NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI: No. 8/2025 – Next phase of the Moje Bielany residential development – zoning decision obtained

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nasdaq Copenhagen                                                                                   
    Nikolaj Plads 6
    DK-1067 Copenhagen K   

    Copenhagen, 21 March 2025
    ANNOUNCEMENT no. 8/2025

    Next phase of the Moje Bielany residential development – zoning decision obtained

    CeMat A/S has taken another step towards fulfilling its 2025-2027 strategy by obtaining a binding individual zoning decision for a residential development on a 4,797 sqm plot. This plot is part of a larger 13,303 sqm site, located in the Bielany district of Warsaw, Poland as of 24 March 2025, 13,402 sqm (8.4%) of the total 159,300 sqm land area in the Bielany district has been successfully re-zoned.

    According to the new zoning decision and initial analyses, the site has the potential to accommodate between 119-128 residential units, with a total usable area ranging from 5,900 to 6,400 sqm. The final figures will be confirmed in the building permit process. This zoning decision marks the commencement of the next phase of the Moje Bielany project.

    Pre-development activities, building permits, the pre-sale process, and bank financing are required to commence construction. Construction is expected to begin in mid-2026.

    Following the zoning approval, CeMat has reassessed the fair value of the re-zoned part of the plot. Based on a Cushman & Wakefield report, the re-zoned property has an “as is” fair value of PLN 13.07 million (2024 report: PLN 2.99 million), or approximately DKK 23.26 million (2024 report: DKK 5.24 million).

    As a result of this increase in property value, an additional DKK 18 million will be recognized in the company’s financial results for the year 2025.

    Progress on the Moje Bielany project

    In the first phase of the Moje Bielany project, CeMat successfully sold 79% of the flats, achieving an expected development margin in the range of 21-22%.

    Cemat A/S

    Frede Clausen
    Chairman of the Board

    This announcement has been prepared in a Danish-language and an English-language version. In case of doubt, the Danish version prevails.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE demonstrates its impact in mitigating virtual asset risks

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE demonstrates its impact in mitigating virtual asset risks

    Vera Strobachova-Budway, Head of OCEEA’s Economic Governance Unit, presenting at an event in Riga, Latvia, 20 March 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) shared its experience in tackling the multifaceted challenges posed by virtual assets during an event organized by the British Embassy and the Serious and Organised Crime Network in Riga, Latvia, on 20 March.
    Participants discussed a wide range of virtual asset and cryptocurrency topics including digital asset seizure and confiscation, the 2025 Crypto Crime Report, and responses to virtual assets abuse. OCEEA presented the impact of its extra-budgetary project “Innovative policy solutions to mitigate money laundering risks of virtual assets” to an audience of practitioners, experts and policymakers from several OSCE participating States.
    “There are three main takeaways from the OSCE’s work on virtual assets”, said Vera Strobachova-Budway, Head of OCEEA’s Economic Governance Unit, in her closing remarks. “First, international co-operation is a must — what we do in one country will have an impact on another; second, we need to learn from each other; and third, awareness raising and education on the risks and benefits of virtual assets is key.”
    The OCEEA extra-budgetary project on virtual assets is financially supported by Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CHINA – New church in Yiwu named after Saint Joseph: Home to the world’s largest wholesale market

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    by Marta ZhaoBeijing (Agenzia Fides) – The new church, recently inaugurated in Yiwu, in the diocese of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, is named after Saint Joseph, Patron Saint of missions in China. And the mission entrusted to the local parish is unique, considering the location of the new parish. Indeed, Yiwu is home to the world’s largest wholesale market for small goods. It is also the starting point for many of the devotional objects sold in churches, parishes, and religious shops around the world, including those around the Vatican. Chinese merchants and businessmen from all over the world can now also visit the new church to pray, receive the sacraments, or perhaps experience the Christian proclamation for the first time. The new church was consecrated by Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang of Hangzhou on March 18, the eve of St. Joseph’s Day. The following day, the Feast of the Spouse of the Virgin Mary, the bishop administered the sacrament of Confirmation to approximately 40 adults of the new parish. More than 2,000 faithful participated in the ordination liturgy, celebrated by 23 priests from Hangzhou, the Diocese of Wenzhou, and Ningbo, together with the bishop.Retracing the parish’s history, Bishop Joseph Yang recalled that “the church is a home, a place of love and affection,” and thanked St. Joseph, who intercedes for the local Church as Patron of the mission in China. The city of Yiwu is located 300 kilometers from Shanghai. According to local statistics, there are more than 1,000 Catholics and nearly 20,000 Christians of other denominations. In addition, baptized businessmen, both from China and abroad, come to the city to work.Until 2001, there was no Catholic place of worship in this international hub. With the region’s economic growth, Chinese and foreign Catholics who do business, run factories, study, and work in Yiwu began to gather for prayer in private homes. In 2007, 500 Catholics gathered to celebrate Christmas together. On June 14, 2008, a Catholic church was opened in Yiwu that could accommodate approximately 200 people. Gradually, a faithful and vibrant community has emerged in this center of global trade, welcoming those who come from far away to work in the city. The diocese has sent three priests to oversee the pastoral care of the local community, which can now also count on the new St. Joseph’s Church to fulfill its mission of proclaiming the Gospel to the merchants at the Yiwu wholesale market.Masses are already being celebrated in Chinese, English, and Korean in the new church. Yiwu is a county-level city in Zhejiang Province and belongs to the Diocese of Hangzhou. In 2005, the United Nations, the World Bank, Morgan Stanley, and other international financial agencies jointly published the report “Shocking the World of China’s Numbers,” which described the Yiwu market as “the world’s largest wholesale market for small goods.” (Agenzia Fides, 21/3/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man sentenced for sexual abusing children

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been jailed for more than 11 years for sexual abusing two children.

    Jamal Armstrong, 35 (30.12.89) of no fixed address, was sentenced to 11 years and nine months’ imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, 21 March.

    He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order against the victims.

    Armstrong admitted two counts of sexual assault by penetration on a female under 13 and four counts of sexual assault on a female under 13 when he appeared before Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, 17 December 2024.

    The offences took place at an address in Greenwich between November 2023 and August 2024.

    The two victims, who were aged 12 at the time of the offences, were known to Armstrong. They came forward and reported the crimes to police in August 2024 and an investigation was swiftly launched by the Met’s Public Protection South East team.

    Armstrong was arrested by officers on Tuesday, 14 August 2024 while he was attempting to leave the country. He was later charged.

    Over four months, officers compiled numerous witness statements and a body of evidence, which ultimately led to a guilty plea.

    Specialist officers supported the victims throughout the investigation.

    Detective Constable Callum Boast, of the Met’s Public Protection South East team, said: “I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the victims in this case, who have been extremely courageous in coming forward to police and recounting the trauma of abuse they suffered because of Armstrong.

    “Armstrong is a dangerous individual who has carried out horrific crimes to two girls known to him. He will now serve a substantial amount of time behind bars for his despicable behaviour.

    “It cannot be underestimated the impact, both physical and mental, such sustained abuse will have had and I hope today’s sentence will give some sense of closure and peace to the victims and their loved ones.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From hempseed gruel to CBD: the curious history of cannabis as health product

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lauren Alex O’Hagan, Research Fellow, School of Languages and Applied Linguistics, The Open University

    H_Ko/Shutterstock

    The cannabis-derived product CBD has been hailed “the wonder drug of our age”, offering potential health benefits without the high. From juices and coffee to truffles and ice cream, CBD products have flooded the market for consumers looking for an answer to health problems from anxiety to insomnia.

    But with CBD products in the UK and EU falling under “novel foods” regulations rather than pharmaceutical standards, they aren’t subjected to the same rigorous safety and quality controls as drugs. The UK’s Committee on Toxicology has even flagged potential health risks, such as liver injury, leading the Food Standards Agency to issue safety guidance.

    The regulatory gaps and health concerns of today reflect those of the 19th century when cannabis products were commercialised by the food industry.

    In the 1830s, William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, an Irish doctor, discovered that cannabis was effective in treating muscle spasms and stomach cramps. French psychiatrist Jacques-Joseph Moreau later explored its potential for mental illness. This led many 19th-century doctors to champion cannabis as a cure-all.

    It wasn’t long before patent medicine manufacturers began using cannabis as a common ingredient in their formulas. But soon, cannabis wasn’t just in pharmacies – it was in food.

    Surprisingly, this shift was not driven by the food industry, but by the free church environment in Sweden as part of efforts to combat tuberculosis – a leading cause of death across all social classes in the country at the time.

    Paul Petter Waldenström, leader of the Swedish Mission Covenant, wrote a letter to Svenska Morgonbladet about a woman reportedly cured of tuberculosis by a homebrewed gruel made with hempseed, rye flour and milk. His endorsement helped popularise the remedy and many started making their own “Waldenström gruel”, as it became known.

    Sensing a business opportunity, entrepreneur J. Barthelson developed a powdered commercial version with the elegant French name Extrait Cannabis. He marketed it as a dietary remedy for tuberculosis, chest diseases and low energy. As demand grew, competitors quickly jumped on the bandwagon, using fearmongering tactics to persuade consumers that they were putting their lives at risk without it.

    The rise and fall of Maltos-Cannabis

    The most striking cannabis-infused product of the era came from the Red Cross Technical Factory. Their “health drink”, Maltos-Cannabis, was a maltose and cannabis blend marketed as both nutritious and delicious, especially when mixed with cocoa.

    With an aggressive advertising campaign, the company raked in nearly SEK 290,000 a year (around £775,000 in modern money), opening factories in Chicago, Helsinki, Brussels and Utrecht.

    A particularly dramatic advertisement depicted the Grim Reaper fleeing from the light of science, shining from a lighthouse. Meanwhile, a mother and daughter raised their arms triumphantly, symbolising victory over death thanks to Maltos-Cannabis. The tagline boldly claimed that the product had “a big future”.

    Maltos-Cannabis advertisement, Hälsovännen, 1 February 1894.
    Wikimedia Commons

    However, questions swirled about its legitimacy. Newspapers debated whether the product was a groundbreaking remedy or “a pure scam product”. While some critics called the craze an “epidemic”, others argued coffee was more harmful – a hot topic in Sweden’s parliament at the time.

    In response, Red Cross published a half-page rebuttal signed by its executives, defending the product’s credibility. But scepticism persisted. After various lawsuits and growing concerns over its effectiveness and safety, sales of Maltos-Cannabis began to decline. By the 1930s, the product had disappeared entirely.

    History repeats itself?

    The 19th-century commercial cannabis market was able to thrive due to the absence of marketing regulations for both food and pharmaceutical products. Manufacturers freely advertised their products using pseudo-scientific claims and buzzword-heavy marketing – strategies we’re seeing again today in the thriving CBD industry.

    This is because CBD is a “borderline” product, existing in a regulatory grey area that allows for marketing strategies to flourish without stringent oversight. Much like in the past, brands tap into consumers’ health anxieties with promises of a wellness revolution. Most worryingly, social media influencers are being used to endorse CBD, making it particularly appealing for younger audiences.

    With the global CBD market valued at US$19 billion in 2023 and projected to grow by 16% annually until 2030, looking back at the broader, problematic history of commercial cannabis should serve as a cautionary tale.

    Lauren Alex O’Hagan 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. From hempseed gruel to CBD: the curious history of cannabis as health product – https://theconversation.com/from-hempseed-gruel-to-cbd-the-curious-history-of-cannabis-as-health-product-251967

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Chinese anger at sale of Panama Canal ports to US investor highlights tensions between the two superpowers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Maria Ryan, Associate Professor in US History, University of Nottingham

    When Hong Kong-listed conglomerate CK Hutchison announced it was selling its two port concessions on the Panama Canal to a US consortium led by New York-based giant BlackRock, the Chinese government issued a strongly worded rebuke.

    Through government-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao, Beijing accused the US of forcing the deal “through despicable means”, and claimed that if this was completed: “The United States will definitely use it for political purposes … China’s shipping and trade there will inevitably be subject to the United States.”

    CK Hutchison’s decision to sell its ports, which it has operated since 1997, to a US-led buyer came after the US president, Donald Trump, criticised Chinese influence over this strategically vital waterway. In his inaugural address, Trump claimed, falsely, that “China is operating the Panama Canal” and vowed “we’re taking it back”. In fact, data shows that the majority of traffic through the canal goes to or from the US.

    This has stoked fears in Beijing that US companies operating ports on the canal will do Washington’s bidding and potentially seek to restrict China’s access. Beijing’s angry response indicates the rivalry between the two great powers is deep and ongoing.

    While it is likely that this rivalry will continue to intensify under Trump, the president is unpredictable. Indeed, he sees unpredictability as a virtue – a way to keep advisers and foreign leaders on their toes.

    When asked last year whether he would support Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, Trump gave his own twist on the longstanding US policy of “strategic ambiguity”, saying: “I don’t want to reveal my cards … I wouldn’t want to give away any negotiating abilities by giving information like that to any reporter.”

    This means there are multiple plausible outcomes for the US-China relationship in the second Trump administration.

    On the one hand, there is a very strong, bipartisan consensus in Washington that China poses a systemic, generational challenge to American power. Whereas Russia is viewed as a disruptor, China is a potential peer competitor that could build a new international order based on Beijing’s preferences and interests.

    Since Trump’s first term in office, the US has been aggressively waging a “tech war” on China to limit its technological and military development, by cutting off access to high-end semiconductors designed by US companies.

    This was intensified in the Biden years with new sanctions on Chinese tech companies, and the passage of the Chips and Science Act, designed to encourage the return of semiconductor manufacturing to the US. Defensive weapons sales to Taiwan had already been increased in Trump’s first term – and remained at high levels under Joe Biden.

    What Biden called “extreme competition” with China has become the main organising principle of US foreign policy. While Republican lawmakers have, so far, been willing to go along with Trump’s diplomacy when it comes to Russia, there is likely to be less tolerance of a similar approach to China.

    Unlike other US presidents, Trump does not seem to believe that alliances extend American power in the world – although he does still want the US to be the undisputed number one. In his second inaugural address, he vowed to “build the strongest military the world has ever seen”.

    Trump sees China as an economic adversary, one of the reasons for imposing punitive tariffs of 20% on all incoming goods. China has retaliated with tariffs of its own and and has proposed more restrictions on exports of rare earth minerals. These are vital components of semiconductors, electric batteries and many weapons – and the global market is dominated by China.

    Policy shift?

    The US State Department recently signalled a possible shift in policy towards Taiwan, removing the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” from its fact sheet on Taiwan in February. This irritated Beijing, which sees the island as an integral part of China.

    This subtle move away from the US’s longstanding “One China” policy – along with the tariffs and Trump’s hostility to alleged Chinese influence over the Panama Canal – suggests the continuation of a hostile, competitive approach to China.

    That said, as Trump’s recent diplomacy with Russia and his comments about absorbing Greenland showed, he is not afraid to upend the established norms of US foreign policy. He enjoys provoking the “globalist” foreign policy establishment. He lauds his own deal-making abilities, and would not want to fight a war with China over Taiwan.

    Trump is attracted to “strongman” leaders and claims to have “a great relationship with President Xi”. He achieves his goals by taking maximalist positions (for example, the punitive tariffs) which he uses to extract concessions. At a recent press conference, Trump stated: “I see so many things saying we don’t want China in this country. That’s not right. We want them to invest in the United States. That’s good. That’s a lot of money coming in.”

    Trump is well aware the US is heavily dependent on imported semiconductors from the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) – the world’s leading chip manufacturer – and has repeatedly accused Taiwan of “stealing” the US semiconductor industry. He recently took credit for TSMC’s announcement that it would invest a further US$100 billion (£77 billion) in three chip factories in Arizona, declaring that production of vital semiconductors inside the US was “a matter of national security”.

    But it will take years for TSMC’s investments to come to fruition in terms of aiding US self-sufficiency in chip manufacture. In the meantime, it is not out of the question that Trump could seek a deal with China that guarantees US access to imported chips from Taiwan, in return for China absorbing the island peacefully. Given the historic importance of Taiwan to Beijing, this could appeal.

    Avoiding war could also be popular with Trump voters who want to put “America first” without getting embroiled in foreign wars. Although the hawkish China consensus is firmly embedded in Washington, its continuation is not guaranteed while the mercurial Trump is at the helm.

    Maria Ryan has received funding from the British Academy.

    – ref. Chinese anger at sale of Panama Canal ports to US investor highlights tensions between the two superpowers – https://theconversation.com/chinese-anger-at-sale-of-panama-canal-ports-to-us-investor-highlights-tensions-between-the-two-superpowers-252418

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1.35 million funding boost to drive growth of visitor economy in North East and West Midlands

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    £1.35 million funding boost to drive growth of visitor economy in North East and West Midlands

    The visitor economy in the North East and the West Midlands is receiving a £1.35 million funding boost over the next year to help the regions attract even more tourists and investment to the UK.

    • North East and West Midlands receive support to help them attract more visitors, investment and opportunities
    • Part of government’s plans to bring 50 million international visitors a year to the UK

    The visitor economy in the North East and the West Midlands is set to benefit from a £1.35 million funding boost over the next year to help the regions attract even more tourists and investment to the UK.

    The new funding, announced during English Tourism Week, will support the government’s ambition to welcome 50 million international visitors a year to the UK by 2030, as part of the Plan for Change.

    The British tourism industry is worth £58 billion to the economy and employs millions of people around the country. But for the sector to keep growing it is crucial that all its different elements – from transport and accommodation to culture and sport events – are working together as efficiently as possible.

    That is why the government has been working to improve the management of destinations across England so they can attract more visitors who stay for longer, and bring in more investment and opportunities to their areas.

    As part of this, two regional pilot programmes have been running in the North East and West Midlands called Destination Development Partnerships (DDPs). The programmes have been looking at how we make it easier for people to visit those regions and enjoy a range of things to do when they are there, including great places to eat, shop and stay.

    The pilots have already shown how a cross-regional approach can support the growth of the visitor economy by attracting more investment in attractions, hotels and connectivity, creating jobs and by marketing regions outside of London as destinations in their own right.

    The government is now providing an extra £1.35 million of support so the pilots can operate for another year before assessing whether to roll the scheme out more widely. The extension will provide an opportunity to keep testing how a regional approach to managing the visitor economy can help drive visitor numbers, increase spending and create jobs.

    Tourism Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

    I want our tourism industry – and all the brilliant people who work in it – to thrive and to continue to attract millions of visitors to the UK each year.

    To achieve this we have to make sure that regions across England have the support they need so they can better market their areas  to tourists and attract more investment and events.

    That’s why I’m delighted we are providing an extra £1.35 million over the next year so our Destination Development Partnerships can keep paving the way for an even brighter future for our visitor economy.

    VisitEngland CEO Patricia Yates said:

    This extension and further funding are testament to the success of the Destination Development Partnership (DDP) pilots in the West Midlands and the North East. It also demonstrates the central role that the DDP pilots, developed and supported by VisitEngland, have been playing in growing regional economies to deliver jobs and opportunities for local people, communities, and businesses.

    These destination partnerships are ensuring that the West Midlands and the North East continue to be compelling destinations for both domestic and international visitors, as well as great places to live and work, now and in the future.

    The DDP programme is as much about providing high-quality destinations for Brits who want to holiday in the UK as it is about attracting more international visitors. 

    Since the launch of the pilot in 2022, 11 new attractions have opened in the North East with a combined investment value of £13 million, alongside 60 new bars and restaurants. The pilot, run by the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative (NGI), has played a vital role in the completion of these projects by providing crucial data and information that boosted investor confidence and contributed to the scaling of investments.

    North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:

    The North East is home to stunning landscapes, vibrant cities and bustling market towns,  award-winning coastlines and beautiful countryside, all packed with world-class arts and culture – it’s why people in our region are so proud to call the North East home.

    However, our region currently receives the lowest number of domestic and international visitors in England. As Mayor, I’m determined to change that and double the size of our visitor economy over the next decade, creating more jobs and opportunity, and attracting investment into our towns and cities.

    To achieve that we need to shout louder and showcase our region. Working with the Government and NGI, that’s exactly what we will do – so more people discover what the North East has to offer and our region can stand tall on the national and international stage.

    The West Midlands has also seen positive results, with the value of the region’s visitor economy increasing by 15% to £16.3 billion and more jobs than ever (143,988) supported by tourism since its DDP pilot, run by the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), was launched in 2023. By September 2024, the pilot had generated £10 million through attracting business conferences and nearly £4 million from major sporting events for the region.

    West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said:

    Tourism is big business in the West Midlands – with record visitor numbers driving growth and creating good jobs for local people.

    The government is backing my plan to keep investing in our cultural and creative industries and improving transport links so even more people come to enjoy the sights and hear the stories we have to tell.

    I’m securing the West Midlands’ reputation as a world-class destination and delivering real benefits for our communities.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: State of the Global Climate 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The State of the Global Climate 2024 report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) shows that key climate change indicators have again reached record levels.  Although long-term warming (averaged over decades) currently sits below 1.5°C, sea-level rise and ocean warming will be irreversible for hundreds of years. Record greenhouse gas concentrations combined with El Niño and other factors to drive 2024 record heat, while glacier melt accelerated and extreme weather caused massive social and economic upheaval. 

    Journalists came to this online briefing to hear from some of the authors of the report and put their questions to them.

    Speakers included:

    Prof Chris Hewitt, Director of Climate Services Division, WMO

    Dr Omar Baddour, Chief Climate Monitoring, WMO

    Dr John Kennedy, Scientific Coordinator and Lead Author of the report

    Dr Karina von Schuckmann, Senior advisor, Ocean Science for Policy, Scientific Direction, Mercator Ocean international, France

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Temporary closure of Castle Row car park

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   Temporary closure of Castle Row car park

    Castle Row car park in Canterbury will be closed for around 10 months from next Monday (24 March).

    This is related to our Connected Canterbury: Unlocking The Tales Of England project, with the car park set to be made more welcoming for visitors. We will also be using it as a compound for our project contractor, Blakedown Landscapes.

    There is alternative parking available directly opposite in the Castle Street multi-storey car park.

    Access to the Age UK building at Castle Row will not be affected as they have a dedicated access point.
    The Connected Canterbury: Unlocking The Tales Of England project continues apace and people will start to notice activity happening on the ground.

    Part of the project is about creating story gardens that help tell the stories of Canterbury as part of England’s history.

    This will be done by landscaping existing public spaces to highlight their heritage significance and to encourage people to visit.

    Work will be carried out in Dane John Gardens, Castle Row car park and Canterbury Castle keep and grounds.

    Published: 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Prime Minister has appointed 5 Trustees to the British Museum

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    The Prime Minister has appointed 5 Trustees to the British Museum

    The Prime Minister has appointed Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE, Tom Holland, Dr. Tiffany Jenkins, Martha Kearney and Claudia Winkleman as trustees of the British Museum; their four year terms started on 19 March 2025.

    Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE

    Daniel is a columnist on The Times newspaper and a member of the House of Lords. He is also the author of a family memoir and history of the Second World War, ‘Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad’.

    He joined the Times in 2001 having previously worked as an adviser to John Major when Sir John was serving as Prime Minister and William Hague when he was leader of the Opposition.

    He is a patron of the Wiener Holocaust Library, a director of Chelsea FC, and the Chair of the Chelsea FC Foundation. In 1997 he was awarded an OBE as Director of Research for the Conservative Central Office.

    Tom Holland

    Tom is an award-winning historian, translator and broadcaster. He has written books about the Graeco-Persian wars; Roman history from the fall of the Republic to the age of Hadrian; empire and religion in late antiquity; Anglo-Saxon England; 11th century Latin Christendom; and the evolution and impact on the world of Christianity. He has translated Herodotus and Suetonius for Penguin Classics. 

    He is co-presenter of the history podcast, The Rest is History. He has written and presented numerous TV documentaries, on subjects ranging from the Islamic State to dinosaurs. He is a Board Member of the British Library and an honorary fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge.

    Dr. Tiffany Jenkins

    Tiffany is a writer and academic. Her latest book, ‘Strangers and Intimates: The Rise and Fall of Private Life’, is set to be published in May 2025. Previous publications include ‘Keeping Their Marbles: How the Treasures of the Past Ended up in Museums and Why They Should Keep Them’ (2016) and ‘Contesting Human Remains in Museum Collections: The Crisis of Cultural Authority’ (2010).

    She has served as an honorary fellow in the History of Art at the University of Edinburgh and as a visiting fellow in the Department of Law at the London School of Economics. Her broadcasting contributions include presenting the series ‘A History of Secrecy, Contracts of Silence’, and ‘Beauty and the Brain: What Science Can and Cannot Tell Us About Art’ for BBC Radio 4. Additionally, she frequently appears as a critic on Radio 4’s Front Row, and her opinion pieces have been published in The Observer, Financial Times, The Spectator, and The Scotsman, where she previously served as a weekly opinion columnist.

    Martha Kearney

    Martha Kearney is a BBC presenter. She has presented the Today programme, The World at One, Woman’s Hour and Newsnight Review. As well as being Political Editor of Newsnight, she reported from Northern Ireland for many years and has had many overseas assignments including several trips to Afghanistan. 

    Martha was educated in Edinburgh and at Oxford University where she studied classics. Archaeology remains a lifelong passion. After leaving Today in 2024 Martha has launched a new interview series for BBC Radio Four called This Natural Life.

    Claudia Winkleman

    As a child, Claudia went to the National Gallery and British Museum almost every Saturday morning with her father, igniting a passion which eventually led her to study History of Art at Cambridge University in 1993. 

    After graduation, Claudia went on to work in television and radio and has done so for the past 30 years. She has hosted shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, The Traitors, The Piano and The Great British Sewing Bee. Claudia hosted the Radio 2 Arts Show for six years before hosting her eponymous show every Saturday morning at 10. In 2023 she won the BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance.

    Claudia has written weekly columns for The Independent and The Sunday Times and continues to write for The Times. She is a Trustee for Comic Relief, a patron for Child Bereavement UK, and an Ambassador for The King’s Trust. 

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Trustees of the British Museum are not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

    Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Tom Holland, Dr. Tiffany Jenkins, Martha Kearney and Claudia Winkleman have not declared any significant political activity. 

    Lord Daniel Finkelstein has declared he has been a parliamentary candidate and a party official for the Conservative Party, and a parliamentary candidate for the Social Democratic Party. He also canvassed for both parties and held minor party office at a local level for both. He currently has the Conservative whip in the House of Lords.

    DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom.  To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply to be a Trustee of a National Museum or Gallery visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Prime Minister has appointed 5 Trustees to the Tate

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    The Prime Minister has appointed 5 Trustees to the Tate

    The Prime Minister has appointed Nick Clarry, Sir Isaac Julien CBE, Jack Kirkland and June Sarpong OBE as trustees of the Tate; their four year terms will start on 24 March 2025. The Prime Minister has also appointed Tim Richards CBE as a Trustee of the Tate, his four year term will begin on 23 June 2025.

    Nick Clarry

    Nick is a Managing Partner at CVC Capital Partners, a global private equity firm, which is listed on EuroNext. Nick joined CVC in 2003 and is based in London, where he is responsible for Sports, Media & Entertainment investment. Nick serves on the CVC Foundation Philanthropy Committee and has also sought to provide philanthropic support to a number of organisations in London over the last 20 years, including The Old Vic, the British Film Institute and the Courtauld Institute among others.

    Nick has served as the Chair at The Old Vic Theatre since 2014, which is one of the leading not-for-profit theatres in the UK, working in the arts, education and the community. Nick holds an MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge.

    Sir Isaac Julien CBE RA

    Sir Isaac is a critically acclaimed British artist and filmmaker. In 2018, Julien joined the faculty at the University of California Santa Cruz where he is a Distinguished Professor of the Arts and leads the Moving Image Lab together with Arts Professor Mark Nash.

    He has been making films and producing film installations for over forty years, including: Once Again… (Statues Never Die) (2022), Lina Bo Bardi – A Marvellous Entanglement (2019), Lessons of the Hour – Frederick Douglass (2019), Playtime (2014), Ten Thousand Waves (2010), Western Union: small boats (2007), True North (2004), Baltimore (2003), Paradise Omeros (2002), and Vagabondia (2000).

    Current and recent international solo exhibitions include: Lessons of the Hour, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2024; What Freedom is to Me, Bonnefanten Museum, Maastricht, 2024; K21, Dusseldorf, 2023; Tate Britain, London, 2023; Lina Bo Bardi, A Marvellous Entanglement, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, 2023; Once Again… (Statues Never Die), Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia, 2022.

    Julien is the recipient of The Royal Academy of Arts Charles Wollaston Award 2017 and a Kaiserring Goslar Award in 2022. In 2022 he was awarded a Knighthood for services to diversity and inclusion in art. 

    Jack Kirkland

    Jack is a businessman and philanthropist. He is executive Chair of Bowmer and Kirkland, one of the UK’s largest and most successful construction and real estate companies. Bowmer and Kirkland builds for clients throughout Great Britain and also engages in property development through its Peveril Securities arm and joint venture partners. The group also has a large number of subsidiary companies that provide construction specialisms both to the rest of the group and other clients. 

    In philanthropy, Jack founded and chairs The Ampersand Foundation, a grant-giving charity focused on the visual arts. He is also a trustee of the Bridget Riley Art Foundation and from 2015 to 2020, he was Chair of Nottingham Contemporary.

    Tim Richards CBE

    Tim is the Founder and CEO of Vue Entertainment, the largest privately held cinema operator in Europe. He is an industry commentator in print, radio and television and has supported British and Independent film for the past three and a half decades.

    Prior to entering the entertainment industry, Tim was a Wall Street lawyer engaged in international finance and cross-border mergers and acquisitions while based in London and New York. In February of 2021, after 7 years as a Governor of the British Film Institute (BFI), Tim was appointed as Chair of the BFI.

    In 2015, Tim was awarded the Variety International Children’s Fund Humanitarian Award for his charitable work. In 2024 he was awarded a CBE for his services to British film and Cinema. 

    June Sarpong OBE 

    June is a television presenter and executive. She is the Co-Founder of the Women: Inspiration & Enterprise (WIE) Network; WIE first launched in NYC in 2010 and then in the UK in 2012 and has featured leading speakers from a gamut of industries. 

    In November 2019 she was appointed as the BBC’s first Director of Creative Diversity and was in this role for 3 years. She was also the first Black woman to sit on the corporation’s Executive Committee and spearheaded the organisation’s $124 million investment in diverse content. June is the author of “Diversify”, “Power of Women”, “Power of Privilege” and “Calling Una Marson.” In 2020 she was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting. 

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Trustees of the Tate are not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

    Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Jack Kirland has declared he has made a recordable donation to the labour party. June Sarpong OBE has declared she has spoken on behalf of the Labour Party, their candidates and canvassed on behalf of the Labour Party and helped at elections. Nick Clarry, Sir Isaac Julien CBE and Tim Richards CBE have not declared any significant political activity. 

    DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom.  To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply to be a Trustee of a National Museum or Gallery visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Prime Minister has appointed 6 new Trustees to the V&A

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    The Prime Minister has appointed 6 new Trustees to the V&A

    The Prime Minister has appointed Mariella Frostrup, Andrew Keith, Akshata Murty, Nigel Newton, Vick Hope and Pedro Pina as trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum; their four year terms started on 10 March 2025.

    Mariella Frostrup

    Mariella is a journalist, broadcaster, author, and cultural commentator; in particular covering the worlds of arts, culture and societal issues. She promotes the intrinsic value of arts and culture to wider society and the importance that they connect with and are accessible to all. Mariella has presented the UK’s leading book programmes, cultural shows and judged its literary and arts awards, such as the Booker Prize, BAFTA Awards, RIBA and Turner Prize.

    She was the first non-elected member of the Royal Academy’s Council, and more recently she became a Trustee of the British Council. She was awarded a Doctor of Arts from Nottingham University in 2009 for her work and achievement in arts and culture. She’s a Royal Society of Literature fellow and a BAFTA member.

    Mariella co-founded the annual Women in Work Summit. She is the Government’s Menopause Employment Ambassador, Chairs the advocacy group Menopause Mandate, and is a Save the Children Ambassador.

    Andrew Keith

    Andrew is a luxury retail executive with over three decades of experience leading prominent international brands.

    Andrew spent 19 years with Lane Crawford Joyce Group, holding a number of key positions including President of Joyce and Lane Crawford. Under his leadership, the group greatly expanded its footprint, introducing innovative retail formats and establishing a significant presence in Greater China. He oversaw the opening of flagship stores and launched the group’s online platform. He then spent three years with Selfridges as Managing Director and later CEO, Andrew led Selfridges through the complexities of reopening post-COVID-19, implementing strategies to adapt to the new retail landscape. In early 2025, he took on the role of leading the transformation of Edinburgh’s historic Jenners building. This multi-million-pound project aims to revitalise the iconic site into a premier destination, blending retail and hospitality elements.

    Andrew has served as a co-opted Member of the V&A’s Commerce Committee, contributing his commercial expertise to enhance the museum’s engagement strategies.

    Born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Scottish parents, Andrew studied Fashion Design at Kingston University and maintains a deep connection to his Scottish heritage, often spending time at his home in the Highlands, reflecting his appreciation for nature and the environment.

    Akshata Murty

    Akshata is passionate about education and the power of creativity to have positive effects on young people. During her time living in Downing Street, she launched ‘Lessons at 10’. This initiative provided children from across the United Kingdom with a unique opportunity to go behind the famous black door of Number 10 to be inspired and discover their passions.

    With her husband, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Akshata is a co-founder of The Richmond Project, a charity focused on enabling social mobility by breaking down barriers to numeracy. She is also a keen supporter of the UK’s veteran community.

    Akshata spent over a decade investing in early-stage consumer-focused British companies, providing funding and strategic advice. Previously, Akshata founded a fashion line that was inspired by Indian craftsmanship.

    Originally from Bangalore, Akshata obtained a B.A in Economics and French from Claremont McKenna College, an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business as well as an Associate degree from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Los Angeles. She is on the board of Claremont McKenna College. Akshata is also a Trustee of the Murty Trust in India and a supporter of the Murty Classical Library of India.

    Nigel Newton CBE

    Nigel is the founder and Chief Executive of Bloomsbury Publishing. He was born and raised in San Francisco. He read English at Selwyn College, Cambridge and after working at Macmillan Publishers, he joined Sidgwick & Jackson. He left Sidgwick in 1986 to start Bloomsbury Publishing. He was appointed as President of the Publishers Association in April 2022.

    He serves as a Member of the Advisory Committee of Cambridge University Library and President of Book Aid International. In 2020, he was awarded The London Book Fair (LBF) Lifetime Achievement Award and became an Honorary Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge. He has previously served as a member of the Booker Prize Advisory Committee, Chairman of the Charleston Trust, Chair of World Book Day, Board member of the US-UK Fulbright Commission, member of the Publishers Association Council, Trustee of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and Chair of the British Library Trust.

    In 2021 he was awarded a CBE for his services to the publishing industry. 

    Vick Hope

    Vick is an award-winning TV and radio presenter, journalist and author. She hosts BBC Radio One’s show Going Home, and was recently named the newest presenter of Countryfile. She also presents The One Show, Channel 4’s Paralympic Games coverage, CBBC’s Britain’s Best Young Artist, Glastonbury, and ITV’s Vick Hope’s Breakfast Show.

    Vick served on the Women’s Prize for Fiction (WPFF) judging panel in 2021 and curates their Young Adults’ Reading List. She hosts the WPFF podcast, Bookshelfie, interviewing female artists, writers, politicians, musicians, actors and sportspeople about the books by women that have shaped them. She is also the author of two children’s books which promote creativity in young children. 

    In 2020, Vick became an official Ambassador for Amnesty International. She volunteers at local charities Literacy Pirates and Just For Girls, which support children from disadvantaged backgrounds in her community. With the Duke Of Edinburgh Award, she mentors young people and delivers annual speeches at Buckingham Palace. Vick leads The Brit Awards’ campaign to tackle accessibility issues in the creative industries, and is Marks and Spencer’s Plan A Fashion Sustainability Ambassador. Vick was a judge on the ArtFund Museum Of The Year panel in 2024, which was awarded to Young V&A.

    Vick graduated from Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge in 2011, having read Modern Languages (French, Spanish and Portuguese).

    Pedro Pina

    Pedro is a senior executive with over three decades of experience in media, brand management, advertising, and all areas of the digital space. Pina has been at Google for over 12 years and currently serves as Head of YouTube, overseeing the platform’s business and strategic development within Europe, Middle East and Africa. His career includes roles at Google, McCann Worldgroup, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble having lived in the US, Brazil, Spain and Portugal. London has been home for Pedro and his family for more than 15 years. 

    Pina holds an MBA from INSEAD, Paris and previously served on the V&A Corporate Advisory Committee. His expertise includes digital transformation, audience engagement, and strategic partnerships. He serves on the Board of OutRight International and is an Ambassador of Stonewall as well as other organisations that advocate for LGBTQ+ human rights globally and in the UK.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    Trustees of the V&A are not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

    Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Mariella Frostrup, Andrew Keith, Nigel Newton CBE, Victoria Nwosu-Hope and Pedro Pina have not declared any significant political activity. Akshata Murty has declared she has spoken on behalf of the Conservative Party, and their candidates and canvassed on behalf of the Conservative Party and helped at elections. 

    DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom.  To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply to be a Trustee of a National Museum or Gallery visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM remarks at St Patrick’s Day reception: 19 March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    PM remarks at St Patrick’s Day reception: 19 March 2025

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s remarks at the first St Patrick’s Day reception hosted in 10 Downing Street.

    It’s really fantastic to see you all here.  

    What a buzz. What an occasion it is to have you here in Downing Street where I work and where I live. So, I really hope you enjoy being here this evening for our very own St. Patrick’s Day event.

    Now I didn’t realise this, but this is the first time we have had one of these celebrations in No10. I can hardly believe it.  

    Our manifesto says change on the front. There are many bits we are going to change but this is among them now.

    You’ll have seen the Innova Irish dance company on your way in – weren’t they fantastic?

    I was in a busy in a meeting downstairs when they were rehearsing up here earlier on, and we could hear the rhythms of what they were going to do, it was really fantastic. 

    And I think I can see some of them. They were absolutely brilliant. 

    And we’ve got Tara Viscardi on the harp, it’s very nice to see you. 

    We’ve got the Belfast Coffee Company, Burren Balsamics, and who would have thought, that tonight Downing Street is the best place in London to grab a pint of Guinness. 

    We have set up a Guinness bar in the back. I think there is probably a strong case for leaving it there till the next one of these events. 

    And if anyone wants to have a go at splitting the G, then please go ahead. So Sláinte everyone! 

    But of course, celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day is a chance to bring people together.

    And it is really an honour to host you all here.

    And as I think and hope you know, all of this matters deeply to me because I have personal connections to Northern Ireland.

    It’s a place close to my heart.

    I worked over there for five years, working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on some of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement changes.

    And that, as I’ve said on many occasions, was really impactful and formative for me on my journey through life. I learnt so much about politics, about change, about working with communities. 

    The importance of hope, and there was a lot of hope in the change that was going on, and about the people of Northern Ireland who are absolutely fantastic. 

    So I remember stepping off the plane for the first time. It’s London to Belfast, it’s only about 55 minutes. 

    But it was a big step, and it was really incredible to do that work and to feel the personal responsibility of upholding the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. 

    Because I love Northern Ireland so much, soon after my wife Vic and I got married we flew over to Belfast, hired a car and drove around the entire island of Ireland.

    From Belfast, all the way around and then back out of Dublin for about three weeks. But we saw everything, but it was really, really fantastic to see, and a real big part of my life. 

    And for me the Belfast Good Friday Agreement is the greatest achievement of the Labour Party in my lifetime. 

    And I’m delighted that we have got in the room tonight, some of the people who were instrumental in bringing that around. 

    What an incredible piece of history. And I know that Hilary and Fleur who are here work closely with the Northern Ireland parties. 

    And it’s fantastic that we’ve got some of Mo Mowlam’s family here. 

    In 2023, I was very pleased to open the Mo Mowlam Studio for Cinematic Arts at Ulster University. And that’s a fantastic tribute to her legacy that will help provide new opportunities for young people.

    And secondly, hosting these celebrations in No10 matters to me because it’s only two weeks ago that I was with the Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the inaugural UK-Ireland Summit in Liverpool. There we were joined by the Irish Ambassador to the UK Martin Fraser who is also here tonight. 

    But that Summit was a real opportunity to make good on the reset of relations between the UK and Ireland with a real determination to take them forward with massive ambition. 

    We had a really good two-day Summit where we got through everything we had on our agenda, and we added further things to the agenda that we could agree on. 

    And really, it felt that partnership, historically a strong and very important partnership is really entering a new and very positive chapter of our history. 

    And we will continue to build that friendship. Doing more than ever before in business, trade and security, we have discussed energy at great length and taking the relationship as the closest neighbours and friends – to that next level.

    And finally, tonight matters. Because it’s a chance to celebrate the incredible ties that bind us all together. The connections between families and friends across our islands.

    The late Queen Elizabeth II spoke about this. I’ve got what she said because when you pull it out it’s a really poignant reminder.  > She said “the ordinary people who yearned for the peace and understanding we now have between our two nations and between the communities” within them, and she went on to say is a reminder of everything we still need to do to build a better future for all of us.

    And I think it’s worth remembering those words and what an incredible piece of history that we have been living through. So tonight, let us raise a glass to St. Patrick. To celebrating everything Irish. 

    And on which I’ve seen actually Pat there. I play football regularly as you may know, and I wear a top. Now and again the photographers turn up. 

    Then there is this quiz which is what’s the top that he’s wearing. It’s my Donegal top that I picked up on my honeymoon. 

    And then the Taoiseach gave me an upgraded version of that top which is now used on the occasions where I am playing football. 

    So let’s celebrate everything Irish. All of the huge contribution to Britain over many generations. 

    From all those who settled in all sorts of places across the United Kingdom, including my own constituency of Camden. 

    But also of course in Coventry, in Birmingham and Liverpool and who applied their skills in construction, the NHS and workplaces and businesses across the country. 

    Or who created the music and art that has shaped us for decades. 

    And I know we’ve got some fantastic people here this evening. 

    Dermot O’Leary is here. Lisa McGee – the writer of the brilliant Derry Girls. Daniel Wiffen – Olympic Champion. 

    People from business, politics, the media and from across the country

    Including from the London Irish Centre in my own constituency – Seamus MacCormaic, you are very welcome this evening. 

    You’ll all be familiar with the London Irish Centre. A fantastic centre in Camden. An incredible place. 

    I’ve been there many times. For meetings, for events, we have held advice surgeries there. 

    There was a lot of work done there during Covid where it was a place where people could come for a socially distanced cup of coffee. 

    And that was really important for communities that were lonely and out of touch and of course, they have hampers going out there every Christmas for people who need it in the community.  

    I even did Desert Island Pics there which was a variation of Desert Island Discs. I once got challenged in a pub in Camden by someone who didn’t like the Desert Island Discs I had chosen. 

    Only in Camden could you get challenged about that! 

    And of course we had our CLP Christmas Social this year so the Camden Irish Centre is a great, great place!

    So this is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you to everyone for what you are doing.

    Let’s keep talking. Tell us how we can do better, how we can work with you.

    This is the centre of the work I do. But I did say the day after the election when I was on the steps of Downing Street, that we would be a government of service. 

    And that means it’s great to have you in here so you can help our thinking and shape what we are doing as we go about that task. 

    So thank you for your contributions, thank you for being here. 

    I wish you all very Happy St. Patrick’s Day. And as I say, the Guinness bar is winking at us just over there so if you haven’t got a pint of Guinness, please do enjoy one.

    I’m about to do just that.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Meeting of major landowners to boost nature’s recovery

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Meeting of major landowners to boost nature’s recovery

    The ‘National Estate for Nature’ met to discuss land management plans to meet the country’s legal Environment Act targets.

    • Key landowners across public, private, and third sectors asked to draft new land management plans to help meet the country’s legal Environment Act targets.
    • Part of Government’s commitment to transform how we use land in this country to protect the environment, support economic growth and deliver on our Plan for Change.

    Major landowners, who together own 10% of England’s land, met yesterday (Thursday 20 March) to accelerate the recovery of our natural world.

    The ‘National Estate for Nature’ made up of up public, private and civil society landowners will play a pivotal role in supporting the Government’s ambitious environmental goals, including statutory targets in the Environment Act and our commitment to protect 30% of land by 2030. 

    The inaugural meeting chaired by Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, marked the beginning of a new era in environmental collaboration.  

    With the natural world facing species decline and a biodiversity crisis, Reed called on the group for action to collectively protect and restore nature on their estates across England. The Secretary of State also asked the group to report back on potential pilot approaches for sustainable land use, land management, change, or investment.  

    Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: 

    “Landowners must go further and faster to restore our natural world. 

    “The ‘National Estate for Nature’, who manage a tenth of the land in this country, have a responsibility to future generations to leave the environment in a better state.  

    “We have a unique opportunity to work together on common sense changes that create a win-win for nature, the economy, and make the best use of the land around us” 

    Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England said:  

    “If we are to reverse the historic declines in nature, we must take urgent action at every level to restore nature on the ground. This group is an important first step in securing a strong commitments from landowners across the country to collaborate on managing land in a more sustainable way, for the benefit of both people and nature.

    “We need work together to find the long-term solutions for key challenges, such as the demand for new homes and infrastructure, and the need to halt long-term biodiversity loss and recover nature.”

    Harry Bowell, Director of Land and Nature at the National Trust said:

    “We are delighted to join the National Estate for Nature Group, bringing the National Trust’s stewardship of 250,000 hectares to the table. As the Government’s Land Use Framework makes clear, a transformation in the use of land is needed if we are to meet our nature and climate targets. The biggest landowners – us included – have the power, and responsibility, to drive forward that transformation.

    “Only by working together will be able to restore our landscapes at the scale needed to put nature in recovery by 2030, lock up enough carbon in the English countryside to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to required levels, and prepare for the worsening impacts of climate change. We are committed to playing our part.”

    The group is composed of leading landowners such as The Crown Estate and Duchy of Cornwall, third-sector organisations such as the National Trust, RSPB, and the Wildlife Trusts. Along with representatives from the Government Estate such as MOD and Natural England.  

     It represents institutions with significant holdings across the country, and associated significant potential to drive nature’s recovery, a vital part of the government’s national conversation about land use ahead of publishing a Land Use Framework in 2025.  

    The broad representation also ensures that the group can draw on a wealth of expertise and experience in land management, conservation, and sustainable development, enabling them to develop and implement effective strategies for nature recovery, sustainable land use, and environmental protection. 

     During today’s meeting, members discussed key objectives, including establishing minimum standards for land management plans, with clear milestones for nature restoration and protection to help meet statutory nature targets and 30by30.  

    Defra will actively participate as a member, leading by example and supporting the group with guidance, resources, and coordination as they work toward meeting the Government’s environmental targets. Further quarterly meetings will focus on developing and implementing agreed on-the-ground plans to drive nature’s recovery.  

    This comes following the historic announcement of the Land Use Framework, the wild release and management of beavers in England for the first time in 400 years, a new approach to neonicotinoid pesticides and the introduction of new measures to strengthen our protected areas and meet 30by30 that show this government is committed to delivering for nature. As part of the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), everyone, from land managers to homeowners, has a crucial role to play in restoring the natural environment.

    Additional information:

    National Estate for Nature Members

    ·       Environment Agency

    ·       Forestry Commission/Forestry England

    ·       Natural England

    ·       MOD

    ·       MoJ

    ·       DfT (including National Highways and Network Rail)

    ·       MHCLG/Homes England

    ·       DESNZ

    ·       DfE

    ·       Cabinet Office

    ·       The Church Commissioners (Church of England)

    ·       The Crown Estate

    ·       The Duchy of Cornwall

    ·       The Duchy of Lancaster

    ·       Elveden Estate

    ·       Clinton Devon Estates

    ·       United Utilities

    ·       Yorkshire Water

    ·       National Trust

    ·       RSPB

    ·       Wildlife Trusts

    ·       Canal and River Trust

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Councils submit interim plans for future delivery of services across the county

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   Councils submit interim plans for future delivery of services across the county

    District councils across Kent, including Canterbury City Council, have worked with Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council to today (Friday 21 March) to submit interim proposals to the government on how they should be organised in the future.

    You can read the full submission.

    The government wants to replace the current two-tier system of KCC delivering some services and districts delivering others with unitary councils which will have responsibility for delivering all council services.

    The government says this will cut wasteful duplication, increase value for money for taxpayers and make council services more resilient and sustainable.

    At a meeting of Full Council on Monday, Canterbury City Council councillors debated the options around what areas of the county each unitary council should cover.

    You can read the papers for that meeting and watch the recording.

    The city council’s Cabinet then agreed to give the Leader of the Council the ability sign off the Kent-wide submission and carry on discussions with Council Leaders across the county.

    You can read the papers for that meeting and watch the recording.

    Final proposals need to be with the government by 28 November.

    More detailed work will take place in the run-up to November and there will be scope for a programme of public and partner engagement.

    Published: 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Icebreaking near Midland, Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    March 21, 2025

    Sarnia, Ontario – The Canadian Coast Guard advises residents of Midland, Ontario that the CCGS Pierre Radisson will carry out icebreaking operations in the Georgian Bay area on or around March 24, 2025. The purpose of this operation is to break up the ice to allow commercial vessels safe and efficient movement.

    It is recommended that all traffic on the ice, including pedestrians, fishers, snowmobilers, and all-terrain vehicle operators, leave the ice during icebreaking operations. The ice may move, creating a real danger for anyone on it. Additionally, plan activities carefully and use extreme caution after operations are complete as the ice will remain unstable even once the icebreaker has left the area.

    Icebreaking on the Great Lakes and connecting waterways is delivered through close co-operation between the Canadian and United States Coast Guards. By working together, the two Coast Guards ensure scheduled vessel traffic can move through the shipping channels and in and out of community harbours. Vessels will be assigned as needed to provide this service.

    The date and assets are subject to change with no notice, as activities could begin before or after that period, depending on operational requirements or weather conditions.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Defending humanitarian aid in terms of national security obscures its real purpose

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chen Reis, Associate Clinical Professor, Director, Humanitarian Assistance Program, & Director, Human Rights MA, University of Denver

    A woman scoops up portions of wheat to be allocated to each waiting family after it was distributed in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia in 2021. AP Photo/Ben Curtis

    More than 305 million people require lifesaving humanitarian aid today. Most of them live in areas wracked by conflict, such as Sudan, Gaza, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    By many estimates, there is more need than ever for this assistance – and the need is growing. But humanitarian funding, which is primarily provided by governments, is declining. The Trump administration stopped disbursing nearly all U.S. humanitarian aid on Jan. 20, 2025. It made these cuts at a time when the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Belgium and other wealthy countries are slashing their own aid spending.

    Judges have ruled that the U.S. government must rehire aid workers and make overdue payments for aid already delivered by nongovernmental companies, international agencies and private contractors. While legal disputes wend through the courts, these cuts are already having disastrous consequences for people in Afghanistan, Sudan and other places facing crises.

    As scholars who study humanitarian aid, we are seeing not just a crisis of funding but also one that jeopardizes the credibility of the entire global system that provides this lifesaving assistance.

    When conflict breaks out or a disaster like an earthquake strikes, people require emergency medical care, temporary shelter, food and water. In countries where the government is unable or unwilling to provide these services, humanitarian organizations and international agencies step in to fill the gaps. Humanitarian aid is based on empathy and the recognition that everyone has a right to live with dignity.

    When discussing the impacts of its aid freeze and challenging the Trump administration’s misinformation about the U.S. Agency for International Development, many NGOs and experts on humanitarian assistance have not focused on empathy and rights.

    They have in their defense of the agency responsible until now for most of the foreign aid the U.S. provides instead relied on arguments that appeal to U.S. national security, soft power and economic interests.

    Sen. Chris Coons, a Connecticut Democrat, has warned that China will benefit from the U.S. aid cutoff.

    “Our biggest global competitor and adversary is delighted that we’ve handed them an opportunity to say to communities and countries around the world that we are not a reliable partner,” Coons said.

    By highlighting geopolitical, security and economic arguments for humanitarian aid, in our view, they risk further hurting the sector’s legitimacy.

    Protesters rally in support of USAID in Washington on Feb. 5, 2025.
    Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

    A ‘seismic shock’

    Tom Fletcher, who leads the United Nations’ humanitarian efforts, has called the Trump administration’s aid reduction “a seismic shock to the sector.” But the latest cuts are part of a longer-term trend.

    While needs have increased, humanitarian funding has been flat or declining for years, leaving millions of people who need food, health care, shelter and protection without the assistance they need.

    Every year, the U.N. assesses humanitarian need for the coming year and issues what amounts to a global budget request to meet those needs. Government donors commit funds toward that budget request, and those funds are then distributed to U.N. agencies and NGOs that implement humanitarian programming.

    Since 2016, the gap between funding requirements and funding commitments has grown. In 2024, the U.N. requested US$49.5 billion in humanitarian funding and received less than half, or $23.9 billion, with the U.S. contributing 41% of that amount.

    Until January 2025, the U.S. accounted for 35%-46% of total annual global humanitarian funding. The abrupt cutoff of funds has led to a scramble to pay for food for malnourished children in Sudan, health care for refugees from Myanmar, and maternal health services in Yemen.

    Without U.S. funding, the humanitarian work of the United Nations agencies and NGOs that deliver humanitarian aid in part funded by governments is in jeopardy.

    Because of the cuts, Catholic Relief Services and the International Rescue Committee, for example, have laid off staff and shuttered health clinics that prevent or treat infectious diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS. They can no longer provide access to clean water and sanitation services or other lifesaving aid in many places where they work.

    Core principles violated

    Humanitarian groups have historically embraced a set of core principles that emphasize the alleviation of human suffering wherever it may occur while remaining independent, neutral and impartial.

    In conflict zones, these principles are essential for gaining access to people who need help. Aid workers build trust and acceptance by not picking sides in a conflict and providing aid based on need.

    Focusing on what benefits donor countries instead of what serves humanitarian needs in areas experiencing famine, disasters or conflicts is at odds with these principles. However, in January, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that U.S. interests would decide how aid is allocated.

    “Every dollar we spend, every program we fund and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions,” Rubio said. “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”

    Since late January, the Trump administration has cut 83% of USAID’s programs, according to recent reports.

    Transactional arguments

    In March, the State Department sent a questionnaire to nongovernmental organizations and U.N. agencies asking how they will conform to President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy and distribute aid in alignment with foreign policy goals.

    Governments always consider their own interests as one factor when making decisions about humanitarian aid. But, we are concerned that humanitarian organizations and the public are not pushing back on these purely transactional arguments.

    Instead, some organizations seem to be falling in line.

    “This investment pays dividends by preventing humanitarian crises, containing disease outbreaks, and countering adversarial influence in vulnerable regions,” stated InterAction, an association of U.S.-based NGOs that distribute humanitarian aid and development assistance. “That’s why foreign aid has maintained decades of support across party lines — it is vital for U.S. security and international stability.”

    We also see in these comments signs that justifications for aid are changing.

    When former Secretary of State Colin Powell called nongovernmental organizations a “force multiplier” in 2001, it stirred controversy because he suggested that they were an extension of the government and a pillar of U.S. strategy. Even still, he acknowledged that NGOs required independence from government to do their essential work.

    An important choice

    Humanitarian organizations are grappling with the financial and operational consequences of their reliance on a small number of donor governments that have cut off or cut back aid. As they adjust to the new reality, we believe that they must make a choice.

    They can embrace the increasingly transactional agendas of the rich countries that have historically provided most humanitarian aid funding. Doing so may increase aid flows but compromise humanitarian neutrality and impartiality – potentially restricting their access to the places they need to go to do their work.

    Or they can focus on people affected by crises – as recipients of assistance and as agents of change. This option would likely mean operating on an even smaller budget at a time when needs are increasing.

    Either way, the decisions made today will have significant implications for the future of humanitarian action.

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

    – ref. Defending humanitarian aid in terms of national security obscures its real purpose – https://theconversation.com/defending-humanitarian-aid-in-terms-of-national-security-obscures-its-real-purpose-252246

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Digital imperialism: How US social media firms are using American law to challenge global tech regulation

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Yasmin Curzi de Mendonça, Research associate, University of Virginia

    The CEOs of Meta, Amazon, Google and X — Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk — attend the inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo by Ricky Carioti – Pool/Getty Images

    Social media platforms tend not to be that bothered by national boundaries.

    Take X, for example. Users of what was once called Twitter span the globe, with its 600 millions-plus active accounts dotted across nearly every country. And each of those jurisdictions has its own laws.

    But the interests of national regulatory efforts and that of predominantly U.S.-based technology companies often don’t align. While many governments have sought to impose oversight mechanisms to address problems such as disinformation, online extremism and manipulation, these initiatives have been met with corporate resistance, political interference and legal challenges invoking free speech as a shield against regulation.

    What is brewing is a global struggle over digital platform governance. And in this battle, U.S. platforms are increasingly leaning on American laws to challenge other nation’s regulations. It is, we believe as experts on digital law – one an executive director of a forum monitoring how countries implement democratic principles – a form of digital imperialism.

    A rumble in the tech jungle

    The latest manifestation of this phenomenon occurred in February 2025, when new tensions emerged between Brazil’s judiciary and U.S.-based social media platforms.

    Trump Media & Technology Group and Rumble filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, challenging his orders to suspend accounts on the two platforms linked to disinformation campaigns in Brazil.

    The case follows earlier unsuccessful efforts by Elon Musk’s X to resist similar Brazilian rulings.

    Together, the cases exemplify a growing trend in which U.S. political and corporate actors attempt to undermine foreign regulatory authority by pressing the case that domestic U.S. law and corporate protections should take precedence over sovereign policies globally.

    From corporate lobbying to lawfare

    At the core of the dispute is Allan dos Santos, a right-wing Brazilian influencer and fugitive from justice who fled to the U.S. in 2021 after De Moraes ordered his preventive arrest for allegedly coordinating disinformation networks and inciting violence.

    Dos Santos has continued his online activities abroad. Brazil’s extradition requests have gone unanswered due to claims by U.S. authorities that the case involves issues of free speech rather than criminal offenses.

    Trump Media and Rumble’s lawsuit attempts to do two things. First, it seeks to frame Brazil’s judicial actions as censorship rather than oversight. And second, it seeks to portray the Brazilian court action as territorial overreach.

    Their position is that as the target of the action was in the U.S., they are subject to U.S. free speech protections under the First Amendment. The fact that the subject of the ban was Brazilian and is accused of spreading disinformation and hate in Brazil should not, they argue, matter.

    For now, U.S. courts agree. In late February, a Florida-based judge ruled that Rumble and Trump Media need not comply with the Brazilian order.

    Big Tech pushback to regulation

    The case signals an important shift in the contest over platform accountability – a move from corporate lobbying and political pressure to direct legal intervention in foreign jurisdictions. U.S. courts are now being used to challenge overseas decisions regarding platform accountability.

    The outcome and the broader legal strategy behind the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications not only for Brazil but for any country or region – such as the European Union – attempting to regulate online spaces.

    The resistance against digital regulation predates the Trump administration.

    In Brazil, efforts to regulate social media platforms have long faced substantial opposition. Big Tech companies – including Google, Meta and X – have used their economic and political influence to lobby against tighter regulation, often framing such policies as a threat to free expression.

    In 2020, the Brazilian “Fake News Bill,” which sought to hold platforms accountable for the spread of disinformation, was met with strong opposition from these companies.

    Google and Meta launched high-profile campaigns to oppose the bill, warning it would “threaten free speech” and “harm small businesses.” Google placed banners on its Brazilian homepage urging users to reject the legislation, while Meta ran advertisements questioning its implications for the digital economy.

    These efforts, alongside lobbying and political resistance, were successful in helping to delay and weaken the regulatory framework.

    Mixing corporate and political power

    The difference now is that challenges are blurring the line between the corporate and the political.

    Trump Media was 53% owned by the U.S. president before he moved his stake into a revocable trust in December 2024. Elon Musk, the free speech fundamentalist owner of X, is a de facto member of the Trump administration.

    Their ascent to power has coincided with the First Amendment being wielded as a shield against foreign regulations on digital platforms.

    Free speech protections in the U.S. have been applied unequally, allowing authorities to suppress dissent in some cases while shielding hateful speech in others.

    This imbalance extends to corporate power, with decades of legal precedent expanding protections for private interests. The case law cemented corporate speech protections, a logic later extended to digital platforms.

    U.S. free speech advocates in Big Tech and the U.S. government are seemingly escalating this trend to an even more extreme interpretation: that American free speech arguments can be deployed to resist the regulation of other jurisdictions and challenge foreign legal frameworks.

    For instance, in response to the European Union’s Digital Services Act, U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, expressed concerns that the act could threaten American free speech principles.

    Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has fought disinformation on tech platforms, attends a session of the country’s high court on Feb. 26.
    Ton Molina/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Such an argument may have been fine if the same interpretation of free speech – and its appropriate protections – were universally accepted. But they are not.

    The concept of free speech varies significantly across nations and regions.

    Countries such as Brazil, Germany, France and others adopt what legal experts refer to as a proportionality-based approach to free speech, balancing it against other fundamental rights such as human dignity, democratic integrity and public order.

    Sovereign countries using this approach recognize freedom of expression as a fundamental and preferential right. But they also acknowledge that certain restrictions are necessary to protect democratic institutions, marginalized communities, public health and the informational ecosystem from harms.

    While the U.S. imposes some limits on speech – such as defamation laws and protection against incitement to imminent lawless action – the First Amendment is generally far more expansive than in other democracies.

    The future of digital governance

    The legal battle over platform regulation is not confined to the current battle between U.S.-based platforms and Brazil. The EU’s Digital Services Act and the Online Safety Act in the United Kingdom are other examples of governments trying to assert control over platforms operating within their borders.

    As such, the lawsuit by Trump Media and Rumble against the Brazilian Supreme Court signals a critical moment in global geopolitics.

    U.S. tech giants, such as Meta, are bending to the free speech winds coming out of the Trump administration. Musk, the owner of X, has given support to far-right groups overseas.

    And this overlap in the policy priorities of social media platforms and the political interests of the U.S. administration opens a new era in the deregulation debate in which U.S. free speech absolutists are seeking to establish legal precedents that might challenge the future of other nations’ regulatory efforts.

    As countries continue to develop regulatory frameworks for digital governance – for instance, AI regulation imposing stricter governance rules in Brazil and in the EU – the legal, economic and political strategies platforms employ to challenge oversight mechanisms will play a crucial role in determining the future balance between corporate influence and the rule of law.

    Camille Grenier is Executive Director at the Forum on Information and Democracy, a non-profit entity led by civil society organisations and mandated to implement democratic principles.

    Yasmin Curzi de Mendonça does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Digital imperialism: How US social media firms are using American law to challenge global tech regulation – https://theconversation.com/digital-imperialism-how-us-social-media-firms-are-using-american-law-to-challenge-global-tech-regulation-252116

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The management of the State University of Management took part in a strategic session on strengthening Russia’s position in the international educational space

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 21, 2025, the Higher School of Economics hosted a strategic session entitled “Strengthening Russia’s Position in the International Educational Space,” which was attended by Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov.

    The strategy session was attended by rectors of major universities, vice-rectors responsible for international cooperation, representatives of a number of ministries that founded universities, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rossotrudnichestvo, Rosobrnadzor, other government bodies, and companies with interests abroad.

    The main speaker of the plenary session was the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov, who reported that at present, 232 associations of graduates of domestic universities operate in Russia and abroad to maintain ties between Russian universities and foreign citizens. Their total number exceeds 530 thousand people, and the geography of graduates covers 80 countries.

    According to the Minister, one of the global trends in the higher education system in the world remains the growth of foreign students and the increase in migration flows. Russia is among the top ten countries in the world that provide high-quality higher education. Today, more than 395 thousand foreign students study in Russia.

    “This is a great resource, and our task today is to take a broader look at the work that we are doing together. Let me remind you that Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the task of increasing the number of foreign students to 500 thousand by 2030. At the same time, we have a lot of work to do to improve the quality of the contingent of foreign students, to select the most motivated guys. We will pay primary attention to this,” noted Valery Falkov.

    The Ministry of Education and Science is developing a “white list” of recruiting companies to attract foreign students to Russian universities. Also, together with the Ministry of Digital Development, work is underway to create a digital profile of a foreign student, which will contain various information about a foreign citizen. In addition, within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”, a system of grant support for talented students on a competitive basis is being launched.

    At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Education and Science noted the high importance of pre-university training for foreign applicants, for which universities need to independently create pre-university training centers abroad – the so-called remote preparatory faculties.

    After the plenary session, the experts split into thematic working groups. Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov became members of the working group on the topic of “Educational Work and Adaptation of Foreign Students in Russia”, which was led by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Olga Petrova. Let us recall that the State University of Management is one of the leading universities in Russia in the field of educational work. The goal of the work in the groups was to prepare proposals for the Ministry of Education and Science to solve the problems outlined by the topics of the working groups, which, in addition to the above, included the promotion of the Russian language abroad, the development of academic mobility, attracting talent from abroad, employment of foreign students, and others.

    The strategic session will continue on Saturday, March 22.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/21/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Backgrounder: The governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador invest in critical housing infrastructure

    Appleton

    Appleton – Watermain Replacement Circular/TCH

    $239,404

    $250,058

    $50,012

    Bay St. George South

    Jeffrey’s Pumphouse Improvements

    $112,497

    $140,622

    $28,124

    Belleoram

    Water and Sewer Replacement

    $290,187

    $226,997

    $45,399

    Birchy Bay

    Birchy Bay – Water Filtration System (AP-MCW-22196)

    $175,192

    $218,990

    $43,798

    Bishop’s Falls

    Turners Road Waterline and Sanitary Sewer Upgrades

    $141,894

    $98,319

    $49,160

    Bonavista

    Lift Station Retrofits

    $369,069

    $369,069

    $184,534

    Botwood

    Commonwealth Drive Watermain Replacement

    $809,717

    $1,012,146

    $202,429

    Burnt Islands

    Lift Station Upgrades

    $201,655

    $181,367

    $36,273

    Campbellton

    Waterline extension on Road to the Isles and Kingman/Decker Drive  (AP-MCW-23038)

    $253,886

    $0

    $0

    Cape St. George

    Cape St. George Waterline Replacement

    $181,267

    $226,584

    $45,317

    Carmanville

    Water and Sewer Services Phase 4

    $439,383

    $549,229

    $109,846

    Cartwright

    Sanitary Sewer

    $504,927

    $631,158

    $126,232

    Channel-Port aux Basques

    High Street Stormwater Rehabilitation

    $258,798

    $258,798

    $129,399

    Channel-Port aux Basques

    Dennis Road Water Supply Booster Station

    $265,342

    $265,342

    $132,671

    Charlottetown (Labrador)

    Water and Sewer, Phase 5.2 – Big Cove Extension

    $993,811

    $1,242,264

    $248,453

    Come By Chance

    Water and Sewer Upgrading – Shaheen Crescent – Phase 2

    $360,920

    $451,150

    $90,230

    Daniel’s Harbour

    Replace Valves at Pumphouse

    $22,450

    $28,062

    $5,612

    Deer Lake

    Main Lift Station Upgrades

    $887,890

    $887,890

    $443,945

    Deer Lake

    Lift Station Upgrades – Church Street 

    $115,405

    $115,405

    $57,703

    Fermeuse

    Future Sanitary Sewer – Phase 3

    $171,458

    $214,323

    $42,865

    Fermeuse

    2022 Phase 2 of Sewer System Extension

    $342,021

    $427,526

    $85,505

    Flatrock

    Red Head Road Ditching

    $183,669

    $229,586

    $45,917

    Fortune

    Bunker Hill Road Water and Sewer – Phase ll

    $341,221

    $426,526

    $85,305

    Fortune

    Bunker Hill Road Water and Sewer Phase 1

    $394,768

    $493,460

    $98,692

    Gander

    Gander Pumphouse Upgrades to Improve Potable Water Efficiency, Reliability and Capacity

    $1,722,805

    $0

    $0

    George’s Brook-Milton

    Milton Watermain Replacement (Phase 3)

    $253,914

    $317,392

    $63,478

    Heart’s Content

    Installing 8 Inch Line from the S.U.F Hall on Main Road to Booster Pumping Station

    $201,140

    $251,426

    $50,285

    Humber Arm South

    Webcon Road Storm Sewer System

    $119,675

    $149,593

    $29,919

    Humber Arm South

    New Chlorination Building

    $243,274

    $304,093

    $60,819

    Indian Bay

    Water & Sewer Upgrades – Phase I

    $193,241

    $241,552

    $48,310

    Isle aux Morts

    Phase 4 – Water and Sewer Upgrades

    $306,641

    $383,302

    $76,660

    Labrador City

    Storm Sewer Upgrades (Walsh River, Harrie Lake, Duley)

    $563,048

    $422,286

    $422,286

    L’Anse au Loup

    Water Shed Dam Area Reconstruction

    $247,017

    $308,771

    $61,754

    Lewisporte

    Water Tank Bypass Line and Intake Supply Line Repairs

    $151,350

    $151,350

    $75,675

    Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove

    Power’s Lane Stream Crossing

    $186,646

    $233,308

    $46,662

    Lourdes

    Town of Lourdes – Water Treatment Facility Improvements

    $180,369

    $225,461

    $45,092

    Makkovik

    Chlorine Booster Station

    $180,901

    $0

    $0

    Marystown

    Mayo’s Road/Levi’s Road Water, Sewer & Storm Sewer Upgrades (Phase 1)

    $174,381

    $174,381

    $87,190

    McIvers

    Water Treatment System

    $510,711

    $638,389

    $127,678

    Meadows

    Meadow Crescent Lift Station Replacement

    $145,094

    $181,367

    $362,732

    Middle Arm

    Falls Road Water & Sewer

    $158,086

    $197,608

    $39,522

    Mount Pearl

    Water, Sanitary and Storm Sewer, Asphalt, Curb and Sidewalk Replacement – Jackman Drive

    $1,818,840

    $1,364,130

    $1,364,130

    New-Wes-Valley

    Water Treatment Plant

    $4,045,934

    $5,057,418

    $1,011,484

    New-Wes-Valley

    Water Storage and Distribution System

    $2,248,225

    $2,810,281

    $562,056

    Norris Point

    Lift Station #3

    $127,506

    $159,383

    $31,877

    Norris Point

    Lift Station #1

    $141,244

    $159,383

    $31,877

    Norris Point

    Lift Station #2

    $127,506

    $159,383

    $31,877

    North West River

    2022 Storm Drainage Improvements

    $211,901

    $264,876

    $52,975

    Old Perlican

    Septic System Installation

    $167,884

    $209,855

    $41,971

    Pasadena

    Tipping Drive Water Lines Phase 2

    $616,648

    $616,648

    $308,324

    Pasadena

    Lakeshore/Tipping Drive Sewer Installation

    $471,554

    $471,554

    $235,777

    Point Leamington

    Water main phase 2

    $362,658

    $453,323

    $90,665

    Pool’s Cove

    Water System Improvements

    $269,962

    $337,452

    $67,490

    Port Saunders

    Lift Station #3 and #4

    $253,914

    $317,392

    $63,478

    Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s

    St. Philips WWTP Treatment Expansion

    $434,080

    $325,560

    $325,560

    Rigolet

    Lift Station and Force Main Upgrades

    $251,758

    $314,698

    $62,940

    Roddickton-Bide Arm

    Bide Arm Water Supply Dam Replacement

    $362,734

    $453,417

    $90,683

    Sandy Cove

    Barbour Avenue Water Main Extension

    $193,341

    $214,104

    $42,821

    Springdale

    Main Street (Hemlock to Little Bay Road) Water, Sanitary Sewer and Storm Sewer Installation and Road Resurfacing

    $609,467

    $761,834

    $152,367

    St. Alban’s

    Main Street Water and Sewer Replacement – Phase 1

    $902,029

    $1,127,536

    $225,507

    St. Anthony

    West Street Waterline Upgrading

    $1,342,051

    $1,677,563

    $335,513

    St. Bride’s

    Southside Dam Upgrade and Chlorination System

    $214,141

    $267,676

    $53,535

    St. John’s

    275 Southside Road Ditch Inlet & Storm Sewer

    $725,468

    $544,101

    $544,101

    St. Lunaire-Griquet

    Replace Circular Road Watermain

    $378,540

    $473,175

    $94,635

    Steady Brook

    Sewer Lagoon Upgrade

    $939,824

    $614,127

    $122,826

    Stephenville Crossing

    Seal Cove Road Phase 5, Water Sewer and Storm Replacement

    $626,269

    $782,836

    $156,567

    Stephenville

    Rose Avenue Reconstruction

    $720,152

    $720,152

    $360,076

    Stephenville

    Main Street Reconstruction

    $1,363,088

    $1,363,088

    $681,544

    Swift Current

    Hollet’s Point Well water quality improvement

    $7,255

    $9,068

    $1,814

    Torbay

    North Pond Water Treatment Plant – Phase 2

    $1,088,202

    $816,151

    $816,151

    Torbay

    North Pond Water Treatment Plant – Phase 1

    $344,597

    $258,448

    $258,448

    Twillingate

    Lift station retrofit – Coast Guard Sewage Lift Station and Smith’s Lane

    $253,914

    $317,392

    $63,478

    Wabana

    West Dam Water Supply Phase 4

    $994,704

    $1,243,380

    $504,158

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Southern Area Men’s Health Conference 2025

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    ‘Strong Foundations – Healthy Relationships Matter’ was the theme of this year’s Men’s Health Conference delivered by the Southern Area Men’s Health Steering Group at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre on Thursday 13 March.

    Over 100 representatives from local schools, men’s sheds and men’s health professionals attended the event, which focused on the importance of establishing strong and healthy foundations that support positive relationships at all stages of life.

    Through a series of workshops and discussions, guests received practical tips and tools to support them through their life journey of making better social connections with family and friends, developing healthy hobbies, embracing the power of exercise and signposting to local support services.

    Guest Speaker, Kevin Duggan, Interim Social Care Commissioning Lead, delivered a powerful presentation on building the foundations of strong and healthy relationships between fathers and their children in the early years.

    Workshops explored themes including ‘When Relationships go Wrong’ (lead by Michael Lynch, Men’s Action Network and Adam Murphy, Actor from Co Armagh); ‘Young Men and Why Healthy Relationships Matter’ (lead by Caelan Donnelly and Adam Murphy, Youth Action NI) and ‘Maintaining Healthy Relationships in Later Years’ (lead by Mick Cairns, Lurgan Men’s Shed and Stiofán MacCléirigh, Armagh Men’s Shed).

    Speaking at the event, Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Kyle Savage said: “Research shows that unfortunately men and boys often experience a disproportionate burden of ill-health and die too young due to a range of factors such as poor lifestyle choices, mental health and wellbeing issues and late presentation to health services.

    “Despite many of these conditions being preventable, their prevalence amongst men may, in fact rise in the future, so I am urging men and boys to trust their instincts when it comes to changes in their physical or mental health and to act before it’s too late.

    “Events such as this, are important in raising awareness of the real issues impacting on men and are a positive step in educating men about taking ownership of their health and wellbeing.”

    The steering group is a partnership of practitioners and representatives of services and organisations across the Southern Trust area, with a remit and commitment to improving the health of men in the local area.

    The group was established in 2012 with the purpose to support the development of new approaches to engage with and inform boys and men about health issues, provide a forum for sharing information on local initiatives and identify local need thereby improving the health and wellbeing of boys and men.

    Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough (ABC) Council’s Health Inequalities Team within the Community Development Department, lead on Men’s Health in the Southern Area. The event was funded by the Public Health Agency and Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 16 new trustees appointed to the British Museum, Tate and V&A

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    16 new trustees appointed to the British Museum, Tate and V&A

    Appointees include Claudia Winkleman, June Sarpong, Mariella Frostrup and Vick Hope

    Culture Minister Chris Bryant has announced the appointment of 16 new trustees for the British Museum, the Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum. 

    The new cohort of trustees includes well known TV broadcaster and writer Claudia Winkleman, critically acclaimed British artist and filmmaker Sir Isaac Julien CBE, best selling author and historian Tom Holland and television and radio presenter, journalist and published author Vick Hope and Founder of Lessons at 10 and Co-Founder of the Richmond Project Akshata Murty. It showcases the wide range of talent across our sectors joining DCMS boards.

    In July 2024 Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced a major drive to attract the widest pool of talent to the public appointments system, from leaders to innovators and changemakers across the country to help change lives for the better. 

    Trustees from a wider range of background and industry offer diversity of thought, new ideas, insights and energy to help ensure our institutions continue to represent the people they serve.

    A public appointment is a board role within a public body which is usually appointed by Ministers. Public appointees provide strategic leadership and advice, and bring an external perspective to help some of the nation’s most beloved and vital institutions deliver on their objectives. Trustees of the British Museum, Tate and V&A are appointed by the Prime Minister. 

    Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

    Public appointees help to lead some of the UK’s best known institutions, and these immensely talented individuals with a wide range of personal and professional experience will make great contributions to how they are run and help to promote British soft power abroad.

    These roles are an important part of our cultural infrastructure and I’m delighted that we have 16 new trustees for the V&A, Tate and British Museum.

    The full list of new trustees are: 

    British Museum

    • Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE
    • Tom Holland 
    • Dr. Tiffany Jenkins
    • Martha Kearney
    • Claudia Winkleman

    Tate

    • Nick Clarry
    • Sir Isaac Julien CBE *Jack Kirkland
    • Tim Richards CBE
    • June Sarpong OBE

    V&A

    • Mariella Frostrup
    • Andrew Keith
    • Akshata Murty
    • Nigel Newton CBE
    • Victoria Nwosu-Hope
    • Pedro Pina

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    • DCMS is committed to ensuring that the boards of public bodies benefit from a range of talents, backgrounds, and perspectives, and welcome applications from across the country. To hear about new Public Appointment opportunities, please sign up to the DCMS Appointments Network

    • These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

    • Trustees of the British Museum, Tate and V&A are not remunerated, trustees can claim reasonable expenses which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business. 

    • DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom.  To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply to be a Trustee of a National Museum or Gallery visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Takes Immediate Action to Increase American Mineral Production

    Source: The White House

    INCREASING AMERICAN MINERAL PRODUCTION: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to boost American mineral production, streamline permitting, and enhance national security.  

    • Agencies shall compile a list of all mineral production projects that have submitted a plan of operations, permit application, or any other approval request to that agency in order to expedite the review and advancement of those projects in coordination with the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC).
      • Additional mineral production projects will be considered for FAST-41 status to streamline permitting.
    • New recommendations will be provided to Congress regarding treatment of waste rock, tailings, and mine waste disposal under the Mining Act of 1872.
    • The Secretary of the Interior will prioritize mineral production activities over other types of activities on Federal lands that hold critical mineral deposits.
      • The Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Agriculture, and Secretary of the Interior shall identify additional sites that might be suitable for mineral production activities that can be permitted as soon as possible.
    • The Defense Production Act (DPA) will be used to expand domestic mineral production capacity.
    • Financing, loans, and investment support will be provided for new mineral production projects, including a dedicated critical minerals fund established through the United States International Development Finance Corporation in collaboration with the Department of Defense.
    • The Trump Administration will coordinate with private industry to ensure a stable and resilient domestic supply chain for critical materials, including critical minerals.
    • “Minerals” covered by the order include critical minerals, uranium, copper, potash, gold, and any other element, compound, or material as determined by the Chair of the NEDC, such as coal.

    SECURING AMERICA’S MINERAL FUTURE: President Trump is boosting domestic mineral production to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign minerals, enhance national security, and create jobs.

    • Demand for critical minerals has been dubbed the “gold rush of the 21st century” due to their importance in emerging technologies.
    • The United States currently imports a significant portion of its minerals from foreign countries, creating economic and security risks, despite possessing a vast supply of critical minerals.
      • The United States is 100% import-reliant on at least 15 critical minerals, and imports of nonfuel mineral commodities make up more than half of U.S. consumption.
      • U.S. capacity utilization for the metal mining industry has declined for years.
    • China, Iran, and Russia control large deposits of several minerals critical to the U.S., posing a national security risk.
      • 70% of U.S. imports of rare earths come from China.
    • A strong domestic mineral production industry would ensure U.S. companies can compete globally without overly relying on foreign supply chains.
    • Critical minerals are essential for U.S. military readiness, as they are key components in fighter jets, satellites, submarines, smart bombs, and missile guidance systems.

    PRIORITIZING U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY: President Trump is committed to ending American dependence on hostile foreign powers for critical minerals.

    • Immediately upon returning to office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to make the U.S. “the leading producer and processor of non-fuel minerals, including rare earth minerals.”
    • President Trump also signed an Executive Order advancing the Ambler Access Project, a 211-mile industrial road through Northwest Alaska that enables commercial mining for copper, zinc and other materials.
    • This builds on actions President Trump took in his first term:
      • In 2017, President Trump implemented a Federal strategy to ensure secure and reliable supplies of critical minerals.
      • In 2019, President Trump signed five Presidential Determinations finding that domestic production of rare earth elements and materials is essential to the national defense.
      • In 2020, President Trump declared a National Emergency to expand the domestic mining industry, support mining jobs, alleviate unnecessary permitting delays, and reduce our Nation’s dependence on China for critical minerals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign-funded enterprises increase investment, expand production in east China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Foreign investors have actively increased investment and expanded production in east China’s Fujian Province, expressing enthusiasm for investment and firm confidence in China.

    At the engine overhaul workshop of Taikoo Engine Services (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., an engineering branch of the multinational company Swire Group, maintenance engineers are busy repairing dozens of engines. Founded in 2008, the enterprise is a global one-stop aviation maintenance base in Xiamen.

    Simon Smith, director and general manager of the company, said that they saw revenue grow by over 30 percent in 2024. Moreover, he anticipates continued growth, projecting a compound annual growth rate of at least 5 percent for the next decade.

    According to Smith, the enterprise plans to invest around 100 million U.S. dollars in new technology and product development over the next few years. “We are going to invest in 4D inspection technologies, drone robotics, and AI technology, and build a 9,500-square-meter expansion to our facility which should be completed by January 2026,” he said.

    For Smith, the Chinese market is both huge and important, and it will continue to be central to their opportunities in the future. “The aviation market is growing in China, and it presents a lot of opportunities to grow with it,” he said.

    Alu Rehab (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Germany-headquartered Meyra Group, a global leader in wheelchairs and rehabilitation aids, has been a witness to China’s steady development over the years. In 2024, they enjoyed a record year in both turnover and the number of units sold.

    “The potential of China is huge. Our sales in the Chinese market over the last two years have increased. We have just talked to the distributors about this year and they are very optimistic for 2025,” said Jan Laegaard Broni, Meyra Group’s executive vice president. “So for sure, we’ll put more focus into domestic sales and activities in China.”

    “We always invest in research and development (R&D). This is what we have done for the last 15 years — investing in the future in China because we have always believed the potential is there,” he said.

    The new Xiamen Industrial Park, currently under construction and intended for rental by Schneider Electric, is more than double the size of its existing factory in Xiamen. It is expected to double its production capacity over the next five years.

    “The park will become a major R&D center, manufacturing center and supply hub for Schneider Electric to serve the global medium voltage market, which shows that the company has been optimistic about the Chinese market and we are determined to deepen the operations in Xiamen,” said Frederic Godemel, executive vice president, energy management, Schneider Electric.

    According to Godemel, China has always been an important source of innovation for Schneider Electric globally. Schneider Electric will continue to reinforce the “China Hub” strategy and continue to increase investment in innovation.

    In recent years, foreign investors have maintained strong enthusiasm for investing in Fujian, further deepening their presence in the Chinese market.

    Data show that in 2024, there were 102 newly introduced projects with an investment of more than 1 billion yuan (about 139.48 million U.S. dollars) each in Fujian Province, with the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises increasing by 9.7 percent. By the end of 2024, more than 75,000 enterprises had been set up by foreign investors in Fujian, and the actual use of foreign investment exceeded 150 billion U.S. dollars.

    In 2024, Fujian formulated and implemented a slew of measures to improve the quality and efficiency of foreign investment and protect the national treatment of foreign-invested enterprises. In February this year, China issued an action plan to stabilize foreign investment in 2025. Per the plan, China will support pilot regions in effectively implementing opening-up policies related to such areas as value-added telecommunication, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, providing whole-journey services for foreign-invested projects in these sectors.

    “China’s proposal of high-quality development and new quality productive forces will undoubtedly bring more development opportunities for multinational enterprises. The Chinese market is very attractive. Schneider Electric is full of confidence in deepening our presence in the Chinese market,” said Godemel. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Network smuggling migrants between Spain and France busted in Marseille

    Source: Europol

    Europol supported the French National Police (Police Nationale/OLTIM) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in dismantling an organised criminal network smuggling migrants from Spain to France.The investigation was initiated in November 2022 and targeted individuals, based in Marseille, suspected of smuggling migrants between Spain and France. Europol’s analysis of the operational data made it possible to identify additional suspects…

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Delegation of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus visited the Polytechnic University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    A delegation of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus (NAS RB) visited Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The meeting took place as part of the delegation’s visit to the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPbB RAS). The Polytechnic University hosted key events aimed at developing scientific and technical cooperation. The delegation was headed by Academician-Secretary of the Department of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science of the NAS of Belarus Alexander Shumilin, and also included Director of the Institute of Applied Physics of the NAS RB Mikhail Kheifets and Director of the Institute of Physics of the NAS RB, Academician Sergei Gaponenko.

    Rector of SPbPU, Chairman of the SPbB RAS Andrey Rudskoy after a working meeting with colleagues from the NAS RB emphasized: Our partnership with the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus is a driver for the creation of breakthrough technologies. The joint efforts of our scientists are forming the scientific potential of Russia and Belarus, strengthening the technological sovereignty of the Union State.

    The program of the visit began with a tour of the Main Academic Building and a visit to the SPbPU History Museum, where the delegation became acquainted with the university’s heritage and the achievements of the great polytechnic engineers.

    The guests visited the laboratories of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications (IEIT), identified points of mutual interest and topics for future joint research, which will be included in the roadmap for cooperation currently being formed. The meeting participants discussed cooperation in the field of photonics, including the development of entirely domestic components.

    In the laboratories of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport (IMMT), the delegation saw the latest developments in the field of additive technologies and powder metallurgy, and also got acquainted with the practical results of the joint project of SPbPU and the O. V. Roman Institute of Powder Metallurgy of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus.

    Representatives of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus learned about the areas of activity of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” and, in general, the “Ecosystem of Technological Development of SPbPU “Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies”, which provides training of engineers with world-class competencies for high-tech industries. They were shown joint projects of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” with the State Scientific Institution “United Institute of Mechanical Engineering” and the Physical-Mechanical Institute of SPbPU with the State Scientific Institution “Institute of Heat and Mass Transfer named after A.V. Lykov”.

    The participants discussed possible areas of joint work, particularly noting the sphere of standardization and metrology, the use of virtual modeling to solve problems of the mechanical engineering industry of Belarus. The guests were interested in the developments of the laboratory “Industrial systems of streaming data processing” of the SPbPU PISh “Digital Engineering” in the field of algorithms and systems for collecting and analyzing data.

    The delegation of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus expressed special interest in developing cooperation in the field of applied physics and the space sector, given that the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus oversees interaction with Roscosmos. Belarusian colleagues noted that SPbPU’s experience in additive technologies and digital modeling can become the basis for new initiatives within the framework of the Union State programs, such as modernization of satellite systems and training of personnel for the space industry.

    An important event was the working meeting, at which the parties discussed priority areas of cooperation: biomedical systems, quality management in technical projects and applied physics. Particular attention was paid to the organization of a joint dissertation council and the further implementation of the cooperation roadmap. The discussion was attended by the Vice-Rector for International Affairs of SPbPU Dmitry Arsenyev, Director of the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology Andrey Vasin, Director of the Higher School of Biomedical Systems and Technology Olga Vlasova, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration (LMN) Ilya Bezprozvanny, Chief Scientific Secretary of the Scientific Certification Commission Tatyana Kudryavtseva, Professor of the Higher School of Fundamental Physics Research Vadim Korablyov, Head of the International Cooperation Department Vladimir Khizhnyak.

    The delegates also visited the Polytechnic Supercomputer Center, where they discussed with professors of the Higher School of Artificial Intelligence Vladimir Zaborovsky and Lev Utkin the problems of using artificial intelligence for supercomputer calculations and the capabilities of SPbPU in modeling complex engineering problems.

    The day continued with a concert “The Magic of the Organ” in the White Hall of SPbPU.

    The negotiations confirmed that our joint projects are not only fundamental research, but also applied practical developments that can form the basis for a technological breakthrough of the Union State, noted Academician-Secretary of the Department of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Alexander Shumilin.

    At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to intensify student exchanges and prepare new applications for grants within the framework of the programs of the St. Petersburg Science Foundation, the Russian Science Foundation and the Union State.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Increased grass verge maintenance schedule to begin following budget approval

    Source: City of Oxford

    An updated roadside grass verge maintenance schedule will start next week, following budget approval from Oxford City Council last month. 

    Oxford City Council manages the majority of grass highways in Oxford, as part of a service on behalf of – and paid for – by Oxfordshire County Council. Grass verges in Oxford are then mown by ODS on behalf of the Councils. 

    In 2023, Oxfordshire County Council introduced a new verge maintenance policy, which resulted in grass verges in Oxford being cut once a year.  

    Now, following significant public feedback and budget approval in February 2025, Oxford City Council will be funding two additional cuts for the majority of verges across the city, alongside the single cut paid for by Oxfordshire County Council. 

    Roadside grass verges – cut three times a year 

    Roadside grass verges across Oxford will now be cut at least three times a year, with the first cut to take place no later than the end of April/early May. This year (2025), the first scheduled cut is expected to start the week of 24 March.  

    The exact timing of all three cuts will be subject to weather conditions and rainfall throughout the spring and summer – which can influence how fast grass grows. This approach will allow the Council to respond flexibly, rather than following a set schedule. 

    Grass cuttings will be left on verges after they have been cut.  

    The Council will also continue to continue to mow grass verges near junctions where visibility is required all year round. Residents can report their concerns about grass verges impacting visibility, on FixMyStreet.    

    Biodiversity verges – cut once a year 

    The exception to this will be nine dedicated biodiversity grass verges around the city. These nine biodiversity verges have been identified as biodiverse habitats, following an ecological assessment.  

    These biodiversity grass verges will only be mown once a year in September and the cuttings removed. This ‘cut and collect’ helps to suppress grass growth and create the ground conditions favoured by wildflowers, helping to support biodiversity.  

    The locations of these verges are: 

    • Abberbury Road Roundabout  
    • Abingdon Road (bottom of): Verges adjacent to Redbridge Paddock  
    • Church Cowley Road: The bank along the outside of Rose Hill Cemetery  
    • Eastern Bypass Central Reservation
    • Grenoble Road: Verges along the open field side of this road, from the roundabout junction with Guelder Road down to the roundabout junction with Watlington Road 
    • Green Road: The verges along the Risinghurst side of the Green Road adjacent to the Eastern Bypass up to the Risinghurst Turn
    • Marston Ferry Road: The verges along the western side of the road, from the junction with Cherwell Drive up to the River Cherwell  
    • Oxford Road, New Marston: The central reservation from the junction with Rippington Drive to the junction with Cherwell Drive  
    • Sunderland Avenue: The verges along both sides of this road 

    Communal gardens and parks

    Grass in parks/green spaces, and communal gardens are cut on a separate schedule to grass verges.

    Grass in parks and green spaces are cut eight times a year, along with additional litter picking at peak times. Football and playing pitches in parks are maintained as short grass for sports matches during the football season from August until the end of May. 

    Communal gardens in Council homes will be cut fortnightly between March and October – subject to weather conditions. 

    Supporting biodiversity 

    In addition to dedicated biodiversity verges, the Council has several initiatives to support biodiversity across Oxford, including:  

    • Dead wood habitats in parks and green spaces
    • Long grass in selected areas/on the edges of parks and nature areas 
    • Annual tree planting across the city
    • Supporting community orchard planting 

    You can read more about the Council’s grass cutting schedule and approach on the grass verges webpage. 

    “This new grass verge approach follows significant public feedback from residents across Oxford, while also taking into consideration the need for different habitats for biodiversity. As always we will be continuing to maintain verges near junctions, and any concerns can be reported to us on FixMyStreet.” 

    Councillor Chewe Munkonge, Cabinet Member for a Healthy Oxford 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish wildfires must serve as alarm bell for climate disaster

    Source: Scottish Greens

    21 Mar 2025 Climate Nature

    Climate efforts must be ramped up to reduce the risk of lasting damage

    More in Climate

    Ongoing wildfires and warnings must serve as an alarm bell for Scotland’s climate, warns Scottish Greens MSP Ariane Burgess.

    The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued several wildfire warnings across the Highlands, with further alerts being issued across the Lowlands as the weather gets warmer and people spend more time outdoors.

    Ms Burgess, who is the party’s spokesperson for rural affairs, says our climate efforts must be ramped up if we are to reduce the risk of lasting damage through extreme weather events like wildfires.

    Ms Burgess said:

    “A lot of people are very worried about the threat of further wildfires, particularly in the Highlands.

    “Scotland has some of Europe’s most iconic and renowned landscapes. But, with global temperatures rising, this natural beauty is under a very real and growing threat.

    “Our environment and the safety of our communities hang in the balance. Wildfires can destroy habitats, and that has a knock-on effect for the rest of us. We cannot afford to let that happen.

    “These warnings must be an alarm bell for our climate. We are on the frontline of the crisis. If we don’t pay attention and make conscious changes now there won’t be any nature or life left to enjoy.”

    Ms Burgess added:

    “Our fire-fighters are risking their lives to protect ours and to keep us safe.

    “It is incumbent on the Scottish and UK Governments to ensure that all firefighters have the equipment and facilities required to keep as safe as possible, and to ensure we raise the awareness with the public about the increased risks and consequences of wildfires.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Green MSP wins top award for free-to-air football campaign

    Source: Scottish Greens

    21 Mar 2025 Sport

    Scotland men’s national side games are now on free-to-air television after years of campaigns by Gillian Mackay MSP.

    More in Sport

    Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay has received a prestigious award from Scottish Football fans for her campaign to get the Scotland men’s team on free-to-view TV. Today Ms Mackay received the Scottish Football Supporter’s Association chairman’s award alongside former SNP MP Gavin Newlands.

    Last night’s Scotland win was the first match to be aired on free-to-view television after years of campaigning by the Scottish Greens and fan organisations to make football accessible for all.

    The SFSA annual award winners were announced on BBC’s Off the Ball last month just ahead of the decision being made to bring the men’s games back onto terrestrial television for fans across Scotland.

    Ms Mackay said:

    “Watching Scotland win last night was great, and so is the fact that households all over the country were able to do so on free-to-view television.

    “I’m absolutely honoured to be receiving this award. It is really lovely that the work and campaign is being recognised by the fans.

    “Without the years of campaigning from fan organisations we wouldn’t be here in the first place, and I am grateful to have played a part in pushing forward to get Men’s football over the line and on to free-to-air television, just like the Women’s side have had for some time now.

    “Football is for the fans, and financial or geographical barriers shouldn’t be a reason to stop people enjoying and supporting Scotland’s national side. 

    “My hope is that last night’s match aired on television will feel like a big win for Scotland fans everywhere and serve as inspiration for the future generation to fall in love with football.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Busani Ngcaweni, Visiting Adjunct Professor, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand

    The persistent challenge of falsified or misrepresented qualifications in South Africa exposes serious shortcomings in recruitment and appointment processes. Although the scale of the problem is difficult to quantify, it’s considered to be reaching “pandemic” levels. It is worse in the public sector.

    The problem became so serious that government introduced the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act in 2019, making it a criminal offence to misrepresent qualifications. It is punishable by up to five years in prison.

    Yet the scourge continues, despite severe personal and professional consequences for some.

    The alarmingly high number of individuals pretending to be qualified for high-profile positions undermines trust and capability in organisations.

    There have been cases involving top executives and directors of parastatals. Some major companies have not been spared.

    Once unsuitable people occupy positions of responsibility, it is difficult to remove them. Their performance seldom improves because they lack the foundation.

    Their incompetence can affect institutions severely because they can make wrong decisions that result in financial losses. The South African Broadcasting Corporation, for instance, suffered financially due to poor decisions made by unqualified executives.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s public service: real spending is falling, but demand is growing

    Some municipalities with unqualified personnel often hire expensive consultants.

    Teachers with fraudulent credentials compromise quality education. This deprives children of opportunities to better their lives.

    Unscrupulous individuals have also been caught masquerading as medical doctors, putting lives at risk.

    Important infrastructure projects have collapsed owing to fake engineers.

    I am a researcher and practitioner of public sector reforms. I also head the National School of Government, which leads the drive to make the country’s public sector professional. I argue that to deter qualifications fraud, the management of human resources in the public sector must be professional.

    South Africa can draw lessons from the private sector and other governments.

    Loopholes in the system

    The National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act is aimed at deterring fraudulent qualifications. Some people have gone to jail for this crime.

    But measures to deter and punish it must be complemented by human resources management reforms.

    In my view, poor human resource screening processes, inadequate verification systems and ambiguous job descriptions and entry requirements contribute to appointing unsuitable candidates.

    The weekly public sector vacancies circular, published by the Department of Public Service and Administration, is a major source of data showing these limitations. It’s full of job advertisements where the minimum qualifications requirements are either too wide or below standard.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s public service is dysfunctional – the 5 main reasons why

    Some of the people who recruit and select staff are negligent. They fail to conduct thorough background checks or to screen applicants properly. This results in the appointment of unqualified and fraudulent candidates.

    Learning from the private sector

    The private sector, driven by competitive pressures and stakeholder expectations, developed robust systems to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of human resource functions. These systems can guide public sector reforms.

    Companies invest in advanced technologies and third-party verification services. They use agencies to check candidates’ fingerprints, verify qualifications, find references, and even do personality profiles.

    In contrast, public sector human resources personnel often rely on manual processes. These consume time and are prone to inaccuracies and manipulation. They can also be cumbersome as junior and middle management job advertisements often attract thousands of applicants.

    The private sector uses well-defined competency frameworks. These outline the skills, knowledge and experience required to evaluate a candidate.



    Read more:
    Africa should be building private-public partnerships in education

    Many private sector human resources practitioners belong to professional bodies. These enforce ethical standards. They also certify practitioners and promote ongoing professional development.

    Businesses also employ licensed and professional human resources practitioners. These are expected to be innovative, productive and ethical, and to act in the best interests of their employers. They can be dismissed if they lose their professional licence. These are guardrails against abuse.

    Learning from other governments

    India, China, South Korea, Singapore and several European nations have stringent public sector recruitment and selection methods. They emphasise merit and transparency to ensure only qualified and competent people are appointed.

    India’s Union Public Service Commission conducts a highly competitive civil services examination to recruit candidates.

    China uses the National Civil Service Examination, known as the Guokao. It evaluates candidates’ intellectual aptitude, policy knowledge and professional skills for jobs in government ministries and state-owned enterprises.

    South Korea’s Civil Service Examination system is a rigorous process which tests candidates’ analytical and managerial capabilities.

    Singapore is known for its efficient government. It employs structured assessment centres, psychometric testing and panel interviews to ensure capable people join the public sector.



    Read more:
    South Africa has a plan to make its public service professional. It’s time to act on it

    To uphold high standards of professionalism and integrity in governance, Germany and France have competitive entrance assessments for civil service roles.

    France’s Institut National du Service Public uses stringent entry requirements to prepare candidates for senior public service.

    South Africa introduced a pre-entry assessment called Nyukela/Step Up in 2020. It is applicable to public servants and citizens who wish to apply for a position in the senior management service.

    Professionalising the public sector

    Cabinet approved the National Framework Towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector in October 2022. It aims to tighten pre-entry requirements and carefully screen applicants. This includes verifying qualifications, testing integrity and assessing competence. The framework requires that public sector entities develop detailed job descriptions.

    The framework will help block fraud by professionalising human resources, supply chain management and legal services, among others. It will help human resources practitioners improve their competencies and make them part of a wider professional network. This is important for continued professional development.

    There will be consequences when officials violate their professional code of ethics. This has worked for lawyers and accountants who are disbarred for ethical and professional breaches.

    The framework gives the Public Service Commission a role in recruiting of heads of departments. This step controls entry to top positions in the civil service. The commission will bring two or more subject matter sector experts into the selection panels, making the process more rigorous.

    Busani Ngcaweni is affiliated with the University of Johannesburg as Senior Research Associate and Wits School of Governance as Visiting Adjunct Professor

    – ref. South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-a-problem-with-people-in-the-public-service-lying-about-their-qualifications-what-needs-to-change-244942

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –