NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Spend “One Day at the University” with GUU

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On November 23, the State University of Management invites schoolchildren of grades 9-11 and their parents to spend “One Day at the University”.

    At the presentation “About Studying,” guests will be told about the opportunities for entering the university and the “GUU Leaders” program, about what specialty can be obtained by studying at our University, and why GUU is the best in management education.

    As part of the “I am a student” block, those gathered will get acquainted with the world of youth movements, clubs of interest, volunteering, social projects, KVN, sports associations and creative communities, learn about what students do in their free time, as well as about additional bonuses upon admission.

    All visitors will be given a tour of the university, where they will be shown the multi-level scientific and educational complex of the first management university, which includes a co-working space, a library, lecture halls, laboratories, a canteen, buffets, a cafe, a sports complex and a well-equipped swimming pool.

    In addition, there will be a “Meeting with Parents” where university representatives will answer all questions of interest.

    We are waiting for everyone on November 23 at 10:00 in the lobby on the 1st floor of the Laboratory Building (the sign above the entrance says “Admissions Committee”).

    Pre-registration is required to participate.

    We remind you that you will need a passport to enter the university grounds.

    For a century, GUU has confidently held the position of the leader in management education in Russia. The university has more than 12 thousand students in 14 bachelor’s degree programs, 11 master’s degree programs, and postgraduate students in 8 scientific specialties. The university is among the Top 10 universities in terms of salaries of young specialists in the legal field, economics, and finance.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 11/23/2024

    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.

    Spend “One Day at the University” with GUU

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: ‘Distance is not a problem’: HSE develops cooperation with think tanks of BRICS countries

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    At the end of September Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) HSE held a meeting with representatives of analytical centers from Brazil, India, and Egypt. The participants considered the possibilities of cooperation, including conducting joint surveys and comparative studies, and discussed the formation of common databases and joint publications on foresight and scientific and technical policy. A decision was also made to prepare a draft multilateral agreement on the establishment of the BRICS Foresight Research Association.

    Leonid Gokhberg, First Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics and Director of the ISSEK, welcomed the participants and presented an overview of HSE research activities in areas of possible cooperation, focusing in particular on those conducted by the team of the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge.

    ISSEK comprises 19 research centres and two international laboratories, with over 240 employees, making it the largest research unit of the Higher School of Economics. The key areas of the institute’s activities are statistical measurements and forecasting of development directions in science, technology, innovation, education, the digital economy and creative industries. ISSEK scientists analyse scientific, technical and innovation policies implemented in Russia and around the world, and study the factors of sustainable economic growth, social welfare and competitiveness.

    ISSEK is implementing a number of large-scale research projects. The Doing Science in Russia study analyzes the current state of Russian science and its development prospects. The Russian Cluster Observatory, which studies the innovative and creative development of cities and regions, publishes two ratings: the Innovative Development Rating of Russian Regions and the HSE Global Cities Innovation Index. In the third, recently published edition, the authors examine more than 1,000 agglomerations with the largest number of high technologies and creative leaders from 144 countries. Hundreds of ISSEK research projects use the results of the unique iFORA big data mining system developed by its team.

    Leonid Gokhberg outlined potential areas of cooperation between ISSEK and foreign partners in the framework of joint research, publications and courses in such areas as foresight, the use of big data, scientific and technical policy, the business climate in the field of science and technology, the digital economy, the creative economy, and innovative urban development.

    The Director of the ISSEK also proposed the creation of a BRICS Foresight Research Association, which would promote cooperation in the field of futures research.

    Fernando Rizzo, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies and Management in Science, Technology and Innovation (CGEE, Brazil), introduced the audience to the history and activities of the organization. CGEE was founded in 2001 and has 115 employees. The center supports decision-making processes on topics related to science, technology and innovation. CGEE experts evaluate and monitor public policies, identify promising technologies and competencies, conduct foresight studies, and provide strategic consulting services for decision-making. CGEE includes several research observatories: Information Services for Science, Technology and Innovation; Space Technology Observatory; Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory; Innovation Observatory for Sustainable Cities; Bioeconomy Observatory; Digital Transformation Observatory.

    In 2024, CGEE organized the 5th National Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation, a major event that attracted a total of 30,000 participants from 27 Brazilian states. The conference presented the Brazilian Plan for Artificial Intelligence (BPAI) 2024-2028.

    Dr. Mohamed Ramadan Rezk, Director of the Egyptian Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory (ESTIO, Egypt), began his presentation with the surprising idea that foresight existed as far back as Ancient Egypt, where the future, i.e. life after death, was depicted on bas-reliefs. In its modern sense, foresight research began in Egypt in 1975, when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations conducted a study on the demographic impact of potential development strategies from 1975 to 1985. ESTIO was established in February 2014 as a subordinate organization of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) to develop science, technology and innovation indicators, conduct foresight studies and raise awareness of foresight in Egypt. Later, in 2021, the North African Applied Systems Analysis Center (NAASAC) was established as a collaboration between ASRT, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and the National Planning Institute of Egypt. Its activities include developing an online educational program on applied research; organizing joint applied research on issues relevant to decision makers in Egypt, North Africa and the Arab States; and providing advisory services to governments and businesses. ASRT conducts foresight research in areas such as energy, water, the impact of COVID-19 on society, and climate change.

    Dr. Gautam Goswami, Principal Scientist, Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC, India), shared the strengths of his organization. TIFAC is a technology think tank under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. It brings together eminent experts from government agencies, research institutes, universities and industry. TIFAC focuses on areas such as assessing the country’s technology needs and forecasting promising areas of technology development. Since 1996, TIFAC has been publishing a series of reports called “The Future of Technology” (the first and second editions set the forecast horizon for 2020 and 2035; the report “The Future of Technology – 2047” is currently being prepared). The council’s experts also prepare other short- and long-term foresight reports, as well as the Technology Market Research Report, which tracks new technologies, collects patent information, and maintains databases of technologies and experts. TIFAC also provides foresight training to industry professionals, government officials, and academics.

    Iwao Ohashi from Japan, Advisor for Japan and Asia Pacific Countries to the Association of Industrial Parks of Russia, shared his opinion on the prospects for Russia’s technological development under sanctions. He believes that Russia should develop cooperation in technology and innovation with the BRICS countries. Joint foresight studies are also very important, and Iwao Ohashi believes that the creation of the BRICS Foresight Research Association would be a very promising idea. Mr. Ohashi noted that in the near future, China will most likely become a global leader in innovation. At the same time, he emphasized that “we need to make a strategic bet on the creation of Russian innovation centers within the country and in its regions, as well as invite foreign experts to Russia.”

    Following the presentations, ISSEK scientists exchanged ideas for cooperation with foreign participants. Dirk Meissner, Head ofLaboratory of Innovation Economy and academic director of the master’s program “Governance in the field of science, technology and innovation“, mentioned cooperation with colleagues from the University of Campinas in Brazil. “Geographical distance is no longer a problem,” said Dirk Meissner, emphasizing the importance of communication and education online.

    Liliana Proskuryakova, Head of DepartmentLaboratory for Science and Technology Research, noted the issues of health care, energy and water resources as cross-cutting themes in the participants’ speeches. A comprehensive analysis of these basic needs of humanity can determine the priorities of cooperation, in addition, this agenda is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals that are relevant for our countries. Mikhail Gershman, Director Center for Scientific, Technical, Innovation and Information Policy, head of the project “Making Science in Russia”, invited colleagues to join forces in the framework of comparative cross-country studies of the working conditions of scientists and state scientific and technical policy. Ekaterina Streltsova, director Center for Statistics and Monitoring of Science and Innovation, proposed establishing cooperation to conduct joint research on technological development, including using patent analysis tools.

    Evgeny Kutsenko, Director of the Russian Cluster Observatory, spoke about the project’s scientific plans, including cluster development, unicorn companies and creative industries. The possibilities of strengthening joint projects based on the results of big data analysis were demonstrated by showing the system developed at ISSEKiFORA, expert of the Center for Strategic Analytics and Big Data of the ISSEK Maria Antasheva.

    “I am pleased to meet you. CGEE started collaborating with HSE many years ago. And when Alexander Sokolov suggested intensifying scientific ties, most of the CGEE staff, who already had experience interacting with the Higher School of Economics, knowing the high level of its research, readily supported this idea,” said Fernando Rizzo, Director of CGEE. “At our center, we work in various areas, including sustainable cities, bioeconomy, energy, airspace, agriculture and education. Among the potential areas of our international cooperation, I see training and education in AI and data science, the use of generative AI for research and innovation, joint data infrastructure and the use of predictive modeling in big data analysis.”

    The meeting participants agreed to strengthen international ties and implement projects in areas of mutual interest, including within the framework of the planned multilateral agreement to create the BRICS Foresight Research Association.

    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.

    http://vvv.hse.ru/nevs/expertise/975578115.html

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Discharge for the 2022 budget: European Council and Council – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    In April 2024, the European Parliament decided to postpone its decision on granting discharge to the European Council and the Council for the 2022 budget owing to a number of critical observations. Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control has re-examined the situation but, given the Council’s lack of willingness to cooperate on the discharge procedure, it cannot take an informed decision. It therefore recommends in this second and final report not to grant discharge to the two institutions. Since 2009, Parliament has refused discharge to the two institutions for each financial year. The vote is scheduled for the October II plenary part-session.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £21 million approved to help boost Sheffield City Centre businesses A project aimed at providing more space for people, allowing businesses to expand and for people to shop, eat and spend more time in Sheffield City Centre has been given a major investment boost. 16 October 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    A project aimed at providing more space for people, allowing businesses to expand and for people to shop, eat and spend more time in Sheffield City Centre has been given a major investment boost.

    South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, together with local leaders, has approved £21million of investment into the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project.

    The funding will help Sheffield City Council to deliver the project, improving public spaces and connecting key developments like the improvements on Fargate, Heart of the City and The Moor.

    Connecting Sheffield: City Centre will also provide more space for people and will allow businesses to use more outdoor space for people to shop, eat and spend time – subject to licences. It is part of a drive by the council to boost the city centre.

    In addition, the project will provide new, connected walking, wheeling and cycling routes in the city centre which, coupled with changes to make bus journeys more reliable, will give people more choice in how they travel.

    Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said,

    “Sheffield is changing. It’s transforming into an incredible city offering something for everyone whether you’re a resident here or visiting from further afield. Our Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project links up all the key areas in the city centre. From the Heart of the City’s great shops, services, dining, and entertainment to our fantastic shopping experience at The Moor and the new Fargate project as it nears completion. This investment will contribute further to the ongoing transformation of our cleaner, greener, more thriving city centre.

    “By giving you more space in the city centre, and more choice in how you travel, we can reduce congestion on the roads to make bus journeys more reliable. We’re also introducing safer walking, wheeling, and cycling routes that will connect to other parts of the city. The changes we’ve already made to improve reliability of bus journeys mean the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project will make travelling into the city centre by bus an even more realistic option too.”

    Construction is due to start on the project in January 2025, and the Traffic Regulation Orders to make the required changes to roads are being advertised until Thursday 17 October. To view the orders and comment, visit http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/roads-pavements/traffic-orders

    Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, said: “Building a healthier, wealthier and happier South Yorkshire is central to my ambition as South Yorkshire’s Mayor.

    “This important city centre project will not just give us greater freedom and choice about how we travel and move, but will also support our plans to make South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country.

    “It is part of the steps we are taking across our region to build new walking and cycling routes over the next three years – creating better places and more opportunities for us all to move more and move differently.”

    Funding was approved by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Board on 8 October and forms part of SYMCA’s £166 million Transforming Cities Fund investment across South Yorkshire.

    You can find more information on the Connecting Sheffield: City Centre project via Have Your Say Sheffield: https://haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk/connecting-sheffield-city-centre

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU will provide a new macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan of up to €35 billion to Ukraine as part of a G7 initiative to support Ukraine with a loan of up to US$50 billion (€45 billion). The new Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism will provide revenues originating from immobilised Russian sovereign assets, so that Ukraine can service and repay loans from the EU and other G7 lenders. Parliament is expected to adopt the proposal during its October II plenary sitting.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Draft amending budget No 2/2024: 2023 surplus – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The purpose of Draft Amending Budget No 2/2024 (DAB 2/2024) to the EU’s 2024 general budget is to enter the €632.6 million surplus from implementation of the 2023 budget as revenue into the 2024 budget. Inclusion of the surplus will lead to a corresponding reduction in Member States’ gross national income (GNI) contributions to the 2024 budget. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the Council’s position on DAB 2/2024 during the October II plenary session.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Asia’s skyrocketing space race: A competition for peace? – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Over the past 20 years, new Asian players have emerged in the competition for space. Until the end of the 20th century, Japan – the only Asian country admitted to the International Space Station – played a leading role in the region. However, the beginning of the 21st century has seen the rise of other countries’ space capabilities, fuelling a new space race. China has made sizeable progress, outpacing Russia as the main competitor to the United States. Beijing aims to be the world’s leading space power by the mid-2040s and has integrated its space activities in the army structure. China is planning to build a permanent research station on the lunar south pole and a solar power station in space. China and Russia are increasingly teaming up in space projects. India has showed the capability to perform low-cost missions, including the successful landing on the Moon in August 2023, making it the fourth country to achieve this. South Korea has a relatively recent space history, but aims to rank among the world’s top five space powers by 2045. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia have revealed ambitious space policies; the UAE aims to establish the first inhabitable human settlement on Mars by 2117. Meanwhile, despite the narrative of a shared vision for humanity in space, China is accumulating major counter-space capabilities, including that of seizing control of a satellite, rendering it ineffective. The Chinese army has meanwhile designated outer space as a warfighting domain. There is also concern around the claimed pacific purpose of Iran’s space programme, potentially supporting its intercontinental ballistic missile capacities. North Korea is also developing a space programme. The European Union (EU) economy, society and security are increasingly reliant on space services. The April 2021 Space Regulation established the EU space programme and the EU Agency for the Space Programme. The EU’s space strategy for security and defence was adopted in March 2023.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Closing the EU skills gap – Insights from the Draghi report – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The success of the green and digital transitions depends on their being conducted in a socially fair way, with attention paid to securing quality jobs and ensuring enough skilled workers are available to perform them. Given the existing shortages in terms of both occupations and skills, reskilling and upskilling of the EU labour force are vital. The start of the new legislative cycle has energised the debate on the EU approach to tackling skills gaps, and MEPs are due to debate a Commission statement on closing the skills gap during the October II session.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Protecting consumers and tackling unfair competition by boosting EU oversight in e commerce and imports – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU’s new product safety rulebook contains obligations for economic operators (i.e. manufacturers, importers and distributors) which import products from third counties, as well as specific rules for online marketplaces. This legislation was signed into law on 10 May 2023 and will apply from 13 December 2024. During the October II part-session, Parliament will debate a statement from the Commission on product safety and unfair competition, with regard in particular to online imports from third countries.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Single Sky: Modernising airspace management – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Following lengthy negotiations, the Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on 6 March 2024 on rules for more efficient air traffic management and to improve sustainability in the aviation sector. The Council adopted the agreed text on 26 September 2024 and it now needs to be adopted by Parliament.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – What if we ran out of copper? – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Copper is a relatively common element with a variety of suppliers, and that should typically mean a stable market. However, the copper market has recently been showing unusual instability. New EU legislation, though not always directly related, seems to be having a significant impact on copper prices. This is the case for the Chips Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act – designed to make EU industry more resilient by improving strategic autonomy – but also for laws concerning energy, artificial intelligence and digitalisation. New factors, including looming shortages in strategic raw materials – such as copper – may strongly influence political action.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Guidelines for the Member States’ employment policies – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Under the EU Treaties, Member States have to consider their economic and employment policies as a common concern, and coordinate their action within the Council. The Council adopts employment guidelines that must be reflected in the Member States’ employment policies and reform programmes. Before adopting these guidelines, Parliament is consulted on the draft, but the Council is not bound by Parliament’s opinion. During the October II plenary session, Parliament is due to adopt an opinion on this year’s employment guidelines, based on the report from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Importance of cities and regions in the EU for green, social and prosperous local development – 16-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Regions and cities play an important role in the implementation of EU laws, as many EU policies are executed at local or regional level. Regions and cities are usually the first point of contact between citizens and political authorities. Engaging with them can have a positive impact on the implementation of EU policies, and may also help to bring the EU closer to its citizens, thus enhancing its democratic legitimacy. During the October II plenary session, the European Commission is due to give a statement on the topic. A debate in the European Parliament comes at a time when the future of cohesion policy – the main policy supporting regions and cities – is at stake.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Joseph Síkela – International Partnerships – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Josef Síkela (Mayors and Independents Party, STAN) affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP), has served as the Czech minister for industry and trade since December 2021. In this position, his focus has been on reducing his country’s reliance on Russian gas, developing the use of renewable energy sources and securing stakes in German and Dutch liquefied natural gas (LNG). Síkela has served in various banks, notably as the head of the Slovak Savings Bank and as board member of the Austrian Erste Group Bank. Born in 1967 in Rokycany, Czechia, Síkela studied foreign trade economics at the Prague University of Economics and Business.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Wopke Hoekstra – Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Wopke Hoekstra has served as the Commissioner for Climate Action since October 2023. In this role, he represented the European Union at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in November 2023. Starting in early 2024, Hoekstra, along with the Executive Vice-President in charge of the European Green Deal, Maroš Šefčovič, has been communicating on behalf of the Commission regarding its 2040 climate target and managing climate risks. He has also been representing the Commission in clean transition dialogues with industry. From 2011 to 2017, Hoekstra was a Member of the Dutch Senate representing Christian Democratic Appeal (the CDA), affiliated to the European People’s Party (EPP) group in the European Parliament. In October 2017, he became the minister of finance, a position he held until 2022, also becoming the leader of the CDA in 2020. From January 2022 he served concurrently as deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs. Prior to taking on the role of Commissioner, he stepped down from both of those positions in July 2023. Born in 1975, Hoekstra studied law at Leiden University, from which he graduated in 2001. In 2005, he obtained an INSEAD MBA degree. Early in his career Hoekstra held commercial posts at Shell. In 2006, he joined global consulting company McKinsey, becoming a partner in 2013. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Marta Kos – Enlargement – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Marta Kos is self-employed, working through Kos Consulting and Coaching (2021-present), and a senior advisor at the Brussels consulting firm Kreab. From 2017 to 2021, she was Slovenian Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and Ambassador to Germany and Latvia (2013-2017). As president of the Slovenian women’s association ONA VE (‘she knows’), Kos works to raise the profile of female experts. Kos has been engaged in Slovenia’s political life as a vice-president of the social-liberal Freedom Movement party. Among the positions she held while employed by the government were director of the Public Relations and Media Office, and government spokesperson. Between 2003 and 2013, Kos headed Gustav Käser Training International Slovenia, specialising in leadership and sales training. Until 2003, Kos was vice-president for international relations at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Kos earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1989 and, in 2001, a master’s degree in political science from the University of Ljubljana.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Teresa Ribera Rodríguez – Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Teresa Ribera Rodríguez has held senior posts in the Spanish government since 2018, most recently serving as third vice-president of the government and minister for ecological transition and demographic challenge (2021-2024), fourth vice-president of the government and minister for ecological transition and demographic challenge (2020-2021) and minister for ecological transition (2018-2020). Since 2000, Ribera Rodríguez has been involved in the international climate negotiations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. From 2013 to 2014, she was advisor on energy and climate programme at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, and in 2019, she was responsible for organising the UNFCCC COP25 in Madrid. Member of the Spanish parliament, representing the Socialist party, since 2019, Ribera was state secretary for climate change and biodiversity in a previous government from 2008 to 2011. Born in 1969 in Madrid, Ribera Rodríguez holds a law degree from Madrid’s Complutense University and a diploma in constitutional law and political science from the Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Kaja Kallas – High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Kaja Kallas served as the prime minister of Estonia from 2021 to 2024. In 2024, she was awarded the Walther Rathenau Prize in recognition of outstanding lifetime achievement in foreign policy. Having joined the Estonian Reform Party in 2011, Kallas has been its leader since April 2018. From 2011 to 2014, she was a member of the Estonian Parliament (12th Riigikogu) and served as chair of its Economic Affairs Committee (2011). She was also a member of the 14th Riigikogu (2019 to 2021). As a Member of the European Parliament from 2014 to 2018, Kallas belonged to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE, now Renew Europe) political group. During this term, Kallas was Vice-Chair of Parliament’s Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee. Kallas was born in 1977 in Tallinn. She graduated from the University of Tartu in 1999 with a degree in law and pursued postgraduate studies at the Estonian Business School in 2007. Before entering politics, Kallas worked as an attorney at law. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Raffaele Fitto – Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Raffaele Fitto is an Italian politician, and has been minister for European affairs, Southern Italy, cohesion policy and the national recovery and resilience plan since 2022. A former Member of the European Parliament (from 1999 2000 and 2014 2022), Fitto was co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group from 2019 to 2022, and was thus a member of the Conference of Presidents. He served on the Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Regional Development. A long-serving Member of the Italian Parliament (Camera dei Deputati), Fitto’s terms of office ran between 2006 and 2014 and from 2022 to the present day. Fitto was Italian minister for regional affairs from 2008 to 2010 and minister for territorial cohesion from 2010 to 2011. During his earlier career, Fitto was President of the Apulia region (2000 2005) and served repeatedly as Councillor for the Apulia region (1990 1994 and 2005 2006). Fitto was Regional Councillor for Tourism for Apulia from 1994 to 1995, and Vice-President of the Regional Council with responsibility for the budget from 1995 to 1999. Born in 1969, Fitto holds a doctorate in law from the University of Bari (1994).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Henna Virkkunen – Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Henna Virkkunen is a Finnish politician and member of the National Coalition Party, which is affiliated with the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament. She has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2014, serving inter alia on the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), and Transport and Tourism (TRAN). She was also a member of the Committee of Inquiry investigating the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) and the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (AIDA). In Parliament, Virkkunen has worked on various technology and cybersecurity dossiers such as the Digital Services Act, the Cyber-Resilience Act and the Connecting Europe Facility. Before her election to the European Parliament, Virkkunen was a member of the Finnish Parliament (2007-2014) and was part of the Finnish government as minister for education and science, minister for public administration and local government, and transport minister. Born in 1972 in Joutsa, Finland, Virkkunen holds master’s (2001) and bachelor’s degrees (2000) from the University of Jyväskylä. This is one of a set of briefings designed to give an overview of issues of interest relating to the portfolios of the Commissioners designate. All these briefings can be found at: https://epthinktank.eu/commissioner_hearings_2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Stéphane Séjourné – Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy – 15-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Before being nominated as Commissioner-designate, Stéphane Séjourné had been serving as French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs since January 2024. In July 2024, he was elected to the French Parliament for the ninth constituency of Hauts-de-Seine (Boulogne-Billancourt). He has also been secretary-general of the Renaissance party since 2022. From 2019 to 2024, Séjourné was a Member of the European Parliament, and President of the Renew Europe group (2021-2024). Before that, he was a political adviser to the President of the French Republic from 2017 to 2019, and an adviser to the Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry and Digital Affairs from 2014 to 2016, responsible for relations with elected representatives. Séjourné was previously a member of the cabinet of the President of the Île-de-France Regional Council (2012-2014). Prior to that, he worked for a federation of grocery and specialised nutrition products from 2011 to 2012. Born in 1985, Séjourné graduated from the University of Poitiers with a double masters in law. He was also an Erasmus student at the University of Granada in international and EU law.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Tokio Marine HCC Appoints David Perez to Launch US Excess Casualty Business

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tokio Marine HCC (TMHCC), based in Houston, Texas, has today announced the expansion of its specialty product offering with its entry into the Excess Casualty market. David Perez has been appointed as President, Excess Casualty, to lead the launch and build out the new offering. David takes up his new role with immediate effect and will report to Susan Rivera, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TMHCC.

    TMHCC’s entry into this space is timely and will provide insureds vital new capacity as limit retrenchment continues amid challenging loss cost trends. David’s unique understanding of the casualty industry, combined with TMHCC’s underwriting best practices honed over its 50-year history, creates a powerful foundation for profitable growth and market leadership.

    David brings nearly four decades of experience to the new division. He joins from Liberty Mutual where he served as Chief Underwriting Officer, Global Risk Solutions. He has also held senior underwriting positions, across the US and Bermuda, including at Torus Insurance Limited, American International Group, and Starr Excess Liability Insurance Company Ltd.

    Susan Rivera, CEO of TMHCC, said, “TMHCC’s entry into the Excess Casualty market at this pivotal juncture once again demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the needs of insureds and aligning capacity where it is required most. While entering a new market can bring its own set of challenges, TMHCC is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunity the firming of the excess casualty market presents. David brings with him a wealth of experience and will undoubtedly strengthen our deep technical expertise as TMHCC cements its position in the market. It also highlights our commitment to employing the best in the business as we prioritize the development and growth of products that will enable policyholders to enhance their resilience.”

    David Perez, President of Excess Casualty, added, “TMHCC has an exceptional reputation in the specialty insurance sector, and I am excited to launch its presence into the Excess Casualty market. There is a clear opportunity for TMHCC’s unique blend of underwriting acumen, analytics and disciplined limits and cycle management. I am looking forward to working with Susan and the team to build the new offering.”

    About Tokio Marine HCC
    Tokio Marine HCC is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, a premier global company founded in 1879 with a market capitalization of $73 billion as of June 30, 2024. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Tokio Marine HCC is a leading specialty insurance group with offices in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. Tokio Marine HCC’s major domestic insurance companies have financial strength ratings of ‘A+’ (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings, ‘A++’ (Superior) from AM Best, and ‘AA-’ (Very Strong) from Fitch Ratings; its major international insurance companies have financial strength ratings of ‘A+’ (Strong) from S&P Global Ratings. Tokio Marine HCC is the marketing name used to describe the affiliated companies under the common ownership of HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated insurance holding company. For more information about Tokio Marine HCC, please visit http://www.tokiomarinehcc.com.

    Contact:
    MHP Group
    tmhcc@mhpgroup.com
    +44 (0)7586 050 758

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mexico: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2024 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 15, 2024

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

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

    Key Messages

    Activity is decelerating. Despite an expansionary fiscal stance, growth is slowing to around 1½ percent this year, due to binding capacity constraints and tight monetary policy. Continuing monetary restraint and slowing activity are expected to lower inflation to Banxico’s 3-percent target by 2025. The current account deficit is expected to widen slightly in 2024 as investment- and consumption-related imports outpace exports. Risks to growth are tilted to the downside while inflation risks remain on the upside. Weaker-than-expected growth in the U.S., an increase in global risk aversion, and unforeseen effects from recent institutional reforms could weigh on output. On the other hand, better-than-expected import demand from the U.S. or the ongoing reshaping of global value chains could boost activity and inward investment.

    A medium-term fiscal strategy is needed to reduce deficits and debt, raise tax revenues, and create fiscal space for investments in human and physical capital. This would require putting in place a comprehensive tax reform early in the new administration, durably reducing the fiscal deficit while carefully prioritizing public spending, and reducing inequities in the pension system. Addressing the imbalances between the federal budget and Pemex, and enhancing corporate governance of the latter, are also important priorities.

    The ongoing reshaping of global value chains offers the incoming administration an important opportunity to deepen the already-strong economic links with the U.S. Taking advantage of these prospects, however, requires a wide-ranging set of supply-side reforms to complement the well-established, very strong institutional framework for macroeconomic policies. Regulatory reforms, better-targeted public investment that further relieves infrastructure bottlenecks, broader access to financial services, and a more predictable supply of energy and water would all support private sector-led growth. Other priority measures include governance reforms that address corruption and tackle organized crime.

    Recent judicial reforms create important uncertainties about the effectiveness of contract enforcement and the predictability of the rule of law. The replacement of judges at various levels of the judiciary in the coming year creates a new source of uncertainty that may impinge upon private investment decisions. It is critical that this reform be implemented in a clear and predictable way that ensures the independence and professionalism of the judiciary and strengthens the rule of law. Staff’s current baseline does not incorporate potential headwinds from these uncertainties.

    Fiscal Policy

    The authorities are committed to achieving their 2024 fiscal target. The overall deficit for the year is currently projected to be 5.9 percent of GDP, a fiscal impulse of around 2 percent of GDP that is expected to bring gross public sector debt close to 58 percent of GDP by end-2024. Increased spending on large infrastructure projects, wages, pensions, and social spending are all adding to fiscal support for the economy. There is, however, a risk that additional support for Pemex and/or greater-than-expected spending on infrastructure projects could lead to a modest fiscal overrun by end-year.

    Mexico needs to put in place a credible medium-term fiscal consolidation underpinned by well-identified policy measures. The incoming authorities’ plan to initiate an important fiscal consolidation in 2025 that should lower the deficit to below 3 percent of GDP over the medium term, underscoring Mexico’s commitment to fiscal prudence. This will require the identification and implementation of additional fiscal measures, preferably including an overarching tax reform. In particular, the 2025 budget should focus on reducing tax expenditures and reassessing both tax rates and thresholds, particularly for the personal income tax. Further expenditure rationalization, including tax exceptions, and improved tax administration would contribute to this needed adjustment and help bolster market confidence.

    A review of policies regarding support for Pemex, and the energy sector more generally, would enhance the credibility of the government’s fiscal plans. Federal government support for Pemex in the form of various tax reliefs, investments, and transfers have cost 1 percent of GDP in 2024. Further support should be conditioned on Pemex developing a viable business strategy and improving its corporate governance. This could include focusing Pemex activities on profitable fields, selling non-core assets, developing a new strategy for unprofitable refinery operations, and incentivizing public-private partnerships (including via equity participation). The strategy should also examine the implications for, and linkages with, the federal electricity company.

    More is needed to address structural inequities in the pension system. Public pension spending has increased by 0.6 percent of GDP over the past three years and will continue to rise over the medium term. While the recent reform to raise the replacement rate,aimed to equalize treatment across workers, inequities remain between and within cohorts. A broader review is therefore needed of the benefit structure and the minimum contribution requirement.

    Further deepening of financial intermediation would make growth more inclusive. The recent development of fintech products and digital payments have expanded access to financial products. In addition, financial regulations that lower loan-loss provisioning for female borrowers have increased women’s access to credit. These efforts could be complemented by expanding the adoption of digital payment systems and eliminating institutional barriers to entry for new products and entities that are deemed to be financially sound.

    The IMF staff team would like to thank the Mexican authorities and other counterparts for their support, hospitality, and constructive discussions.

     

    Table 1. Mexico: Selected Economic, Financial, and Social Indicators

    I. Social and Demographic Indicators

    GDP per capita (U.S. dollars, 2023)

       13,643.3

    Poverty headcount ratio (% of population, 2023) 1/

         37.0

    Population (millions, 2023)

            131.1

    Income share of highest 20 perc. / lowest 20 perc. (2022)

           8.4

    Life expectancy at birth (years, 2024)

               75.5

    Adult literacy rate (2020)

         95.2

    Infant mortality rate (per thousand, 2023)

    13.6

    Gross primary education enrollment rate (2022) 2/

       102.0

    II. Economic Indicators

    Proj.

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    (Annual percentage change, unless otherwise indicated)

    National accounts (in real terms)

    GDP

    -8.4

    6.0

    3.7

    3.2

    1.5

    1.3

    Consumption

    -8.6

    7.1

    4.5

    4.6

    1.0

    0.9

    Private

    -9.8

    8.4

    4.9

    5.0

    1.0

    0.9

    Public

    -0.7

    -0.5

    1.7

    2.1

    1.2

    1.1

    Investment

    -18.3

    11.4

    7.4

    17.8

    4.0

    3.8

    Fixed

    -17.2

    10.5

    7.5

    18.0

    5.0

    3.0

    Private

    -18.6

    12.6

    7.7

    17.6

    5.3

    3.2

    Public

    -5.7

    -3.5

    5.8

    20.9

    3.8

    1.2

    Inventories 3/

    -0.3

    0.2

    0.0

    0.0

    -0.2

    0.2

    Exports of goods and services

    -7.0

    7.1

    8.9

    -7.4

    -0.6

    3.3

    Imports of goods and services

    -12.0

    15.7

    7.6

    5.0

    1.1

    2.3

    GDP per capita

    -9.1

    5.4

    2.9

    2.3

    0.6

    0.5

    External sector

    External current account balance (in percent of GDP)

    2.4

    -0.3

    -1.2

    -0.3

    -0.7

    -0.9

    Exports of goods, f.o.b.  4/

    -9.4

    18.6

    16.7

    2.6

    1.4

    3.6

    Imports of goods, f.o.b. 4/

    -15.9

    32.0

    19.6

    -1.0

    3.0

    4.6

    Net capital inflows (in percent of GDP) 5/

    0.8

    -1.0

    -0.9

    -0.9

    -1.9

    -1.4

    Terms of trade (goods, improvement +)

    0.8

    -1.0

    -3.1

    16.9

    -1.7

    -0.3

    Gross international reserves (in billions of U.S. dollars)

    199.1

    207.7

    201.1

    214.4

    235.0

    244.8

    Exchange rates

    Real effective exchange rate (avg, appreciation +) 6/

    -7.7

    5.9

    5.3

    16.4

    …

    …

    Nominal exchange rate (MXN/USD) (eop, appreciation +)

    -5.9

    -3.2

    5.7

    12.8

    …

    …

    Inflation, Employment and Population

    Consumer prices (end-of-period)

    3.2

    7.4

    7.8

    4.7

    4.5

    3.2

    Core consumer prices (end-of-period)

    3.8

    5.9

    8.3

    5.1

    4.0

    3.1

    Formal sector employment, IMSS-insured workers (average) 

    -2.5

    1.9

    4.3

    3.6

    …

    …

    National unemployment rate (annual average)

    4.4

    4.1

    3.3

    2.8

    3.0

    3.3

    Unit labor costs: manufacturing (real terms, average) 

    10.4

    4.4

    11.8

    -1.3

    …

    …

    Total population 7/

    0.8

    0.6

    0.8

    0.9

    0.9

    0.8

    Working-age population 7/

    1.1

    1.0

    1.1

    1.2

    1.1

    1.0

    Money and credit

    Financial system credit to non-financial private sector 8/

    0.9

    4.2

    10.9

    8.7

    8.0

    7.5

    Broad money

    13.4

    9.5

    7.3

    11.0

    7.8

    7.3

    Public sector finances (in percent of GDP) 9/

    General government revenue

    23.5

    22.9

    24.3

    24.4

    24.2

    23.8

    General government expenditure

    27.8

    26.6

    28.6

    28.7

    30.1

    27.3

    Overall fiscal balance 10/

    -4.3

    -3.7

    -4.3

    -4.3

    -5.9

    -3.5

    Structural primary balance  11/

    0.6

    1.2

    0.9

    1.1

    -1.1

    0.9

    Fiscal impulse 12/

    0.5

    -0.5

    0.2

    -0.2

    2.2

    -2.0

    Gross public sector debt

    58.5

    56.7

    54.1

    53.0

    57.6

    57.9

    Memorandum items

    Nominal GDP (billions of pesos)

    24,087

    26,690

    29,473

    31,772

    34,313

    36,766

    Output gap (in percent of potential GDP)

    -2.8

    -2.0

    0.0

    1.2

    0.6

    -0.1

    Sources: World Bank Development Indicators, CONEVAL, National Institute of Statistics and Geography, National Council of Population, Bank of Mexico, Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit, and Fund staff estimates.

    1/ CONEVAL uses a multi-dimensional approach to measure poverty based on a “social deprivation index,” which takes into account the level of income; education; access to health services; to social security; to food; and quality, size, and access to basic services in the dwelling.

    2/ Percent of population enrolled in primary school regardless of age as a share of the population of official primary education age.

    3/ Contribution to growth. Excludes statistical discrepancy.

    4/ Excludes goods procured in ports by carriers.

    5/ Excludes reserve assets

    6/ Based on IMF staff calculations.

    7/ Based on CONAPO population projections.

    8/ Includes domestic credit by banks, nonbank intermediaries, and social housing funds.

    9/ Data exclude state and local governments and include state-owned enterprises and public development banks.

    10/ The 2020 PSBR is adjusted for some statistical discrepancies between above-the-line and below-the-line numbers.

    11/ Adjusting revenues for the economic and oil-price cycles and excluding one-off items, in percent of potential GDP.

    12/ Negative of the change in the structural primary fiscal balance.
    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Brian Walker

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

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/15/cs-mexico-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2024-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Updated plans to protect Pevensey and Eastbourne from flooding

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Efforts include reversing power of the storms as public gets to shape project

    The Environment Agency wants people in Eastbourne and Pevensey to come to drop-in events to hear about plans to protect the area from flooding and coastal erosion

    Moving thousands of tonnes of sand by lorry to fight the forces of nature along the Sussex shore.

    Loosening stormy weather’s grip on how we live and work is behind plans to protect 10,000 homes and businesses in the Eastbourne area.

    Local people now have the chance to see how the Environment Agency will defend the coastline from flooding. Drop-in events are being held in the coming days across Eastbourne and Pevensey, and the plans have also been posted online.    

    The Met Office warns of sea levels rising by at least a metre by the end of the century, so the Environment Agency is laying out proposals to defend 15kms of coast either side of the Eastbourne from flooding and erosion, and wants feedback from the public.

    The Environment Agency estimates some 30,000 cubic square metres of sand and shingle is swept eastwards from Holywell to Cooden Beach every year.  

    Quite literally shifting sands in huge dumper trucks back the other way is a key plank of phase one of proposals to protect 18,000 homes and businesses, transport links and other services. With the sand and shingle back in place, the sea will lose power as it hits the beach.    

    Nick Gray, flood-risk manager for the Environment Agency in Sussex, said:

    “It’s about adapting to the changing climate. We know far more now. Sea levels could rise by 10cm in the next ten years, and around a metre by 2100.

    “Small changes to the beach management that already happens will put us in a better place to the end of the 2040s and beyond as storms get more frequent and intense.

    “Everyone has seen more wet weather and in greater bursts over the past couple of years. The named storms put a greater focus on preparing for the next one.

    “We can make a difference if we all play our part. The public are welcome at the drop-ins held across Eastbourne and Pevensey. They should also sign-up for free flood alerts and warnings at http://www.gov.uk/flood or on Floodline: 0345 988 1188.”

    A football club, community centre and church hall will host events to outline phase one of the 15-year Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne Coastal Management Scheme, a project between the Environment Agency and 4 local councils, East Sussex, Eastbourne, Rother and Wealden. It’s one of the largest coastal flood-risk schemes in the country.  

    The Met Office says sea levels will rise by about a metre by the end of the century, while the Environment Agency calls on everyone to check their flood-risk and learn how to deal with flooding

    Other ideas to protect the area from flooding and coastal erosion include building up the coastline by importing sand and shingle from the sea bed to the beach to widen the coastal squeeze – the gap between the sea and the properties and infrastructure like roads and the prom.

    The Environment Agency also wants to raise the height of the many timber groynes that punctuate the beach to stop the constant movement of sand and shingle from west to east and to hold back floodwater.

    The drop-ins to see and give feedback on the proposals, plus an online presentation of the work, kick off Flood Action Week, between 14 and 20 October, a concerted effort by the Environment Agency to make people recognise their flood-risk.

    Environment Agency staff will be on hand at all three venues to explain the flood-protection scheme. All 3 sessions run from 6pm to 7.30pm.

    • Tuesday 15 October: Eastbourne Borough football club, Priory Lane, Langney BN23 7QH.
    • Tuesday 22 October: Sovereign Harbour Community Centre, The Crumbles, Pevensey Bay Rd, Eastbourne BN23 6JH.
    • Friday 1 November: St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, 2 Collier Rd, Pevensey Bay BN24 6EZ.

    The online presentation of phase one can be found at: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/solent-and-south-downs/pevensey-to-eastbourne-phase-1-survey, where the public can also give feedback.

    Contact us:

    Journalists only: 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: What was the impact of new election laws on London’s voters?

    Source: Mayor of London

    How do the Government and Electoral Commission, academics and think tanks now view the impact of changes made before the 2024 Mayor of London and London Assembly elections?

    The Elections Review Working Group will tomorrow hold the final meeting of its review of the delivery of May’s elections, with guests being asked about issues including the introduction of a photo ID requirement, accessibility changes and the change in the Mayoral voting system.

    The Group will also ask guests about the abuse and intimidation of candidates, which the Electoral Commission earlier this year found to have reached “unacceptable” levels. The Commission’s research found 43% of candidates across May elections in England experienced some form of abuse or intimidation, with women standing for election disproportionately affected.

    The Working Group has launched a survey for Londoners to share their experiences of the GLA elections, which is open to anyone who would like to respond.

    The guests are:

    Panel 1 – Electoral Commission and Government (2pm – 3.25pm)

    • Michela Palese, Head of Policy, Electoral Commission
    • Phil Thompson, Head of Research, Electoral Commission
    • Melanie Davidson, Head of Support and Improvement, Electoral Commission
    • Ruth Law, Head of Communications and Engagement, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
    • Peter Stanyon, Chief Executive, Association of Electoral Administrators
       

    Panel 2 – Academics and Think Tanks (3.30pm – 4.30pm)

    • Dr Sofia Collignon, Director, Mile End Institute
    • Professor Tony Travers, London School of Economics 
    • Thea Ridley-Castle, Research and Policy Officer, Electoral Reform Society

    The meeting will take place on Wednesday 16 October from 2pm, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

    Follow us @LondonAssembly.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flux tower will see how much carbon gets stored in new saltmarsh

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A new Environment Agency monitoring tower installed in Poole Harbour will answer the mystery of how newly created saltmarshes store carbon.

    How much carbon will a new saltmarsh absorb? The Arne Moor flux tower will find out Credit: Alex Cumming

    The new structure at Arne Moor in Dorset is a flux tower and joins a growing network of towers in saltmarshes across England, ranging from the Blackwater Estuary in Essex to the Ribble Estuary in northwest England.

    Flux towers provide a measure of how much carbon dioxide has been taken up by a saltmarsh and how it changes over time.  

    This tower will be the first to monitor what happens to carbon within a habitat as it changes from dry land to a salty wet intertidal habitat when the existing flood embankment is breached as part of the Moors at Arne project.

    Charting a saltmarsh’s carbon capture from creation

    Dr Ben Green, a senior advisor in the Environment Agency’s Estuaries and Coasts Planning team, said:

    The Arne Moor flux tower is the latest piece in the puzzle to better understand the ability of saltmarshes to store carbon. 

    This is a perfect opportunity for us to chart the benefits of a new saltmarsh from its creation.

    Saltmarshes are not just credited with being excellent carbon sponges, they are also habitat for wildlife and protect people and property from flooding. But the area of saltmarsh in England has been in decline with up to 85% of it lost since the mid 19th century.  

    The flux tower being installed Credit: Kier

    Peter Robertson, senior site manager at RSPB Arne nature reserve on the banks of Poole Harbour, said:

    UK saltmarshes are globally important for wildlife, but they are also vital for our way of life, whether that’s fishing, protecting communities from flooding or storing carbon.  

    We’re really excited that saltmarsh created by the Moors at Arne project will be studied to understand more about these superpower habitats, and hope that this will lead to further protection and restoration efforts for saltmarshes across the UK.

    ‘An exciting and groundbreaking opportunity’

    The flux towers will take continuous measurements of CO2 in the atmosphere and its exchange with the saltmarsh’s surface to see if a site is a carbon sink and captures carbon or if it emits.  

    The saltmarsh flux tower project is a collaboration with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and funded by the Defra marine Nature Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) programme. 

    Annette Burden, wetland biogeochemist and Blue Carbon lead for UKCEH, said: 

    This is an exciting and groundbreaking opportunity to see what happens to carbon at a restoration site before, during and after the tide flows back into the site.  

    This has never been measured before, and as such will be fundamental to improving our understanding of the carbon benefit of saltmarsh restoration.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar on VP Kamala Harris’s Visit to Michigan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar on VP Kamala Harris’s Visit to Michigan

    Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to be in Michigan today. Her visit comes after a new Quinnipiac poll shows 57% of Michigan residents oppose the Biden-Harris polices that push Michigan residents to own electric vehicles. 

    “Vice President Harris says she wouldn’t do anything differently than the past four years, and that means she would continue the Biden-Harris policies that push Americans toward buying cars they don’t want and allow foreign adversaries to receive billions in taxpayer funding. Those policies are wrong, and they are out of touch. American companies should never have to compete with foreign adversaries receiving taxpayer funding,” said Congressman John Moolenaar. 

    Last year, Moolenaar introduced the NO GOTION Act to block green energy production tax credits from the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” from going to companies and subsidiaries affiliated with foreign adversaries including China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Secretly Recording Minor Victim in Shower

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

    ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Gregory M. Brooks, 53, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that in February 2021, Brooks secretly placed a video camera in a bathroom where he knew that a Minor Victim showered. He positioned the camera to capture naked videos of the Minor Victim entering and exiting the shower. Between February 2021, and August 31, 2023, Brooks received and stored the videos of child pornography captured by the video camera on his cellular telephone.

    The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood.

    Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2025, before Judge Geraci.

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Democratic participation: Open letter to the electoral sector

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    An open letter regarding democratic participation to colleagues in the electoral sector from the Minister for Democracy and Local Growth.

    Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

    Documents

    Letter from Minister Norris to the electoral sector

    PDF, 134 KB, 3 pages

    Letter from Minister Norris to the electoral sector

    HTML

    Details

    This letter from Minister Norris outlines the work being done to deliver on commitments which will transform the way we engage in the democratic process, stressing the importance of working collaboratively with colleagues across the electoral community to bring about these vital changes.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MAST Upgrade – helping answer the big questions in fusion physics

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UKAEA and worldwide team tackle fusion physics’ major challenges as MAST Upgrade begins its fourth round of experiments.

    Wide angle of MAST Upgrade machine

    A worldwide team is spearheading a series of ambitious experiments using the UK’s compact tokamak, Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade, starting today at UKAEA’s Culham Campus.  

    Over the next 100 days, the UK’s national fusion energy laboratory will work with more than 100 scientists from 37 institutions worldwide on MAST Upgrade’s fourth round of experiments.  

    The scientists aim to conduct over 50 experiments, the largest number ever run by MAST Upgrade in an experimental campaign, to generate up to 1,600 plasma pulses. A “pulse” refers to the duration a plasma is confined within a fusion energy machine’s inner vessel.  

    To create fusion, fusion fuel and a confined environment with high temperatures and pressures are needed. 

    The research findings from MAST Upgrade are essential for advancing global knowledge of plasma physics.  

    MAST Upgrade is a compact fusion machine designed in the shape of a cored apple, in contrast to other ring-shaped tokamaks. It tests plasma science theories with deuterium fuel – an isotope of hydrogen – using real-world experiments.  

    This will be MAST Upgrade’s fourth scientific campaign and will focus on these two areas: 

    1. Maximising the core plasma pressure to determine effects on the plasma’s properties. 

    2. Understanding the methods to control the plasma’s exhaust. 

    MAST Upgrade has played a key role in providing the foundation for the design of the UK’s prototype fusion energy powerplant, Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), to be sited at West Burton in Nottinghamshire. 

    The experiments will see MAST Upgrade operate at higher temperatures (35 million degrees Celsius from 15 million degrees Celsius), creating conditions closer to those expected in future machines, such as STEP.  

    James Harrison, MAST Upgrade Science Leader at UKAEA, said: “A diverse team of researchers from across the world will be contributing to this effort. This will be the most exciting scientific campaign MAST Upgrade has undertaken to date, with a clear focus on understanding how to confine and stabilise high-performance fusion plasmas while ensuring effective power exhaust.” 

    MAST Upgrade is renowned by the fusion industry for addressing one of fusion’s major challenges: plasma exhaust, the intense heat that escapes from the plasma.  

    Dr Fulvio Militello, Director of Plasma Science and Fusion Operations, added: “Previous results have demonstrated the effectiveness of MAST Upgrade’s innovative Super-X divertor, showing a 10-fold reduction exhaust temperature without impacting the hot core plasma. This campaign aims to build on these impressive results and will explore whether more compact and cost-effective divertors can achieve similar reductions in exhaust temperature.” 

    MAST Upgrade received significant enhancements to its operating system this year, including the addition of a cryoplant – a facility that produces and distributes the cooling power required for the magnets, thermal shields, and cryopumps to reduce the pressure inside the machine’s inner vessel, and raise the plasma’s temperature. The £5 million enhancements were funded by UKAEA and the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council.  

    Equipped with world-class diagnostics, MAST Upgrade can conduct a wide range of measurements supporting an extensive research programme aimed at delivering sustainable fusion energy. 

    “By utilising our world-leading facilities and expertise at UKAEA, we aim to lead the charge in fusion research. MAST Upgrade’s fourth round of experiments will accelerate our scientific progress by deepening the understanding and optimisation of future tokamak designs and fusion powerplants, bringing us one step further to commercial fusion energy,” Dr Militello, concluded.  

    UKAEA will be publishing regular updates from MAST Upgrade’s scientific campaign across its digital channels.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –