Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Written Ministerial Statement – Social and Affordable Housing

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The Deputy Prime Minister has written to Parliament to set out how this week’s Budget will support both affordable housing and social housing need

    This week’s Budget will set out how the Government will deliver more affordable housing and ensure social housing is available for those who need it most.

    This will include an immediate one year cash injection of £500 million to top up the existing Affordable Homes Programme which will deliver up to 5000 new social and affordable homes, bringing total investment in housing supply in 2025/2026 to over £5 billion. This comes ahead of the multi-year Spending Review next spring, where the Government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and home-ownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

    The Government will also consult on a new 5-year social housing rent settlement, which caps the rents social housing providers can charge their tenants, to provide the sector with the certainty it needs to invest in new social housing. The intention would be for this to increase with Consumer Price Index inflation figures and an additional 1%. The consultation will also seek views on other potential options to give greater certainty, such as providing a 10-year settlement.

    These measures to increase affordable housing come alongside changes to the Right to Buy scheme. England’s existing social housing supply is depleted every year by the scheme while also disincentivising councils to build new social housing. To address this, the Chancellor will confirm at Budget that councils will be able to retain 100% of the receipts generated by Right to Buy sales. This will enable councils to scale-up delivery of much needed social homes whilst still enabling longstanding tenants to buy their own homes. The Chancellor will also set out how Right to Buy discounts will be reduced to protect existing social housing stock to meet housing need, whilst ensuring long-term tenants can still benefit. This will deliver a fairer and more sustainable scheme that also presents better value for money for Councils.

    The Chancellor will also confirm at the Budget £128 million of funding to support the delivery of new housing projects, comprising of:

    • Confirmation of a £56 million investment at Liverpool Central Docks which is expected to deliver 2,000 homes in North Liverpool, along with office, retail, leisure, and hotel facilities. This will transform Liverpool’s former dockland into a thriving waterfront neighbourhood.
    • A £25 million investment in a joint venture to establish a new fund with Muse Places Limited and Pension Insurance Corporation to deliver 3,000 energy-efficient new homes across the country, with a target of 100% of these being affordable.
    • The confirmation of £47 million to local authorities to support the delivery of up to 28,000 homes that would otherwise be stalled due to ‘nutrient neutrality’ requirements. This funding will not only unlock much needed new housing but also clean up our rivers in the process.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London Assembly Member urges Londoners’ to be aware of fire risk caused by DIY E-Bikes and E-Scooters 

    Source: Mayor of London

    Len Duvall, London Assembly Member for Greenwich and Lewisham has issued a warning to Londoners to be aware of fire risk caused by Lithium batteries in converted E-bikes and scooters. The warning comes following a fire in Woolwich where two people had to be rescued by fire crews. The incident, which took place in Mr Duvall’s constituency, was likely caused by lithium batteries in a converted e-bike.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The correspondence stage of the main stage of the All-Russian TIM-Championship of SPbGASU has started

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    On October 28, the correspondence stage of the main stage of the All-Russian TIM-Championship of SPbGASU started.

    The goal of the championship is to involve students, the university professional community, and representatives of Russian and international organizations in the process of mastering information modeling in construction and improving the level of training of future specialists.

    The general partners of the championship are the National Association of Surveyors and Designers (NOPRIZ) and the Metropolis company.

    The participants of the championship in 2024 are students of the following universities from various regions of Russia:

    Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU); Tomsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (TSUACE); Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (NRU MGSU); Far Eastern State Transport University (FESU); Vyatka State University (VyatSU); Ivanovo State Polytechnical University (IVGPU); South Ural State University (SUSU (NRU)); Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (NNGASU); Tomsk State University (TSU); Samara State Technical University (SamSTU); Tyumen Industrial University (TIU); Perm National Research Polytechnic University (PNRPU).

    According to the competition specifications, the design object in 2024 is a cinema building in St. Petersburg.

    The correspondence stage will last until November 11, 2024. The on-site stage, during which teams from all participating universities will come to SPbGASU, will be held from November 20 to November 25, 2024. Project defense and award ceremony – November 27, 2024.

    More detailed information is available on the championship website

    For questions about participating in the project defense and the award ceremony (as observers), please contact educational center of digital competencies of SPbGASU

    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: STMicroelectronics’ innovative biosensing technology enables next-generation wearables for individual healthcare and fitness

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STMicroelectronics’ innovative biosensing technology
    enables next-generation wearables for individual healthcare and fitness

    Highly integrated biosensor device combines input channel for cardio and neurological sensing with motion tracking and embedded AI core

    Demonstration to take place at Electronica 2024, Munich, November 12-15

    Geneva, Switzerland, October 28, 2024 – STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, has introduced a new bio-sensing chip for the next generations of healthcare wearables like smart watches, sports bands, connected rings, or smart glasses. The ST1VAFE3BX chip combines a high-accuracy biopotential input with ST’s proven inertial sensing and AI core, which performs activity detection in the chip to ensure faster performance with lower power consumption.

    Wearable electronics is the critical enabling technology for the upsurge in individual health awareness and fitness. Today, everyone can have heart-rate monitoring, activity tracking, and geographical location on their wrist,” said Simone Ferri, APMS Group VP, MEMS Sub-Group General Manager at STMicroelectronics. “Our latest biosensor chip now raises the game in wearables, delivering motion and body-signal sensing in an ultra-compact form-factor with frugal power budget.”

    Analysts at Yole Development see opportunities for wearable monitors transcending the general wellness market, including consumer healthcare devices that are approved by health organizations and available over the counter1. By creating a complete precision sensor input in silicon, ST’s chip-design experts are facilitating innovation in all segments, with advanced capabilities such as heart-rate variability, cognitive function, and mental state.

    The ST1VAFE3BX provides opportunities to extend wearable applications beyond the wrist to other locations on the body, such as intelligent patches for lifestyle or medical monitoring purposes. ST customers BM Innovations GmbH (BMI) and Pison are working at the frontiers in this sector and have quickly adopted the new sensor to drive new-product development.

    BMI is an electronic design contracting company experienced in wireless sensing and with an extensive portfolio of projects including several leading-edge heart rate and performance monitoring systems. “ST’s new biosensor has enabled us to develop the next generation of precise athlete performance monitoring systems including ECG analysis in a chest band or a small patch,” said Richard Mayerhofer, Managing Director BM innovations GmbH. “Combining the analog signal from the vAFE with motion data from the acceleration sensor within a compact single package facilitates precise and context-aware data analysis. And with additional support for our AI algorithms directly on the sensor, this is exactly what we have been looking for.”

    David Cipoletta, CTO of Pison, a developer focusing on advanced technologies to enhance health and human potential, added, “ST’s new biosensor stands out as a great solution for smartwatch gesture recognition, cognitive performance, and neurological health. Leveraging this advancement, we have significantly enhanced the functionality and user experience of our wearable devices.”

    The ST1VAFE3BX is in production now in a 2mm x 2mm 12-lead LGA package and available from the eSTore (free samples available) and distributors from $1.50 for orders of 1000 units.

    Visitors to Electronica 2024, the major industry trade event happening in Munich November 12-15, can see the ST1VAFE3BX in a sensing technologies demonstration at the ST booth, Hall C3 101. More information is available online at www.st.com/biosensors

    Further technical information

    The analog front-end circuits for biopotential sensors are difficult to design and subject to unpredictable effects such as skin preparation and the position of electrodes attached to the body. The ST1VAFE3BX provides a complete vertical analog front end (vAFE) that simplifies the detection of different types of vital signs that can indicate physical or emotional state.

    Manufacturers of wellness and healthcare devices can thus extend their product ranges to include functionality such as electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), seismocardiography (SCG), and electroneurography (ENG). This can drive the emergence of new devices that are affordable, easy to use, and reliably indicate health status or physiological responses to events such as stress or excitement. The future could contain a greater diversity of wearable devices that can contribute towards enhanced healthcare, fitness, and self-awareness.

    Bringing this precision front end on-chip, the ST1VAFE3BX is building on ST’s established competencies in MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) devices by integrating an accelerometer for inertial sensing. The accelerometer provides information about the wearer’s movement, which is synchronized with the biopotential sensing to help the application infer any link between measured signals and physical activity.

    The ST1VAFE3BX also integrates ST’s machine-learning core (MLC) and finite state machine (FSM) that enable product designers to implement simple decision trees for neural processing on the chip. These AI skills let the sensor handle functions such as activity detection autonomously, offloading the main host CPU to accelerate system responses and minimize power consumption. In this way, ST’s sensors let smart devices provide more sophisticated functions and operate for longer between battery charging, enhancing usability. ST also provides software tools like MEMS Studio in the ST Edge AI Suite dedicated to helping designers unleash the maximum performance from the ST1VAFE3BX, including tools for configuring decision trees in the MLC.

    The ST1VAFE3BX’s bio-detection signal channel comprises the vAFE with programmable gain and 12-bit ADC resolution. The maximum output data rate of 3200Hz is suitable for a wide variety of biopotential measurements to quantify heart, brain, and muscular activity.
    The device is powered from a supply voltage in the range 1.62V to 3.6V and has typical operating current of just 50µA, which can be cut to just 2.2µA in power-saving mode.

    The integrated low-noise accelerometer has programmable full-scale range from ±2g to ±16g.
    In addition to the machine-learning core and programmable finite state machine, which can provide functionality such as activity detection, the ST1VAFE3BX implements advanced pedometer, step detector, and step counting functions.

    About STMicroelectronics
    At ST, we are over 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are committed to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

    For Press Information Contact:

    Alexis Breton        
    Corporate External Communications
    Tel: +33.6.59.16.79.08
    alexis.breton@st.com


    1 Report “Sensors and Actuators for Wearables 2023” (www.yolegroup.com)

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to ONS data on fertility and live birth rates in England and Wales in 2023

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on data released by the ONS which suggests birth rates are at a record low. 

    Prof Bassel H.Al Wattar, Associate Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Unit, Anglia Ruskin University.

    “The new data from the ONS reflect a worrying yet persistent downward trend of fertility and birth rates in England and Wales. This may be explained by the recent cost of living crisis and financial strain that could be dissuading couples from having more than two children per household. This is also compounded by the progressive reduction in available NHS funding for fertility treatments like IVF which is further contributing to the low fertility and birth rates in the UK as a whole. Many high income countries are seeing a similar worrying trend like Japan and South Korea which has a direct negative impact on the country’s GPD and productivity. The fertility replacement rate should stay close to 2.1 children per woman and the government could implement immediate interventions to help reverse trends such as offering longer paid parental leave, more funding for childcare for working parents, and more funding for fertility treatments in the NHS”

    Prof Melinda Mills, Professor of Demography and Population Health and Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, University of Oxford, said:

    “England and Wales continues the trend of a drop in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and postponing children until after age 30. Countries such as Italy and Spain reached even lower levels (around 1.24-1.29) previously and South Korea currently has the lowest TRF in the world of 0.72 in 2022.

    “Falling TFRs and postponement in having children to later ages is not surprising given recent trends. People are actively postponing or forgoing children due to issues related to difficulties in finding a partner, housing, economic uncertainty, remaining longer in education and particularly women entering and staying in the labour force. Some individuals also actively make the choice to remain childfree. However, there is evidence that postponing having children to later ages when the partners are less able to conceive results in increases in involuntarily childlessness as well. Linking the medical records from birth of those who were childless in millions of people in Finland and Sweden1, we found that the large increase in those countries was related to mental health and substance use for men and metabolic disorders linked to obesity for women.

    “The structures such as economic security, housing and affordable childcare are essential for allowing people to have the number of children they would like, when they like. Pronatalist policies such as those recently enacted in Hungary with loans or tax incentives are not only expensive but have limited evidence that they will raise the overall fertility rate.”

    Prof Brienna Perelli-Harris, Professor of Demography, The University of Southampton said:

    “The recent decline in fertility in England and Wales is quite surprising, but it is also in line with fertility declines in other countries which until recently had relatively high fertility. The Nordic countries and the United States have also experienced record-breaking lows in the past few years.

    “We are unsure whether the recent declines are due to postponement of childbearing, which can distort the total fertility rate, or an increase in childlessness.

    “Our recent analysis of the Generation and Gender Survey2 suggests that young people are less likely to intend to have a child in the future. The proportion of 18-to 25-year-olds in the GSS who said they definitely do not intend to have a child approximately doubled compared to the same age group back in 2005-2007 (around 7% then compared to 15% today).

    “The low fertility rates observed by the ONS may continue for some time into the future.”

    https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsummarytablesenglandandwales/2023

    1. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01763-x
    2. https://www.cpc.ac.uk/docs/PB72_Intending_to__remain_childless_are_concerns_about_climate_change_and_overpopulation_the_cause.pdf

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Bassel H.Al Wattar “No conflicts of interests to declare”

    Prof Melinda Mills “I am a Trustee of the UK Biobank, on the Scientific Advisory Board of Our Future Health and Health and Retirement Survey US and Lifelines Biobank Netherlands. I do not see a conflict of this with this subject matter but provide it just in case.”

    Prof Brienna Perelli-Harris “Funding for the GGS came from the ESRC (UKRI), so no industry links.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Government pay

    Source: Scottish Government

    First Minister writes to Unison to encourage meaningful dialogue.

    In response to ongoing industrial action in Perth and Kinross, First Minister John Swinney has written to Unison to encourage further meaningful dialogue with Local Government in order to reach a collective agreement on pay for valued workers delivering important public services.

    The full text of the First Minister’s letter: Local Government pay 2024 to 2025: letter to Unison – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Exploring the Future of Cash in Germany — A Foresight Study | Guest contribution in Central Bank Payments News

    Source: Deutsche Bundesbank in English

    Safeguarding the role of cash …
    Many continue to experience the payment landscape in Germany as being shaped by cash. But in Germany, too, the use of cash has been declining for some years now. The coronavirus pandemic has significantly accelerated change processes in payment behaviour. While cash payments accounted for 82.5% of total transactions in 2008, their share fell to 51% in 2023. At the same time, we see an increase in the use of debit cards (27% in 2023) and mobile payments (6% in 2023).
    Nevertheless, cash remains an important part of economic life in Germany. Consumers expect to be able to pay with cash and want to maintain the freedom of choice between cash and cashless means of payment. On top of consumers’ preferences in favour of cash, the Bundesbank considers resilience, crisis preparedness, and inclusivity for all groups in society as further reasons why cash should be firmly anchored in the payment landscape. A functioning cash infrastructure with good access to cash and high acceptance rates of cash is crucial for this.
    The Bundesbank has a statutory mandate to facilitate the smooth functioning of cash and cashless payments. Together with the other Eurosystem central banks, the Bundesbank works to ensure that euro cash remains generally available and accepted as a means of payment and store of value. That said, some developments such as the declining use of cash for payments and the thinning out of ATM networks suggest that a future with cash cannot be taken for granted.
    … calls for future-oriented research
    With this in mind, the Bundesbank has turned its attention to exploring what sort of long-term future cash might have in Germany. In order to be able to proactively shape the evolution of cash in light of the trends we are currently seeing, we need an idea of the environment in which cash will be embedded in future. What developments and trends will influence the payment landscape and the cash cycle over the next 15 to 20 years?
    To take due account of the intricacies of the way in which cash is embedded in social and economic structures, a future-oriented study design is called for. One option is to take the strategic foresight route. The Bundesbank has therefore commissioned a study looking at the cash of the future, which uses this kind of method.
    Future scenarios for Germany’s payment landscape
    A commonly used approach in strategic foresight involves the development of future scenarios. These scenarios are hypothetical visions of the future on a set topic. The scenarios presented in the study describe potential futures for cash and the cash cycle in Germany from the perspective of the year 2037. They show alternative development paths and the influencing factors behind them.
    The scenarios are based on empirical evidence and were developed by strategic foresight experts working with established academic methods. It is important to appreciate that scenarios are not forecasts and, as such, do not represent precise predictions of a future that will definitely come to pass. What scenarios actually provide us with is a way to orient ourselves. What developments are possible, what are the dependencies between different developments and what are the consequences? The scenarios can thus play a role in decision-making and strategy-building and aid communication with stakeholders and the general public.
    A total of three scenarios were developed. In all three scenarios, cash use continues, albeit to different degrees. In all scenarios, cash is the only means of payment available as a fallback option in the event of technical outages.
    The hyperdigital payment world — artificially intelligent, convenient, and vulnerable
    This scenario is characterised by economic and social transformation aimed at safeguarding peace and prosperity. Geopolitical shifts and far-reaching digitalisation are the driving forces of this transformation. All areas of life are highly digitalised, and that includes making payments. The digital euro has already been introduced as legal tender. The majority of the public has a high degree of confidence in digital solutions, in the government, and in the providers of cashless means of payment. In this scenario, cash serves, at most, as a store of value.
    Cash has all but disappeared from everyday payment situations. Only 15% of all transactions are settled using cash in 2037. Payments between individuals are almost exclusively made via payment apps.
    Conventional online commerce, in which cash plays virtually no role, continues to grow strongly. When it comes to bricks-and mortar retail, hardly any checkouts are staffed anymore. Only a scarce few self-checkouts still accept cash payments. With a small number of exceptions, local governments, authorities, and public enterprises do not provide facilities for paying in cash either.
    Banks have massively thinned out their ATM network. With the disappearance of staffed checkouts in the retail sector and the cutback in cash payment options for customers, in-store cash withdrawal services — which are currently still commonplace — vanish as well. Cost pressures on the cash cycle increase considerably up to the end of the decade. Only a small number of effective measures to cut costs in the cash cycle are implemented.
    In accordance with an EU regulation, the Federal Government responds to the massive decline in the use of cash, adopting statutory standards to secure a basic level of cash provision for retailers and the general public. The aim of this move is to maintain the cash infrastructure in case there is a crisis.
    In summary, this scenario shows us a highly digitalised world in which cash plays only a minor role. It is barely able to perform its function as a crisis preparedness measure.
    The cash renaissance payment world — smart, self-determined, and resilient
    The world of this scenario has been shaped by the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, advances in general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) and the war in Ukraine. On the back of recent experiences, the public has become more aware of the need to prepare for disasters and crises.
    Moreover, many people fear heteronomy and the notion of being controlled by self-learning AI systems trained on mass data. Ambitious individuals tending towards alternative lifestyles are advocating for the right to an analogue life, drawing attention to the dangers of AI and calling for data minimisation and digital sovereignty.
    The benefits of cash are being rediscovered. Cash is associated with values such as sovereignty, independence, and constructive rebellion. This heightened awareness of the benefits of cash gradually spreads into society’s centre ground. Despite the stabilising effects on cash use, cash made up less than 50% of transactions at the end of the 2020s.
    Policymakers were aware of the public’s desire for freedom of choice, as well as of the significance of cash for certain groups in society. Considerations around resilience and autonomy in payments prompted the Federal Government to take regulatory steps to strengthen cash as a means of payment. At the beginning of the 2030s, the Federal Government recommended that retailers should, as a basic principle, accept cash. All of the major supermarket chains offer both staffed checkouts and self-checkouts with cash payment modules.
    Due to an EU regulation on access to cash, the trend towards branch closures and the thinning out of the ATM network started to slow again from the mid-2020s. Clear regulation for maintaining cash infrastructures gives cash cycle stakeholders greater certainty for investing in innovation and cost-saving measures.
    All in all, in this scenario, we see parts of society circling back to cash and its benefits, meaning that cash use is declining only slowly and stabilises in the 2030s.
    The vanishing hybrid payment world — pluralistic, segregated, and indifferent
    In the 2020s, there was significantly greater individualisation and pluralisation in people’s living standards, lifestyles, and personal environments compared with the 2010s. Members of more progressive milieus, in particular, are regarded as early adopters when it comes to innovations in cashless payment instruments. But still, even those who mainly opt for cashless payments often carry an “emergency stash” of a few notes in their smartphone case or in their bag or pocket.
    At the end of the 2030s, cash is still being used by a large part of the population to pay street vendors, when tipping, as a gift to friends or family and when paying smaller amounts. The decline in cash use is gradual (31% of all transactions in 2037).
    The remaining bricks-and-mortar retailers are aware of the diverse preferences of their customer base. This means there is huge variation in terms of cashier system facilities and cash acceptance. However, bricks-and-mortar retailers encourage customers to use cashless payment methods. Public authorities are also coming to favour cashless means of payment.
    Banks continued to significantly reduce the number of their branches and ATMs throughout the country up to the end of the 2020s. As the share of cash is shrinking, less and less cash is coming into shop tills, meaning that in-store cash withdrawal services
    deteriorate. Overall, it becomes harder to access cash.
    A major crisis or disaster that could draw society’s attention to cash as a resilient means of payment fails to materialise. A pro-cash movement among the general public cannot be orchestrated in an increasingly segregated society. This means there is no political pressure to act and no resistance against the gradual decline of cash.
    A downward spiral is created: the use of cash continues to decline as access to and acceptance of cash become restricted. The fixed costs for the supply and removal of cash appear disproportionately high as cash volumes fall. Options for accessing cash and situations where it is accepted are therefore limited further. A hybrid payment landscape — something desired by large parts of society — slowly but surely disappears as it becomes more and more difficult to actually use cash.
    Current developments
    Once scenarios have been developed, they should be checked against current developments from time to time. It is important to bear in mind that certain trends already visible today might appear in one scenario or another but this does not necessarily mean that a particular scenario will occur. Nor do these trends make it more likely that one of the scenarios will prevail. This is because the developments described in the scenarios should not be looked at in isolation; it is only through their interplay that they mesh to form a holistic projection of the payment landscape in 2037.
    Cashless payments more convenient
    Recently published research by the Bundesbank shows that cash currently accounts for 51% of all transactions in Germany. Contactless cards and mobile payment methods are being used more and more frequently. Cashless means of payment are increasingly perceived as more convenient, faster, and easier than cash. These are characteristics regarded as key reasons in deciding for or against a means of payment in the “hyperdigital payment world” and “hybrid payment world” scenarios. On top of this, acceptance of cashless means of payment has risen sharply, including in former cash strongholds such as restaurants and cafés and the services industry. Against this background, the general trend of declining cash usage in the scenarios appears highly plausible.
    Cash availability and acceptance declining
    Acceptance of cash in Germany remains high, although it is slightly declining. Cash payments are almost universally accepted at retail outlets for day-to-day purchases. At retail outlets for durable goods and in the food services sector, acceptance has somewhat deteriorated. In public administration, meanwhile, cash acceptance is low and falling.
    As anticipated in all three scenarios, the number of ATMs and bank offices is declining sharply. The number of ATMs fell by 12% between 2019 and 2023. A weakening of this decline in the mid-2020s does not seem to be on the cards so far. As things currently stand, legal framework conditions creating guaranteed access to cash are lacking. Although more and more people are making use of the option to withdraw cash in shops, Germany’s Retail Federation (Handelsverband) is warning of service constraints if the declining propensity to pay in cash results in there not being enough cash in registers. These developments make a downward spiral of declining cash usage, acceptance of cash, and cash availability highly likely.
    Cash should not be taken for granted
    Cash use does not increase again in any of the scenarios. While the share of cash payments does slowly stabilise in the “cash renaissance” scenario, it steadily contracts in the other two. That said, neither of those two scenarios anticipate a complete disappearance of cash. But two of three scenarios — as well as the developments that we are currently seeing — suggest that its stabilising function and freedom of choice between cash and digital payments are not fully given anymore.
    The Bundesbank considers cash to be its core physical product and takes active measures to safeguard its continued existence and future use alongside its complement, the digital euro. However, the Bundesbank, too, has to adapt to the changing payment landscape. Under its new branch strategy the Bundesbank is aiming to create a more efficient branch network. Branch closures will go hand in hand with extensive investment into new and modern branches. Increased automation and simpler access routes for CIT companies will ensure a secure and efficient supply of cash in the long term.
    Society and policymakers called to action
    The scenarios also show that the responsibility does not lie solely with the Bundesbank. The Bundesbank’s measures will not be adequate unless they are accompanied by action from policymakers and society. That is why it is initiating further collaborative activities. The National Cash Forum brings the relevant stakeholders to the table to lay the groundwork for enhancing and stabilising the cash cycle. A joint dialogue with various interest groups from society culminated in position papers expressing a clear commitment to cash. We at the Bundesbank are committed to contributing to a future with cash.

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK sanctions Putin’s interference actors

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK has sanctioned three Russian agencies and three senior figures who are attempting to undermine and destabilise Ukraine and its democracy.

    • UK sanctions Russian disinformation agencies seeking to undermine Ukraine.   

    • Kremlin tasked Social Design Agency (SDA) is exposed for trying to incite anti-Ukraine protests across Europe.    

    • New sanctions also hit three leaders directing the firm’s operations.

    Three Russian agencies and three senior figures who are attempting to undermine and destabilise Ukraine and its democracy have been sanctioned today by the UK.  

    The Social Design Agency (SDA) is tasked and funded directly by the Russian State, and along with its partner company Structura, has attempted to deliver a series of interference operations designed to undermine democracy and weaken international support for Ukraine.    

    This year, the SDA also attempted to incite protests in half a dozen European countries. However, despite Russian pouring money into these malign organisations’ interference activities, their lies have consistently struggled online, with bots and fake sites getting limited interaction. This has forced the SDA to consider buying social media views.  

    The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:   

    Putin is so desperate to undermine European support for Ukraine he is now resorting to clumsy, ineffective efforts to try and stoke unrest.   

    Today’s sanctions send a clear message; we will not tolerate your lies and interference, and we are coming after you.  

    Putin’s desperate attempts to divide us will fail. We will constrain the Kremlin, and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. 

    These firms and their leadership are responsible for a vast malign online network, also commonly known as Doppelganger, which plagues social media with fake posts, counterfeit documents and deepfake material. These deceitful tactics are designed to mask the truth around Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and distract from the true nature of the war. Their murky actions are part of a co-ordinated attempt to use deceptive information operations to undermine democracy in pursuit of their aims.    

    These new sanctions demonstrate that no matter how desperate the Russian interference activity has become, the UK is committed to taking action against Russian information manipulation. We will continue to bear down on anyone conducting such activities on behalf of SDA.    

    The US, Canada, France, European External Action Service (EEAS), Germany and Australia join us in calling out the SDA’s underhand activity globally. 

    Background:    

    The full list of those sanctioned today is:   

    • PR agency Social Design Agency (SDA).   

    • PR agency Structura National Technologies.    

    • PR agency ANO DIALOG.    

    • Ilya Andreevich GAMBASHIDZE, the founder of SDA.    

    • Nikolay Aleksandrovich TUPIKIN, the CEO of SDA and owner of Structura.    

    • Andrey Naumovich PERLA, SDA Project Director.    

    These firms are responsible for a vast malign online network, commonly known as Doppelganger. Content including fake posts, counterfeit documents and deepfake material has been pushed out to audiences in English, German and French through a complex online network. The SDA has crafted a web of at least 120 sites spoofing existing news and government websites, towards which it deceptively redirects unsuspecting social media users. Tactics included avoiding common trigger words to circumvent content moderation tools and evade account takedowns. We are working with social media platforms to ensure they are aware of this activity.    

    Our international partners have also previously exposed Doppelganger’s malign interference networks, including France and the EEAS. As part of the monitoring and analysis for the 2024 European Parliament Elections. The European External Action Service has detected that an Doppelganger / RRN Media operation actively promoted Russian narratives to disrupt and interfere with the electoral process. This network was previously attributed by META to the SDA and revealed to be running global information operations aimed at weakening support for Ukraine. France has exposed these Russian actors in June 2023 through the publication of a report by its agency, Viginum.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: One Month Following Hurricane Helene, Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Spearheads Ongoing Recovery Efforts and Support for  Survivors

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Since Hurricane Helene’s destructive landfall one month ago, the Biden-Harris Administration has mobilized a Federal response that has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in financial assistance to survivors, substantial debris removal and power restoration, and a sustained commitment to long-term recovery efforts. As President Biden and Vice President Harris have said, their Administration will be with the people across the Southeast and Appalachia no matter how long it takes.
    Thus far, the Administration has approved over $2.1 billion in Federal assistance for those affected by Hurricane Helene, as well as Hurricane Milton, which made landfall in Florida shortly after Helene.
    This includes over $1 billion in assistance for individuals and families to help pay for housing repairs, personal property replacement, and other recovery efforts. To date, the Administration has also approved over $1.1 billion in Public Assistance funding to support local and state governments. This funding is primarily being used to support debris removal, as well to pay for emergency protective measures like surging first responders and providing shelter, food, and water during and after the storms.
    President Biden, Vice President Harris, and senior leaders across the Administration have spoken with and coordinated closely with Governors, Senators, Representatives, Mayors, and other state and local elected officials in impacted states before, during, and after the storms. The President, Vice President, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and multiple cabinet members and other Administration leaders have been in impacted states to meet with state and local counterparts, survey damage, assess what additional Federal support should be prioritized, and meet with first responders and survivors. 
    On October 26, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall traveled to North Carolina to coordinate recovery efforts with Governor Roy Cooper, FEMA, and philanthropic partners on the ground. She underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to innovative partnerships that can speed recovery and rebuilding — through collaboration with state and local officials, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and philanthropic donors—for as long as it takes.
    Nearly 5,000 Federal personnel remain deployed to North Carolina and Florida, working side-by-side with state and local officials, to help survivors get what they need to accelerate their recovery.
    For communities affected by Helene, FEMA has delivered over 11 million meals and 9.6 million liters of water. FEMA now has 65 Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout all of the affected communities to provide survivors with in-person assistance with more opening each day. As of October 27, there will be 21 Disaster Recovery Centers open in North Carolina. Power and cellular service are restored for 99 percent of customers in impacted areas.
    As communities begin their road to rebuilding, the Administration continues to provide support and resources, including:
    Defense Personnel Supporting On-The-Ground Recovery
    Throughout Hurricane Helene response operations, the National Guard and Department of Defense have been engaged in the whole-of-government response efforts across the impacted areas. Members of the North Carolina National Guard, together with active duty servicemembers and guardsmen from 15 other states, have conducted more than 1,200 ground missions and more than 400 air missions in coordination with the state of North Carolina, and under the direction of the Dual Status Commander. 
    These efforts delivered more than 13,500 tons of humanitarian aid overland, and nearly another 2,000 tons through the air. This includes 614,881 gallons of bulk water, 4,331 pallets of bottles of water, and 3,108 pallets of food. Service members were active in route clearance – clearing hundreds of miles of roads, which enabled increased access to some of the hardest hit areas of the state.
    From the onset of this mission, the primary goal of active-duty Department of Defense Title 10 personnel and equipment was to provide immediate, short-term assistance to aid the most urgent response efforts. As of last week, Governor Cooper determined that the active-duty troops were no longer needed for this phase, and active-duty service members transitioned their mission to the National Guard and returned to their home bases. The National Guard, working with FEMA, and other Federal, state, and local partners, will remain actively engaged to address ongoing needs, rebuild infrastructure, and aid communities in long term recovery.
    The National Guard has roughly 2,000 Guardsmen, 65 high-water vehicles, and 7 helicopters still mobilized across seven states for the response to Hurricane Helene.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has more than 450 personnel engaged in missions across six states – supporting debris removal, temporary power, infrastructure assessments, , and safe waterways assessments. 
    Supporting and Protecting Public Health
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking action to support providers and suppliers impacted by Hurricane Helene. These providers and suppliers may face significant cash flow issues from the unusual circumstances impacting facilities’ operations, preventing facilities from submitting claims and receiving Medicare claims payments. As a result of the presidential disaster declaration, and HHS public health emergencies declared in the wake of Hurricane Helene, CMS made available accelerated payments to Medicare Part A providers and advance payments to Medicare Part B suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene beginning October 2, 2024. CMS has also made available certain flexibilities related to provider and supplier fee-for-service Medicare debt.
    Following storm damage from Hurricane Helene at Baxter International Inc.’s North Cove facility in North Carolina, the Biden-Harris Administration continues taking action to support access to IV fluids, including ensuring restoration of key production sites, protecting products, and opening imports, in partnership with manufacturers, distributors, hospitals, and other stakeholders. As a result of these steps, Baxter anticipates restarting the highest-throughput IV solutions manufacturing line within the next week. The Biden-Harris Administration also moved quickly to open up imports from six facilities around the world and made it easier for hospitals to produce their own IV fluid during the shortage.
    Supporting Students and Student Loan Borrowers
    The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is partnering with disaster-declared states to determine the extent of impacts to educational communities; identify gaps in resources for response and recovery; and share critical resources to help restore learning conditions. These resources include Project SERV, which provides funding for local educational agencies and institutions of higher education that have experienced a traumatic crisis, including weather-related natural disasters, to assist in restoring a safe learning environment. 
    ED is ensuring affected borrowers in areas impacted by the hurricanes can focus on their critical needs without having to worry about missing their student loan payments. Direct Loan borrowers and federally-serviced Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers in the affected area who miss their payments will be automatically placed into a natural disaster forbearance. During forbearance, payments are temporarily postponed or reduced, and interest is still charged. Thanks to regulations issued by the Biden-Harris Administration, months in this forbearance will count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income Driven Repayment forgiveness. Direct Loan and federally serviced FFEL borrowers are not required to take an action, but have the option to call their servicer if they wish to enroll in the forbearance proactively. Perkins loan borrowers should contact their loan holder to request natural disaster forbearance. 
    ED continues to monitor impacts to schools in the affected states, including school closures, damage to school buildings including ongoing utility outages, schools being used as shelters, and the number of displaced students and staff. ED is sending an assessment team to North Carolina this coming week to evaluate damages and work with the state to develop a plan to get students back into classrooms as quickly as possible. In parallel, ED is closely communicating with the leadership of 531 Title IV-participating institutions, across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia due to impacts associated with Hurricane Helene. ED has also posted electronic announcements, reminding impacted institutions of available regulatory flexibilities, and providing guidance on managing Title IV student aid during disaster situations. 
    Supporting Farmers, Agriculture, and Consumers
    The Department of Agriculture (USDA), in coordination with approved insurance providers, announced more than $233 million to help farmers recover from hurricane damage during the fall harvest season. Currently, Hurricane Helene indemnities are estimated to be nearly $208 million for Georgia, nearly $13 million for Florida, $5 million for Alabama, and more than $4 million each for North and South Carolina.  
    To date, USDA has approved Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits to help eligible residents cover the cost of groceries in 112 counties in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. D-SNAP is a program focused on getting food assistance to those in need for people in communities affected by disasters, who may not otherwise be eligible.
    Supporting Infrastructure and Transportation Recovery
    Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been committed to helping water utilities and health departments in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina as they work around the clock to bring clean, safe drinking water back to communities impacted by the storm. EPA and its state and local partners have made significant progress restoring drinking water and wastewater services in a vast majority of communities. In Western North Carolina, EPA has deployed two mobile water testing labs. EPA has received and analyzed approximately 700 samples, giving residents clear data about the safety of their drinking water. In addition to water testing, EPA has collected approximately 1,000 containers with oil, hazardous materials, or propane since clean-up efforts began in North Carolina.  
    The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) continues to support response and recovery efforts in impacted communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) worked with partners in affected areas to ensure the national airspace quickly returned to normal operations. The FAA deployed personnel to conduct vital infrastructure assessments and restore communications to impacted towers and airports, including Asheville Regional Airport in North Carolina and ongoing work at Valdosta Regional Airport in Georgia, among others. Approximately 133 personnel from Technical Operations and the communications support team remain on the ground supporting a range of response and restoration activities.
    The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sent $144 million in “Quick Release” Emergency Relief funding to North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. These funds represent a ‘down payment’ to help with the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. Additional funding will be flowing to affected communities from the Emergency Relief program pending availability of funds. FHWA also worked closely with all impacted states and other federal agencies to help support their assessments of infrastructure damage.
    Providing Financial Flexibilities to Homeowners, Renters and Taxpayers
    The Department of Housing and Urban Development is providing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) as well as foreclosures of mortgages to Native American borrowers guaranteed under the Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee program. The moratorium and extension are effective as of the President’s disaster declaration date in each state. When homes are destroyed or damaged to an extent that reconstruction or complete replacement is necessary, HUD’s Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims, including renters. Borrowers from participating FHA approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing including closing costs. HUD’s Section 203(k) loan program enables individuals to finance the purchase or refinance of a house, along with its repair, through a single mortgage. Homeowners can also finance the rehabilitation of their existing homes if damaged. FHA is coordinating and collaborating with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Agriculture to ensure consistent messaging and policies for single family loans regarding foreclosure moratoriums and repayment/arrearage agreements. Additionally, affected homeowners that have mortgages through Government-Sponsored Enterprises – including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – and the FHA are eligible to suspend their mortgage payments through a forbearance plan for up to 12 months.
    The Internal Revenue Service announced disaster tax relief for all individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Helene, including the entire states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and parts of Florida, Tennessee and Virginia. Taxpayers in these areas now have until May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service provided more than 1,000 employees to help with FEMA disaster relief call lines and intake initial information to help disaster victims get federal relief. IRS Criminal Investigation agents were also on the ground in devastated areas to help with search and rescue efforts and other relief work – including assisting with door-to-door search efforts.
    Supporting Workers and Worker Safety
    Working alongside the Department of Labor, the States of Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee have all announced that eligible workers can receive federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance to compensate for income lost directly resulting from Hurricane Helene. And, through the Department of Labor’s innovative partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, displaced workers from North Carolina and South Carolina can now go to the post office in any other state and verify their ID for purposes of getting their benefits quickly.
    Additional Response and Recovery Efforts
    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered over $51 million in tentatively approved disaster loan funding to survivors of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA also has hundreds of staff working on the ground supporting communities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia in disaster recovery centers, as well as in loan processing and customer service centers that are fielding around 15,000 calls a day with an average wait time of 15 seconds. The SBA is continuing to process disaster loan applications while it awaits Congressional action to replenish their disaster loan funds.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Donzella James to Hold Senate Urban Affairs Committee Meeting on Home Owners/Property Owners/Condominium Owners Associations, Sapelo Island Tragedy

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 28, 2024) — On Thursday, October 31,at 11:00 a.m., the Senate Committee on Urban Affairs, chaired by Sen. Donzella James (D–Atlanta), will hold its third meeting of the interim.

    MEETING DETAILS:                      

    • Date: Thursday, October 31, 2024
    • Time: 11:00 a.m.
    • Location: 450 State Capitol, 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta, GA, 30334
    • Open to the Public: The event is open to the public. The committee meeting will be live-streamed on the Senate website here.

    ABOUT THE MEETING:         

    From 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Chairwoman James and committee members will discuss property owners, condominium owners and homeowners’ associations (HOAs). The committee will then recess for a 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. press conference regarding the October 19 Sapelo Island gangway collapse.

    Following the press conference, the committee will reconvene to discuss the gangway collapse at Sapelo Island. The committee will specifically examine safety procedures taken by state and county authorities and propose protocols to prevent future tragedies.

    MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
    We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    # # # #

    Sen. Donzella James serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Urban Affairs. She represents the 35th Senate District, which includes portions of Douglas and Fulton counties. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.1379 or by email at donzella.james@senate.ga.gov

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Banner KC review proposes roadmap to speed up delivery of national infrastructure

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    New roads, railway lines and offshore windfarms could be delivered more quickly and easily, powering economic growth, according to a new independent report.

    New roads, railway lines and offshore windfarms could be delivered more quickly and easily, powering economic growth, according to a new independent report published today (Monday, 28 October).  

    The Review of Legal Challenges to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, by leading planning barrister Lord Charles Banner KC, aims to reduce delays to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and get Britain building, with ten recommendations set out for government on how to reduce barriers to development and resolve challenges more effectively.

    These include options to streamline the judicial review process, reduce the amount of time it takes for legal challenges against these projects to move through the courts, and improve the way data on case progress is published.

    These major projects, which can include harbours, power stations and waste water management facilities, are often held up by judicial review challenges, sometimes setting them back years in delays, increasing the costs significantly.

    The Government will carefully review recommendations and the responses received in the call for evidence before publishing a response with a focus on ensuring there is a balance between the critical need for projects and maintaining the public’s right to challenge government decisions. 

    Alongside the publication of the review, the Ministry of Justice, has published a call for evidence seeking views on Lord Banner’s recommendations.

    Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook said:    

    Building new and improved national infrastructure is essential to delivering the government’s economic growth and clean power missions and we must have planning system fit to deliver it.

    With demands on the consenting process having changed considerably over recent years, I’m grateful to Lord Banner for reviewing how we might speed up the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

    The government will carefully review his recommendations and consider further proposals before determining how we will further improve the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.

    Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects are major infrastructure projects within the categories of energy, transport, water, wastewater, and waste.  

    The publication of this review comes as the government continues to focus on its commitment to break down barriers to building and deliver the investment, growth and 1.5 million homes that the country needs. This includes a consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to fix the foundations of the housing and planning system, new mandatory housing targets for councils to ensure homes are built where they are most needed and the forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will turbocharge housebuilding and accelerate the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

    ENDS 

    Notes to editors:

    A summary of the ten recommendations in the report include:

    • The cost caps, which limit the legal costs the losing party must pay the winning party in certain judicial review claims, should not be amended.
    • The current rules on ‘standing’ – i.e. who may bring a judicial review – should not be amended. 
    • There should be fewer ‘bites of the cherry’ for claimants seeking permission to bring a judicial review.  
    • The option of raising the permission threshold for a judicial review of a Development Consent Order (DCO) decision requires further consideration. 
    • The option of introducing an NSIP ticket, authorising a small pool of judges to hear DCO judicial reviews, requires further consideration. 
    • DCO Judicial Reviews should be designated as significant planning court claims, which would ensure these cases are dealt with promptly by the Planning Court, in line with target timescales set out in Civil Procedure Rules
    • Case management conferences should be introduced for DCO judicial reviews, requiring parties to come together at an early stage to consider how best to approach these claims.  
    • Target timescales should be introduced for DCO judicial reviews in the Court of Appeal.  
    • Target timescales should be introduced for DCO judicial reviews in the Supreme Court. 
    • The Planning Court and the Court of Appeal should regularly publish data on key performance indicators such as the average length of time taken for DCO judicial reviews to progress through the courts. 

    • The call for evidence will run for nine weeks and can be accessed here.
    • Lord Banner is a leading expert in planning and environmental regulation and was appointed by the previous government to conduct an independent review into the legal challenges causing delays to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 10/28/2024, 10:26 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the RU000A0JXSS1 (Akron B1P2) security were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    10/28/2024

    10:26

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 10/28/2024, 10:26 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 76.39) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 825.9 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 13.75%) of the RU000A0JXSS1 (Akron B1P2) security were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74326

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Aktsiaselts Infortar Investor Webinar introducing the results of the Q3 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Infortar will organize a webinar for investors on 4 November 2024 at 12:00 (EET) in Estonian and at 14:00 (EET) in English to introduce the third quarter 2024 results. The webinar will be attended by the Chairman of the Board of Infortar Ain Hanschmidt, the Managing Director of Infortar Martti Talgre and Investor Relations Manager Kadri Laanvee.

    The webinar will be hosted on the Microsoft Teams platform. Please note that to participate, no prior registration is required, and no reminder of the webinar will be sent. You can either participate by joining from your web browser or via Microsoft Teams application. When using a smart device to join the webinar, you first need to download the Microsoft Teams application from either Play Store or App Store.

    Please join the webinar via the following links:

    Questions can be sent to kadri.laanvee@infortar.ee before the webinar and via Teams Q/A during the event. The webinar will be recorded and will be available online for everyone on the company’s website at https://infortar.ee/en/reports.

    Aktsiaselts Infortar operates in seven countries, the company’s main fields of activity are maritime transport, energy and real estate. Aktsiaselts Infortar owns a 68.47% stake in Aktsiaselts Tallink Grupp, a 100% stake in AS Eesti Gaas and a versatile and modern real estate portfolio of approx. 113,000 m2. In addition to the three main areas of activity, Aktsiaselts Infortar also operates in construction and mineral resources, agriculture, printing, taxi business and other areas. A total of 104 companies belong to the Aktsiaselts Infortar group: 95 subsidiaries, 4 affiliated companies and 5 subsidiaries of affiliated companies. Excluding affiliates, Aktsiaselts Infortar employs 6,625 people.

    Additional information:

    Kadri Laanvee
    Investor Relations Manager
    Phone: +372 5156662
    e-mail: kadri.laanvee@infortar.ee
    www.infortar.ee/en/investor

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reports of indiscriminate attacks on Sudanese civilians in Al Jazirah state are appalling: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

    I thank the Secretary-General and Ms Eltigani for briefing us today as we pass the harrowing milestone of eighteen months of brutal conflict in Sudan.

    I will make three points on behalf of the UK.

    First, we welcome the Secretary-General’s recommendations for the protection of civilians in Sudan. Both warring parties made commitments at Jeddah to limit the conflict’s impact on civilians. 

    And yet only this past weekend, we have had further appalling reports of major attacks in Al Jazirah State resulting in over 100 civilian deaths, with the Rapid Support Forces allegedly shooting at civilians indiscriminately, raping women and girls, and looting and destroying homes.

    Meanwhile, aerial bombardments by the Sudanese Armed Forces are causing large-scale destruction and civilian deaths across the country.

    Alleviating the plight of Sudanese civilians is critical, and we hope the Council can come together in the coming weeks to agree further steps supporting the implementation of these recommendations from the Secretary-General.

    Second, as we’ve heard today, the humanitarian crisis continues. With famine in Darfur and cholera spreading across the country, millions are at risk of an early, preventable death.

    And yet bureaucratic obstructions continue. Expelling UN staff and restricting the movements of humanitarian missions, are just a few damning examples of how life-saving assistance is being systematically blocked from reaching those in need.

    We urge the Sudanese authorities to permanently open the Adre border crossing.

    We reiterate our clear calls to both warring parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and facilitate cross-border and crossline access, across multiple entry points.

    Third President, we call on the warring parties to engage meaningfully with existing diplomatic initiatives–including the efforts of Personal Envoy Lamamra–towards a national ceasefire.

    We also call on the SAF and RSF to agree modalities for monitoring compliance with their commitments made under the Jeddah Declaration. Civil society and women’s participation is also vital for peace efforts to be fully effective.

    In conclusion, coordinated, international action, including by the African Union and the United Nations, is more important now than ever. The RSF and SAF must bring an end to the fighting now.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leicester angler prosecuted for fishing offences

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Environment Agency has prosecuted a Leicester angler who was caught fishing in the close season and without a licence on the River Soar in May this year.

    •  Angler caught fishing in close season on River Soar between Abbey Mills and Abbey Park
    • Clamp down on angling offences to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable
    • Case heard at Northampton magistrates on 21 October 2024 

    At Northampton Magistrates Court on 21 October 2024, the charges against Vaidotas Jucaitis, 52, of Highfield Street, were proved in his absence. He was ordered to pay a total of £415 in fines and costs.

    Jucaitis was caught fishing during the close season between Abbey Mills and Abbey Park on 9 May 2024. He was also fishing without a licence. He was fined £100 for each charge, ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim’s surcharge of £80.

    Close season

    The close season restrictions, which run between 15 March-15 June, are to prevent fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England. The restriction helps to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks.

    Environment Agency officers conduct patrols to ensure anglers respect this no fishing period. 

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: 

    We hope these penalties will act as a deterrent to any angler who is thinking of fishing either without a licence or during the close season. 

    The close season is in place to reduce disturbances to protect vulnerable stocks during their peak spawning period. 

    We urge anglers to respect the close season in order to help reduce pressures on our fisheries, benefitting fish and the wider environment. 

    Our fisheries enforcement team work seven days a week to check that anglers are following fishing regulations.

    Fisheries enforcement 

    The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. 

    Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.  

    Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency Incident Hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

    Fishing licences

    All income from fishing licence sales is used to fund the Environment Agency’s work to protect and improve fish stocks, fisheries and the environment. 

    This includes improving habitats for fish, reinvesting money back to facilities and clubs for anglers and tackling illegal fishing. It also includes working with partners to encourage more people to give fishing a go. 

    Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence.  

    A 1-day licence costs from just £7.10 and an annual licence costs from just £35.80. Concessions are available. Junior licences are free for 13 to 16-year-olds.  

    Licences are available from www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.  

    The charges for Vaidotas Jacaitis

    On 9 May 2024, at Abbey Park to Abbey Mills, River Soar, Leicester, fished for freshwater fish in the close season. This is contrary to byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency National Byelaws made on July 12 210. And contrary to byelaw 6 confirmed 22 March 2010 and made pursuant to section 210 and schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and contrary to Section 211 of the said Act.

    On 9 May 2024, at Abbey Park to Abbey Mills, River Soar, Leicester, in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line. This is contrary to Section 27 (1) (a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Black History Month event to drum up some fun

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Aberdeen City Council is celebrating Black History Month with a free interactive workshop in which participants will be encouraged to show off their drumming skills.

    The event which takes place in the Town House’s Town and County Hall  at 12,30pm on Thursday 31 October features local drummer and percussionist David Imevbore, also known as Bingo Dave, demonstrate his rhythmic skills and encourage the audience to join in.

    The theme of this year’s Black History Month is Reclaiming Narratives and as well as a reflection on the importance of recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture, the event will also include a keynote address ‘Nostalgic Suspension – the Headwrap Journey’ by Ebun Young.

    Councillor Miranda Radley, Communities, Housing and Public Protection Convener, said:  “The Black History Month event offers all of our communities the opportunity to take part in a collaborative event which promises not only to be educational but also fun.

    “Aberdeen is a welcoming, multicultural city. The event reaffirms the Council’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and our ambition of ensuring that all our communities can prosper.

    “This is sure to be a very popular event, so I would encourage people to book their place as soon as possible.”

    Culture spokesman, Councillor Martin Greig said:” I am delighted that we are hosting this local event to celebrate Black History Month. It is a great chance to enjoy and learn more about the multicultural character of our city. Aberdeen is a tolerant, friendly place where people from all backgrounds are welcome.”

    Councillor Deena Tissera, who will also be at the event, said: As a longstanding supporter of the Black community, I’m honoured to celebrate Black History Month with Aberdeen City Council.

    “This month is a crucial commemoration of the contributions of Black communities in Britain and beyond, yet much remains to be done to increase representation within Scottish politics.

    “Here at Aberdeen City Council, there are calls to improve BAME leadership in the workforce, as seen in our recent Diversity in Recruitment report. As we honour Black History Month, we’re reminded of the ongoing need to advance diversity, inclusion, and equity in our workplaces and communities.”

    To register for the event visit Aberdeen City Council Event Booking System

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Mayor of Leeds to open major Commonwealth trade and investment conference

    Source: City of Leeds

    The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, is set to welcome guests from across the Commonwealth to a major trade and Investment conference in Leeds tomorrow (Tuesday 29 October). 

    The Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Commonwealth conference has been organised by law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson, and is being jointly hosted by Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

    The conference will feature a range of speakers including; Megan Wood, Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commissioner in London, Dr Olushola Kolawole, lecturer at the University of Bradford’s School of Management, and the Pakistani Consul General in Bradford, Zahid Jatoi. Several influential British-based groups, such as the Ethnic Minority Business and Policy Forum and British Friends of Pakistan, will also attend along with Chief Executive of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce James Mason.

    The event brings together experts from India, Canada, Pakistan, and Nigeria to reflect on the outcomes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024, held in Samoa last week, and will explore how the UK’s commercial links to the Commonwealth can be enhanced. 

    The 56 nations of the Commonwealth are among the UK’s largest and fastest-growing trading partners. The UK exports £83 billion to Commonwealth markets annually, which accounts for 10% of overall UK exports, with significant further trade and investment opportunities for companies in West Yorkshire.

    The event will be an opportunity to encourage further West Yorkshire-Commonwealth trade, upskill businesses on commercial opportunities in the Commonwealth, and highlight the synergies around culture, education, and diasporic communities. It supports our mission to create an economy that works for everyone as set out in the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy.

    The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, said: “It gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome our distinguished Commonwealth guests and partners to Leeds.

    “I look forward to discussing furthering trade, culture, and education opportunities for our city, region and the Commonwealth markets. Leeds has a vibrant range of industries that would directly benefit from increasing opportunities with our Commonwealth partners, especially in our professional and financial services, advanced manufacturing, and digital and technology sectors, highlighted as growth-driving sectors in the UK’s recent Modern Industrial Strategy Green Paper.

    “The strength of our city and a driver of its success is its diversity, vibrancy, and people. Forging closer links with our Commonwealth partners is a great opportunity to build on that diversity, create new ideas and investment opportunities and succeed together.”

    Leeds City Council deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development Councillor Jonathan Pryor said:

    “We are delighted that Leeds is hosting honoured guests from around the world to this trade and investment conference. As a city Leeds is very proud of the diverse make-up of our communities, and this is reflected in our commitment to welcome and support international trade and businesses to invest here.

    “As one of the leading UK cities for private-sector job creation, international investment and supporting business creation and growth across a wide-ranging economy, we very much look forward to this conference and the benefits it can help deliver through further strengthening international relationships and boosting the city and regional economy for all to benefit from.”

    Notes for editors:

    Leeds City Council Inclusive Growth Strategy: https://www.inclusivegrowthleeds.com/ 

    West Yorkshire Trade and Investment Statistics

    • India: 629 West Yorkshire businesses export goods to India at a total value of £126m, and 963 West Yorkshire businesses import goods from India at a total value of £356m. The value of services exported from West Yorkshire is £113m, and the total value of services imported from India to West Yorkshire is £134m. Total bilateral trade in goods and services between West Yorkshire and India is worth £729 million.
    • Indian Tech company Mastek delivers significant UK digital infrastructure projects (including the NHS Spine, and MOD contracts). Mastek has a substantial presence in Leeds including an ambitious new graduate programme. Mastek continues to strengthen its Leeds operation, recently creating an additional 200 new jobs.
    • In 2021 Mphasis launched a new UK Centre of Excellence in Leeds for their insurance clients. In 2022, Mphasis, announced plans to create an additional 1,000 new jobs in West Yorkshire. The investment will be worth tens of millions of pounds to the West Yorkshire economy.
    • Prime Focus Technologies create high-tech AI-enabled software for the media and entertainment industry.  Leeds is home to their UK headquarters and new state-of-the-art Media Centre which delivers Media and Online services for Channel 4 and other media companies.
    • The latest published figures are for the 2021/22 academic year and show the count of Indian students at West Yorkshire institutions to be 4,080. Indian visitors to Yorkshire as a whole spend £14 million annually. British Indian’s make up roughly 2.7% of the population in West Yorkshire which is higher than most groups except for British Pakistani’s (10.7%).
    • Pakistan: Pakistani’s make up the largest West Yorkshire Diaspora group, with 10.7% of the population.
    • Yorkshire and Humber accounted for over 5% of UK exports to Pakistan in 2023, with a value of £23 million and over 7% of imports from Pakistan, valued at £111 million.
    • Pakistan’s trade with the UK is covered by the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which allows for preferential and tariff free trade on many products. 94% of goods exported from Pakistan to the UK are covered by the scheme, reducing tariffs by £120 million. Trade is expected to double between 2022-25.
    • The UK is Pakistan’s largest export destination in Europe and the third globally.
    • Canada: In 2023, the value of UK goods traded between Yorkshire and the Humber and Canada amounted to £442 million in exports (7.8% of total exports) and £0.3 billion in imports (5.1% of total imports).
    • With both Canada and the UK being signatories of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), 99% of goods traded between CPTPP member countries will be tariff-free. This is projected to diversify both countries’ supply chains within the broader Asia-Pacific region whilst boosting trade, investment and innovation in sectors such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and machinery.
    • Leeds-based construction company Turner & Townsend have developed a strong presence in Canada with offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.
    • In the UK in 2020-21 the total number of Canadian students was 6615 while the amount of Canadian academic staff amounted to 1635. Academic partnership has seen 40,745 UK publications co-authored with Canadians, between 2018-2021.
    • Nigeria: In 2023, Yorkshire and Humber was the largest UK regional exporter to Nigeria, accounting for 45.5% of exports worth £661 million. In terms of imports, the region imported £29 million of goods from Nigeria during the same period.
    • The UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) is the first the UK has signed with an African country and is designed to grow the UK and Nigeria’s already thriving trading relationship, which totalled £7 billion in the year to September 2023.
    • In 2022/23 Nigerian students were the third largest international group in Yorkshire. Council figures suggest that between 2018/19 and 2022/23 the number of students coming from Nigeria to Leeds Beckett rose from 17 to 677.

    ENDS

    For media enquiries please contact:

    Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

    Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

    Tel: 0113 378 6007

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: The deposit auction of the Investment Agency of the Tyumen Region will take place on 10/28/2024

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    The date of the deposit auction is 28.10.2024. The placement currency is RUB. The maximum amount of funds placed (in the placement currency) is 50,406,000.00. The placement period, days is 30. The date of depositing funds is 28.10.2024. The date of return of funds is 27.11.2024. The minimum placement interest rate, % per annum is 21.00. The terms of the conclusion are urgent or special (Urgent). The minimum amount of funds placed for one application (in the placement currency) is 50,406,000.00. The maximum number of applications from one Participant, pcs. 1. Auction form is open or closed (Open). The basis of the Agreement is the General Agreement. Schedule (Moscow time). Applications in preliminary mode from 12:15 to 12:30. Applications in competition mode from 12:30 to 12:40. Setting a cut-off percentage or declaring the auction invalid before 13:10.

    Additional terms

    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 accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74325

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 10/28/2024, 10:59 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A0ZYLQ4 (Gazpnf1P5R) were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    10/28/2024

    10:59

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 10/28/2024, 10:59 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 103.08) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1089.68 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 7.5%) of the security RU000A0ZYLQ4 (Gazpnf1P5R) were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74328

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: The deposit auction of the Moscow Small Business Lending Assistance Fund will take place on 10/28/2024

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    Parameters;

    The date of the deposit auction is 28.10.2024. The placement currency is RUB. The maximum amount of funds placed (in the placement currency) is 103,000,000.00. The placement period, days is 16. The date of depositing funds is 28.10.2024. The date of return of funds is 13.11.2024. The minimum placement interest rate, % per annum is 20.00. The terms of the conclusion are urgent or special (Urgent). The minimum amount of funds placed for one application (in the placement currency) is 103,000,000.00. The maximum number of applications from one Participant, pcs. 1. Auction form is open or closed (Open). The basis of the Agreement is the General Agreement. Schedule (Moscow time). Applications in preliminary mode from 11:30 to 11:40. Applications in competition mode from 11:40 to 11:45. Setting the cut-off percentage or declaring the auction invalid before 11:55.

    Additional conditions Placement of funds with the possibility of early withdrawal of the entire deposit amount and payment of interest accrued on the deposit amount at the rate established by the deposit transaction, in the event of non-compliance of the Bank with the requirements established by paragraph 2.1. of the Regulation “On the procedure for selecting banks for placing funds of the Moscow Small Business Lending Assistance Fund in deposits (deposits) under the GDS” (as amended on the date of the deposit transaction), early withdrawal at the “on demand” rate, payment of interest at the end of the term, without replenishment.

    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 accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74330

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Service for managing identifiers in the personal account of participants of the Currency Market

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    Moscow Exchange has implemented a service for managing identifiers in the personal account of currency market participants

    Moscow Exchange is pleased to announce that from October 24, 2024, the “Identifier Management” service in the Participant’s Personal Account (PPA) has been expanded to the foreign exchange market. Thus, the new convenient and modern service already supports four markets: foreign exchange, stock, deposits, and loans.

    A distinctive feature of the updated version of the service is the display in real time of all possible identifier parameters, including IP addresses, as well as copying of existing identifiers.

    THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SECTION ALLOWS

    switch to a digital format of interaction with the Moscow Exchange in terms of managing technical access identifiers; increase the speed of managing technical access identifiers: assign/change/cancel identifiers in a few minutes (assignment/change/cancellation of identifiers takes effect on the next trading day)

    POSSIBILITIES OF THE NEW SECTION OF THE LKU

    creating a request for managing identifiers (delete/create/change) viewing the status of sent requests receiving information about identifier parameters saving draft requests

    Other useful functions have also been implemented: integrated hints, automatic verification of the correctness of the request creation, individual marking of the request, use of reference books, display of the assigned identifier immediately after the request is executed, copying of the identifier, etc.

    HOW TO ACCESS THE “IDENT MANAGEMENT” SECTION:

    submit an application for access to the new section of the personal account with assignment of the role “ID Management” (the form is attached to this letter) access will be provided within 1-3 days after receiving the application for access go to the new version of the personal account by the link https://platform.moex.com to manage identifiers

    You can read the User Guide for the “ID Management” section of the Participant’s Personal Account Here.

    If you have any questions, you can contact us by e-mail help@moex.com

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

    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 accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74331

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 28, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

    Lisa A. Wannamaker, Assistant Crown Attorney at the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario in Peterborough, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Lindsay. Justice Wannamaker replaces Justice D.S. Gunsolus (Lindsay), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective March 28, 2022.

    Robin A. Bellows, a sole practitioner in Huntsville, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Parry Sound. Justice Bellows replaces Justice J. Stothart (Parry Sound), who will be transferred to Sudbury upon the appointment of a new Judge. Due to internal court transfers by the Chief Justice, the vacancy is located in Parry Sound.   

    Quote

    “I wish Justices Wannamaker and Bellows every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve Ontarians well as members of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario”.

    —The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    Biographies

    Justice Lisa A. Wannamaker was raised in Peterborough. She received an honours degree in political science and economics from the University of Waterloo after which, she travelled and lived abroad in Ireland.  She later attended law school at Queen’s University. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2005.

    Justice Wannamaker worked for Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and the Ontario Securities Commission. She joined the Etobicoke Crown Attorney’s Office in 2006 and joined the Peterborough office in 2012. She has handled complex prosecutions in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice including homicides, sexual assaults, and dangerous offender proceedings.  She was frequently involved in education and training for other crowns and presented to police services across the province on search issues, expert issues and statements. She was an annual director for the crown attorney school on expert evidence. She also taught in the forensic science program at Trent University.

    Justice Wannamaker is highly committed to her community. She was on the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters Peterborough and worked as a manager and game day announcer with the Peterborough Wolverines Football Organization and the Kinsmen Minor Football League. She was an articling principal and a mentor to junior lawyers. She has volunteered for student moots, and with the Ontario Justice Education Network.

    Justice Wannamaker enjoys travel with friends, and spending time between the lake and the football fields, with her two wonderful children and her dog.

    Justice Robin A. Bellows was born in Toronto and spent most of her formative years in Newfoundland. She began her undergraduate degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College at the University of Toronto in 2003 before obtaining her Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2006. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2007.

    Justice Bellows started her criminal defence practice in Muskoka in 2007, where she worked as a sole practitioner and as duty counsel for 10 years. In 2017, she became the Agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Parry Sound. In 2023, she was appointed as a per diem Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court.

    Justice Bellows served on the Board of the Muskoka Law Association since 2008 and became President in 2020. Additionally, she has been the President of the Parry Sound Law Association since 2021. For several years, she had the joy and privilege of coaching the Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School mock trial team. Outside of her legal pursuits, she shared her creative talents with the Muskoka theatre community, creating costumes and props for local productions.

    Justice Bellows is also a watercolor artist, a keen player of high-strategy board games, and a loving mother to two bright and caring children.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: National Forum explores future of multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: National Forum explores future of multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan

    Participants of the National Forum on Multilingual Education held on 25 October in the National Library of the Kyrgyz Republic. (OSCE) Photo details

    Policymakers, educators and international experts discussed the future of multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan at the National Forum on Multilingual Education in Bishkek on 25 October 2024. The event was organized by Kyrgyzstan’s Education Ministry of Education with support from the office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
    Participants explored potential policy avenues to improve and expand multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan. Multilingual education is an excellent tool that can help promote integration in diverse societies while supporting educational excellence. When education is based first in a child’s mother tongue, and additional languages are gradually introduced, children from different linguistic backgrounds have the opportunity to develop academic proficiency in their mother tongue, which is a prerequisite for their overall educational success.
    “Multilingual education is one of the most effective ways to foster integration in our diverse societies. It is not just an educational approach that generates excellent results in the classroom; it is also a powerful tool to increase social cohesion, cultural understanding and economic opportunity.” said Ambassador Marek Szczygiel, Director and Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities during his online address.
    Participants also had the opportunity to discuss how international best practices employed in other countries of Asia, particularly in Singapore and Mongolia, could be adapted for use in Kyrgyzstan. The day included the presentation of a draft roadmap for multilingual education from 2025 to 2030, aimed at ensuring quality and inclusive education across the country.
    The National Forum was the final segment in a series of activities in October, dubbed the “Month of Multilingual Education”. This included an event on learning the Kyrgyz language through multilingual education and a study tour for members of parliament and government officials, supported by the office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities. During the study tour, participants visited schools and kindergartens providing multilingual education in the Osh and Chuy regions of Kyrgyzstan. Participants were then able to share their first-hand experiences at the Forum, demonstrating how multilingual education supports social cohesion by providing children from different linguistic backgrounds the opportunity to learn in an inclusive environment.
    “Seeing children interact and learn in multiple languages is truly inspiring. It shows us that multilingual education is not just an abstract policy but a real opportunity to empower the next generation to embrace diversity and thrive together.” said Aigul Omorova, Lecturer at the Republican Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Teaching Staff
    As part of its engagement on multilingual education across the OSCE area, and in Central Asia in particular, the office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities is committed to supporting Kyrgyzstan in developing an education system that provides academic excellence and strengthens social cohesion by embracing the country’s linguistic diversity.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Denis Beau: Perspectives on increasing prominence of digital money

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I am glad to join you virtually today for the Hong Kong FinTech Week, to share our perspective at the Banque de France on the development of digital payments and its implication for the fulfilment of our mandate to ensure the proper functioning of payment systems.

    Although wholesale and retail payments are being transformed by distinct trends, they present similar challenges from a safety and efficiency perspective. To meet these challenges, we have been at the Banque de France simultaneously acting on three key levers. First, the provision of central bank money services. Second, the support to industry initiatives in line with our policy goals. Third, the promotion of adjustments to the regulatory and supervisory framework. 

    In that context, I would like to explain in my introductory remarks how we consider using our first lever, the provision of central bank money services.

    1. Wholesale digital payments

    In the wholesale space, the security and efficiency of financial transactions between financial intermediaries importantly hinges on the nature of the settlement asset chosen. 

    Lessons learned from past financial crises have underlined the critical importance of using secure settlement assets. In response, members of the Bank for International Settlements have committed to promoting the use of central bank money in the wholesale payments space and mitigate both liquidity and counterparty risks. This commitment is reflected in Principle 9 of the CPMI-IOSCO’s Principles for financial market infrastructures (PFMIs), designed to strengthen and preserve financial stability. And they have been successful in the implementation of this policy as central bank money is actually the very dominant settlement asset in the wholesale space.

    However, as tokenisation of assets gains momentum, private settlement assets, particularly stablecoins, are being used and are likely to be settlement assets of choice, to settle transactions in tokenised assets, absent the availability of central bank money on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). In addition, the proliferation of uncoordinated settlement solutions resulting from the lack of public sector response to the tokenisation of finance could lead to increased liquidity fragmentation.

    This is why we consider that we need to adapt the provision of central bank money to the demands of an increasingly digital financial system, particularly as transactions involving tokenised assets gain prominence, to prevent regression in the safety and efficiency of wholesale transactions. 

    Accordingly, the Banque de France was one of the first central banks to launch an ambitious experimental program focused on the use of wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) in various settlement processes for varied assets. 

    In addition, in an evolving landscape, where traditional infrastructures are likely to coexist with new DLT systems, interoperability will be crucial in preventing market fragmentation and central bank money can help ensure it. The Payment-vs-Payment (PvP) experiment in CBDC we recently conducted with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority is an illustration of this, with an interoperability mechanism supported by SWIFT to ensure synchronised settlement of both legs of the transaction.

    Since May 2024, the Eurosystem has also been testing various interoperable solutions for settling tokenised financial assets via central bank money and we are actively contributing to it. Looking further ahead, the BIS has put forward the vision of a global unified ledger-a long-term vision that could begin with the establishment of regional unified ledgers, such as a European Unified Ledger. Project Agorá is likely to be an important building block in an exploratory approach to make this vision concrete and test it, and we are also taking part in it.

    2. Retail digital payments

    In the retail space, contrary to the wholesale one, we observe the coexistence and complementarity of central bank money – in the form of cash – and private money. While their respective role has evolved over time with users’ habits, in Europe it has undergone very rapid and significant changes in the past few decades, in relation with the development of the digital economy. The use of cash has steadily declined: in 2022, cash was used in 50% of in-store payments in France, compared with 68% in 2016. Meanwhile, cashless payment solutions have rapidly developed, boosted by the growth of e-commerce and innovative solutions such as contactless and mobile payments.

    These changes bring many benefits for consumers, with payments becoming increasingly convenient, faster and innovative. The Banque de France therefore strongly supports and encourages innovation by payments stakeholders and the private sector. 

    However, digitalisation also comes with challenges for central banks. 

    • First, regulatory and supervisory frameworks need to be adopted to foster innovation in a trusted environment. This is what we have done in the case of private digital assets in Europe where the MiCA regulation has provided a clear, harmonised regulatory framework for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and stablecoins issuers, with the support of the Banque de France.
    • Second, the development of digital payments comes with increased dependence on a few dominant non-EU players – international card schemes and global technology providers (BigTechs). Those stakeholders exploit large network effects and own many proprietary standards used in retail payments. In Europe, that trend raises issues in terms of operational resilience, market competition and innovation, and ultimately, challenges the strategic autonomy of European players.

    The Banque de France has helped to address those dependency issues with first a clear support, along with the Eurosystem, to the emergence of pan-European solutions for retail payments such as the European Payments Initiative. Their digital wallet called Wero has just been launched in France, after Germany and Belgium, for person-to-person payments in the first stage. It will gradually expand coverage, to other countries and use cases (e-commerce and in-store payments) in the next years.

    We have also intensively contributed to the preparation underway of a retail CBDC, namely the digital euro. This new form of public money would be comparable to a “digital banknote”. Its legal tender would make it usable everywhere in the euro area, in all contexts – therefore supporting European integration. It would offer cash-like privacy – notably thanks to the offline functionality that would also strengthen our resilience. The underlying standards and infrastructures would be governed by European players – also supporting our strategic autonomy.

    The digital euro is also intended to perpetuate the “public-private partnership” that lies at the heart of our monetary system. It would be distributed by banks and other private intermediaries, with a viable and attractive business model, therefore preserving financial intermediation. It could also facilitate the development of private pan-European projects that could benefit from its open and harmonised standards to extend their scope and benefit from large network effects.

    Conclusion

    As payments become increasingly digital, central banks face the issue of revisiting the way they provide central bank money services to their economy. At the Banque de France, we consider that the Eurosystem should stand ready to adapt its provision of central bank money both in the wholesale and retail spaces. We see this as necessary to maintain the ‘singleness of money’ in our economy and the robustness of our monetary system, both from a stability and sovereignty perspective. On the wholesale side, a CBDC would appropriately accompany and secure a trend towards the tokenisation of financial assets. It could also be a first step towards the provision of a new and decentralised form of infrastructure, a European Unified Ledger. In the retail sphere, we see the deployment of a digital euro as a natural evolution of, and complement to cash, whose success should be built on a strong public-private partnership.

     

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Klaas Knot: Partly cloudy skies in the euro area, with a silver lining

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good morning everyone,

    It is my pleasure to present the euro area perspective in this panel session on the Global Economic Outlook. The latest PMI releases point to steady global growth.  Weakness in manufacturing is compensated by strong growth in the service sector.

    However, as you can see in the left hand chart, the economic situation in the euro area is less favorable than the global average. The current mood is a bit like October weather in Amsterdam. Not as bad as some people would have you believe, but definitely not great either.

    Economic growth in the euro area has been sluggish for two years now. As shown in the right hand chart, especially domestic demand has been weak. Initially, this could be explained by falling real wages. Over the past two years, however, wages have largely been catching up with prices. The short-term outlook is pointing to slow growth while economic sentiment remains subdued and the household savings rate is still higher than before the pandemic. Looking further ahead though, we do expect the economy to strengthen. Rising real incomes will allow households to consume more and the gradually fading effects of restrictive monetary policy will support consumption and investment.

    Zooming in on the various member states, confidence is not low everywhere. Economic sentiment is significantly above the long-term average in for instance Spain, Portugal and Greece. The mood is especially good in the service sector, benefiting from the reallocation of consumption from goods to services after the pandemic. This growth boost is particularly visible in tourism and hospitality. But also other sectors of the economy perform relatively well in these countries.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Fabio Panetta: Statement – meeting of the Development Committee

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Bretton Woods institutions. In this turbulent time, their mission is more important than ever. Together they must foster growth, create jobs, increase stability, build resilience, fight poverty, and reduce inequalities, all while facing massive global challenges – climate change, fragility, mass migration, pandemics, and the risks stemming from new technologies and demographic trends.

    We believe that the World Bank Group (WBG), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the wider system of multilateral development banks (MDBs) should pursue this complex mission cooperatively, leveraging their respective comparative advantages. In this regard, we greatly appreciate the Development Committee Paper, “A Future-Ready World Bank Group,” for its comprehensive report on what has been accomplished under the WBG Evolution, launched in October 2022.

    We commend the WBG for progress made in improving its operational and financial model to better serve all its clients, with particular attention to the poorest and the most vulnerable. It demonstrates an impressive amount of work that is reshaping and revamping the organization with an eye to strengthening partnership and collaboration within the WBG and with other MDBs.

    Our constituency continues to advocate for improved monitoring and reporting of the impact of WBG operations, by incorporating better data, impact evaluation, and lessons learned from past experiences. We will continue to ensure that impact and accountability anchor any reforms to operational efficiency and effectiveness. Improved measurement standards in the 22 indicators of the new WBG Scorecard are particularly welcome, and we look forward to further improvements.

    One of the most important tools the WBG can provide is knowledge. It benefits all countries and is necessary to raise the impact of financial flows on development. To this end, we strongly support the newly envisioned Knowledge Compact and the new Knowledge Hubs, designed to favor the flow of expertise and lessons learned around the globe.

    We commend management for further achievement in implementing the G20 Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) Review, launched under the Italian G20 Presidency, which has increased the IBRD’s financing capacity by up to $150 billion over the next decade. We congratulate the Bank for the newly adopted IBRD Framework of Restoration Measures, while calling for rapid approval of remaining reforms to ensure its full functionality and alignment with major regional MDBs.

    We also applaud the work that the MDBs are jointly making to better recognize the value of existing callable capital. While continuing the dialogue with credit rating agencies, we urge management to integrate a part of callable capital into the WB’s capital adequacy metrics. We also appreciate the newly established enhanced callable capital, and we call for the most inclusive approach in recognizing the financial leverage of shareholders’ voluntary contributions in a way that is consistent with the credit rating agencies’ practice.

    We should be very cautious in designing any reform of IBRD pricing which may have negative impacts on IBRD and IDA financial capacity, which we have been striving to expand. Moreover, we should be aware of any conflicting effects on the newly established Framework for Financial Incentives. We also call for greater analysis of spillovers of price changes for the broader MDBs system, as well as on their implications for the Bank budget anchor and the incentives for country graduation and private sector financing.

    We urge MDBs to develop effective partnerships with climate and environmental vertical funds so as to maximize scarce concessional resources. MDBs can greatly help improve access to these funds at scale and speed. Thanks to their financial leverage, MDBs can also augment the resources available in vertical funds, by associating programmatic approaches with their parallel subscription of WBG hybrid capital and portfolio guarantees, to strengthen predictability of resources for beneficiary countries. We look forward to continuing work with the WBG to implement the conclusions of the forthcoming G20 Independent High-Level Expert Group Review on the Vertical Climate and Environmental Funds.

    We appreciate the WBG’s new approach to private capital mobilization. Enhanced country diagnostics, stronger country dialogue, and closer collaboration among the WBG institutions are needed to increase the supply of effective projects. The WBG guarantees platform, the publication of GEMs data, the introduction of new products to mitigate foreign exchange risks, and the promotion of policy reforms specifically designed to improve the business environment will all help lower the actual and perceived risks of private investment in developing countries. Project standardization and securitization will contribute to attracting investors and accelerating the WBG’s portfolio turnover, thus making capital more efficient.

    The poorest countries are facing the greatest hardships, and 700 million people worldwide are still trapped in extreme poverty. It is our duty to help them overcome challenges and build a more equitable future. As the largest international development fund in the world, IDA has a major responsibility to help low-income countries return to the path of recovery and sustainable growth, as well as transition out of conflicts, poverty, and deprivation.

    This year, IDA21 negotiations are creating a new architecture in order to better integrate IDA into a One WBG and strengthen its alignment with the Evolution agenda. IDA must continue to be centered on concessional financing, meaningful policy commitments, and result-oriented targets.

    At this crucial juncture, we are committed to ensuring that IDA remains the largest and most impactful partnership between borrowers – at different income levels – and donors. Highly concessional resources are a vital source of financing for low-income IDA countries, especially those lacking significant access to capital markets. At a time of heightened debt vulnerabilities, higher interest rates, and lower FDIs, this is even more important. We should collectively deploy all efforts to mobilize adequate concessional finance for IDA21.

    In this collective effort, the rule-based formula to increase IBRD transfers under better financial conditions and higher incomes – agreed upon in 2018 – is playing a crucial countercyclical role, and it should make shareholders proud of the IBRD’s increased role among the key contributors to IDA. The 2018 agreement remains a sign of solidarity and mutual responsibility for a poverty-free world.

    We also commend the further efforts of IDA itself to stretch its own balance sheet with new CAF measures. These measures allow for more efficient deployment of resources belonging to IDA beneficiaries. We support their full engagements in this decision to best calibrate the appropriate balance between the degree concessionality and volumes, should a trade-off emerge.

    Our ultimate goal is to spur long-term development through an effective IDA21. The IDA model is well tested in delivering complex and transformative projects in key sectors, based on country ownership. Mission 300, in partnership with the African Development Bank, is an excellent model for using IDA resources through regional multiphase approaches, building partnerships and – together with IFC and MIGA – mobilizing private capital. IDA is also uniquely positioned to deliver infrastructures for regional integration, along with projects and policy reforms to strengthen industrial development and the local private sector. This is especially important in fighting food insecurity, increasing access to healthcare and job opportunities, building sustainable local value chains for critical minerals, and preparing for pandemics.

    Rising active conflicts and regional instability call on the WBG to renew its approach in addressing the root causes of fragility and maintaining effective engagement in conflict situations. This requires reducing geographical inequalities, promoting broad-based growth, supporting public service delivery in situations of active conflict, and strengthening institutions – including effective and decentralized justice systems and community dispute-resolution mechanisms to mitigate and prevent social conflicts.

    As part of this effort, the Italian G7 Presidency is working with its partners to ensure a successful replenishment of IDA21, building a solid package that addresses all of these critical issues. IDA must remain relevant to the needs of its clients, particularly Africa and fragile countries. A collective endeavour will be paramount in striking the right balance among donor contributions, internal efficiency, and borrower effort, while broadening the donor base.

    Africa is a top priority for this constituency, an agenda further advanced during the G7 Italian Presidency. The Mattei Plan, launched by the Italian Government at the Italy-Africa Summit last January, aims to build a renewed relationship with African countries based on equal cooperation, shared interests, and mutual benefits to foster economic growth and social development at the local level.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Denis Manturov visited the Republic of Belarus on a working visit

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government paid a working visit to the Republic of Belarus. Denis Manturov was received by the President of the country Alexander Lukashenko, held talks with the Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, and also visited a number of industrial enterprises.

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    During his working visit to the Republic of Belarus, Denis Manturov was received by the country’s President Alexander Lukashenko

    Alexander Lukashenko and Denis Manturov discussed issues of trade and industrial cooperation between Russia and Belarus. Trade turnover between the countries increased by more than 5% last year and reached almost 47 billion dollars. Positive dynamics also persisted in the first eight months of this year – mutual trade increased by 6% to 32.5 billion dollars.

    Russian enterprises continue to build up cooperation ties with Belarus. All regions of Russia are actively involved in the development of cooperation. Thus, only since the beginning of 2024, 42 regional delegations have visited the republic. In June of this year, the XI Forum of Regions of Russia and Belarus was successfully held in Vitebsk, in which 56 Russian regions took part.

    Denis Manturov emphasized that Russia is actively cooperating with Belarusian civil aircraft manufacturing enterprises to produce components. “This concerns both the Il-76 and Tu-214 aircraft. I expect that this trend will continue, and we will expand the aircraft line, the range, and the number of components,” said the First Deputy Prime Minister.

    At the meeting with Roman Golovchenko, issues of implementing a unified industrial policy of the Union State within the framework of the decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in January 2024 were also touched upon, including the issue of mutual access of industrial products of Russia and Belarus to state support instruments. The parties are working progressively in this direction.

    As part of his working trip, Denis Manturov visited the BelAZ OJSC enterprise, which is the world’s largest manufacturer of large and extra-large capacity quarry dump trucks, as well as other heavy transport equipment for the mining industry and construction. The plant, with about 9,000 employees, produces over 100 modifications of dump trucks with a carrying capacity of 30 to 450 tons. In 2023, products worth a total of about $880 million were delivered to Russia, including 904 units of equipment. The First Deputy Prime Minister inspected the main conveyor shop, visited the Museum of Labor Glory, and also got acquainted with innovative and serially produced models of equipment at the enterprise. One of them is the BelAZ-75304 dump truck with a carrying capacity of 220 tons, which consists of more than 90% Belarusian and Russian components.

    In addition, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia visited the joint Belarusian-Chinese enterprise SZAO Belgee, which produces passenger cars under the Belgee brand.

    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 Russia: Financial news: 10/28/2024, 1:40 PM (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the RU000A0JVUP7 (VimpelKBO3) security were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    10/28/2024

    13:40

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 10/28/2024, 1:40 PM (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 97.46) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1026.54 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 12.5%) of the RU000A0JVUP7 (VimpelKBO3) security were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74333

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 10/28/2024, 14:59 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the RU000A0JWHU2 security (RZhD BO-17) were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    10/28/2024

    14:59

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 10/28/2024, 14:59 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 77.45) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 889.42 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 22.5%) of the RU000A0JWHU2 security (RZhD BO-17) were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74337

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 10/28/2024, 15-10 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the RU000A0JWHU2 security (RZhD BO-17) were changed.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    10/28/2024

    15:10

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 10/28/2024, 15-10 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 80.52) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 922.09 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 27.0%) of the RU000A0JWHU2 security (RZhD BO-17) were changed.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74341

    MIL OSI Russia News