Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: 56% of Russians are satisfied with the quality and accessibility of roads in the regions

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Overpass on the Ivanovo-Rodniki highway, Ivanovo region

    According to a study by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), about 56% of Russians are satisfied with the quality and accessibility of regional and local roads. The survey was conducted in December 2024 to measure the relevant indicator of the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads.” This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

    “We can now confidently say that the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads” has demonstrated successful results. We have met all the key indicators, and even exceeded some. The main thing is that people notice positive changes. This is confirmed by social surveys. According to VTsIOM, 56% of Russians are satisfied with the quality and accessibility of regional and local roads. Improving the quality of roads in the regions is not only a matter of travel comfort, but also a tangible contribution to the overall improvement of the quality of life of citizens. Safe, modern roads contribute to the development of territories, increase population mobility and open up new socio-economic opportunities. Of course, not all roads have become high-quality yet. There are still many problems in this area, but we are gradually solving them. Although the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads” has been completed, the work will be continued in the new national project “Infrastructure for Life”, – said Marat Khusnullin.

    The results obtained during the survey are significantly higher than the planned indicators set by the national road project passport. The target value of the indicator in 2024 is 50%.

    “The results of the implementation of the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads” have not gone unnoticed. Over six years, in order to achieve the road national project indicators for all programs with federal funding, we have repaired, reconstructed and built more than 150 thousand km of roads across the country. The main task that we set for ourselves has been accomplished – to improve the quality of life of the population, to ensure that in every region, in every city, in every village, people feel positive changes in the road industry. This is why we controlled all stages of the implementation of road activities with an accuracy of up to a penny of budget funds spent and up to every centimeter of asphalt laid,” said the head of the Federal Road Agency Roman Novikov.

    The survey, which involved 172 thousand respondents, was conducted in 89 regions. The regions that were leaders in terms of population satisfaction with the quality and accessibility of regional and local roads were the Chechen Republic (84%), the city of Sevastopol (83%) and the Belgorod Region (78%).

    The leading regions (the indicator value is 65% and higher) also include: Tyumen Oblast (74%), Moscow (73%), the Republic of Crimea (73%), the Republic of Tatarstan (73%), Kaliningrad Oblast (70%), Lugansk People’s Republic (68%), Murmansk Oblast (66%), Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (66%), Zaporozhye Oblast (65%), Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (65%), Vologda Oblast (65%), Mari El Republic (65%), Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (65%).

    According to a study by VTsIOM, citizens note positive changes in the provision of high-quality, accessible and safe roads, primarily due to timely, high-quality repair work and the construction of new roads, interchanges and infrastructure.

    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: ING to sell its business in Russia to Global Development JSC

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ING to sell its business in Russia to Global Development JSC

    ING announced today that it has reached an agreement on the sale of its business in Russia to Global Development JSC, a Russian company owned by a Moscow-based financial investor with a background in factoring services. This transaction will effectively end ING’s activities in the Russian market. Under the terms of the agreement, Global Development will acquire all shares of ING Bank (Eurasia) JSC, taking over all Russian onshore activities and staff. Global Development intends to continue to serve customers in Russia under a new brand. The transaction, which has been preceded by extensive due diligence, is subject to various regulatory approvals and is expected to be closed in the third quarter of 2025.

    Since February 2022, ING has taken on no new business with Russian companies, has scaled down operations and has taken actions to separate the business from ING’s networks and systems. At the same time ING’s total lending exposure to Russian clients has been reduced by more than 75%.

    ING expects a negative P&L impact of around €0.7 billion post tax. This includes an estimated book loss of around €0.4 billion, representing the difference between the sale price and the book value of the business, which would have a negative impact of around 5 basis points on ING’s CET1 ratio. It also includes an estimated negative impact of around €0.3 billion from recycling the currency translation adjustment through P&L, that is currently booked in equity for past changes of the value of ING Bank (Eurasia) JSC as a result of exchange rate movements. This currency translation adjustment recycling will not affect ING’s CET1 ratio and resilient net profit.

    After the transaction, ING will continue to further reduce its offshore exposure to Russian clients. This exposure, which is booked by other ING entities outside of Russia, amounted to €1.0 billion as of 30 September 2024, of which €0.5 billion is under ECA or CPRI cover.

    Note for editors

    For more on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom or via X @ING_news feed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

    ING PROFILE
    ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

    ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

    ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as ‘AA’ in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.

    Important legal information

    Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’).

    ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

    Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) non-compliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the effects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change and ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com.

    This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

    Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

    This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING’s control.

    Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

    This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: BAWAG Group: Mandates of Management Board Members extended through end of 2029

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VIENNA, Austria – January 28, 2025 – The Supervisory Board of BAWAG Group has decided to extend the mandates of all six Management Board members through the end of December 2029. This reflects the long-term commitment of both the Supervisory Board and Management Board members to the long-term profitable growth and success of the Group.

    My Supervisory Board colleagues and I are proud to announce that we’ve extended the mandates of the Management Board through the end of 2029. I am personally excited about the journey ahead for the Group. Given the recent acquisitions, I wanted to ensure that the same team, which successfully transformed the franchise over the last decade, continues to drive forward the execution of our strategy while keeping the continuity of leadership,” commented Chair of the Supervisory Board Egbert Fleischer.

    First and foremost, I want to thank the Supervisory Board for securing the long-term commitment of the Management Board and supporting our leadership team over the years. We have worked together as a team for more than a decade and built a great senior leadership team that has driven the transformation of the Group. Our success is a testimony to the merits of being patient, disciplined, and making strategic decisions with a long-term perspective. I am grateful for the support from our Supervisory Board, investors, customers, and team members that have placed their trust in the Management Board as stewards of this great company. The future of the bank has never looked so bright, and the team is excited about the many opportunities ahead. We will do our best to continue delivering for all stakeholders,” comments Anas Abuzaakouk, CEO of BAWAG Group.

    BAWAG Group will report FY 2024 results on March 4, 2025 and will host an Investor Day on the same day.

    About BAWAG Group

    BAWAG Group AG is a publicly listed holding company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, serving 2.5 million retail, small business, corporate, real estate and public sector customers across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Western Europe, and the United States. The Group operates under various brands and across multiple channels offering comprehensive savings, payment, lending, leasing, investment, building society, factoring and insurance products and services. Our goal is to deliver simple, transparent, and affordable financial products and services that our customers need. BAWAG Group’s Investor Relations website https://www.bawaggroup.com/ir contains further information, including financial and other information for investors.

    Forward looking statement

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” regarding the financial condition, results of operations, business plans and future performance of BAWAG Group. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could” and other similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, the regulatory environment, loan concentrations, vendors, employees, technology, competition, and interest rates. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements as actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. Neither BAWAG Group nor any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its content or otherwise arising in connection with this document. This report does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities and neither it nor any part of it shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. This statement is included for the express purpose of invoking “safe harbor provisions”.

    Contact:

    Financial Community:

    Jutta Wimmer (Head of Investor Relations)
    Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-22474
    IR Hotline: +43 (0) 5 99 05-34444
    E-mail: investor.relations@bawaggroup.com

    Media:

    Manfred Rapolter (Head of Corporate Communications and Social Engagement)
    Tel: +43 (0) 5 99 05-31210
    E-mail: communications@bawaggroup.com

    This text can also be downloaded from our website: https://www.bawaggroup.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Viridien Awarded a Three-Year Contract by Petroleum Development Oman for Dedicated Seismic Processing Services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, France – January 28, 2025

    Viridien has been awarded a three-year contract by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to provide advanced land seismic imaging services at its dedicated processing center (DPC) in Muscat, Oman. This new contract continues a longstanding collaborative partnership between Viridien and PDO.

    Viridien geophysical experts at the Muscat center, its largest DPC worldwide, will work to deploy the most advanced proprietary algorithms to bring step-changes in image quality to PDO’s ever-growing library of seismic data. Oman land data is characterized by complex near-surface conditions and strong multiples. High-resolution velocity model building, and elastic full-waveform inversion will be key to overcoming these challenges and to enhancing subsurface understanding. Viridien also will address new challenges, such as increased data density, developing land 4D monitoring and reinforcing synergies between seismic imaging and reservoir characterization. To support these capabilities, Viridien HPC & Cloud Solutions specialists will deliver the in-house High-Performance Computing (HPC) capacity required to implement the most advanced workflows.

    Viridien remains committed to its significant In-Country Value initiatives within Oman that promote talent development, education, and outreach through close ties with local universities.

    Sophie Zurquiyah, CEO, Viridien, said: “Congratulations to our Muscat DPC team whose technical excellence and outstanding service have led to this new contract award. We will build on this success, by continuing to advance our geoscience and HPC technologies to address PDO’s unique E&P challenges and support their business objectives.”

    About Viridien:

    Viridien (www.viridiengroup.com) is an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company that pushes the boundaries of science for a more prosperous and sustainable future. With our ingenuity, drive and deep curiosity we discover new insights, innovations, and solutions that efficiently and responsibly resolve complex natural resource, digital, energy transition and infrastructure challenges. Viridien employs around 3,500 people worldwide and is listed as VIRI on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: FR001400PVN6).

    Contacts

    Investor Relations

    Jean-Baptiste Roussille
    Tel: + 33 6 14 51 09 88
    E-Mail: jean-baptiste.roussille@viridiengroup.com

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Russia will host 95 international tournaments in 2025

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    In 2025, 14.4 thousand sporting events are planned in Russia, of which more than 9 thousand have already been included in the unified calendar plan. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev presented plans for the development of competitive activities and Russia’s participation in the international sports movement.

    Of the planned events, 290 competitions have been classified as priorities.

    “As President Vladimir Putin noted, Russia has always been and will remain true to the ideals of sport and will continue to actively promote them in the country and in the world – in close cooperation with our friends from other countries. This year, the Russian Federation will host 95 international tournaments, including with athletes from BRICS, SCO, EAEU and CIS, 40 all-Russian complex competitions with foreign participants and teams, as well as 155 Russian championships in Olympic sports and other important sports disciplines,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that, despite external restrictions, Russia maintains high competitive activity.

    “On the international stage, Russian athletes will take part in 57 world championships in Olympic sports. One of the key events will be the Games of the Future, which were first held in Russia in 2024, and this year will be held in the United Arab Emirates,” added Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    According to him, the Government continues to support Russian athletes and create conditions for their training and participation in competitions.

    “Russia is planning to host 25 major international competitions with the participation of foreign athletes. The Silk Way Race will once again pass through Russia and Mongolia, bringing together the best racers in the world. Our athletes must be ready for the largest world competitions – this is the strategic goal that President Vladimir Putin sets for our industry,” said Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev.

    These tournaments include the Ivan Yarygin Wrestling Cup, which was attended by representatives from 20 countries, the Alina Kabaeva Rhythmic Gymnastics Champions Cup, and the Moscow Sabre International Fencing Tournament, which will bring together athletes from 15 countries.

    “We will increase the number of major international competitions in Russia and are ready to offer our partners modern sports venues and a high level of organization. We are waiting for a consolidated plan for holding world championships and other international tournaments up to 2038 from sports federations by February 1,” the minister emphasized.

    Mikhail Degtyarev also noted that 2025 will be a special year in terms of sporting events.

    “The year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War has been declared the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland by Russian President Vladimir Putin. We have proposed that sports leagues, clubs and federations use the approved brand book of the Pobeda organizing committee at each match and tournament, inform spectators about the significance of this year and hold patriotic events. More than 70 major sporting events, including the Cross of Nations, the Run.RF, the Spartakiad of Pre-Conscription Youth and many others, will be dedicated to this important date,” the Minister of Sports said.

    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 USA News: The National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, 2025

    Source: The White House

    Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people.     Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history.  On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.
         Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.  To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength.  To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude.  And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.
         Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world.  So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.
         In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history.  In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend.  To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.
         As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community.  We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps.  We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms.  We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel.  And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.
         NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.  On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: Italy resumes controversial migrant transfers to Albania

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Italy has restarted its contentious program of sending asylum seekers picked up in the Mediterranean to Albania, months after judges in Rome ruled against the transfers.

    On Sunday, an Italian Navy vessel transported 49 male asylum seekers to Albania. The program involving Albania is part of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s strategy to curb the number of migrants coming to Italy.

    The plan is controversial as Albania is outside the European Union, meaning the refugees are not protected under EU asylum rules.

    Domestic critics in Italy said the program is costly and ineffective, considering its projected expense of 800 million euros (around $840 million) will address only a tiny fraction of the migrant influx to Italy each year.

    According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 66,000 asylum seekers landed on Italian shores in 2024, down dramatically from nearly 158,000 in the previous year. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Denmark boosts Arctic defence following US interest in Greenland

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Denmark has unveiled plans to bolster its military presence in the Arctic amid rising concerns over the U.S. interest in acquiring Greenland, a Danish-owned territory.

    Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced late Monday that the government will allocate 14.6 billion Danish krona (approximately $2 billion) to boost the defence of Greenland, Arctic Sea and Northern Atlantic. The decision follows an agreement among Danish political parties.

    The plans will include three new arctic naval vessels and two long-range drones, increased surveillance and crisis training for the local residents. Poulsen said in a press conference that these preparations are just the initial phase, with further plans expected to be finalized by summer.

    According to Danish Broadcasting Corporation, the new vessels would enter service within five or six years, expected to replace existing vessels.

    When questioned about whether these measures would “calm down” U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland, Poulsen refrained from a direct response, underlining the importance of co-operation with NATO allies, including Canada, the United States and Norway.

    President Trump has recently reiterated the U.S. interest in Greenland, which remains an autonomous area under Danish sovereignty.

    Referring to an upcoming meeting on Tuesday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Europe is in a serious situation. “With war on the continent and changes in the geopolitical reality. In such a time, unity is crucial.”

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The anniversary season of the project “Your Move” has started

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The All-Russian student project “Your Move”, which is part of the presidential platform’s line of projects “Russia is a country of opportunity” and is being implemented with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, announced the start of the anniversary fifth season on Russian Students’ Day.

    Students of NSU and other universities of the Novosibirsk region can take part in both traditional and new competition tracks, including team ones, as well as in updated special projects.

    — “Your Move” is one of the main student projects in Russia, and its scale is growing every year. I know that thousands of students across the country are eagerly awaiting the start of the anniversary season. We are launching five competition tracks, including two new team tracks, one of which is created for regional teams of the project. There are other innovations. For example, teachers, employees and vice-rectors of universities and colleges can now take part in the special project “Your Move x Debate”, and in the special project “Your Move x Improvisation” you can choose one of three directions — become a member of a duet, a curator of a university club or a comedy coach. Let’s make the new season bright and memorable together!” — said Alexey Agafonov, First Deputy General Director of the presidential platform “Russia — Land of Opportunities”.

    The fifth season of the project “Your Move” includes five competition tracks, including two new ones – “Unite” and “Inspire”:

    ● The “I Do” track is aimed at identifying leadership positions among students whose projects involve others in changes in the country. Based on the results of the track, 100 projects will be identified, the leaders of which will receive a prize of 1,000,000 rubles, which can be used to pay for tuition at Russian educational institutions, improve living conditions, or develop their own project.

    ● The “Otkryvayu” (formerly “Pioneer”) track will allow first-year students to make a name for themselves, get acquainted with the opportunities of the student community and the ecosystem of youth policy in the country. Based on the results of the competitive tests, the top 200 winners will be determined, who will receive a prize from the project for the next six months of study. The track was launched for the first time last season, more than 35,000 applications were received for participation in it, and this year, for the first time, students of secondary vocational education will be able to take part in it.

    ● The team track “Unite” is intended for students of higher education institutions – members of youth organizations. It is designed to create a unified student community and involve students in social activity.

    ● The “Inspire” track was created for regional teams of the “Your Move” project and is designed to inspire activity, reveal the potential of regional teams and evaluate their contribution to the development of the unified student community “Your Move” throughout Russia.

    ● The “I define” track, which will continue to study the opinions of the Russian student community on current issues in the higher education system.

    — “Tvoy Khod” is not just a project, but a community that unites students from all over the country. The fifth season has become special and significant: we have symbolically launched five competition tracks and special projects that will cover the widest possible range of student initiatives and abilities. It is important for us that students have equal opportunities regardless of the form of education, so you can take part in the competition tracks in the fifth season both individually and in a team, both students of higher and professional educational organizations can make a name for themselves. Our main goal is to support students and their desire to live and create in Russia, so the project has established a scholarship that will help to appreciate their contribution. It is important that “Tvoy Khod” not only strives to help participants reveal their talents, but also forms in young people a sense of belonging to a large society, nurturing a sense of patriotism and responsibility for the future of their country, — noted the head of the All-Russian student project “Tvoy Khod” Yulia Epifanova.

    For the first time in the fifth season, special competition tracks will appear — these are additional competition directions that are organized and held jointly with partners of the project “Your Move” in parallel with the main competition tracks throughout the year. Upon completion of their passage, the winners will receive memorable gifts from partners.

    The project will include the second season of the educational program “Live and Create in Russia” (previously “Voice of a Generation. Students”), aimed at training leaders of the student community, as well as the all-Russian competition of academic group leaders “Your Move, Leader!” In addition, regional clubs will be assembled at universities and on the basis of regional teams for the special projects “Your Move x Debate” and “Your Move x Improvisation”.

    This season, the special project “Your Move x Debate” will be divided into two leagues for the first time – spring and autumn. In addition to the track, in which students of universities and colleges take part, a new category of participants will appear – teachers, employees and vice-rectors of universities and colleges. In the second season of the special project “Your Move x Improvisation”, you can take part in one of three roles: become a participant in the games as a duet, curator of the university improvisation club or take part as a coach in comedy and improvisation.

    In addition, in the fifth season of the project, the career center “Your Move” will begin operating, which will help students develop professional skills and successfully integrate into the labor market.

    You can get detailed information about the competition tracks and project opportunities, as well as apply for participation on the platform “Your Move“.

    In 2024, the NSU team showed a worthy result in all tracks of the “Your Move” project. Three NSU students at once – Rafael Arutyunyan and Ksenia Abysheva, NSU Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, and Lina Gumirova, NSU Faculty of Natural Sciences – became winners of the track for first-year students “Pioneer”. Alina Churkina, a student of the NSU Faculty of Economics, took first place in the “Your Move in Science” conference. Nikita Zelenkov (2nd year, NSU Institute of Intelligent Robotics) entered the top five curators in the country. Yusub Ozmanyan, a master’s student of the NSU Institute of Philosophy and Law, reached the final of the All-Russian competition “Student of the Year”, the results of which were also announced during the “Your Move” forum. In addition, NSU entered the top 10 universities that took part in the competition for the best practices of educational activities “Now Your Move, University!” More details about the results of the university team’s participation in the “Your Move” project read in the material.

    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 USA: News 01/27/2025 Blackburn, Schatz Introduce Bill to Award Tennessean Roddie Edmonds with Congressional Gold Medal on Holocaust Remembrance Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Act, which would posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Master Sergeant Roderick “Roddie” Edmonds in recognition of his heroic actions during World War II:
    “Roddie Edmonds’ bravery saved the lives of hundreds of Jewish-American soldiers during World War II, and his valor deserves official commendation,” said Senator Blackburn. “Today on Holocaust Remembrance Day, we recognize the tremendous courage of my fellow Tennessean who risked his life to protect his fellow countrymen from Nazi atrocities.” 
    “Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds showed incredible courage to stand up for what’s right,” said Senator Schatz. “At a time of rising anti-Semitism, this bill honoring his bravery reminds us the power of standing together in solidarity against hate – even in the toughest moments.”

    Click here to download this photo of Senator Blackburn and World War II veterans during her trip to Normandy, France, for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

    BACKGROUND:

    In 1944, Roddie Edmonds was captured by Nazi forces during the Battle of the Bulge. Taken to Stalag IX-A, a notorious POW camp in Ziegenhain, Germany, Edmonds, as the senior noncommissioned officer, was responsible for 1,292 men.
    A month after his capture, he was ordered to separate the Jewish-American soldiers from the rest of the prisoners, a move that would likely result in their deaths. Defying the Nazi order, Edmonds commanded all of his men to stand together, declaring, “We are all Jews here,” when a German officer demanded to know who the Jewish soldiers were. With a gun pointed at his head, Edmonds refused to reveal their identities, stating that according to the Geneva Convention, only names, ranks, and serial numbers were required.
    His bravery saved the lives of around 200 Jewish-American soldiers. Edmonds’ actions were later recognized posthumously by Yad Vashem, which honored him as “Righteous Among the Nations,” the first member of the U.S. Armed Forces and one of only five Americans to receive this distinction. As we approach the 80th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion and the 40th anniversary of his passing, it’s important to remember and honor the extraordinary courage of this “ordinary” soldier who risked his life to protect his fellow Americans.
    Click here for bill text.

    ENDORSEMENTS:

    This legislation is endorsed by Roddie Edmonds’ son, Pastor Chris Edmonds, Project Legacy, and Richard Hurowitz, Co-Chair of the Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Committee.
    “With antisemitism and hatred on the rise, there’s no better time to honor my father than this year, the 80thanniversaries of his heroic actions, the liberation of Auschwitz, and the end of World War II. Like the story of Queen Esther in the Bible, dad’s moral courage is timeless and transformative—a story for such a time as this that inspires us all.” – Pastor Chris Edmonds, CEO of Roddie’s Code and Roddie Edmonds’ Son
    “With alarming studies indicating that many young people lack awareness of the Holocaust and the disturbing rise of Holocaust denial, the decision to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Rodney Edmonds becomes even more significant as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of this pivotal moment in history.” – Ezra Friedlander, Founder of Project Legacy
    “Roddie Edmonds was a true American hero and a great humanitarian.  In a time of rising anti-Semitism and bigotry, it is more important than ever to honor those who risked their lives to save others at the nadir of humanity, the Holocaust.  Roddie Edmonds is unique for having rescued not only Jews, but his fellow Jewish-American soldiers, and his incredible story is an object lesson for all who wish for a peaceful and kinder world” – Richard Hurowitz, Author of In the Garden of the Righteous: The Heroes Who Risked Their Lives to Save Jews During the Holocaust and Co-Chair of the Roddie Edmonds Congressional Gold Medal Committee

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Central Georgian Pleads Guilty to Illegally Building Machineguns

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Agents Seized 3D Printers, Equipment to Build Firearms and Silencers from Defendant’s Bedroom

    MACON, Ga. – A technical college student who described himself as a “machinist” and was building machineguns and silencers using a 3D printer out of his Lizella, Georgia, bedroom pleaded guilty to manufacturing a machinegun.

    Jaden Michael-William Pope, 20, of Lizella, pleaded guilty to one count of manufacture of an unregistered machinegun before U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell on Jan. 27. Pope faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 13. There is no parole in the federal system.

    “3-D printed machineguns and silencers pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities by increasing the access of illegally manufactured rapid-fire weapons to potentially dangerous individuals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker. “I applaud our local and federal law enforcement partners for shutting down this clandestine machinegun manufacturing operation.”

    “The collaboration between ATF and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office showcases our unwavering commitment to confronting the illegal production of firearms, especially those created through advanced methods like 3D printing,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “These weapons are designed to evade detection and accountability, posing an undeniable threat to public safety. Together, we are ensuring such dangers are swiftly and decisively addressed.”

    According to the stipulation of fact and other statements referenced in court, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office was investigating Pope in Sept. 2023, for stealing firearms out of vehicles at night. He was arrested and admitted to stealing from cars. Investigators found photos on Pope’s cell phone of personally manufactured firearms and firearm silencers as well as screenshots from a website called Yeggi, which offers 3D-printed templates of AR-15 full auto sears. A confidential source (CS) notified law enforcement that Pope was a machinist who was manufacturing firearms, including silencers, in his bedroom and that he had watched Pope shoot a firearm with a manufactured silencer that significantly diminished the sound.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) was contacted to further the investigation. Agents found photos Pope posted on Facebook of personally manufactured firearms, including a Glock handgun with a “switch,” which is a device that allows the semi-automatic firearm to fire full-automatic with a single trigger pull. On his Facebook profile, Pope described himself as a “machinist” and a student at a local technical college. Agents executed a search warrant at Pope’s home on Dec. 12, 2023, and found four 3D printers, three computers, two machineguns, nine silencers and a short-barreled rifle. Agents also found a stolen .45 caliber pistol.

    Along with the 3D printers and weapons seized, agents found additional evidence that Pope manufactured the machineguns, silencers and the short-barreled rifle. Agents found diagrams and instructions for building the firearms, notes related to their production, scrap parts, and failed 3D prints and residue. Agents analyzed the computers used with the 3D printers and found “g-codes” which is the computer programming code used to 3D print the machineguns, silencers and the short-barreled rifle. While searching the electronic devices, agents found methamphetamine hidden within a USB device.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results.

    The case was investigated by ATF and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

    Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Public Country-by-Country reporting

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    What is Public CBC reporting?

    Public CBC reporting is a reporting regime which requires certain large multinational enterprises to publish selected tax information. The information must be reported either on a CBC basis or on an aggregated basis. The regime applies for reporting periods commencing from 1 July 2024.

    The entities within the regime publish their Public CBC report by providing it to the ATO and then the ATO uploading it on data.gov.au. Public CBC reporting improves how information is shared with the public to help compare entity tax disclosures, to better assess whether an entity’s economic presence in a jurisdiction aligns with the amount of tax they pay in that jurisdiction.

    Public CBC reporting requires disclosures about:

    • the revenues, profits and income taxes of the global group
    • the activities of the global group
    • an entity’s international related party dealings.

    Who is required to report?

    An entity must report for a reporting period if all of the following apply to it:

    • is a Public CBC reporting parent for the preceding period
    • is an entity of the type specified
    • satisfies the requirements for that reporting period.

    An entity is of the type specified if it is any one of the following:

    • constitutional corporation
    • trust, provided each of the trustees is a constitutional corporation
    • partnership, provided each of the partners is a constitutional corporation.

    Entities meet the requirements for a reporting period if all of the following apply:

    • they were a Public CBC reporting parent for a period that includes the whole or a part of the preceding reporting period
    • they were a member of a Public CBC reporting group at any time during the reporting period
    • at any point during the reporting period, they, or a member of their Public CBC reporting group, were an Australian resident or a foreign resident operating an Australian permanent establishment
    • $10 million or more of their aggregated turnover for the reporting period was Australian-sourced
    • they were not an exempt entity or included in a class of exempt entities.

    Public CBC reporting registration

    All Public CBC reporting parents are encouraged to register with the ATO as this simplifies:

    • the giving of the Public CBC report to the ATO
    • requesting an extension of time to provide the Public CBC report
    • requesting an exemption from reporting obligations.

    The registration form and instructions are under development and will be made available in 2025.

    Public CBC reporting obligations

    The Public CBC reporting parent entity must give the Public CBC report electronically to the ATO within 12 months after the end of the relevant reporting period.

    An update to correct any material errors must be given to the ATO within 28 days of the Public CBC reporting parent identifying or otherwise becoming aware of that error.

    Penalties apply for non-compliance.

    The Public CBC reporting form and instructions are in development, they will be made available in 2025.

    What does jurisdictional reporting mean?

    For Australia and specified jurisdictions determined by the Minister, particular information must be published on a CBC basis.

    For all other jurisdictions the CBC reporting group operates in, the Public CBC reporting parent has a choice to publish that same information on either a CBC basis or an aggregated basis.

    Specified jurisdictions list

    The Minister’s determination of jurisdictions for the purpose of Public CBC reporting is provided by legislative instrument. The Taxation Administration (Country by Country Reporting Jurisdictions) Determination 2024Opens in a new window outlines the specified jurisdictions.

    Jurisdictions that have a comprehensive international tax agreement with Australia:

    • Singapore
    • Switzerland

    Other jurisdictions:

    • Andorra
    • Anguilla
    • Antigua and Barbuda
    • Aruba
    • Barbados
    • Bahamas
    • Bahrain
    • Belize
    • Bermuda
    • British Virgin Islands
    • Cayman Islands
    • Cook Islands
    • Curacao
    • Dominica
    • Gibraltar
    • Grenada
    • Guernsey
    • Hong Kong
    • Isle of Man
    • Jersey
    • Liberia
    • Mauritius
    • Monaco
    • Montserrat
    • Nauru
    • Niue
    • Panama
    • Republic of the Marshall Islands
    • Saint Kitts and Nevis
    • Saint Lucia
    • Saint Maarten (Dutch Part)
    • Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Samoa
    • San Marino
    • Seychelles
    • Turks and Caicos Islands
    • US Virgin Islands
    • Vanuatu

    Public CBC information to be reported

    The Public CBC reporting parent is required to publish: 

    • its own legal name
    • the names of each entity in the CBC reporting group
    • a description of the CBC reporting group’s approach to tax
    • information about Australia and specified jurisdictions, on a CBC basis
    • information about its other jurisdictions, either on a CBC or aggregated basis.

    Information required to be reported

    If the Public CBC reporting parent chooses to report on a CBC basis for all jurisdictions that the group operates in, it does not need to publish any information on an aggregated basis. However, if the Public CBC reporting parent only publishes information on a CBC basis for Australia and the specified jurisdictions, it must publish information for all other jurisdictions on an aggregated basis.

    Australia and specified jurisdictions

    The information required to be reported for Australia and specified jurisdictions is:

    • the name of the jurisdiction
    • a description of main business activities
    • the number of employees (on a full-time equivalent basis) at the end of the reporting period
    • revenue from unrelated parties
    • revenue from related parties that are not tax residents of the jurisdiction
    • profit or loss before income tax
    • book value at the end of the reporting period of tangible assets, other than cash and cash equivalents
    • income tax paid (on a cash basis)
    • income tax accrued (current year)
    • the reasons for the difference between income tax accrued (current year) and the amount of income tax due if the income tax rate applicable to the jurisdiction were applied to profit and loss before income tax
    • the currency used in calculating and presenting the above information.

    Other jurisdictions (aggregated information)

    The information required to be reported on an aggregated basis, for all other jurisdictions the group operates in, is, the aggregation of the following for all of those jurisdictions:

    • a description of main business activities in those jurisdictions
    • the number of employees (on a full-time equivalent basis) at the end of the reporting period
    • revenue from unrelated parties
    • revenue from related parties that are not tax residents of the jurisdiction in which that revenue is being derived
    • profit or loss before income tax
    • book value at the end of the reporting period of tangible assets, other than cash and cash equivalents
    • income tax paid (on a cash basis)
    • income tax accrued (current year)
    • the currency used in calculating and presenting the above information.

    The information required to be reported, has been adopted from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 207: Tax 2019 reporting standard. The GRI 207 may be used as a source of guidance in interpretating the publishing requirements. Regard may also be had to the BEPS Action 13 Guidance and the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines where they provide greater detail on the interpretation of terms.

    Correction of errors

    If a Public CBC reporting parent becomes aware of a material error contained in any of the information that has been published, the CBC reporting parent must correct the error by giving corrected information to the Commissioner in the approved form. This is required no later than 28 days after the entity becomes aware of the material error.

    Penalties apply for non-compliance.

    Publishing the information

    The Public CBC reporting parent is required to publish the information on an Australian government website by giving the information in the approved form to the Commissioner.

    The Public CBC reporting form and instructions are under development and will be made available in 2025.

    The Commissioner’s role

    The Commissioner will facilitate publication of the reported information as soon as practicable, on the Australian government website data.gov.au.

    If a material error is corrected by the Public CBC reporting parent, the Commissioner will publish the corrected information on data.gov.au as soon as practicable. 

    The first publication is expected to be released in late 2026.

    Extension of time to provide the Public CBC report

    The Public CBC report is due within 12 months after the end of the relevant reporting period. For example, for the reporting period ending 30 June 2025, the Public CBC report is due by 30 June 2026.

    A Public CBC reporting parent may apply to the Commissioner for an extension of time to provide the Public CBC report. A Public CBC reporting parent does not have to register to request an extension of time, but consideration and processing of the request may be delayed if it is not registered.

    Guidance on extension of time requests will be made available in 2025.

    Exemptions

    The primary purpose of the Public CBC regime is to enhance tax transparency. However, a Public CBC reporting parent may seek an exemption from reporting obligations, from the Commissioner. The Commissioner may exempt an entity (a ‘full exemption’) or specify that an entity is exempt from publishing information of a particular kind (a ‘partial exemption’) for a single reporting period.

    A Public CBC reporting parent does not have to register to request an exemption, but consideration and processing of the request may be delayed if it is not registered.

    Guidance on exemptions will be made available in 2025. For more information, see Public country-by-country reporting transparency measure and exemption discretions.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Senate Passes Rosen, Lankford, Booker, Cramer Resolution Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    The Bipartisan Resolution Also Commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), James Lankford (R-OK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Nazi-occupied Poland and marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The resolution calls for the remembrance of the millions of innocent victims of the Nazi reign of terror, honors the legacy of the survivors of the Holocaust, and recommits to combatting all forms of antisemitism.
    “Today marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, when thousands of lives were saved, and the world was finally exposed to the horrors behind those walls,” said Senator Rosen. “The U.S. Senate passed this bipartisan resolution to recognize the six million Jews and millions of others who were brutally murdered by Nazis during one of the darkest chapters in human history. At a time when antisemitism and Holocaust denial are on the rise around the world, it has never been more important to remind the world of the atrocities committed by rampant anti-Jew hate and discrimination. By remembering the past, we can ensure Never Again truly means never again.”
    “Eighty years ago today, good triumphed over the evil of the Holocaust as Allied Forces liberated Auschwitz,” said Senator Cramer. “We will never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. In the wake of an alarming uptick in anti-semitism, we remember the murder of millions of Jews on this solemn day.”
    The full text of the resolution can be read HERE.
    Senator Rosen has been a leader in the fight to combat antisemitism and Holocaust denial and distortion. Last year, her bipartisan legislation with Senator Cramer to reauthorize the Never Again Education Act became law. She helped launch the first-ever Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism with Senator Lankford and led the push to create the first-ever national strategy to counter antisemitism. In 2023, Senator Rosen helped introduce a bipartisan resolution denouncing antisemitism at institutions of higher education, which passed the Senate unanimously. The following year, Senator Rosen hosted a roundtable discussion with students from across the country to discuss campus antisemitism.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. and Allied Forces Conduct La Perouse 2025

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    La Perouse is a biennial, multilateral exercise demonstrating a shared commitment to enhance regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    This exercise is designed to advance maritime security in the region through maritime surveillance, interdiction, and air operations through progressive training and information sharing.

    This exercise provided an opportunity for U.S. and allied and partner navies, who have shared values, fulfill maritime integration training objectives by emphasizing collaboration, warfighting, and readiness in a dynamic theater, resulting in enhanced maritime security and continued deterrence.

    “USS Savannah’s opportunity to operate with our foreign partners this week was exciting. The French and American navies have shared priorities and an enduring mission in the Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Matt Scarlett, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7. “Our ability to conduct consistent bilateral operations, conduct information sharing, and participate in realistic scenarios at sea, increases our interoperability as a joint force and ensures sustained maritime security in the region.”

    Named after an 18th-century French naval officer and explorer, La Perouse reflects longstanding values and a shared commitment to maritime security with like-minded nations.

    The French Navy Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group is represented by their aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91). Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group is operating in the Indo-Pacific as part of their Clemenceau 25 deployment.

    “We welcome the opportunity to operate alongside the French navy, our friend and longtime ally, out here in the Indo-Pacific,” said Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. “Their exercise La Perouse underscores the value our European allies place on this critical maritime region, and we look forward to advancing interoperability at sea between our forces.”

    Additional participating units included Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart Class guided missile destroyers HMAS Hobart (DDG 39); Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341); the Indian Navy’s Delhi-class guided-missile destroyers INS Mumbai (D 62); Royal Malaysian Navy’s Lekiu-class guided missile frigate FFG Lekir (FFG 30) and Gagah Samudera-class training ship KD Gagah Samudera (271); Royal Navy of the United Kingdom’s River-class off-shore patrol vessel HMS Spey (P 234); and Republic of Singapore Navy’s Independence-class littoral mission vessel RSS Independence (15)

    As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, functions as Expeditionary Strike Group 7’s Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training and exercises and military-to military engagements.

    U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Electronic Intifada: Bringing Israeli genocide perpetrators to justice

    This article was written before The Electronic Intifada’s founding editor Ali Abunimah was arrested in Switzerland on Saturday afternoon for “speaking up for Palestine”. He has since been released and deported.

    SPECIAL REPORT: By Ali AbunimahIsrael smuggled one of its soldiers out of Cyprus, apparently fearing his detention on charges related to the genocide in Gaza, according to Dyab Abou Jahjah, the co-founder of The Hind Rajab Foundation.

    Abou Jahjah, a Belgian-Lebanese political activist and writer, told The Electronic Intifada livestream last week that his organisation was stepping up efforts all over the world to bring to justice Israeli soldiers implicated in the slaughter of tens of thousands of men, women and children over the last 15 months.

    You can watch the interview with Abou Jahjah and all of this week’s programme in the video above.


    Gaza Ceasefire Day 5. Video: The Electronic Intifada

    Speaking from Gaza, Electronic Intifada contributor Donya Abu Sitta told us how people there are coping following the ceasefire, especially those returning to devastated homes and finding the remains of loved ones.

    She shared a poem inspired by the hopes and fears of the young children she continued to teach throughout the genocide.

    Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to attack Palestinians in some parts of Gaza. That was among developments covered in the news brief from associate editor Nora Barrows-Friedman, along with the efforts to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation.

    Israel’s genocidal war has orphaned some 40,000 children in Gaza.

    Contributing editor Jon Elmer covered the latest ceasefire developments and the resistance operations in the period leading up to it.

    We also discussed whether US President Donald Trump will force Israel to uphold the ceasefire and what the latest indications of his approach are.

    And this writer took a critical look at Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde.

    She has been hailed as a hero for urging Donald Trump to respect the rights of marginalised groups, as the new president sat listening to her sermon at Washington’s National Cathedral.

    But over the last 15 months, Budde has parroted Israeli atrocity propaganda justifying genocide, and has repeatedly failed to condemn former President Joe Biden’s key role in the mass slaughter and did not call on him to stop sending weapons to Israel.

    Pursuing war criminals
    In the case of the soldier in Cyprus, The Hind Rajab Foundation filed a complaint, and after initial hesitation, judicial authorities in the European Union state opened an investigation of the soldier.

    “When that was opened, the Israelis smuggled the soldier out of Cyprus,” Abou Jahjah said, calling the incident the first of its kind.

    “And when I say smuggling, I’m not exaggerating, because we have information that he was even taken by a private jet,” Abou Jahjah added.

    The foundation is named after Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was in a car with members of her family, trying to escape the Israeli onslaught in Gaza City, when they were attacked.

    The story of Hind, trapped all alone in a car, surrounded by dead relatives, pleading over the phone for rescue, a conversation that was recorded by the Palestinian Red Crescent, is among the most poignant and brazen crimes committed during Israel’s genocide.

    According to Abou Jahjah, lawyers and activists determined to seek justice for Palestinians identified a gap in the efforts to hold Israel accountable that they could fill: pursuing individual soldiers who have in many cases posted evidence of their own crimes in Gaza on social media.

    The organisation and its growing global network of volunteers and legal professionals has been able to collect evidence on approximately 1000 Israeli soldiers which has been handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    In addition to filing cases against Israeli soldiers traveling abroad, such as the one in Cyprus, and other recent examples in Brazil, Thailand and Italy, a main focus of the foundation is individuals who hold both Israeli and another nationality.

    “Regarding the dual nationals, we are not under any restraint of time,” Abou Jahjah explained. “For example, if you’re Belgian, Belgium has jurisdiction over you.”

    Renouncing their second nationality cannot shield these soldiers, according to Abou Jahjah, because courts will take into account their citizenship at the time the alleged crime was committed.

    Abou Jahjah feels confident that with time, war criminals will be brought to justice. The organisation is also discussing expanding its work to the United States, where it may use civil litigation to hold perpetrators accountable.

    Unsurprisingly, Israel and friendly governments are pushing back against The Hind Rajab Foundation’s work, and Abou Jahjah is now living under police protection.

    “Things are kind of heavy on that level, but this will not disrupt our work,” Abou Jahjah said. “It’s kind of naive of them to think that the work of the foundation depends on a person.”

    “We have legal teams across the planet, very capable people. Our data is spread across the planet,” Abou Jahjah added. “There’s nothing they can do. This is happening.”

    Resistance report
    In his resistance report, Elmer analysed videos of operations that took place before the ceasefire, but which were only released by the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, after it took effect.

    He also previewed Saturday, 25 January, when nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for four Israeli female soldiers.

    Will Trump keep Israel to the ceasefire?
    Pressure from President Trump was key to getting Israel to agree to a ceasefire deal it had rejected for almost a year. But will his administration keep up the pressure to see it through?

    There have been mixed messages, with Trump recently telling reporters he was not sure it would hold, but also intriguingly distancing himself from Israel. “That’s not our war, it’s their war.”

    We took a look at what these comments, as well as a renewed commitment to implementing the deal expressed by Steve Witkoff, the president’s envoy, tell us about what to expect.

    As associate editor Asa Winstanley noted, “this ceasefire is not nothing.” It came about because the resistance wore down the Israeli army, and statements from Witkoff hinting that the US may even be open to talking to Hamas deserve close attention.

    ‘Largely silent’
    By her own admission, Bishop Mariann Budde has remained “largely silent” about the genocide in Gaza, except when she was pushing Israeli propaganda or engaging in vague, liberal hand-wringing about “peace” and “love” without ever clearly condemning the perpetrators of mass slaughter and starvation of Palestinians, demanding that the US stop the flow of weapons making it possible, or calling for accountability.

    This type of evasion serves no one.

    You can watch the programme on YouTube, Rumble or Twitter/X, or you can listen to it on your preferred podcast platform.

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: COLUMN: Senator Davenport: A Warm Welcome to the 2025 Legislative Session

    Source: US State of Georgia

    By: Sen. Gail Davenport (D – Jonesboro)

    The 2025 Legislative Session is officially underway! On Monday, January 13, the Georgia General Assembly reconvened under the Gold Dome, marking the start of this year’s legislative session and the beginning of a new biennium. This legislative session, I am once again fighting for policies that create a more equitable and inclusive Georgia. 

    I am honored to now serve the residents of Senate District 17 after previously serving the residents of Senate District 44. I want to extend a warm greeting to my new constituents in Henry County and my longstanding constituents in Clayton County. It is my privilege to serve as your senator, and I am committed to addressing the issues and concerns of our communities at the state level.  

    I am pleased to continue serving on the Senate Committees on Appropriations, State Institutions and Property, Natural Resources and the Environment, Retirement and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Overview Committee this legislative session. 

    The first week of a new biennium is always filled with important events and meaningful connections. This year was no exception, with highlights including the annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast and Governor Kemp’s ‘State of the State’ address, where we accounted for the perspectives of our local businesses and citizens. These gatherings remind us of the collaborative spirit needed to address our communities’ challenges. 

    On Thursday, January 16, Governor Brian P. Kemp delivered his annual State of the State address to a joint session of the Senate and House chambers. While I welcome some of his proposals, including pay raises for teachers, state employees, and first responders and efforts to strengthen our healthcare workforce, I believe we must go further. We must ensure every Georgian has access to affordable healthcare, expand opportunities for quality public education, invest in renewable energy solutions and tackle the growing need for affordable housing across the state. These priorities are essential for creating a Georgia where every family can thrive.

    I am proud to have co-sponsored several resolutions and bills during our first week, including Senate Bill 19, sponsored by Senator David Lucas (D–Macon). The Brady Law Regulations would create a ten-day waiting period for the purchase or transfer of firearms and address the gun violence epidemic in recent legislation.  

    The second week of our Legislative Session was quite unconventional due to a winter storm that halted operations across our entire state for nearly the entire week. Leaders from state agencies will instead present their budgetary needs to legislators in the weeks to come before our House and Senate Appropriations Chairmen help lead the decision-making process on how funding is allocated for the next year. 

    Budget Week is not just about providing funding; it’s about best serving the state of Georgia through state programs like public education, health services, and infrastructure repairs.  This is our chance to advocate for funding that reflects the needs of working families, invests in underserved communities and ensures every Georgian has the resources they need to build a better future. 

    Speaking of our future, I want to invite students between 12 and 18 to serve as Senate Page. This opportunity allows students to participate in the state legislative process at our State Capitol for a day. Interested students may apply for the program by following the link here.  

    Thank you for trusting me to represent you under the Gold Dome. Your voice matters, and I encourage you to share your ideas and concerns as we work together to build a stronger, fairer Georgia. 

    # # # #

    Sen. Gail Davenport represents the 17th Senate District which includes portions of Clayton and Henry County.  She may be reached by phone at 404.463.5260 or by email at Gail.Davenport@senate.ga.gov

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Section 106 affordable housing: call for next level support to new clearing service as registrations near 300 in first 50 days

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Home builders and providers looking to sell or buy homes, built as part of Section 106 planning agreements, urged to maximise use of new service.

    Nearly 300 organisations from across England have signed up to the new Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service to help unlock delivery.

    More than 70 housebuilders have registered to provide details of affordable homes they have planning permission to build, alongside private homes, but have been unable to find a buyer for.

    They join 140 Registered Providers (RPs) and more than 70 Local Authorities (LAs) who have already registered for the service as potential buyers, and are viewing available information about potential opportunities on a regular basis.

    Registered users, especially sellers, are urged to continue their support by providing crucial details in addition to basic registration information; such as site location, construction progress, number of homes and types of tenure.

    It is hoped the service, created and managed by Homes England in response to sector feedback, will play its part in facilitating and accelerating the sale of uncontracted and unsold affordable homes across England, excluding London.

    Homes England Chief Customer Officer Ian Workman, said:

    This is a relatively simple but potentially impactful service that means greater visibility of opportunities to get affordable homes sold and occupied. I would urge house builders in particular to register and add as much detail as they can.

    Over 200 registered providers and local authorities have already signed up, and regularly checking for potential opportunities to acquire homes for the communities they serve.

    Listening, acting and working hand-in-glove with partners is fundamental, if we are to move forward and find solutions together to the challenges the sector is facing.  I am grateful to all those who have helped to shape this service so far, with promising early signs of uptake.

    Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook, said:

    We recognise the challenge posed by the reduced appetite of registered providers of social housing to buy affordable homes delivered under section 106 agreements.

    The new clearing service we have worked in partnership with Homes England to establish will help improve the functioning of the market and unblock the delivery of section 106 affordable housing.

    Hundreds of developers and providers have already come forward to engage with this new service and real progress is being made as a result.

    Cllr Adam Hug, LGA housing spokesperson said:

    Councils urgently want to deliver more affordable housing including those affordable homes agreed in Section 106 agreements with developers in local planning applications.

    This service is a positive step to promoting stalled sites to registered providers of affordable housing, and the LGA encourages all local authorities to engage with it. But it is just one tool which will help bring forward more affordable housing. Much more needs to be done.

    Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, says:

    This clearing service is a welcome tool in tackling the current issue in the delivery of Section 106 affordable homes. Building new relationships between developers and social housing providers is important in overcoming the immediate challenges, as well as helping developers to understand the requirements of housing associations in the future.

    Housing associations are facing significant competing financial pressures, which is also impacting their ability to both buy Section 106 homes and build other new affordable homes. In the longer term, housing associations are committed to working in partnership with the government on a long-term housing strategy to rebuild their capacity and deliver more much needed social and affordable homes.

    Notes to editors

    1. Homes England is the government’s homes and regeneration agency. We drive the creation of more high-quality homes and thriving places so that everyone – no matter their background – has a place to live and thrive. We work in partnership with thousands of public and private bodies including local authorities, home builders, developers, affordable housing providers, commercial real estate companies  and financial institutions to make this happen. For more information visit: Homes England – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
    2. A Section 106 agreement is a planning obligation that requires developers to contribute to local infrastructure and community facilities, such as affordable housing, schools, parks, or transport improvements, as a condition of planning permission.
    3. For more information about the service or to register visit: The Section 106 Affordable Housing Clearing Service – GOV.UK
    4. The service does not include London, where the Greater London Authority has responsibility for affordable housing delivery.
    5. For further information or interview requests please contact media@HomesEngland.gov.uk or 0207 874 8262.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pension reforms to go further to unlock billions to drive growth and boost working peoples’ pension pots

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Working people and businesses are set to benefit from new rules that will give more flexibility over how occupational defined benefit pension schemes are managed, as the government continues to remove blockages that are inhibiting its growth agenda that will improve lives of working people across the UK.

    • Prime Minister and Chancellor to tell leading CEOs that Britain is back and open for business.
    • Changes to pension rules will allow trapped surplus funds to be invested in the wider economy, fuelling economic growth.
    • Move is part of government action to remove blockages that are stopping growth – from regulation to planning processes.

    Working people and businesses are set to benefit from new rules that will give more flexibility over how occupational defined benefit pension schemes are managed, as the government continues to remove blockages that are inhibiting its growth agenda that will improve lives of working people across the UK. 

    Hosting a meeting with leaders of Britain’s biggest businesses in the City of London today (Tuesday 28 January), the Prime Minister and the Chancellor will set out the details of changes and tell some of the country’s leading CEOs that Britain is back and open for business.

    At the roundtable, the PM and Chancellor will outline how restrictions will be lifted on how well-funded, occupational defined benefit pension funds that are performing well will be able to invest their surplus funds. 

    This follows action taken by the government last week to bring a renewed focus on growth from some of the UK’s biggest regulators, a shake-up to legal challenges on planning applications, and new “brownfield passports” to speed up housing in commuter hotspots.

    Prime Minister, Keir Starmer said: 

    The number one mission of my government is to secure growth, drive higher living standards for everyone, and get more money into people’s pockets.

    To achieve the change our country needs requires nothing short of rewiring the economy. It needs creative reform, the removal of hurdles, and unrelenting focus. Whether it’s how public services are run, regulation or pension rules, my government will not accept the status quo. Today’s changes will unlock billions of investment, pushing forward in delivering my Plan for Change.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    I know this government and businesses are united on growth being the top priority for our economy, which is why I am fighting every day to tear down the biggest barriers to growth, taking on regulators, planning processes and opposition to this urgent mission.

    The Prime Minister and Chancellor will tell CEOs from some of the UK’s most successful companies that that the government is seeking to create the best possible conditions for the private sector to thrive. They will promise to work in partnership with businesses, to deliver high-quality jobs across the country, and the economic growth that will fund the schools, hospitals and roads that we all rely on.

    Pension trustees and the sponsoring employers could then use this money to increase the productivity of their businesses – to boost wages and drive growth or unlock more money for pension scheme members. 

    High growth and more productive businesses boost the size of the economy which in turn will fund our vital public services.

    This more efficient approach demonstrates that the government has been listening to business, and will give businesses more flexibility, allowing trapped surplus funds to be invested into the wider UK economy, or given to scheme members as additional benefits.

    Where trustees agree to share a portion of scheme surplus with a sponsoring employer, the employer may choose to invest these funds in their core business, for example to purchase equipment or supplies, and/or provide additional benefits to members of the pension scheme.

    Approximately 75% of schemes are currently in surplus, worth £160 billion, but restrictions have meant that businesses have struggled to invest them.

    These reforms build on the Chancellor’s Mansion House reforms which will create pension megafunds as part of the biggest set of pension reforms in decades, unlocking billions of pounds of investment in exciting new businesses and infrastructure and local projects.     

    Over £1.1 trillion is held by pension funds in the UK and defined contribution pension schemes are set to manage £800 billion worth of assets by the end of the decade. This Government is determined to encourage these pension funds to deliver investment and drive economic growth – which is the only way to make people better off.    

    Jonathan Lipkin, Director of Policy, Strategy & Innovation at the Investment Association said:

    Unlocking surplus capital from defined benefit schemes has the potential to both boost UK growth by opening up investment opportunities for companies and their stakeholders, as well as the possibility of higher pensions for scheme members. With around £1.1 trillion in assets, defined benefit schemes already make a significant contribution to the funding of the UK economy and public services. 

    With the right guardrails in place, the government’s proposals could help channel more funding into the economy, by enabling schemes to invest more widely and take on greater risk, while allowing for members to receive an uplift to pension benefits.

    Zoe Alexander, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Pensions and Lifetime Saving Association, said: 

    The PLSA backs surplus release, with the right protections in place to ensure member benefits are secure. Surpluses could be used to increase DB scheme benefits or could be redirected to fund contributions to sponsoring employers’ defined contribution workplace schemes.

    Lowering the legislative threshold for allowing returns of surplus could potentially encourage trustees, in conjunction with their employers, to adopt a more ambitious mindset and take on slightly riskier investment strategies for their DB assets, including greater investment in UK assets.

    Patrick Heath-Lay, Chief Executive Officer for The People’s Pension, said:

    It is positive news to see the government is looking at the pension industry as a whole. This will help unlock more of the £2.9trillion that is held in UK pension savings, to benefit savers and the economy alike.

    We look forward to other pension schemes following our plans and outlining how they will invest in private markets.

    The roundtable discussion will focus on the government’s partnership approach to growth with business, including how regulation can better support the Growth Mission, and the role of business in achieving the UK’s ambitions in AI which the Prime Minister unveiled earlier this month. Every regulator has a role to play in the Growth Mission and the Chancellor is hosting a series of roundtables with the 17 regulators that the Prime Minister wrote to in December, to discuss their proposals to support growth in the coming year. 

    The meeting with CEOs comes days after the Chancellor’s return from the World Economic Forum, where she pitched Britain’s investment credentials and let global business leaders know that the UK is open for business again. She championed early reforms to planning, pensions, and regulation that make it easier to do business in Britain and remove barriers investors from overseas face.

    On Wednesday, the Chancellor will make a speech where she will set out plans to push through further planning reforms to get Britian building again, rip up regulatory barriers so we can encourage more investment into the UK and announcements to boost trade and investment.

    The government will set out the details of the surplus policy in its response to the Options for Defined Benefits consultation, due this Spring.

    Further information: 

    • Currently DB scheme surplus can only be accessed where schemes passed a resolution by 2016, so not all schemes can access surplus even if trustees and sponsors both want to do so. 
    • Legislative changes could enable all DB schemes to change their rules to permit surplus extraction where there is trustee-employer agreement. This allows trustees to assess the suite of options available in striking a deal with employers on how best scheme members can also benefit – linked to improving member outcomes. 
    • Trustees have an overarching fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of their members. When considering surplus extraction, trustees must fund the scheme and invest its assets in a way that leads to members receiving their full benefits.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: Pension reforms to go further to unlock billions to drive growth and boost working peoples’ pension pots

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    Working people and businesses are set to benefit from new rules that will give more flexibility over how occupational defined benefit pension schemes are managed, as the government continues to remove blockages that are inhibiting its growth agenda that will improve lives of working people across the UK.

    • Prime Minister and Chancellor to tell leading CEOs that Britain is back and open for business.
    • Changes to pension rules will allow trapped surplus funds to be invested in the wider economy, fuelling economic growth.
    • Move is part of government action to remove blockages that are stopping growth – from regulation to planning processes.

    Working people and businesses are set to benefit from new rules that will give more flexibility over how occupational defined benefit pension schemes are managed, as the government continues to remove blockages that are inhibiting its growth agenda that will improve lives of working people across the UK. 

    Hosting a meeting with leaders of Britain’s biggest businesses in the City of London today (Tuesday 28 January), the Prime Minister and the Chancellor will set out the details of changes and tell some of the country’s leading CEOs that Britain is back and open for business.

    At the roundtable, the PM and Chancellor will outline how restrictions will be lifted on how well-funded, occupational defined benefit pension funds that are performing well will be able to invest their surplus funds. 

    This follows action taken by the government last week to bring a renewed focus on growth from some of the UK’s biggest regulators, a shake-up to legal challenges on planning applications, and new “brownfield passports” to speed up housing in commuter hotspots.

    Prime Minister, Keir Starmer said: 

    The number one mission of my government is to secure growth, drive higher living standards for everyone, and get more money into people’s pockets.

    To achieve the change our country needs requires nothing short of rewiring the economy. It needs creative reform, the removal of hurdles, and unrelenting focus. Whether it’s how public services are run, regulation or pension rules, my government will not accept the status quo. Today’s changes will unlock billions of investment, pushing forward in delivering my Plan for Change.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    I know this government and businesses are united on growth being the top priority for our economy, which is why I am fighting every day to tear down the biggest barriers to growth, taking on regulators, planning processes and opposition to this urgent mission.

    The Prime Minister and Chancellor will tell CEOs from some of the UK’s most successful companies that that the government is seeking to create the best possible conditions for the private sector to thrive. They will promise to work in partnership with businesses, to deliver high-quality jobs across the country, and the economic growth that will fund the schools, hospitals and roads that we all rely on.

    Pension trustees and the sponsoring employers could then use this money to increase the productivity of their businesses – to boost wages and drive growth or unlock more money for pension scheme members. 

    High growth and more productive businesses boost the size of the economy which in turn will fund our vital public services.

    This more efficient approach demonstrates that the government has been listening to business, and will give businesses more flexibility, allowing trapped surplus funds to be invested into the wider UK economy, or given to scheme members as additional benefits.

    Where trustees agree to share a portion of scheme surplus with a sponsoring employer, the employer may choose to invest these funds in their core business, for example to purchase equipment or supplies, and/or provide additional benefits to members of the pension scheme.

    Approximately 75% of schemes are currently in surplus, worth £160 billion, but restrictions have meant that businesses have struggled to invest them.

    These reforms build on the Chancellor’s Mansion House reforms which will create pension megafunds as part of the biggest set of pension reforms in decades, unlocking billions of pounds of investment in exciting new businesses and infrastructure and local projects.     

    Over £1.1 trillion is held by pension funds in the UK and defined contribution pension schemes are set to manage £800 billion worth of assets by the end of the decade. This Government is determined to encourage these pension funds to deliver investment and drive economic growth – which is the only way to make people better off.    

    Jonathan Lipkin, Director of Policy, Strategy & Innovation at the Investment Association said:

    Unlocking surplus capital from defined benefit schemes has the potential to both boost UK growth by opening up investment opportunities for companies and their stakeholders, as well as the possibility of higher pensions for scheme members. With around £1.1 trillion in assets, defined benefit schemes already make a significant contribution to the funding of the UK economy and public services. 

    With the right guardrails in place, the government’s proposals could help channel more funding into the economy, by enabling schemes to invest more widely and take on greater risk, while allowing for members to receive an uplift to pension benefits.

    Zoe Alexander, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Pensions and Lifetime Saving Association, said: 

    The PLSA backs surplus release, with the right protections in place to ensure member benefits are secure. Surpluses could be used to increase DB scheme benefits or could be redirected to fund contributions to sponsoring employers’ defined contribution workplace schemes.

    Lowering the legislative threshold for allowing returns of surplus could potentially encourage trustees, in conjunction with their employers, to adopt a more ambitious mindset and take on slightly riskier investment strategies for their DB assets, including greater investment in UK assets.

    Patrick Heath-Lay, Chief Executive Officer for The People’s Pension, said:

    It is positive news to see the government is looking at the pension industry as a whole. This will help unlock more of the £2.9trillion that is held in UK pension savings, to benefit savers and the economy alike.

    We look forward to other pension schemes following our plans and outlining how they will invest in private markets.

    The roundtable discussion will focus on the government’s partnership approach to growth with business, including how regulation can better support the Growth Mission, and the role of business in achieving the UK’s ambitions in AI which the Prime Minister unveiled earlier this month. Every regulator has a role to play in the Growth Mission and the Chancellor is hosting a series of roundtables with the 17 regulators that the Prime Minister wrote to in December, to discuss their proposals to support growth in the coming year. 

    The meeting with CEOs comes days after the Chancellor’s return from the World Economic Forum, where she pitched Britain’s investment credentials and let global business leaders know that the UK is open for business again. She championed early reforms to planning, pensions, and regulation that make it easier to do business in Britain and remove barriers investors from overseas face.

    On Wednesday, the Chancellor will make a speech where she will set out plans to push through further planning reforms to get Britian building again, rip up regulatory barriers so we can encourage more investment into the UK and announcements to boost trade and investment.

    The government will set out the details of the surplus policy in its response to the Options for Defined Benefits consultation, due this Spring.

    Further information: 

    • Currently DB scheme surplus can only be accessed where schemes passed a resolution by 2016, so not all schemes can access surplus even if trustees and sponsors both want to do so. 
    • Legislative changes could enable all DB schemes to change their rules to permit surplus extraction where there is trustee-employer agreement. This allows trustees to assess the suite of options available in striking a deal with employers on how best scheme members can also benefit – linked to improving member outcomes. 
    • Trustees have an overarching fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of their members. When considering surplus extraction, trustees must fund the scheme and invest its assets in a way that leads to members receiving their full benefits.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski and Chemnitz: Greenland “Ally, not an Asset”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    01.27.25
    Washington, DC – Today, United States Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska and Co-Chair of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region) and Aaja Chemnitz (Member of Danish Parliament representing Greenland for Inuit Ataqatigiit and Chair of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region), released the following joint statement:
    “In recent weeks, as President Trump has suggested the U.S. should purchase Greenland from the Kingdom of Denmark, attention has rapidly turned to what the future may hold. The appeal of Greenland is easy to understand. It is strategically located for defense, shipping, and more. It is also a storehouse for all sorts of minerals, the building blocks of society that will determine who leads—and controls—the industries of the future.
    “Of course, a businessman turned president would be interested. But Greenland is not for sale. The question has been asked and firmly answered by the government of Greenland, Naalakkersuisut.
    “As legislators representing Greenland in Denmark and the United States, we see a better path forward. The United States, like Denmark, should recognize that the future will be defined by partnership, not ownership. To ensure our alliance reaches its full potential, Americans must view Greenland as an ally, not an asset. Open for business, but not for sale.
    “From our work on Arctic Parliamentarians, we are certain that U.S. ambitions for national security can be achieved without altering Greenland’s autonomy. We see that in Pittufik Space Base. Dialogue and cooperation can strengthen our ties; diplomacy can pave the way for a relationship and alliance that fulfills our mutual interests. 
    “We can also affirm that Greenland welcomes increased cooperation with the U.S. on defense, mineral development, trade, and our common values of freedom and democracy. The U.S. should embrace that. And it should be paired with a larger acceptance of the Arctic as a region of shared responsibility whose opportunities cannot be seized, and whose challenges cannot be overcome, by any one nation on its own.
    “Let’s remember that the U.S. portion of the Arctic—Alaska—shares more than lines of latitude with Greenland. Whether you’re in Nuuk or Nome, you will see and hear familiar words, a reflection of our Inuk and Iñupiaq peoples’ common history. Alaska has the same advantages as Greenland, from strategic location to abundant resources. We can form the heart of this union throughout the 21st century and beyond.
    “We work hard to ensure prosperity, peaceful and respectful collaboration and protection of our people. We do so through international cooperation including through the Arctic Council which is the main Arctic cooperative governance body. We call on continued support and engagement in the peaceful dialogue through the Arctic Council, and we look forward and support the incoming chairship of Kingdom of Denmark, and recognize the leading role of Greenland in the chairship.
    “The future does not require us to redraw the borders on that map, but to work harder than ever across them. The respectful, consensus partnership is the only way to truly foster the ties that will bind Greenland and the United States together for the long haul. We call the Arctic our home. We work hard to ensure prosperity, peaceful and respectful collaboration and protection of our people. We believe in a stronger partnership for a brighter future across the Arctic.”
    Yesterday, the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region (SCPAR) met in Tromsø, Norway, for the organization’s winter meeting. Senator Murkowski participated virtually.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: STANDING AT ALTON’S RESTAURANT IN CHEEKTOWAGA WITH EGG & GROCERY PRICES RISING DUE TO BIRD FLU OUTBREAK CALLS ON FEDS TO SURGE ‘BIOSECURITY’ AND GET ALL HANDS ON DECK TO HELP FARMS CONTAIN…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Schumer Says Egg Prices Already Increased $2 Per Dozen In Last Two Months And Could Get Worse If New Admin Doesn’t Surge Efforts To Beat Bird Flu; Farmers Do Not Have Resources To Contain Bird Flu Alone, Says Feds Must Ramp Up Efforts NOW Before Prices Climb Higher
    With Millions Of Birds Impacted Last Month, And More Bird Flu Being Found In NY Just Last Week, Schumer Says Biosecurity And Increased Fed Response Is Key To Isolate & Contain Bird Flu And Lower Grocery Costs
    Schumer: With New Admin, We Can’t Afford To Scramble To Keep Bird Flu Mitigation Going—Or Egg & All Grocery Prices Could Surge
    Amid the increasing price of eggs in Western NY and across Upstate New York amid the bird flu outbreak, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood at Cheektowaga’s beloved Alton’s Restaurant and called on HHS and the USDA to surge funding and get all hands on deck for coordinated federal response to stop the spread causing sky-rocketing egg prices and lower costs for families, diners, and local bakeries.
    “Alton’s has been a staple in Western New York for over 40 years, but recently restaurants like Alton’s and families in Buffalo have been shell-shocked by higher egg and grocery prices. Egg prices are skyrocketing because of bird flu, driving costs up for families, farms, diners, and small businesses. In November, a dozen eggs cost about $4 in NY which is already high, but now the average is nearly $6, and with bird flu getting worse this problem could quickly spiral into a crisis,” said Senator Schumer. “Last year I secured millions to help contain this disease and we need the new administration to surge biosecurity efforts to beat back bird flu. We need a robust, coordinated federal response to crack down on bird flu and I am committed to working in a bipartisan way with the new administration to get grocery prices lower and that starts with getting a handle on bird flu. The health of our livestock, our restaurants, and Western NY families’ wallets depend on it.”
    For decades, Alton’s has been a beloved cornerstone of Western New York’s culinary scene, serving hearty Greek-American comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since opening its doors in 1982, the Cheektowaga-based restaurant, owned by Milton Koutsandreas, has built a loyal following with its warm atmosphere and home-cooked meals. However, like many local businesses across the region, Alton’s has felt the strain of rising costs, particularly the significant increase in egg prices. Just a few months ago they were able to get 30 dozen eggs for $50 a case, and now the diner is seeing prices climb to $180 a case.
    Some grocery stores are limiting the number of egg cartons consumers can purchase, and the price of eggs in New York State has increased from $4.23 in November to $6.10 as of January 10 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Roughly 8% of egg supply has been affected by the avian flu nationwide, and experts say prices could increase an additional 20% in 2025 if the bird flu keeps spreading.
    Schumer added, “I’ll be pushing for more federal resources in the upcoming budget bill to stop the bird flu, and the feds need to continue prioritizing biosecurity, get all hands on deck for containing bird flu. This will give farmers the resources to isolate, sanitize, and purchase the protective equipment they need.”
    More than 20 million egg-laying chickens died last quarter because of bird flu, and last week Long Island’s last commercial duck farm was forced to kill thousands of ducks after health officials detected cases of bird flu, forcing the farm to cease operations. An outbreak in Georgia last week showed how the virus can spread, and Schumer highlighted the need for federal coordination to prevent further spread and support farms in New York and across the country. With infections across the country, there have been fewer eggs available, and decreased supply has led to increasing prices at grocery stores.
    “As a restaurant manager, I know firsthand how crucial affordable ingredients are to keeping our business running and our customers happy. Eggs are a staple in so many of the dishes we serve, and rising prices significantly affect our costs and prices – something we always try to avoid,” said Alton’s Restaurant General Manager Audrea Arricale. “I want to thank Senator Chuck Schumer for taking the issue of excessively high food costs seriously.”
    “Stable egg prices are critical for the success of Cheektowaga’s local businesses, especially restaurants and grocery stores, which are already navigating the challenges of inflation,” said Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce President and CEO James Burns. “Senator Schumer’s push to strengthen biosecurity and support farmers in fighting bird flu is essential to keeping costs down for both businesses and families in our community.”
    “I thank Senator Schumer for standing up for basic, common sense public health efforts. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, we need everyone, from global partners and academia to local health departments in the fight together against illnesses like H5N1 highly pathogenic avian flu, which is a looming threat to the public’s health, our economy and our food security,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.
    “I thank Senator Schumer for his efforts to advance a practical solution to an issue that has a concrete impact on all of us. Resources are already in the federal budget and should be expended to address the issue,” said Cheektowaga Town Supervisor Brian Nowak.
    Schumer said that the federal government must invest in biosecurity efforts including isolation, sanitation, and more personal protective equipment (PPE). The senator called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health, among other federal agencies, to engage in a coordinated federal response to manage this bird flu outbreak. HHS invested $300+ million dollars before the new administration took office and the USDA has said that preparedness is the key to keeping Americans healthy and our country safe. Schumer said that as Congress continues to negotiate the Farm Bill, which regulates the federal budget for agricultural-related programs, the new Congress and the new administration must continue to prioritize investing in helping farms detect and contain bird flu.
    “The bottom-line here is that we do not want farmers, the feds, or consumers at the grocery store to scramble with this threat of bird flu sustaining into 2025. We want to try and keep grocery prices in check, and that means keeping the new Congress and the new administration laser-focused on ending this latest bird flu outbreak,” said Schumer.
    Under the Biden administration, the CDC made plans to award approximately $111 million in funding to enhance our ability to monitor the bird flu at the local, state and national levels, including $103 million to increase monitoring of individuals exposed to infected animals, testing, and outreach to high-risk populations (such as livestock workers) and $8 million to manufacture, store, and distribute influenza diagnostic test kits for virologic surveillance. The NIH made plans to award approximately $11 million in funding for additional research into potential medical countermeasures for the bird flu.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER: STANDING AT ROCHESTER’S JINES RESTAURANT WITH EGG & GROCERY PRICES RISING DUE TO BIRD FLU OUTBREAK CALLS ON FEDS TO SURGE ‘BIOSECURITY’ AND GET ALL HANDS ON DECK TO HELP FARMS CONTAIN BIRD…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Schumer Says Egg Prices Already Increased $2 Per Dozen In Last Two Months And Could Get Worse If New Admin Doesn’t Surge Efforts To Beat Bird Flu; Farmers Do Not Have Resources To Contain Bird Flu Alone, Says Feds Must Ramp Up Efforts NOW Before Prices Climb Higher
    With Millions Of Birds Impacted Last Month, And More Bird Flu Being Found In NY Just Last Week, Schumer Says Biosecurity And Increased Fed Response Is Key To Isolate & Contain Bird Flu And Lower Grocery Costs
    Schumer: With New Admin, We Can’t Afford To Scramble To Keep Bird Flu Mitigation Going—Or Egg & All Grocery Prices Could Surge
    Amid the increasing price of eggs in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region and across Upstate New York, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today stood at Rochester’s beloved Jines Restaurant and called on HHS and the USDA to surge funding and get all hands on deck for coordinated federal response to stop the spread causing sky-rocketing egg prices and lower costs for families, diners, and local bakeries.
    “Everyone in Rochester has eaten at Jines at some point, but diners like Jines and families in Rochester have been shell-shocked by higher egg and grocery prices. Egg prices are skyrocketing because of bird flu, driving costs up for families, farms, diners, and small businesses. In November, a dozen eggs cost about $4 in NY which is already high, but now the average is nearly $6, and with bird flu getting worse this problem could quickly spiral into a crisis,” said Senator Schumer. “Last year I secured millions to help contain this disease and we need the new administration to surge biosecurity efforts to beat back bird flu. We need a robust, coordinated federal response to crack down on bird flu and I am committed to working in a bipartisan way with the new administration to get grocery prices lower and that starts with getting a handle on bird flu. The health of our livestock, our restaurants, and Rochester families’ wallets depend on it.”
    Jines Restaurant serves thousands of eggs per week, and says the cost of egg cases has increased at unprecedented rates since the start of the avian flu. The restaurant is used to a dozen eggs costing $1.50 a dozen, but now sees prices at $6.50 a dozen and above. With the price of eggs continuing to rise steeply in Rochester and across the country, local diners like Jines are being forced to decide between absorbing the costs and raising prices for customers.
    Some grocery stores are limiting the number of egg cartons consumers can purchase, and the price of eggs in New York State has increased from $4.23 in November to $6.10 as of January 10 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Roughly 8% of egg supply has been affected by the avian flu nationwide, and experts say prices could increase an additional 20% in 2025 if the bird flu keeps spreading.
    Schumer added, “I’ll be pushing for more federal resources in the upcoming budget bill to stop the bird flu, and the feds need to continue prioritizing biosecurity, get all hands on deck for containing bird flu. This will give farmers the resources to isolate, sanitize, and purchase the protective equipment they need.”
    More than 20 million egg-laying chickens died last quarter because of bird flu, and last week Long Island’s last commercial duck farm was forced to kill thousands of ducks after health officials detected cases of bird flu, forcing the farm to cease operations. An outbreak in Georgia last week showed how the virus can spread, and Schumer highlighted the need for federal coordination to prevent further spread and support farms in New York and across the country. With infections across the country, there have been fewer eggs available, and decreased supply has led to increasing prices at grocery stores.
    Peter Gines, Jines Restaurant Owner said, “Eggs are used in nearly every dish that we serve and when you need thousands of eggs a week, every cost increase multiplies quickly.  As a small business owner, and on behalf of our employees and customers, we appreciate Senator Schumer’s attention to addressing this issue.”
    Schumer said that the federal government must invest in biosecurity efforts including isolation, sanitation, and more personal protective equipment (PPE). The senator called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health, among other federal agencies, to engage in a coordinated federal response to manage this bird flu outbreak. HHS invested $300+ million dollars before the new administration took office and the USDA has said that preparedness is the key to keeping Americans healthy and our country safe. Schumer said that as Congress continues to negotiate the Farm Bill, which regulates the federal budget for agricultural-related programs, the new Congress and the new administration must continue to prioritize investing in helping farms detect and contain bird flu.
    “The bottom-line here is that we do not want farmers, the feds, or consumers at the grocery store to scramble with this threat of bird flu sustaining into 2025. We want to try and keep grocery prices in check, and that means keeping the new Congress and the new administration laser-focused on ending this latest bird flu outbreak,” said Schumer.
    Under the Biden administration, the CDC made plans to award approximately $111 million in funding to enhance our ability to monitor the bird flu at the local, state and national levels, including $103 million to increase monitoring of individuals exposed to infected animals, testing, and outreach to high-risk populations (such as livestock workers) and $8 million to manufacture, store, and distribute influenza diagnostic test kits for virologic surveillance. The NIH made plans to award approximately $11 million in funding for additional research into potential medical countermeasures for the bird flu.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AI sensors on fridges and kettles helping vulnerable people to live independently

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Councils are leveraging AI and technology to enhance public services, save money, and improve living standards, aligning with government plans for £45 billion in efficiency savings under the Plan for Change.

    10 records of how local councils use AI to help local residents and save money.

    • From estimating budgets and improving care, to getting people new bins more quickly, new records reveal how councils are using AI and tech to help local residents and save money
    • Follows government announcing plans to put technology to work across public services, targeting £45 billion in efficiency savings
    • Innovations demonstrate the potential for AI and technology to improving public services and living standards, delivering on Plan for Change

    Local councils are picking up the AI mantle to help unleash this revolutionary technology across the UK – to turbocharge the Plan for Change and deliver a decade of national renewal.

    The latest transparency data – published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – shows that councils are wasting no time in putting the weight of the public sector behind AI and finding new and innovative ways to make it work for working people.

    It shows that AI is being used to identify when a pensioner has had a fall, to stop people fall into rent arrears, to map which houses need loft insulation, to give people bigger bins, and – instead of taking people’s jobs – to help them find work in social care.

    The publication of records follows the Technology Secretary setting out a blueprint for how his department will help the public sector use technology to transform public services, targeting £45 billion in potential productivity savings.

    The plan will see a new team, housed in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), cut across barriers to join up public services, including those provided by local councils, so people do not have to tell dozens of organisations the same thing.

    The team will first start by looking at services used by people with long term health conditions across organisations like the NHS, Department for Work and Pensions, local councils and more.

    As the digital centre of government, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will champion innovation, like that shown by the London Borough of Sutton, and help to spread it around the country so it can be used to improve public services and drive the Government’s Plan for Change.

    Speaking from a trip to see the Tech Enabled Care solution in Sutton, AI and Digital Government Minister Feryal Clark said:

    AI has immense potential to make our lives easier and improve public service. The technology we are together sharing with the public today includes shining examples of innovation that does everything from speeding up crucial applications for bigger bins, to helping people live independently.

    Being transparent with the detail of how we are putting AI to work in public services is crucial to our plans to use technology to improve public services, which is a key part of our Plan for Change.

    Other initiatives include AI-enabled fridge sensors and connected kettles are being used to detect changes in the daily routines of vulnerable people that could indicate a decline in health and ultimately lead to a fall, thanks to technology used by the London Borough of Sutton.

    Helping people who would otherwise need additional care, the technology uses sensors to spot changes in behaviour, like missed meals, a skipped cup of tea or whether a door has been left open for too long, before AI analysis is used to detect whether something might be wrong. An alert is then sent to close family members or carers so they can stop by to check on how they are and offer additional support if needed.

    Details of the technology, which was developed by Loughborough tech company The Access Group and Medequip Connect, have been released today alongside nine other public sector organisations setting out how they use AI and algorithmic tools. 

    Councillor Marian James, Lead Member for People Services at the London Borough of Sutton said:

    Research shows that people live well for longer when they can maintain their sense of independence and dignity by remaining in their own home. That’s why we are using the latest digital technology to enable our residents to continue living their lives independently within the comfort of their own home, but with the peace of mind that support is available when they need it. 

    The pressures facing our adult social care services show no sign of easing, so I’m proud the Council is taking this forward-thinking approach to find solutions that will reduce the pressure on the system, as well as being beneficial for our residents.

    Among the records published today, West Berkshire Council also shared how it is using technology to help residents get a bigger black bin more quickly, if they are eligible.

    A tool, built entirely in-house by the council, takes in information from an online application form, like the number of people living in a home, and the number of children in nappies, to automatically rule out people who might not be eligible for a bigger bin.

    Though, people whose applications are declined can still appeal the crucial decision, and have a human quickly look at their request. By speeding up the processing of requests, it makes sure families with newborns can get a bigger bin to handle the increased waste much more quickly.

    Other records published today detail chatbots used to help people apply for social care qualifications in Wales, and algorithmic tools to help councils more accurately predict the cost of adult care, so they can better manage their budgets.

    Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock said:

    Around a third of adults over 65 will have at least one fall a year. This can be devastating and doesn’t just risk broken bones, but a loss of confidence and independence in older people.

    I am determined that we harness cutting-edge technology to protect them – and this groundbreaking AI will help to stop accidents before they happen and cut down on hospital visits.

    Our Plan for Change will drive forward this kind of innovation, transform the NHS, and ensure people can live safely and independently.

    Andy Sparkes, Managing Director, Local Government, The Access Group, said:

    We’re delighted to support Sutton Council’s ambitious approach to AI and technology-enabled care, which offers a personalised service that enables individuals to live independently for longer.

    AI and machine learning have the potential to enable all local authorities to shift their approach to care from the traditional reactive model to a more proactive approach that allows for early intervention. By scaling these proven examples of success, councils can reduce the pressure on current services and empower residents to remain in their homes for as long as possible.

    Notes to editors

    Full list of transparency records in this bundle.

    Dorset City Council

    Formulate for Adult Care – estimates financially sustainable personal budgets for adults with eligible care and support needs.

    Camden Council

    RentSense AI Tool Pilot – analyses council housing tenants’ rent transactions to prioritise arrears cases for management.

    Ealing Council

    Adult Social Care Annual Financial Expenditure Forecast – forecasts annual adult social care expenditure more accurately to make it easier for services to allocate budgets.

    Greater London Authority

    London Building Stock Model 2 – predicts missing information about London’s properties to help inform housing improvement programmes and decisions that reduce carbon emissions and energy bills.

    London Borough of Sutton

    Access Assure, Technology Enabled Care (TEC) – helps residents live independently by monitoring their data and alerting carers and family/friends where necessary.

    Social Care Wales

    Qualifications Chatbot – helps anyone with an interest in social care qualifications find appropriate qualification and information to work in the social care, early years, and childcare sector in Wales.

    Warwickshire County Council

    Domestic EPC Estimates – estimates domestic energy performance certificates (EPC) of households that have a missing EPC to help support better outcomes for citizens.

    West Berkshire Council

    Apply for a Larger Rubbish Bin – assesses whether applicants for a larger household waste container meet the minimum threshold set out in the council’s policy to provide a faster, improved service.

    London Borough of Barnet

    Ami Chatbot – a chatbot on the council’s website to provide better customer experience.

    Bristol City Council

    Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) – assesses the risk of an individual becoming NEET to enable safeguarding professionals deliver timely and targeted interventions and support.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Readout: Foreign Secretary meeting with US Secretary of State

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Foreign Secretary call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: 27 January 2025 

    Foreign Secretary David Lammy spoke with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio today.  

    The Foreign Secretary congratulated Secretary Rubio on his appointment as Secretary of State and the pair discussed their shared links to the Caribbean, with the Foreign Secretary’s family ties to Guyana and Secretary Rubio’s family links to Cuba. 

    They both welcomed the opportunity for the UK and the US to work together in alignment to address on shared challenges including the situation in the Middle East, Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, the challenges posed by China and the need for Indo-Pacific security.  

    The pair said they looked forward to working together and to meeting in person soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Introduces Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Telecommunications Against Foreign Adversaries

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, introduced the Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act.
    The legislation would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publicly identify entities that hold FCC licenses, authorizations, or other grants of authority that are owned, wholly or partially, by foreign adversarial governments. This includes the governments of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
    U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined Senator Fischer as original cosponsors of the bipartisan bill.
    U.S. Representatives Thomas Kean (NJ-07), Rob Wittman (VA-01), Kathy Castor (FL-14), and Ro Khanna (CA-17) will lead companion legislation in the House.
    “Authoritarian regimes like China and Russia are actively working to undermine the security of our domestic communications. My bill will better position the FCC to evaluate the risks foreign ties pose to America’s national security so that we can respond to these network infrastructure threats,” said Senator Fischer.
    “The U.S. must protect our telecommunications systems from global adversaries that are trying to do us harm,” said Senator Rosen. “That’s why I’m helping to introduce this bipartisan bill to increase transparency and publicly keep track of companies with influence from adversaries, including China, Russia, and Iran. I’ll always work to support our national security.”
    “It’s no secret that foreign adversaries threaten our national security by exploiting both legal and illegal access to technology and communication infrastructure,” said Senator Cornyn. “The FACT Act would shine light on these vulnerabilities by identifying foreign entities that hold FCC licenses, helping to reduce national security risks and strengthen oversight.”
    “Securing our telecommunications systems is crucial for our country’s national security,” said Senator Luján. “The FACT Act is a critical step to promote transparency and boost the FCC’s ability to detect risks posed by our adversaries. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with my colleagues to safeguard our telecommunications networks.”
    Background:Until now, there has been no mandated public disclosure of companies linked to foreign adversaries operating within U.S. technology and telecommunication markets.
    Although the FCC is prohibited from granting licenses or authorizations deemed a national security threat, some entities with ties to adversarial foreign governments continue to hold certain approvals. As a result, more transparency is necessary.
    Click 
    here to read the text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff, Colleagues Condemn Pardons of January 6 Capitol Attackers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff, Colleagues Condemn Pardons of January 6 Capitol Attackers

    The resolution condemning the pardons comes after Trump pardoned over 1,500 Jan 6 insurrectionists – including those convicted of violently assaulting police officers
    The Senators will seek unanimous consent to pass the resolution this week
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “Pardoning violent criminals who carried out this unabashed and unembarrassed assault on our democracy is not only an immense injustice but blatant disrespect to the courageous law enforcement officers who protected our Capitol and fought to preserve our republic that day”
    Senator Ossoff: “I condemn in the strongest terms President Trump’s disgraceful pardon of more than 1,000 criminals, many of them violent, who overran the U.S. Capitol, desecrated the seat of our democracy, and assaulted law enforcement in their failed attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power”
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and 45 colleagues introduced a new resolution condemning the pardons of individuals who were found guilty of assaulting U.S. Capitol Police Officers. 
    The resolution follows President Trump’s decision to, on the first day of his second term, grant full, complete, and unconditional pardons to over 1,500 people charged with committing crimes in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and to commute the sentences of 14 others, including leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, far-right militias. Among those pardoned by Trump were 169 people who pled guilty to assaulting police officers on January 6th. During the siege of the Capitol that day, over 80 U.S. Capitol Police Officers were assaulted, as well as over 60 officers from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
    “Pardoning violent criminals who carried out this unabashed and unembarrassed assault on our democracy is not only an immense injustice but blatant disrespect to the courageous law enforcement officers who protected our Capitol and fought to preserve our republic that day,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “These pardons create a permission structure to excuse political violence and further endanger our law enforcement.”
    “I condemn in the strongest terms President Trump’s disgraceful pardon of more than 1,000 criminals, many of them violent, who overran the U.S. Capitol, desecrated the seat of our democracy, and assaulted law enforcement in their failed attempt to prevent the peaceful transfer of power,” Senator Ossoff said.
    The senators’ resolution, Condemning the pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers, simply states: “Resolved, That the Senate disapproves of any pardons for individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police officers.” The Senators will seek unanimous consent on the Senate floor this week to pass the resolution.
    According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, approximately 1,572 defendants have been federally charged with crimes associated with the attack of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. This includes approximately 598 charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder, including approximately 171 defendants charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.
    In addition to Senators Warnock and Ossoff, the resolution was authored by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Andy Kim (D-NJ), and cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). In total 47 senators signed the resolution.
    The resolution can be viewed HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Senator Reverend Warnock Pushes for Key Commitments from Agriculture Nominee to Support Georgia Farmers and Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    WATCH: Senator Reverend Warnock Pushes for Key Commitments from Agriculture Nominee to Support Georgia Farmers and Families

    At today’s Senate Agriculture committee hearing, Senator Reverend Warnock questioned Brooke Rollins, President Trump’s nominee to run the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
    Senator Reverend Warnock pushed for key commitments to ensure disaster assistance is distributed both swiftly and equitably, Georgia farmers are protected from the high costs associated with trade wars, and more
    Following the catastrophic damage of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, Senator Reverend Warnock helped secure nearly $21 billion in disaster relief funding for farmers as well as $10 billion in economic assistance for row crops farmers, including cotton and peanut farmers in Georgia; if confirmed, Ms. Rollins will oversee the distribution of this funding
    Senator Reverend Warnock also pushed Rollins on how she would protect Georgia farmers from high costs associated with trade wars and expanding market access 
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “Farmers, as you know, do incredible work. It’s a tough business. There’s so much you don’t control. The margins are narrow, and so I do everything I can to protect my growers in Georgia. I cannot overstate how critical it is for USDA to distribute this assistance, this disaster assistance to Georgia farmers as quickly as possible–but also as equitably as possible. If confirmed, how will you work to ensure disaster assistance is distributed both swiftly and equitably?”
    Senator Reverend Warnock: “Farmers in Georgia are already concerned about potential retaliatory actions following President Trump’s promises to levy heavy tariffs. They are already dealing with slim margins due to high input costs, and the last thing they need is to be caught in the middle of a trade war that could drive-up food prices for all of us”

    Watch Senator Reverend Warnock at Thursday’s Agriculture nominee hearing  HERE and  HERE
    Washington, D.C. – Today, during a U.S. Senate Agriculture committee hearing on the nomination of Brooke Rollins to lead the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) pushed for key commitments from Rollins to ensure disaster assistance is distributed both swiftly and equitably, Georgia farmers are protected from the high costs associated with trade wars, and more. The Senator also pushed Rollins to commit to protecting Fort Valley State’s partnership with USDA and to removing red tape from low-income children and families receiving nutrition benefits.
    If confirmed, Rollins would oversee USDA’s rollout of disaster funding for farmers Senator Warnock secured in December. Following the catastrophic damage of Hurricane Helene in September 2024, Senator Warnock fought for the inclusion of agricultural disaster funding in any end-of-year government funding package, which included nearly $21 billion in disaster relief funding for farmers as well as $10 billion in economic assistance for row crops farmers, including cotton and peanut farmers in Georgia.
    “Farmers, as you know, do incredible work. It’s a tough business. There’s so much you don’t control. The margins are narrow, and so I do everything I can to protect my growers in Georgia. I cannot overstate how critical it is for USDA to distribute this assistance, this disaster assistance to Georgia farmers as quickly as possible–but also as equitably as possible. If confirmed, how will you work to ensure disaster assistance is distributed both swiftly and equitably?,” Senator Reverend Warnock asked. 
    As a veteran member of the Senate committee overseeing federal agriculture policies, and as a senator representing a state with a proud and prosperous history of agriculture excellence, Senator Warnock is vigilant in defending programs that help Georgia farmers keep more profits in their pockets and keep the industry at the frontlines of Georgia’s success.
    “Farmers in Georgia are already concerned about potential retaliatory actions following President Trump’s promises to levy heavy tariffs. They are already dealing with slim margins due to high input costs, and the last thing they need is to be caught in the middle of a trade war that could drive-up food prices for all of us. If confirmed, what will you do from your position at USDA to ensure that Georgia’s farmers and families aren’t caught up in a trade war? It’s something I have worked on with Republicans, helping to get our farmers’ goods to market, it’s something we think about a lot,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. 
    Watch the first part of the Senator’s remarks  HERE and the second part  HERE.
    See below a transcript of key exchanges between Senator Warnock and USDA nominee Brooke Rollins (remarks have been lightly edited for clarity):
    On federal disaster assistance for Georgia farmers 
    SRW: Last year I worked hard with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to provide $21 billion to help farmers recover from natural disasters like Hurricane Helene. Farmers, as you know, do incredible work. It’s a tough business. There’s so much you don’t control. The margins are narrow, and so I do everything I can to protect my growers in Georgia. I cannot overstate how critical it is for USDA to distribute this assistance, this disaster assistance to Georgia farmers as quickly as possible–but also as equitably as possible. If confirmed, how will you work to ensure disaster assistance is distributed both swiftly and equitably?
    Brooke Rollins (BR): Yes sir, thank you, and I’ll try to answer quickly so we can go on. The day I got the call from President Trump, it was Saturday, November 23rd. We were in our motorhome traveling across the country to an Aggie football game. Within a few hours of accepting the nomination, I began to immediately pivot to how we distribute this disaster and so important economic aid working with a few of the senators on this committee. Clearly I am not confirmed yet, so this is going to await my arrival. But in the meantime, sir, we’ve already announced the undersecretary who worked on this in the last Trump administration who is already building the team who distributed these funds so they know what they’re doing. We’re not reinventing the wheel.
    SRW: Will you work with our state agriculture commissioner to ensure Georgia producers, including our foresters, have the support they need from USDA to get that assistance without having to jump through a bunch of bureaucratic hoops?
    BR: Of course.
    SRW: And will you also commit to equitably getting that assistance to all eligible farmers, all eligible farmers, including those who’ve been historically left out of USDA assistance, often due to discrimination.
    BR: Sir, we will follow the law and ensure that that is the case.
    SRW: Is that a yes or a no?
    BR: Yes.
    On protecting Georgia farmers from costs of trade wars
    SRW: Farmers in Georgia are already concerned about potential retaliatory actions following President Trump’s promises to levy heavy tariffs. They are already dealing with slim margins due to high input costs, and the last thing they need is to be caught in the middle of a trade war that could drive-up food prices for all of us. If confirmed, what will you do from your position at USDA to ensure that Georgia’s farmers and families aren’t caught up in a trade war? It’s something I have worked on with Republicans, helping to get our farmers’ goods to market, it’s something we think about a lot.
    BR: When I was in your office last month we talked about your commitment to your farmers and what a priority this was to you. Georgia is a very important agricultural state. You’re obviously pastoring in a church and in the United States Senate, but I was impressed at your commitment to your ag community in your state and look forward to continuing to work with you. It’s very clear the coming tariffs, and I think there is no doubt President Trump has been very transparent that he believes this is an extremely important tool in his toolkit to put America first, to revive the economy, to get us back to a place where he believes we need to be, and I agree with him and hope to help him execute that vision. But it also should not be surprising that his heart and his commitment to our farmers and our agriculture community was certainly clear in the last administration. The number one answer from my perspective is working around the clock to expand market access and working on new trade deals and getting new partners from around the world. I already have an undersecretary named, hopefully get him confirmed, so we can begin to build those teams. The president is a consummate dealmaker, and I feel very confident we will be able to expand those markets, begin to peel back the trade deficit, and get back to trade surpluses. But immediately moving into the distribution of disaster relief, economic relief, the new farm bill that’s coming out, I’ve already announced the undersecretary and put the team in place to be able to deploy that.
    SRW: I agree with you that access to farm markets is critical and in Georgia we’ve got a lot of sectors that are relying on strong export markets: timber, poultry, pecans. Are you concerned that isolationist trade practices may harm our abilities, our farmers’ ability to access these foreign markets?
    BR: I have full confidence in President Trump’s ability to lead us on this, and, and hopefully he and many of you have confidence in my ability to help from the ag perspective.
    On supporting 1890 land grant institutions
    SRW: Ms. Rollins, good morning and welcome to you and to your family and all those who are here to support you and congratulations on your nomination. I enjoyed meeting with you last month to discuss your nomination and plans for USDA, and this morning I’d just like to follow up on some of the issues, many of which we’ve already discussed. But first, it has come to my attention that a recent executive order has led to the potential termination of USDA’s liaisons to our 1890 land grant institutions, institutions like Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. There’s strong bipartisan support for these institutions. They’ve done an incredible job, often doing so much for so many with so very little for such a long time that it’s lost on people the work these institutions do every day. I’m deeply concerned about this and the actions to shut out their voices at USDA. Ms. Rollins, if you are confirmed, will you commit to supporting our 1890 institutions?
    BR: I am not familiar with exactly what you’re speaking of, but my commitment to you is to find out and to continue a really important discussion and to learn more about the issue.
    SRW: Well the executive order could lead to the potential termination of USDA’s liaisons to these 1890 institutions which helped them to navigate their relationship with the USDA. Can I have your commitment to protect those who serve these institutions at the USDA?
    BR: Again, sir, I would want to know more and understand more before I can make that commitment, but clearly, those institutions are important. They are bipartisan supported, and you have my commitment to have a very robust dialogue at any moment, any time of day or night, to ensure that we have all the data as we’re making any decisions.
    SRW: I appreciate that. I’ve had good relationships and good work, bipartisan work, supporting these institutions, and I hope you’ll keep your eye on that issue.
    BR: I will.
    On fighting hunger and protecting nutritional benefits
    SRW: Fighting hunger has long been a part of my life’s work long before I was elected to the Senate. As you know, I’m a pastor, and the one miracle story that’s in all the gospels, all four, is the feeding of the 5000. And so I constantly hear from Georgia families about how their dollar just doesn’t go as far at the grocery store as it used to. The average Georgian participating in SNAP, a food assistance program that provides critical nutrition, aid to our most vulnerable families, has about $6.15 a day to spend on food. In your view, is $6.15 a day adequate to avoid hunger for Georgia families.
    BR: Sir, this is a supplemental program. I am just getting my arms around it. There are few that will be in my role, if confirmed, that have a passion for this more than I do. Serving those who are most in need, as you and I discussed in your office, is a driving force of my entire life. It almost sent me to seminary, but I ended up in public policy instead, so you have my wholehearted commitment to look and ensure that the people who need this the most are receiving it in the best way possible, but at the same time ensuring that all of the tax dollars that are spent on it are also spent in the best way possible.
    SRW: One of the things as these families struggle, one of the things that I’m concerned about are proposals to slash this critical assistance and create additional work verification red tape for families participating in these programs. Do you think creating more bureaucratic red tape for families will help them purchase nutritious food?
    BR: I think it’s extremely important that we take a wholesale look at every one of these programs and ensure that they are serving the people that are needing the programs and that they are the safety net that they truly set out to be. Obviously I do not like the words bureaucracy or red tape, but ensuring that we have set up the appropriate lifelines and the appropriate structure so that we can get these resources to the families that need them the most.
    SRW: As we talk about work requirements, and I support work, I was raised by a father and a mother who had a serious work ethic, but we want to help these families have a basic safety net. Most poor people are children. I think it’s important to remember that most poor people are children. SNAP lifts children, seniors, veterans, and folks with disabilities out of poverty, and it’s proven to reduce health care costs and stimulate our local economies. If you’re confirmed, I hope we can find ways to work together to ensure our most vulnerable families and our neighbors can afford groceries. I think, as someone who preaches the miracle of the feeding of 5000, I think it’s the right thing to do, but I also think it’s a smart thing to do.
    BR: Yes sir, you have my commitment.
    On combating the history of racial discrimination in USDA
    SRW: USDA has a long documented and unfortunate history of racial discrimination, even recent history. I was proud to have secured funding in the Inflation Reduction Act to provide financial assistance to farmers who had previously experienced discrimination at the hands of their USDA farm lending programs. This was a meaningful step in rebuilding trust. However, USDA still has a lot of work to do and this will only be more difficult following the new administration’s executive order aimed at rolling back all of this progress. I was proud Congress passed my legislation in 2021 to require USDA to create an equity commission, and the commission’s final report provides an excellent road map for continuing this work. Chair Boozman, without objection, I would like to enter the USDA’s 2024 equity report into the record. Thank you so much. When we met last month, you promised to read the equity report. Have you gotten a chance to read it yet?
    BR: 90 pages and 66 recommendations. Yes, sir. Now that has been about a little over a month ago, so please don’t ask me to quote page 66, but yes.
    SRW: I’m glad you got a chance to read it. I understand it’s been removed from the website or there’s no access to it. I’m glad you got a chance to read it. Will you seriously consider the recommendations of the equity commission’s report if you’re confirmed?
    BR: Senator, let me answer this way. I was really appreciative of the conversation. For me, more knowledge is always best, understanding where everyone comes from, whether I agree or disagree, recognizing what’s in the past is important, but also realizing the path ahead and how we forge the path…
    SRW: Will you consider the recommendations?
    BR: Sir, I will consider anything that’s on the table. I think that’s only fair, but also, President Trump won on the concept of removing the diversity, equity and inclusion, making sure that we are basing our decisions on merit, and I obviously support that 100% as well, but I look forward, Senator, to continuing to talk about this. My friend Alveda has long talked to me about the plight of black farmers in Georgia and other places around the country, and I’m always open to discussions, always, and may I say there is no room for racism at the United States Department of Agriculture. 
    SRW: In that regard, will you commit to recruiting more diverse employees who understand these communities, have relationships with these communities, so that we build trust between these communities and the lending office?
    BR: Sir, my commitment is to recruit the best workforce in the history of the United States Department of Agriculture, period, full stop. I believe that will include many members of all different corners of our country.
    SRW: Do you think a diverse workforce and a high-quality workforce are somehow oppositional objectives?
    BR: I think always hiring based on who is the best person for the job, who is gonna do the most excellent service, who is best equipped to execute on all of the promises is the promise of America, but I also believe to your point and have long held that ensuring that we give all people a chance to succeed and to thrive and for equal opportunity is a bedrock foundational principle of America.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Now consumers will be able to rely on the opinions of other borrowers when choosing a credit institution

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    The regulator has developed a methodology for calculating the ranking of banks, which will take into account the number of justified complaints about a credit institution during a calendar year and their ratio to the number of loans in effect during this period. Thus, the consumer will have the opportunity to choose the most customer-oriented banks from all banks.

    Systemically important banks and all other banks will be ranked separately. According to calculation methods, credit institutions will be distributed in the ranking in descending order of the indicator. If no more than one complaint was received against a financial institution during the year or if at the time of calculating the indicator it did not have a banking license, it will not be included in such a list.

    The regulator plans to publish the first rankings in April 2025 based on the results of 2024.

    Preview photo: JOURNEY STUDIO7 / Shutterstock / Fotodom

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    HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 23317

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: Over 230,000 Deals Concluded on First Day of Morning Trading

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    On January 27, 2025, Moscow Exchange resumed morning trading on the stock and derivatives markets: trading on the stock market is now conducted 17 hours a day – from 6:50 to 23:50 Moscow time, on the derivatives market and bond market – 15 hours a day – from 8:50 to 23:50 Moscow time.

    On the first day of morning trading, 47 thousand clients, including 44 thousand private investors, concluded more than 160 thousand transactions with shares and bonds. The total volume of trading in shares and bonds exceeded 7.3 billion rubles, or 4.5% of the average daily trading volume in January 2025. Private investors accounted for 85% of the volume of transactions with shares and 88% with federal loan bonds. The most popular instruments during the morning trading period were shares of Polyus (PLZL), Samolet Group (SMLT) and PIK Group (PIKK), as well as OFZ issues 26248, 26240 and 26238.

    The trading volume on the futures market in the morning hours amounted to 18.6 billion rubles – 4.7% of the average daily trading volume in January 2025. Over 15 thousand clients, mainly private investors, concluded 75.7 thousand transactions. The largest trading volume was recorded in futures contracts for natural gas (Ng), gold (GOLD) and futures on the Moscow Exchange Index (MIX).

    With the resumption of the morning session, residents of the eastern regions of Russia have the opportunity to participate in trading on the Moscow Exchange at a more convenient time for themselves. Market participants can react more quickly to changes in the global market situation and realize additional trading and arbitrage opportunities in the morning hours.

    On the stock market in the morning hours, investors can make transactions with the most liquid shares, including those from the Moscow Exchange Index, and federal loan bonds (OFZ). In the future, transactions with shares of exchange-traded mutual investment funds (EMIF) will become available in morning trading. The list of securities available for morning trading is posted on the exchange’s website.. All instruments that are traded during the main session are available on the urgent market in the morning hours. Liquidity for instruments in the morning hours is supported by market makers.

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom

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    HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.M.M.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: On 27.01.2025, the deposit auction of the MFI Financing Fund will take place

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

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

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

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

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    Parameters
    Date of the deposit auction 01/27/2025
    Placement currency Rub
    Maximum amount of funds placed (in placement currency) 35,000,000.00
    Placement period, days 30
    Date of deposit 01/28/2025
    Refund date 02.27.2025
    Minimum placement interest rate, % per annum 21.50
    Conditions of imprisonment, urgent or special Urgent
    Minimum amount of funds placed for one application (in placement currency) 35,000,000.00
    Maximum number of applications from one Participant, pcs. 1
    Auction form, open or closed Open
    Basis of the Treaty General Agreement
     
    Schedule (Moscow time)
    Preliminary applications from 12:45 to 13:00
    Applications in competition mode from 13:00 to 13:10
    Setting a cut-off percentage or declaring the auction invalid until 13:30
       
    Additional terms Interest payment at the end of the term

    MIL OSI Russia News