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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine war: how Zelensky rebuilt his relationship with Trump to turn the tables on Putin

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex

    After Donald Trump’s “very good and productive” phone call with Vladimir Putin earlier this week, all eyes were on his subsequent call with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

    Would it, when they last met in the flesh on February 28 at the White House, descend into disastrous acrimony? Or would Zelensky manage to engage with the US president in a cooperative way that encourages him to see Ukraine and its leader in a more favourable light?

    The latter, it seems. In a post on his Truth Social site, Trump referred to their “very good telephone call”, which got the two leaders “very much on track”. Zelensky for his part, talked of a “very good” and “frank” phone call and seemed to agree with everything the US president had to say, taking pains to emphasise and praise Trump and America’s leadership.

    With his vocal support of Trump’s proposal for peace, Zelensky has put the attention back on Putin. He clearly wants to appear to be the more reasonable negotiating partner by going along with the US president’s proposals.

    In spite of Zelensky’s misgivings about how trustworthy Putin is, he has agreed to a limited ceasefire with Russia on energy infrastructure (while stressing that, unlike Putin, he agrees with Trump’s aim for a complete ceasefire).

    Zelensky clearly knows that Russia has a great deal to gain from a pause on attacks on energy grids and oil refineries, given Ukraine’s increasing capacity to use long-range drone attacks. And a maritime ceasefire, if agreed, would also favour Russia.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    But by publicly voicing Ukraine’s support for Trump’s plan for a ceasefire, Zelensky has exposed Putin’s disinterest in stopping hostilities.

    In the call, Zelensky emphasised that Ukraine was happy to support the US call for a ceasefire, without conditions. Putin, meanwhile, in his call with Trump laid out a set of frankly unreasonable demands.

    These included the complete cessation of military aid and intelligence sharing by Ukraine’s allies, including the US. He also demanded a complete halt on Ukrainian troop mobilisation and rearmament.

    The demands were so ridiculous, they were designed to get Ukraine to reject them. Interestingly Trump, when he was interviewed after his phone call with Putin, denied that the pair had discussed aid. Crucially, he didn’t say whether this was something he would agree to.

    But the fact that the two leaders discussed the possibility of an ice hockey match between their two countries is an indication of how Putin is able to manipulate the US president with flattery. It helps that Trump clearly admires Putin and has repeatedly said that he trusts the Russian leader.

    Has Putin overplayed his hand?

    But this could come with a time limit. Trump, who wants a peace deal to trumpet as a crowning achievement, could well get tired of the fact that Putin has made no concessions to allow that deal to progress.

    The Russian leader is clearly hoping that by seeming to engage with the “peace” process, while at the same time dangling the prospect of doing business with Russia – for example by offering the US the chance to explore Russia’s own reserves of rare earth minerals – he can keep Trump on side.

    But while Trump still leans toward Putin, his relationship with Zelensky seems to have improved. The Ukrainian president appears to have learned that Trump doesn’t have a long memory and that flattery goes a long way with the US president.

    Trump, meanwhile, is no longer calling Zelensky a dictator, and as yet there is no mention of halting US military aid or intelligence to Ukraine. There is the opposite, in fact, as the US has said it will assist in finding more Patriot missile defence systems after Zelensky mentioned that they were sorely needed.

    By giving Trump credit for the ceasefire initiative, Zelensky is putting the ball in Russia’s court. And his apparent receptiveness to Trump’s idea about the US taking over Ukraine’s nuclear power plants will appeal to Trump’s transactional instincts. In addition to offering Trump business deals, Zelensky is now consistently offering Trump praise for his peace efforts.

    And it’s clear from the tone of the briefing given by White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, after the call that the US was happy with how it went. Leavitt stressed Zelensky’s praise for Trump’s leadership several times.

    The White House reports on a “fantastic” phone call between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky.

    Zelensky has also successfully turned Trump’s attention to the 35,000 missing children abducted from Ukraine into Russia during the war. The US state department had stopped tracking them and had deleted the evidence it had gathered, but Trump is now vowing to return the children home.

    Putin is generally thought to be stringing these negotiations out as long as possible in order to maximise the amount of Ukrainian territory his army occupies. This could be a risky strategy.

    Ending the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible was one of Trump’s repeated campaign promises. So the question is how long Trump can remain distracted or satisfied by Putin’s false engagement with the peace process.

    The American president seems to be changing his tune on Ukraine more generally. His disastrous Oval Office press conference last month with Zelensky was viewed by some as a ploy to portray Ukraine as a difficult and ungrateful partner compared to Russia who he maintained was only interested in achieving a peaceful end to the war. Now, with Zelensky seemingly agreeing with whatever Trump says, it’s become harder for him to take that line.

    For now, at least, the pressure is back on Putin.

    Natasha Lindstaedt 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. Ukraine war: how Zelensky rebuilt his relationship with Trump to turn the tables on Putin – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-how-zelensky-rebuilt-his-relationship-with-trump-to-turn-the-tables-on-putin-252693

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tyrannical leader? Why comparisons between Trump and King George III miss the mark on 18th-century British monarchy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Carla Gardina Pestana, Professor and Joyce Appleby Endowed Chair of America in the World, University of California, Los Angeles

    Are there legitimate comparisons between President Donald Trump and King George III? Rebecca Noble/Getty Images; Kean Collection/Getty Images

    George III, king of Great Britain and its colonies at the time of the American Revolution, has been maligned unfairly.

    During both the first and now the second term of President Donald Trump, commentators in the U.S. have invoked the king’s misdeeds to criticize Trump. When the president bypassed Congress to create a new government agency, appointed its head and stopped payment of millions of dollars of allocated federal funds, his critics noted that he assumed the role of Congress, a power grab that supposedly made him similar to George III. According to this criticism, the president engaged in tyranny, just as the founders accused George of doing.

    As a scholar of early America, I believe, however, that George III has gotten a bad rap. He was not the all-powerful monarch that Trump allegedly aspires to be.

    In the 1770s, the power of the British king was limited by the authority of Parliament. In that system, which Americans and others praised at the time as balanced, the king and the legislature each had specific duties and powers so that neither could control the government alone.

    George III was not an absolutist monarch, to use the language of the day for a power-hungry ruler. The English had struggled in the previous century over the extent of the king’s power. After fighting two civil wars, executing one king, and, eventually, forcing the monarch to agree to rule with Parliament rather than on his own, they believed their liberties were safeguarded.

    This system, known as limited monarchy, was the pride of Great Britain. It was also admired by the American founders. As late as 1774, in his Summary View of the Rights of British America, Thomas Jefferson praised the “free and ancient principles” of the British constitution in which “kings are the servants, not the proprietors of the people.”

    Trump has been compared with King George III by many writers and commentators; the White House on Feb. 19, 2024, issued the fake magazine cover of Trump crowned like a king.
    Various

    No kingly tyranny

    Britons, whether in Great Britain or the colonies, did fear a tyrant, a controlling and abusive leader.

    Some fears came from their study of political theory, which taught that government worked best when composed of various branches that represented the concerns of the different political classes.

    As this theory went, an unbalanced government would descend into tyranny with a too-powerful monarch; oligarchy under a dominant aristocratic class; or anarchy with the people out of control. They believed these perils could be avoided only by maintaining balance.

    Even though the British did not fear imbalance or a tyrant king in their own case, they could see the danger threatening elsewhere in Europe.

    France represented a worst-case scenario. Its absolutist kings had ruled without France’s legislature – the Estates General – for more than a century and a half at the time of the American Revolution. British poet Robert Wolseley’s often reprinted poem declared: “Let France grow proud beneath the tyrant’s lust, While the rackt people crawl and lick the dust. The mighty Genius of this isle disdains Ambitious slavery and golden chains.”

    Within a few years, Anglo-American criticism of kingly tyranny in France would be validated: That country descended into a violent revolution that resulted in decades of warfare and political violence, including the execution of the entire royal family.

    This experience confirmed for the British and Americans that a balanced system was best and that they should count their blessings.

    Why revolt?

    A list of grievances held by the American Colonies against King George III, set down in Thomas Jefferson’s first draft of the American Declaration of Independence, which ultimately included 27 grievances against the king.
    MPI/Getty Images

    If the American revolutionaries admired the British system and sought to copy it in the United States, why did they reject the link to Britain and revolt in the first place?

    Americans did not revolt against the nature of British government. Rather they objected to their changing place within the British Empire. The revolutionary crisis had a number of roots, but most of them arose out of changes in the management of the relationship between the American Colonies and the imperial center.

    From the 1760s, the British government took a more activist role in its American Colonies, limiting their geographical expansion and imposing taxes directly on the population. In the past, Colonists had been free to move west, challenged only by the indigenous residents who fought to defend their lands.

    Now the British government, aiming to put an end to these wars, blocked expansion. At the same time, to pay down the debt accrued in recent war with France – and fought in part in North America – the government levied taxes not via the Colonial legislatures, as it had before, but directly on residents. This change sparked revolt and, eventually, revolution.

    Turning on the king

    American Colonists pull down a statue of King George III in New York City during the American Revolution.
    Corbis via Getty Images

    Before 1776, the Colonists believed that George III would come to their rescue and halt these changes imposed by Parliament. They thought initially that he did not realize how the new policies affected them.

    Only in 1776 did they accept that George III supported the policy changes and would not defend their rights. It was in that context that they turned on him and declared him tyrannical, blaming him for the new policies and calling for a break with Britain. As the Declaration of Independence said: “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

    Although they complained about the tyranny of George III, their true objection was that their subordinate position within the empire gave them little leverage when opposing policies that king and Parliament agreed to impose on them.

    Once independent, the founders created a system that imitated the British model of mixed governance and created barriers – the powers of Congress and the oversight of the Supreme Court – that they hoped would safeguard their liberties against the threat of renewed tyranny.

    Carla Gardina Pestana 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. Tyrannical leader? Why comparisons between Trump and King George III miss the mark on 18th-century British monarchy – https://theconversation.com/tyrannical-leader-why-comparisons-between-trump-and-king-george-iii-miss-the-mark-on-18th-century-british-monarchy-251869

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Metro – Driverless Train in the Capital’s Metro: Launch of the First Stage

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Metro

    Preparations have begun for the launch of a driverless train in the Moscow metro. At the first stage, it will run at night with a driver and without passengers, said Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry.

    Driverless Trains on the Moscow Metro.

    This year, we are just beginning the long journey of transferring the metro to an unmanned mode of operation. This will be a train with a driver and without passengers. This is only the beginning of the first stage of a long and difficult journey, given the high traffic intensity. At the first stage, the train will run at night so as not to interfere with regular metro traffic, Liksutov said.

    He noted that at the first stage, a specially equipped train, Moscow-2020, will be used.

    The first stage of the innovative train launch is planned to begin on the Big Circle Line in 2025, on the instructions of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. To operate without a driver, a 5th generation (5G) technological network will be created on the BCL, providing reliable and ultra-fast communication with the infrastructure.

    The launch of unmanned traffic will be a historic event for the capital’s metro.

    This innovative project has significant potential. It will serve as a platform for new technological solutions. Our priorities are safety and maintaining the shortest peak hour intervals in the world. After the BCL, we will gradually introduce the technology on other lines, – added Maxim Liksutov.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 03/20/2025, 10:06 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for security RU000A105898 (IADOM 1P21) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    03/20/2025

    10:06

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 20.03.2025, 10-06 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 73.23) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 567.34 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 21.25%) of the security RU000A105898 (IADOM 1P21) were changed.

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

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

    HTTPS: //VVV. MEEX.K.M.M.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 03/20/2025, 10-15 (Moscow time) the values of the lower boundary of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A100YQ0 (Rosnft2P9) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    03/20/2025

    10:15

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on March 20, 2025, 10:15 (Moscow time), the values of the lower limit of the price corridor (up to 80.08) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 776.14 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 11.25%) of the RU000A100YQ0 (Rosnft2P9) security were changed.

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

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

    HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.MO/N78667

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 03/20/2025, 10:25 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A0ZYJ91 (FSK RS B4) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    03/20/2025

    10:25

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 20.03.2025, 10-25 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 106.89) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1112.15 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 7.5%) of the security RU000A0ZYJ91 (FSK RS B4) were changed.

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

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

    HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.MO/N78669

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 03/20/2025, 10:32 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A0JT403 (VEB.RF 18) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    03/20/2025

    10:32

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 20.03.2025, 10-32 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 103.57) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1153.8 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 6.25%) of the security RU000A0JT403 (VEB.RF 18) were changed.

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

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 03/20/2025, 10:42 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A0ZZ1N0 (DOM 1P-3R) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    03/20/2025

    10:42

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 20.03.2025, 10-42 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 107.37) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1197.01 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 7.5%) of the security RU000A0ZZ1N0 (DOM 1P-3R) were changed.

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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: 90 international friendship clubs unite young Russians and representatives of more than 140 countries

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    March 20, 2025

    International friendship clubs have opened all over Russia.

    International friendship clubs have opened all over Russia – in 89 regions of the country and in the federal territory of Sirius. The flagship project of the World Youth Festival (WYF) Directorate is aimed at strengthening international cooperation between young people from regions of Russia and foreign countries.

    According to the instructions of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, international friendship clubs became a continuation of the program “Cultural Patronage”, during which at the 2024 WFM each foreign delegation was assigned a supervising region of the Russian Federation. Young Russians helped representatives of foreign delegations to get to know the history, traditions and culture of the peoples of our country better. Russian participants of international friendship clubs are establishing cooperation with representatives of 142 countries.

    “International friendship clubs make an important contribution to the development of the federal project “Russia in the World”, the national project “Youth and Children” and the preservation of the legacy of the World Youth Festival, which was held with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In total, 90 international friendship clubs have opened in our country since 2024. They have united young Russians and representatives of more than 140 countries. During this period, the clubs held 580 events, in which about 30 thousand people took part. Such results show that young people from various countries want to develop joint projects with children from Russia,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The work of international friendship clubs is structured along five tracks: media, entrepreneurship, civic activity, regional specifics, and the creation of youth communities.

    “The importance of developing international youth cooperation is confirmed by the steady interest in joint activities of representatives of the younger generation from different countries. We see how young people from Russia and abroad strive to communicate, establish friendly and partnership ties, and create joint projects and initiatives. International friendship clubs began to form in the regions of Russia in August last year, and during this time, about 17 thousand Russians and more than 12 thousand young people from abroad have joined them. This once again confirms that, despite any difficulties, young people strive to establish contacts for the sake of the future and a just world,” said the head of Rosmolodezh Grigory Gurov.

    The final openings took place in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. Thus, as part of the ceremonial event, the youth of Bryansk were addressed by their peers from partner countries – Pakistan and Belarus.

    “Today marks a milestone in our journey to strengthen people-to-people ties. Our club aims to foster constructive relationships, promote cultural understanding and celebrate the diversity of our countries. This is a wonderful way to build mutual understanding, respect and trust,” said International Friendship Club member Mustafa Aamir from Pakistan.

    The participants of the grand opening were representatives of the region’s creative youth, foreign citizens, volunteers and participants of the World Youth Festival and honored guests. During the event, representatives of creative youth from Russia and abroad performed dance and vocal numbers.

    “This event symbolizes the beginning of a new stage in the development of our international relations, cultural exchange and mutual understanding between peoples. Bryansk region has always been known for its openness and hospitality. We believe that this club will become a meeting place for people united by common interests and goals,” noted the representative of Belarus Maria Yurkova.

    The opening of the International Friendship Club of Kursk Region was attended by specialists implementing events on international cooperation, representatives of student communities, including foreign students, and activists from various fields. Within the framework of the International Friendship Club, the youth of Kursk Region interacts with young leaders from Bolivia.

    In addition, during the opening of the friendship clubs of the Kursk and Bryansk regions, ceremonies were held to award commemorative medals for contributions to the preparation and holding of the 2024 WFM.

    The World Youth Festival was held from March 1 to 7, 2024, in Sirius with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Its key goal is to develop international youth cooperation. 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries took part in the WYF-2024.

    According to the instructions of the head of state, the WFM will be held in Russia on a regular basis – once every six years, and every six years 10 thousand young people from all over the world will gather at the forum. Between these events, international thematic gatherings will be held under the auspices of the WFM.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Patrushev: Among the priority tasks of Roshydromet is deepening integration with other departments

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    March 20, 2025

    Dmitry Patrushev spoke at a meeting of the Roshydromet board “On the activities of Roshydromet in 2024 and tasks for 2025.”

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev spoke at a meeting of the Roshydromet board “On the activities of Roshydromet in 2024 and tasks for 2025”. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that many areas depend on the timeliness and accuracy of Roshydromet information, so it is necessary to constantly build up competencies, improving the quality of forecasting.

    “Over the years of its work, Roshydromet has built a multifunctional structure that combines human, scientific and technological potential. As a result, today the federal service is among the top five in the world. Such recognition from the professional community is very significant. You are truly implementing unique projects that have no analogues. Among your priority tasks for 2025 and for the future should be deepening integration with other departments and taking into account their needs when forming forecasts. The ability to quickly respond to adverse natural phenomena – including floods, fires, abnormal precipitation or drought – is a matter of ensuring the safety of the population and the stable functioning of the economy,” said Dmitry Patrushev.

    Speaking about the development of the Strategy for Activities in the Field of Hydrometeorology for the Period up to 2036, the Deputy Prime Minister recommended involving experts from the maximum number of industries interested in forecasts.

    In addition, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, digitalization provides opportunities for the development of interdepartmental dialogue. Roshydromet operates more than 85 software products, and a single platform of industry services is also being created.

    Dmitry Patrushev emphasized the importance of continuing the modernization of the state monitoring network. The relevant measures were previously included in the national project “Ecology”, and individual areas are included in the new national project “Ecological Well-being”.

    “The improvement of your observation methods should be based as much as possible on your own scientific and practical base. Roshydromet is quite active in this area. In particular, the ice-resistant self-propelled platform “North Pole” was built at the Admiralty Shipyards using federal funds. This is one of the unique projects that has no analogues in the world. In 2024, the first drifting Arctic polar expedition was completed on its basis, and now the platform is on its second expedition. It will provide an opportunity to obtain additional data on territories that have never been surveyed by Russian scientists before,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    In 2025, specialists from the Russian Antarctic expedition have already completely moved to the new wintering complex of the Vostok station in Antarctica. The station is equipped with the most modern equipment, thanks to which polar explorers can work comfortably, fully providing scientific research in Antarctica. In October last year, the vessel Ivan Frolov was laid down. It should become the world’s largest scientific expedition vessel for Antarctica.

    In 2024, six meteorological satellites were launched, bringing the total to 20. In 2025, preparations are planned for flight tests of several more spacecraft.

    Roshydromet, as part of the implementation of the order of the President of Russia, has created a state system of instrumental monitoring of permafrost. Thanks to this, it has become possible for the first time to monitor its dynamics.

    Dmitry Patrushev particularly noted that, on the instructions of the President of Russia, 24 billion rubles will be allocated to increase the salaries of Roshydromet employees in the coming years, and a separate “road map” is being developed to create a system of high-quality personnel training on the instructions of the Government. Its implementation will lead to an increase in enrollment in specialized educational institutions and will help the industry to train real professionals.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Metro – Driverless Train in the Capital Metro: Launch of the First Stage

    Source:  Moscow Metro

    Preparations have begun for the launch of a driverless train in the Moscow metro. In the first stage, it will operate at night with a driver and without passengers, reported Maksim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry.

    Driverless Trains on the Moscow Metro.

    We are just starting this year on a long journey to transition the metro to driverless operation. This will involve a train with a driver and no passengers. This is just the starting first stage of a long and challenging path, considering the high intensity of traffic. In the first stage, the train will operate at night to avoid interfering with the regular metro service, – said Liksutov.

    He noted that a specially equipped train Moskva-2020 will be used for the first stage.

    The first stage of the innovative train launch is planned to begin on the Big Circle Line in 2025, as instructed by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. A 5th generation (5G) technological network will be created to facilitate driverless operation on the BCL, ensuring reliable and ultra-fast communication with the infrastructure.

    The launch of driverless operation will be a historic event for the capital metro.

    This innovative project has significant potential. It will serve as a platform for new technological solutions. Our priorities are safety and maintaining the shortest peak-hour intervals in the world. After the BCL, we will gradually implement the technology on other lines, – added Maksim Liksutov.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta Announces $50 Million Available Through 2025 Affordable Housing Program General Fund

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLBank Atlanta) will allocate $50 million through its 2025 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund, which opens for applications on April 21, 2025. Developers and housing organizations partner with a FHLBank Atlanta member financial institution to apply for grant funding to support affordable housing projects that involve the purchase, construction and rehabilitation of owner-occupied, rental, or transitional housing.

    This year, FHLBank Atlanta is increasing the maximum subsidy amount per project to $1.25 million, up from $1 million in 2024, given the current market environment of higher construction costs and home prices.  

    “Each year we offer the AHP General Fund to provide much needed support for the development of affordable housing, and we are pleased to work with our members to distribute grants to worthwhile projects across our district,” said FHLBank Atlanta President and CEO Kirk Malmberg. “Importantly, our funds assist both for-profit and non-profit developers and community organizations to increase single family and multifamily affordable housing inventory.”

    AHP General Fund applications will be accepted through May 22, 2025. A one-time registration is required by May 9, 2025 for all first-time AHP project sponsors. Visit the FHLBank Atlanta website for information on registration as well as webinars detailing the application process, scoring and financial guidelines.

    “The General Fund plays a vital role in addressing housing challenges by funding a range of projects from new construction to adaptive reuse and expansion initiatives,” said FHLBank Atlanta Director of Community Investment Services Tomeka Strickland. “We look forward to another successful year of collaboration with our members and community partners to drive meaningful, lasting change in the housing sector.”

    Developers or community organizations seeking to identify an FHLBank Atlanta member financial institution can visit the Bank’s Find a Member page, or contact Community Investment Services at 800.536.9650, Option 3 or ahpprog@fhlbatl.com.

    About FHLBank Atlanta
    FHLBank Atlanta offers competitively-priced financing, community development grants, and other banking services to help member financial institutions make affordable home mortgages and provide economic development credit to neighborhoods and communities. The Bank’s members are commercial banks, credit unions, savings institutions, community development financial institutions, and insurance companies located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. FHLBank Atlanta is one of 11 district Banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Since 1990, the FHLBanks have awarded approximately $9.1 billion in Affordable Housing Program funds, assisting more than 1.2 million households.  

    For more information, visit www.fhlbatl.com.

    CONTACT: Sheryl Touchton
    Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
    stouchton@fhlbatl.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Data Storage Corporation to Participate in the 2025 iAccess Alpha Virtual Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MELVILLE, N.Y., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) (“DSC” and the “Company”), a leading provider of multi-cloud hosting, managed cloud services, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, and IT automation, that integrates with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud,  today announced that its management will be participating in the iAccess Alpha Virtual Best Ideas Spring Investment Conference 2025 being held March 25 and 26, 2025.

    Why Investors Should Tune In:

    • Gain insight into DSC’s expanding footprint in cloud hosting and IT modernization.
    • Learn about the Company’s scalable, secure, and high-performance cloud solutions.
    • Understand how DSC leverages partnerships with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud to drive innovation.

    Chuck Piluso, CEO of Data Storage Corporation, and Chris Panagiotakos, CFO of Data Storage Corporation, will be presenting at 10:00 a.m. ET on March 25, sharing insights into DSC’s business strategy, growth trajectory, and market opportunities. Management will also participate in one-on-one meetings with investors on March 26. The live webcast of the Company’s presentation will be available at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/3083/52117, and a replay will be accessible afterward. The presentation will also be available on the company’s website under the “News & Events” tab, https://www.dtst.com/news-events/ir-calendar.

    For more information about the iAccess Alpha Virtual Best Ideas Spring Investment Conference 2025, or to register and schedule a one-on-one meeting with Data Storage Corporation, please visit the conference website at: https://www.iaccessalpha.com/home.

    About Data Storage Corporation
    Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) through its subsidiaries is a leading provider of multi-cloud hosting, fully managed cloud services, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, IT automation, and voice & data solutions. Recognizing that data migration is a critical step in transitioning from on-premises systems to the cloud, DTST provides comprehensive migration services to ensure seamless, secure, and efficient data transfer, minimizing downtime and optimizing performance.

    Through its CloudFirst platform, built on IBM Power Cloud infrastructure, DTST delivers high-performance, scalable, and secure cloud solutions with interoperability across its infrastructure partners, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

    With data centers supporting cloud platform deployments across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, DTST provides mission-critical cloud services to a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations.

    As a leader in the multi-billion-dollar cloud hosting and business continuity market, DTST is recognized for its expertise in cloud infrastructure, IT modernization, and data migration, enabling clients to transition to the cloud with confidence and operational continuity.

    For more information, please visit www.dtst.com or follow us on X @DataStorageCorp.

    Safe Harbor Provision

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include the Company’s ability to grow its presence in Europe. These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was initially made. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    212-671-1020
    DTST@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NordProtect becomes a stand-alone service and includes online fraud coverage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NordVPN’s identity theft protection solution, NordProtect, is now available as a stand-alone service and offers protection against a broader range of cyber incidents.

    LONDON, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NordProtect, an identity theft protection service created by NordVPN, is now available to users in the United States as a stand-alone product. This will allow users to benefit from identity theft protection without purchasing a NordVPN Prime plan, as they have until now.

    In addition, NordProtect now includes online fraud coverage, which provides support for victims of a variety of online scams or fraud. This coverage compensates users for financial losses incurred through various online scams and criminal activities, such as romance scams, marketplace fraud, QR code scams, fraudulent credit card charges, and many other prevalent tactics used to swindle money today.

    “Criminals are constantly finding new ways to extort money from people, and our mission is to provide relevant and reliable tools to protect internet users. Online fraud is rapidly growing, with numerous variations leading to significant financial losses. To address this, we’ve expanded our existing services, which now include better monitoring of personally identifiable information as well as reimbursement for certain online fraud incidents, ensuring our customers receive support when they need it most,” says Tomas Sinicki, managing director of NordProtect.

    NordProtect customers may be eligible for a reimbursement of up to $10,000, excluding investment scams. After the latest improvements, NordProtect customers now enjoy a comprehensive range of ID monitoring services and are insured from a number of ID theft, cyber extortion and online fraud incidents

    With identity recovery and restoration, victims of identity theft can be reimbursed up to $1M for expenses incurred in restoring their identity, such as legal costs or lost wages. NordProtect connects victims with an identity restoration case manager to help them recover from identity theft. NordProtect’s cyber extortion protection offers $50,000 to cover expert assistance and payments in response to cyber threats to delete or release victims’ information or restrict access to their data or smart devices.

    Secure credit monitoring ensures that customers receive an individual monthly credit score and are notified about any suspicious credit activity. 24/7 dark web monitoring alerts if information associated with a customer’s email address, phone numbers, SSNs, or other identity assets have been leaked.

    Currently, NordProtect is available only to users in the United States. For customers in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Sweden, Germany, and Italy, NordVPN offers cyber insurance benefits as part of its service bundles. These benefits include scam loss recovery and online shopping fraud recovery.

    About NordProtect

    NordProtect is a comprehensive identity theft protection service designed to keep users’ identity safe. With features like 24/7 dark web monitoring, credit activity tracking and security alerts, users can stay informed about potential threats and take action to protect themselves right away. Additionally, NordProtect helps users to get financial help and expert support if they fall victim to identity theft, cyber extortion or online fraud. For more information: www.nordprotect.com

    More information: egidijus@nordsec.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: AGNICO EAGLE ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN CARTIER RESOURCES INC.

    Source: Agnico Eagle Mines

    Stock Symbol:  AEM (NYSE and TSX)

    TORONTO, March 20, 2025 /CNW/ – Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) (“Agnico Eagle”) announced today that it has agreed to subscribe for 20,770,000 units (“Units”) of Cartier Resources Inc. (“Cartier”) in a non-brokered private placement at a price of C$0.13 per Unit for total consideration of C$2,700,100 (the “Private Placement”). Each Unit is comprised of one common share of Cartier (a “Common Share”) and one common share purchase warrant of Cartier (each, an “Offering Warrant”). Each Offering Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of C$0.18 for a period of five years following the closing date of the Private Placement, subject to acceleration in certain circumstances. Closing is expected to occur on or about April 10, 2025 and is subject to certain conditions.

    Agnico Eagle currently owns, or exercises control and direction over, an aggregate of 97,022,944 Common Shares and 7,000,000 Common Share purchase warrants entitling Agnico Eagle to acquire 7,000,000 Common Shares (the “Existing Warrants”), representing approximately 26.6% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and 28.0% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis (assuming the exercise of the Existing Warrants). On closing of the Private Placement, assuming that 39,432,000 Common Shares are issued by Cartier in connection with the concurrent “best efforts” private placement offering announced by Cartier, Agnico Eagle will own 117,792,944 Common Shares, 20,770,000 Offering Warrants and 7,000,000 Existing Warrants, representing approximately 27.7% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and approximately 32.2% of the Common Shares on a partially-diluted basis (assuming the exercise of the Existing Warrants and Offering Warrants held by Agnico Eagle).

    Agnico Eagle and Cartier were party to an amended and restated investor rights agreement dated May 20, 2022 (the “Existing Agnico IRA”), pursuant to which Agnico Eagle was entitled to certain rights (subject to maintaining certain ownership thresholds), including: (a) the right to participate in certain equity financings by Cartier in order to acquire up to a 19.97% ownership interest in Cartier; and (b) the right to nominate one person (and in the case of an increase in the size of the board of directors of Cartier to 10 or more directors, two persons) to the board of directors of Cartier. In addition, Agnico Eagle Abitibi Acquisition Corp. (successor to O3 Mining Inc.), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Agnico Eagle, and Cartier were party to an investor rights agreement dated April 21, 2022 (the “Existing O3 IRA”), pursuant to which Agnico Eagle Abitibi Acquisition Corp. was entitled to certain rights (subject to maintaining certain ownership thresholds), including: (i) the right to participate in certain equity financings by Cartier in order to maintain its then-current ownership interest in Cartier; and (ii) the right to nominate one person to the board of directors of Cartier.

    Immediately prior to entering into the subscription agreement in respect of the Private Placement, the Existing O3 IRA was terminated and the Existing Agnico IRA was amended and restated in order to, among other things: (a) increase the ownership interest ceiling in the participation right and top-up right from 19.97% to the greater of Agnico Eagle’s pro rata ownership interest in Cartier at the applicable time and 32%; (b) amend the nomination right to permit Agnico Eagle to nominate between one and three individuals to the board of directors of Cartier (based on certain ownership thresholds and the size of the board of directors of Cartier); and (c) grant Agnico Eagle demand registration and piggy-back registration rights in respect of the potential sale of Common Shares by Agnico Eagle.

    Agnico Eagle is acquiring the Common Shares and Offering Warrants for investment purposes. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Agnico Eagle may, from time to time, acquire additional Common Shares, common share purchase warrants or other securities of Cartier or dispose of some or all of the Common Shares, Offering Warrants, Existing Warrants or other securities of Cartier it owns at such time.

    An early warning report will be filed by Agnico Eagle in accordance with applicable securities laws. To obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact:

    Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
    c/o Investor Relations
    145 King Street East, Suite 400
    Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7
    Telephone: 416-947-1212
    Email: investor.relations@agnicoeagle.com

    Agnico Eagle’s head office is located at 145 King Street East, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2Y7. Cartier’s head office is located at 1740, chemin Sullivan, bureau 1000, Val d’Or, Québec J9P 7H1.

    About Agnico Eagle

    Agnico Eagle is a Canadian based and led senior gold mining company and the third largest gold producer in the world, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with a pipeline of high-quality exploration and development projects. Agnico Eagle is a partner of choice within the mining industry, recognized globally for its leading sustainability practices. Agnico Eagle was founded in 1957 and has consistently created value for its shareholders, declaring a cash dividend every year since 1983.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The information in this news release has been prepared as at March 20, 2025. Certain statements in this news release, referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “will” or similar terms.

    Forward-looking statements in this news release include, without limitation, statements relating to the expected closing of the Private Placement (including the expected closing date), Agnico Eagle’s ownership interest in Cartier upon closing of the Private Placement and Agnico Eagle’s acquisition or disposition of securities of Cartier in the future.

    Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Agnico Eagle as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Other than as required by law, Agnico Eagle does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

    View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agnico-eagle-announces-additional-investment-in-cartier-resources-inc-302406980.html

    SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Green Party announces new CEO in “pivotal year for Green politics”

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    The Green Party of England and Wales has today announced the appointment of Harriet Lamb as the party’s new CEO. Harriet joins from the global environmental action NGO ‘WRAP’ where she currently serves as their CEO.  

    The announcement comes just weeks before “pivotal” local elections where the party hopes to build on its record-breaking number of councillors and maintain momentum after last year’s record-breaking result in the General Election.  

    From June, as CEO, Harriet will head up the party’s staff team and its day-to-day operations. 

    Welcoming Harriet to the role, Green Party Co-Leader, Adrian Ramsay MP, said,  

    “I am delighted to welcome Harriet to the Green Party. She brings a wealth of experience leading and scaling up organisations centred on bringing about environmental and social justice. She evidently has the experience and passion to play a central role in growing our party and our impact towards our core mission.   

    He continued, “The Green Party is on a roll. In the last few years we have quadrupled our number of councillors, entering administration on over 40 councils, and last year we saw a record General Election vote. With two party politics having broken down and people looking for alternatives, the Green Party’s positive vision for a fair, liveable future is needed more than ever. I look forward to working closely with Harriet in driving the party’s growth and impact to the next level.”  

    Commenting, Harriet Lamb said, 

    “I am super excited to be joining the Green Party and I am really looking forward to helping deliver the Party’s ambitious plans. I have spent my life working for charities driving social and environmental change – to end low pay, support refugees, nurturing peace in conflict-ridden countries, create the circular economy and most notably building the Fairtrade movement in the UK and globally – all values and issues dear to the Green Party and its agenda for positive change.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Middle East: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Oral statement to Parliament

    Middle East: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 March 2025

    The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has provided an update to the House of Commons on the conflict in Gaza.

    With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement about the conflict in Gaza.

    In January, I outlined to the House the deal agreed between Israel and Hamas. It was a moment of huge hope and relief.

    In the weeks that followed, hostages cruelly detained by Hamas were reunited with their families and aid blocked by Israel finally flooded into Gaza. A path out of this horrendous conflict appeared open.

    It is therefore a matter of deep regret to have to update the House today on a breakdown of that ceasefire and yet more bloodshed in Gaza.

    On the night of 18 March, Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza. A number of Hamas figures were reportedly killed.

    But it has been reported that over 400 Palestinians were killed in missile strikes and artillery barrages, the majority of them women and children.

    This appears to have been the deadliest single day for Palestinians since the war began. This is an appalling loss of life and we mourn the loss of every civilian.

    Yesterday morning, a UN compound in Gaza was hit. I can confirm to the House that a British National was amongst the wounded. Our priority is supporting them and their family at this time.

    Gaza has been the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid worker.

    I share the outrage of UN Secretary-General Guterres at this incident. The Government calls for a transparent investigation and for those responsible to be held to account.

    The UK is now working closely with partners such as France and Germany, to send a clear message.

    We strongly oppose Israel’s resumption of hostilities. We urgently want to see a return to a ceasefire. More bloodshed is in no-one’s interest. Hamas must release all the hostages and negotiations must resume.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, diplomacy is the only way to achieve security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

    The House will know that the ceasefire in Gaza had lasted for almost two months, the result of dogged efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.

    The deal reached in January saw the nightmare of captivity end for 30 hostages and the bodies of 8 further victims of Hamas returned to their loved ones.

    We all remember the joy of seeing Emily Damari reunited with her mother and family, and the desperately-needed aid had begun to flow back into Gaza – food, medicines, fuel and tents.

    Children in Gaza had respite from relentless fear. The severely injured could cross the border again for treatment. Palestinians had begun to return to their homes and consider how to rebuild their lives.

    In the first days of the ceasefire, the UK moved swiftly to invest in the peace.

    We released £17m in additional emergency humanitarian funding for the promised surge in aid, bringing our total support this year for Palestinians across the region to £129m.

    We accelerated work on the pathway to reconstruction, supporting our Arab partners’ very welcome recent initiative.

    We worked at every level to support negotiations for a permanent ceasefire and the return of every single hostage and backed an extension to phase one of the current deal.

    But negotiations have been gridlocked for several weeks.

    Hamas has been resisting calls for the release of further hostages in return for a longer truce and Israeli forces did not begin to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor as agreed.

    On 2 March, the Israeli government announced it was blocking all further aid deliveries until Hamas agreed to its terms.

    For weeks now, supplies of basic goods and electricity have been blocked, leaving over half a million civilians once again cut off from clean drinking water and sparking a 200% surge in the price of some basic foodstuffs – a boon to those criminals who use violence to control supplies.

    As I told the House on Monday, this is appalling and unacceptable.

    Ultimately, of course, these are matters for the courts, not governments, to determine but it’s difficult to see how denying humanitarian assistance to a civilian population can be compatible with international humanitarian law.

    Though it’s important to say I could have been a little clearer in the House on Monday, our position remains that Israel’s actions in Gaza are at clear risk of breaching international humanitarian law.

    The consequences of the ceasefire’s breakdown, Madam Deputy Speaker, are catastrophic.

    For the family and friends of the remaining 59 hostages, including Avinatan Or, the agony goes on.

    Hamas’ kidnapping of these people, their treatment of them in captivity, the cruel theatre of their release, depriving them of food and basic rights, these are acts of despicable cruelty.

    Hamas must release them all now.

    And Palestinian civilians, who have already endured so much, now must fear a rerun and a return to days of death, deprivation and destruction. 

    Civilians have once again been issued with evacuation orders by Israel.

    Only 4% of the UN Flash Appeal is funded – not even enough to get through to the end of this month.

    Health centres have had to close, even as the devastated Gazan health service has to treat another surge of those wounded in strikes.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, Hamas can have no role in Gaza’s future.

    A collapsed ceasefire will not bring the hostages home to their families.

    An endless conflict will not bring long term security to Israel. 

    And a deepening war will only set back the cause of regional normalisation and risk further instability – shortly after the Houthis resumed their unacceptable threats to shipping in the Red Sea.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, since the renewed outbreak of hostilities, I have spoken to Secretary Rubio, to EU High Representative Kallas, to UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher. And I will shortly speak to my Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar and Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa.

    We and our partners need to persuade the parties that this conflict cannot be resolved by military means.

    We want Israel and Hamas to re-engage with negotiations.

    We continue to condemn Hamas, of course, for their actions on October 7th, their refusal to release the hostages, and their ongoing threat to Israel.

    But we are also resolute in calling on Israel to abide by international law and to lift the unacceptable restrictions on aid and demand the protection of civilians.

    Many months ago, only weeks into office, I concluded that there was a clear risk of Israel breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza.

    It was this risk that I first set out to this House in September which meant that the Government suspended relevant export licences for items for use by the IDF in military operations in Gaza.

    The actions of the last three weeks only reinforce that conclusion.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, in the days and weeks ahead, we will redouble our efforts to restore a ceasefire.

    But we will also continue to work with our partners on the security, governance and reconstruction arrangements. Those issues are not going away.

    There remains no military solution to this conflict. A two-state solution remains the only path to a just and lasting peace.

    At this dispatch box in January, I called the ceasefire deal a glimmer of light in the darkness. It feels like the darkness has returned.

    Former British hostage Emily Damari said the resumption of fighting left her heart “broken, crushed and disappointed”. I am sure she speaks for the whole House.

    But we must preserve hope. For the sake of the remaining hostages and their loved ones, for the people of Gaza, for the future of two peoples that have suffered so much for so long, we will keep striving for a return to the path of peace.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Despite peace declarations, the war continues in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – Although a possible peace negotiation has been initiated, the war continues in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where yesterday, March 19, the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels captured the center of the town of Walikale, in the province of North Kivu.The advance of the pro-Rwandan forces came the day after a meeting between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart, Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, in Doha (Qatar), in the presence of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.At the end of the meeting, a statement was issued stating: “The Heads of State reaffirmed the commitment of all parties to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as agreed at the joint EAC-SADC Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on February 8, 2025.” The statement continued: “The Heads of State subsequently agreed that the talks initiated in Doha must continue in order to lay solid foundations for a lasting peace, as envisaged by the Luanda/Nairobi Process.” In addition to Qatar, Angola is also involved in mediating efforts to restore peace in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (see Fides, 12/3/2025).Despite the negotiation efforts, the war continues, with successes for the M23 rebel movement and its allies. According to the local civil society organization ACMEJ (Association against Evil and for the Management of Youth), the M23 militias have made no significant progress in the Congolese province of South Kivu, where the local self-defense militias known as “Wazalendo” (or Bazalendo) are holding their own. Meanwhile, in North Kivu province, according to the ACMEJ, the M23’s recent territorial gains have been facilitated by the fact that some “Wazalendo” units have joined the pro-Rwandan forces.Meanwhile, the M23 has also appointed new administrators for the recently conquered territories in the two Congolese provinces, according to the organization, to strengthen financial and mining administration and ensure transparency in the areas under its control.Meanwhile, the high-level meetings of the joint delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) continue, presenting their initiative for the Social Pact for Peace and Coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes Region (see Fides, 4/2/2025). Yesterday, March 19, the delegation was received by French President Emmanuel Macron, who declared his full support for the initiative: “To overcome the current crisis in the east of the country and allow the restoration of Congolese sovereignty, France supports dialogue.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 20/3/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – In the war zone, among the Kachin, a life of suffering, displacement and faith

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Banmaw (Agenzia Fides) – “There is crying and despair in the diocese of Banmaw folloowing the destruction of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, set on fire by the Myanmar army (see Fides, 17/3/2025). I have seen many faithful cry and suffer. We can only take refuge in the Lord. In this time of Lent, people gather in prayer in the forest, the faithful celebrate the Stations of the Cross and hold processions in the mountains, and thus, with faith, they join in the suffering of Christ”, a local priest in the Catholic community told Fides, who asks for anonymity for security reasons. The fire at the cathedral is the latest in a long series of Catholic places of worship attacked, damaged, or destroyed by soldiers of the regular Burmese army. “Sometimes the pretext is that they are hiding places for the resistance forces. Other times, buildings are occupied by soldiers and then, once abandoned, they are destroyed out of pure contempt, leaving scorched earth behind,” the priest explains. “Tatmadaw soldiers are often young people without education or culture, recruited and manipulated by their commanders. They commit cruel acts and do not understand the gravity of their actions,” he adds.The territory of the diocese of Banmaw, in northern Myanmar, is located in the Kachin State, on the border between Myanmar and China, where the Kachin ethnic minority lives. A people (1.7 million inhabitants) who have been demanding autonomy for over 60 years and have organized an army, the “Kachin Independence Army”. In this area, the Catholic Church is organized into two dioceses: Myitkyina (with around 100,000 faithful) and Banmaw (with 40,000 Catholics). The almost entirely mountainous territory is currently a war zone, where the population faces displacement and exodus. Entire communities have been uprooted by the conflict. Families, many of them Catholic, live in refugee camps. Young Kachin people see no hope for the future, with limited or no opportunities for education or employment.The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which is fighting for self-determination in the state, is among the best organized ethnic militias, active for decades, and have joined the resistance against the current ruling military junta. In recent weeks, clashes have erupted in the town of Banmaw, where the Catholic cathedral was destroyed and most of the inhabitants fled. “In the last two years,” the Fides source tells Fides, “the conflict has affected nine of the thirteen parishes in the diocese, increasing the number of refugees.”In early March, the pastoral center of the St. Michael Catholic Church complex in Nan Hlaing, a rural area of the Diocese of Banmaw, was hit and destroyed by bombing by the Burmese army (see Fides, 5/3/2025). In this situation of precariousness and widespread violence, Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam is currently transferred to the parish in the city of Leiza, on the border with China, which is firmly in the hands of the Kachin army.The first traces of faith in the Banmaw area date back to the mid-19th century, with a much-loved missionary bishop, Paul Ambrose Bigandet MEP. The bishop then sent the first French missionaries to the Banmaw area, where they came into contact with the animist Kachin people and began missionary work. Between 1872 and 1939, 31 French priests served the population of the Banmaw area, along with some catechists. In 1936, the Irish missionaries of Saint Columban arrived, reinvigorating evangelization. In 1939, the Holy See officially established the Apostolic Prefecture of Banmaw. After being interrupted by World War II, with the resumption of apostolic activities in 1961, the Apostolic Prefecture became the Diocese of Myitkyina. Banmaw was part of the Diocese of Myitkyina until 2006, when Pope Benedict XVI created the new Diocese of Banmaw, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, appointing Monsignor Raymond Sumlut Gam as the diocese’s first bishop. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 20/3/2025)
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  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s PBS means consumers pay less for expensive medicines. Here’s how this system works

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bonny Parkinson, Associate Professor, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University

    The United States pharmaceutical lobby has complained to US President Donald Trump that Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is damaging their profits and has urged Trump to put tariffs on pharmaceutical imports from Australia.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the scheme, saying Australia’s pharmaceutical subsidy scheme was “not up for negotiation”. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he would also protect the PBS, which was the “envy of the world”.

    But what exactly is the PBS, and why does it matter?

    How did the PBS start?

    In the early 1900s, Australians had to pay for medicines out-of-pocket. Some could get free or cheap medicines at public hospitals or through Friendly Society Dispensaries, but otherwise access was restricted to those who could afford to pay.

    At the time, few effective medicines were available. But the development of insulin and penicillin in the 1920s made access to medicines much more important.

    The Constitution gave the federal government limited powers in the provision of health and welfare, which were largely the responsibility of the states. After World War II, the federal government wanted to expand these powers but it encountered several constitutional roadblocks.

    A rare successful referendum in 1946 changed that, enabling the National Health Act 1953 to pass. This established the PBS as we know it today.

    How does the PBS work in practice?

    The PBS covers the cost of medicines prescribed by doctors. Most are dispensed at community pharmacies (such as treatments for heart disease, the pill and antibiotics), but some more expensive ones are available at public hospitals or specialist treatment centres (such as chemotherapies and IVF medicines).

    In 2023–24 there were 930 different medicines and 5,164 brands listed on the PBS, costing the government $17.7 billion.

    The government negotiates the price of each medicine with the pharmaceutical company. Pharmacies then buy these medicines from wholesalers or companies.

    When a patient fills a prescription at a pharmacy, they pay a co-payment. The government pays the difference between the agreed price and the co-payment to the pharmacy – costs that may amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    There are two co-payments: one for concession card holders ($7.70) and one for the general consumer ($31.60). When a patient hits the annual spending limit (safety net threshold), the co-payment falls to $0 for concession patients and $7.70 for the general consumer.

    Overall, patients contribute 8.4% to the total cost of the PBS, while the government pays the rest.

    How are medicine prices set?

    The PBS is split into two categories:

    – F1: new, patent-protected medicines with no competition

    – F2: medicines with multiple brands, including generics.

    F1 medicines

    To be listed on the PBS, a new medicine goes through the following process:

    1. It’s evaluated for safety, efficacy and quality.

    2. A panel of experts (including doctors, pharmacists, epidemiologists, health economists, health consumer advocates and a pharmaceutical industry representative) recommends which medicines should be listed on the PBS, based on effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness and the total cost on the budget of the medicine versus alternative treatments.

    3. If the panel recommends a medicine, the price and details of the listing may be further negotiated with the government. (If the panel rejects a medicine, companies may revise their application and re-submit.)

    4. Finally, the health minister, and subsequently the Cabinet, formally approves or rejects the panel’s recommendation. If approved, the medicine is listed on the PBS.

    F2 medicines

    Generic medicine companies may apply to list another brand on the PBS after a medicine loses patent protection. When this happens, the medicine moves from F1 to F2. Immediately, it incurs a mandatory price discount.

    Generic medicine companies may offer pharmacists discounts on the PBS list price (for example, ten for the price of nine). Pharmacists then encourage patients to switch to the cheaper medicine.

    Companies must disclose these discounts to the government, resulting in further price reductions.

    Is the PBS system unique?

    Australia is not special. Many countries use similar assessments to determine whether governments should subsidise new medicines, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom, Canada’s Drug Agency, and Pharmac in New Zealand.

    Small differences exist, including whether the list of medicines is a positive (and they’re subsidised) or negative (meaning they’re not subsidised), whether the lists are established at the central level (such as the PBS in Australia) or local level (such as by province in Canada) or a mixture, and how co-payments are set.

    Generic medicine companies in Australia may offer pharmacists discounts on their products.
    National Cancer Institute/Unsplash

    The biggest outlier is the US. Similar to its health system, the medicines system is a complex and decentralised mix of public and private organisations, including government agencies, independent organisations, health-care providers and payers such as health insurers.

    What are the benefits of the PBS?

    The PBS ensures all Australian patients have access to highly effective medicines. This contributes to a high life expectancy, while keeping health-care costs low relative to other developed countries.

    This has been achieved by keeping prices down for both F1 and F2 medicines. By doing so, it creates room in the government budget to fund other new medicines.

    Without the PBS, either taxes or co-payments would have to increase, or fewer medicines funded.

    Other benefits include having a level playing field for all medicines, while maintaining flexibility to fund highly effective medicines for patients with unmet needs.

    What are the drawbacks of the PBS system?

    No system is without its drawbacks and risks. The PBS’s drawbacks include:

    • limited patient involvement in the process
    • the high frequency of re-submissions and delays to PBS listing
    • companies being unwilling to submit off-patent medicines for PBS listing due to high costs and low rewards
    • the ongoing lack of high-quality clinical evidence about medicines to treat rare diseases and certain patient populations, such as children.

    Another issue is medicine shortages. When PBS-listed brands aren’t available due to supply chain issues, other non-PBS listed brands may be available at full cost to the patient. Increased medicine costs can discourage patients from filling necessary prescriptions, which can have longer-term impacts on health and health expenditure.

    Finally, companies have argued Australia’s small market size plus low PBS prices can make it financially unviable to bring new medicines to Australia.

    The PBS is a crucial part of Australia’s health system, making essential medicines affordable, while keeping costs down. Like any system, it has its challenges and there is ongoing debate about whether and how the system should change.



    Read more:
    Will the US trade war push up the price of medicines in Australia? Will there be drug shortages?

    Bonny Parkinson receives funding from the Australian government to conduct evaluations of medicines to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. She also supervises students funded by PhD scholarships (received by the student, not Bonny Parkinson), including the Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship and Macquarie University Australian Pharmaceutical Scholarship, with support from six pharmaceutical companies: Amgen Australia, Janssen Australia, MSD Australia, Pfizer Australia, Roche Australia, and Abbvie Australia.

    – ref. Australia’s PBS means consumers pay less for expensive medicines. Here’s how this system works – https://theconversation.com/australias-pbs-means-consumers-pay-less-for-expensive-medicines-heres-how-this-system-works-252736

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Cardinal Tagle consecrates Bishops Sangalli and Sarrió Cucarella: Like Saint Joseph, be ‘silent’ heralds of the Word of God

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 19 March 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Bishops are called to be “silent” heralds of the Word of God. They do their work well when, without being protagonists, they become humble “guardians of the active presence of God in his Church”. And if their projects do not progress, it is better to “sleep” like Saint Joseph and “dream the dreams of God,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle in an address to Samuele Sangalli and Diego Ramón Sarrió Cucarella during the liturgy of their episcopal ordination in the Vatican Basilica on the afternoon of March 19, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.Samuele Sangalli, Adjunct Secretary and Head of the Administration of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches), was appointed Archbishop and Titular Bishop of Zella by Pope Francis on February 6 (see Fides, 6/2/2025). Diego Ramn Sarrió Cucarella, former President of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), of the Missionaries of Africa, was appointed by the Pope as the new Bishop of Laghouat, Algeria, on January 25.More than 30 bishops and Cardinals participated in the solemn ordination liturgy at the main Altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Missions and Principal Consecrator, had as co-consecrators Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio of Lombardy and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Department for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches).On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph and exactly 12 years after the solemn inauguration of Pope Francis’s Petrine Ministry (“for whose complete recovery we pray”), Cardinal Tagle turned his attention to the Spouse of Mary in his homily to offer the two new bishops valuable inspiration for their new journey as Successors of the Apostles. According to the Second Vatican Council, they are called “to care for the flock of which they are shepherds in God’s place, as teachers of doctrine, priests of worship, and ministers of the government of the Church”, and “to be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with the blood of his own Son,” as Saint Paul says. “Beautiful teachings,” remarked the Filipino Cardinal, “which make even bishops tremble. How can a bishop live up to such a great responsibility? Surely only by the grace of God.””Saint Joseph too,” Cardinal Tagle emphasized, “accepted God’s call in faith.” Faith “is the source of Joseph’s courage and creativity, who always subordinates his project to God’s, even when it is incomprehensible and uncomfortable.” Similarly, the ordained ministry of priests and bishops must be “rooted in a response of faith in God and exercised as a response of faith.” Often, Cardinal Tagle noted, “we plan and expect God to carry out our plans.” In reality, however, “we are not the planners, and God is not the executor of our plans.” And “if your vision and your plans do not seem to be moving forward,” he added, addressing the new Bishops, “sleep like Saint Joseph.” For “when we sleep, we are vulnerable, have less control, and are therefore more receptive and open. Sleep and dream the dreams of God. Wake up to realize the dreams of God with obedience and zeal.”Saint Joseph, according to the Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery, is also considered a “silent saint.” Not a single word of his is recorded in the Gospels. Nevertheless, “he accompanies, nurtures, and preserves the Word of God, made flesh in Mary’s womb, the most important Word.” And “every thought, every heartbeat, and every action of Joseph speaks of one Word: Jesus. It is the only thing that matters. His own words pale before the greatest Word. He can remain silent.” Following in the footsteps of Saint Joseph, “deacons, priests, and bishops must also remain ‘silent’ when proclaiming the Word of God.” For “it is not our word that counts and must be preserved for posterity, but the Word of God.” And “if our thoughts, plans, decisions, and actions do not speak of Jesus, we could be “like resounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”Furthermore, Saint Joseph is “a reliable guardian of Jesus.” And while carrying out his mission to guard the Son of God, “Joseph knows that Jesus belongs to his Father’s house. Joseph’s house in Nazareth has value only if it remains a shadow of the Father’s house, from which he must draw light.” Along these same lines, Cardinal Tagle noted: “Deacons, priests, and bishops are also called to be guardians of God’s active presence in his Church.” Because “bishops are not substitutes for the eternally living God nor competitors of the Redeemer.” And like Saint Joseph, they are called to be “authentic signs of God’s presence in the Church” with a “discreet visibility of the shadow that depends on the light.”Precisely, imitating the “sober and essential style of Saint Joseph,” at the end of the solemn liturgy, Archbishop Sangalli read a few simple “words of thanks.” They were addressed primarily to the “Providence of God, which has granted this afternoon full of grace” and to Pope Francis, “who has called us to be bishops and to whom we renew our affection and our prayers for a complete recovery as Head of the Church.”The new bishop’s thanks were also directed to the three consecrators, “who truly express the universality of the Church, and to all the other concelebrating cardinals and bishops, for whose service we were admitted to the College of Bishops through the gift of the ‘Spiritus principalis,’ the Spirit who governs and guides the Church.” This Spirit, Archbishop Sangalli added, “I received from the Church” and “from the good example of my dear parents, who today are already in eternal Life.” Finally, the new Archbishop’s thanks also went to the “brothers and family members who have accompanied, supported, and encouraged my journey,” as well as to the clergy and “the Ambrosian people of Lecco and the Seminary of Milan, with my former companions.”Archbishop Sangalli also thanked “the communities and associations I served, not least the Sinderesi Foundation,” as well as the academic communities of the Pontifical Gregorian University and the various universities where Sangalli was a student and professor.The gratitude of the new Archbishop was also expressed towards the Dicastery of Bishops, where Sangalli served for 20 years and lived “in contact with the vibrant heartbeat of the building of the local Churches and the election of their pastors.” The new Archbishop’s final words of thanks went to “the great family of the Dicastery for Evangelization, which opens the whole world to the richness of different traditions and cultures, each capable of sharing and transmitting the Gospel in its own singular way.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 19/3/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the General Debate Under Agenda Item 4

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the General Debate Under Agenda Item 4

    UK Statement for the General Debate Under Agenda Item 4. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

    Thank you, Mr Vice President,

    Just yesterday, we heard in this hall the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine conclude, for the first time, that enforced disappearances committed by Russia amount to a crime against humanity. And that Russian authorities arbitrarily detain civilians, torture and execute prisoners of war and civilians, steal and indoctrinate Ukrainian children. There must be accountability and a just and lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.

    China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs, Tibetans, activists, lawyers and journalists like Sophia Huang. In Hong Kong, the sentencing of 45 activists and former politicians under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, and the ongoing prosecution of Jimmy Lai, underline how rights continue to be eroded. Once again, we call for their release. 

    In Iran, women, girls and minorities face sustained repression. Freedom of expression is curtailed, journalists silenced. Executions have reached appalling levels. 

    Finally, we urge all parties to return to the Gaza ceasefire talks. All hostages must be released. Aid must restart. The recent civilian casualties are appalling. Our thoughts are also with the victims and families of those killed and injured in the UN compound yesterday. The Israeli and Palestinian people deserve a peaceful and secure future based on a two-state solution.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRA initiates transition review into glass fibre from Egypt

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    TRA initiates transition review into glass fibre from Egypt

    The TRA has initiated a transition review of a countervailing measure on imports of Continuous Glass Fibre from Egypt.

    The TRA has initiated a transition review of a countervailing measure on imports of Continuous Glass Fibre from Egypt.

    The TRA will be reviewing the measure transitioned from the EU to determine whether it is still suitable for the UK’s needs. This measure is due to expire on 26 June 2025.

    Glass fibres are used in the creation of wind turbine blades and in such industries as transport (automotive, marine, aerospace), building and construction and electric/electronics, as well as the manufacturing of various consumer goods.

    Last year, the UK imported around 27 million kg of continuous glass fibre, with products from Egypt accounting for around 10% of that volume.

    Businesses that may be affected by this measure can register their interest through our public file by 2 April 2025. Interested parties that register after this date may not be able to participate fully in the review.

    Notes to editors

    • The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
    • Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were transitioned into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA has been reviewing these to assess whether they are suitable for UK needs.
    • The goods to be reviewed are described as:
      • chopped glass fibre strands, of a length of not more than 50mm, or
      • glass fibre rovings, excluding glass fibre rovings which are impregnated and coated and have a loss on ignition of more than 3% (as determined by the ISO Standard 1887).

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester tech companies shut down for suspected monthly direct debit scam

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Manchester tech companies shut down for suspected monthly direct debit scam

    Consumers appeared to be signed up for monthly payments without their consent

    • Concerns were raised that tech companies Affinity Technology Solutions Limited and RCSR Tech Limited were operating a direct debit scam 

    • Monthly payments of around £30 were made without customers’ knowledge or permission, complainants said 

    • Both companies have now been shut down in court following investigations by the Insolvency Service 

    Two connected tech companies which claimed to protect people online and enhance their social media image have been shut down following concerns they were running a direct debit scam.  

    Manchester-based companies Affinity Technology Solutions Limited and RCSR Tech Limited were both wound-up at the High Court in Manchester on Tuesday 18 March. 

    Affinity claimed to offer a service called IDSafeGuard which protected their customers’ online identity.  

    RCSR claimed to provide a service called ReportCurve which it said boosted a person’s online and social media footprint, making them more attractive to would-be employers and improving their eligibility for financial products. 

    However, individuals reported that they had monthly subscription fees of around £29.99 removed from their bank accounts for services they had never subscribed to. 

    The unwanted subscription services appeared to have been set up as part of an online loan application through an affiliated marketing company’s website. 

    Complaints were also made that the two companies would not cancel the unwanted subscriptions or offer refunds to customers. 

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

    Numerous complaints were made that Affinity and RCSR were tricking consumers into monthly subscriptions for products they did not want or were entirely unaware of. 

    Indeed, from our investigations, it is not clear that either company provided any of the services to their unwitting customers. 

    Both Affinity and RSCR completely failed to co-operate with our investigations, leaving us with no option but to take this robust action to stop the companies from trading in the future and protect the public from further financial harm.

    Affinity and RCSR were incorporated within two days of each other in February 2020. Both were described on Companies House as providing business and domestic software development. 

    Insolvency Service investigations concluded that the companies were linked through the same controlling force who was not listed as the official director. The registered office for both companies was also the same address on Wilmslow Road in south Manchester. 

    Investigators contacted the official directors of both Affinity and RSCR as well as the individual believed to be in actual control of the companies. All of them failed to comply with the investigation. 

    Both companies also failed to file accounts at Companies House as they were required to do. 

    The Official Receiver has been appointed as liquidator of Affinity Technology Solutions Limited and RCSR Tech Limited. 

    All enquiries concerning the affairs of both companies should be made to the Official Receiver of the Public Interest Unit: 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London, E20 1HZ. Email: piu.or@insolvency.gov.uk. 

    Affinity is not linked to a number of companies with similar names. 

    Further information 

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A new Greater Norwich Council gets official endorsement as one of Norfolk’s three unitary councils

    Source: City of Norwich

    Local residents will soon be invited to give their views on proposals being submitted to Government to create three new unitary councils to cover Norfolk.

    This proposal would see the current eight local councils across the county replaced with three larger ones – ensuring residents continue to get all their vital local services delivered locally by those who know their own communities better than anyone else.

    Two reports endorsing a three-unitary model – one being a Greater Norwich Council – were last night given formal backing by the city council’s decision making body, cabinet.

    As a result, the proposals for how local councils should be structured in Norwich and the wider county will be submitted to the Government tomorrow (Friday 21 March).

    Mike Stonard, leader of Norwich City Council, said: “Greater Norwich is unique within Norfolk. It is the economic and cultural capital of the region and it drives growth.

    “These are just two of the reasons why a Greater Norwich Council needs its own single unitary council – a place where people who live and work here, who understand the city, and who really know their local communities, can represent the best interests of their residents.

    “Over the past few months, we have worked closely with our district council colleagues to shape a vision that isn’t just about structures and governance. Instead, it is about how we deliver for the people and businesses of our city, and wider county, as well as how we secure Norwich’s place at the heart of regional and national growth.”

    This work led independent experts, Deloitte, to confirm that a three-unitary model for Norfolk is the strongest option – with a Greater Norwich Council being one of the three unitary councils for our county.

    Deloitte’s three-unitary option scored the best because it:

    • Is firmly rooted in an understanding of the places of Norfolk, in that it reflects and prioritises the three main historic urban centres (Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn) which act as the main civic and economic hubs for Norfolk
    • Will drive the delivery of improved outcomes for the people of Norfolk
    • Creates a singular focus for Norwich as the economic driving force and powerhouse of Norfolk
    • Creates more opportunity for delivering economic growth
    • Ensures areas will have appropriate place identities
    • Is based on local relationships between existing districts with a track record of successful collaboration and delivering highly effective, cost effective services
    • Provides a strong base for devolution alongside a Norfolk and Suffolk Strategic Authority
    • Better maintains effective local engagement due to the number of smaller authorities which can build on highly successful methods of community and stakeholder engagement employed by each of the districts.

    The city council will continue to develop the three-unitary model, including a Greater Norwich Council, for final submission to the Government on 26 September 2025. This will include a full business case and fully worked up boundaries.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Energy Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection Conference

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    World news story

    Energy Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection Conference

    Experts from Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the UK met in Athens to discuss energy security and how to best protect critical national Infrastructure.

    Last month, British Embassy Athens, British Embassy Sofia and British High Commission Nicosia, in collaboration with the Office of the Greek National Security Advisor, organized a two-day conference (February 24-25, 2025) that focused on energy security and the protection of critical national infrastructure, held at the Security Studies Centre of the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

    Εxperts from ministries, other state authorities and the energy sector from Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the UK exchanged views, as well as best practices, related to legal and operational challenges, criticality assessments, critical maritime and subsea infrastructure, resilience policy, incident response, interoperability models, defence strategies and international cooperation.  A cross-government UK delegation from the Cabinet Office, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ministry of Defence and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office shared lessons learned, both domestically and internationally.

    In her address, British Deputy Head of Mission Susan Geary referred to the constantly changing security environment and welcomed regional efforts to transform the Eastern Mediterranean into an energy hub that contributes to EU and NATO resilience by diversifying energy supply routes:

    Protecting Critical National Infrastructure is a complex endeavour that requires cross-government coordination. Both the public and private sectors have a role to play in assessing the criticality of infrastructure, identifying cross-sector dependencies, and developing best practices for managing vulnerabilities to common risks. Having the right structures, protocols and capabilities in place is vital.

    In his address, National Security Advisor Dr. Thanos Dokos noted, among other things:

    Dealing with hybrid threats and protecting our critical infrastructure have become tasks of rapidly increasing importance for our security. And resilience and preparedness are now part of the daily vocabulary of security professionals. As countries in the Eastern Mediterranean start preparing for the protection of underwater and other critical infrastructure, it is important to cooperate with other EU and NATO countries and learn from each other’s experience and expertise.

    Enhancing energy security, mitigating risks and preventing disruptions are key priorities for all involved. Delegates agreed to explore ways to further collaborate going forward.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Islamic State in Somalia: the terrorist group’s origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stig Jarle Hansen, Professor of International Relations, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

    The Islamic State in Somalia is an affiliate of the transnational jihadist group Islamic State, known in short as ISIS. Based in the semi-autonomous northern Somalia territory of Puntland, the terrorist group was the target of the first foreign combat operation of the Trump administration in February 2025. Previously, the group has been linked to planned terror attacks on the Vatican and on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm. Stig Jarle Hansen, a researcher and author of several books on jihadism in Africa, examines its origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats in the mountains of Puntland.

    1. The rise of the Islamic State

    Before the establishment of the Islamic State in Somalia in 2015, the Somali jihadist group al-Shabaab had established itself in the north. The small group had extensive connections to smuggling networks. It later split into two and the future leader of the Islamic State in Somalia, Sheikh Abdulqader Muumin, emerged from one of the splinter groups.

    In Somalia, clans define the relationship between people and all actors in the society. The connections of the new group to the Ali Suleiban sub-clan enabled it to profit from the clan’s links to smuggling and maritime piracy groups.

    Puntland is the hub of communication and maritime trade between Somalia and Yemen, as well as the wider Middle East. Smuggling has gone on in the region for centuries. The rugged terrain is ideal for piracy, illegal smuggling and insurgents.

    Puntland has been more or less autonomous from the rest of Somalia for more than three decades, and the Somali government has little influence there today.

    2. The jihadist behind the Islamic State in Somalia

    Muumin lived in Sweden through the 1990s and early 2000s and later moved to the UK. Back in Somalia, he joined al-Shabaab and became a prominent figure in the group’s jihadist videos. Such videos aim to maintain morals, attract new recruits and create sympathy for the group.

    In 2015, Muumin defected to lead the Islamic State in Somalia. His second-in-command was another Ali Suleiban clansman, Mahad Moalim. In 2016, the first video of the group was circulated through Islamic State media outlets.

    A milestone for the group followed its 2017 suicide bombing of the Juba Hotel in Bosaso, Puntland’s commercial capital and sea port. This enabled the Islamic State in Somalia to pressure Bossaso-based businesses to pay it protection money, the single most important source of income. In 2017-2018, the group is believed to have been behind as many as 50 assassinations in central Somalia. The killings were a forceful tool to generate protection money.

    On 27 July 2018, the Somali group was officially designated as a full province by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. The Maktab al-Karrar regional office was based in the small Puntland chapter, giving it global responsibilities.

    The Somali group was made responsible for the central African and the Mozambique provinces of the Islamic State. Money flowed to the group from the Islamic State, as did extortion money from Bossaso, other northern Puntland cities and more infrequently from Mogadishu.

    In the first half of 2022, the US Treasury claimed that the organisation generated US$2.3 million from extortion payments, related imports, livestock and agriculture. The regional office and Muumin emerged as key financial players in east Africa, and even outside it, from their base in Buur Dexhtaal in Bari Puntland. Indeed, unnamed US officials claimed in 2023 that Muumim had been made the transnational leader of the Islamic State.

    3. An overblown reputation

    The Islamic State’s reputation in Somalia is often overstated. The group has never captured or held large territories. Its numbers in 2024 were estimated to be between 600 and 1,600. That pales in comparison to al-Shabaab in the south of Somalia.

    Its links to a planned attack on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm 2024 were probably weak and failed to hold up in court. And the jihadist linked to a planned attack in the Vatican 2018 seems to have left Islamic State prior to the planning.

    It is also doubtful that Muumin is the global leader of the Islamic State as claimed by some. That’s for two main reasons. First, an Islamic State leader has to be drawn from a tribe related to the prophet (Qureshi). Muumin is not. Second, the Islamic State in Somalia is the smallest of the Islamic State provinces in Africa. It is likely that a leader of a stronger province would have ranked higher.

    Although the income-gathering capacities of the Puntland-based group give it prominence in the Islamic State media, the Islamic State in Somalia does not rank higher than the Islamic State in the Sahara and Mozambique.

    4. Down but not out

    The Puntland authorities launched a relatively successful counter-offensive against the Islamic State in January 2025. This was combined with air support by the US and the United Arab Emirates.

    Puntland won important battles in January and February, including an attack in which it killed 70 Islamic State fighters.

    By late February, the morale of the Islamic State fighters seemed to break. With the fall of Buur Dexhtaal, the main base, in March, all the larger known bases had fallen. Many of the fleeing foreign fighters were captured.

    But the Islamic State is not defeated. The terrain enabled some of the fighters to hide. Neither Muumin, who is in his 70s, nor his second-in-command Abdirahman Fahiye have been reported killed. There are at least several hundred fighters left.

    If the Islamic State is still able to extort money from the northern business community, it could recruit from the large numbers of Oromo Ethiopian refugees in and around Bosaso, as well as locals who need jobs.

    – Islamic State in Somalia: the terrorist group’s origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats
    – https://theconversation.com/islamic-state-in-somalia-the-terrorist-groups-origins-rise-and-recent-battlefield-defeats-252303

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Public called on to help identify Summer Disorder suspects

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    A national policing operation is working with the BBC’s Crimewatch Live to help identify those suspected of committing criminal offences during last summer’s disorder. 

    ACC Ian Drummond-Smith of Operation Navette will appear today (Thursday 20 March) to highlight some of the worst cases of criminal behaviour caught on camera during these incidents, and to appeal to the public to help forces locate those involved. Specifically, this edition of the programme will examine incidents that occured in Manchester, Staffordshire, and Bristol.

    Anyone with information about any of these individuals can contact the police via a special crime reporting portal: https://www.police.uk/disorder-appeal. 

    ACC Ian Drummond-Smith of Operation Navette, the national policing response to the summer disorder, previously said:

    “I’m grateful for the support shown by everyone at BBC Crimewatch Live in seeing this appeal come to fruition. We have selected the most violent and serious offences to feature in the program, alongside a larger gallery of wanted people published today on our website. Partnership work like this is a great example of how the public can help us to progress investigations and ensure that offenders face justice.

    “I would urge everyone to watch these episodes of Crimewatch Live, and to carefully explore our website to see if you recognise any of the suspects.  We know some people travelled great distances to take part in the disorder, so I’d urge you to review the images even if there was no disorder in your area.

    “Working with the CPS, and others in the criminal justice system, we are committed to bringing these offenders to justice keep our communities kept safe”.

    Earlier this month, representatives from Operation Navette and policing featured on an episode of Crimewatch Live that kickstarted series 21 of the famous documentary programme. Their segment on that particular episode – which featured suspects from Merseyside, Humberside, Cleveland, and Northumbria – can be watched back here:

    As always, those who wish to remain anonymous can report information via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or give information online.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Islamic State in Somalia: the terrorist group’s origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stig Jarle Hansen, Professor of International Relations, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

    The Islamic State in Somalia is an affiliate of the transnational jihadist group Islamic State, known in short as ISIS. Based in the semi-autonomous northern Somalia territory of Puntland, the terrorist group was the target of the first foreign combat operation of the Trump administration in February 2025. Previously, the group has been linked to planned terror attacks on the Vatican and on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm. Stig Jarle Hansen, a researcher and author of several books on jihadism in Africa, examines its origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats in the mountains of Puntland.

    1. The rise of the Islamic State

    Before the establishment of the Islamic State in Somalia in 2015, the Somali jihadist group al-Shabaab had established itself in the north. The small group had extensive connections to smuggling networks. It later split into two and the future leader of the Islamic State in Somalia, Sheikh Abdulqader Muumin, emerged from one of the splinter groups.

    In Somalia, clans define the relationship between people and all actors in the society. The connections of the new group to the Ali Suleiban sub-clan enabled it to profit from the clan’s links to smuggling and maritime piracy groups.

    Puntland is the hub of communication and maritime trade between Somalia and Yemen, as well as the wider Middle East. Smuggling has gone on in the region for centuries. The rugged terrain is ideal for piracy, illegal smuggling and insurgents.

    Puntland has been more or less autonomous from the rest of Somalia for more than three decades, and the Somali government has little influence there today.

    2. The jihadist behind the Islamic State in Somalia

    Muumin lived in Sweden through the 1990s and early 2000s and later moved to the UK. Back in Somalia, he joined al-Shabaab and became a prominent figure in the group’s jihadist videos. Such videos aim to maintain morals, attract new recruits and create sympathy for the group.

    In 2015, Muumin defected to lead the Islamic State in Somalia. His second-in-command was another Ali Suleiban clansman, Mahad Moalim. In 2016, the first video of the group was circulated through Islamic State media outlets.

    A milestone for the group followed its 2017 suicide bombing of the Juba Hotel in Bosaso, Puntland’s commercial capital and sea port. This enabled the Islamic State in Somalia to pressure Bossaso-based businesses to pay it protection money, the single most important source of income. In 2017-2018, the group is believed to have been behind as many as 50 assassinations in central Somalia. The killings were a forceful tool to generate protection money.

    On 27 July 2018, the Somali group was officially designated as a full province by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. The Maktab al-Karrar regional office was based in the small Puntland chapter, giving it global responsibilities.

    The Somali group was made responsible for the central African and the Mozambique provinces of the Islamic State. Money flowed to the group from the Islamic State, as did extortion money from Bossaso, other northern Puntland cities and more infrequently from Mogadishu.

    In the first half of 2022, the US Treasury claimed that the organisation generated US$2.3 million from extortion payments, related imports, livestock and agriculture. The regional office and Muumin emerged as key financial players in east Africa, and even outside it, from their base in Buur Dexhtaal in Bari Puntland. Indeed, unnamed US officials claimed in 2023 that Muumim had been made the transnational leader of the Islamic State.

    3. An overblown reputation

    The Islamic State’s reputation in Somalia is often overstated. The group has never captured or held large territories. Its numbers in 2024 were estimated to be between 600 and 1,600. That pales in comparison to al-Shabaab in the south of Somalia.

    Its links to a planned attack on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm 2024 were probably weak and failed to hold up in court. And the jihadist linked to a planned attack in the Vatican 2018 seems to have left Islamic State prior to the planning.

    It is also doubtful that Muumin is the global leader of the Islamic State as claimed by some. That’s for two main reasons. First, an Islamic State leader has to be drawn from a tribe related to the prophet (Qureshi). Muumin is not. Second, the Islamic State in Somalia is the smallest of the Islamic State provinces in Africa. It is likely that a leader of a stronger province would have ranked higher.

    Although the income-gathering capacities of the Puntland-based group give it prominence in the Islamic State media, the Islamic State in Somalia does not rank higher than the Islamic State in the Sahara and Mozambique.

    4. Down but not out

    The Puntland authorities launched a relatively successful counter-offensive against the Islamic State in January 2025. This was combined with air support by the US and the United Arab Emirates.

    Puntland won important battles in January and February, including an attack in which it killed 70 Islamic State fighters.

    By late February, the morale of the Islamic State fighters seemed to break. With the fall of Buur Dexhtaal, the main base, in March, all the larger known bases had fallen. Many of the fleeing foreign fighters were captured.

    But the Islamic State is not defeated. The terrain enabled some of the fighters to hide. Neither Muumin, who is in his 70s, nor his second-in-command Abdirahman Fahiye have been reported killed. There are at least several hundred fighters left.

    If the Islamic State is still able to extort money from the northern business community, it could recruit from the large numbers of Oromo Ethiopian refugees in and around Bosaso, as well as locals who need jobs.

    Stig Jarle Hansen 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. Islamic State in Somalia: the terrorist group’s origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats – https://theconversation.com/islamic-state-in-somalia-the-terrorist-groups-origins-rise-and-recent-battlefield-defeats-252303

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Widening access to university education

    Source: Scottish Government

    Rise in students from most deprived areas.

    Access to higher education at university for Scottish students from the most deprived areas has increased to a near record high, official figures have shown.

    The latest Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) figures for 2023-24 show that 16.7% of full-time first degree entrants to Scottish universities came from the nation’s 20% most deprived areas. This marks an increase from 16.3% the previous year.

    The figures also show an increase overall in the number of Scottish-based students at Scottish universities to 173,795, as well as a rise in full-time Scottish first degree entrants.

    However, non-EU international student numbers have seen a decline in 2023-24 following changes by the UK Government to the immigration system, such as ending the inclusion of family members on student visas.

    Minister for Higher and Further Education Graeme Dey said:

    “These figures show the significant progress of Scotland’s universities in making higher education not only more inclusive, but also attracting a rising number of Scots overall.

    “The number of Scots from the most deprived backgrounds entering university on full-time first degree courses is now up 37% since the establishment of the Commission on Widening Access by this Government.

    “This means many more people, no matter their background, have the opportunity to prosper in their lives.

    “We recognise the issues raised by the sector around a decline in international student numbers and damaging UK migration policies which is why we have proposed a ‘Scottish Graduate Visa’ which would allow us to retain international students after they graduate from Scottish institutions.”

    Background

    Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2023/24 | HESA

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –