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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ghana’s informal settlements are not all the same – social networks make a difference in community development

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Seth Asare Okyere, PhD, Visiting lecturer, University of Pittsburg and Adjunct Associate Professor, Osaka University, University of Pittsburgh

    Informal settlements in Africa are diverse. Across regions and even in the same city, socioeconomic and physical conditions vary. One thing is common though: upgrading them is a challenge.

    Among the challenges are issues of including people, having enough funding and sustaining improvements. That’s why attention is shifting to community driven development. This concept refers to local interventions that are started or led by community groups with support from the local government, private or civil society organisations.

    Community driven development has gained support from international agencies such as the World Bank. The World Bank Group is estimated to have invested about US$30 billion in projects like this across 94 countries.

    These initiatives are considered more affordable, efficient and durable. Communities often contribute local resources and labour, and residents can learn skills from service providers which enable them to manage projects in the long term. When residents work together it can also strengthen bonds and build social capital. Social capital generally refers to the ties, bonds, relationships and trust found in a community. It is an important resource in informal settlements.

    We are a group of urban and development planners who examined the role of social capital in community driven development in urban Ghana.

    We conducted our study in the Abese Quarter (La township) and Old Tulaku communities, in the Greater Accra metropolitan area. These are both informal settlements but have different social characters.

    Our findings highlight the need for local governments to tailor development to the social context of informal settlements. Development planning institutions should use the networks already present in communities, as well as providing external help and resources.

    The research

    Our analysis was based on questionnaire responses from 300 residents of informal settlements in Greater Accra. Abese Quarter is what we call an indigenous settlement. It it composed of residents from the local Ga ethnic group with similar cultural practices. Old Tulaku is a migrant settlement. It includes a mix of residents originally from other regions in Ghana who moved to Accra in search of economic opportunities.

    We observed community water and sanitation projects planned and carried out by local residents.

    In doing so, we considered the role of two types of social capital: bonding and bridging.

    Bonding social capital deals with the personal relationships between individuals based on shared identity. It’s about family, close companionship, culture and ethnicity. Bridging social capital refers to the connection between people and external groups.

    In the indigenous settlement, bonding social capital had a positive influence on community driven development. Bridging social capital showed a negative relationship with it. For example, the public toilet in the community was in a deplorable state. This seemed to be explained by an inability to build wider connections outside the community to get the support needed. We reason that socially homogeneous communities tend to generate inward-looking networks that limit access to resources from beyond the group. Overemphasis on social ties can impede long-term community development.

    In the migrant informal settlement, our research revealed the opposite. Without shared identities (like ethnicity, language and social norms), migrant residents drew on shared challenges and goals. They organised and built connections to get support from businesses and donors for community projects.

    Our research reinforces the argument that the relationship between social capital and community-driven development of informal settlements is not straightforward. The social character of the settlement, be it indigenous or migrant, produces different outcomes.

    Bonding and bridging social capital

    Informal settlements are often neglected by local government and planning authorities. In such poor conditions, social connections influence the local capacity to carry out improvement projects.

    Typically, high levels of bonding social capital are seen to promote collective action in communities that share similar social and cultural norms and practices. However, the long term benefits of such projects may require building partnerships with external support organisations and service providers.

    Bridging social capital goes beyond shared identities. It fosters connection between people and external organisations.

    Generally, community-driven development success is greatest when both forms of social capital are high and used together. For instance, in the Ubungo Darajani informal settlement in Kinondoni Municipality in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, landholders relied on both to secure land for community development.

    What next?

    Local government and community-based organisations should harness the different forms of social capital for development.

    Policymakers can learn from the creative and innovative ways that informal communities solve problems. This could help improve informal settlements equitably and sustainably.

    Beatrice Eyram Afi Ziorklui, a registered valuer and auditor at the Performance and Special Audit Department of the Ghana Audit Service, was part of the research team and contributed to this article.

    – Ghana’s informal settlements are not all the same – social networks make a difference in community development
    – https://theconversation.com/ghanas-informal-settlements-are-not-all-the-same-social-networks-make-a-difference-in-community-development-239133

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Double Double: October 15th Canada Carbon Rebate delivers boost for rural families

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, visited community members at a local coffee shop in Gananoque, Ontario, to announce the latest quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate payments are being delivered to their bank accounts and mailboxes, with a one-time “double double” rural top-up

    October 15, 2024 – Gananoque, Ontario

    Today, families across Canada will receive their Canada Carbon Rebate, a payment that is making life more affordable for Canadians. The Canada Carbon Rebate—alongside measures like dental care, child care, and others—contribute to the Government of Canada’s plan to help Canadian families get ahead while ensuring big polluters pay their fair share.

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, visited community members at a local coffee shop in Gananoque, Ontario, to announce the latest quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate payments are being delivered to their bank accounts and mailboxes, with a one-time “double double” rural top-up.

    The “double double” rural top-up

    In Budget 2024, the Government of Canada doubled the rural top-up from 10 percent to 20 percent of the Canada Carbon Rebate base amount, to better support Canadians who live in rural areas and small communities, since they often drive longer distances and have higher energy needs. Given the delayed passage of the Budget, today families are receiving an added one-time 20 percent to make up retroactively for the doubling of the rural top-up on the April 15 and July 15 payments, effectively adding a one-time 40 percent top-up to the base amount of this quarter’s Canada Carbon Rebate. For a family of four in Gananoque, Ontario, this means receiving a payment of $392 today, and a total of $1,344 from Canada Carbon Rebates this fiscal year.

    The Canada Carbon Rebate and the rural supplement are part of a broader government effort to ease financial pressures on Canadians while simultaneously supporting the Government of Canada’s plan to combat climate change.

    Canada’s price on pollution is working. When it comes to meeting Canada’s goals, pollution pricing alone is delivering at least a third of the reductions needed, while delivering clean air and incentivizing job-creating greener investments in communities. As of today, emissions are trending down, while the economy grows and wages for Canadians are increasing.

    Hermine Landry
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
    873-455-3714
    Hermine.Landry@ec.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Environment and Climate Change Canada
    819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
    media@ec.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Carbon Rebate rural top-up, 2024 and 2025

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    Ensuring carbon pollution pricing helps make life more affordable

    A price on pollution is widely recognized as the most efficient means to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to the more intense wildfires, droughts, and floods caused by climate change. Canada’s approach to pollution pricing is also designed to put money back into people’s pockets.

    Putting a price on pollution is a cornerstone of Canada’s plan, which is working to tackle climate change.

    Quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals—increased rural top-up

    The climate crisis is affecting all of Canada, but especially rural and small communities. They frequently face environmental, social, economic, cultural, and health impacts from climate change that are more intense than those in urban areas. Despite these challenges, these communities show remarkable resilience and often lead the way in adaptation efforts across Canada.

    Canadians living in rural and small communities are on the front lines of climate change, witnessing firsthand the devastating impacts of intensified wildfires, droughts, and floods. A price on pollution is found to be one of the most efficient ways that Canada is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute significantly to the frequency and severity of these impacts caused by climate change. The Canada Carbon Rebate both puts money back into people’s pockets and also stimulates investment in clean alternatives.

    In provinces where the federal fuel charge applies, most households get back more than they pay through the Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals, as a result of the federal carbon pollution pricing system, with lower- and middle-income households benefitting the most.

    To further recognize rural Canadians’ higher energy needs, particularly for home-heating and transportation, the Government of Canada has doubled the rural top-up available for households in rural areas and smaller communities from 10 percent to 20 percent of their Canada Carbon Rebate base amount, as of April 2024.

    This October, eligible Canadians will receive the enhanced rural top-up for the first time. The increase will be retroactive to April 1, 2024, so those households can expect an increased top-up amount for October 2024 with a one-time boost due to the increased top-up amounts for April and July.

    The top-up will apply to residents of provinces where the federal fuel charge applies, that is, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia whose primary residence is outside a Census Metropolitan Area, as defined by Statistics Canada. All rebate recipients in Prince Edward Island are eligible for the rural top-up, and it is included in their base amount. Determine if you qualify for the rural top-up.

    The table below shows the amount a family of four can expect to receive each quarter in 2024–2025. As all proceeds are returned in the province they were collected in, the rebate amount varies between provinces. It is higher in provinces with more consumption of fossil fuels.

    Table 1

    Quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate amounts for families of four for 2024 and 2025
    Province Family of four Rural
    Alberta $450.00 $540.00
    Manitoba $300.00 $360.00
    Ontario $280.00 $336.00
    Saskatchewan $376.00 $451.20
    New Brunswick $190.00 $228.00
    Nova Scotia $206.00 $247.20
    Prince Edward Island* $220.00 $220.00
    Newfoundland and Labrador $298.00 $357.60

    *As all residents of Prince Edward Island are eligible for the 20 percent rural top-up, it is reflected in the base amount for that province.

    Table 2

    Annual Canada Carbon Rebate amounts for families of four for 2024 and 2025
    Province Family of four Rural
    Alberta $1,800.00 $2,160.00
    Manitoba $1,200.00 $1,440.00
    Ontario $1,120.00 $1,344.00
    Saskatchewan $1,504.00 $1,804.80
    New Brunswick $760.00 $912.00
    Nova Scotia $824.00 $988.80
    Prince Edward Island* $880.00 $880.00
    Newfoundland and Labrador $1,192.00 $1,430.40

    *As all residents of Prince Edward Island are eligible for the 20 percent rural top-up, it is reflected in the base amount for that province.

    Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses

    Canada’s small- and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy and the heart of our communities. Across the country, they keep main streets flourishing, create good jobs, and deliver on the dream of entrepreneurship. Through the new Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, the Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to return proceeds from the price on pollution directly to small- and medium-sized businesses with employees in the provinces where the federal fuel charge applies.

    This accelerated and automated return process will deliver over $2.5 billion directly to an estimated 600,000 small- and medium-sized businesses with employees in provinces where the pollution pricing system applies through a refundable tax credit. By receiving direct payments from the Canada Revenue Agency, separate from tax refunds, this simple process for returning fuel charge proceeds will help eligible small- and medium-sized businesses to focus on what matters most—driving their businesses forward.

    The Canada Revenue Agency plans to issue the rebate to eligible Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) that filed their 2023 tax return no later than July 15, 2024, by the end of the calendar year. Most businesses should receive their payment by:

    • December 16, 2024, if registered for direct deposit
    • December 31, 2024, if receiving payment by cheque

    On October 1, 2024, the Government of Canada specified payment rates, on a per employee basis, for the 2019–2020 to 2023–2024 fuel charge years, and the designated provinces in which these payment rates will apply.

    Table 3

    Specified payment rates per employee for the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, 2019 and 2020 to 2023 and 2024
    – 2019 to 2020 2020 to 2021 2021 to 2022 2022 to 2023 2023 to 2024
    Alberta* n/a $147 $123 $140 $181
    Saskatchewan $110 $271 $244 $298 $233
    Manitoba $48 $99 $77 $89 $168
    Ontario $26 $68 $75 $86 $146
    New Brunswick* n/a n/a n/a n/a $87
    Nova Scotia* n/a n/a n/a n/a $119
    Prince Edward Island* n/a n/a n/a n/a $82
    Newfoundland and Labrador* n/a n/a n/a n/a $179

    *As the federal fuel charge only came into effect as of January 1, 2020, in Alberta, and as of July 1, 2023, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, small businesses in these provinces will receive payments for proceeds collected as of those respective dates.

    Table 4

    Example payment amounts for businesses, by number of employees, 2019 to 2023
    – 10 employees 25 employees 50 employees 100 employees 499 employees
    Alberta* $5,910 $14,775 $29,550 $59,100 $294,909
    Saskatchewan $11,560 $28,900 $57,800 $115,600 $576,844
    Manitoba $4,810 $12,025 $24,050 $48,100 $240,019
    Ontario $4,010 $10,025 $20,050 $40,100 $200,099
    New Brunswick* $870 $2,175 $4,350 $8,700 $43,413
    Nova Scotia* $1,190 $2,975 $5,950 $11,900 $59,381
    Prince Edward Island* $820 $2,050 $4,100 $8,200 $40,918
    Newfoundland and Labrador* $1,790 $4,475 $8,950 $17,900 $89,321

    *As the federal fuel charge only came into effect as of January 1, 2020, in Alberta, and as of July 1, 2023, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, small businesses in these provinces will receive payments for proceeds assessed after those respective dates.

    Additionally, to allow more businesses to receive a payment, it is also being proposed that corporations that file their tax return for 2023 after July 15, 2024, and on or before December 31, 2024, would be eligible for a payment. Legislation enacting these changes requires Royal Assent before payments can be issued to businesses filing after the initial July 15 deadline.

    More information on the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses payment amounts from 2019 and 2020 to 2023 and 2024 has been published by Finance Canada.

    Pollution pricing relief for farmers and fishers

    Farmers are on the frontlines of climate change, facing ever-increasing risks of floods, droughts, and storms to their operations. Canada’s approach to pollution pricing offers targeted support to farmers, who are also investing to deploy cost-saving and job-creating clean technology solutions. Farmers generally do not pay the fuel charge for gasoline and light fuel oil (diesel) used in eligible farming machinery on farms. Additionally, biological emissions are not priced under this federal system, totalling roughly 97 percent of on-farm emissions.

    Greenhouse operators also receive upfront relief of 80 percent of the fuel charge on propane and marketable natural gas used to heat an eligible greenhouse or to supplement carbon dioxide in eligible greenhouses to grow or produce plants.

    Additionally, farm businesses that operate in provinces where the federal fuel charge is in place can generally receive a refundable tax credit, the purpose of which is to return fuel charge proceeds related to farm use of natural gas and propane in heating and drying activities in those provinces to help farmers transition to lower-carbon ways of farming.

    Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System also provides an economic incentive for farmers to undertake innovative greenhouse gas reduction and removal projects.

    As part of the strengthened climate plan and the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the Government of Canada committed over $1.5 billion to accelerate the agricultural sector’s progress on reducing emissions while remaining a global leader in sustainable agriculture. This includes $470.7 million for the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program to create an enabling environment for developing and adopting clean technology. This will help drive the changes required to achieve a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.

    Fishers are also provided with relief from paying the federal fuel charge on gasoline and light fuel oil (diesel) used in fishing vessels for eligible fishing activities.

    Industrial pollution pricing system

    Industrial pollution pricing systems are designed to ensure there is a price incentive for industrial emitters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and spur innovation while remaining competitive. Not only does pollution pricing ensure big polluters pay their fair share, it is also helping Canada attract new major projects that are creating good paying jobs.

    Canada’s approach to pollution pricing gives major heavy industries certainty on the price they pay for the pollution they generate, helping to bring forward investments in job-creating cleaner alternatives to meet their business needs. This helps them make informed decisions and is also designed to protect against the risk of industrial facilities moving to another region to avoid paying a price on carbon pollution.

    All proceeds generated from the federal industrial pollution pricing system in backstop jurisdictions are returned in the jurisdiction of origin to support industrial projects in cutting emissions and using new, cleaner technologies and processes.

    The Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) Proceeds Fund returns proceeds collected under the federal OBPS and is comprised of two streams: the Decarbonization Incentive Program and the Future Electricity Fund. Further information on projects being funded by federal industrial pollution pricing proceeds has been published on the Open Government Portal.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bring photo ID if voting in the Harpenden North & Rural by-election

    Source: St Albans City and District

    Publication date:

    Voters in the Harpenden North & Rural ward are reminded to bring approved photo ID to their polling station for a by-election on Thursday 17 October.

    They are required to present the ID or a Voter Authority Certificate in order to vote in the by-election for a vacant seat on St Albans City and District Council.

    Approved ID includes a UK passport or driver’s licence, a Government-funded bus pass for older or disabled people, and a PASS card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram.

    Documents must be originals but they can be current or expired if the photo still bears a true likeness of the voter. 

    Full details of approved ID are available on the Electoral Commission’s website here. 

    Voters are asked to check their poll cards to see which polling station they should attend as it may be different to where they usually vote.

    A list of the candidates for the by-election, together with other information, is available here.

    Amanda Foley, Returning Officer for St Albans City and District, said:

    Approved photo ID is now established as a requirement for people voting at a polling station.

    We are just reminding the voters of Harpenden North & Rural to bring approved ID along. If they do not have it, they will not be able to vote.

    The by-election was called following the resignation of former District Councillor Beth Fisher.

    Votes will be counted overnight on Thursday 17 October and the elected District Council candidate will serve until May 2028.

    Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727-919533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Restart a Heart Day 202414 October 2024 ​​​Staff from the States of Jersey Ambulance Service and members of the Health and Community Services Resuscitation Service will be teaching CPR and defibrillation techniques to members of the public for… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    14 October 2024

    ​​​
    Staff from the States of Jersey Ambulance Service and members of the Health and Community Services Resuscitation Service will be teaching CPR and defibrillation techniques to members of the public for Restart a Heart Day, this coming Wednesday (16 October).

    ​Restart a Heart Day is an annual initiative, led by the Resuscitation Council (UK) to help people to learn CPR, and raise awareness and confidence in dealing with out of hospital cardiac arrest.

    UK statistics show that whereas only one in 25 victims of a cardiac arrest is likely to survive without receiving CPR, their chances increase to one in four where CPR takes place. 

    A stall will be set up next to the fountain on Broad Street between 09:00-14:00, to teach as many people as possible CPR and defibrillation skills.

    The event offers the chance for members of the public to try their hand at CPR, get to grips with a ‘defib’ and become more comfortable with what is involved, should they encounter someone who’s had a cardiac arrest. It takes just three minutes before damage to the brain can commence, and CPR can keep the blood flowing.

    Katie Campbell, Clinical Tutor for the States of Jersey Ambulance Service said: “Early CPR and defibrillation can double the chances of survival for someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest, so it is important as many people as possible know what to do in an emergency.

    “Restart a Heart Day is a brilliant initiative that spreads awareness and builds confidence to do the right thing in an emergency.”

    ​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New leader for ARU’s work-based courses

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Published: 14 October 2024 at 10:30

    Specialist in education and workforce development Carl Dawson joins university

    Carl Dawson, a globally renowned expert in online education and workforce development with over 20 years of experience, has been appointed to lead Anglia Ruskin University’s Online and Degrees at Work teams.

    Relocating to the UK from Texas, Carl has previously worked closely with universities, governments and companies in the United States, Canada, Australia, Bangladesh, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

    Carl has extensive experience across both the public and private sectors and has implemented digital learning programs for institutions and governments, including the UK Cabinet Office. In 2013, he co-founded Construct Education, later recognized by Deloitte as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the UK and now operating globally.

    He helped build accredited online education programs at institutions such as Howard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Tennessee.

    In 2021, Carl became an advisor to the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on new digital learning strategies in a post COVID world. 

    His academic research includes time as a Transformational Leadership Fellow at Oxford University, a Policy Fellow at Cambridge University, and a Senior Research Associate at Jesus College, Cambridge, focusing on new economic models for higher education.

    The Degrees at Work team is at the forefront of driving growth for ARU’s distance learning and apprenticeships. The team collaborates closely with employers and academics to identify future talent needs, generating insights that shape ARU’s innovative, professional work-based programs.

    Carl, who takes the role of Director of Learning Development Services at ARU, said:

    “I’m thrilled to return to the UK to join Anglia Ruskin University and help shape the future of work in the East of England and beyond, ensuring this unique region leads in preparing learners for tomorrow’s industries and societal needs.

    “Being part of the University of the Year is an incredible opportunity, and I’m eager to build on our Gold Award for teaching, pioneering degree apprenticeships, and decade-long distance and online learning success.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bring photo ID if voting in the Harpenden North & Rural by-election

    Source: St Albans City and District

    Publication date:

    Voters in the Harpenden North & Rural ward are reminded to bring approved photo ID to their polling station for a by-election on Thursday 17 October.

    They are required to present the ID or a Voter Authority Certificate in order to vote in the by-election for a vacant seat on St Albans City and District Council.

    Approved ID includes a UK passport or driver’s licence, a Government-funded bus pass for older or disabled people, and a PASS card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram.

    Documents must be originals but they can be current or expired if the photo still bears a true likeness of the voter. 

    Full details of approved ID are available on the Electoral Commission’s website here. 

    Voters are asked to check their poll cards to see which polling station they should attend as it may be different to where they usually vote.

    A list of the candidates for the by-election, together with other information, is available here.

    Amanda Foley, Returning Officer for St Albans City and District, said:

    Approved photo ID is now established as a requirement for people voting at a polling station.

    We are just reminding the voters of Harpenden North & Rural to bring approved ID along. If they do not have it, they will not be able to vote.

    The by-election was called following the resignation of former District Councillor Beth Fisher.

    Votes will be counted overnight on Thursday 17 October and the elected District Council candidate will serve until May 2028.

    Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727-919533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Four Stoke-on-Trent shops closed as part of a raid on illegal cigarettes and vapes

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Monday, 14th October 2024

    Four shops in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with closure orders after an operation by trading standards found illegal cigarettes and vapes being sold.

    Four shops in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with closure orders after an operation by trading standards found illegal cigarettes and vapes being sold. This follows several months of investigation and test purchasing, including under age test purchasing, and a co-ordinated joint trading standards and police operation last week to target illegal cigarettes and vapes in the City. The officers were also supported by a tobacco detection team including sniffer dog, from Wagtail UK.

    The raids, linked to Operation CeCe, a national initiative which aims to tackle the supply of illegal tobacco, resulted in the seizure of  563 illegal vapes (£7319), 4.5kg of fake hand-rolling tobacco (retail value of £4300, street value £825 and £3000 of evaded duty), 17,600 illegal cigarettes (retail value of £11,000, street value £4000 and £8000 of evaded duty), and 40 packs of illegal shisha (estimated value £700) from the shop premises and one car which was also searched. 

    The council has now used its powers to issue four of the premises with a 48-hour closure notice and last week, Newcastle Magistrates Court made a closure order for each of the premises extending the 48 hours to three months. The city council will now work with the landlords of the premises to re-purpose them.

    Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability advised: “Another great result by the trading standards team. Premises found to be selling items illegally will face the consequences.
    “I encourage any resident to report any suspicious activity relating to the sale of illegal vapes, tobacco, underage sales and anything related.
    “We want Stoke-on-Trent to be a safe, thriving place, and this type of activity undermines the hard work of residents and legitimate businesses.”

    “When we have the evidence, we will continue to take action like this against businesses who sell illegal goods in Stoke-on-Trent.”

    Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law. Having removed 46 million illegal cigarettes, 12,600kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, Operation CeCe, the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.” 

    Anyone who wants to report a similar issue to trading standards can call the Trading Standards Hotline 01782 238444 or visit stoke.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Speech: PM International Investment Summit Speech: 14 October 2024

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

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a speech at the International Investment Summit 2024.

    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    And thanks to all you for being here…

    It’s fantastic to stand here and look out and see so many of you here…

    And I’m really grateful that you have made the effort, and you are here. It means a huge amount to me and my government…

    And welcome to this Government’s first International Investment summit.

    And some of you I know have come a very long way to be here…

    You have flown in from a great distance, some of you will be going straight back out again afterwards.

    You have made a huge effort to share with us the precious gift of your time…

    And we are really, really grateful for that.

    And welcome to the Guild Hall…

    London’s ancient Town Hall…

    Isn’t it a fantastic building, it’s really breathtaking this Guild Hall.

    Not of course to be confused with the nearby Guildhall school of music…

    Where I once pursued a fleeting ambition to play the flute professionally. I kid you not…

    Complete with then long hair and very, very flared jeans. 

    All photographic evidence has been destroyed.

    But today we are pursuing a different ambition…

    A shared ambition…

    Growth.

    You have to grow your business.

    And I have to grow my country.

    I’ll leave it to you to decide if you think voters or shareholders are the more forgiving audience…

    But without growth – let’s just agree it’s a difficult conversation…

    And that therefore, growth is a cause that binds us together.

    The shared endeavour of prosperity.

    It’s why we’ve made it the number one test of this government…

    I am determined to do everything in my power to galvanise growth…

    Determined for this country to be the highest growing economy in the G7…

    That is our most important national mission.

    Because it’s the only way to deliver the mandate for change that we won.

    Growth is higher wages.

    Growth is more vibrant high streets.

    Growth is public services back on their feet.

    It’s less poverty, more opportunity, more meals out, more holidays, more precious moments with your family, more cash in your pocket.

    And of course, for any business…

    It means a bigger market.

    Higher demand…

    A more secure and prosperous future…

    Your effort and enterprise – rewarded in profit.

    But it’s much more important, even than all that. 

    We live in an age when political fires rage across the world.

    Conflict. Insecurity. A populist mood that rails against the open values so many of us hold dear.

    Values which, as you know…

    Are so crucial for making business easy to do.

    And yet – at the same time…

    Look around the world…

    Look at the investments you and others are making.

    This is an age of great possibility, as well. 

    Huge revolutions in digital technology, clean energy, medicine, life sciences…

    Each – with the potential to fundamentally change the way we live and the way that we work…

    Each – with the possibility to transform the lives of working people for the better.

    And so, in times like this…

    Economic growth is vital – as it always has been…

    If we are to steer our way through a great period of insecurity and change…

    And on to calmer waters. 

    Because when working people benefit from that growth…

    When every community enjoys the fruits of wealth creation…

    It stops a country turning in on itself and against the world.

    And that in turn, helps provides a stable foundation…

    Breathing space… 

    For a country to take advantage of those opportunities for a better future.

    To put it more simply…

    It’s not just that stability leads to growth – though we all recognise that. 

    It’s also that growth leads to stability…

    Growth leads to country that is better equipped to come together…

    And get its future back.

    That’s why it’s always been so critical to my political project.

    The key ingredient of that ‘Great Moderation’ we became accustomed to before the financial crash…

    But which together, in partnership…

    We now have to earn again. 

    Every one of you here today…

    Has been invited for that reason.

    It’s not just that you lead some of the most important businesses in the world.

    It’s also because you are pivotal to this great cause of our times. 

    And the reason we are focusing so much on investment…

    Is because the mission of growth, in this country in particular…

    Demands it.

    Private sector investment is the way we rebuild our country…

    And pay our way in the world.

    And make no mistake – this is a great moment to back Britain…

    This is great moment to back England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. 

    We have an amazing education system that produces some of the best talent in the world.

    The largest tech sector in Europe.

    Leading positions in some of those great industries of the future…

    Artificial Intelligence, Life Sciences, Clean energy, the creative industries.

    We’re a country where businesses thrive – small and large alike…

    With clear regulatory frameworks and protections…

    A legal system that sets high standards around the globe…

    A location which means we can speak to our colleagues in the Americas or Asia in the same day…

    A high ranking in the Global Innovation index, every year…

    Our wonderful global language…

    Our world-renowned sport and culture… 

    This great modern city…

    And all around us…

    A heritage steeped in commerce and trade…

    A set of shared values – centuries-long…

    For being a country that is open for business.

    You can’t put a price on any of this.

    Now we have our problems – of course we do.

    As I’ve said – our public services need urgent care… 

    And our public finances need the tough love of prudence…

    Challenges we cannot ignore. 

    Because, we know – just as every leader here knows…

    That those early weeks and months are precious.

    And, no matter how many people advise you to ignore it…

    That you must run towards the fire to put it out…

    Not let it spread further.

    So we will fix our public services…

    We will stabilise our economy… 

    And we will do it quickly.

    Because we don’t want any of those problems associated with our inheritance…

    Misting up the shop window of Britain…

    Distracting you – from all those assets I just listed.

    Assets that may feel more intangible…

    But are more valuable…

    More enduring…

    Deeper in the bones of this nation.

    And which are ready to be unlocked…

    If we take firm and decisive action on policy – which we can and we will…

    To give you total confidence that this is the moment to back Britain.  

    So let me quickly run through four crucial areas in our pitch for Britain.

    I know – it’s a kind of CEO heresy to have a list of four not three…

    So I apologise!

    But please indulge me.

    First – stability.

    We have a golden opportunity to use our mandate…

    To end the culture of chop and change…

    The policy churn…

    The sticking plaster politics…

    That makes it so hard for investors to assess the value of any proposition.

    Now, you may think – well every government says that…

    But the stability that comes with a large majority in our system…

    That is a unique advantage.

    And we have the determination…

    The focus on clear long-term ends…

    A mission-led mindset that thinks in years…

    Not the days or hours of the news grid…

    Needed to unlock that potential. 

    And don’t doubt that.

    Second – strategy.

    We are building a more strategic architecture for growth. 

    A way for investors to have a much steadier hand on the tiller.

    That’s why we’ve announced a new National Wealth Fund…

    And switched on Great British Energy…

    Which will accelerate investment in clean power and future technologies.

    Like Carbon Capture and Storage, for example…

    Which we just backed – alongside BP, Equinor and Eni

    And which shows the hard-headed approach we will bring to industrial policy.

    A partnership – sharing the risk with the private sector…

    Ambitious – absolutely. 

    But also unsentimental.

    Guided by the market…

    Focused, at all times…

    On the real potential for comparative advantage in this country.

    You know – this is the point I would always make about our Modern Industrial Strategy. 

    In this country, there has been a long rather arcane political debate about “picking winners”.

    Well, we’re not in the business of individual picking winners.

    But we are in the business of building on our strengths.

    Mowing the grass on the pitch…

    Making sure the changing rooms are clean and comfortable…

    That the training ground is good.

    So that when our businesses compete…

    They are match fit…

    That, to put it simply…

    We give the businesses of this country the best conditions to succeed.

    I don’t know why that’s sometimes controversial in this country…

    Industrial policy seems fairly commonplace elsewhere around the world.

    But it is fundamental to the way we see our job on growth…

    And our relationship with a room like this.

    Third – Britain’s global standing.

    We’re determined to improve it.

    Determined – to repair…

    Britain’s brand as an open, outward-looking, confident, trading nation.

    Look – I see this as a diplomatic necessity…

    And I think it’s clear how much priority I have given it in the first 100 days of government.

    All around the world…

    Whether it’s countries, or investors…

    People want to know that Britain can be a stable, trusted, rule-abiding partner.

    As we always have been…

    But that somehow, during the whole circus that followed Brexit… 

    The last Government made a few people less sure about. 

    Needlessly insulting our closest allies…

    And of course a few choice Anglo-Saxon phrases for business. 

    Well – no more.

    We have turned the page on that – decisively…

    And we will use that reset for growth. 

    Finally fourth – regulation

    Now, I don’t see regulation as good or bad.

    That seems simplistic to me.

    Some regulation is life-saving…

    We have seen that in recent weeks here, with the report on the tragedy of Grenfell Tower.

    But across our public sector…

    I would say the previous Government hid behind regulators.

    Deferred decisions to them because it was either too weak or indecisive…

    Or simply not committed enough to growth. 

    Planning is a very real example of that…

    Or – for our friends from across the pond…

    ‘Permitting’ is a really clear example of that… 

    The global language…

    But anyway – the key test for me on regulation…

    Is of course – growth. 

    Is this going to make our economy more dynamic?

    Is this going to inhibit or unlock investment?

    Is it something that enables the builders not the blockers?

    Now – I know some people may be wondering about our labour market policies introduced last week.

    Let me be clear – they are pro-growth.

    Workers with more security at work…

    With higher wages…

    That is a better growth model for this country.

    It will lead to more dynamism in our labour market.

    And seriously – we have to think differently about this…

    A nation’s position in the world is changing all the time…

    As must its growth model. 

    So while I know this is a room full of businesses who take investing in their human capital seriously…

    When I look at the British economy as a whole…

    It does seem as if sometimes, we are more comfortable hiring people to work in low paid, insecure contracts…

    Than we are investing in the new technology that delivers for workers, for productivity and for our country.

    And so we’ve got to break out of that trap.

    But we’ve also got to look at regulation – across the piece. 

    And where it is needlessly holding back the investment we need to take our country forward…

    Where it is stopping us building the homes…

    The data centres, the warehouses, grid connectors, roads,  trainlines, you name it…

    Then mark my words – we will get rid of it.

    Take the East Anglia 2 wind farm.

    A £4 billion investment.

    One Gigawatt of clean energy.

    An important project – absolutely.

    But also the sort of thing a country as committed to clean energy as we are…

    Needs to replicate again and again.

    Now regulators demanded over four thousand planning documents for that project…

    Not 4000 pages – 4000 documents.

    And then six weeks after finally receiving planning consent…

    It was held up for a further two years by judicial review.

    I mean – as an investor…

    When you see this inertia…

    You just don’t bother do you?

    And that – in a nutshell…

    Is the biggest supply-side problem we have in our country.

    So it’s time to upgrade the regulatory regime…

    Make it fit for the modern age..

    Harness every opportunity available to Britain.

    We will rip out the bureaucracy that blocks investment…

    We will march through the institutions…

    And we will make sure that every regulator in this country…

    Especially our economic and competition regulators…

    Takes growth as seriously as this room does.

    And look – tell us about your frustrations on this. 

    Speak to my team…

    Speak to me, to Rachel, to Jonny, to Ed…

    And our new Minister for Investment, Poppy. 

    Any leader knows the importance of a good team – and we’ve got one here.

    We are united behind growth…

    Our door is open…

    And the work of change has already begun.

    We’re reforming the planning system…

    The onshore wind ban has gone… 

    New projects in solar, wind, tidal energy…

    Carbon Capture and Storage…

    Tax relief for the creative industries…

    Investment from the world’s leading companies…

    Blackstone, Amazon…

    A new partnership with Cyrus One to build data centres in Didcot…

    Finally grasping the nettle on airport expansion…

    A new £1 billion commitment from Manchester Airport Group to expand Stansted…

    Opening up new routes to work and holiday destinations…

    The first of tens of billions worth of inward investment deals we will sign today.

    Because we are determined to lead the way on growth. 

    Determined to get Britain building…

    Determined to get our economy moving…

    Through the shock and awe of investment.

    That’s the message to take home today.

    When the big decisions are made…

    When you go back to your board rooms and ask…

    Where does our money go…

    Where do our jobs go…

    Where does our investment in a better future go?

    Let me offer you a new answer…

    It’s time to back Britain.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1.1 billion investment to expand Stansted Airport welcomed by ministers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Funding will expand Stanstead Airport terminal by one-third, helping to support UK businesses and the aviation sector.

    • 5,000 jobs expected from £1.1 billion investment in London Stansted Airport 
    • expansion will double the airport’s annual economic contribution to the UK to £2 billon
    • latest boost for the government’s core mission to grow the British economy and boost opportunities

    More than 5,000 jobs will be created as a result of a 5-year, £1.1 billion investment in London Stansted Airport, welcomed today (14 October 2024) by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh. 

    The plans were unveiled by the Prime Minister at the flagship International Investment Summit in London and will see Stansted unlock the potential of its runway through the extension of its existing terminal.

    The funding will expand the existing terminal by a third, securing new air routes to key business and holiday destinations – boosting local supply chains and further cementing the UK’s place on the international stage.

    The investment consists of £600 million for the terminal extension, alongside another £500 million to improve the existing terminal and wider airport estate.

    It will also deliver Stansted’s 14.3 megawatt on-site solar farm, which will support the airport’s current and increasing electricity demands. It follows the recent creation of a new electric vehicle charging forecourt at the airport.

    Manchester Airports Group (MAG), owner of London Stansted, is in the final stages of the procurement process, with construction expected to begin in 2025. The project will take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

    This scheme will significantly improve passengers’ experience at each stage of their journey from check-in to immigration. It will deliver a larger security hall, an airfield taxiway upgrade and an overhaul of gate rooms, boosting capacity and comfort for passengers before boarding.

    The expansion plans already have planning permissions to begin construction and are in line with previously agreed passenger and flight numbers.

    Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, said:

    We have been steadfast in our commitment to help British businesses grow and in turn boost the UK’s economy. This announcement is a clear signal that Britain is open for business. 

    Transport is central to this government’s core mission of growing the economy. This is about giving companies like Manchester Airports Group the confidence to invest, boosting regional and national economic growth and supporting the aviation sector while also meeting our existing environmental obligations.

    Ken O’Toole, Chief Executive Officer of MAG – which owns London Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands Airports, said:

    By investing more than £1 billion in Stansted over the next 5 years, we will be able to connect people and businesses in London and the east of England to even more global destinations, while welcoming millions more visitors to the UK.

    We are proud to be investing in our infrastructure in a way that will create jobs and stimulate trade, investment and tourism. 

    Aviation is an essential enabler of the success of the UK’s key high-value industries, and we look forward to helping the government achieve the highest sustained growth in the G7 through the sustainable growth of our airports.

    Cath Bowtell, IFM Investors Chair, said: 

    As co-owners of MAG, our commitment to this exciting new Stansted project reflects our confidence in the airport’s future growth story. 

    As one of the world’s largest infrastructure investors, IFM invests over decades to enhance the value to customers of the UK infrastructure we own and operate. 

    MAG goes from strength to strength under the long-term stable co-ownership of IFM alongside Manchester and Greater Manchester local authorities.

    Aviation, Europe and technology media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM International Investment Summit Speech: 14 October 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a speech at the International Investment Summit 2024.

    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    And thanks to all you for being here…

    It’s fantastic to stand here and look out and see so many of you here…

    And I’m really grateful that you have made the effort, and you are here. It means a huge amount to me and my government…

    And welcome to this Government’s first International Investment summit.

    And some of you I know have come a very long way to be here…

    You have flown in from a great distance, some of you will be going straight back out again afterwards.

    You have made a huge effort to share with us the precious gift of your time…

    And we are really, really grateful for that.

    And welcome to the Guild Hall…

    London’s ancient Town Hall…

    Isn’t it a fantastic building, it’s really breathtaking this Guild Hall.

    Not of course to be confused with the nearby Guildhall school of music…

    Where I once pursued a fleeting ambition to play the flute professionally. I kid you not…

    Complete with then long hair and very, very flared jeans. 

    All photographic evidence has been destroyed.

    But today we are pursuing a different ambition…

    A shared ambition…

    Growth.

    You have to grow your business.

    And I have to grow my country.

    I’ll leave it to you to decide if you think voters or shareholders are the more forgiving audience…

    But without growth – let’s just agree it’s a difficult conversation…

    And that therefore, growth is a cause that binds us together.

    The shared endeavour of prosperity.

    It’s why we’ve made it the number one test of this government…

    I am determined to do everything in my power to galvanise growth…

    Determined for this country to be the highest growing economy in the G7…

    That is our most important national mission.

    Because it’s the only way to deliver the mandate for change that we won.

    Growth is higher wages.

    Growth is more vibrant high streets.

    Growth is public services back on their feet.

    It’s less poverty, more opportunity, more meals out, more holidays, more precious moments with your family, more cash in your pocket.

    And of course, for any business…

    It means a bigger market.

    Higher demand…

    A more secure and prosperous future…

    Your effort and enterprise – rewarded in profit.

    But it’s much more important, even than all that. 

    We live in an age when political fires rage across the world.

    Conflict. Insecurity. A populist mood that rails against the open values so many of us hold dear.

    Values which, as you know…

    Are so crucial for making business easy to do.

    And yet – at the same time…

    Look around the world…

    Look at the investments you and others are making.

    This is an age of great possibility, as well. 

    Huge revolutions in digital technology, clean energy, medicine, life sciences…

    Each – with the potential to fundamentally change the way we live and the way that we work…

    Each – with the possibility to transform the lives of working people for the better.

    And so, in times like this…

    Economic growth is vital – as it always has been…

    If we are to steer our way through a great period of insecurity and change…

    And on to calmer waters. 

    Because when working people benefit from that growth…

    When every community enjoys the fruits of wealth creation…

    It stops a country turning in on itself and against the world.

    And that in turn, helps provides a stable foundation…

    Breathing space… 

    For a country to take advantage of those opportunities for a better future.

    To put it more simply…

    It’s not just that stability leads to growth – though we all recognise that. 

    It’s also that growth leads to stability…

    Growth leads to country that is better equipped to come together…

    And get its future back.

    That’s why it’s always been so critical to my political project.

    The key ingredient of that ‘Great Moderation’ we became accustomed to before the financial crash…

    But which together, in partnership…

    We now have to earn again. 

    Every one of you here today…

    Has been invited for that reason.

    It’s not just that you lead some of the most important businesses in the world.

    It’s also because you are pivotal to this great cause of our times. 

    And the reason we are focusing so much on investment…

    Is because the mission of growth, in this country in particular…

    Demands it.

    Private sector investment is the way we rebuild our country…

    And pay our way in the world.

    And make no mistake – this is a great moment to back Britain…

    This is great moment to back England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. 

    We have an amazing education system that produces some of the best talent in the world.

    The largest tech sector in Europe.

    Leading positions in some of those great industries of the future…

    Artificial Intelligence, Life Sciences, Clean energy, the creative industries.

    We’re a country where businesses thrive – small and large alike…

    With clear regulatory frameworks and protections…

    A legal system that sets high standards around the globe…

    A location which means we can speak to our colleagues in the Americas or Asia in the same day…

    A high ranking in the Global Innovation index, every year…

    Our wonderful global language…

    Our world-renowned sport and culture… 

    This great modern city…

    And all around us…

    A heritage steeped in commerce and trade…

    A set of shared values – centuries-long…

    For being a country that is open for business.

    You can’t put a price on any of this.

    Now we have our problems – of course we do.

    As I’ve said – our public services need urgent care… 

    And our public finances need the tough love of prudence…

    Challenges we cannot ignore. 

    Because, we know – just as every leader here knows…

    That those early weeks and months are precious.

    And, no matter how many people advise you to ignore it…

    That you must run towards the fire to put it out…

    Not let it spread further.

    So we will fix our public services…

    We will stabilise our economy… 

    And we will do it quickly.

    Because we don’t want any of those problems associated with our inheritance…

    Misting up the shop window of Britain…

    Distracting you – from all those assets I just listed.

    Assets that may feel more intangible…

    But are more valuable…

    More enduring…

    Deeper in the bones of this nation.

    And which are ready to be unlocked…

    If we take firm and decisive action on policy – which we can and we will…

    To give you total confidence that this is the moment to back Britain.  

    So let me quickly run through four crucial areas in our pitch for Britain.

    I know – it’s a kind of CEO heresy to have a list of four not three…

    So I apologise!

    But please indulge me.

    First – stability.

    We have a golden opportunity to use our mandate…

    To end the culture of chop and change…

    The policy churn…

    The sticking plaster politics…

    That makes it so hard for investors to assess the value of any proposition.

    Now, you may think – well every government says that…

    But the stability that comes with a large majority in our system…

    That is a unique advantage.

    And we have the determination…

    The focus on clear long-term ends…

    A mission-led mindset that thinks in years…

    Not the days or hours of the news grid…

    Needed to unlock that potential. 

    And don’t doubt that.

    Second – strategy.

    We are building a more strategic architecture for growth. 

    A way for investors to have a much steadier hand on the tiller.

    That’s why we’ve announced a new National Wealth Fund…

    And switched on Great British Energy…

    Which will accelerate investment in clean power and future technologies.

    Like Carbon Capture and Storage, for example…

    Which we just backed – alongside BP, Equinor and Eni

    And which shows the hard-headed approach we will bring to industrial policy.

    A partnership – sharing the risk with the private sector…

    Ambitious – absolutely. 

    But also unsentimental.

    Guided by the market…

    Focused, at all times…

    On the real potential for comparative advantage in this country.

    You know – this is the point I would always make about our Modern Industrial Strategy. 

    In this country, there has been a long rather arcane political debate about “picking winners”.

    Well, we’re not in the business of individual picking winners.

    But we are in the business of building on our strengths.

    Mowing the grass on the pitch…

    Making sure the changing rooms are clean and comfortable…

    That the training ground is good.

    So that when our businesses compete…

    They are match fit…

    That, to put it simply…

    We give the businesses of this country the best conditions to succeed.

    I don’t know why that’s sometimes controversial in this country…

    Industrial policy seems fairly commonplace elsewhere around the world.

    But it is fundamental to the way we see our job on growth…

    And our relationship with a room like this.

    Third – Britain’s global standing.

    We’re determined to improve it.

    Determined – to repair…

    Britain’s brand as an open, outward-looking, confident, trading nation.

    Look – I see this as a diplomatic necessity…

    And I think it’s clear how much priority I have given it in the first 100 days of government.

    All around the world…

    Whether it’s countries, or investors…

    People want to know that Britain can be a stable, trusted, rule-abiding partner.

    As we always have been…

    But that somehow, during the whole circus that followed Brexit… 

    The last Government made a few people less sure about. 

    Needlessly insulting our closest allies…

    And of course a few choice Anglo-Saxon phrases for business. 

    Well – no more.

    We have turned the page on that – decisively…

    And we will use that reset for growth. 

    Finally fourth – regulation

    Now, I don’t see regulation as good or bad.

    That seems simplistic to me.

    Some regulation is life-saving…

    We have seen that in recent weeks here, with the report on the tragedy of Grenfell Tower.

    But across our public sector…

    I would say the previous Government hid behind regulators.

    Deferred decisions to them because it was either too weak or indecisive…

    Or simply not committed enough to growth. 

    Planning is a very real example of that…

    Or – for our friends from across the pond…

    ‘Permitting’ is a really clear example of that… 

    The global language…

    But anyway – the key test for me on regulation…

    Is of course – growth. 

    Is this going to make our economy more dynamic?

    Is this going to inhibit or unlock investment?

    Is it something that enables the builders not the blockers?

    Now – I know some people may be wondering about our labour market policies introduced last week.

    Let me be clear – they are pro-growth.

    Workers with more security at work…

    With higher wages…

    That is a better growth model for this country.

    It will lead to more dynamism in our labour market.

    And seriously – we have to think differently about this…

    A nation’s position in the world is changing all the time…

    As must its growth model. 

    So while I know this is a room full of businesses who take investing in their human capital seriously…

    When I look at the British economy as a whole…

    It does seem as if sometimes, we are more comfortable hiring people to work in low paid, insecure contracts…

    Than we are investing in the new technology that delivers for workers, for productivity and for our country.

    And so we’ve got to break out of that trap.

    But we’ve also got to look at regulation – across the piece. 

    And where it is needlessly holding back the investment we need to take our country forward…

    Where it is stopping us building the homes…

    The data centres, the warehouses, grid connectors, roads,  trainlines, you name it…

    Then mark my words – we will get rid of it.

    Take the East Anglia 2 wind farm.

    A £4 billion investment.

    One Gigawatt of clean energy.

    An important project – absolutely.

    But also the sort of thing a country as committed to clean energy as we are…

    Needs to replicate again and again.

    Now regulators demanded over four thousand planning documents for that project…

    Not 4000 pages – 4000 documents.

    And then six weeks after finally receiving planning consent…

    It was held up for a further two years by judicial review.

    I mean – as an investor…

    When you see this inertia…

    You just don’t bother do you?

    And that – in a nutshell…

    Is the biggest supply-side problem we have in our country.

    So it’s time to upgrade the regulatory regime…

    Make it fit for the modern age..

    Harness every opportunity available to Britain.

    We will rip out the bureaucracy that blocks investment…

    We will march through the institutions…

    And we will make sure that every regulator in this country…

    Especially our economic and competition regulators…

    Takes growth as seriously as this room does.

    And look – tell us about your frustrations on this. 

    Speak to my team…

    Speak to me, to Rachel, to Jonny, to Ed…

    And our new Minister for Investment, Poppy. 

    Any leader knows the importance of a good team – and we’ve got one here.

    We are united behind growth…

    Our door is open…

    And the work of change has already begun.

    We’re reforming the planning system…

    The onshore wind ban has gone… 

    New projects in solar, wind, tidal energy…

    Carbon Capture and Storage…

    Tax relief for the creative industries…

    Investment from the world’s leading companies…

    Blackstone, Amazon…

    A new partnership with Cyrus One to build data centres in Didcot…

    Finally grasping the nettle on airport expansion…

    A new £1 billion commitment from Manchester Airport Group to expand Stansted…

    Opening up new routes to work and holiday destinations…

    The first of tens of billions worth of inward investment deals we will sign today.

    Because we are determined to lead the way on growth. 

    Determined to get Britain building…

    Determined to get our economy moving…

    Through the shock and awe of investment.

    That’s the message to take home today.

    When the big decisions are made…

    When you go back to your board rooms and ask…

    Where does our money go…

    Where do our jobs go…

    Where does our investment in a better future go?

    Let me offer you a new answer…

    It’s time to back Britain.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Spotlight: Felipe Valdez, an Inspiring Engineer

    Source: NASA

    Felipe Valdez is someone who took advantage of every possible opportunity at NASA, working his way from undergraduate intern to his current job as a flight controls engineer. 
    Born in the United States but raised in Mexico, Valdez faced significant challenges growing up.  
    “My mom worked long hours, my dad battled addiction, and eventually, school became unaffordable,” Valdez said. 
    Determined to continue his education, Valdez made the difficult choice to leave his family and return to the U.S. But as a teenager, learning English and adapting to a new environment was a culture shock for him. Despite these changes, his curiosity for subjects such as math and science never wavered.  
    “As a kid, I’d always been good with numbers and fascinated by how things worked. Engineering combined both,” Valdez said. “This sparked my interest.”  
    While he pursued an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from California State University, Sacramento, guidance from his professor, Jose Granda, proved to be pivotal.  
    “He encouraged me to apply for a NASA internship,” Valdez said. “He’d actually been a Spanish-language spokesperson for a [space] shuttle mission, so hearing about someone with my background succeed gave me the confidence I needed to take that step.”  
    Valdez’s hard work paid off – he was selected as a NASA Office of STEM Engagement intern at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. There, he worked on software development for vehicle dynamics, actuators, and controller models for a space capsule in computer simulations. 
    “I couldn’t believe it,” Valdez said. “Getting that opportunity changed everything.”  
    This internship opened the door to a second with NASA this time at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. He had the chance to work on flight computer development for the Preliminary Research Aerodynamic Design to Lower Drag, an experimental flying wing design. 
    After these experiences, he was later accepted as an intern for NASA’s Pathways Program, a work-study program that offers the possibly of full-time employment at NASA after graduation. 
    “That was the start of my career at NASA, where my passion for aeronautics really took off,” he said.  
    Valdez was the first in his family to pursue higher education, earning his bachelor’s degree from Sacramento State and his master’s in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of California, Davis. 
    Today, he works as a NASA flight controls engineer under the Dynamics and Controls branch at Armstrong. Most of his experience has focused on flight simulation development and flight control design, particularly for distributed electric propulsion aircraft. 
    “It’s rewarding to be part of a group that’s focused on making aviation faster, quieter, and more sustainable,” Valdez said. “As a controls engineer, working on advanced aircraft concepts like distributed electric propulsion allows me design algorithms to directly control multiple motors, enhancing safety, controllability, and stability, while enabling cleaner, and quieter operations that push the boundaries of sustainable aviation.”  
    Throughout his career, Valdez has remained proud of his heritage.   “I feel a strong sense of pride knowing that inclusion is one of our core values, opportunities are within reach for anyone at NASA.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Technology partnerships between the UK and Central and Eastern Europe: Science and Innovation Network impact story

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Countries in Central and Eastern Europe offer a significant opportunity for science, innovation, and technology partnerships with the UK.

    The first outcome of the UK-Bulgaria meeting on semiconductors was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between TechWorks (UK) and BASEL (Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics).

    Summary

    The 9 countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) offer a significant opportunity for science, innovation, and technology partnerships with the UK. Together, the region’s combined GDP is over €2 trillion – an economy of emerging innovators leading a tech revolution (the region has increased its enterprise value since 2017 by 7.6 times).

    This is driven by each countries’ effort to combine their science and technology expertise and skilled workforces (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania make up 4 of the 6 EU countries in the Top 25 countries of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) excellence) together with traditional strengths in manufacturing, IT and science. 

    The priorities of the UK’s International Tech Strategy align with pockets of excellence across the region. Austria, for example, is the fourth largest producer of semi-conductors with expanding supply chains through Czechia and Bulgaria, Croatia’s unicorns drive 4% of the country’s GDP and Poland and Czechia’s retention of 90% of their startup enterprise value show the strength of the emerging ecosystems. A recent report estimated that AI would further boost the regional economic value by €100 billion. 

    UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) teams in Central and Eastern Europe are working to communicate these opportunities to UK stakeholders and build connections. The appetite to work with the UK is high – during the previous Horizon Europe programme, the UK was among the top partners of choice for CEE researchers. 

    Following the UK’s reassociation to Horizon Europe and Copernicus, we are keen to maintain and strengthen those connections. Our events on tech, showcased below, all help to communicate and encourage collaboration while engaging on policy approaches that will be critical to the safe and secure emergence of critical tech. 

    Impact

    Semiconductors

    In January, SIN organised a high-level roundtable on semiconductors to connect Bulgarian and UK stakeholders looking to develop cooperation and exchange approaches on semi-conductors.   

    Semiconductors is a priority sector for the UK, in the context of the UK Semiconductors Strategy and Bulgaria is recognised as partner in this area under the UK-Bulgaria Strategic Partnerships Agreement. 

    Why Bulgaria?

    Bulgaria is rapidly developing opportunities in the sector, building on its ICT strengths (contributing over 7% of GDP, the highest level among CEE countries). This is a legacy of chip manufacturing (by the late 1970s, Bulgaria was one of the top 10 biggest electronics manufacturing countries in the world).

    In 1989, Bulgaria exported more computers than all other countries in CEE with 11% of workers employed in the production of computers and electronics. Today there are over 400 microelectronics, many supporting the growing demand for chips from Bulgaria’s automotive industry. 

    Bulgaria is positioned well to become a supply chain hub under the EU Chips Act – it has attracted investment by global companies such as Melexis (producing equipment and critical materials for semiconductor fabs) and Global Foundries and the government is investing in R&D centres to support the developing capacity.

    The roundtable enabled government, industry and academic contacts to share government strategy and approaches, including on skills development, explore potential commercial R&D and academic collaboration opportunities. This has led to an opportunity to work with the Bulgaria Ministry of Innovations and Growth as they prepare a report and recommendations to develop the sector in 2024, the potential to develop an accelerator programme based on the UK’s Chipstart programme and a memorandum of understanding signed between the Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASEL) and TechWorks UK.

    Artificial intelligence (AI)

    In February, SIN hosted the first UK-Romania research conference with a focus on AI to help us better understand emerging opportunities in AI research with Romania. Bringing together contacts from academia, SMEs, NGOs, and senior officials.

    The event was part of series of SIN initiatives on AI which started in 2021 with a UK-Romania high-level dialogue in London, an online workshop on national AI strategies, and a visit to present the Romanian government’s AI advisor, “Ion”, to the UK. The roundtable helped secure the topic as part of the forthcoming UK-Romania Bilateral Forum in 2024 within the frame of the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in March 2023.

    Why Romania?

    A surge in AI startups and a rapidly developing ecosystem is drawing significant international attention. Romania’s IT and cyber sector drives a significant proportion of GDP – Romania is number one in Europe and sixth in the world in terms of the number of IT professionals. Companies such as Amazon, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Oracle have long operated in Romania’s IT sector, which generated €9 billion in 2022.

    In March, SIN supported a wider delegation of AI stakeholders from Czechia, Slovakia and Poland to the UK to attend the Alan Turing Institute AI Expo 2024, using the opportunity to share policy approaches on AI regulation, build connections for AI influencers in the region, and connect researchers. 

    Tech mapping

    To find out more about opportunities across the wider Central and Eastern Europe region, read our report on tech opportunities commissioned by SIN and created by researchers at Public International (a UK-based tech insights organisation). The report provides country by country snapshots on why CEE is important to the UK under each of the 5 priority technologies. 

    Technology and Innovation in Central and Eastern Europe (public.io).

    Contact details:

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Commissioner of Customs and Excise welcomes delegation of National Copyright Administration Representative of PRC to visit Hong Kong Customs (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Commissioner of Customs and Excise welcomes delegation of National Copyright Administration Representative of PRC to visit Hong Kong Customs (with photos)
    Commissioner of Customs and Excise welcomes delegation of National Copyright Administration Representative of PRC to visit Hong Kong Customs (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Ms Louise Ho, today (October 14) welcomed the Director General of the Copyright Department of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Mr Wang Zhicheng, to visit Hong Kong Customs with his delegation at the Customs Headquarters Building (CHB). During the meeting, both sides reviewed the achievements in intellectual property rights (IPR) protection co-operation in recent years and looked forward to future plans and strategies. To deepen co-operation in combating infringement activities, both sides agreed to strengthen information exchanges and personnel training.     Ms Ho said that Hong Kong Customs has officially assumed the post of Vice-Chairperson for the Asia/Pacific Region of the World Customs Organization. During the tenure, Hong Kong Customs is expected to promote collaboration among members in the Asia-Pacific region and enhance regional enforcement capabilities and effectiveness by organising international conferences, co-ordinating regional enforcement actions and conducting capacity-building activities. IPR protection has always been a common concern among Asia-Pacific members. Ms Ho invited Mr Wang and the National Copyright Administration to await and support further relevant activities.     The delegation also toured the Exhibition Gallery at the CHB to learn about the historical development, evolution and significant roles played in different domains by Hong Kong Customs.

     
    Ends/Monday, October 14, 2024Issued at HKT 18:25

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Update on cluster of Rhinovirus/Enterovirus cases in Kwai Chung Hospital

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Update on cluster of Rhinovirus/Enterovirus cases in Kwai Chung Hospital
    Update on cluster of Rhinovirus/Enterovirus cases in Kwai Chung Hospital
    ************************************************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Rhinovirus/Enterovirus in a ward of the learning disabilities, the spokesperson for Kwai Chung Hospital gave the following update today (October 14):     Two more female patients (aged 30 and 40) of the same ward have been presenting with respiratory symptoms since October 11. The patients are being treated in isolation and are in stable condition.     Enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted in the ward concerned according to prevailing guidelines. Droplet and contact precautions, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection of the environment and equipment have also been strengthened.      The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation in the ward concerned. The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.

     
    Ends/Monday, October 14, 2024Issued at HKT 18:17

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EDB and CMAB organise “Dreams to Greater Bay Area Come True” Itinerary Design Competition under Mainland Exchange Programmes for Students (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    EDB and CMAB organise “Dreams to Greater Bay Area Come True” Itinerary Design Competition under Mainland Exchange Programmes for Students (with photos)
    EDB and CMAB organise “Dreams to Greater Bay Area Come True” Itinerary Design Competition under Mainland Exchange Programmes for Students (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Education Bureau (EDB) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Development Office of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) have organised the “Dreams to Greater Bay Area Come True” Itinerary Design Competition under Mainland Exchange Programmes for Students, encouraging secondary students to design routes for Mainland exchanges covering the GBA cities as destinations. Through the activities, students are encouraged to gather information so as to deepen their understanding of the interconnectivity, history and culture, innovative technology, and development opportunities of the GBA cities, thereby broadening their horizons and cultivating their affection for the country.      The kick-off ceremony cum briefing session of the competition was held today (October 14) as part of the celebrations for the 15th anniversary of the founding of the “Passing on the Torch” National Education Activity Series Platform. Officiating guests included the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai; the Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Ms Maisie Chan; Second-level Inspector of Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Zhang Guolai; the Chairperson of the Organising Committee for the 15th Anniversary of the Founding of the “Passing on the Torch” National Education Activity Series Platform, Mr Lung Chee-ming; and various Executive Chairpersons of the Platform.      Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Sze said that the “Passing on the Torch” National Education Activity Series Platform has been strongly supported by the Central People’s Government Offices in Hong Kong and eminent individuals from various sectors in Hong Kong since its establishment in 2009, enabling smooth progress in all areas of work.       Mr Sze said under the leadership of various Executive Chairpersons, more than 550 000 primary and secondary students have benefited over the years. Mainland Exchange Programmes for primary and secondary students have covered 22 provinces, four autonomous regions and four municipalities.       Mr Sze also expressed gratitude to the GBA Development Office for co-organising the competition with the EDB, providing students with more opportunities to understand the history, culture and development opportunities of the GBA, which will widen their horizons and foster their sense of national identity.     During the kick-off ceremony, the officiating guests lit a cauldron with torches, symbolising “Passing on the Torch”. About 400 teachers, students and guests participated by switching on the lighting decorations, expressing their wish for the Platform to continue promoting affection for both the country and Hong Kong in the Hong Kong school sector.     Secondary students will participate in the competition on a team basis. Each team should submit a proposal on such themes as root-tracing/remembrance of origins, innovation/aerospace technology, and intangible cultural heritage. The proposal should include an itinerary for a student exchange lasting one to three days in the GBA cities.       The champion itineraries will be turned into actual trips, and the winning teams will be fully subsidised to join the trips as an award. Completed proposals should be submitted by December 20. For details, please visit the designated webpage (www.bayarea.gov.hk/itinerary-design-competition/en/home/index.html).

     
    Ends/Monday, October 14, 2024Issued at HKT 18:19

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kenya’s presidents have a long history of falling out with their deputies – Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment would be no surprise

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gabrielle Lynch, Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Warwick

    The process of removing Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is part of a long history, dating back to independence, of fallouts between the president and his deputy. The difference this time around is the process.

    Historically, presidents have fired their deputies. But the adoption of a new constitution in 2010, saw the introduction of a process for impeachment – for both the president and the deputy – that’s run by the legislature. This is the first time it’s been used.

    On 8 October 2024, members of Kenya’s national assembly voted to impeach Gachagua on grounds that included corruption, insubordination and ethnically divisive politics. The case now moves to the senate where members will hear the charges – and Gachagua’s defence – and vote.

    If at least two-thirds of senate accept the charges, and Gachagua’s legal challenges fail, then Gachagua will make history as Kenya’s first deputy leader to be impeached.

    So far, President William Ruto has stayed silent on the matter, but the process would not be proceeding without his blessing.

    Amid the novelty of the impeachment process, it’s easy to forget that it is the norm for Kenyan presidents to fall out with their deputies. As a political scientist interested in Kenya’s ethnic politics and democratisation, I argue that this is because of how deputies are selected in the first place.

    Deputies are initially selected largely on pragmatic grounds as people who bring something useful to a political alliance. This could be resources, a support base or a reputation for being a good technocrat or administrator.

    They’re not usually people with whom the president has a strong and continuous personal relationship or someone with whom they share a clear political ideology. Neither are they usually someone who has made their way up through a political party.

    This has brought about a long history of tensions and fallout between Kenya’s presidents and their deputies.

    History of fallouts

    Independent Kenya’s first vice president, Oginga Odinga, saw his ministerial portfolio gradually reduced by President Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyatta then replaced Odinga as vice president of the ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) in 1966 further undermining his powers. Soon after, Odinga joined the opposition Kenya’s People’s Union.

    His successor, Joseph Murumbi, resigned within months. The official reason given was ill health, but it is widely believed that Murumbi was troubled by corruption and authoritarianism within the Kenyatta regime.

    Kenya’s second president, Daniel arap Moi, elected Mwai Kibaki as his first deputy. Kibaki was dropped after a decade. He went on to form an opposition party as soon as Kenya shifted to multi-party politics in 1992.

    Moi’s second vice president, Josephat Karanja, resigned after a year to avoid a vote of no confidence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

    Moi’s third deputy, George Saitoti was sidelined to pave way for Uhuru Kenyatta’s nomination as the party flagbearer in 2002. Moi’s final deputy, Musalia Mudavadi, fell with the rest of the Kanu government in the 2002 elections.

    As Kenya’s third president, Kibaki similarly oversaw a regular change of guard. His first deputy, Michael Wamalwa, died after a few months in office. His second, Moody Awori, lost his seat in the 2007 election.

    Kibaki’s third deputy, Kalonzo Musyoka, joined the president during Kenya’s post-election violence of 2007-08. He left at the end of his term in 2013 to run with Raila Odinga in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 presidential elections.

    Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta, was the only leader to have the same deputy, William Ruto, for his full term as president – from 2013 to 2022. However, relations between Kenyatta and Ruto were hardly rosy. The two fell out after the 2017 elections as Kenyatta teamed up with long-standing opposition leader, Raila Odinga. Ruto beat Odinga, Kenyatta’s favoured candidate in the 2022 elections.

    Lessons to learn

    Because deputies are selected for their practical value, the person who made a good deputy at one point in time can come to be seen as a liability or threat as the political context changes.

    For example, at independence, Oginga Odinga made an excellent ally for Jomo Kenyatta. He had some resources and was a proven mobiliser. He brought a support base. However, within a few years, Odinga became a problem for the president as a more radical faction within the ruling party coalesced around him.

    Similarly, Ruto made an excellent ally for Uhuru Kenyatta when they both faced charges for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. The two fell out once Kenyatta had won his second and final term, and Kenyatta turned to his succession.

    Gachagua was useful to Ruto in 2022. He had personal wealth, was an effective mobiliser and hailed from central Kenya where the election looked to be won or lost. However, once elected, Gachagua’s populist statements and reputation for ethnic bias became more of a liability.

    Second, as contexts change, someone else can soon come to be seen as more useful as second in command.

    For Jomo Kenyatta, Moi had shown his utility and loyalty during the “little general elections” of 1966, which effectively sidelined the Kenya People’s Union and Oginga Odinga.

    Kithure Kindiki, Kenya’s interior cabinet secretary, is the current frontrunner to replace Gachagua. He is seen as better able to negotiate with the international community, especially during a critical economic period for Kenya as it seeks new International Monetary Fund loans.

    Third, being the country’s vice or deputy president comes with a lot of opportunities to network. These interactions have often led individuals to be seen as a growing threat, or as actively plotting against the president. They may also be seen as a future challenger.

    History has shown that there is no ideal way of dealing with such a potential challenger, leading subsequent presidents to try different approaches.

    Current context

    Ruto and Gachagua have clearly fallen out. Their differences became apparent soon after the 2022 elections. However, they came into sharp relief in the face of anti-tax protests in June 2024. There were subsequent allegations that Gachagua and some of his allies had helped to finance the protests.

    The question, therefore, isn’t why they have fallen out but why Gachagua is being impeached now.

    Ultimately the answer to this can only be known by a few individuals. But perhaps an indication of the answer lies in the emotions the fallout has stirred: a desire to distract the public and show that the government is taking action to deal with Kenya’s ongoing economic crisis. There may also be a desire to undercut Gachagua before he can build national networks.

    Ruto has the numbers in the senate to see the impeachment process through. But this is a dangerous game. Those sidelined have a habit of coming back to haunt their former allies.

    At the moment, most Kenyans are supportive of the impeachment process, but many also feel that Gachagua is being unfairly targeted especially in central Kenya, where a majority oppose the process.

    While a successful impeachment might see Gachagua barred from holding public office, this wouldn’t necessarily mean an end to his career as an effective political mobiliser.

    The next few months – and the narratives that emerge about why Ruto and Gachagua fell out – will be critical in determining both their futures.

    Gabrielle Lynch does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Kenya’s presidents have a long history of falling out with their deputies – Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment would be no surprise – https://theconversation.com/kenyas-presidents-have-a-long-history-of-falling-out-with-their-deputies-rigathi-gachaguas-impeachment-would-be-no-surprise-241139

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Remembering our colleagues killed in Gaza

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    We mourn the tragic loss of our colleagues who have been killed since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. We are outraged that many of these people were killed while providing care for patients or sheltering with their families. We remain deeply concerned for the safety of all our staff members and patients living under fire and siege.

    Nowhere in Gaza is safe. Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked health workers and medical facilities, making it nearly impossible for us to continue to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance. MSF is calling for an end to attacks on health workers and health facilities. We are also demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

    Mohammed Al Ahel

    MSF lab technician killed on 6 November 2023.

    Mohammed Al Ahel was at his home in Al Shati refugee camp on 6 November  when the area was bombed and his building collapsed, reportedly killing dozens of people, including Mohammed and several members of his family. He was a laboratory technician and had been working with MSF for two years.

    Alaa Al Shawa

    MSF volunteer nurse supporting MSF teams at Al-Shifa hospital; killed 18 November 2023.

    Alaa was killed during an attack on an MSF convoy on 18 November while it was en route to southern Gaza to reach a safer place. “We arrived at the clinic and started to try to give Alaa life support, trying to stop the bleeding from his head,” said an anonymous MSF staff member present during the convoy attack. “We couldn’t do anything. He died while we were trying to save his life.”

    MSF had informed both parties to the conflict of the evacuation. The convoy followed the itinerary indicated by the Israeli army and reached Salah Al-Deen Street along with other civilians trying to leave the area. The convoy reached the last checkpoint near Wadi Gaza, which was overcrowded at that time due to extensive screenings of Palestinians by Israeli forces. Despite prior authorization from Israeli authorities, the MSF convoy wasn’t allowed to cross the checkpoint and was left waiting for hours. Shots were later heard by our staff, who out of fear decided to head back to the MSF premises, around four and a half miles north of the checkpoint.  

    On their way back, between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. local time, the convoy was attacked on Al-Wahida Street near its junction with Said Al-A’as Street, close to MSF’s office. Two of the MSF cars were deliberately hit, killing Alaa and injuring a family member of another staff member, who later also died from his wound.

    “We stood up, just shocked by his death and all that had happened to us,” said another MSF staff member present that day. “I was speechless and just not able to think. My kids were crying and people were discussing how to bury our colleague.”

    Dr Ahmad Al Sahar.
    MSF

    Dr Ahmad Al Sahar

    MSF doctor killed on 21 November 2023.

    Dr Ahmad Al Sahar was killed in the 21 November strike on Al-Awda hospital that also killed MSF’s Dr Abu Nujaila and another doctor, Dr Ziad Al-Tatari. Dr Al Sahar and Dr Abu Nujaila were working when the hospital’s third and fourth floors were hit. MSF has regularly shared information about Al-Awda, including making it clear to warring parties that it is a functioning hospital with medical staff.

    Dr Mahmoud Abu Nujaila.
    MSF

    Dr Mahmoud Abu Nujaila

    MSF doctor killed on 21 November 2023.
     

    Dr Mahmoud Abu Nujaila was killed in a strike on Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza on November 21, along with MSF’s Dr Ahmad Al Sahar and another doctor, Dr Ziad Al-Tarari. Before his death, Dr. Abu Nujaila wrote a message on a whiteboard in the hospital normally used for planning surgeries: “Whoever stays until the end will tell the story. We did what we could. Remember us.”

    Reem Abu Lebdeh.
    Tetiana Gaviuk/MSF

    Reem Abu Lebdeh

    MSF physiotherapist and MSF UK board member killed in December 2023.

    Though the exact circumstances and date of Reem Abu Lebdeh’s death remain unclear, we believe she was killed along with members of her family at their home in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Some members of her family remain unaccounted for.

    When the Israeli military campaign moved more extensively into Khan Younis over two months ago, we knew Reem was sheltering with her parents and siblings. Regrettably, contact with Reem was lost shortly thereafter and all attempts to regain it failed due to telecommunications networks being cut off.

    However, news of Reem’s death and that of her family members gradually emerged in the following weeks. To this day, the zone around their house, which was heavily bombarded by Israeli forces, remains too dangerous to approach.

    Reem worked as a physiotherapist for MSF in Gaza from 2018 until 2022, and last year was appointed as an associate trustee of the MSF UK Board.

    Fadi Al-Wadiya.
    MSF

    Fadi Al Wadiya

    MSF physiotherapist, killed 25 June 2024.

    Fadi Al-Wadiya was killed on June 25 along with five other people, including three children, near an MSF clinic in Gaza City. He was cycling to work at the time, on his way to provide medical care to others who had been injured. Fadi was a 33-year-old physiotherapist and father of three who joined MSF in 2018.

    On 26 June, Israeli authorities shared several posts on social media accusing Fadi of involvement in military activities in Gaza. MSF is deeply concerned by these allegations and is taking them very seriously.

    MSF has reached out to Israeli authorities asking for clarifications about the circumstances of Fadi’s killing. Only an independent investigation can establish the facts.

    Our colleague Nasser Hamdi Abdelatif Al Shalfouh.

    Nasser Hamdi Abdelatif Al Shalfouh

    MSF driver, killed 10 October 2024

    Nasser Hamdi Abdelatif Al Shalfouh died on 10 October after sustaining shrapnel injuries to his legs and chest on 8 October in Jabalia, north Gaza. Since 7 October, Jabalia was under relentless attacks by Israeli forces, and people were trapped, unable to flee. After being injured, Nasser first received emergency care at Al Awda hospital, Jabalia in north Gaza, and was later transferred to Kamal Adwan hospital. He is survived by his wife and two children.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Kenya’s presidents have a long history of falling out with their deputies – Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment would be no surprise

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gabrielle Lynch, Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Warwick

    The process of removing Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is part of a long history, dating back to independence, of fallouts between the president and his deputy. The difference this time around is the process.

    Historically, presidents have fired their deputies. But the adoption of a new constitution in 2010, saw the introduction of a process for impeachment – for both the president and the deputy – that’s run by the legislature. This is the first time it’s been used.

    On 8 October 2024, members of Kenya’s national assembly voted to impeach Gachagua on grounds that included corruption, insubordination and ethnically divisive politics. The case now moves to the senate where members will hear the charges – and Gachagua’s defence – and vote.

    If at least two-thirds of senate accept the charges, and Gachagua’s legal challenges fail, then Gachagua will make history as Kenya’s first deputy leader to be impeached.

    So far, President William Ruto has stayed silent on the matter, but the process would not be proceeding without his blessing.

    Amid the novelty of the impeachment process, it’s easy to forget that it is the norm for Kenyan presidents to fall out with their deputies. As a political scientist interested in Kenya’s ethnic politics and democratisation, I argue that this is because of how deputies are selected in the first place.

    Deputies are initially selected largely on pragmatic grounds as people who bring something useful to a political alliance. This could be resources, a support base or a reputation for being a good technocrat or administrator.

    They’re not usually people with whom the president has a strong and continuous personal relationship or someone with whom they share a clear political ideology. Neither are they usually someone who has made their way up through a political party.

    This has brought about a long history of tensions and fallout between Kenya’s presidents and their deputies.

    History of fallouts

    Independent Kenya’s first vice president, Oginga Odinga, saw his ministerial portfolio gradually reduced by President Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyatta then replaced Odinga as vice president of the ruling Kenya African National Union (Kanu) in 1966 further undermining his powers. Soon after, Odinga joined the opposition Kenya’s People’s Union.

    His successor, Joseph Murumbi, resigned within months. The official reason given was ill health, but it is widely believed that Murumbi was troubled by corruption and authoritarianism within the Kenyatta regime.

    Kenya’s second president, Daniel arap Moi, elected Mwai Kibaki as his first deputy. Kibaki was dropped after a decade. He went on to form an opposition party as soon as Kenya shifted to multi-party politics in 1992.

    Moi’s second vice president, Josephat Karanja, resigned after a year to avoid a vote of no confidence for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

    Moi’s third deputy, George Saitoti was sidelined to pave way for Uhuru Kenyatta’s nomination as the party flagbearer in 2002. Moi’s final deputy, Musalia Mudavadi, fell with the rest of the Kanu government in the 2002 elections.

    As Kenya’s third president, Kibaki similarly oversaw a regular change of guard. His first deputy, Michael Wamalwa, died after a few months in office. His second, Moody Awori, lost his seat in the 2007 election.

    Kibaki’s third deputy, Kalonzo Musyoka, joined the president during Kenya’s post-election violence of 2007-08. He left at the end of his term in 2013 to run with Raila Odinga in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 presidential elections.

    Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta, was the only leader to have the same deputy, William Ruto, for his full term as president – from 2013 to 2022. However, relations between Kenyatta and Ruto were hardly rosy. The two fell out after the 2017 elections as Kenyatta teamed up with long-standing opposition leader, Raila Odinga. Ruto beat Odinga, Kenyatta’s favoured candidate in the 2022 elections.

    Lessons to learn

    Because deputies are selected for their practical value, the person who made a good deputy at one point in time can come to be seen as a liability or threat as the political context changes.

    For example, at independence, Oginga Odinga made an excellent ally for Jomo Kenyatta. He had some resources and was a proven mobiliser. He brought a support base. However, within a few years, Odinga became a problem for the president as a more radical faction within the ruling party coalesced around him.

    Similarly, Ruto made an excellent ally for Uhuru Kenyatta when they both faced charges for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. The two fell out once Kenyatta had won his second and final term, and Kenyatta turned to his succession.

    Gachagua was useful to Ruto in 2022. He had personal wealth, was an effective mobiliser and hailed from central Kenya where the election looked to be won or lost. However, once elected, Gachagua’s populist statements and reputation for ethnic bias became more of a liability.

    Second, as contexts change, someone else can soon come to be seen as more useful as second in command.

    For Jomo Kenyatta, Moi had shown his utility and loyalty during the “little general elections” of 1966, which effectively sidelined the Kenya People’s Union and Oginga Odinga.

    Kithure Kindiki, Kenya’s interior cabinet secretary, is the current frontrunner to replace Gachagua. He is seen as better able to negotiate with the international community, especially during a critical economic period for Kenya as it seeks new International Monetary Fund loans.

    Third, being the country’s vice or deputy president comes with a lot of opportunities to network. These interactions have often led individuals to be seen as a growing threat, or as actively plotting against the president. They may also be seen as a future challenger.

    History has shown that there is no ideal way of dealing with such a potential challenger, leading subsequent presidents to try different approaches.

    Current context

    Ruto and Gachagua have clearly fallen out. Their differences became apparent soon after the 2022 elections. However, they came into sharp relief in the face of anti-tax protests in June 2024. There were subsequent allegations that Gachagua and some of his allies had helped to finance the protests.

    The question, therefore, isn’t why they have fallen out but why Gachagua is being impeached now.

    Ultimately the answer to this can only be known by a few individuals. But perhaps an indication of the answer lies in the emotions the fallout has stirred: a desire to distract the public and show that the government is taking action to deal with Kenya’s ongoing economic crisis. There may also be a desire to undercut Gachagua before he can build national networks.

    Ruto has the numbers in the senate to see the impeachment process through. But this is a dangerous game. Those sidelined have a habit of coming back to haunt their former allies.

    At the moment, most Kenyans are supportive of the impeachment process, but many also feel that Gachagua is being unfairly targeted especially in central Kenya, where a majority oppose the process.

    While a successful impeachment might see Gachagua barred from holding public office, this wouldn’t necessarily mean an end to his career as an effective political mobiliser.

    The next few months – and the narratives that emerge about why Ruto and Gachagua fell out – will be critical in determining both their futures.

    – Kenya’s presidents have a long history of falling out with their deputies – Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment would be no surprise
    – https://theconversation.com/kenyas-presidents-have-a-long-history-of-falling-out-with-their-deputies-rigathi-gachaguas-impeachment-would-be-no-surprise-241139

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF mourns and condemns the tragic killing of our colleague in northern Gaza

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are mourning the loss of 31-year-old Nasser Hamdi Abdelatif Al Shalfouh, our colleague. Nasser was killed by shrapnel injuries he suffered to his legs and chest on 8 October in Jabalia, north Gaza. Since 7 October, Jabalia has been under relentless attacks by Israeli forces, and people have remained trapped since then without being able to flee.

    Nasser died from his injuries on 10 October in Kamal Adwan hospital. He is survived by his wife and two children.

    Nasser joined MSF as a driver in March 2023 and has not been working since the war started as MSF activities in north Gaza were severely affected. MSF has been trying to expand activities in the north of Gaza, but it has been impossible so far.

    After being injured, Nasser first received emergency care at Al Awda hospital, Jabalia in north Gaza, and was later transferred to Kamal Adwan hospital. He was unable to receive the necessary level of care due to the hospital´s lack of capacity and an overwhelming number of patients in the facility.

    Our colleague Nasser Hamdi Abdelatif Al Shalfouh.

    All over Gaza, family members and loved ones continue to be killed and injured by relentless fighting and bombings. Nasser is the seventh MSF colleague killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war. This bloodshed needs to end.

    For over a year, Israeli forces have systematically dismantled the health system in Gaza, impeding access to life-saving care for people. At the same time, medical evacuations have become extremely challenging, particularly in the north which has been largely cut off from the rest of Gaza, further making it difficult for people to access care.

    We are horrified by the killing of our colleague which we strongly condemn and call yet again for the respect and protection of civilians. In this tragic moment, our thoughts are with his family and all colleagues mourning his death.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Awful reality’: Albanese government injects $95 million to fight the latest deadly bird flu

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Wille, Senior research fellow, The University of Melbourne

    The Australian government has committed A$95 million to fight a virulent strain of bird flu wreaking havoc globally.

    With the arrival of millions of migratory birds this spring, there is an increased risk of a deadly strain arriving in Australia, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.

    Australia is the only continent free of this rapidly spreading strain. Overseas, HPAI H5N1 has been detected in poultry, wild birds and a wide range of mammals, including humans. But our reprieve will likely not last forever.

    As Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek warned on Monday, “the awful reality of this disease is that – like the rest of the world – we will not be able to prevent its arrival”. HPAI H5N1 is like nothing we’ve seen in Australia. The extra funding, which is in addition to Australia’s current biosecurity budget, will help us prepare and respond.

    A trail of destruction

    Avian influenza is a virus that infects birds, but can infect other animals.

    In Australia we have various strains of avian influenza that don’t cause disease, referred to as low pathogenic avian influenza. While these viruses occur naturally Australian wild birds, it is the disease-causing strains, such as HPAI H5N1 and HPAI H7 we are worried about. These HPAI strains have enormous consequences for wild birds, domestic animals, and animal producers and workers.

    HPAI H5N1 first emerged in Asia in 1996, and has been circulating in Asian poultry for decades. Following genetic changes in the virus, it repeatedly jumped into wild birds in 2014, 2016 and again in 2020, after which it caused an animal pandemic, or panzootic.

    Starting in 2021, the virus rapidly spread. First, from Europe to North America in 2021. Then into South America in 2022. There, in South America, the virus caused the death of more than 500,000 wild birds and 30,000 marine mammals.

    While we had seen large outbreaks in wild birds globally, the huge outbreaks in seals and sea lions in South America was unprecedented. With this came substantial concern that the virus was spreading from mammal to mammal, rather than just bird to bird or bird to mammal, as was happening elsewhere.

    About a year after arriving in South America, the virus was detected in the sub-Antarctic, and a few months later, on the Antarctic Peninsula.

    Australia and New Zealand are still free of the virus, for now.

    The rising death toll

    Beyond wildlife, HPAI H5N1 is having a huge impact on poultry.

    In 2022 alone, it caused 130 million poultry across 67 countries to die of the illness or be euthanased because they were infected.

    In contrast, earlier this year Australia’s biggest avian influenza outbreak to date – caused by a different strain, HPAI H7 – caused the death or destruction of 1.5 million chickens. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to what is occurring globally.

    Concerningly, in the United States, the virus has jumped into dairy cattle and so far has affected more than 200 dairy herds in 14 states. It has also jumping into humans: in the past ten days alone, six human cases have occurred – all in dairy workers in California.

    Given HPAI H5N1 has spread around the globe, the risk of the virus entering Australia has increased.

    In a recent risk assessment, my colleague and I identified two main pathways for H5N1 into Australia.

    The most likely route is that H5N1 is brought in from Asia by long-distance migratory birds. Birds such as shorebirds and seabirds arrive in the millions each spring from Asia (and in some cases as far away as Alaska).

    A second route is with ducks. If the virus spreads across the Wallace Line (a biogeographical boundary that runs through Indonesia), it will come into contact with endemic Australian duck species.

    Unlike shorebirds and seabirds, ducks are not long-distance migrants, and don’t migrate between Asia and Australia. That endemic Australian ducks are not exposed to this virus because they don’t migrate to Asia may be one of the reasons why H5N1 has not yet arrived in Australia.

    So, what’s the plan?

    The Australian government’s new $95 million funding commitment is a crucial response to the heightened level of risk, and the dire consequences if H5N1 entered the country.

    The funding is divided between environment, agriculture and human health – the three pillars of the “One Health” approach.

    Broadly, the money will be spent on:

    • enhancing surveillance to ensure timely detection and response if the disease enters and spreads in animals within Australia

    • strengthening preparedness and response capability to reduce harm to the production sector and native wildlife

    • supporting a nationally coordinated approach to response and communications

    • taking proactive measures to protect threatened iconic species from extinction

    • investing in more pre-pandemic vaccines to protect human health.

    Importantly, the funding covers preparedness, surveillance and response.

    Preparedness includes proactive measures to protect threatened birds – for example, vaccination or reducing other threats to these species) and improving biosecurity.

    Surveillance is essential to catch the virus as soon as it arrives and track its spread. Australia already has a wild bird surveillance program which, among other things, investigates sick and dead wildlife as well as sampling “healthy” wild birds. The additional commitment will bolster these activities.

    Response will include things like better and faster tests. It will also include funding for practical on-ground actions to limit the spread and impacts of HPAI H5N1 for susceptible wildlife. This might include a vaccination program for vulnerable threatened species, as an example.

    Work has already begun

    This funding is a long-term investment, and mostly allocated to future activities. In the short term, my colleagues and I have already begun our spring surveillance program.

    We aim to test about 1,000 long-distance migratory birds arriving in Australia for avian influenza. Based on our risk assessments, we are focusing on long-distance migratory seabirds such as the short-tailed shearwater, and various shorebirds including red-necked stints, arriving from breeding areas in Siberia.

    This surveillance program is supported by, and contributes to, the national surveillance program managed by Wildlife Health Australia

    In addition to our active surveillance, we need your help! If you see sick or dead wild birds or marine mammals, call the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888.

    In addition, the Wildlife Health Australia website offers current advice for:

    For more information, visit birdflu.gov.au or Wildlife Health Australia’s avian influenza page

    Michelle Wille receives funding from Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Wildlife Health Australia.

    – ref. ‘Awful reality’: Albanese government injects $95 million to fight the latest deadly bird flu – https://theconversation.com/awful-reality-albanese-government-injects-95-million-to-fight-the-latest-deadly-bird-flu-241243

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft athletes took part in the Moscow Marathon and the Energy of Life race

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The Rosneft team took part in one of the largest running competitions in the country – the Moscow Marathon – for the eleventh time. 177 employees of the Company took part in the marathon, running the 42.2 km distance, as well as the 10 km distance in the individual competition.

    Support for mass, professional and youth sports and healthy lifestyle is one of the key areas of social work of Rosneft and its subsidiaries. Sports complexes, ice arenas, and multifunctional sports grounds are built in the regions of presence with the Company’s funds. Dozens of modern large sports facilities have been opened in the regions of Russia with the support of Rosneft. The company supports projects for the development and popularization of physical culture and healthy lifestyle.

    The Moscow Marathon traditionally involves the largest Russian companies from various sectors of the economy, as well as teams of the best amateur and semi-professional running communities. This year, a record number of participants registered for the competition – more than 40,000 athletes from Russia and neighboring countries. On October 12, the 10 km race started, during which many of the Company’s employees set personal records.

    On October 13, Rosneft athletes took to the start line of the marathon distance – both in the individual race and in the relay. The Rosneft relay team, consisting of amateur athletes, showed an impressive result – 5th place among 129 teams with a time of 2:25:10 and an average pace over the distance of 3 minutes 26 seconds. The runners managed to improve last year’s result by 3 minutes.

    Rosneft is a regular participant in corporate races within the Moscow Marathon, demonstrating high sporting achievements every year. The team’s results are among the top five in the history of the Moscow Marathon.

    In addition, according to established tradition, every October the Company’s athletes and their family members join the all-Russian corporate run “Energy of Life”. Last week, the competition stages were held in Moscow, Samara, Tyumen, and on October 12, they ended in Krasnodar.

    About 300 people took part in the start in Krasnodar. Participants ran distances of 2.5 km, 5 km and 10 km. The length of the tracks for children’s races was 500 m and 2.5 km. Competitions among adults were held according to the GTO standards in the category from 18 to 64 years old.

    The winners of the competition were awarded by two-time World Cup champion and European Sambo champion Vasily Karaulov. In the Team Spirit nomination, two teams were recognized: RN-Krasnodarneftegaz and NK Rosneft Kubannefteprodukt.

    As part of the corporate program “Energy of Life”, the Company carries out large-scale information and organizational work to develop a mass sports movement among employees. More than 106 thousand employees of the Company participate in the corporate-wide sports and health movement. More than 54 thousand take part in competitions in various sports in corporate-wide competitions and challenges, in competitions at the regional and federal levels. Sports training is organized for employees.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 14, 2024

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

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

    http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220896/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General meets the Prime Minister of Sweden

    Source: NATO

    On Wednesday, 16 October 2024, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will receive the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr Ulf Kristersson, at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

    Media advisory

    13:50 (CEST)  Joint press conference by the Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Sweden.

    Media coverage

    • Media representatives who have annual accreditation to NATO for 2024 can attend the joint press conference in person.
    • Media representatives without annual accreditation, who have successfully accredited for an event at HQ in 2024, and who are interested in covering the event should email NatoAccreditations@hq.nato.int no later than midday on Tuesday, 15 October.
    • The pool of visual media covering the official handshake will meet in front of the Press Shop at NATO HQ at 12:30.
    • The event will be streamed live on X @NATOPress and on the NATO website. A transcript of the Secretary General’s remarks, as well as photographs, will be on the NATO website.

    For more information:
    For general queries: contact the NATO Press Office
    Follow us on X: @NATO, @SecGenNATO and @NATOPress

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Berlin Process Summit 2024: Minister Doughty intervention

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories outlines UK support for the Western Balkans and calls for a strong and connected Europe.

    Location:
    Berlin
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you, Chancellor Scholz, Madam President, Excellencies, friends.

    Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine shows that we cannot take peace and security in Europe for granted and so we must guard against all those who seek to destabilise the Western Balkans.

    Our work to achieve common goals and diffuse tensions is even more important than it’s already been in the 10 year history of this process.

    And indeed, the challenging outlook requires a strong and connected Europe, and that is why, under its new government, the United Kingdom is resetting our relations with friends across the continent, in this room and many more today at the Foreign Affairs Committee in Luxembourg, which my colleague, Foreign Secretary David Lammy is attending today.

    Indeed, the Western Balkans is one of the areas I believe that we, the United Kingdom, the European Union, all of whom in this room can work together much more closely, because our shared goals are basics we all need for a good life. Security. Prosperity. Equality.

    Buoyant business, solid infrastructure and strong institutions are crucial for driving regional growth.

    The United Kingdom is playing, and will continue to play its full part in supporting the European alignment of the region.

    We are very supportive of the Common Regional Market, and we are delighted to see progress on the Central Europe Free Trade Agreement.

    Over the life of this process, the United Kingdom’s trade with Western Balkans has quadrupled to over £4 billion.

    Through the Global Clean Power Alliance, we will roll out renewables faster and work with partners around this table on energy security and green transition.

    And through UK export finance, new infrastructure projects to help growth take off, working alongside partners here.

    But there is much more we can do.

    We must create more jobs for young people, curbing the ‘brain drain’ that damages a country’s economy.

    We must continue to make progress on the rights of women and girls as part of wider improvements on rights governance and ensuring pluralist democratic societies.

    Not just because that is the right thing to do, but because it is the cornerstone of our efforts to create a more peaceful, stable, prosperous region.

    So, I hope we will build on the success of the Gender Equality Forum and make that an annual feature.

    Chancellor Scholz – the drumbeat from the ministerial meetings has heightened expectations for the Berlin Process.

    And we can now make the most of the momentum and make amazing things happen. I look forward to our work together.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: InFocus: Updates from the Government Property Agency (October 24)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    InFocus brings together news and views from across the Government Property Agency.

    WELCOME TO INFOCUS, October 2024

    Yvette Greener, Client Director

    It’s been a busy few months here at the Government Property Agency (GPA) as we supported clients through the General Election period and transition to a new Government.

    Last month we confirmed the permanent appointment of Mark Bourgeois as our Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Mark has filled the post as interim CEO since November 2023, during which time we have identified a number of focus areas for improved performance across our services. With this insight, along with his extensive leadership experience from the private sector, Mark is now well positioned to lead our organisation in delivering on these priorities for our clients.

    I am also pleased to welcome Georgina Dunn to our Executive Committee as interim Capital Projects Director, following the retirement of Clive Anderson. Georgina has joined on secondment from Turner & Townsend, where she is Director and Global Head of Government and Public Sector. Her experience leading large scale and high-profile infrastructure, property and construction programmes is already bringing great value to our team.

    Carly Ersser will join the GPA as interim Director of Workplace Services in November, replacing Louis Roberts. Carly will transfer from HM Treasury, where she worked as Deputy Director Multisite Darlington Economic Campus Programme. Carly has an excellent insight as to what it’s like to be a GPA client, a very clear strategic view of the GPA and a real passion to deliver for our clients. She will make an excellent addition to the leadership team and drive the development and improvement of our workplace services.

    Last week our new Strategic Client Committee convened for the first time. More details about the Committee are included in this newsletter, and I’m looking forward to the strides forward we can take with the Committee’s strategic recommendations and feedback.

    Ongoing plans to improve the workplace experience of people in our buildings include the redevelopment of our Customer Service Portal, which will provide helpful information, resources and community forums across a number of our offices. Our new PropTech Experience Group, which is open to technology professionals across government, is also ensuring that we are proactive in understanding how our technology services can be optimised to meet the needs of end users.

    We’ve made substantial progress on a number of projects in our Government Hubs Programme in recent months, with key milestones reached in Manchester, York, Croydon and Darlington. Our Peterborough Hub, which opened in 2023, has also been recognised as one of the world’s leading public sector offices for workplace experience.

    I hope you enjoy reading our latest updates below. On behalf of our executive and client teams, thank you for your continued support.

    In this issue:

                                                         

    Focus on audiovisual (AV) for upcoming Property Technology Experience Group events

    Following the success of our Property Technology Experience Group launch in June, two more events are coming up which focus on how we are advancing our AV capabilities across the government office estate.

    AV Solution Show & Tell – date TBC

    We will showcase our latest v3 AV solution at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London. This in-person and hybrid event will offer an exclusive demonstration of meeting rooms with cutting-edge AV technology. This is a fantastic opportunity to see our latest AV advancements and learn about how they can be applied across government hubs.

    AVIXA Day, 19 December, Peterborough, Quay House

    A dedicated day with AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association, a leading organisation that supports AV professionals worldwide, offering resources that can greatly benefit those working in the civil service. At this event, they will raise awareness of international standards for AV, explore industry groups, and introduce a comprehensive range of training programmes and online webinars.

    These events are designed to keep technology professionals in government at the forefront of our technology developments and ensure departments are equipped with the latest knowledge and best practice in AV. It will also be a valuable opportunity for us to hear from you about your own AV experiences within your department, allowing an exchange of insights and effective strategies across the community.

    Join our Property Technology knowledge community

    Members of our Knowledge Hub group can gain access to a wealth of resources, participate in ongoing discussions with fellow professionals, and benefit from shared knowledge and experiences. There will also be information about future events and developments in the Property Technology space. 

    Interested in attending?

    Please register interest in the events by completing our Google Form. More details and official invites will follow.

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    Coming soon: a relaunched customer service portal

    We are pleased to announce that our customer service portal will soon be relaunched to provide a better, accessible platform for building users to access and share information about their workplaces. The portal is currently available to people working in 28 of our managed buildings, and will be rolled out across more buildings in the future following the improvements.

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    Our new Strategic Client Committee

    We have introduced a new Strategic Client Committee to gather strategic insight, feedback and recommendations regarding your current and future requirements, and to inform our future direction

    The committee is made up of a small group of senior leaders invited from a representative selection of client organisations. The clients represented will change on a yearly basis and work alongside the chair of the government COO network and our own senior leaders.

    The committee will meet quarterly and serve as a collaborative forum to ensure that you have a senior level voice into the GPA, as part of our commitment to fostering a client-centric culture.

    The first meeting took place last week and covered topics including the spending review, closing the funding gap and workplace design and space planning.

    In addition, we are introducing a quarterly Client Working Group, replacing the previous Client Committee meetings, which will include representation from all of our Portfolio clients. Further details of the Client Working Group will be shared in due course.

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    More than five tonnes of furniture reused

    We’ve coordinated more than 170 items of used office furniture, the equivalent of five tonnes, to be reused ensuring they didn’t end up in landfill, saving over 13 tonnes of carbon emissions.

    The surplus furniture was removed from Feethams House in Darlington. It was part of a project to maximise workpoints within the hub following the successful recruitment of over 700 roles at the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC).

    The refurbishment was completed in April and resulted in surplus used furniture. Rather than sending the items to landfill, our Innovation and Assurance team worked with Go Green Managed Services to reuse the items on our other projects across the government’s office portfolio as well as sending some items to the Department for Education.

    Miguel Godfrey, Head of Sustainability said:

    With millions of pieces of furniture discarded in the UK each year, it is vital that we as an organisation are able to redistribute our equipment to our other projects enabling teams and departments to help their staff operate effectively while also saving on carbon emissions and taxpayer spend.

    Of the 178 items of furniture, we reused 13%, 57% is being stored for use on some of our other projects (including Temple Quay House in Bristol) and 30% is being reused by the Department for Education, saving a total of 13.2 tonnes of carbon emissions.

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    Croydon Hub fit-out close to completion

    We have entered the final phase of one of our most challenging and complex projects to-date – our Croydon Hub.

    Set to be home for more than 7,000 Home Office (HO) civil servants, 2 Ruskin Square in Croydon will be the largest new build government hub we have delivered.

    The project has been carefully designed to support the Home Office requirements, with a range of operational facilities including a significant public facing area with specialist interview rooms, family areas and a café to support customer needs.

    There will also be new, fully inclusive furniture to suit all working styles including meeting pods, railway carriages and focus settings. The hub will have a range of interoperable technology including GovWifi, GovPrint and GovPass.

    The programme has focused on the efficient transition and migration of staff to ensure the existing HO estate is successfully decommissioned ahead of the lease end date. This has been achieved by combining much of the CAT B and C works into the main fit out contract, minimising the time required to complete the project. The early integration of our teams across Capital Projects, Workplace Services, Customer Experience, Client Solutions and property has allowed us to deliver more efficiently.

    Rationalising the HO estate is expected to return savings to the public purse, by reducing operating and property costs.

    Leading the fit out and preparation of this 10-storey, 33,000 square metre building is our GPA Integrated Delivery team, in collaboration with AECOM, AtkinsRealis, Hoare Lea, Tetra Tech, Turner & Townsend, our construction partner Wates and furniture supplier Southerns Broadstock. As well as fully inclusive refreshment hubs, home zones and meeting rooms, the building will deliver an effective mix of flexible and hybrid workspaces which will support neurodiversity, collaboration and wellbeing.

    The project also included mobilising new facilities management contracts as part of our Workplace Services Transformation Programme (WSTP) to achieve greater efficiencies across the government office estate.

    Georgina Dunn, interim Director of Capital Projects said:

    Ruskin Square will provide inclusive, flexible, digitally connected workspaces to support greater productivity and will enhance carbon reduction. We are extremely proud to deliver this brand new, purpose built hub to support the Home Office.

    The Croydon hub is highly sustainable with fully decarbonised power. It will form part of the nine-acre Ruskin Square development and sits alongside One Ruskin Square, the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) regional centre which opened in 2017 adjacent to East Croydon train station.

    The Government Hubs Programme has so far supported regeneration and economic development in 17 locations throughout the UK including; Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham, Peterborough and Bristol to support around 60,000 civil servants and in so doing create a smaller, better and greener public estate.

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    Mystery shopping across our portfolio

    Our Workplace Experience team is working in partnership with our Performance Partner, JLL, to lead the development of a set of standards across all areas of the customer journey within our government office spaces. Our aim is to implement a single, consistent set of standards across our estate, ensuring everyone receives a consistent service wherever they choose to work.

    Once these standards are launched, JLL will support us in evaluating how successfully these are being delivered.

    In preparation, JLL’s workplace experience team has already started to conduct mystery-shop style visits across our estate. Their purpose is to cast an objective eye over the experience people have and provide recommendations to support our drive for continuous improvement.

    During the visits they will be looking at the overall performance of our Supply Chain Partners across the following areas:

    1. Welcome experience focusing on reception and security services experienced by visitors on arrival.

    2. Diversity and inclusion – are there accessible means of entry and mobility throughout the building, supportive signage on display, hearing loops available, and environment and lighting suitable for neurodiverse colleagues?

    3. Soft services such as cleaning and general building appearance.

    4. Hard services such as maintenance and heating, ventilation and air conditioning

    5. External areas – is the street lighting adequate, are pathways clear, car park and bicycle facilities well maintained and are smoking areas kept tidy?

    6. Amenities including refreshment and wellness areas.

    7. Meeting spaces – are these ready for use and offer ‘how to’ guides.

    After each visit JLL collates its findings and generates a ‘score’ which enables comparison across the portfolio, but also acts as a benchmark against which to measure future visits. A report will also be issued to our Workplace Services team and Supply Chain Partners indicating JLL’s observations and recommendations for action. These are followed up to ensure that agreed actions are completed and can be reviewed on the next visit.

    In the five months from November 2023, JLL visited 27 locations and made a total 131 recommendations. While many of these might be quick fixes, there are some that require potential capital investment to enhance the office environment. Some of these are already in the pipeline and others will feed into future planning cycles. This work is complementary to the action plans that are developed as a result of the customer satisfaction surveys, which together, and in collaboration with JLL, help to demonstrate our commitment to delivering better workplaces for the Civil Service.

    If you spot the team on their visit, do feel free to share your experience of your office space.

    If you have any questions or would like any more information, please contact:  customerinsights@gpa.gov.uk

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    Celebrating our team successes

    We’re extremely proud of our people’s success at this year’s Government Property Awards and the CIPD People Management Awards.

    At the Government Property Awards, Project Director Sarah Mackintosh won in the Leadership category, with an entry that focused on her achievements while managing the build and fit-out at Quay House in Peterborough, creating a strong and integrated team to work through the many challenges such a project brings.

    Sarah Mackintosh said: > Now I’m over the shock of hearing my name called out, I’m thrilled to receive this recognition. For me it was all about the team, they worked brilliantly together and were hugely supportive. I am so happy I had the chance to work with them on this project.

    Quay House was also Highly Commended in the Project of the Year award. The building is in Fletton Quays, previously a derelict brownfield site but now part of the city’s £120 million vibrant regeneration scheme. The Passport Office and Defra are two of several clients now based there.

    Our PropTech team was also Highly Commended in the Transforming Places category for installing networks for GovWifi throughout GOGGS, a historically significant site, delivering a fast resilient network despite the restrictions of a listed building. 

    At the CIPD People Management Awards, our Skills and Specialism programme was shortlisted in two categories and was awarded the Best Learning and Development Initiative.

    The judges said that they were particularly impressed by our Skills Builder tool because it “allows for a deeper set of quality conversations that support self-directed learning and the drive to the desired learning culture”. 

    Chief Executive Mark Bourgeois said:

    It’s so rewarding to see the excellent work of our own people recognised and celebrated in these awards, against stiff competition. Congratulations to everyone involved, it’s a proud moment for the GPA.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sellafield engineer announced as finalist for prestigious award

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Technical engineer Natalie Parker has been shortlisted for the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards 2024.

    Natalie Parker, a technical specialist and manager for Operational Technology Group at Sellafield Ltd.

    Natalie is a technical specialist and manager for Operational Technology Group at Sellafield Ltd.

    In her role, Natalie offers technical advice to frontline engineering teams, provides project support and enhances facility operations by establishing an off-site space for engineers to share problems, develop innovative ideas and learn from each other’s experiences.

    Natalie is also committed to advocating a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, and organises workshops at various primary schools, engaging students with entertaining and interactive activities by introducing them to electrical circuits and programming.

    The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) highlight some of the exceptional talent and role models in the engineering sector such as Natalie who is passionate about encouraging young people, especially girls, to consider careers in engineering.

    With only 16% of engineering professionals being female, addressing this gender imbalance is a high priority for the IET.

    Natalie said:

    I am honoured to even be considered as a finalist. The passion and enjoyment I get from promoting a career in STEM to the future generation and helping to break down barriers as a woman gives me constant motivation.

    The IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards are a great platform to help promote all the amazing work carried out by engineers and highlight female role models in the engineering and technology fields.

    I am often asked what success looks like for equality and diversity in the industry and my answer is always that we will no longer need ED&I groups.

    The IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards 2024 will be held on 9 December 2024.

    Are you looking for your next career challenge at Sellafield Ltd?

    Graduate and placement applications are open

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Bashneft has introduced a new vehicle management system

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    ANK Bashneft (part of Rosneft) has organized the work of the Unified Transport Management Center, which significantly increases the efficiency of the Company’s vehicle fleet. According to preliminary estimates, the economic effect from the implementation of the innovation will amount to 350 million rubles annually.

    Rosneft is betting on digitalization in all areas of activity, which is one of the key elements of the Company’s strategy. The introduction of digital technologies allows for an increase in the speed of decision-making, as well as the transparency and manageability of processes throughout the entire production chain.

    The Unified Transport Control Center, created by specialists from Bashneft-Dobycha (Bashneft’s operator for oil and gas production), allows for online coordination of service transport operations within the production area. Rosneft service enterprises operating in the Republic of Bashkortostan and adjacent regions are connected to the Center: Bashneft-Stroy, RN-Burenie, RN-Service, RN-Remont NPO, and RN-Transport.

    The Center receives all information about technological or passenger transport: location, order fulfillment status, driver contacts, etc. The system allows to meet the transport needs of several enterprises of the Company during one shift. The Center operates under the control of a telematic electronic platform developed by Rosneft’s IT integrator, Sibintek Investment Company.

    Thanks to the introduction of a new transport management system, time losses in the operation of transport servicing drilling crews, well maintenance crews and oilfield equipment have been significantly reduced. The use of innovative technology allows for increased efficiency in the use of the vehicle fleet and, ultimately, production processes as a whole.

    Reference:

    ANK Bashneft is one of the oldest enterprises in the country’s oil and gas industry, operating in the extraction and processing of oil and gas. The company’s key assets, including an oil refining and petrochemical complex, are located in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Oil and gas exploration and production are also carried out in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Orenburg Region, the Perm Territory and the Republic of Tatarstan.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 14, 2024

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

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

    http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220895/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tech Secretary welcomes foreign investment in UK data centres which will spur economic growth and AI innovation in Britain

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Four major tech firms based in the US have committed to the UK as the place to invest in data centres, fueling Britain’s economic growth and spurring on AI development.

    £6.3 billion global investment into UK data centres.

    The Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has today (Monday 14 October) welcomed the ‘vote of confidence’ in Britain made by US firms CyrusOne, ServiceNow, Cloud HQ and CoreWeave, who have announced the UK will be the home for their data infrastructure worth a total of £6.3 billion.  

    The investments, announced as part of today’s International Investment Summit, will take the total investment in UK data centres to over £25 billion since this government took office, demonstrating the government’s continuous effort in driving growth by partnering with business.

    These new data centres will provide the UK with more computing power and data storage, so that Britain has the necessary infrastructure to train and deploy the next generation of AI technologies, such as complex machine learning models and algorithms. This in turn will help us roll out AI faster in areas like healthcare, which will help everyone live better and healthier lives.

    Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    Tech leaders from all over the world are seeing Britain as the best place to invest with a thriving and stable market for data centres and AI development. 

    Data centres power our day-to-day lives and boost innovation in growing sectors like AI. This is why only last month, I took steps to class UK data centres as Critical National Infrastructure giving the industry the ultimate reassurance the UK will always be a safe home for their investment. Today’s drumbeat of investment is a vote of confidence in Britain and our approach to work with business to deliver sustained growth for all. 

    It comes as Washington DC-headquartered firm CloudHQ is set to develop a new £1.9 billion data centre campus in Didcot, Oxfordshire. 

    The hyper-scale data centre is currently in development and will help meet the UK’s growing demand for AI and machine learning. It will create 1,500 jobs during construction, and 100 permanent jobs once fully operational.

    Hossein Fateh, CloudHQ’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, said:

    We are very excited to deliver a hyper-scale campus in the UK that is truly an extension of Slough due to our private diverse fibre optic route.

    Our site enables us to build out our campus environment to provide scale and density to meet our customers’ requirements.

    Global AI platform and software leader ServiceNow also confirmed its commitment to the UK market, with plans to invest £1.15 billion into its UK business over the next 5 years. The investment will not only support the future development of AI in the UK, expanding its data centres with Nvidia GPUs for local processing data, but also support new office space as the company significantly grows into employee base beyond its current headcount of 1,000 employees. 

    ServiceNow Chairman and CEO Bill McDermott said:

    Working together, ServiceNow and HM government are on the brink of a great unlock, putting AI to work for people across the country.

    AI-powered transformation is a generational opportunity to champion citizens, empower employees, and delight customers. ServiceNow’s investment will accelerate the UK’s innovation blueprint, redefining how people live and work.

    CyrusOne, a leading global data centre developer headquartered in the United States, announced plans to expand their investment into the UK to £2.5 billion over the coming years. 

    Subject to planning permission, the projects should be operational by Q4 2028 and are expected to create over 1,000 jobs both directly and within its immediate design and construction value chain.

    Eric Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer at CyrusOne, said:

    The UK government’s recent ‘critical national infrastructure’ (CNI) designation was a strong signal that data centres are of strategic importance to the UK economy. 

    It has provided CyrusOne with the confidence to continue its expansion in the UK and support the government’s policy ambition to become a centre of excellence for digital services, technology innovation and AI.

    Announcing its second investment in the UK this year, AI hyperscaler CoreWeave also confirmed £750 million to support the next generation of AI cloud infrastructure.  

    Building on its £1 billion investment announced in May and the opening of its European headquarters in London, CoreWeave will be investing a further £750 million in the UK to support the demand for critical AI infrastructure. The investment in the UK is CoreWeave’s second largest investment in a country following the USA. 

    Mike Intrator, CEO and co-founder of CoreWeave:

    CoreWeave’s multiple investments in 2024 are a mark of our confidence in the government’s commitment to attracting global private investment through the creation of a stable, business-friendly environment.

    We are encouraged by the UK’s strong talent pool, which is reflected in our decision earlier this year to open our European headquarters in London, and priority focus on investing in critical infrastructure, to drive the continued development of the UK’s thriving AI sector.

    Today’s investments follow major deals with investment giant Blackstone, who committed to £10 billion investment in the North East of England last month, and Amazon Web Services, who announced they plan to invest £8 billion in building, maintaining and operating data centres in the UK over the next 5 years. 

    Only last month, the Tech Secretary also classed UK data centres as ‘Critical National Infrastructure’ (CNI), giving the sector can greater government support in recovering from and anticipating critical incidents, ensuring the industry remains secure and stable. 

    In July, he also appointed entrepreneur Matt Clifford to kickstart an AI Opportunities Action Plan, which will set out how to boost take up of AI across all parts of the economy, and consider the necessary AI infrastructure, talent, and data access required to drive adoption by the public and private sectors. 

    This week’s International Investment Summit will see ministers and business leaders discuss how the UK can capitalise on emerging growth sectors including health tech and AI, clean energy and creative industries with confirmed speakers including Ruth Porat President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google, David Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly, Alex Kendall CEO of Wayve and Pushmeet Kohli Principal Scientist at Google DeepMind.

    The Prime Minister will take part in an “in conversation” event with former CEO and chairman of Google Eric Schmidt and CEO of GSK Dame Emma Walmsley to discuss how the UK can seize the opportunities of AI to drive growth and productivity, and it’s potential to improve public services such as health and education’

    Tech Secretary Peter Kyle will take part in a conversation about accelerating innovation as well as sign a memorandum of understanding with Elderberry, the world’s largest pharmaceutical firm, which sets the stage for a world-first trial of obesity medications on the NHS, in Greater Manchester, while the company plans to set up a new biotech hub in the UK.

    Notes to editors

    CloudHQ has already secured planning permission to build a state-of-the-art data centre campus in Didcot.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Smarter Working Live Awards 2024 shortlist

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Winners will be announced on Thursday 21 November for the awards celebrating outstanding examples of smarter working in the UK public sector.

    This November the Smarter Working Live Awards will recognise outstanding innovation through community, collaboration and creativity in the public sector. Now in it’s fourth year, the event is hosted by the Government Property Agency (GPA) in partnership with GovNews.

    This year’s award categories include:

    • Improving Spaces – creating a great place to work
    • Future Focused and Sustainable Property
    • Innovation as a Service
    • Digital Innovation as a Service
    • Harnessing the Value of Data
    • Customer Experience
    • User Experience
    • Smarter Workflows
    • Digital Inclusion
    • Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
    • Building Collaborative Communities
    • Small-scale, Big Impact
    • Putting People First
    • Championing Continuous Improvement
    • Outstanding Smarter Working Leadership
    • Judges Choice – Special Recognition
    • Judges Choice – Beyond Smarter Working

    View the Smarter Working Live Awards 2024 shortlist.

    The GPA continues to lead the sector in championing smarter working practices and innovation as a key part of our vision for a transformed, shared, sustainable and value for money government estate supporting civil servants to work productively in every nation and region of the UK.

    Smarter Working Live continues the legacy of our Smarter Working Programme, which enabled 31 government bodies to achieve Smarter Working Mature status, empowering their workforce with choices about how, where and when to work.

    The awards ceremony will take place at The Vox Conference Venue in Birmingham on Thursday 21 November. Tickets are available from the Smarter Working Live website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on Sri Kalahasti Co-operative Town Bank Limited, Andhra Pradesh

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 04, 2024, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) on Sri Kalahasti Co-operative Town Bank Limited, Andhra Pradesh (the bank) for non-compliance with provisions of Section 31 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act). This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI, conferred under the provisions of section 47A(1)(c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the BR Act.

    Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with statutory provision and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said statutory provision. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made by it during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

    The bank had failed to submit its accounts and balance-sheet together with the auditor’s report for the financial year 2022-23 to RBI within stipulated period of three months.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/1285

    MIL OSI Economics –