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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City’s litter busting volunteers thanked as Great British Spring Clean warms up

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Members of the Friends of Smestow Valley in partnership with the Severn Rivers Trust and other local community volunteers met on Saturday (1 March) to clear along the banks of Smestow Brook and surrounding areas of the nature reserve.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for resident services, joined in the clean up and council officers helped litter pick and arranged to collect and remove the bags of rubbish.

    Also joining the event on Saturday was Tracey Hodgson, owner of city business Falcon Industrial Supplies in Park Lane. The company has donated 50 high viz vests and 24 pairs of gloves to the council for use during litter picks.

    A further 50 litter pickers and 50 pairs of gloves have been donated by Justin Brown from the Landscape Supply Company, which works with councils across the country.

    Saturday’s litter picking efforts come as plans for this year’s Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean are warming up. The national annual tidy up, which will run from 21 March to 6 April, is now in its tenth year.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, said: “It was great to be able to join such a committed group of volunteers at Smestow Brook.

    “It is clear the pride that they have in their city and I would like to thank them all for giving their time to Wolverhampton. There is no excuse for littering and everyone can help keep their communities clean by disposing of their rubbish properly.

    “Our officers were able to support the volunteers with clearing away bags and I’d also like to thank Tracey and Justin who have donated equipment to help. I hope that these combined efforts will inspire others to get involved in the Great British Spring Clean.”

    This year’s Great British Spring Clean is encouraging people across the country to show they love where they live by taking part in mass action litter picks.

    The charity is calling on communities to pick one bag or more of litter from streets, parks, beauty spots or beaches to protect the country’s vibrant communities and precious wildlife habitats.
    Any local residents who would like to organise a litter picking event, at any time of the year, can complete our online form at Community involvement.

    Event organisers are encouraged to log their litter picks at Great British Spring Clean | Keep Britain Tidy.

    Larger items of rubbish and heavily littered streets can be reported to the council to clean up via the Love Clean Streets App. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City set for return of Midlands’ largest light festival

    Source: City of Leicester

    WITH just days to go before the return of Light up Leicester, organisers are making the final touches to deliver a spectacular festival that will include joyful parades, inspirational performances and amazing light installations.

    Running from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 March, the free event will light up the city centre every evening, from 6pm to 10pm.

    Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “This promises to be a wonderful festival with something for everyone, including a unique event taking place on each night of the festival. We look forward to welcoming many thousands of people to our city to enjoy all that Light up Leicester has to offer.”

    Event highlights include:

    Wednesday 12 March

    11am-2pm – Schools’ opening parade. Led by local arts company Inspirate with music from Drum and Brass, 300 children will process from the Cathedral to the Clock Tower and back, with artwork that will form the leaves of the ‘Roots of our Tree’ light installation next to the King Richard lll Visitor Centre.

    6pm – Radiant Routes evening parade. Brazilian beats meet Bhangra in this parade led by Nupur Arts, with dancers performing as they move from the Cathedral to the Clock Tower and back again. They’ll be accompanied by samba band Sambando, with Japanese drumming and lanterns from Leicester Taiko.

    6.30pm – Unveiling of Cathedral, Crown and Culture, a major projection and digital animation installation on Leicester Cathedral, with reference to Leicester’s history, communities and the interment of King Richard lll. Produced by local company Metro Boulot Dodo, this will run for the duration of the festival.

    Thursday 13 March

    6.30-8.30pm – Illuminated Bike Parade. Everyone is invited to bling their bike with stickers and LED lights and join in a 1.5km ride  around the city centre. People can register at www.lightupleicester.com

    Friday 14 March

    6.30pm and 7.30pm – The Holi Experience at the Clock Tower. Nupur Arts bring high-energy dance performances celebrating Holi, to the Clock Tower.

    Saturday 15 March

    7pm-8pm – Fiers a Cheval by Compagnie des Quidams. Stunning four–metre high glowing inflatable horses will promenade their way down New Walk, culminating in an enchanting 30 minute performance outside Mattioli Woods on New Walk Place.

    Visitors to the city on Friday and Saturday evening will be able to see walkabout performances featuring Mexican skeleton puppets, LED ‘Glowbots’ and Enter Edem’s ‘Aquanauts’, as well as spoken word performances by Literati Arts. Light Up Leicester will also offer funfair rides, street food and an artisan night market. Find out more about everything that’s on offer at lightupleicester.com/events/

    Art installations

    In addition to events and performances, fixed art installations will be lighting up the city centre from 6pm to 10pm from Wednesday to Saturday. Highlights include:

    • Evanscent – Giant bubble-inspired structures, Jubilee Square
    • Double Flux – Pulsating waves of light from a mesmerising kinetic sculpture, Bath House Lane (pictured)
    • Hula Hoop – Geometric hoops of light and sound, High Street
    • Chorus – Light and motion sculpture fusing contemporary and classical Indian music sounds, Market Street
    • Noor Tower – LED light tower inspired by Moroccan architecture, Churchgate
    • Beacon – Dramatic 2km high light sculpture, Clock Tower
    • Henge – A light and sound installation inspired by ancient monuments, Town Hall Square
    • Nocturnal – Glowing inflatable wildlife installations, St Martin’s Square

    Light Up Leicester is presented by Leicester City Council, BID Leicester, Leicester Cathedral and Art Reach. It is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Global Streets, PPL PRS and headline sponsor Highcross.

    Michelle Menezes, centre director, Highcross Leicester said: “It is great that we are once again supporting Light Up Leicester, not only as headline sponsor but also as a location for ‘Double Flux’ a fantastic piece of illuminated artwork that will snake its way down Bath House Lane. This forms part of the new strategy for Highcross which includes developing new partnerships with local stakeholders to bring exciting events to the centre for the community to enjoy. I’m very much looking forward to seeing Light Up Leicester come to life, and delight visitors to the city and Highcross.”

    Simon Jenner, BID Leicester director said: “As a presenting partner and major sponsor, we’re proud to have led the festival’s marketing campaign once again and helped bring this spectacular event to life. Light Up Leicester is a testament to the power of partnership, with our partners working collaboratively together to create something truly special for the city. We can’t wait to see Leicester illuminated once again!”

    Greg Aiello, managing director of PPL PRS said: “It’s great that Light Up Leicester is returning to the city in 2025, with a programme filled not only with  fantastic light installations, but with dance, walking performers and music! PPL PRS is proud to support this event as it will bring additional visitors into the city to enjoy Light Up Leicester, as well as the brilliant hospitality venues we have. It will be a real treat for all that attend, and thanks to all those involved in organising it.”

    Festival organisers are committed to making the festival accessible to everyone. There will be a dedicated access support hub open every evening from 6pm to 10pm at the Visit Leicester information centre, where friendly staff will be ready to assist.

    Accessible tours are available to help people with additional access needs to get around the festival, using rickshaws, box bikes and gazelles which can carry children and wheelchairs.

    Leicester businesses are joining in the festival by offering tasty dining discounts throughout. Diners can enjoy 25% off the total bill at Kayal, Herb, and Merchant of Venice, 20% off at the Queen of Bradgate, Middleton’s and Restaurant 1573, or enjoy three courses for £20 at Turtle Bay. Details of all offers and deals available throughout the festival are on the Light Up Leicester website offers page. Offers – Light Up Leicester

    Full details of the festival, including information about all the installations, the opening day parades, free performances and a Gallowtree Gate night market, are available on the festival website at www.lightupleicester.com 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Notice to Aktia Bank Plc’s Annual General Meeting 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Aktia Bank Plc
    Stock Exchange Release
    6 March 2025 at 1.00 p.m.

    Notice to Aktia Bank Plc’s Annual General Meeting 2025

    Notice is hereby given to Aktia Bank Plc shareholders that the Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, 3 April 2025 at 4.00 p.m. at Pikku-Finlandia, address Karamzininranta 4, Helsinki. Persons who have registered for the meeting will be welcomed and voting sheets will be distributed from 3.00 p.m. onwards.

    Shareholders of Aktia Bank Plc can also exercise their voting rights by voting in advance. Instructions for advance voting are set out in section C of this notice to the Annual General Meeting.

    It is possible to follow the Annual General Meeting via webcast. Instructions on how to follow the webcast are available on the company’s website www.aktia.com/en/investors/corporate-governance/annual-general-meeting. It is not possible to ask questions, make counterproposals, make other interventions, or vote via webcast. Following the meeting via webcast shall not be considered as participation in the Annual General Meeting or as the exercise of shareholders’ rights.

    A. Matters to be discussed at the Annual General Meeting

    The agenda of the Annual General Meeting will be as follows:

    1.   Opening of the meeting

    2.   Calling the meeting to order

    3.   Election of persons to scrutinise the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes

    4.   Recording the legality of the meeting

    5.   Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes

    6.   Presentation of the financial statements, consolidated financial statements, report by the Board of Directors and Auditor’s report for 2024

    CEO’s presentation.

    The company’s financial statements and Annual Report, including the report by the Board of Directors, sustainability report, the Auditor’s report and the assurance report on sustainability reporting, will be published no later than 13 March 2025, after which they are available on the company’s website at www.aktia.com.

    7.   Adoption of the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements

    The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting adopts the financial statements. The company’s auditor has recommended adopting the financial statements.

    8.   Resolution on the use of the profit shown in the balance sheet and the payment of dividend

    The Board of Directors proposes that a dividend of EUR 0.82 per share shall be paid for the financial year 2024.

    Shareholders registered in the register of shareholders of the company maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date for the dividend payment 7 April 2025 are entitled to the dividend. The Board of Directors proposes that the dividend shall be paid out on 14 April 2025 in accordance with the rules of Euroclear Finland Ltd.

    9.   Resolution on the discharge from liability of the members of the Board of Directors, the CEO and his deputy

    10.   Handling of the Remuneration Report of the governing bodies

    The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the Remuneration Report for the company’s governing bodies be confirmed.

    The 2024 Remuneration Report of the company’s governing bodies will be published no later than 13 March 2025, after which it is available on the company’s website at www.aktia.com.

    11.   Resolution on remuneration for the members of the Board

    The Nomination Board proposes that the remuneration for the Board of Directors for the term be unchanged and determined as follows:

    • Chair, EUR 75,000 (2024: EUR 75,000)
    • Deputy Chair, EUR 50,000 (2024: EUR 50,000)
    • member, EUR 40,000 (2024: EUR 40,000)

    Annual remunerations for the Chairs of each Committee as well as meeting remunerations are proposed to be unchanged, meaning that it is proposed that the Chair of each Committee will further receive an annual remuneration of EUR 8,000. The proposed meeting remuneration for Board and Committee meetings is EUR 700 per attended meeting for each person (EUR 700 per attended meeting for each person in 2024). If participation in a board meeting requires travelling outside the board member’s country of residence, the remuneration for board meeting is EUR 1,400 per attended meeting for each person (EUR 1,400 per attended meeting for each person in 2024). The remuneration of the members of the Board is not treated as income forming basis for earnings-related pension. Compensation for travel and accommodation expenses as well as a daily allowance is paid in line with the Finnish Tax Administration’s guidelines and the travel instructions of the company.

    The Nomination Board proposes that approximately 40% of the annual remuneration (gross amount) shall be paid to the members in the form of Aktia shares. The company will on account of the Board members acquire Aktia shares on the market to the price that is formed through public trading or it will transfer the company’s own shares to the Board members and the rest of the annual remuneration payable is paid in cash. The shares are acquired or transferred during a two-week time period from the day following the company’s interim report for 1 January 2025–31 March 2025 is disclosed or as soon as possible in accordance with applicable legislation. If the remuneration can’t be paid in shares, it can be paid in cash entirely. The company will be responsible for all expenses and the possible transfer tax for acquiring or transferring the shares.

    12.   Resolution on the number of members of the Board of Directors

    The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that the number of members of the Board of Directors be decreased from nine (9) to seven (7) members. However, should any of the candidates proposed under section 13 below not be able to attend the Board, the proposed number of Board members shall be decreased accordingly.

    13.   Election of members of the Board of Directors

    The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that of the present members of the Board of Directors Joakim Frimodig, Carl Haglund, Maria Jerhamre Engström, Harri Lauslahti and Matts Rosenberg, based on their consent, shall be re-elected for a term continuing until the next Annual General Meeting has concluded. For more information on the members of the Board of Directors proposed to be re-elected, please see the company’s website at www.aktia.com. The Board members of Aktia Bank Ann Grevelius, Sari Pohjonen, Johannes Schulman and Lasse Svens have informed that they will not be available for re-election.

    The Shareholders’ Nomination Board also proposes that Hanne Katrama and Sari Somerkallio are elected as new members of the Board of Directors for the same term, based on their consent. Further information on the new Board members proposed to be elected have been attached to this notice and can be found on the company’s website at www.aktia.com closer to the company’s Annual General Meeting.

    Should any of the candidates presented above not be able to attend the Board, the available candidates are proposed to be elected accordingly.

    All the proposed persons are independent in relation to the company according to the definition of the Corporate Governance Code. Only Matts Rosenberg is not independent of a significant shareholder since he is the Chair of the board of RG Partners Oy, the largest shareholder (10.13%) of Aktia Bank. In addition, Rosenberg is the CEO of Rettig Oy Ab, which is the largest owner of RG Partners Oy.

    All the proposed persons have informed that they intend, if they are elected, to re-elect Matts Rosenberg amongst them as Chair of the Board of Directors and to elect Joakim Frimodig as Deputy Chair.

    14.   Resolution on the auditor’s and sustainability reporting assurance provider’s remuneration

    The Board of Directors proposes, based on the recommendation of the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee, that remuneration shall be paid to the auditor against the auditor’s reasonable invoice. The Board of Directors also proposes that remuneration shall be paid to the sustainability reporting assurance provider against a reasonable invoice for measures related to the assurance of sustainability reporting.

    15.   Determination of the number of auditors and sustainability reporting assurance providers

    The Board of Directors proposes, based on the recommendation of the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee, that the number of auditors and sustainability reporting assurance providers shall be one (1).

    16.   Election of the auditor and the sustainability reporting assurance provider

    The Board of Directors proposes, based on the recommendation of the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee, that KPMG Oy Ab, a firm of authorised public accountants, shall be elected as auditor, with Tiia Kataja, APA, as auditor-in-charge. The Board of Directors also proposes, based on the recommendation of the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee, that KPMG Oy Ab, an Authorised Sustainability Audit Firm, shall be elected as sustainability reporting assurance provider, with Tiia Kataja, Authorised Sustainability Auditor (ASA), as sustainability reporting assurance provider-in-charge. The auditor and the sustainability reporting assurance provider shall be elected for a term of office beginning when the Annual General Meeting 2025 has ended and continuing up until the Annual General Meeting 2026 has ended.

    17.   Authorising the Board of Directors to decide on one or more issues of shares or special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act

    The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting authorises the Board of Directors to issue shares, or special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10 of the Companies Act, as follows:

    A maximum amount of 7,316,000 shares can be issued based on this authorisation, which corresponds to approximately 10% of all shares in the company.

    The Board of Directors is authorised to decide on all terms for issues of shares and of special rights entitling to shares. The authorisation concerns the issuance of new shares. Issues of shares or of special rights entitling to shares can be carried out in deviation from the shareholders’ pre-emptive subscription right to the company’s shares (directed share issue).

    The Board of Directors has the right to use this authorisation, among other things, to strengthen the company’s capital base, for the company’s share-based incentive scheme, acquisitions and/or other corporate transactions.

    The authorisation is effective for 18 months from the resolution by the General Meeting and revokes the issue authorisation given by the Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024.

    18.   Authorising the Board of Directors to decide on the acquisition of the company’s own shares

    The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorises the Board of Directors to decide on the acquisition of 500,000 shares at a maximum, corresponding to approximately 0.7% of the total number of shares in the company.

    The company’s own shares may be acquired in one or several tranches using the unrestricted equity of the company.

    The company’s own shares may be acquired at a price formed in public trading on the date of the acquisition, or at a price otherwise prevailing on the market. The company’s own shares may be acquired in a proportion other than that of the shares held by the shareholders (directed acquisition).

    The company’s own shares may be acquired to be used in the company’s share-based incentive schemes and/or for the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors, for further transfer, retention, or cancellation.

    The Board of Directors is authorised to decide on all additional terms concerning the acquisition of the company’s own shares.

    The authorisation is effective for 18 months from the resolution by the General Meeting and revokes the authorisation to purchase the company’s own shares given by the Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024.

    19.   Authorising the Board of Directors to decide to divest the company’s own shares

    The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorises the Board of Directors to decide on divesting own shares held by the company, as follows.

    Based on the authorisation, a maximum of 500,000 shares may be divested.

    Board of Directors is authorised to decide on all additional terms concerning the divestment of the company’s own shares. The divestment of the company’s own shares can be carried out in deviation from the shareholders’ pre-emptive subscription rights to shares in the company (directed share issue), e.g., for implementing the company’s incentive programs and for remuneration, including divesting the company’s own shares to board members for payment of board remuneration.

    The authorisation is effective for 18 months from the resolution by the General Meeting and revokes the authorisation to divest the company’s own shares given by the Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024.

    20.   Closing of the meeting

    B. Documents of the Annual General Meeting

    The proposals for the decisions on the matters on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting as well as this notice are available on Aktia Bank Plc’s website www.aktia.com. Aktia Bank Plc’s Annual Report including the company’s financial statements, the report by the Board of Directors (including the sustainability report), the Auditor’s report and the assurance report on sustainability reporting, and the 2024 Remuneration Report of the governing bodies, will be available on the above-mentioned website on 13 March 2025, at the latest. The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available on the above-mentioned website on 17 April 2025, at the latest.

    C. Instructions for the participants in the Annual General Meeting

    1. Shareholders registered in the shareholders’ register

    Each shareholder, who is registered in the company’s register of shareholders maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd as at 24 March 2025, has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting. A shareholder whose shares are registered in their personal Finnish book-entry account is registered in the company’s register of shareholders. Any changes in the ownership of shares that have occurred after the record date of the Annual General Meeting do not affect the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting nor the number of votes of the shareholder.

    Registration for the Annual General Meeting starts on 7 March 2025 at 10.00 a.m. Shareholders who are registered in the company’s register of shareholders and who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting must register for the General Meeting by 4.00 p.m. on 27 March 2025, at the latest. Participants can register for the Annual General Meeting:

    a) through the company’s website www.aktia.com/en/investors/corporate-governance/annual-general-meeting. Electronic registration requires strong identification of the shareholder or his/her legal representative or proxy with a Finnish, Swedish or Danish bank ID or mobile certificate;

    b) by e-mail to Innovatics Ltd at agm@innovatics.fi. A shareholder registering by e-mail shall include in the message the registration form available on the company’s website www.aktia.com/en/investors/corporate-governance/annual-general-meeting and a possible advance voting form or equivalent information; or

    c) by mail to Innovatics Ltd, Annual General Meeting / Aktia Bank Plc, Ratamestarinkatu 13 A, FI-00520 Helsinki. A shareholder registering by mail shall include in the message the registration form available on the company’s website www.aktia.com/en/investors/corporate-governance/annual-general-meeting and a possible advance voting form or equivalent information.

    When registering, please provide the necessary information, such as the shareholder’s name, date of birth or business ID, contact details, the name of any assistant or proxy representative and the proxy’s date of birth. The personal data provided by shareholders to Aktia Bank Plc or Innovatics Ltd will only be used in connection with the Annual General Meeting and the processing of the necessary registrations related thereto.

    The shareholder, his/her representative or proxy must be able to prove his/her identity and/or right of representation at the meeting. Further information on the use of proxy and power of attorney are described below in section C 3.

    Further information on registration and advance voting is available by telephone during the registration period of the Annual General Meeting by calling at +358 10 2818 909 on weekdays from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

    2. Owners of nominee registered shares

    A holder of nominee registered shares has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting by virtue of such shares, based on which he/she on the record date of the Annual General Meeting 24 March 2025 would be entitled to be registered in the company’s register of shareholders maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd. Participation also requires that the shareholder has been entered into the company’s temporary register of shareholders, maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd, on the basis of such shares by 31 March 2025 at 10.00 a.m. at the latest. In the case of nominee-registered shares, this is considered registration for the Annual General Meeting. Changes in the shareholding after the record date of the Annual General Meeting do not affect the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting or the shareholder’s voting rights.

    The holder of nominee-registered shares is advised to request well in advance the necessary instructions from his/her custodian bank regarding temporary registration in the register of shareholders, the issuing of proxy documents and voting instructions, registration, and attendance at the Annual General Meeting and, if necessary, advance voting. The account manager of the custodian bank shall register the holder of nominee-registered shares attending the Annual General Meeting in the temporary register of shareholders of the company by the aforementioned date and time at the latest and, if necessary, arrange for advance voting on behalf of the holder of nominee-registered shares before the end of the registration period for holders of nominee-registered shares.

    3. Proxy representatives and powers of attorney

    A shareholder may attend the Annual General Meeting and exercise his/her rights there through a proxy representative. A shareholder’s proxy may also elect to vote in advance as described in this notice if he/she so wishes. The proxy representative shall authenticate to the electronic registration service and advance voting personally with strong authentication, after which he/she will be able to register and vote in advance on behalf of the shareholder that he/she represents. The shareholder’s proxy must present dated proxy documents, or otherwise in a reliable manner prove that he/she is entitled to represent the shareholder at the Annual General Meeting. You can prove your right to representation by using the Suomi.fi e-Authorisations service available in the electronic registration service.

    Model proxy documents and voting instructions are available on the company’s website www.aktia.com/en/investors/corporate-governance/annual-general-meeting. If a shareholder participates in the Annual General Meeting through several proxies representing the shareholder with shares held in different securities accounts, the shares on the basis of which each proxy represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration.

    Proxy documents are requested to be submitted preferably as an attachment with the electronic registration or alternatively by mail to Innovatics Ltd, Annual General Meeting / Aktia Bank Plc, Ratamestarinkatu 13 A, FI-00520 Helsinki or by e-mail to agm@innovatics.fi before the end of the registration period. In addition to submitting the proxy documents, the shareholder or his/her proxy shall register for the Annual General Meeting in the manner described above in this notice.

    4. Advance voting

    A shareholder whose shares in the company are registered in his/her personal Finnish book-entry account may vote in advance between 7 March 2025 and 27 March 2025 on certain items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting

    a) via the company’s website at www.aktia.com/en/investors/corporate-governance/annual-general-meeting. Login to the service is done in the same way as for registration in section C.1 of this notice;

    b) by mail by submitting the advance voting form available on the company’s website or equivalent information to Innovatics Ltd at Innovatics Ltd, Annual General Meeting / Aktia Bank Plc, Ratamestarinkatu 13 A, FI-00520 Helsinki, Finland; or

    c) by e-mail by submitting the advance voting form available on the company’s website or equivalent information to Innovatics Ltd by e-mail at agm@innovatics.fi.

    Advance votes must be received by the time the advance voting ends. The submission of votes by mail or e-mail before the end of the registration and advance voting period shall be considered registration for the Annual General Meeting, provided that it contains the abovementioned information required for registration.

    A shareholder who has voted in advance cannot exercise the right to ask questions or demand a vote under the Finnish Companies Act unless he/she attends the Annual General Meeting in person or by proxy at the meeting venue.

    With respect to nominee registered shareholders, the advance voting is carried out by the account manager. The account manager may vote in advance on behalf of the holders of nominee-registered shares whom he/she represents in accordance with the voting instructions given by them during the registration period set for the nominee-registered shareholders.

    Proposals for resolution that are subject to advance voting are deemed to have been made at the Annual General Meeting without any changes.

    5. Further instructions for attendees of the Annual General Meeting

    The official language of the meeting is Swedish, but the meeting will be partly conducted also in Finnish. Shareholders may address the meeting and present questions in both Swedish and Finnish. There is no simultaneous interpretation at the meeting.

    Shareholders present at the Annual General Meeting have the right to present questions about the matters discussed at the meeting in accordance with Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Finnish Companies Act.

    Changes in the shareholding after the record date of the Annual General Meeting do not affect the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting or the shareholder’s voting rights.

    Shareholders are welcome to participate in coffee service arranged after the meeting.

    On the date of this notice to the Annual General Meeting the total number of shares in Aktia Bank Plc is 73,161,696 shares, representing 73,161,696 votes. The company holds on the date of this notice a total number of 56,708 of its own shares. The shares held by the company on the record date of the Annual General Meeting do not entitle to vote at the Annual General Meeting.

    Helsinki, 6 March 2025

    AKTIA BANK PLC
    BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    Appendix 1: information on the proposed new members of the Board of Directors

    For more information, please contact:
    Lasse Svens, Chair of the Board, tel. +358 500 562 945
    Ari Syrjäläinen, General Counsel, tel. +358 10 247 6350

    Distribution:
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Central media
    www.aktia.com

    Aktia is a Finnish asset manager, bank and life insurer that has been creating wealth and wellbeing from one generation to the next for 200 years. We serve our customers in digital channels everywhere and face-to-face in our offices in the Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa and Oulu regions. Our award-winning asset management business sells investment funds internationally. We employ approximately 850 people around Finland. Aktia’s assets under management (AuM) on 31 December 2024 amounted to EUR 14.0 billion, and the balance sheet total was EUR 11.9 billion. Aktia’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd (AKTIA). aktia.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Everything Blockchain Announces Plan to Tokenize Stock Following Coinbase’s Groundbreaking Move

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Jacksonville, FL, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Everything Blockchain (OTC: $EBZT), a leader in the intersection of blockchain technology and traditional finance, today announced its intent to closely follow Coinbase’s pioneering decision to tokenize its stock. The company is positioning itself as one of the first publicly traded entities to take advantage of tokenized securities, marking a monumental step towards revolutionizing shareholder engagement and increasing market efficiency.

    As of today, Coinbase has reignited its plans to tokenize its COIN stock and other securities in the U.S., following the SEC’s formation of a new “crypto task force” aimed at fostering greater clarity and regulatory oversight for digital assets. Tokenized securities offer a wide range of benefits for investors, including but not limited to:

    1. Enhanced Liquidity: Tokenization enables the fractionalization of shares, allowing investors to buy and sell in smaller increments. This opens the door to a broader, more diverse investor base, facilitating higher levels of liquidity and market participation.
    2. Increased Transaction Efficiency: Blockchain technology significantly reduces the need for intermediaries, streamlining transactions and lowering costs associated with traditional methods of trading and settlement.
    3. Improved Transparency and Security: All transactions are recorded on a public ledger, ensuring complete transparency, auditability, and security for investors.
    4. Global Access and 24/7 Trading: Tokenized securities can be accessed from anywhere in the world, offering unparalleled flexibility and real-time market engagement. This accessibility is a significant improvement over traditional markets, which are often bound by time zone restrictions.
    5. Enhanced Voting Rights and Profit-Sharing: Investors in tokenized securities are able to exercise voting rights and participate in profit-sharing schemes through smart contracts, giving them a more direct influence on the company’s future decisions.

    By closely following Coinbase’s strategy, EBZT is positioning itself as a first-mover in this emerging space. The company’s commitment to tokenizing its stock will not only position it as a leader in the blockchain sector but will also drive deeper shareholder engagement, enabling direct participation in company governance.

    Arthur Rozenberg, CEO of Everything Blockchain, commented:
     “The move to tokenize our stock is a natural progression for Everything Blockchain. As the financial world continues to evolve, we believe tokenization represents the future of shareholder engagement, transparency, and market efficiency. By acting as one of the first publicly traded companies to embrace this technology, we are taking a bold step in redefining the future of investing and positioning EBZT at the forefront of the blockchain revolution.”

    First-Mover Advantage:
    With the SEC’s recent regulatory developments creating an ideal environment for tokenization, EBZT’s early adoption of this groundbreaking technology provides a unique opportunity to capitalize on the emerging market for digital securities. Tokenization of EBZT stock will offer numerous advantages, including the potential for increased shareholder participation, the ability to tap into a global investor base, and greater liquidity—all of which are poised to attract both traditional and crypto-savvy investors.

    About Everything Blockchain Inc.
    Everything Blockchain, Inc. (OTCMKTS: EBZT) focuses on identifying key challenges and opportunities in AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. The company is dedicated to investing in and innovating solutions that empower investors and advance global industries. For more information, visit https://www.ebzt.info/
    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities and words such as “anticipate,” “seek,” intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan” or similar phrases may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company’s reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of blockchain based products. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions will prove to be accurate. 
    Contact:
     Arthur Rozenberg
    CEO, Everything Blockchain, Inc.
    arthur.rozenberg@everythingblockchain.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: EOLO chooses Thales to expand high-speed Internet access in Italy

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: EOLO chooses Thales to expand high-speed Internet access in Italy

    • EOLO partners with Thales to bring ultrafast broadband to underserved Italian communities.
    • Thales’ eSIM solution enables seamless 5G connectivity for EOLO’s new Internet offerings, based on Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology.
    • This initiative supports the EU’s goal of ‘universal 1Gbps broadband by 2030’ as well as EOLO’s and Thales Commitment to Digital Inclusion and to Innovation.

    The European Union aims to ensure that all citizens have access to 1Gbps broadband by 2030 and EOLO selected Thales for its leading connectivity solutions. Achieving this vision requires innovative solutions like Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), which delivers high-speed internet to areas lacking traditional fiber or copper networks. FWA is crucial for connecting people in small towns and rural regions, supporting economic growth, and bridging the digital divide.

    EOLO’s Vision for Faster Connectivity

    As Italy’s leading FWA provider, EOLO has been pioneering radio technology to deliver affordable, high-speed internet. Currently, the company serves more than 700.000 households and FWA connectivity can reach speeds of up to 300 Mbps in download. To furtherly improve customer experience and reach Italian territories with a service able to bridge digital speed divide, EOLO is launching a 1Gbps FWA service in 2025, combining 5G and millimeter wave (mmWave) technology. This rollout will include a new 5G antenna network and thousands of eSIM-enabled devices installed at customer locations.

    Thales’ Expertise in Secure Connectivity

    Thales is playing a key role in this expansion by providing its eSIM Management platform, Thales On-Demand Subscription Manager (OSM). This technology allows EOLO’s 5G Routers to be pre-configured with mobile subscriptions, making installation faster and easier. Customers will benefit from instant activation as soon as they power on their devices, ensuring seamless connectivity.

    “The infrastructure that we are building together will play a pivotal role by complementing fiber coverage in our country. With a connectivity able to reach 1 Gbps, we will meet the ambitious goals of both European and Italian agendas, helping citizens and enterprises to overcome digital divide and digital speed divide”, commented Guido Garrone, CEO at EOLO.

    “Reliable, secure connectivity is essential for digital transformation,” said Eva Rudin, VP Mobile Connectivity Solutions at Thales. “By supporting EOLO with our advanced eSIM technology, we are enabling faster broadband deployment and helping to bridge the digital divide across Europe.”

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

    The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

    Thales has nearly 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Earth’s oldest impact crater was just found in Australia – exactly where geologists hoped it would be

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Johnson, Professor, Geology, Curtin University

    Shatter cones formed by the impact in the Pilbara. Tim Johnson

    We have discovered the oldest meteorite impact crater on Earth, in the very heart of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The crater formed more than 3.5 billion years ago, making it the oldest known by more than a billion years. Our discovery is published today in Nature Communications.

    Curiously enough, the crater was exactly where we had hoped it would be, and its discovery supports a theory about the birth of Earth’s first continents.

    The very first rocks

    The oldest rocks on Earth formed more than 3 billion years ago, and are found in the cores of most modern continents. However, geologists still cannot agree how or why they formed.

    Nonetheless, there is agreement that these early continents were critical for many chemical and biological processes on Earth.

    Many geologists think these ancient rocks formed above hot plumes that rose from above Earth’s molten metallic core, rather like wax in a lava lamp. Others maintain they formed by plate tectonic processes similar to modern Earth, where rocks collide and push each other over and under.

    Although these two scenarios are very different, both are driven by the loss of heat from within the interior of our planet.

    We think rather differently.

    A few years ago, we published a paper suggesting that the energy required to make continents in the Pilbara came from outside Earth, in the form of one or more collisions with meteorites many kilometres in diameter.

    As the impacts blasted up enormous volumes of material and melted the rocks around them, the mantle below produced thick “blobs” of volcanic material that evolved into continental crust.

    Our evidence then lay in the chemical composition of tiny crystals of the mineral zircon, about the size of sand grains. But to persuade other geologists, we needed more convincing evidence, preferably something people could see without needing a microscope.

    So, in May 2021, we began the long drive north from Perth for two weeks of fieldwork in the Pilbara, where we would meet up with our partners from the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) to hunt for the crater. But where to start?

    On the hunt for shatter cones in a typical Pilbara landscape with our trusted GSWA vehicles.
    Chris Kirkland

    A serendipitous beginning

    Our first target was an unusual layer of rocks known as the Antarctic Creek Member, which crops out on the flanks of a dome some 20 kilometres in diameter. The Antarctic Creek Member is only 20 metres or so in thickness, and mostly comprises sedimentary rocks that are sandwiched between several kilometres of dark, basaltic lava.

    However, it also contains spherules – droplets formed from molten rock thrown up during an impact. But these drops could have travelled across the globe from a giant impact anywhere on Earth, most likely from a crater that has now been destroyed.

    After consulting the GSWA maps and aerial photography, we located an area in the centre of the Pilbara along a dusty track to begin our search. We parked the offroad vehicles and headed our separate ways across the outcrops, more in hope than expectation, agreeing to meet an hour later to discuss what we’d found and grab a bite to eat.

    Large hut-like shatter cones in the rocks of the Antarctic Creek Member at the discovery site. The rocks on the hilltop farthest left are basalts that lay directly over the shatter cones.
    Tim Johnson

    Remarkably, when we returned to the vehicle, we all thought we’d found the same thing: shatter cones.

    Shatter cones are beautiful, delicate branching structures, not dissimilar to a badminton shuttlecock. They are the only feature of shock visible to the naked eye, and in nature can only form following a meteorite impact.

    An approximately one metre tall shatter cone ‘hut’, with the rolling hills of the Pilbara in the background.
    Chris Kirkland

    Little more than an hour into our search, we had found precisely what we were looking for. We had literally opened the doors of our 4WDs and stepped onto the floor of a huge, ancient impact crater.

    Frustratingly, after taking some photographs and grabbing a few samples, we had to move on to other sites, but we determined to return as soon as possible. Most importantly, we needed to know how old the shatter cones were. Had we discovered the oldest known crater on Earth?

    It turned out that we had.

    There and back again

    With some laboratory research under our belts, we returned to the site in May 2024 to spend ten days examining the evidence in more detail.

    Shatter cones were everywhere, developed throughout most of the Antarctic Creek Member, which we traced for several hundred metres into the rolling hills of the Pilbara.

    Our observations showed that above the layer with the shatter cones was a thick layer of basalt with no evidence of impact shock. This meant the impact had to be the same age as the Antarctic Member rocks, which we know are 3.5 billion years old.

    Delicate shatter cones within rocks typical of the Antarctic Creek Member.
    Tim Johnson

    We had our age, and the record for the oldest impact crater on Earth. Perhaps our ideas regarding the ultimate origin of the continents were not so mad, as many told us.

    Serendipity is a marvellous thing. As far as we knew, other than the Traditional Owners, the Nyamal people, no geologist had laid eyes on these stunning features since they formed.

    Like some others before us, we had argued that meteorite impacts played a fundamental role in the geological history of our planet, as they clearly had on our cratered Moon and on other planets, moons and asteroids. Now we and others have the chance to test these ideas based on hard evidence.

    Who knows how many ancient craters lay undiscovered in the ancient cores of other continents? Finding and studying them will transform our understanding of the early Earth and the role of giant impacts, not only in the formation of the landmasses on which we all live, but in the origins of life itself.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Earth’s oldest impact crater was just found in Australia – exactly where geologists hoped it would be – https://theconversation.com/earths-oldest-impact-crater-was-just-found-in-australia-exactly-where-geologists-hoped-it-would-be-250921

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Electric shock equipment widely abused by law enforcement agencies due to alarming lack of regulation

    Source: Amnesty International –

    States and companies are manufacturing, promoting and selling electric shock equipment that is being used for torture and other ill-treatment, said Amnesty International, in a new report calling for a global, legally-binding treaty to regulate the unchecked production of and trade in law enforcement equipment.

    “I Still Can’t Sleep at Night” – The Global Abuse of Electric Shock Equipment, documents how law enforcement agencies are using inherently abusive direct contact electric shock weapons – including stun guns and electric shock batons– on the street, at borders, in migrant and refugee detention centres, mental health institutions, police stations, prisons, and other places of detention.

    These inherently abusive devices, which deliver painful shocks at the press of a button, have been used against protesters, students, political opponents, women and girls (including pregnant women), children and human rights defenders, among others. Survivors have suffered burns, numbness, miscarriage, urinary dysfunction, insomnia, exhaustion and profound psychological trauma.

    The report also looks at the escalating misuse of Projectile Electric Shock Weapons (PESWs), which can have a legitimate role in law enforcement, but are often misused. Cases include the unnecessary and discriminatory use against vulnerable groups resulting in serious injuries and in some cases even death.

    Direct contact electric shock weapons can cause severe suffering, long-lasting physical disability and psychological distress.

    Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International

    “Direct contact electric shock weapons can cause severe suffering, long-lasting physical disability and psychological distress. Prolonged use can even result in death,” said Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International’s researcher on military, security and policing issues.

    “PESWs are being used against individuals who pose no risk of violence, simply for punishment or compliance with orders. They are also being used in direct contact ‘drive stun’ mode, which should be prohibited. Despite the clear human rights risks associated with their use, there are no global regulations controlling the production of and trade in electric shock equipment. Direct contact electric shock weapons need to be banned immediately and PESWs subject to strict human-rights-based trade controls.”

    The extensive report draws on research carried out by Amnesty International from 2014 to 2024 in over 40 countries across all regions across the world, where cases involving torture and other ill-treatment using electric shock equipment have been documented.

    Vulnerable groups targeted by electric shock weapons

    Testimonies gathered by Amnesty International are harrowing.

    During the 2022 “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in Iran, the military unit IRGC Basijbattalion forced several boys to stand with their legs apart in a line alongside adult detainees and administered electric shocks to their genitals with stun guns.

    In another case, several schoolboys were abducted for writing the protest slogan “Woman Life Freedom” on a wall. One of the boys told Amnesty International: “They hit my face with the back of a gun, gave electric shocks to my back, and beat me with batons on the bottom of my feet and hands…”

    PESWs have often been used as de facto direct contact electric shock weapons when deployed in “drive stun” mode.

    “I was lying on the ground and still they have used tasers on me three times, and at the same time they beat me with the batons.

    Detainee from Sub-Saharan Africa

    Recounting a raid by border guards on the Medininkai detention centre in Lithuania on 2 March 2022, one detainee from Sub-Saharan Africa said: “I was lying on the ground and still they have used tasers on me three times, and at the same time they beat me with the batons.” Another described being threatened by police officers who placed a “taser” on her forehead, telling her “‘Shut up or I will shoot you!’”

    “Even when used as a stand-off weapon, PESWs have been linked to serious injuries and deaths,” said Patrick Wilcken. “These include dart lacerations and penetration of the skull, eye, internal organs, throat, fingers and testis; electrical discharge induced burns, seizures and arrythmias; and a variety of injuries and deaths from falls.”

    Amnesty’s report reveals patterns of PESWs’ discriminatory deployment against racialized and marginalized groups, such as young Black men. In April 2024, police in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, were filmed using a TASER directly on the leg of a Black protester at a Palestine solidarity demonstration while he was pinned to the ground by three police officers and handcuffed.

    “Given the high risks of primary and secondary injuries, the use of PESWs must be set at a high threshold. These weapons should only be used only in situations involving a threat to life or risk of serious injury which cannot be contained by less extreme options,” said Patrick Wilcken.

    The urgent need for prohibitions and trade regulation

    At least 197 companies from all regions manufactured or promoted direct contact electric shock equipment for law enforcement between January 2018 and June 2023 – with most companies based in countries such as China, India and the USA.

    According to US-based Axon Enterprise, Inc., their TASER brand models are currently used by over 18,000 law enforcement agencies in more than 80 countries.

    “There is an urgent need for a legally-binding treaty which would prohibit inherently abusive electric shock equipment and strictly control the trade in PESWs,” said Patrick Wilcken.

    “Companies should implement robust human rights due diligence and mitigation measures to ensure their products and services are not being systematically misused for torture or other ill-treatment. This includes ceasing production of direct contact electric shock devices and removing the ‘drive stun’ function from PESWs.”

    Amnesty International, along with a global civil society network of over 80 organizations worldwide, is campaigning for the negotiation of a Torture-Free Trade Treaty that would introduce global prohibitions and controls on a wide range of law enforcement equipment, including electric shock weapons and equipment.

    Background

    • In September 2017, the EU, Argentina and Mongolia launched the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade at the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The Alliance currently comprises 62 states from all regions of the world pledging to “act together to further prevent, restrict and end trade” in goods used notably for torture or other ill-treatment. In October 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture presented a thematic report on the torture trade at the UNGA which argued for a legally binding instrument to regulate the production of and trade in law enforcement equipment and included lists of goods considered prohibited and controlled.
    • This is one of a series of in-depth research reports showing the devastating human rights impact of law enforcement equipment; previous reports include work on tear gas, batons, rubber bullets, and the trade in less lethal weapons used to repress protesters.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Electric shock equipment widely abused by law enforcement agencies due to alarming lack of regulation – new report

    Source: Amnesty International –

    40 countries including the UK where cases involving torture and other ill-treatment using electric shock equipment have been documented

    197 companies manufactured or promoted direct contact electric shock equipment for law enforcement – most companies based in China, India and the USA

    Survivors have suffered burns, numbness, miscarriage, urinary dysfunction, insomnia, exhaustion and profound psychological trauma

    Harrowing testimonies of people of electric shock equipment used against people

    ‘They hit my face with the back of a gun, gave electric shocks to my back, and beat me with batons on the bottom of my feet and hands…’ – schoolboy in Iran

    In the UK, Tasers were drawn, aimed or discharged 33,232 times between April 2023 to March 2024

    States and companies are manufacturing, promoting and selling electric shock equipment that is being used for torture and other ill-treatment, said Amnesty International in a new report calling for a global, legally-binding treaty to regulate the unchecked production of and trade in law enforcement equipment.

    The 72-page report – “I Still Can’t Sleep at Night” The Global Abuse of Electric Shock Equipment – draws on research carried out by Amnesty from 2014 to 2024 in over 40 countries including the UK, where cases involving torture and other ill-treatment using electric shock equipment have been documented.

    Law enforcement agencies are using inherently abusive direct contact electric shock weapons – including stun guns and electric shock batons– on the street, at borders, in migrant and refugee detention centres, mental health institutions, police stations, prisons, and other places of detention.

    The devices, which deliver painful shocks at the press of a button, have been used against protesters, students, political opponents, women and girls (including pregnant women), children and human rights defenders, among others. Survivors have suffered burns, numbness, miscarriage, urinary dysfunction, insomnia, exhaustion and profound psychological trauma.

    The report also looks at the escalating misuse of Projectile Electric Shock Weapons (PESWs) which can have a legitimate role in law enforcement but are often misused. Cases include the unnecessary and discriminatory use against vulnerable groups resulting in serious injuries and in some cases even death.

    Trade fairs in the UK

    In September 2024, Amnesty and the Omega Research Foundation found that a British company, The Squad Group Ltd led by retired police officers – including a former Assistant Chief Constable – were caught on camera demonstrating electric-shock torture equipment at a trade fair in Birmingham.

    The revelations raised serious questions about the enforcement of laws in relation to the prohibition of torture equipment as well as the staging of security equipment trade events. The trade in direct-contact and body-worn electric-shock weapons is illegal under laws regulating the arms and security trade, with UK companies and nationals banned from importing, exporting or in any way promoting these goods anywhere in the world. Electric-shock weapons are prohibited under The Trade in Torture etc. Goods (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, and current Government export control guidance clearly states that all trading activity, including promotion and marketing of these goods anywhere in the world, is prohibited.

    More information about The Squad Group Ltd here.

    Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:

    “It’s shocking that prohibited torture equipment is openly being promoted and demonstrated by a UK company.

    “Despite raising this case directly with the UK government in September last year, no satisfactory answers have been provided to shed light on how these electric shock weapons have been able to be advertised, promoted and demonstrated despite seemingly robust legislation banning these activities. Alarmingly, since first alerting the authorities to this case, it has become clear that they have been demonstrated to several UK policing bodies.

    “Bringing any direct-contact electric-shock weapon into the UK must surely be a serious breach of current UK arms trade regulations that have been in place since prohibitions on electric shock weapons were first introduced by then Labour Foreign secretary Robin Cooke in 1997. To this day, these electric shock weapons are still being promoted for sale, suggesting that our existing rules are either not being properly enforced or are riddled with loopholes.”

    Tasers used in the UK

    In the latest use of force figures for England and Wales published by Home Office for April 2023 to March 2024, Tasers were used – that is drawn, aimed or discharged – a total of 33,232 times and police threatened to use Tasers against children 2,895 times with 66 charges. Five of those incidents, officers threatened to use Tasers against children under the age of 11.

    Tasers were used on Black people at a rate of 4.2 times higher than someone from a white ethnic group in England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan Police). In the MET police area, Tasers were used at a rate of 4.4 times higher when percentages of Taser use by ethnicity were compared with the breakdown of ethnic groups in the general population in the 2021 Census. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct found that Black people were more likely to be tasered for prolonged periods (over 5 seconds) than white people.

    Sacha Deshmukh added:

    “The police have a disturbing record of misusing Tasers, using them disproportionately against people from minority ethnic communities and those suffering from mental health crises, and also when people have been running away from officers and presenting no risk to them or the public.  

    “Tasers are potentially lethal weapons and they should only be made available to properly-trained specialist officers, and not normalised as a piece of weaponry available to every police officer operating on our streets.”  

    More information about Tasers used in the UK from page 30 in the report.

    Electric shock weapons used around the world

    During the 2022 “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in Iran, the military unit IRGC Basij battalion forced several boys to stand with their legs apart in a line alongside adult detainees and administered electric shocks to their genitals with stun guns. In another case, several schoolboys were abducted for writing the protest slogan “Woman Life Freedom” on a wall. One of the boys told Amnesty:

    “They hit my face with the back of a gun, gave electric shocks to my back, and beat me with batons on the bottom of my feet and hands…”

    PESWs have often been used as de facto direct contact electric shock weapons when deployed in “drive stun” mode. Recounting a raid by border guards on the Medininkai detention centre in Lithuania on 2 March 2022, one detainee from Sub-Saharan Africa said:

    “I was lying on the ground and still they have used tasers on me three times, and at the same time they beat me with the batons.” Another described being threatened by police officers who placed a “taser” on her forehead, telling her “‘Shut up or I will shoot you!’”

    Amnesty’s report reveals patterns of PESWs’ discriminatory deployment against racialised and marginalised groups, such as young Black men. In April 2024, police in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, were filmed using a Taser directly on the leg of a Black protester at a Palestine solidarity demonstration while he was pinned to the ground by three police officers and handcuffed.

    The urgent need for prohibitions and trade regulation

    At least 197 companies from all regions manufactured or promoted direct contact electric shock equipment for law enforcement between January 2018 and June 2023 – with most companies based in countries such as China, India and the USA.

    According to US-based Axon Enterprise, Inc., their Taser brand models are currently used by over 18,000 law enforcement agencies in more than 80 countries.

    Amnesty along with a global civil society network of over 80 organisations worldwide, is campaigning for the negotiation of a Torture-Free Trade Treaty that would introduce global prohibitions and controls on a wide range of law enforcement equipment, including electric shock weapons and equipment.

    Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International’s researcher on military, security and policing issues, said:

    “Projectile Electric Shock Weapons are being used against individuals who pose no risk of violence, simply for punishment or compliance with orders.

    “Direct contact electric shock weapons can cause psychological distress, severe suffering, long-lasting physical disability. These include dart lacerations and penetration of the skull, eye, internal organs, throat, fingers and testis; electrical discharge induced burns, seizures and arrythmias; and a variety of injuries and deaths from falls. They are also being used in direct contact ‘drive stun’ mode, which should be prohibited.

    “Despite the clear human rights risks associated with their use, there are no global regulations controlling the production of and trade in electric shock equipment. Direct contact electric shock weapons need to be banned immediately and Projectile Electric Shock Weapons subject to strict human-rights-based trade controls.

    “There is an urgent need for a legally-binding treaty which would prohibit inherently abusive electric shock equipment and strictly control the trade in Projectile Electric Shock Weapons.

    “Companies should implement robust human rights due diligence and mitigation measures to ensure their products and services are not being systematically misused for torture or other ill-treatment. This includes ceasing production of direct contact electric shock devices and removing the ‘drive stun’ function from Projectile Electric Shock Weapons.”

    Alliance for Torture-Free Trade

    In September 2017, the EU, Argentina and Mongolia launched the Alliance for Torture-Free Trade at the margins of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The Alliance currently comprises 62 states from all regions of the world pledging to “act together to further prevent, restrict and end trade” in goods used notably for torture or other ill-treatment. In October 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture presented a thematic report on the torture trade at the UNGA which argued for a legally binding instrument to regulate the production of and trade in law enforcement equipment and included lists of goods considered prohibited and controlled.

    This is one of a series of in-depth research reports showing the devastating human rights impact of law enforcement equipment; previous reports include work on tear gas, batons, rubber bullets, and the trade in less lethal weapons used to repress protesters.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Upcoming Deadlines to Apply for Disaster Recovery Help

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Attention, LA County residents impacted by the wildfires: several important deadlines are approaching for disaster recovery assistance.

    For FEMA Individual Assistance, the deadline is March 10, 2025. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, call FEMA at 800-621-3362, or download the FEMA mobile app and apply there. You can also apply at one of the Disaster Recovery Centers at 540 W. Woodbury Road in Altadena or at 10850 Pico Blvd. in LA.

    The deadline to apply for a low-interest loan from the Small Business Administration is also March 10, 2025. Apply online at sba.gov or call 800-659-2955.

    The Government’s Debris Removal Program deadline is March 31, 2025. You can complete your Right of Entry form online at recovery.lacounty.gov or in person at a Disaster Recovery Center.

    And lastly, for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, apply no later than March 10, 2025 at D-U-A.gov.

    Don’t miss these important dates. Get registered today!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjUggU9SG6U

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What is a NASA Spinoff? We Asked a NASA Expert: Episode 53

    Source: NASA

    [embedded content]

    What is a NASA Spinoff?
    Well, to answer that question, we’re going to have to go all the way back to 1958, back to the legislation that originally created the space agency, NASA.
    So in that legislation, there’s some forward-looking language that says, “Make sure that all the cool stuff you develop for space doesn’t just get blasted off into the universe, but comes back down to the Earth in the form of practical and terrestrial benefits.”
    I’m paraphrasing, of course. The legislation is actually a little bit dry like legislation should be. Since that time, NASA has worked to get the technologies it created into the hands of the public. These become products and services and they save lives, they improve lives, they generate income, they create jobs, they boost the economy, they increase crop yields, they make airplane travel safer, they make train transportation safer.
    NASA’s everywhere you look. One example I like to bring up is the camera in your cell phone. That was actually developed at JPL. We were working on a lightweight, high resolution camera for a satellite application, and that became the very first camera on a chip, camera in the cell phone.
    We’ve also worked on things like indoor agriculture, which is increasingly important as the world gets denser and people need access to healthy foods.
    During the pandemic, some researchers developed a ventilator that had fewer than 100 parts, none of which were required in the supply chain to make other ventilators. We gave that to dozens of companies all around the world to help save lives.
    If you check out spinoff.nasa.gov you can find thousands of examples of how NASA is everywhere in your life.
    [END VIDEO TRANSCRIPT]
    Full Episode List
    Full YouTube Playlist

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Pocahontas County, WV

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Pocahontas County, WV

    Public Invited to Review Flood Maps in Pocahontas County, WV

    PHILADELPHIA– FEMA is proposing updates to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Community partners are invited to participate in a 90-day appeal and comment period. The 90-day appeal period will begin on March 6, 2025. The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state and FEMA officials. Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community partners can identify any corrections or questions about the information provided and submit appeals or comments. Residents, business owners and other community partners are encouraged to review the updated maps to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements. They may submit an appeal if they perceive that modeling or data used to create the map is technically or scientifically incorrect.An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim. Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress.If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information—such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary—they can submit a written comment.The next step in the mapping process is the resolution of all comments and appeals. Once they are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps.Submit appeals and comments by contacting your local floodplain administrator:For the Town of Durbin, please contact David Cain by email at chiefcain@hotmail.com or by phone at 304-456-4688.For the Town of Marlinton, please contact Bruce Van Meter by email at brucebuildinginspector@gmail.com or by phone at 304-799-4315.For Pocahontas County, please contact Scott Triplett by email at pocahontas_floodplain@outlook.com or by phone at 304-799-4549.The new preliminary maps for Pocahontas County may be viewed online at the FEMA Region 3 Flood Map Changes Viewer.For more information about the flood maps:Use a live chat service about flood maps at FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX). Click on the “Live Chat” icon.Contact a FEMA Map Specialist by telephone; toll free, at 1-877-FEMA-MAP (1-877-336-2627) or by email at FEMA-FMIX@fema.dhs.gov. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flooding. There are cost-saving options available for those newly mapped into a high-risk flood zone. Learn more about your flood insurance options by talking with your insurance agent and visiting https://www.floodsmart.gov.Pocahontas County Flood Mapping MilestonesDec. 9, 2022 — Flood Risk Review Meeting to review draft flood hazard data.March 4, 2024 — Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map released.April 18, 2024 — Community Coordination and Outreach Meeting to review Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map and discuss updates to local floodplain management ordinance and flood insurance.March 6, 2025 –Appeal Period starts.Spring 2026* — New Flood Insurance Rate Map becomes effective and flood insurance requirements take effect. (*Timeline subject to change pending completion of the appeal review process.)If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Region 3 Office of External Affairs at femar3newsdesk@fema.dhs.gov. ###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.Follow us on “X” at twitter.com/femaregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3
    erika.osullivan
    Wed, 03/05/2025 – 19:44

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Joint-Stock Commercial Bank “Turonbank” Strengthen Partnership to Support Private Sector Growth in Uzbekistan

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

    JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 6, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • The Third Line: ICD and Turonbank announce a USD 30 million Islamic line of financing facility to bolster Uzbekistan’s private sector development.
    • Empowering Entrepreneurs: The new facility is designed to accelerate SME growth and foster economic development in Uzbekistan.
    • ​Strengthened Collaboration: This initiative reaffirms the long-standing partnership between ICD and Turonbank, aligning with ICD’s mission to support private sector growth.

    The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-PS.org) and Private Joint-Stock Bank “Turonbank” have taken a significant step to enhance Uzbekistan’s private sector development. A USD 30 million Islamic line of financing facility has been signed, marking a milestone in their collaborative efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the broader economic landscape.

    This new financing facility, channeled through Turonbank, is dedicated to empowering private sector projects in Uzbekistan. It aims to provide entrepreneurs with vital financial resources to launch and expand their ventures, thereby driving sustainable economic growth and contributing to the nation’s economic resilience.

    Turonbank has been a trusted partner of ICD since 2017 and has previously received two line-of-financing facilities totaling USD 35 million. The newly proposed facility highlights the strength of their enduring partnership and underscores a shared commitment to fostering private sector development in Uzbekistan.

    This initiative is closely aligned with ICD’s Private Sector Development Strategy, which focuses on enabling economic dynamism and resilience by empowering SMEs and advancing financial inclusion.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mining in Motion: Uniting Industry Leaders for a Sustainable Mining Future

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

    ACCRA, Ghana, March 6, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The inaugural Mining in Motion Summit (MiningInMotionSummit.com) – Ghana’s premier event bringing together small-scale gold miners, policymakers and global partners – takes place under the theme Sustainable Mining & Local Growth – Leveraging Resources for Global Impact. Taking place from June 2–4, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, the event will feature high-level panel discussions, project showcases and exclusive networking opportunities, spotlighting lucrative prospects within Ghana’s mining sector.

    Global industry leaders and sustainability experts, including the World Bank, World Gold Council, the United Nations, the African Union and ECOWAS, will explore how responsible mining practices can drive economic growth, enhance community well-being and support global economic stability. Discussions will focus on how mining investments create high returns, generate employment and strengthen key industries connected to the sector.

    Ghana is prioritizing mining as a key driver of socioeconomic development. The country seeks to enhance the contribution of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), in driving industry growth and economic expansion. The ASGM sector is a pillar of Ghana’s economy, generating over $5 billion (https://apo-opa.co/3F4IIPv) in export revenue in 2024 and accounting for 35% of the country’s total gold production. The sector supports over 1 million direct jobs and indirectly impacts 4 million people, making it one of Ghana’s largest employment sources. Mining in Motion will highlight Ghana’s success as a model for sustainable artisanal mining, emphasizing its role in economic stability and community development. Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Kingdom, will address the importance of traditional leadership in shaping the ASGM industry. The event will spotlight key topics within Ghana’s mining sector, including the newly established Gold Board which aims to maximize revenue from ASGM, responsible resource management and value addition.

    Apart from the contribution made by the ASGM sector alone, the role played by stakeholders across the entire mining value chain to GDP growth is immense. According to the International Monetary Fund (https://apo-opa.co/3XqoQwI), Ghana’s GDP is projected to grow by 1.5% in 2025, fueled by continued expansion in the mining sector. Research firm Deloitte predicts a 3% increase in Ghana’s gold output in 2025 compared to 2024 levels, a milestone that will cement the country’s role as a major gold exporter. To sustain this growth, the Ghanaian government has strengthened partnerships with global exploration and production firms and financial institutions, intensifying efforts to boost mineral exploration and production. Several major projects are set for commissioning in 2025 and 2026, including the 358,000 ounces per annum Cardinal Namdini Mine, the 325,000 ounces Ahafo North Project and the 163,000 ounces Black Volta Gold Project.

    As Ghana continues to expand its global mining footprint, Mining in Motion will highlight the industry’s contribution to economic growth, both locally and internationally. H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, will present the country’s socioeconomic vision, showcasing key achievements in mining sector growth and sustainability initiatives.

    Industry leaders will examine the collaboration between large-scale mining companies and ASGM players, fostering synergies that drive sector-wide growth.

    Stay informed about the latest advancements, network with industry leaders, and engage in critical discussions on key issues impacting ASGM and medium to large scale mining in Ghana. Secure your spot at the Mining in Motion 2025 Summit by visiting MiningInMotionSummit.com. For sponsorship opportunities or delegate participation, contact Sales@ashantigreeninitiative.org

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tough controls considered to regulate private prosecutors

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Tough controls considered to regulate private prosecutors

    Private prosecutors face greater transparency and accountability over unregulated or unlawful activity following a consultation to overhaul the current system.

    • Consultation launched today (6 March) on reforming private prosecutions and Single Justice Procedure
    • Options include a mandatory code of practice, inspections and requirement to consider mitigating circumstances
    • Announcement follows systematic failures, including the Post Office Horizon scandal and builds on the Government’s pledge to restore confidence in the criminal justice system through its Plan for Change

    Private prosecutions allow people to pursue justice where state prosecutors cannot, or choose not, to prosecute. However, the improper actions of some organisations have resulted in serious and often life-changing miscarriages of justice. Examples include the Post Office Horizon scandal, which saw failings in the prosecutorial practices leading to hundreds of innocent postmasters being wrongfully convicted.

    Thousands of people have also been handed criminal convictions for legitimate mistakes such as unpaid bills and purchasing the wrong train ticket. This includes situations where there have been strong personal mitigating factors, meaning the cases were not pursued in the public interest.

    The government is calling for views on reforms which will enable better oversight and regulation of these prosecutors to prevent such failures in the future. This builds on the government’s broader efforts to restore public confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system through its Plan for Change.

    Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, said:

    Recent catastrophic failures in private prosecutions have highlighted that our current system is open to abuse. That cannot be allowed to continue.

    We will listen carefully to the feedback from this consultation and develop stronger safeguards for the public to restore confidence in our justice system.

    Following proposals made by the Justice Select Committee, the consultation aims to set consistent standards and ensure accountability to improve the behaviour and practice of prosecutors.

    Consultation proposals include the introduction of a mandatory code of practice, establishing an inspection regime, and putting in place a system of accreditation for private prosecutors.
    To make these prosecutions more transparent, measures could also include a requirement for organisations and agencies to register with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) before bringing a private prosecution, and to publish data on their prosecutions.

    The consultation will also look at how the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) can be improved to ensure all cases brought are in the public interest. Suggested changes include requirements for SJP prosecutors to engage with defendants to assess their vulnerability, and to consider their personal and mitigating circumstances before pursuing a prosecution that might lead to a criminal record.

    Justice Minister, Sarah Sackman KC, said:

    Fairness and transparency are at the heart of our justice system. However, certain organisations have been allowed to bring life-changing and unjust prosecutions affecting thousands of people, without robust checks and balances. 

    It is time to hold prosecutors to account and provide oversight which protects ordinary people. We will ensure that prosecutions are always fair and in the public interest.

    The consultation’s proposals will apply to all private and non-criminal justice agency prosecutors. This includes state-run agencies such as the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency and TV Licensing, as well as companies and private organisations such as Northern Rail.

    Further information

    • The consultation will close on 8th May.
    • Private prosecutors, as defined in the consultation, excludes those categorised as ‘criminal justice agencies’ – the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), police (including British Transport Police), and the National Crime Agency (NCA). For the purposes of this consultation, all other organisations are referred to as ‘private prosecutors’. This includes public agencies that bring prosecutions as well as private or third sector bodies.
    • Individuals who bring private prosecutions on their own behalf are not within the scope of the proposals discussed in the consultation.
    • SJP sees a single magistrate, supported by a legally qualified adviser, try adult summary-only cases, and is important for a streamlined legal process and swift justice.
    • The Office for Rail and Road is conducting a separate independent review of train operators’ revenue protection enforcement practices, including the use of prosecutions. This will report back in May and will support the consultation announced today.

    The Government is consulting on the following policy options:

    • The introduction of a mandatory code of practice for private prosecutors, including requirements for private prosecutors to maintain separation of investigatory and prosecutorial functions, and a requirement to fully consider whether prosecutions are in the public interest.
    • The introduction of mandatory inspections of private prosecutors.
    • The introduction of a system of accreditation for private prosecutors.
    • The introduction of additional requirements for prosecutors using the Single Justice Procedure to engage with the defendant and assess their vulnerability before commencing a prosecution.
    • The introduction of a requirement for all mitigation provided to the court to be sent to prosecutors before the case is decided by a magistrate.
    • The introduction of a requirement for private prosecutors to register with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service when the number of prosecutions they bring per annum reaches a specified threshold
    • The introduction of a requirement for private prosecutors who bring a specified number of prosecutions per annum to publish their own data on these prosecutions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wales’s Clean Energy Industry boosted by Minister Nia Griffith’s visit to Copenhagen

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Wales’s Clean Energy Industry boosted by Minister Nia Griffith’s visit to Copenhagen

    Minister highlights Wales’s natural resources, world-class energy sector and skilled workforce on visit to Denmark.

    Wales Office Minister Nia Griffith and His Majesty’s Ambassador to Denmark, Joëlle Jenny

    • Wales at the forefront of the UK’s clean energy mission.
    • Minister highlights Wales’s natural resources, world-class energy sector and skilled workforce on visit to Denmark.
    • Expansion of the renewable energy sector in Wales will help kickstart economic growth and make the UK a clean energy superpower.

    Wales Office Minister, Dame Nia Griffith highlighted Wales’s pivotal role in the United Kingdom’s ambitious clean energy mission to Danish companies and potential investors on a trade mission to Copenhagen this week.

    Dame Nia’s three-day visit to the Danish capital came just one week after a major £600m investment deal in Welsh green energy projects between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Bute Energy and Green GEN Cymru was announced. The development of new onshore windfarms planned across Wales by Bute Energy is planned to create up to 2,000 jobs.

    The visit highlighted collaboration between Wales and Denmark in renewable energy projects, including Danish companies already investing in offshore wind off the North Wales coast and in the construction of turbines used in onshore and offshore projects across Wales.

    Currently, 50 per cent of electricity in Denmark is supplied by wind and solar power while making Britain a clean energy superpower is one of the UK Government’s key missions.

    The UK Government is working with the Welsh Government and industry partners to develop floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. This would see wind turbines built on floating platforms to take advantage of the wind direction and would play a crucial role in the UK Government’s mission to make Britian at clean energy superpower.

    This technology could support up to 5,300 new jobs and generate up to £1.4bn for the UK economy, helping to kickstart economic growth and raise living standards as set out in the UK Government’s Plan for Change. 

    During her visit, Minister Griffith held a series of meetings designed to bolster cooperation on clean energy and explore investment opportunities. The itinerary included visits to leading Danish institutions and companies, discussions on renewable energy projects, and participation in events celebrating St. David’s Day with a focus on promoting Wales as a hub for clean energy innovation.

    Wales Office Minister Nia Griffith said:

    There are tremendous opportunities for partners and investors in Denmark to work with us to boost the clean energy sector in Wales.

    I am determined to make sure we achieve our clean energy mission which will bring energy security, drive down energy bills, create good jobs, and help to protect future generations from the cost of climate breakdown.

    Tim Morris, Head of Communications for Associated British Ports, said:

    Ports in Wales and Denmark share the ambition to play a foundational role in enabling the energy transition.

    It was great to sit down with other port operators and key stakeholders from the wider energy sector from both countries to share knowledge and insights. ABP has strong links with Danish organisations such as Orsted and the Port of Esbjerg and we look forward to deepening these relationships.

    The visit showcased Wales’s potential as a global leader in renewable energy, particularly in floating offshore wind, and set the stage for future collaborations and investments that will drive economic growth and environmental sustainability.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SITI attends Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SITI attends Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain (with photos)
    *************************************************************************

    The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, leading a delegation of representatives from the innovation and technology (I&T) sector, continued his visit in Barcelona, Spain on March 5 (Barcelona time) and attended the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025.     Delivering a keynote speech at the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Ministerial Programme “2025+: A Tech Odyssey”, Professor Sun said Hong Kong is actively building a smart city and a digitally inclusive society to bridge digital divide. “One of the best testimonies to a city’s I&T achievement is the degree of digitalisation. In Hong Kong, all submissions and payments to the Government have electronic options. More than three millions of people are enjoying the convenience and efficiency of accessing government services and online identity verification through a mobile application called ‘iAM Smart’. A corporate version of ‘iAM Smart’, nick-named CorpID, is upcoming too.”     He noted that on digital inclusiveness, Hong Kong’s household broadband penetration rate and smartphone penetration rate are both approximately 97 per cent. The internet usage rate among Hong Kong citizens aged 65 and above rocketed, from 56 per cent in 2018 to 84 per cent in 2023, slightly ahead of the European rate of around 78 per cent.     He added, “As society becomes so digitally knitted and increasingly mobile, we recently launched the ‘Smart Silver’ Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders, to address the challenges of an increasingly aging society. This programme fortifies our digital inclusive efforts by providing elders with community-based training and on-the-spot helpdesks to enhance elders’ knowledge on new digital technologies and support their navigation by common mobile applications.”     During the Congress, Professor Sun met with the Head of Greater China of GSMA, Ms Sihan Bo Chen, to learn about the international mobile industry association’s work in developing the mobile communications industry and ecosystem as well as promoting industrial innovation in Asia.     Professor Sun visited various exhibition pavilions on-site, including the EU Quantum Flagship, to learn about the latest quantum technologies and initiatives of companies under the flagship.     Professor Sun and the delegation also visited the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. They were briefed on the technology of MareNostrum 5, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Spain, and quantum computers, the establishment of AI factories, and the innovative achievements in promoting the development of high-performance computing in Spain and the whole of Europe as well as applications.     Members of the delegation include heads from the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC), Cyberport, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute and the Hong Kong Microelectronics Research and Development Institute, as well as representatives of 24 local I&T enterprises or institutions. The HKSTPC and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council co-ordinated the participation of the I&T representatives of the enterprises and institutions at the MWC 2025.     Professor Sun Dong will proceed to Lisbon, Portugal on March 6 (Lisbon time) to continue his visit.

    Ends/Thursday, March 6, 2025Issued at HKT 9:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FEHD strengthens measures to prevent employment of unqualified life-saving attendants by private swimming pools

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    FEHD strengthens measures to prevent employment of unqualified life-saving attendants by private swimming pools
    ******************************************************************************************

    A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (March 6) that the FEHD plans to take measures starting from this year’s swimming season to strengthen the prevention of suspected violations involving private swimming pools employing unqualified life-saving attendants to combat such offences. These steps aim to protect the safety of swimming pool users.     The spokesman said, “In accordance with the law and licensing conditions, licensees of private swimming pools are obliged to arrange a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants on duty during the opening hours of the pools. To ensure that licensees fulfil their responsibilities, the FEHD will explicitly require licensees to verify identity documents, Pool Lifeguard Awards (PLA) and personal logbooks before employing a life-saving attendant, and to properly keep a copy of the documents. The FEHD will also establish a standard template for licensees to record the information shown on the identity document and PLA of the life-saving attendants on duty.”     At the same time, the FEHD will step up inspections, including checking the identity documents of each life-saving attendant on duty during monthly surprise inspections to verify their identity. The FEHD will also co-ordinate with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society to confirm the validity of PLAs and ensure the life-saving attendants on duty possess valid qualifications. In addition to routine inspections, the FEHD will flexibly deploy its manpower resources and analyse complaint cases to draw up a target list of private swimming pools, to which inspections will be stepped up during July and August to specifically focus on lifeguard qualifications. In case of insufficient qualified life-saving attendants on duty, the department will take immediate follow-up actions, including requiring the licensee to immediately close the swimming pool until sufficient qualified life-saving attendants can be present at the pool, and will issue a warning or institute prosecution against licensees. The FEHD will consider cancelling the licences of swimming pools with repeated contraventions. Cases involving the use of false documents or documents relating to other persons will be reported to the Police.     The FEHD will also maintain close communication and enhance collaboration with other departments and organisations. Currently, many licensees of private swimming pools are either property management companies (PMCs) or their employees. The FEHD has already discussed with the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) to jointly step up publicity and educational work before the swimming season this year, including issuing letters to PMCs calling for measures to prevent the employment of unqualified life-saving attendants. Meanwhile, the FEHD and the PMSA will establish a communication mechanism in respect of violation cases for both parties to take follow-up actions, according to their respective authorities, against licensees and PMCs.     According to the Swimming Pools Regulation (Cap. 132CA) and relevant licensing conditions, licensees must arrange a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants to be on duty during the opening hours of the pools. The qualifications of life-saving attendants are assessed by the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society, which issues PLAs featuring the life-saving attendant’s name and photograph to those who qualify. At present, there are about 1 400 licensed private swimming pools across the territory. The FEHD has required licensees to display at a conspicuous location of pool entrances the required number of life-saving attendants during the opening hours of swimming pools, as well as recent photographs, names and PLA numbers of the life-saving attendants on duty. This empowers pool users to take part in the monitoring of swimming pools. Licensees are also required to keep duty logs of life-saving attendants for at least 90 days for inspection by the FEHD.     The spokesman said that the FEHD will consult relevant stakeholders and continue to monitor and review relevant enhancement measures in a timely manner.

    Ends/Thursday, March 6, 2025Issued at HKT 14:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke on TikTok

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    6th March 2025

    Minister Peter Burke said:

    “On March 4th 2025, my Department received a Notification of Collective Redundancies from TikTok (Bytedance) following a February announcement by the company that it would be undergoing global restructuring. Affected employees were informed of the decision and a consultation period is now underway. I understand that the proposed redundancies will take effect in April this year, once the statutory consultation process has concluded. The numbers involved are a matter for the company to disclose.

    “My first thoughts are with the employees impacted by this announcement along with their families. My Department, along with our agencies, will work to support workers affected in the period ahead as they pursue alternative employment. TikTok is a significant employer in Ireland and as part of the proposed restructuring, Government understands that there may be a number of open roles available to employees who are at risk of being made redundant.  TikTok has been fully briefed on the IDA’s suite of transformation and training supports available. 

    Equally, the enterprise agencies under my Department will assist in helping those impacted to find alternative employment. This includes sharing the skills profiles of impacted employees to companies who may be hiring, be that with multinationals in IDA’s client base or indigenous companies through Enterprise Ireland. 

    As a country we are close to full employment and the economy is well diversified, with hundreds of thousands of people employed by indigenous SMEs, pharmaceuticals, agri-food, med-tech and financial services. Nonetheless I know this announcement will be very difficult for those impacted and Government is fully committed to supporting affected staff.

    ENDS

    Back to Department News

    Back to Top

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Launchpool to Introduce Elixir Network and List for Spot Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has announced the listing of Elixir Network for spot trading and the launch of an exclusive Launchpool rewards campaign.

    Spot trading for Elixir will go live on 7 March, 10:00 (UTC) under the ELX/USDT pair, with deposits available on 6 March, 10:00 (UTC) and withdrawals available on 8 March 2025, 11:00 (UTC). Eligible users can lock BGB and DEUSD to grab a share of 3,833,000 ELX. In addition, the Launchpool campaign, starting from 7 March 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to 10 March 2025, 10:00 (UTC), will enable users to lock BGB and DEUSD for an opportunity to earn a share of 3,833,000 ELX in rewards.

    Furthermore, the CandyBomb promotional event offers Bitget users the chance to earn ELX through deposits and trading activity. A total of 140,000 ELX tokens have been allocated for this campaign, which runs from 7 March 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to 14 March 2025, 10:00 (UTC).

    Participants can join the CandyBomb page, where valid trading activity will automatically count toward the ELX airdrop, divided into spot trading pools and futures trading pools with 100,000 ELX allocated for the former pool and the remaining 40,000 ELX allocated for the latter pool. This CandyBomb campaign is targeted for the first 1,250 new users only.

    Elixir is a groundbreaking modular Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) network that revolutionizes liquidity dynamics on exchanges by enabling direct liquidity provision and seamless product integration without the need for trust. Its adaptable framework easily integrates into leading DEXs, supported by a strong validator network, to boost liquidity and drive innovation in DeFi.

    Elixir Network aims to revolutionize liquidity provision in the DeFi space through empowering retail participants and integrating real-world assets into decentralized finance platforms. Bitget continues to solidify its role as a top-tier cryptocurrency exchange, offering over 800 listed tokens across spot and derivatives markets. The addition of Elixir to Launchpool aligns with Bitget’s ongoing effort to support innovative projects whose value continues to evolve the ecosystem.

    Users can find more details on Elixir Launchpool here and Spot Trading here.

    About Bitget
    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    Contact

    Simran Alphonso
    media@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4cbe79fc-280d-4621-bfe2-9e448bd61c4a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: WhiteBIT and Bequant Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Institutional Crypto Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The cooperation aims to offer professional investors deeper liquidity, enhanced trading capabilities, and exceptional market access.

    WhiteBIT, Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by traffic, has partnered with Bequant, a leading provider of institutional crypto trading solutions. This collaboration is keen to create a comprehensive ecosystem tailored for institutional traders, offering modern trading tools and compliance-driven infrastructure.

    The crypto industry has witnessed rapid institutional adoption, with professional traders seeking advanced trading capabilities, regulatory compliance, and efficient liquidity access. WhiteBIT and Bequant’s partnership aligns with this evolving landscape, equipping institutional investors with scalable, secure, and efficient trading solutions.

    “This collaboration with Bequant is a strategic move to further enhance institutional crypto trading. By combining our expertise, we’re ensuring that professional traders and institutional clients gain exceptional access to deep liquidity, regulatory-compliant infrastructure, and advanced trading tools,” said Volodymyr Nosov, Founder and President of WhiteBIT.

    Bequant Institutional Expertise

    Bequant is a top-tier proprietary trading firm that focuses on market making, quantitative trading, and institutional crypto services. By employing sophisticated trading strategies and efficient capital allocation, the firm enhances liquidity and improves overall market efficiency. 

    As a regulated entity, Bequant also offers institutional investors a range of services, including OTC trading, lending solutions, and secure custody options.

    “Partnering with WhiteBIT allows us to build deeper liquidity for institutional crypto trading across Europe, combining our expertise to deliver efficient, compliant solutions,” comments George Zarya, Founder of Bequant.

    Key Partnership Benefits

    The partnership between WhiteBIT and Bequant enables institutional clients to access WhiteBIT’s deep liquidity and advanced trading infrastructure through Bequant’s brokerage network. Market makers and high-volume traders using Bequant can now integrate WhiteBIT into their trading strategies, upgrading trade efficiency across different exchanges.

    Through this collaboration, institutional clients benefit from the following key advantages:

    • Deep Liquidity & Market Efficiency. Institutional clients will gain access to over $2 trillion in annual trading volume, ensuring robust market depth and optimal liquidity conditions.
    • Multi-Market Access. The partnership enables trading across spot, futures, and margin markets with competitive leverage options and advanced execution strategies.
    • Regulatory Compliance & Security. WhiteBIT and Bequant adhere to international regulatory standards, including ISO/IEC certification and GDPR compliance, ensuring a secure trading environment.
    • Seamless API Connectivity. REST, WebSocket, and FIX 4.4 integration will provide real-time market data access, automated trading capabilities, and efficient trade execution.

    WhiteBIT’s Institutional Growth and Leadership

    As part of a trusted and scalable ecosystem, WhiteBIT serves over 8 million users and more than 1,300 institutional clients, offering a reliable infrastructure for professional traders seeking efficiency and security in digital asset markets.

    In 2024, WhiteBIT reported a $2.7 trillion annual trading volume, primarily driven by institutional clients, reinforcing its position as a leader in institutional crypto trading.

    About WhiteBIT

    WhiteBIT is the largest European cryptocurrency exchange by traffic, offering over 730 trading pairs, 330+ assets, and supporting 9 fiat currencies. Founded in 2018, the platform is a part of WhiteBIT Group that serves more than 35 million customers globally. WhiteBIT collaborates with Visa, FC Barcelona, Fireblocks, ClearJunction, and Checkout.com. The company is dedicated to driving the widespread adoption of blockchain technology worldwide.

    About Bequant

    Bequant is where traditional investing meets cryptocurrency—a one-stop solution for professional digital asset investors and institutions. Located and regulated in Malta, Bequant’s breadth of products include prime brokerage, custody and fund administration, all enhanced by an institutional trading platform providing low-latency trading, liquidity and direct market access for investors. The Bequant team is composed of experts from institutional, retail and digital financial services with experience in banking, derivatives, electronic trading and prime brokerage.

    Contact
    WhiteBIT
    pr@whitebit.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a10ad6ac-b680-4388-b583-df20f69c57f5

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Best SEO Rank Tracker (2025): Moz Recognized Top Rank Tracker by Software Experts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SEO strategies continue to evolve as search engine algorithms become more sophisticated, requiring businesses to refine their approaches to remain competitive. Monitoring keyword performance and search rankings is a critical component of digital success, making the choice of a reliable rank tracking tool essential.

    Top SEO Rank Tracker:

    • Moz – allows businesses to monitor their website’s performance across different search engines, ensuring they stay ahead of their competition.

    Software Experts has recognized Moz as a top-ranking SEO platform in its latest review, citing its robust rank tracking capabilities and extensive suite of SEO tools. As businesses place increased emphasis on data-driven marketing, Moz’s insights play a key role in shaping strategies that align with the latest search engine developments.

    SEO Rank Tracking as a Competitive Advantage

    Accurate rank tracking provides a direct view of SEO effectiveness. Digital marketers rely on precise ranking data to assess campaign performance, optimize content, and adjust keyword strategies. An advanced SEO rank tracker enhances decision-making by offering:

    • Comprehensive ranking reports across multiple search engines. 
    • Insights into keyword fluctuations and search trends.
    • Competitor analysis for benchmarking performance.
    • Mobile and desktop search comparisons to refine user experience strategies.
    • Historical data tracking to monitor long-term progress.

    Reliable rank tracking is an essential factor in determining return on investment (ROI) from SEO efforts. With real-time updates and detailed analytics, Moz’s tracking tool offers businesses the ability to adapt quickly to search algorithm changes and market shifts.

    Moz’s Position in the SEO Industry

    Moz has long been a trusted name in search engine optimization, providing digital marketers and businesses with data-driven tools to enhance online visibility. With a focus on research-backed SEO strategies, Moz has developed solutions that help companies optimize website performance and search engine rankings.

    Moz’s suite of tools includes solutions for keyword research, backlink analysis, and technical site auditing, making it a comprehensive platform for SEO professionals. The recognition by Software Experts highlights Moz’s commitment to providing accurate data and actionable insights for businesses looking to improve their search rankings.

    Key Features of Moz Rank Checker

    Moz Rank Checker delivers in-depth tracking metrics, equipping businesses with the tools to monitor SEO performance effectively. Notable features include:

    1. Keyword Rank Tracking: Allows businesses to track keyword positions on search engine results pages (SERPs) and measure SEO success over time.
    2. Competitor Benchmarking: Provides comparative data on keyword rankings to identify competitive strengths and weaknesses.
    3. SERP Feature Tracking: Monitors the presence of rich results, featured snippets, and other search engine enhancements.
    4. Mobile and Desktop Rankings: Offers a detailed view of rankings across different devices to align strategies with user search behavior.
    5. Automated Reports and Alerts: Enables businesses to stay informed of ranking changes and SEO performance shifts.

    By leveraging these features, organizations gain a comprehensive understanding of their search visibility, helping them refine SEO strategies for better reach and engagement.

    Moz’s Additional SEO Tools and Insights

    Beyond its Rank Checker, Moz provides a range of SEO tools that contribute to data-driven decision-making. These include:

    • Moz Keyword Explorer: Delivers in-depth keyword research and analysis, allowing users to uncover high-impact keywords and assess ranking difficulty.
    • Moz Link Explorer: Offers a detailed backlink analysis tool, helping businesses evaluate domain authority, identify link-building opportunities, and detect potentially harmful backlinks.
    • Moz Pro Site Crawl: Identifies technical SEO issues such as broken links, duplicate content, and missing metadata, ensuring a well-optimized site structure.
    • Moz Local: Enhances local search visibility by ensuring consistent business information across online directories and monitoring customer reviews.

    These tools work in tandem to create a full-scale SEO solution, enabling businesses to approach optimization strategically and effectively.

    Industry Trends Reinforcing the Need for Advanced SEO Tools

    As search engines refine their algorithms, the need for precise data and tracking mechanisms continues to grow. The increasing emphasis on user experience, mobile-first indexing, and AI-driven search results highlights the importance of leveraging advanced SEO tools.

    Google’s evolving ranking factors: Algorithm updates prioritize high-quality, relevant content, requiring businesses to continuously refine keyword strategies and content optimization.

    Mobile search dominance: With mobile searches surpassing desktop, rank tracking must differentiate between mobile and desktop results to maintain effective targeting.

    AI and search personalization: Search engines are increasingly delivering personalized results, making rank tracking more complex and necessitating advanced tools to track visibility across varied user experiences.

    Local SEO importance: As businesses compete in geographically targeted searches, local SEO tracking has become a crucial factor in gaining visibility.

    Moz’s technology aligns with these evolving trends, equipping businesses with the necessary data to adapt their SEO strategies effectively.

    Future Implications of SEO Tracking Technology

    With search engine algorithms continuously evolving, rank tracking will play an even greater role in shaping marketing decisions. Businesses that rely on real-time ranking insights, competitive analysis, and historical performance tracking will gain an advantage in optimizing their digital strategies.

    The future of SEO tracking will likely incorporate more AI-driven insights, automation, and integration with broader digital marketing analytics. Platforms that offer seamless connectivity between rank tracking, site auditing, and keyword research will become increasingly essential for maintaining search visibility and achieving sustained growth.

    Software Experts’ Evaluation and Final Takeaways

    Software Experts’ assessment of Moz underscores its capabilities as a comprehensive SEO rank tracker. With precise ranking data, actionable insights, and an extensive suite of SEO tools, Moz provides businesses with a data-driven approach to search optimization.

    By recognizing Moz’s capabilities, Software Experts highlights the increasing importance of rank tracking in today’s digital marketing landscape. For organizations looking to enhance their online visibility and search performance, Moz remains a valuable resource.

    The full review can be accessed at Software Experts’ website, offering additional insights into Moz’s features and functionalities.

    About Software Experts: Software Experts provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bloom Technology Partners Joins Givefy Project with NAVER Co-Founder Hyuk-il Kwon and One Humanity Foundation’s Evan Klassen

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    – A platform creating a new culture of donation in partnership with Naver Happybean

    – Utilizing Locus Chain technology to enhance transparency and redefine the donation ecosystem with innovative blockchain solutions

    – A plan to establish a contribution network with the participation of global figures in collaboration with the One Humanity Foundation

    From left: Hyuk-il Kwon, co-founder of Naver; Sang-yoon Lee, CEO of Bloom Technology; and Evan Klassen, CEO of One Humanity

    GYEONGGI-DO, South Korea, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A global contribution platform is set to launch, poised to redefine how we engage with social causes by harnessing blockchain technology for unmatched transparency, efficiency, and versatility. Bloom Technology, led by CEO Sang Yoon Lee, has partnered with NAVER co-founder Hyuk Il Kwon and Evan Klassen, founder of the One Humanity Foundation, to launch “Givefy,” a Web3 platform that transcends traditional donation models.

    The name “Givefy” fuses “Give” and “Finance,” symbolizing a new contribution platform powered by blockchain technology. Unlike traditional donation systems where transparency was often lacking, Givefy enables real-time tracking of donations and assigns value to various forms of social contributions — including volunteer work, creative projects, and community initiatives — rewarding participants directly. With blockchain-enabled real-time tracking and integrated community features, Givefy transforms charitable giving into a sustainable, proactive movement.

    In synergy with Naver’s donation platform, “Happybean,” Givefy aims to attract existing donors while expanding its user base. Backed by global influences in social contribution, Givefy will actively promote global social impact campaigns, encourage broader participation, and establish a transparent, trustworthy ecosystem that reimagines the culture of giving on a global scale.

    Bloom Technology plans to leverage its next generation blockchain protocol, “Locus Chain,” to build a system that securely and transparently manages donation flows within Givefy. Locus Chain, known for processing thousands of transactions per second, features a low fee structure and robust tamper-proof technology. Its scalability is expected to effectively support the large-scale donation transactions that Givefy will handle in the future.

     

    Example of the Givefy Platform Interface

    The Givefy project is partnering with One Humanity, a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to making mental health stigma history through innovative solutions and the launch of the Butterfly Movement a global social brand designed to represent mental health and build a united community, much like the pink ribbon did for cancer awareness. One Humanity actively engages in diverse social initiatives that support communities worldwide while fostering a sustainable culture of sharing. Notably, Evan Klassen, Founder of One Humanity, bestselling author, and the original creator of the Givefy concept, will leverage the organization’s extensive global network to design contribution campaigns featuring direct participation from internationally renowned figures.

    By connecting donors with organizations and individuals in need through the platform, One Humanity will play a pivotal role in building Givefy’s global contribution network.

    Hyuk Il Kwon, the Naver co-founder leading the Givefy project, is also widely recognized as Naver’s inaugural CTO and the founder of Naver Happybean. He remarked, “Givefy will build upon Happybean’s sharing ethos, while harnessing Locus Chain technology to enrich traditional monetary donations by adding value to diverse forms of giving, such as volunteer work and talent contributions. This approach will elevate the platform to a higher level. Our goal is to provide a reliable donation system accessible to everyone worldwide and to cultivate a new contribution ecosystem that actively involves international organizations like the UN, as well as influential global figures.”

    Bloom Technology CEO Sang Yoon Lee stated, “By leveraging blockchain technology, we can track donation flows in real time, significantly enhancing the trustworthiness and transparency of charitable giving. Moreover, by harnessing Locus Chain’s unique ability to process an enormous volume of transactions at ultra-high speeds, we aim to build a more efficient global donation system that will play a pivotal role in advancing our society.”

    Evan Klassen, CEO of the One Humanity Foundation, stated, “Givefy empowers everyone from influential figures to everyday contributors—to participate in charitable giving through a system that transparently measures and rewards every contribution. Our vision is to build a dynamic network that recognizes and incentivizes impactful actions, driving tangible social change. By engaging all of humanity, we are committed to creating a virtuous cycle of contributions that benefit the greater good.”

    Locus Chain is the first next generation blockchain protocol that simultaneously addresses decentralization, scalability, and security challenges. Its proprietary patented technology, Dynamic Sharding, guarantees network stability in any environment, while the Verifiable Pruning technique minimizes node size—enabling anyone to easily run a node even on a mini-PC or internet router. By offering highly cost-effective node operations, Locus Chain allows for secure network participation with a low barrier to entry and exceptional efficiency, making it the ideal blockchain solution for large-scale projects that demand robust scalability.

    With its fully decentralized implementation of Dynamic Sharding, Locus Chain stands as an advanced blockchain protocol capable of processing large-scale transfers at record speeds. It supports not only simple token transfers but also the handling of all data transactions occurring on Web3.

    References

    Media Inquiry:
    Contact Person: Geun-soo Lee, Head of Business Division, Bloom Technology
    Ph. No.: 010-5142-2558
    Email: komp@bloomtechnology.co.kr
    Address: 802, Building 2, 15 Pangyo-ro 228beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Bloom Technology. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aab62efd-1cf4-42b0-b8bf-2dc8ceba1e64

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1cf46d88-76b2-489b-91c7-e7613cc8548b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dbbe0e37-ad93-4630-a472-b6c3cfd06f63

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: EBC Financial Group Launches Second Million Dollar Trading Challenge with USD $1 Million Prize

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  EBC Financial Group (EBC), a global leader in financial brokerage, announces the return of its flagship Million Dollar Trading Challenge (MDTC) for its second edition, one of the world’s largest and a global benchmark for skill-based trading competitions, as industry demand for structured, transparent trading opportunities continues to grow.

    The 2025 edition of MDTC comes at a time when traders are seeking greater accountability and access to proven strategies amid increasingly volatile markets. From 1 March to 30 May 2025, thousands of traders worldwide will compete for a $1 million trading account in a challenge that integrates real-time strategy sharing and zero-fee copy trading, setting a new standard for competitive trading.

    For the first time, top traders will be invited to an exclusive awards ceremony at the FC Barcelona Museum (Barça Immersive Tour), marking a historic moment as a global trading event is recognised within one of football’s most prestigious institutions. The partnership reflects a growing convergence between financial markets and elite sports, reinforcing trading as a profession that demands the same level of skill, precision, and discipline as world-class athletics.

    The inaugural MDTC in 2023 set multiple industry benchmarks, with 324 traders achieving profitable accounts and the top 10 traders recording an average return of 3,472.91%. The champion delivered an extraordinary 11,630.98% return in just 30 days, demonstrating the potential of skill-driven trading in a competitive environment.

    This year, MDTC II takes it further—allowing traders to access professional-grade trading signals and instantly replicate top-performing strategies for free via copy trading. By combining competition with real-time strategy sharing and zero-fee copy trading, EBC is setting a new standard for transparency and accessibility in trading.

    Real-Time Copy Trading: Automatically Replicate Top Traders’ Strategies
    The rise of retail trading has transformed financial markets, yet many traders struggle to access transparent, structured learning environments that allow them to develop real skills. MDTC II is designed to bridge this gap—giving traders a unique opportunity to refine their strategies by actively engaging with top-performing traders through real-time copy trading.

    Unlike traditional contests that reward high-risk speculation, MDTC II introduces an open, strategy-sharing ecosystem where traders can analyse, track, and instantly replicate the trades of leading participants at no cost. This levels the playing field, allowing both novice and experienced traders to benefit from collective insights while maintaining individual control over their trades.

    “When you’re a growing company, you aim to create an event that truly reflects your values and passion—MDTC is ours. We are here to be a light in the industry, proving that traders can succeed; traders can be successful at trading, it requires education and grit, and it’s not just for the 1%. That’s the real beauty of MDTC—every participant must show their trading history, show the world what they are doing. Anyone can log in and take a look, and you can see for yourself what the winners are trading.

    “At EBC, we don’t measure this (or any activity) by the number of signups or deposits we get—we measure it by the conversations we create. With this second iteration, we’re introducing more trading tools and enhanced features, another key aspect we’re all really proud of, because at EBC, ‘perfect’ is never enough,” said Samuel Hertz, Director of Operations at EBC Financial Group.

    $1 Million Prize and A Once-in-a-Lifetime FC Barcelona VIP Experience
    At the heart of MDTC II is one of the industry’s largest prizes—a $1 million trading account—designed to reward skill, discipline, and strategy execution. Rather than a one-time cash payout, the grand prize provides a unique opportunity for the winner to manage significant capital while retaining 100% of their profits, with a maximum allowable loss of $200,000. Alternatively, the winner can choose a $200,000 cash prize.

    MDTC II is structured into two categories to ensure accessibility and fair competition. The Rising Stars category is open to traders with a minimum balance of $500, ranked by profit rate, providing an opportunity for those looking to refine their skills in a structured environment.

    For more experienced traders, the Dream Squad category is designed for participants with balances between $10,000 and $200,000, ranked by net profit. This category recognises traders who can navigate market conditions effectively while managing larger capital.

    Beyond financial rewards, top traders will gain industry recognition and a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the FC Barcelona Museum. In an exclusive awards ceremony, winners will be celebrated at the home of one of the world’s greatest multi-sports clubs—bridging the gap between trading and elite performance in professional sports.

    “For EBC Financial Group, the Million Dollar Trading Challenge is a fantastic way for new and seasoned traders to be involved in a real-time event. It allows clients to see traders of all levels to engage with live market conditions, see real-time the trades executed by all entrants, and gives emerging traders the change to follow and learn from those with more experience, in a way that suits their trading style.

    “This opportunity to watch, learn, and develop in a fully transparent environment is invaluable, and an excellent way to encourage new traders to understand what strategy works, when, and why. The trades that do not work are as much as lesson as those that do,” said David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd.

    Maximising Opportunities through Community Management and Cutting-Edge Trading Platforms
    To further encourage community participation, MDTC II introduces an enhanced Referral Program, offering participants up to $300 per successful referral, with no cap on the number of referrals. This initiative encourages greater community participation, allowing traders to expand their network while benefiting from the competition.

    With a focus on driving innovation in the financial markets, MDTC II expands trading opportunities by integrating Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on US stocks into the competition for the first time. US stocks account for over 65% of global market capitalisation, making them among the most liquid and dynamic assets across industries. This addition allows participants to access some of the world’s most influential companies, providing new opportunities to navigate volatile and fast-moving markets.

    The competition takes place on industry-leading MT4 and MT5 platforms, enabling participants to trade Forex, Commodities, Indices, and US Stock CFDs with advanced charting tools, automated strategies, and real-time execution. By combining diverse asset classes, cutting-edge technology, and expanded market access, MDTC II continues to redefine the landscape of competitive trading.

    Refining the Contest Experience: MDTC 2023’s Legacy
    The first Million Dollar Trading Challenge in 2023 saw strong participation, with traders executing 431,827 trades and generating a total profit of $1,096,718.57. The event highlighted the growing interest in structured trading competitions and the role of copy trading in improving accessibility for traders at different experience levels.

    Community engagement was a key aspect of the challenge, with many participants leveraging copy trading features to track and replicate successful strategies. The results underscored the potential for shared market insights to shape trading outcomes.

    With MDTC II, the competition continues to evolve, incorporating past insights while maintaining a focus on transparency, strategy development, and trader engagement.

    For more information and to be part of the journey that reshapes what’s possible in financial markets, visit https://www.ebc.com/million-dollar-challenge-2.

    About EBC Financial Group
    Founded in London’s esteemed financial district, EBC Financial Group (EBC) is renowned for its expertise in financial brokerage and asset management. With offices in key financial hubs—including London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Cayman Islands, Bangkok, Limassol, and emerging markets in Latin America, Asia, and Africa—EBC enables retail, professional, and institutional investors to access a wide range of global markets and trading opportunities, including currencies, commodities, shares, and indices.

    Recognised with multiple awards, EBC is committed to upholding ethical standards and these subsidiaries are licensed and regulated within their respective jurisdictions. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA); EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, and EBC Asset Management Pty Ltd are regulated by Australia’s Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

    At the core of EBC are a team of industry veterans with over 40 years of experience in major financial institutions. Having navigated key economic cycles from the Plaza Accord and 2015 Swiss franc crisis to the market upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic. We foster a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor relationship is handled with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

    As the Official Foreign Exchange Partner of FC Barcelona, EBC provides specialised services across Asia, LATAM, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania. Through its partnership with the UN Foundation and the world’s largest grassroots campaign, United to Beat Malaria, the company contributes to global health initiatives. EBC also supports the ‘What Economists Really Do‘ public engagement series by Oxford University’s Department of Economics, helping to demystify economics and its application to major societal challenges, fostering greater public understanding and dialogue.

    https://www.ebc.com/

    Media Contact:
    Savitha Ravindran
    Global Public Relations Manager (EMEA, LATAM)
    savitha.ravindran@ebc.com   

    Chyna Elvina
    Global Public Relations Manager (APAC, LATAM)
    chyna.elvina@ebc.com

    Douglas Chew
    Global Public Relations Lead
    douglas.chew@ebc.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90e3f81c-a0fc-4bd3-9cd4-155c6a5a0fcf

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67625ee9-b2fb-48a5-aed2-c12b1830acae

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/34b28968-b7b2-4340-b114-57bcd09b90ac

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1dfd2dc-eb46-44e4-a2e1-cf90e948c91a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Joint-Stock Commercial Bank “Asia Alliance Bank” Strengthen Partnership to Support Private Sector Growth in Uzbekistan

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

    JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 6, 2025/APO Group/ —

    • The Fourth Line: ICD and Asia Alliance Bank announce a USD 25 million Islamic line of financing facility to bolster Uzbekistan’s private sector development. 
    • Empowering Entrepreneurs: The new facility is designed to accelerate SME growth and foster economic development in Uzbekistan. 
    • Strengthened Collaboration: This initiative reaffirms the long-standing partnership between ICD and Asia Alliance Bank, aligning with ICD’s mission to support private sector growth. 

    The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (https://ICD-PS.org) and Joint-Stock Commercial Bank “Asia Alliance Bank” have taken a significant step to enhance Uzbekistan’s private sector development. A USD 25 million Islamic line of financing facility has been signed, marking a milestone in their collaborative efforts to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the broader economic landscape. 

    This new financing facility, channeled through Asia Alliance Bank, is dedicated to empowering private sector projects in Uzbekistan. It aims to provide entrepreneurs with vital financial resources to launch and expand their ventures, thereby driving sustainable economic growth and contributing to the nation’s economic resilience. 

    Asia Alliance Bank has been a trusted partner of ICD since 2013 and has previously received three line-of-financing facilities totaling USD 30 million. The newly proposed facility highlights the strength of their enduring partnership and underscores a shared commitment to fostering private sector development in Uzbekistan. 

    This initiative is closely aligned with ICD’s Private Sector Development Strategy, which focuses on enabling economic dynamism and resilience by empowering SMEs and advancing financial inclusion. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: European Commission and EIB Group sign €2 billion guarantee under Ukraine Facility to support country’s reconstruction and resilience

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The agreement further supports urgent recovery and reconstruction projects in Ukraine.
    • The financing will target critical infrastructure, including energy, transport, housing, water and heating, to sustain essential services and economic stability.
    • Part of the EU’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility, this investment supports Ukraine’s priorities: to build back better and advance its EU integration.
    • Additionally, an agreement signed between the EIB and the Government of Ukraine will deploy experts under the EIB’s JASPERS advisory programme to help accelerate the projects on the ground.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the European Commission signed a guarantee agreement at the EIB Group Forum that will allow the EIB to invest at least €2 billion in urgent recovery and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. Aligned with the Ukrainian government’s needs and priorities, this funding is part of the European Union’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility for the period 2024-2027. 

    The funds will support public sector operations across key sectors. Investments will focus on strengthening Ukraine’s energy networks, including energy grids, expanding hydropower and renewable energy production, and improving energy efficiency. They will also go toward modernising railways, improving urban public transport, and upgrading transport connectivity, including EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes and border crossing points along key export routes. In addition, the financing will help restore municipal infrastructure, such as water and heating systems, public lighting, as well schools, hospitals and higher education institutions. The first projects under this Ukraine Facility guarantee were announced during EIB President Nadia Calviño’s recent visit to Kyiv.

    To further support the implementation of EIB investments under the Ukraine Facility, the EIB and the government of Ukraine have also signed an agreement to deploy a team of advisory experts on the ground in Kyiv. This team will provide hands-on expertise to accelerate the preparation and execution of critical projects and strategic documents – starting with energy, transport and housing and expanding to other sectors, including Ukraine’s public investment management reform. This initiative is being delivered by EIB advisory through a €20 million JASPERS advisory package for Ukraine, jointly financed by the European Commission and the EIB’s EU for Ukraine advisory programme in 2024, ensuring targeted and effective support for the country’s recovery.

    EIB President Nadia Calviño said: “Ukraine’s security is the European Union’s security. We stand by the country. Today, we express that commitment once again with the signature of agreements with the European Commission and the Ukrainian government to step up our support. This will allow us to make crucial investments in the recovery of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and key public services, reinforcing the country’s resilience and its path towards integration into the European Union.”

     “Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction are at the heart of the Team Europe approach, and we are working together to ensure that vital investments reach the areas where they are needed most in Ukraine. This is not just about today. We are helping Ukraine build back better and lay the foundations for a stronger, more sustainable future within the EU,” added EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who oversees the Bank’s operations in Ukraine.

    European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said: “This guarantee agreement with the EIB underscores the European Union’s important role in supporting Ukraine as it faces the fourth year of Russia’s brutal war of aggression. We will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary and with the intensity required. This new guarantee will help Ukrainians rebuild their country. It will help restore water and heating systems, schools and hospitals.”

    European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis said: “The European Commission and the EIB Group have been working hand in hand to provide crucial support to Ukraine since Russia began its brutal, full-scale invasion. Today, our commitment to Ukraine has never been stronger. With this €2 billion agreement, we are providing further support for Ukraine’s urgent recovery and reconstruction needs, which includes repairing critical infrastructure and ensuring essential public services are maintained. The EU’s support for Ukraine is, and will remain, steadfast.”

    Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, said, “The European Union and its institutions, particularly the EIB, remain steadfast partners in Ukraine’s recovery. We are accelerating investment projects that address our most pressing strategic needs, ensuring rapid reconstruction and modernisation. Each project brings Ukraine closer to the EU, strengthening our resilience and integration into the European family. We also welcome the deployment of JASPERS advisory support on the ground, which will help ensure the efficient implementation of these critical investments.”

    Background information  

    The Ukraine Facility is the European Union’s financial assistance programme for Ukraine. During the 2024-2027 period, €50 billion will be allocated by the European Union to finance the state budget, stimulate investment and provide technical support in the implementation of the programme.

    The Guarantee Agreement signed today is covered by the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF), as part of Ukraine Facility. The UIF is designed to attract public and private investments for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. It is endowed with financial instruments totalling €9.3 billion, with €7.8 billion in loan guarantees and €1.5 billion in blended finance.

    The aim of the UIF is to mobilise €40 billion of investments for the recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation of Ukraine.

    The EIB in Ukraine 

    The EIB Group has been supporting Ukraine’s resilience, economy and efforts to rebuild since the very first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with €2.2 billion disbursed since the start of the war. In 2024, the Bank supported projects aimed at securing Ukraine’s energy supply, repairing critical infrastructure that has been damaged, and ensuring that essential services continue to be delivered across the country.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – European Parliament Press Kit for the Special European Council of 6 March 2025

    Source: European Parliament

    European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will represent the European Parliament at the special summit, where she will address the heads of state or government at 12.30.

    European Council President António Costa convened the Special European Council to discuss continued support for Ukraine and European defence, with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

    On 24 February 2025, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission issued a joint statement, saying “Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war and the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian population. We continue to call for accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed. We welcome the recent steps made towards the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.”

    The three Presidents highlighted that “Ukraine is part of our European family” and that “the future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union.”. They said “the need to ensure the international community’s continued focus on supporting Ukraine in achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Ukrainian peace formula. We stand firm with Ukraine, reaffirming that peace, security, and justice will prevail.”

    On 11 February, Parliament’s Conference of Presidents issued a statement on continuing the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression. EP leaders reaffirmed their “steadfast solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience and courage in defending their sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The European Union must remain united in its commitment to support Ukraine that includes political, military, economic, humanitarian and financial assistance. (…) . We call on the EU and its member states to increase and speed up the delivery of its support, in particular of its military support and establish a legal regime allowing for the confiscation of Russian-owned assets frozen by the EU.”

    Also on 11 February, the Chair of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, addressed a formal sitting of the European Parliament. Welcoming Mr Stefanchuk, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “I am proud that this Parliament has stood with Ukraine from the very first moment – united, unwavering, and resolute. We will keep pushing for peace. Peace must be just, it must be dignified, and it must be based on the principle of ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’.”

    In a resolution adopted on 23 January, MEPs condemn the Russian regime’s systematic falsification of historical arguments to justify its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The text rejects historical claims by the Russian regime used to undermine Ukraine’s history and national identity as futile attempts to justify its ongoing illegal war. Parliament issues a strong call for the EU and its member states to increase and better coordinate their efforts to promptly and rigorously counter Russian disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference. This is essential, they say, to protect the integrity of democratic processes and strengthen the resilience of European societies.

    The resolution also calls on the EU to expand its sanctions against Russian media outlets conducting disinformation campaigns championing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It urges EU countries to implement these sanctions thoroughly and to dedicate sufficient resources to effectively addressing hybrid warfare. MEPs also want the EU to step up its support for exiled independent Russian media to facilitate diverse voices in the Russian-language media.

    On 28 November 2024, MEPs adopted a resolution calling for more military support for Ukraine amid the involvement of China and North Korea. They condemn Russia’s use of North Korean troops against the Ukrainian army and its testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine. These recent escalatory steps represent a new phase in the war and a new risk for Europe’s security as a whole, MEPs argue, calling on the EU and Ukraine’s other international partners to respond accordingly.

    Insisting that “no negotiations about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine”, MEPs urge the EU to work towards achieving the broadest possible international support for Ukraine and identifying a peaceful solution to the war. The resolution also demands the Council extend its sanctions against Russia, particularly against sectors of special economic importance, such as the metallurgical, nuclear, chemical, agricultural and banking sectors, and on Russian raw materials.

    Extraordinary plenary session with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    On 19 November 2024, Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking 1000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Opening the sitting, EP President Roberta Metsola said Parliament would stand with Ukraine until it has “freedom and real peace, for as long as it takes.” She added that the Ukrainian people’s sacrifice over the previous 1,000 days was not just for themselves but for every European’s freedom and way of life.

    In his address, President Zelenskyy thanked the EU for its support and said that Ukraine, all of Europe, and our partners in America and around the world have succeeded not only in “preventing Putin from taking Ukraine” but also in defending the freedom of all European nations. “Putin remains smaller than the united strength of Europe. I urge you not to forget this, and not to forget how much Europe is capable of achieving. We can surely push Russia towards a just peace. Peace is what we desire the most,” he added. President Zelenskyy concluded by saying: “No one can enjoy calm water amid the storm. We must do everything we can to end this war fairly and justly. 1,000 days of war is a tremendous challenge. We must make the next year the year of peace.”

    Statement by EP leaders marking 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

    Also on 19 November 2024, Parliament’s President and political group leaders adopted a statement marking 1,000 days of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine. “We have started EU accession talks with Ukraine as it moves towards taking its rightful place in our European family. The gradual integration of Ukraine into the Union will be a central task for all EU institutions in this legislature, along with providing long-term financial and military assistance and much-needed support,” they said. They said, “The ultimate goal remains to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine on Ukraine’s terms, ensuring the safety and dignity of its people within a peaceful and stable Europe. Together, the democratic world must send a clear, simple message: we stand with and support Ukraine in every possible way until its victory.”

    Measures against the Russian “shadow fleet”

    In a resolution adopted on 14 November 2024, Parliament calls for more targeted EU sanctions against Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’, which provides a key financial lifeline for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. MEPs demand measures against these vessels in the next EU sanctions packages, including all individual ships as well as their owners, operators, managers, accounts, banks and insurance companies. They also call for the systematic sanctioning of vessels sailing through EU waters without known insurance and urge the EU to enhance its surveillance capabilities, especially drone and satellite monitoring, and to conduct targeted inspections at sea. MEPs want EU member states to designate ports capable of handling sanctioned vessels carrying crude oil and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and to seize illegal cargo without compensation.

    Financial assistance to Ukraine

    On 22 October 2024, MEPs approved an extraordinary loan of up to €35 billion to Ukraine, to be repaid with future revenues from frozen Russian assets. Parliament endorsed the new macro-financial assistance (MFA) to help Ukraine against Russia’s brutal war of aggression. This loan is the EU’s part of a G7 package agreed last June, to provide up to $50 billion (approximately €45 billion) in financial support to Ukraine. The final amount the EU will contribute could be lower, depending on the size of the loans provided by other G7 partners.

    The Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, a newly established framework, will make future revenues from the frozen Russian Central Bank assets located in the EU available to Ukraine. These funds will help Ukraine service and repay the EU’s MFA loan as well as loans from other G7 partners. While the mechanism’s funds can be used to service and repay loans, Kyiv may allocate the MFA funds as it sees fit.

    Further reading

    Joint statement on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

    EP Conference of Presidents’ statement on EU support for Ukraine

    Ruslan Stefanchuk: “Peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we stay strong”

    MEPs condemn Russia’s use of disinformation to justify its war in Ukraine

    More military support for Ukraine amid the involvement of China and North Korea

    Zelenskyy to MEPs: “We must end this war fairly and justly”

    1000 days: Statement on Ukraine by European Parliament’s leaders

    Parliament calls for an EU crackdown on Russia’s ’shadow fleet’

    Parliament approves up to €35 billion loan to Ukraine backed by Russian assets

    MEPs: Ukraine must be able to strike legitimate military targets in Russia

    Newly elected Parliament reaffirms its strong support for Ukraine

    MEPs approve trade support measures for Ukraine with protection for EU farmers

    Joint Statement by the Presidents of the European Union Institutions on the occasion of the 2 year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

    Parliament calls on the EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs to defeat Russia

    EU sanctions: new rules to crack down on violations

    MEPs: EU must actively support Russia’s democratic opposition

    Yulia Navalnaya: “If you want to defeat Putin, fight his criminal gang”

    Debate 12 March 2024: Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2024

    Debate 13 March 2024: Need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia

    Parliament wants tougher enforcement of EU sanctions against Russia

    A long-term solution for Ukraine’s funding needs

    How the EU is supporting Ukraine

    EU stands with Ukraine

    European Defence

    At the informal European Council meeting on defence on 3 February 2025, European Parliament President Metsola outlined her vision for how Europe can and must strengthen its own security and defence. “More action, more financing, and more cooperation,” must be the EU’s goals, she argued.

    “We need to do more, much more, to ramp up defence production and increase our defence industrial readiness” she said, stressing that “the best investment in European security is investing in the security of Ukraine.”

    President Metsola argued “investing in security, is not just about protection – it is about boosting European competitiveness, driving growth, creating quality high-skilled jobs and powering everyday breakthroughs that improve how we live, work and connect. The real incentive lies in addressing fragmentation within our markets. Different rules, standards, and systems are putting up barriers and risk holding us back. It makes no sense for Europe to have 178 different weapons systems, when the United States has 30.”

    “Fragmentation costs us billions: between €25 and €75 billion are lost due to duplication and inefficiencies. The answer to this is staring us right in the face. Now is the time to move forward with a single market for defence. Europe must be responsible for its own security. No one else will do this for us,” she added

    In a report adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee on 30 January, MEPs push for the EU to strengthen its defence capacity against a backdrop of multiple security threats. The report emphasises the absolute need for the EU to recognise and meet the current challenges posed by multiple and evolving security threats. The EU, they say, needs to engage in new and better policies that will enable the European Union and its member states to strengthen their defence in Europe. Noting the limited progress and underinvestment in common European defence capability development, industrial capacity, and defence readiness since the establishment of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) 25 years ago, MEPs restate need for a truly common European approach, policies and joint efforts in the area of defence. They say a paradigm shift in EU CSDP is essential to enable the European Union to act decisively in its neighbourhood, and on the global stage, to safeguard its values, interests, citizens, and promote its strategic objectives.

    On 13 January, MEPs discussed the security situation in Europe and beyond, as well as defence and EU-NATO cooperation, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

    Regarding EU-NATO cooperation, MEPs quizzed Mr Rutte on the EU’s contribution. Defence is not limited to military issues, MEP said, adding that it includes international relations, as well as social, economic and diplomatic relations. MEPs also asked about future cooperation with the incoming Trump Administration and expressed concern about the role of Türkiye in NATO.

    Other MEPs pointed out that there are differences between NATO allies on defence issues, but unity is necessary to secure a sustainable peace in Ukraine. They also highlighted the difficult security situation in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans.

    Several MEPs enquired about the avoidance of duplication in military production as well accelerating the development of weapons, and others raised the issue of the need to tackle hybrid threats, particularly on the eastern flank of Europe and in the Western Balkans.

    Further reading

    “Europe must be responsible for its own security”, Metsola tells EU leaders

    MEPs call on Europe to strengthen its defence capacity

    Rutte to MEPs: “We are safe now, we might not be safe in five years”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights – B10-0152/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Elena Donazzan
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Mélanie Disdier, Nikola Bartůšek
    on behalf of the PfE Group

    B10‑0152/2025

    European Parliament resolution on social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights

    (2024/2829(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640),

    – having regard to the European Commission President’s Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029, the mission letters to the Commissioners-designate and their replies to the written questionnaires from Parliament, and the hearings conducted in Parliament,

    – having regard to the report by Mario Draghi entitled ‘The future of European competitiveness: A competitiveness strategy for Europe’ (the ‘Draghi report’),

    – having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas industry currently employs around 35 million people in the EU, generates several million industry-linked jobs and accounts for over 80 % of exports and has a dominant role in attracting foreign direct investments; whereas Europe has strong, centuries-old industrial traditions which provide a firm foundation for the efficient development of the EU’s productive sectors, grounded in the social economy and EU values;

    B. whereas further investment in research and innovation is crucial to boost the productivity and development of European industry; whereas digitalisation and artificial intelligence are vital across all industry sectors, driving competitiveness, fostering job creation and contributing to economic prosperity;

    C. whereas a core objective of restructuring processes should be the preservation of jobs and productivity;

    D. whereas the automotive industry has traditionally been one of Europe’s vital industrial engines; whereas the automotive supply chain in the EU is currently facing competitive disadvantages compared to non-EU countries, particularly in terms of costs, technology and regulatory constraints;

    E. whereas the current crisis in the automotive industry is self-inflicted and is driven by restrictive EU policies that have failed to consider their social impact on SMEs and businesses;

    F. whereas the decline in EU competitiveness is largely driven by an excessive administrative and regulatory burden; whereas President von der Leyen announced that the Commission would simplify existing legislation and eliminate overlapping rules; whereas the Commission seems to be persisting with excessive administrative and regulatory burdens that are stifling European industries and driving investments out of the EU;

    G. whereas, as acknowledged in the Draghi report, the Commission has imposed excessively restrictive and unrealistic climate policies, which have directly contributed to the deindustrialisation of the EU, the loss of millions of jobs, and a decline in European competitiveness;

    H. whereas almost a quarter of Europe’s population lives in rural areas and is dependent on individual mobility; whereas affordable and accessible mobility for all EU citizens is a key prerequisite to maintaining social cohesion and freedom of movement, enabling access to jobs, education and healthcare, reducing regional disparities and preventing depopulation;

    1. Highlights that the EU’s competitiveness is primarily determined by its general business climate; calls therefore for the business environment for SMEs and strategic industries to be improved; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure the necessary investments are made in infrastructure to guarantee broad access in all European regions, in particular in rural areas and the regions covered by Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as well as those investments necessary to encourage entrepreneurship, create new job opportunities and prevent regional depopulation;

    2. Calls on the Commission to make an urgent assessment of Green Deal policies, in order to determine the best solution for improving the competitiveness of European companies, namely either a revision or a suspension of these policies; underlines the need to prevent the deindustrialisation of the EU and to protect job opportunities within the Union; reiterates the importance of upholding the principle of technological neutrality;

    3. Calls on the Commission to provide an impact assessment of the social impact of Green Deal policies, in particular in industry, in cooperation with social partners; underlines that relocation and offshoring of companies, along with the associated involuntary migration of labour, can lead to irreversible changes and further exacerbate regional disparities; urges the Commission therefore to address the problem of industrial and social ‘desertification’ of certain areas of the Member States;

    4. Underlines that in order to limit and hopefully reverse the current occupational crisis – in terms of both the skills crisis and layoffs – which affects both big companies and the supply chain, the loss of jobs and skills should not be viewed as inevitable; calls for the EU and the Member States to implement supporting measures for companies, at both the EU and trade association levels, as well as initiatives aimed at enhancing cross-sectoral skills and improving expertise within various industrial sectors;

    5. Highlights the importance of keeping transformation costs for industry in the EU competitive, as well as the importance of short-term measures to reduce the regulatory burden and ensure consistency, predictability and appropriate timing and consultation for future legislation; calls on the Commission to follow the recommendations of the Draghi report in order to ensure that the EU remains a leader in the global automotive industry, and preserves jobs, R&D facilities and manufacturing within the EU; underlines that the radical shift of production away from the EU’s automotive sector, or the rapid takeover of EU plants and companies by state-subsidised competitors, should be avoided;

    6. Calls on the Commission to conduct competitiveness checks on every new legislative proposal, taking into account the overall impact of EU legislation on companies, as well as on other EU policies and programmes;

    7. Stresses that the ability to recruit and retain a skilled workforce is crucial for maintaining a competitive EU industrial sector; considers that education in future-oriented sectors, skills and competencies – particularly in vocational education and training, dual education systems, and digital skills – is essential to addressing current skills shortages; underlines that EU industry and enterprises should play a key role in planning and developing educational and training programmes in order to ease the transition to the labour market; believes that lifelong learning is essential to ensure the efficient and timely upskilling and reskilling of workers;

    8. Calls on the Commission to reverse the decision to ban combustion engine vehicles as of 2035;

    9. Calls on the Commission to anticipate a safeguard clause to revise the 2025 targets for CO2 emissions; underlines that many companies will not be able to meet the deadlines and that this might lead to another wave of layoffs;

    °

    ° °

    10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Portugal financing from EIB Group surpasses €2 billion in 2024 with record investment in green financing and sustainable energy

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • EIB Group affirms strong commitment to Portugal with €2.1 billion in financing last year.
    • Climate and environmental sustainability financing reached 63 % of total amount consolidating the EIB as the Climate Bank in Portugal.
    • Record investment of more than €1.1 billion in sustainable energy and natural resources, nearly double last year’s financing.
    • Key priorities for 2025 include financing the Porto-Lisbon high-speed rail line and reinforce financing for social infrastructures in the country.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, which comprises the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), reaffirmed its strong commitment to Portugal in 2024, with new financing of €2.1 billion to foster the country’s sustainable economic development. This financing unlocked a total of around €4.9 billion in investments, equivalent to a 1.7 % of the country’s GDP.

    A significant part of this support was directed at Portuguese projects promoting climate action and environmental protection, as well as investments in health and transport infrastructure. A record of more than €1.1 billion went to clean energy, marking an unprecedented boost for the green transition.

    “Cooperation with the Portuguese authorities is excellent. We have invested more than €2 billion in Portugal in 2024, and we have launched emblematic projects such as the Lisbon Oriental Hospital and the high-speed train between Lisbon and Porto. We will continue to be a very important investment partner for the country to the benefit of Portuguese businesses and citizens”, said EIB Group President Nadia Calviño.

    In 2024, EIB Group financing, supported around 10,000 Portuguese companies and sustained almost 230,000 jobs.

    Record financing in climate action and energy transition in Portugal

    Portuguese projects advancing climate action and environmental sustainability received a record €1.3 billion in EIB Group financing last year, driven by significant investments in sustainable energy. This amount accounts for 63 % of its total investment in Portugal, thus exceeding the 50 % target for the Group in place for 2025.

    Financing in sustainable energy and natural resources surpassed €1.1 billion, a record for the country that nearly doubled last year’s investment. Among the biggest operations: two loans to Portuguese electricity supplier EDP to expand renewable energy generation, wind and solar, and to modernize electricity distribution networks, and two loans to finance Galp Energia for the construction of an advanced biofuels plant and a renewable hydrogen unit in the coastal area of Sines.

    Other relevant projects contributing to the green financing were the EIB loan signed with ANA to support low-carbon initiatives at nine airports in Portugal, and the loan signed with BPI to finance small and medium-sized enterprises, mid-caps, and public sector entities investing in climate action projects.

    Strengthening country’s economic cohesion, innovation and social infrastructure

    Beyond green investments, the EIB last year allocated €1.5 billion to initiatives aimed at enhancing Portugal’s economic and social cohesion.

    It signed a €107 million loan to finance the construction of Hospital de Lisboa Oriental. The new facilities will replace six old hospitals, spread over more than 100 buildings in the Lisbon centre. This will guarantee access to modern health services and improve the distribution of hospital beds around the city.

    Supporting innovation was another priority of the EIB Group in Portugal last year. Special mention deserves the €90 million investment pledged by the EIF into three venture capital funds to accelerate the growth of start-ups in the deep-tech and cybersecurity sectors.

    Looking ahead: reinforce support for social infrastructures and finance Porto-Lisbon high-speed rail line

    Unlocking investment in social infrastructures that address the most pressing needs of European citizens, will continue being a priority for the EIB Group in Portugal in 2025, together with the financing of the first phase of the high-speed railway line between Porto and Lisbon, reinforcing commitment to sustainable transport and regional cohesion.

    Video EIB Group in Portugal in 2024 https://youtu.be/szAUKoTJoP8

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: International conference focuses on role of PLI Schemes, India’s green transition and inclusive sustainability in shaping India’s industrial policy

    Source: Government of India

    International conference focuses on role of PLI Schemes, India’s green transition and inclusive sustainability in shaping India’s industrial policy

    Panel discussions highlight industrial policy evolution and global competitiveness amid evolving geopolitics

    WTO experts underscore key insights on trade policy and industrial policy linkages

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 12:29PM by PIB Delhi

    Discussions around shaping the contours of India’s industrial policy in light of the evolving geopolitical landscape, the role of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes in driving manufacturing competitiveness, India’s green transition and inclusive sustainability in shaping India’s industrial policy and creating resilient global supply chains was at the central of the international conference organised by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL).

    The international conference was based on the theme “Navigating the Future: Industrial Policy and Global Competitiveness” organised by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in collaboration with the Centre for International Trade and Business Laws, NALSAR University of Law and the World Trade Institute, University of Bern, together with the WTO India Chairs Programme. The international conference was held during 17th to 19th January 2025 at the NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad.

    Importantly, the conference discussed the role of WTO disciplines in ensuring that industrial policy measures do not negate the core principle of the ruled-based international trading system. The conference featured key insights into the current geopolitical landscape and energy transition.

    The central theme of the conference ‘Navigating the Future: Industrial Policy and Global Competitiveness’ was explored through a series of panel discussions and technical sessions. The inaugural sessions featured discussions on the resurgence and evolution of industrial policy, metrics to measure its impact, and their compatibility with WTO rules in a changing global context. Prof. James J. Nedumpara, Head, CTIL, in his welcome speech, highlighted the relevance of the conference theme and the importance of green industrial policy in fostering innovation and technology in the current global context. This was followed by the presidential address delivered by Prof. Srikrishna Deva Rao, Vice Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law. Shri. Ujal Singh Bhatia and Professor Peter Vanden Bosche, former members of the WTO Appellate Body, also emphasised the need for an in-depth examination of the linkages between trade policy and industrial policy.

    Shri Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, during his address highlighted that emerging economies can play a catalyzing role in energy transition and pioneer an economic transformation. The Secretary emphasised the role that India can play in the global critical raw material supply chains and underscored that any strategy for value chain integration must be focused on creating value within India, including creating employment opportunities. 

    In the plenary session, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission highlighted the global shift from free trade to protectionism in response to challenges from China’s rise and evolving U.S. policies. Shri. Ahluwalia emphasized the need for clear, cost-effective interventions in critical sectors, transparency in initiatives like PLIs, and adherence to WTO rules, as part of a balanced approach to security and economic priorities.

    Several renowned scholars and policy experts of in the field of international trade and policy including Dr. Werner Zdouc, former Director of the Appellate Body, Mr. Sumanta Chaudhuri, Head Trade Policy, CII, Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Head, Centre for WTO Studies, Prof. Henry Gao, Professor, Singapore Management University, Professor Abhijit Das, former Head, Centre for WTO Studies, Dr. Alicia Gracia, Senior Fellow at Brugel, Dr. Isabelle Van Damme, Director, World Trade Institute, Dr. Rosmy Joan, Associate Professor, NALSAR University, among others spoke in the programme.

    In the inaugural session, CTIL launched its monthly investment law newsletter, ‘Investment Law Compass: Navigating through the Global Investment Framework’ which aims to highlight the developments in the investment law landscape and transform it into an accessible and insightful journey for enthusiasts and professionals alike. The newsletter will be available online at www.ctil.org.in.

    At the valedictory address, Professor James J Nedumpara reflected on the rich discussions on industrial policy and its various dimensions over the three days and highlighted that the conference was enriched by global participation. He extended his felicitations to the co-collaborators NALSAR and WTI and congratulated them on the successful conclusion of the Conference.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan/Asmitabha Manna

    (Release ID: 2108731) Visitor Counter : 67

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Smt. Droupadi Murmu to lead the celebration on International Women’s Day

    Source: Government of India

    President Smt. Droupadi Murmu to lead the celebration on International Women’s Day

    National level conference on theme “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat” being organised by Ministry of Women & Child Development on March 8, 2025

    High Level Panel Discussion to follow inaugural session

    Three technical sessions to be organized bringing together renowned women leaders from STEM, business, sports, media, and governance

    Unique Digital Media & Interactive Zone to showcase contributions of women in shaping a progressive India through real-time discussions, multimedia exhibits & storytelling initiatives

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 11:48AM by PIB Delhi

    The Government of India will be celebrating the International Women’s Day on 8thMarch, 2025.  The Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD) is holding a national level conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on the theme “Nari Shakti Se Viksit Bharat”.  The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the National Conference. The event will also be graced by Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi, and Minister of State, Smt. Savitri Thakur, along with senior officials and distinguished guests. On this occasion, mega campaign through #SheBuildsBharat is also being organised.

    The event will witness the participation of women officers from the armed forces and para military forces and  Delhi police along with My Bharat volunteers, Anganwadi Workers, ASHA workers, Self Help Group members etc. Additionally, lady officers from various Ministries/ Departments have been invited to participate in the event. The event will also mark the presence of representatives from international organizations such as the World Bank, UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA etc.

    After the inaugural session, the day will continue with a valuable high Level Panel Discussion.

    On the sidelines of the above event, three technical sessions will be organized to bring together renowned women leaders from STEM, business, sports, media, and governance.

    1. Trailblazers and Luminaries – Looking Back and Forging Ahead on the 50th Anniversary of International Women’s Day

    This session will bring together renowned women leaders from STEM, business, sports, media, and governance to share their experiences and inspire future generations.

    1. Capitalizing on Women Power – Breakthroughs in Financial Inclusion

    This session will focus on financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and empowering women in the economy.

    1. Women in Leadership – Panchayat to Parliament

    A dedicated discussion on policies and frameworks to accelerate gender equality through political leadership.

    A unique Digital Media and Interactive Zone will engage participants through real-time discussions, multimedia exhibits, and storytelling initiatives, showcasing the contributions of women in shaping a progressive India.

    The proceedings will be livestreamed on Doordarshan, Webcast link, the Ministry of Women, and Child Development’s social media platforms and World Bank Live for  widespread reach and engagement.

    The Government of India, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, remains steadfast in its mission to empower women through transformative policies and initiatives. As India moves forward on the path of development, Nari Shakti will continue to be the cornerstone of a self-reliant and prosperous Bharat.

    https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=153866&ModuleId=3&reg=3&lang=1

    *****

    SS/MS

    (Release ID: 2108717) Visitor Counter : 28

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –