NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Korea-Latvia summit (November 2024)

    Source: Government of the Republic of Korea

    Korea-Latvia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 28 hosted a summit at his office for visiting Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics on raising bilateral cooperation and analyzing regional and international situations.

    Both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sectors such as bio and pharmaceuticals, national security and the defense industry.

    Korea-Malaysia summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 25 hosted summit talks in Seoul with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was on an official visit to Korea, and adopted a joint statement on their newly formed strategic partnership.

    Both leaders welcomed the resumption of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement this year and agreed to accelerate efforts to conclude the deal next year. They also pledged to raise cooperation in infrastructure and supply chains for core minerals.

    Korea-Peru summit (November 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on Nov. 16 held a bilateral summit at the Presidential Palace in Lima, Peru, and agreed to bolster cooperation in the defense sector and infrastructure.
    The two countries concluded memorandums of understanding on joint production of KF-21 fighter jet parts, development of naval ships (submarines) and cooperation in army ground equipment. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visits to Peru, Brazil for APEC, G20

    Korea-ASEAN summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 attended the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, Laos, where he and ASEAN leaders agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership and launch joint projects in a range of sectors.

    They also agreed to stimulate trade and investment through a bilateral free trade agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, while creating a “conducive and favourable environment” for ASEAN and Korean business such as the ASEAN-ROK (Republic of Korea) Business Council.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Japan summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 10 held a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a hotel in Vientiane, Laos, their first talks since the prime minister assumed office on Sept. 1. 

    Both leaders agreed on the growing need to raise bilateral cooperation in regional and global issues and expand the horizons for such collaboration on the global stage.

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Philippines summit (October 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol, on a state visit to the Philippines, on Oct. 7 agreed with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to form a bilateral strategic partnership at their summit held at the presidential Malacanang Palace in Manila.

    Both leaders also adopted a joint declaration on higher cooperation in all sectors including national security and economy like nuclear power plants. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s visit to 3 Asian nations

    Korea-Czechia summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sept. 19 discussed with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague cooperation in strategic sectors including nuclear power plants. Both leaders also shared opinions on developing their bilateral strategic partnership.

    Korea-New Zealand summit (September 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Sept. 4 at their bilateral summit adopted a joint statement on stronger bilateral relations in trade, economy, science, human exchange, national security and international cooperation.

    Both leaders also agreed to elevate their Partnership for the 21st Century concluded in 2006 to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

    Korea-Germany summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said he hopes to work more closely with Germany on global issues such as support for Ukraine, supply chain disruptions and the climate crisis. He also hailed Germany’s application to join the United Nations Command. 

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    Korea-Japan summit (July 2024)

    President Yoon Suk Yeol on July 10 in Washington held bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the NATO Summit.
    President Yoon said, “The recent signing by Russia and North Korea of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty and their accelerated closeness in military and economic ties are raising serious concern over global security as well as that of East Asia.”

    • Current Affairs President Yoon’s US visit for NATO Summit

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUROPE/LITHUANIA – National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies awarded the Cross of Officer of the Order of Merit Pro Lithuania

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Vilnius (Agenzia Fides) – Last Sunday, February 16, Lithuania celebrated the National Day commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Lithuania in 1918. Following the Act of Restoration of the Lithuanian State, adopted on March 11, 1990 by the Supreme Soviet of Lithuania to declare its independence from the Soviet Union, the Baltic State has resumed the celebrations of its National Day. Traditionally, on this day the President of the Republic awards honors to people who have distinguished themselves and have made a contribution to the welfare of society in various fields.This year, during the official celebrations, the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, awarded the Order of Merit “Pro Lithuania” with the rank of officer to the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Lithuania, Fr. Alessandro Barelli of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Father Alessandro, an Italian missionary born in Turin in 1969, has been working in the Baltic country for 27 years and was awarded for his significant contribution to Lithuanian society.The award was given in recognition of his work as parish priest of the parish of St. John Bosco in Vilnius, as editor of the Salesian Bulletin in Lithuanian for 25 years and as National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and for his numerous initiatives in favor of local youth, with particular attention to missionary work and inculturation. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Behind names like AFDL or M23 lies the Rwandan intervention in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 18 February 2025 wars  

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “Sometimes you have the feeling that the poor are hopelessly lost,” reports a Church source from Bukavu, the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu, which was taken by the M23 troops supported by the Rwandan army (see Fides, 17/2/2025). “City after city, village after village, the province of South Kivu is also falling. And they still talk about dialogue, offer themselves as mediators, without having the courage to call things by their name,” the source continues. It is not an internal conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but an external aggression. “The country has been under attack for years, and since November 2021, when the M23 took up arms again, the situation has worsened. The M23 is the new name of the Rwandan intervention: Over time, it has operated under different names: AFDL (Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo), RCD (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie), CNDP (Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple)… Always with the same aim: to give a Congolese appearance to an invasion project that does not dare to admit its true nature”, said the source. “The testimony also describes the recurring pattern of this offensive: “The occupation is always preceded by riots, looting and murder. Then, the invaders arrive, presenting themselves as saviours. They do not impose respect for the law that they themselves have broken, but govern with a stick and a gun. And the inhabitants of Bukavu have already begun to experience this. Today, at a big meeting, they will present the new leaders and the new rules,” continued the source.As a sign of the new “normality”, the M23 has today, February 18, reopened the water links between Goma and Bukavu. “In the Ruzizi plain, Rwandan soldiers and M23 forces continue to advance and already have Luvungi in their hands,” the source said. According to our source, the population seems to have come to terms with the new situation: “And we will be surprised to see people applaud. Mothers who have seen the tomatoes they sold rot and have heard the cries of their hungry children will applaud. Men and young people who must be careful not to be confused with civilian soldiers or pro-government militiamen will applaud. Perhaps young people without a future will also applaud, who for decades have not been offered any opportunity for work or a decent life.” “And perhaps some will say that the people agree. What should an oppressed people do when they have no help, neither from within nor from outside? Must they die for the ideal of a fatherland? No, it will cling to its simple life and that of its children to move forward in a world that has become totally hostile,” concludes the source. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Kinshasa: Police thwart threats by supporters of the ruling party against Catholic and Protestant churches

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – The religious services in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), both in the Catholic parishes and in the Protestant communities of the Church of Christ in Congo (Église du Christ au Congo, ECC), took place last Sunday, February 16, generally without disturbances. Only in the Catholic parish of “St. Theresa” in Nd’jili, a municipality in the Kinshasa district, some demonstrators tried to disrupt the mass, but were prevented from entering the church by the intervention of the police. The Kinshasa police had previously taken measures to ensure the peaceful conduct of the religious services. The measure was taken after activists from the ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party threatened to attack and vandalize Catholic parishes and Protestant gatherings during religious services on Sunday 16 February. This was in protest against the meetings that the leaders of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the ECC had with Corneille Nangaa in Goma, in North Kivu province, and with Paul Kagame in Kigali, Rwanda.Corneille Nangaa is the coordinator of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), the political wing of the rebel movement M23, which has taken control of Goma (capital of North Kivu province) and Bukavu (capital of South Kivu province) and is threatening to march on Kinshasa to overthrow President Félix Tshisekedi. Paul Kagame is the President of Rwanda, who is considered the sponsor of the M23. The joint delegation of the Catholic and Protestant Churches presented the “Social Pact for Coexistence in the Democratic Republic of Congo” (see Fides, 13/2/2025), which aims to help resolve the crisis that has been going on for over 30 years in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PAKISTAN – Jubilee Year: in the diocese of Multan there is hope for education

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 18 February 2025 jubilee  

    Multan Diocese – Catholcs Pakistan

    Multan (Agenzia Fides) – Among the Catholic population of southern Punjab, in the diocese of Multan, the hope that is nurtured in the Jubilee Year is to have concrete educational opportunities, says Father Jamshed Gill (OP), for many years director of the Pastoral Institute of Multan and now General Councilor for the Asia-Pacific Region of the Dominican Order, to Fides. In one of the largest cities in Pakistan, with more than 1.2 million inhabitants, about half of the more than 80,000 Catholics are destitute and live in the countryside or are among the “poor” who live in the slums on the outskirts of the city. In January, the Catholic community celebrated the solemn inauguration of the Holy Year in the Cathedral of Multan: “It is a Jubilee Year of personal renewal and faith,” said Bishop Yousef Sohan. The presence of many young people and students from the diocese’s schools at the celebration drew particular attention to education. “To restore hope to people and thus opportunities for development and growth, the first step is to work in the field of education,” explained Father Gill, recalling that “the diocese is doing its best to support Catholic schools in the city and in rural villages, but the lack of resources limits the possibilities,” he noted. The Dominicans run a school and a boarding school in Bahawalpur, which is part of the diocese. “But many families cannot afford the fees, even though they are low, so the children are not sent to school,” he reports. There are also boarding schools that charge higher fees, which is why in this case “only middle-class families, almost exclusively Muslims, benefit from these schools.” The disadvantaged are therefore “precisely the poorest Christian families, unable to break out of the vicious circle of economic and also educational poverty,” the religious observes. The pastoral plan of the diocese, launched by the new bishop, states that he will give priority to the education of Catholics. Bishop Sohan, who took office two years ago, wants to strengthen the school sector by opening more schools and supporting and improving existing ones. The diocese directly runs 27 schools that provide education to thousands of children and young people in urban and rural areas. “In the Jubilee Year, special attention will be paid to this commitment: to make hope a reality in people’s lives, the whole community can try to do more in this area and the faithful, the poorest and most marginalized, will welcome it and recognize it as a gift from the Lord,” he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – The first training course on ecumenical and interreligious dialogue at the Abrahamic Family House inspired by the Document on Human Fraternity

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 18 February 2025

    Abu Dhabi (Agenzia Fides) – A week of meetings, dialogues and visits to symbolic places in the Arabian Peninsula to experience and understand how different religions can really live together peacefully in the same place. These are the objectives of the first edition of the course on “Training and Exchanges in the Context of the Human Fraternity Document and its Receptions”, designed for delegates of the Episcopal Conferences who work in the field of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue.As the creator of this initiative, Father Stefano Luca, OFM Cap, Director of the Interfaith and Ecumenical Dialogue Office of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia and Rector of St. Francis Church at the Abrahamic Family House, Abu Dhabi (where the course took place from Saturday 8 to Wednesday 12 February, a few days after the sixth anniversary of the signing of the document), explains, “after many months of planning, we launched the initiative with a very effective interreligious dialogue methodology: half-day training session at St. Francis Church, followed by half-day of visit of religious sites in order to gain insights from different religions present in the UAE. This enables delegates to acquire theoretical knowledge and to experience on the ground examples of best practices in terms of coexistence and dialogue”.Fifteen Regional delegates from 11 ecclesiastical regions of the Italian Bishops’ Conference attended the program, along with 5 Delegates of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia that are part of three offices: Christian Formation, School Management, and Interfaith and Ecumenical Dialogue.The presentations by experts and theologians were followed by several moments of discussions with the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, Bishop Paolo Martinelli. Many topics were addressed: “From the phenomenon of migration – suffice it to say that all the faithful and the clergy of the Vicariate are migrants without exception, of more than a hundred nationalities – to the history of the Catholic Church in the Gulf region,” explained Father Stefano. The day dedicated to ecumenical dialogue was attended by Armenian Orthodox Archbishop Mesrob Sarkissian, who spoke about the ecumenical movement that has developed in the region in recent years.The program continued with a visit to the four sites of the Abrahamic Family House (church, mosque, synagogue and Workshop Forum). The group then visited Sikh and Hindu temples, Greek Orthodox, Coptic and Anglican churches, as well as the great mosque of Abu Dhabi named after Sheikh Zayed.“The special thing is that in all these religious sites, we met religious leaders, and we had the possibility to have interfaith dialogue sessions with them and we learnt about the model of peaceful coexistence implemented in the UAE,” emphasizes the Franciscan.A very significant visit, says Father Stefano, “was to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Here the delegates immersed themselves in the life of a normal Sunday morning in our parishes. They took part in catechism classes and masses for children and adults. It was, as the delegates themselves said, an incredible experience.” And “not just by the number of faithful (let us keep in mind that more than 25.000 hosts are distributed at the masses every weekend), but most importantly they were impressed and edified by the joy, enthusiasm, devotion, and faith of the faithful and the children during their participation in the catechism classes and Masses as well. The high level of preparation of the catechists also impressed the delegates.”These were “valuable days for us as a church in the Gulf. Moments of dialogue, encounters, and the exchange of experiences.” “We are enriched in hearing about the experiences of those in Italy who are responsible for promoting interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, and on the other hand it is very interesting for us to be able to share the experiences that we have been having for some time now in this part of the world”, commented the Apostolic Vicar, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, who, together with Father Stefano, is already thinking about the future: “Our desire now is to invite other Episcopal Conferences to send their delegates to participate in our path of exchange and formation”. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/2/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Young heroes learn to save: VSKS held a master class for children of SVO veterans at the State Institution of Humanities

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On February 18, 2025, in the Moscow city branch of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps, located on the territory of the State University of Management, as part of the celebration of Defender of the Fatherland Day, a master class was held for children of veterans of the special military operation.

    This initiative is an important element of social support for the families of military personnel participating in the Special Military Operations, and has received the support of the Moscow City Branch of the United Russia Party.

    The master class was attended by the Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Pavel Pavlovsky and the Moscow City Duma deputy, head of the Moscow City Branch of the VSKS Maxim Dzhetygenov.

    “Today we pay tribute to the defenders of our Fatherland. To the soldiers who laid down their lives for the Motherland and its people, to the living participants in military conflicts and the heroes fighting today! Today, the children of our heroes will interactively learn how to use primary fire extinguishing equipment, try to work with emergency rescue tools, provide first aid and, as part of a team, try to save a conditional “teddy bear” from a labyrinth. We will introduce the children to safety culture and rescue skills in more detail. We are grateful to the State University of Management and the Moscow City Branch of the United Russia Party for their assistance in holding the event,” Maxim Dzhetygenov, head of the Moscow City Branch of VSKS, opened the event.

    “From the very beginning of the SVO, the rector of the GUU Vladimir Stroyev sets one key task for the university: “Everything for the front, everything for Victory.” And active assistance to our soldiers is one of the key areas of our work. We implement retraining programs for soldiers who were seriously wounded at the front, we support universities in historical territories, we implement the “University Shifts” project, within the framework of which children from the DPR, LPR and the Kherson region come to us at the GUU for the holidays. And this is in addition to participating in the project initiated by the guys from the VSKS, which is called “GUU – SVOim” and is aimed at providing frontline units and civilians in the border area with the necessary products and technical equipment. Our partners for two years now have been the All-Russian public movement “Veterans of Russia”, so organizing an event for children of SVO participants is a logical continuation of activities in the chosen direction. We want the soldiers defending the Motherland at the front to clearly know that there is someone in the rear who will take care of their families and their children, because children are our wealth!” said Pavel Pavlovsky, Vice-Rector of the State University of Management.

    A total of 30 children of SVO veterans took part in the master class, who happily donned real firefighter clothes and fought against simulated fires, learned how to use various primary fire extinguishing equipment, tried to play Jenga using rescue tools, and in the end, as a united team, rescued a simulated victim from an inflatable labyrinth and provided him with first aid.

    The State University of Management is proud of its fighters of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps, who never stand aside and help the residents of the Kursk region to endure temporary hardships, eliminate the consequences of inhuman terrorist attacks, clean the Black Sea coast from oil products and are always ready to share their experience and skills. They are

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/18/2025

    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: UK summons Rwandan High Commissioner following advances by Rwandan Defence Force and M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has summoned the Rwandan High Commissioner today (18 February) following advances made by the Rwandan Defence Force and M23 in eastern DRC.

    An FCDO spokesperson said:

    “The UK strongly condemns the advances of the Rwandan Defence Force and M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    “These advances constitute an unacceptable violation of DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Government of Rwanda must immediately withdraw all Rwanda Defence Force troops from Congolese territory.

    “We urge Rwanda to immediately cease all hostilities and return to dialogue through African-led peace processes.”

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Grupo Bolsa Mexicana de Valores Partners With IPC to Deploy Beeks Technology to Simplify the Process of Onboarding New Participants Into the Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • The launch of a new infrastructure for co-location reduces entry barriers for market participants, facilitating their operation in the Mexican financial markets.
    • Deployment includes a primary site and an alternate site in Mexico City to provide greater security for all participants.

    MEXICO CITY and GLASGOW, United Kingdom, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Grupo Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BMV), with more than 130 years of experience, and IPC, a leading company in technology and services related to global financial markets, announced the signing of an agreement to launch the advanced Beeks’ technology infrastructure. The deployment includes primary and disaster recovery sites in Mexico City, providing a secure solution to support BMV’s market growth and innovation.

    With the launch of this new infrastructure, set to go live in the second half of 2025, BMV will provide secure and scalable co-location services to its clients. This will allow clients to host their operations directly on the platform, eliminating the need for a proprietary site.

    “This agreement allows us to deliver cutting-edge technology, with a low-latency infrastructure deployed locally in Mexico City. We are well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of our market participants, remain at the forefront of innovation and as a leader in the region.” said Jorge Alegría, CEO of Grupo BMV.

    The agreement was signed with IPC as the contracting party; Beeks will manage end-to-end deployment of the Exchange infrastructure. Leveraging Beeks’ extensive expertise and proven technology, BMV members will benefit from a robust, flexible, and secure solution designed specifically for capital markets.

    “Beeks technology offers a dedicated, fully managed infrastructure for exchanges and trading venues worldwide,” said Gordon McArthur, CEO of Beeks Group. “We are proud to partner with BMV and leverage our established relationship with IPC to deliver cutting-edge solutions to the financial markets. This two-site deployment will ensure resiliency, security and scalability, supporting BMV’s ambitions for growth and innovation in the market.”

    IPC’s Tito Singh, CRO added: “This is a great example of the strength of our partnership strategy, working with the best suppliers to support our customer first approach. It reinforces our long-term relationship with Beeks and our ongoing collaboration to deliver innovative, market-leading solutions in the industry.”

    By deploying Beeks technology, BMV is well positioned to attract liquidity, drive market access and reinforce its position as a leader in Latin America’s financial ecosystem.

    About Grupo Bolsa Mexicana de Valores

    The Mexican Stock Exchange with more than 130 years of experience makes it possible for the securities and derivatives market to operate in Mexico, through a group of leading companies that offer services in the capital, derivatives and debt markets, as well as post-trade services, information products and added value.

    To learn more, visit www.bmv.com.mx/en/Grupo_BMV. 

    About IPC

    IPC Systems, a leader in technology and specialized services that has driven global financial markets for more than 50 years, is at the forefront of next-generation e-commerce connectivity and cloud communications, setting the standard for exceptional service, innovation, and expertise.

    IPC’s customer-centric approach is enhanced by an extensive and diverse financial ecosystem that spans all asset classes and connects market participants anywhere in the world to improve communication, collaboration, and compliance. Global services include e-commerce, business communications, and infrastructure-as-a-service solutions.

    IPC is ideally positioned to anticipate change and stay aligned with rapidly changing markets, and to empower clients to adapt to change, now and in the future.

    For more information, visit ipc.com

    About Beeks

    Beeks is a trusted technology partner offering a secure and scalable private infrastructure designed specifically for the financial markets. Our platform operates exclusively in dedicated environments, ensuring unprecedented compliance, performance, and control for capital markets participants.

    With a focus on low-latency infrastructure-as-a-service, Beeks supports the trading activities of global banks, financial exchanges, asset managers, brokers, and independent software providers. Our solutions are independent of public cloud providers, yet fully compatible with hybrid configurations, offering a flexible, on-demand operating model with no costly upfront costs.

    Beeks provides expert support 24 hours a day, seven days a week and a scalable infrastructure that evolves with your business needs, enabling fast time to market with deployments in days, not months. Our innovative offerings, including Beeks Analytics to improve data analytics and performance, demonstrate our commitment to delivering excellence and driving fintech growth.

    To learn more about Beeks Group and its offerings, visit beeksgroup.com.

    Media Contact

    Martina Vargas on behalf of IPC
    T: (352) 282-1294
    marti@capvstrategies.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Town improvements and Blue Badge Parking enhancements18 February 2025 Infrastructure and Environment is continuing work on a project related to the Blue Badge holder database, with a newsletter that has been sent with further updates for Islanders. As a part of the Government’s… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    18 February 2025

    Infrastructure and Environment is continuing work on a project related to the Blue Badge holder database, with a newsletter that has been sent with further updates for Islanders.

    As a part of the Government’s Common Strategic Policy on Revitalising Town we are continuing to make ongoing improvements with changes being made to enhance accessibility and transport provisions. 

    Key Updates 

    New Esplanade taxi rank and adjustments to Library Place 

    A new taxi rank is being introduced on the Esplanade to better serve the public and the International Financial Centre. Following data collection on existing taxi ranks at Library Place, two spaces will be removed, while one will remain in place to meet demand.

    Additional disabled parking at Library Place 

    Three new disabled parking bays will be introduced at Library Place, with a maximum stay of two hours. This timeframe balances the need for accessibility with ensuring turnover for greater availability. 

    Loading and cycle parking enhancements 

    A slight extension of a loading/unloading bay will assist deliveries in the area. Additional cycle parking will also be introduced and reviewed once construction at New Cut is completed. 

    Connétable Andy Jehan, Minister for Infrastructure, said: “These improvements aim to make St Helier more accessible and better connected. Increasing disabled parking, refining taxi rank locations, and enhancing cycling provisions will support both residents and visitors in navigating the town more easily. The new disabled spaces will be identified with Blue Paint, and the markings have been very successful in raising greater awareness of the bays.’​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Coffee, tea and cocoa costs see global food import bill soaring past $2 trillion

    Source: United Nations 4

    Economic Development

    The global food import bill is projected to exceed $2 trillion in 2024 – fuelled by the rising cost of everyone’s favourite hot drinks – according to the latest Food Outlook released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday. 

    The biannual report, which focuses on developments affecting global food and animal feed markets, highlights that higher costs for cocoa, coffee, and tea are driving the increase, while disparities in import bills persist across income levels.

    Cocoa prices have soared nearly four times their ten-year average earlier this year, coffee prices have almost doubled, and tea prices are 15 per cent above long-term levels.

    Together, these commodities are responsible for over half of the projected increase in global food import expenditures, which FAO economists anticipate will rise by nearly 23 per cent in 2024.

    National disparities

    While high-income countries, which make up two-thirds of the global food import bill, will see a 4.4 per cent increase, import expenditures for middle and low-income countries are expected to decline.

    Lower-income countries may find some relief in reduced cereal and oilseed costs, although their per capita food intake for wheat and coarse grains is projected to decline, contrasting with an anticipated 1.5 per cent increase in rice consumption.

    FAO emphasises the crucial role food exports play in supporting many economies.

    For instance, coffee export earnings cover nearly 40 per cent of food import costs in Burundi and Ethiopia, while Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa exports entirely offset its food import bill. Similarly, tea exports account for more than half of Sri Lanka’s import costs.

    Mixed forecast

    FAO’s forecasts reveal a mixed picture for global food production and trade.

    Wheat and coarse grain output is expected to decrease but remain above consumption levels, while rice production is set for a record-breaking harvest in 2024/25 which could enable an increase in global rice consumption, reserves and international trade. 

    Production of meat and dairy is forecast to grow modestly while global fisheries output is expected to expand by 2.2 per cent, fuelled by aquaculture.

    Meanwhile, vegetable oils’ consumption may outpace production for the second consecutive season, leading to stock drawdowns.

    The report cautions that extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and policy changes could destabilise production systems, further straining global food security.

    Olive oil prices spike alongside climate stress

    A special focus on olive oil details price spikes due to climate-related production declines.

    IFAD

    Compost made from a mixture of pine trees empty cones and cow dung helps olive trees grow in a sustainable way.

    In Spain, wholesale prices for cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil reached nearly $10,000 per tonne in January 2024, almost triple their 2022 levels.

    High temperatures, which force olive trees to conserve water for core functions instead of producing fruit, led to a nearly 50 per cent production cut for two years in a row.

    Although Spain’s next harvest is expected to surpass the 10-year average, high prices may constrain global consumption.

    Producers ought to consider more sustainable water and soil management practices, the report notes.

    Given the great potential for expansion in olive oil exports, governments might offer support to olive growers, such as insurance schemes and measures to control the spread of diseases, said FAO Economist Di Yang.

    Cheaper fertiliser…mostly

    The report also highlights a 50 per cent drop in fertiliser prices since their 2022 peak, thanks to falling natural gas prices and reduced trade barriers.

    FAO Economist Maria Antip noted however that phosphate fertilisers have resisted this trend, with ongoing trade barriers and geopolitical tensions posing risks to future supplies, particularly in Latin America and Asia.

    Additionally, the report underscores the potential of low-carbon ammonia, a key component of nitrogen-based fertilisers, as a sustainable alternative.

    However, while using renewable energy instead of natural gas is viable and investments to do so are underway, scaling up production will require targeted incentives to offset higher manufacturing costs and encourage adoption among farmers.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New local Asian fashion business moves into city centre Pop Up

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Local Southsea business SP Collections have moved into the city centre Portsmouth Pop Up shop to sell Asian inspired clothing and jewellery. This start up business is hitting the ground running by trialling high street retail as part of Portsmouth City Council’s pop-up shop scheme that is designed to help local businesses grow.

    SP Collections is a fashion brand inspired by the rich heritage of Asian culture offering an elegant range of attire, including sarees, salwar kameez, abayas, long dresses, and jewellery.

    Shama Parveen, founder and owner of SP Collections said:

    ‘I am truly grateful for the pop-up scheme as it provides an incredible opportunity to showcase my products to a wider audience.

    Previously, I sold at local pop-up markets, but these occasional events weren’t enough to sustain consistent growth. This initiative offers a fantastic platform for small businesses like mine to connect with new customers in Portsmouth.

    SP Collections was born from the desire to bring authentic, Asian-inspired clothing to Portsmouth’s diverse community. We understand the challenges with finding modest, stylish Asian fashion locally. That’s why we’re dedicated to making these beautiful pieces easily accessible, without compromising on quality, style, or authenticity.”

    The Portsmouth Pop Up enables local entrepreneurs and small businesses to trade in a high street location without the commitment or cost of a longer-term lease.

    Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of the council with responsibility for economic development said:

    “Pop Up shop schemes can breathe new life into our high streets, whilst giving independent businesses a great opportunity to have a shop front in a prime retail location.

    “One year on since the Portsmouth Pop Up initiative began, it’s great to see its success in supporting local businesses like SP Collections. This is a fantastic example of how we’re working together to strengthen our economy and providing the necessary support businesses need to grow”

    The Portsmouth Pop-Up shop, a joint venture between Portsmouth City Council, Cascades, and Flude, opened last year to address the increasing demand for business space in the city. The first tenant, Goly Natural, a local natural skincare business, has been so successful that they plan to establish a permanent shop this year.

    Businesses can apply to rent the pop-up shop in Cascades, in Portsmouth’s city centre for a minimum of 13 weeks giving them a chance to engage with customers and launch products and services.

    For more information visit Portsmouth Pop Up

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU student teams are recruiting new fighters

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Student Team Day at SPbGASU

    On the Day of Russian Student Teams on February 17, student teams of SPbGASU held an event to attract new candidates to their ranks. The guys talked about team life, handed out leaflets, sang and even boxed.

    Students were offered to test their knowledge of the history of the university and the detachment movement in a quiz format. Prizes were raffled off among the participants.

    “We need new, energized people to grow and develop,” explained Georgy Galayev, commander of the Hermes student agricultural team and a third-year student in the Faculty of Engineering Ecology and Urban Economy. This is Georgy’s first year in the team, but he already holds a responsible position. Georgy said that before this he worked in the Kusto team, but realized that he still needed the sun and vitamin D.

    Sofia Sidorova (commissioner) and Daria Gorbunova (commander) of the SPO “Svoboda”

    You can also get a lot of sun and vitamin D by joining the pedagogical team “Freedom”. “We go only to places where there is a sea. This is our rule,” said team leader Darya Gorbunova, a second-year student at the Faculty of Engineering Ecology and Urban Economy. “Every summer, the team works two shifts. And before work, they rest – to gain strength, get a good tan and start teaching children happy and full of energy.”

    Vadim Fedotov, a fifth-year student at the Automobile and Road Engineering Department, represented the Kusto team. Kusto spends its working seasons mostly in the North. Vadim was invited to join the movement in his second year. Deciding that student teams were similar to school practice, Vadim initially refused. But in his third year, he decided to give it a try. He liked it and stayed.

    Sergey Voronin, a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Faculty of Architecture, a fighter, and former commissar of the Lin student archaeological squad, shared his story: “For three years I have been spinning in a whirlpool of youth and fun – in squads! I have gone from a candidate to a fighter and leader of cultural and mass activities, a commissar. In the summer, I always had a backpack on my back, and ahead were endless natural spaces that leave memories for a lifetime. The rest of the year, there are many cool university, city, and all-Russian events of various types: entertaining, educational, creative, and sincere. And the list of informal friendly meetings is endless, with an incredible story for each one! Spontaneity, energy, and adventurism accompany us on adventures every time. The only thing missing is you!”

    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: Visited App Releases List of Top Travel Destinations in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The travel app, Visited, by Arriving In High Heels Corporation, has published a travel report which showcases top travel trends around the world with highlight of 2024 travels. 

    Visited is a travel tracking app, which lets users map out their travel journey, mark famous places visited on travel lists and helps with trip planning for their itinerary feature. It is the ultimate travel bucket list planning app, as it has over 150 travel lists available from ancient sites to golf destinations. The app is available in 30 languages for both iOS or Android and is free to download.

    According to Visited’s travel stats, the average global traveler has been to 18 countries. While American travelers have been to 23. Travelers from the United Arab Emirates have visited the most countries, with an average of 30 countries visited. Swiss and Finnish travelers came in second and third as the most well-traveled. The most popular countries to visit are France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. 

    The most sought-after places to visit are Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Brazil. The top destinations that American travelers want to travel to include Australia, Greece, and New Zealand. The highest numbers of American users have traveled to Mexico, Canada, France, the UK, and Italy.

    The most popular travel destinations in the world in 2024 were in Europe, while the U.S. is in 12th spot, Turkey is in 10th spot and Thailand is in 15th spot. For American travelers, 2024 saw the UK, Portugal and Japan topping the list of the most visited countries.

    The most popular travel lists are world wonders, capitals of the world and culinary experiences.

    The travel report was compiled based on 2.4 million international users and over 300,000 U.S. users. To see more top travel lists and browse top destinations worldwide, download Visited on iOS or Android. For the full travel report, visit https://visitedapp.com/travel-report-results/

    To learn more about the Visited app, visit https://visitedapp.com. 

    About Arriving In High Heels Corporation

    Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk, and Visited, their most popular app. Visited Media provides customized travel research services to travel companies.

    Contact Information

    Anna Kayfitz

    anna@arrivinginhighheels.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the British army is so unprepared to send troops to Ukraine

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kenton White, Lecturer in Strategic Studies and International Relations, University of Reading

    Martin Hibberd/Shutterstock

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that Britain is “ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary”.

    While reports suggest these would be “peacekeeping” forces, the reality is that true peacekeepers must be impartial. British troops placed to support Ukraine could certainly be seen as “partial”. And the positioning of British forces in Ukraine would fit the Russian narrative that casts Nato as the aggressor.

    Ukraine is not a member of Nato, but the goal of Nato membership is enshrined in its constitution. British forces involved in any sort of fighting in Ukraine would not enable article 5, which states that each member will regard an attack on any other member as an attack on themselves and assist it, to be invoked. Additionally, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that European troops deployed to Ukraine should not be covered under article 5.

    The weakness with Starmer’s idea is that Britain does not have the wherewithal to provide enough troops, supplies and weapons to act as a real deterrent. This isn’t too dissimilar from the state of British forces when faced with war in Europe more than a century ago.

    In 1914 Lord Kitchener, then secretary of state for war, speaking of the cabinet’s decision to go to war in Europe, thundered, “Did they remember, when they went headlong into a war like this, that they were without an army, and without any preparation to equip one?”

    Small numbers would be nothing more than a “speed-bump” against a large attack, as the British Expeditionary Force was in 1914 and again in 1940. Poor preparation, small numbers and limited equipment meant their deployment was more an indication of Britain’s support, rather than real capability to fight a long war against a peer enemy.

    Britain is again in this position. Years of spending cuts have removed the ability of British forces to prosecute a war against a peer adversary for an extended time. The number of troops has fallen from 100,000 full-time trained personnel in 2000, to approximately 70,000 today.



    Read more:
    US says European security no longer its primary focus – the shift has been years in the making

    Britain also does not have the capacity to manufacture at the levels required for a modern war. Much will be needed for immediate capital investment, such as manufacturing capacity for arms and ammunition. Longer-term investment will be required for arms production, as will the reinstatement of supporting infrastructure, such as airfields and storage facilities abandoned after the end of the cold war, both within Britain and across Europe.

    There is no solution to the immediate problem except increasing the money available for defence. But Britain, and many other Nato members, have been unwilling to increase spending on defence, even though the current capabilities have been run down to such an extent that European nations cannot field a capable force.

    Defence spending

    US president Donald Trump has called for Nato countries to up their defence spending to 5% of GDP from the current Nato target of 2%. This would be very difficult to achieve in Britain’s current financial situation without spending cuts elsewhere.

    While it has been reported that defence chiefs are pushing for a rise to 2.65% of GDP, Starmer indicated he would resist pressure to increase spending above 2.5%.

    The last time the UK spent more than 5% of its GDP on defence was in the height of the cold war. The current international situation has already begun to shift into two distinct blocs similar to the east-west split between 1945 and 1991. However, the bipolar balance of the cold war has been replaced with an increasing instability, as displayed by Russian aggression in Georgia and Ukraine.

    Replacing lost capacity is almost always more expensive than maintaining it. Had the governments of past decades maintained the capabilities of the armed forces, the overall cost would most likely have been lower than the amount the nation will now have to invest to obtain the same level of defence.

    Each defence review since 1957 has led to cuts to the defence budget in real terms. Reductions in the military budget continue because, previously, nothing presented a sufficient sub-nuclear threat to the nation deemed significant enough to reverse them. Those cuts are now so deep that the nation is on the edge of being unable to defend itself, let alone project military power abroad in any significant capacity.

    The prime minister wrote: “We have got to show we are truly serious about our own defence and bearing our own burden.” This assertion is quickly undermined by the indication that he won’t increase spending anytime soon.

    None of the western members of Nato have shown any willingness to significantly increase their defence spending. Great Britain expects to spend £56.4 billion for 2024-25, amounting to approximately 2.3% of GDP. But this includes £0.65 billion in pensions and benefits, and £0.22 billion in “arms-length bodies” that do not contribute to the defence establishment in any practical terms.

    Britain and Nato have had clear warning since 2014 to correct the deficiencies of their defences. All have chosen to ignore the developing threat from Russia. The impression is that not only are we hoping for the best, but we are planning for the best too.

    Lord Tedder, chief of the air staff after the second world war, wrote, “It is at the outset of war that time is the supreme factor.” Three years into the war in Ukraine, and it is clear that Nato missed the opportunity to strengthen its defences in the early stages. It now faces a significant increase in defence spending simply to make up the shortfall from previous decades.

    Kenton White does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why the British army is so unprepared to send troops to Ukraine – https://theconversation.com/why-the-british-army-is-so-unprepared-to-send-troops-to-ukraine-250123

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak held a meeting on the situation in the coal industry

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting on the situation in the coal industry. The event was attended by Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, representatives of the Ministry of Transport, Russian Railways, coal mining companies and regions.

    In particular, the discussion focused on the results of coal exports in January of this year and plans for the first quarter of 2025.

    Alexander Novak instructed Russian Railways to ensure the removal of coal products in accordance with approved plans, and the Ministry of Energy to continue monitoring the work of industry enterprises and the situation in coal-mining regions.

    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: CMA publishes supplementary interim report in GBT / CWT merger investigation

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Interim report published by the CMA in the latest step in its Phase 2 investigation into the merger of two corporate travel businesses.

    iStock

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published a supplementary interim report in its investigation of the merger of corporate travel management companies Global Business Travel Group, Inc (GBT) and CWT Holdings LLC (CWT). Both companies supply travel agency services to global businesses with high travel spend and employees who travel internationally. 

    This is the first in-depth merger investigation that the CMA has conducted under its revised Phase 2 process. Those process changes included issuing a more provisional ‘interim report’, earlier in the process, to facilitate engagement by merging parties in relation to the independent CMA inquiry group’s initial assessment.

    In November, the CMA’s interim report provisionally found the proposed merger between GBT and CWT was likely to substantially lessen competition. Following the interim report, the CMA has continued to gather evidence and has carried out further analysis that suggests CWT would not have performed as strongly absent the merger as the group had initially assessed. As a result, and having considered all the evidence in the round, the group has provisionally concluded that CWT is a significantly weaker competitor than in the past and is likely to continue to weaken in the future. There are other suppliers who will offer customers an alternative to the merged business.

    Based on that further analysis, and in line with its usual procedures, the CMA inquiry group is today publishing a supplementary interim report ahead of its final decision. That interim report sets out why the group provisionally considers that the deal should be allowed to proceed.

    Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting this investigation, said:

    In this case, having considered all of the evidence in the round, particularly the further analysis of CWT’s financial position, we have now provisionally concluded that the merger will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in corporate travel management services.

    This is our first investigation under the revised Phase 2 process, with several benefits including the publication of an interim report at an earlier stage and a higher level of business and third-party engagement with the inquiry group. Today’s supplementary report reflects the flexibility this new process provides.

    We will now consider feedback on our supplementary interim report before making a final decision in March.

    The inquiry group will now seek feedback on its supplementary interim report before making a final decision by 9 March 2025. The deadline for comments is Tuesday 25 February 2025.

    For more information, visit the Global Business Travel Group, Inc / CWT Holdings, LLC merger inquiry case page.

    Notes to editors

    1. On 10 January 2025 the United States Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit seeking to block the merger. The case is currently before the US courts.
    2. New Phase 1 cases opened by the CMA after 25 April 2024 which are referred for an in-depth Phase 2 investigation are run under the new Phase 2 process.
    3. All media enquiries should be directed to the CMA press office by email on press@cma.gov.uk, or by phone on 020 3738 6460.

    Updates to this page

    Published 18 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Young Scientist from GUU Became a Laureate of the Moscow Government Prize

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Maxim Rybachuk, a leading specialist at the Center for Strategic and Innovative Research at the Research Institute of Public Policy and Management of Industrial Economics at the State University of Management, has become a laureate of the Moscow Government Prize for Young Scientists for 2024.

    The Moscow Government Prize Competition for Young Scientists has been held since 2013. Awards are given annually for achieving outstanding results in fundamental and applied scientific research in the field of natural, technical and humanitarian sciences, as well as for the development and implementation of new technologies, equipment, devices, equipment, materials and substances that contribute to improving the efficiency of activities in the real sector of the economy and the social sphere of the capital.

    In total, over 8,000 applications were submitted for the awards during the competition, 1,332 of which were submitted this year. Awards were given to 758 young scientists, 78 of which were submitted this year.

    The award was presented to the laureates by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.

    “We have never had so many competition applications – more than 1,300 works were submitted. And choosing you was not an easy task for us either. So these are truly well-deserved awards that you have earned with your talent, skill, and commitment to science. And of course, I hope that these awards are not the last in your life, but only the beginning of your great scientific career,” Sergei Semenovich addressed the young scientists.

    The mayor also announced a decision to double the bonus, which has not been indexed since 2019. The 2024 bonuses are also planned to be recalculated taking into account the increase. At the moment, it is 2 million rubles.

    A young scientist from the State University of Management, Maxim Rybachuk, received the award in the Social Sciences category for a series of nine previously published works on the topic of “Socioeconomic Ecosystems as a Core Component of the Systemic Transformation of the Russian Economy”. In his research, Maxim Aleksandrovich analyzed the landscape of the Russian ecosystem market, defined the criteria for ecosystems, key market players and their industry specifics. He assessed the impact of the development of the ecosystem structure of the economy on Russia’s GDP and put forward a number of recommendations in the field of economic policy to protect market participants from the unconstructive influence of ecosystems. In particular, it was proposed to create a national regulator that would combine functions similar to those of the FAS Russia and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in relation to the activities of ecosystems, because ecosystems are not subject to antimonopoly legislation.

    We congratulate Maxim Rybachuk on receiving the prestigious award and wish him further success in his scientific work for the benefit of the Russian economy.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/18/2025

    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 Security: Romanian Police Serve Dozens of Warrants Following Parallel Investigation with the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Romanian law enforcement officials conducted dozens of warrants this week in the Romanian counties of Brasov and Mures, following a parallel investigation with the FBI.

    The search warrants targeted locations suspected to have ties to an organized crime group engaged in ATM skimming in the United States and money laundering.

    During the operation, Romanian officials also detained several individuals for questioning and seized large amounts of cash, several vehicles, as well as skimming devices and associated instruments.

    “This group profited handsomely by targeting vulnerable EBT recipients who rely on funds to support their families and callously deprived victims of their basic needs,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “This investigation is yet another example of FBI Agents working closely with our foreign partners to identify, disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal enterprises who enter the United States illegally for the sole purpose of conducting criminal activity.”

    Today’s operation is the culmination of a two-year investigation conducted by the FBI and Romanian authorities to dismantle the command and control of the Dorneanu Organized Crime Group: a transnational criminal organization whose members conduct ATM skimming operations in the United States and then launder the profits back to Romania.

    “These individuals targeted and stole from our community’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “Working together with our local, federal, and international partners, we can and will continue to root out and punish transnational criminal organizations and protect the less fortunate and American taxpayers.”

    The subjects targeted in this investigation worked directly for, or were associated with, Mihai Dorneanu—the alleged leader of the Dorneanu Organized Crime Group. Five members of this organization were arrested by the FBI and convicted in the Central District of California with violations including conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and visa fraud. Four others were arrested for state violations by local authorities in Ventura and San Bernardino Counties. As a result of ongoing efforts in this case to disrupt ATM skimmers in Southern California, law enforcement recovered over 8,500 stolen credit card numbers belonging to victims in the United States.

    The five federal defendants include the following:

    • Marius Oprea was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Press Release
    • Dan Eugen Boar was sentenced to four years in federal prison.
    • Radu-Marian Moldovan was sentenced to time served in federal prison.
    • Attila Ravasz was sentenced to one year and three months in federal prison.
    • Andrei-Raul Cirilescu was sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison.

    A statement announcing the operation was also issued by Romanian authorities (translation available upon visiting page).

    The domestic investigation was conducted jointly by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office; the San Bernardino County Human Services Fraud Investigation Unit; the Diplomatic Security Service; the Los Angeles Police Department; and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. The federal defendants were prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.

    The FBI’s foreign partners include the Brașov Brigade for Combatting Organized Crime; prosecutors with the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism—Brașov Territorial Service; and Europol.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Coop Pank extends authorities of Margus Rink as a Member of the Supervisory Board of Coop Liising AS

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Today, on January 18th, 2025, the Coop Pank AS decided to extend the term of office of Mr. Margus Rink, a Member of the Supervisory Board of Coop Liising AS a subsidiaries of Coop Pank AS, for a another 3-years term effective as of the end of his previous term.

    Margus Rink has been the Chairman of the Management Board of Coop Pank AS since 2017. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of bank’s subsidiaries Coop Liising AS and Coop Kindlustusmaakler AS. Margus Rink is a member of the Council of the Estonian Banking Association and member of the management board of Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Margus Rink obtained a master’s degree in business administration from the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tartu in 2000 and a bachelor’s degree in financial accounting and analysis from the same university in 1994.
    Margus Rink currently owns 806 000 shares in Coop Pank and 7 subordinated bonds of Coop Pank.

    Coop Pank, based on Estonian capital, is one of the five universal banks operating in Estonia. The bank has 209 500 everyday banking customers. Coop Pank uses the synergies between retail and banking and brings everyday banking services close to people’s homes. The majority shareholder of the bank is the domestic retail chain Coop Eesti, whose sales network includes 320 stores.

    Additional information:
    Katre Tatrik
    Communication Manager
    Tel: +372 5151 859
    E-mail: katre.tatrik@cooppank.ee

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: WSO2Con 2025 to Showcase How Enterprises Can Embrace ‘Platformless Modernization’ to Drive Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WSO2Con 2025 will empower enterprises to embrace ‘Platformless Modernization’ by showcasing real-world strategies, expert insights, and innovations that simplify development, accelerate digital transformation, and future-proof IT infrastructures. Keynotes, customer stories and technical discussions during the three-day event will explore and deep-dive into how enterprises can transform digital innovation by eliminating the complexities of traditional platforms either by adopting an enterprise-grade internal developer platform or leveraging software-as-a-service offerings to build your own. The event will take place from March 18 to 20, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya.

    Delivering a platform experience without the complexity

    Platformless modernization aims to redefine how organizations build, deploy, and manage applications. Traditional platforms often come with operational overhead, requiring businesses to maintain infrastructure and navigate complex configurations. A platformless approach removes these burdens, making the platform layer invisible to developers, so they can focus on just building innovative applications and providing better digital experiences to their customers and users.

    At WSO2Con 2025, WSO2 executives and industry experts will explore what platformless modernization means for enterprises, offering insights into:

    • How businesses can deliver developer-friendly experiences without the overhead of managing platforms
    • Strategies for enabling rapid, secure, and scalable application development powered by API management, integration, and identity solutions
    • The role of internal developer platforms (IDPs) in modernizing software delivery with AI, Kubernetes, and cloud-native architectures

    Insightful keynotes and customer success stories

    The conference will feature a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers. In his opening keynote, WSO2’s Founder and CEO, Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana will discuss the vision for platformless modernization with WSO2 technical experts providing in-depth sessions on how platformless is shaping the future of integration, API management and identity & access management. 

    Jeremy Schneider, Senior Partner & Co-Head of Global Software & High-Tech Practice, McKinsey and Company will provide a framework for navigating evolution in the digital economy in his keynote Every Company is a Software Company. In other keynote presentations, Amy Bingham, vice president & chief information officer at Pekin Insurance will share learnings on how Pekin turned a challenging year of unprecedented setbacks into a story of resilience, rebuilding, and long-term success in an increasingly unpredictable world. Jonathan Pearl, executive director – technology product management at financial services company, BNY Mellon, will explore the power of APIs and how they can be used to drive modernization, innovation and collaboration – both internally and externally. He will discuss the key principles and best practices for designing, building, discovering and governing APIs, as well as the cultural and organizational changes needed to successfully support an API first strategy.

    Registration for WSO2Con 2025 is still open with a flash sale from February 18 to 21, 2025. To register and view the full agenda, visit https://wso2.com/wso2con/2025/. 

    About WSO2

    Founded in 2005, WSO2 is the largest independent software vendor providing open-source API management, integration, and identity and access management (IAM) products. WSO2’s products and platforms—including our next-gen internal developer platform, Choreo—empower organizations to leverage the full potential of APIs for secure delivery of digital services and applications, enabling thousands of enterprises in over 90 countries globally to drive their digital transformation journeys. Our open-source, API-first approach frees developers and architects from vendor lock-in, enabling rapid digital product creation. Recognized as leaders by industry analysts, WSO2 has over 800 employees worldwide with offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Spain, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK, and the US, with USD100M in annual recurring revenue. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

    Trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

    ###

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ITS Logistics February Port Rail Ramp Index: Potential Effects of Tariffs and Impact on Trade Lanes Signify Most Pressing Unknown Supply Chain Threat

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RENO, Nev., Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITS Logistics today released the February forecast for the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. This month the index reveals that operations have returned to normal in all regions following the Lunar New Year peak and light inventory front loading to avoid anticipated bottlenecks. In addition, the most significant current unknowns for the industry are the potential effects of tariffs and their impact on trade lanes. 

    “Though changing booking patterns and front loading inventory can help with savings in the short-term, these strategies usually lead to additional cost and material flow problems,” said Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for ITS Logistics. “The consensus from most experienced shippers is to not be reactionary, as this issue will continue to be very fluid, and the timing and duration of disruptions is unknown.” 

    In an effort to promote fairer trade and enhance the appeal of U.S. goods, President Trump has called for agencies to explore reciprocal tariffs aimed at increasing America’s revenue. This move, however, risks sparking a global trade war, potentially worsening inflation.

    Last week, the President signed a memorandum proposing a 25% tariff on non-energy imports from Canada and a 10% tariff on imports of Canadian energy—primarily crude oil. He also signed proclamations to help bolster tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. to help minimize attempts by China and Russia to evade penalties. To encourage this change, an incremental 10% tariff on imports from China was established, along with an executive order to place a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico, which has been postponed until March. 

    While the tariffs have not yet been imposed, the signing of the memo allows the current presidential administration to begin a review process to initiate them. As the industry awaits further action from the administration, ocean carrier RFP season is approaching, and professionals should begin seeing volumes shift back to the East and Gulf Coast ports as Red Sea diversions and labor disruptions are not expected to be a concern in 2025.

    “We suggest companies consider moving bookings to the East and Gulf Coast ports now that the labor issues have been resolved,” continued Brashier. “Earlier in the month, the wage scale committee for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) approved a tentative six-year agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance from early January. Members are now expected to vote on their new master contract regarding the East and Gulf Coast ports on February 25.”

    ITS Logistics offers a full suite of network transportation solutions across North America and distribution and fulfillment services to 95% of the U.S. population within two days. These services include drayage and intermodal in 22 coastal ports and 30 rail ramps, a full suite of asset and asset-lite transportation solutions, omnichannel distribution and fulfillment, LTL, and outbound small parcel.

    The ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index forecasts port container and dray operations for the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf regions. Ocean and domestic container rail ramp operations are also highlighted in the index for both the West Inland and East Inland regions. Visit here for a full comprehensive copy of the index with expected forecasts for the US port and rail ramps.

    About ITS Logistics
    ITS Logistics is one of North America’s fastest-growing, asset-based modern 3PLs, providing solutions for the industry’s most complicated supply chain challenges. With a people-first culture committed to excellence, the company relentlessly strives to deliver unmatched value through best-in-class service, expertise, and innovation. The ITS Logistics portfolio features North America’s #19 asset-lite freight brokerage, the #12 drayage and intermodal solution, a top 50 dedicated fleet, an innovative cloud-based technology ecosystem, and a nationwide distribution and fulfillment network.

    Media Contact
    Amber Good
    LeadCoverage
    amber@leadcoverage.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/128e7687-6bfd-4f21-af3a-442b9cc93409

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Firing civil servants and dismantling government departments is how aspiring strongmen consolidate personal power – lessons from around the globe

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Erica Frantz, Associate Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University

    A leader bent on expanding his own power would see the government’s bureaucracy as a key target. Andry Djumantara – iStock/Getty Images Plus

    With the recent confirmations of Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – two of the most controversial of President Donald Trump’s high-level administration nominees – the president’s attempt to remake government as a home for political loyalists continues.

    Soon after coming to office for a second term, Trump aggressively sought to overhaul Washington and bring the federal government in line with his political agenda. He is spearheading an effort to purge the government’s ranks of people he perceived as his opponents and slash the size of long-standing bureaucratic agencies – in some instances dismantling them entirely.

    At the helm of much of this is businessman Elon Musk, who is not only the world’s richest man but also the largest donor of the 2024 election and the owner of multiple businesses that benefit from lucrative government contracts.

    Musk – and a small cohort of young engineers loyal to him but with little experience in government – descended on Washington, announced their control over multiple government agencies, fired career civil servants, and even strong-armed access to government payment systems at the Treasury Department, where the inspector general had just been sacked.

    This unprecedented sequence of events in the U.S. has left many observers in a daze, struggling to make sense of the dramatic reshaping of the bureaucracy under way.

    Yet, as researchers on authoritarian politics, it is no surprise to us that a leader bent on expanding his own power, such as Trump, would see the bureaucracy as a key target. Here’s why.

    Elon Musk, standing next to President Donald Trump, explains his theory concerning government bureaucracy.

    Dismantle democracy from within

    A well-functioning bureaucracy is an organization of highly qualified civil servants who follow established rules to prevent abuses of power. Bureaucracies, in this way, are an important part of democracy that constrain executive behavior.

    For this reason, aspiring strongmen are especially likely to go after them. Whether by shuffling the personnel of agencies, creating new ones, or limiting their capacity for oversight, a common tactic among power-hungry leaders is establishing control over the government’s bureaucracy. Following a failed coup attempt in 2016, for example, Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdoğan fired or detained as many as 100,000 government workers.

    In the short term, greater executive control over the bureaucracy gives these leaders a valuable tool for rewarding their elite supporters, especially as diminished government oversight increases opportunities for corruption and the dispersion of rewards to such insiders. Erdoğan, for example, by 2017 had worked to fill lower-level bureaucratic positions with loyalists of his party, the AKP, to ensure the party’s influence over corruption investigations.

    In the long term, this hollowing out and reshaping of the bureaucracy is part of a broader plan in which aspiring autocrats usurp control over all institutions that can constrain them, such as the legislature and the courts. As we document in our book, “The Origins of Elected Strongmen,” attacks on the bureaucracy constitute a significant step in a larger process in which elected leaders dismantle democracy from within.

    Take control of bureaucracy

    The seemingly bizarre series of events that have transpired in Washington since Trump came to power are highly consistent with other countries where democracy has been dismantled.

    Take Benin, for example. Its leader, Patrice Talon – one of the wealthiest people in Africa – came to power in democratic elections in 2016.

    Soon after taking control, Talon created new agencies housed in the executive office and defunded existing ones, as a means of skirting bureaucratic constraints to his rule. The central affairs of the state were in the hands of an informal cabinet, initially led by Olivier Boko, a wealthy businessman considered to be Talon’s right-hand man despite not having any official position in government.

    Talon and his inner circle used this control over the state to enrich themselves, turning the country into what one journalist referred to as “a company in the hands of Talon and his very close clique.”

    Consolidating control over the bureaucracy was just one step in a larger process of turning Benin into an autocratic state. Talon eventually amassed greater power and influence over key state institutions, such as the judiciary, and intervened in the electoral process to ensure his continued rule. By 2021, Benin could no longer be considered a democracy.

    Purge civil service

    A similar dynamic occurred in Hungary. After governing relatively conventionally for one term, Prime Minister Viktor Orban was defeated in elections in 2002. He blamed that outcome on unfriendly media and never accepted the results as legitimate.

    Orban returned to office in 2010, bent on retribution.

    Orban ordered mass firings of civil servants and put allies of his party, Fidesz, in crucial roles. He also used the dismantling of bureaucratic constraints to pad the pockets of the elites whose support he needed to maintain power.

    As a Hungarian former politician wrote in 2016, “While the mafia state derails the bureaucratic administration, it organizes, monopolizes the channels of corruption and keeps them in order.”

    Likewise in Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez had his cronies draw up a blacklist of civil servants to be purged for signing a petition in support of a referendum to determine whether Chávez should be recalled from office in 2004; government employees who signed were subsequently fired from their jobs.

    More than a decade later, Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s current leader, would conduct his own purge of civil servants after they signed a petition to hold another recall referendum. After multiple rounds of government and military purges, Maduro was able to overturn an election he lost and jail his opponents, knowing full well the judges and generals would follow his orders.

    Benin’s leader, Patrice Talon, consolidated control over the bureaucracy as part of a larger process of turning the country into an autocratic state.
    Yanick Folly/AFP via Getty Images

    Foster culture of secrecy and suspicion

    Orban and Chavez, like Talon, were democratically elected but went on to undermine democracy.

    In environments where loyalty to the leader is prioritized over all else, and purges can happen at a moment’s notice, few people are willing to speak up about abuses of power or stand in the way of a power grab.

    Fostering a culture of secrecy and mutual suspicion among government officials is intentional and serves the leader’s interests.

    As a World Bank report highlighted in 1983, in President Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo, the bureaucracy had been “privatized by the ruling clique,” creating a climate in which “fear and repression … prevented any serious threat from dissenting groups.”

    When leaders gain full power over the bureaucracy, they use it to reward and punish ordinary citizens as well. This was a tried-and-true tactic under the PRI’s rule in Mexico for much of the 20th century, where citizens who supported the PRI were more likely to receive government benefits.

    In short, when aspiring autocrats come to power, career bureaucrats are a common target, often replaced by unqualified loyalists who would never be hired for the position based on merit. Recent events in the U.S., as unprecedented as they may seem, are precisely what we would expect with the return of Trump, a would-be autocrat, to power.

    Andrea Kendall-Taylor is affiliated with the Center for New American Security.

    Joe Wright has received funding from the Charles Koch Foundation.

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

    – ref. Firing civil servants and dismantling government departments is how aspiring strongmen consolidate personal power – lessons from around the globe – https://theconversation.com/firing-civil-servants-and-dismantling-government-departments-is-how-aspiring-strongmen-consolidate-personal-power-lessons-from-around-the-globe-249089

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova presented the national project “Personnel” to the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans’ Affairs

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Tatyana Golikova presented the new national project “Personnel” to the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans’ Affairs

    February 18, 2025

    Tatyana Golikova presented the new national project “Personnel” to the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans’ Affairs

    February 18, 2025

    Tatyana Golikova presented the new national project “Personnel” to the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans’ Affairs

    February 18, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Tatyana Golikova presented the new national project “Personnel” to the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans’ Affairs

    Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and representatives of the federal executive authorities presented the new national project “Personnel” to the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans’ Affairs. Tatyana Golikova and Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov spoke about the prerequisites for the formation, main goals and directions of the national project. Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs and the Social Fund of Russia also took part in the presentation.

    As Tatyana Golikova noted, in his Address to the Federal Assembly in February last year, the President named Russia’s entry into the world’s four largest economies by 2030 as one of the country’s development priorities. And one of the most important tasks associated with this is providing the economy with personnel.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that currently there are 1.5 million vacancies available on the Rabota Rossii portal in the country, a third of which (471 thousand) are blue-collar jobs. At the same time, the unemployment rate at the end of 2024 did not exceed 2.3%. According to preliminary estimates, up to 3.1 million workers need to be additionally attracted to the economy by 2030 compared to 2022 as a basis. “This means that we need to additionally involve about 800 thousand people in the economy by 2030. But that’s not all, because during the same period, based on demographic trends that traditionally occur in the labor market every year, which we did not notice during the period of calm economic development, we will have to replace another 10.1 million people due to retirement. That is, the total estimate of both replacement and involvement in the economy today is 10.9 million people,” the Deputy Prime Minister explained.

    In the next five years, about 6.7 million graduates from universities and colleges will enter the labor market, and our task is to provide them with qualified advanced professional training in accordance with the labor market forecast. “On the one hand, this is our golden resource, and on the other hand, we must very clearly understand that the young people entering the labor market meet the needs of the labor market. This is the most difficult task, because in a number of industries and professions there is a discrepancy with the needs of the labor market. We see that the need for qualified labor today makes up 70% of the total need, the rest are specialists in higher education,” noted Tatyana Golikova.

    The established trends served as prerequisites for the development of a new interdepartmental national project “Personnel”.

    “Over 116 billion rubles will be allocated for the implementation of the national project in the next six years, of which over 113 billion rubles will come from the federal budget. We plan that as a result, a new model for managing the country’s personnel supply will be created, which will allow us to increase the rate of reduction of the personnel deficit by 2030 by increasing employment by 3.4%,” said Tatyana Golikova.

    The national project includes four federal projects: “Labour Market Management”, “Education for the Labour Market”, “Active Measures to Promote Employment”, and “The Working Person”.

    The first is aimed at managing the labor market. It is planned to create mechanisms and tools for effective involvement in employment. The average time of employment for citizens who applied to employment centers in search of suitable work will be reduced by 25%. This will be facilitated by the modernization of more than 1.5 thousand employment centers, the creation of new models of their work based on the annual updating of the forecast of the need of economic sectors for specialists for a five-year period, the development of services of the unified digital platform “Work in Russia”.

    The second federal project is aimed at creating a system for training personnel for priority sectors of the economy based on the forecast of demand. Other national projects are also aimed at training personnel, for example, “Youth and Children”, within the framework of which the “Professionality” project is being implemented.

    Within the framework of the national project “Personnel”, it is planned to create 298 career centers based at universities, and a routing of employment for graduates of both secondary and higher education will be introduced.

    The third federal project is aimed at creating an effective system of training, retraining and advanced training of personnel for priority sectors of the economy based on the forecast of demand for them. In parallel, issues related to providing opportunities for citizens experiencing difficulties in finding work will be resolved. Thus, the share of equipped workplaces for which people with disabilities are employed will be increased.

    The fourth federal project is a continuation of the policy of increasing the prestige of blue-collar jobs.

    Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov emphasized that, based on the tasks set by the head of state, the main goal of the national project “Personnel” is to meet the economy’s need for personnel, primarily through our internal reserves. The main reserves of the labor market: increasing labor productivity; increasing the level of youth employment; increasing the employment of citizens with disabilities; involving citizens caring for loved ones in the economy; maintaining employment of workers with family responsibilities.

    One of the most important activities of the national project is the preparation of an annual five-year forecast of personnel needs and its linking with the target figures for admission.

    “The President set the task of calculating how many and what kind of specialists, in which regions we will need in order to ensure national development goals, technological leadership projects. We have formed a forecast of personnel needs for a five-year period. It took into account the forecast of socio-economic development, target economic indicators, projects included in strategic planning documents, demographic trends, and the rate of growth of labor productivity,” said Anton Kotyakov.

    Not only the new demand that arises due to the growth of industries was analyzed, but also the so-called replacement demand related to the annual retirement of workers. In addition, in order to break down the structure of demand in detail by skill levels and specialties, an all-Russian survey of employers was conducted, in which 260 thousand companies with 22 million employees took part. In preparing the forecast, experts processed 3 million unique job titles.

    “As a result of this large-scale and painstaking work, we have received for the first time a detailed forecast in the industry, regional and professional-qualification contexts. The forecast will be calculated annually and taken into account when forming the control figures for admission. Considering that the adaptation of educational processes to the needs of the economy does not happen at once, we understand that a longer forecasting corridor is needed. Therefore, from April 1, an all-Russian survey of employers on the prospective need of the economy for personnel will start for the next forecast. It is planned to calculate it for seven years at once – until 2032,” said Anton Kotyakov.

    In conclusion, Tatyana Golikova and representatives of the federal executive authorities answered questions from deputies regarding the national project “Personnel”.

    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 Europe: New President of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs’ Collège de Terminologie et de Néologie (14 Feb. 2025)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    Following on from the 19th Francophone Summit and the 30th anniversary of the Toubon Law governing the use of the French language, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs is continuing its efforts to promote the French language and ensure that it plays a central role in international relations.

    The Ministry is committed to creating and popularizing French terms and expressions for new concepts with foreign names via its Collège de Terminologie et de Néologie [“College of Terminology and Neology”]. The College also has authority over international place names and is responsible for designating the names of countries, inhabitants, capitals, etc.

    It plays a major role in the interministerial structure tasked with enriching the French language.

    Given the challenges posed by disinformation and the need to tackle issues relating to AI, the clear and precise usage of the correct words is vital.

    Former Ambassador François Gauthier is the new president of the College, which falls under the supervision of Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens, the senior official responsible for terminology and the French language who also serves as Director of Cultural, Educational, Academic and Scientific Diplomacy. Mr. Gauthier succeeds Véronique Bujon-Barré in this position.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flagship North Paddington Community Hub to launch this Spring | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster Council’s flagship Community Hub will launch in North Paddington in March. The new facility at Ernest Harris House will bring services and support into the heart of the local community.

    Community Hubs are a central part of the council’s commitment to building a Fairer Westminster, by making it easier for residents to access activities and support in their area. They act as a single front door where residents can get advice on housing, finances, employment & benefits, and IT literacy. The council launched two mini-hubs at Victoria Library and Charing Cross Library last year.

    The Exchange at Ernest Harriss House will be Westminster’s first full Community Hub and will provide local residents with access to a wide range of activities, services, and support, tailored to the needs of the community. Operated by the trusted North Paddington Foodbank, an established local charity with a strong track record of supporting the community, The Exchange will collaborate with a range of partners to ensure the hub meets the diverse needs of its users.

    Proposed activities available at this centre include coffee mornings, lunch clubs, health and wellbeing activities for older people, income, housing and employment advice, homework clubs, baking and cooking workshops, recovery group sessions, arts and crafts, community health groups and advice services.

    This initiative represents the culmination of 18 months of collaboration between the council, local residents, and partners. Community members have been instrumental in co-designing the hub, influencing everything from its design and materials to the activities on offer and even the selection of the operator. The co-design process reflects the Council’s commitment to working differently under the Fairer Westminster plan, placing community voices at the heart of decision-making.

    Councillor Cara Sanquest, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:

    “I’m really pleased that Westminster City Council is opening a brand new Community Hub in the heart of North Paddington. This new public space will provide a place for local people in some of our most deprived wards to speak to council staff face to face, and to access support from the foodbank, as well as an exciting programme of cultural and social activities and support.

    I’m proud that this new hub has been co-designed with local residents. We spoke with over 400 residents to find out they would like at the community hub, and I’m excited that we have been able to give local people real decision making power to shape the services and support in their local area.”

    Thomas Delap, Chief Executive, North Paddington Foodbank, said:

    “The opening of The Exchange at Ernest Harriss House is a major step in tackling poverty, reducing health inequalities, and creating a truly welcoming space for everyone in the community. At NPFB, we’re proud to be leading this initiative—offering not just vital support, but opportunities for people to try something new or simply connect with friends over coffee. The hub will be a place where residents can access the help they need, engage in a rich cultural programme, and build lasting relationships—a true celebration of our diverse community.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation for Central Lancashire Local Plan Live on Monday 24 February

    Source: City of Preston

    Following the release of the Publication version of the Central Lancashire Local Plan (CLLP) in January, consultation will go live on Monday, 24 February from 2pm concluding on Monday, 14 April at 11.59pm. The consultation will provide stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the new local plan, before it’s submitted to the Secretary of State in Summer 2025.

    The CLLP is a strategic plan for the area of Chorley, South Ribble and Preston and sets out the three councils’ approach to managing and delivering development (residential, employment and other infrastructure) and protecting the environment for the three districts between 2023 and 2041.

    It is an important strategy which supports delivery of corporate ambitions and objectives, such as provision of affordable housing, tackling health and social inequalities and tackling the climate emergency.

    The consultation will include a series of in-person events across Preston, Chorley, and South Ribble, along with the option to complete the online survey Citizen Space – Central Lancashire Local Plan. The events start on Monday 24 February and are being held across each Borough, with anyone welcome to attend whichever is most convenient to them.

    Councillor Amber Afzal, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulation, said:

    “This phase of the Central Lancashire Local Plan is crucial in shaping Preston’s future, aligning with the City Council’s vision for a growing, thriving community.

    “Our focus is on delivering the right types of homes, including more affordable housing, to help tackle health and social inequalities.

    “We encourage residents, businesses, and stakeholders to get involved and share their feedback through the consultation.”

    Face-to-face events in Preston

    • Wednesday 26 February, Preston Markets, 11am to 2pm
    • Wednesday 5 March, UCLan Cottam Campus, 3pm to 6om
    • Thursday 6 March, Grimsargh Village Hall, 3.30pm to 6.30pm
    • Thursday 13 March, Preston Town Hall, 3pm to 7pm
    • Thursday 20 March, Fulwood Methodist Church, 3pm to 7pm

    Map address for face to face events

    Preston Markets, Earl Street, Preston, PR1 2JA.
    UCLan Sports Arena, Tom Benson Way, Cottam, Preston, PR2 1SG.
    Grimsargh Village Hall, Preston Road, Grimsargh, Preston PR2 5JS.
    Preston Town Hall, Lancaster Road, PR1 2RL.
    Fulwood Methodist Church, Watling Street Road, Fulwood, Preston PR2 8EA.

    More information

    Central Lancashire Local Plan

    For full details of the plan see Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs – Central Lancashire Local Plan.

    Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Have your say on plans to transform Seafield into a new environmentally friendly neighbourhood

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Council is inviting residents to share their views on the regeneration of Seafield to make sure it responds to the needs and wishes of the local community.

    As a key site for delivering the goals set out in the Edinburgh City Plan 2030, plans for the narrow stretch of land include a new promenade, GP surgery and opportunities for new shops and workplaces.

    The coastal site could also include as many as 2,700 new homes, with 35% of homes being affordable, to address the Capital’s housing emergency. Future residents will benefit from the provision of a heat network which will help keep energy bills down whilst contributing to the city’s net zero targets.

    The consultation, which closes on Wednesday 30 April 2025, will build on the first two stages of engagement and consultation carried out to date. Residents can attend a drop-in session to discuss the plans, or they can take part in an online survey via the Consultation Hub.

    Planning Convener James Dalgleish said:

    Our draft plan to transform Seafield into a new environmentally friendly neighbourhood will take us one step further to tackling our housing emergency and reaching net zero by 2030.

    This is a chance for residents to shape the future of the area – whether it’s about improving transport links, preserving green spaces or introducing new community facilities and we’re eager to hear everyone’s ideas for a Seafield that serves the whole community.

    I’d encourage everyone to share their views with us by filling in our online survey or coming along to one of our consultation drop-in events.

     The in-person events will take place on the following dates and times:

    • Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue, Edinburgh, EH15 1AU, Saturday 8 March 10:30-1:30pm
    • Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH6 4AE, Friday 21 March 12:30-3:30pm
    • Craigentinny Community Centre, 9 Loaning Road, Edinburgh, EH7 6JE, Saturday 22 March 10:30-1:30pm

    Published: February 18th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Multilateralism: What is it, and why does it matter?

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    UN Affairs

    Multilateralism is a term frequently used at the United Nations, but it’s not a concept that is only relevant to the corridors and conference rooms where international diplomacy takes place.

    Beyond the UN, it affects people’s daily lives in many ways. It helps reduce conflicts, grow our economies, and allows us to travel safely around the world. It’s also crucial for tackling big global problems like climate change and unregulated artificial intelligence.

    What does “multilateral” actually mean?  

    Originally, “multilateral” was a geometry term meaning “many-sided.”

    Now, it describes international politics and diplomacy, where many countries with different views and goals work together.

    The United Nations system is the principal multilateral forum where countries come together to solve global problems. They hold conferences, summits, and meetings to address important issues.

    UN Photo/Loey Felipe

    The world comes together to debate issues at the UN General Assembly in New York.

    Cooperation, Compromise, and Coordination  

    In international affairs, countries work together (cooperation), make deals (compromise), and organize their efforts (coordination) to solve problems that one country alone couldn’t handle.

    These three “Cs” help build trust and settle disputes peacefully.

    Making the modern world possible  

    Imagine if every country developed its own system for phone calls, airlines, shipping or mail developed nationally – and did not coordinate with others. Global travel, communication, and trade would be a mess. Thanks to multilateralism, we have international systems that make these things possible.

    The fact that we have global standards for a range of our daily activities from health to postal systems to travel is down to multilateralism, and the creation of a series of multilateral organizations, many of which were established in the 19th Century, and have now become part of the UN System.

    Two multilateral organizations that pre-date the UN are:

    International Telecommunications Union (ITU): Started in 1865 to standardize telegraph networks. Now, it helps with governance for radio frequencies, satellites, and the internet.

    International Labour Organization (ILO): Founded in 1919 to promote workers’ rights, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

    © Unsplash/Brunno Tozzo

    Multilateralism enables international coordination across sectors, including communication.

    Making multilateral policies  

    Since 1945, the UN has helped countries work together and create important agreements.

    The central policy-making arm of the Organization is the General Assembly, a unique forum for multilateral discussions of international issues.

    Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote, no matter the size of their economy, population, or military might: Monaco’s vote carries the same weight as China’s.

    Achievements of the UN  

    Another feature of multilateralism is standard-setting. The General Assembly has this normative role and has created many international laws and treaties on disarmament, human rights, and environmental protection.

    One of its greatest accomplishments is the drafting and adoption of the groundbreaking Universal Declaration of Human Rights which paved the way for a comprehensive body of human rights law.  

    Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, it was proclaimed by the General Assembly in 1948.

    It set out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected and has inspired the constitutions of many newly independent States and new democracies.

    UN Photo

    Young children read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at a playground. (Archive)

    The Cold War  

    During the Cold War (late 1940s to early 1990s), the UN played a key role in peacekeeping and arms control.

    Despite the threat of nuclear war, a third world war was avoided partly because of the UN providing a platform for discussion and decision-making.

    The UN today  

    Some 80 years later, the United Nations is still the world’s primary multilateral organization, harmonizing and coordinating international action in fields ranging from peacekeeping to economic development to trade.

    Millions of lives have been saved thanks to the humanitarian assistance provided and coordinated by the United Nations, bringing food, health and shelter to conflict and disaster zones.

    The multilateral framework has expanded beyond countries to include representatives of civil society, youth and business, among others.

    © UNRWA

    UN staff support a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.

    What’s next?

    Member States often struggle to cope effectively with today’s global threats and challenges, from devastating civil wars and cross-border conflicts to growing economic inequality between and within countries, and the existential threats of unregulated artificial intelligence and climate change.

    To make sure that the UN remains fit for purpose as the world’s pre-eminent forum for multilateralism in the decades to come, in 2020 Member States invited the Secretary-General, António Guterres, to develop a vision for stronger global governance, for present and future generations.

    Policy reforms in areas from peacekeeping to the international financial architecture, education and youth engagement in policymaking were encapsulated in Our Common Agenda, which covered recommendations for an upgraded UN which in turn fed into the landmark Pact for the Future, which was adopted by world leaders at the Summit for the Future meeting at the United Nations in New York in September 2024.

    Call to action by the UN chief

    In his first year as Secretary-General, António Guterres said having laws and conventions are not enough.

    He urged: “We need stronger commitment to a rules-based order, with the United Nations at its centre, with the different institutions and treaties that bring the Charter to life.”

    He called for networked multilateralism – with other international and regional organizations – and an inclusive multilateralism that would withstand the tests and threats of today and tomorrow.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: DDB Miner Introduces Enhanced Profitability with New Contracts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, Feb. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DDB Miner a leading cloud mining platform, has launched a series of upgraded mining contracts designed to maximize profitability for cryptocurrency investors. With the increasing demand for passive income opportunities in the crypto space, these new contracts offer enhanced returns, stability, and accessibility for both novice and experienced miners.

    Revolutionizing Cloud Mining with New Contracts

    The latest contracts from DDB Miner provide an easy and efficient way for investors to earn stable returns without the need for expensive hardware or technical expertise. By leveraging renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, DDB Miner continues to drive down operational costs while ensuring environmentally friendly mining solutions.

    Key Features of the New Cloud Mining Contracts

    • Flexible Investment Options: From entry-level to high-value contracts, users can choose a plan that aligns with their financial goals.
    • Daily Payouts: Investors receive earnings every 24 hours, ensuring a steady cash flow.
    • Automatic Principal Return: At the end of the contract term, the initial investment is automatically returned.
    • Multi-Currency Support: Settle earnings in popular cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, USDT, DOGE, BCH, and SOL.
    • Affiliate Program: Users can earn referral bonuses of up to $22,000 by inviting friends to the platform.

    New Contract Offerings

    • Experience Contract: $100 investment – Total net profit: $106
    • Classic Contract: $1,000 investment – Total net profit: $1,131
    • Premium Contract: $10,000 investment – Total net profit: $18,750
    • Super Contract: $50,000 investment – Total net profit: $97,500

    Why Choose DDB Miner?

    Since its founding in 2017, DDB Miner has built a global user base of over 9 million members. The company operates multiple large-scale mining farms and contributes approximately 3.8% of the world’s computing power. By partnering with top mining equipment manufacturers like Bitmain and Antminer, DDB Miner ensures optimal efficiency and stability for its users.

    Additionally, DDB Miner is legally registered and regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority, offering a secure and compliant environment for cloud mining enthusiasts.

    How to Get Started

    1. Register Now: Sign up and receive a $12 bonus.
    2. Choose a Contract: Select an investment plan that suits your goals.
    3. Start Earning: Activate the contract and let the system mine for you.
    4. Track and Withdraw: Monitor your profits through the platform’s intuitive dashboard and withdraw earnings at your convenience.

    To learn more about the new cloud mining contracts, visit DDB Miner’s official website or download the mobile app from Google Play or the Apple Store.

    About DDB Miner DDB Miner is a trusted cloud mining platform, providing network encryption technology services and innovative mining solutions since 2017. With a commitment to clean energy, regulatory compliance, and advanced technology, DDB Miner continues to offer profitable and sustainable mining opportunities for global investors.

    Start using DDB Miner’s worry-free cloud mining solution to increase your income.

    For more details, please visit the DDB Miner official website: https://ddbminer.com.

    Or from Google Play or Apple Store Download our mobile app.

    Media Contact:
    Katerina Audrey
    DDB Miner Media Relations
    Email: info@ddbminer.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by “DDB Miner”. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

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