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  • MIL-OSI: Rapid7 Appoints Three New Board Members

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rapid7, Inc. (NASDAQ: RPD), a leader in extended risk and threat detection, today announced that it will appoint three new members to its Board of Directors: Wael Mohamed, Mike Burns and Kevin Galligan. These appointments will expand Rapid7’s Board to comprise 11 directors. In addition, Rapid7 and JANA Partners Management, LP have entered into a cooperation agreement, which, among other things, provides that JANA Partners will support all of Rapid7’s director nominees at its upcoming annual shareholder meeting.

    Corey Thomas, Chairman and CEO of Rapid7, stated: “Rapid7 is entering an exciting new chapter of growth, and we are confident that adding Wael, Mike and Kevin to our Board will accelerate our ability to execute with greater speed, focus and impact. Each brings a wealth of expertise that will help us sharpen our strategy, strengthen execution and drive greater value creation for our shareholders.”

    Thomas continued, “With a differentiated security data platform and an expanding security operations ecosystem, we are delivering cutting-edge solutions in AI-driven threat detection and response, cloud security and exposure management — empowering organizations to secure their environments more effectively and efficiently. We are well-positioned within these markets to drive sustainable, profitable growth, and these strategic Board appointments reinforce our commitment to scaling our business, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving long-term shareholder returns.”

    Scott Ostfeld, Managing Partner of JANA Partners, added: “We are encouraged by the steps Rapid7 is taking to enhance its leadership and execution capabilities. We have appreciated our highly constructive dialogue with Rapid7 and look forward to working with management and the Board to capitalize on the significant opportunities ahead and to maximize value for shareholders.”

    A copy of the cooperation agreement will be included as an exhibit to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Advisors

    J.P. Morgan is serving as financial advisor, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is serving as legal advisor, to Rapid7 in connection with the cooperation agreement.

    About Wael Mohamed

    Wael Mohamed has a unique combination of cybersecurity, digital transformation, and executive leadership expertise, which has enabled him to be a go-to advisor for boards and executives for more than 30 years. Mr. Mohamed is the co-founder and Managing General Partner of Global Forward Capital. Prior to that, Mr. Mohamed was an Operating Partner at Advent International and became the CEO of Forescout, an Advent International portfolio company. He previously served as President & COO and board member of Trend Micro Group. Mr. Mohamed received a Bachelor of Computer Science from Dalhousie University and the Executive Corporate Director Certificate from Harvard Business School.

    About Mike Burns

    Mike Burns has more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in finance and operations with high-growth public technology companies. Most recently, Mr. Burns served as Chief Financial Officer of Imperva, Inc. Previously he served as CFO of Gigamon as well as CFO of Volterra Semiconductor. Earlier in his career, Mr. Burns held senior finance roles at Intel Corporation. He earned his A.B. in Economics and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, and his MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business.

    About Kevin Galligan

    Kevin Galligan has 18 years of experience investing in companies and driving shareholder value. He is a Partner and Director of Research at JANA Partners, an investment firm specializing in enhancing shareholder value. Mr. Galligan joined JANA Partners in 2011 from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company where he was a Principal in the North American Private Equity Group. Prior to that, he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory Division of The Blackstone Group. Mr. Galligan holds a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University.

    About Rapid7

    Rapid7 (Nasdaq: RPD) is on a mission to create a safer digital world by making cybersecurity simpler and more accessible. We empower security professionals to manage a modern attack surface through our best-in-class technology, leading-edge research, and broad, strategic expertise. Rapid7’s comprehensive security solutions help more than 11,000 global customers unite cloud risk management and threat detection to reduce attack surfaces and eliminate threats with speed and precision. For more information, visit our website, check out our blog, or follow us on LinkedIn or X.

    Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the statements regarding the appointment of Wael Mohamed, Michael Burns, and Kevin Galligan, and the experiences and value that they will bring to the Board and Rapid7, Inc. (“Rapid7”). Our use of the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The events described in our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, growing macroeconomic uncertainty, unstable market and economic conditions, fluctuations in our quarterly results, our ability to successfully grow our sales of our cloud-based solutions, including through the shift to a consolidated platform sales approach, effectiveness of our restructuring plan that was completed during fiscal year 2024, failure to meet our publicly announced guidance or other expectations about our business, our ability to sustain our revenue growth rate, the ability of our products and professional services to correctly detect vulnerabilities, renewal of our customer’s subscriptions, competition in the markets in which we operate, market growth, our ability to innovate and manage our growth, our sales cycles, our ability to integrate acquired companies, exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities, and our ability to operate in compliance with applicable laws as well as other risks and uncertainties that could affect our business and results described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025, particularly in the section entitled “Item 1.A Risk Factors,” and in the subsequent reports that we file with the SEC. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements we may make. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

    Additional Information

    Rapid7 intends to file a proxy statement, together with a proxy card, with the SEC in connection with its solicitation of proxies for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”). Rapid7 stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement, together with the proxy card, and other relevant documents filed or to be filed with the SEC when they become available because they contain or will contain important information. Investors will be able to get copies of the proxy statement and other documents (including the proxy card) filled with the SEC by Rapid7 for free at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Copies of those documents will also be available free of charge through the “Investors” section of Rapid7’s website, under Financials/SEC Filings, at www.rapid7.com.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    Rapid7, members of our Board of Directors and certain of our executive officers are “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the Company’s Board of Directors and executive officers and their respective interests in the Company, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025. To the extent such ownership interests have changed since such filings, such changes have been reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC, and will be reflected in the Proxy Statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting when filed with the SEC. Security holders may obtain free copies of these documents as described above.

    Investor contact:
    Elizabeth Chwalk
    Vice President, Investor Relations
    investors@rapid7.com
    (617) 865-4277

    Press contact:
    Alice Randall
    Director, Global Corporate Communications
    press@rapid7.com
    (214) 693-4727 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Two new non-executive directors appointed to the SIA

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Two new non-executive directors appointed to the SIA

    The Minister for Safeguarding and the Minister for Security have both agreed to the appointment of two new non-executive directors to the Board of the SIA.

    Hannah Wadey, and Stephen Grainger were appointed to the Authority from 24 March 2025.

    Hannah Wadey is the CEO of the Safer Business Network. She has 20 years’ experience in community safety, security, and crime prevention. Hannah has a proven track record of delivering strategic change in public safety and building collaboration between government, police, businesses, and communities.

    A passionate advocate for reducing violence against women and girls and improving safeguarding, Hannah has led national campaigns tackling vulnerability. These include WAVE (Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement), ‘Ask for Angela’ and Spiking Awareness, and the Mayor of London’s Women’s Night Safety Charter.

    Stephen Grainger has extensive experience in protective security. He has held a portfolio of management consultancy positions, including the All-England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), Wimbledon until 2013, when he became the Head of Security at the AELTC. Stephen had direct responsibility for all security planning and operations for The Championships, in addition to the year-round operations. He is presently providing strategic advisory security services in a range of environments including major sporting venues across the UK.

    Stephen also has 30 years of experience with the Metropolitan Police Service where he served at several boroughs in South and South-West London, including London Heathrow Airport. As Chief Superintendent, he held command positions at the Police Training College, Hendon, where he was responsible for all training. He also served as Head of the Royalty Protection Command.

    The appointments, which are for an initial period of 3 years, have been made following a robust open competition in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    SIA Chair Heather Baily said:

    I am delighted to welcome Hannah and Stephen as new non-executive directors and members of the Authority. They bring a wealth of experience in protective security and a solid understanding of the private security industry we regulate.

    Historically we have always had five non-executive directors on the SIA Board. However, this is an exceptional time for the SIA, and I am grateful to our Ministers (previous and current) for allowing us an extra non-executive director to help with the implementation of Martyn’s Law.

    We engage extensively with the private security industry, and we have listened to their concerns regarding the need for industry representation on our Board. Hannah and Stephen’s professional background in this industry will be of great value in establishing and progressing the strategic aims and objectives of the SIA.

    Notes for editors

    The SIA is governed by a Board, which is made up of:

    • our non-executive directors, including our Chair
    • our executive directors, including our Chief Executive

    The Board’s role is to ensure that the SIA’s statutory responsibilities are met.

    The SIA’s pages on GOV.UK contain further details on the Board members.

    Further information

    The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

    For further information about the SIA or to sign up for email updates visit www.gov.uk/sia. We also post articles and updates on WordPress. The SIA is on LinkedIn, Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and X (@SIAuk).

    For media enquiries only, please contact  media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: APEDA Facilitates Export of GI-Tagged Dalle Chilly from Sikkim to the Solomon Islands

    Source: Government of India (2)

    APEDA Facilitates Export of GI-Tagged Dalle Chilly from Sikkim to the Solomon Islands

    15,000 kg of Dalle Chilly Exported, Boosting Farmer Incomes in Sikkim

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 3:19PM by PIB Delhi

    The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has successfully exported the first consignment of GI-Tagged Dalle Chilly from Sikkim to the Solomon Islands. This significant achievement underscores India’s growing prominence in the global organic agricultural market and highlights the increasing international demand for premium products from the North Eastern region.

    Dalle Chilly, also known as Fire Ball Chilly or Dalle Khursani, is renowned for its intense pungency, bright red color, and high nutritional value. Rich in vitamins A, C, and E, along with potassium, its Scoville Heat Units (SHU) range from 100,000 to 350,000, making it a sought-after spice for both culinary and medicinal applications.

    Through its extensive procurement network, Mevedir sourced approximately 15,000 kg of fresh Dalle Chilly from farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in South Sikkim, including Tinkitam and Tarku regions. This consignment ensured farmers received a premium price of Rs 250-300 per kg, compared to the usual Rs 180-200 per kg, reaffirming the economic benefits of GI tagging and international trade.

    The processing of the consignment was undertaken at an APEDA-funded Integrated Pack House, developed by the Department of Horticulture, Sikkim. Of the total quantity, 9,000 kg was dehydrated, while 6,000 kg was preserved for further processing and export. The drying process yielded a 12.5% recovery rate, with 1,600 kg of fresh chillies processed into 200 kg of dried chillies for export.

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had earlier emphasized that the North East holds the key to India’s vision for a healthier and more sustainable future. He noted that the Geographical Indication (GI) tag is not just a recognition but a transformative opportunity for farmers and artisans, unlocking new markets and ensuring economic prosperity for the region.

    In 2020, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, granted the GI tag to Dalle Chilly, a unique and highly pungent variety grown in Sikkim. The North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) facilitated the GI registration, strengthening the identity and marketability of this specialty product.

    The Government of India has been actively promoting organic farming in the North East under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) scheme, spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. This initiative has played a crucial role in enhancing the production and quality of organic Dalle Chilly, further boosting its appeal in international markets.

    APEDA, in collaboration with the Agriculture Department of Sikkim and its Regional Office in Guwahati, played a pivotal role in facilitating this export, ensuring local farmers and FPOs benefit from global market access.

    For this landmark export transaction, Mevedir, a leading agri-export enterprise committed to promoting organic produce from Sikkim, directly supplied the first shipment to the Solomon Islands. This marks a departure from previous indirect export routes and highlights the growing trust in India’s organic supply chain. The buyer from the Solomon Islands was introduced to the product through its international debut in Singapore in 2023 and subsequently sought direct sourcing from Mevedir.

    The export of Dalle Chilly to the Solomon Islands is expected to enhance Sikkim’s prominence on the global spice map, opening new avenues for international trade. With its ideal climate and fertile soil, Sikkim has the potential to emerge as a key player in the global spice industry. This successful transaction serves as a testament to the increasing global recognition of India’s organic agricultural products and its commitment to expanding agri-exports worldwide.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

    (Release ID: 2114373) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MeitY to host ‘Nano Electronics Roadshow and Conference on Semiconductor Ecosystem in India’ at Bengaluru on March 27, 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    MeitY to host ‘Nano Electronics Roadshow and Conference on Semiconductor Ecosystem in India’ at Bengaluru on March 27, 2025

    Grand roadshow to showcase breakthroughs in quantum technology, neuromorphic computing, AI, IT, electronics and indigenous nanoelectronics advancements

    The roadshow to bring together key stakeholders, showcase innovation and drive investments for Atmanirbhar Bharat

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 2:56PM by PIB Delhi

    The Nanotechnology Initiatives Division of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in partnership with IISc Bengaluru, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Guwahati, will be organizing the Nano Electronics Roadshow and Conference on Semiconductor Ecosystem in India.  The event is scheduled for March 27, 2025, starting from 9:00 AM onwards at the National Science Seminar Complex, IISc Bengaluru.

    This initiative aims to bring together key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, strategic sectors, startups, and the VC ecosystem to drive innovation and collaboration in the segment.

    Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, will grace the event as the Chief Guest in the august presence of our Guests of Honour— Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, MeitY; Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO, Anusandhan National Research Foundation; Utpal Shah, Senior VP, Strategy and Business Development, Tata Electronics; Anand Ramamoorthy, Managing Director, Micron; V. Narayanan, Chair, ISRO.

    Roadshow on tech innovations
    The roadshow will encompass a diverse range of topics, including quantum technology, neuromorphic computing, opportunities in AI, IT, and electronics, as well as a showcase of indigenous advancements in nanoelectronics technology.
    Speaking about the conference, Shri S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, said, “The Nanotechnology Roadshow is a very critical part of India’s pathway towards semiconductor self-sufficiency in the years to come. MeitY had promoted Nano science centres in 6 IITs and the Indian Institute of Science across the country in order to ensure that we have a dedicated team of scientists, technologists, and professionals in the semiconductor space built up over a period of time. Today we have an occasion to actually have many of the deep tech startups, many technology demonstrations, industries who have benefited from this programme coming together. Almost 50 technology demonstrations are being held, 25 deep-tech startups are participating who are specifically involved in the Nano Electronic space, 25 Venture Capitals will be participating alongside 25 more industries. We expect that this event will be the first of many more which will lead India in its part towards semiconductor self sufficiency and in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a self-sufficient, self-reliant India under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).”

    The roadshow will also serve as a platform for India’s vibrant electronics startup ecosystem to showcase their innovations and pitch to an extensive network of Venture Capital firms, aiming to secure investment and accelerate growth.

    With India’s increasing focus on Atmanirbhar Bharat, this initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to achieving self-reliance in electronics innovation and manufacturing. By fostering collaboration between industry and academia, the Ministry aims to cultivate a thriving ecosystem that encourages innovation and sustainable growth in the nanoelectronics sector.

    ****

    Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2114358) Visitor Counter : 67

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Twelve Mines Successfully Auctioned in 11th Round of Commercial Coal Mine Auctions

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 3:38PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Coal has launched the 11th round of coal mine auctions for commercial mining on December 05, 2024 marking another significant step in India’s journey towards self-reliance in the coal sector. In the forward auctions, a total of twelve coal mines were successfully auctioned, comprising eight fully explored mines and four partially explored coal mines.

    These twelve mines collectively hold a geological reserve of approximately 5,759.23 million tonnes, with a cumulative Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) of 15.46 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA), excluding partially explored mines. The auctions witnessed intense competition, achieving an impressive average revenue share of 36.27%, reflecting the sustained interest of industries in India’s coal sector and the Ministry’s commitment to providing a stable and transparent policy framework.

    The mine-wise result for auctions held is as under:

    S. No.

    Name of Mine

    State

    PRC (MTPA)

    Geological Reserves (MT)

    Closing Bid Submitted By

    Reserve Price (%)

    Final Offer (%)

    1

    Jawardaha North

    Jharkhand

    NA

    510.00

    Jharkhand Exploration and Mining Corporation Limited

    4.00

    10.00

    2

    Dahegaon/Makardhokra-IV

    Maharashtra

    0.6

    121.00

    Western Coalfields Limited

    4.00

    10.50

    3

    Saradhapur Jalatap East

    Odisha

    NA

    3257.89

    Jindal Steel And Power Limited

    4.00

    10.00

    4

    Namchik East

    Arunachal Pradesh

    0.67

    22.165

    Innovative Mines and Minerals Limited

    4.00

    90.25

    5

    Marwatola-II

    Madhya Pradesh

    NA

    119.718

    Singhal Business Private Limited

    4.00

    24.50

    6

    Namchik West

    Arunachal Pradesh

    0.34

    8.802

    Pra Nuravi Coal Mining Private Limited

    4.00

    21.50

    7-8

    Banai & Bhalumunda

    Chhattisgarh

    12

    1376.0757

    Jindal Power Limited

    4.00

    48.00

    9

    Sahapur East

    Madhya Pradesh

    0.7

    63.363

    Mineware Advisors Private Limited

    4.00

    20.25

    10

    Seregarha

    Jharkhand

    NA

    187.290

    Rungta Sons Private Limited

    4.00

    36.50

    11

    Vijay Central

    Chhattisgarh

    0.4

    56.750

    Rungta Sons Private Limited

    4.00

    48.50

    12

    Bhandak West

    Maharashtra

    0.75

    36.178

    New Era Cleantech Solution Private Limited

    4.00

    79.00

    The newly auctioned mines are projected to generate an annual revenue of ~₹3,330 crore (excluding partially explored mines) and attract a capital investment of approximately ₹2,319 crore. Additionally, these mines are expected to create 20,902 employment opportunities, significantly contributing to economic development in coal-bearing regions.

    Since the inception of commercial coal mining in 2020, the Ministry of Coal has successfully auctioned a total of 125 coal mines, with a combined production capacity of 273.06 Million Tonnes per year. Once operationalized, these mines will play a crucial role in enhancing domestic coal production and strengthening India’s energy security. Collectively, these mines are expected to generate an annual revenue of ₹38,767 crore, attract a capital investment of ₹40,960 crore, and create employment opportunities for approximately 4,69,170 people.

    Production from commercial coal mines have shown significant growth. Production of coal in FY 23-24 was 12.55 MT and it has increased in FY 24-25 to 22.35 MT (till date) registering a growth of ~78.14%.

    These strategic initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Coal reaffirm its dedication to transforming the coal sector into a key driver of economic growth. By ensuring a robust and sustainable supply of coal, these efforts not only address the nation’s energy demands but also foster economic stability and employment generation, further advancing the vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat.’

    ****

    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2114385) Visitor Counter : 102

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ALL-INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBERS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL LABOURERS – FEBRUARY, 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 11:13AM by PIB Delhi

    The All-India Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL) and Rural Labourers (CPI-RL) (Base: 1986-87=100) decreased by 7 points each,  for the month of February 2025, falling to 1309 and 1321 points, respectively.

    The year-on-year inflation rates based on CPI-AL and CPI-RL for February 2025 were recorded at 4.05% and 4.10%, respectively, compared to 7.43% and 7.36% in February 2024. The corresponding figures for January 2025 stood at 4.61% for CPI-AL and 4.73% for CPI-RL.

      All India Consumer Price Index (General and Group-wise):

    Group

    Agricultural Labourers

    Rural Labourers

     

    January,             2025

    February,             2025

    January,             2025

    February,             2025

    General Index

    1316

    1309

    1328

    1321

    Food

    1255

    1242

    1261

    1249

    Pan, Supari, etc.

    2103

    2118

    2111

    2125

    Fuel & Light

    1390

    1391

    1380

    1380

    Clothing, Bedding & Footwear

    1332

    1336

    1396

    1402

    Miscellaneous

    1385

    1390

    1385

    1389

                                                            

     

    ***

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2114257) Visitor Counter : 56

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LA fires cleanup on-track as fastest major cleanup in American history continues with new milestones

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 21, 2025

    10 days left to apply for assistance and no-cost debris removal for Los Angeles fire survivors

    What you need to know: The March 31 deadline is quickly approaching for residents affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles County to apply for critical disaster assistance. 

    LOS ANGELES – The cleanup following the Los Angeles fires is on track to be the fastest in American history as 475 crews roar ahead, working around the clock, to swiftly and safely clean up ash, soot, and damaged buildings from the deadly Eaton and Palisades fires. 

    To date, 1,300 parcels have been cleared of debris, and 507 have been returned to the county by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

    “We are not slowing down until the job is done. California is dedicated to restoring our communities swiftly and safely after these fires.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The rapid pace of this cleanup makes it even more critical for survivors to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and to complete a Right-of-Entry (ROE) form for no-cost debris removal. There are now just 10 days left before the March 31 deadline. 

    State and federal agencies cleared ash and debris from the first 1,300 properties in just over 70 days, demonstrating the unprecedented pace of this cleanup operation. To put this into perspective, clearing 920 properties in similar terrain after the 2019 Woolsey and Hill fires took crews over four months — a record at the time. 

    State led efforts to support survivors

    At the direction of Governor Newsom, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is working closely with local, state, and federal partners to secure assistance for survivors, with billions of dollars in assistance already distributed to those who need it most. This includes:

    • $24.2 million in Displacement Assistance for a one-time payment to help with immediate housing needs of survivors who are unable to return to their home after a disaster.
    • $21 million in Housing Assistance to help survivors cover the price of a hotel, motel, or other short-term housing when displaced from their primary residence.
    • $73.4 million in Other Needs Assistance to provide survivors with financial assistance for uninsured and underinsured personal property losses, medical and dental expenses caused by the disaster, and other serious disaster-related costs. 
    • $1.88 billion in Small Business Administration Assistance to offer low-interest loans for homeowners and renters to repair or replace damaged property, as well as for businesses and nonprofits to recover from economic losses and restore operations.

    How to participate in the no-cost debris removal program

    For homeowners whose properties were affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires, completing an ROE form is an essential step in the cleanup and recovery process.

    Completing the ROE enables government contractors to enter private properties and remove dangerous debris at no cost to the homeowner. This legal document grants government agencies and contractors permission to conduct debris removal and perform necessary assessments. For more information about debris removal, visit CA.gov/LAfires.

    Who is eligible?

    Phase 2 cleanup is offered to eligible private residential properties that were destroyed in the fires. A destroyed structure of at least 120 square feet must be on the parcel in order to qualify for free debris removal by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

    When removing fire-damaged materials, there are two main options:

    • Government-assisted debris removal: This is free of charge and managed by government agencies.
    • Private contractor cleanup: Homeowners who prefer to hire private contractors for debris removal are not required to sign the ROE, but this option will generally incur costs for the homeowner.

    If you are eligible and want to participate in the cost-free government cleanup service, you must complete the ROE form before the March 31, 2025 deadline.

    After submitting, you can track your submission through the county recovery and US Army Corps of Engineers pages. County staff may contact you if additional documentation is needed to process your form. Once approved, officials will begin the cleanup process.

    Debris removal and insurance

    Residents have the option to opt-in to the government-sponsored debris removal program at no direct cost or manage the cleanup independently by opting out by March 31, 2025. Whether you are insured, uninsured, or underinsured, the program comes at no direct cost to eligible homeowners.
     

    Property owners with insurance

    • All upfront costs of Phase 2 debris removal will be paid by government agencies.
    • If you have homeowners, secondary, or automobile insurance covering debris removal and opt-in to the sponsored program, you must inform the County of your insurance coverage on your Right of Entry form. The County has been assigned the responsibility to collect insurance proceeds and will work with insurance providers to ensure any proceeds specifically for debris removal are assigned to the government. Only unused portions of debris related insurance proceeds will be collected by the County.
       

    Property owners without insurance

    If you don’t have any debris removal insurance benefits, you are still eligible for debris removal from the Army Corps of Engineers and you will not receive a bill for these services.
     

    FEMA Individual Assistance:

    Homeowners and renters who sustained damage from the wildfires may be eligible for grants to help with temporary housing, home repairs, and other disaster-related expenses. Apply:

    SBA Disaster Loans:

    Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are available for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and private nonprofits. These loans can help repair or replace damaged property and cover economic losses. Apply:

    Track LA’s recovery, including the latest air quality results, at CA.gov/LAfires. 

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    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom will serve as Co-Chair of America Is All In, an expansive coalition of state, local, tribal, private sector and non-profit leaders supporting climate efforts at the subnational level. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today…

    Mar 20, 2025

    News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring March 19, 2024, as Nowrūz Day in the State of California. The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATION For millions of people around the world, Nowrūz…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Television personality Ant Middleton banned as company director over unpaid taxes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Television personality Ant Middleton banned as company director over unpaid taxes

    His company owed more than £1 million in corporation tax and VAT when it went into liquidation

    • Television personality and adventurer Ant Middleton has been banned as a director after his Sway and Starting Limited company failed to pay more than £1 million in tax 

    • In the same period, more than £4.5 million was paid into the company’s accounts, indicating it had enough income to pay the tax it owed in full 

    • His wife, Emilie Middleton, has also been disqualified as a company director for four years following investigations by the Insolvency Service 

    • The pair ended up owing their company almost £3 million at the time of liquidation due to an overdrawn director’s loan account 

    Television personality Ant Middleton has been banned as a director after his company failed to pay more than £1 million in tax. 

    The former SAS: Who Dares Wins chief instructor was the director of Sway and Starting Limited along with his wife, Emilie Middleton. The company, which was described as offering media representation services, was set up to manage income from his television and media work. 

    But both the directors failed to ensure the company paid more than £300,000 in VAT and over £800,000 in corporation tax between 2019 and 2022. 

    This was despite more than £4.5 million being paid into the company’s accounts from 2020 to 2022. 

    The pair had also taken out almost £3 million from the company in the form of a director’s loan account by the time the company went into liquidation in December 2022.  

    Ant Middleton later agreed to repay £300,000 of the director’s loan as a full and final settlement with the liquidator. 

    The Middletons, both 44 and with correspondence addresses in Chelmsford, Essex, have been banned as company directors for four years. 

    Dave Magrath, Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Companies not paying the tax they should deprives the government of the money it needs to pay for the country’s defence services, our NHS, schools and universities, and transport systems. 

    Ant and Emilie Middleton had legal and financial duties as directors to ensure their company paid the corporation tax and VAT it owed. Instead, they were taking millions of pounds out of the company at that time. 

    This disqualification should serve as a deterrent to other directors that if you do not pay your taxes while directing money elsewhere, you are at risk of being banned.

    Ant Middleton formed Sway and Starting in September 2014, with his wife becoming a director of the company in May 2019. 

    The company, previously known as Middleton Global Limited, failed to pay any of the £869,351 in corporation tax it owed between September 2019 and March 2021. 

    Sway and Starting also only paid £267,443 in VAT out of a total of £651,961 it owed between March 2020 and September 2022, leaving £384,518 unpaid. 

    Insolvency Service analysis of the company’s bank accounts showed that £4,592,200 was paid into the company between April 2020 and November 2022. 

    By the time of the company’s liquidation, the pair also owed Sway and Starting at least £2,961,745 through their director’s loan account. 

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted disqualification undertakings from Ant and Emilie Middleton, and their bans started on Monday 24 March and Wednesday 19 March respectively. 

    It prevents them from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court. 

    Further information

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Women leaders gather in Leeds to help unlock SME business growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Women leaders gather in Leeds to help unlock SME business growth

    Female entrepreneurs, senior industry representatives and local leaders came together at the UKEF ‘Northern Women in Business’ reception in Leeds.

    Laura Murray, HSBC UK; Roxanne Goodman, Female Founder Finance; Helen Gibson MBE; Heba Bevan, Utterberry; Marie Hall, UKEF. Credit: Neil Spence.

    • Hosted by UK Export Finance, the event focused on breaking down barriers for women in business and encouraging more women-led businesses to take up international trade opportunities.

    • UKEF’s financing support for small businesses was worth over £570 million last year, while an independent review estimates around a quarter of a trillion pounds could be added to the UK economy if women received more business investment opportunities.

    Over 100 female entrepreneurs, banking representatives and government officials came together last night to celebrate the success of British businesswomen and to explore ways of reducing financial barriers for women-led firms seeking to grow their operations and export.

    Hosted at The Studio in Leeds by government department UK Export Finance (UKEF), the event welcomed speakers from prominent groups Female Founder Finance and the Invest in Women Taskforce.

    UKEF is a government department which helps businesses to export by offering financing guarantees and insurance – support which helps companies to fill their order-books, invest in growth and create wealth.

    In the 2023-24 financial year, UKEF’s backing for businesses contributed £3.3 billion to the UK economy and supported up to 41,000 jobs across the country. The department has set an objective to support more women-led businesses as part of its business plan. 

    While this is good news for firms across the country, according to the Rose Review, £250 billion could be added to the UK economy if women matched men in receiving business investment.

    Gareth Thomas, Minister for Exports, said: 

    One of the priorities for this government is to break down barriers that women in business face, which includes access to finance.

    UK Export Finance is working alongside the broker Female Founder Finance to ensure its suite of services reach more female business owners so they can secure new investment opportunities and grow their operations.

    UKEF recently signed a partnership with Female Founder Finance. Together, they will streamline the process for referring eligible businesses into one another’s financing programmes, therefore reducing missed opportunities for women owners.

    Roxanne Goodman, Founder of Female Founder Finance, added:

    The UKEF and Female Founder Finance partnership is a game-changer for women-led businesses looking to scale globally. Events like this reception are crucial for connecting female founders with the trade finance solutions they need to seize international opportunities.

    By breaking down barriers to funding, we’re empowering more women to succeed in international trade.

    UKEF’s support for women-led businesses complements the government’s priorities for economic growth and breaking down barriers for businesses across the UK as part of its Plan for Change.  

    The event comes after the Chancellor’s backing for the Invest in Women Taskforce – which aims to create one of the world’s largest investment funding pools for female founders – as part of this government’s mission to grow the economy.

    Contact

    Media enquiries:

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE advances implementation of digital data exchange along SPECA corridors

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Increased use of digital solutions developed by UNECE’s subsidiary, intergovernmental body – the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) – can enhance the sustainability and resilience of supply chains and strengthen global connectivity. Data mapping and alignment to the UN/CEFACT standards allow for a common semantic foundation for data exchange among the different port or railway information systems and other modes of transport.

    The benefits include reducing economic costs, enabling seamless data interchange among modes of transport and sectors in the supply chain, using the UN standards as a common semantic foundation for cross-border, multimodal, and cross-sectoral interoperability, simplification and automation of business processes, and raising business competitiveness.

    As part of the implementation the roadmap for digitalization of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, which was adopted by States participating in the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) in November 2023, UNECE recently organized two capacity-building seminars in Turkmenistan to streamline efforts to digitalize transport and supply chains along the Trans-Caspian and other corridors in the region. 

    In 2023, the total cargo transported via the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor increased by 86% in 2023, reaching 2.8 million tons, up from 1.5 million tons in 2022. According to a World Bank study, with targeted investments and policy reforms, the Middle Corridor has the potential to triple its trade volumes by 2030, reaching 11 million tons, and to reduce travel time by half. ​

    The first seminar focused on port-to-port data exchange in the Trans-Caspian Corridor, notably in Baku-Aktau and Baku-Turkmenbashi, to align this data exchange to the UN/CEFACT standards and Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model (MMT RDM). Baku and Aktau ports are already exchanging data on cargo, and the ports of Baku and Turkmenbashi have an agreement to exchange data.                       

    The seminar participants requested UNECE, the Governments of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan and the development partners to support the effort to align the data exchange to the UN/CEFACT standards in the context of the Trans-Caspian Digitalization Roadmap. In addition to supporting the digital exchange of information among the Caspian ports of Baku, Aktau, and Turkmenbashi, one of the recommendations of the seminar was to invite other ports along the Trans-Caspian Corridor – Kuryk, Poti, Batumi, Odessa, Constanta, Varna, Burgas, and Istanbul – to align to the UN/CEFACT standards.

    Under the SPECA Chairmanship of Turkmenistan in 2025, and with participation of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Organisation for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD), the railway agencies of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Eurasian Development Bank, the second seminar focused on a pilot project to develop and use an electronic equivalent of the SMGS railway consignment note along the Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan–Iran (KTI) railway corridor.

    This pilot project would serve as a foundation for further development of a digital corridor along the KTI railway corridor, using the semantic standards and Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model (MMT RDM) of UN/CEFACT as a key reference for intermodal interoperability of data and document exchange.

    Representatives of UNECE, UNESCAP, and the railway agencies of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran discussed the possibilities for such a project in cooperation with the three governments and various stakeholders, including ECO, the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Central Asia (PS IGC TRACECA) and other development partners.

    The participants recommended that the railways and business community of the KTI and SPECA participating States promote the digital transformation of documents accompanying goods in the KTI corridor, in alignment with the UN/CEFACT standards to digitalize railway documents accompanying goods.

    Finally, the 20th session of the SPECA Working Group on Trade held in Ashgabat reviewed national and regional plans and strategies of the SPECA participating States for trade facilitation and sustainable development.

    The participants aimed to identify priority actions on which the SPECA Working Group on Trade could work in the coming several years and focused on deliverables, such as: 

    • Collaboration among SPECA participating States in the WTO process
    • Progress in the implementation of the SPECA Trade Facilitation Strategy and related roadmap
    • Progress in the implementation of the Principles for Sustainable Trade in the subregion
    • Studies and recommendations on regulatory and procedural non-tariff barriers to trade, and
    • Digitalization of data and document exchange in multimodal transport and trade using UN standards.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: SafeCard Reviews [Consumer Reports]: Does It Work As Claimed?

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WOODHAVEN, N.Y., March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In 2025, searches for “SafeCard reviews”, “SafeCard consumer reports”, and “best RFID & NFC blockers” are skyrocketing as consumers seek answers about SafeCard’s effectiveness, safety, and value. With increasing digital threats, many wonder: Is SafeCard worth buying? Does it really prevent RFID and NFC skimming? In this comprehensive SafeCard review, we’ll explore its features, benefits, and real-world performance.

    SafeCard: My Experiences with the Game-Changer RFID Protection by:

    My wallet was full of credit and debit cards, with me being very anxious about the possibility of RFID skimming and digital theft. But then came SafeCard, and it completely changed my outlook on data security. These compact, lightweight RFID-blocking cards make it a breeze to enjoy unparalleled protection of sensitive financial and personal information in style.

    It includes such advanced features as sophisticated RFID-blocking technology, which makes it different from its competitors and just does not allow unauthorized scanning of contactless cards. Well, in order to test it, I went to the busiest shopping mall, which was just full of contactless payment terminals everywhere, and really was surprised: zero interference. SafeCard really shielded my data like never before.

    SafeCard Reviews: Why It’s the Best RFID & NFC Blocker in 2025

    All over Canada, The Uk, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, customers have consistently praised SafeCard for its top-tier RFID protection.

    Its ease of use and affordability is another driving force behind its numerous 4.95 star rating, SafeCard is recognized as one of the most reliable RFID protective device on the market.

    Many SafeCard reviews highlight:

    • Superior RFID & NFC blocking technology
    • Affordable pricing compared to competitors
    • Compact, travel-friendly design
    • Trusted by thousands across the US, UK, Canada & Australia

    SafeCard Consumer Reports: The #1 RFID & NFC Blocker in the US, UK & Canada

    According to online surveys and various polls, SafeCard is the top-rated RFID & NFC blocker of 2025 in multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

    If you’re searching for a proven, reliable, and hassle-free way to protect your credit cards, debit cards, and IDs from digital theft, SafeCard is a must-have. After a month of consistent use, I can confidently say: I won’t go anywhere without it.

    Looking for the best RFID & NFC blocker in 2025? SafeCard is the ultimate solution.

    What Is SafeCard? (SafeCard Reviews)

    SafeCard is a device, the shape of a credit card that is designed to fit into your wallet.
    It is made of a special material that blocks Rfid scanners, essentially acting like a shield for your credit cards in your wallet.

    This innovative technology makes it almost impossible for digital thieves or skimming devices to steal your sensitive information and with the rise of contactless payments and smart cards, this risk has never been higher.

    Equipped with **advanced RFID and NFC blocking technology**, SafeCard shields your credit cards, debit cards, ID cards, and even hotel key cards from unauthorized scanners.

    Users praise Safe Card for its durability, ease of use and sleek design. Better yet, Safecard doesn’t require batteries, charging or maintenance.

    It is hassle free and reliable and fits right into your daily life.

    Why SafeCard Stands Out (SafeCard Customer Reviews)

    In today’s digital age, electronic theft is on the rise, with thieves using increasingly sophisticated tools to target unsuspecting individuals. SafeCard acts as your 24/7 silent protector, offering peace of mind whether you’re shopping, traveling, or simply going about your day.
    The lightweight and slim profile ensures it doesn’t take up unnecessary space in your wallet, making it a practical choice for anyone concerned about privacy and security.

    Many SafeCard user reviews describe it as a very effective device in blocking unauthorized scans and keeping personal information private. They are pleased with its innovative design, affordability, and reliability; it’s a must-have for anyone looking to secure their digital life. With ever-evolving digital threats, SafeCard has remained a trusted defense against identity theft, financial fraud, and unauthorized data access.

    The Growing Need for SafeCard

    Every minute without SafeCard is a gamble. Thieves are everywhere-subways, malls, airports-just waiting for that perfect moment to steal all your money, identity, and peace of mind.

    SafeCard protects not just your financial information but your privacy and security in this ever-connected world. Don’t wait until it’s too late; take responsibility for your safety today with SafeCard.

    What Are the Features of SafeCard? (SafeCard Reviews)

    SafeCard is one advanced security solution, including advanced technologies and a modern design, to present you with exceptionally protective personal details. Filled with innovative features inside, the SafeCard changes how you do your data security from modern digital threats. That said, let’s further review what customers consider special with the SafeCard, according to the SafeCard customer reviews that follow:

    1. Advanced RFID-Blocking Technology
    With state-of-the-art RFID-blocking technology in place, SafeCard will deny any attempt to scan sensitive data wirelessly. SafeCard protects credit card information, ID cards, and other RFID-enabled items from the most prevalent skimmers employed by identity thieves. Be it a busy subway or a shopping mall full of people, SafeCard will never let your data get compromised.

    2. Slim and Lightweight Design
    Probably the most raved-about feature of SafeCard users is that it is slim and lightweight. SafeCard is seamlessly integrated into your current card collection, never taking up additional space in either a wallet or purse. This slim profile keeps this device thin to provide comfort with no loss in protection. That makes this product perfect for daily use.

    3. Durability and High-Quality Materials
    SafeCard is built to last. Made from high-quality materials, it is durable and long-lasting, even when used frequently. Unlike flimsy alternatives, SafeCard will not degrade over time but will provide reliable protection for years to come. This assurance of quality is a recurring highlight in the feedback and testimonials about SafeCard.

    4. Effortless Protection
    SafeCard made it easy with regard to security-no batteries, no charging, or complicated setup required. Just put SafeCard in your wallet and instantly block RFID signals. Immediate plug-and-play functionality allows 24/7 protection, taking zero extra effort from you.

    5. Universal Compatibility
    Whether you’re talking about credit card information, debit cards, an ID card, or even a hotel key card, SafeCard is compatible with most RFID-enabled cards and secures all of your personal information wherever you go. From shopping to travel to the daily commute, SafeCard has got you covered to keep your data out of harm’s way from any unwanted electronic intrusions.

    Why SafeCard’s Features Matter (SafeCard Reviews)

    In a world of increasingly sophisticated digital theft, the features of SafeCard offer a comprehensive solution to keeping your information safe.

    Combining the most advanced technologies with sleek design and ease of use, it stands out as a prime choice for those who want to enhance their personal security. This device is not just a protecting tool but an essential accessory, as many SafeCard reviews say, for modern life.

    How Does SafeCard Actually Work? (SafeCard Reviews)

    The SafeCard is designed to provide seamless protection against unauthorized RFID and NFC scanning, a tactic common among criminals to steal personal data from your credit, debit, or ID cards. But how does it achieve this? Let’s break it down based on SafeCard customer reviews and its innovative technology.

    The Science Behind SafeCard Protection
    Core in the way SafeCard works is advanced RFID-blocking technology. RFID means Radio Frequency Identification: the technology that provides contactless interaction between devices, your cards, and scanners. That’s good when it comes to things like contactless payments or fast data access, but then again, your information becomes accessible for literally everyone. The thieves will easily steal card data without your knowledge with the help of a portable RFID scanner.

    SafeCard solves this problem by creating a protective shield around your cards. Each SafeCard comes with a specialized material that interferes with RFID signals, blocking your cards from talking with external scanners. This effectively blocks criminals from accessing your sensitive information, even if they’re standing nearby with a skimming device.

    NFC Protection for Modern Threats
    But besides RFID, SafeCard also blocks NFC or Near Field Communication signals used in newer systems such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet. This way, it neutralizes these signals for assured protection against all forms of electronic pickpocketing.

    Ease of Use – Hassle-Free Security
    Some high points noted by the users from the reviews for SafeCard were its simplicity: The SafeCard requires no batteries, setup, or maintenance. Just pop it into your wallet or cardholder, and it will start working right away. Its slim, lightweight design ensures that it will not take extra space and work as a really practical and handy addition to the everyday carry.

    Silent, Reliable Protection
    SafeCard works silently in the background, providing 24/7 protection without any effort on your part. Whether you’re traveling, shopping, or commuting, SafeCard ensures your data remains safe from unauthorized scans and potential theft. This seamless integration of security and convenience is why SafeCard has earned such positive feedback and testimonials from users worldwide.

    CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR SAFECARD FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE AT A MASSIVE DISCOUNT TODAY

    Why SafeCard’s Technology Matters (SafeCard Reviews)

    Within this digital era of theft, the innovative approach that SafeCard provides toward security will give you reliability in safeguarding your personal information. Its capability for blocking RFID and NFC signals alike makes it a must-have device for anyone who takes his or her privacy and security seriously. As many SafeCard reviews will prove, this device is not just a protective accessory but also a silent guardian that keeps your data safe wherever you go.

    How to Use SafeCard (SafeCard Consumer reports)

    Using SafeCard to protect your personal details is as easy as ABC.
    You don’t need to be a tech expert or have any extra knowledge to protect yourself form RFID skimming scams.
    In fact, Safecard is so ridiculously simple to use that you might be surprised.

    Here is how it works.
    Step 1 – Place SafeCard in your wallet or Card holder
            Simply insert your SafeCard into your wallet, cardholder or purse. Due to its slim and light weight design, it can easily fit into most wallets and purses.

    Step 2 – Enjoy peace of mind
            That’s basically it, enjoy peace of mind and know your cards are protected from RFID skimming events.
    You see, SafeCard works passively, its basically like a helmet for your cards, so once its in your wallet, it will shield your contact less credit cards.

    For a limited time only, SafeCard is currently being offered at a special discount price for customers here.

    Why SafeCard’s Ease of Use Stands Out (SafeCard Reviews)

    One of the most praised aspects in SafeCard user reviews is its simplicity and effectiveness Unlike other security solutions that require setup, batteries, or maintenance, SafeCard offers plug-and-play protection.

    Its sleek design and hassle-free functionality make it a favorite among users who value both convenience and security.

    As highlighted in countless customer testimonials, this device is a must-have for anyone looking to protect their personal information in today’s digital world.

    (Big Discount) Click Here to Get SafeCard For Up To 50% Off The Original Price

    Pros (SafeCard Reviews)

    SafeCard has been taking over the internet lately because of the amount of positive reviews it has been able to garner, its boasts a slew of pros which we will discuss below;

    Effective RFID blocking tech – Compared to other options on the market, SafeCard is affordable and offers superb personal protection.

    Affordable Price point – Priced appropriately so it is easily accessible to all, more info on the pricing is further down below.

    Easy to use and Hassle-Free – Very easy and straightforward to use, just insert it in your wallet and you’re good to go.

    Compact and slim design – Its sleek, lightweight profile fits seamlessly into your wallet or purse without adding bulk.

    Provides peace of mind against identity theft – It gives you 24/7 protection, ensuring your personal information stays safe even in crowded or high risk areas

    Lightweight and portable for daily use – Its portable design makes it easy to carry everywhere you go.

    Cons (SafeCard Reviews)

    Requires Careful handling – If the SafeCard gets damaged and has it integrity compromised, this may reduce its ability to effectively protect your cards from Rfid skimming

    Limited protection – It is designed to work well protecting you from RFID and NFC skimming and threats, however it does not offer protection against other forms of online threats such as phishing scams.

    Limited Availability – Can only be purchased from its online website.

    Where to Buy the Original SafeCard (SafeCard Reviews)

    You should only purchase SafeCard from their official website, to prevent accidentally purchasing a counterfeit product.
    Avoid purchasing from third party platforms or resellers, counterfeit products do not offer the highest form of protection.

    As an additional bonus we have partnered with the official site and will be able to offer you some discounts there directly, just click on any of the links in this article to take advantage of these discounts.

    SafeCards Pricing: (SafeCards Reviews)

    How much is your peace of mind and how much is your funds security worth to you?
    That is the main question you need to ask yourself before thinking about the price.
    If you have $10,000 in your bank account, would it be out of place to spend $500 protecting it?

    Luckily you don’t have to cough up anywhere close to $500 to protect your self from RFID skimming.

    The SafeCard comes in packs of 3 and initially cost $102.

    However if you buy through any of our discount links provided throughout this article you will be able to get a pack of 3 for just $45.99!

    That boils down to just $15.33 for one SafeCard.

    Our discount expires soon, so take advantage of it while it lasts.

    For a limited time only, SafeCard is currently being offered at a special discount price for customers here.

    Each purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the SafeCard risk-free. If you’re not fully satisfied within the first month, you can return it for a full refund, making it a no-risk investment for enhancing your security.

    SafeCard Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (SafeCard Reviews)

    What is SafeCard used for?
    SafeCard is intended to give you peace of mind and an extra degree of security. Due to the rising incidence of credit card skimming and other forms of cybertheft, having a SafeCard device has become a no-brainer in recent times.

    Rfid skimmers are devices that work the same way as contactless point of sale device when you go shopping, meaning you can have your funds stolen from you, all the perpetrator needs to do is stay close enough to you for a few seconds.

    This is more common in busy venues, queues etc, however, having a SafeCard in your wallet acts as a protect shield as this device scrambles Rfid devices when they try to skim information off your card.

    Can I reuse my safecard?
    Of course, all you need to do is insert the SafeCard into your wallet and you’re golden. No other action is needed on your part and it can be used for up to 5 years

    How does an RFID protector work?
    An RFID protector, such as SafeCard works by creating a passive barrier (due to the special materials it is made from ) that block or scramble the radio waves emitted by RFID tags, preventing unauthorized readers from accessing the information stored on the contactless cards next to it, so for it to work effectively, you just need to place it in your wallet with your other cards.
            
    Are SafeCards difficult to use
    No they are not, all you need to do is have it in your wallet with your other cards and it does its job of shielding them from RFID skimmers

    Can Safecards be used internationally
    Yes, they can be used anywhere in the globe, there is no geographical restrictions.

    How long does SafeCard last?
    5 years

    Are there any subscription fees?
    No there is none

    SafeCard Reviews Consumer Reports
    While traveling through Rio, I discovered my bank account had been drained by scammers. I was devastated. A fellow traveler recommended SafeCard, and it’s been a lifesaver ever since. No more stolen data, no more stress. Now I can travel with confidence knowing my wallet is secure.”

    Melissa H – I love going to holiday markets, but after watching my friend lose hundreds to a scammer, I knew I needed protection. SafeCard blocks thieves silently, and I haven’t had an issue since. It’s the best purchase I’ve made for my security!”

    Hannah – I’ve had my cards skimmed in airports twice, and it was terrifying. Since using SafeCard, I finally feel safe while traveling. It’s lightweight, discreet, and has stopped several attempted scans already.”

    Conclusion For SafeCard Review

    Safecard is a newer and more effective to improve your online privacy and security.
    The risk of falling victim to cybercriminals is so great in today’s day and age.
    With SafeCard you can ameliorate that risk and rest easy at night knowing your funds are safe.

    However, should you get it?

    Is it a right fit for you?

    If you want to eliminate the possibility of cybertheft through credit card skimming and other kinds of cybertheft then SafeCard is your best bet.

    For a limited time only, SafeCard is currently being offered at a special discount price for customers here.

    Media Contact:
    Name: Peter Johnson
    Email: info@safecardshield.com

    Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44028647-579d-4c60-998b-f37a0212e053

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: How we made workplace justice simpler, faster and more accessible for everyone

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    How we made workplace justice simpler, faster and more accessible for everyone

    Employment Tribunals play a vital role in the UK justice system, resolving disputes between employers and employees.

    These disputes may be on issues such as: 

    • unfair dismissal 

    • discrimination 

    • redundancy 

    • whistleblowing claims 

    • breach of contract 

    Hearings involve evidence, witness testimony and legal arguments and are decided upon by a judge sitting alone, or by a panel made up of: 

    • a judge 

    • a panel member with a worker’s background 

    • a panel member with an employer’s background 

    Before the Reform Programme, there were a number of issues with the process: 

    • Panel members and HMCTS teams had to manually handle, transport and store high numbers of paper documents 

    • Transportation of this paper had environmental impacts and caused bottlenecks and delays to cases 

    • Forms weren’t intuitive or supportive, increasing the risk of human error 

    • Claimants and defendants often needed to travel to buildings for hearings 

    • Judges spent time making lower-level decisions, taking them away from complex matters that required them 

    Our modernisation programme aimed to transform an outdated paper-based system that was struggling to meet modern expectations into an efficient, user-friendly service fit for the 21st century. 

    Benefits 

    Since July 2022, more than 17,500 people have made digital claims using the modernised service. These people benefitted from:

    • an end-to-end digital journey for submitting and managing claims 

    • supportive, intuitive online forms and simplified procedures with reduced legal jargon, reducing the opportunity for errors 

    • the flexibility of real-time case tracking and 24/7 access to case files 

    • an increase in remote hearings which have reduced the need to spend time travelling, as well as additional environmental benefits  

    • faster progression of their case with streamlined administrative processes 

    Changes to regulations also meant legal officers could be appointed to support judges with certain functions which they could in turn do more effectively through improved technology. This step ensured more efficient use of judicial time for more complex matters. 

    Our digital transformation 

    The journey to reform Employment Tribunals began in 2021. Public consultation showed strong support for modernisation and we began the process by developing and testing the new digital claim form (ET1). 

    This would be the foundation of the modernised services, giving claimants (or their representatives) an accessible, intuitive form that they could access via GOV.UK and complete and submit online at any time. 

    We then gave users access to two key digital platforms: 

    • MyHMCTS – A specialised portal for legal professionals to manage and interact with case materials on behalf of their client 

    • CitizenUI – An accessible interface for members of the public to access directly 

    The national rollout completed in July 2024, transforming all Employment Tribunal offices. Throughout rollout, we’ve made sure our staff have felt supported and clear on the role they play in having a positive impact on the tribunal process.  

    The online service is popular too, with 80% of all single claims now made digitally. 

    Getting support 

    While digital innovation is important, we’ve maintained our commitment to accessibility: 

    • Paper options remain for those who need them 

    • Development of central printing facilities 

    • Comprehensive guidance materials 

    • Support for those without digital access or confidence 

    Feedback and insights 

    Users across the system have embraced the changes: 

    Access to the relevant documents without waiting for either the parties or the staff to provide them… it is a game changer. – Tribunal Judge 

    The system/portal has great potential and should be a very useful and efficient tool for both users and HMCTS. – Legal Professional 

    I don’t have to carry so much stuff around… I can get what I need usually from the electronic file. – Tribunal Staff Member 

    Supporting Sarah through her workplace dispute  

    “I was looking forward to starting my maternity leave and spending time with my family but after a few months, I realised my employer’s attitude towards me had changed.  

    Before I told them I was pregnant, I was regularly encouraged to apply for promotion and my boss would send me details of vacancies and training opportunities. This contact stopped while I was on maternity leave and I later discovered colleagues had applied for and been promoted into roles I would have been perfect for, but I was never told about them. I was excluded and I felt my employer had discriminated against me and I became extremely unhappy.  

    It was a daunting prospect, but I decided to make a claim to an Employment Tribunal. I’d never done anything like this before and I was very nervous but the process has been great so far. Because it’s all online, I can log on whenever I want and see how the claim is progressing. This has been really important as I rarely have the time to make phone calls in the day, chasing people up. I also thought I’d have to travel to hearings on a regular basis, but that hasn’t been the case.  

    I’m actually enjoying the process and I look forward to the claim being settled so I can move on with my life.”  

    Working together 

    We worked closely with: 

    • Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – now the Department of Business and Trade – and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to consult on plans to reform the service 

    • Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) to make sure free advice would be available to those using the digital service 

    • the judiciary as a vital partner at all levels 

    Future plans 

    We’re committed to continuous improvement through: 

    • developing Service Centre support by end of 2025 

    • implementing ‘ListAssist’ software for improved case listing 

    • developing capability for handling multiple claims 

    • enhancing system performance and improving how to navigate it further 

    • introducing bulk printing and scanning facilities 

    • refining user-friendly interfaces based on feedback from our teams 

    Stay updated 

    Keep informed about Employment Tribunals through: 

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Less paper, better data, quicker transfer of information – how a digital tribunals system is improving the appeals process

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Less paper, better data, quicker transfer of information – how a digital tribunals system is improving the appeals process

    The Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) tribunal handles appeals when people disagree with decisions about their benefits or child support, made by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

    The tribunal makes it easier for people to appeal decisions about 24 different types of benefits, including: 

    • Universal Credit 

    • Personal Independence Payment 

    • Employment and Support Allowance 

    • Disability Living Allowance 

    • Attendance Allowance 

    • Carer’s Allowance 

    • Child Support 

    These benefits are intended to help people who may: 

    • need financial support during difficult times 

    • have disabilities or health conditions 

    • are seeking employment 

    • require help with child support arrangements 

    Before 2016, everything was done on paper. This meant: 

    • staff and judges had to manually handle dozens of documents 

    • high costs for photocopying and posting documents 

    • risk of human error when inputting data 

    • significant environmental impact from paper use and transport 

    • very little flexibility for appellants to track or interact with appeals 

    There was a clear opportunity and need to offer people the ability to make and manage their appeals online to save time at some stages, increase consistency and flexibility, and reduce the financial cost to the taxpayer.  

    Benefits of the digital service 

    Last year over 113,000 appeals were raised by people using our digital system, meaning that: 

    • appellants could track the progress of their own case online at any time of day or night 

    • information was transferred between government departments in seconds rather than days 

    • there were fewer opportunities for errors because data did not need to be manually entered multiple times 

    • the financial and environmental cost to the taxpayer associated with the use and transportation of paper forms was reduced 

    Our digital transformation 

    Since 2016, we’ve transformed the service through several significant digital improvements.  

    At times, we’ve needed to respond to wider changes to alter the original vision for modernising the service, particularly as some benefit types were intended to be moved under Universal Credit by DWP. But at every step, feedback from the people testing and using the service has been essential to overcome challenges and get new changes right before we introduced them in full. 

    Submit your appeal 

    By introducing our online portal on GOV.UK appellants (the individuals making the appeal) can now appeal a benefits decision digitally. Other improvements include: 

    • the ability to upload supporting evidence digitally 

    • automatic case creation, significantly reducing staff data entry 

    • faster, clear notifications reach decision-making departments immediately 

    Appeals now reach DWP within seconds (which previously took a week). 

    Manage your appeal 

    Appellants can now subscribe to track the progress of their appeal online. This enables them to: 

    • receive text and email updates directly, without needing to chase 

    • upload additional evidence at any time 

    • check their case status more conveniently 

    Digital processing 

    Reform has introduced the ability for paper applications to be brought into – and benefit from – the digital process. 

    Paper applications on new appeal forms and any supporting evidence are now scanned creating a digital case record. We’ve also expanded our digital printing system meaning paper communications are as efficient as possible. 

    Through this, nearly 90% of SSCS tribunal cases that can be dealt with online are now handled digitally from start to finish. Between 2019 and 2024 we’ve saved around 7.7 million sheets of paper through applications being made digitally, instead of on paper. And considering the amount of supporting documentation that panel members and agencies require further along the process, we estimate that we saved the equivalent of 18.5 million sheets of paper through making information digital in the financial year ending in 2024 alone.  

    Better information sharing 

    By creating a digital system, we’ve significantly improved how information is shared between the parties involved in an appeal. 

    • Evidence is shared smoothly and quickly between all parties 

    • digital bundles for tribunal members are clearer and more accessible 

    • an integrated case scheduling system called ‘List Assist’ is being piloted with intention to deliver nationally to make most efficient use of tribunals time 

    • a single route of contact through our Court and Tribunal Service Centres enables a consistent service through the appellant’s preferred format 

    The digital system also gives us the data we need to ensure people are able to access justice whoever they are. We can now analyse whether the result of a case is different depending on the particular characteristics of the appellant, such as their language, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or sex. Our 2023 access to justice report on the reformed SSCS service indicated there was no difference in outcome based on these. 

    The results show the online system is working well: 

    • 89% of people now choose to use the online service where it is available, compared to less than a third in 2019 

    • more than 8 in 10 users rate the service as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ 

    • over 113,000 people and their families helped in a single year 

    User feedback shows how the service has improved: 

    Fantastic easy helpful service. Thank you for making all so easy for all of us. 

    Excellent service for keeping up to date with appeals.

    The website is well displayed and the instructions on it help you to navigate across the system in an easy manner.

    Jane’s story 

    “When I needed to appeal my Personal Independence Payment decision, I found the new online system much easier than the old paper process. Instead of printing forms and posting evidence, I submitted everything through GOV.UK in one sitting. 

    I could track my case’s progress anytime and upload additional medical evidence when I needed to. Getting text updates meant I didn’t have to keep calling to check what was happening. 

    Through the new ‘Manage Your Appeal’ feature, I could see exactly what was happening with my case. When I found additional medical evidence, I easily uploaded it through the portal rather than posting it. 

    The digital system meant my evidence was instantly available to all parties involved. The whole process was less stressful and more transparent than I expected.” 

    Working together 

    We work closely with: 

    • DWP and HMRC to develop the service 

    • appellants through user research 

    • Courts and Tribunals Service Centres, Regional Processing Centres and National Business Centres to best support our users 

    • the judiciary as a vital partner at all levels 

    Getting support 

    We know not everyone finds it easy to use online services. That’s why we: 

    • still accept paper applications 

    • provide a free digital support service across England, Wales and Scotland 

    • have a dedicated phone service through our Court and Tribunal Service Centre to help with queries and we also offer webchat options  

    Between June 2022 and May 2024, we provided 7,245 free support sessions to help people use HMCTS services – 93% of these supported SSCS appellants. 

    Future plans 

    We’re continuing to improve the service for the people who need to use it. Our plans include: 

    • making online tools even more intuitive and user-friendly 

    • rolling out our ‘List Assist’ scheduling system nationwide in 2025 

    • introducing functionality to help judges and staff manage tasks more efficiently, and progress cases most effectively 

    • improving service delivery based on user feedback 

    Stay updated 

    For the latest guidance on appealing a benefits decision, visit: Appeal a benefit decision: Overview – GOV.UK. 

    Keep up to date with the latest Tribunals news and information by subscribing to our e-alerts and newsletters.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Courts and Tribunals Service Centres: supporting users through centralised systems and teams

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Courts and Tribunals Service Centres: supporting users through centralised systems and teams

    Our Courts and Tribunals Service Centres (CTSCs) were established as part of the HMCTS Reform Programme, to centralise the administration of cases for multiple digital services.

    Call handlers and agents are there to support and guide users who may have questions or need information about their court or tribunal case, delivering improved access to justice. 

    Service Centres are one of the three pillars of our National Services, the other two being the National Business Centres (NBCs) and Enforcement, both of which existed pre-reform.   

    There are five Service Centres across England and Wales:  

    • Stoke-on-Trent 

    • Birmingham 

    • Loughborough 

    • Salford  

    • Newport 

    Before 2019, it was the responsibility of individual courts and tribunals teams to handle case queries and administrative tasks, using mainly paper-based processes. This meant: 

    • service delivery was inconsistent, as processes varied between courts and tribunals  

    • processes were often inefficient and less flexible  

    • there was an increased risk of error 

    • users could not self-serve or have visibility of their case  

    • users incurred costs related to postage and travel  

    Benefits of a centralised service 

    Service Centres have brought significant change to the way we deliver justice and are a truly national resource. By having everyone involved in delivering a service centrally located, and using a single system, an issue can be identified, addressed and resolved far more quickly and efficiently, without the need to send information and instructions across multiple locations.  

    The benefits of this are: 

    • faster processing times  

    • consistent service delivery across all locations 

    • users and legal professionals have a single point of contact 

    • greater flexibility to meet peaks in demand 

    • multi-skilled teams are able to handle various tasks across the services 

    • court-based staff can focus on addressing local issues across our estate 

    Our digital transformation 

    The move from paper-based to digital processes in many of our services has fundamentally changed how justice is administered.  

    Benefits of the digital service include:  

    • real-time case visibility for users through online self-service options 

    • reduced paper usage, postage and storage costs 

    • service agents work from a single platform, improving efficiency and accuracy 

    • instant access to case histories  

    • quicker feedback and case outcomes for users 

    • legal professionals can manage their applications at any time and from any device 

    We are aware that some users need additional support when using digital our services. That is why we: 

    • offer our Digital Support Service, delivered by the We Are Group.  

    • still accept paper-based applications 

    • offer a range of contact methods to suit user preferences, including a webchat in certain services and traditional telephone support.  

    During 2024, Service Centres and National Business Centres handled over 2.8 million telephone calls. Service Centres received over 519,000 emails and replied to over 25,000 webchat messages (divorce and probate only) from the people who use our courts and tribunals, providing direct support to members of the public, professional users, members of the media, and many others.    

    These calls were dealt with in an average handling time of just over 14 minutes.  

    Contact management systems (the way we receive and handle calls, emails and webchat from our users) have changed significantly, with new technology meaning we:  

    • can respond more effectively to demand 

    • have better tools when handling enquiries such as knowledge articles and standard operating procedures on hand  

    • can better understand reasons for contact  

    • have rich data on demand, including types of interaction with users, wait times and service performance 

    Over 73% of users who completed the post-call survey about their telephony contact in 2024 were satisfied with their call. While feedback on their contact has been positive: 

    Your staff were professional, polite, compassionate, empathetic and showed good listening abilities. They addressed my concerns and queries efficiently and effectively. Great service in emotionally trying times.  

    Very helpful, polite and answered my questions and gave all the information needed very clearly and concisely.

    Case study  

    Ryan and John work in one of our Service Centres. They describe their experience of supporting a caller through a very difficult situation with professionalism and care. The example also highlights the benefits of new digital services over paper, underlining the benefits of reform.    

    We take lots of calls from the public who have queries about their applications. However, in this particular case a gentleman called us letting us know his application had gone wrong. He was suffering with lots of personal issues and was clearly feeling suicidal.   

    I decided we would take responsibility for this and assured him that if there was anything that we could do to help, we will. Luckily here at the Service Centre we have many options to relieve these situations.  

    We soon found his file wasn’t where it was supposed to be, and the court were not aware of this. My team acted quickly to locate the file, while keeping him on board and calm. We contacted the court, where the judge understood the urgency of the case and granted an order. By taking initiative and having autonomy to make decisions we were able to make this happen quickly.   

    This gentleman’s case was an old-style paper case. However, if this had been a digital case what took five days to resolve, would have taken under five minutes.   

    That’s the power of reform, and in these situations the reform project has massively helped people in those situations.   

    Working together 

    Service Centres, courts and tribunals work hand-in-hand to provide access to justice. They are all part of the same service, wherever in England, Wales or Scotland they are based. Successful working relationships have been built by ensuring there is clarity on the roles and responsibilities of the courts, tribunals and Service Centres and establishing channels of communication, to monitor performance, analyse feedback and plan future improvements. 

    Future plans 

    Now we have embedded our services nationally, we will continue to make incremental improvements. Our plans include: 

    • evolving the digital systems used in Service Centres 

    • exploring how we can build on the complexity of the work we deliver 

    • considering centralising more work into National Services, where it makes sense to do so   

    Stay updated 

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Experts of the State University of Management awarded the winners of the International Competition “PRO-tourism”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 20, 2025, at the 31st International Exhibition of Tourism and Hospitality Industry MITT, the Award Ceremony for the winners of the III International Competition “Tourism Code of My Country, City, Town, Region – PRO-tourism” took place.

    A total of 770 participants and scientific supervisors from 85 regions of Russia and foreign countries came to Moscow for the in-person stage. Contestants from Serbia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan participated for the first time and presented their works in a foreign language, where they considered tourism within the framework of their cultural, ethnographic, and national values.

    The day before, within the walls of the State University of Management, more than 400 participants of the competition defended their works before an expert jury, and 200 scientific supervisors completed the educational program “Methods and technologies for developing the tourism potential of municipalities of the Russian Federation.”

    The children presented their works in 4 age categories and 47 different nominations. The most popular nominations in 2025 were: “History of the country, history of peoples – ethnographic tourism”, “Excursion tourism”, “PRO-tourism video”.

    The winners and prize-winners were 350 participants of the competition, including the winner in the age category of 14-17 years old, the team from Bulgaria, and the second place in the category of 36 years and older was taken by a representative of Serbia. Five winners of the competition in the category of 14-17 years old were awarded vouchers to the International Children’s Center “ARTEK” for the thematic shift “Territory of Development – Urban Environment – Home of Your Dreams”.

    On behalf of the State University of Management, awards and gifts with the university emblem were presented by Associate Professor of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration of the State University of Management, General Director of the ANO “Institute for Local Communities Development” Sergey Kochnev, Associate Professor of the Department of Management in International Business and Tourism Industry, Deputy Director of the Institute for Local Communities Development for Educational Work, Chairperson of the Expert Council of the Competition Svetlana Grishaeva and Head of the Project and Educational Laboratory of Urban Development, Associate Professor of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration Irina Milkina.

    Associate professors of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration of the State University of Management Yulia Lebedeva, Olga Petrina, Mikhail Stadolin, Tatyana Shushunova also acted as experts of the competition, and students of the State University of Management of the first to fourth years helped in organizing and holding the competition.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 4 key changes you may have missed in the new school funding agreement

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Wilson, Professor of Social Impact, University of Technology Sydney

    Queensland and the federal government have reached an agreement on school funding. This means all Australian states and territories are now signed up to new arrangements, which officially began at the start of 2025.

    The agreement follows more than a year of negotiations between the federal and state governments.

    The agreements mean government schools will receive 25% of funding from the federal government, up from 20%. Cash-strapped state and territory governments now only have to find 75% (down from 80%).

    In some good news for schools, it also means there is now a firm plan to “fully fund” public schools by 2034. This means they will get 100% of the funding recommended by the schooling resource standard (or school funding mechanism) – albeit more than a decade after it was first recommended by the Gonski review in 2011.

    Much of the debate about the agreements has understandably focused on the funding split between federal and state governments.

    But the agreements also tie vital funding for schools to specific targets and reforms for the next ten years. There is plenty of fine print.

    Here are four major changes we can expect to see in schools and classrooms around Australia.



    Read more:
    Underfunded? Overfunded? How school funding works in Australia

    1. A ‘unique’ identifier for all students

    The new agreement will see all students receive a “unique student identifier” as part of a national system.

    This is a number all students will have from the time they start school. It would follow them through school to tertiary education or any other further study or training.

    The idea was first agreed to by the former Council of Australian Governments in 2009 and is already in place for university and vocational education students.

    A long time in the planning, it was included in the last school funding agreement, which expired at the end of 2024, despite little progress.

    At the moment, education systems can easily lose track of students. For example, pre-COVID an estimated 50,000 children and young people were not officially tracked by education authorities.

    The identifier number means governments will be able to track students across school systems. For example, if they move from the public system to the private system. Or if they move states or begin homeschooling.

    The identifier will also provide a greater understanding of the pathways taken by young people after school and potentially make it easier to link senior high schooling with TAFE and other vocational studies.

    Introducing a bill to set up architecture for the indentifier last year, federal Education Minister Jason Clare said it would have “robust privacy measures”, including protection under the Privacy Act.



    Read more:
    NSW has finally struck a school funding deal. What does this mean for schools and students?

    2. A new numeracy check

    Along with rolling out a well-publicised national phonics check for Year 1 (which some states are already doing), the new agreements include a numeracy check for young students.

    While numeracy is checked as part of NAPLAN in Year 3, the test was not designed to provide diagnostic data on individual students.

    The new checks will be used to identify students and schools in need of extra support.

    So far, we have few details on the design or time frames. The checks may also need significant research and development to work effectively. But existing programs (such as in South Australia) show screening checks have the potential to provide better monitoring and resourcing for student needs.

    3. A review of how school funding is calculated

    The new agreement also flags two more significant reviews.

    One will be on the way school funding is calculated – the first review since the current system was devised in 2011.

    The schooling resource standard is an estimate of how much total public funding a school needs to meet its students’ educational needs.

    In 2025, the base rates are A$13,977 for primary students and $17,565 for high school students. On top of these, there are six loadings to provide extra funding for students and schools with additional needs. This includes students with disability, Indigenous students and students in remote areas.

    But as a 2023 Productivity Commission review noted, some individual students qualify under multiple categories, and “the effects can be compounding”. This means this level of disadvantage needs more understanding and policy adjustment.

    The review will examine the methodology behind the base rate and loadings. As part of this, it will hopefully look at transparency around school funding arrangements. The Australian National Audit Office identified this as an issue as far back as 2017.

    4. A review of how schools are measured

    There will also be a review of the national Measurement Framework for Schooling in Australia. This details key performance measures for schooling, such as attendance, NAPLAN results and school completion.

    This framework usually has just minor adjustments about every couple of years. But a more significant overhaul is now in the works, with states agreeing a review will look at “possible new and updated measures”.

    These could include indicators for students’ engagement and learning growth, as well as outcomes for students with disability and the teaching workforce.

    An improved national data set holds enormous potential for addressing educational challenges, like declining participation rates, school refusal and teacher shortages.

    Elsewhere in the new agreement, states and territories also agreed to “better understand” how socioeconomic diversity and school attendance are impacting student learning. This can be seen as high-level acknowledgement the current reporting mechanisms and data on students need to improve.

    Now we need to see progress

    The new schools agreement contains some promising new measures to improve outcomes for students and teachers. But we now need to see them implemented.

    As the Productivity Commission and National Audit Office have previously noted, just because something is included in a school funding agreement, does not necessarily mean it will happen on time or as planned.

    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. 4 key changes you may have missed in the new school funding agreement – https://theconversation.com/4-key-changes-you-may-have-missed-in-the-new-school-funding-agreement-252291

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: KALLELSE TILL ÅRSSTÄMMA I SERSTECH AB

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Aktieägarna i Serstech AB (publ) kallas till årsstämma onsdagen den 23 april 2025 klockan 13.00 på bolagets kontor, Åldermansgatan 13 i Lund.

    Anmälan
    Aktieägare som önskar delta i stämman ska dels vara införd i den av Euroclear Sweden AB förda aktieboken avseende förhållandena fredagen den 11 april 2025, dels anmäla sitt deltagande till bolaget senast tisdagen den 15 april 2025.

    Aktieägare som låtit förvaltarregistrera sina aktier måste, förutom att anmäla sig till stämman, genom förvaltarens försorg låta inregistrera sina aktier i eget namn för att ha rätt att delta i årsstämman, så att aktieägaren blir upptagen i framställningen av aktieboken per fredagen den 11 april 2025. Sådan registrering kan vara tillfällig (s.k. rösträttsregistrering) och begärs hos förvaltaren enligt förvaltarens rutiner i sådan tid i förväg som förvaltaren bestämmer. Rösträttsregistrering som har gjorts senast tisdagen den 15 april 2025 kommer att beaktas vid framställningen av aktieboken.

    Anmälan om deltagande i stämman kan ske skriftligen till Serstech AB (publ), att: Thomas Pileby, Åldermansgatan 13, 227 64 Lund, via e-post till tp@serstech.com eller per telefon 0702-072643. Vid anmälan ska anges namn, person- eller organisationsnummer, adress och telefonnummer, antal aktier samt, i förekommande fall, det antal biträden (högst två) som avses medföras vid stämman.

    För aktieägare som företräds av ombud ska fullmakt översändas tillsammans med anmälan. Fullmakt ska vara skriftlig, daterad och underskriven. Fullmakt i original ska medtas till årsstämman. Den som företräder juridisk person ska även bifoga kopia av registreringsbevis eller motsvarande behörighetshandlingar som utvisar behöriga firmatecknare. Fullmaktsformulär finns tillgängligt på www.serstech.com och kan även beställas från bolaget.

    FÖRESLAGEN DAGORDNING

    1. Stämmans öppnande
    2. Val av ordförande vid stämman
    3. Upprättande och godkännande av röstlängd
    4. Godkännande av dagordning
    5. Val av en eller två protokolljusterare
    6. Prövning av om stämman blivit behörigen sammankallad
    7. Framläggande av årsredovisning och revisionsberättelse
    8. Beslut om

    a)    fastställande av resultaträkning och balansräkning
    b)    dispositioner beträffande resultatet enligt den fastställda balansräkningen
    c)    ansvarsfrihet åt styrelseledamöter och verkställande direktör

    1. Fastställande av antalet styrelseledamöter och revisorer
    2. Fastställande av styrelse- och revisorsarvoden
    3. Val av styrelseledamöter och revisorer
    4. Styrelsens förslag till beslut om införande av nytt långsiktigt incitamentsprogram
    5. Stämmans avslutande

    BESLUTSFÖRSLAG

    Resultatdisposition (punkt 8b)

    Styrelsen föreslår att ingen utdelning lämnas samt att bolagets ansamlade medel överförs i ny räkning.

    Valberedningens förslag till styrelse m.m. (punkt 2 och 9 – 11)

    Valberedningen, som består av Bengt Myhrman (ordförande) samt ledamöterna Mathis Nimlin och Jens Munch föreslår följande:

    Antal styrelseledamöter och suppleanter: Sex styrelseledamöter utan suppleanter.
    Antal revisorer och revisorssuppleanter: En revisor utan suppleanter.
    Styrelsearvode: 1.117.200 kronor för tiden intill slutet av nästa årsstämma, med följande fördelning: 4 prisbasbelopp (ett prisbasbleopp för 2025 motsvarar 58.800 kronor) till styrelseordföranden och 3 prisbasbelopp vardera till övriga styrelseledamöter.
    Revisorsarvode: Enligt godkänd räkning inom ramen för offert.
    Styrelse m.m.: Omval av Thomas Pileby (ordförande), Sverker Göranson, Märta Lewander Xu, Arve Nilsson och Christer Kjellkvist, samt nyval av Emelie Agnedal för tiden intill slutet av nästa årsstämma.
    Revisor: Omval av revisionsbolaget Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB, med huvudansvarig revisor Cecilia Andrén Dorselius.

    Emelie Agnedal, född 1983, bosatt i Sverige och svensk medborgare, har en Master of Science i Engineering Physics från Uppsala universitet. Emelie är sedan 2024 Global Director of Business Development (affärsutvecklingschef) på MilDef Group AB med fokus på strategiska samarbeten och M&A. Till tidigare roller på MilDef hör Director of Business Development Nordics och Head of Sales på MilDef Sweden (2022 – 2024). Innan MilDef arbetade Emelie under åtta års tid på Försvarets Materielverk (FMV) där hon ledde stora projekt innefattandes upphandling av försvarssystem samt deltagande i internationella arbetsgrupper inom NATO och andra försvarssamarbeten. Innan FMV arbetade Emelie under sex års tid på AFRY som teknisk konsult med analysuppdrag för olika myndigheter såsom FMV, Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap samt Post- och telestyrelsen. Emelie Agnedal äger inga aktier i Serstech.

    Information om de till omval föreslagna styrelseledamöterna finns i bolagets årsredovisning och på bolagets hemsida, www.serstech.com.

    Styrelsens förslag till beslut om införande av nytt långsiktigt incitamentsprogram (punkt 12)

    Styrelsen föreslår att årsstämman beslutar om införande av ett nytt långsiktigt incitamentsprogram för anställda i koncernen genom utgivande av teckningsoptioner samt godkännande av vidareöverlåtelse därav (”Programmet”) i enlighet med nedan. Besluten under den här punkten är villkorade av varandra och föreslås därför antas som ett beslut.

    Utgivande av teckningsoptioner (punkt 12 (a))
    Styrelsen föreslår att årsstämman, med avvikelse från aktieägarnas företrädesrätt, beslutar om utgivande av högst 3.000.000 teckningsoptioner av serie 2025/2028, till följd varav bolagets aktiekapital kan komma att öka med högst cirka 87.083 kronor.

    Rätt att teckna teckningsoptionerna ska, med avvikelse från aktieägarnas företrädesrätt, endast tillkomma bolagets helägda dotterbolag Serstech Förvaltning AB, för vidareöverlåtelse enligt nedan. Teckning av teckningsoptioner ska ske på teckningslista senast den 29 april 2025. Teckningsoptionerna ska ges ut vederlagsfritt till dotterbolaget.

    Varje teckningsoption ger rätt att under perioden 1 – 10 juni 2028 teckna en ny aktie i bolaget till en teckningskurs som ska fastställas till 160 % av den volymvägda genomsnittliga betalkursen för aktier i Serstech AB på Nasdaq First North Growth Market under tiden från och med den 2 maj 2025 till och med den 15 maj 2025, dock lägst kvotvärdet. Den sålunda framräknade teckningskursen ska avrundas till närmaste helt öre, varvid 0,5 öre skall avrundas nedåt. De nya aktierna ska ge rätt till vinstutdelning första gången på den avstämningsdag för utdelning som infaller närmast efter det att de nya aktierna införts i bolagets aktiebok.

    Godkännande om överlåtelse av teckningsoptioner (punkt 12 (b))
    För att möjliggöra bolagets leverans av teckningsoptioner enligt Programmet föreslår styrelsen att årsstämman beslutar att godkänna att teckningsoptionerna som ges ut i enlighet med punkt 12(a) ovan, direkt eller indirekt, får överlåtas av Serstech Förvaltning AB, i enlighet med styrelsens instruktioner, till anställda i koncernen. Sådan överlåtelse ska i Sverige ske mot betalning motsvarande teckningsoptionernas teoretiska marknadsvärde vid överlåtelsetillfället, beräknat enligt Black & Scholes värderingsmodell för optioner, och vid eventuell överlåtelse i utlandet i enlighet med sedvanliga villkor för optionserbjudande till mottagare i respektive land.

    Förtydligande om tilldelning
    Programmet omfattar högst cirka 25 personer. Teckningsoptionerna ska tilldelas enligt nedanstående principer.

    Kategori Maximalt antal optioner per person/kategori
    Verkställande direktör (1 person) 500.000
    Nyckelpersoner A (3 personer) 300.000 / 900.000
    Nyckelpersoner B (3 personer) 200.000 / 600.000
    Övriga anställda (19 personer) 100.000 / 1.000.000
    Totalt 3.000.000

    För det fall anställda önskar förvärva ett större antal teckningsoptioner än det antal som anges ovan, ska tilldelning av teckningsoptioner, som inte förvärvats av annan inom ramen för emissionens högsta belopp, göras i förhållande till antalet teckningsoptioner som relevanta deltagare önskar förvärva.

    Teckningsoptioner som inte överlåts vid det inledande erbjudandet eller som därefter återköps får överlåtas till framtida anställda eller anställda som har befordrats, varvid ovan angivna riktlinjer för tilldelning ska tillämpas. Vid sådan tilldelning ska ny beräkning av teckningsoptionernas marknadsvärde, som ska erläggas av deltagare, ske.

    Beredning av och motiv för förslaget mm.
    Programmet har utarbetats av bolagets styrelse i samråd med externa rådgivare och baseras på de incitamentsprogram i bolaget som tidigare har antagits. Motiven för förslaget och skälen till avvikelsen från aktieägarnas företrädesrätt är att bolaget bedömer att det är positivt för bolagets långsiktiga utveckling att nyanställda i koncernen erbjuds möjlighet till delägande genom ett incitamentsprogram. Styrelsen anser att det ligger i samtliga aktieägares intresse att bolagets anställda har ett långsiktigt intresse av en god värdeutveckling på aktien i bolaget.

    Styrelsen för Serstech ansvarar för den närmare utformningen av villkoren för Programmet, inom ramen för de ovan angivna villkoren. I samband därmed ska styrelsen ha rätt att göra anpassningar för att uppfylla särskilda regler eller marknadsförutsättningar utomlands, inklusive att besluta om kontant- eller annan avräkning för det fall det anses fördelaktigt för bolaget och deltagaren baserat på utländska skatteregler.

    Utspädning
    Vid fullt utnyttjande av teckningsoptionerna på vid beslutstillfället gällande villkor kan antalet aktier och röster i bolaget öka med högst 3.000.000, vilket motsvarar cirka 1,17 procent av antalet aktier och röster i bolaget. Utspädningseffekten har beräknats som antalet tillkommande aktier och röster vid fullt utnyttjande i förhållande till antalet aktier och röster efter fullt utnyttjande. Det finns idag 8.000.000 teckningsoptioner av serie 2023/2026 som löper till 1 – 10 juli 2026. För det fall teckningsoptioner av serie 2023/2026 inluderas i beräkningen uppgår den motsvarande maximala utspädningen till cirka 4,15 procent av antalet aktier och röster.

    Påverkan på nyckeltal och kostnader för bolaget m.m.
    Eftersom Programmet baseras på teckningsoptioner, vilka vid utnyttjandet medför en utspädning av aktiekapitalet, innebär Programmet inte några kostnader för bolaget utöver för eget arbete och externa rådgivare i samband med genomförandet. För det fall styrelsen gör anpassningar av programmet för utländska deltagare, såsom att besluta om kontantavräkning, kommer programmets utfall att påverka bolagets resultat i form av ökade personalkostnader.

    S.k. optionsavtal ska träffas enligt vilka varje optionsinnehavare, under vissa förutsättningar, ska vara förpliktad att erbjuda bolaget eller Serstech Förvaltning AB att förvärva teckningsoptionerna, eller viss del av dessa.

    Enligt en preliminär värdering motsvarar teckningsoptionernas marknadsvärde cirka 0,25 öre per teckningsoption, beräknat enligt Black & Scholes värderingsmodell för optioner.

    Majoritetskrav
    Beslut i enlighet med styrelsens förslag, innefattande även godkännande av Serstech Förvaltning AB:s vidareöverlåtelse av teckningsoptioner till anställda i koncernen enligt ovan, är giltigt endast om det biträds av aktieägare med minst nio tiondelar av såväl de avgivna rösterna som de aktier som är företrädda vid bolagsstämman.

    Övriga incitamentsprogram
    För en beskrivning av Serstechs övriga aktierelaterade incitamentsprogram hänvisas till Serstechs hemsida, www.serstech.com.

    __________________

    Årsredovisning och fullständigt beslutsunderlag kommer att hållas tillgängliga hos bolaget och på bolagets hemsida, www.serstech.com, senast tre veckor före stämman och sänds med post till aktieägare som så begär och uppger sin postadress. Kopior kommer även att delas ut vid stämman.

    Aktieägarna erinras om sin rätt att begära upplysningar enligt 7 kap 32 § aktiebolagslagen.

    Behandling av personuppgifter
    För information om hur dina personuppgifter behandlas hänvisas till den integritetspolicy som finns tillgänglig på Euroclears hemsida www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Integritetspolicy-bolagsstammor-svenska.pdf. Om du har frågor avseende vår personuppgiftsbehandling kan du vända dig till oss via e-post på info@serstech.com. Serstech AB (publ) har organisationsnummer 556713-9893 och säte i Lund.

    Lund i mars 2025
    Styrelsen för Serstech AB (publ)

    För mer information:
    Stefan Sandor, VD Serstech AB
    Telefon: 0739-60 60 67
    E-post: ss@serstech.com
    eller
    Thomas Pileby, Styrelseordförande Serstech AB
    Telefon: 0702-07 26 43
    E-post: tp@serstech.com
    eller besök: www.serstech.com
    Certified advisor åt Serstech är Svensk Kapitalmarknadsgranskning AB (SKMG).
    Om Serstech
    Serstech utvecklare och säljer utrustning för identifiering av farliga kemikalier, såsom narkotika, bomber och kemiska stridsmedel. Bolagets kunder är huvudsakligen rättsvårdande myndigheter och inkluderar FN, Världstullorganisationen (WCO) och tull- och polismyndigheter över hela världen. Serstech har återförsäljare i 63 länder. Bolaget har huvudkontor i Lund och all tillverkning sker i Sverige.
    Serstech är listat på Nasdaq First North Growth Market. Mer information finns på www.serstech.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: AI INFRINGEMENT ALERT – NZ Authors books scraped in LibGEN dataset

    Source: New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ)

    NZ Authors books scraped in LibGEN dataset – NZSA condemns authors intellectual property theft
     
    March 24, 2025 – Over the weekend, The Atlantic published a search tool that allows authors around the world to check if their works have been used in LibGen, an illegal pirate site Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies copied for their AI systems.

    This is a similar tool to the one that journalist Alex Reisner made available for the Books3 AI training dataset last year, but this new list has more than 7.5 million books copied by Meta, Open AI and other AI companies for their AI systems. It is not clear whether Meta Downloaded and used every book in LibGen.

    Thousands of books by NZ writers are included in this latest theft of intellectual property by Big Tech. NZ authors average incomes from their writing is circa $16k per year (Horizon Writers Survey, 2021) and our writers should not be the ones deprived of lost revenue in the development of this new technology. Big Tech can afford to pay licence fees to legally use the content they need to train their AI language models.

    Meta and other AI companies know exactly what they are doing

    AI companies need books for their quality writing, style, expression, long-form narration and content and use this to train their AI models. It appears those companies would rather steal that content than ask and pay for the use of it, as they do all other necessary components, costs and compliance required to run their businesses, such as electricity, wages, government health and safety requirements, and programming.

    Pirate Sites Are Illegal Sources of Books for AI Training 

    Author societies around the world are collaborating with each other, publishers and governments to combat major piracy websites that cost authors millions in lost sales and licence fees.

    In the US, collective action took down Z-Library and its 250 mirror sites and successfully sued Kiss Library, and assisted publishers in actions against LibGen, resulting in blocked domains In the US and multi-million-dollar fines. These sites remain challenging to permanently eliminate as they operate from Russia or Ukraine, and quickly migrate to new domains when blocked. New Zealand currently does not have legislation that allows site blocking to protect intellectual property and our creative industries.
     
    Around the globe Copyright Law is being reviewed and updated to tackle AI development and intellectual property rights. In NZ, The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is the Ministry responsible for the Copyright Act review. MBIE is planning to progress formal consultation in 2025 with the creative industries and the public on Copyright legislation including AI.This is demonstrably urgent.

    NZSA is collating a list of all NZ books from NZSA members and other writers affected by this latest instance of mass piracy.

    The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) strongly condemns the appropriation of New Zealand Aotearoa authors intellectual property. This unauthorised use is intellectual property theft by Big Tech that infringes existing legislation. The imbalance of power between individual authors defending their property rights versus Big Tech money and might is alarming. The unsanctioned use of work is legally indefensible, and amoral. For the creative industries of Aotearoa to thrive we need robust copyright law, protections and enforcement mechanisms, and appropriate penalties for infringement.

    Article for reference:

    How the Emerging Market for AI Training Data is Eroding Big Tech’s ‘Fair Use’ US Law Copyright Defense: https://authors.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=905a5275ec5c023659502ec21&id=badb3ee21e&e=466373ae7c
    CLNZ/NZSA position statement on AI HERE: https://authors.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=905a5275ec5c023659502ec21&id=bbcb427614&e=466373ae7c

    About NZSA
    The NZSA represents over 1,800 writers in New Zealand. We offer support through advocacy and representation, professional development, information and guidance on publishing and the literary arts, administer prizes and awards and contract/business advice. We work to protect authors incomes and offer memberships for writers at all stages of their careers, including students. Our many assessment and mentorship programmes supported by Creative New Zealand. NZSA is affiliated to International PEN, a voice that upholds freedom of speech and protests against writers falsely silenced and imprisoned around the world. NZSA collaborates across the book sector with other organisations to make NZ books and NZ writers more visible. The NZSA is a not for profit incorporated society and a registered charity in Aotearoa.
    www.authors.org.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Andrius Načajus will become the CEO of INVL Asset Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The new CEO of INVL Asset Management, the leading alternative asset manager in the Baltics, as of 1 April will be Andrius Načajus, a finance executive with many years of experience. He is replacing interim CEO Audrius Matikiūnas, the company’s Head of Business Development.  

    Andrius Načajus will also be a member of the board of INVL Financial Advisors, the financial brokerage company operating under the brand name INVL Family Office. The Bank of Lithuania’s permission for him to serve in both roles has been obtained. In the near future, subject to approval by Latvia’s supervisory authority, he should become a member of the supervisory board of INVL Asset Management in Latvia as well. 

    “We value Andrius’s managerial experience, multifaceted financial market competence and openness to innovation. We believe that he will contribute actively to rapid business growth, operational efficiency and outstanding results for our investors,” says Darius Šulnis, the CEO of Invalda INVL and Chairman of the Board of INVL Asset Management. 

    “It is a great honour to join the private equity market leader with the strongest team of investment professionals in the Baltics. INVL Asset Management demonstrates an exceptional ability to select assets with growth potential and generate superior returns for its clients. I believe those skills are particularly relevant in these times of extraordinary change,” Andrius Načajus remarks.  

    The new CEO has more than 20 years of management experience in the financial sector in the Baltic countries. Prior to joining INVL Asset Management, he was the chief financial officer at Achema Group. Before that, he worked for 6 years at Luminor Bank, where he was a member of the group management board, head of corporate banking in the Baltics, and country head for Lithuania. He had previously led the corporate banking, markets and investment banking units at DNB Bank in Lithuania.  

    A. Načajus graduated from the Stockholm School of Economics and Business in Riga and Stockholm, where he obtained a master’s degree in international business. 

    INVL Asset Management is a part of Invalda INVL, the leading Baltic asset management group, which currently employs more than 150 employees. The Invalda INVL group manage or have under supervision more than EUR 1.6 billion of assets across multiple asset classes including private equity, forests and agricultural land, renewable energy, real estate as well as private debt. The group’s scope of activities also includes family office services in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, management of pension funds in Latvia, and investments in global third-party funds. 

    Additional information:
    Darius Šulnis
    darius.sulnis@invl.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ADB’s Partnership with Canada

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    • ADB and Canada have been working together for nearly six decades to tackle some of the most pressing development challenges in Asia and the Pacific.

    Article | 24 March 2025

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    •  A founding member of ADB, Canada has contributed $245 million to sovereign projects, matched by $868 million of ADB’s resources, and $530 million to ADB-managed trust funds.
    •  Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy’s investment of about Can$2.3 billion over the next five years focuses on sustainable infrastructure, gender equality, climate change, and inclusive development.
    •  ADB and FinDev, Canada’s development finance institution, signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2023 to cooperate on sustainable and inclusive private sector investments that promote development in Asia and the Pacific.

    For nearly six decades, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Canada have collaborated to tackle some of the most pressing development challenges in Asia and the Pacific. From advancing gender equality to addressing the climate crisis, environmental degradation, and poverty and inequality, the partnership has played an important role in the region’s sustainable development.

    A founding member of ADB, Canada has contributed $245 million to sovereign projects, matched by $868 million of ADB’s resources, and $530 million to ADB-managed trust funds. Canada-based private entities have also committed $383 million to nonsovereign operations.

    In 2023, Canada’s cofinancing commitments amounted to $6.9 million. In the same year, ADB’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program supported five Canadian exports and/or imports valued at $2.1 million.

    Advancing shared priorities

    Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, launched in November 2022, identifies Asia and the Pacific as a region of immense opportunity. With an investment of about Can$2.3 billion over the next five years, the strategy signals Canada’s commitment to the region. It focuses on sustainable infrastructure, gender equality, climate change, and inclusive development. It also aligns efforts with global initiatives such as the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment.

    Collaborating with FinDev Canada

    ADB and FinDev, Canada’s development finance institution, signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2023 to cooperate on sustainable and inclusive private sector investments that promote development in Asia and the Pacific. They will jointly support private sector growth and investments in emerging and developing markets that advance women’s economic empowerment, climate action, and local market development.

    Driving results through trust funds

    ADB’s trust funds are essential to mobilize private financing and accelerate private sector participation in development. Canada has supported 6 ADB-managed trust funds, including:

    Asia Pacific Project Preparation Facility. Enhancing infrastructure development with $63.3 million in collective contributions alongside Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. It supports the preparation and structuring of infrastructure projects, with private sector participation, and bringing them to the global market.

    Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia. Supporting private sector projects in the region focused on climate and nature-based solutions, with $255 million in commitments.

    Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia. Catalyzing private investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Asia and the Pacific. It is ADB’s first concessional debt cofinancing facility focused on private sector climate actions, with $77.3 million in commitments.

    Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia II. Supporting private sector participation in climate change mitigation and adaptation in low- and lower-middle-income countries and upper-middle-income small island developing states, with $149.5 million in commitments.

    Stories of ADB-Canada partnerships

    Bangladesh: Keeping the Kids in Primary School. Bangladesh’s Primary Education Development Program, cofinanced by ADB and Canada, and other partners, introduced innovative approaches that changed the face of basic education in the country, such as the adoption of multimedia, teacher training, and reward schemes to encourage kids to stay in school.

    Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Southeast Asia’s Biggest Wind Power Plant. The Monsoon Wind Power Company is building a wind power plant in the Lao PDR. ADB and Canada, along with other partners, are cofinancing what is poised to become the largest wind power facility in Southeast Asia.

    Maldives: Boosting Small Businesses and the Blue Economy. ADB and Canada, along with other partners, are providing the Bank of Maldives with a financing package to boost small businesses and investments in sustainable blue economy projects.

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    Subjects
    • ADB funds and products

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business and Politics – RMA reforms will help drive economic development, says EMA

    Source: EMA

    The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) strongly supports the government’s direction of travel around the two new acts for reforming New Zealand’s resource management laws.
    The current Resource Management Act (RMA) is highly complex and frustrating, says EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald.
    “It has been too difficult to build the infrastructure and houses New Zealand desperately needs,” he says.
    “The proposed changes will allow for more efficient development while respecting environmental protections and property rights.”
    Simplification and standardisation of our resource management systems is desperately needed.
    A streamlined and consistent approach is vital for encouraging economic growth and facilitating much-needed infrastructure development across the country, says McDonald.
    “It’s frustrating for many of our members to find themselves needing new consents to expand existing facilities, such as sawmills, when they already have permission for such activities.
    “The new system should eliminate these unnecessary hurdles, and we strongly support the government’s efforts to ensure that land use is enabled unless there are significant impacts on others or the environment.”
    Spatial planning is critical to ensuring we have sufficient land available for future urban development and the commitment to regional spatial plans allows local decision-making and guides the direction of development while ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place.
    Businesses in New Zealand know protecting the environment is a point of difference for the country, so we look forward to the government providing clear guidelines on environmental limits, says McDonald.
    “The EMA has worked closely with BusinessNZ, Infrastructure New Zealand and the Property Council over the past seven years to help shape these reforms.
    “Our members have played a strong role in guiding this process, and we will continue to work with them, our partners and the government to ensure these reforms are implemented successfully before the next election.
    “We are confident that these new laws will be the foundation for better planning, improved economic outcomes, and enhanced environmental stewardship.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business and Politics – RMA reform – opening the door for investment – BusinessNZ

    Source: BusinessNZ

    BusinessNZ welcomes the Government’s commitment to reforming resource management laws, based on the principle of the enjoyment of property rights.
    “The latest announcement on phase 3 reforms is another step in the right direction,” BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich said.
    “Current consenting processes are slow and costly, and projects can be rejected or have costly conditions placed on them due to the RMA. In many cases consent processes do not sufficiently recognise the economic and social benefits of development relative to other considerations.
    “There is a compelling case for making the consent process more affordable. A 2021 report for the Infrastructure Commission estimated that RMA consenting processes for infrastructure projects cost $1.29 billion per year.
    “There is also a need for compensation to be made available in cases where property is taken or reduced in value as a result of government regulatory action. It is pleasing that the Government is taking property rights seriously, as it should if we want to attract long-term investment into New Zealand.
    “In BusinessNZ’s view, the RMA will continue to inhibit New Zealand’s growth potential until it is properly amended to recognise property rights and allow responsible growth to happen.
    “We are hopeful that NZ may be turning a page, and moving towards a future where businesses and all New Zealanders can feel more confident about developing their property in ways that maximise the contribution our vast natural resource base can contribute to New Zealanders’ future economic well-being,” Mrs Rich said.
    The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mar 23, 2025 VTA Workers Slam VTA Board of Directors, VTA Management for Lack of Leadership, Insults to Workers, and Regressive Bargaining

    Source: US Amalgamated Transit Union

    VTA Assistant General Manager Greg Richardson calls VTA workers “uneducated”

    San Jose, CA – In a shameful VTA press briefing today on negotiations with ATU Local 265-San Jose, CA, to end the strike, VTA Board Chair Sergio Lopez and VTA GM Carolyn Gonot displayed a lack of leadership with an insulting contract offer disrespecting their frontline workers and the riders of the VTA.

    Earlier this week, during contract talks, in a shock to ATU Local 265 leaders, VTA Assistant General Manager Greg Richardson called VTA workers “uneducated.” The VTA also posted a dangerous video on social media accusing VTA workers of lying about contract talks. The video has since been removed.

    “The VTA is trying to bully their employees with this latest contract offer that has rolled back proposals on overtime and attendance. It’s reprehensible,” said Local 265 President/Business Agent Raj Singh. “This comes on the heels of Assistant GM Richardson calling our members uneducated earlier this week. The nerve of Richardson. He and the VTA management need to get off their high horse. The VTA is the one holding the riders in this community hostage. They can get a deal done to end this strike.”

    In the latest contract offer, the VTA has resorted to regressive bargaining by putting proposals on overtime calculations and attendance policy that had already been taken off the table months ago back in their offer.

    Furthermore, the VTA attempted to engage Governor Newsom to force VTA workers back to work. In response, the Governor told both parties to get back to the negotiating table and reach a fair and just contract that treats these workers with respect and dignity.

    “Once again, the VTA has shown a blatant disregard for the hardworking men and women who keep San Jose moving,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Our members deserve a fair contract that reflects their dedication and sacrifice. Instead, they’ve been met with disrespect and insults, with the VTA calling them uneducated and publishing and then deleting dangerous social media posts targeting their own employees. All of this happened after our members survived a mass shooting and risked their lives every day during the pandemic, serving the public. Shameful. It’s time for VTA to stop playing games and start treating transit workers with the respect they deserve.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New appointments to arts institutions

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    The Albanese Labor Government has made a range of appointments to arts bodies and cultural institutions to ensure they remain under strong leadership.

    • Mr Tony Ayers has been appointed as a member of the Council of the National Museum of Australia for a three-year term.
    • Ms Sue Hampel OAM has been reappointed to the National Archives of Australia Advisory Council for a three-year term.
    • Mr John Barrington AM has been reappointed as Deputy Chair to the National Portrait Gallery Board for a three-year term. 

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the appointees would lend a deep well of expertise to guide the administration of these important organisations.

    “Each appointee brings years of dedication and experience across the arts and public sectors that positions them well for these roles.

    “Protecting our beloved cultural institutions for future generations means having the best leadership in place to safeguard them.”

    Mr Tony Ayres is an award-winning Australian director, producer, showrunner, screenwriter, and editor with more than 33 years’ experience in film and television. Mr Ayres’ feature films and television shows have been nominated for over 100 Australian and international awards, and have won more than 60 of these awards – including an International Emmy, a BAFTA, a Golden Horse, six AACTA awards, and six Logies. Mr Ayres is Executive Producer at Tony Ayres Productions, a Member of the Advisory Board of Australians in Film, and a Company Director at Big and Little Films.

    —-

    Ms Sue Hampel OAM has been a member of the National Archives Advisory Council since 2019. Ms Hampel is working as a teaching associate and research assistant at the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University and is a well-known public speaker and lecturer. She holds a Masters degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies and is the co-President of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. Ms Hampel has been recognised for her teaching and community service by receiving numerous awards including a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2014, for Service to the community through the promotion of understanding and tolerance. 

    Ms Hampel is a representative of the Australian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). She is an expert in Holocaust education and served as the International Chair of the Education Working Group in 2021.

    —-

    Mr John Barrington AM has served as Deputy Chair on the National Portrait Gallery of Australia Board since May 2022. He is co-founder and previously Managing Director of Artificial Intelligence (AI) company Artrya Ltd, developing AI solutions to improve the diagnosis of heart disease and is Managing Director of Barrington Consulting Group. He is Chair of John Curtin Gallery and Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and a Director of Health Translation Group Ltd. He was previously Chair of Perth International Arts Festival, Deputy Chair of Creative Partnerships Australia, Deputy Chair on the Federal Government’s Creative Economy Taskforce and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Curtain University in 2022. In 2019 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community of Western Australia

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: (WIP) High Court says no to travelling Group Costs Orders

    Source: Allens Insights (legal sector)

    Impact on class action landscape: Victoria’s magnet effect 7 min read

    In the first of a string of upcoming decisions about the class action landscape, the High Court of Australia handed down judgment in Bogan v Smedley on 12 March 2025.1 The Court held that a group costs order (GCO) made in a class action commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria could not travel to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and that, consequently, neither could the proceeding.

    Key takeaways 

    Background

    The legislative regime

    Group costs orders

    In every state and territory across Australia, legislation prohibits a law practice from charging contingency fees. Since July 2020, however, Victorian legislation has contained an exception for GCOs—orders allowing the representatives of plaintiffs in a class action to recover as costs a specified percentage of any award or settlement obtained in the proceeding.

    To make a GCO, the Supreme Court of Victoria must be satisfied that it is ‘appropriate or necessary to ensure that justice is done in the proceeding’.2

    Transfer of proceedings

    At the heart of this proceeding was s1337H(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), which allows a court to transfer a proceeding to another court if it appears to the first court that, ‘having regard to the interests of justice’, it is more appropriate for the second court to determine the matter.

    Notably, this provision only applies to a proceeding with respect to a civil matter arising under, relevantly, the Corporations Act or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) (ASIC Act).

    The Arrium proceeding

    On 14 August 2020, a class action was commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria against the directors of Arrium Ltd (Arrium) and its auditor, alleging contraventions of the Corporations Act, the ASIC Act and the Australian Consumer Law. There was evidence that the proceeding was originally intended to be filed in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where Arrium had its principal place of business and where the relevant events had largely taken place. The High Court inferred that the ultimate choice to file in Victoria rather than NSW was to take advantage of the availability of GCOs.

    The plaintiffs applied for a GCO on 2 February 2021. On 26 February 2021, one of the defendants applied to transfer the proceeding to the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

    The Supreme Court of Victoria made orders that the GCO application be determined first, before the transfer application. As noted by the High Court, no objection was taken to that order at the time. A GCO was then made in favour of the plaintiffs’ solicitors entitling them to 40% of any award or settlement (the Arrium GCO).

    The transfer application was not ultimately dealt with by the Supreme Court of Victoria. Instead, three questions arising on that application were removed to the Victorian Court of Appeal:

    1. whether the Arrium GCO would remain in force if the proceeding were transferred to the Supreme Court of New South Wales;
    2. if not, whether the absence of the Arrium GCO in the Supreme Court of New South Wales was a relevant factor to the transfer application; and
    3. whether the proceeding should be transferred.

    Decision of the Victorian Court of Appeal

    In respect of those questions, the Victorian Court of Appeal unanimously held that:

    1. the Arrium GCO would not remain in force if the proceeding were transferred to the Supreme Court of New South Wales;
    2. this was relevant to (and decisive of) the transfer application; and
    3. the proceeding should not be transferred.

    The same questions were subsequently removed to the High Court for determination.

    Summary of findings

    A majority of the High Court (Chief Justice Gageler, Justices Gordon, Gleeson, Jagot and Beech-Jones ) and Justice Edelman (in separate reasons) reached the same conclusion on each question as the Court of Appeal. Justice Steward disagreed on the second question, holding that the availability or not of a GCO in the Supreme Court of New South Wales was not relevant to the transfer application.

    Would the Arrium GCO remain in force in NSW?

    The parties agreed that the Supreme Court of New South Wales had no power to make an order in the nature of the Arrium GCO. The issue for the High Court instead turned on whether a provision of the Corporations Act would give legal force to the Arrium GCO if the proceeding were transferred.

    The High Court held that it would not. To the contrary, the provision could only apply if the Supreme Court of New South Wales had power to make an order providing for at least ‘similar steps’ to the Arrium GCO. The parties agreed it did not have that power and, accordingly, the Arrium GCO could not be carried into NSW. 

    Was the absence of the Arrium GCO relevant to the transfer application?

    The majority held that the absence of the Arrium GCO could not be ignored in considering whether transfer to NSW was in ‘the interests of justice’. Importantly, it was agreed between the parties that there was not a realistic prospect of alternative funding being obtained in the absence of the Arrium GCO. In this regard the majority stated that the capacity of the plaintiffs and class members to obtain access to justice ‘bear[s] vitally’ on the interests of justice,4 a sentiment echoed by Justice Edelman.5 In the views of the majority and Justice Edelman, these matters were decisive of the transfer application because, on the facts of the case, there was a ‘considerable risk’ that the proceeding would not be able to continue without the GCO.6

    By contrast, Justice Steward held that the Arrium GCO was not relevant to, and so not determinative of, the transfer application. His Honour disagreed with the majority on the basis that a GCO offers a plaintiff an advantage (a way of ensuring the financial viability of a proceeding) and imposes on a defendant a corresponding disadvantage (being subjected to a proceeding which would not be viable in any other jurisdiction). To consider the Arrium GCO a relevant factor would, in his Honour’s view, be for the court to ‘play favourites’.7 As his Honour noted, NSW did not cease to be a place where the plaintiffs could obtain justice merely because Victoria introduced laws introducing an exception to an otherwise national ban on contingency fees, and nor did those laws mean NSW was not a suitable forum in which to litigate class actions.

    Will a GCO always anchor proceedings to Victoria?

    The majority also noted that common factors bear on the determination of GCO applications and transfer applications. As noted above, the former involves consideration of whether the GCO is appropriate or necessary to ensure that justice is done, while the latter involves an inquiry into ‘the interests of justice’. While the High Court stopped short of articulating a general rule, its reasoning suggests that where a GCO has been made (because the court is satisfied that it is appropriate or necessary to ensure that justice is done), that will tend in favour of it being in the interests of justice that the proceeding remains in Victoria.

    Looking ahead

    One route not taken by the parties in this case was to challenge the sequence in which the Supreme Court of Victoria dealt with the GCO and transfer applications. If the transfer application was heard before the making of the GCO, the transfer application would have been decided by reference only to the connections the proceeding had to Victoria and NSW respectively. It remains to be seen what the attitude of the courts will be to that kind of challenge, however, it may be one strategy open to parties faced with similar circumstances in future.

    The majority’s reasoning also suggests a potential shift in the High Court’s approach to considering factors relevant to the ‘interests of justice’ and similar assessments. The High Court previously held that whether an action can proceed is not relevant to that inquiry.8 By contrast, in Bogan v Smedley, the majority and Justice Edelman held that whether the action could proceed was relevant to an inquiry into whether the transfer was ‘in the interests of justice’. As further matters come before the High Court which require a similar analysis, it will be interesting to monitor the extent to which the Court considers the survival of a proceeding to be relevant to ‘ensuring justice is done’.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Giving rivers room to move: how rethinking flood management can benefit people and nature

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina McCabe, PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Ecology, University of Canterbury

    Shutterstock/S Watson

    When we think about flood management, higher stop banks, stronger levees and concrete barriers usually come to mind. But what if the best solution – for people and nature – isn’t to confine rivers, but to give them more space?

    This alternative is increasingly being considered as an approach to mitigating flood risk. But allowing rivers room to move also delivers ecological benefits far beyond flood risk reduction. It supports biodiversity, improves water quality and stores carbon.

    As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme floods, rethinking our approach to managing floodplain rivers has never been more urgent.

    Climate change, floods and river confinement

    Climate change is amplifying flood risks worldwide, and Aotearoa New Zealand is no exception. Large floods are expected to become much more frequent and severe, threatening communities, infrastructure and ecosystems.

    Many of these risks are made worse by past management decisions that have artificially confined rivers within narrow channels, cutting them off from their natural floodplains.

    Floodplain river systems have historically been dynamic, shifting across landscapes over time. But extensive stop banks, modification of river channels and land development have restricted this natural variability.

    Strangling rivers in this way transfers and heightens flood risks downstream by forcing water through confined channels at greater speeds. It also degrades ecosystems that rely on the natural ebb and flow of river processes.

    The Waiau River, a gravel-bed braided river in the South Island, has been constrained by land development, primarily for agriculture.
    Background satellite image: Google (c) 2025 Airbus, CC BY-SA

    Giving rivers space to roam

    The idea of allowing rivers to reclaim space on their floodplains is not new.

    In the Netherlands, the Room for the River programme was a response to flooding in 1995 that led to large-scale evacuations of people and cattle. In England, predictions that economic risks associated with flooding will increase 20-fold within this century ignited the Making Space for Water strategy.

    However, these initiatives typically remain focused on flood protection, overlooking opportunities to maximise ecological benefits. Our new research shows that well-designed approaches can deliver ecological gains alongside flood protection.

    This is crucial because floodplain river systems are among the most valuable ecosystems. They provide about a quarter of all land-based ecosystem services such as water retention and pollutant filtration, as well as educational, recreational and cultural benefits.

    Managing rivers for variability

    A fundamental shift in river management involves acknowledging and accommodating natural variability. Floodplain rivers are not static: they change across landscapes and through time, responding to seasonal flows, sediment movement and ecological processes.

    Braided rivers are an example of floodplain rivers that have natural variability and diverse habitat types.
    Angus McIntosh, CC BY-SA

    Our research synthesises the ecological processes that are enabled when floodplain rivers have room to move.

    Rivers that are not unnaturally confined are typically more physically complex. For instance, along with the main river channel, they might have smaller side channels, or areas where the water pools and slows, springs popping up from below ground to re-join the surface waters, or ponds on the floodplain.

    A diverse range of habitats supports a rich variety of plant and animal life. Even exposed gravel, made available in rivers that flow freely, provides critical nesting sites for endangered birds.

    Biodiversity is not one-dimensional. Instead, it exists and operates at multiple scales, from a small floodplain pond to a whole river catchment or wider. In a dynamic, ever-changing riverscape, we might find the genetic composition of a species varying in different parts of the river, or the same species of fish varying in their body size, depending on the habitat conditions.

    These examples of natural biological variability enable species and ecosystems to be resilient in the face of uncertain future conditions.

    Rivers that have room to move on their floodplains are highly dynamic. This diagram shows the main types of ecological variability in a free-flowing river: physical variability, habitat heterogeneity and variable ecosystem processes.
    Adapted from McCabe et al. 2025 Nature Water, CC BY-SA

    At a larger scale, the type and number of species that live in different floodplain river habitats also varies. This diversity of biological communities produces variation in the functions ecosystems perform across the river, such as the uptake of nutrients or processing of organic matter. This can even help to diversify food webs.

    These variations mean not all species or groups of species in the river will be vulnerable to the same disturbances – such as droughts or floods – at the same time. This is because plants and animals in rivers have evolved to take advantage of long-term rhythms of floods and droughts in different ways.

    For instance, the cottonwood poplars of the southwest United States time their seed release with the highly predictable rhythms of snowmelt-driven spring floods in that part of the world. In Aotearoa New Zealand, whitebait fish species typically deposit their eggs during high autumn flows, which then get transported to sea as larvae during high winter flows.

    Some animals need multiple habitats within the river for different stages of life. Other creatures travel from afar to use river floodplains for only a short time. The latter includes the banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus), endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand. This bird travels as far as 1,700km to nest on braided-river gravels each spring. Banded dotterels are in decline, and they rely on habitats provided by rivers that have space to roam.

    The endangered black-fronted tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) uses gravel bar habitats on river floodplains for nesting.
    Angus McIntosh, CC BY-SA

    A call for more sustainable river management

    As climate change accelerates, we must rethink how we manage our waterways. Reinforcing levees and deepening channels may seem like logical responses to increased flood risk, but these approaches often exacerbate long-term vulnerabilities and transfer risk elsewhere.

    We call for practitioners to broaden the scope of values included in river management policy and programmes to include ecological variability.

    Nature-based solutions are approaches that seek to benefit both people and nature. By working with nature rather than against it, we can create landscapes that are more resilient, adaptive, and supportive of both people and biodiversity.

    It’s time to embrace a new paradigm for river management – one that sees rivers not as threats to be controlled, but as lifelines to be protected and restored.

    Christina McCabe receives funding through an Aho Hīnātore doctoral research scholarship at the University of Canterbury.

    Jonathan Tonkin receives funding from a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship and the Centre of Research Excellence Te Pūnaha Matatini. He also receives funding from the Antarctic Science Platform and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

    – ref. Giving rivers room to move: how rethinking flood management can benefit people and nature – https://theconversation.com/giving-rivers-room-to-move-how-rethinking-flood-management-can-benefit-people-and-nature-251225

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Unveils New Refrigerator Lineup Equipped With Screens and Enhanced AI Vision Inside Feature

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today announced the global rollout of its latest lineup of smart refrigerators, reinforcing the “Screens Everywhere” vision introduced at CES 2025. This expansion includes the introduction of the 9-inch AI Home screen1 on the 4-Door, 4-Door French Door and Side-by-Side refrigerators, as well as an enhanced Family Hub screen on select French Door and Side-by-Side models. An enhanced AI Vision Inside2 feature is integrated on select 4-Door and 4-Door French Door models, refining food identification and streamlining meal planning to ensure a more intuitive kitchen experience for users.
     
    “By offering a wide array of refrigerator options across type and also screen sizes, we are expanding choices to meet diverse household requirements,” says Jeong Seung Moon, EVP and Head of the R&D Team for Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “Consumers can enjoy greater flexibility in choosing fridge designs while benefiting from the AI-powered smart home experience Samsung provides.”
     
     
    A Smarter Way To Manage Food, Home, Family Communication and Entertainment
    Samsung’s new refrigerators incorporate the intuitive 9” AI Home screen and 32” or 21.5” Family Hub screens, which are designed to enhance four key areas of daily life: Food, Home, Family Communication and Entertainment. The first category, food, is especially powered by the upgraded AI Vision Inside, which adds four more food items to the list of recognizable types for a total of 37. Furthermore, adding on to fresh food items, AI Vision Inside can now also recognize processed food items. Refrigerators with the enhanced AI Vision Inside will recognize and recommend users to save processed food items that have been placed inside multiple times, allowing up to 50 items to be saved with designated names.3 Based on the improved food list, the screen will provide tailored recipe recommendations and meal planning,4 making home cooking more seamless and personalized.
     
    Beyond food, the screens also enhance smart home connectivity. The latest advancements provide deeper integration into the smart home ecosystem, making the refrigerator a central hub capable of controlling connected appliances throughout the entire home. With the integration of Map View, users can monitor and control Samsung appliances and even third-party smart home devices5 like lights and smart plugs. There’s also SmartThings Energy,6 which helps users track and optimize their energy consumption, facilitating greater efficiency in everyday life. The intuitive display provides users with access to a great deal of information about their home, with users also being able to issue voice commands through Bixby.7
     
    The new Daily Board feature keeps everyone informed and connected. Placed at the heart of the home, the refrigerator screen delivers real-time updates throughout the day — whether it’s the morning weather and schedule before heading to work, or daily energy consumption reports in the evening. Users can also easily access their schedules through voice commands and receive tailored responses. By recognizing each family member’s voice and replying accordingly, Bixby will serve as both a helpful assistant for the entire household and for each person individually.8 Additional family-focused features include a shared gallery for storing precious memories and a calendar to help with daily planning.
     
    Samsung’s latest refrigerators also redefine entertainment in the kitchen, allowing users to stay engaged while cooking or spending time with family. With Spotify integration, users can listen to their favorite music or podcasts directly from their fridge.9 SmartView Mirroring enables seamless screen sharing from smartphones or Samsung TVs, and the dedicated gallery feature lets families display their favorite photos, adding a personal touch to the kitchen.
     
     
    The Next Generation of Refrigeration

    The 4-Door Refrigerator is designed to meet the needs of modern households with its innovative features.10 The 9” AI Home applied on select models allows the refrigerator to integrate seamlessly with the smart home ecosystem. Models that incorporate Hybrid Cooling technology11 keep produce fresh for even longer, while also allowing extra space12 by utilizing a peltier module that is compact in size for cooling. By utilizing the conventional compressor and the Peltier module together, AI Hybrid Cooling is capable of providing additional cooling whenever necessary, such as when the internal temperature increases or when AI predicts a potential rise.13 When users put in a large amount of groceries after shopping or open the door multiple times in the summer, the Peltier module will assist the compressor to maintain a consistent internal temperature.
     
    The 4-Door Refrigerator also comes in Kitchen Fit design, allowing agile installation that requires only a tiny gap of just 4mm from the sides and 20mm from the top. Also, the refrigerator’s doors have been enhanced with SpaceMax insulation technology that uses less amount of high-efficiency insulation, increasing the space in the doors by 56% compared to previous models equaling 10L in capacity.14 Users can also enjoy convenience with the wide opening door that opens more than 90 degrees, and the food showcase to store frequently used items.
     

     
    The 4-Door French Door Refrigerator, launching in North America, is available in various configurations, including a 32” Family Hub and a 9” AI Home. This flexibility allows users to choose the best fit for their kitchen. The Auto Open Door15 feature ensures hassle-free accessibility with just a gentle tap, making it accessible to everyone in all kinds of situations to effortlessly access the inside of the fridge. It also has a Beverage Center that includes a water dispenser and a 1.4L Auto-Fill Water Pitcher that is dishwasher safe16 and BPA free.17 Apart from ensuring that fresh, filtered water is always available, the pitcher also allows users to infuse their water with fruits and herbs.
     

     
    The Side-by-Side Refrigerator also offers multiple screen options, including the 21.5” Family Hub and 9” AI Home.18 The model, featuring an Auto Open Door that opens up widely makes it simpler to reach stored items,19 is designed for users who prioritize easy access and organization. Select European models are equipped with Hybrid Cooling technology — as seen in the 4-Door refrigerator — to maintain freshness by preventing temperature fluctuations.
     
    All three types of refrigerators come with the AI Energy Mode feature, allowing users to reduce energy consumption by up to an additional 10%.20 Users can choose to activate the mode always or when electricity bills are expected to exceed the preset target.
     
    With these latest innovative solutions, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of the connected kitchen, transforming the refrigerator into an intelligent hub that enhances food management, smart home integration and entertainment. By seamlessly blending AI-enabled convenience with energy efficiency, Samsung is redefining how users interact with their appliances and bringing the future of the smart home to life.
     
     
    1 A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required to access the AI Home, our network-based service, including apps, and other smart features available through your refrigerator. You may need to use a separate device e.g. your laptop/desktop or mobile device, to create/log into a Samsung Account. If you choose not to log-in, you will not be able to enjoy any features available on the AI Home, such as the services available on the SmartThings App and the phone call features. Recipe recommendations and Bixby accessible through the AI Home utilize AI (based on deep learning models, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy). To access your AI recipe recommendations, click on the ‘Food’ service within the SmartThings App in the AI Home menu.2 Available on select T-Type and French Door refrigerator models. As of April 2025, AI Vision Inside can recognize 37 food items like fresh fruits and veggies. If the food is not recognizable, it may be listed as an unknown item. AI Vision Inside cannot identify or list any food items in the fridge door bins or freezer. It recognizes food items based on deep learning models, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy.3 Processed foods are limited to those that keep a certain packaged form. AI Home recommends to save the item after it has been input more than 4 times during 30 days.4 Requires login to the Samsung account. The recommendations and meal plans may not fit personal preferences in some cases.5 A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. Third-party devices must by SmartThings compatible.6 Available on Android and iOS devices. All devices should be connected to Wi-Fi or other wireless network, and registered with a single Samsung Account. The energy usage and estimated cost shown in SmartThings Energy may differ from your actual usage and cost. Availability may vary by country, region, service provider, network environment, or device, and may change without notice.7 Bixby is Samsung’s brand of Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Its service availability may vary depending on the country, language, and dialect.8 Available starting from 2025 May through over-the-network update. Customized answering is available on select usage cases such as accessing Calendar, Gallery, Find my Phone.9 Available in all countries excluding China, Qatar, Yemen, Russia, Sudan10 Available in North America, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East in 2025. Available screen sizes may vary.11 Available on select models of the 4-Door refrigerator in 2025.12 Based on internal testing, compared to existing Samsung RF9000D model (RF65DG9H*-Global, RF23DB99*-NA/LATAM)13 The Peltier element is a semiconductor-based component that cools using just electricity, without refrigerant. It operates when either the temperature in the refrigerator rises above the normal range or AI predicts that the temperature will rise in 5 minutes due to a long period of food storage or cleaning, based on an analysis of the user’s refrigerator opening and closing pattern.14 Based on internal testing, compared to Samsung RF60DB9KF*** model launched in Korea. The capacity may vary by models, region, and feature specifications.15 An automatic closing function is not available. The actual angle that the doors open may vary due to the installation circumstances and usage conditions, like storing heavy items in the door bins. The user may need to adjust how the refrigerator is installed if the doors don’t open properly. The touch sensors can be turned on/off from the display or SmartThings app and the default setting is ‘Off’. The Auto Open Door function may be activated inadvertently by contact with any body part or by a child or pet.16 Tested for 125 cycles in accordance with the “Mechanical dishwashing resistance of utensils” test method (BS EN 12875-1:2005) and certified as dishwasher safe by SGS.17 Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, which are often used in food and beverage containers, and has been linked with possible adverse health effects.18 Available in Europe, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).19 You can select the door opening level using the SmartThings App (SmartThings is available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required). The ‘Wide-open’ option automatically opens the door by an angle of 80 degrees or more, but the door does not close automatically. The ‘Semi-open’ option reduces the force required to open the door, and automatically closes the door after a certain period of time if the door is left open. The actual angle that the doors open may vary due to the installation circumstances and usage conditions, like storing heavy items in the door bins.20 The test results are based on a comparison of the factory setting temperature when using AI Energy mode and without using AI Energy mode. Results may vary depending on the usage conditions and patterns. AI Energy Mode can be activated in SmartThings Energy, which is available on Android and iOS devices. SmartThings Energy requires Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Launches Next-Gen Odyssey Gaming Monitors That Showcase Immersive 3D and OLED Excellence

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today announced the availability of its newest Odyssey gaming monitors, as well as the ViewFinity S8. The 2025 Odyssey lineup includes the revolutionary Odyssey 3D, the stunning Odyssey OLED G8 — which features an industry-first 4K, 240Hz screen — and the ultrawide Odyssey G9. These monitors, which push the boundaries of immersion and excellence, have been meticulously designed to deliver excellence to modern gamers.
     
    “At Samsung, we are committed to delivering cutting-edge display technology that enhances the gaming experience,” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “The new Odyssey monitors represent a significant leap forward in innovation, visual quality and performance, empowering gamers to fully immerse themselves and perform at their best.”
     
     
    Entering the World of 3D Gaming on the Odyssey 3D

     

     
    The new Odyssey 3D (G90XF model) 27” monitor introduces a groundbreaking 3D gaming experience that does not require dedicated glasses. Advanced eye-tracking technology and a proprietary lenticular lens deliver a natural-looking high-definition 3D image, accessible through the Reality Hub app,1 which makes the action jump out of the screen to bring new energy and immersion to games and video content.
     
    Samsung is actively collaborating with major game developers to make the most out of this 3D technology. These collaborations include:
     
    Nexon for The First Berserker: Khazan, launching on March 28
    Neowiz for the critically acclaimed Lies of P. The company’s first downloadable content (DLC), Overture, is scheduled for release this summer.
     
    The partnering developers now have an unprecedented level of control over 3D effects, enabling them to bring their creative visions to life with precision. Samsung plans to continuously expand its partnerships with more global game studios.
     
    In addition to 3D gaming, the Odyssey 3D features AI video conversion, which can transform video content into 3D, breathing new life into nearly all content.2 Every scene of compatible content is analyzed and converted to 3D for consistent 3D effects with less eye strain.

     
    The Odyssey 3D also boasts impressive gaming performance. A 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms Gray-to-Gray (GtG) response time keep gaming responsive and smooth on its 4K screen, while AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible reduce choppiness and screen lag, even during fast and complex gameplay.
     
    Edge Lighting takes 3D immersion to the next level by filling the gaming environment with lighting that adapts to games. It fills the space under the monitor with colors that synchronize with the screen’s lighting, enhancing the 3D screen and bringing game environments into real life.
     
     
    Odyssey OLED G8 Features Highest Pixel Density on a 27’’ Screen

     
    The unmatched picture quality of OLED gets a performance boost on the new Odyssey OLED G8(G81SF model). Available in 27” and 32” models, the 27” has 166 pixels-per-inch — the industry’s highest pixel density for a screen that size — and the industry’s first 4K monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. Both sizes of the OLED G8 bring groundbreaking performance and visual quality together.
     
    The new 4K QD-OLED visuals deliver amazing details, with enhanced colors and contrast ratio from any viewing angle thanks to quantum dot technology. Boosted by VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 400, it delivers near-infinite contrast that makes vibrant colors pop, even at the high, typically 250nit brightness. Glare Free technology certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) allows the screen to produce less reflection, reducing distractions during use.
     
    The screen’s image is protected by Samsung OLED Safeguard+. The proprietary Dynamic Cooling System uses the industry-first Pulsating Heat Pipe to diffuse heat five times better than standard graphite sheets, without adjusting brightness. This protects the screen from burn-in, prolonging the life of the screen.
     

     
    The 240Hz refresh rate and .03ms GtG response time make the Odyssey OLED G8 a top performance gaming monitor, with fast and smooth screen movements. It supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible to prevent stuttering, tearing and jittering. These performance features combine to make gaming ultra smooth, responsive and immersive.
     
    The Odyssey OLED G8 also makes a stylish addition to any gaming setup. The slim metal design fits any aesthetic, while Core Lighting+ surrounds the user with lighting based on the screen. And it’s all easy to set up, thanks to the ergonomic stand.
     
     
    Odyssey G9 Allows More Gamers To Experience Curved Ultrawide Gaming

     
    The Odyssey G9 (G91F model) brings ultrawide gaming to more people with a simplified approach that does not sacrifice performance. Its 49’’ Dual QHD display features a 1000R curve, wrapping high-quality visuals and exciting gameplay around the user.
     
    A 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time keep gameplay responsive and quick, while AMD FreeSync Premium Pro allows the action to flow without tearing or stuttering. The VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification brings colors to vivid life with clarity, while HDR10+ GAMING enhances the screen with optimized brightness, contrast and color range for a dynamic picture.
     

     
    The Odyssey G9 also delivers exceptional multitasking ability, with Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture features. With these, two different devices can be viewed at the same time, with flexible size options available in Picture-in-Picture mode. The Odyssey G9 also helps users get to games faster with the Auto Source Switch+, which detects connected devices and automatically displays them when they are turned on.
     

    ViewFinity S8 Encapsulates Comfort and Efficiency

     
    In addition to the 2025 gaming monitors, Samsung is launching the 37” ViewFinity S8 (S80UD model), the largest 16:9 4K Samsung monitor to date. With a screen approximately 34% larger than the previous model, the ViewFinity S8 maximizes productivity and efficiency on its 4K screen. HDR10 and the ability to accurately portray 1 billion colors give professionals the tools to do their jobs effectively and efficiently.
     
    The ViewFinity S8 is designed for comfort and efficiency. Its ergonomic design is certified by TÜV Rheinland as an Ergonomic Workspace Display, and its Intelligent Eye Care is TÜV-certified for reducing strain on users’ eyes.3 Devices can be connected to use for work through a 90W USB-C connection, and multiple inputs can be controlled on the monitor with a keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) switch, making it easy to connect work and leisure devices to the multipurpose monitor.
     
    For more information, please visit here.
     

     
     
    Availability
    The new Odyssey 3D, Odyssey OLED G8 and Odyssey G9 are available for pre-order starting today. For more information, please visit here.
     
     
    1 Reality Hub must be installed. The app can be downloaded from Samsung.com or Microsoft Store. Only the games that are specified in the Reality Hub can be transferred for 3D gaming.2 To activate 3D conversion, Reality Hub must be running in the system tray and video must be in full screen. Some video players may not support 3D conversion. 3D conversion is not available for DRM content or when HDR mode is enabled. 3D conversion only supported with NVIDIA graphics cards. RTX 3080 or higher recommended. For optimal 3D performance, the following PC specifications are recommended: CPU: Intel i7 or higher, AMD Ryzen 7 1700X or higher.3 Technischer Überwachungsverein (TÜV) Rheinland is one of the world’s leading testing service providers and tests, inspects and certifies technical systems and products.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Former Filipino president Duterte’s arrest by the ICC – 20 journalists killed during his presidency

    Pacific Media Watch

    Paris-based global media freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has recalled that 20 journalists were killed during the six-year Philippines presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, a regime marked by fierce repression of the press.

    Former president Duterte was arrested earlier this week as part of an International Criminal Court investigation into crimes against humanity linked to his merciless war on drugs. He is now in The Hague awaiting trial.

    The watchdog has called on the administration of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to take strong measures to fully restore the country’s press freedom and combat impunity for the crimes against media committed by Duterte’s regime.

    “Just because you’re a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if you’re a son of a bitch,” Rodrigo Duterte said in his inauguration speech on 30 June 2016, which set the tone for the rest of his mandate — unrestrained violence against journalists and total disregard for press freedom, said RSF in a statement.

    During the Duterte regime’s rule, RSF recorded 20 cases of journalists killed while working.

    Among them was Jesus Yutrago Malabanan, shot dead after covering Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war for Reuters.

    Online harassment surged, particularly targeting women journalists.

    Maria Ressa troll target
    The most prominent victim was Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of the news site Rappler, who faced an orchestrated hate campaign led by troll armies allied with the government in response to her commitment to exposing the then-president’s bloody war.

    Media outlets critical of President Duterte’s authoritarian excesses were systematically muzzled: the country’s leading television network, ABS-CBN, was forced to shut down; Rappler and Maria Ressa faced repeated lawsuits; and a businessman close to the president took over the country’s leading newspaper, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, raising concerns over its editorial independence.

    “The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte is good news for the Filipino journalism community, who were the direct targets of his campaign of terror,” said RSF’s Asia-Pacific bureau director Cédric Alviani.

    RSF’s Asia-Pacific bureau director Cédric Alviani . . . “the Filipino journalism community were the direct targets of [former president Rodrigo Duterte]’s campaign of terror.” Image: RSF

    “President Marcos and his administration must immediately investigate Duterte’s past crimes and take strong measures to fully restore the country’s press freedom.”

    The repression carried out during Duterte’s tenure continues to impact on Filipino journalism: investigative journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been languishing in prison since her arrest in 2020, still awaiting a verdict in her trial for “financing terrorism” and “illegal possession of firearms” — trumped-up charges that could see her sentenced to 40 years in prison.

    With 147 journalists murdered since the restoration of democracy in 1986, the Philippines remains one of the deadliest countries for media workers.

    The republic ranked 134th out of 180 in the 2024 RSF World Press Freedom Index.

    Source report from Reporters Without Borders. Pacific Media Watch collaborates with RSF.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Next 5,000: avoid common CGT errors

    Source:

    Our engagement with Next 5,000 privately owned and wealthy groups reveals a range of common capital gains tax (CGT) mistakes. These are usually the result of the mischaracterisation of information and poor record keeping. They include:

    • cost base errors
    • reporting of transactions in the wrong year, or not at all
    • incorrect characterisation of ordinary income as capital income
    • beneficiaries that fail to gross up discounted share of capital gain distributed by trusts
    • unsubstantiated carried forward capital losses
    • inability to substantiate assets sold to related parties.

    Consequences for getting things wrong 

    Failing to correctly prepare tax returns can lead to audits and amendments. These can be time consuming and costly, highlighting the importance of accurate CGT reporting and record keeping.

    For example, a Next 5,000 group incorrectly characterised a transaction as ordinary income instead of capital income when lodging their tax return. The group acquired a property while it was in the process of being subdivided and developed, and shortly afterwards marketed the property for sale.

    During our audit, we concluded the property sale wasn’t simply the mere realisation of an asset but part of a profit-making undertaking where the intention was to generate a return.

    We amended the group’s tax returns, which increased their tax liability by over
    $5 million, plus penalties and interest of over $1 million.

    To avoid these type of issues, you should note that certain capital losses, disposals, and business CGT concession claims will attract our attention.

    How to get things right

    To ensure compliance and accuracy in CGT reporting, you need to:

    • understand the nature of the transaction and asset
    • keep records of everything that may be relevant to working out whether you’ve made a capital gain or loss from a CGT event
    • obtain independent professional valuations to support assets sold between related parties.

    By addressing these key areas, Next 5,000 groups can ensure compliance and avoid the pitfalls associated with CGT errors.

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    MIL OSI News –