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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI: Radware’s Cyber Threat Report: Web DDoS Attacks Surge 550% in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAHWAH, N.J., Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, released its 2025 Global Threat Analysis Report.

    Radware’s new report leverages intelligence provided by 2024 network and application attack activity sourced from the company’s cloud and managed services and threat intelligence research team. In addition, it draws from information found on Telegram, a public messaging platform often used by cybercriminals.

    2024 report highlights

    • The average duration of network DDoS attacks increases 37% over 2023
    • North America faces 66% of web application and API attacks
    • Nearly 400% year-over-year growth in DDoS attack volume strikes finance and transportation
    • Hacktivist claims rise 20% globally; governments top targets

    “Multiple catalysts drove the threat revolution witnessed in 2024, including geopolitical conflicts, bigger and more complex threat surfaces, and more sophisticated and persistent threats,” said Pascal Geenens, director of threat intelligence at Radware. “Add to that the impact of AI, which is lowering barriers to entry, multiplying the number of adversaries and enabling even novice actors to successfully launch malicious campaigns, and what you have is a threat landscape that looks very daunting.”

    Web DDoS attacks mount on geopolitical tensions
    Layer 7 (L7) Web DDoS attacks escalated significantly, linked predominately to hacktivist groups motivated by geopolitical conflicts and facilitated by easy accessibility to more sophisticated tools. During 2024:

    • Number of attacks: Total Web DDoS attacks surged 550% compared to 2023.
    • Geographic targets: EMEA remained the primary target, accounting for 78% of global incidents.

    Network-layer DDoS attacks become bigger and more prolonged
    The volume, frequency and duration of network DDoS attacks more than doubled since 2022. During 2024:

    • Attack volume: The average mitigated attack volume rose 120% compared to 2023.
    • Attack duration: The average duration of attacks increased 37% over 2023.
    • Geographic targets: Organizations in Europe faced the highest proportion of network DDoS activity, accounting for 45% of the global attack volume, followed by North America (21%).
    • Industry targets: Telecommunications bore 43% of the global network DDoS attack volume, followed by finance at 30%. Growing faster than the global average of 120%, finance experienced the steepest growth in attack volume per organization, increasing 393% year-over-year, followed by transportation and logistics (375%), e-commerce (238%), and service providers (237%).

    “The escalations in the threat landscape have significant implications for every sector from finance and telecommunications to government and e-commerce and beyond,” explained Geenens. “Organizations are operating in a dynamic environment that demands equally dynamic defense strategies. While bad actors don’t have to do their jobs perfectly to have a major impact, defenders do.”

    Application-layer DNS DDoS attacks post unprecedented gains
     Last year was a pivotal year in the evolution of L7 DNS DDoS attacks. During 2024:

    • Attack activity: The amount of DNS flood queries rose 87% over 2023.
    • Industry targets: The financial sector accounted for 44% of the total L7 DNS attack activity. Healthcare (13%) ranked second, followed by telecom (10%), and communications (8%).

    Hacktivist campaigns intensify marked by retaliation and disruption
    Propelled by political and ideological tensions, hacktivism remained a leading driver of cyberattacks. According to data gathered from Telegram in 2024:

    • Number of attacks: The total number of claimed DDoS attacks increased by 20% compared to 2023.
    • Geographic targets: Ukraine was the most targeted nation with 2,052 claimed attacks, followed by Israel (1,550). The United States became a prime target for DDoS-as-a-service providers.
    • Industry targets: Government institutions were the top hacktivist targets, accounting for 20% of hacktivist activity, followed by business services (9%), finance (9%) and transportation (7%).
    • Top claiming actors: Pro-Russian hacker NoName057(16), the most prolific threat actor in 2024, claimed 4,767 DDoS attacks, followed by RipperSec (1,388), Executor DDoS (1,002) and the Cyber Army of Russia Reborn (716).

    Web applications and APIs become prime targets for exploitation
     Attackers aim to profit from the expanding complexity and breath of the threat surface in modern organizations by exploiting known vulnerabilities. In 2024:

    • Number of attacks: Web application and API attacks climbed 41% compared to 2023.
    • Attack vector: Vulnerability exploitation remained the most prominent attack type, comprising more than one-third of all malicious requests.
    • Geographic targets: North America experienced 66% of these attacks, followed by EMEA (26%).

    Radware’s complete 2025 Global Threat Analysis Report can be downloaded here.

    About Radware
    Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, and API security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, hands-free, real-time protection from the most sophisticated web, application, and DDoS attacks, API abuse, and bad bots. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware’s solutions to address evolving cybersecurity challenges and protect their brands and business operations while reducing costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.

    Radware encourages you to join our community and follow us on: Facebook,  LinkedIn, Radware Blog, X, YouTube, and Radware Mobile for iOS.

    ©2025 Radware Ltd. All rights reserved. Any Radware products and solutions mentioned in this press release are protected by trademarks, patents, and pending patent applications of Radware in the U.S. and other countries. For more details, please see: https://www.radware.com/LegalNotice/. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.

    THIS PRESS RELEASE AND THE RADWARE 2025 GLOBAL THREAT ANALYSIS REPORT ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THESE MATERIALS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE AN INDICATOR OF RADWARE’S BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OR OPERATING RESULTS FOR ANY PRIOR, CURRENT, OR FUTURE PERIOD.

    Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory, or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice.

    The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and the contents thereof are not part of this press release.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, outlook, beliefs, or opinions, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could.” For example, when we say in this press release that organizations are operating in a dynamic environment that demands equally dynamic defense strategies, we are using forward-looking statements. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, could differ materially from Radware’s current forecasts and estimates. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of global economic conditions, including as a result of the state of war declared in Israel in October 2023 and instability in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the tensions between China and Taiwan; our dependence on independent distributors to sell our products; our ability to manage our anticipated growth effectively; a shortage of components or manufacturing capacity could cause a delay in our ability to fulfill orders or increase our manufacturing costs; our business may be affected by sanctions, export controls, and similar measures, targeting Russia and other countries and territories, as well as other responses to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine, including indefinite suspension of operations in Russia and dealings with Russian entities by many multi-national businesses across a variety of industries; the ability of vendors to provide our hardware platforms and components for the manufacture of our products; our ability to attract, train, and retain highly qualified personnel; intense competition in the market for cyber security and application delivery solutions and in our industry in general, and changes in the competitive landscape; our ability to develop new solutions and enhance existing solutions; the impact to our reputation and business in the event of real or perceived shortcomings, defects, or vulnerabilities in our solutions, if our end-users experience security breaches, if our information technology systems and data, or those of our service providers and other contractors, are compromised by cyber-attackers or other malicious actors or by a critical system failure; outages, interruptions, or delays in hosting services; the risks associated with our global operations, such as difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations, compliance costs arising from host country laws or regulations, partial or total expropriation, export duties and quotas, local tax exposure, economic or political instability, including as a result of insurrection, war, natural disasters, and major environmental, climate, or public health concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; our net losses in the past two years and possibility we may incur losses in the future; a slowdown in the growth of the cyber security and application delivery solutions market or in the development of the market for our cloud-based solutions; long sales cycles for our solutions; risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions or other investments; risks associated with doing business in countries with a history of corruption or with foreign governments; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with undetected defects or errors in our products; our ability to protect our proprietary technology; intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties; laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting our business; compliance with open source and third-party licenses; and other factors and risks over which we may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by Radware in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained on Radware’s website at www.radware.com.

    Media Contact:
    Gerri Dyrek
    Radware
    Gerri.Dyrek@radware.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Art contest for peace and security

    Source: Government of the Netherlands

    News item | 17-02-2025 | 09:00

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the municipality of The Hague and NATO are inviting young, ambitious artists to take part in an art contest. The assignment: to paint a commemorative street mural for the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.

    Third edition

    NATO unveiled its first public mural in January 2024. Made by street artists in Vilnius, Lithuania, in honour of the 2023 summit, it symbolises the alliance’s collective defence mission. The contest continued in Washington, DC, on the occasion of NATO’s 75th anniversary in 2024. This year the honour goes to The Hague, where young artists will have an opportunity to design the NATO summit mural.

    The mural contest is part of the campaign #ProtectTheFuture, an alliance-wide programme to encourage involvement by young people, which stresses the importance of freedom, security, democratic values and peace.

    The mural created for the first NATO art contest, entitled ‘Life Under a Peaceful Sky‘, was designed by the young Lithuanian artist Žygimantas Amelinas and can be found on a wall next to the Reformers Park in Vilnius. The second mural, entitled ‘Security through Cooperation’, was designed by the young Danish artist Eske Toubourg and painted by Washington muralist Hamilton Glass in the centre of Washington, near the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre.

    Criteria

    The contest is open to everyone between the ages of 18 and 35 from one of the 32 NATO countries. This includes both aspiring artists and anyone else interested in sharing a visual design related to this year’s theme, ‘Maintaining Our Shared Future’. Artists are encouraged to create an optical illusion of a three-dimensional design for a two-dimensional surface. Entries must be submitted via the NATO website no later than 31 March 2025.

    Unveiling

    One of the members of the jury is Michiel Corver, director of The Hague Street Art. The winning work will be unveiled in The Hague in June 2025, and will be visible to world leaders and representatives at the summit.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trials for contactless ticketing in the North and Midlands takes another step closer

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Trials for contactless ticketing in the North and Midlands takes another step closer

    Contactless will offer simpler ticketing and a better experience for rail customers.

    • contactless ticketing is on its way to the North and Midlands with trials later this year 
    • Yorkshire and the East Midlands will be the first to try out the new simpler way to travel 
    • part of wider moves to overhaul the railways to put passenger experience at the forefront

    Plans to trial simpler and more flexible ticketing across the North and Midlands have taken one step closer this week with trials on track for later this year.

    The government is kickstarting the procurement process to find the suppliers who will run the technology for the trials across the East Midlands and Yorkshire. The successful bidders will work alongside Northern and East Midlands Railways to deliver the trials.

    Unlike the previous roll out of pay as you go, these trials will use Global Positioning System (GPS) based technology. This will track your location on your train journey, ensuring you pay the best fare for the journey you take. For ticket inspections and to go through ticket barriers, a unique bar code will pop up in the app to be scanned. 

    The use of contactless ticketing offers passengers simpler, more accessible and more flexible train travel as well as a guarantee of the best value ticket on the day. By saving both time and money on a number of journeys, the trials will help to improve living standards and make working people better off – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

    Backed by government funding, the trials are part of plans to modernise our transport system, put passenger experience at the heart of the railways and drive more people back onto trains building on the government’s mission to deliver growth.

    Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said:

    We’ve seen the success that contactless ticketing has on making journeys easier to navigate and attracting more people to our railways.

    It’s only right that we now look to expand contactless ticketing to other major cities across the North and Midlands, ensuring they can reap the economic benefits that simpler ticketing offers and that passengers are having a better experience.

    Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive Officer of Rail Delivery Group, said:

    We are proud to support the pay as you go trials in Yorkshire and East Midlands. This is another step in making fares and ticketing easier for everyone.

    We are committed to developing a simpler fare system that not only meets passengers’ expectations but also supports the long-term growth of rail travel making customers experience of the railway better.

    This follows the roll out of contactless ticketing at 53 stations across the South East. In the first 6 months of contactless ticketing being available at the first 6 stations, more than 268,000 entries and exits were made using contactless cards or mobile devices – showing how popular the system is with customers using those stations already. 

    The department is also working closely with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands to develop their proposals for rolling out contactless ticketing even further.

    Alex Hornby, Commercial and Customer Director at Northern, said:

    Historically, ticketing across the rail industry has been far too complicated and so anything that makes the customer experience simpler has my vote.

    We’ve already seen a huge swing away from physical tickets to digital alternatives, which now make up over 80% of journeys on our network. The option to pay as you go is a development of that trend which we’re looking forward to introducing on selected routes very soon.

    Oli Cox, Head of Commercial Strategy and Business Planning at East Midlands Railway, said:

    We’re excited to be trialling digital pay as you go between Derby, Nottingham, and Leicester, making rail travel simpler and more convenient for our customers.

    We know that complex fares can sometimes be a barrier to travel, and this trial will help to remove that uncertainty – allowing customers to simply tap in and out via their phone – confident that they’re getting the best value fare for their journey.

    Last week, the government launched a consultation on a landmark bill to rewire Britain’s railways, including committing to a further overhaul of ticketing and setting up a powerful passenger watchdog to give passengers a voice and hold train operators to account.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TfL Commissioner faces Assembly questions

    Source: Mayor of London

    80% of all trips in London should be made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041. That’s the target in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy which sets out the Mayor of London’s vision for the future of transport in the capital. Will that goal be met?

    Tomorrow, the London Assembly Transport Committee will ask the Deputy Mayor for Transport and the Transport for London (TfL) Commissioner about progress towards meeting the Strategy’s ambitions, the Vision Zero target for no deaths or serious injuries on London’s transport network, bus services, and more.

    The guests are:

    From 10am:

    • Andy Lord, TfL Commissioner
    • Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dubai is closer than it seems: a meeting with a famous architect from the UAE was held at the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On February 25, 2025, as part of the Project Days at the State University of Management, a meeting was held between students and the famous architect Najmus Chowdhry, founder of the ZneraSpaceLab architectural bureau located in Dubai.

    The architect spoke about the projects implemented by his bureau. Thus, in 2018, together with the Znera Space team, the Smog Project was developed – a network of filter towers for air purification in Delhi. Each tower was to be 100 meters high and generate a volume of semi-clean air that would spread over two kilometers.

    Najmus Chowdhry was also involved in the creation of the concept of the Downtown Circle, a spherical megastructure that will surround the Burj Khalifa tower in the center of Dubai. The ring, 550 meters high, located on five pillars, is planned to have a circumference of three kilometers. It will house residential, public, commercial and cultural spaces.

    The meeting was organized by the General Director of the architectural bureau DOITPROJECT and co-founder of the brand PATRIKI_20 Olga Shibkova and the head of the project and educational laboratory of urban development of the State University of Management Irina Milkina. Communication with the famous architect is aimed at transferring practical experience and inspiring students to create sustainable projects.

    Students from GUU and MSTU-MASI who took part in the meeting asked questions about the image of the city of the future, the significance of the bureau’s work, and the necessary skills for a modern architect.

    The guest advised students to develop their observation skills and always analyze what competitors are doing and form their own opinion. In the future, this will help to do something new and innovative. The architect also noted that a professional should have equal qualities such as productivity and creativity so that the idea does not remain unimplemented.

    MSTU-MASI student Stepan Bosalygo asked the guest how he sees his projects in the future. Nadjmus Chowdhry replied that when developing projects, it is necessary to take into account the context of the objects that are nearby – their culture, heritage, in order to fit the object into the culture of the nation.

    As a memento of his visit to the State University of Management, the architect was presented with souvenirs with the university’s symbols and a group photo was taken with all the participants.

    1st year student of the State University of Management Maria Naumocheva shared her impressions of the meeting: “I was very interested in the project called “The Breeze Tower” – Wind Tower. Quite an interesting idea to introduce a vertical garden into part of the building. It was also interesting that instead of windows there is a net, thanks to which the breeze blows into the tower and cools the air.”

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/26/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: 5/2025・Trifork Group AG – Reporting of transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 5 / 2025
    Schindellegi, Switzerland – 26 February 2025


    Reporting of transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities

    Pursuant to the Market Abuse Regulation Article 19, Trifork Group AG (Swiss company registration number CHE-474.101.854) (“Trifork”) hereby notifies receipt of information of the following transactions made by persons discharging managerial responsibilities in Trifork in connection with fixed salaries paid in shares. Reference is made to company announcement no. 1/2025 on 21 January 2025.

    1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
    a) Name Jørn Larsen
    2. Reason for the notification
    a) Position/status CEO
    b) Initial notification/
    Amendment    		 Initial notification
    3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
    a) Name Trifork Group AG
    b) LEI 8945004BYZKXPESTBL36
    4.1 Details of the transaction(s)
    a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument

    Identification code

    		 Shares

    ISIN CH1111227810
    b) Nature of the transaction A share of 25% of the fixed monthly salary is paid out in shares as described in the company announcement no. 1/2025.
    c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s)
    DKK 0 1’345
    d) Aggregated information
    —
    Aggregated volume —
    Price    		 N/A
    e) Date of the transaction 26 February 2025
    f) Place of the transaction Outside a trading venue
    1. Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities/person closely associated
    a) Name Kristian Wulf-Andersen
    2. Reason for the notification
    a) Position/status CFO
    b) Initial notification/
    Amendment    		 Initial notification
    3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor
    a) Name Trifork Group AG
    b) LEI 8945004BYZKXPESTBL36
    4.1 Details of the transaction(s)
    a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument

    Identification code

    		 Shares

    ISIN CH1111227810
    b) Nature of the transaction A share of 10% of the fixed monthly salary is paid out in shares as described in the company announcement no. 1/2025.
    c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s)
    DKK 0 358
    d) Aggregated information
    —
    Aggregated volume —
    Price    		 N/A
    e) Date of the transaction 26 February 2025
    f) Place of the transaction Outside a trading venue


    Information and questions
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director, frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 73 17


    About Trifork
    Trifork is a pioneering global technology partner, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative solutions. With 1,278 professionals across 76 business units in 15 countries, Trifork delivers expertise in inspiring, building, and running advanced software solutions across diverse sectors, including public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. Trifork Labs, the Group’s R&D hub, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic and high-potential technology companies. Trifork Group AG is a publicly listed company on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKIFS seeks exceptional talent to shape the future of fusion

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UKIFS seeks exceptional talent to shape the future of fusion

    UKIFS launches search for exceptional talent to shape the future of fusion energy

    Image credit: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions

    UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS), the organisation responsible for delivering the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme, is excited to launch the recruitment process for seven senior technical roles that are central to the future success of the programme. 

    The positions we’re recruiting are:  

    • Deputy Chief Engineer 
    • Head of Tokamak Machine 
    • Design Chief Architect Engineer 
    • Head of Engineering Assurance 
    • Head of Whole Plant Performance 
    • Head of Engineering – Fuel Cycle 
    • Head of Engineering – Power & Cooling 

    The people appointed to these roles will be key to the successful delivery of the technical programme, adding significant weight to the senior leadership team within the programme.  

    STEP is the programme to deliver the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040 and a path to the commercial viability of fusion, as a safe, low-carbon and near-limitless energy source. The key objectives of the programme are to demonstrate net energy production from fusion as well as fuel self-sufficiency and a route to plant maintenance for future fusion power plants.  

    This recruitment drive marks the beginning of a significant expansion of roles across the programme, with many more expected through the year. 

    All positions can be based at either Culham Campus in Oxfordshire, or the West Burton site in Nottinghamshire. 

    Paul Methven – CEO of UKIFS and Senior Responsible Officer for STEP said: 

    UKIFS is a new and exciting organisation, working to prove that fusion energy can make a meaningful difference to address climate change and energy security, by delivering net energy. This is a project that really could change the world, place the UK in the lead of a key global technology and generate real economic value for the country. 

    We are very excited to be launching our search for these roles, which are fundamental to the technical success of the project and are looking forward to receiving applications from people working in these areas of engineering, not only those in fusion but across adjacent industries. 

    We’d love you to join us.

    About UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd   

    UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Group, responsible for the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme to deliver the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant.  

    Targeting first operations in 2040, UKIFS will lead STEP’s integrated delivery team to design and build the prototype fusion energy plant at West Burton, a former coal-fired power station site in Nottinghamshire.

    To sign-up for updates about STEP, visit: step.ukaea.uk or follow our social channels @STEPtoFusion.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More than £100 million in Indian investment creating UK jobs

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    More than £100 million in Indian investment creating UK jobs

    New Indian investment deals worth over £100 million demonstrate investors’ confidence in the UK.

    • UK welcomes latest Indian investments, demonstrating investors’ confidence in doing business 

    • New deals will create jobs as the government continues to focus on delivering economic growth under the Plan for Change 

    • Recent Indian budget drives more opportunity for UK insurance companies to expand presence in India 

    Recent investment wins for the UK worth over £100 million from Indian companies are being celebrated as proof the government’s Plan for Change is providing global investors with the confidence they need to do business in the UK. 

    Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been in New Delhi this week, as the UK Government relaunched talks on a trade deal with India to bring more opportunity to UK businesses and deliver on its core mission to grow the economy, as part of the Plan for Change.  

    UK Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson is in Bangaluru on the second leg of a two-city visit to India to bang the drum for Britain, champion free trade and promote exciting investment opportunities in the UK economy.   

    Recent Indian investments in the UK cover a range of sectors including AI, professional services and textiles and are expected to create hundreds of new jobs over the next three years. 

    This continues the trend of strong Indian investment into the UK in recent years, with the last year-on-year change showing the value of inward FDI stock from India having increased 28% at the end of 2023. India has remained the second largest investor in terms of number of projects into the UK for five consecutive years. 

    The deals come as UK insurance companies gain more potential to expand in India thanks to the recent Indian budget which increased the amount of FDI permitted in the insurance sector from 74% to 100%. 

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 

    “These investment deals will deliver more than £100 million for the UK economy, creating jobs, strengthening growth, and helping working people.  

    “They prove that the government’s Plan for Change is giving Indian businesses the confidence they need to continue investing in Britain.  

    “Now the UK will strive to be more ambitious and collaborative than ever before as we show the world why the UK is the best place to invest.” 

    The investment announcements include: 

    • Aaseya Technologies, professional services company specialising in digital transformation through automation, is growing its presence in London and creating up to 250 new jobs over three years with a £25 million investment.  

    • Sastra Robotics is investing £8 million in Manchester over three years, creating 75 new jobs. The investment aims to expand the company’s robotics innovation and development. This is the first time a robotics company from South India has invested in the UK. 

    • AI CyberIntel company Deepcytes has set up its global headquarters in London, investing £5 million and creating 80 jobs in the next three years to combat problems of anti-bullying and cyber frauds.  

    • University Living, a global student housing managed marketplace, plan to open a new UK office, investing £10 million and creating 50 jobs over three years. 

    • One of the largest producers of hand-knotted rugs in India, Jaipur Rugs have opened a store in London and are looking to create 75 jobs through a £5 million investment over the next three years.  

    • Time Cinemas have established their global headquarters in the UK, introducing The Black Box by Time, an innovative, patent applied, cloud platform solution that empowers filmmakers, content creators, producers, and distributors to reach out to a much wider cinema audience across geographies. This expansion will create 75 new jobs in London over the next three years, supported by a capital expenditure of £20 million. 

    • Novigo solutions, a technology-focused organisation specialising in end-to-end IT services, technology consulting, business consulting, analytics, and robotic process automation, has started its operation in Warwick by investing £12 million and creating 75 jobs over three years.  

    • Test Yantra, one of India’s largest testing and training services companies, is investing £10 million and creating 100 jobs over the next three years.  

    • Zoondia software, a leading provider of technology solutions, AI solutions, custom software development, IOT, data analytics and resource augmentation areas, is investing £10 million and creating 60 jobs over three years.   

    Notes to editors 

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK firms rake in ‘tens of millions’ in exports to India

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK firms rake in ‘tens of millions’ in exports to India

    Companies in the UK’s tech and life sciences sectors have announced expansions in India which will amount to tens of millions of pounds for the UK economy.

    • Over 600 UK companies, including in cutting-edge tech and life sciences sectors, are already based in India  

    • UK businesses exported a total of £17 billion goods and services to India in the 12 months to September 2024 

    • A trade deal which brings down barriers could make selling to this huge market easier and cheaper for businesses, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change 

    Companies in the UK’s tech and life sciences sectors are making huge strides in global markets and going for growth by announcing expansions in India. 

    UK tech and science firms are thriving thanks to deals and partnerships valued at tens of millions of pounds, involving everything from supplying internet-based learning to pupils in disadvantaged communities to helping improve outcomes for patients undergoing complex surgery in hospitals. 

    Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been in New Delhi this week, as the UK Government relaunched talks on a trade deal with India to bring more opportunity to UK businesses and deliver on its core mission to grow the economy, as part of the Plan for Change. 

    Already an economic heavyweight, India is expected to become the fourth largest importer by 2035, presenting new opportunities for UK businesses. In the year to September 2024, UK businesses exported a total of £17 billion goods and services to India. 

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:  

    “Tech and life sciences are two huge growth sectors for the UK economy that feature at the heart of our Industrial Strategy.  

    “I’m proud that government support has helped some of our finest businesses in these sectors to expand into the exciting Indian market. 

    “It’s great to see them going for growth, and their successes will amount to tens of millions of pounds for the UK economy, which will see living standards improve, and put money in people’s pockets.” 

    UK businesses expanding their exports into India include: 

    • Manufacturer of RF solutions to mobile networks, defence, and aerospace markets Radio Design, headquartered in Shipley, has expanded its global operations with a manufacturing facility in India.   

    • Global Tech operations for Marcus Evans Group, London-based specialists in high-impact and bespoke events, are now established in Mumbai.  

    • Appliansys, an innovative tech company based in Coventry whose internet-based education supports students in low or no internet areas, has worked with Tata Motors and developed a pilot which will be used across almost 5,000 Indian schools.   

    • Leicester-based chemicals company Microfresh has now rolled out its smart antimicrobial technology across multiple Indian textile and leather players. 

    • A digital health tech business headquartered in London, Novocuris has begun operating in multiple Indian hospitals. 

    • Keele-based Biocomposites is supplying hospitals in India with its medical devices for use in complex bone, joint, and musculoskeletal infections. 

    • York business Optibiotix Health has entered into a long-term partnership with Morepen Laboratories with its brand “Light life” containing its patented, award-winning and clinically tested SlimBiome, used as a pre-meal and on-the-go meal product.  

    • REM3DY Health, a Birmingham based advanced manufacturing business has partnered with a leading Indian pharmacy giant to bring its innovative gummy vitamin products to India with discussions ongoing to expand into even more personalised solutions in the future.  

    Notes to editors: 

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: North Macedonia: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    February 26, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Growth is gaining momentum amid rising risks

    Growth is gaining momentum. After picking up in early 2024, growth is expected at 3.3 percent in 2025, driven by stronger domestic demand as public investment projects (including the Corridor 8/10d road project) intensify and consumption is supported by government transfers and real wage growth. The impact of weak external demand seen in 2024 is expected to persist in 2025, driven by structural shifts in the European automotive sector. In the long term, high emigration, especially among the young segment of the population, is projected to lower potential growth, which Staff now estimate at 3.0 percent.

    Inflation is rising again. In January, inflation reached 4.9 percent year-on-year, up from a low of 2.2 percent in August 2024. Core inflation has become the main driver and remains persistent, fueled by strong wage growth. Food inflation remains high despite administrative price controls and other interventions.

    Domestic risks are elevated and the external outlook more uncertain. Weak public investment, stalled productivity reforms, emigration, and slowing activity of key trade partners threaten growth in the medium-term. Meanwhile, high real wage growth without productivity gains and increased fiscal transfers could further fuel inflation and erode competitiveness. Trade policy shifts and shocks to FDI may suppress exports and tighten financial conditions.

    Adhering to the fiscal rules requires credible fiscal consolidation

    IMF staff agree with the authorities’ goal of reducing the deficit this year, but are concerned revenue will underperform, rendering this goal out of reach. The 4 percent of GDP deficit envisaged in the 2025 budget will be exceeded if the authorities’ expected revenue gains (of 1½ percent of GDP) from reducing the shadow economy and increasing tax compliance fall short. We welcome the Public Revenue Office’s efforts to modernize tax collection and reduce informality, but these efforts will take time to deliver results. Staff recommends that in any planned supplementary budget, the authorities avoid increasing spending and focus on reducing tax expenditures and transfers (e.g., subsidies to agriculture). Ensuring the full and timely transfer of contributions to the second-pillar pension system is essential.

    A credible fiscal strategy is needed to bring debt on a downward path. The budget deficit has exceeded the 3 percent of GDP ceiling in the fiscal rules, while public debt is on an upward trend and has surpassed 60 percent of GDP in 2024—14 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels. A credible fiscal strategy to restore compliance with fiscal rules is key, for preserving credibility to maintain access to international capital markets, for creating space for investment, and strengthening resilience against future shocks. The focus should be on:

    • Controlling current spending:Staff recommend omitting further pension increases in September 2025 and returning to a rule-based pension system in 2026—indexing only to inflation—to support consolidation while protecting pensioners’ purchasing power. Staff advise limiting public wage growth to inflation in the near term. The Ministry of Finance should strengthen oversight to ensure public wage increases are consistent with achieving the fiscal rules. Over time, unifying the fragmented wage negotiating system will help prevent unexpected budget pressures.
    • Mobilizing revenues. North Macedonia’s tax revenue potential is estimated at 22-24 percent of GDP. To realize these revenues, tax reforms should focus on reducing tax expenditures, limiting reduced rates and exemptions, improving tax compliance, and gradually increasing property tax. The government’s accelerated digitalization efforts will enhance revenue mobilization.

    Beyond consolidation, structural fiscal reforms are needed to strengthen fiscal governance and improve spending efficiency, with some progress underway. Key ongoing measures include implementing the Public Investment Management decree and manual, adopting the PPP law, and conducting spending reviews to optimize budget allocation. Managing fiscal risks, especially from SOEs and major projects like the Corridor 8/10d road, is crucial. The inclusion of a fiscal risk assessment in the Medium Term Fiscal Strategy marks an achievement for the ministry. The state-owned electricity generator, ESM, requires investments in technology and efficiency improvements to lower production costs and expand production, while gradually reducing its role in the subsidized, regulated market. The operationalization of the Fiscal Council is a positive step and it is encouraged to strengthen its independent assessments.

    Monetary and financial sector policies to maintain stability and mitigate risks

    Policy rates should remain on hold and liquidity tools warrant further tightening until inflation steadily declines. Robust reserves accumulation in 2024 has fostered stability in the foreign exchange market. Given the renewed acceleration in both headline and core inflation, the National Bank (NBRNM) should remain on hold until there is clear evidence of sustained disinflation. Staff support the changes in reserve requirements implemented by the NBRNM and advise further tightening to absorb excess liquidity. The NBRNM should remain vigilant to inflationary risks from domestic factors, including wage and pension increases, as well as heightened external risks from trade uncertainties. If these risks materialize, the NBRNM should be prepared to tighten further to prevent inflation from becoming entrenched. The NBRNM has effectively managed recent challenges, including the energy cost shock. Its resilience stems from operational and financial autonomy, which underpin its independence and credibility—both essential for maintaining price and exchange rate stability and must be safeguarded.

    The financial system remains resilient, but macro prudential settings may need to be tightened in response to brisk credit growth. Overall, the banking sector is well-capitalized, highly liquid, and profitable, with low system-wide non-performing loans. NBRNM’s active macroprudential and microprudential measures have strengthened resilience. Strong balance sheets and increased deposits have fueled an acceleration in lending activity towards the end of 2024. The implemented loan-to-value and debt service-to-income ratios will continue to help safeguard financial stability by reducing pressures in the real estate market and preventing higher levels of indebtedness. Staff support the NBRNM’s gradual tightening of the countercyclical capital buffer and additional capital requirements to ensure banks maintain adequate loss-absorbing and recapitalization capacity, in line with EU regulations. Should lending and real estate prices continue growing briskly, further tightening of macroprudential instruments may be warranted.

    Structural reforms to boost productivity and offset costs of emigration

    IMF staff support the authorities’ objectives of boosting productivity, raising living standards, and reducing informality. Over the past decade, growth in North Macedonia has lagged regional peers and convergence with the EU has stalled. High emigration has led to a declining population that threatens to be a drag on potential growth. Accelerating structural reforms is key to achieving the authorities’ objectives, offsetting the costs of emigration, and supporting the country on its path to EU accession. The priorities are well known:

    • Improving the business environment. Reducing informality through streamlined business registrations and expanded digital public services is a priority. The predictability of the legal and regulatory environment can be improved by limiting the use of expedited procedures in Parliament, increasing stakeholder consultation, and applying the regulatory requirements more consistently. Simplifying and digitalizing work permits would help businesses address skill and labor shortages more efficiently. Avoiding ad-hoc adjustments to the minimum wage will help contain inflation, preserve competitiveness and provide a more predictable policy environment for business.
    • Strengthening the labor market. Improving labor market outcomes can stimulate private investment, increase labor participation, and reduce emigration. Raising educational quality and job matching between firms and workers through vocational training will help address labor shortages. Expanding affordable childcare in municipalities, and gradually raising the retirement age of women to match men can help to offset workforce losses from high emigration.
    • Increasing public infrastructure investment. The quality of public infrastructure in North Macedonia lags peers. The major infrastructure projects Corridor 8/10d and the Kicevo-Ohrid highways are over budget and behind schedule. Staff urge the authorities to complete the started projects and realize their investments. Capital expenditures should be safeguarded in the budget and public investment management should be strengthened to prioritize high-impact projects.
    • Strengthening the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts. Improving judicial independence and impartiality would strengthen contract enforcement and help reduce informality. The fight against corruption remains weak, particularly in prosecuting high-profile cases. Aligning the Criminal Code with international standards and enhancing resources for key anti-corruption institutions are crucial. The upcoming new national anti-corruption strategy is an opportunity to accelerate reforms through stronger accountability and coordination.
    • Enhancing governance.Improving public resource efficiency, accountability, and transparency requires expanding digital public services, reassessing state aid schemes, strengthening procurement systems, and improving SOE management.

    The IMF team thanks the authorities of North Macedonia and other counterparts for their productive collaboration and constructive policy dialogue.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Eva Graf

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

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – 26 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/gPjfHWGwA6g

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNlwKJpbvl4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions with British Sign Language (BSL) – 26 February 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSXMMhV40tI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Waverley report published

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Waverley report published

    Contact made by a paddle steamer with Brodick pier, Isle of Arran, Scotland.

    Today, we have published our accident investigation report into the heavy contact made by the paddle steamer Waverley with the eastern pier at Brodick, Isle of Arran, Scotland on 3 September 2020.

    The report, available via this link, contains details of what happened and subsequent actions taken.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sense-sational improvements to Cliffdale Primary Academy

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Children at a special school in Hilsea have had their learning spaces transformed with a sensory room created for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), thanks to work by Portsmouth City Council, and Vale Southern Construction Ltd.

    Students at Cliffdale Primary Academy can now enjoy new and improved learning spaces, benefitting from extra classrooms, outdoor areas and a sensory room, thanks to an extensive programme of works at the school.

    The capital projects service (consisting of architects, engineers, project managers and construction inspectors) from the council worked with Vale Southern Construction Ltd to construct two extensions adding new classrooms and staff facilities as well as smaller teaching spaces and a specialist sensory room. This development will be supporting students with SEND providing suitably specialist places which are also calming and encourage learning.

    The architects kept a close eye on detail, amongst other things creating unique triangle patterns in the brickwork of the new classroom to represent the neurodiversity in the school and wider population. The interior of each triangle is unique to represent the neurodiversity in the school and wider population.

    Outdoor spaces are particularly important at Cliffdale, supporting the development and wellbeing of the pupils.  Small outdoor spaces have been created for each classroom as a calm environment to aid learning.  An improved nature area has been created to support the existing wildlife on the site with trees and hedges planted to encourage further inhabitants.

    To reduce the school’s impact on the environment, the new building has been designed to minimise energy use and has solar panels on the roof to generate electricity and a drainage system designed to reduce its load on the local drainage system in times of heavy rain.  Large crates have been installed below the ground which can hold 30m3 of water or 30,000 litres of water which is about 375 baths and fill up with rainwater releasing it into the sewer network at a reduced rate to ease the pressure on the network.

    Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children Families and Education said:

    “It’s wonderful to see the incredible efforts of our in-house capital projects team, along with contractors, in supporting schools that aid and nurture our young people with SEND. This collaborative initiative has resulted in improved spaces for young individuals at Cliffdale Primary Academy, providing essential environments for those who need it most.”

    Sharon Burt, Chief Executive Officer at Solent Academies Trust said:

    “We are absolutely thrilled with the improvements made to Cliffdale Primary Academy. The new classrooms, sensory room, and outdoor spaces provide our pupils with the environment they deserve to thrive in. The sensory room, in particular, offers a calming, inclusive space that caters to the diverse needs of our children. These changes, made possible by the collaboration between Portsmouth City Council and Vale Southern Construction Ltd., will have a lasting, positive impact on the wellbeing and learning of our pupils. We are very grateful for the support in making our school a place where all children can learn in the very best specialist educational environment.”

    The wider Capital Projects Team provide many multi-disciplinary professional services including building project management, architectural & structural design, mechanical & electrical engineering, energy services and property and construction consultancy. If you have an upcoming building project, contact Patrick.legget@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Talented Athlete Scheme allows Isle of Wight sporting stars to shine 26 February 2025 Talented Athlete Scheme allows Isle of Wight sporting stars to shine

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Almost 80 Island sporting stars have been selected for the Isle of Wight Council’s Talented Athlete Scheme for 2025.

    Gifted sportsmen and women competing at county level or higher in a non-professional capacity receive support to help them progress within their chosen sports.

    Wightlink has sponsored the scheme since its creation in 2013, providing athletes with discounted travel to help with travel to mainland events and training.

    Scheme participants also have access to the council’s leisure facilities through 1Leisure and receive discounts with specialist sports and health businesses on the Island: Love Running, Cowes Chiropractic Clinic, RMA Sports Injury Clinic, Physio Care (Isle of Wight), Sports Performance Centre and Amanda Buggy Soft Tissue Therapy & Nutrition.

    This year’s scheme supports 78 athletes aged between 9 and 86, with many of those new to the scheme for 2025, in sports ranging from athletics to underwater hockey, and sailing to gymnastics.

    After making his debut on the list last year, nine-year-old Finn Husson has again qualified. The talented squash player from Niton has recently broken into the under-11 top 20 at national level and has ambitions to reach the top five in England. He has already competed in the British Junior Championships.

    His dad, Chris, said: “It’s fair to say that the help we receive from The Talented Athlete Scheme is the only way that we can achieve all of this and we are truly grateful that we get the opportunity to compete with those on the mainland.

    “We feel like part of a wider community representing the Island and being supported by its businesses is truly something.”

    Veterans of the scheme include 86-year-old Jenny Ball from Newport, who remains a formidable competitor in the pool, travelling around the country to take part in British Masters events.

    She said: “I am very privileged to be an Isle of Wight Council/Wightlink sponsored masters swimmer and am proud to represent both the Island and Wightlink.

    “The help with ferry costs is especially appreciated, as I travel to the mainland for all but one of my competitions and championships, annually.”

    Wightlink chief executive, Katy Taylor, said: “We know how important this support is for athletes across a massive range of sports and it has been a pleasure seeing athletes on the scheme excel.

    “I am looking forward to following the progress of this year’s Talented Athletes and sharing their successes via our social media channels.

    “I hope to meet up with many of them in person at our next Wightlink in the Community meet and greet event.”

    Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for regeneration, business development, and tourism, said: “It’s great to see our young sportspeople succeeding. I’m pleased that the council continues to support the Talented Athlete Scheme with help from our sponsors. This vital support enables our talented sportspeople to continue developing and competing at national and international levels.

    “I look forward to hearing about this year’s participants; I’m confident they will represent the Island well and meet their personal objectives over the next 12 months.”

    A full list of the athletes supported via the Talented Athlete Scheme is available on the Wightlink website.

    PHOTO: From left: Jenny Ball, Talented Athlete, Martin Gulliver, Wightlink Island port operation manager, Sam Woodman, Wightlink partnerships marketing manager, Finn Husson, Talented Athlete, Alec Broome, Isle of Wight Council sports development and events officer.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: North Macedonia: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    February 26, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Growth is gaining momentum amid rising risks

    Growth is gaining momentum. After picking up in early 2024, growth is expected at 3.3 percent in 2025, driven by stronger domestic demand as public investment projects (including the Corridor 8/10d road project) intensify and consumption is supported by government transfers and real wage growth. The impact of weak external demand seen in 2024 is expected to persist in 2025, driven by structural shifts in the European automotive sector. In the long term, high emigration, especially among the young segment of the population, is projected to lower potential growth, which Staff now estimate at 3.0 percent.

    Inflation is rising again. In January, inflation reached 4.9 percent year-on-year, up from a low of 2.2 percent in August 2024. Core inflation has become the main driver and remains persistent, fueled by strong wage growth. Food inflation remains high despite administrative price controls and other interventions.

    Domestic risks are elevated and the external outlook more uncertain. Weak public investment, stalled productivity reforms, emigration, and slowing activity of key trade partners threaten growth in the medium-term. Meanwhile, high real wage growth without productivity gains and increased fiscal transfers could further fuel inflation and erode competitiveness. Trade policy shifts and shocks to FDI may suppress exports and tighten financial conditions.

    Adhering to the fiscal rules requires credible fiscal consolidation

    IMF staff agree with the authorities’ goal of reducing the deficit this year, but are concerned revenue will underperform, rendering this goal out of reach. The 4 percent of GDP deficit envisaged in the 2025 budget will be exceeded if the authorities’ expected revenue gains (of 1½ percent of GDP) from reducing the shadow economy and increasing tax compliance fall short. We welcome the Public Revenue Office’s efforts to modernize tax collection and reduce informality, but these efforts will take time to deliver results. Staff recommends that in any planned supplementary budget, the authorities avoid increasing spending and focus on reducing tax expenditures and transfers (e.g., subsidies to agriculture). Ensuring the full and timely transfer of contributions to the second-pillar pension system is essential.

    A credible fiscal strategy is needed to bring debt on a downward path. The budget deficit has exceeded the 3 percent of GDP ceiling in the fiscal rules, while public debt is on an upward trend and has surpassed 60 percent of GDP in 2024—14 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels. A credible fiscal strategy to restore compliance with fiscal rules is key, for preserving credibility to maintain access to international capital markets, for creating space for investment, and strengthening resilience against future shocks. The focus should be on:

    • Controlling current spending:Staff recommend omitting further pension increases in September 2025 and returning to a rule-based pension system in 2026—indexing only to inflation—to support consolidation while protecting pensioners’ purchasing power. Staff advise limiting public wage growth to inflation in the near term. The Ministry of Finance should strengthen oversight to ensure public wage increases are consistent with achieving the fiscal rules. Over time, unifying the fragmented wage negotiating system will help prevent unexpected budget pressures.
    • Mobilizing revenues. North Macedonia’s tax revenue potential is estimated at 22-24 percent of GDP. To realize these revenues, tax reforms should focus on reducing tax expenditures, limiting reduced rates and exemptions, improving tax compliance, and gradually increasing property tax. The government’s accelerated digitalization efforts will enhance revenue mobilization.

    Beyond consolidation, structural fiscal reforms are needed to strengthen fiscal governance and improve spending efficiency, with some progress underway. Key ongoing measures include implementing the Public Investment Management decree and manual, adopting the PPP law, and conducting spending reviews to optimize budget allocation. Managing fiscal risks, especially from SOEs and major projects like the Corridor 8/10d road, is crucial. The inclusion of a fiscal risk assessment in the Medium Term Fiscal Strategy marks an achievement for the ministry. The state-owned electricity generator, ESM, requires investments in technology and efficiency improvements to lower production costs and expand production, while gradually reducing its role in the subsidized, regulated market. The operationalization of the Fiscal Council is a positive step and it is encouraged to strengthen its independent assessments.

    Monetary and financial sector policies to maintain stability and mitigate risks

    Policy rates should remain on hold and liquidity tools warrant further tightening until inflation steadily declines. Robust reserves accumulation in 2024 has fostered stability in the foreign exchange market. Given the renewed acceleration in both headline and core inflation, the National Bank (NBRNM) should remain on hold until there is clear evidence of sustained disinflation. Staff support the changes in reserve requirements implemented by the NBRNM and advise further tightening to absorb excess liquidity. The NBRNM should remain vigilant to inflationary risks from domestic factors, including wage and pension increases, as well as heightened external risks from trade uncertainties. If these risks materialize, the NBRNM should be prepared to tighten further to prevent inflation from becoming entrenched. The NBRNM has effectively managed recent challenges, including the energy cost shock. Its resilience stems from operational and financial autonomy, which underpin its independence and credibility—both essential for maintaining price and exchange rate stability and must be safeguarded.

    The financial system remains resilient, but macro prudential settings may need to be tightened in response to brisk credit growth. Overall, the banking sector is well-capitalized, highly liquid, and profitable, with low system-wide non-performing loans. NBRNM’s active macroprudential and microprudential measures have strengthened resilience. Strong balance sheets and increased deposits have fueled an acceleration in lending activity towards the end of 2024. The implemented loan-to-value and debt service-to-income ratios will continue to help safeguard financial stability by reducing pressures in the real estate market and preventing higher levels of indebtedness. Staff support the NBRNM’s gradual tightening of the countercyclical capital buffer and additional capital requirements to ensure banks maintain adequate loss-absorbing and recapitalization capacity, in line with EU regulations. Should lending and real estate prices continue growing briskly, further tightening of macroprudential instruments may be warranted.

    Structural reforms to boost productivity and offset costs of emigration

    IMF staff support the authorities’ objectives of boosting productivity, raising living standards, and reducing informality. Over the past decade, growth in North Macedonia has lagged regional peers and convergence with the EU has stalled. High emigration has led to a declining population that threatens to be a drag on potential growth. Accelerating structural reforms is key to achieving the authorities’ objectives, offsetting the costs of emigration, and supporting the country on its path to EU accession. The priorities are well known:

    • Improving the business environment. Reducing informality through streamlined business registrations and expanded digital public services is a priority. The predictability of the legal and regulatory environment can be improved by limiting the use of expedited procedures in Parliament, increasing stakeholder consultation, and applying the regulatory requirements more consistently. Simplifying and digitalizing work permits would help businesses address skill and labor shortages more efficiently. Avoiding ad-hoc adjustments to the minimum wage will help contain inflation, preserve competitiveness and provide a more predictable policy environment for business.
    • Strengthening the labor market. Improving labor market outcomes can stimulate private investment, increase labor participation, and reduce emigration. Raising educational quality and job matching between firms and workers through vocational training will help address labor shortages. Expanding affordable childcare in municipalities, and gradually raising the retirement age of women to match men can help to offset workforce losses from high emigration.
    • Increasing public infrastructure investment. The quality of public infrastructure in North Macedonia lags peers. The major infrastructure projects Corridor 8/10d and the Kicevo-Ohrid highways are over budget and behind schedule. Staff urge the authorities to complete the started projects and realize their investments. Capital expenditures should be safeguarded in the budget and public investment management should be strengthened to prioritize high-impact projects.
    • Strengthening the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts. Improving judicial independence and impartiality would strengthen contract enforcement and help reduce informality. The fight against corruption remains weak, particularly in prosecuting high-profile cases. Aligning the Criminal Code with international standards and enhancing resources for key anti-corruption institutions are crucial. The upcoming new national anti-corruption strategy is an opportunity to accelerate reforms through stronger accountability and coordination.
    • Enhancing governance.Improving public resource efficiency, accountability, and transparency requires expanding digital public services, reassessing state aid schemes, strengthening procurement systems, and improving SOE management.

    The IMF team thanks the authorities of North Macedonia and other counterparts for their productive collaboration and constructive policy dialogue.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Eva Graf

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

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/02/26/cs-northmacedonia-2025

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for importing drugs and contraband into prison following Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been jailed for flying drones containing drugs, tobacco and phones into prisons in London and across the south-east.

    Mahamood Diallo Blin, 26 (19.11.98) of Charlton Church Lane, Greenwich was sentenced to six years and 11 months’ imprisonment on Monday, 24 February at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

    Blin previously pleaded guilty at the same court to conspiracy to convey Class A drugs, conspiracy to convey mobile phones as well as conspiracy to convey tobacco.

    A Met Police investigation was launched in August 2023 after prison staff discovered a drone that had crashed inside HMP Pentonville containing drugs and mobile phones. Detectives linked the drone to a previous incident where it had crashed into HMP Coldingley in Surrey a year prior.

    A joint investigation began involving the Met Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit which identified 37 incidents of drugs, tobacco and mobile phones being flown into prison in the local area.

    Blin was later charged in connection with these crimes and other offences on Tuesday, 5 March 2024.

    Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Zara Baker from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “The Met is focused on tackling drug dealing as we know it fuels other crime and anti-social behaviour across London.

    “Smuggling illegal drugs into prison increases the risk of violence towards those working within prisons and to other inmates. It adds to the struggles faced by those affected by addiction and attempting to rehabilitate while serving their sentences.

    “Blin’s sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences he committed and I hope his sentence sends a clear message that offenders will be brought to justice. We will continue to work closely with His Majesty’s Prison Service, South East Regional Organised Crime Unit and the Crown Prosecution Service to tackle serious organised crime and target those who profit from the crime at the expense of others.”

    A spokesperson from the South East Prison Intelligence Unit in SEROCU, said: “Tackling the issue of conveyance of drugs and other illicit items into prisons using drones is one of our priorities.

    “By working closely with both the Metropolitan Police Service and HM Prison & Probation Service we have been able to ensure that someone who was prolifically using drones to fly prohibited items into the prison estate with complete disregard for the harm this caused, has been stopped in his tracks.

    “We will continue to work together to disrupt this activity which fuels organised crime.”

    If you have any information about criminality involving drugs, please call your local police force on 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Waterfall Network Code Moves to Linux Foundation Decentralized Trust Labs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Zug, Switzerland, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blue Wave, developers of Waterfall Network, the world’s most innovative Layer One (L1) decentralized and scalable ledger, today announced it is contributing core protocols from the network to LF Decentralized Trust Labs. Linux Foundation Decentralized Trust is the open-source foundation for the collaborative development of technologies that are powering the global transformation to decentralized systems and applications. Moving the innovative protocols driving the Waterfall Network to a neutral host, LF Decentralized Trust,  will increase visibility and peer support for this code and open the door to valuable feedback that will contribute to the network’s overall improvement. 

    Dr. Sergii Grybniak, Blue Wave CTO and Waterfall Head of Research, has been selected by the IEEE TEMS TC on Blockchain and DLT-NTU Centre in Computational Technologies to receive an award for Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation. The Waterfall Network, based on Grybniak’s doctoral research, embodies the innovative principles and technological advancements explored in his work. The prestigious award highlights the research team’s groundbreaking contributions to decentralized ledger technology. This distinguished award will be presented at the 2025 Nanyang Blockchain Conference (formerly NTU Blockchain Symposium), to be held in Singapore on August 16-17, 2025.

    “We are pleased that the LF Decentralized Trust community has responded positively to our proposal to bring our technology into the labs,” said Dr.Sergii Grybniak, Blue Wave CTO and Waterfall Head of Research. “The community support will be indispensable to us as we continue to improve and expand Waterfall Network.”

    The acceptance of these protocols into the LF Decentralized Trust Labs comes on the heels of the network’s groundbreaking milestone of achieving 12,778 transactions per second (TPS) on its mainnet, immediately positioning the platform as the most scalable mainnet for any layer-1 EVM blockchain protocol. Testing of the Waterfall Network protocols has consistently achieved loads of 10,000+ transactions per second.

    The new LF Decentralized Trust lab incorporates Waterfall’s unique next-generation Directed AcyclicGraph (DAG) technology that allows for virtually unlimited scalability and portability of decentralized applications (dAPPs). As validators sign onto the Waterfall Network, grants and rewards will be distributed to researchers and developers who assist with community-driven security auditing activities, such as completing bug bounties. To learn more about the Waterfall Network, and to run your own node, please visit https://waterfall.network/ or follow us on https://t.me/waterfall_network, https://twitter.com/waterfall_dag or https://discord.gg/Nwb8aR2XvR.  

    About Waterfall Network
    Waterfall Network is a leading layer one (L1) ledger that provides an innovative solution for security, scalability and decentralization, helping dAPP developers to change the world.  Waterfall Network is built atop a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) architecture that enables users to run a validator node from any device, including low-cost laptops and, in the near future, mobile phones. Waterfall Network is compatible with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing for portability of decentralized applications (dAPPs), with minimal  hardware requirements for participants who want to become validators.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni’s statement on merger agreement between Saipem and Subsea 7

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    25 Febbraio 2025

    It is with great satisfaction that I welcome the news of a merger agreement between the Italian company Saipem and the Norwegian Subsea 7, an extremely important operation that will make it possible to create the world’s leading energy engineering company. The future group will be based in Italy and will combine the existing strengths of Saipem and Subsea 7, two highly complementary companies in terms of their geographic presence, skills and expertise, maritime fleets and technology. This agreement further demonstrates the robustness and vitality of the ‘Sistema Italia’ and the world-class economic operators, producers and industrial players that form part of it.

    [Courtesy translation]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RSH publishes regulatory judgements for 11 social landlords

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    RSH publishes regulatory judgements for 11 social landlords

    The Regulator of Social Housing has today published regulatory judgements for 11 social landlords. 

    ForHousing has been upgraded from G3 to G2 following a period of intensive engagement. The landlord has delivered an agreed improvement plan, including significant restructuring that involved removing an unregistered parent and disposal of its interest in another unregistered company that was part of the same parent group.   

    It has strengthened its control framework and improved its oversight of strategic risks. The board has been able to evidence that it has full, independent control over decisions that impact its outcomes.  

    ForHousing needs to continue to make improvements in its governance and risk management as it reviews the effectiveness of the changes it has made.  

    Two landlords, West Lancashire Borough Council and City of Westminster Council, received C1 gradings. This means that overall they are delivering the outcomes of the consumer standards and they have demonstrated that they identify when issues occur and put plans in place to remedy and minimise recurrence.  

    The London Borough of Wandsworth, Central Bedfordshire Council, and Anchor Hanover Group failed to meet the outcomes of RSH’s consumer standards and received C3 gradings.  

    During a planned inspection of the London Borough of Wandsworth, RSH found:  

    • Around 40% of homes and almost 80% of communal areas had not had an electrical safety test.  
    • Almost 1,800 overdue fire safety remedial actions, all of which were more than 12 months overdue.  
    • Only 6.5% of its 17,000 total homes had been surveyed in the last ten years  
    • Weaknesses in how tenants’ views are taken into account in decision making.  

    During an inspection of Central Bedfordshire Council, RSH found:  

    • More than 1,800 overdue repairs orders.  
    • More than 300 outstanding fire safety actions arising from fire risk assessments had not been tracked by age or prioritised by urgency.  
    • No tracking, monitoring, or reporting of the number and age of damp and mould cases.  
    • A limited range of opportunities for tenants to scrutinise their landlord’s performance and influence how its housing services are delivered  

    Following responsive engagement with Anchor Hanover Group, RSH found:  

    • Over a third of its homes did not have a current satisfactory electrical safety inspection report  
    • A significant backlog of electrical remedial actions 
    • Incomplete and unreliable information available on the presence of damp and mould 
    • Weaknesses across landlord health and safety, including fire safety and water hygiene 

    RSH has also placed Anchor Hanover Group on its gradings under review list. RSH is currently investigating matters which may impact on whether the landlord continues to meet the governance elements of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard.  

    RSH is engaging intensively with all three social landlords as they work to address the issues identified in each of the cases.  

    Mansfield District Council and Waverley Borough Council received C2 gradings.   

    RSH also published regulatory judgements for three further landlords following stability checks.  

    Peabody Trust and One Manchester retained their current G1/V2 gradings, while Bolton at Home retained its G2/V2 gradings.  

    Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, said:  

    “As we approach the end of the first year of our programmed inspections, we are continuing to see a broad spectrum of gradings – though it is still too early to draw concrete trends. 

    “While our engagement is the most intensive with landlords that fail to meet the outcomes of our standards, even landlords that receive a C1 grading have room for improvement.   

    “Along with our consumer regulation, our scrutiny of governance and financial viability remains as important as ever. Landlords must have rigorous oversight of strategic risk and continue to stress test their financial plans. Without strong governance, landlords will not be able to deliver more and better social homes for tenants.   

    “We can confirm that we have placed Anchor Hanover Group on the gradings under review list. The outcome of the investigation will be confirmed in a regulatory judgement, once completed.”

    All the judgements published today can be found on the Regulatory Judgements and Enforcement Notices page.

    Notes to Editors  

    1. On 1 April 2024 RSH introduced new consumer standards for social housing landlords, designed to drive long-term improvements in the sector. It also began a programme of inspections for all large social landlords (those with over 1,000 homes) over a four-year cycle. The changes are a result of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 and include stronger powers to hold landlords to account. More information about RSH’s approach is available in its document Reshaping Consumer Regulation.  

    2. RSH carries out stability checks on all housing associations, and other private registered providers, who own 1,000 homes or more. The stability checks are a yearly exercise. We look at the financial information landlords have submitted to us (including their most recent business plan and annual accounts) and consider if there are any risks which might result in a change to their financial viability or governance gradings.  The checks do not include local authorities because our governance and financial viability standard does not apply to them.  

    3. More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and consumer gradings is also available on its website.  

    4. RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.

    5. For general enquiries email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk. For media enquiries please see our Media Enquiries page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor to meet G20 finance ministers in South Africa

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Chancellor to meet G20 finance ministers in South Africa

    At the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in South Africa the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will make the case for defence investment, declaring that it’s the “bedrock of economic growth”.

    • Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, touches down in South Africa for the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting today, 26 February.
    • At the meeting Rachel Reeves will make clear that a strong defence is the “bedrock of economic growth” and make the case for “free and fair trade.”
    • Follows the PM’s commitment to boost the UK’s defence spending by £13.4 billion to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and the British Government’s steadfast support for the people of Ukraine.

    Following the PM’s announcement yesterday, the Chancellor will state that in a dangerous world the UK will not shy away from bolstering defence spending and will set out our ambition to raise UK defence spending further to 3% by the next parliament, subject to economic and fiscal conditions. 

    Protecting national security to protect the economy will also be a key message that the Chancellor will set out on the global stage today as she attends the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. 

    The UK is already the third largest defence spender in NATO in cash terms, and this government has already boosted defence spending by almost £3 billion at the Autumn Budget. 

    The Chancellor will also reaffirm our commitment to European defence and encourage other European allies at the G20 to boost their defence spending in line with the UK in response to the security threats we face.   

    She will also discuss the possibilities for like-minded countries to mobilise private finance to maximise our financial resources for defence.

    The government’s commitment to invest in defence will protect UK citizens from threats at home but will also create a secure and stable environment in which businesses can thrive, supporting the Government’s number one mission to deliver economic growth.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: 

    It’s clear we are facing a more dangerous world, and I will not hide from this reality. This is the moment for us all to step up – and together with our European partners we will go further and faster on defence. 

    National security will always be the first responsibility of this government and is the bedrock economic growth. Through intelligent investment, relentless reform, and free and fair trade – the most reliable driver of global growth – we can deliver sustainable growth that puts more money into the pockets of working people. 

    The Chancellor is also expected to set out that she is a champion of free and fair-trade and, will continue to make the case for openness in a series of bilateral meetings with G20 finance ministers. 

    While in Cape Town the Chancellor will engage with best-in-class British firms in South Africa and visit Cape Town’s historic V&A Waterfront. The Chancellor is expected to welcome British companies including consultancy Turner & Townsend and engineering firm Arup winning new contracts to play a role in the site’s expansion, showcasing UK expertise in designing, planning, and building infrastructure around the world.  

    The Chancellor will also meet influential businesses and investors in South Africa, such as representatives from Old Mutual Limited, the Foschini Group, and Absa, at a private reception at the High Commissioner’s residence, where she will deliver a keynote speech highlighting growth and investment opportunities in the UK.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft Winter Sports Games Start in Krasnoyarsk

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The 13th Rosneft Winter Sports Games have opened in Krasnoyarsk. From February 25 to March 2, about 650 oil industry athletes from 41 teams of the Company’s subsidiaries will compete in winter sports such as hockey, cross-country skiing and biathlon. Men’s and women’s distances, as well as a relay race, are provided for skiers.

    The opening ceremony of the Winter Games was attended by Russian sports stars. The athletes were greeted by Olympic relay champion, skier Denis Spetsov and leading players of the CSKA hockey club.

    Rosneft’s summer and winter sports games bring together thousands of oil industry athletes every year. The first sports competitions were held in 2005 and have since become part of the Company’s corporate culture. The winter games are a shining example of effective promotion of a healthy lifestyle, strengthening the spirit of camaraderie, supporting mass sports and good traditions.

    Sports development is one of the main areas of Rosneft’s social policy. The company finances the construction of ice arenas, sports complexes and multifunctional sports grounds in the regions where it operates. Rosneft also supports amateur sports and carries out large-scale work to popularize a healthy lifestyle among both its own employees and the population in the regions where it operates.

    Reference:

    Rosneft athletes also take part in the main mass sports competitions held in our country, winning prizes. As part of the corporate sports and health movement “Energy of Life”, the Company’s employees regularly play sports and compete in various sports disciplines. In 2024, almost 128 thousand employees of the Company played sports as part of the “Energy of Life” movement. At the same time, more than 92 thousand employees took part in competitions in various sports.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 26, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over 100 Chevening and Commonwealth Scholars return to Pakistan after UK studies

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Over 100 Chevening and Commonwealth Scholars return to Pakistan after UK studies

    British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, welcomed back 43 Chevening and 71 Commonwealth Scholars, celebrating their studies in the UK.

    The 2023-24 cohort include scholars from every part of Pakistan, studying public policy, health sciences, climate change, and business at institutions across the UK.  As they return, these scholars become part of a thriving network of over 3,500 alumni, spanning government, media, business, and civil society.  

    Many Chevening and Commonwealth alumni have become leaders in their fields, shaping policy and driving social change. Notable alumni include the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi; the Honourable Supreme Court Judge, Justice Athar Minallah; Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory; Zulfiqar Younis, Additional Secretary for Climate Finance; Abia Akram, Founder of the National Forum of Women with Disabilities; and Maha Kamal, Co-Chair of Women in Energy. 

    British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said: 

    “Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships are among the UK’s most prestigious opportunities for Pakistanis. These scholars return empowered by a world-class education, global networks, fresh ideas, and the ambition to create real impact in Pakistan. Studying at UK universities is no easy feat, and I offer them my highest congratulations.”  

    Oneir Raza, a scholar from Pakistan’s education sector, said:  

    “Chevening was a remarkable experience. Studying at the University of Cambridge allowed me to gain practical skills, learn from a diverse faculty, and connect with people from different cultures. Beyond academics, Chevening broadened my horizons and helped me build lifelong bonds. I am super grateful for this opportunity.” 

    The British High Commission has launched climate-focused Chevening alumni engagement initiatives, including debates on the impacts and solutions to climate change in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, and a climate mentorship scheme pairing 13 mentees with 8 Chevening alumni mentors. These programmes are helping to grow Pakistani climate leadership, sparking critical dialogue, convening experts to come together to find tangible solutions to Pakistan’s climate challenges. 

    Applications for Commonwealth Scholarships will next open in September 2025. To find out more information, visit the CSC website. Applications for Chevening scholarships will open in August 2025. Interested candidates can register for alerts by visiting Chevening.

    Notes to editors 

    Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships – Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK are highly competitive scholarships provided by the UK government to provide financial assistance to talented international students from across the Commonwealth nations who wish to pursue a postgraduate degree in the UK. In Pakistan, there are over 1,500 Commonwealth alumni to date. The scholarships have been available to Pakistani students since 1960.  

    Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarships programme. Established in 1983, these scholarships support study at UK universities – mostly one-year Masters’ degrees – for students with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers. In Pakistan, there are over 2000 alumni to date.

    For updates on the British High Commission, please follow our social media channels:

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Skills and Training Scheme expanded to help 100,000 people into work

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Skills and Training Scheme expanded to help 100,000 people into work

    Over 100,000 people looking for work to benefit from tailored training next year, providing employers with work-ready recruits.

    • Coastal towns including Blackpool and Scarborough to benefit as Minister for Employment urges more businesses to sign up to help fill vacancies.
    • New research shows Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) can boost earnings by more than £1,400.

    Thousands of employers and individuals looking for work will benefit from a new record-breaking number of workplace training schemes, the government will announce today [Wednesday 26 February]. This will mean surpassing the previous target of 80,000 and offering new opportunities in some of the country’s most deprived communities.

    Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern will confirm the expansion of the Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAPs) to provide 100,000 more places available over the next financial year, a boost of over a quarter from this year. 

    Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) offer participants in England and Scotland who are receiving certain benefits the opportunity of training towards a job in a particular industry, alongside a work placement and a guaranteed interview that can kickstart a new career with over 63,000 people joining the SWAPs programme to help them find employment in the last year alone. 

    This boost for people looking for work through SWAPs is a crucial part of our plan to get Britain working to unlock growth, improve living standards and break down barriers to opportunity as part of our Plan for Change.

    The expansion comes as new research shows that in the two years after finishing a SWAP, participants stay in their jobs on average up to three months longer, earn up to £1,400 more, and save the taxpayer over £350 per person compared with those who don’t take part in the programme. 

    The same research finds that, while all demographics benefit from taking part in a SWAP, the impact is greater for more disadvantaged groups, such as older customers and those with restrictive health issues.

    The announcement builds on measures in the government’s Get Britain Working White Paper to overhaul jobcentres, tackle inactivity and improved outcomes for jobseekers. This will boost the nation’s skills and put more money into people’s pockets under the Plan for Change. 

    Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern MP said:

    The evidence is clear – SWAPs boost your earnings and keep you in your job for longer. That is why we are promising to deliver more of them than ever, as we Get Britain Working as part of our Plan for Change.

    And alongside our partnership with UKHospitality, more people in more areas of the country will be able to access the training they need to unlock the opportunities on their doorsteps.

    Anyone in receipt of unemployment benefits is eligible to take part in a SWAP via their local Jobcentre and any business can work with DWP to develop one. This enables businesses to recruit from a wider range of candidates and provide the necessary skills training tailored to an open vacancy.

    As part of this expansion, Minister for Employment Alison McGovern will announce that a hospitality SWAPs pilot, launched in partnership with UKHospitality, will be rolled out to 26 new areas in need of jobs and opportunity, including 13 coastal towns such as Scarborough and Blackpool.

    This will ensure jobs are filled in sectors with high vacancies, such as the 88,000 roles available in the hospitality industry as the government drives up opportunity as part of our wider reforms to Get Britain Working.

    Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality said:

    UKHospitality’s Sector-Based Work Academy pilot proved to be a brilliant way to provide high quality, entry-level training for both new starters and those looking to get back into work.

    I’m delighted that the government is rolling out our pilot to 26 new areas and using it as the model for its exciting plans to deliver at least 100,000 SWAP participants next year.

    This announcement gives us the impetus to expand our work across the country, help more people find rewarding jobs in hospitality, boost growth, tackle economic inactivity and continue to develop our Hospitality Skills Passport.

    Further information: 

    • SWAPs are designed to support unemployed benefit claimants on Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance, who are aged 16 years and over and who do not need extra support to address a lack of basic employability skills. Participants remain on benefits during their placement.
    • The programme runs in England and Scotland. SWAPs are developed by Jobcentres in partnership with employers and training providers. These opportunities are offered in job sectors with high volumes of current local vacancies.
    • Employers interested in taking the opportunity to start a SWAP for a role in their business can contact the Employers Service Line here – Jobcentre Plus help for recruiters: Recruitment advice and support – GOV.UK.
    • The SWAP impact assessment, carried out by DWP, focused on UC customers who started a SWAP between April 2021 and March 2022 and compared their employment outcomes to individuals who were eligible to start a SWAP but did not start a placement.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: University of Aberdeen Principal announces his retirement Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, has announced that he will retire in December 2025 after reaching his 70th birthday and completing the seven-year term he began in 2018.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, has announced that he will retire in December 2025 after reaching his 70th birthday and completing the seven-year term he began in 2018.
    Julie Ashworth, Senior Governor (Chair) of the University’s governing body, University Court, expressed her “deepest thanks for outstanding service”.
    Professor Boyne took up the leadership when the University had more modest placings in higher education rankings. Now Aberdeen is ranked 12th by the Guardian – up from 46th in 2018 – and 15th by the Times and Sunday Times – up from 40th in 2018 – in their most recent assessments of over 120 Universities across the UK.
    The University, which has a strong reputation for helping students from every background reach their full potential, is also ranked second in Scotland and 15th in the UK in the prestigious National Student Survey.
    Professor Boyne has led the organisation, which dates back to 1495 and is the 5th oldest in the UK, through challenging times such as the global pandemic, the impact of Brexit on universities, the cost-of-living crisis and unprecedented financial challenges for the higher education sector.

    It has been the honour of my life to be the internal advocate and external ambassador for the extraordinary range of very high-quality work that is carried out in the Schools and Professional Services at the University of Aberdeen.” Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen,

    He said: “It has been the honour of my life to be the internal advocate and external ambassador for the extraordinary range of very high-quality work that is carried out in the Schools and Professional Services at the University of Aberdeen. It has also been a privilege to lead the development of our academic and financial strategies during this eventful time in higher education.
    “We have made very strong progress on a wide range of activities including student recruitment, student employability, research funding, research impact, and regional and global partnerships; and most fundamentally, the creation of new knowledge and scientific discoveries.
    “I will miss the University very much but the time is now right to pave the way for a successor. In December I will be five months beyond the seven-year term of office as Principal that I accepted in 2018, and two months beyond my seventieth birthday. The sevens in my professional and personal life are in close alignment.”
    As is customary when Principals retire, Professor Boyne is offering advance notice so that the University has sufficient time for the recruitment process and the notice period that the new Principal may be required to give their current role.
    The Senior Governor added: “I would like to express my deepest thanks to George for his unwavering commitment to the University. He has achieved an enormous amount in seven years and clearly leaves the University in a very strong position to attract outstanding candidates. Our financial position is stable, our research awards grew by 30% last year, student satisfaction is consistently among the best in the UK, and we have achieved our highest ever UK rankings. I wish him the very best for the rest of his tenure.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: “Rethink Your Drink” with a new app helping Liverpool to reduce drinking

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool residents wanting to cut down on alcohol can get free expert support through a new app that promotes a healthier lifestyle.

    The ‘Lower My Drinking’ app is part of a new campaign urging people to “Rethink Your Drink.”

    The app is available to anyone living or working in Liverpool. It offers expert advice tailored to individual goals and helps people stay motivated by tracking progress.

    Around 90,000 adults binge drink each week in Liverpool, which can impact their health and well-being. Reducing alcohol can lead to better physical and mental health, weight loss, and financial savings.

    The ‘Lower My Drinking’ app is for anyone who feels their alcohol intake is increasing and wants to reduce or modify the amount they drink.

    The app offers practical techniques, advice and support to gradually reduce alcohol to the recommended limit of 14 units per week over three days.

    The ‘Lower My Drinking’ app helps identify reasons for regular drinking and suggests strategies to manage them. It supports healthier lifestyle choices, and preparing for situations where drinking may be tempting. The app also offers guidance on staying relaxed and social without relying on alcohol.

    To download ‘Lower My Drinking’, click below or search ‘Lower My Drinking’ in your app store.

    Download for Android | Download for iOS

    Visit this website to calculate alcohol intake: www.drinklessfeelgood.com 

    More information on alcohol support: Liverpool Community Alcohol Service (LCAS) 

    Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing said: “The ‘Lower My Drinking’ app is a great resource for anyone looking to make small, positive changes to their drinking.

    “Cutting back on alcohol has many benefits, from improving your health to saving money. With the app’s support, users can set personal goals and see their progress, helping them stay on track and live a healthier, happier life.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leicester’s communities take the spotlight at Light Up Leicester

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER’S vibrant communities are taking centre stage for Light Up Leicester as the festival returns to the city.

    Light Up Leicester 2025 will focus on the power of creative collaboration, with an incredible programme of community-driven activities accompanying stunning light installations, dazzling performances and colourful festival parades to make the event truly unique.

    The festival takes place from 12 to 15 March, and is free to attend.

    From young people creating artwork for the festival, to parades featuring hundreds of local participants, Leicester’s communities are at the heart of making the 2025 event happen.

    One installation, ‘The Roots of Our Tree’, is being created with the help of over 300 local young people. Working with Leicester-based arts charity Inspirate, participants have crafted metallic oak leaves, each inscribed with symbols representing their roots, heritage and culture.

    The Children’s Parade will showcase these leaves on the opening day of the festival, as  hundreds of young people process through Leicester’s streets at 11am. The leaves will then form part of an installation which will be on display throughout the rest of the festival.

    Shop windows across Leicester city centre will also be transformed into a dazzling art trail as part of ‘My Leicester: Future Stories’, created by Urban Canvas and Light Up Leicester founding partner, Art Reach. Local schools and community groups have worked together to produce vibrant light-painting photographs that celebrate ambition, hope and their visions of Leicester’s future.

    Juliet Martin, resident engagement manager at YMCA Leicestershire, said of one of the workshops: “Having Urban Canvas visit us and deliver light drawing workshops with some of our residents was a fantastic opportunity. We work with young people who are often excluded and who don’t get the opportunity to engage in creative workshops, so this was a really great offer and they loved it! They are excited about the festival and can’t wait to visit the city centre to see their artwork on display.”

    There are lots of other ways to get involved too – from ‘blinging up’ your bike and joining in with the Illuminated Bike Parade (Thursday 13 March, 6:30pm, register on the Light Up Leicester website), to enjoying interactive performances such as The Holi Experience by Nupur Arts (Friday 14 March, 6:30pm & 7:30pm), an exciting dance event filled with colour throwing and energy.

    Other highlights include:

    • Radiant Routes Opening Parade (Wednesday 12 March, 6pm): A luminous parade featuring dancers in glowing costumes, celebrating Leicester’s South Asian culture. To get involved in the parade please contact Nupur Arts at info@nupurarts.org.uk.
    • FierS à Cheval Festival Finale (Saturday 15 March, 7pm): A magical performance by French street theatre company Compagnie des Quidams, where glowing horses take to the streets.
    • Pop-Up Performances (Friday 14 and Saturday 15 March): Keep an eye out for captivating walkabout acts including The Pixel Project, Dry Bones, and Aquanauts Adrift as they bring spontaneous magic to the festival.
    • It’s (Lit)erati (Friday 14 and Saturday 15 March, 7pm & 9pm): A vibrant poetry experience curated by Literati Arts at St Martin’s Square.
    • Guided tour group walks (Wednesday 12 March at 6:45pm and Friday 15 March at 6:30pm): Bookable through the Light Up Leicester website events & activities page.

    Leicester’s businesses are also playing their part, offering tantalising discounts on dining during the festival. Diners can enjoy 25% off the total bill at Kayal, Herb, and Merchant of Venice, 20% off at the Queen of Bradgate, Middleton’s and Restaurant 1573, or enjoy three courses for £20 at Turtle Bay. There are lots more offers and deals available throughout the festival, full details can be found on the Light Up Leicester website offers page.

    “As a presenting partner and major sponsor of Light Up Leicester, BID Leicester is proud to be leading the festival’s marketing campaign and ensuring city centre businesses can make the most of this fantastic event”, said Simon Jenner, BID Leicester director.

    “With tens of thousands of visitors expected over four nights, it’s a brilliant opportunity for businesses to get involved, whether through special offers, themed events, or participating in the city-wide photographic window trail. Light Up Leicester brings an incredible buzz to the city, and we’re excited to see Leicester’s streets and businesses illuminated once again.”

    Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Light Up Leicester is a shining example of how communities and creativity can come together to make something truly special. This year’s festival showcases not only world-class light installations, but also the talents, stories and contributions of the people of Leicester. We look forward to welcoming people to our city for this spectacular event.”

    Light Up Leicester is also committed to making the festival accessible to everyone. There will be a dedicated Access Support Hub open every evening from 6pm to 10pm at the Visit Leicester Information Centre, and friendly staff will be ready to assist. Accessible tours are available to help support mobility around the festival for those with additional access needs, including rickshaws, box bikes and gazelles which can carry children and wheelchairs.

    From community-led parades to mesmerising light installations, Light Up Leicester 2025 promises something for everyone. Full details of the festival programme and participation opportunities can be found at lightupleicester.com

    Light Up Leicester is proudly presented by Leicester City Council, BID Leicester, Leicester Cathedral, and Art Reach, with the generous support of Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Global Streets, PPL PRS, and headline sponsor Highcross.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Anyone can save a life

    Source: Mayor of London

    The chances of surviving a cardiac arrest drop by about 10% with every minute that passes. While defibrillation within 3-5 minutes of collapse can produce survival rates up to 50-70%.

    So, it is crucial for patients to receive bystander intervention before an ambulance arrives.

    Growing public knowledge of CPR and defibrillation, increases the chance of people being able to save a life.

    Analysis by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) has revealed that 150 neighbourhoods are ‘defibrillator deserts’ – where there is little or no access to a lifesaving device.

    The London Heart Starters Campaign aims to raise funds for an additional 200 public-access defibrillators in unlocked cabinets where they are needed most. In addition, the London Lifesaver Campaign aims to make the capital a city of lifesavers by equipping Londoners with CPR skills and helping them become familiar with using a defibrillator.

    The Transport for London (TfL) estate has 500 Public Accessible Defibrillators (PAD). Last year those PADs were called upon to be used over 60 times.

    Tomorrow, Members of the London Assembly Health Committee will visit Liverpool Street Station, where they will observe a pop-up London Lifesaver training. Also, a commuter whose life was saved will be reunited with the LAS crews who worked on him.

    MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS FILMING/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

    Location: Liverpool Street Station, Main Ticket Hall

    Date:  Thursday 27 February 2025

    Time: 10.30am-12pm  

    Interviewees will include:

    • Krupesh Hirani AM – Chair of the London Assembly Health Committee
    • Samantha Palfreyman Jones – Head of Community Resuscitation and Paramedic, LAS
    • Danny Bliss – Senior SHE Business Partner, TfL
    • Paul Benson – had a cardiac arrest at Liverpool Street Station. He was helped by bystanders and TfL staff using the station’s defibrillator. This joint effort kept him alive until LAS crews arrived, and he was later taken to a Heart Attack Centre.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Streaming Science: The Film “FKN” Is Now on Kinopoisk

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Documentary about Faculty of Computer Science (FKN) Vyshki has appeared in the online cinema “Kinopoisk”. Now millions of viewers will be able to learn first-hand about the development of one of the country’s flagship IT faculties, which was opened by the Higher School of Economics and Yandex in 2014.

    Film “FKN” presents leading teachers, industry experts and scientists from various fields of computer science, as well as the best students from all over Russia – winners and prize winners of the All-Russian School Olympiad, the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMC), and the International Computer Programming Contest (ICPC). In honor of the tenth anniversary of the Faculty of Computer Science, the heroes of the film share their memories of how the faculty and the field of computer science as a whole developed, talk about how they teach and study at the advanced faculty today, how education is changing and science is developing in the context of rapid technological progress.

    Who is driving science and is at its forefront, how close and effective interaction between education, industry and science was built in the field of mathematics, data analysis and machine learning, software engineering and development – you can learn about all this by watching the film.

    The following people worked on the painting:

    director and screenwriter Polina Manturova;

    Director of photography Andrey Krupnov;

    motion graphics director Vladislav Vazhnik;

    editor Vladislav Zaitsev;

    composer Vsevolod Mironov;

    sound engineers Arseniy Tishkin and Sergey Nikolaev;

    project curator Dilyara Nurgayazova.

    The premiere took place on September 24, 2024, at the Karo 11 Oktyabr cinema. On January 24, FKN was shown at the Library of Foreign Literature as part of the IT version of Student’s Day.

    The film “FKN” will be shown on the big screen on April 20 at the Atom Museum at VDNKh.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: MROpenEVO at ECR 2025 with an AI-ready upgrade for further enhanced image quality and faster examinations; new system soon available in Georgia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GENOA, Italy, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Unlocking the future of joint and spine imaging with the Latest Evolution of MROpenEvo: the only truly open MRI System at ECR 2025.

    Thanks to the optimization of key technical features, the latest version of the helium-free, MgB2-based MRI scanner delivers exceptional image quality while reducing scan times by up to 50%.

    Discover the innovative features of MROpenEvo, a groundbreaking MRI system specifically designed for joint, neuro, and spine imaging. It offers ample space for children, larger patients, and individuals with claustrophobia, ensuring comfort for all.

    The new image acquisition algorithm, based on the “compressed sensing” technique, combines parallel imaging with sparse data sampling and iterative reconstruction. This combination leads to faster scan times and enhanced resolution. The “compressed sensing” technique is applicable to both 2D and 3D sequences across all anatomies.

    In the meantime, the patient centric design MRI system developed by ASG Superconductors arrives in another new country: MROpenEvo will be shortly available in Georgia @ Tbilisi State Medical University and Ingorokva High Medical Technology University Clinic.

    Prof. Giorgi Ingorokva declared: “I am proud announcing that our hospital will be the first clinic in Georgia to install the groundbreaking Open MRI system. It will enhance diagnostic capabilities and improve patient care in the region.”

    Nowadays MROpen Evo is available in USA, Canada, UK, Italy, Portugal, Kuwait, and the innovative MgB2 superconducting technology – the key element driving the unique and distinctive open design – has reached over 2.5 million hours of operation.

    Join us at ECR2025 in Vienna, Hall X4, Booth 410, to experience MROpen Evo with our experts and discover how this innovative and unparalleled MRI system can enhance your practice.

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

    Contact:

    Silvia Frigato Bonello
    frigato.silvia@as-g.it 

    Luca Pezzoni
    lpezzoni@hofima.it 

    The MIL Network –