NewzIntel.com

Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace response to refusal of North West Shelf reconsideration request

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY/PERTH, Thursday 22 May 2025 — In response to the refusal of Greenpeace’s reconsideration request for Woodside’s North West Shelf project extension, Geoff Bice, WA Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: 

    “We are deeply disappointed the impacts to Scott Reef and the threatened species that call it home will not be considered by the Minister in regards to Woodside’s proposal to extend the lifespan of its North West Shelf project. 

    “The primary purpose of Woodside’s North West Shelf extension is to process gas from the Browse gas field underneath Scott Reef — the Minister should be looking at these gas mega projects as a whole, rather than broken into arbitrary pieces.

    “The North West Shelf facility is one of Australia’s dirtiest and most polluting fossil fuel projects — the decision to refuse Greenpeace’s reconsideration request brings Woodside one step closer towards drilling for dirty gas at Scott Reef. 

    “If we are serious about tackling climate pollution and protecting nature, we should be closing down polluting fossil fuel facilities when they come to their end of life, not extending them to allow for new gas fields to open. Greenpeace and our supporters will continue fighting to protect Scott Reef from Woodside’s destructive plans.”

    -ENDS-

    For more information or interviews contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • Operation Sindoor: Indian parliamentary team in Tokyo to rally support against terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A high-level all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, reached Tokyo on Thursday as part of a five-nation diplomatic outreach under ‘Operation Sindoor’. The initiative is aimed at highlighting India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

    “An All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Hon’ble MP Sanjay Kumar Jha has arrived in Tokyo and was welcomed by Ambassador Sibi George. India’s unwavering stand against cross-border terrorism, as demonstrated in Operation Sindoor, will be highlighted in all engagements,” the Indian Embassy in Japan said in a post on X.

    The nine-member delegation includes a diverse political representation with BJP MPs Dr. Hemang Joshi, Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, and Pradan Baruah; CPI(M) MP John Brittas; TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee; and Ambassador Mohan Kumar. The tour, which spans Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, aims to brief international partners about India’s decisive response to terrorism and its broader anti-terror framework.

    The group was briefed at the Indian Embassy, where George provided a detailed overview of Japan’s stance and reaction to the recent terror attack. He noted that Japan was among the first nations to respond to the attack, underscoring Tokyo’s solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism.

    “Our parliamentary delegation is here to strongly present India’s position on cross-border terrorism,” George said. “This engagement is crucial in setting the tone for strong international messaging against terrorism.”

    BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi expressed optimism about the outreach’s effectiveness, saying, “The visit started with an in-depth discussion at the Indian Embassy in Japan. We were briefed by Ambassador Sibi George on Japan’s perspective regarding the Pahalgam attack. This diplomatic outreach, initiated by Prime Minister Modi’s government, is a well-thought-out exercise to communicate India’s united stand to the global community.”

    Jha emphasized the need to expose what he called Pakistan’s state policy of sponsoring terrorism. “Terrorism is a part of Pakistan’s state policy. Operation Sindoor is a reflection of our resolve. We want the world to know that India will not tolerate terrorist activities supported and perpetrated by Pakistan. Enough is enough,” he said before departing from India.

    CPI(M) MP John Brittas, part of the delegation, noted that the initiative demonstrates national consensus on the issue of terrorism. “We are united as a nation in condemning terrorism in all forms. Our delegation’s purpose is to project that unity and resolve globally.”

    The delegation is set to hold discussions with senior Japanese government officials, including the Foreign Minister, and engage with key policymakers and diplomatic figures. Similar high-level meetings are scheduled throughout the other four countries on the tour.

    India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK). In retaliation to subsequent Pakistani aggression, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Pakistani airbases. Following a call from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart, both nations have agreed to halt further military actions.

    ANI

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget to increase energy hardship

    Source: Green Party

    Budget 2025 delays our transition to a low emissions and low-cost energy network, this will put even more pressure on households, businesses and the climate. 

    “This Budget doesn’t leave enough to keep the lights on, let alone spark the transition towards a low-emissions and low-cost electricity network,” says the Green Party’s Spokesperson for Energy, Scott Willis.

    “Stripping $56 million from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority comes on top of last year’s vicious cut. This cut is effectively delivering energy hardship to those who are already struggling.

    “Aotearoa can be a country where every home is powered with clean, green affordable energy that lowers our emissions and lowers costs on households. However, this will require action and ambition, something that is completely missing in this Budget. 

    “A meagre $2 million for households to counter energy hardship is a joke when we know there’s some 110,000 households doing it tough.

    “Since the Government has come into power we have seen the preservation of an energy market that prioritises profit and fossil fuels over our communities and the climate. This Budget further cements that direction and opens the door wide open to more fossil fuelled climate disasters. 

    “A Green Government would separate the gentailers that are dominating the energy market and invest $4.8 billion in renewables over four years directly in new renewable energy and storage to benefit both people and planet in the long and short term. We can have cleaner, cheaper, smarter power with the right political will.  

    “Through a mix of grants and interest-free loans, our Green Budget would create a Clean Power Payment to help people cover the upfront cost of zero carbon upgrades and energy efficiency.

    “It’s not inevitable that thousands of people have to choose between heating and eating. Our energy network needs to work for us, instead of serving shareholders. 

    “We can build a more sustainable and affordable energy network that puts people and planet before the profits of our gentailers,” says Scott Willis.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Housing crisis will rage on with Budget 2025

    Source: Green Party

    Budget 2025 makes clear that the Coalition Government has no long-term plan to help communities most in need of public housing.

    “This Budget treats housing like a game of monopoly, where a select few get homes while others are left out in the cold,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Housing, Tamatha Paul. 

    “By cutting more money from social and transitional housing, the Māori Housing Programme and emergency housing, this Government for landlords has abandoned all hope of solving the housing crisis. 

    “The callous decision to completely scrap emergency housing is paired with scaling down the long-term solutions of public housing. It’s clear this Government simply doesn’t care about people forced to sleep on the streets.

    “When we hear the Minister talking about housing the ‘right people’ you know the Government is only looking out for a select few. Everybody needs housing – nobody can live a meaningful, fulfilling life without it.

    “We need to ensure everyone has a home, but the Government has pulled the pin on large-scale public housing projects by Kāinga Ora that would have made a big dent in the backlog of people waiting for homes. This includes homeless whānau, people living in tents and those in overcrowded homes. Now families are left prey to the market which has more interest in profit than well-being.

    “Public housing is as vital as public health and public education. It’s a human right – one this Government is denying.

    “Under our Green Budget, we would build 35,000 new public homes in five years to clear the public housing waitlist and ensure everyone can live in a warm, healthy home because we don’t believe anybody should be left on the street.

    “The housing crisis in Aotearoa is spiralling out of control amid rising poverty and homelessness. But instead of fixing it, the Government is making excuses. It’s time to empower Kāinga Ora to build big, and build fast,” says Tamatha Paul.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Minister for the Environment missing in action in Budget 2025

    Source: Green Party

    Budget 2025 makes it crystal clear that this Government has no interest in protecting nature or securing a liveable future for our tamariki.

    Budget 2025 makes it crystal clear that this Government has no interest in protecting nature or securing a liveable future for our tamariki.

    “Our environment is in crisis. This Budget proves the Government simply does not care,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Environment, Lan Pham.

    “They have no understanding that their so-called ‘laser-focus’ on the economy makes them blind to the indisputable fact that there is no economy without a functional environment.

    “Not only is there no new funding in Budget 2025 for environmental protection, but they’ve taken cuts further than we even thought possible. They’ve raided the waste levy and initiatives which were designed to provide at least some basic level of protection for te taiao.

    “While our communities are crying out for action, the Minister for the Environment is nowhere to be seen. 

    “We needed bold investment and courageous action today. Instead, we got cut after cut after cut. 

    “It doesn’t have to be this way. Our Green Budget, with our Green Jobs Guarantee and expanded Jobs for Nature package, would provide credible support for green infrastructure, oceans, native forests, conservation, and climate resilience, allowing nature to flourish and thrive. 

    “A better path was possible today. Instead, the Government chose to plunder our whenua and hand it to the highest bidder,” says Lan Pham.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Stay ahead by keeping good records

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    As the end of the financial year approaches it’s a good time to check if your record keeping is in order.

    There are many benefits to maintaining good record keeping habits for your self-managed super fund (SMSF). It’s also a legal requirement.

    The benefits of good record keeping include:

    • making it easier for you to provide information to your SMSF professionals for independent audit and annual return preparation
    • helping reduce audit and administration costs
    • avoiding the risk of receiving administrative penalties which are personally payable by each individual trustee or the corporate trustee of the fund.

    Remember, even if you use a super or tax professional to administer your SMSF, each trustee is still responsible for good record keeping.

    You can watch our video on record keeping requirements to better understand your obligations and the benefits of ensuring good record keeping is maintained.

    Looking for the latest news for SMSFs? You can stay up to date by visiting our SMSF newsroom and subscribingExternal Link to our monthly SMSF newsletter.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: RUBIS: Evolutions at the Supervisory Board and its Committees – Communication following the requests received for the inclusion of resolutions to the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, 22 May 2025, 7:45am

    1.  The Supervisory Board announces the cooptation of Antoine Sautenet and reorganises its specialised Committees following Nils Christian Bergene’s departure

    Following Nils Christian Bergene’s departure on 15 May 2025, the Supervisory Board decided at its meeting on 21 May 2025, upon the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee’s recommendation, to coopt Antoine Sautenet, Head of Sustainable Development at Michelin, as independent member of the Supervisory Board.

    Antoine Sautenet joins the Board, effective 21 May 2025 and subject to ratification by the upcoming Shareholders’ Meeting, for the remainder of Nils Christian Bergene’s term of office, i.e., until the end of the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in 2027 to approve the financial statements for the 2026 fiscal year. Antoine Sautenet’s profile was identified during the appointment process to enrich the work of the Board. He will bring his expertise to the Board, particularly in the areas of corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR) and climate issues.

    Upon the Supervisory Board’s recommendation, the Managing Partners have included a new resolution to the agenda of the next annual Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled for 12 June 2025 and invites shareholders to ratify this co-optation in accordance with applicable regulations.

    The composition of the Board Committees has also been adjusted to reflect the new composition of the Board, in line with the Board succession plan. Alberto Pedrosa (independent member) has been appointed, with immediate effect, Chairman of the Audit and CSR Committee, which Marc-Olivier Laurent (independent member) joins as ex officio member in his capacity as the new Chairman of the Board. Benoît Luc (independent member) joins the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee, replacing Nils Christian Bergene. The Audit and CSR Committee and the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee comprise 100% independent members.

    2.  The Supervisory Board issued a positive opinion on the two proposed resolutions submitted by Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (CNN), which the Managing Partners have consequently approved, upon the Supervisory Board’s recommendation

    As indicated in its press release dated 16 May 2025, Rubis received on 15 May 2025, from Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (CNN), a request to add two resolutions to the agenda. These resolutions pertain to the appointment of Patrick Molis and Anne Lauvergeon as members of the Supervisory Board, for a term of three years.

    The Supervisory Board, which met on 21 May 2025, expresses a favourable opinion regarding the appointment of these two candidates. The Board believes that the proposals to appoint Patrick Molis and Anne Lauvergeon, as independent members, do not alter the overall composition of the Supervisory Board and were submitted following discussions between the Company and CNN, a shareholder with a 9.3% stake, demonstrating CNN’s willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue, to which the Supervisory Board, representing shareholders, is sensitive.

    It was also noted that CNN, which has engaged in a constructive manner and has a significant stake in the Company’s share capital, supports all the resolutions proposed by the Managing Partners and endorsed by the Supervisory Board.

    Patrick Molis also expressed his desire to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the functioning of the Supervisory Board following the strengthening of its duties formalised in October 2024 and, in this regard, proposed the appointment of a new independent member, Anne Lauvergeon.

    Finally, committed to complying with the corporate governance rules applicable to the Group, the Supervisory Board emphasised that the members of the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee had the opportunity to interview both candidates.

    The Managing Partners added these two draft resolutions to the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025 and decided to approve these two nominations, following the favourable opinion of the Supervisory Board, on its own composition, which it has always followed. Shareholders are therefore also invited to approve the two draft resolutions submitted to the vote of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025, at the initiative of CNN.

    Consequently, if the resolutions proposed or approved by the Supervisory Board are adopted, the Supervisory Board will be composed, following the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025, of 14 members, including 13 independent members (i.e., 93%) and six women (i.e., 43%).

    3.  Request for amendment to the by-laws relating to the methods used to calculate the dividend of the General Partners

    At its meeting on 20 May 2025, the Managing Partners reviewed a request to include a draft resolution submitted by a shareholder1 representing approximately 2.78% of Rubis’ share capital, dated 17 May 2025 and brought to Rubis’ attention on 19 May 2025, aimed at amending Article 56 of Rubis’ by-laws relating to the methods used to calculate the dividend of the General Partners, so as to provide that the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) would now be calculated on the basis of the highest of the average of the opening prices of the last 20 trading days of all the fiscal years preceding the Relevant Fiscal Year, without any time limit.

    Rubis reiterates its strong commitment to ensuring the best possible alignment between the interests of all shareholders and those of the General Partners, and notes that the current Total Shareholder Return formula, calculated by reference to the three financial years preceding the financial year in which a possible dividend payment to General Partners is determined, is the result of an evolution proposed in line with expressed expectations. It was approved with very wide support by shareholders, representing 99.8% of the votes cast at the Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of 9 December 2020.

    This method currently in force ensures a certain stability in the assessment of Rubis’ performance and is consistent with the structural shift in the valuation of European companies operating in the fossil fuel sector. It is moreover recalled that this method did not result in any dividend distributions to General Partners for fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    Considering the complexity and sensitivity of each of the parameters on which the formula is based, any new evolution to the General Partners dividend mechanism requires in-depth simulations and analysis to measure its direct and indirect effects, with a view to proposing a formula that protects the interests of shareholders and all other Rubis stakeholders.

    Acknowledging in particular the absence of approval by the General Partners for this proposed amendment to the by-laws, which therefore could not be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the French Commercial Code, the Managing Partners had no option but to conclude that the proposed resolution should not be included on the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled to be held on 12 June 2025.

    However, following discussions with this shareholder as part of its shareholder engagement, to which it pays close attention, Rubis will conduct an in-depth analysis of a possible evolution to the methods for calculating the dividend of the General Partners, which could be submitted, as appropriate, upon completion of this analysis and under an appropriate corporate governance framework, at the annual Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in 2026.

    The resolution proposals submitted by CNN, along with their statements of reasons and the opinions of the Supervisory Board and the Managing Partners, are covered in an Addendum that complements the main Notice of Meeting for the Shareholders’ Meeting. This Addendum is available on Rubis’ website: https://www.rubis.fr/en/investors/shareholders-meetings/.

    BIOGRAPHY OF ANTOINE SAUTENET

    With a PhD in international law and a master’s degree in economics from the École normale supérieure in Rennes, Antoine Sautenet is currently Michelin Group’s Director of Sustainable Development. He is responsible for orchestrating the social and environmental aspects of the Group’s CSR performance.

    Within the Michelin Group, Antoine Sautenet previously held various positions in charge of public affairs and international trade in North America (Michelin representative in Canada) (2019 to 2022), Asia (Thailand) (2016 to 2019) and Europe (Paris) (2013 to 2016). He was also a project officer at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a research associate at the Asia Centre of the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI).

    BIOGRAPHY OF PATRICK MOLIS

    Patrick Molis is the Chairman of CNN, a successor to Navale Worms, a historical branch of the Worms Group founded in the 19th century and specialising in shipping and logistics, particularly oil.

    CNN was acquired in 1999 by Patrick Molis, and has developed in land-based oil logistics (Compagnie Industrielle Maritime, TRAPIL), specialised shipping on ro-ro vessels for the benefit of Arianespace, Airbus, the French Armed Forces, air transport with Héli-Union, a company operating helicopters for transport to oil and gas platforms and maintenance in operational conditions of helicopters for the benefit of the French Armies.

    The historical operations have been gradually sold and CNN has focused on acquiring stakes in the industrial, maritime, logistics, energy, aeronautics and defense sectors.

    Patrick Molis, through CNN, also participated in the refinancing and takeover of the Arc Group, the world’s leading glassmaker, concluded in April 2025.

    He is an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and a Knight of the Légion d’honneur.

    BIOGRAPHY OF ANNE LAUVERGEON

    Anne Lauvergeon has led the French nuclear industry for a decade, as Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Areva NC from June 1999 to July 2011, then Chairwoman of the Management Board (Directoire) of Areva from July 2001 to June 2011.

    From 1997 to 1999, she was a member of the Executive Committee of Alcatel, in charge of international and industrial investments; from 1995 to 1997, Managing Partner of Lazard Frères & Cie. In 1990, she was assigned as a special advisor for international economy and foreign trade at the French Presidency, then from 1991 to 1995, Deputy Secretary General and sherpa to the French President for the organisation of international summits (G7/G8).

    She was ranked twice by Time Magazine among the 100 most influential people in the world. She also has more than 30 years of experience on Boards of Directors and co-chairs the Medef State Simplification and Reform Commission.

    She is an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and an Officer of the Légion d’honneur.

    Media Relations Contact
    RUBIS – Communication RUBIS – Clémence Mignot-Dupeyrot, Head of IR
    Tel. : + 33 (0)1 44 17 95 95

    presse@rubis.fr

    		 Tel. : + 33 (0)1 45 01 87 44

    investors@rubis.fr

    1 The funds Tweedy, Browne International Value Fund, Tweedy, Browne Value Fund, Tweedy, Browne Worldwide High Dividend Yield Value Fund et Tweedy, Browne International Value Fund II – Currency Unhedged.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Equinor ASA: Announcement of cash dividend per share in NOK for fourth quarter 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Equinor ASA (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: EQNR) announced on 5 February 2025 a cash dividend per share of USD 0.37 for fourth quarter 2024.

    The NOK cash dividend per share is based on average USDNOK fixing rate from Norges Bank in the period plus/minus three business days from record date 16 May 2025, in total seven business days.

    Average Norges Bank fixing rate for this period was 10.3284. Total cash dividend for fourth quarter 2024 of is consequently NOK 3.8215 per share.

    On 28 May 2025, the cash dividend will be paid to relevant shareholders on Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) and to holders of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) on New York Stock Exchange.

    This information is published in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Obligations and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.96 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.96 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, May 22, 2025)

    The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB154.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on May 22, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Rate

    Bidding Volume

    Winning Bid Volume

    7 days

    1.40%

    RMB154.5 billion

    RMB154.5 billion

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年05月22日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iran agrees to hold nuclear talks with US

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Iran has agreed to Oman’s proposal for holding the fifth round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States in Rome on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday.

    In a statement, Baghaei said that the Iranian negotiating team was steadfast in pursuing and safeguarding the nation’s rights and interests regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment and removal of the cruel sanctions, and would spare no effort or initiative to achieve those ends.

    Facilitated by Oman, Iranian and U.S. delegations have so far held four rounds of indirect talks since April on Tehran’s nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions. The fourth round was held in Muscat on May 11.

    In recent days, U.S. officials have repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Tehran. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: TOMORROW: Governor Newsom, Attorney General Bonta respond to planned U.S. Senate vote on state’s clean air policies

    Source: US State of California Governor

    May 21, 2025

    SACRAMENTO COUNTY – Tomorrow, Governor Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and supporters of California’s clean air efforts will respond to an anticipated vote in the U.S. Senate to illegally revoke key aspects of the state’s clean cars and trucks program. 

    WHEN: Thursday, May 22 at approximately 11 a.m.

    LIVESTREAM: Governor’s Twitter page, Governor’s Facebook page, and the Governor’s YouTube page. This event will also be available to TV stations on the LiveU Matrix under “California Governor.”

    **NOTE: This in-person press event will be open to credentialed media only. Media interested in attending must RSVP by clicking here no later than 9 a.m., May 22. Location information will be provided upon confirmation.

    Media advisories, Recent news

    Recent news

    May 21, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Armen Meyer, of San Francisco, has been appointed Senior Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Consumer Financial Protection at the California Department of Financial Protection and…

    May 20, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Matthew Read, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Read has been Acting Chief Counsel at the Governor’s Office of…

    May 20, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom issued a statement today after U.S. Senate Republicans announced plans for an illegal vote this week that would undo California’s clean cars and trucks program. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a statement on…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: 2025 Annual General Meeting – Notice

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    2025 Annual General Meeting – Notice 

    Notice is hereby given that the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Members of BW Energy Limited will be held at 18 Rebecca Road, Southampton, SN04, Bermuda, on 26 May 2025 at 14:00 AST. 

    Please see the attached documents in relation to the Annual General Meeting: 

    1. Notice of the 2025 AGM 
    1. Form of Proxy 
    1. Chairman’s Letter 
    1. Recommendation from the Nomination Committee 

    For further information, please contact: 

    Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy

    +33.7.81.11.41.16 

    ir@bwenergy.no

    About BW Energy:  

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 599 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2025.   

    This information is published in accordance with the disclosure requirements in Regulation EU 596/2014 (MAR) article 19, section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act, and the Oslo Rule Book II, as well as in accordance with Section 4-2 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Directorate Changes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HARGREAVE HALE AIM VCT PLC

    LEI: 213800LRYA19A69SIT31        

    22 May 2025

    Directorate Changes

    Hargreave Hale AIM VCT plc (the “Company”) announces that Busola Sodeinde has stepped down from her role as Non-Executive Director with effect from 21 May 2025.

    Having considered the composition of the Board and in particular the number of independent Directors, Oliver Bedford, the lead manager at Canaccord Asset Management in relation to the Company, has also resigned from his position as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 21 May 2025. He will continue in his role as lead manager in relation to the Company.

    Due to the size and nature of the Company and the costs associated with appointing a Non-Executive Director, the Board have decided that no new Non- Executive Directors will be appointed to the Board at the current time.

    Commenting on today’s announcement, David Brock, Chair, said:

    “On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Busola and Oliver for the contribution they have made to the Company during their time on the Board. Their support and insight have been greatly appreciated by the Board and the Company. We wish Busola all the best in the future and look forward to continuing to work with Oliver in his role at the Investment Manager.”

    This announcement is made in accordance with UK Listing Rule 6.4.6.

    For further information please contact:

    Oliver Bedford, Canaccord Asset Management

    Tel: 020 7523 4837

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Euronext launches an offering of bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares (“OCEANEs”) for a nominal amount of €425 million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Euronext launches an offering of bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares (“OCEANEs”) for a nominal amount of €425 million

    Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris – 22 May 2025 – Euronext (ISIN Code: NL0006294274) (the “Company”), the leading European capital market infrastructure, announces today the launch of an offering of senior unsecured bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares of the Company (“OCEANEs”) (the “Bonds”), by way of a placement to qualified investors only (within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below)), for a nominal amount of €425 million (the “Offering”).

    On 17 April 2025, the Company entered into a bridge loan facility with, among others, affiliates of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering, to finance the acquisition of Admincontrol. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for the repayment of a portion of such bridge financing and general corporate purposes.

    Main terms of the Bonds

    The Bonds will be issued with a denomination of €100,000 each (the “Principal Amount”), will be convertible and/or exchangeable into new and/or existing shares of Euronext (the “Shares”) and are expected to pay a fixed coupon at a rate between 1.5% and 2.0% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrear on 30 May and 30 November of each year (or on the following business day if this date is not a business day), and for the first time on 30 November 2025.

    The initial conversion price of the Bonds will be set between 30% and 35% above the Company’s reference share price on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris (“Euronext Paris”)1. The final terms and conditions of the Bonds are expected to be determined following the completion of the bookbuilding process later today, and settlement and delivery of the Bonds is expected to take place on 30 May 2025 (the “Issue Date”).

    Unless previously converted, exchanged, redeemed or purchased and cancelled, the Bonds will be redeemed at par on 30 May 2032 (or on the following business day if such date is not a business day) (the “Maturity Date”).

    The Bonds may be redeemed prior to the Maturity Date at the option of the Company, under certain conditions.

    In particular, the Bonds may be fully redeemed early at par plus any accrued interest at the Company’s option, subject to a prior notice of at least 30 (but not more than 60) calendar days, (i) at any time from 20 June 2030 (inclusive), if the arithmetic average, calculated over a period of 10 consecutive trading days chosen by the Company from among the 20 consecutive trading days preceding the day of the publication of the early redemption notice, of the daily products on each of such 10 consecutive trading days of the volume weighted average price of the Shares on Euronext Paris over the applicable conversion price on each such trading day, exceeds 130%; or (ii) at any time if 80% or more in principal amount of the Bonds issued (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include any tap issues of the Bonds) have been converted/exchanged and/or redeemed and/or purchased by the Company and cancelled.

    Bondholders will be granted the right to convert or exchange the Bonds into new and/or existing Shares (the “Conversion/Exchange Right”) which they may exercise at any time from the 41st day (inclusive) following the Issue Date up to the 7th business day (inclusive) preceding the Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the relevant early redemption date.

    The conversion ratio of the Bonds will be set at the Principal Amount divided by the prevailing initial conversion price, subject to standard adjustments, including anti-dilution and dividend protections, as described in the terms and conditions of the Bonds. Upon exercise of their Conversion/Exchange Right, holders of the Bonds will receive at the option of the Company new and/or existing Shares, carrying in all cases all rights attached to existing Shares as from the date of delivery.

    Application will be made for the admission of the Bonds to trading on Euronext AccessTM in Paris to occur within 30 calendar days from the Issue Date.

    Legal framework of the Offering and placement

    The Bonds will be issued by way of a placement to qualified investors only (within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”)) (excluding the United States of America, Australia, Japan, Canada or South Africa), pursuant to the authorization granted by the Company’s annual general meeting held on 15 May 2025 (15th and 16th resolution), without an offer to the public (other than to qualified investors) in any country.

    Existing shareholders of the Company shall have no preferential subscription rights, and there will be no priority subscription period in connection with the issuance of the Bonds or any underlying new Shares to be issued upon conversion.

    Intentions of existing shareholders

    The Company is not aware of the intention of any of its main shareholders to participate in the Offering.

    Lock-up undertaking

    In the context of the Offering, the Company will agree to a lock-up undertaking with respect to its Shares and securities giving access to share capital of the Company for a period starting from the announcement of the final terms of the Bonds and ending 90 calendar days after the Issue Date, subject to certain customary exceptions or waiver from the joint global coordinators appointed in the context of the Offering.

    Dilution

    For illustrative purposes, considering a nominal amount of €425 million, a reference share price of €145.02 and a 32.5% conversion premium corresponding to the mid-point of the marketing range, the potential dilution would represent approximately 2.1% of the Company’s outstanding share capital, if the Conversion/Exchange Right was exercised for all the Bonds and the Company decided to deliver new Shares only upon exercise of the Conversion/Exchange Right.

    Available information
            
    Neither the offering of the Bonds, nor the admission of the Bonds to trading on Euronext AccessTM is subject to a prospectus approved by the Stichting Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) in Netherlands or the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in France. No key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation or the UK PRIIPs Regulation (as defined below) has been or will be prepared. Detailed information about Company, including its business, results, prospects and the risk factors to which the Company is exposed are described in the Company’s universal registration document for the financial year ended 31 December 2024, filed with the AFM on 28 March 2025 and the Company’s first quarter 2025 results press release which includes the unaudited financial statements of the Company as at and for the three months ended 31 March 2025, which are all available on the Company’s website (https://www.euronext.com/en/investor-relations).

    Important information

    This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for or to sell securities to any U.S. person or to any person in the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada or South Africa or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer is unlawful, and the Offering of the Bonds is not an offer to the public in any jurisdiction (other than to qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation) or an offer to retail investors as such term is defined below.

    CONTACTS  

    ANALYSTS & INVESTORS – ir@euronext.com

    Investor Relations        Aurélie Cohen                 

            Judith Stein        +33 6 15 23 91 97          

    MEDIA – mediateam@euronext.com 

    Europe        Aurélie Cohen         +33 1 70 48 24 45   

            Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13 

    Belgium        Marianne Aalders         +32 26 20 15 01                 

    France, Corporate        Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella        +33 1 70 48 24 45                 

    Ireland        Catalina Augspach        +33 6 82 09 99 70                

    Italy         Ester Russom         +39 02 72 42 67 56                 

    The Netherlands        Marianne Aalders         +31 20 721 41 33                 

    Norway         Cathrine Lorvik Segerlund        +47 41 69 59 10                 

    Portugal         Sandra Machado        +351 91 777 68 97                                 

    About Euronext  

    Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody, to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.

    As of March 2025, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with €6.3 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.

    For the latest news, go to euronext.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    Disclaimer

    This press release is for information purposes only: it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided “as is”, without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext’s subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is available at www.euronext.com/terms-use.

    © 2025, Euronext N.V. – All rights reserved. 

    The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the “Purpose”). With regard to the processing of this personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR, as provided in its privacy statement available at: www.euronext.com/privacy-policy. In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights with regard to the processing of your personal data: for more information on your rights, please refer to: www.euronext.com/data_subjects_rights_request_information. To make a request regarding the processing of your data or to unsubscribe from this press release service, please use our data subject request form at connect2.euronext.com/form/data-subjects-rights-request or email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@euronext.com.

    Disclaimer

    The contents of this announcement have been prepared by and are the sole responsibility of the Company.

    The information contained in this announcement is for information purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed by any person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness.

    This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This announcement is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Prospectus Regulation.

    This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, Bonds to any U.S. person or to any person in the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Bonds and the Shares, if any, to be issued upon exercise of the Conversion/Exercise Right (together, the “Securities”) referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons unless registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or offered in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    In addition, until 40 days after the commencement of the Offering, an offer or sale of Bonds within the United States by a dealer (whether or not it is participating in the Offering) may violate the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The offer and sale of Securities referred to herein has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan. Subject to certain exceptions, the Bonds referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan. There will be no public offer of the Securities in the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or elsewhere.

    In member states of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”), this announcement and any offer is directed exclusively at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). In the United Kingdom this announcement and any offer is directed exclusively at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”), (ii) who fall within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) of the Order, or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together with Qualified Investors in the EEA being referred to herein as “Relevant Persons”). This document is directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.

    This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “will” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company’s and its group’s business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

    Each of the Company, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and their respective affiliates expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Each of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering is acting exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective client in relation to the Offering and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offering, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

    In connection with the Offering, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may take up a portion of the Bonds in the Offering as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts such Bonds and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references to the Bonds being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for differences) with investors in connection with which the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Bonds and/or Shares. The joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

    None of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available, or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

    Information to Distributors: Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements of Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended and supplemented (“MiFID II”) and local implementing measures (together, the “Product Governance Requirements”), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any “manufacturer” (for the purposes of the Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Bonds have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that: (i) the target market for the Bonds is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Bonds to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Bonds (a “distributor”) should take into consideration the manufacturers’ target market assessment; however, a distributor (for the purposes of the Product Governance Requirements) is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Bonds (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers’ target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.

    The target market assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual or legal selling restrictions in relation to any offering of the Bonds.

    For the avoidance of doubt, the target market assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Bonds.

    PRIIPs Regulation / Prospectus Regulation / Prohibition of sales to EEA and UK retail investors – The Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or the UK. For these purposes, a “retail investor” means (a) in the EEA, a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 as amended or superseded (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a Qualified Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation and (b) in the UK, a person who is one (or more) of (i) a retail client within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/565 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the UK (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA or (iii) not a Qualified Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “EU PRIIPs Regulation”) or the EU PRIIPS Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPS Regulation”) for offering or selling the Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or the UK may be unlawful under the EU PRIIPs Regulation and/or the UK PRIIPs Regulation.

    1 The reference share price will be equal to the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of the Shares recorded on Euronext Paris from the launch of the Offering today until the determination of the final terms (pricing) of the Bonds on the same day.
    2 i.e. Euronext’s share price on Euronext Paris, at close of trading on 21 May 2025

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As the Million Paws Walk takes its last lap, other charity fundraising events face serious challenges

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Wade, Lecturer in Social Inquiry, La Trobe University

    The RSPCA has announced this Sunday’s Million Paws Walk will be their last. The event has been celebrated across Australia since 1994, with more than 765,000 people and their 410,000 dogs having “laced up and leashed up” to raise money for animal welfare.

    Participation and fundraising have declined in recent years, with the RSPCA conceding

    The community fundraising landscape has changed dramatically since 2020, with rising costs and current cost of living pressures making it increasingly hard to sustain the event.

    They aren’t alone. A number of charitable events – and for-profit events such as music festivals – have been struggling to stay afloat.

    Regional charity events have been particularly impacted. For example, the Cancer Council’s popular Relay for Life was once a mainstay of regional towns. But while there were 194 Relay for Life events across Australia in 2015, this year there will only be 44.

    Unfortunately, our research indicates many events haven’t recovered from the triple whammy of COVID disruptions, rising costs and falling returns.

    Savvy strategy amid mounting challenges

    Contrary to any hasty assumptions about “wasteful” charities, our interviews with leaders from across 16 Australian charities suggest these organisations are relentlessly pragmatic.

    While advocacy and community engagement are important, almost all our participants made clear that fundraising is the top priority, with success measured “purely in dollars”.

    This single-minded focus is necessary to serve a charity’s core purpose.

    According to one charity event operations manager, their most impactful mental health programs “won’t run unless we’re providing that money for them”. Any unsuccessful event is thus quickly overhauled or jettisoned entirely.

    Charities also try to “gamify” fundraising to make it more exciting for participants. Public leaderboards, virtual badges and physical rewards can incentivise participants to fundraise. However, adopting these strategies can present technical and logistical hurdles, especially for smaller charities.

    Increasing burnout and trouble reaching youth

    Mass participation fundraising events are facing compounding challenges that ingenuity can’t resolve. The proportion of Australians donating to charities has steadily declined since 2011.

    And although overall numbers are gradually recovering, there are still fewer people formally volunteering today than at the peak in 2018.

    One charity CEO told us staff and volunteers were facing “a lot of burnout, because progress is slow, getting money in the door is hard”.

    Adding to these woes are difficulties in recruiting younger people as participants and volunteers. Even reaching them can be tricky. While many charities rely on Facebook, younger people are gravitating to platforms such as TikTok. Resource-limited charities can struggle to make the leap to build new audiences.

    While expressing immense gratitude, a fundraising manager at one of Australia’s biggest charities noted their volunteers “tend to skew quite older”.

    A CEO of a health-based charity likewise observed difficulty in finding long-term volunteers for future event planning, as people “aren’t necessarily wanting to give that high level of commitment”.

    Volunteer support is essential in making mass participation fundraisers feasible. One event fundraising coordinator told us, “There would be a lot more that would be going ahead if we had the volunteers to run them.”

    Some charities partner with schools to get young people more involved. Well-known examples include the Heart Foundation’s Jump Rope for Heart and World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine. Others, such as Kids in Philanthropy, are wholly dedicated to giving children the opportunity to perform acts of service.

    Rising costs and compliance hurdles

    While far from begrudging small businesses, our interviewees said key suppliers, such as food vendors and stage hire, are declining, raising prices, and sometimes proving less reliable. Only occasionally do charities receive “special treatment” via discounts or other favours.

    One event manager said, “Every year we have to make sacrifices and cuts.” This can impact participants’ experience, and therefore fundraising outcomes.

    Our respondents spoke mostly favourably about their relationships with local councils. But some lamented councils were less willing to provide small grants or in-kind support, such as waiving permit fees, compared to the past. And unpredictable concessions can make it hard to budget and plan for the long term.

    A number of interviewees highlighted traffic-related costs as a major and volatile drain on event budgets.

    An event manager from a youth-focused charity bemoaned that, due to regulation changes, their traffic control quote “went from $30,000 to $45,000 a month before the event”.

    Such fees can prevent events from growing to accommodate more participants, as moving locations and routes can drastically increase compliance costs.

    Similarly, one respondent noted how the cost of first aid “went through the roof post-COVID”.

    Another suggested popular fundraisers should be categorised as “hallmark” events in which state governments partially cover risk-management costs, such as police and ambulance services.

    Of course, participants’ wellbeing is non-negotiable for charities, and any reputational damage can have severe long-term consequences.

    This can even mean cancelling entire events due to risky weather conditions, with devastating impacts on fundraising outcomes.

    What will we lose if events disappear?

    The end of the iconic Million Paws Walk rings alarm bells for mass participation fundraising. The loss of these joyous occasions doesn’t just impact charities.

    These events offer social benefits, health benefits, and a profound therapeutic effect for participants directly affected by the cause.

    They are also an entry point for people to support charitable causes. For the time-poor and cash-strapped, a fun run is often more manageable than regular donations or volunteering commitments.

    The Million Paws Walk will be sorely missed, but let’s hope it isn’t the first of many. Events such as the Mother’s Day Classic, MS Australia’s Gong Ride, the Mito Foundation’s Bloody Long Walk and Neuroblastoma Australia’s Run2Cure, among others, serve vital fundraising and advocacy purposes.

    Catherine Palmer receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Kevin Filo, Matthew Wade, and Nicholas Hookway 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. As the Million Paws Walk takes its last lap, other charity fundraising events face serious challenges – https://theconversation.com/as-the-million-paws-walk-takes-its-last-lap-other-charity-fundraising-events-face-serious-challenges-257125

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Could cold sores increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease? A new study is no cause for panic

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joyce Siette, Associate Professor | Deputy Director, The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development, Western Sydney University

    And-One/Shutterstock

    A new study has found the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, may be linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

    This idea is not entirely new. Previous research has suggested there may be an association between HSV-1 and Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

    So what can we make of these new findings? And how strong is this link? Let’s take a look at the evidence.

    First, what is HSV-1?

    HSV-1 is a neurotropic virus, meaning it can infect nerve cells, which send and receive messages to and from the brain. It’s an extremely common virus. The World Health Organization estimates nearly two-thirds of the global population aged under 50 carries this virus, often unknowingly.

    An initial infection can cause mild to severe symptoms including fever, headache and muscle aches, and may manifest as blisters and ulcers around the mouth or lips.

    After this, HSV-1 typically lies dormant in the body’s nervous system, sometimes reactivating due to stress or illness. During reactivation, it can cause symptoms such as cold sores, although in many people it doesn’t cause any symptoms.

    What did the new research look at?

    In a study published this week in BMJ Open, researchers analysed data from hundreds of thousands of people drawn from a large United States health insurance dataset.

    They conducted a matched “case-control” analysis involving more than 340,000 adults aged 50 and older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease between 2006 and 2021. Each Alzheimer’s disease patient (a “case”) was matched to a control without a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease based on factors such as age, sex and geographic region, a method designed to reduce statistical bias.

    The team then examined how many of these people had a prior diagnosis of HSV-1 and whether they had been prescribed antiviral treatment for the infection.

    Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.
    Nadino/Shutterstock

    Among people with Alzheimer’s disease, 0.44% had a previous HSV-1 diagnosis, compared to 0.24% of controls. This translates to an 80% increased relative risk of Alzheimer’s disease in those diagnosed with HSV-1, however the absolute numbers are small.

    The researchers also found people who received antiviral treatment for HSV-1 had roughly a 17% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who were untreated.

    Not a new hypothesis

    This isn’t the first time researchers have speculated about a viral role in Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier studies have detected HSV-1 DNA in postmortem brain tissues from people who had Alzheimer’s disease.

    Laboratory research has also shown HSV-1 can trigger amyloid-beta plaque accumulation in nerve cells and mouse brains. Amyloid-beta plaques are one of the defining features of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, so this has led to speculation that reactivation of the virus may contribute to brain inflammation or damage.

    But importantly, previous research and the current study show associations, not proof HSV-1 causes Alzheimer’s disease. These links do not confirm the virus initiates or drives disease progression.

    Some other important caveats

    The study relied on insurance claim data, which may not always reflect accurate or timely clinical diagnoses. HSV-1 is also frequently underdiagnosed, especially when symptoms are mild or absent. These points could explain why both the Alzheimer’s group and the control group saw such low rates of HSV-1, when population rates of this virus are estimated to be far higher.

    This means many carriers of HSV-1 in the study may have gone unrecorded and therefore makes the link harder to interpret clearly. The dataset also doesn’t capture how often people had recurring symptoms, or the severity or duration of infections – conditions which might influence risk more directly.

    Another complicating factor is people with HSV-1 might differ in other ways from those without it. Differences in health-care access, the health of a person’s immune system, lifestyle, genetics, or even education – could all influence Alzheimer’s disease risk.

    A variety of factors can influence a person’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
    sfam_photo/Shutterstock

    So should you be concerned if you have cold sores?

    The short answer is no – at least not based on current evidence. Most people with HSV-1 will never develop Alzheimer’s disease. The vast majority live with the virus without any serious neurological issues.

    The “herpes hypothesis” of Alzheimer’s disease is an interesting area for further research, but far from settled science. This study adds weight to the conversation but doesn’t offer a definitive answer.

    Alzheimer’s disease is a complex condition with multiple risk factors, including age, genetics, heart health, education, lifestyle and environmental exposures.

    Infections such as HSV-1 may be one part of a larger, interconnected puzzle, but they are highly unlikely to be the sole cause.

    With this in mind, the best thing to do is to focus on what we already know can help keep your brain healthy as you age. Regular physical activity, good quality sleep, social engagement, a balanced diet and managing stress can all support long-term brain health.

    Joyce Siette receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council on a Targeted Call for Research on cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity in dementia research.

    – ref. Could cold sores increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease? A new study is no cause for panic – https://theconversation.com/could-cold-sores-increase-the-risk-of-alzheimers-disease-a-new-study-is-no-cause-for-panic-257140

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Health centre contracts awarded

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The service contract for Eastern District Health Centre (DHC) has been awarded to the Society for Rehabilitation, while the Yan Chai Hospital Board has been awarded the future service contract for Kwai Tsing DHC, the Health Bureau announced today. 

    Under the new contract, the existing Eastern DHC Express will be upgraded and the new DHC is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of this year. The existing service contract for Kwai Tsing DHC will expire in the third quarter. 

    The service contracts for the two DHCs were awarded via open tenders and will last for three years.

    The core centre of Eastern DHC will be located at Siu Sai Wan Health Integrated Building. It will comprise a floor area of about 1,000 sq m, which is about three times the size of the current Eastern DHC Express.

    The core centre will have additional consultation rooms, rehabilitation facilities and an audio-visual assessment room, and will include facilities for enhanced health education activities. The Society for Rehabilitation is to establish two satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation.

    The core centre of Kwai Tsing DHC will remain on 30/F, Tower 2 of Kowloon Commerce Centre, with main services including chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services being unchanged.

    Yan Chai Hospital Board is required to establish four satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation.

    Together with Eastern DHC, plus the two DHCs in Central & Western and Yau Tsim Mong Districts, the total number of DHCs across the city will increase to 10 this year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Underwriting Auction for sale of Government Securities for ₹27,000 crore on May 23, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Government of India has announced the sale (re-issue) of Government Securities, as detailed below, through auctions to be held on May 23, 2025 (Friday).

    As per the extant scheme of underwriting commitment notified on November 14, 2007, the amounts of Minimum Underwriting Commitment (MUC) and the minimum bidding commitment under Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) auction, applicable to each Primary Dealer (PD), are as under:

    (₹ crore)
    Security Notified Amount MUC amount per PD Minimum bidding commitment per PD under ACU auction
    6.75% GS 2029 15,000 358 358
    7.09% GS 2054 12,000 286 286

    The underwriting auction will be conducted through multiple price-based method on May 23, 2025 (Friday). PDs may submit their bids for ACU auction electronically through Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) System between 09:00 A.M. and 09:30 A.M. on the day of underwriting auction.

    The underwriting commission will be credited to the current account of the respective PDs with RBI on the day of issue of securities.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/387

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Frozen products were delivered from Russia to China for the first time through the Tongjiang checkpoint

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — Frozen food was shipped from Russia to China via the Tongjiang Port recently for the first time, marking progress in the development of the local cold chain logistics sector, the Yangguang news portal of China Media Corp. reported Wednesday.

    A ton of Russian ice cream worth 100,000 yuan was transported through the border point and, after customs clearance, was placed in a 20,000 square meter cold chain bonded warehouse.

    Tongjiang City in Heilongjiang Province in northeastern China borders the Jewish Autonomous Region of Russia. With the completion of the Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye railway bridge across the Heilongjiang River /Amur/ in 2022, Tongjiang has become a new railway checkpoint on the border between China and Russia. Water, road and rail traffic has now opened through it.

    The project to build a frozen food warehouse in Tongjiang City was approved in July last year. Its commissioning will further expand the range of agricultural products imported from Russia and optimize the cross-border cold chain logistics system. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China sees populations of rare and endangered species of wild fauna and flora on the rise

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) — China has seen a steady increase in the populations of rare and endangered wild animals and plants, demonstrating the effectiveness of its biodiversity conservation efforts, the State Forestry and Grassland Administration told Xinhua on Thursday.

    According to the agency, there is currently a recovery in the populations of more than 200 such animal species, while more than 100 endangered plant species have been taken under preventive protection.

    The total number of wintering waterfowl recorded in China in 2024 reached nearly 5.06 million, the highest since nationwide monitoring began, the department also said. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Landslides in southwest China trap people under rubble /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    GUIYANG, May 22 (Xinhua) — Two mountain landslides occurred in southwest China’s Guizhou Province on Thursday, trapping several people.

    The incidents occurred in Changshi Township and Gowa Township, Dafang County, the province at approximately 03:00 and 09:00, respectively.

    According to information received so far, there were two people trapped under the rubble in Changshi Township, while the number of people trapped under the rubble in Gowa Township is still unclear.

    Search and rescue operations continue. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Walmart Expands China Presence with New Megastore in Tianjin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    TIANJIN, May 22 (Xinhua) — U.S. retail giant Walmart has started construction of its Sam’s Club, the largest in terms of operating area in northern China. The launch ceremony for the facility was held in Tianjin on May 20, demonstrating the U.S. retail giant’s readiness to further explore China’s vast consumer market.

    The new Sam’s Club, with a total floor area of 25,000 square meters, will operate under a multi-channel model, combining one physical store with 20 digital service centers when it opens in 2026, to meet consumer demand for diversified and high-end products in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The new Sam’s Club will also be Walmart’s third such store in Tianjin, as Walmart views Tianjin as the most important strategic city in its development of northern China.

    Since Walmart opened its first store in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, southern China, in 1996, the total number of its stores has now reached 55 across China, with gross annual sales of more than 100 billion yuan (about $13.9 billion) in 2024.

    Data released by Walmart showed that its net sales in China reached $6.7 billion in the first quarter of this year, up 22.5 percent year-on-year.

    “We are very proud of Sam’s Club’s growth in China,” Christina Zhu, president and chief operating officer of Walmart China, said at the company’s investment call last month. She said eight Sam’s Club stores are expected to report revenue growth of $500 million or more each this year.

    Walmart has ramped up its investment in China in recent years, announcing in December 2023 a plan to open six to seven Sam’s Club stores in China each year. It currently has more than 10 such facilities under construction in Beijing, Guangdong, and Zhejiang.

    Sam’s Club’s successful development is directly related to the continued expansion of imports into China, which set a new record in 2024 and reached 18 trillion yuan.

    China, as a super-scale market with a population of 1.4 billion, has maintained its status as the second largest global consumer goods market and the world’s largest online retail market for more than a decade. In the first quarter of 2025, the total retail volume of consumer goods reached 12.47 trillion yuan, an increase of 4.6 percent.

    The advantages of China’s mega market lie in aspects such as the overall size of the economy, market capacity, industrial system and human capital, said Yu Yongding, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, adding that the multifaceted advantages have made the Chinese economy more resilient and competitive.

    Despite the intensification of global protectionist obstacles, 12,603 enterprises with foreign capital were opened in China in the first three months of this year. In March, the volume of actual foreign investment in the country increased by 13.2 percent compared to March 2024.

    “Multinationals like Walmart are voting with their capital for confidence in the viability of the Chinese economy and the attractiveness of its market,” Yu Yongding said. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mongolia’s ruling MPP has announced the end of coalition cooperation with some parties

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    ULAN BATOR, May 22 (Xinhua) — The ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) on Thursday announced it would end cooperation with some parties in the government coalition. The decision was made at a closed session of the party’s 6th congress on Wednesday, an official statement said.

    MPP Secretary General Yanguugiin Sodbaatar said the MPP will no longer cooperate with political parties that violated the coalition agreement and will exclude their members from the coalition government. “The new cabinet will continue to implement the New Revival Policy,” he added.

    Let us recall that in July 2024, the State Great Khural of Mongolia approved the draft law on the structure and composition of the government proposed by Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene and announced the formation of a coalition government. The coalition included the MPP, the Democratic Party, and the KHUN Party. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: Systematic development of relations between Georgia and China in political and economic spheres leads to deepening of bilateral strategic cooperation – Georgian expert

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Tbilisi, May 22 /Xinhua/ — At the present stage, relations between Tbilisi and Beijing are systematically developing both in the political and economic planes, which naturally leads to the deepening of bilateral strategic cooperation, Elbrus Mamedov, director of the Georgian “Center for Expert Analysis – the Great Silk Road”, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua the other day.

    In his opinion, the signing of a joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership relations between Georgia and China in 2023 was an example of sustainable growth of trust and cooperation.

    “This step was a logical continuation of the dynamic expansion of trade and economic ties, the implementation of joint infrastructure projects and the strengthening of political dialogue,” noted E. Mamedov.

    An important event for Georgian-Chinese relations, according to the expert, is the beginning of the implementation of plans to develop strategic partnership between Georgia and China. It is within the framework of these relations that the parties confirmed their interest in developing comprehensive cooperation, he added.

    “The strategic partnership between the parties reflects the desire of Tbilisi and Beijing to strengthen their relations based on the principles of mutual benefit, respect for sovereignty and sustainable development,” the Georgian expert believes.

    E. Mamedov also stated that Georgia, as a key link in the Middle Corridor and a country with ties to the European Union, plays an important role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. According to him, in the context of a complex international and regional situation, the development of strategic partnership between Georgia and China is of particular importance, opening up new opportunities for long-term and stable cooperation.

    According to the Georgian expert, being a reliable and predictable partner, Georgia is actively participating in the development of this initiative, strengthening its role as a transit hub connecting the East and the West.

    E. Mamedov noted that within the framework of the deepening strategic partnership, Tbilisi attaches particular importance to expanding business ties with China, increasing the volume of cargo transportation and promoting tourism exchange between the two countries.

    “The development of transport infrastructure, the modernization of ports and railways, as well as active participation in multilateral logistics and investment projects open up new opportunities for Georgia as a bridge between China and the European market,” he concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s first offshore carbon dioxide capture, storage and disposal project comes online

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    SHENZHEN, May 22 (Xinhua) — China’s first offshore carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project was put into operation on Thursday in the Pearl River Estuary Basin in southern China, according to China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC), the country’s largest offshore oil and gas producer.

    The project, located on the Enping 15-1 platform, is designed to capture associated carbon dioxide generated during oil field development, then purify and inject it into a supercritical state. The treated carbon dioxide is then injected into underground oil reservoirs. Such technologies can increase oil production and capture carbon at the same time. This innovative approach has created a new model for the utilization of marine energy.

    The Enping 15-1 platform is currently Asia’s largest offshore oil production platform, located approximately 200 km southwest of Shenzhen and operating at depths of approximately 90 m. Peak oil production from the group of fields operating in the area exceeds 7,500 tons per day.

    CCUS is a new technology for low-carbon, highly efficient development of fossil fuels. There are currently 65 commercial CCUS projects operating worldwide. Most are onshore, with only a small number operating offshore. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2025, No. 17)

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    1. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Articles 3.13 and 32.13 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses”

    The development of the bill was dictated by the absence in the code of a norm that would grant a bailiff the right to petition the court to release a debtor from further compulsory work, who, due to his physical condition or life circumstances, is unable to do this independently.

     

    2. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 1092 of the Federal Law “On Enforcement Proceedings””

    The bill is aimed at giving the bailiff the right to apply to the court with a petition to release a debtor from compulsory work who, due to his physical condition or life circumstances, is unable to do this independently.

     

    3. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 762880-8 “On Amendments to the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses”

    The draft amendments are aimed at eliminating the uncertainty in the content of legal norms that do not allow for a clear resolution of the issue of determining the territorial jurisdiction for considering a complaint against a ruling issued by an official that has not entered into legal force in a case of an administrative offence.

     

    4. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 835237-8 “On Amendments to Articles 164 and 165 of Part Two of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation”

    The draft amendments are aimed at fulfilling the instructions of the President and the Government of the Russian Federation.

     

    5. On the draft amendments of the Government of the Russian Federation to the draft federal law No. 653507-8 “On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation and Recognizing as Invalid the Thirty-Second Paragraph of Part One of Article 4 of the Law of the RSFSR “On Competition and Restriction of Monopolistic Activity in Commodity Markets””

    The draft amendments are aimed at taking into account the comments and suggestions made during the consideration of the bill in the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

     

    6. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On State Benefits for Citizens with Children””

    The bill is aimed at strengthening state support measures for pregnant women studying full-time in professional higher education organizations, organizations of additional professional education and scientific organizations.

     

    7. On amendments to the order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated February 7, 2025 No. 244-r

    The draft order proposes that in 2025 the Russian Ministry of Labor allocate additional funds from the Government’s reserve fund to legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered in the Belgorod Region, Bryansk Region and Kursk Region to compensate for expenses related to workers’ downtime for reasons beyond the control of the employer and employee.

     

    8. On amendments to certain acts of the Government of the Russian Federation (in terms of amendments to the Regulation on the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and the Regulation on the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance)

    The draft resolution was developed in connection with the adoption of Federal Law No. 376-FZ of November 9, 2024 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” and Federal Law No. 503-FZ of October 19, 2023 “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation”.

     

    9. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 4 of the Federal Law “On Combating Extremist Activity”

    The bill is aimed at increasing the efficiency of the interdepartmental body (federal level) that ensures the coordination of the activities of federal executive bodies, executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and local government bodies in countering extremist activity and the implementation of state policy in the field of countering extremism.

     

    10. On the allocation by the Ministry of Energy of Russia in 2025 from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation of budgetary appropriations for the provision of a subsidy to the joint-stock company South-West Electric Grid Company

    The draft order is aimed at financial support (reimbursement) of costs for the purchase of power transformers and mobile modular substations to form an emergency reserve.

     

    11. On the allocation in 2026 of budgetary allocations for the provision of a subsidy to the budget of the Saratov Region for co-financing capital investments in state (municipal) property of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and (or) co-financing of activities not related to capital investments in state (municipal) property of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation

    The draft order provides for approval of the distribution of subsidies provided in 2026 to the budget of the Saratov region for the implementation of activities within the framework of the federal project “Assistance to the development of infrastructure of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation (municipalities)” of the state program of the Russian Federation “Provision of affordable and comfortable housing and utilities to citizens of the Russian Federation”.

     

    12. On the allocation of budgetary appropriations from the reserve fund of the Government of the Russian Federation to the Ministry of Education of Russia in 2025 for the provision of one-time financial assistance in the form of a subsidy from the federal budget to the budget of the Belgorod Region for the purpose of co-financing the expenditure obligations of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation arising from the organization of recreation and health improvement for children living in the territory of the Belgorod Region, in organizations for children’s recreation and health improvement located on the territory of the Russian Federation

    The draft order is aimed at ensuring the rest and health improvement of children from the Belgorod region living in border areas.

     

    Moscow, May 21, 2025

     

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev invited Chinese partners to take part in festive events in Shumshu

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev invited Deputy Chairman of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Guoqing and Chinese colleagues to visit the Kuril Island of Shumshu in September and take part in the festive events to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory over militaristic Japan.

    “On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, we are creating a memorial complex on Shumshu Island dedicated to the Kuril landing operation. Shumshu is one of the islands of the Kuril chain. In fact, World War II ended on this island. The Kwantung army was routed. Our soldiers routed superior enemy forces, demonstrated mass heroism, landed in the water with full equipment and attacked tanks for a long time up to the heights where the firing points were located. If you are interested in the event related to the opening of the memorial complex, we are ready to synchronize our actions with your embassy,” said Yuri Trutnev.

    On the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev, in mid-May the working group visited the Kuril Island of Shumshu to monitor the implementation of the instructions of the President of Russia on holding events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory over militarist Japan and the end of World War II. The working group included representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Far East, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, and the Ministry of Culture of Russia. The delegation assessed the readiness of the sites to organize a summer expedition, as well as to create an open-air memorial.

    The first stage of the military-historical memorial complex is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and the victory over militarist Japan. The complex, dedicated to the Kuril landing operation, is being created on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The work is being carried out under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary Representative Yuri Trutnev. The working group for the implementation of the instructions of the head of state is headed by Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko and Head of the Presidential Directorate for Public Projects Sergei Novikov.

    “The team of the Center for Contemporary History, together with the Russian Military Historical Society, is preparing for the work that will take place this summer on the restoration and preservation of the military equipment present on Shumshu. We believe it is fundamentally important to preserve the tanks in the form in which they are now. We are talking about preserving the current position of the tanks. We will be as careful as possible about how they look now. In addition, we have engineering tasks that concern topographic work, aerial photography of the island, and historical study of materials. We plan to make an interactive map of the island by August based on the materials that will be found in archives and historical sources and obtained here as a result of field work,” said Ivan Anokhin, director of the Center for Contemporary History and geodetic engineer.

    The events on Shumshu will take place during the summer of 2025 and will be dedicated to the Kuril landing operation. A search expedition, a solemn funeral ceremony for the burial of the remains of Soviet soldiers discovered during the search operations, an all-Russian physical culture event “Extreme cross-triathlon “Height 171” (swimming, cycling and running), hiking trips for the youth movement “More than a Journey”, a reconstruction of “Storming Shumshu Island”, as well as a concert program, including in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, are planned.

    The key events of the opening of the memorial complex and the funeral ceremony of the soldiers’ remains will take place on August 18. A military-historical reconstruction will also take place then. About 150 people from two dozen regions of Russia and friendly countries will take part in it.

    “The Russian Military Historical Society received a task from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, within the framework of the Presidential Decree on the creation of a memorial complex here, to carry out work on organizing all events related to the Ministry of Culture in 2025, and to formulate a concept for the development of the island up to 2030. Several strategic issues related to the objects that we will restore this year need to be resolved. The Nevsky Batalist company is making an entrance area that will symbolize the Kuril landing operation itself. We are currently looking for a place where this structure could be installed. Our task is to improve all cultural heritage sites that are located on the island today. These are graves, a mass grave, a grave of two Heroes of the Soviet Union, and a pillbox. Another of our main tasks is to work with the military equipment that remained here since the Great Patriotic War. We plan to connect military facilities with a road and path network. An important task is to reorganize the museum dedicated to the Severokurilsk landing operation in Severokurilsk,” said Elena Sinitsina, executive director of the Museum of Military History of the Russian Military Historical Society.

    During the working visit, an inspection of the sites of the military-historical memorial complex dedicated to perpetuating the memory of the soldiers of the Kuril landing operation was conducted, as well as the placement of a thematic installation and captured tanks in the open air. The placement of a modular structure for the display of artifacts found during the search operations and the burial of the remains of Red Army and Navy soldiers found during the search operations were discussed. The readiness of the sites for organizing the placement of summer camps for the participants of the search expedition, museum workers, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, doctors, and youth tourist groups was assessed. The issues of creating a road and path network between the island’s sites and cultural and educational routes were considered.

    The transport scheme for delivering cargo and equipment to Shumshu was developed by the Sakhalin Region government together with the Kamchatka Region government and the Russian Ministry of Defense. It provides for the delivery of property to Severo-Kurilsk by sea vessels. Rolling barges will be used for further transportation of cargo to Shumshu, where there are no hydraulic structures. A total of 30 units of equipment have been delivered to the island since the end of March.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Briefing by Yuri Trutnev and Alexey Chekunkov following the Government Hour in the State Duma

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Following the government hour devoted to current issues of socio-economic and infrastructural development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, which took place within the framework of the State Duma session, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev and Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexey Chekunkov answered questions from media representatives.

    Summing up the results of the government hour

    Yu.P. Trutnev: Today, today everything was connected with a report on the results of the work. For me, this is always a slightly difficult topic, because it can always be evaluated from two sides. As in the old fable, the glass is half full or half empty. When you summarize the results of the work, and we summed up the results of the ministry in several years, the first question that I ask myself is related to whether the right path is chosen and how we are moving. I will answer right away – correct. It is impossible to develop the territory based on how much money they will give from the federal budget, they must be earned. Hundreds of billions of new investments, hundreds of new enterprises, an increase in the almost two -time budget of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation – this suggests that the economy of the Arctic is growing and its growth creates conditions for improving people’s lives, to ensure their jobs, to ensure normal wages, for the construction of new facilities, and this is right. At the same time, it seems to me that this would be a very bad story if we approached the estimates of our work only in terms of what we managed. It seems to me that it is also important to find courage in order to answer the question of what failed. I do not agree with all the comments that were heard today. For example, when colleagues say: “Let’s allocate more time to relocation.” The question immediately arises: do we want people to live in the Arctic or to leave? If we want to give more money for relocation, then they will leave. This is probably not the best solution. At the same time, a number of questions sounded, which was noted in speeches, which concerns the lives of people. We must think about these people. We must make decisions that will improve the lives of people who will answer all the questions that are facing them. Actually, we work for this.

    About climate change

    Yu. P. Trutnev: Today, unfortunately, global cooperation in the field of climate conservation has been destroyed. No one talks about emissions, carbohydrate balance, and so on. I want to emphasize that Russia meticulously fulfills its obligations to the world community. Not a single enterprise in our country can do without a state environmental assessment, without discussions with people. This simply does not happen. But doing this alone is of little use. We read there what is happening. A huge ice floe fell and not on our territory at all, it itself has already changed the conditions. Other processes are also underway in nature. And these issues cannot be addressed alone. To be honest, I hope that humanity will come to its senses, will begin to understand that we all live together on one planet, that we have certain neighborly responsibilities, and that if we do not pay attention to them, then everyone will have problems. Therefore, yes, of course, we need plans to prepare territories for climate change. But, I repeat once again, not all general trends can be overcome only by the efforts of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. It won’t work like that.

    A.O. Chekunkov: Today, many issues related to climate change, the influence of climate on the melting of permafrost. It is important that this issue is actively discussed. The movement in the form of the creation of a background monitoring system has already begun on it. A large monitoring system for all 5 million square kilometers is already being created. These are 140 monitoring stations created by the Ministry of Natural Resources. There are presidential instructions related to the creation of geotechnical monitoring systems – already directly in relation to buildings. As part of the preparation of master plans of the supporting settlements of the Arctic, on behalf of the President, a register of the best practices of life and management in the north has been formed. One of the components is just technologies related to work, with life at many years of permafrost. Business, our largest companies successfully operate industrial enterprises, trunk gas -reflees, build ports on these complex soils. Our task now is to tighten the social sphere, to ensure the safety of life and work of people. There are such technologies. For example, there are technologies using chemical reagents in closed pipe systems, that is, not energy -intensive, allowing you to freeze soils for a long time. They are actively used in Norilsk and Salekhard under objects of large companies. The general plan for adaptation to permafrost will be formed before the end of the year. An important evidence that this problem is really priority is that today it was discussed not only with the relevant ministry or with some one ministry. In fact, today most of the government members kept a joint answer. These were representatives of many fouvas. Under the leadership of Yuri Petrovich Trutnev and the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Construction, and the Ministry of Defense, and, of course, we will solve this problem along with all the regions of the Arctic.

    Number of vessels along the Northern Sea Route

    Yu.P. Trutnev: There is a problem of shortage of ships, especially cargo ships. About 50 ships are not yet provided with construction capacity. This problem should be solved together with the Ministry of Industry.

    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.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: Consumer Prices Grew Slower in April

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    Seasonally adjusted monthly price growth continued to slow in April. Non-food prices remained almost unchanged over the month, but food and services prices continued to rise, albeit more slowly.

    Annual inflation fell in April but still significantly exceeds the target. The Bank of Russia will continue to maintain the monetary policy tightness necessary to return inflation to 4% in 2026. Further decisions on the key rate will depend on the speed and sustainability of the decline in inflation and inflation expectations.

    For more details, read the Bank of Russia’s information and analytical commentary “Dynamics of consumer prices”.

    Preview photo: Ultraskrip / Shutterstock / Fotodom

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 24613

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