NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Hapeville Police Officer Charged with Excessively Tasing Detainee

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ATLANTA – Shevoy Brown, a former officer with the Hapeville (GA) Police Department, has been arraigned on charges of using unreasonable force by repeatedly tasing a handcuffed detainee who had been arrested for trespassing.                                                                                                                                     

    “Our local law enforcement partners employ dedicated officers who risk their lives and safety every day to help make our district safer.  This indictment alleges conduct by a former officer that runs counter to the culture of professionalism and public service that epitomizes the work performed by police officers in and outside our district,” said Acting United States Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr.

    “People being held under arrest have the right to be treated humanely,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to protect the civil rights of the public and ensure those who abuse their power are held responsible.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the indictment, information provided in court, and other publicly available information: On June 3, 2024, Hapeville, Georgia Police Department officers arrested a man for trespassing and transported him to the department’s headquarters.  The man was placed alone in a small holding cell and handcuffed to a stationary bench.  Although the detainee was a threat to no one, former Hapeville Police Officer Shevoy Brown allegedly tased him at least six times without any legal justification. The repeated tasing injured the detainee and required medical attention.  Following the tasing, Brown allegedly wrote a false use of force report to cover up his conduct.  So in addition to the offense of excessive force, Brown is also charged with obstruction of justice.

    Shevoy Brown, of Hampton, Georgia, was arraigned before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 12, 2025.

    Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent, and it will be the government’s burden to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

    This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Bret R. Hobson are prosecuting the case.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Chief Executive appointed at MHRA

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New Chief Executive appointed at MHRA

    Lawrence Tallon is appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

    The government has today announced the appointment of Lawrence Tallon as the new Chief Executive Officer of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

    Following an extensive recruitment process, Mr Tallon will begin the role from 1 April 2025.

    He will succeed Dame June Raine DBE who is retiring and has led the organisation since 2019, having steered the MHRA through the COVID-19 pandemic and the UK’s exit from the European Union.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    “I’m delighted to appoint Lawrence Tallon as CEO, marking an important new chapter for the MHRA.    

    “MHRA’s work is mission critical to making the NHS fit for the future. There is a revolution taking place in life sciences, with new innovative medicines developed more frequently than ever before. We need the MHRA to work much faster so patients can benefit as soon as possible, and I’m confident that Lawrence is the man for the job.

    “The agency plays a crucial role in protecting public health and promoting medical innovation and, under Lawrence’s leadership, I am confident it will continue to be a world-leading regulator.  

    “I want to thank Dame June and wish her all the best in her retirement.”  

    Throughout his career, Mr Tallon has demonstrated a strong commitment to healthcare innovation and patient safety.

    He is currently Deputy Chief Executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, where he has served since March 2020.

    He is also managing director of the Shelford Group, which represents some of England’s leading NHS teaching hospitals. This experience has given him valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing modern healthcare systems.

    Prior to this he served as Director of Strategy, Planning and Performance at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and worked within the Department of Health and Social Care alongside ministers and NHS leaders.

    Professor Anthony Harnden, Chair of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said:  

     “I am delighted to welcome Lawrence Tallon as the new MHRA Chief Executive.  

     “Lawrence is an impressive leader who brings with him a wealth of experience from across the healthcare sector, nationally and globally. I look forward to working with him to maintain the UK as a global centre of excellence in life sciences and strengthening safety systems in the best interests of patients and the public. 

    “I would also like to give enormous thanks to Dame June Raine, who is handing the baton on to Lawrence after more than 5 years of being MHRA CEO and nearly 40 illustrious years at the Agency. June’s leadership and unwavering commitment to patient and public health cannot be overstated.” 

    The appointment comes at a crucial time for the MHRA as it continues to enhance its position as a sovereign regulator and strengthen its international partnerships. Mr Tallon will lead the organisation’s work to accelerate patient access to innovative medicines and medical devices while maintaining the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.  
    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the UK’s regulator of medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: VAALCO Schedules Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE: EGY; LSE: EGY) (“Vaalco” or the “Company”) today announced the timing of its fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings release and conference call.

    The Company will issue its fourth quarter 2024 and full year earnings release on Thursday, March 13, 2025 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange and host a conference call to discuss its financial and operational results on Friday morning, March 14, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time and 4:00 p.m. London Time.)

    Interested parties in the United States may participate toll-free by dialing (833) 685-0907. Interested parties in the United Kingdom may participate toll-free by dialing 08082389064. Other international parties may dial (412) 317-5741. Participants should ask to be joined to the “Vaalco Energy Earnings Conference Call.” This call will also be webcast on VAALCO’s website at www.vaalco.com. An audio replay will be available on the Company’s website following the call.

    About Vaalco

    Vaalco, founded in 1985 and incorporated under the laws of Delaware, is a Houston, Texas, USA based, independent energy company with a diverse portfolio of production, development and exploration assets across Gabon, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Canada.

    For Further Information

       
    Vaalco Energy, Inc. (General and Investor Enquiries) +00 1 713 543 3422
    Website: www.vaalco.com
       
    Al Petrie Advisors (US Investor Relations) +00 1 713 543 3422
    Al Petrie / Chris Delange  
       
    Buchanan (UK Financial PR) +44 (0) 207 466 5000
    Ben Romney / Barry Archer Vaalco@buchanan.uk.com
       

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Five best articles in Russian for 03.03.2025

    MIL Analysis: Here are the top five Russian language articles published today. The analysis includes five key articles prioritized at the moment.

    Today’s analysis provides us with new opportunities in the economic and social spheres. Cybersecurity remains a hot topic, and citizens can now self-ban loans to ensure safety.

    Education: The finals of space profiles of the “National Technological Olympiad” were solemnly closed at the Higher School of Economics. In addition, the XIII Rosneft Winter Sports Games ended in the city of Krasnoyarsk.

    Below you can read one of the articles.

    1. Financial news: Citizens can set a self-imposed ban on loans.

    Since March 1, a person can through Gosusgoservices voluntarily refuse the opportunity to enter into loan or credit agreements and thus protect themselves from the situation when fraudsters draw up a loan in his name.

    2. NTO and “Roscosmos” determined the best schoolchildren in space technologies.

    “Higher School of Economics” -.

    On March 1, Moscow hosted the closing ceremony of the finals of space profiles of the National Technological Olympiad (NTO), the project office of which works at the Higher School of Economics. The names of winners and prize-winners in three areas at once were announced: “Aerospace Systems”, ‘Analysis of Space Images and Geospatial Data’ and ‘Satellite Systems’. The best were 21 schoolchildren from 13 regions of Russia. The competitions were traditionally held with the support of Roscosmos State Corporation.

    3. Congratulations on the 100th anniversary of Professor Mikhail Makarenko of the State University of Management!

    On March 3, 2025, Mikhail Makarenko, Professor of the State University of Management, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Honorary Chemist of the USSR, Veteran of Labor, Veteran of the Great Patriotic War, turns 100 years old!

    4. The XIII Rosneft Winter Sports Games ended in Krasnoyarsk.

    A solemn awarding ceremony was held for the winners of the XIII Rosneft Winter Sports Games, which took place in Krasnoyarsk over five days. The Company dedicated the competition to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, which the whole country is celebrating this year.

    5. Echo of the Big Bang.

    As part of this year’s popular science marathon “Darwin’s Week”, the dean of the Physics Department of Novosibirsk State University, Dr. Vladimir Blinov, gave a lecture on how people’s ideas about the origin and structure of the Universe have changed and what role relic radiation plays in this.

    Learn more about MIL’s content and data services by visiting milnz.co.nz.

    Regards MIL!

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Christine P. Ball Appointed to the Board of Hanmi Financial Corporation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: HAFC, or “Hanmi”), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hanmi Bank (the “Bank”), today announced that Christine P. Ball has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank effective March 1, 2025. The addition of Ms. Ball brings the total number of Hanmi Board directors to eleven.

    “Christine brings a wealth of banking experience to the Hanmi Board,” said John J. Ahn, Chairman of the Board. “Her proven leadership and strategic insight, along with her deep expertise in credit and risk management, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our commitment to sound financial stewardship and long-term growth. We are very pleased to welcome Christine to our Board and look forward to her contributions.”

    Ms. Ball was appointed to the Risk, Compliance and Planning Committee of the Company, as well as the Loan and Credit Policy Committee and Asset Liability Management Committee of the Bank.

    Ms. Ball has more than 20 years of experience in corporate, commercial and private banking. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President and Deputy Chief Credit Officer for City National Bank in Los Angeles. She joined the bank in 2013 as Senior Vice President and Division Credit Manager, Entertainment. Prior to that, Ms. Ball was a Senior Vice President at Wells Fargo Bank from 2008 until 2013 and a Senior Vice President for Wachovia Bank from 2006 until 2008 when it merged with Wells Fargo Bank. Ms. Ball earned a B.A. degree in economics from the University of California, Davis and an M.B.A. degree in finance from Cornell University.

    About Hanmi Financial Corporation
    Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Hanmi Financial Corporation owns Hanmi Bank, which serves multi-ethnic communities through its network of 32 full-service branches, five loan production offices and three loan centers in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Hanmi Bank specializes in real estate, commercial, SBA and trade finance lending to small and middle market businesses. Additional information is available at www.hanmi.com.

    Investor Contacts:
    Romolo (Ron) Santarosa
    Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
    213-427-5636

    Lisa Fortuna
    Investor Relations
    Financial Profiles, Inc.
    lfortuna@finprofiles.com
    310-622-8251

    Media Contact:
    Juanita Gutierrez
    Vice President
    Financial Profiles, Inc.
    310-622-8235
    jgutierrez@finprofiles.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08a4916d-5d90-437f-852f-e08c40d42928

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Warner Continue Efforts to Prevent Veteran Suicide

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman
    WASHINGTON––Today, U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) continued their efforts to support those who have served in our nation’s military by introducing legislation to renew and expand essential funding for mental health outreach and suicide prevention in veteran communities through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program.
    Authored by Boozman and Warner and later signed into law as a provision of the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act, the Fox Grant Program has authorized $174 million since 2020 to address the veteran suicide crisis through funding community and veteran service organizations (VSOs) as well as mental health care providers across the country that provide suicide prevention services and outreach for at-risk veterans. 
    “Veterans who struggle with mental health have responded well to support provided by those they know and trust,” said Boozman. “When our former servicemembers have access to assistance within their own communities, from organizations with demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and foster hope, they are less likely to take their own lives. Reauthorizing funding for this life-saving initiative is part of the commitment we made to fulfilling what was promised to our veterans struggling to carry the invisible weight of their mental and physical sacrifice.”
    “Veterans put an enormous amount on the line to serve our nation, and we owe them the best benefits available when they come home – including robust mental health resources,” said Warner. “For the past several years, the Staff Sergeant Fox Grant Program has played an invaluable role getting organizations already doing life-saving mental health outreach more support, including many incredible organizations in Virginia. We cannot back down on our commitment to preventing suicide in veteran communities – it’s time for us to extend and expand this essential grant program.”
    The Fox Grant Program is scheduled to sunset later this year. The senators’ legislation would:
    Reauthorize the Fox Grant Program until Sept. 30, 2028, and increase the total authorized funding for the grant program from $174 million to $285 million;
    Expand the maximum potential award from $750,000 to $1.25 million;
    Direct the VA to collect additional measures and metrics on outcomes to better serve veterans; and
    Require annual briefings for VA medical personnel to improve awareness of the program and increase coordination with providers.
    The legislation has strong support from Veterans of Foreign Wars and Blue Star Families.
    “The Veterans of Foreign Wars strongly supports the bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Warner and Boozman to reauthorize and expand the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. Veteran suicide remains a national crisis, and increasing the maximum grant amount while improving oversight and coordination will help ensure life-saving resources reach those in need. The VFW has long advocated for community-based solutions, and this legislation strengthens critical partnerships between the VA and local organizations working to prevent suicide. We urge Congress to swiftly pass this bill and reaffirm its commitment to those who have sacrificed for our nation,” said Joy Craig, Associate Director of Service Member Affairs with the VFW’s National Legislative Service.
    “The SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program is a lifeline for veterans and military families facing the invisible wounds of service. Blue Star Families has seen firsthand the impact of these critical resources—support that saves lives and strengthens communities. This program ensures that veterans and their loved ones get the help they need before a crisis turns tragic. We are proud to support its reauthorization and urge Congress to continue investing in solutions that honor the service and sacrifice of those who’ve given so much for our country,” said Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet. 
    The program honors Parker Gordon Fox, a veteran and former sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. SSG Fox died by suicide on July 21, 2020, at the age of 25. Suicide is the 12th-leading cause of death for veterans, and the 2nd-leading cause for veterans under 45. Over 131,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001, with veterans being 72 percent more likely than the civilian population to die by suicide. Since its original passage, the Fox Grant Program has worked to end this crisis by distributing hundreds of millions in funding to organizations that provide critical, frontline mental health services to veterans.
    Click here for full text of the legislation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Statement: Meet Donald Trump’s New Best Friend, Vladimir Putin

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, March 3 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement introducing the American people to the background and history of Russian dictator, and apparent ally of President Trump, Vladimir Putin.
    Donald Trump’s attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump is dividing the Western alliance, and undermining Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. His actions may prolong the war by convincing Putin he can manipulate Trump into a deal with concessions he couldn’t win on the battlefield.
    Trump is cozying up to Vladimir Putin – so, who is Putin?
    Putin is a former Soviet spy who spent 16 years in the KGB, where he learned how to manipulate people by playing on their egos, greed and fears. After the end of the Cold War, Putin was named head of the FSB, Russia’s post-KGB intelligence agency. In 1999, Putin was named Prime Minister, becoming president when former President Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned. Putin has ruled Russia ever since.
    At the heart of Putin’s rule are two forces: corruption and violence.
    As Russia’s new leader, Putin, who is now believed to be one of the wealthiest people on earth, consolidated power at home by reining in Russia’s powerful oligarchs. He offered them a simple deal: If they granted him absolute power and shared the spoils, he would let them steal as much as they wanted from the Russian people. The result: while the vast majority of the Russian population struggles economically, Putin and his fellow oligarchs stashed trillions of dollars in offshore tax havens. In the process, Putin crushed Russia’s brief movement toward democracy. He eliminated rivals, cracked down on freedom of speech, and strangled the free media. Political dissidents, investigative journalists, and opposition leaders started turning up dead.
    Today, 26 years after he took power, Putin is the absolute ruler of Russia. Russian elections are blatantly fraudulent, with Putin’s lackeys barely hiding their ballot-stuffing. In the last sham election, Putin won 88 percent of the “vote” against carefully screened opposition candidates.
    That is Putin’s Russia. There is no freedom of speech. Protests are violently suppressed. Tens of thousands of people are in imprisoned for speaking out against his rule. The bravest and most prominent dissidents – people like Alexei Navalny, Boris Nemtsov and Sergei Magnitsky – are murdered outright. And the billionaire oligarchs become even richer.
    That is the leader Trump defends and admires.
    But it’s not just repression at home. Putin has also engaged in four brutal wars: in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria and Ukraine (twice). In Chechnya, his forces targeted civilians and medical personnel, flattening entire cities. Against Georgia, he launched an unprovoked invasion and annexed 20 percent the country. In Syria, Russian aircraft bombed schools, hospitals and crowded markets, killing thousands of civilians to prop up the brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad. And in Ukraine, Putin has invaded twice, first in 2014 and then again in 2022.
    Right now, Russia occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine. Because of Putin’s invasion, over one million people have been killed or injured. Every single day, Russia rains down hundreds of missiles and drones on Ukrainian cities. Putin’s forces have massacred civilians and kidnapped thousands of Ukrainian children, bringing them back to Russian “re-education” camps. These atrocities led the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 as a war criminal.
    Putin has also directly attacked the United States and its allies, repeatedly hacking our computer systems, attempting to sabotage critical infrastructure, meddling in our elections and harassing our diplomats.
    That is Donald Trump’s new best friend, Vladimir Putin.
    Every American – regardless of his or her political views – should see the current reality clearly. For the first time in American history, we have a president who is prepared to turn his back on our democratic allies and democratic values to align himself with one of the world’s most brutal dictators.
    For 250 years, people all over the world have looked to the United States, the longest existing democracy on earth, as a source of inspiration. In many countries, democratic leaders have studied our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution for guidance as to how to form governments of the people, by the people, and for the people. In this difficult historical moment, we cannot let them down. More importantly, we cannot let ourselves down. We cannot turn our backs on democracy and our own history.
    We must not allow authoritarians and oligarchs to rule the world.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with Malaysia

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    March 3, 2025

    Washington, DC: On February 25, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Malaysia and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting on a lapse-of-time basis.[2]

    Malaysia’s economic performance has improved significantly in 2024. The economy grew by 5.2 percent (y/y) in the first three quarters of 2024, supported by strong private consumption, buoyant investment, improvements in external demand for electrical and electronic products, and a recovery in tourism. Labor market conditions have been strong, with the unemployment rate low at 3.2 percent in 2024Q3. Meanwhile, inflation has been stable around 2 percent, and the ringgit appreciated against the U.S. dollar by 2.6 percent in 2024.

    Current policies are focused on rebuilding fiscal buffers, augmenting growth potential, and strengthening social protection while preserving macroeconomic and financial stability. The landmark Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), enacted in 2023, aims to strengthen fiscal management and governance. Fiscal consolidation continued in 2024, with the overall fiscal deficit estimated to have declined from 5.0 percent of GDP in 2023 to the budget target of 4.3 percent of GDP in 2024, supported by subsidy reforms and strengthening of the sales and service tax. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has kept the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) unchanged at 3.0 percent since May 2023. Under the Economy MADANI Framework, the authorities have developed a set of concerted policy frameworks that focus on increasing incomes, addressing climate change, promoting digitalization, and enhancing governance.

    Executive Board Assessment

    In concluding the Article IV consultation with Malaysia, Executive Directors endorsed the staff’s appraisal as follows:

    Malaysia’s favorable economic conditions provide a window of opportunity to build macroeconomic policy buffers and accelerate structural reforms. Malaysia’s strong growth momentum is expected to be sustained in the near term, with growth projected at 4.7 percent in 2025. Inflation, which eased to 1.8 percent in 2024, is projected to increase to 2.6 percent in 2025 on account of the anticipated implementation of gasoline subsidy reforms, before moderating to 2.3 percent in 2026. Malaysia’s external position in 2024 is preliminarily assessed to be stronger than the level implied by medium-term fundamentals and desirable policies.

    Risks to growth, mostly external, are tilted to the downside, while inflation risks are tilted to the upside. Downside external risks include deepening geoeconomic fragmentation, a growth slowdown in major trading partners, and intensification of geopolitical conflicts, while upside growth risks include faster implementation of investment projects. The upside risks to the inflation outlook stem from global commodity price shocks and potential wage pressures from increases in minimum wage and civil servants’ pay.

    Fiscal consolidation should continue to rebuild buffers and achieve the medium-term targets set under the FRA. Staff recommends achieving a small structural primary balance by 2027. Building on successful subsidy reforms, including for electricity and diesel, staff recommends gradually phasing out remaining fuel subsidies. Revenue mobilization efforts toward a more broad-based and efficient tax system are warranted. Reintroducing the GST could help achieve this goal. The associated impact of fiscal reforms on vulnerable households should be mitigated by well-targeted cash transfers. Staff welcomes the historic enactment of the FRA and recommends its swift and thorough implementation.

    The current neutral monetary policy stance is appropriate. Going forward, monetary policy should remain data dependent. BNM should stand ready to tighten monetary policy if upside inflation risks materialize. Maintaining exchange rate flexibility is essential.

    Financial systemic risks appear contained, and the financial sector remains sound. Banks’ capital and liquidity positions are robust. Credit growth, corporate and household balance sheets, and real estate markets do not pose systemic risks at this juncture. Continued vigilance is warranted against pockets of more highly leveraged borrowers, interlinkages between banks and non-bank financial institutions, and climate and cyber risks—although spillover risks from these areas remain contained. Given the strong growth and accommodative financial conditions, pre-emptive broadening of the macroprudential policy toolkit could be considered.

    Staff encourages swift implementation of the structural reform initiatives to enhance productivity and inclusive growth. The ongoing development of the PADU digital registry can help strengthen social safety nets and public service delivery. Investment incentives to promote high-growth and high-value industries should be well-targeted and ring-fenced. Further efforts are warranted toward Malaysia’s transition to net-zero emissions and readiness for Artificial Intelligence. Staff welcomes the authorities’ efforts to strengthen governance and the anti-corruption framework.

    Selected Economic and Financial Indicators, 2020–30

    Nominal GDP (2023): US$399.7 billion

    		      

     Population (2023): 33.4 million

    		            

    GDP per capita (2023, current prices): US$11,967

    		      

     Poverty rate (2019, national poverty line): 0.2 percent

    		        

    Unemployment rate (2023, period average):  3.4 percent

    		      

     Adult literacy rate (2019): 95.0 percent

    		          
                             

    Main domestic goods exports (share of total domestic exports, 2023): Machinery and Transport Equipment (45.6 percent), Manufactured Goods and Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles (19.0 percent), and Mineral Fuels, Lubricants etc. (16.5 percent).
                 
           
               

    Proj.
       

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    1/
                             

    Real GDP (percent change)

    		  

    -5.5

    3.3

    8.9

    3.6

    5.0

    4.7

    4.4

    4.0

    4.0

    4.0

    4.0

    Total domestic demand

    		  

    -4.8

    3.8

    9.5

    4.7

    6.1

    4.7

    4.0

    3.6

    3.6

    3.6

    3.4

    Private consumption

    		  

    -3.9

    1.8

    11.3

    4.7

    5.3

    4.5

    3.9

    3.4

    3.9

    3.8

    3.7

    Public consumption

    		  

    4.1

    5.8

    5.1

    3.3

    4.3

    3.5

    2.7

    2.4

    2.3

    2.3

    2.3

    Private investment

    		  

    -11.9

    2.8

    7.2

    4.6

    12.0

    6.0

    5.1

    4.0

    4.0

    4.0

    4.0

    Public gross fixed capital formation

    		  

    -21.2

    -11.0

    5.3

    8.6

    11.2

    4.0

    2.8

    2.3

    2.1

    2.0

    2.1

    Net exports (contribution to growth, percentage points)

    		  

    -1.0

    -0.3

    -0.1

    -0.9

    -0.8

    0.2

    0.5

    0.6

    0.5

    0.6

    0.7
                             

    Output gap (in percent)

    		  

    -4.0

    -1.1

    2.5

    1.3

    1.1

    0.7

    0.4

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0
                             

    Saving and investment (in percent of GDP)

    		                        

    Gross domestic investment

    		  

    19.7

    22.1

    23.6

    22.5

    22.5

    22.5

    22.6

    22.6

    22.5

    22.5

    22.5

    Gross national saving

    		  

    23.8

    26.0

    26.8

    24.0

    24.5

    24.7

    25.0

    25.3

    25.4

    25.5

    25.5
                             

    Fiscal sector (in percent of GDP) 2/

    		                        

    Federal government overall balance

    		  

    -6.2

    -6.4

    -5.5

    -5.0

    -4.3

    -3.8

    -3.8

    -3.8

    -3.8

    -3.8

    -3.8

    Revenue

    		  

    15.9

    15.1

    16.4

    17.3

    16.5

    16.2

    15.4

    15.1

    14.8

    14.6

    14.4

    Expenditure and net lending

    		  

    22.0

    21.5

    22.0

    22.3

    20.8

    20.0

    19.2

    18.9

    18.6

    18.4

    18.2

    Federal government non-oil primary balance

    		  

    -7.5

    -6.7

    -7.8

    -6.6

    -4.9

    -4.1

    -3.7

    -3.4

    -3.0

    -2.8

    -2.6

    Consolidated public sector overall balance 3/

    		  

    -7.3

    -8.3

    -6.0

    -5.9

    -8.4

    -6.7

    -6.8

    -6.9

    -6.8

    -6.9

    -6.9

    General government debt 3/

    		  

    67.7

    69.2

    65.5

    69.7

    69.6

    68.9

    68.7

    69.1

    69.3

    69.6

    69.8

    Of which: federal government debt

    		  

    62.0

    63.3

    60.2

    64.3

    64.4

    63.7

    63.5

    63.8

    64.1

    64.3

    64.5
                             
                             

    Inflation and unemployment (in percent)

    		                        

    CPI inflation, annual average

    		  

    -1.2

    2.5

    3.4

    2.5

    1.8

    2.6

    2.3

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    CPI inflation, end of period

    		  

    -1.4

    3.2

    3.8

    1.5

    1.7

    3.8

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    CPI inflation (excluding food and energy), annual average

    		  

    1.1

    0.7

    3.0

    3.0

    1.8

    2.4

    2.2

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    CPI inflation (excluding food and energy), end of period

    		  

    0.7

    1.1

    4.1

    1.9

    1.6

    3.8

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    Unemployment rate

    		  

    4.5

    4.6

    3.9

    3.4

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2
                             
                             

    Macrofinancial variables (end of period)

    		                        

    Broad money (percentage change) 4/

    		  

    4.9

    5.6

    4.0

    5.8

    7.1

    7.6

    6.7

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    Credit to private sector (percentage change) 4/

    		  

    4.0

    3.8

    3.0

    5.2

    6.2

    6.1

    6.0

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    Credit-to-GDP ratio (in percent) 5/ 6/

    		  

    144.8

    137.7

    122.4

    126.7

    125.7

    123.9

    123.1

    123.1

    123.1

    123.1

    123.1

    Overnight policy rate (in percent)

    		  

    1.75

    1.75

    2.75

    3.00

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Three-month interbank rate (in percent)

    		  

    1.9

    2.0

    3.6

    3.7

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Nonfinancial corporate sector debt (in percent of GDP) 7/

    		  

    109.7

    109.0

    97.5

    101.2

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Nonfinancial corporate sector debt issuance (in percent of GDP)

    		  

    2.3

    2.6

    2.4

    2.5

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Household debt (in percent of GDP) 7/

    		  

    93.1

    88.9

    80.9

    84.2

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Household financial assets (in percent of GDP) 7/

    		  

    204.5

    191.9

    167.3

    174.3

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    House prices (percentage change)

    		  

    1.2

    1.9

    3.9

    3.8

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …
                             
                             

    Exchange rates (period average)

    		                        

    Malaysian ringgit/U.S. dollar

    		  

    4.19

    4.14

    4.40

    4.56

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Real effective exchange rate (percentage change)

    		  

    -3.5

    -1.3

    -1.4

    -2.5

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …
                             
                             

    Balance of payments (in billions of U.S. dollars) 5/

    		                        

    Current account balance

    		  

    14.1

    14.5

    13.0

    6.2

    8.7

    10.2

    12.0

    14.3

    16.1

    17.6

    19.4

    (In percent of GDP)

    		  

    4.2

    3.9

    3.2

    1.5

    2.0

    2.2

    2.4

    2.7

    2.9

    3.0

    3.1

    Goods balance

    		  

    32.7

    42.9

    42.6

    29.9

    26.3

    29.3

    31.8

    33.9

    36.5

    39.2

    43.7

    Services balance

    		  

    -11.2

    -15.8

    -13.2

    -9.5

    -4.4

    -4.1

    -3.1

    -1.7

    -1.3

    -1.0

    -1.5

    Income balance

    		  

    -7.4

    -12.5

    -16.3

    -14.2

    -13.2

    -14.9

    -16.7

    -17.9

    -19.2

    -20.6

    -22.8

    Capital and financial account balance

    		  

    -18.5

    3.8

    1.8

    -3.4

    -6.0

    0.2

    -3.0

    -5.0

    -6.2

    -7.1

    -8.2

    Of which: Direct investment

    		  

    0.7

    7.5

    2.9

    0.0

    -1.3

    2.0

    2.1

    2.2

    2.4

    2.5

    2.6

    Errors and omissions

    		  

    -0.1

    -7.3

    -2.7

    -7.2

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Overall balance

    		  

    -4.6

    11.0

    12.1

    -4.5

    2.7

    10.4

    9.0

    9.3

    9.9

    10.6

    11.2
                             

    Gross official reserves (US$ billions) 5/

    		  

    107.6

    116.9

    114.7

    113.5

    116.2

    126.6

    135.6

    144.9

    154.8

    165.4

    176.6

    (In months of following year’s imports of goods and nonfactor services)

    		  

    5.5

    4.9

    5.4

    4.6

    4.4

    4.6

    4.7

    4.8

    4.9

    4.9

    5.0

    (In percent of short-term debt by original maturity)

    		  

    117.6

    120.8

    104.9

    100.3

    99.4

    98.3

    97.2

    97.0

    97.3

    97.9

    98.9

    (In percent of short-term debt by remaining maturity)

    		  

    91.9

    93.5

    84.6

    80.7

    78.7

    79.4

    79.0

    79.2

    79.7

    80.5

    81.5

    Total external debt (in billions of U.S. dollars) 5/

    		  

    238.8

    258.7

    259.6

    270.6

    284.6

    305.1

    324.4

    342.8

    361.1

    379.2

    397.2

    (In percent of GDP)

    		  

    70.8

    69.3

    63.8

    67.8

    65.1

    65.3

    65.1

    64.9

    64.4

    63.8

    63.0

    Of which: short-term (in percent of total, original maturity)

    		  

    38.3

    37.4

    42.1

    41.8

    41.1

    42.2

    43.0

    43.6

    44.1

    44.6

    44.9

      short-term (in percent of total, remaining maturity)

    		  

    49.1

    48.3

    52.2

    51.9

    51.9

    52.3

    52.9

    53.4

    53.8

    54.2

    54.5

    Debt service ratio 5/

    		                        

    (In percent of exports of goods and services) 8/

    		  

    13.6

    10.5

    9.7

    11.8

    12.1

    12.1

    10.1

    9.8

    9.7

    9.6

    9.5

    (In percent of exports of goods and nonfactor services)

    		  

    14.4

    11.4

    10.3

    12.7

    12.9

    12.9

    10.7

    10.4

    10.3

    10.2

    10.0
                             
                             

    Memorandum items:

    		                        

    Nominal GDP (in billions of ringgit)

    		  

    1,418

    1,549

    1,794

    1,823

    1,952

    2,099

    2,241

    2,373

    2,512

    2,660

    2,817
                             

    Sources: Data provided by the authorities; CEIC Data; World Bank; UNESCO; and IMF, Integrated Monetary Database, and staff estimates.
                             

    1/ Data used in this report for staff analyses are as of January 29, 2025, unless otherwise noted.
    2/ Cash basis.
    3/ Consolidated public sector includes general government and nonfinancial public enterprises (NFPEs). General government includes federal government, state and local governments, and statutory bodies.
    4/ Based on data provided by the authorities, but follows compilation methodology used in IMF’s Integrated Monetary Database. Credit to private sector in 2018 onwards includes data for a newly licensed commercial bank from April 2018. The impact of this bank is excluded in the calculation of credit gap.
    5/ IMF staff estimates. U.S. dollar values are estimated using official data published in national currency.                                                                                                                         
    6/ Based on a broader measure of liquidity. Credit gap is estimated on quarterly data from 2000, using one-sided Hodrick-Prescott filter with a large parameter.
    7/ Revisions in historical data reflect the change in base year for nominal GDP (from 2010=100 to 2015=100).
    8/ Includes receipts under the primary income account.
                               

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] The Executive Board takes decisions under its lapse-of-time procedure when the Board agrees that a proposal can be considered without convening formal discussions.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pavis Devahasadin

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/03/02/pr25050-malaysia-imf-executive-board-concludes-2025-article-iv-consultation

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ChildFund – Urgent Support for Ukrainian Children in 2025

    Source: ChildFund New Zealand

    Uncertainty about the next stage in the war in Ukraine is putting increased pressure on Ukrainian children who have already put up with three years of war.
    “Our ChildFund partners based all through Ukraine and in Moldova are continuing the roll out of our 2025 programme of support. No matter what the outcome of negotiations, it is clear this war will not end any time soon. The support must continue,” says Josie Pagani CEO of ChildFund New Zealand.
    12.7 million people, including 2 million children, are in need of urgent humanitarian support now.
    Children are the most affected. The impact of the war on children’s emotional and psychological well-being and their motivation to learn has contributed to a decline in learning, while psychological distress has contributed to non-attendance.
    In 2025 we plan to do the following:
    • Provide more child and adolescent friendly spaces to help children cope with war-related losses and trauma
    • Provide mental health and psychological support to displaced people and local communities, with a particular focus on women and children
    • Run awareness campaigns on the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war, as well as strategies and techniques to avoid accidents
    • Build bomb shelters to ensure the safety of students and school staff in education facilities
    • Distribute winter emergency aid, including solid fuel, and clean water
    • Provide cash-for-shelter repairs, to fix damaged homes
    • Provide hygiene kits to young people and their families
    • Rehabilitate heating systems, water supply and waste-water systems in healthcare facilities.
    “In the last three years our ChildFund partners have reached 502,264 beneficiaries, including 204,396 women and girls, and 97,340 children.
    The plan in 2025 is to reach about 80,000 additional beneficiaries, including 32,000 children. It is clear the war will not end tomorrow. The bombs are still dropping, and Ukrainian children need our support.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Woman Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison for Defrauding Massachusetts Housing Agency

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Florida woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for defrauding a Massachusetts housing agency where she worked in 2022, along with defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection with the pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

    Alihea Jones, 51, of Brandon, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Jones was also ordered to pay $222,074 in restitution and to forfeit $222,074. In September 2024, Jones pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud.

    In 2022, Jones worked remotely for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for six months where she worked with the Residential Aid to Families in Transition (RAFT) program, which provides funds to assist low-income Massachusetts residents facing eviction and other housing emergencies. Immediately after she was terminated, Jones, who was still logged into the RAFT database, accessed the files of four RAFT program participants and authorized electronic payments to their landlords in the amounts of $7,500, $8,800, $6,925 and $10,000. However, Jones changed the routing and bank account numbers from the landlords’ accounts to four unauthorized accounts in Georgia: an account in the name of Jones’s business, Beauty Concepts by Alihea, LLC (Beauty Concepts); Jones’s personal account; and the accounts of persons identified in the charging document as “Friend A” and “Friend B” – all without knowledge or permission from DHCD. After these transfers went through, Friend A and Friend B each paid Jones a $2,000 kickback.

    Earlier, in 2021, Jones also fraudulently obtained a $187,000 PPP loan from a Massachusetts lender, which the SBA later forgave. Jones spent most of the money on personal expenses, including clothing and restaurants.

    Under the PPP, authorized lenders issued SBA-guaranteed loans to small businesses during the COVID pandemic to help keep workers employed. If a business spent the money on payroll and other permissible business expenses, the SBA forgave the loan.

    Jones submitted a PPP loan application to a Massachusetts lender falsely stating that Beauty Concepts had 17 employees and an average monthly payroll expense of $74,800. In fact, Beauty Concepts did not employ anyone. Unaware that Jones’s information was false, the SBA agreed to guarantee a $187,000 loan to Beauty Concepts. The lender transmitted the loan proceeds to the Beauty Concepts account in Georgia. Jones later applied to have her loan forgiven. Again, she included false employee count and payroll information. Unaware that Jones’s representations were false, the SBA forgave the loan principal and accrued interest.

    In total, Jones caused a loss of $222,074, with $33,225 payable to the DHCD and $188,849 payable to the SBA.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption Unit prosecuted the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Schedules Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLRE) (the “Company” or “Greenlight Re”), a multiline property and casualty insurer and reinsurer, today announced that it expects to release financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024, after the market closes on Monday, March 10, 2025. A live conference call to discuss the financial results will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

    Conference Call Details

    To participate in the Greenlight Re Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Call, please dial in to the conference call at: 

    U.S. toll free         1-877-407-9753
    International        1-201-493-6739

    The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:

    https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1703379&tp_key=8d103d18f7

    A telephone replay will be available following the call through March 18, 2025. The replay of the call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-660-6853 (U.S. toll free) or 1-201-612-7415 (international), access code 13750849. An audio file of the call will also be available on the Company’s website, www.greenlightre.com.

    About Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.
    Greenlight Re (www.greenlightre.com) provides multiline property and casualty insurance and reinsurance through its licensed and regulated reinsurance entities in the Cayman Islands and Ireland, and its Lloyd’s platform, Greenlight Innovation Syndicate 3456. The Company complements its underwriting activities with a non-traditional investment approach designed to achieve higher rates of return over the long term than reinsurance companies that exclusively employ more traditional investment strategies. The Company’s innovations unit, Greenlight Re Innovations, supports technology innovators in the (re)insurance space by providing investment capital, risk capacity, and access to a broad insurance network.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Karin Daly
    Vice President, The Equity Group Inc.
    (212) 836-9623
    IR@greenlightre.ky

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why has bisexual identity doubled in one European city – and what does it tell us about global trends?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Willi Zhang, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet

    Shutterstock/Anna55555

    Bisexuality has long been the subject of distinct forms of stigma compared to other sexual identities. People who identify as bisexual can be dismissed as “confused”, “indecisive” or as passing through a “transitional stage”. These stigmas circulate both among heterosexual and LGBTQ+ people.

    But as social acceptance of diverse sexual identities continues to grow in many countries, more people are identifying as bisexual. My research in Stockholm reflects this trend.

    With colleagues, I analysed data from over 75,000 participants in Stockholm, aged 16 and above between 2010 and 2021. Over this 12-year period, bisexual identity increased from 1.6% in 2010 to 2.5% in 2014, and by 2021 had doubled to 3.1%. In comparison, homosexual identity rose slightly from 1.7% to 2%.

    This means that bisexual people have been the largest self-identifying sexual minority group in Stockholm since 2014.

    Younger generations were more likely to identify as bisexual. Among those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, known as generation Z, 9.4% identified as bisexual in 2021, up from 6.2% in 2014. Among millennials, born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s, 4.6% identified as bisexual in 2021, a slight decrease from 5.1% in 2014. Meanwhile, the proportion of generation X, born between 1965 and 1980, who identified as bisexual fell from 2.1% in 2014 to 1.8% in 2021.

    A similar trend has been seen in the US. Over the past 15 years, the bisexual population has steadily grown and has been the largest sexual minority since 2016. By 2020, 3.1% of US adults identified as bisexual. This increased to 4.4% by 2023.

    Bisexual identity was, again, more common among younger generations. Among generation Z, 12% identified as bisexual in 2020, rising to 15% in 2023. Millennials saw a slight increase from 5% in 2020 to 6% in 2023. For generation X, it stayed at 2% in both years.

    What could be driving the rise?

    These generational differences suggest a shift in how people understand and define their sexual identities. There are several likely reasons for this. In recent decades, many countries have made significant progress in legal recognition and protections for LGBTQ+ people.

    In Sweden, anti-discrimination and hate crime laws were progressively introduced from the late 1980s through the 2010s. During this period, gender-neutral marriage legislation was adopted in 2009.

    Meanwhile, public support for same-sex marriage rose from 71% in 2006 to 90% in 2015. Since then, between 94% and 98% of Swedes have agreed that “gay, lesbian, and bisexual people should have the same rights as heterosexual people”.

    Greater visibility of LGBTQ+ people in media and public life may also have played a role. Seeing people of diverse sexual identities featured in posts, stories, and shows, and as public figures, helps normalise these identities. They also provide relatable examples that can inspire others to feel more confident in being themselves.

    The younger generation is leading the charge on celebrating sexual diversity.
    Shutterstock

    For example, pride parades have become influential cultural events in many countries. They create space for celebration and connection, both within the LGBTQ+ community and in society at large. They also contribute to greater visibility and public awareness.

    Together, these legal and social changes, along with shifting cultural norms, have helped create safer and more supportive environments for LGBTQ+ people. Younger generations are likely experiencing greater social freedom to explore and express their sexual identities.

    As more people feel safe and accepted in identifying as LGBTQ+, society becomes more inclusive and diverse. This, in turn, can encourage others to embrace their sexual identities openly, creating a positive cycle of acceptance and visibility.

    This momentum suggests that the number of people who identify as LGBTQ+, particularly bisexual people, will likely continue to grow in the near future, especially in societies with stronger legal protections and social acceptance.

    Looking ahead, as our understanding of sexuality continues to evolve, this growing visibility and awareness may suggest the potential for a society that becomes increasingly diverse and accepting.

    Willi Zhang is affiliated with Region Stockholm.

    – ref. Why has bisexual identity doubled in one European city – and what does it tell us about global trends? – https://theconversation.com/why-has-bisexual-identity-doubled-in-one-european-city-and-what-does-it-tell-us-about-global-trends-248200

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: This resolution retains a powerful package of sanctions to further degrade Al-Shabaab: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    This resolution retains a powerful package of sanctions to further degrade Al-Shabaab: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, following the vote on the UN Security Council Resolution 2776 on Al-Shabaab Sanctions.

    The unanimous adoption of this resolution today sends a clear message: the Council is united in its determination to support Somalia’s efforts in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

    This resolution retains a powerful package of sanctions designed to further degrade Al-Shabaab, disrupt its finances, strengthen international collaboration and support Somalia in building its own capabilities. 

    And it again demonstrates the Council’s commitment to continue working with Somalia to ensure that these measures are adjusted progressively and appropriately in response to the evolving security context.

    This was also the first Council resolution on this regime that we have negotiated with Somalia as a fellow member of the Security Council. 

    We welcome the constructive approach that all Council members took across this negotiation, which enabled us to arrive at this consensus outcome. 

    And we look forward to continuing our close engagement with Somalia, with Council members and with the region across the many vital upcoming Council decisions on Somalia this year.

    Finally President, the resolution we have adopted today also recognises the particular concern posed by flows of weapons from Yemen to Somalia. 

    Al-Shabaab’s links to the Houthis are part of a wider pattern of Houthi destabilising activity beyond Yemen’s borders. 

    The 2713 and 2140 sanctions committees should coordinate closely to monitor and counter this trend. 

    And we call on all Council members to work collectively to tackle these links, which represent a significant risk to the stability of Somalia and the region.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Allister welcomes Thales deal as O’Neill’s hypocritically attacks it

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister MP:

    “I was very happy to welcome the Thales missile factory deal which will see an investment of £1.6bn in a Northern Ireland company when responding to a statement on Ukraine by the Prime Minister in the Commons earlier today.

    “By way of contrast, Michelle O’Neill claims to be “incredulous” that the UK should be providing weapons to a country under attack from Putin.

    “O’Neill feigns concern for money which she alleges should be spent on public services while defending an IRA campaign which cost the health service alone countless millions.

    “With the approach of the new administration in Washington increasingly moving towards disengagement in Europe, it is more important than ever that Europe steps up to the plate when it comes to spending on defence – something it frankly hasn’t done in many decades.

    “I am proud to be part of a nation which makes a difference on the world stage – in stark contrast to the Irish Republic which continues to shirk their responsibilities and free load on other nations when it comes to both air and naval defence.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Base Redesignation

    Source: United States Army

    Secretary of Defense Hegseth directed the Army to change the name of Fort Moore to Fort Benning in honor of Cpl. Fred G. Benning, a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) recipient, who heroically served in Machine-Gun Company, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in France during World War I. On October 9, 1918, the enemy killed Cpl. Benning’s platoon commander and disabled two senior noncommissioned officers in action south of Exermont, France. The Army awarded Cpl. Benning the DSC for his heroic actions that day as he courageously led the remaining 20 men through heavy fire to their assigned objective in support of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

    CPL Benning was the living embodiment of the Infantryman’s Creed: He was “swift, determined and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win.

    Fort Benning, home of the Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence, trains thousands of Infantry, Armor, and Ranger warfighters to answer their nation’s call. Secretary Hegseth’s directive honors the warrior ethos and recognizes the heroes who have trained at the installation for decades.

    The Secretary of the Army will take immediate action to implement this decision.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Opens Thirty-Second Session

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Six New Committee Members Make Solemn Declaration

    The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today opened its thirty-second session, during which it will review the reports of Canada, Dominican Republic, European Union, Palau, Tuvalu and Viet Nam. 

    Andrea Ori, Chief of the Groups in Focus Section, Human Rights Treaties Branch, Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Representative of the Secretary-General, extended a warm welcome to six new members of the Committee, namely: Magino Corporán Lorenzo (Dominican Republic); Mara Cristina Gabrilli (Brazil); Natalia Guala Beathyate (Uruguay); Christopher Nwanoro (Nigeria); Inmaculada Placencia Porrero (European Union); and Hiroshi Tamon (Japan). 

    He also congratulated the re-elected members of the Committee, namely: Gerel Dondovdorj (Mongolia); Abdelmajid Makni (Morocco); and Floyd Morris (Jamaica).

    Mr. Ori said that as a result of the election, the composition of the Committee had changed this year to 10 women and eight men.  It was one of the largest female representations in a treaty body.  The 192 ratifications to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities showed the commitment of the international community to an inclusive and accessible world.  Since the last session, Eritrea had ratified the Convention. In addition, Ireland had ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention, bringing the States parties to that instrument to 107. 

    The six new members made their solemn declaration to the Committee.

    The Committee then adopted the programme of work for the session.

    Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, outgoing Committee Chairperson, said this morning, the Committee would elect a Chair, three Vice-Chairs and a Rapporteur in a private meeting.  Ms. Fefoame then provided an overview of her activities undertaken since the last session.  She was filled with profound gratitude to have chaired the Committee for the past two years.  In times of crisis, persons with disabilities were too often left behind and this was not acceptable.  Ms. Fefoame thanked everyone who had supported her during her time as Chairperson. 

    Floyd Morris, Committee Expert, expressed profound appreciation on behalf of the Committee to Ms. Fefoame for her leadership. 

    Speaking at the opening of the session were representatives from the Committee on Victim Assistance; United Nations Women; World Intellectual Property Organization; Implementation Support Unit of the Convention on Cluster Munitions; International Disability Alliance; World Federation of the Deaf; Peace Inclusion Peace; Universal Rights Group; and United for Global Mental Health

    Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.  The programme of work of the Committee’s thirty-second session and other documents related to the session can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 4 March to consider the initial report of Tuvalu (CRPD/C/TUV/1).

    Opening Statement

    ANDREA ORI, Chief of the Groups in Focus Section, Human Rights Treaties Branch, Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Representative of the Secretary-General, extended a warm welcome to the six new members of the Committee: Magino Corporán Lorenzo (Dominican Republic); Mara Cristina Gabrilli (Brazil); Natalia Guala Beathyate (Uruguay); Christopher Nwanoro (Nigeria); Inmaculada Placencia Porrero (European Union); and Hiroshi Tamon (Japan).

    He also congratulated the re-elected members of the Committee: Gerel Dondovdorj (Mongolia); Abdelmajid Makni (Morocco); and Floyd Morris (Jamaica). 

    As a result of the election, the composition of the Committee had changed this year to 10 women and eight men among their members.  It was one of the largest female representations in a treaty body.  The 192 ratifications to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities showed the commitment of the international community to an inclusive and accessible world.  Since the last session, Eritrea had ratified the Convention. In addition, Ireland had ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention, bringing the States parties to that instrument to 107. 

    Mr. Ori then briefed the Committee on important events and developments related to disability rights at the international level since the Committee’s previous session, including the adoption of the Pact of the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations in September 2024 by the General Assembly, which contained several relevant commitments for persons with disabilities. 

    Additionally, on 17 December 2024, the General Assembly adopted resolution 79/149, on “Inclusive development for and with persons with disabilities”, while the Human Rights Council, during its fifty-seventh session, held from 9 September to 11 October 2024, adopted several resolutions relevant to the rights of persons with disabilities. 

    In January 2025, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report on the rights of persons with disabilities and digital technologies and devices, including assistive technologies.  In February, the Office published a report on the human rights dimension of care and support. Mr. Ori said there were several important upcoming events related to disability rights, including the Global Disability Summit, being held on 3 and 4 April in Berlin; the seventeenth session of the Conference of States parties in New York from 11 to 13 June 2025; and during the current fifty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council, where, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities would introduce her report.

    The Office of the High Commissioner continued its work to support the strengthening of the treaty bodies, with last year being particularly challenging.  In addition to the chronic resource constraints, the liquidity crisis hampered the planning and implementation of work.  Mr. Ori assured the Committee that the Office was doing its utmost to ensure that the Committee and other treaty bodies could implement their mandates.  However, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future. 

    The treaty body strengthening process remained active and reached a key moment, with the adoption last December of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly. On Human Rights Day last year, an informal meeting was organised of the Chairs and focal points on working methods. The meeting explored the latest developments on the treaty body system and sought to identify possible ways forward to improve the harmonisation of procedures.  The Office of the High Commissioner would continue to work alongside the Chairs and all the treaty body experts to strengthen the system.

    Mr. Ori said during this session, the Committee would hold dialogues with six parties to the Convention: Canada, Dominican Republic, European Union, Palau, Tuvalu, and Viet Nam, and would also review individual communications under the Optional Protocol.  The Committee would hold a day of general discussion on 20 March 2025 on the right of persons with disabilities to participation in political and public life, aimed to help it to elaborate a general comment on article 29 of the Convention.  Mr. Ori expressed appreciation for the Committee’s work and wished it a successful and productive session.

    Discussion

    In the discussion, some speakers, among other things, sincerely appreciated the efforts of the Committee to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.  They congratulated the new members who had been elected to the Committee. It was clear to see the improvement in gender and regional diversity, which spoke to the Committee’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.  The Committee should be congratulated for its work to advance and monitor the Convention. The general comment on article 29 was key to advancing disability inclusion.  The work done so far on the general comment on article 11 was welcomed. It was crucial to ensure that persons with disabilities were not left behind in any form of conflicts, including in the occupied Palestinian territory. 

    One speaker said 164 States were party to the Ottowa Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines and were required to provide assistance to survivors, families and communities who were victims of mines.  This Convention was the first disarmament convention which acknowledged the rights of those affected by an indiscriminate weapon, setting a positive precedent in the area of humanitarian disarmament.  Most survivors of mines had a disability, meaning the Convention on anti-personnel mines intersected with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

    A new five-year action plan, the Siam-Reap action plan, had been adopted in 2024 and included 10 actions linked to assistance to victims, and to the work of the Committee.  Some of the reports to be examined by the Committee were from States parties that had obligations to assist victims under the Convention on anti-personnel mines. The Committee was invited to include questions pertaining to mine survivors to these States. 

    Another speaker said the Convention on Cluster Munitions stood as a landmark humanitarian disarmament treaty, addressing the unacceptable consequences of the use of cluster munitions, and prohibiting the use, transfer and stockpiling of these weapons.  It also established a framework for cooperation ensuring victim assistance, care and rehabilitation for survivors and clearance of contaminated areas. 

    A speaker said disability, gender and discrimination were closely interlinked, with one in five women experiencing a gender-related exclusion.  Work was being done with women and girls with disabilities, including by supporting initiatives and policy work.  Programmes had been launched on mainstreaming disability within the humanitarian response to Ukrainian refugees. 

    The Marrakech Treaty allowed for the production of accessible books across national boundaries for people who were print disabled; 125 countries had joined the treaty since 2013 and Colombia had ratified the treaty last week.  One million titles were now available for cross-border exchange under the treaty.  While many countries had ratified the treaty, its provisions needed to be implemented into national law to allow people who were print disabled to fully benefit from it. Member States that wished to ratify or implement the treaty would be provided with support.

    One speaker said the potential lack of sign language interpretation was a concern; this would break 14 years of ensuring full inclusion of all Committee members and persons with disabilities, which was unacceptable.  Without access to sign language, deaf individuals were denied human rights and were excluded.  It was regretful that the Committee was meeting under circumstances where one of the new members, who was deaf, could not fully participate.  By continuing its thirty-second session, where a member did not have full access, the Committee was complicit in preventing the member from carrying out their full mandate.  It was hoped sign language interpretation would continue this session. The United Nations must ensure the accessibility of their events and meetings for deaf individuals to enable them to participate on an equal footing to other individuals. 

    One speaker said a new organization had been developed to support an inclusive society for all and in every field, including education, labour, welfare and the economy.  In 10 years, the organization had the ambitious goal of 100 billion dollars’ worth of new business creation.  Another speaker said a project was underway to analyse the recommendations on the rights of persons with disabilities extended by the treaty bodies, the Universal Periodic Review, and the Special Procedures to see what degree of United Nations support was being extended to the implementing States. Around 12,108 recommendations had been identified as relating to the rights of persons with disabilities.  The Committee had issued the majority of the recommendations.  On initial analysis, it seemed that implementation of the Convention was falling behind, and a key part of the project would be to understand why. 

    Another speaker said many persons with disabilities were locked in institutions; approximately 8.4 million people were in-patients in mental hospitals every year.  One in 10 people in institutions had been there for over 25 years, according to a study.  In 60 out of 100 countries, people were still being shackled for psychosocial disabilities. During its thirty-second session, the Committee was asked to commit to ending all forms of institutionalisation and to strengthen primary, secondary and community-based mental health care. 

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

    CRPD25.001E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Right Committee Opens One Hundred and Forty-Third Session

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Committee Elects New Chairperson and Bureau, Five New Members Make Solemn Declaration

    The Human Right Committee this morning opened its one hundred and forty-third session, during which it will examine the reports of Albania, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Mongolia, Montenegro and Zimbabwe on their implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  The Committee elected a new Chairperson and Bureau, and five new members made their solemn declaration. 

    In her opening remarks, Wan-Hea Lee, Chief of the Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section, Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Representative of the Secretary-General, said despite the liquidity situation currently facing the United Nations, the first sessions of all the treaty bodies this year had or were going to take place, thereby allowing the important work undertaken by Committees, including this one, to proceed. 

    The Office of the High Commissioner and the United Nations had and would continue to do their utmost to ensure that the Committee’s work could proceed to the maximum extent possible.

    Ms. Lee said they were living in exceptional times, marked by profound global challenges that tested the resilience of the international legal order.  The international system was going through a tectonic shift, and the human rights edifice that had been built up so painstakingly over decades had never been under so much strain.  The United Nations system, including the Committee, bore a shared responsibility to safeguard and reinforce these hard-fought achievements. Now, more than ever, collective action was necessary to defend the universality of human rights, preserve the integrity of international law, and ensure that it remained a robust shield against further regression.

    In its current session, Ms. Lee said, the Human Rights Council would hold interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion or belief, on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, and on the situation of human rights defenders. Last Tuesday, the Council held its biannual high-level panel discussion on the question of the death penalty, which focused on the contribution of the judiciary towards the abolition of the death penalty.  As of today, 113 countries had abolished the death penalty completely, and the global South was now leading the abolition movement. 

    Next Wednesday morning, 5 March, the Council would hold a panel discussion on early warning and genocide prevention.  The Council encouraged States to intensify conflict risk analysis to assess the risks of the perpetration of genocide and to identify situations where preventive measures might be necessary.  Ms. Lee said the work of the Committee needed to be considered a vital component of such risk assessment.

    Last year was particularly challenging, Ms. Lee stated.  In addition to chronic resource constraints, the liquidity crisis continued to hamper the planning and implementation of the Committee’s work – a point that the Chairs communicated forcefully during their meetings with Member States and other interlocutors in New York.  The Office of the High Commissioner was doing its utmost to ensure that the treaty bodies could implement their mandates, including by highlighting the direct impact that resource limitations had on human rights protection on the ground.  Nevertheless, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future.

    Ms. Lee said the treaty body strengthening process remained active.  It reached a key moment with the adoption last December of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly. The resolution invited the treaty bodies and the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to work on coordination and predictability in the reporting process with the aim of achieving a regularised schedule for reporting, and to increase efforts to further use digital technologies.  However, the biennial resolution did not endorse certain detailed proposals, such as the one for an eight-year predictable schedule of reviews.

    On Human Rights Day last year, Ms. Lee said, the Geneva Human Rights Platform organised an informal meeting of the Chairs and focal points on working methods, which explored the latest developments in the treaty body system and sought to improve the harmonisation of procedures.  The Chairs and focal points also had the opportunity to interact with the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures Mandate Holders, discussing independence and actual or potential conflict of interest of experts, and an “all mechanisms” approach to the many challenges the human rights mechanisms were facing.  The High Commissioner’s Office would continue to work alongside the Chairs and all treaty body experts to strengthen the system.

    Ms. Lee said that the Committee had a busy agenda ahead of it, including six States party reviews, the consideration and adoption of eight lists of issues and lists of issues prior to reporting, as well as several individual communications under the Optional Protocol.  It would also hold briefings with various stakeholders.  She closed by wishing the Committee a successful and productive session.

    During the meeting, Changrok Soh (Republic of Korea) was elected as Chair of the Committee, and Wafaa Ashraf Moharram Bassim (Egypt), Hernán Quezada Cabrera (Chile), and Hélène Tigroudja (France) were elected as Vice-Chairs.  The election of a Committee Rapporteur was deferred.  Committee members expressed their support for the newly elected Chair and Bureau members and to the outgoing members.

    Mr. Soh expressed thanks for the Committee’s support and commended the work of former Chair Tania María Abdo Rocholl (Paraguay).  He said human rights were at the heart of his work, and he took on his duties with a strong sense of dedication.  The evolving global landscape and increasing financial pressures on the treaty body system called for increased collaboration.  The treaty bodies needed to leverage new methodologies and technologies to address their challenges.  Mr. Soh said he would do his utmost to deliver on the Committee’s mandate. Through collaboration with various stakeholders, he would work to ensure that the Committee could uphold the civil and political rights of persons worldwide.

    Ms. Abdo Rocholl took the floor to congratulate Mr. Soh and all elected bureau measures, who she expected would take the Committee far in difficult times.  During her tenure, she said, the Committee had held 41 dialogues with States parties, issued 12 lists of issues and 19 lists of issues prior to reporting, analysed five reports on implementation of concluding observations, adopted 610 decisions on individual communications, and delivered three follow-up reports on communications.  It had also implemented changes to finalise lists of issues at an earlier stage and improve the communications review procedure, time management in State party reviews, and document production.  The Committee had worked in a collaborative, harmonious environment, which allowed for the improvement of its work.  Ms. Abdo Rocholl expressed thanks to all who supported her throughout her two-year tenure as Chair.

    The Committee then adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session.

    Laurence R. Helfer, Committee Expert and Chair of the Working Group on individual communications, presented the report on the Working Group’s activities for the one hundred and forty-third session.  He said the Working Group had a very busy session and had extremely rich and interesting discussions.  The cases examined were submitted between 2016 and 2023 and covered 13 States parties from different regions, as well as different themes ranging from arbitrary deprivation of the right to life to forced pregnancy and forced maternity, non-refoulement, voting rights, forced displacement of indigenous communities, arbitrary detention, right to freedom of religion and belief, and right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.  Regarding the 20 drafts examined and 44 communications covered, the Working Group submitted to the plenary for its consideration four inadmissibility proposals, one proposal of no violation; 36 proposals of violations; and two proposals with two options.  The report was adopted.

    New members elected to the Committee made their solemn declaration.  They are Carlos Ramón Fernández Liesa (Spain), Konstantin Korkelia (Georgia), Dalia Leinarte (Lithuania), Akmal Kholmatovich Saidov (Uzbekistan), and Ivan Šimonovic (Croatia).  Ms. Abdo Rocholl, Mr. Soh and Ms. Bassim, as well as Mahjoub El Haiba (Morocco) and Imeru Tamerat Yigezu (Ethiopia), were re-elected to the Committee.

    The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and forty-third session is being held from 3 to 28 March 2025.  All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 4 March, to begin its consideration of the second periodic report of Montenegro (CCPR/C/MNE/2).

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CCPR25.001E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA to Host Housing Resource Fair Mar. 8 in Coffee County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA to Host Housing Resource Fair Mar. 8 in Coffee County

    FEMA to Host Housing Resource Fair Mar. 8 in Coffee County

    FEMA is hosting a Housing Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 8, in Coffee County at the following location:The Atrium114 North Peterson Ave Douglas, GA 31533                                                                                            The Housing Resource Fair will bring together federal, state and local agencies in one place to offer services and resources to families recovering from Hurricane Helene.  The goal of this collaborative effort is to help connect eligible disaster survivors with affordable housing along with valuable information and resources on their road to recovery.Survivors will meet with local housing organizations, property owners and landlords, as well as gain information on the HEARTS Georgia Sheltering Program, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.The Housing Resource Fair is an opportunity for survivors to: Explore affordable housing options and rental assistance programs. Meet with representatives from local housing organizations, landlords and property managers. Gain access to resources for displaced individuals and families. Learn about community partners that will provide educational funding resources to attendees. For FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Wallace, the Housing Resource Fair will give survivors that needed one-on-one experience: “We want survivors to know we are here for them and want to see the best outcome, which is moving into safe, sanitary and functioning housing,” he said. “We will walk them through their options to ensure they are aware of the resources that are available to fit their need.”Anyone who was affected by Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene, whether they have applied for FEMA assistance or not, is welcome to attend.
    jakia.randolph
    Mon, 03/03/2025 – 13:17

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Opening remarks by Commissioner Kadis at the European Ocean Days Event

    Source: EuroStat – European Statistics

    Good morning, friends of the ocean,

    It is truly an honour to be here today as we kick off the second edition of the European Ocean Days.

    I am pleased to see all of you here in Brussels, and I also want to extend a warm welcome to everyone joining us online. We have ocean experts, marine scientists, fishers, policymakers, community leaders, youth, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders from across Europe gathered here to discuss the importance of our ocean, seas and waters. I would like to take a moment to thank all my colleagues across the European Commission services and our partners for organising this week of inspiring events.

    The European Ocean Days are more than just a week of events. They represent the European Union’s strong commitment to a sustainable blue economy and to the protection of our ocean. They also celebrate the hard work many of you have done to help shape the policies we are building on today.

    As you well know, the ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface. It regulates our climate and provides essential resources that sustain life, both at sea and on land. Yet the ocean still faces many challenges, such as overfishing, plastic pollution and the effects of climate change. This year’s European Ocean Days are filled with exciting events to explore the future of our ocean, share success stories, and discuss innovative solutions to the challenges at hand. This is a unique opportunity to share ideas, learn from each other, and take steps towards our shared ocean goals.

    But before I get into the details of what we have planned for you, I would like to tell you more about an initiative that we are working on – the European Ocean Pact.

    With this pact, we want to ensure coherence across all EU policy areas linked to the ocean, with clear objectives:

    • Developing a competitive and sustainable European blue economy;
    • Protecting and restoring ocean health, productivity and resilience;
    • Building a robust marine knowledge framework;
    • Establishing a global ocean governance and diplomacy;
    • Enhancing the resilience of coastal communities and cities;
    • And putting in place a governance model that will ensure implementation.

    In the coming days, you will hear a lot about the Ocean Pact and I hope that our discussions will feed into it.

    Now let me tell you what we have planned for you:

    We begin today with Young Voices for the Ocean and the first Youth Policy Dialogue, where I will have the opportunity to discuss ocean policies with 16 young people from across the European Union. Young people’s voices matter and it is important that we hear your views, because the future of our ocean largely rests in your hands. Your opinions and needs must contribute to the upcoming European Ocean Pact and help shape the future of the blue economy. Let me emphasise that listening to the views of the youth is among the priorities of this European Commission as it is clearly stated in the political guidelines of President Von Der Leyen.

    In the afternoon, we have three panels lined up, focusing on key topics for young people: career opportunities in the blue economy, youth engagement in ocean conservation and restoration projects, and what it means to be a blue citizen. During breaks, I invite you to visit the art exhibition by the JRC SciArt project, relax with ocean sounds, or network and discover new initiatives and partners at the Ocean Literacy Island. Before we close today, our Ocean Literacy Coalition will launch the campaign #MakeEUBlue: Cities on board!. This initiative calls on cities across Europe to take action for the ocean, from supporting blue education to organizing beach clean-ups and restoration projects. We encourage you all to get involved and ensure no city is left behind on our shared journey toward ocean sustainability.

    The rest of the week is just as full of important events. We will host the 3rd Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters Forum to highlight what we are doing to restore our ocean and waters, as well as what else needs to be done to meet our 2030 goals. Then, the Fisheries and Ocean Dialogues will bring together stakeholders from the fisheries, aquaculture, and blue economy sectors. These dialogues will play a crucial role in shaping the European Ocean Pact, addressing issues such as the future of fisheries, biodiversity protection, and the health and resilience of our ocean.

    We will also hold a session on the European Institute of Technology’s call for a new Knowledge and Innovation Community on Water, Marine, and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems. This session will provide essential information on funding opportunities for innovative projects. And, once again, investors and innovators will gather at the Blue Invest event to explore investment opportunities and sustainable solutions for the blue economy, with workshops and networking sessions on innovation and sustainability. To close the week, we will discuss Marine Knowledge for the European Ocean Pact, focussing on how observation, data, research, marine knowledge and citizen science can drive informed decision-making and help shape ocean-related policies, including the Oceans Pact. Finally, the Fisheries and Ocean Science Seminar will offer insights into the current state of scientific research and advice related to fisheries and ocean health. As you can see, we have a week full of activities that promise to be both informative and engaging.

    So let’s make this week all about learning, sharing, and working together to build a better future for our ocean.

    I wish you all an enjoyable and productive week and I look forward to the discussions, ideas, and actions that will emerge.

    Thank you

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Number of people taken ill in Camden

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Police are aware and are investigating the circumstances after a number of people have been taken ill in and around the Camden area today (Monday, 3 March).

    We are aware of nine cases and believe that all of these people have fallen ill after taking a substance believed to be heroin. At this time, there have been no fatalities but we continue to monitor the situation.

    Working alongside our partners, including the local council, enquiries are underway to establish if these drugs are the cause of these people being taken ill.

    There have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing.

    Public safety is our priority and our advice remains that people should not buy, sell or consume illegal drugs – they are illegal and the trade is not regulated, so there are always very serious risks associated with taking these substances.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: IIFT Signs MoU with APEC – Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center, Belgium to Strengthen Trade and Logistics Education

    Source: Government of India

    IIFT Signs MoU with APEC – Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center, Belgium to Strengthen Trade and Logistics Education

    MoU to build cooperation,provide training and insights into global trade practices: Minister Shri Jitin Prasada

    Posted On: 03 MAR 2025 9:44PM by PIB Delhi

    The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APEC – Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center, Belgium, marking a significant step towards enhancing academic collaboration and knowledge exchange in the fields of international trade, logistics, and supply chain management.

    The MoU aims to strengthen trade education and training ties between India and Belgium by facilitating faculty and student exchanges for cross-cultural business learning. It includes joint research on port management, global logistics, and trade facilitation, along with specialized training programs, workshops, and industry interactions. Additionally, the collaboration will enhance knowledge transfer in critical areas such as e-governance, digital trade, and emerging business technologies.

    Addressing the gathering, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry,  Shri Jitin Prasada underscored the importance of international partnerships in strengthening India’s trade ecosystem. “India and Belgium have shared strong trade ties for decades. This MoU will further build on our cooperation, ensuring that our future business leaders are equipped with world-class training and insights into global trade practices.”

    The dignitaries from Belgium lauded the initiative, acknowledging the role of such collaborations in strengthening global trade networks. His Excellency Matthias Diependaele remarked that the people of India are making the right choices by choosing democracy, the rule of law, and partnership. He also highlighted Antwerp’s strategic location, noting that it serves as a vital gateway to Europe, facilitating trade and economic connectivity on a global scale. They expressed optimism about the positive impact this partnership will have on trade education and policy development.

    Commerce Secretary Shri Sunil Barthwal expressed his happiness over the signing of the MoU and reaffirmed India’s commitment to becoming globally competitive in international trade logistics through IIFT’s new initiative in collaborative research and training with APEC.

    Following the MoU signing, a roundtable discussion was held between the Minister-President of Belgium and IIFT alumni who had previously visited Flanders, sharing their experiences and key takeaways from the program.

    The MoU was signed in the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Shri Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry – Ajay Bhadoo; the Belgian delegation – His Excellency Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister of Economy, Innovation, and Industry, Foreign Affairs, Digitalisation, and Facility Management; Mr. Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges; Mr. Dirk De Fauw, President of Port of Antwerp-Bruges International and Mr. Kristof Waterschoot, Managing Director of Port of Antwerp-Bruges International.

    From IIFT, the event was graced by Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor, IIFT, along with senior faculty members and distinguished alumni who have previously benefited from exposure to the Port of Antwerp.

    Speaking at the event, Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor, IIFT, emphasized the importance of this partnership in providing IIFT students with practical exposure to global trade and logistics operations. “This collaboration will not only enhance our students’ understanding of port operations and global supply chain mechanisms but also create opportunities for joint research, training programs, and faculty exchanges,” he said. He reiterated IIFT’s commitment to offering world-class education with practical insights into international trade and logistics.

    Mr. Kristof Waterschoot, Managing Director of Port of Antwerp-Bruges International, highlighted the longstanding relationship between Port of Antwerp and IIFT, stating, “This MoU will further solidify our efforts in capacity building and knowledge-sharing in trade facilitation.”

    This collaboration builds on the longstanding relationship between IIFT and the Port of Antwerp, which began in 2019 with 206 students from the institute visiting the port for firsthand learning. As an integral part of IIFT’s curriculum, port visits have enriched students’ understanding of supply chain efficiencies, customs regulations, and global trade operations.

    The event concluded with a commitment from both institutions to implement the objectives outlined in the MoU and work towards building a robust framework for academic and industry collaborations in international trade.

    About IIFT: Established in 1963 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has gained Deemed University status and is one of the premier business institutions in India, focusing on Foreign Trade. It is highly regarded as an academic center of excellence in international business research, training, and education.

    About APEC – Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center: APEC is a leading training institute affiliated with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, providing specialized programs in port management, trade facilitation, and logistics, contributing to global capacity building in the maritime and trade sectors.
     

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan

    (Release ID: 2107942) Visitor Counter : 29

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The modernisation of the High-Mountain Meteorological Observatory on Mount Śnieżka – E-000775/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000775/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D), Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE), Anna Zalewska (ECR), Michał Dworczyk (ECR), Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski (PPE), Oliver Schenk (PPE)

    The modernisation of the High-Mountain Meteorological Observatory on Mount Śnieżka (in the Sudeten Mountains on the Czech-Polish border) is a transnational project of significant environmental and territorial importance for Poland, Czechia and Germany. The project, led by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute in Poland, aims to improve infrastructure, address wastewater management challenges and preserve the unique architectural and natural heritage of this cross-border region. However, outdated wastewater treatment systems in mountain shelters, including those on both sides of the border, are causing local streams to be polluted.

    Despite meeting all the formal requirements, the city of Karpacz faces financial barriers to securing approximately EUR 18 million to modernise its wastewater treatment plant, a prerequisite for sustainable water management in line with EU Directive 91/271/EEC[1]. Current funding opportunities under the FENX.01.03 scheme exclude projects like this due to strict compliance criteria for new agglomerations.

    Given the modernisation project’s alignment with EU environmental objectives and its cross-border significance:

    • 1.Can the Commission allocate European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) resources directly to such transnational projects bypassed by national schemes?
    • 2.How will the Commission ensure adequate funding for cross-border initiatives of EU-wide importance under existing frameworks?
    • 3.Will upcoming calls under the European Territorial Cooperation (Interreg) or similar programmes prioritise projects such as these, to foster territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability?

    Submitted: 20.2.2025

    • [1] Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1991/271/oj.
    Last updated: 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Working conditions of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors and industries – E-000809/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000809/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Hristo Petrov (Renew), Irena Joveva (Renew), Jana Toom (Renew), Brigitte van den Berg (Renew), Nikola Minchev (Renew), Eugen Tomac (Renew), Laurence Farreng (Renew), Marie-Pierre Vedrenne (Renew)

    In December 2024, the European Labour Authority (ELA) published a report on employment characteristics and undeclared work in the cultural and creative sectors (CCS). This study highlights the precarious conditions faced by the 7.7 million artists and workers in the CCS. In particular, the reliance on self-employment and temporary contracts leaves many workers without adequate social protection such as health insurance and pensions. The report also highlights the widespread practice of undeclared work, characterised by cash payments and unregistered events. Problems also stem from the rise of digital platforms and cross-border mobility of artists and CCS professionals, particularly with regard to taxation and misclassification.

    In the light of the ELA report and Parliament’s resolution of 21 November 2023[1]:

    • 1.What progress has been made by the Commission in implementing each of the 13 initiatives identified in its letter of 21 February 2024 in response to Parliament’s resolution?
    • 2.What measures does the Commission intend to take to make progress at both European and national level on the 2023 policy recommendations of the Open Method of Coordination expert group?
    • 3.How will the Commission ensure that the social protection and adequate working conditions of intermittent workers are safeguarded?

    Submitted: 21.2.2025

    • [1] Resolution of 21 November 2023 with recommendations to the Commission on an EU framework for the social and professional situation of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4208/oj.
    Last updated: 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Improving judicial cooperation in the area of cybercrime – E-000795/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000795/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    José Cepeda (S&D)

    In a context of increasing digitalisation, cybercrime constitutes a serious and transnational threat requiring effective judicial cooperation between Member States. Given my role as a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and as a result of my contacts with magistrates and judges, I have been made aware of the need to improve judicial cooperation in the field of digital, cyber, and computer-related offences. Judges in the EU need to have a common legal basis on which to work together and improve cooperation on cybercrime.

    The Budapest Convention[1], a voluntary framework for international cooperation, is the only instrument currently available to the EU to combat this type of crime, although not all Member States are included (Ireland has not ratified the Convention).

    In light of the above:

    • 1.What measures does the Commission intend to take to strengthen judicial cooperation in the fight against cybercrime, in particular with regard to speeding up cross-border access to electronic evidence?
    • 2.Does the Commission consider it necessary to propose new legislation in order to deal with new forms of cybercrime?

    Submitted: 20.2.2025

    • [1] https://www.coe.int/en/web/cybercrime/home
    Last updated: 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Addressing the impact of the housing crisis on teachers and other categories of public servants in Greece – E-001890/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In the Political Guidelines for 2024-2029, and in the Mission Letter addressed to the Commissioner for Energy and Housing, the Commission President announced ambitious actions to address the housing crisis and help all citizens facing issues to find affordable housing.

    The first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan will aim at offering technical assistance to cities and Member States and focus on investment and skills needed .

    Furthermore, to promote investments, the Commission envisages to work on a pan-European investment platform together with the European Investment Bank, international financial institutions, national promotional banks and other stakeholders.

    The Commission also plans to inject liquidity into the market by allowing Member States to double the planned cohesion policy investments in affordable housing.

    Support is already available under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, an option that is planned by Greece, notably with the new ‘Affordable Housing Programme My Home II’, of EUR 1 billion, which provides financial incentives to individuals for the acquisition of an affordable primary residence.

    The Commission has also been tasked with making proposals aimed to tackle systemic issues arising from short-term accommodation rentals and the inefficient use of the current housing stock.

    The Commission is working on the implementation of the short-term rental Regulation, adopted in April 2024[1]. It foresees the provision of reliable data on short-term rentals, to help Member States design the most appropriate and targeted measures.

    The Commission will also lead on conducting an analysis of the impact of housing speculation and its economic consequences, as well as propose follow up actions where needed.

    • [1]  OJ L, 2024/1028, 29.4.2024 — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1028#:~:text=Regulation%20%28EU%29%202024%2F1028%20of%20the%20European%20Parliament%20and,Regulation%20%28EU%29%202018%2F1724%20%28Text%20with%20EEA%20relevance%29%20PE%2F77%2F2023%2FREV%2F1

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Increase in drug trafficking in Europe and its impact on young people – E-000808/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000808/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nadine Morano (PPE)

    On 5 November 2024, EUR 1.2 million was seized from a vehicle as part of an anti-drug operation in Marseille. According to the European Union Drug Agency’s 2022 European Drug Report, 362 tonnes of cocaine were seized in Europe, up from 213 tonnes in 2020, the first time the haul was bigger in Europe than in the United States[1].

    In addition, more and more young people are involved in drug trafficking and the number of adolescents accused of drug-related homicide is on the rise.

    In 2023, 60% of victims of drug-related violence in France were under 25 years old[2]. These figures illustrate the increase in drug trafficking in Europe as well as its impact on young people in France and elsewhere in Europe.

    Against this backdrop:

    • 1.What action is the Commission taking to combat this increase in drug trafficking and to stop drugs reaching Europe?
    • 2.How will the Commission limit young people’s exposure to and recruitment into drug trafficking?

    Submitted: 21.2.2025

    • [1] European Drugs Agency, ‘Understanding Europe’s drug situation in 2024 – key developments’, European Drug Report 2024 https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/european-drug-report/2024/drug-situation-in-europe-up-to-2024_en
    • [2] Thomas Saintourens, ‘Trafic de drogue : pourquoi la France atteint un point critique’, Le Monde, 17 November 2024, https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2024/11/17/trafic-de-drogue-pourquoi-la-france-atteint-un-point-critique_6398366_3224.html
    Last updated: 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Applying the Digital Services Act to German public service broadcasters – E-000228/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    ‘Online platforms’ within the meaning of the Digital Services Act (DSA)[1] are hosting services that, at the request of the recipient of the service, store and disseminate information to the public.

    An exception applies where such activity is a minor and purely ancillary feature of another service or a minor functionality of the principal service.

    Public service media providers are media service providers entrusted with a public service remit and receiving public funding for the fulfilment of that remit.

    Whether the services and websites referenced by the Honourable Member constitute an intermediary service, and in particular, an online platform within the meaning of the DSA, will depend on the possibility by users to upload their own content and the economic relevance of such service.

    For example, a video on demand service under the editorial responsibility of a public broadcaster which does not store and disseminate user-generated content may not qualify as an online platform pursuant to the DSA.

    The existence of a comments section that is ancillary to the main service of such type would not change this finding. By contrast, services one of the main functionalities of which is the storage and dissemination of user-generated content may qualify as online platforms, regardless of a public funding.

    The Commission closely cooperates with the Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs), such as the Bundesnetzagentur, to ensure an effective implementation and enforcement of the DSA vis-à-vis all services that fall within its scope.

    The DSCs retain exclusive powers to supervise and enforce the DSA for those services that have not been designated as a very large online platform or very large online search engine.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act), OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1 — 102.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Former Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders (2) – E-003030/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    European Union anti-money laundering rules do not contain any outright exemptions for gambling services, including national lotteries.

    The current Anti-Money Laundering Directive[1], which was agreed by the co-legislators in 2015 and amended in 2018, allows Member States to exempt providers of certain gambling services from all or part of the requirements of the directive only if they conduct a risk assessment which demonstrates that those services pose a low risk of money laundering.

    That decision must be notified to the Commission together with a justification. The former Commissioner for Justice was not a member of the college of the Commission when the current rules on gambling were proposed by the Commission and agreed by the co legislators.

    The newly adopted Anti-Money Laundering Regulation[2] further limits the type of gambling services that may be exempted, and the Commission is empowered to reject or approve any proposed exemptions. This regulation will apply as of 10 July 2027.

    There is therefore no a priori exemption for gambling services, including national lotteries, and it is in all cases the responsibility of the Member State to demonstrate the low money laundering risk associated with the service.

    • [1] Directive (EU) 2015/849 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Directive 2005/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directive 2006/70/EC, OJ L 141, 5.6.2015, p. 73-117.
    • [2] Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2024 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, OJ L, 2024/1624, 19.6.2024.
    Last updated: 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Protecting food producers in the European Union and negotiations with Mercosur countries – E-002289/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU is the world’s largest exporter of agri-food products, with a trade surplus of EUR 70 billion in 2023. This is also thanks to its network of trade agreements.

    Mercosur is a large and highly protected market with great potential for high quality European agri-food exports such as some dairy products, processed foods, olive oil, malt, some fruits, wines, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages.

    Regarding sensitive EU agricultural products, such as beef and poultry, the EU has negotiated limited concessions in the form of tariff rate quotas that represent a small fraction of EU consumption.

    These partial openings will be introduced in gradual stages to allow for a smooth transition. They will be coupled with safeguard clauses to protect the EU market in case imports from Mercosur would cause serious injury.

    As regards standards, the EU has negotiated legally binding chapters on trade and sustainable development in all recent comprehensive trade agreements to ensure EU trading partners implement strong labour and environmental commitments.

    In addition, the EU Deforestation Regulation[1] requires that certain commodities to be placed on the EU market must originate from non-deforested areas.

    Finally, as regards health and safety the EU’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards are non-negotiable and are not affected by this or any other trade agreement.

    The decisions that the EU takes to protect its production and its consumers are underpinned by risk assessments, which are performed by the European Food Safety Authority.

    Imported products must always comply with the EU’s stringent food safety requirements regardless of the existence of a trade agreement with the exporting country.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023R1115

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Digital Services Act and amendments to Poland’s Electronic Services Act – E-000131/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission acknowledges Poland’s efforts to align its legislation with the Digital Services Act (DSA )[1].

    Commission takes note of the information available to it regarding the proposed amendments to the Electronic Services Act to establish an administrative procedure allowing the President of the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE) to issue removal orders against certain types of illegal content aiming to ensure a swift and predictable response to uphold legal standards.

    At this stage of draft legislation, the Commission has not performed a formal assessment of their compatibility with EU law which would take place in the context of the notification requirements set out in the Single Market Transparency Directive[2].

    The DSA does not empower national authorities to issue orders against illegal content but acknowledges that they may do so based on other applicable national or EU laws.

    When such orders fulfil the conditions set out in Article 9 of the DSA, this regulation sets out an obligation for the providers concerned to inform the issuing authority of any effect given to those orders.

    The absence of content authors’ involvement prevents delays but must be complemented by fair appeal mechanisms allowing the affected provider and users to seek redress.

    The DSA sets out clear independence criteria that the President of the Office of Electronic Communications as Digital Services Coordinator under the DSA needs to abide by.

    The Commission will remain vigilant concerning compliance with the transparency requirements for Digital Services Coordinators under the DSA.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act), OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1-102: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng
    • [2] Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services OJ L 241, 17.9.2015, p. 1-15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2015/1535/oj/eng
    Last updated: 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –