Source: Government of Italy (English)
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19 Marzo 2025
The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, addressed the Chamber of Deputies today following the general discussion on the official communications regarding the European Council meeting to be held on 20-21 March.
Yesterday, President Meloni provided the Senate with the official communications, and later responded to the points raised during the general discussion.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kendra D. Boyd, Assistant Professor of History, Rutgers University
Black businesses were essential to facilitating the Great Migration of African Americans out of the South between the 1910s and 1960s. Yet, the traditional narrative of the migration as a movement of laborers seeking high-wage jobs obscures the history of African Americans who moved north or west seeking entrepreneurial opportunities.
This story is featured in my book, “Freedom Enterprise: Black Entrepreneurship and Racial Capitalism in Detroit,” which will be published April 8, 2025.
Between 1910 and 1970, more than 6 million African Americans left the South for destinations such as Detroit, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. This mass exodus had, and continues to have, enormous political, cultural and social implications for our nation. Migrants were seeking true freedom, including full political and economic citizenship – things they had not been able to achieve in the Jim Crow South.
As a historian of Black business, I wanted to know more about those who migrated to Detroit with the aim of working for themselves – as opposed to getting a job in Henry Ford’s auto factories.
The experiences and trajectories of these migrant entrepreneurs can tell us much about the possibilities for Black social and economic advancement through business in the United States.
Pioneering African American historian Carter G. Woodson, father of Black History Month, pointed to the lack of business opportunities in describing the causes of the mass migration that began in the mid-1910s.
“In most parts of the South the Negroes are still unable to become landowners or successful business men,” Woodson wrote in 1918. “Conditions and customs have reserved these spheres for the whites.”
Of course, African Americans did establish businesses in the South, sometimes becoming quite wealthy. But there was always the threat of lynchings and other forms of racial violence for those who defied the racial caste system of Jim Crow. The destruction of “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a well-known story. But there were many other incidents of white supremacist terrorism targeting Black businesses owners.
In fact, many Black entrepreneurs pointed out that the danger of racial violence was a deciding factor in their moving to Detroit. This included people such as Willis Eugene Smith, who established a funeral home, and Berry Gordy Sr., who operated a grocery store and contracting business in the city. In his 1979 memoir, “Movin’ Up: Pop Gordy Tells His Story,” Gordy told how he decided to leave Georgia for Detroit after local whites began pestering him about a large check he received as payment for goods he had sold. Gordy’s sister warned him: “You fool ’round here, they’re liable to beat us out of it, take all our money.”
Many African American entrepreneurs who participated in the Great Migration questioned whether they could experience enduring upward mobility through business if they stayed in the South.
As early as 1917, the director of the Detroit Urban League, Forrester B. Washington, reported “receiving many letters from [southern] Negro business men asking information regarding the real situation here.”
Many of those Southern entrepreneurs decided to move north. Detroit’s African American population increased 611% between 1910 and 1920 to 40,838, making it home to one of the largest populations of African Americans in the country.
While Southern migrants saw Detroit as a promised land, segregation in the North was alive and well. There were many negative aspects to racial segregation, but it also created entrepreneurial opportunities, as Black newcomers needed the services of Black-owned businesses such as barbershops and hair salons, hotels and restaurants. These businesses sustained the growing African American community and made it feasible for Southern migrants to settle permanently in the city. By 1926, 85% of Detroit’s Black population were migrants, according to “The Negro in Detroit,” a report produced by the Detroit Bureau of Governmental Research.
Some businesses made their Southern roots explicit in their advertising. A 1933 advertisement for the Creole Hand Laundry, located at 542 Watson St., stated: “From New Orleans, La.”
Migrant entrepreneurs tapped into newly created niche markets, catering to the tastes of Southern transplants. For example, the Home Milling Company was established in Detroit around 1922 and processed hominy grits, cornmeal and whole wheat flour in a plant at Catherine and Russell streets. Home Milling’s managers had plans to expand the business in order to supply Black-owned bakeries in Detroit and satiate the tastes of newcomers.
“There is quite a large demand of the products on the part of Southern residents in the City and the concern is doing a fair volume of business,” stated the 1926 “The Negro in Detroit” report. “Their cornmeal is made from specially selected white corn out of deference to the palate of Southern Negroes who do not relish meal made from yellow corn.”
Supreme Linen and Laundry was another company that provided essential goods and services to Detroit’s growing number of Black-owned restaurants and hotels. Established by native Mississippians Fred and Callie Allen in 1929, the company supplied uniforms, tablecloths and napkins to businesses across the city and housed a commercial laundry.
By the 1940s, Detroit had earned the reputation of having more Black-owned businesses than any other city in the United States. This thriving business community comprised mainly Southern migrants.
Black business women, particularly those affiliated with the Detroit Housewives’ League, were instrumental in facilitating the growth of the Black-owned business community in the 1930s and 1940s. The league was established with the goal of boosting Black business in the city and grew to have over 10,000 members. The organization promoted Black businesses by hosting annual exhibitions, producing and distributing informational publications, and sponsoring educational programs for entrepreneurs and consumers.
Building a successful Black business community in Detroit in the first half of the 20th century was certainly not without obstacles. These included retail and residential segregation, lending discrimination and violence, among others. Yet, migrant entrepreneurs facilitated the migration to the city and transformed the landscape of Detroit.
In 1925, the city’s Black population was 85,000. That blossomed to 300,000 by 1950.
Detroit’s historic Black business community was concentrated in adjoining neighborhoods called Black Bottom and Paradise Valley.
Later, this area was targeted by urban planning initiatives, including freeway construction and urban renewal in the 1950s and 1960s. As a result, the success of this business community was cut short. State-sponsored redevelopment wiped out much of the wealth Black entrepreneurs hoped to pass down to their children, contributing to the racial wealth gap.
This destruction was a harsh blow to Southern migrant entrepreneurs who had relocated to Detroit seeking economic independence, upward mobility and other markers of freedom.
Read more of our stories about Detroit.
Kendra D. Boyd 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. The story of the Great Migration often overlooks Black businesses that built Detroit – https://theconversation.com/the-story-of-the-great-migration-often-overlooks-black-businesses-that-built-detroit-249006
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lightning Jay, Assistant Professor of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership, Binghamton University, State University of New York
Can you tell fact from fiction online? In a digital world, few questions are more important or more challenging.
For years, some commentators have called for K-12 teachers to take on fake news, media literacy, or online misinformation by doubling down on critical thinking. This push for schools to do a better job preparing young people to differentiate between low- and high-quality information often focuses on social studies classes.
As an education researcher and former high school history teacher, I know that there’s both good and bad news about combating misinformation in the classroom. History class can cultivate critical thinking – but only if teachers and schools understand what critical thinking really means.
First, the bad news.
When people demand that schools teach critical thinking, it’s not always clear what they mean. Some might consider critical thinking a trait or capacity that teachers can encourage, like creativity or grit. They could believe that critical thinking is a mindset: a habit of being curious, skeptical and reflective. Or they might be referring to specific skills – for instance, that students should learn a set of steps to take to assess information online.
Unfortunately, cognitive science research has shown that critical thinking is not an abstract quality or practice that can be developed on its own. Cognitive scientists see critical thinking as a specific kind of reasoning that involves problem-solving and making sound judgments. It can be learned, but it relies on specific content knowledge and does not necessarily transfer between fields.
Early studies on chess players and physicists in the 1970s and ’80s helped show how the kind of flexible and reflective cognition often called critical thinking is really a product of expertise. Chess masters, for instance, do not start out with innate talent. In most cases, they gain expertise by hours of thoughtfully playing the game. This deliberate practice helps them recognize patterns and think in novel ways about chess. Chess masters’ critical thinking is a product of learning, not a precursor.
Because critical thinking develops in specific contexts, it does not necessarily transfer to other types of problem-solving. For example, chess advocates might hope the game improves players’ intelligence, and studies do suggest learning chess may help elementary students with the kind of pattern recognition they need for early math lessons. However, research has found that being a great chess player does not make people better at other kinds of complex critical thinking.
Since context is key to critical thinking, learning to analyze information about current events likely requires knowledge about politics and history, as well as practice at scrutinizing sources. Fortunately, that is what social studies classes are for.
Social studies researchers often describe this kind of critical thinking as “historical thinking”: a way to evaluate evidence about the past and assess its reliability. My own research has shown that high school students can make relatively quick progress on some of the surface features of historical thinking, such as learning to check a text’s date and author. But the deep questioning involved in true historical thinking is much harder to learn.
Social studies classrooms can also build what researchers call “civic online reasoning.” Fact-checking is complex work. It is not enough to tell young people that they should be wary online, or to trust sites that end in “.org” instead of “.com.” Rather than learning general principles about online media, civic online reasoning teaches students specific skills for evaluating information about politics and social issues.
Still, learning to think like a historian does not necessarily prepare someone to be a skeptical news consumer. Indeed, a recent study found that professional historians performed worse than professional fact-checkers at identifying online misinformation. The misinformation tasks the historians struggled with focused on issues such as bullying or the minimum wage – areas where they possessed little expertise.
That’s where background knowledge comes in – and the good news is that social studies can build it. All literacy relies on what readers already know. For people wading through political information and news, knowledge about history and civics is like a key in the ignition for their analytical skills.
Readers without much historical knowledge may miss clues that something isn’t right – signs that they need to scrutinize the source more closely. Political misinformation often weaponizes historical falsehoods, such as the debunked and recalled Christian nationalist book claiming that Thomas Jefferson did not believe in a separation of church and state, or claims that the nadir of African American life came during Reconstruction, not slavery. Those claims are extreme, but politicians and policymakers repeat them.
For someone who knows basic facts about American history, those claims won’t sit right. Background knowledge will trigger their skepticism and kick critical thinking into gear.
For this reason, the best approach to media literacy will come through teaching that fosters concrete skills alongside historical knowledge. In short, the new knowledge crisis points to the importance of the traditional social studies classroom.
But it’s a tenuous moment for history education. The Bush- and Obama-era emphasis on math and English testing resulted in decreased instructional time in history classes, particularly in elementary and middle schools. In one 2005 study, 27% of schools reported reducing social studies time in favor of subjects on state exams.
Now, history teachers are feeling heat from politically motivated culture wars over education that target teaching about racism and LGBTQ+ issues and that ban books from libraries and classrooms. Two-thirds of instructors say that they’ve limited classroom discussions about social and political topics.
Attempts to limit students’ knowledge about the past imperil their chances of being able to think critically about new information. These attacks are not just assaults on the history of the country; they are attempts to control its future.
Lightning Jay 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. Why history instruction is critical for combating online misinformation – https://theconversation.com/why-history-instruction-is-critical-for-combating-online-misinformation-248528
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Suzanne OConnell, Harold T. Stearns Professor of Earth Science, Wesleyan University
In mountain ranges around the world, glaciers are melting as global temperatures rise. Europe’s Alps and Pyrenees lost 40% of their glacier volume from 2000 to 2023. These and other icy regions have provided freshwater for people living downstream for centuries – almost 2 billion people rely on glaciers today. But as glaciers melt faster, they also pose potentially lethal risks.
Water from the melting ice often drains into depressions once occupied by the glacier, creating large lakes. Many of these expanding lakes are held in place by precarious ice dams or rock moraines deposited by the glacier over centuries.
Too much water behind these dams or a landslide into the lake can break the dam, sending huge volumes of water and debris sweeping down the mountain valleys, wiping out everything in the way.
These risks and the loss of freshwater supplies are some of the reasons the United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and March 21 the first World Day for Glaciers. As an Earth scientist and a mountain geographer, we study the impact that ice loss can have on the stability of the surrounding mountain slopes and glacial lakes. We see several reasons for increasing concern.
Most glacial lakes began forming over a century ago as a result of warming trends since the 1860s, but their abundance and rates of growth have risen rapidly since the 1960s.
Many people living in the Himalayas, Andes, Alps, Rocky Mountains, Iceland and Alaska have experienced glacial lake outburst floods of one type or another.
A glacial lake outburst flood in the Himalayas in October 2023 damaged more than 30 bridges and destroyed a 200-foot-high (60-meter) hydropower plant. Residents had little warning. By the time the disaster was over, more than 50 people had died.
Juneau, Alaska, has been hit by several flash floods in recent years from a glacial lake dammed by ice on an arm of Mendenhall Glacier. Those floods, including in 2024, were driven by a melting glacier that slowly filled a basin below it until the basin’s ice dam broke.
Avalanches, rockfalls and slope failures can also trigger glacial lake outburst floods. These are growing more common as frozen ground known as permafrost thaws, robbing mountain landscapes of the cryospheric glue that formerly held them together. These slides can create massive waves when they plummet into a lake. The waves can then rupture the ice dam or moraine, unleashing a flood of water, sediment and debris.
That dangerous mix can rush downstream at speeds of 20-60 mph (30-100 kph), destroying homes and anything else in its path.
The casualties of such an event can be staggering. In 1941, a huge wave caused by a snow and ice avalanche that fell into Laguna Palcacocha, a glacial lake in the Peruvian Andes, overtopped the moraine dam that had contained the lake for decades. The resulting flood destroyed one-third of the downstream city of Huaraz and killed between 1,800 and 5,000 people.
In the years since, the danger there has only increased. Laguna Palcacocha has grown to more than 14 times its size in 1941. At the same time, the population of Huaraz has risen to over 120,000 inhabitants. A glacial lake outburst flood today could threaten the lives of an estimated 35,000 people living in the water’s path.
Governments have responded to this widespread and growing threat by developing early warning systems and programs to identify potentially dangerous glacial lakes. Some governments have taken steps to lower water levels in the lakes or built flood diversion structures, such as walls of rock-filled wire cages, known as gabions, that divert floodwaters from villages, infrastructure or agricultural fields.
Where the risks can’t be managed, communities have been encouraged to use zoning that prohibits building in flood-prone areas. Public education has helped build awareness of the flood risk, but the disasters continue.
The dramatic nature of glacial lake outburst floods captures headlines, but those aren’t the only risks. As scientists expand their understanding of how the world’s icy regions interact with global warming, they are identifying a number of other phenomena that can lead to similarly disastrous events.
Englacial conduit floods, for instance, originate inside of glaciers, commonly those on steep slopes. Meltwater can collect inside massive systems of ice caves, or conduits. A sudden surge of water from one cave to another, perhaps triggered by the rapid drainage of a surface pond, can set off a chain reaction that bursts out of the ice as a full-fledged flood.
Thawing mountain permafrost can also trigger floods. This permanently frozen mass of rock, ice and soil has been a fixture at altitudes above 19,685 feet (6,000 meters) for millennia.
Freezing helps keep mountains together. But as permafrost thaws, even solid rock becomes less stable and is more prone to breaking, while ice and debris are more likely to become detached and turn into destructive and dangerous debris flows. Thawing permafrost has been increasingly implicated in glacial lake outburst floods because of these new sources of potential triggers.
In 2017, nearly a third of the solid rock face of Nepal’s 29,935-foot (6,374-meter) Saldim Peak collapsed and fell onto the Langmale glacier below. Heat generated by the friction of rock falling through air melted ice, creating a slurry of rock, debris and sediment that plummeted into Langmale glacial lake below, resulting in a massive flood.
These and other forms of glacier-related floods and hazards are being exacerbated by climate change.
Flows of ice and debris from high altitudes and the sudden appearance of meltwater ponds on a glacier’s surface are two more examples. Earthquakes can also trigger glacial lake outburst floods. Not only have thousands of lives been lost, but billions of dollars in hydropower facilities and other structures have also been destroyed.
The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and World Day for Glaciers are reminders of the risks and also of who is in harm’s way.
The global population depends on the cryosphere – the 10% of the Earth’s land surface that’s covered in ice. But as more glacial lakes form and expand, floods and other risks are rising. A study published in 2024 counted more than 110,000 glacial lakes around the world and determined 10 million people’s lives and homes are at risk from glacial lake outburst floods.
The U.N. is encouraging more research into these regions. It also declared 2025 to 2034 the “decade of action in cryospheric sciences.” Scientists on several continents will be working to understand the risks and find ways to help communities respond to and mitigate the dangers.
Suzanne OConnell receives funding from The National Science Foundation
Alton C. Byers 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. As mountain glaciers melt, risk of catastrophic flash floods rises for millions − World Day for Glaciers carries a reminder – https://theconversation.com/as-mountain-glaciers-melt-risk-of-catastrophic-flash-floods-rises-for-millions-world-day-for-glaciers-carries-a-reminder-251707
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Mercieca, Professor of Communication and Journalism, Texas A&M University
Like many other news organizations, The Associated Press maintains a “live updates” page, which posts the latest from the Trump administration in a ticker tape-like live scroll, with multiple updates per hour, 12 hours a day.
President Donald Trump has kept the ticker busy.
“Trump is moving with light speed and brute force to break the existing order and reshape America at home and abroad,” an Associated Press reporter wrote on Feb. 22, 2025.
Many Americans find the amount and pace of news exhausting, confusing and overwhelming.
“How do you push back against a tidal wave?” political communication expert Dannagal Young wrote of this media phenomenon on Feb. 21. “You can’t.”
I study the relationship between communication and democracy. I teach university classes on propaganda, presidential communication and the dark arts of communication, and I’m the author of an award-winning 2020 book on Trump’s communication strategies.
Deliberately overwhelming people with a flood of news content is a propaganda strategy used by authoritarians like Russian President Vladimir Putin to distort reality and prevent people from clearly evaluating their government’s actions.
When Ronald Reagan’s first term as president began in 1981, several prominent political scientists noted in an analysis that a “week scarcely goes by without at least one major news story devoted to coverage of a radio or TV speech, an address to Congress, a speech to a convention, a press conference, a news release, or some other presidential utterance.”
It’s hard to believe that Reagan’s presidential communication only attracted one major news story per week, especially since he is often called “the Great Communicator.”
The 1980s had a slower, pre-digital news environment than that of the current day, to be sure. But Trump is also simply generating a lot more news content than Reagan did.
Today, Trump’s frequent press conferences, news releases, social media posts and other appearances and offhand remarks generate a constant flow of new stories and social media posts each day. The proliferation of cellphones and social media allows many people to follow the news throughout the day. People, in return, expect the president and other politicians to talk to the public constantly and often berate them when they fail to meet that expectation and go silent.
In fact, Trump is generating a lot more media content in his second term than he did in his first.
Reagan averaged about 5.8 news conferences per year. Trump averaged 22 per year in his first term, according to data collected by a nonpartisan group at the University of California Santa Barbara called the American Presidency Project. Former President Joe Biden averaged 9.25 per year.
Trump has already had 18 press gaggles or press conferences since taking office in January 2025.
A news analysis conducted by National Journal White House reporter George Condon showed that Trump has already answered more than 1,000 questions from reporters since he returned to office, which is nearly five times more questions than he answered at this point in his first presidency.
Trump has also made a lot of news by issuing almost 90 executive orders, which he has used both as a strategy for exercising executive power over issues like foreign aid and as a strategy for attracting media coverage.
Reagan issued 50 executive orders in his first year in office in 1981. Trump issued 72 executive orders within his first 30 days in 2025. That’s more executive orders than any previous president has issued in their first month over the last 40 years, including himself. He only issued 33 at this point in his first term in 2017.
Trump’s media strategy in his second term appears to intensify the approach he used in his first term. During Trump’s first term, according to The New York Times, “Mr. Trump told top aides to think of each presidential day as an episode in a television show in which he vanquishes rivals.”
As former Trump aide and current host of the show “War Room” Steve Bannon said in 2018, “The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit.”
In 2025, in order to win the day’s news coverage, Trump is flooding the media with an unrelenting tidal wave of news content to dominate and vanquish the zone.
This strategy is evident in the Oval Office executive order signing events. Trump literally makes news by signing a large piece of paper in front of cameras and reporters. These events are carefully staged political theater for media consumption in which Trump casts himself as the nation’s hero protecting it from foreign invasions, diversity programs or paper straws.
Many of Trump’s executive orders are facing legal challenges, and some have been shot down by federal judges. Nonetheless, it is the spectacle of signing the orders that I, as a communications scholar, believe is designed to win the day – they are effective at generating news coverage and making Trump look powerful.
“Trump, as we know from this first month, is the most news-making person to occupy the Oval Office I’ve ever seen,” said New York Times Executive Editor Joe Kahn on Feb. 27.
Media scholar Marshall McLuhan famously argued in 1964 that “The medium is the message.” Likewise, with Trump, the communication strategy is the message.
Communication is a tool. It can be used to promote democracy or to erode it. Any politician’s communication strategy reveals, at least in part, how they think about governing, power and democracy. Some political leaders communicate in ways that encourage people to ask questions and use their reason and critical thinking skills to evaluate public policies.
Other political leaders use communication in undemocratic ways to manipulate and coerce, preventing citizens from using their reason and critical thinking skills to evaluate policies.
What does Trump’s tidal wave of news content say about how he thinks about governing, power and democracy?
As a media and governing strategy, I think that creating an unrelenting tidal wave of content is designed to enable Trump to attract and keep the nation’s attention on himself and – in the process, drown out other voices.
This method overwhelms the media and exhausts many Americans who cannot easily absorb so much information at once.
And the tidal wave strategy prevents the public from scrutinizing the president’s actions – because no one can push back against a tidal wave.
Jennifer Mercieca 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. Donald Trump’s nonstop news-making can be exhausting, making it harder for people to scrutinize his presidential actions – https://theconversation.com/donald-trumps-nonstop-news-making-can-be-exhausting-making-it-harder-for-people-to-scrutinize-his-presidential-actions-250733
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On March 19, 2025, a business meeting between the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev and the rector of the Tyumen Industrial University Yuri Klochkov took place at the State University of Management.
The meeting was also attended by vice-rectors of the State University of Management Maria Karelina and Dmitry Bryukhanov.
The heads of universities discussed the vectors of cooperation in the field of professional training of personnel in the areas of master’s and bachelor’s degrees with the assignment of two qualifications: engineering and economic or managerial.
The creation of a joint MBA program at the request of representatives of the oil and gas industry was also discussed.
In terms of interaction in the field of science, proposals were made to create a joint dissertation council for two scientific specialties.
Rector of TIU Yuri Klochkov familiarized himself with the scientific research and developments of the State University of Management, which were presented by Dmitry Rybakov, a research fellow at the Engineering Project Management Center, and Vladimir Kutkov, a postgraduate student. They also formulated proposals for the use of UAVs in the interests of oil producing enterprises.
Yuri Klochkov invited his colleagues from the State University of Management to visit the Tyumen Industrial University on a return visit to see the achievements of the university he heads and sign a cooperation agreement.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/19/2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
© Higher School of Economics
School of International Cooperation created in the structure Faculty of World Economy and World Politics (FMEiMP) Vyshki. The school launches, promotes and implements programs of additional education and professional retraining, corporate education programs and international intensive trainings for working specialists and managers interacting with foreign government officials and businessmen, as well as foreign entrepreneurs, students and scientists.
Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Relations Anastasia Likhacheva, opening the presentation, emphasized that the main task of the school is to implement projects in the interests of the country, to promote Russian interests in the international arena. “There is no single formula for what key opens the hearts of partners. We are glad that our faculty is creating a platform that will unite enthusiasts of international cooperation,” said Anastasia Likhacheva.
Senior Director of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Andrey Lavrov noted that last year, during the elections of the Academic Council, a formula was developed that reflects the essence of the current HSE: a university for the development of all of Russia, open to the world. He called international cooperation a priority for HSE and the Faculty of World Economy and International Relations. Andrey Lavrov is confident that the opening of the School of International Cooperation will help to realize the most ambitious goals of developing additional professional education at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. “The development of adult education is an area where we can achieve great success. I am very glad that you have become pioneers in the new wave of development of additional professional education at HSE, congratulations,” Andrey Lavrov said, addressing the heads of the faculty.
“It’s nice to be pioneers,” Anastasia Likhacheva responded. She recalled that HSE began its turn to the East many years ago (700 students currently study Chinese at HSE) and expressed hope that the school will contribute to the development of Russian-Chinese cooperation.
Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Russia Zhao Wei read out a greeting from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China Zhang Hanhui, in which he congratulated HSE on the opening of the School of International Cooperation. HSE was described as a leader in the field of innovation development and a university that makes an invaluable contribution to the formation of the international agenda. In her congratulatory letter, the Ambassador emphasized the role of the Academic Director of the Faculty of World Economy and International Relations Sergey Karaganov in strengthening HSE ties with leading universities in China and developing bilateral cooperation.
Zhang Hanhui noted in his congratulatory letter: China and Russia have common positions in solving international problems and forming a fair world order. “I am convinced that the school will become the foundation for training new types of specialists with cross-cultural competence and skills in solving international problems. I hope that the establishment of the school will contribute to deepening Chinese-Russian cooperation in personnel training and strengthening cooperation with the countries of the Global South,” he emphasized.
According to FMEiMP research professor Fyodor Lukyanov, the university and faculty do not move at the mercy of the winds, but strive to create and strengthen these winds themselves. Now, he added, the world is in an amazing state, when what was impossible yesterday is obvious today, and tomorrow will be completely different from what we imagine. The professor noted: international cooperation is necessary in any situation in the world, it should be strengthened and supported. Now it is important to create new connections, while maintaining the old ones. “Support for the implementation of international cooperation projects, learning it throughout life – this is what we need to exist in, this is such an environment,” said Fyodor Lukyanov.
Now, he believes, the quality of expertise is extremely important, since no high-level manager operates in a vacuum, but operates in an environment with a large volume of events and trends, where when making decisions, not only knowledge is important, but also intuition, which develops, among other things, thanks to knowledge.
The head of the School of International Cooperation, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Relations for Continuing Education Yulia Belous noted: the school offers a wide range of continuing education programs, winter and summer schools for different categories of students.
The training programs are divided into four levels. The first one is “Starting a Career — Key to a Career” — for students and young professionals with 1 to 3 years of work experience. Next comes the “New Facets” stage — training in new skills for professionals with 3 to 5 years of experience, then “Time to Act” — for foreign professionals and those who need to enter a foreign market. And finally, the fourth level is strategic sessions for managers with leading experts in international relations, global economics, orientalists and regional experts who create a vision of the principles of work in eastern markets, the foundation for effective operations and competition with existing players. They are aimed at obtaining practice-oriented knowledge for work in different countries and regions.
Head of the professional retraining program of the Faculty of World Economy and International Relations “Eastern Perspective: Strategy and Tactics for Building a Business» Natalia Guseva noted that the program is aimed at developing an effective strategy for working in the East, understanding the specifics of business and entrepreneurship in these countries, as well as the practice of doing business in India, China, Japan and South Korea. This is a three-week program that involves developing one’s own projects.
A 10-day intensive programme has also already been formed. program for foreign entrepreneurs who want to work in Russia. They will learn about the peculiarities of the Russian financial and tax system, the specifics of business cooperation with Russia, and will gain an understanding of the cultural characteristics and values of Russia and its peoples. This is a program in which leading speakers and experts will speak.
Deputy Executive Director – Director of Strategic Partnerships at Innopraktika Anastasia Pavlenko spoke about the program for transferring competencies in the field of digitalization of public administration to African countries – an important international initiative that is being implemented Center for African Studies HSE University with the support of Innopraktika. She emphasized that Russia is currently one of the world leaders in the field of digitalization of the public sector, and the experience of overcoming sanctions pressure and repelling a large number of cyberattacks seems valuable for friendly countries, with which Russia is ready to exchange knowledge in this area.
Also in her speech, Anastasia Pavlenko mentioned the direction of Innopraktika’s activities to support the entry of private high-tech companies – “national champions” – into the foreign market and the promotion of their solutions in friendly countries. In conclusion, she drew attention to the high potential of international cooperation in the development of education, science and culture.
Deputy Director of the HSE Center for African Studies Polina Slyusarchuk added: the center held a series of workshops with experts and scientists from different African countries. One of the programs is dedicated to food security of countries and regions, within its framework, participants are invited not only to study the problem, but also to propose ways to solve it. The center also created a program of additional professional education on running a practical business on the continent.
Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council Ivan Timofeev noted: the concept of international cooperation is very broad and includes economic, scientific, military-technical and cultural interaction, each of which has its own characteristics. It is important to understand how different aspects of interaction, from chess to sensitive technologies, can be used as a country’s soft power, how to integrate their various elements into foreign policy.
“Your project is not an adventure, it is an initiative based on the ecosystem and human capital of HSE. Your programs will be in great demand,” Ivan Timofeev is confident.
Head of the Center for Educational Solutions and Work with Universities of the TMH Corporate University (TMH Group) Alexander Belyashin congratulated the faculty on the opening of the school. He said that in the modern world, educational partnership is an integral part of international cooperation and the opening of such an institute as the HSE School of International Cooperation is an excellent and timely decision. In turn, TMH JSC has been preparing and developing the company’s engineering potential for several years and this year, together with the Tashkent State Transport University, it created a scientific and educational center in Uzbekistan, on the basis of which it is planned to train design engineers and process engineers in joint master’s programs and additional professional education programs. He noted the high potential of the School of International Cooperation, where not only general problems will be studied, but also specific cases of bilateral and multilateral interaction.
Vice President of the Vyzov Foundation Elena Eremenko spoke about the Vyzov Foundation Prize, the international track “SCIENCE. DIALOGUE. TRUST”, within the framework of which an international assembly, seminars and scientific breakfasts on “scientific diplomacy” are held. Elena Eremenko also emphasized the desire to continue intellectual cooperation with the FMEIP on the “scientific diplomacy” track and in the line of interaction with students.
Roscongress Foundation Supervisory Board Member Dimitrios Velanis recalled that even during the most difficult periods of international relations, for example in the early 1980s, during the period of sanctions imposed on the USSR after the introduction of troops into Afghanistan, businesses, including those from Western countries, found opportunities to work in the Soviet Union.
Head of Corporate Programs for Universities at SberUniversity Natalia Konshina spoke about the case of training advanced engineering schools of Russian universities. Together with the head of the School of International Cooperation, they presented possible areas of cooperation on the international track – risks and barriers in international scientific and technical cooperation.
Anna Bessmertnaya, Chairperson of the Commission on Foreign Economic Cooperation with Partners from China of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke about trends in training personnel for Russian-Chinese cooperation and the “Start Your Business with Moscow” project for young specialists.
The presentation of the School of International Cooperation was also attended by the head of the program “International cooperation in the context of global reassembly» HSE University, Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations of the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics of HSE University Dmitry Novikov. He spoke about the relevance and features of the program, its advantages.
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.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
UK Military Advisor, Lt Col Joby Rimmer, says Ukraine’s long-term security depends on a multifaceted approach of immediate ceasefire efforts, robust security arrangements, and economic and humanitarian support.
Thank you, Mr Chair. As we reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and right to exist, we continue to emphasise the importance of its freedom, sovereignty, and independence. These principles are critical to securing Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security and are paramount to ensuring stability and peace in the region.
Recent efforts to achieve a ceasefire have rightly dominated the strategic narrative. The meeting on March 11 between the USA and Ukraine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was promising. We applaud Ukraine’s commitment to an immediate ceasefire, which is an essential step towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations. A ceasefire is not only a cessation of hostilities but also a foundation for rebuilding trust and fostering long-term stability.
Although we don’t have the full details from the dialogue between the USA and Russia yesterday, we understand that Putin has repeated his ‘Yes but No’ approach to a ceasefire, expressing concerns regarding the monitoring of the line of conflict and Ukraine’s ability to mobilise and re-arm in the interim. Russia’s demand for the complete cessation of provision of foreign military aid and intelligence to Kyiv is likely to prevent rapid progress. We repeat that any ceasefire must be respected, and that robust and credible security arrangements are necessary to ensure that Ukraine can deter and defend against any renewed acts of aggression.
The UK welcomes the proposed agreement on a cessation of kinetic strikes on energy infrastructure, but again, we call on Russia to fully reciprocate by explicitly agreeing to a ceasefire in all areas and implementing it completely. Should Russia fail to agree to such a ceasefire, we remain prepared to impose further costs, including additional sanctions, caps on oil prices, and increased support for Ukraine. The use of extraordinary revenues stemming from immobilised Russian Sovereign Assets will also be considered.
The devastating impact of the war continues. Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are deeply alarming. The destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure has caused immense suffering and displacement. A Russian attack on Pokrovsk on March 17 severely injured three children. A Russian drone attack on a hospital in Kharkiv Oblast caused a 1500 square yard building fire, and the subsequent assault targeted rescue workers. On March 8, a coordinated strike on apartment buildings in Dobropillia killed 11 people and injured 30. We must emphasise the importance of accountability for these actions and reaffirm our commitment again to work together to achieve a durable peace.
In conclusion, Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security depend on a multifaceted approach that includes immediate ceasefire efforts, robust security arrangements, economic and humanitarian support, and accountability for actions taken during the conflict. By standing together with Ukraine, we can achieve a durable peace and ensure that Ukraine remains democratic, free, strong and prosperous. The path to peace and prosperity is challenging, but it is achievable. Thank you, Mr Chair.
Published 19 March 2025
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
UK Emergency Medical Team (UK-EMT) ends their 5-month deployment in Lebanon, the British Embassy held a workshop today for local and international partners.
UK EMT Workshop hosted by British Embassy Beirut
Partners focused on exploring opportunities to maintain and build capacity at the Turkish Hospital in Saida, building on lessons from the UK-EMT deployment. The workshop was attended by British Chargé D’Affaires and Development Director, Victoria Dunne; UK-Med Team Lead, Mr. Andres Gonzales Rodriguez; Turkish Hospital Director, Mrs Mona Teryaki; and Senior Advisor to the Minister of Public Health, Dr Nadeen Hilal.
In November 2024, the UK-EMT arrived in Lebanon to attend to injured civilians caught up in the conflict and train Lebanese health workers in specialised burn treatment skills. The team, made up of medical staff from the NGO UK-Med and Interburns, had deployed in response to a call for assistance from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health to the international community. The deployment of medical professionals from the UK to emergencies and humanitarian crises around the world is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The UK-EMT shared their achievements and challenges in providing burns and trauma services at the Turkish hospital and suggested steps to ensure continuity of burns treatment and physiotherapy. The event highlighted how international NGOs like UK-Med can provide life-saving assistance in a crisis context while also improving Lebanon’s capacity to provide these specialised services in the longer term.
Charge D’Affaires and Development Director Victoria Dunne said:
The conflict in Lebanon brought intolerable suffering to so many, with homes destroyed and innocent civilians caught up in the crossfire. The UK is pleased to have been able to deploy such valuable expertise to assist Lebanon in a time of crisis.
Over the past 5 months, the UK medical team have managed to deliver urgently needed treatment to the most vulnerable and those with life-changing injuries, whilst imparting skills to Lebanese physiotherapist to use in the long-term. We hope today’s workshop sets out a road map to sustain the Turkish Hospital in Saida and its burns rehabilitation expertise with the support of our local and international partners.
We are proud of our ongoing partnership and cooperation with Lebanon and international partners and what we have achieved in the last year – mobilising over $50m for the most vulnerable across the country.
UK-Med Senior Operations Manager and Team Lead for the UK EMT in Lebanon, Andres Gonzalez Rodriguez said:
Since November 2024, UK-EMT has provided specialised physiotherapy care focussed on burn rehabilitation in partnership with Interburns in the Turkish Trauma and Emergency Hospital, Saida. Several training sessions for physiotherapists were held with the Lebanese Order of Physiotherapists and Interburns for staff, including improving protocols and securing vital equipment.
As our mission ends, UK-EMT remains committed to supporting sustainable medical capacity in Lebanon through knowledge transfer and strengthened local healthcare system.
Senior Advisor to the Minister of Public Health Dr Nadeen Hilal said:
The Turkish Hospital’s journey may be considered as a blueprint. Its evolution from an emergency recipient to a hub of localized expertise and burn standard of excellence demonstrates how targeted interventions can respond to national health priorities. The lessons learned here, in burns care, trauma management, and multidisciplinary collaboration, must inspire replication across Lebanon’s hospitals, addressing diverse needs such as maternal health and chronic disease management.
Published 19 March 2025
Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent
Published: Wednesday, 19th March 2025
Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary mascot has been unveiled at St Gregory’s Catholic Academy.
The schoolchildren got the first glimpse of the official Stoke-on-Trent 100 mascot after winning a competition run by the city council.
Today (Wednesday 19 March), Kelvin the Kiln, surprised children at the Longton school, accompanied by The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe.
The two winners of the competition were Zunairah Hussain, who chose the name Kelvin the Kiln, and Fizza Fatima, who designed the front of Kelvin’s potter’s apron. Both children are in year six.
Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, said: “It was an honour to meet Kelvin the Kiln for the first time and travel to the school together.
“The brilliant reaction from pupils said it all. Kelvin is going to bring a smile to a lot of faces this year.
“I’m sure we’ll spend a bit of time in each other’s company at more events over the coming months as we continue to celebrate our city’s Centenary.”
The mascot was produced by character and costume specialist, Rainbow Productions, who brought Kelvin to life. The company’s managing director, Simon Foulkes, was born in Stoke-on-Trent and still has connections to the city.
He said: “My grandfather was born in Dundee Street in Longton and, as was normal in the early part of the last century, the whole family was employed by the pottery industry; his father being a china warehouseman and his mother and sister being china paintresses.
“My father, who was born in Stone, joined the RAF and was stationed all over the world but home for us was always Stoke. Sitting on my father’s shoulders in the Paddock in the Boothen End of the Victoria ground is one of the earliest memories I have.
“I live in Surrey now and, unapologetically, have brought my kids up to support Stoke and how they thank me for it! We have never lost our association with Stoke and it is a tremendous privilege now for my company to supply Kelvin the Kiln, the centenary mascot, and to wish the glorious City of Stoke-on-Trent a wonderful 100th birthday.”
Victoria Brickley, headteacher of St Gregory’s Catholic Academy, said: “We are incredibly proud of our students for their wonderful achievement in the mascot competition, which highlights their creativity and understanding of our local area. The artwork celebrates the unique history of Stoke-on-Trent. It is a privilege to play a small part in this significant event.”
Elizabeth Harper, History and Art Leader at the school, said: “The centenary of Stoke-on-Trent offers a valuable opportunity to delve into our local history and understand how past events have shaped the community we live in today.
“This exploration fosters a sense of pride in our children for their local area and aims to inspire them in their personal journeys. By collaborating with local organisations, including museums, businesses, and community groups, we can create meaningful opportunities that enrich the lives of our young learners.”
Source: City of Winchester
Community contributions from across the Winchester district have been recognised during the annual Mayor of Winchester’s awards.
The ceremony took place in Winchester Guildhall on Thursday 13 March, when a total of 54 award certificates were presented to 71 local individuals, groups and businesses.
Among those recognised were: the Rotary Club of Bishop’s Waltham; Jean Browne; Hampshire Swifts; Winchester Young Carers; Winchester Go LD; Gary Munday from Swan Samba; Alan Marlow from Winchester Ramblers; Connect Winchester Community Bus; The Soberton and Newtown Conservation Group; Danny Dubois; Tuesday’s Place in King’s Worthy; Citizens Advice Winchester; Kathy East from Lanterns Nursery School; GrOws (Green Owslebury); Keith Leaman; Natalie March; Anne Collins, Parish Clerk serving Durley and Upham PCs; Wilfred’s Café in Droxford and Meon Valley; Jenny Webb from South Wonston Community Café.
Swanmore Accredited Community Support Officer (ACSO) Gary McCulloch was presented with an award.
Mr McCulloch, who has been in the role for five years and works in Swanmore and Owslebury, said: “I was really shocked and humbled to be amongst so many well deserving people from all across the district. Myself and my fellow ACSO Sarah work filling the gaps and taking care of what are often little things; people can see they’re being listened to. If I can solve a problem, it’s good for the local community.
“I truly believe that my job is the best there is and I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate me.”
The Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith said: “The annual Mayor of Winchester Community Awards is one of the most important events in the Mayor’s calendar, and it’s a way to acknowledge and celebrate the quite invaluable work carried out by many community-spirited residents and business of all ages, from all walks of life.
“It has been heartwarming to see just how many kind and compassionate people there are in our district. I was so impressed by the humbling and inspirational achievements, which included three remarkable instances of lives being saved by quick thinking and well-trained individuals, taking charge of emergency situations; in one case a fourteen-year girl had set in motion a rescue attempt.
“I offer my profound thanks and admiration to every award recipient, for all that they have done and will no doubt continue to do for our community across the Winchester district.”
Source: City of Manchester
Author Maisie Chan with school children
Thousands of children across Manchester will discover books with characters they can relate to during the first See Myself in Books Festival, in a bid to boost reading for pleasure across the city.
The festival, which is delivered by Read Manchester – a partnership between Manchester City Council and the National Literacy Trust – runs for the next fortnight until 30 March and sees 15 diverse authors taking part. Highlights include a flagship event for schools at The Stoller Hall and a family fun day at the National Football Museum.
The See Myself in Books Festival builds on the success of two book collections specially curated for the city’s primary schools, which include 25 books focused on ethnic diversity and a further 25 books focused on neurodiversity. Copies of these books have been distributed to over 50 local primary schools so far and families can also borrow them at their local library.
The fortnight-long festival sees events across the city in schools, libraries and other community venues, including in-person events with diverse authors, with children and families encouraged to join in and also seek out some of the books to read themselves from the two collections.
Over 350 local primary school pupils joined in the festival’s kick-off event for schools yesterday (Tuesday 18 March) at The Stoller Hall. The event focused on ethnic diversity in books, with bestselling authors including Nathan Bryon, Dapo Adeola, Maisie Chan and Bobby Joseph. Each pupil who attended the event was given a copy of one of the authors’ books to take home.
Read Manchester will also be taking over the National Football Museum this Saturday 22 March, with a See Myself in Books family fun day to celebrate diversity in children’s literature and football. Author Priscilla Mante will read from her book, Jaz Santos vs The World (Puffin) and answer questions from families. There will also be craft activities and a book hunt for children of all ages. The event runs from 10 am – 3 pm and is free to attend for all Manchester families. Author reading sessions take place at 11 am and 2 pm.
Children across Manchester are also invited to design a See Myself in Books bookmark, which celebrates ethnically diverse or neuro-diverse characters in books. Three winning designs will be turned into official Manchester Libraries bookmarks, which will be shared across the city. Pick up an entry form at local libraries or find out more at readmanchester.org.uk
The See Myself in Books Festival comes as Manchester works towards becoming a UNICEF recognised Child Friendly City – a place where children’s rights are understood and respected, and that adopts a whole city approach towards making Manchester the best possible place for a child to grow up in.
Councillor Julie Reid, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People said: “We’re determined to make sure that every child and young person here in our wonderfully diverse city reaps the benefit of being a regular reader – both for the knowledge and wider understanding it gives them of the world around them, but also for the sheer joy of reading for pleasure.
“What the research shows us however is that children and young people are far more likely to read books if they see people like themselves in them and can identify with them.
“That’s why we’re on a mission to make sure that all our children whatever their background and circumstance, can see themselves reflected in the books they pick up – starting with the books in their own school library.
“We want all children and young people in Manchester to feel included and empowered by the books they read which is what makes our first See Myself in Books Festival so important. We’d love to see families and children across the city get involved – and of course, get reading!”
Research from the National Literacy Trust shows why events that celebrate reading and encourage reading for pleasure are so worthwhile. Last year, the charity revealed that when children and young people read in their free time at least once a month, it helps them to relax (56.6%) and feel happy (41%), learn new things (50.9%), understand the views of others (32.8%), learn about other cultures (32.4%) and be confident (26.0%) [1]. But too many children are missing out on these benefits because they don’t see themselves in the books they read:
· Over half (53.1%) of children aged 8-11 said they find it difficult to find books with characters or people like them
· Yet 1 in 3 children and young people aged 8-18 say that being given books or having books that represent them would make them want to read more
With children’s reading for enjoyment levels at a record low – just 1 in 3 (34.3%) children and young people aged 8-18 in the North West enjoying it in their free time – it’s more important than ever to inspire children to pick up a book.
Jill Connolly, Senior Project Manager at the National Literacy Trust said: “When children and young people enjoy reading in their free time, it helps their learning, wellbeing and confidence. By opening up a world of stories that children from diverse backgrounds can relate to, the See Myself in Books Festival helps more children feel these life-changing benefits.”
Source: City of Lancaster
A revised admissions policy at Lancaster City Museums will help to protect the district’s rich history and vibrant cultural heritage while raising vital funds to support their future.
Lancaster City Museum
From April 1 adult visitors who live outside of the LA1-LA6 postcodes will be charged a small entry fee. Entry to the Lancaster City and Maritime Museums will be £5 each, while a visit to the Cottage Museum will cost just £2.
There are also new ticketing options to offer flexibility and great value:
• Two-adult joint ticket: £8 for entry to either the Lancaster City or Maritime Museums
• Weekly pass: £8 per person for access to all Lancaster City Council-run museum sites for a week
• Annual pass: £10 per person for unlimited entry to all three museums for a year
People living in the LA1 to LA6 postcode areas will continue to enjoy free entry to the City and Maritime museums to ensure local history enthusiasts are able to explore the district’s fascinating past at no cost.
Carers accompanying a disabled visitor will also receive free entry. As is the case currently, local adult visitors will be asked to pay an entry fee to the Cottage Museum, with a visit costing £2.
Councillor Caroline Jackson, leader of Lancaster City Council, emphasised the importance of these changes: “The Maritime Museum has charged an entry fee for people visiting from outside the local area for many years and these changes bring the City Museum in line with this existing charging policy.
“Initially the additional funds we raise will be used to refurbish the staircase at the City Museum, and it seems reasonable to ask visitors to contribute, just as local people do through their council tax.
“Longer term, the changes will ensure the sustainability of these treasured institutions and support the maintenance and development of our museums for future generations to enjoy.”
For information about what’s on and details of future exhibitions visit Lancaster.gov.uk/museums.
Last updated: 19 March 2025
Source: City of Derby
Derby Arena is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The landmark building opened in 2015, with the aim of inspiring the next generation and put sport, health and physical activity at the heart of the city.
Since opening, the Arena has offered citizens the opportunity to be more physically active and improve their health and wellbeing. It’s not just a fitness facility – it’s a national cycling hub, a stage for top performers and a venue for major sporting events, as well as conferences and tradeshows.
In the past decade, Derby Arena has had over a 4 million visits and, in the last five years, has held over 300 events. These have included shows by top comedians Jimmy Carr, Sarah Millican, national hockey and international handball finals, and University of Derby graduations.
It was also an important part of the city’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming a huge vaccination centre which saw more than 100,000 people vaccinated.
The Arena was constructed on behalf of Derby City Council by Bowmer + Kirkland – the same company that completed the new Becketwell Live performance venue.
Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Safety and Leisure said:
For a decade, Derby Arena has thrived, becoming a leading hub for fitness, wellbeing, sport, and entertainment. Looking ahead, this ambitious facility will no doubt continue to enhance Derby’s appeal as a great place to live, work, and visit.
As a centre for fitness and wellbeing, the Arena is continuing to inspire people to change their lives through physical activity.
Fitness member Dave Martin said:
I can now lift, press, push, and pull weights that I couldn’t have imagined handling before. Initially, even lifting the bar was a struggle. All of this progress is thanks to the dedicated personal training team. The PTs both challenge and support you at your desired level. At 56 years old, I’ve learned that with the right team and motivation, anything is possible.
The Arena is one of only five cycling velodromes in the country and boasts four world champions coaches.
Derby’s track cyclists have shone in national and world competitions, achieving huge medal success in both the 2024 National Masters Track Championship and the 2024 UCI Masters Track World Championships.
Track cycling at Derby Arena
Cyclist John Baugh is a regular at the velodome. He said:
Since our first visit to the Arena three years ago, my son and I have shared many happy hours riding the velodrome. This venue is unique, in our experience. Where else could a father and son share an interest and passion for cycling, ride with multiple world champions, under the guidance and supervision of the finest coaches in the UK?
The atmosphere on Track League evenings is superb – there’s a sense of camaraderie that is a joy to be a part of. I can’t thank the team at Derby Arena enough for their kindness and encouragement.
The facility has attracted top-flight cyclists with the Great Britain Cycling Team track squads relocating to Derby Arena in 2022 while their usual home, the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, was renovated. Team GB’s track cyclists won one gold, three silver and four bronze medals at the Paris Olympics
The Arena hosted the British University and College Sport (BUCS) cycling championships for the first time. Joe O’Loughlin, event organiser for the BUCS Track Championships, said:
The first BUCS Track Championships in Derby was a huge success and we received amazing feedback, with members experiences overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to making next year even bigger and better and continuing to provide a platform where student riders can display their immense talent.
The Arena is an important sporting centre for Derbyshire’s young people, as home to Derbyshire Institute of Sport. DIS provides bespoke support services to individual athletes, sports teams and club members to enable them to achieve success.
Managing director Chloe Maudsley said:
We are proud to be hosted at the iconic Derby Arena, where we can deliver exceptional sports science, accessible to all the young athletes of Derbyshire. Together, we are showcasing that Derby can compete with the best in the world.
The cast of Cinderella outside the Arena
Beyond sport, Derby Arena has become a key entertainment venue, and has hosted Derby LIVE and Little Wolf Entertainment’s much-loved pantomimes since it opened. Last year’s Cinderella was Derby’s highest grossing panto ever, enjoyed by almost 40,000 people with sparkling reviews from audiences. The award-winning team will be back this year with Dick Whittington.
Further exciting shows coming up this year include comedy from Jimmy Carr and Al Murray, the mind-blowing family show Jurassic Earth and music from world-renowned acts celebrating the sounds of Taylor Swift, Tina Turner and Elvis, to name a few.
The Arena team will be celebrating the landmark 10th anniversary throughout the year with a host of events and activities, including Les Mills fitness launches, our popular family Fun-Fest, Cycle-Fest and other local, regional and national events.
Look out for the upcoming National Track Series Cycle Championships, the England Boxing National Amateur Championship Finals in April and, in September, the UK’s first full DEKA FIT competition – billed as ‘the ultimate fitness test’.
For more information visit the Derby Arena website and follow us on Facebook.
Source: United States Navy
FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. – Culinary Specialists (CS) from across the fleet competed at the 49th annual Joint Culinary Training Exercise (JCTE), which ran from Feb. 28 until March 7, 2025, at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. This year’s training event attracted over 150 U.S. military personnel from installations and activities worldwide, alongside allied forces teams from the Republic of Korea, Germany, the U.K., and France.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
PALM BEACH, Fla., March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – According to a report from Grand View Research, the nickel mining industry worldwide is expected to reach a projected revenue of US$83.813 Billion by 2030. A compound annual growth rate of 6.6% is expected of the worldwide nickel mining industry from 2023 to 2030.Growth in end-use industries such as construction, consumer durables, and machinery & equipment are propelling the growth of the stainless steel industry. Nickel is one of the key raw materials of stainless steel. Hence, development in the stainless steel industry is contributing to the growth of the market. According to the Nickel Institute, over two-thirds of the world’s nickel is utilized in the production of stainless steel. It acts as an alloying agent, enhancing essential properties such as formability, ductility, and weldability while also increasing corrosion resistance for specific applications. Another Grand View Research report said: “The nickel mining industry is highly competitive and to gain an edge, major players are acquiring their competitors. The batteries segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 7.2% in terms of revenue, over the forecast period (2030). Nickel batteries offer a cost-effective solution for achieving higher energy density and storage capabilities.” Active Companies in the market today include: First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (OTCQB: FANCF) (TSX-V: FAN), Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP), First Hydrogen Corp. (OTCPK: FHYDF) (TSX-V: FHYD), Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE: BE), FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL).
Grand View Research continued: “Based on region, Asia Pacific held the largest revenue share of over 57.0% in 2022. The growth in various industries, such as battery manufacturing, automotive & defense, and petrochemicals, is increasing the demand for nickel, which is positively influencing its mining activity. The Russia-Ukraine war has benefitted the Philippines’ nickel industry, as Russia’s output has been declining in the past few years coupled with the aversion it is receiving in trade. Europe is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.8% in terms of revenue over the forecast period (2030). The EU has recognized the importance of nickel in the energy transition and has added it to the list of critical minerals. To ensure a diversified supply chain, the EU has set benchmarks for the extraction of at least 10% of the annual consumption of nickel within the boundary of Europe. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the mining activity in the region. North America is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period (2030). The increasing demand for nickel-based products in aerospace and defense industries has raised its significance as a critical mineral. In addition, the growing emphasis on accomplishing a domestic supply chain for the EV battery segment is anticipated to boost production in the region.”
First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (OTCQB: FANCF) (TSX-V: FAN) AND COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES LAUNCH RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP TO EXPLORE GEOLOGIC HYDROGEN POTENTIAL IN NEWFOUNDLAND OPHIOLITES – First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (FSE: P21) (“First Atlantic” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce a strategic research partnership with Colorado School of Mines to explore geologic hydrogen as an energy source. This collaboration will focus on two significant ophiolite complexes in Newfoundland, Canada: the St. Anthony Ophiolite Complex (Atlantis Project, 103 km²) and the Pipestone Ophiolite Complex (Atlantic Nickel Project, 71 km²). Both projects are 100% owned by First Atlantic and encompass extensive ultramafic rock formations, characterized by awaruite-bearing serpentinized peridotites, which are key indicators of geologic hydrogen.
First Atlantic Nickel is primarily focused on exploring awaruite nickel-iron alloy mineralization. Additionally, it is partnering with Colorado School of Mines to conduct secondary research on geological hydrogen produced during serpentinization. This collaborative research will leverage data collected by First Atlantic during its ongoing exploration for awaruite nickel deposits. Notably, awaruite serves as an indicator mineral of geologic hydrogen within serpentinized peridotites found in ophiolites. Colorado School of Mines will carry out this hydrogen research component, enhancing the overall exploration program while leveraging First Atlantic’s extensive geological assets and expertise.
Geologic Hydrogen: Ophiolites and Peridotite
Ophiolites—sections of oceanic crust and upper mantle thrust onto continental crust—are globally recognized as prime sources of geologic hydrogen, often referred to as “white hydrogen” or “gold hydrogen.” These formations are dominated by ultramafic rocks, notably peridotite, which consists primarily of olivine and pyroxene minerals rich in nickel, chromium, magnesium, and iron. When peridotite interacts with water, it triggers serpentinization—a hydrothermal reaction in which iron oxidizes and water is reduced, releasing molecular hydrogen gas (H₂). This natural process can be represented by the equation:
3FeO (in olivine) + H₂O → Fe₃O₄ (magnetite) + H₂ – During serpentinization, awaruite (Ni₃Fe) forms as a secondary mineral when liberated nickel (Ni2+) and iron (Fe2+) from the olivine, pyroxene, and chromite minerals react with the abundant hydrogen (H2) present. This natural process can be represented by the equation:
3(Ni²⁺) + (Fe²⁺) + 4(H₂) → (Ni₃Fe) + 8(H⁺) – The formation of awaruite could not happen without the presence of hydrogen. This process occurs readily in ophiolitic peridotites at depth, where water saturated rocks in oxygen-poor, reducing conditions produce this exothermic reaction, generating heat that sustains further reactions. According to the Geological Survey of Finland, “In Europe and in regions outside the crystal shield, only ophiolites are often referred to as a source of geological hydrogen.” Within these ophiolite settings, serpentinized peridotites are the most promising targets, with peridotites producing significantly more hydrogen than other rocks, up to 4 kg per cubic meter. Ophiolites represent large potential sources of geologic hydrogen, with some of the most significant global geologic hydrogen discoveries occurring in ophiolites.
“Geologic hydrogen systems are a combination of mineral systems and natural gas systems. In our group, we have the unique combination of expertise from both the mining industry and oil and gas industry to advance geologic hydrogen exploration and stimulated hydrogen monitoring,” said Dr. Yaoguo Li from Colorado School of Mines. CONTINUED… Read this and more news for First Atlantic Nickel at: https://www.fanickel.com/archive
In other market news of interest:
Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) recently announced a multi-year supply agreement from Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles (‘MCV’, www.mcv-eg.com), a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Egypt, for fuel cell engines totaling approximately 5 MW.
The supply agreement for 50 FCmove®-HD+ engines, and initial order of 35 units, represents the continued growth of the relationship with MCV which started in 2022 with fuel cell engine integration support and the first fuel cell engine order placed in 2023. Deliveries of the 50 engines are expected between 2025 and 2026 and will initially support projects in the EU.
First Hydrogen Corp. (TSXV: FHYD) (OTCPK: FHYDF) recently announced the launch of its subsidiary, First Nuclear Corp., an initiative dedicated to advancing clean energy through the innovative use of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). First Nuclear Corp. (“First Nuclear”) aims to revolutionize green hydrogen production, supporting global decarbonization efforts and paving the way for a sustainable, zero-emission future.
Harnessing the Power of SMRs for Green Hydrogen – First Nuclear seeks to integrate advanced nuclear technology with green hydrogen production. SMRs, known for their compact design, scalability, and ability to provide a continuous, weather-independent power supply, are the cornerstone of this initiative. By leveraging SMRs, First Nuclear ensures a stable, cost-effective, and efficient process for producing green hydrogen, addressing the growing demand for clean energy solutions worldwide. IDTechEx anticipates the installation rate of SMRs to grow significantly addressing the climate crisis. They project the global market for SMRs to reach US$72.4 billion by 2033 and US$295 billion by 2043, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30%.
Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE: BE), a global leader in power solutions, announced recently an expansion of its longstanding relationship with Equinix, the world’s digital infrastructure company®. The collaboration now exceeds 100MW of electricity capacity to support Equinix’s International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data centers across the United States.
With approximately 75MW already operational and another 30MW under construction, this latest expansion marks a significant milestone in the companies’ decade-long collaboration. What began as a pilot program in 2015 with just 1MW of fuel cells at a single IBX data center in Silicon Valley has scaled one hundredfold, supporting the critical digital infrastructure needed to meet increasing energy needs of AI-driven computing.
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) and Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd (MMHE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad (MHB), have announced the signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to co-develop large-scale hydrogen production systems and technologies across Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.
Building on a memorandum of understanding signed in February 2023, the JDA represents a pivotal step for the two companies, driven by a shared vision to make clean hydrogen production easily accessible and viable. The collaboration underscores FuelCell Energy and MHB’s commitment to advancing green energy solutions and supporting global decarbonization and energy transition goals.
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Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
We are making changes to the default cost limit for Child Abduction and Wardship for new applications submitted to the LAA from Monday 17th March 2025.
When reviewing current costs limitation for Child Abduction and Wardship it has been agreed following consultation and feedback that the cost limit for the substantive certificate will increase from £5000 to £25000. Our review of the data shows the costs incurred on these cases far exceed the current default cost limitation of £5000. Child Abduction and Wardship commonly involve a foreign element and costs on these cases can quicker escalate, meaning that costs incurred can frequently exceed the standard £5000 cost limit. These certificates are regularly granted to include representation at the final hearing, and this change will allow providers to focus on the case rather seeking to amend the costs limit of the certificate.
When granting an initial application, CCMS will grant a cost limit of £25,000 for the cases listed in the table below.
It will apply to the following proceedings only:
| Proceedings |
|---|
| CH001 – Child Abd/Custody – free – High Court |
| CH003 – App for wardship – High Court |
| CH002- App – Child Abduction/Custody Act 1985 – High Court |
Existing Scope and Proceeding limitations will continue to apply.
This will be effective from Monday 17th March 2025. New applications started and submitted from Monday 17th March 2025 will have the new standard cost limit of £25,000.
This is part of a continuous journey towards creating a more accessible Legal Aid system and reducing the administrative burden on provider and ourselves. Currently under consideration are ideas such as:
We’d be happy to hear from you with any ideas you have as well, so please do let us know.
| Why are we doing this? | To ease access to the Justice system by applying modern, reflective limitations to certificates and to free up caseworker time by reducing time spent on lower risk, repetitive amendments. This will allow us to focus more on higher risk applications and claims. It is also about evolving our relationship with our providers where we seek to explore how we can give them more responsibility for decisions taken on the cases they work on. |
|---|---|
| What will it look like? | Applications will be submitted as normal, but the default costs limit will be £25,000 on application started and submitted from Monday 17th March 2025. |
| How will Delegated Functions work? | There will be no change on applications under Delegated Functions, the new limitations only apply from the issuing of the Substantive amendment. |
| How will it be brought in? | Communication and guidance will go out to both caseworkers and providers in advance of the changes going live. |
| How will current cases for child abduction and wardship be affected? | Existing certificates for child abduction and wardship will remain at their current cost limit. Once that limit has been met and there is further work to undertake, then a fresh amendment to increase costs should be submitted. The further work that needs to be undertaken should justify the cost limit that is being sought, as per standard practice. |
| Does this apply to enforcement and appeal proceedings for child abduction and wardship? | No, the standard cost limit for enforcement and appeal for child abduction and wardship will remain the same. This change to £25,000.00 is only applicable to the three specific proceedings mentioned above. |
| Why doesn’t this apply to enforcement and appeal proceedings? | The evidence based on average claim costs for the specific standalone proceedings for enforcement and appeal proceedings, didn’t justify the cost limit being increased to £25,000.00. |
| Does this affect solicitor bills? | Yes. The change allows solicitors more freedom to undertake work that their case load requires, rather than having to spend their time seeking upfront permission for costs on applications submitted from the 17th March 2025. Please note that all costs will still be subject to an assessment of reasonableness at the point of assessment. Providers will still be responsible for checking the public funding certificate to ensure that they are covered for the work they are undertaking. |
| Is this for paper and CCMS? | Yes, this process will be applied to paper applications. |
Published 19 March 2025
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On March 19, 2025, the State University of Management hosted the in-person stage of the III International Competition “Tourism Code of My Country, City, Town, District – PRO-tourism”, one of the co-organizers of which is our university.
Delegations from 88 subjects of the Russian Federation and more than ten foreign countries came to Moscow to defend their projects before experts, including representatives of the State University of Management. More than 2,000 applications were submitted for the correspondence stage of the competition, of which 543 projects were selected to reach the in-person defense.
The Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov addressed the audience with a welcoming speech.
“It is no coincidence that our university has become the venue for the international competition, because the State University of Management is one of the key venues for the implementation of Eurasian integration, we host the secretariat of the Eurasian Network University, in whose work we take an active part. In addition, projects will be presented within the framework of the competition, namely, the State University of Management is the leader in project-based learning and has been approved as a federal innovation platform for the implementation of the project “Interregional Educational and Methodological Center for Project-Based Learning, Project-Based Learning as a Technology of Practical Training,” shared Dmitry Yuryevich.
Advisor to the rector’s office of the State University of Management, head of the department of state and municipal administration Sergei Chuev noted the importance of love for the Motherland and instilling a sense of patriotism in the younger generation.
“The theme of the competition is directly related to the work of our department, because without a city, a village, a district, a country and love for them, it is impossible to imagine effective government, either state or municipal. We will do everything we can to promote the development of patriotic feelings. During the SVO, we especially acutely understand that ours is better than someone else’s. Our department is one of the largest at the university, and we will be glad to see you, your children and students among our students,” concluded Sergey Vladimirovich.
The next speaker was Sergey Kochnev, General Director of the ANO Institute for Local Communities Development, who spoke about the history of the creation of the Russia Territory of Development platform, the dynamics of its development and existing projects.
“This year, more than two million people voted for the best projects at the All-Russian competition “My Entry Group”, which originated within the walls of the State University of Management from the diploma work of one student. The “Architectural Battle of Ideas” is gaining popularity, within the framework of which we send expeditions to cities to develop solutions for improvement. This year, we were invited to visit the UAE and have already outlined the task that we have to complete. By the way, it is receiving a clear technical assignment from a city or district that is the most difficult part of forming an expedition. No less popular is the project “Ideas that Transform Cities”. Participation of children from a young age in such competitions and projects allows them to feel their involvement, show love for their small homeland and help make it better,” shared Sergey Kochnev.
After the grand opening, the Boiling Point auditorium of the State University of Management hosted the defense of projects in 47 nominations of participants in 4 age categories: 10-13 years; 14-17 years; 18-35 years; 36 years.
In parallel, an educational program “Methods and technologies for developing the tourist potential of municipalities of the Russian Federation” was organized for scientific leaders and accompanying persons. A guest from Serbia, Igor Babich, spoke at the scientific seminar.
At the end of the day, Associate Professor of the Department of State and Municipal Administration Irina Milkina presented letters of gratitude to the heads of the contestants for their scientific support.
The in-person final of the International Competition was held simultaneously at three venues: GUU, MSU and HSE, the largest of which is our university.
The organizer of the III International Competition “Tourism Code of My Country, City, Town, District – PRO-tourism” is the Institute for Local Communities Development. The co-organizers of the Competition are the Commission for Territorial Development, Urban Environment and Infrastructure of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, the Association of Public Associations “National Council of Youth and Children’s Associations of Russia”, the Center for Children’s and Youth Tourism, Local History and Organization of Recreation and Health Improvement for Children of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Additional Education FTsDO of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, the All-Russian Assembly for Territorial Development and Public Self-Government, the Project and Educational Laboratory of Urban Development of the State University of Management, and the Center for Network Economy Research of the Lomonosov Moscow State University.
The award ceremony for the winners and prize winners of the competition will take place on March 20 as part of the International Tourism and Hospitality Industry Exhibition “MITT” at Crocus Expo.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/19/2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Bank for International Settlements
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, I am Rhee Changyong, Governor of the Bank of Korea.
It is an honor to join the Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum (GEEF) to discuss building a sustainable future. I sincerely thank Yonsei University President Yun Dongseob, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and everyone who made this event possible. I am also pleased to reconnect with former World Bank President Jim Yong Kim after my time in Washington, D.C.
Over the years, the GEEF has brought together global leaders, international organizations, businesses, and stakeholders to explore solutions for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I hope this forum continues driving practical solutions to today’s sustainability challenges.
I am here to share Korea’s perspective on these issues. Some people say, “The Governor of the Bank of Korea is overstepping his bounds,” because I speak on social issues beyond monetary policy. Discussing the SDGs today may reinforce that perception. While central bankers debate their role in such discussions, sustainability challenges directly impact our economy and daily lives. For this reason, I cannot remain indifferent-not just as a central bank governor, but also as a citizen.
Sustainability takes many forms, but today I will focus on two urgent challenges for Korea’s economy. The first is climate change, a global crisis affecting everyone. The second is our declining birth rate and aging population, a challenge that is especially severe in Korea.
There is global and domestic consensus that human activities drive global warming and reducing carbon emissions is essential. However, Korea faces significant resistance to accelerating carbon reduction due to its heavily export-oriented economy dominated by high-carbon manufacturing industries. Strengthening emission reduction policies and environmental regulations raises concerns about export companies losing competitiveness. Thus, balancing urgent carbon reduction with sustaining industrial competitiveness has become a central issue.
However, climate change should not be viewed solely from the perspective of export industries. It is a crisis directly affecting our daily lives and quality of life. We are already experiencing more extreme heat waves, frequent flooding, and the gradual disappearance of familiar fruits and vegetables. Our summer rainfalls used to be predictable, but not anymore. If Los Angeles can experience massive wildfires, what is stopping Korea from experiencing similar disasters? Climate change is not distant-it is occurring now, and its impacts are unavoidable.
Air quality is a clear example. Last week, I visited Cape Town, South Africa, for a BIS meeting. While it was winter in Korea, it was summer there, with warm weather, a refreshing sea breeze, and remarkably clean air. Within days, I realized, “This is truly clean air.” Upon returning to Incheon Airport, I immediately felt a headache-not just from the flood of emails about economic and political concerns, but also from the noticeably poorer air quality. Korea’s air quality has improved recently, but after experiencing cleaner air in Washington, D.C., I can clearly sense the difference. As someone sensitive to lung health after experiencing long COVID, this difference is especially noticeable. Although conditions have improved, fine dust remains a serious issue.
Statistically, the cost of deteriorating air quality is undeniable. Over the past 15 years, diagnoses of atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis have doubled, and cases of heat exhaustion have quadrupled, now totaling 4,000. Climate change directly threatens our health, making the challenges of protecting public health increasingly severe as temperatures rise and pollution worsens.
Another example is the increased frequency of sudden downpours, repeatedly flooding Seoul’s Gangnam Station area, one of Korea’s wealthiest neighborhoods, submerging numerous luxury vehicles over the past several years. Beyond property damage, the human toll has been devastating. Just two years ago, 14 people tragically lost their lives when an underpass collapsed after 500mm of rain fell in thirteen days. Observing these intense summer storms reminds me of tropical squalls typically seen in Thailand or South America.
The Korea Meteorological Administration now classifies rainfall exceeding 50mm per hour or 90mm over three hours as “extreme heavy rain,” conditions responsible for 80% of flood damage. These extreme events have more than doubled since the 1970s. Given these dramatic changes, it is unclear whether our current flood prevention infrastructure-such as dams, embankments, and drainage systems-can handle the intensifying conditions. About 20% of national river embankments are already rated as “inadequate” or “poor,” and projections suggest half of Korea’s dams may fail to prevent flooding by 2040. We must proactively strengthen infrastructure now to withstand growing climate challenges.
Third, climate change is disrupting our food supply. Last year, I faced criticism from agricultural stakeholders after suggesting apple imports due to soaring prices (Im et al., 2024). Initially, I anticipated resistance primarily from traditional apple-growing regions like Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. However, apple production areas are gradually shifting northward. Apple cultivation in Daegu-Gyeongbuk has decreased by nearly half compared to 30 years ago. Once grown nationwide, except for the southern coast and Jeju Island, projections suggest high-quality apples will only be viable in Gangwon Province’s mountainous areas by the 2030s, due to rapid climate change (Rural Development Administration, 2022). Within a decade, importing apples will likely become a necessity rather than controversial.
The fishing industry faces similar disruptions. Pollack, once a staple in Korea, has nearly vanished from local waters, with catches below one ton since 2019. Traditional species like croaker and anchovies are declining, while warmer-water species like yellowtail and mackerel are increasing. Korea’s fishing industry must rapidly adapt by modernizing vessels, gear, and aquaculture techniques to match the changing marine ecosystem.
While countless examples exist, the core message is clear. Climate change is not just a challenge for export industries-it already deeply impacts our daily lives and various domestic sectors. Thus, addressing climate change and reducing carbon emissions is not a matter of choice-it is an urgent necessity.
Although the government has initiated policy efforts, substantial progress remains necessary. First, Korea’s Green Taxonomy (K-Taxonomy) must align with international standards to clearly define “environmentally friendly” activities, signaling strong support for carbon reduction. Second, carbon pricing must be more realistic. Last April, the global average carbon price was approximately $30 per ton, reaching $60 per ton in the EU, compared to only $6 per ton in Korea. At this price, companies find it more economical to buy emission credits than reduce emissions, undermining carbon reduction targets. Third, structural improvements to Korea’s Emissions Trading System (K-ETS) are needed. Gradually reducing the 90% free allocation rate and tightening the emissions cap will create stronger market incentives for effective emissions trading.
The Bank of Korea is also increasing its efforts by conducting financial stress tests on climate-related risks. Financial institutions traditionally manage risks like loan defaults and real estate fluctuations, but climate-driven risks introduce unexpected tail risks not yet fully considered. Events like Los Angeles’ wildfires or Australia’s six-month wildfire crisis in 2019 are not distant threats. They serve as warnings for Korea. Severe localized climate damage could cause significant financial losses for households and businesses, destabilizing financial institutions and spreading shocks throughout the economy.
Thus, the Bank of Korea actively researches climate risks’ impacts on our industries and financial system, conducting stress tests with financial institutions under various scenarios. Next Tuesday, we will present these climate stress test results at a joint conference with the Financial Supervisory Service.
Bank of Korea employees are also committed to reducing carbon emissions through research (Kim et al., 2024) and daily practices. Believing even small actions matter, we have adopted eco-friendly measures such as using recycled-paper business cards, reducing plastic use, turning off unused lights, and implementing license plate-based driving restrictions.
Beyond climate change, one of the most pressing sustainability challenges is our demographic crisis-an aging population combined with extremely low fertility rates. Korea’s total fertility rate slightly rose to 0.75 in 2024 from 0.72 in 2023. Although this small uptick is welcome, a fertility rate of 0.75 remains a national emergency. If this trend continues, Korea faces an irreversible population crisis that threatens economic stability and social cohesion.
Some people suggest that population decline might have benefits, such as reduced pollution, lower energy consumption, and higher GDP per capita, possibly enhancing quality of life. However, this view dangerously oversimplifies the issue. A fertility rate of 0.75 leads not to gradual decline but rapid demographic collapse, undermining economic and social stability. By contrast, the OECD average fertility rate of 1.4 results in a more manageable and sustainable population decline.
The difference between fertility rates of 0.75 and 1.4 significantly impacts economic growth prospects. At 0.75, Korea’s population would shrink from 51.7 million to 30 million in 50 years, just 58% of today’s figure, declining annually by 1.1%. In contrast, at a rate of 1.4, the population decline is less severe, reaching 43 million-83% of today’s level-with an annual drop of 0.4%. From a purely demographic standpoint, the difference in GDP growth between these two scenarios would amount to 0.4 percentage points annually. But the true cost goes beyond this simple calculation. A declining youth population, crucial for innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic dynamism, would severely undermine Korea’s long-term growth potential. According to a recent Bank of Korea study, Korea’s potential growth rate, currently around 2%, may approach near 0% by the late 2040s (Lee et al., 2024). If the fertility rate remains at 0.75, Korea will inevitably face prolonged negative economic growth after 2050. Conversely, at 1.4, Korea could maintain positive economic growth well into the future.
Beyond GDP, persistently low fertility will create substantial fiscal strain, increasing the burden on younger generations. As the elderly population surges, spending on pensions, healthcare, and elder care will rise significantly. According to the National Assembly Budget Office (2025), Korea’s national debt-to-GDP ratio, currently 46.9%, is projected to reach 182% within 50 years if fertility remains at 0.75. If fertility improves to 1.4, the ratio would increase more slowly, reaching 163%. The burden on young Koreans will become particularly overwhelming. Currently, four working-age individuals support each elderly person. At a fertility rate of 0.75, this ratio will decline to one-to-one within 50 years. At 1.4, however, it remains more manageable, easing strain on future generations.
Moreover, economic instability from demographic shifts increases society’s vulnerability to populism. Stagnant growth exacerbates income inequality, deepens generational and class divides, and fuels political polarization. Politicians and governments may resort to populist fiscal policies, such as direct cash handouts and temporary welfare measures, providing short-term relief without addressing underlying issues. Such policies risk creating a cycle of fiscal inefficiency and mounting national debt, exacerbating rather than resolving the core problems.
To preserve economic sustainability, decisive action must be taken urgently. If Korea’s fertility rate remains critically low without significant expansion of the workforce through foreign labor, the country risks chronic negative growth, soaring debt, and escalating social tensions. Avoiding this scenario requires raising the fertility rate to a more viable level. Completely reversing population decline may be unrealistic since many advanced economies face similar demographic challenges, but Korea cannot afford to remain passive. At a minimum, we must strive to reach the OECD average fertility rate of 1.4.
Why has Korea’s fertility rate fallen so drastically? The answer lies in structural barriers discouraging young people from marriage and parenthood. Bank of Korea studies indicate young Koreans delay or forgo marriage and childbirth due to intense competition and anxieties over employment, housing, and childcare. Young people today face fierce competition for scarce, high-quality jobs, making career stability difficult. Simultaneously, soaring housing prices make homeownership seem unattainable. Under these pressures, raising children is more than challenging-it is an overwhelming financial and emotional burden.
A major driver of this crisis is the extreme concentration of population and economic activity in the Seoul metropolitan area. A recent Bank of Korea study analyzing fertility trends in 35 OECD countries identified Korea’s urban concentration as among the highest globally, pinpointing it as a key factor behind the country’s ultra-low fertility (Hwang et al., 2023). Over 50% of Korea’s GDP, population, and jobs are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area-much higher than 5% in the U.S. and Germany, 10-20% in the U.K. and Italy, 20-30% in France, and 30% in Japan. While Korea’s rapid economic development-the “Miracle on the Han River”-transformed the country into an economic powerhouse, it also centralized infrastructure, talent, and opportunities in Seoul. Consequently, young people continue migrating to the capital for career prospects, draining vitality from regional economies and pushing many toward demographic extinction.
Korea’s highly competitive university entrance system further reinforces the population concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area. Admission to prestigious universities is considered essential-not only for stable employment but also for social status and marriage prospects. This fuels intense competition for limited spots at elite universities, overwhelmingly located in Seoul. Private education has become critical, prompting families to relocate to Seoul’s affluent areas like Gangnam-gu, known for high-quality private educational infrastructure. Many parents unable to afford homeownership instead rely on costly rental housing to secure educational advantages. This strategy appears justified, as students from Seoul account for 32% of admissions to Seoul National University (SNU), despite representing only 16% of school-age population. More strikingly, students from Gangnam-gu alone constitute 12% of SNU admissions, three times the district’s 4% share of school-age residents (Chung et al., 2024). Relocating to Gangnam-gu is thus seen as essential for top university admission, intensifying Seoul’s population density, raising housing prices, and worsening the fertility crisis.
Korea’s university admission system is excessively competitive by any standard. Parents sacrifice their quality of life and retirement savings, investing considerable resources to secure their children’s admission to elite universities. Paradoxically, this intense pursuit of academic success imposes a heavy cost on both parents and children. From as early as kindergarten, students experience relentless pressure and burnout, depriving them of childhood joys and a healthy adolescence.
Korea’s critically low fertility rate (0.75), extreme population concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area, and overheated university competition seem like separate issues but are deeply interconnected. Left unresolved, these challenges-drastic population decline, persistent negative economic growth, escalating social tensions, and diminishing opportunities for youth-will push Korea toward an unsustainable tipping point. Addressing these structural issues simultaneously is challenging, yet the urgency demands bold action. Recognizing this, the Bank of Korea recently proposed two policy suggestions: foster a limited number of regional hub cities and implement a “regional proportional admission system” for universities.
First, to effectively reduce the extreme population concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area, we must strategically develop a small number of regional hub cities. Over the past two decades, regional development policies have been introduced to address this imbalance. However, due to political challenges and efforts to evenly distribute resources nationwide, these initiatives have been too fragmented to meaningfully curb Seoul’s dominance.
According to Bank of Korea research, the optimal approach-given Korea’s land area and population-is to concentrate substantial investments in two to six carefully selected regional hub cities. Targeted, large-scale investment in critical infrastructure, such as healthcare, education, and cultural amenities, is essential to providing a quality of life comparable to Seoul, thus effectively attracting and retaining residents (Chung et al., 2023, 2024). Pursuing this focused strategy will rebalance population distribution, revitalize regional economies-including surrounding smaller cities-and achieve sustainable national development.
In parallel, bold reforms to Korea’s college admissions system are essential. The Bank of Korea has proposed a “regional proportional admission system,” where universities voluntarily allocate admissions based on each region’s proportion of high school seniors (Chung et al., 2024). Despite multiple revisions to university entrance system, excessive competition in university admissions remains unresolved. BOK’s new proposal seeks to enhance universities’ autonomy in admissions while strongly requiring balanced regional representation-a crucial step to address extreme competition. Adopting this system offers several benefits. First, it reduces the disproportionate influence of socioeconomic factors such as parental wealth and private education, thus significantly enhancing social mobility. Second, dispersing admissions competition from Seoul would ease demographic pressures, stabilize housing prices, and improve fertility rates. Third, attracting students from diverse regions promotes mutual understanding, social cohesion, and reduces regional disparities.
This proposal does not require government intervention or legal amendments, relying instead on the willingness and initiative of leading universities. In Korea, there remains a strong belief that selecting students based solely on academic scores is the fairest, leading resistance to this proposal. Some universities argue they already implement regional proportional admissions for roughly 15% of their freshmen. However, such limited quotas can stigmatize these students and have insufficient impact on demographic or housing pressures in Seoul. To be effective, regional proportional admissions must be applied to most incoming students’ admissions. In many advanced nations, regional diversity in admissions is widely accepted and encouraged. I believe Dr. Jim Yong Kim, joining us today and a former president of Dartmouth College, understands this issue well. He could highlight how Korea’s test score-based admissions approach is an exception globally, and how this reform could realistically occur through proactive leadership at major universities.
In my view, allowing universities greater flexibility in evaluating applicants-under regional proportional requirements-would better acknowledge and fairly recognize diverse talents. Human talent is far too diverse to be measured by academic tests alone. Yet, Korea’s current admissions system prioritizes a narrow skillset: memorization, quick mathematical calculations, and rapid text summarization under time pressure. These skills, overly rewarded by standardized exams, limit the range of recognized talents. I happen to possess these particular skills and was a major beneficiary of Korea’s college admission system. However, if asked to write a creative essay over a week, I might not have excelled. Today, elite university students often share certain defining characteristics such as a personality that diligently follows instructions without rebellion, a willingness to endure 15 years of repetitive study from kindergarten, an IQ high enough to handle the academic workload, but not so high as to question or challenge its purpose.
When Korea’s primary goal was catching up with more advanced nations, the current educational system was beneficial in developing individuals who excelled at following orders and carrying out assigned tasks. However, with Korea now at the forefront of global technological competition, we need people unafraid to explore new frontiers, bringing diverse backgrounds and innovative thinking. Additionally, we must foster an environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, and meaningful interaction. It is time for universities to broaden their evaluation criteria and nurture diverse talents by implementing regional proportional admissions.
The challenges highlighted today-climate change and demographic crisis-pose critical threats and require urgent action. Korea has achieved remarkable economic progress, joining the ranks of advanced nations. Now we must focus on enhancing individual well-being, ensuring prosperity and happiness for all citizens. Through bold decisions, we can develop vibrant, youth-friendly, green regional hubs that combat climate change and support marriage and childbirth. The Bank of Korea remains fully committed to securing a sustainable, prosperous future for upcoming generations.
Thank you for your time and attention.
This speech was prepared with the assistance of Sanghun Park and Joonki Min from the Office of Sustainable Growth, and Inro Lee and Inkyung Yoo from the Economic Research Institute.
Kim J. Y., Ryu G. B., Hwang J. H., Kim H. J., Kim H. N., Lee H. A., and Sim S. B. 2024. “The Impact of Climate Change Risks on the Real Economy: Analysis by Climate Response Scenarios.” BOK Issue Note No. 2024-30, Bank of Korea.
Rural Development Administration. 2022. “Prediction of Changes in Cultivation Areas for Six Major Fruits Considering Climate Change Scenarios.” Press Release.
Lim W. J., Lee D. J., Lee Y. S., and Park C. H. 2024. “Characteristics and Implications of Korea’s Price Levels: A Comparison with Major Countries.” BOK Issue Note No. 2024-14, Bank of Korea.
Chung M. S., Kim E. J., Lee H. S., Hong S. J., and Lee D. R. 2023. “Interregional Population Migration and Regional Economy.” BOK Issue Note No. 2023-29, Bank of Korea.
Chung M. S., Lee Y. H., Yoo J. S., and Kim E. J. 2024. “Analysis of Regional Economic Growth Factors and Balanced Development Focused on Hub Cities.” BOK Issue Note No. 2024-15, Bank of Korea.
Chung J. W., Lee D. W., and Kim H. J. 2024. “Adressing Social Issues Steming from Excessive Competition in College Admissions.” BOK Issue Note No. 2024-26, Bank of Korea.
Hwang I. D., Nam Y. M., Sund W., Shim S. R., Yeom J., Lee B. J., Lee H. R., Chung J. W., Cho T. H., Choi Y. J., Hwang S. W., and Son M. K. 2023. “Lowest-low Fertility and Super-aged Society: Causes and Impacts of the Extreme Population Structure, and Policy Options.” In-Depth Analysis, Korea Economy Outlook, Bank of Korea.
Lee E. K., Chun D. M., Kim J. W., and Lee D. J. 2024. “Potential Growth Rate of the Korean Economy and Future Outlook.” BOK Issue Note No. 2024-33, Bank of Korea.
Lim W. J., Lee D. J., Lee Y. S., and Park C. H. 2024. “Characteristics and Implications of Korea’s Price Levels: A Comparison with Major Countries.” BOK Issue Note No. 2024-14, Bank of Korea.
National Assembly Budget Office. 2025. “2025-2072 NABO Long-Term Fiscal Outlook.”
Source: Bank for International Settlements
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The financial sector is engaged in an unprecedented dynamic of innovation. New technologies offer vast opportunities in the field of financial services but bring also a variety of risks. This ambivalent impact of innovation raises obvious questions for central banks and supervisors in charge of financial stability: how can we ensure that financial stability is maintained in such a changing environment, and that customers and all stakeholders have confidence in the financial system? In Europe, part of the answer to this question is provided by adapting our regulation tools to help harness benefits brought by innovation while controlling risks. However this approach raises questions: is there not a risk of hampering innovation and therefore competitiveness of the financial sector in the name of controlling risks?
This morning I would like to share with you a strong conviction, which may seem iconoclastic in the current context, and perhaps even more so in this country: there is no point in opposing innovation and regulation. Jean Monnet, one of the fathers of European integration, famously said: ‘Nothing is possible without men, but nothing lasts without institutions’. In the same vein, I would say: ‘Nothing is possible without innovation, but nothing lasts without regulation’.
This is particularly true, I believe, for the financial system, and I would like to illustrate this in three critical areas for the prospective safety and efficiency of the financial sector – DLT-based finance, artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber risks.
I/ Let me start with DLT-based finance.
1/ Today, crypto-assets are back in the spotlight, particularly here in the US. However, we need to bear in mind that ‘first generation’ crypto-assets, such as bitcoin, represent only a small proportion of global financial assets (1.4% of the world market capitalisation at the end of 2024), and are not widely used in critical financial services, including payments, on which the real economy depends.
In contrast, the sponsors of tokenization initiatives argue that DLT-based tokenization, while still in its infancy, offers wider opportunities and use cases notably in the field of investment, trading, clearing and settlement services. For example, in the short to medium term, the tokenisation of financial assets could lead to efficiency gains in post-trade activities, with blockchain technologies enabling greater automation, greater availability and transparency, and improved traceability. In the longer term, the tokenisation of non-financial assets – such as real estate – could increase the liquidity and accessibility of the underlying markets.
However, the development of tokenised finance is notably handicapped by the absence of a fully secure settlement asset. Central bank money – the most secure form of money, and the reference settlement asset in traditional finance – is not currently available on blockchain. For this reason – in other words, by default – market participants may be tempted to use crypto-assets known as stablecoins. However, stablecoins, especially when they are not regulated, are subject to many risks, particularly liquidity risks. Market participants are well aware of these risks, and the resulting lack of confidence goes a long way to explaining the relatively slow pace at which the tokenisation of assets is developing.
2/ Against this backdrop, our strategy in Europe has been to adapt our regulation tools in two main ways to support a sustainable and safe development of tokenised finance, and to also safeguards our monetary sovereignty on settlement solutions. First, we have developed an ad-hoc legislation for stablecoins issuers and digital assets service providers through the adoption of the MiCA Regulation and the so-called ‘DLT Pilot Regime’ Regulation. Second, central banks of the Eurosystem under the aegis of the ECB have been preparing an adaptation of the central bank money services they provide. To support the development of tokenized finance more specifically, the Governing Council of the ECB announced two weeks ago that the Eurosystem will develop and deploy solutions to settle in central bank money, including in digital form, namely in wholesale CBDC, transactions recorded on DLTs, following a two track approach. This initiative whose first track should become live by the end of next year should contribute to support the growth of an integrated and sound European market for digital assets.
II/ I’d now like to turn to a second area of innovation that is absolutely crucial for the financial sector: artificial intelligence.
1/ The recent International AI Safety Report led by Professor Yoshua Bengio identifies three types of AI risk: risks associated with misuse, risks associated with malicious use, and systemic risks. This morning I would like to talk about the latter, and how they apply to the financial sector.
First and foremost, the financial sector is vulnerable to risks originating in the real economy. AI could bring about incremental productivity gains but also more profound economic changes, with major sectoral restructuring, and major transfers of jobs from some economic sectors to others – with increased risks of bankruptcy in some sectors, speculative bubbles in others… These economic changes could in turn destabilise the financial sector.
The financial sector is also largely concerned with environmental risks, which the development of AI tends to amplify. The prospect of regular, or even intensive, use of generative AI by billions of customers around the world obviously raises environmental questions and leads to advocacy for a reasoned use of AI.
AI could also contribute to amplify financial sector vulnerabilities through a number of specific characteristics. For instance, concentration in the AI market, in terms of reliance on specialized hardware, cloud services and pre-trained models, may result in compounding a risk of dependence on third-party players, if the financial sector were to massively favour the purchase of ‘off-the-shelf’ AI systems – for example in the field of generative AI, where the main players are today the same as those who dominate the cloud market. This echoes the sovereignty issues I mentioned earlier.
Other amplification impacts on financial system vulnerabilities could go through the use of the same types of trading tools and models, which could increase herding behaviour in the financial markets, resulting in greater volatility and procyclicality. The complexity and novelty of the new models could also increase the risk of error or misuse of AI by institutions. This could lead to significant financial losses, which, through financial interconnectedness, could quickly spread throughout the financial system.
2/ To deal with these risks, we must lay the foundations for ‘trustworthy AI’, i.e. AI that is under control, which implies appropriate regulation.
Europe has been a pioneer in this area: the AI Act, adopted in the summer of 2024, aims to protect citizens’ rights while promoting the development of a European market of trustworthy AI. In addition, financial supervisors will have to adapt their supervisory activities to ensure that financial institutions remain in control of the risks associated with their use of AI.
To that end, I would like to share two convictions with you this morning. Firstly, the principles we usually promote as supervisors of sound risk management and governance can provide an effective framework for most of the risks associated with AI, with a few adaptations. And the financial sector’s risk management culture and internal control systems provide solid safeguard.
However, and this is my second conviction, some issues are resolutely new. Thus, they require specific attention from supervisors and supervised entities alike. This is the case for the explainability and fairness of algorithms. To leave these questions unanswered would mean creating legal uncertainty for institutions, in other words slowing down operational decisions and ultimately innovation in the sector. So I believe that we need to provide the financial sector now with technological and regulatory support, to ensure the development of trustworthy AI. In particular, this means that supervisors need to upgrade their skills, adapt their tools and methods… in short, they need to innovate. Here again, innovation and regulation appear to be complementary rather than mutually exclusive imperatives.
III/ Finally, let me now turn to a third area of critical importance to the financial sector: cyber risks.
1/ The financial sector is one of the biggest users of data and IT resources in the world. This structural trend has been reinforced in recent years by the ever-increasing availability and openness of data. This openness is of great benefit to the financial sector, which can assess new risks or fine-tune pricing. At the same time, the multiplication of data sources and the strengthening of technical interconnections are creating new vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are exacerbated by the development of new technologies, most notably AI, which greatly increases the threat posed by cyber attackers, although it can also help to identify attack patterns.
Another new technology could have an even more radical impact on cyber risks, with devastating consequences for the financial sector: quantum computing. It has already been proven that, thanks to their parallel computing capabilities, quantum computers will be able to break the most widely used encryption methods by ‘brute force’, particularly those that currently protect our communication channels. The advanced dematerialisation of exchanges means that our economy and financial system are highly dependent on the robustness of encryption techniques. As a result, this threat should prompt us to begin without delay a gradual transition to quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions. These solutions already exist and have recently been referenced by the American NIST, even if they still require a great deal of research. This is one of the reasons why we, at the Banque de France, have been conducting a number of experiments in this area on an international scale, notably through our involvement in the BIS Innovation Hub.
2/ Furthermore, in order to reconcile open data and risk management, we need to organise the operational resilience of the financial sector. To that end, in Europe, the recently enacted DORA Regulation complements the sectoral regulations with specific rules on operational resilience and IT risk management. In particular, it introduces new risk prevention methods, such as threat-led penetration testing (TLPT) for systemic institutions. These enhanced security tests, involving ‘red’ teams that simulate the tactics of cyber attackers, allow institutions’ critical systems to be tested in a real-world environment.
DORA also encourages financial institutions to cooperate with each other to share their knowledge of emerging threats. Supervisors will play a central role in facilitating and overseeing this exchange of information between stakeholders. In this way, regulation will act as a facilitator, to improve operational resilience and IT risk management.
To conclude, let me say a few last words on the challenges those innovations raise for us central banks and supervisors if we want to contribute positively to harness their benefits and mitigate their risks on the functioning and stability of the financial system.
1/ First, we need to master new technologies ourselves to remain effective and efficient in the conduct of our supervisory activities. This means equipping ourselves with high-performance processing infrastructures, paying particular attention to the sensitive data at our disposal. When it comes to data, we need to make the most of the new data sources, by taking advantage of technological innovations: the open ledgers that blockchains constitute, for example, are a new data manna for central banks and supervisors. To make the most of this potential, however, we need to acquire specialised skills – which is not always easy in a highly competitive world – and develop our tools and methods. In this area, closer cooperation with the academic world could enable us to move forward more quickly.
2/ This brings me to my second point: we also need to cooperate more and better. Each of the three subjects I mentioned earlier – DLT, AI, cyber and quantum – is by its very nature a cross-border issue. We therefore naturally need to develop synergies with peer financial authorities, in order to build coherent regulation on a global scale. We also need to go further and build cooperation with other sectoral authorities (competition, privacy, cyber-security, etc.), in order to take account of the many dimensions of these highly complex issues. Finally, it is also in our interest to cooperate more with the financial sector itself: public authorities and financial institutions share many challenges – think, for example, of quantum computing, which I mentioned earlier – and they will be able to tackle them all the more easily if they are able to move forward together.
To sum up, I would say that central bankers and financial supervisors must not only contribute to regulate, but also innovate, in order to ensure the stability of the financial system while supporting its transformation through innovations. This requires from us to avoid the pitfall common to both regulation and innovation, which can be excessive sophistication or complexity.
This is why in the debate which has started in Europe about how to foster the competitiveness of our financial sector, we advocate at the Banque de France for regulation as simple as possible, and for simplifying it and reducing the associated reporting burden when needed, without renouncing to set demanding requirements in terms of risk management.
In other words, we are in favor of simplifying, not deregulating, which means regulating more effectively and efficiently.
Thank you for your attention.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
PALM BEACH, Fla., March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – According to a report from Grand View Research, the global nickel mining market size was estimated at USD 50.40 billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% from 2023 to 2030. Growth in end-use industries such as construction, consumer durables, and machinery & equipment are propelling the growth of the stainless steel industry. Nickel is one of the key raw materials of stainless steel. Hence, development in the stainless steel industry is contributing to the growth of the market. According to the Nickel Institute, over two-thirds of the world’s nickel is utilized in the production of stainless steel. It acts as an alloying agent, enhancing essential properties such as formability, ductility, and weldability while also increasing corrosion resistance for specific applications. The report said: “The nickel mining industry is highly competitive and to gain an edge, major players are acquiring their competitors. The batteries segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 7.2% in terms of revenue, over the forecast period (2030). Nickel batteries offer a cost-effective solution for achieving higher energy density and storage capabilities.” Active Companies in the markets today include: First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (OTCQB: FANCF) (TSX-V: FAN), Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE), Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), Glencore plc (OTCPK: GLNCY) (OTCPK: GLCNF), Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (OTCQB: QIMCF) (CSE: QIMC).
Grand View Research continued: “Based on region, Asia Pacific held the largest revenue share of over 57.0% in 2022. The growth in various industries, such as battery manufacturing, automotive & defense, and petrochemicals, is increasing the demand for nickel, which is positively influencing its mining activity. The Russia-Ukraine war has benefitted the Philippines’ nickel industry, as Russia’s output has been declining in the past few years coupled with the aversion it is receiving in trade. Europe is anticipated to register a CAGR of 7.8% in terms of revenue over the forecast period (2030). The EU has recognized the importance of nickel in the energy transition and has added it to the list of critical minerals. To ensure a diversified supply chain, the EU has set benchmarks for the extraction of at least 10% of the annual consumption of nickel within the boundary of Europe. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the mining activity in the region. North America is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period (2030). The increasing demand for nickel-based products in aerospace and defense industries has raised its significance as a critical mineral. In addition, the growing emphasis on accomplishing a domestic supply chain for the EV battery segment is anticipated to boost production in the region.”
First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (OTCQB: FANCF) (TSX-V: FAN) AND COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES LAUNCH RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP TO EXPLORE GEOLOGIC HYDROGEN POTENTIAL IN NEWFOUNDLAND OPHIOLITES – First Atlantic Nickel Corp. (FSE: P21) (“First Atlantic” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce a strategic research partnership with Colorado School of Mines to explore geologic hydrogen as an energy source. This collaboration will focus on two significant ophiolite complexes in Newfoundland, Canada: the St. Anthony Ophiolite Complex (Atlantis Project, 103 km²) and the Pipestone Ophiolite Complex (Atlantic Nickel Project, 71 km²). Both projects are 100% owned by First Atlantic and encompass extensive ultramafic rock formations, characterized by awaruite-bearing serpentinized peridotites, which are key indicators of geologic hydrogen.
First Atlantic Nickel is primarily focused on exploring awaruite nickel-iron alloy mineralization. Additionally, it is partnering with Colorado School of Mines to conduct secondary research on geological hydrogen produced during serpentinization. This collaborative research will leverage data collected by First Atlantic during its ongoing exploration for awaruite nickel deposits. Notably, awaruite serves as an indicator mineral of geologic hydrogen within serpentinized peridotites found in ophiolites. Colorado School of Mines will carry out this hydrogen research component, enhancing the overall exploration program while leveraging First Atlantic’s extensive geological assets and expertise.
Geologic Hydrogen: Ophiolites and Peridotite
Ophiolites—sections of oceanic crust and upper mantle thrust onto continental crust—are globally recognized as prime sources of geologic hydrogen, often referred to as “white hydrogen” or “gold hydrogen.” These formations are dominated by ultramafic rocks, notably peridotite, which consists primarily of olivine and pyroxene minerals rich in nickel, chromium, magnesium, and iron. When peridotite interacts with water, it triggers serpentinization—a hydrothermal reaction in which iron oxidizes and water is reduced, releasing molecular hydrogen gas (H₂). This natural process can be represented by the equation:
3FeO (in olivine) + H₂O → Fe₃O₄ (magnetite) + H₂ – During serpentinization, awaruite (Ni₃Fe) forms as a secondary mineral when liberated nickel (Ni2+) and iron (Fe2+) from the olivine, pyroxene, and chromite minerals react with the abundant hydrogen (H2) present. This natural process can be represented by the equation:
3(Ni²⁺) + (Fe²⁺) + 4(H₂) → (Ni₃Fe) + 8(H⁺) – The formation of awaruite could not happen without the presence of hydrogen. This process occurs readily in ophiolitic peridotites at depth, where water saturated rocks in oxygen-poor, reducing conditions produce this exothermic reaction, generating heat that sustains further reactions. According to the Geological Survey of Finland, “In Europe and in regions outside the crystal shield, only ophiolites are often referred to as a source of geological hydrogen.” Within these ophiolite settings, serpentinized peridotites are the most promising targets, with peridotites producing significantly more hydrogen than other rocks, up to 4 kg per cubic meter. Ophiolites represent large potential sources of geologic hydrogen, with some of the most significant global geologic hydrogen discoveries occurring in ophiolites.
“Geologic hydrogen systems are a combination of mineral systems and natural gas systems. In our group, we have the unique combination of expertise from both the mining industry and oil and gas industry to advance geologic hydrogen exploration and stimulated hydrogen monitoring” said Dr. Yaoguo Li from Colorado School of Mines. CONTINUED… Read this and more news for First Atlantic Nickel at: https://www.fanickel.com/archive
In other market news of interest:
Vale S.A. (NYSE: VALE) noted the Company leads the production of nickel metal that is considered one of the most versatile. Hard but also malleable, it is corrosion resistant and retains its properties even when subjected to extreme temperatures. It is part of everyday life: it is used in the production of batteries and items ranging from coins to cars.
Highlights: The ore obtained from our mines contains more than just nickel. Therefore, by extracting and processing it, we also produce cobalt, copper and precious metals. Where we operate: Brazil, Canada and Indonesia.
Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) recently announced senior leadership changes as part of the company’s efforts to simplify its organizational structure, execute faster and more effectively, and be positioned for stronger long-term competitiveness. The company’s Oil, Products & Gas organization will be consolidated into two segments: Upstream and Downstream, Midstream & Chemicals. Mark Nelson will continue to lead this organization as vice chairman and executive vice president, Oil, Products & Gas.
The Upstream organizational model will drive value through greater standardization across Shale & Tight, Base Assets & Emerging Countries, Offshore, Eurasia and Australia.
Ceibo, a clean copper extraction technology company, and Glencore plc‘s (OTCPK: GLNCY) (OTCPK: GLCNF) Lomas Bayas Mining Company have recently entered into a partnership to deploy Ceibo’s proprietary leaching technologies that enable a more effective extraction of copper from low-grade sulfides at one of Chile’s leading mines. Lomas Bayas has validated Ceibo’s technology and is moving toward scaling up to assess this as an alternative to extend the life of their mining operations. This partnership follows two years of testing by Glencore, an important contributor to Chile’s position as the world’s largest copper producer.
Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding, Ceibo’s technology will scale up with on-site testing through the Lomas Lab, a Glencore world-scale test site, and the company’s research and development branch. This agreement opens a significant commercial avenue for Ceibo, demonstrating its unique approach with a major mining company and affirming the value that Ceibo’s advanced leaching technologies bring to copper assets globally.
Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (OTCQB: QIMCF) (CSE: QIMC) recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Black Tree Energy Group Sàrl (BTEG), a Swiss-based energy infrastructure and project development firm. This partnership reinforces QIMC’s strategic expansion into the U.S., a key market for accelerating the commercialization of natural hydrogen. Together, QIMC and BTEG will drive large-scale hydrogen projects by integrating technical expertise with financial strategy, project development, and execution capabilities.
With strong support for clean natural hydrogen initiatives, the United States presents a substantial opportunity for natural hydrogen development. Through this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), QIMC intends to capitalize on its established expertise in natural renewable hydrogen—encompassing geological and geophysical analyses, project evaluation, and hydrogen fieldwork and drilling—to identify high-potential U.S. sites and accelerate the path to commercial production.
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SOURCE: FN Media Group
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
The file “Coop Pank_aastaaruanne_konsolideeritud 2024_est.pdf“ has been attached to the Estonian version of the notice.
Management Board of Coop Pank has compiled 2024 audited Annual Report. There are no differences in the audited accounts as regards the financial results, compared to the unaudited financial results published on 13 February 2025.
The consolidated annual report 2024 of Coop Pank AS has been enclosed to the announcement and will be made available on the bank’s homepage https://www.cooppank.ee/en/financial-reports
Annual report will be presented for approval to general meeting of shareholders.
Coop Pank’s business results for 2024 were positively impacted by solid business volume growth – both the number of customers and the loan portfolio showed strong growth. The overall economic and interest rate environment had a negative impact on business results.
Coop Pank, based on Estonian capital, is one of the five universal banks operating in Estonia. The number of clients using Coop Pank for their daily banking reached 211,000. Coop Pank aims to put the synergy generated by the interaction of retail business and banking to good use and to bring everyday banking services closer to people’s homes. The strategic shareholder of the bank is the domestic retail chain Coop Eesti, comprising of 320 stores.
Additional information:
Paavo Truu
CFO
Phone: +372 5160 231
E-mail: paavo.truu@cooppank.ee
Attachments
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
LONDON and NEW YORK, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that funds managed by Apollo affiliates (the “Apollo funds”) have agreed to acquire a majority stake in OEG Energy Group (“OEG” or the “Company”), a leading offshore energy solutions business, from funds managed by the Power Opportunities strategy of Oaktree Capital Management, LP (“Oaktree”) and other investors. The transaction implies a headline valuation of more than $1 billion for OEG, and Oaktree and others will retain a minority equity interest in the Company.
OEG is a scaled provider of core services across the offshore energy ecosystem, delivering development and operations solutions to oil & gas (O&G) and wind end markets for more than 50 years. The Company owns and operates one of the world’s largest fleets of cargo carrying units (CCUs), with 75,000+ units, enabling the safe transportation of essential cargo to and from offshore energy installations. OEG’s Renewables segment is a global, integrated provider of key technical solutions and services to the offshore wind sector.
John Heiton, CEO of OEG, said: “Since our company’s founding, we have worked hard to establish OEG as a global leader in delivering core services throughout the offshore energy value chain. As energy producers across Europe and around the globe continue to invest in energy transition, we are committed to expanding and enhancing our capabilities as a key partner. We look forward to working with Apollo as we enter this new and exciting chapter for our business and remain focused on supporting our customers with the same quality service they have come to expect.”
Wilson Handler, Partner at Apollo, said: “John and team have built OEG into a global leader and trusted provider of offshore equipment and services, with an integrated business model that has scaled across cycles. We see a tremendous opportunity to invest in the Company’s future growth as secular tailwinds drive demand for services enabling efficient energy production and renewable power. Bringing to bear the scale of Apollo’s integrated platform and deep expertise in energy services, we look forward to working with the talented team at OEG to unlock value for its various stakeholders and loyal customer base via organic and inorganic channels.”
Francesco Giuliani, Managing Director and Assistant Portfolio Manager in Oaktree’s Power Opportunities strategy, said: “We are proud of our partnership with the management team at OEG and the success achieved during Oaktree’s period of ownership. During that time, increased focus on the energy transition and global supply dynamics has made investment for core energy infrastructure even more important. We continue to have strong conviction in OEG’s growth trajectory and are thrilled to maintain a minority interest alongside Apollo funds.”
Over the past five years, Apollo-managed funds and affiliates have committed, deployed, or arranged approximately $58 billioni of climate and energy transition-related investments, supporting companies and projects across clean energy and infrastructure.
The transaction is subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in Q2 2025.
Banco Santander SA acted as financial advisor and Vinson & Elkins LLP served as legal counsel to the Apollo funds on the transaction.
Goldman Sachs International acted as financial adviser to Oaktree, while Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (corporate) and Latham & Watkins (financing & antitrust) served as legal advisers.
White & Case LLP served as legal counsel to OEG management.
___________________
i As of December 31, 2024. The firmwide targets (the “Targets”) to deploy, commit, or arrange capital commensurate with Apollo’s proprietary Climate and Transition Investment Framework (the “CTIF”), are (1) $50 billion by 2027 and (2) more than $100 billion by 2030. The CTIF, which is subject to change at any time without notice, sets forth certain activities classified by Apollo as sustainable economic activities (“SEAs”), and the methodologies used to calculate contribution towards the Targets. Only investments determined to be currently contributing to an SEA in accordance with the CTIF are counted toward the Targets. Under the CTIF, Apollo uses different calculation methodologies for different types of investments in equity, debt and real estate. For additional details on the CTIF, please refer to our website here: https://www.apollo.com/strategies/asset-management/real-assets/sustainable-investing-platform.
About Apollo
Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2024, Apollo had approximately $751 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.
About OEG Energy Group
OEG is a leading offshore energy solutions business providing infrastructure assets, technologies and services to the global energy industry. From the company’s beginning in 1973, OEG has evolved significantly, growing both organically and through strategic acquisitions, to become a pivotal link in the global energy supply chain.
OEG delivers specialized and complementary solutions for above-water, on-water and below-water applications across the full energy lifecycle. From the provision of offshore logistics equipment and bespoke solutions, through to the delivery of integrated services for larger project work scopes, OEG plays an important role in supporting the production of the world’s energy needs whether that be electricity, gas or oil.
Headquartered in Aberdeen, UK, OEG has over 1,300 employees and operates in more than 65 countries.
About Oaktree
Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $202 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2024. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented, and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, equity, and real estate. The firm has more than 1,200 employees and offices in 23 cities worldwide. For additional information, please visit Oaktree’s website at http://www.oaktreecapital.com/.
Apollo Contacts
Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com
Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491
Communications@apollo.com
Oaktree Press Contacts
FGS Global
Rory King / Hannah Ratcliff
Rory.King@fgsglobal.com / Hannah.Ratcliff@fgsglobal.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
CHICAGO, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zero Hash, the leading crypto and stablecoin infrastructure provider, today announced that tastytrade, a leading brokerage with an award winning platform for traders, has expanded their relationship with Zero Hash, enabling trading of five additional digital assets. Having launched crypto trading capability in 2020, through Zero Hash, this expansion meets increased customer demand for more crypto trading options.
Tastytrade clients can now trade Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), Ripple (XRP), Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), Shiba Inu (SHIB), AAVE (AAVE), and Avalanche (AVAX) through Zero Hash. This week, tastytrade will also add support for Pepe (PEPE), Stellar (XLM), Tezos (XTZ), Sui (SUI), and Aptos (APT).
“We were early crypto supporters, launching this set up with Zero Hash in 2020, furthering our mission of integrated access to all asset classes – including a growing number of digital assets,” said Ryan Grace, Head of Digital Assets at IG North America. “We will continue giving customers more choices in the fast-moving crypto space while maintaining the powerful, intuitive, and trusted experience they expect from tastytrade.”
The expansion follows record crypto trading volume in Q4 2024 on the tastytrade platform. By leveraging Zero Hash’s full-stack API, tastytrade can quickly integrate the most popular digital assets without added complexity.
“Zero Hash continues to power the infrastructure behind the biggest players in traditional brokerage, including tastytrade,” said Edward Woodford, Founder and CEO of Zero Hash. “Our ever-scaling partnership with tastytrade is another example of how we enable trading platforms to seamlessly integrate digital assets, and grow their offering to provide traders unparalleled, simplified access to crypto markets.”
Zero Hash’s crypto brokerage infrastructure powers access to crypto for leading traditional brokers, including tastytrade and Interactive Brokers. The Zero Hash APIs enable:
Disclosures
Cryptocurrency trading at tastytrade is provided by Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC, MSB # 31000181510564, and cryptocurrency custody provided by Zero Hash LLC NMLS # 169937. Zero Hash is a licensed virtual currency business by the NYDFS. Cryptocurrency accounts are not protected by SIPC coverage. Cryptocurrencies are not covered by the FDIC, which covers fiat currency. Cryptocurrency trading is not suitable for all investors due to the number of risks involved, including volatile market prices, illiquid market conditions, lack of regulatory oversight, market manipulation, and other risks. You are solely responsible for evaluating your financial circumstances and determining whether or not trading cryptocurrencies is appropriate for you. Please read the General Risks of Digital Assets risk disclosure. tastytrade, Inc. is a separate company and is not an affiliate company of Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC or Zero Hash LLC.
About tastytrade
Tastytrade is an award-winning brokerage firm established in 2017 to change the way people invest. tastytrade, named Best Broker for Options in 2024 by Investopedia and Best Broker in North America by TradingView, empowers investors seeking to actively manage their own money with a powerful platform and access to educational content for options, futures, crypto and equities trading. tastytrade is an indirect subsidiary of IG US Holdings, Inc., parent to tastylive, the financial content and education platform, tasty Software Solutions, LLC, and a subsidiary of IG Group Holdings plc (LON:IGG), a global fintech company that provides award-winning products, platforms and access to ~19,000 financial markets to investors around the world. Learn more at www.tastytrade.com.
About Zero Hash
Zero Hash is the leading crypto and stablecoin infrastructure provider that seamlessly connects fiat, crypto, and stablecoins in one platform, enabling a better way to move and transfer money and value globally.
Through its embeddable infrastructure, start-ups, enterprises, and Fortune 500 companies build a diverse range of use cases, including cross-border payments, commerce, trading, remittance, payroll, tokenization, wallets, and on/off-ramps.
Zero Hash Holdings is backed by investors, including Point72 Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and NYCA.
Zero Hash LLC is a FinCen-registered Money Service Business and a regulated Money Transmitter that can operate in 51 U.S. jurisdictions. Zero Hash LLC and Zero Hash Liquidity Services LLC are licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. In Canada, Zero Hash LLC is registered as a Money Service Business with FINTRAC.
Zero Hash Australia Pty Ltd. is registered with AUSTRAC as a Digital Currency Exchange Provider, with DCE registered provider number DCE100804170-001. Zero Hash Australia Pty Ltd. is registered on the New Zealand register of financial service providers, with Financial Service Provider (FSP) number FSP1004503. Zero Hash Europe B.V. is registered as a Virtual Asset Services Provider (VASP) by the Dutch Central Bank (Relation number: R193684). Zero Hash Europe Sp. Zoo is registered as a VASP by the Tax Administration Chamber of Poland in Katowice (Registration number RDWW – 1212).
Media Contacts
Zero Hash
Shaun O’Keeffe
(855) 744-7333
media@zerohash.com
Tastytrade
Laura Hayes
laura.hayes@ig.com
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) latest updates on Clade Ib mpox.
Updates on clade Ib mpox case numbers are published on the UKHSA data dashboard
Clade Ia and Ib mpox will no longer be classified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) following a review of available evidence by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed today.
This decision has been taken because the evidence related to this clade no longer meets the criteria for an HCID, which includes having a high mortality rate and a lack of available interventions.
However, the decision should not be interpreted as clade I mpox no longer being of any public health consequence. The disease is still a public health emergency of international concern as defined by the WHO.
Sexual and close physical contact is the main way that mpox spreads.
There have been no reported deaths from mpox in the UK to date, and vaccination is available for higher risk contacts, healthcare workers, and those who are most at risk.
Emma Richards, Incident Director at the UK Health Security Agency, said:
There is now firm evidence of vaccine effectiveness and a low mortality rate for cases of clade I mpox, alongside heightened clinical awareness of symptoms, and access to rapid diagnostic testing and safe therapies with emerging evidence of efficacy.
This change does not alter our overall public health response and we remain committed to preventing the spread of clade I mpox within the UK.
While mpox infection is mild for many, it can cause severe symptoms including unusual rashes and blisters, a fever and headache.
The majority of people who have presented with symptoms report close physical contact, including massages, or sex prior to developing symptoms. It’s important people who have travelled to affected countries in Africa remain alert to the risks and seek medical advice if necessary.
All 4 UK Chief Medical Officers have agreed to accept the recommendation.
There have been no cases of clade Ia mpox in the UK, and only a small number of cases of clade Ib mpox. Most of these cases have appeared in returning travellers from affected areas in Africa with the others being household contacts of a case.
There has been no community transmission of clade I mpox within the UK and the risk to the population remains low.
In the context of the outbreak in parts of Africa, we expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK.
A new case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm.
The case was detected in London and the individual is now under specialist care at the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently returned from Uganda, where there is currently community transmission of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.
The risk to the UK population remains low. In the context of the outbreak in parts of Africa, we expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK.
This is the eighth case of clade Ib mpox confirmed in England since October 2024. This case has no links to the previous cases identified in England.
Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Contacts will be offered testing and vaccination where needed to prevent further infections and they will be advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
Dr Merav Kliner, Incident Director at UKHSA, said:
The risk to the UK population remains low. Close contacts have been identified and offered appropriate advice in order to reduce the chance of further spread.
Clade Ib mpox has been circulating in several countries in Africa in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in a number of countries including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden and the United States.
There has been extensive planning undertaken to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to confirmed cases.
Further updates on clade Ib mpox case numbers will be published on the following page: Confirmed cases of mpox clade Ib in United Kingdom.
Another case of clade Ib mpox has been detected, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since October 2024 to 7, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm.
The individual had recently travelled to Uganda. The risk to the UK population remains low.
The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:
The risk to the UK population remains low. Close contacts have been identified and offered appropriate advice in order to reduce the chance of further spread.
A new case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm.
The case was detected in East Sussex and the individual is now under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. They had recently returned from Uganda, where there is currently community transmission of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.
The risk to the UK population remains low. In the context of the outbreak in parts of Africa, we expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK.
This is the sixth case of clade Ib mpox confirmed in England since October 2024. This case has no links to the previous cases identified in England.
Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Contacts will be offered testing and vaccination where needed to prevent further infections and they will be advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
Dr Meera Chand, Deputy Director at UKHSA, said:
It is thanks to clinicians rapidly recognising the symptoms and the work of our specialist laboratory that we have been able to detect this new case.
The risk to the UK population remains low following this sixth case, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread.
Clade Ib mpox has been circulating in several countries in Africa in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in a number of countries including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden and the United States.
There has been extensive planning undertaken to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.
A new case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm.
The case was detected in Leeds and the individual is now under specialist care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. They had recently returned from Uganda, which is seeing community transmission of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.
The risk to the UK population remains low. We expect to see the occasional imported case of clade Ib mpox in the UK.
This is the fifth case of clade Ib mpox confirmed in England in recent weeks. This case has no links to the previous cases identified. All 4 previous cases were from the same household and all have now fully recovered.
Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:
It is thanks to clinicians rapidly recognising the symptoms and our diagnostics tests that we have been able to detect this new case.
The risk to the UK population remains low following this fifth case, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.
Clade Ib mpox has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya in recent months. Imported cases have been detected in Canada, Sweden, India, Thailand and Germany.
There has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.
One further case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in a household contact of the first case, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) can confirm.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 4, all of which belong to the same household.
The patient is currently under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. The risk to the UK population remains low.
The patient has been isolating since identified as a contact of the first case and no additional contact tracing is required.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:
Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household.
The overall risk to the UK population remains low. We are working with partners to make sure all contacts of the cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further spread.
Contacts of cases are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. All contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
There has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.
Two cases of clade Ib mpox have been detected in household contacts of the first case, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) can confirm. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 3.
The 2 patients are currently under specialist care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. The risk to the UK population remains low.
There has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any further confirmed cases.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:
Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household.
The overall risk to the UK population remains low. We are working with partners to make sure all contacts of the cases are identified and contacted to reduce the risk of further spread.
Contacts of all 3 cases are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. All contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a single confirmed human case of clade Ib mpox. The risk to the UK population remains low.
This is the first detection of this clade of mpox in the UK. It is different from mpox clade II that has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022, primarily among gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (GBMSM).
UKHSA, the NHS and partner organisations have well tested capabilities to detect, contain and treat novel infectious diseases, and while this is the first confirmed case of mpox clade Ib in the UK, there has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any confirmed cases.
The case was detected in London and the individual has been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently travelled to countries in Africa that are seeing community cases of clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.
Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.
UKHSA is working closely with the NHS and academic partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and further assess the risk to human health. While the existing evidence suggests mpox clade Ib causes more severe disease than clade II, we will continue to monitor and learn more about the severity, transmission and control measures. We will initially manage clade Ib as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) whilst we are learning more about the virus.
Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:
It is thanks to our surveillance that we have been able to detect this virus. This is the first time we have detected this clade of mpox in the UK, though other cases have been confirmed abroad.
The risk to the UK population remains low, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, said:
I am extremely grateful to the healthcare professionals who are carrying out incredible work to support and care for the patient affected.
The overall risk to the UK population currently remains low and the government is working alongside UKHSA and the NHS to protect the public and prevent transmission.
This includes securing vaccines and equipping healthcare professionals with the guidance and tools they need to respond to cases safely.
We are also working with our international partners to support affected countries to prevent further outbreaks.
Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said:
The NHS is fully prepared to respond to the first confirmed case of this clade of mpox.
Since mpox first became present in England, local services have pulled out all the stops to vaccinate those eligible, with tens of thousands in priority groups having already come forward to get protected, and while the risk of catching mpox in the UK remains low, if required the NHS has plans in place to expand the roll out of vaccines quickly in line with supply.
Clade Ib mpox has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in recent months and there have been cases reported in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, India and Germany.
Clade Ib mpox was detected by UKHSA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.
Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last 2 to 4 weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
The infection can be passed on through close person-to-person contact with someone who has the infection or with infected animals and through contact with contaminated materials. Anyone with symptoms should continue to avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist.
The UK has an existing stock of mpox vaccines and last month announced further vaccines are being procured to support a routine immunisation programme to provide additional resilience in the UK. This is in line with more recent independent JCVI advice.
Working alongside international partners, UKHSA has been monitoring clade Ib mpox closely since the outbreak in DRC first emerged, publishing regular risk assessment updates.
The wider risk to the UK population remains low.
UKHSA has published its first technical briefing on clade I mpox which provides further information on the current situation and UK preparedness and response.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Mikhail Mishustin congratulated the singer on her anniversary.
The telegram states, in particular:
“You have devotedly served our national culture throughout your life, carefully preserving the traditions of Russian song art. Your artistry and vocal mastery have won the hearts of millions of people.
A man of great talent and creative energy, you have created a special performing style and founded the ensemble “Russian Song”. In each musical composition of your famous group there is depth and genuine sincerity, the beauty of your native land, the richness and breadth of soul, love for the Motherland.
I wish you health, inspiration, success, new projects and all the best.”
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.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –
03/19/2025
10:35
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 19.03.2025, 10-35 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 98.59) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1058.67 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 15.0%) of the security RU000A1009L8 (RZhD 1P-15R) 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.M.M.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –
03/19/2025
10:47
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 19, 2025, 10:47 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 75.9) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 481.14 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 23.75%) of the RU000A103W42 security (IADOM 1P10) 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/N78619
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –
03/19/2025
10:47
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 19.03.2025, 10-47 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 72.19) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 299.84 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 32.5%) of the security RU000A102L53 (IADOM B1P6) 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.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –
03/19/2025
11:13
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 19.03.2025, 11-13 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 111.12) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 5.49 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 18.75%) of the security RU000A10A8E8 (RF ZO 30 D) 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.MO/N78623
