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Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ14: Manpower of doctors and consultation efficiency

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by Dr the Hon Chan Han-pan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (July 23):

    Question:

         According to the data of the Hospital Authority (HA), the number of full-time doctors increased from 5 695 in 2013-2014 to 7 350 in 2023-2024, representing an increase of 29 per cent. During the same period, the number of HA’s specialist outpatient attendances increased by only 18.9 per cent while the relevant increase rate in the number of its general outpatient attendances was 3.34 per cent, and the number of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances even recorded a drop of 4.4 per cent. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it knows the respective numbers of HA doctors providing general outpatient clinic (GOPC) services and specialist outpatient clinic (SOPC) services in 2013-2014 and 2023-2024, as well as the respective percentages of such numbers in the total number of HA doctors (set out in a table);

    (2) whether it knows the respective average waiting time for HA’s SOPC new cases, GOPC services and A&E services, the average consultation time per patient, as well as the average number of consultations per doctor in 2013-2014 and 2023-2024 (set out in a table);

    (3) whether it knows if the HA has compared the average number of consultations per doctor between the HA and medical institutions in other places; if the HA has not, how the HA assesses the efficiency in the use of doctor manpower and the consultation efficiency; and

    (4) as there are views that the aforesaid data show a significant increase in the number of HA doctors from 2013-2014 to 2023-2024, but there is no significant rise in the number of attendances for various outpatient services, whether the Government knows if the HA has examined the reasons for that, and whether the HA will consider providing additional evening consultation services, so as to enhance the efficiency in the use of manpower and the service coverage while alleviating the pressure on the daytime services?

    Reply:

    President,

         In consultation with the Hospital Authority (HA), the consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Chan Han-pan, is as follows:

         With the ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the demand for various types of services provided by the HA has continued to rise over the past decade. While coping with the ever-rising service demand, the HA is also committed to enhancing the quality and efficiency of public healthcare services, while adopting an integrated and multi-disciplinary team approach in the delivery of various healthcare services, with a view to providing optimal treatment and care to patients. 

         Apart from providing general out-patient (GOP), specialist out-patient (SOP) and Accident and Emergency (A&E) services as mentioned in the question, doctors of the HA are also tasked with providing a comprehensive range of services including in-patient, out-patient, and day services, as part of the overall healthcare team. The table below sets out the number of hospital beds and the number of attendances for each of the major service categories of the HA in 2013-14 and 2023-24, which show an increase in the utilisation of each of the services over the 11-year period mentioned in the question. In particular, the HA has been gradually promoting ambulatory care and community-based care in recent years to replace the traditional hospital-centric service model, with a particularly significant rise in the demand for day in-patient services. 
     

      2013-14 2023-24 Increase
    Number of hospital beds
    (as at year-end)    		 27 440 30 671 11.8%
    Number of in-patient discharges and deaths 1 026 998 1 146 494 11.6%
    Number of patient days 7 479 088 8 750 456 17.0%
    Number of day in-patient discharges and deaths 542 333 809 505 49.3%
    Number of day hospital attendances (Note 1) 477 553  508 961 6.6%
    Number of SOP (Clinical) attendances 7 040 883 8 368 107 18.9%
    Number of Family Medicine out-patient (including Family Medicine Specialist Clinic and GOP clinic) attendances 6 100 888 6 359 781 4.2%

         As far as day in-patient services are concerned, day surgery brings significant benefits to patients, the public and the HA. For patients, day surgery has the benefits of causing less disruption to daily lives, reducing the risk of cross-infection and relieving psychological stress. In addition, day surgery is less costly and more efficient as it reduces the need for patients to stay in the hospital overnight, thereby releasing beds for more critical cases. Studies have also shown that the efficacy of day surgery is similar to that of in-patient surgery. For ambulatory palliative care services, the HA provides medical, nursing, rehabilitation, psychosocial and bereavement services through a one-stop multi-disciplinary team to alleviate patients’ symptoms and improve their quality of life, as well as reducing unnecessary hospitalisation. Day rehabilitation services include geriatric day hospitals, day rehabilitation services and allied health rehabilitation services. The HA provides specialty-oriented rehabilitation programmes, such as thoracic rehabilitation, orthopaedic rehabilitation, geriatric rehabilitation and cardiac rehabilitation, in its ambulatory care facilities to cater for the needs of individual types of patients. This development strategy can effectively shorten unnecessary hospitalisation time, help patients return to the community and enhance their ability to take care of their own health.

         Moreover, the HA has actively increased the number of endoscopic sessions to meet the public demand for endoscopic examination. The table below sets out the number of common endoscopic procedures performed in 2014-15 and 2023-24.
     

      2014-15 2023-24
    Common endoscopic procedures (Note 2 and 3) 9 608 10 591

         The HA will review and plan the role and positioning of its hospitals in each cluster to reflect the changes in healthcare needs brought about by changes in population in various districts over time, and will review from time to time and ensure that hospitals in the clusters can complement each other in the continual provision of A&E and in-patient, ambulatory care, extended care as well as community care services, so as to ensure that patients will continue to receive optimal treatment and services at appropriate locations.

         Please refer to Annex 1 for the number of doctors in each major specialty providing GOP or SOP services and their respective proportions in the total number of doctors in the HA in 2013-14 and 2023-24 as mentioned in the question. However, as mentioned above, since the HA adopts an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach in service provision, and flexibly deploys its staff to meet service and operational needs from time to time, the number of doctors in the above table only reflects the number of doctors providing GOP and SOP services, and the doctors concerned may also be tasked with providing other services including in-patient, A&E and ambulatory services, etc.

         The HA has also been implementing various measures over the years to enhance consultation efficiency and improve waiting time.

         In respect of SOP services, the HA has implemented a triage system to determine the priority of patients attending SOP clinics (SOPCs) based on their clinical condition. In addition, the HA has also adopted the strategy of “narrowing upstream, collaborating downstream, diverting midstream”. The HA has introduced doctor-led multi-disciplinary integrated clinics, and allocated more resources for new cases, rationalised referral arrangements for cross-specialty cases, set up more integrated clinics to provide multi-disciplinary support, and enhanced primary healthcare to follow up on patients in stable conditions. With the implementation of various measures, the waiting time for SOPCs has improved notably in the past few years. The data shows that the number of new SOP cases in 2023-24 has increased by 18 per cent compared to a decade ago, with the number of stable new cases (i.e. routine cases) increasing from 448 545 in 2013-14 to 577 191 in 2023-24, an increase of 28 per cent. Please refer to the Annex 2 for the number of new cases and waiting time for SOP services in 2013-14 and 2023-24.

         In addition, the HA has also rationalised the waiting procedures for SOP services to reduce the waiting time for patients to see doctors, with more than 75 per cent of SOP patients completing the process from registration to doctor consultation within 60 minutes in 2022-23 to 2023-24. The table below shows the percentage of the HA SOP patients who have completed the process from registration to doctor consultation within 60 minutes in 2022-23 and 2023-24:
     

    Year
    2022-23
    (Since November 2022)    		 Year
    2023-24
    76.5%  83.6%

         Regarding A&E services, to ensure that citizens with urgent needs can receive timely services, A&E departments implement a patient triage system under which patients are classified into five triages, namely critical, emergency, urgent, semi-urgent and non-urgent based on their clinical condition, and will receive treatment as prioritised by their urgency category. The HA’s performance targets specify that all critical patients (i.e. 100 per cent) will receive immediate treatment, and emergency and urgent patients will be prioritised for treatment upon arrival at A&E departments, with the targets being that most emergency patients (95 per cent) and urgent patients (90 per cent) will be treated within 15 and 30 minutes. The table below sets out the number of attendances and average waiting time for each triage category of A&E services in the HA in 2013-14 and 2023-24 respectively:
     

      No. of A&E attendances
    Triage 1(Critical) Triage 2  (Emergency) Triage 3 (Urgent) Triage 4 (Semi-
    urgent)    		 Triage 5 (Non-
    urgent) 
    Year
    2013-14    		 19 358 41 136 674 841 1 288 359 145 406
    Year
    2023-24    		 28 138  56 566 820 353 1 126 207 58 965

         The above attendances for A&E services under various triage categories in various hospitals under the HA exclude (i) first-time visits without triage categories, and (ii) follow-up visits to the A&E departments.
     

      Average waiting time (in minutes) for A&E services
    Triage 1 (Critical) Triage 2 (Emergency) Triage 3 (Urgent) Triage 4 (Semi-
    urgent)    		 Triage 5 (Non-
    urgent) 
    Year
    2013-14    		 0 7 27 106 124
    Year
    2023-24    		 0 8 29 180 205

     
         The data show that, over the past decade, the number of A&E attendances for patients in Triage 1 to Triage 3 has increased by 23 per cent from more than 730 000 to more than 900 000. In particular, attendances for patients in Triage 1 and Triage 2, who are the primary service targets of the A&E departments, have increased by 45 per cent and 38 per cent respectively. That said, patients in these two categories are treated promptly and the relevant average waiting times continue to meet the service targets specified by the HA.
     
         Regarding GOP services, the HA provides public primary healthcare services through its 74 GOP clinics (GOPCs) (including community health centres), providing more than five million out-patient attendances annually. Of these, a total of 23 GOPCs in all districts of Hong Kong provide evening out-patient services until 10pm. Patients under the care of the GOPCs comprise two major categories: patients with chronic diseases in stable medical condition, such as patients with diabetes mellitus or hypertension; and episodic disease patients with relatively mild symptoms, such as those suffering from cold or gastroenteritis. As for patients with chronic diseases requiring follow-up consultations, they will be assigned a time slot for follow-up by the GOPCs after each consultation and do not need to make separate appointments by phone. Episodic disease patients can make appointments for the next 24 hours through the HA GOPC telephone appointment system and “Book GOPC” function in the HA’s one-stop mobile app “HA Go”. There is no waiting time for GOP services. 
     
         The HA has been closely monitoring the operation and utilisation of different services with a view to deploying manpower and service resources flexibly. Since 2008, the HA has adopted a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure its service performance, covering clinical services, human resources and finance, with a view to establishing a mechanism for monitoring service performance and identifying service areas for continuous improvement. The HA conducts regular reviews of the KPIs annually and will enhance and refine them in accordance with its service strategies. Progress reports on KPIs are submitted to the HA Board and the Health Bureau on a regular basis, through quarterly progress review reports for the latter, to keep track of the HA’s performance in key service areas. Trend analyses within and across hospital clusters can be conducted to help identify areas for deliberation and formulation of enhancement measures, and to provide reference on service planning and resource allocation.
     
         Moreover, the HA has set up the Governance and Structure Reform Committee to provide strategic guidance, oversight, and reform advice on implementing governance and structure reforms. The work of the Committee includes examining the introduction of KPIs to measure the service performance of the HA.
     
         In recent years, the HA has also endeavoured to enhance public healthcare services through various measures, including enhancing primary healthcare services, shortening the waiting time for cataract surgery, making good use of the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital to alleviate the pressure on the radiology services in public hospitals, and establishing centres for major illnesses, with a view to improving the quality and efficiency of treatment. Regarding evening out-patient services, the HA and the Primary Healthcare Commission will also review the demand and supply of evening out-patient services in different districts as well as the utilisation of such services by members of the public in various districts, with emphasis on districts where private evening out-patient services are scanty, with a view to further increasing the number of quotas of evening out-patient services through flexible deployment of manpower and resources, as well as exploring the feasibility of setting up additional evening out-patient clinics.
     
    Note 1: The above figure includes attendances at Geriatric Day Hospitals, Psychiatric Day Hospitals, Day Rehabilitation Services, and Ambulatory Palliative Care Services. Of these, the number of attendances at Geriatric Day Hospitals includes those participating in the Integrated Discharge Support Programme for Elderly Patients.
    Note 2: The HA has maintained the relevant statistics since 2014-15.
    Note 3: The above endoscopic procedures include bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, colposcopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, flexible cystoscopy, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography. Of these, endoscopic ultrasonography covers upper gastrointestinal tract, lower gastrointestinal tract, as well as bronchus and mediastinum.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Eskom clarifies dispute with Koeberg contractor

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Eskom has confirmed that the two contractual disputes with Koeberg Nuclear Power Station contractor, Framatome, are being addressed through an agreed resolution process.

    This after media reports that the French energy company had won a high court order instructing the power utility to pay some R1 billion to the company, following contractual issues.

    Framatome was contracted for the Steam Generator Replacement Project at the nuclear power station located in the Western Cape.

    “In accordance with the contract, disputes are first referred to adjudication and, if not resolved, to arbitration. 

    “Two disputes were adjudicated between December 2022 and February 2023. As Eskom was not satisfied with the adjudicator’s decisions, the two matters were escalated to arbitration as per the agreed process. The arbitration was held from June to July 2025, and a decision is expected in the last quarter of Eskom’s financial year.  

    “Recent media reports appear to have mixed separate legal processes. To clarify, no new payments are currently due, and all actions taken by Eskom have been in line with the applicable legal and contractual procedures,” the power utility said in a statement on Tuesday.

    Furthermore, Eskom said although it “disagreed with the adjudicator’s decisions” – it complied with the outcomes and made payments.

    “All payments had been made by March 2024 as part of standard contract processes – not as penalties or fines,” the electricity supplier said.

    Simultaneously, the power utility approached the courts.

    “Eskom approached the Cape High Court to have the adjudicator’s decisions set aside due to procedural irregularities (independent of the merits of the decisions). The court only delivered its judgment on 17 July 2025, over a year late. Eskom is currently reviewing the judgment to determine the appropriate next steps.

    “We encourage the public and media to trust the integrity of this process. Eskom is following the proper legal channels to resolve these matters responsibly, and we remain committed to transparency and accountability throughout.

    “Most importantly, despite these disputes, the core technical work, replacing the steam generators on Koeberg Unit 2, has been completed. This is a major milestone that contributes to the safe and extended operation of the power station, helping to ensure energy security for the country,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: eThekwini council approves strategy to improve solid waste management

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The eThekwini Municipality has approved the Cleansing and Solid Waste Turnaround Strategy during a special council meeting held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.

    The strategic plan has been developed in line with National Treasury’s Metro Trading Services Reform Framework.

    The new strategy, which was adopted on Monday, will see the transformation of the Waste Management Unit to a Cleansing and Solid Waste Business Directorate, establishing a single point of accountability.

    This change will enable the Executive Director of the Waste Management Directorate to have the necessary responsibility and authority to improve its services and ensure accountability.

    As per the requirements by National Treasury, the strategy is supported by two key documents, including Cleansing and Solid Waste Directorate’s Institutional and Governance Roadmap (A1) and Business and Investments Plan (A2), also forming part of the Metro Trading Services Reform to improve all aspects of the solid waste business.

    According to the report, the institutional reforms focus on improved management and governance, while the Business and Investment Plan focuses on the Waste Business Development Plan.

    The Directorate is also required to develop a Performance Improvement Action Plan (A3) which is due in April 2026.

    “The report states that this will be submitted in due course, as it is a pre-requisite for the Urban Settlements Development Grant, an incentive grant that will be provided during the 2026/27 financial year,” the council said.

    This marks the third major turnaround strategy adopted by the Council under the National Treasury’s Trading Services Reform to improve the performance of trading services, following similar approvals in the Water and Sanitation and Energy sectors.

    “Metros, including eThekwini Municipality, had to first develop a turnaround strategy outlining plans to address structural and investment gaps affecting trading services,” the council said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NS&I Chair to step down

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    NS&I Chair to step down

    HM Treasury has confirmed today (23 July) that Lord Gerard Lemos CMG CBE will be stepping down from his role as Chair of the Board for National Savings and Investments (NS&I) with immediate effect.

    Lord Lemos has been a member of the House of Lords since January 2025. Prior to this, he was appointed to the NS&I Advisory Board as Chair from 1 April 2024 on a three-year term but will be stepping down with immediate effect to take up an appointment in the Whip’s Office within the House of Lords.  

    Non-Executive appointments to NS&I’s Board, including the Chair, are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The process to identify an Interim Chair will follow the Governance Code for Public Appointments and HM Treasury will seek to confirm the Interim Chair as soon as possible.

    Further information  

    NS&I is an arm’s length body of HM Treasury, responsible for raising cost-effective finance for the government through the retail savings market.  

    The role of NS&I’s Non-Executive Directors, including the Chair, is set out in the Framework Document agreed between HM Treasury and NS&I. The Chief Executive Officer remains responsible for the day-to-day operations of NS&I and ensuring that NS&I is run on the basis of the standards set out in Managing Public Money, including terms of governance, decision-making and financial management.  

    As the Minister responsible for NS&I, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury is responsible for determining the overall policy and performance framework within which NS&I operates. Further information can be found in the Framework Document.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Aurora Mobile Explores Strategic Opportunities in Real World Asset (RWA) Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recent reports have indicated that Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China, has been approached by various parties seeking to collaborate in exploring opportunities in the Real World Asset (RWA) markets, both in China and globally.

    In response, Mr. Weidong Luo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Mobile, commented, “There are many different aspects of our current products and services that I believe can help all parties grow and prosper in the RWA markets. We are actively exploring opportunities in this space and have been engaging in meaningful discussions with institutions that have expressed strong interest.”

    As a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China, Aurora Mobile sees great potential for synergy with RWA development through its core business segments: data services, marketing cloud services, and customer engagement solutions. Specific opportunities include:

    • Integrating Data Services with RWA:
      Aurora Mobile has amassed an extensive data asset base, having served 1.78 million apps with more than 1.4 billion monthly active devices. This data can be combined with RWA projects to provide critical support in assessing underlying asset value and risk. For example, in real estate RWA projects, Aurora Mobile can provide data on surrounding population density and consumer purchasing power to aid investor decision-making. Similarly, for renewable energy RWA initiatives, Aurora Mobile can offer user behavior insights to optimize asset operation strategies. The Company’s data strength can also support asset valuation and pricing of RWA projects by establishing more accurate data-driven models.
    • Marketing Cloud Services Empower RWA Promotion:
      Aurora Mobile’s marketing cloud solutions help businesses achieve multi-channel customer reach. For RWA projects, its robust marketing channels can be used to promote RWA products to a wider base of investors. For instance, Aurora Mobile can deliver project updates and investment opportunities to potential investors via SMS, Email, and other channels. This enhances visibility and recognition, ultimately boosting RWA asset sales and liquidity.
    • Customer Engagement to Support RWA:
      Aurora Mobile is committed to helping enterprises build strong relationships with customers by enhancing investor service experiences. Aurora Mobile can facilitate timely responses to investor inquiries, handle complaints, and strengthen investor trust and satisfaction in RWA projects. In addition, investor feedback gathered through these interactions can offer valuable insights for RWA project refinement and optimization.
    • AI-Driven Collaboration Opportunities:
      Aurora Mobile has made strategic advancements in AI, such as integrating with GPTBots.ai, the Company’s AI agent platform. AI technology is also essential in the RWA space, particularly for asset pricing optimization and risk forecasting. Leveraging its AI technology capabilities, Aurora Mobile can collaborate with RWA stakeholders to develop AI-powered applications, improving the intelligence and efficiency of RWA project management.
    • Cross-Border Business Synergies with RWA:
      Aurora Mobile provides customer engagement and marketing technology applications for Chinese companies that are expanding overseas. As a result, the Company has accumulated extensive experience in cross-border business. As RWAs enable the global trading of assets, Aurora Mobile can leverage its cross-border service capabilities to support RWA projects across borders. This includes helping promote and operate such projects in different regions and assisting with issues such as cross-border payments and investor communications.

    With its proven technological capabilities and deep market experience, Aurora Mobile is well positioned to contribute to the growth and innovation of the RWA ecosystem and looks forward to exploring further collaboration opportunities with partners in this space.

    About Aurora Mobile Limited

    Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China. Since its inception, Aurora Mobile has focused on providing stable and efficient messaging services to enterprises and has grown to be a leading mobile messaging service provider with its first-mover advantage. With the increasing demand for customer reach and marketing growth, Aurora Mobile has developed forward-looking solutions such as Cloud Messaging and Cloud Marketing to help enterprises achieve omnichannel customer reach and interaction, as well as artificial intelligence and big data-driven marketing technology solutions to help enterprises’ digital transformation.

    For more information, please visit https://ir.jiguang.cn/.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please contact:

    Aurora Mobile Limited
    E-mail: ir@jiguang.cn

    Christensen

    In China
    Ms. Xiaoyan Su
    Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
    E-mail: Xiaoyan.Su@christensencomms.com

    In US
    Ms. Linda Bergkamp
    Phone: +1-480-614-3004
    Email: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Strategic Prediction Highlights Starlink’s Role in America’s Next Communications Breakthrough

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new strategic brief from tech entrepreneur and author James Altucher is circulating among media and technology circles, calling attention to what he describes as a “massive shift in global communication power” led by Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink.

    Altucher’s brief lays out a chain of evidence connecting a closed-door Musk meeting, and what he believes could be a defining date in the company’s history: August 13, 2025.

    A Private Network Outside Government Reach

    According to Altucher, the public continues to underestimate the true purpose of Starlink.

    Altucher argues that Starlink is no longer just about connecting rural homes—it may soon become the world’s most powerful independent communication system, able to operate above political restrictions, military conflicts, and traditional gatekeepers.

    Inside the Meeting That Started It All

    Altucher says his prediction was inspired by information from a source who was present at a private meeting involving Elon Musk and several industry insiders.

    Altucher believes it played a crucial role in accelerating Starlink’s public-facing timeline—leading toward a major milestone he believes may land on August 13.

    The Urgency of August 13

    Altucher emphasizes that the timeline is moving fast. He singles out August 13, 2025, as a moment the public should not ignore.

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a bestselling author, tech founder, and media personality with over two decades of experience at the intersection of technology and finance. He has launched more than 20 companies and published over 25 books, including Choose Yourself and Skip the Line. Altucher has written for The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch, and he regularly appears on CNBC, Fox Business, and other top platforms. His work focuses on helping people understand major technological shifts before they go mainstream.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Strategic Prediction Highlights Starlink’s Role in America’s Next Communications Breakthrough

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new strategic brief from tech entrepreneur and author James Altucher is circulating among media and technology circles, calling attention to what he describes as a “massive shift in global communication power” led by Elon Musk’s satellite internet venture, Starlink.

    Altucher’s brief lays out a chain of evidence connecting a closed-door Musk meeting, and what he believes could be a defining date in the company’s history: August 13, 2025.

    A Private Network Outside Government Reach

    According to Altucher, the public continues to underestimate the true purpose of Starlink.

    Altucher argues that Starlink is no longer just about connecting rural homes—it may soon become the world’s most powerful independent communication system, able to operate above political restrictions, military conflicts, and traditional gatekeepers.

    Inside the Meeting That Started It All

    Altucher says his prediction was inspired by information from a source who was present at a private meeting involving Elon Musk and several industry insiders.

    Altucher believes it played a crucial role in accelerating Starlink’s public-facing timeline—leading toward a major milestone he believes may land on August 13.

    The Urgency of August 13

    Altucher emphasizes that the timeline is moving fast. He singles out August 13, 2025, as a moment the public should not ignore.

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a bestselling author, tech founder, and media personality with over two decades of experience at the intersection of technology and finance. He has launched more than 20 companies and published over 25 books, including Choose Yourself and Skip the Line. Altucher has written for The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch, and he regularly appears on CNBC, Fox Business, and other top platforms. His work focuses on helping people understand major technological shifts before they go mainstream.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A new strategy for GIAA

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    A new strategy for GIAA

    Outlining GIAA’s strategic direction for the next 4 years, with a renewed focus on quality delivery, high performing people and financially sustainability.

    GIAA strategy cover

    Having celebrated our tenth anniversary earlier this year, we are pleased to publish the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) Strategy 2025 – 2029, setting our direction for the next four years as a mature organisation ready to build on its success.

    Our new strategy brings a renewed focus on delivering consistent QUALITY; enabled by motivated and high performing PEOPLE; and supported by a FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE business model that uses agile and productive ways of working.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Response to Supreme Court judgment

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Response to Supreme Court judgment

    A statement by the Serious Fraud Office on R v Hayes and R v Palombo.

    The Serious Fraud Office investigates and prosecutes the most complex fraud, bribery and corruption cases affecting the UK and the safety of our economy. 

    Today’s Supreme Court decision comes thirteen years after we first investigated the practice used by some traders and submitters at selected banks to influence key benchmark rates of interest in financial markets.

    These rates were called the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and the Euro Inter-bank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”) and they affected the value of hundreds of trillions of dollars’ worth of financial products around the world, including ordinary people’s pensions, mortgages and savings.

    Our investigation led to nine convictions of senior bankers for fraud offences, with two of these individuals pleading guilty and seven found guilty by juries. 

    This judgment has determined that the legal directions given to the jury at the conclusion of trial were incorrect in Hayes’ and Palombo’s trials and for that reason their convictions have today been found unsafe.

    We have considered this judgment and the full circumstances carefully and determined it would not be in the public interest for us to seek a retrial.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World sprint champion sentenced after using Covid loans to help buy £1.3 million home

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    World sprint champion sentenced after using Covid loans to help buy £1.3 million home

    Athlete sentenced for Bounce Back Loan fraud

    • British Masters athlete Rick Beardsell obtained two maximum-value Bounce Back Loans for his sportswear manufacturing business and used most of the funds to help buy a £1.3 million home in a Cheshire village
    • Money spent on purchasing the five-bedroom house should have been used to benefit his Sports Creative Limited business
    • Beardsell also broke the rules of the scheme by substantially inflating his company’s turnover and securing two loans when businesses should only have received one
    • The 46-year-old has now repaid the £100,000 he fraudulently applied for in full

    A world sprint champion has been sentenced after he spent Covid loan funds to help buy a £1.3 million house.

    Rick Beardsell secured two £50,000 Bounce Back Loans for his Sports Creative Limited company in 2020 and 2021 when businesses were only allowed a single loan.

    The 46-year-old then moved the Bounce Back Loan funds into his personal bank account, using part of the money to help buy a five-bedroom property on Macclesfield Road in Prestbury, while also transferring cash to family members and making mortgage payments.

    Beardsell, who has won multiple sprint titles and holds world records representing Great Britain as a masters athlete, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, when he appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 22 July.

    He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £11,152.

    Beardsell repaid the £100,000 in full earlier this year after his guilty plea but before sentencing.

    David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Rick Beardsell exploited a Covid support scheme designed for struggling businesses, fraudulently obtaining loans he was not entitled to.

    While legitimate business owners fought to stay afloat during the pandemic, Beardsell bought a £1.3 million home with the help of money that should have been supporting his company through difficult times.

    This case sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who viewed government support schemes as an opportunity for personal enrichment during a national emergency.

    Sports Creative Limited was set up in January 2009 with Beardsell as its sole director. The company described itself on social media as “a bespoke sportswear manufacturer”.

    Beardsell applied to the bank for his first £50,000 Bounce Back Loan just before Christmas 2020.

    In the application, he claimed that Sports Creative Limited had a turnover of £485,000.

    Just two weeks later, in early January 2021, Beardsell applied to a second bank for another £50,000 Bounce Back Loan, this time stating that his company had an estimated turnover of £320,000.

    Insolvency Service analysis of Sports Creative Limited’s bank account revealed that its turnover was just over £90,000, meaning he exaggerated his company’s revenue on both occasions.

    Beardsell claimed that he had received a purchase order of $600,000 (approximately £440,000) for personal protective equipment during the pandemic which ultimately failed to materialise.

    Even if this were the case, businesses were required to provide their turnover for 2019, prior to the start of Covid.

    Investigations also found Beardsell transferred £83,900 of the £100,000 loan money to his personal bank account in three separate transactions at the start of March 2021.

    A total of £431,160 from that account was paid to solicitors for the purchase of a house on Macclesfield Road in September 2021.

    Beardsell also made fraudulent transfers of £5,000 to his wife, £10,000 to another family member, and two mortgage payments for his previous house in Manchester which put the funds beyond the reach of creditors.

    In a prepared statement, Beardsell claimed that he had sought “professional advice” that Bounce Back Loan funds could be used for “any purpose” that resulted in a direct benefit to the company. He added that he was advised that this could include investments in company assets or property.

    Beardsell also said that HMRC told him that he was eligible to receive the funds from the second loan, advice which would not have been given had he been honest about his successful application for an earlier Bounce Back Loan.

    Sports Creative Limited entered liquidation in December 2021.

    Further information

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How to spend time at the dacha safely and usefully

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Summer and dacha are inseparable concepts. In warm weather, Muscovites try to go out of town more often: some immerse themselves in caring for their garden and vegetable garden, others prefer relaxing on the beach, picnics and barbecues. On Dacha Resident Day, which is celebrated on July 23, inMoscow city economy complex reminded the basic rules of fire safety in private homes and shared recommendations for caring for plants in the heat.

    Caring for garden beds in hot weather

    All living creatures suffer from the scorching sun, including plants. Yulia Strazhnikova, an agronomist at the Izmailovsky Production Department of the State Budgetary Institution “Greening”, told us how to protect beds from the heat. According to her, in order to cool down, plants evaporate more moisture, so watering requires special attention. The main rule is not to water the beds during the day, when the sun is active and can burn the leaves. It is better to do this in the morning, before 08:00, or in the evening, after 20:00.

    “The water should not be cold. The most optimal temperature is 18-20 degrees. Otherwise, the roots in the warm soil will experience severe stress, which will negatively affect the development of plants,” the agronomist explains.

    It is useful to create artificial shade for the beds using light fabric or cardboard, securing them to a rope or wire stretched over pegs.

    In hot weather, the soil can heat up to 80 degrees, which accelerates the evaporation of moisture. To retain it, the beds can be covered with a protective layer, that is, mulched. Sawdust or straw are best suited for this – they are light, so they will not only reduce evaporation, but also reflect the sun’s rays, which means the soil will not heat up as much. You can also use agrospan or slightly dried freshly mown grass. The mulch is laid in a layer of up to five centimeters, but it should not fit tightly to the plants so as not to provoke their rotting.

    Flower beds require special attention. In sunny areas it is better to plant light-loving asters, daisies, yarrows, phloxes, petunias, marigolds, and in the shade – hostas, astilbes and heucheras.

    “In extreme heat, flowers need to be watered generously in the morning and evening. It is advisable to water the roots of the plant so that the moisture is evenly distributed throughout the root system. On sunny days, water should not fall on the leaves, shoots and inflorescences. You need to be especially careful with plants with a dense crown and pubescent leaves,” the specialist advises.

    Countryside eco-habits for the benefit of nature

    Moscow’s regional waste management operator, JSC Ecotechprom, recommends using your dacha vacation to develop eco-habits. For example, you should forget about the rule “All unnecessary things – to the dacha.” You need to sort out your closets: turn unnecessary clothes into cleaning rags or recycle them.

    Another piece of advice is to develop conscious consumption skills. Cook in moderation, and treat your neighbors with the surplus. It is suggested to turn food waste into compost by organizing a compost pit for it. This is the most environmentally friendly way to utilize organic matter.

    A useful habit is separate waste collection. It is enough to allocate a separate trash can or bag for plastic, metal, glass and paper, and then throw this waste into special containers for recyclable materials.

    Fire safety

    During the summer cottage season, the risk of fires increases due to improper use of stoves, careless handling of fire, uncontrolled grass burning and improper use of electrical equipment.

    For safety, you can use a fire extinguisher, an autonomous smoke detector and a powder fire extinguishing module that reacts to an increase in temperature and automatically sprays an extinguishing mixture.

    To avoid fire, specialists Department of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Fire Safety of the City of Moscow recommend following simple rules:

    – regularly remove garbage from the area;

    — do not leave glassware in the sun;

    – ensure that the electrical wiring is in good working order and do not forget to turn off the power to the house before leaving;

    — store flammable liquids in tightly closed metal containers (no more than 10 liters) away from sources of light and heat;

    — monitor the serviceability of gas appliances; they must be installed at a distance of at least 20 centimeters from furniture and wooden walls;

    — gas cylinders with a capacity of more than 10 liters must be kept outside in a special cabinet.

    If a fire cannot be avoided, first of all you need to call 101 or 112, provide the address, what is burning, and whether there is a threat to people.

    Before the firefighters arrive, it is necessary to evacuate people from the burning building and warn neighbors.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ​The EBA publishes Report on direct provision of banking services from third countries

    Source: European Banking Authority

    ​The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published a Report on the direct provision of banking services from third countries.  The quantitative and qualitative analysis performed didn’t provide evidence to recommend the amendment of the new Article 21c of the Capital Requirement Directive (CRD) which identifies how core banking services should be provided in a Member State. However, the EBA suggests a clarification of the interaction between Article 21c of the CRD and other sectorial legislations could be beneficial to authorities and market participants. 

    ​The EBA considers that several factors make it difficult to measure the impact of the prohibition of direct provision of services from third countries set out in Article 21c CRD. At the same time, Article 21c of the CRD provides flexibility to EU financial sector entities that remain free to solicit core banking services from third country undertakings or may rely on services provided by third country branches or subsidiaries in the EU. 

    ​However, the EBA notes that Article 21c CRD does not expressly address the interaction with the Undertakings for the Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) and the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD), in particular those provisions entitling EU financial sector entities to receive core banking services for their ongoing operationality in third countries in accordance with their business model. The EBA suggests that additional clarification could also be provided via the EBA Q&A tool. ​ 

    Legal basis and background  

    Article 21c CRD aims to regulate when a third country branch needs to be established for the provision of core banking services in a relevant Member State. Article 21c CRD also provides exemptions and carve outs, embedding some flexibility in the articulation of such requirement. Notably, the establishment of a third-country branch is not required in case of interbank or intragroup transactions, or where the core banking services are provided via reverse solicitation. Additionally, Article 21c provides for a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) carve out, which excludes its application where investment services under MiFID and related ancillary services are provided. Lastly, to facilitate the transition to the new regime, a contract grandfathering is envisaged.  

    The EBA has been mandated by article 21c(6) CRD to develop a Report to assess whether it is appropriate to extend the possibility for third country undertakings to provide core banking services directly from third countries – i.e. without a branch in the Union – not only to EU credit institutions, but to any EU financial sector entity, having regard to financial stability and EU competitiveness considerations. For this purpose, the EBA has to consult the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA).  

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • World Court is poised to mark the future course of climate litigation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The United Nations’ highest court will deliver an opinion on Wednesday that is likely to determine the course of future climate action across the world.

    Known as an advisory opinion, the deliberation of the 15 judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague is legally non-binding. It nevertheless carries legal and political weight and future climate cases would be unable to ignore it, legal experts say.

    “The advisory opinion is probably the most consequential in the history of the court because it clarifies international law obligations to avoid catastrophic harm that would imperil the survival of humankind,” said Payam Akhavan, an international law professor.

    In two weeks of hearings last December at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, Akhavan represented low-lying, small island states that face an existential threat from rising sea levels.

    In all, over a hundred states and international organisations gave their views on the two questions the U.N. General Assembly had asked the judges to consider.

    They were: what are countries’ obligations under international law to protect the climate from greenhouse gas emissions; and what are the legal consequences for countries that harm the climate system?

    Wealthy countries of the Global North told the judges that existing climate treaties, including the 2015 Paris Agreement, which are largely non-binding, should be the basis for deciding their responsibilities.

    Developing nations and small island states argued for stronger measures, in some cases legally binding, to curb emissions and for the biggest emitters of climate-warming greenhouse gases to provide financial aid.

    PARIS AGREEMENT AND AN UPSURGE IN LITIGATION

    In 2015, at the conclusion of U.N. talks in Paris, more than 190 countries committed to pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

    The agreement has failed to curb the growth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

    Late last year, in the most recent “Emissions Gap Report,” which takes stock of countries’ promises to tackle climate change compared with what is needed, the U.N said that current climate policies will result in global warming of more than 3 C (5.4 F) above pre-industrial levels by 2100.

    As campaigners seek to hold companies and governments to account, climate‑related litigation has intensified, with nearly 3,000 cases filed across almost 60 countries, according to June figures from London’s Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

    So far, the results have been mixed.

    A German court in May threw out a case between a Peruvian farmer and German energy giant RWE RWEG.DE, but his lawyers and environmentalists said the case, which dragged on for a decade, was a still victory for climate cases that could spur similar lawsuits.

    Earlier this month, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which holds jurisdiction over 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries, said in another advisory opinion its members must cooperate to tackle climate change.

    Campaigners say Wednesday’s court opinion should be a turning point and that, even if the ruling itself is advisory, it should provide for the determination that U.N. member states have broken the international law they have signed up to uphold.

    “The court can affirm that climate inaction, especially by major emitters, is not merely a policy failure but a breach of international law,” said Fijian Vishal Prasad, one of the law students that lobbied the government of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean to bring the case to the ICJ.

    Although it is theoretically possible to ignore an ICJ ruling, lawyers say countries are typically reluctant to do so.

    “This opinion is applying binding international law, which countries have already committed to. National and regional courts will be looking to this opinion as a persuasive authority and this will inform judgments with binding consequences under their own legal systems,” Joie Chowdhury, senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, said.

    The court will start reading out its opinion at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT).

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World sprint champion sentenced after using £100,000 Covid loan to help buy £1.3 million home

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    World sprint champion sentenced after using £100,000 Covid loan to help buy £1.3 million home

    Athlete sentenced for Bounce Back Loan fraud

    • British Masters athlete Rick Beardsell obtained two maximum-value Bounce Back Loans for his sportswear manufacturing business and used most of the funds to help buy a £1.3 million home in a Cheshire village
    • Money spent on purchasing the five-bedroom house should have been used to benefit his Sports Creative Limited business
    • Beardsell also broke the rules of the scheme by substantially inflating his company’s turnover and securing two loans when businesses should only have received one
    • The 46-year-old has now repaid the £100,000 he fraudulently applied for in full

    A world sprint champion has been sentenced after he spent Covid loan funds to help buy a £1.3 million house.

    Rick Beardsell secured two £50,000 Bounce Back Loans for his Sports Creative Limited company in 2020 and 2021 when businesses were only allowed a single loan.

    The 46-year-old then moved the Bounce Back Loan funds into his personal bank account, using part of the money to help buy a five-bedroom property on Macclesfield Road in Prestbury, while also transferring cash to family members and making mortgage payments.

    Beardsell, who has won multiple sprint titles and holds world records representing Great Britain as a masters athlete, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, when he appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 22 July.

    He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £11,152.

    Beardsell repaid the £100,000 in full earlier this year after his guilty plea but before sentencing.

    David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:

    Rick Beardsell exploited a Covid support scheme designed for struggling businesses, fraudulently obtaining loans he was not entitled to.

    While legitimate business owners fought to stay afloat during the pandemic, Beardsell bought a £1.3 million home with the help of money that should have been supporting his company through difficult times.

    This case sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who viewed government support schemes as an opportunity for personal enrichment during a national emergency.

    Sports Creative Limited was set up in January 2009 with Beardsell as its sole director. The company described itself on social media as “a bespoke sportswear manufacturer”.

    Beardsell applied to the bank for his first £50,000 Bounce Back Loan just before Christmas 2020.

    In the application, he claimed that Sports Creative Limited had a turnover of £485,000.

    Just two weeks later, in early January 2021, Beardsell applied to a second bank for another £50,000 Bounce Back Loan, this time stating that his company had an estimated turnover of £320,000.

    Insolvency Service analysis of Sports Creative Limited’s bank account revealed that its turnover was just over £90,000, meaning he exaggerated his company’s revenue on both occasions.

    Beardsell claimed that he had received a purchase order of $600,000 (approximately £440,000) for personal protective equipment during the pandemic which ultimately failed to materialise.

    Even if this were the case, businesses were required to provide their turnover for 2019, prior to the start of Covid.

    Investigations also found Beardsell transferred £83,900 of the £100,000 loan money to his personal bank account in three separate transactions at the start of March 2021.

    A total of £431,160 from that account was paid to solicitors for the purchase of a house on Macclesfield Road in September 2021.

    Beardsell also made fraudulent transfers of £5,000 to his wife, £10,000 to another family member, and two mortgage payments for his previous house in Manchester which put the funds beyond the reach of creditors.

    In a prepared statement, Beardsell claimed that he had sought “professional advice” that Bounce Back Loan funds could be used for “any purpose” that resulted in a direct benefit to the company. He added that he was advised that this could include investments in company assets or property.

    Beardsell also said that HMRC told him that he was eligible to receive the funds from the second loan, advice which would not have been given had he been honest about his successful application for an earlier Bounce Back Loan.

    Sports Creative Limited entered liquidation in December 2021.

    Further information

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New survey shows just 27% of all waste crime incidents reported

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New survey shows just 27% of all waste crime incidents reported

    Environment Agency publishes results of National Waste Crime Survey 2025, showing almost three quarters of all waste crimes go unreported

    Landowners and farmers are being urged to help the Environment Agency stop waste crime as new research shows only 12% reported the most recent incidents which affected them. 

    The findings were revealed today (Wednesday 23 July) in the results of the Environment Agency’s National Waste Crime Survey 2025, which also show more than half (57%) of landowners and farmers are estimated to have been affected by waste crime.  

    Networks of organised criminal groups operating across the country are targeting privately owned property and land, particularly in rural locations, to dump rubbish collected through illegal means. The waste industry, landowners and farmers who took part in the survey estimate 35% of waste crime is committed by organised crime groups, attracted by financial gains.  

    Last year, three men were convicted following a major investigation led by the Environment Agency into large-scale illegal deposits of more than 26,000 tonnes of waste – the equivalent weight of around 2,170 double-decker buses – at 17 sites across the country. Organised criminal gang members approached waste facilities and offered to dispose of baled waste at reduced costs, which they later abandoned. 

    The Environment Agency is determined to stop waste crime, protect the environment, and pursue criminals. It’s essential to know when and where these offences are happening – and the survey shows only just more than a quarter (27%) of all waste crimes are reported. 

    To ensure it has the best possible information to identify and stop the culprits, the Environment Agency is appealing to landowners and farmers to report every incident to its 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. Reports of any known or suspected illegal waste activity can also be made anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111. 

    Steve Molyneux, Environment Agency Deputy Director for Waste & Resources Regulation, said:

    Waste criminals’ toxic crimes cause widespread and significant harm to people, places and the economy. The Environment Agency is determined to use all our powers and resources to stop waste criminals, but we cannot achieve this alone.  

    Our survey shows almost three quarters of waste offences go unreported, so we urge industry and the public to help us stop waste criminals faster by sharing what they know about the people carrying out these heinous crimes.

    Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said:  

    Through our Plan for Change, this government will crack down on the waste cowboys, seize and crush fly-tippers’ vans, and clean up Britain. 

    With the shocking scale of this challenge revealed today, we are tightening the net on the organised crime groups who exploit our broken waste system.  

    We will not stand and watch while our countryside is polluted by criminals who undercut decent businesses.

    Sam Corp, Head of Regulation at the Environmental Services Association, said:

    With more than half of British landowners now reporting that they have fallen victim to the illegal dumping of waste, the survey findings are further evidence of the waste crime epidemic facing the UK, much of which is perpetrated by organised crime groups.    

    It is essential that we all exercise our duty of care to ensure waste does not fall into criminal hands and that, across society, we report all waste crime when we see it to help the authorities identify and stop the culprits.

    Dan Cooke, Director of Policy, Communications & External Affairs at CIWM, said:

    Waste crime causes misery and anxiety to communities wherever it occurs. It also damages local economies and undermines the professional recycling, resources and waste sector.   

    These latest National Waste Crime Survey figures show the extent of the challenge we face and the need for renewed focus and action. We can all do something to tackle waste crime and to bring those responsible to account. 

    CIWM encourages everyone to report suspicious activity or any incidents involving the illegal tipping of waste materials – wherever and whenever you see it. By reporting it to your local authorities or to the Environment Agency, you’re increasing the chance of prosecution and of swift action to maintain the quality of local environments on which our economy depends. 

    Conducted in February, the survey is used to help better understand the nature and scale of waste crime, as perceived by those experiencing it, including landowners, farmers and the waste industry.  

    The survey’s results show waste criminals are active across the country, with respondents estimating 20% of all waste produced may be illegally managed at some point in the supply chain – enough to fill Wembley Stadium 35 times. 

    Waste industry respondents who had suffered waste crime reported incurring significant costs, with 52% experiencing losses exceeding £50,000 due to illegal waste sites, 44% from illegal waste exports, and 32% from large-scale fly-tipping. 

    Under their Plan for Change, the government has confirmed rogue operators caught transporting and dealing with waste illegally will face up to five years in prison under new legislation. This will act as a strong deterrent and ensure the full force of the law comes down hard on those trashing the nation’s communities.   

    The Environment Agency fully supports legitimate operators and is working hard in collaboration with other partners to stop illegal waste management. In one recent successful prosecution, a former teacher who filled two quarries in Hertfordshire with enough illegal waste to fill the Royal Albert Hall nearly three times over was ordered to pay almost £79,000 following an Environment Agency investigation.  

    And, in another prosecution brought by the Environment Agency, a County Durham man was jailed for 44 weeks in February for operating an illegal waste site without an environmental permit.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ17: Mainland exchange programmes for students

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (July 23): 
     
    Question:

    The media earlier reported that some Hong Kong students had developed problems of different natures while participating in Mainland exchange tours (exchange tours), which has aroused public concerns about the quality of the exchange tours and may have an impact on the willingness of parents, teachers and students to go north for exchange. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the total number of primary and secondary schools that have been subsidised by the Education Bureau (EDB) and the number of primary and secondary students who have participated since the implementation of the Mainland exchange programmes for students; the effectiveness of the programmes;

    (2) whether the EDB has provided various schools with the tendering criteria for selecting the service providers of exchange tours; if so, of the details; the review mechanism in place to examine areas such as health and accommodation safety of the exchange tours, and whether guidelines have been drawn up to specify the requirements for the capability of service providers to respond to incidents; and

    (3) it is learnt that the EDB has pointed out that if the quality of the exchange tours was poor, the service providers concerned would not be invited to submit bid again by the authorities, whether the authorities have used the service providers’ records of the exchange tours as the selection criterion, and of the effectiveness of the relevant selection mechanism; whether the authorities have put in place a mechanism to regularly review and enhance the arrangements for the exchange tours (e.g. the itinerary arrangements and selection of itineraries for patriotic education); whether any service providers have been removed from the list of potential service providers for exchange tours by the EDB due to poor track record; if so, of the details?

    Reply:

    President,

    Since the 2004/05 school year, the Education Bureau (EDB) has been providing students with Mainland exchange opportunities in line with the country’s latest developments and the school curriculum every year. This includes organising Mainland exchange programmes (MEPs) of different themes for students and subsidising schools to organise such programmes. Approximately 100 000 subsidised quotas are provided each year to ensure that every student has the opportunity to join at least one MEP each in their primary and secondary stages. The EDB has commissioned external organisations to provide services (e.g. transportation, meals, accommodation and exchange activities) for programmes such as the Mainland Exchange Programme for Junior Secondary and Upper Primary Students and the Mainland Exchange Programme for Secondary School Students, etc. To take better care of students and teachers, every tour will be accompanied by a licensed medical professional or a tour escort holding a valid first aid certificate. Schools may also apply for subsidies from the EDB under two programmes, namely the Junior Secondary and Upper Primary School Students Exchange Programme Subsidy Scheme: “Understanding Our Motherland” and the Senior Secondary School Students Exchange Programme Subvention Scheme, to design their own Mainland exchange activities according to school-based needs and students’ learning needs. MEPs for students align with learning elements of the curriculum and cover diversified learning themes, including history, culture, economics, science and technology. Through participation in the various programmes mentioned above, students can gain first-hand experience of the development of our country from multiple perspectives, and consolidate and deepen classroom learning. This will in turn enhance their understanding of the country and their sense of national identity. Mainland exchange activities for students have delivered remarkable learning outcomes since their launch. Furthermore, to tie in with the implementation of the senior secondary subject of Citizenship and Social Development (CS), the EDB has launched CS Mainland study tours since April 2023. As Mainland study tours form an integral part of the CS curriculum, all senior secondary students studying the local curriculum will receive a full subsidy once to participate in CS Mainland study tours organised by the EDB. After completing their CS Mainland study tours, students have to conduct project learning and submit a report to the school in the form of an individual project.

    Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:

    (1) With student participation on a voluntary basis, MEPs for students have all along been well received by schools, parents and students. During the five school years (s.y.) from the 2014/15 to 2018/19 s.y., the number of primary and secondary student participants increased from approximately 50 000 to more than 70 000. With full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the EDB resumed MEPs for students in the 2023/24 s.y., and the responses from schools were positive, with around 68 000 students participating, which was comparable to its pre-pandemic level. The response in the 2024/25 s.y. is even more encouraging, with over 80 000 primary and secondary students already enrolled in MEPs for students, showing that the programmes are highly popular among schools. Schools will decide on the departure dates based on their school context and students’ learning needs. The numbers of students participating in MEPs from the 2022/23 to the 2024/25 s.y. are as follows:
     

    School year Number of students
    (rounded down to the nearest hundred)
    2022/23 600
    2023/24+ 68 200
    2024/25++ 81 000

    + Actual figures revised from last year’s estimates
    ++ Provisional figures (actual figures to be confirmed after departure)

    In addition, following the launch of CS Mainland study tours since April 2023, the EDB has arranged for a cumulative total of more than 140 000 senior secondary students and 15 000 teachers to take part in the study tours in the past three school years (from the 2022/23 to 2024/25 s.y.). The EDB has continued to enhance the scale of and arrangements for CS Mainland study tours. With respect to the number of routes, there is an increase from 22 one-to-three-day tours in the Guangdong Province in the 2022/23 s.y. to 28 one-to-five-day tours in the 2024/25 s.y., covering 11 provinces and municipalities, so as to enable students to participate in various types of learning activities during CS Mainland study tours. Experiential learning activities are arranged in the activity bases for students’ comprehensive practice or other visiting spots as part of the itinerary. The numbers of students participating in CS Mainland study tours from the 2022/23 to 2024/25 s.y. are as follows:
     

    School year Number of students
    (rounded down to the nearest hundred)
    2022/23 43 300
    2023/24+ 49 900
    2024/25++ 50 400

    + Actual figures revised from last year’s estimates
    ++ Provisional figures (actual figures to be confirmed after departure)

    In conclusion, it is without doubt that MEPs for primary and secondary students and CS Mainland study tours are beneficial to students. According to the results of questionnaire survey, feedback from teachers and students on these programmes are very positive. They generally consider that Mainland exchange and study tours have extended classroom learning and deepened students’ understanding of our country’s history, culture and technological development, etc, thereby instilling in them a sense of belonging to our country and enhancing their sense of national identity; facilitated friendship building through exchanges between local and Mainland students; and enhanced students’ understanding of the rapid development of our country to help them seize future development opportunities.  

    (2) and (3) In selecting service providers for Mainland exchange and study tours, the EDB has all along been following the established government procedures of services procurement, with assessment and approval made under the principles of fairness, openness and impartiality. Service providers are required to have relevant experiences in organising Mainland exchange and study tours for students. During tender evaluation, the EDB will take into account both technical factors (including pro-innovation proposals) and price factors, and may not necessarily award contracts to the lowest bidders.

    With the safety and health of students as the prime concern, the EDB has established a regular mechanism to safeguard the safety of students during Mainland exchange and study tours. For instance, the service providers are required by the EDB to formulate for its scrutiny contingency guidelines and arrangements for handling various emergency situations encountered in Mainland exchange and study tours, such as inclement weather, accidents, loss of identity documents and physical discomfort. Prior to departure of each tour, the service providers are required to communicate properly with the schools and arrange on-site briefings to go through the itinerary, points to note and ways to cope with emergencies, etc. Handbooks and name badges containing information about dealing with emergency incidents (e.g. emergency telephone numbers in the Mainland, and particulars and contact numbers of the accompanying staff) will be distributed to teachers and students for persual during the tour. The EDB has put in place a notification mechanism on the safety of students, through which the service providers are required to report on a daily basis the situation of each of the tours during the course of the journey. In addition, the EDB gauges participants’ feedback of these programmes by holding regular meetings with the service providers, deploying staff to attend the programmes to assess the appropriateness of the content and collecting views of the participants, conducting questionnaire surveys, and evaluating the opinions of the participants towards the programmes by arranging interviews and post-tour sharing sessions. Such efforts are conducive to the continuous enhancement and exploration of diverse themes for Mainland exchange and study tours. We will also regularly review the performance of the service providers concerned and monitor the progress and implementation of their work through field inspections and work reports, etc. Any cases of unsatisfactory performance of service providers will be handled by the EDB according to the established mechanism. According to existing records, no service provider has been removed from the list of potential service providers for exchange and study tours by the EDB due to poor track records.

    Regarding the incidents in which students of individual schools had developed gastroenteritis symptoms during the Mainland exchange and study tours for students conducted earlier, we seriously and promptly followed up with relevant Mainland organisations/units to provide appropriate support for the schools concerned, including arranging for those students feeling sick to see a local doctor upon parental consent, reallocating rooms for them to prevent cross-infection, providing antiseptic products and arranging disinfection of the coaches. For the sake of safety, while the source of the outbreak could not be verified, we had immediately requested relevant service providers to stop patronising the suspected eatery, and required all those which offered catering service for MEPs for students and CS Mainland study tours to temporarily stop serving raw and undercooked food and cooked shellfish, etc. All the tours concerned had returned to Hong Kong after successful completion of their journey.

    Meanwhile, we have promptly set up a dedicated task force for student Mainland study tours to enhance the arrangements for exchange and study activities in a timely manner. Efforts include directly liaising and arranging regular collaboration meetings with Mainland departments and units, with a view to improving various facilities and arrangements to further ensure students’ safety. We have also reached a consensus with service providers on strengthening the notification mechanism for unforeseen incidents. In the event of an incident, the service providers should get to know the situation as soon as possible, keep abreast of its developments, and provide appropriate assistance.  They have also been reminded that there should be more detailed planning and contingency measures for the itinerary, accommodation and catering arrangements, etc. The information presented and guidelines for the pre-departure on-site briefings have also been updated to enhance the hygiene and safety awareness of teachers and students. Moreover, we will maintain close liaison with the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) to update from time to time the latest information on disease prevention and control provided by the EDB and the DH on the “Passing on the Torch” National Education Activities Series website (www.passontorch.org.hk/en), and remind all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to check out and get familiar with such information before setting off for the tours. To enable accompanying teachers to get hold of the latest information on exchange tours, the EDB will regularly organise briefings and sharing sessions to promote the good practices of different schools and provide illustrative examples on how to respond to emergencies for the schools’ reference.

    On promoting patriotic education, it was mentioned in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” that starting from the 2024/25 s.y., at least 30 routes with “red resources” would be provided through the Mainland exchange and study tours for students. The EDB has made corresponding arrangements to incorporate relevant visiting spots, including historical sites, museums and thematic memorial halls, as well as learning activities, into 30 routes of MEPs and 11 routes of CS Mainland study tours respectively. To further strengthen patriotic education, and tie in with the launch of the Curriculum Framework of National Security Education in Hong Kong (2025) and mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, starting from the 2025/26 s.y., the number of routes with “red resources” to be provided through MEPs and CS Mainland study tours for students will be increased to 33 and 15 respectively to facilitate students’ understanding of the revolutionary stories and arduous struggles of our revolutionary predecessors and foster their national spirit. The EDB will continue to gauge views from different stakeholders for reviewing the effectiveness of and enhance the arrangements for the Mainland exchange and study tours for students. The EDB will also keep in view the learning effectiveness of the Mainland exchange and study tours for students through school visits and inspections, collection of student work (including photographs, video clips and student reflections), interviews with teachers and students, etc, and will share students’ learning outcomes with the public.

    The EDB has all along been actively organising for the benefit of students various kinds of Mainland exchange and study tours, which have gained general support and recognition from schools. The learning outcomes of students are also remarkable. We are looking forward to the continuous support from relevant stakeholders for the Mainland exchange and study tours for students. We will also adhere to our original aspiration and continue to enhance the quality of MEPs for students, and join hands with various stakeholders to achieve more fruitful outcomes. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Liquor duty

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, in the Legislative Council today (July 23):

    Question:

         Since October last year, the Government has reduced the duty rate for liquor with import price over $200 from 100 per cent to 10 per cent for the portion above $200. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the changes in the value and volume of imports and re-exports of liquor to date after the reduction in the duty rate on liquor, and how such data compare with those prior to the reduction, together with a breakdown by type of liquor (e.g. Chinese baijiu, whisky and brandy);

    (2) as the Government has indicated that the reduction in the duty rate on liquor aims to promote the development of Hong Kong into a trading hub for high-end liquor and boost the growth of various industries such as catering, hotel, logistics and warehousing, whether the Government has assessed if the policy has achieved the expected effects after its implementation; whether the Government will study a further reduction in the duty rate on liquor; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

    (3) whether the Department of Health has, after the reduction in the duty rate on liquor, conducted a population health survey to compile statistics on the proportion of the population aged 15 or above who have consumed liquor; whether it will step up its efforts to publicise and educate the public about the health effects of alcohol, in order to prevent problems such as alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse and binge drinking; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

         Having consulted the Health Bureau, the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), the consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Kennedy Wong is as follows:

         Currently, liquor duty in Hong Kong is levied on liquor for local sales or other uses, while liquor for export or re-export through Hong Kong to other regions is not subject to duty. As such, the liquor duty reduction has a more direct impact on liquor imported for local consumption, whereas the re-export trade of liquor is more influenced by macro factors such as global economic conditions and geopolitics.

         According to the statistics from the C&ED, during the 8.5-month period from the reduction of the duty rate on high-end liquor on October 16 last year to the end of June this year, both the volume (in litre) and value of duty-paid liquor import increased as compared with the 8.5-month period prior to the liquor duty reduction. Of these, the import volume of liquor rose by more than 20 per cent, while its value went up significantly by nearly 90 per cent, reflecting that the two-tier system introduced by the Government is effective in boosting high-end liquor trading. A comparison of the volume and value of duty-paid liquor before and after the reduction in liquor duty rate, as well as detailed statistics breakdown by type of liquor, is provided in Annex I for Members’ reference.

         On the other hand, as liquor duty is not levied on re-exported liquor, the C&ED does not maintain statistical data on the value of liquor re-export. The information provided by the C&SD is set out in Annex II.

         As the liquor duty reduction has only been implemented for a short period, its effectiveness in various aspects remains to be observed. Regarding the suggestion from some members of the trade that the Government should further reduce the duty on liquor, we would like to reiterate that the purpose of lowering liquor duty is to encourage the trade and auctions of high-end liquor in Hong Kong, thereby giving impetus to the development of other high value-added sectors such as logistics and storage, tourism as well as high-end food and beverage consumption. At the same time, we are also mindful of the need to avoid increasing liquor consumption among the public as a result of reducing liquor duty, thereby leading to other problems.

         When introducing the relevant measures, the Government has fully balanced different policy considerations such as promoting economic development, maintaining stable public finances and protecting public health. We will closely monitor the development of the liquor trade and review the effectiveness of the measures in a timely manner. Any further adjustments will require careful consideration of the impact on different aspects with prudent planning. The Government currently has no plan to further adjust the duty rate on liquor.

         In fact, the Government has been attaching great importance to the harms brought by alcohol, in particular alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse and binge drinking. In 2018, the Government launched the “Towards 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control Non-communicable Diseases in Hong Kong”, setting out nine local targets, with “reduce harmful use of alcohol” being one of them, to be achieved by 2025. The Government will continue to adopt a risk-based approach to reduce alcohol-related harm through publicity, education, treatment and support services. Among which, the Department of Health (DH) has launched the Pilot Alcohol Cessation Counselling Service (Pilot Programme) through subvention to a non-governmental organisation. The Pilot Programme was launched on April 8, 2024, and will last for two years to provide free counselling service for Hong Kong residents identified to have probable alcohol dependence. The DH has also launched a publicity and education campaign named “Understanding Alcohol Harm” since 2022 to enhance the public’s understanding of the health risks associated with alcohol consumption; and provides online risk assessment of drinking behaviour, personalised health advice, self-help tools, health education resources, etc to encourage drinkers to change their drinking behaviour for the sake of their health.

         In addition, the DH conducts the Population Health Survey (PHS) approximately every five years with the Health Behaviour Survey conducted in between as regular surveillance to understand the health status of the Hong Kong population, including drinking behaviours. Figures relevant to drinking behaviours in past PHSs are set out in Annex III. The 2025/26 PHS is expected to commence in the third quarter this year with the findings to be available in end-2026, which would reflect the situation after the partial reduction of duty on liquor.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: From online to onstage: Attending an international Trade Fair in The Gambia for the first time

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    Participating in trade shows is crucial for the growth of small businesses. It provides them opportunities to sell, network and enhance their visibility. Yet, many entrepreneurs, especially in least developed countries, struggle to participate in trade fairs due to high costs. That was the case for Mariama S. Ceesay, founder of Her Sacred Veil, a bespoke fashion brand in The Gambia.

    “I had never participated in a trade show before because I did not have the financial means to cover the cost of a stall,” says Mariama. “As a small business owner, most of my resources focus on production and fulfilling customer orders.”

    This changed when the European Union Youth Empowerment Project – Tourism and Creative Industries, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), stepped in. The project covered 90% of her stall fee, provided training and visibility products.

    “I received training, help with my branding and an e-business card. Additionally, the project organized engaging activities around our stalls to attract more visitors and increase visibility for our businesses,” Mariama says said.

    Before the fair, Her Sacred Veil operated mostly online. “I was mainly selling my products online through TikTok and WhatsApp. I used TikTok to showcase my products and reach a wider audience, while WhatsApp helped me manage orders and communicate directly with customers. Now at the trade fair, I was able to show the quality, creativity and craftsmanship that go into every outfit I design,” explains Mariama. 

    The experience was a breakthrough. Mariama made several sales and gained a new customer base. “I was happy about the orders I received during and after the trade fair. I also made some useful business contacts that will hopefully lead to future opportunities,” she says.

    Mariama’s highlight was connecting directly with new customers and hearing their positive feedback about her bespoke outfits. “It was exciting that people appreciated my designs and placed orders on the spot.”

    She did not hit her target in terms of sales, but for Mariama, the trade fair was much more than that. `Sales were lower than expected, but I learned a lot, especially about converting interest into purchases.”

    Now, the business owner is thinking bigger. She plans to attend more fairs and seek for support to acquire equipment and a showroom. “I’m currently working with one sewing machine. I dream of getting an overlock machine and creating a space that truly reflects my brand.”

    – on behalf of International Trade Centre.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Payments statistics: second half of 2024

    Source: European Central Bank

    23 July 2025

    The European Central Bank (ECB) today published statistics on non-cash payments for the second half of 2024.[2]The statistics comprise indicators on access to and use of payment services, payment cards and payment terminals by the public, as well as volumes and values of transactions processed through retail and large-value payment systems. This press release focuses on developments in the euro area as a whole, while statistics are also published at country level for all euro area and most non-euro area EU member states. EU and euro area aggregates are also published.[3]

    Payment services[4]

    In the second half of 2024, the total number of non-cash payment transactions[5] in the euro area increased by 8.6% to 77.6 billion compared with the second half of 2023, with the corresponding total value rising by 3.8% to €116.9 trillion. Card payments accounted for 57% of the total number of transactions, while credit transfers accounted for 21%, direct debits for 15% and e-money payments for 6%. The remaining 1% comprised cheques, money remittances and other payment services (see annex, Table 1).

    Chart 1

    Use of the main payment services in the euro area

    (number of transactions in billions, graph on the right-hand-side refers to half-yearly data)

    Source: ECB.
    Note: Data have been partially estimated for periods prior to 2010, as methodological changes were implemented in those years and some data are not directly available. The historical estimations done by the ECB ensure comparability of figures over the entire period. Statistics were also collected for cheques, money remittances and other payment services which together accounted for 1% of the total number of non-cash euro area payment transactions in the second half of 2024.

    Data on payment services

    Card payments

    In the second half of 2024 the number of card payments within the euro area increased by 11.3% to 44.3 billion compared with the second half of 2023. The corresponding total value of card payments rose by 9.4% to €1.7 trillion, reflecting an average value of around €39 per transaction. The split between remote and non-remote[6] transactions in the total number of card payments was 18% to 82%, while the split in terms of value was 28% to 72%. The number of contactless card payments initiated at a physical electronic funds transfer point of sale terminal increased by 15.5% to 29.5 billion compared with the second half of 2023, with the corresponding total value rising by 15.1% to €0.8 trillion. As a result, their share in the total number of non-remote card payments accounted for 81%, while the corresponding share in terms of value was 65%. At the national level, Lithuania continued to have the largest share of card payments as a percentage of the total number of non-cash payments in the second half of 2024, at around 79% (see annex, Table 2).

    Credit transfers[7]

    In the second half of 2024 the number of credit transfers within the euro area increased by 7.3% to 16.2 billion compared with the second half of 2023, and the corresponding total value rose by 3.6% to €108.3 trillion. As higher-value payments are usually made by credit transfer[8], they accounted for 93% of the total value of non-cash payments. The ratio of transactions initiated electronically to those initiated using paper forms was around 16 to 1, while in terms of value the ratio was around 12 to 1. At the national level, Latvia continued to have the largest share of credit transfers as a percentage of the total number of non-cash payments in the second half of 2024, at around 36% (see annex, Table 2).

    Direct debits

    In the second half of 2024 the number of direct debits within the euro area increased by 3.9% to 11.4 billion compared with the second half of 2023, and the corresponding total value rose by 8.2% to €5.4 trillion. Of the total number of direct debits, those with an electronic mandate accounted for 12% whereas those with consent given in other forms accounted for 88%, while in terms of value the split was 14% to 86%. At the national level, Germany continued to have the largest share of direct debits as a percentage of the total number of non-cash payments in the second half of 2024, at around 32% (see annex, Table 2).

    E-money payments

    In the second half of 2024 the number of e-money payment transactions within the euro area increased by 2.6% to 4.6 billion compared with the second half of 2023, and the corresponding value rose by 15.8% to €0.3 trillion. Of the total number of e-money payment transactions, those made with e-money accounts accounted for 95% whereas those made with cards on which e-money can be stored accounted for 5%, while in terms of value the split was 93% to 7%.

    Cards and accepting devices

    At the end of the second half of 2024 the number of cards with a payment function[9] had increased by 8.2% to 750.0 million compared with the number at the end of the second half of 2023. With a total euro area population of around 353 million, this implies an average of 2.1 payment cards per euro area inhabitant.

    At the end of the second half of 2024 the total number of automated teller machines (ATMs) in the euro area had decreased by 3.1% to around 253.7 thousand compared with the number at the end of the second half of 2023. Of these, 33% accepted contactless transactions.

    At the end of the second half of 2024 the total number of point of sale (POS) terminals had increased by 7.9% to around 20.7 million[10] compared with the corresponding number at the end of the second half of 2023. Of these terminals, 92% accepted contactless transactions.

    Payment systems[11]

    Retail payment systems

    Retail payment systems located in the euro area handle mainly payments that are made by individuals and businesses, with a relatively low value and high volume overall.

    In the second half of 2024, 34 retail payment systems within the euro area processed around 56.1 billion transactions with a combined value of €26.4 trillion. Instant credit transfers accounted for 16% of the total number and for 4% of the total value of credit transfer transactions processed by euro area retail payment systems.

    Retail payment systems located in the euro area differ significantly in terms of type, size and geographical scope of transactions they process. The three largest systems (MCMS[12], STEP2-T[13] and CORE (France)) processed 65% of the volume and 62% of the value of all transactions processed by the retail payment systems located in the euro area in the second half of 2024.

    Chart 2

    Main retail payment systems located in the euro area, values and numbers of transactions processed in the second half of 2024

    (value of transactions in EUR trillions and number of transactions in billions)

    Source: ECB.

    Data on retail payment systems

    Large-value payment systems

    Large-value payment systems form the backbone of the euro area financial market infrastructure and are designed primarily to process large-value and/or high-priority payments made between system participants for their own account or on behalf of their customers. 

    In the second half of 2024, large-value payment systems located in the euro area settled 74.7 million payments with a total value of €223.7 trillion in euro payments, with T2 and EURO1/STEP1 being the two main systems.[14]

    Chart 3

    Main large-value payment systems located in the euro area, values and numbers of transactions processed in the second half of 2024

    (value of transactions in EUR trillions and number of transactions in millions)

    Source: ECB.

    Data on large-value payment systems

    Notes:

    • The full set of payment statistics can be downloaded from the ECB Data Portal (EDP). The EDP also includes interactive dashboards and interactive reports supporting data visualization. Detailed methodological information, including a list of all data definitions, is available under “Payment services and large-value and retail payment systems” in the “Statistics” section of the ECB’s website.
    • As of 2025, the dissemination scope of payments statistics in the EDP has been extended in two-waves. Since March 2025, the quarterly publication of payments statistics has been significantly widened, offering more detailed geographical breakdowns as well as additional details on card payments per type of merchant category codes (MCC). As of July 2025, the semi-annual publication includes details on the payment schemes for credit transfers and direct debits as well as more granular geographical breakdowns, among others. In addition, some indicators related to fraudulent payment transactions are now publicly available in the EDP. For the latter, please also refer to the relevant disclaimer available towards the bottom of the EDP page.
    • Taking effect on 1 January 2022, the methodological and reporting framework for payments statistics was enhanced to take progressive developments in the payments market and related changes in the legal framework in Europe into account. The enhanced reporting requirements are set out in Regulation ECB/2020/59 amending Regulation ECB/2013/43 on payments statistics and in Guideline ECB/2021/13 on reporting requirements on payments statistics. In addition, the Manual on payments statistics reporting is available on the ECB’s website.
    • Hyperlinks in the main body of the press release and in annex tables lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Figures shown in annex tables are a snapshot of the data at the time of the current release. Unless otherwise indicated, statistics referring to the euro area cover the EU Member States that had adopted the euro at the time to which the data relate.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The admission campaign for foreign citizens is in full swing at the Polytechnic University

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Polytechnic University is completing the main stage of accepting documents from foreign applicants. During the large-scale campaign, the university team participated in educational exhibitions, quota selections and webinars in the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the CIS.

    Since autumn 2024, the university has presented its educational programs at 39 events, including 12 face-to-face (in China, Turkey, Vietnam, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan) and six online exhibitions, 17 information webinars and four regional selection rounds jointly with Rossotrudnichestvo representative offices. Foreign applicants familiarized themselves with the new admission algorithms. To promote the Open Doors international Olympiad, which gives talented students a unique opportunity to enter the Polytechnic University and study for free, an interview with the winners was held. They told their compatriots about studying at SPbPU. Also, specialized webinars on the master’s and bachelor’s degree tracks were held jointly with the Global Universities Association.

    This year, a unified algorithm for admission to Russian universities for foreign and Russian citizens was launched. Now foreigners participate in the general competition on an equal basis with Russian schoolchildren. The progress of admission can be monitored in real time through the competition lists, which are already available on the official website of the university. The results of the main stage of enrollment will be known in August. Based on the results of the summer campaign, additional recruitment will take place for the remaining vacancies.

    An important innovation of the international Open Doors Olympiad is the opening of the bachelor’s degree program for the winners. If previously only applicants for master’s and postgraduate studies participated, now future bachelors can too. At the moment, about 300 applications have been received, and about a hundred of them are for bachelor’s degree programs. Most of the guys participating in the Olympiad represent foreign countries and do not speak Russian. Therefore, after admission, they will begin their studies with a pre-university training program.

    Polytechnic University traditionally attracts great interest from applicants from key regions: the CIS countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are in the lead), China and other BRICS countries, Turkey and Latin America (especially Colombia and Ecuador). At the same time, the number of representatives of the African continent interested in studying in pre-university training programs is growing at the university. To develop this area, Polytechnic University took part in a special series of events organized by the Rosatom State Corporation. A series of exhibition and presentation webinars and educational lectures covered nuclear technologies in energy and their non-energy applications in related industries. Popular science lectures were given by Associate Professor of the Higher School of Mechanical Engineering Hamuda Khaled and Senior Lecturer of the Higher School of Technosphere Safety Jamilya Idrisova. The goal is to attract students from African countries to Rosatom’s flagship universities to study in nuclear and related specialties in Russia.

    A significant number of bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates choose to continue their education at SPbPU. According to preliminary data from the admissions campaign, over 2,000 applications have already been submitted for the main educational programs (bachelor’s, master’s, postgraduate) under the contract, and over 800 for the preparatory faculty. Candidates within the Russian Federation Government quota are also being considered. Over 800 applications have been processed to date.

    The most popular bachelor’s degree programs among applicants are economics and international relations, engineering and construction programs, IT and high technology. Of particular interest is the English-language program “International Business”.

    The following areas are in demand in the Master’s program: construction, electric power engineering and electrical engineering, automation of technological processes, management, foreign regional studies, applied mechanics. The following English-language areas are also in demand: “Informatics and computing engineering”, “Biotechnical systems and technologies”, “Infocommunication technologies and communication systems”, “Development of international business”, “Intelligent systems”, “Microelectronics of infocommunication systems”, “Civil engineering” and “Molecular and cellular biotechnology”.

    In postgraduate studies, technical fields (energy, construction, mechanical engineering) and biotechnology are leading.

    “It is difficult to predict the results of the new admissions system, including the movement of competition lists, since this is the first such experience. We recommend that applicants closely monitor updates on the SPbPU website and be prepared for additional recruitment in August. Despite the novelty of the procedure and the complexity of the exams, the interim figures indicate a record interest in studying at the leading technical university in Russia,” said Evgeniya Satalkina, Head of the International Education Department.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) Market Set to Hit USD 24.1 Billion by 2032, Growing at 31.90% CAGR, Fueled by Rapid AI and Machine Learning Adoption | AnalystView Market Insights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, USA, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The global Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) Market is poised for substantial growth, with projections indicating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.90%, reaching a market value of approximately USD 24,097.31 million by 2032. TPUs, or Tensor Processing Units, are highly specialized application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) originally developed by Google to address the increasing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) workloads.

    Unlike traditional CPUs and GPUs, Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) are engineered to accelerate tensor operations—the core of neural network training and inference—by efficiently executing large-scale matrix multiplications with minimal power usage. This specialized architecture makes TPUs ideal for deep learning across industries such as healthcare (advanced imaging diagnostics), finance (algorithmic trading and fraud detection), automotive, and telecommunications.

    On the government front, federal support is strong: the FY 2025 U.S. budget proposes hundreds of millions for foundational AI R&D via the NSF, AI talent initiatives, and the National AI Research Resource pilot. Additionally, in May 2024, Senate leaders called for at least USD 32 billion per year in non‑defense AI funding to maintain U.S. leadership. These commitments, combined with private-sector uptake, are accelerating TPU adoption nationwide.

    Grab a Complimentary Sample Report PDF @ https://analystviewmarketinsights.com/request_sample/AV3789

    Market Key Players- Detailed Competitive Insights

    • Amazon Web Services, Inc.
    • Google Inc.
    • Graphcore
    • IBM Corporation
    • Intel Corporation
    • Micron Technology
    • Microsoft Corporation
    • NVIDIA Corporation
    • Qualcomm Technologies
    • Xilinx Inc.
    • Others

    Why TPUs Are Gaining Momentum

    Unlike general-purpose CPUs and GPUs, TPUs are engineered specifically to handle large-scale matrix operations required in artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Their architecture is tailored to perform these operations with superior efficiency and lower energy consumption, making them a preferred choice for AI model training and inference. This specialized capability enables significantly faster processing of data, accelerating development cycles in AI and reducing infrastructure costs.

    With the AI industry poised to contribute over $14 trillion to the global economy by 2035, the demand for high-performance, scalable, and energy-efficient computing solutions like TPUs is accelerating. These processors are already widely adopted in data centers, cloud AI platforms, and AI research environments, acting as the backbone for high-speed machine learning tasks.

    Widespread Adoption Across Key Sectors

    The impact of TPUs extends across multiple industries:

    • Healthcare: Enhancing diagnostics, image recognition, and real-time patient data analysis.
    • Finance: Powering fraud detection systems, algorithmic trading platforms, and real-time risk analytics.
    • Automotive: Enabling autonomous driving systems through high-speed data processing.
    • Manufacturing & Logistics: Driving real-time automation and predictive analytics in smart factories.

    Cloud platforms like Google Cloud TPU, AWS Inferentia, and Microsoft Azure AI Infrastructure are offering TPUs as-a-service, allowing organizations to scale their AI capabilities without hefty hardware investments.

    Driving the Future of Edge Computing and IoT

    The role of TPUs is also expanding into edge computing and Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. These chips enable AI models to operate locally on edge devices, reducing data transmission delays and enhancing real-time decision-making. In smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and connected devices, TPUs are crucial for low-latency, high-efficiency AI operations at the network edge.

    As smart infrastructure and IoT ecosystems expand, TPUs will become even more integral in delivering real-time intelligence, particularly in mission-critical environments such as traffic management, remote diagnostics, and predictive maintenance.

    Competitive Strategies and Market Trends

    To remain competitive, key players in the TPU market are investing in:

    • Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with cloud providers and AI software developers to integrate TPUs seamlessly into broader ecosystems.
    • Product Innovation: Designing next-gen TPUs with enhanced performance for tasks like generative AI, large language models, and advanced analytics.
    • Vertical Integration: Major tech firms such as Google, Amazon, and Apple are increasingly bringing TPU development in-house to optimize cost, performance, and control over their AI stacks.

    A notable trend is the rise of custom TPU designs, where companies develop hardware specifically tailored to niche AI applications. Whether it’s accelerating natural language processing or optimizing vision models for robotics, these customized chips deliver precise performance gains.

    Market Outlook and Future Prospects

    With AI adoption accelerating across multiple industries, the demand for Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) is expected to grow exponentially. According to projections from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the global AI market could reach USD 190.6 billion by 2025, positioning TPUs as a foundational technology in this expansion.

    Designed for high-speed, energy-efficient processing of complex tensor operations, TPUs enable faster training and deployment of advanced AI models. As businesses increasingly adopt data-driven strategies, TPUs are powering applications across healthcare, finance, automotive, and telecommunications, improving efficiency, decision-making, and scalability. This unique capability ensures TPUs will remain integral to the next wave of AI innovation. 

    TABLE OF CONTENT:

    1. Tensor Processing Unit Market Overview
    1.1. Study Scope
    1.2. Market Estimation Years
    2. Executive Summary
    2.1. Market Snippet
    2.1.1. Tensor Processing Unit Market Snippet by Deployment
    2.1.2. Tensor Processing Unit Market Snippet by Application
    2.1.3. Tensor Processing Unit Market Snippet by End User
    2.1.4. Tensor Processing Unit Market Snippet by Country
    2.1.5. Tensor Processing Unit Market Snippet by Region
    2.2. Competitive Insights
    3. Tensor Processing Unit Key Market Trends
    3.1. Tensor Processing Unit Market Drivers
    3.1.1. Impact Analysis of Market Drivers
    3.2. Tensor Processing Unit Market Restraints
    3.2.1. Impact Analysis of Market Restraints
    3.3. Tensor Processing Unit Market Opportunities
    3.4. Tensor Processing Unit Market Future Trends
    4. Tensor Processing Unit Industry Study
    4.1. PEST Analysis
    4.2. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
    4.3. Growth Prospect Mapping
    4.4. Regulatory Framework Analysis
    5. Tensor Processing Unit Market: Impact of Escalating Geopolitical Tensions
    5.1. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic
    5.2. Impact of Russia-Ukraine War
    5.3. Impact of Middle East Conflicts
    6. Tensor Processing Unit Market Landscape
    6.1. Tensor Processing Unit Market Share Analysis, 2024
    6.2. Breakdown Data, by Key Manufacturer
    6.2.1. Established Players’ Analysis
    6.2.2. Emerging Players’ Analysis……

    Unlock insights into territorial performance, business segmentation, and player analysis.@ https://www.analystviewmarketinsights.com/reports/report-highlight-tensor-processing-unit-market

    Key Report Benefits:

    • In-depth analysis of top market players and strategic initiatives
    • Comprehensive regional outlook and growth hotspots
    • Insights into emerging TPU applications in cloud, edge, and industry-specific solutions
    • Future projections and competitive landscape assessments

    Browse more Reports from AnalystView Market Insights:

    Automotive Hinges Market

    Wire-to-Board Connector Market

    Medical Connectors Market

    In-Wheel Motor Market

    H2-ICE Market

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 21Shares Partners with Societe Generale to Expand Institutional Access to Crypto ETPs in Europe

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Societe Generale to act as market maker for 21Shares’ Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs on key German and Eastern Europe fund platforms, expanding institutional access to crypto

    Zurich, 23 July 2025 – 21Shares AG, one of the world’s leading issuers of cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs), is pleased to announce it has entered into an ETP market making fund platform agreement with Societe Generale, a leading institutional player in exchange traded products, to enhance liquidity across 21Shares ETPs on fund platforms for investors in Germany and Eastern Europe.

    As part of the agreement, Societe Generale will support the trading of 21Shares’ Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs (ABTC, CBTC, AETH, CETH) by providing over-the-counter liquidity on key fund platforms in Germany and Eastern Europe. These platforms, typically operated by major financial institutions, serve as critical infrastructure for institutional trading. By joining these platforms, where Societe Generale acts as a market maker, 21Shares’ flagship crypto products will now be accessible to a wider base of professional investors, expanding institutional reach across Germany and Eastern Europe.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Societe Generale, a major player in the European ETF space, as we continue to expand access to our ETPs,” said Alistair Byas-Perry, Global Head of Capital Markets & EMEA Investment at 21Shares. “By bringing liquidity to our Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs, Societe Generale is helping us advance our mission to deliver the most efficient and trusted crypto investment solutions to the market.”

    “Societe Generale is excited to partner with 21Shares, a leading provider of cryptocurrency ETPs, to support the trading of their Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs on fund platforms. This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing innovative liquidity solutions and enhancing access to a wide range of ETFs and ETPs for our clients,” said Martina Schroettle, Head of ETF Sales Trading UK at Societe Generale.

    The partnership is expected to enhance liquidity, execution quality, and ease of access for German and Eastern European institutional investors navigating the digital asset market.

    For more information on 21Shares’ full product suite, visit www.21shares.com.

    Notes to editors

    About 21Shares

    21Shares is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange traded product providers and offers the largest suite of crypto ETPs in the market. The company was founded to make cryptocurrency more accessible to investors, and to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. 21Shares listed the world’s first physically-backed crypto ETP in 2018, building a seven-year track record of creating crypto exchange-traded funds that are listed on some of the biggest, most liquid securities exchanges globally. Backed by a specialised research team, proprietary technology, and deep capital markets expertise, 21Shares delivers innovative, simple and cost-efficient investment solutions.

    21Shares is a member of 21.co, a global leader in decentralized finance. For more information, please visit www.21Shares.com.

    Media Contact
    Matteo Valli
    matteo.valli@21shares.com

    DISCLAIMER

    This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.

    This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.

    This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

    Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

    Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under www.21Shares.com.

    The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

    This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2024 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with BX Swiss AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2024 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).

    ###

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young people in care offered life skills by summer scheme

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    It will help 14 and 15 year olds develop essential independent living skills, covering a range of topics including healthy eating, food hygiene, cooking, budgeting, savvy shopping and homemaking.

    They will also be able to meet with Young Person’s Advisors and supported accommodation providers to learn more about what support is available to them as they get older.

    The programme will be delivered by the Wolverhampton House Project, a council backed initiative which helps to provide homes for care leavers.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “As young people in care approach adulthood, it’s important they feel prepared, informed, and empowered to take on greater independence.

    “This programme will help bridge the gap between care and adult life by providing hands on experiences in key life skills – at a pace that works for each individual.

    “Giving them practical skills will help them feel more prepared and self reliant, while understanding nutrition, hygiene, and personal care will promote better physical and emotional health.

    “Budgeting and shopping skills will help them to make informed, responsible financial choices, and meeting support providers and seeing real life examples of accommodation will give them a clearer picture of what lies ahead.

    “This programme is all about giving young people the tools and confidence to thrive as they move towards greater independence. It will be a positive, empowering experience that will set a strong foundation for the future.”

    The Wolverhampton House Project, a partnership between the council, The National House Project, Wolverhampton Homes and commercial partner Reconomy, was launched in 2019.

    Over the last 7 years, it has provided dozens of care leavers with an empty Wolverhampton Homes property which they are supported to refurbish and then move into. Through the process, they are able to develop the skills and confidence to build a life for themselves after leaving care.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: The SCO Media and Analytical Centers Summit will allow us to consider practices for countering challenges and build a model of information cooperation — head of the Belarus Segodnya publishing house

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Minsk, July 23 /Xinhua/ — The SCO Media and Analytical Centers Summit will allow us to consider practices for countering challenges and build a model of information cooperation. This was stated recently in an interview with a Xinhua correspondent by Dmitry Zhuk, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Belarus Segodnya Publishing House.

    Speaking about his expectations for the upcoming summit in the Chinese province of Henan, D. Zhuk noted that China’s thorough, substantive and comprehensively balanced approach to any undertaking ends in success. “Therefore, expectations for the upcoming key event are the most optimistic. I am confident that the summit will allow us to consider the best practices for countering various external challenges and build a new effective model of information cooperation in the international arena,” he said.

    The agency’s interlocutor pointed out that the media today are faced with incessant hybrid aggression from the increasingly anachronistic collective West, the growing apathy of the readership provoked by this aggression – its fakes, lies, emotional overheating. In his opinion, the emergence of artificial intelligence has also played a role: new technologies, generated fakes, are already being tested on us.

    “And therefore, the exchange and cooperation of media within the SCO is a serious and very effective tool for countering such trends. This is the formation of the “Shanghai spirit” in the media environment, if you will. With the principles of mutual respect, recognition of the diversity of cultures and civilizations in the modern world, respect for the independent choice of each nation of its social system and development model. And most importantly – with the desire for joint prosperity, not confrontation,” the expert explained.

    Assessing the role of the SCO in the modern world, the editor-in-chief noted that the organization is in many ways fundamental and influences the further development of global politics and economic cooperation.

    The SCO has enormous potential and is very consistent: it initially stated that the world order in the 21st century should be based on mechanisms for collective resolution of key problems, the rule of law, and the democratization of international relations,” added D. Zhuk.

    In 2024, Belarus officially became a member of the SCO. D. Zhuk quoted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who emphasized at a meeting with SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev on January 27, 2025: “We will work in every possible way to ensure that the Organization not only develops, but also strengthens. This is very important for us. We see the SCO as an organization that in the future will definitely be a serious center of attraction, one might say, a center of power.”

    According to D. Zhuk, the “Shanghai spirit” in the modern world is in many ways the quintessence of rational development of humanity. “The Shanghai spirit” of equality regardless of the size of the territory, level of well-being and state power, respect for the position of each state is an example to the whole world of how to implement the development of countries in national interests,” explained D. Zhuk.

    He also noted that Belarus has consistently implemented exactly these principles and norms throughout its years of independence. “Therefore, the country not only has every right to count on a comfortable stay in the SCO, but is also capable of further strengthening its quality component, influence and effectiveness,” the agency’s interlocutor noted.

    In his opinion, China played a comprehensive role during its presidency of the SCO. “It should be noted that throughout the SCO’s existence, China has consistently put forward extremely important initiatives in the areas of security, politics, economics, and the humanitarian dimension. Figuratively speaking, China has not only cut the SCO diamond, but also constantly makes it sparkle with new facets. And it is very gratifying that Belarus intends to contribute to this,” D. Zhuk emphasized. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Parks, squares, boulevards: more than 80 popular places will be improved in the capital this year

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The specialists of the city economy complex will improve more than 80 popular places in different areas of the capital. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.

    “This year, work is planned to improve 83 iconic sites, these are parks, squares, boulevards, plazas and public spaces located near points of attraction – metro stations, shopping centers, medical institutions, schools and kindergartens. The bulk of the work will take place outside the central part of the city, because the main task is to create comfortable conditions for each resident,” noted Petr Biryukov.

    Thus, the public space near the Ivanovskie ponds in the Ivanovskoye district, the area around the Church of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy in Severnoye Butovo, the Central Park in Vnukovo, the Pionersky Park in Fili-Davydkovo, and the Dubrava Park in Kurkino will be improved.

    In addition, it is planned to renovate part of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow Park in the southeast of the city, as well as the area near the Izyutinsky Pond, Simferopolsky and Chernomorsky Boulevards in the Southern Administrative District.

    Specialists will repair pedestrian paths, plant lawns and flower beds, equip sports and children’s playgrounds, and arrange places for quiet recreation. As a result, this fall, millions of Muscovites will receive modern, comfortable spaces near their homes, workplaces, and schools.

    Uniform standards for improvement have been developed for all objects – from courtyards, parks, squares to the territories of educational and health care institutions. This allows each resident to have the necessary infrastructure for sports, leisure with children and recreation in green areas within walking distance.

    Improvement of the Vinogradovo estate in north-east Moscow has begunMore than 700 streets in Moscow will be improved by the end of the year

    Improvement of popular places in the capital corresponds to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Moscow — Kind City grant school begins training for socially oriented NGOs

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On August 1, the Moscow — Kind City grant school will open free training for teams of socially oriented non-profit organizations (NPOs). During the classes, participants will learn how to write effective applications for the Moscow — Kind City grant competition of the capital Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, how to plan a budget, promote your product and build the right communication strategy with the city.

    Classes will begin on August 1 and will run until September 11. The detailed program is available atwebsite. A separate registration is required to participate. registration for each block of the program.

    The training will include seven modules and will be held in two formats at once – in-person and online. During the first lesson, experts and specialists of the competition will meet the participants and tell them about the upcoming program. In addition, there will be a master class on social design, during which students will learn how to build a project architecture and correctly set goals, and will also analyze the main mistakes when writing applications for the competition.

    In the following classes, participants will learn how to correctly assess the prospects of a project’s impact on society and assemble a proactive team. They will learn how to plan and seek funding for the implementation of their initiatives, as well as attract media support. Specialists will show how to correctly fill out an application for participation in a competition in the information system and answer the most frequently asked questions.

    Speakers include experienced representatives of the non-profit sector and communications professionals, as well as competition experts.

    The organizers emphasize that the grant school “Moscow – a kind city” is a modern educational space, training in it is aimed at the formation of relevant social projects and the exchange of experience between key representatives of the non-profit sector and start-up organizations in this area. To improve the efficiency and comprehensiveness of training, not only managers are invited to the school, but also the entire project team – program managers, financial managers, PR specialists, grant writers and fundraisers. The curriculum is improved and updated every year to meet the demands of the time and new challenges.

    Program “Moscow is a kind city” has been implemented in the capital since 2019. This is an effective model of partnership between the city and the charitable sector to provide targeted assistance to each person. One of its key projects is a grant competition for socially oriented NPOs. Over six years, 648 projects of non-profit organizations have become winners, between which 2.4 billion rubles were distributed.

    The city’s property support enables charitable organizations to increase the availability of services for Muscovites. The capital has provided the non-profit sector with 53 equipped spaces with a total area of over 13,000 square meters free of charge. In them, charitable organizations and foundations can work without worrying about finding an office and funds to pay rent.

    As Sergei Sobyanin noted indevelopment strategies for the social protection system of Moscow until 2030, the synergy between the work of city services and NGOs allows us to provide support to the maximum number of residents in need.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: CoinShares Asset Management Becomes First Continental European Regulated Asset Manager to Receive MiCA Authorisation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    First major European asset manager to combine MiCA, MiFID, and AIFM authorisations – creating new investment possibilities across €33 trillion European asset management market

    23 July 2025 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey | CoinShares International Limited (“CoinShares” or “the Group”) (Nasdaq Stockholm: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF), the European leading investment company specialising in digital assets with over $9 billion in assets under management, today announced its French subsidiary, CoinShares Asset Management, has received authorisation under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation, making it the first continental European regulated asset management company to achieve this milestone.

    This authorisation positions CoinShares as the only asset management firm in continental Europe to hold a rare triple regulatory license combination, enabling comprehensive investment services across all asset classes throughout the European Union:

    • AIFM License – Alternative Investment Fund Management and delegated UCITS management
    • MiFID License – Portfolio management and investment advice on traditional financial instruments
    • MiCA Authorisation – Portfolio management and advice on crypto-assets

    Setting New Standards for Professional Crypto Asset Management

    The MiCA authorisation enables CoinShares to provide institutional-grade portfolio management services across all asset classes and investment vehicle types throughout the EU, with operations currently passported in France, Germany, Cyprus, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, and the Netherlands, with possibility to extend across all EU member states.

    This regulatory achievement directly addresses a critical gap in the European crypto investment landscape, where many platforms present themselves as asset managers without the proper licensing, organisational structure, or necessary separation of duties between custody, administration, execution, and portfolio management functions.

    Jean-Marie Mognetti, Co-Founder and CEO of CoinShares commented: “Receiving MiCA authorisation from the AMF is a pivotal milestone, not just for CoinShares, but for the entire European digital asset industry. For too long, asset managers operating in crypto have been confined to partial or improvised regulatory frameworks. With MiCA, we now have a clear, harmonised structure across the EU, and CoinShares is proud to be the first in continental Europe to meet that standard as a fully regulated asset manager.

    This authorisation sends a strong signal: crypto is here to stay and it belongs within a professional, transparent, and investor-centric regulatory environment. CoinShares has always believed that innovation and regulation can go hand in hand. As a publicly listed company, our commitment to governance, accountability, and excellence is now matched by a regulatory foundation that enables us to serve our clients across all asset classes, from traditional to digital.”

    Unique Market Position

    The comprehensive regulatory framework positions the Group as the only firm in continental Europe capable of:

    • Providing genuine professional active management services across both traditional and digital assets
    • Offering services through clients’ preferred platforms with proper segregation of custody and management duties
    • Delivering institutional-grade portfolio management with EU regulatory oversight
    • Serving as a regulated counterparty for institutional investors requiring compliance with fiduciary standards

    About CoinShares

    CoinShares is a leading global digital asset manager that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment management, trading, and securities to a wide array of clients that include corporations, financial institutions, and individuals. Founded in 2013, the firm is headquartered in Jersey, with offices in France, Stockholm, the UK, and the US. CoinShares is regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, in France by the Autorité des marchés financiers, and in the US by the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Futures Association and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.

    For more information on CoinShares, please visit: https://coinshares.com
    Company | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com
    Investor Relations | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com

    Press Contact

    CoinShares
    Benoît Pellevoizin
    bpellevoizin@coinshares.com

    M Group Strategic Communications
    Peter Padovano
    coinshares@mgroupsc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ20: Nurturing environmental, social and governance talents

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ20: Nurturing environmental, social and governance talents 
    Question:
     
         In recent years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) has become a core strategy for global development, and Hong Kong has also been actively promoting Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 (Plan) and the development of green and sustainable finance. It has been reported that according to a study, only 27 per cent of the secondary schools in Hong Kong have included references to matters relating to sustainable development, climate and biodiversity in their school development plans, reflecting that there are still inadequacies in the nurturing of ESG talents and civic awareness in Hong Kong. According to the Report on 2023 Manpower Projection, the Labour and Welfare Bureau has also envisaged that ESG will be deemed essential knowledge in the future employment market. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as it is stated in the Plan that the authorities will broaden school teachers’ knowledge about climate change, and that schools may strengthen the relevant learning materials in different subjects, but the findings of the aforesaid study have revealed that such efforts seem to have failed to achieve the intended results, whether the authorities have assessed the effectiveness of schools’ education on climate change and biodiversity, etc;
     
    (2) whether the authorities have considered further strengthening education on ESG (e.g. climate actions and social responsibilities) in secondary schools, and formulating interdisciplinary teaching guidelines; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (3) as the Plan has mentioned the need to incorporate learning materials relating to climate change, low-carbon technologies and green finance, etc, into the curricula in tertiary institutions, whether the authorities have assessed if the relevant curricula in the institutions can satisfy the need to train ESG talents; how to ensure that students are equipped with ESG literacy to meet the needs of the future job market, thereby facilitating the development of Hong Kong into a regional green finance centre; and
     
    (4) regarding the workforce in the local employment market at present, whether the authorities have plans to promote the popularisation of ESG education, thereby assisting members of the public in enhancing their ESG knowledge to address the needs of the future employment market; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Regarding the question raised by the Hon Chan Siu-hung, the consolidated reply, after consulting the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau, and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, is as follows:
     
    (1) and (2) The Education Bureau (EDB) attaches great importance to promoting education for sustainable development (ESD). It has been encouraging schools to adopt a “multi-pronged and co-ordinated” approach to enhance students’ understanding of sustainable development (SD) and encourage them to practise green living through different subjects, cross-curricular learning and life-wide learning activities. The relevant learning elements, which include climate action, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, energy saving and waste reduction, making good use of resources and corporate social responsibilities, have been incorporated in the curriculum guides of various subjects, such as Primary Humanities and Primary Science at the primary level, and Geography, Science, Biology, Business, Accounting and Financial Studies, Citizenship and Social Development as well as some Applied Learning courses at the secondary level.
     
         ESD is an important component of values education across different subjects in primary and secondary school education. The Values Education Curriculum Framework (Pilot Version) lists “actively practising green living as well as encouraging and supporting joint efforts from people around” and “possessing a global perspective as well as being concerned about global environmental issues and the challenges in attaining sustainable development” as the expected learning outcomes, encouraging students to take responsibility for environmental conservation and nurturing in them proper values and attitudes, such as respecting, be thankful to and caring about nature.
     
         To support teachers in implementing ESD, the EDB has organised various teacher professional development programmes. Field studies and seminars have been conducted to deepen teachers’ understanding of ESD and related topics as well as enhance their teaching capacity. Since the 2020/21 school year, the EDB has conducted nearly 200 relevant training activities with the number of teacher participation exceeding 12 300. The EDB has also collaborated with Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 3 to produce the “Savvy Earth Savers” segment featured in the English learning programme “In the Common Room”. The segment explores environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and provides teachers with English learning and teaching resources for promoting ESD.
     
         The EDB has also organised diversified student activities, such as slogan and poster design competitions, drawing and photo-taking competitions and picture book creation competitions, to help students understand the rationale and importance of sustainable development as well as enrich their learning experiences. To further promote ESD, the EDB launched the “Achieving Carbon Neutrality Student Ambassador Training Scheme 2024/25” for the first time in this school year. Through the collaborative efforts with different government departments, green groups and the business sector in organising diversified experiential learning activities, such as bank visit, coral conservation field trips and green building tours, the EDB aims to deepen students’ understanding of green finance and intelligent green buildings and the importance of marine biodiversity. Building on the first year’s experience with the ambassador scheme, the EDB will continue to collaborate with different stakeholders to provide students with more learning opportunities to further increase their understanding of the efforts of the Government and various sectors of society in achieving the target of carbon neutrality in Hong Kong.
     
         Under school-based management, when formulating the School Development Plan (SDP), schools have to set out a clear direction for development and focused priority tasks, which should be in line with the school’s vision and mission, the latest education development, as well as the school context. Schools have been promoting ESD for years with good progress, and have generally taken forward relevant work as the routine ones. If there are new development focuses, strategies or measures, they will be included in the SDP as appropriate.
     
         Besides, the relevant bureaux and departments have also been actively implementing various education and publicity programmes to enhance students’ understanding of SD, including:

    (i) The Environment and Ecology Bureau has organised a range of seminars, workshops, field trips and interactive dramas, etc, on various topics through the Sustainable Development School Outreach Programme (Outreach Programme) and the Sustainable Development School Award Programme, so as to promote the concept and practice of SD among secondary students, and at the same time recognise the efforts of schools and students in promoting SD in the community. In the 2024/25 school year, under the theme of Food Waste Reduction and Recycling, the Outreach Programme attracted the participation of 231 schools, encompassing about 82 000 teachers and students. 
         In 2024, the EPD also launched the “We-recycle@School” Activity (the Scheme). Through providing a variety of teaching materials, support and teacher training to primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, the Scheme assists schools and teachers in integrating waste reduction and recycling knowledge into daily teaching, encourage students to make good use of recycling facilities in schools and the community, and motivate their family members to practise resource separation and recycling together. Since its launch, the Scheme has received an overwhelming response, with the participation of about 350 000 students from around 550 primary and secondary schools. In addition, from January to May 2025, the EPD organised in collaboration with GREEN@COMMUNITY operators over 460 publicity activities on waste reduction and recycling involving or co-hosted by schools, thereby raising environmental awareness among students.
     
    (iii) The Drainage Services Department (DSD) has been supporting schools in promoting environmental protection education through organising guided tours at sewage treatment facilities. For instance, students can learn about the sewage treatment process, energy efficiency design and the measures in combating climate change through visits to the DSD’s facilities such as the Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works and the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works.
     
    (3) The EDB has all along supported post-secondary institutions offering post-secondary programmes that meet the social and economic needs of Hong Kong, having regard to different policy bureaux’ and departments’ recommendations on manpower needs. In response to the ever-changing social needs for sustainable development, the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities have offered various funded programmes relevant to “Environment, Society and Governance” in recent years, to nurture students to become talents in sustainable development and green finance. In the 2024/25 academic year, there are about 40 programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The EDB and the UGC will continue to encourage universities to nurture talents for growth, transformation and future challenges, and meet Hong Kong’s future development’s talent needs. Self-financing institutions also have the flexibility to develop programmes that meet market needs, and adjust the curricula and intake places of relevant programmes, in response to the ever-changing manpower needs of different sectors of society, and provide diversified articulation pathways.
     
    (4) Bureaux and departments take forward sector-specific talent training programmes in response to the latest industry development and manpower situation to enrich the local human resources. 
     
         The Government launched in 2022 the Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme (Pilot Scheme) for application by local eligible market practitioners and related professionals as well as students and graduates of relevant disciplines. There are currently 94 eligible programmes and qualifications, including green and sustainable finance programmes and qualifications related to banking services, asset management, insurance industry, etc. These are provided by the professional and continuing education schools of local universities, professional institutions, international training providers, etc, and the list will continue to be updated. As of May 2025, over 7 200 reimbursement applications were approved, involving a total reimbursement amount of over $40 million. To continuously support local green finance talent training, we will extend the Pilot Scheme to 2028.
     
         Besides, the Green and Sustainable Finance Cross-Agency Steering Group (Steering Group) formed by relevant Government Bureaux, financial regulators and the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited launched in October 2022 the Sustainable Finance Internship Initiative to create more relevant local internship opportunities for students. Members of the Steering Group also regularly offer training seminars and forums, at which representatives from financial regulators as well as experts from the academia and industry are invited to share insights to deepen university students and industry’s understanding of sustainable finance. 
     
         The EPD has all along been supporting the continuous development of environmental professions in Hong Kong, so that the standards and credibility of environment-related services and industries can be enhanced through professionalisation. The EPD is exploring collaboration with the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals to provide ESG-related training, with a view to addressing the rapid development and growing demand for talents in the ESG field. Besides, relevant courses are offered by course providers under the Continuing Education Fund in response to market development and needs, which are currently mainly provided by higher education institutions, and the Employees Retraining Board also provides relevant courses.
    Issued at HKT 14:25

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New Energy for Xinjiang’s Summer Economy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Football, kok-boru competitions… in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the integration of original sports events and cultural tourism has not only fueled tourists’ interest in sports, but also promoted the development of industries such as catering and agricultural production, bringing “summer energy” to Xinjiang’s economy.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Time to ditch splitting the bill? Shouting a close friend could actually make you happier

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aimee E. Smith, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Net Zero Observatory, The University of Queensland

    Jose Calsina/Shutterstock

    When an outing calls for upfront payment, such as admission to the cinema, a play or a theme park, the question of who covers it can shape the tone before the fun even begins.

    Navigating payment with others – whether colleagues, close friends or new acquaintances – can be tricky and interrupt the social dynamic that makes shared experiences so valuable.

    Our new research, published in Psychology and Marketing, suggests the way you approach splitting upfront costs could have some surprising impacts.

    In some cases, despite the dent in your bank account, covering the full cost of an experience for yourself and someone else could actually make you happier.

    But this won’t always be the case. And it likely comes down to the different norms and expectations we have for different kinds of relationships.

    The experience economy

    When times are tough financially, psychology suggests people would prefer to spend their money on material goods rather than experiences.

    Yet despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, there’s evidence to suggest many Australians are prioritising experiences.

    Experiences are often shared with other people.
    Tsuguliev/Shutterstock

    Experiences are not just services, but rather about creating memorable events. Compared with material goods, experiences are consistently linked to improved happiness.

    A big part of the benefit we derive from such experiences hinges on the fact that we share them with other people. Putting money towards experiences lets us spend time with other people and relate to them in ways just buying “stuff” often can’t match.

    So much so, that factors like who we go with, the quality of conversations an experience leads to, or the clarity we have about the other person’s interests can have as much of an effect on happiness as the experience content itself.

    In shared experiences, where money is unavoidable, how does “who pays” affect their well-being benefits? This is the question we posed in our latest research, coauthored with Belinda Barton and Natalina Zlatevska.

    Going to the movies

    We conducted three experiments with 2,640 people and presented them with a common scenario: they would be going to the cinema with either their best friend or a casual acquaintance.

    We told half of the participants they would split the cost (that is, pay only for their own admission). The other half were told they would cover the whole cost for both themselves and the other person. We then asked them how happy they would be with this purchase.

    Across the three studies, when participants were with their best friend, they reported they would be happier paying the full amount than they would be splitting the cost. In contrast, when participants were with an acquaintance, we found that how the cost was split had no effect on happiness.

    Could paying for someone else’s ticket actually make you happier?
    andresr/Getty

    The ‘close friends’ effect

    With closer friends, unlike acquaintances and strangers, we often have a different set of norms and expectations – especially surrounding reciprocity.

    Interactions with close friends usually follow “communal norms”. This is where people help each other based on care and need, without expecting something in return.

    On the other hand, interactions with strangers and acquaintances are more likely to follow “exchange norms”, which prioritise balance and direct repayment.

    In line with this, we found when participants were with their best friends, their expectations of repayment were lower than with acquaintances when they paid for them. Where participants had higher expectations of repayment, they noted they would be less happy.

    Other possibilities

    We also tested other ideas, such as whether who pays would affect how smooth the conversation felt or whether it created awkwardness in the dynamic.

    We also examined whether the payment felt like an investment in the relationship, or whether it made the other person think more positively of the participant.

    We found that none of these really changed depending on who paid and how close the two people were, so they didn’t seem to explain why paying for a close friend felt better.

    Instead, norms around reciprocity in different types of relationships can make paying feel more transactional than a kind gesture. This, in turn, affects how happy it makes us feel.

    So, should I spend all my money on my friends?

    While our research suggests paying for others can make you happier, we don’t recommend budgeting your life savings for this cause.

    We limited our experiments to inexpensive experiences (that is, the cinema). So, it’s unlikely paying for your friend’s 2026 Europe trip will bring you ultimate happiness.

    Also, if your friend already owes you money, you might expect them to pay you back sooner, and footing the bill again could start to wear thin on your happiness.

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

    – ref. Time to ditch splitting the bill? Shouting a close friend could actually make you happier – https://theconversation.com/time-to-ditch-splitting-the-bill-shouting-a-close-friend-could-actually-make-you-happier-261557

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –