse in north China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Two of the six miners trapped early Wednesday in a collapsed coal mine in north China’s Hebei Province have been rescued, local authorities said Thursday.
    At around 10:40 a.m. Thursday, the two miners were brought to the ground with stable vital signs, according to the local government.
    Rescuers are racing against time to locate the remaining trapped miners.
    The cave-in happened at 4:37 a.m. Wednesday in the Qianjiaying mining subsidiary of Kailuan (Group) Limited Liability Corporation, a major state-owned coal mining company in Hebei.
    The Qianjiaying subsidiary is located in Fengnan District in the city of Tangshan.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Typhoon Trami approaching south China island city

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Typhoon Trami is strengthening its intensity, and is expected to enter the South China Sea Thursday evening, according to the meteorological observatory in China’s southernmost island province of Hainan.
    The observatory forecast heavy rainfall and strong gales on the typhoon’s path through Xisha and Zhongsha Islands, which will affect the city of Sansha.
    Fishing boats and other vessels have returned to the harbor for shelter, and sandbags were used to reinforce the buildings in Sansha.
    China’s National Meteorological Center on Thursday morning renewed a blue typhoon warning to Trami, which has been listed as the 20th typhoon of this year.
    China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response, and a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Brunei pledge to enhance strategic cooperative partnership

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Vice President Han Zheng Wednesday concluded a three-day visit to Brunei, with China and Brunei pledging to strengthen their strategic cooperative partnership so as to elevate bilateral relations to a new high.

    Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Oct. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    During the visit, Han held separate talks with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah and Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.

    Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Brunei relations have maintained a good momentum of development, Han said, adding that China is willing to work with Brunei to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic communication, deepen practical cooperation, and raise their bilateral relations to a new level.

    Han said China appreciates Brunei’s consistent adherence to the One-China principle and stands ready to maintain close high-level exchanges with Brunei and to support each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns.

    Both sides should carry out cooperation on high-quality Belt and Road construction and upgrade their cooperation in trade, investment, energy and agriculture, Han noted.

    China attaches great importance to East Asia cooperation, supports ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality, and is willing to promote a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, which will contribute to regional peace, stability, and development, said the Chinese vice president.

    Han pointed out that China is also willing to work with ASEAN countries, including Brunei, to actively advance maritime cooperation and the negotiation of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, with an aim to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation.

    For his part, the Brunei Sultan reiterated that his country has always adhered to the One-China principle and is willing to continuously strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

    He looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in economy and trade, energy, food, culture, education and sports, so as to advance the diversification of Brunei’s economy.

    Brunei places great importance on ASEAN-China cooperation and hopes to make joint efforts to address climate change, said the Sultan, adding that Brunei is willing to work with China and other ASEAN countries to strive to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation for the benefit of regional peace and stability.

    Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Brunei’s Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Oct. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    During his visit to Brunei, Han also held talks with Brunei Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.

    China and Brunei, though separated by the sea, have enjoyed a long history of friendship, Han said. “Over more than 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Brunei have set a good example of countries, whether big or small, treating each other as equals, living alongside each other harmoniously, and seeking mutual benefit and win-win results.”

    This year marks the 40th anniversary of Brunei’s independence, Han said, noting that the Chinese side has always supported Brunei in following a development path that suits its national conditions.

    China is willing to work with Brunei to explore more points of converging interests and cooperation for growth, advance their respective modernization processes, and bring more benefits to the people of both countries, Han added.

    For his part, the Brunei Crown Prince expressed his confidence in China’s development prospects, hailing China’s great achievements in its reform and open-up.

    He said Brunei is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China and to help promote further development of bilateral relations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi urges China, India to facilitate each other’s pursuit of development aspirations

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged China and India to strengthen communication and cooperation, enhance strategic mutual trust, and facilitate each other’s pursuit of development aspirations.

    Xi made the remarks when meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit.

    Xi pointed out that as time-honored civilizations, large developing countries and important members of the Global South, China and India both stand at a crucial phase of their respective modernization endeavors.

    It is in the fundamental interest of the two countries and two peoples to keep to the trend of history and the right direction of bilateral relations, he said, urging the two sides to shoulder their international responsibility, set an example in boosting the strength and unity of developing countries, and contribute to promoting a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations.

    Xi stressed that China-India relations are essentially a question of how the two large developing countries and neighbors, each with a 1.4-billion-strong population, treat each other.

    Development is now the biggest shared goal of China and India, he said, noting that the two sides should continue to uphold their important understandings, including that China and India are each other’s development opportunity rather than threat, and cooperation partner rather than competitor.

    He also urged the two countries to maintain a sound strategic perception of each other, and work together to find the right and bright path for big, neighboring countries to live in harmony and develop side by side.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Modi, for his part, noted that maintaining the steady growth of India-China relations is critical to the two countries and peoples. It not only concerns the well-being and future of 2.8 billion people, but also carries great significance for peace and stability of the region and even the world at large, he added.

    Against a complex international landscape, cooperation between India and China, two ancient civilizations and engines of economic growth, can help drive economic recovery and promote multipolarity in the world, Modi said.

    He said that India is willing to strengthen strategic communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

    India will give every support for China’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization presidency and strengthen communication and cooperation with China in BRICS and other multilateral frameworks, he added.

    The two leaders commended the important progress the two sides had recently made through intensive communication on resolving the relevant issues in the border areas. Modi made suggestions on improving and developing the relationship, which Xi agreed to in principle.

    The two sides agreed to make good use of the Special Representatives mechanism on the China-India boundary question, ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, and find a fair and reasonable settlement.

    The two sides agreed on holding talks between their foreign ministers and officials at various levels to bring the relationship back to sound and steady development at an early date.

    The two sides agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation in multilateral fora to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

    The two sides were of the view that this meeting is constructive and carries great significance. They agreed to view and handle China-India relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, prevent specific disagreements from affecting the overall relationship, and contribute to maintaining regional and global peace and prosperity and to advancing multipolarity in the world.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: BRICS says new centers of power, policy decision-making and economic growth are emerging

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    New centers of power, policy decision-making and economic growth are emerging in the world, BRICS countries said Wednesday in the Kazan Declaration issued at the 16th BRICS Summit.

    This trend paves the way for a more equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order, and provides more opportunities for emerging markets and developing countries to benefit from universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, the BRICS countries said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says collective rise of Global South a clear sign of great changes in the world

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The collective rise of the Global South is a clear sign of the great changes in the world, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

    It is a great event in world history and an unprecedented feat in the process of human civilization that countries of the Global South jointly move towards modernization, Xi said.

    Xi made the remarks while attending the BRICS Plus leaders’ dialogue.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 4 dead in terrorist attack at Turkish aerospace company

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Four people were killed and 14 others wounded on Wednesday in a terrorist attack at the production facility of Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAS) in Ankara, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

    Three of the injured were in critical condition, the minister told reporters on the site of the attack.

    Yerlikaya noted that two terrorists, a man and a woman, had been “neutralized” by security forces immediately after the attack targeting the key defense complex in the outskirts of Ankara.

    Turkish authorities often use the term “neutralize” in their statements to imply the alleged terrorists have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured.

    “We’re working to identify the terrorists,” he said, adding the information of the terrorists would be revealed once they are identified.

    “I condemn this heinous attack. Our fight will continue with determination until the last terrorist is neutralized,” the minister said.

    According to footage published by the NTV, “several terrorists” came to the central gate of the complex on board a taxi and began shooting at the guards with machine guns.

    Television images showed a damaged gate and a nearby clash in a parking lot.

    The report said that security forces, firefighters, and paramedics were dispatched to the complex located in the Kahramankazan district of the capital, and the wounded have been transported to two different hospitals.

    TUSAS is an important defense and aviation company in Türkiye. It produces KAAN, the country’s first national combat aircraft, among other defense projects.

    The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has claimed responsibility for similar actions in the past.

    The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hezbollah confirms attack on Israeli military company

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Hezbollah said it attacked on Wednesday night the Israel Military Industries Ltd., also referred to as Ta’a, in the suburbs of Tel Aviv with missiles.

    Hezbollah, in a statement, said the strike “hit its targets accurately.”

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier in the day that four projectiles were launched on Wednesday evening from Lebanon towards central Israel, adding two of them were intercepted and two others fell, with no casualties reported.

    Meanwhile, Israel’s state-owned Kan TV news, citing Palestinian sources, reported that one projectile fell near Qalqilya city in the West Bank, slightly injuring a man and damaging a car.

    Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching intensive airstrikes on Lebanon in a dangerous escalation with Hezbollah. In early October, Israel also launched a ground operation near the southern Lebanese border, allegedly to further cripple Hezbollah’s capabilities.

    MIL OSI China News –