Category: Europe

MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade

Source: Huawei

Headline: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade

[Dubai, UAE, October 15, 2024] During GITEX Global 2024, Huawei unveiled its Intelligent Stadium Solution at a forum themed AI Enables Smart Building Upgrade. The solution is intended for facilitating digital and intelligent transformation of stadium campuses. At the forum, Huawei discussed with business elites, industry experts, and leading partners how to seize tremendous opportunities that AI brings and use digital and intelligent technologies to lead industry development.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU, delivered a speech at the forum. He said that Huawei aims to become the preferred partner for digital and intelligent transformation in the Middle East’s real estate industry by advancing technologies, leveraging experience, and developing the industry ecosystem. “Looking toward the future, Huawei will continue to integrate smart technology into industries by acting as a bridge and an amplifier. We are committed to expanding our industry knowledge and delivering better services to global customers and partners. Eventually, we will bring intelligence to the Middle East and the world,” said Mr. Liu.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU

Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept, mentioned in his speech that the building industry’s digital journey has just begun, but it holds enormous potential for the future. He also emphasized that AI will bring buildings and campuses into an era of intelligence, transforming the management and operational models of an intelligent campus. “Huawei advocates using ICTs to redefine the campus. We have been leveraging the advantages of our product portfolios to redefine campus connectivity, platform, and business, helping global customers build digital and intelligent campuses,” said Eric Li.
Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept

Viga Liu, Director of Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He believes that AI is enabling buildings and campuses to go digital, intelligent, green, and low-carbon at a faster pace. According to Viga Liu, Huawei has developed pioneering solutions such as Campus Service Network and Campus Digital Platform. “We have collaborated with our partners to assist over 1000 customers worldwide in building 10 Gbps, digital, and green intelligent campuses, including office campuses, stadium campuses, and commercial complexes.”
Ahmad Bana, the Center of Excellence Manager at Waseef, an asset management company from Qatar, shared Waseef’s experience with digital and intelligent transformation of networks in employee apartments. Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Solution adopts a flat optical fiber architecture, which allows Waseef to save 80% of IT equipment room footprint and cabling space, as well as achieve more intelligent network O&M and more flexible bandwidth upgrades. Moreover, this architecture contributes to a green network that is future-proof for 30 years, provision of additional services, asset appreciation, and project success.
OODA World, a global software vendor headquartered in France, specializes in delivering innovative software solutions for different industries. Méliné EOLMEZIAN-SOULIE, Vice President of Public Safety and Strategic Partner Ecosystem, highlighted that OODA’s Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform utilizes distinctive 3D native and real-time data visualization and command & control technologies to implement real-time situation awareness, automatic workflows, and centralized incident management. She said OODA will collaborate with Huawei to build campuses that are more intelligent.
Techno Q, a system integrator from Qatar, participated in the forum. Saad Afzal, the Head of Solutions Architecture at Techno Q, stated in his speech that smart building solutions, based on data convergence and system integration, can unlock the value of data and provide targeted use cases for areas such as energy efficiency management, predictive maintenance, asset management, operational efficiency, and subscription-based value-added services. This can provide customers with enhanced user experience, reduce security risks, and improve management efficiency.
Neuxnet, headquartered in Singapore, is dedicated to helping customers go digital and intelligent. According to Eric Yang, the Vice President of Product and Marketing at Neuxnet, stadiums are evolving toward being diversified, integrated, and intelligent, providing spectators with a spectacular experience before, during, and after sports events through various new technologies and applications. “By offering functions such as smart parking, navigation, ticketing services, and one-stop customer services, Neuxnet provides efficient management tools for stadium operators, and helps them create dynamic, technologically advanced, and sustainable sports stadiums,” said Eric Yang.
Official release of the Intelligent Stadium Solution

At the end of the forum, Huawei officially released its Intelligent Stadium Solution. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with partners to help customers implement top-notch security assurance, operations management, communications assurance, spectating experience, and service experience, as well as innovate in management and service models, delivering brand-new sports stadium experiences in the digital and intelligent era.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University to collaborate with TMH Corporate University

MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

On October 14, Polytechnic University signed a cooperation agreement with the autonomous non-profit organization of additional professional education “TMX Corporate University”. TMX (JSC Transmashholding) is the largest developer of modern rolling stock for railway and urban rail transport in Russia.

The agreement was signed during the official visit of the delegation of the TMH Corporate University to the Polytechnic University.

The document was signed by the rector of SPbPU, chairman of the SPbB RAS Andrey Rudskoy and the deputy general director for corporate development and project activities, member of the Management Board of JSC Transmashholding, director of the ANO DPO Corporate University TMH Natalia Shishlakova.

For the Polytechnic University, Transmashholding is an important partner. Our cooperation has great prospects in scientific and technological activities, training of highly qualified personnel. The main thing is that we have common tasks and goals. I am confident that our interaction will be fruitful and mutually beneficial for both parties, – Andrey Rudskoy emphasized.

The signing of the agreement opens up new opportunities in the field of education and scientific research. Joint educational projects and programs, exchange of experience, preparation of final qualification works in the form of projects or startups commissioned by TMH are planned.

Cooperation with the Polytechnic University in the field of advanced training in mechanical engineering, especially in the field of diesel engine production, opens up new horizons for scientific research and development. Joint activities in the field of scientific research and experimental design work will allow us not only to apply advanced technologies, but also to train high-level specialists capable of responding to modern challenges, – noted Natalia Shishlakova.

Technological development and scientific research in the field of transport require constant updating of knowledge and skills. The cooperation agreement opens new horizons for scientific activity for both students and teachers. Joint research projects aimed at solving current problems are expected to emerge in the coming years.

Polytechnic University has significant experience in educational projects implemented jointly with industrial partners. Only in close cooperation with the real sector of the economy is it possible to train engineers who are able to work with new technologies and apply them in practice, who are able to think outside the box and find new solutions. Today, the market is experiencing a real hunger for specialists in engineering fields of training. This is confirmed by the fact that most of our students are already “booked” by enterprises in their third year. One of the promising areas of cooperation is the integration of blue-collar jobs into our main educational programs, – commented Vice-Rector for Educational Activities of SPbPU Lyudmila Pankova.

Photo archive

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://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/partnership/polytech-will-collaborate-with-corporate-university-tmkh/

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade Oct 15, 2024

Source: Huawei

Headline: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade
Oct 15, 2024

[Dubai, UAE, October 15, 2024] During GITEX Global 2024, Huawei unveiled its Intelligent Stadium Solution at a forum themed AI Enables Smart Building Upgrade. The solution is intended for facilitating digital and intelligent transformation of stadium campuses. At the forum, Huawei discussed with business elites, industry experts, and leading partners how to seize tremendous opportunities that AI brings and use digital and intelligent technologies to lead industry development.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU, delivered a speech at the forum. He said that Huawei aims to become the preferred partner for digital and intelligent transformation in the Middle East’s real estate industry by advancing technologies, leveraging experience, and developing the industry ecosystem. “Looking toward the future, Huawei will continue to integrate smart technology into industries by acting as a bridge and an amplifier. We are committed to expanding our industry knowledge and delivering better services to global customers and partners. Eventually, we will bring intelligence to the Middle East and the world,” said Mr. Liu.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU

Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept, mentioned in his speech that the building industry’s digital journey has just begun, but it holds enormous potential for the future. He also emphasized that AI will bring buildings and campuses into an era of intelligence, transforming the management and operational models of an intelligent campus. “Huawei advocates using ICTs to redefine the campus. We have been leveraging the advantages of our product portfolios to redefine campus connectivity, platform, and business, helping global customers build digital and intelligent campuses,” said Eric Li.
Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept

Viga Liu, Director of Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He believes that AI is enabling buildings and campuses to go digital, intelligent, green, and low-carbon at a faster pace. According to Viga Liu, Huawei has developed pioneering solutions such as Campus Service Network and Campus Digital Platform. “We have collaborated with our partners to assist over 1000 customers worldwide in building 10 Gbps, digital, and green intelligent campuses, including office campuses, stadium campuses, and commercial complexes.”
Ahmad Bana, the Center of Excellence Manager at Waseef, an asset management company from Qatar, shared Waseef’s experience with digital and intelligent transformation of networks in employee apartments. Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Solution adopts a flat optical fiber architecture, which allows Waseef to save 80% of IT equipment room footprint and cabling space, as well as achieve more intelligent network O&M and more flexible bandwidth upgrades. Moreover, this architecture contributes to a green network that is future-proof for 30 years, provision of additional services, asset appreciation, and project success.
OODA World, a global software vendor headquartered in France, specializes in delivering innovative software solutions for different industries. Méliné EOLMEZIAN-SOULIE, Vice President of Public Safety and Strategic Partner Ecosystem, highlighted that OODA’s Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform utilizes distinctive 3D native and real-time data visualization and command & control technologies to implement real-time situation awareness, automatic workflows, and centralized incident management. She said OODA will collaborate with Huawei to build campuses that are more intelligent.
Techno Q, a system integrator from Qatar, participated in the forum. Saad Afzal, the Head of Solutions Architecture at Techno Q, stated in his speech that smart building solutions, based on data convergence and system integration, can unlock the value of data and provide targeted use cases for areas such as energy efficiency management, predictive maintenance, asset management, operational efficiency, and subscription-based value-added services. This can provide customers with enhanced user experience, reduce security risks, and improve management efficiency.
Neuxnet, headquartered in Singapore, is dedicated to helping customers go digital and intelligent. According to Eric Yang, the Vice President of Product and Marketing at Neuxnet, stadiums are evolving toward being diversified, integrated, and intelligent, providing spectators with a spectacular experience before, during, and after sports events through various new technologies and applications. “By offering functions such as smart parking, navigation, ticketing services, and one-stop customer services, Neuxnet provides efficient management tools for stadium operators, and helps them create dynamic, technologically advanced, and sustainable sports stadiums,” said Eric Yang.
Official release of the Intelligent Stadium Solution

At the end of the forum, Huawei officially released its Intelligent Stadium Solution. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with partners to help customers implement top-notch security assurance, operations management, communications assurance, spectating experience, and service experience, as well as innovate in management and service models, delivering brand-new sports stadium experiences in the digital and intelligent era.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens say “no more incineration” of waste
Source: Green Party of England and Wales
Press Releases
Responding to the news that putting household rubbish in giant incinerators to make electricity is now the dirtiest way the UK generates power (BBC), Green Party Peer Baroness Jenny Jones said,

“I highlighted the issue of incineration stopping councils from recycling back in 2010 when I was on the London Assembly. This became a national issue about 10 years ago when local authorities across the country started to treat waste as a fuel, rather than a valuable source that could be reused or recycled.

“Unless we have a complete moratorium on new incinerators and start to close down existing ones, we will not meet either of the government’s big targets. You can’t burn oil in the form of plastic and meet the target of Net Zero emissions in 2050; nor can you sign up local authorities to 20 year contracts to burn waste and expect them to recycle 65% of waste by 2030. The last government was finally waking up to the direct contradiction between environment and incineration, I hope this government will say no more incineration and put this big mistake into reverse.”

15 October 2024 by Steve Hynd

Press Releases
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: RTI Awarded Elite Supplier Status by Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) Division

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the infrastructure software company for smart-world systems, has earned Elite Supplier status from Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) division. This prestigious designation was awarded to only 37 of over 10,300 of Lockheed Martin’s suppliers. The recognition highlights RTI’s role in delivering innovative, data-centric software that powers mission-critical applications, enabling industry leaders like Lockheed Martin to integrate next-generation defense technologies and advance modular system design.

Built on the industry-leading Data Distribution Service (DDS™) Standard, RTI Connext^® enables Lockheed to seamlessly incorporate newer and advanced sensors into critical defense systems. Connext ensures that platforms such as Aegis remain adaptable to evolving global threats, supporting Lockheed Martin’s current and future battlefield requirements.

As a long-term supplier, RTI also plays a pivotal role in facilitating Lockheed’s open architecture approach, ensuring that Aegis integrates radar, weapons, and command management systems efficiently. This framework is crucial for Navy programs and prevents vendor lock-in while adhering to Navy Open Architecture standards.

Aegis is designed for interoperability among onboard and offboard sensors and weapon systems, including surface-to-air missiles and naval guns, and relies on a real-time command and control framework. Central to this rapid response is Connext, which ensures fast, secure, and reliable data transmission within sensor-to-shooter networks, as each engagement—from detection to interception—must occur in real time.

As defense systems continue to evolve, leveraging AI and machine learning will become more essential for identifying and processing the vast amounts of data generated by additional sensors designed to spot increasing threats. While humans currently play a role, AI is needed to make faster, more informed decisions; this is where Connext comes in– ensuring the critical data flow that powers future combat systems.

“We are proud to support Lockheed Martin and Aegis, the world’s most capable multi-mission combat system, which integrates a wide array of sensors and weapons to deliver unmatched Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities,” said John Breitenbach, Director of A&D at RTI. “Connext serves as the nervous system of these architectures, connecting all components to ensure real-time performance. Connext not only supports today’s missions but also lays the groundwork for the future of AI-enhanced defense systems.”

Lockheed Martin works with over 10,300 suppliers across 46 countries. RTI is proud to be among less than 0.004% of suppliers who achieve Lockheed’s Elite Supplier designation, underscoring RTI’s dedication to performance, quality, and innovation in defense systems, further enabling 21st Century Security.

For more information on RTI in Aerospace & Defense, please visit the RTI website.

About RTI

Real-Time Innovations (RTI) is the infrastructure software company for smart-world systems. RTI Connext^® is the world’s leading software framework for intelligent distributed systems. Uniquely, Connext users can build systems that combine advanced sensing, fast control, and AI algorithms.

With 2,000 customer designs, RTI excels at getting customers to production. RTI software runs over 250 autonomous vehicle programs, supports dozens of automotive ADAS and software-defined architectures, controls the largest power plants in North America, integrates over 400 major defense programs, drives a new generation of MedTech systems and robotics, and underlies Canada’s air traffic control and NASA’s launch control systems.

RTI runs a smarter world.

RTI is the market leader in products compliant with the Data Distribution Service (DDS™) standard. RTI is privately held and headquartered in Silicon Valley with regional offices in Colorado, Spain, and Singapore.

Download a free trial of the latest, fully-functional Connext software today: http://www.rti.com/downloads

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Apollo Launches Evergreen Secondaries Products for Global Wealth Investors

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced the launch of Apollo S3 Private Markets Fund (“ASPM US”) and Apollo S3 Private Markets Lux (“ASPM Lux,” together with ASPM US, “ASPM”), products designed to provide investors with turnkey solutions to access diversified portfolios of multi-asset secondary investments across private markets.

ASPM US is available through a semi-liquid, perpetual 1940 Act tender offer fund and is part of Apollo’s suite of products accessible to accredited U.S. investors. ASPM Lux is part of the Apollo Private Markets SICAV umbrella, a Luxembourg-based platform offering a holistic set of Apollo’s alternative solutions to wealth investors in EMEA, Asia and Latin America. ASPM Lux is accessible in multiple currencies to address local investor needs.

ASPM offers a differentiated approach to secondaries through a flexible mandate to invest across the capital stack, execute a variety of transaction types and aim to offer diversification across vintages and managers. These new offerings seek to build a balanced and diversified portfolio with attractive growth potential and long-term capital appreciation.

Apollo’s Stephanie Drescher, Partner and Chief Client and Product Development Officer, said, “The launch of ASPM underscores Apollo’s commitment to providing access to institutional quality alternative offerings tailored to individuals and wealth investors. We continue to make progress as global investors increasingly seek more diversification than what has historically been provided through traditional portfolio construction.”

Steve Lessar, Partner and Co-Head of Apollo’s Sponsor & Secondary Solutions (S3) business, added, “We believe these new offerings will provide distinct access points to private market secondaries, leveraging the collective strengths of the Apollo Private Markets ecosystem and the Apollo S3 team, which has sourced over $160 billion in these types of transactions in the past year. It is our view that secondaries can provide a combination of attractive attributes not commonly found in other private market strategies, and we’re pleased to make that available to investors.”

Apollo’s Jason Singer, Partner and Global Lead for Product Development and Veronique Fournier, Managing Director and Head of EMEA Global Wealth said, “Apollo is an innovator in bringing institutional quality products to individual investors in tailored formats. As investors look to supplement public markets holdings and diversify their overall portfolios, we believe that Apollo’s Global Wealth platform provides solutions that prioritize the needs of the end investor globally.”

Important Information

This material is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to purchase any security. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, tax information, charges and expenses of ASPM US. This information and other important details about ASPM US are contained in the prospectus, which can be obtained by visiting http://www.apollo.com/aspm. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Prospective investors should be aware that an investment in ASPM US entails substantial risks. Prior to investing, prospective investors should consult with their own tax and legal advisors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” or other similar words. Because such statements include risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, investors should not rely on such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, but are not limited to: uncertainties relating to changes in general economic and real estate conditions; uncertainties relating to the implementation of our investment strategy; uncertainties relating to capital proceeds; and other risk factors as outlined in ASPM US’s prospectus, statement of additional information, annual report and semi-annual report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

This communication has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product or be relied upon for any other purpose. The views expressed represent an assessment of market conditions at a specific point in time, are opinions only and should not be relied upon as investment advice regarding a particular investment or markets in general. Such information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell specific securities or investment vehicles. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of ASPM US or any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable, but not guaranteed.

About Apollo
Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of June 30, 2024, Apollo had approximately $696 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit http://www.apollo.com.

Apollo Contacts

Noah Gunn
Global Head of Investor Relations
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0540
IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose
Global Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, Inc.
(212) 822-0491
Communications@apollo.com

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: GLMX Reports Third Quarter 2024 Activity
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GLMX, a leading global provider of transformative technology solutions for securities financing, money markets, and total return swaps, reported its third quarter platform activity along with significant developments in the company’s overall growth.
- Average Daily Volume (ADV) of $1.01 trillion, up 99% year-on-year and the first quarter over $1 trillion in ADV for GLMX.
- Average Daily Balance (ADB) of $2.75 trillion, up 74% year-on-year.
3Q 2024 Highlights:
- Balances on the GLMX platform reached $3 trillion, a significant milestone and a reflection of the firm’s dedication to delivering client success through innovative technology.
- GLMX continues to onboard clients in Securities Lending for both equities and fixed income, demonstrating traction in a rapidly growing and changing market.
- To support its geographic expansion and overall company growth, GLMX is pleased to welcome new hires in NY, London, and Singapore.
  - To address growing business in the Asia-Pacific region, GLMX has opened a new office in Singapore, and hired James Davis and Rachel Han. Davis has joined in a business development role, and Han has joined in a client operations role.
  - Industry veterans James Day (London) and Jay Epstein (NY), have been hired to fill senior roles in the newly created Client Relationship Management team.
CEO Glenn Havlicek commented,“GLMX’s powerful growth trajectory has shown significant durability for what is now over 5 years. Very excitingly, we have begun to see this growth expand beyond our traditional repo business and into adjacent securities finance and money market segments. As ever, our sole priority is to consistently deliver purpose-built technology that supports the success of our clients across the entire securities financing and money market ecosystem.”

About GLMX

GLMX is a technology company serving the capital markets and is a leading global provider of transformative technology for equities and fixed income securities financing. With offices in North America, the United Kingdom, and Asia-Pacific, global buy-side and sell-side institutions rely on GLMX for access to enhanced market liquidity and to maximize trade lifecycle efficiency and reporting.

GLMX’s powerful market position continues to grow as it diversifies, taking its proven model into adjacent market sectors such as Total Return Swaps (TRS), and Time Deposits, CDs, and Commercial Paper. For more information about GLMX, please visit http://www.glmx.com.

Media inquiries, please contact:
GLMX
646 854-4569
sales@glmx.com

The MIL Network –
January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: ETC Announces Fiscal 2025 Second Quarter Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Environmental Tectonics Corporation (OTC Pink: ETCC) (“ETC” or the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the thirteen week period ended August 23, 2024 (the “2025 fiscal second quarter”) and the twenty-six week period ended August 23, 2024.

Robert L. Laurent, Jr., ETC’s Chief Executive Officer and President stated, “We are pleased with the overall 56% increase in 2025 fiscal second quarter sales vs. prior year, as well our improvements in gross margin, operating margin and our $2.1 million increase in net income in the 2025 fiscal second quarter versus the prior year. We ended the 2025 fiscal second quarter with a backlog of $109 million. The large backlog positions us well moving forward.”

2025 Fiscal Second Quarter Results of Operations

Net Income (Loss)

Net income was $1.7 million, or $0.09 earnings per diluted share, in the 2025 fiscal second quarter, compared to net loss of ($0.4) million during the 2024 fiscal second quarter, equating to ($0.04) earnings per diluted share. The $2.1 million variance is due primarily to increased sales and improved gross profit margin.

Net Sales

Net sales in the 2025 fiscal second quarter were $14.1 million, an increase of $5.1 million, or 56.2%, compared to 2024 fiscal second quarter net sales of $9.0 million. The increase in net sales was driven by a $4.3 million or 100.4% increase in ATS, a $0.4 million or 51.7% increase in ADMS and a $0.3 million or 10.5% increase in Sterilizer Systems net sales in 2025 fiscal second quarter compared to 2024 fiscal second quarter net sales.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the 2025 fiscal second quarter of $4.2 million increased from $2.3 million in the 2024 fiscal second quarter, an increase of $1.9 million or 83.3%. Gross profit margin of 29.8% increased 4.4% in the 2025 fiscal second quarter compared to 25.4% in the 2024 fiscal second quarter. The increase in gross profit was due to higher net sales within the ATS, ADMS and Sterilizer Systems business units, along with an increased overhead absorption resulting from higher production levels.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses, including sales and marketing, general and administrative, and research and development, for the 2025 fiscal second quarter were $2.2 million, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 6.1%, compared to $2.4 million for the 2024 fiscal second quarter. Operating expenses decreased due primarily to lower research and development expense for the 2025 fiscal second quarter as compared to the 2024 fiscal second quarter. The increase in sales and gross profit margin along with the decrease in operating expenses resulted in an improvement in operating margin from (-0.8%) in the 2024 second fiscal quarter to 14.0% in the 2025 fiscal second quarter.

2025 Fiscal First Half Results of Operations

Net Income (Loss)

Net income was $3.1 million, or $0.17 earnings per diluted share, in the 2025 fiscal first half, compared to net loss of ($1.5) million during the 2024 fiscal first half, equating to ($0.11) earnings per diluted share. The $4.6 million variance is attributable to an increase in sales and improved gross profit margin.

Net Sales

Net sales in the 2025 fiscal first half were $27.6 million, an increase of $10.9 million, or 65.3%, compared to 2024 fiscal first half net sales of $16.7 million. The increase in net sales is primarily attributable to a $7.7 million or 106.8% increase in ATS 2025 fiscal first half net sales and a $3.2 million or 54.1% increase in sterilizer systems net sales in the 2025 fiscal first half as compared to the 2024 fiscal first half.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the 2025 fiscal first half was $8.7 million compared to $4.1 million in the 2024 fiscal first half, an increase of $4.6 million, or 111.5%. Gross profit margin of 31.6% increased 6.9% in the 2025 fiscal first half compared to 24.7% in the 2024 fiscal first half. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to an increase in net sales and gross profit margin within the ATS and Sterilizer Systems business units.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses, including sales and marketing, general and administrative, and research and development, for the 2025 fiscal first half were $5.2 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 4.4%, compared to $5.0 million for the 2024 fiscal first half. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased expense related to higher sales and personnel expense and general and administrative expense slightly offset by a decrease in research and development expense. The increase in sales and gross profit margin along with the decrease in operating expenses resulted in an improvement in operating margin from (-5.1%) in the 2024 fiscal first half to 12.8% in the 2025 fiscal first half.

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net for the 2025 fiscal first half was $0.3 million compared to interest expense, net of $0.4 million for the 2024 fiscal first half, a favorable variance of $0.1 million. The favorable variance was primarily attributable to an increase in interest income included in the proceeds received related to the 2020 and 2021 Employee Retention Credits received in the 2025 first fiscal first half.

Cash Flows from Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities

During the 2025 fiscal first half, the Company used $2.1 million of cash from operating activities, due primarily from an increase in contract assets and reduction in accounts payable and contract liabilities, slightly offset by an increase in net income and a decrease in accounts receivable and prepaid expenses and other assets, as compared to using $5.9 million during the 2024 fiscal first half.

Cash used for investing activities was $0.2 million during the 2025 and 2024 fiscal first half and primarily relates to funds used for capital expenditures on equipment and software development.

The Company’s financing activities included borrowings of $1.6 million during the first half of fiscal 2025 under the Company’s credit facility as compared to borrowing $4.7 million of cash during the 2024 fiscal first half under the Company’s credit facilities.

About ETC

ETC was incorporated in 1969 in Pennsylvania. For over five decades, we have provided our customers with products, services, and support. Innovation, continuous technological improvement and enhancement, and product quality are core values that are critical to our success. We are a significant supplier and innovator in the following areas: (i) software driven products and services used to create and monitor the physiological effects of flight, including high performance jet tactical flight simulation, fixed and rotary wing upset prevention and recovery and spatial disorientation, and both suborbital and orbital commercial human spaceflight, collectively, Aircrew Training Systems (“ATS”); (ii) altitude (hypobaric) chambers; (iii) hyperbaric chambers for multiple persons (multiplace chambers); (iv) Advanced Disaster Management Simulators (“ADMS”); (v) steam and gas (ethylene oxide) sterilizer systems (“Sterilizer Systems” or “Sterilizers”); and (vi) environmental testing and simulation systems (“ETSS”).

We operate in two primary business segments, Aerospace Solutions (“Aerospace”) and Commercial/Industrial Systems (“CIS”). Aerospace encompasses the design, manufacture, and sale of: (i) ATS products; (ii) altitude (hypobaric) chambers; (iii) hyperbaric chambers for multiple persons (multiplace chambers); and (iv) ADMS, as well as integrated logistics support (“ILS”) for customers who purchase these products or similar products manufactured by other parties. These products and services provide customers with an offering of comprehensive solutions for improved readiness and reduced operational costs. Sales of our Aerospace products are made principally to U.S. and foreign government agencies and to civil aviation organizations. CIS encompasses the design, manufacture, and sale of: (i) steam and gas (ethylene oxide) sterilizer systems; and (ii) ETSS; as well as parts and service support for customers who purchase these products or similar products manufactured by other parties. Sales of our CIS products are made principally to the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries.

ETC-PZL Aerospace Industries Sp. z o.o. (“ETC-PZL”), our 100%-owned subsidiary in Warsaw, Poland, is currently our only operating subsidiary. ETC-PZL manufactures certain simulators and provides software to support products manufactured domestically within our Aerospace segment.

The majority of our net sales are generated from long-term contracts with U.S. and foreign government agencies (including foreign military sales (“FMS”) contracted through the U.S. Government) for the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of ATS products, including Chambers and the simulators manufactured and sold through ETC-PZL, collectively, ATS. The Company also enters into long-term contracts with domestic customers for the sale of sterilizers and ETSS. Net sales of ADMS are generally much shorter term in nature and vary between domestic and international customers. We generally provide our products and services under fixed-price contracts.

ETC’s unique ability to offer complete systems, designed and produced to high technical standards, sets it apart from its competition. ETC’s headquarters is located in Southampton, PA. For more information about ETC, visit http://www.etcusa.com/.

______________

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on management’s expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, and these statements may include words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “future”, “predict”, “potential”, “intend”, or “continue”, and similar expressions. We base our forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events or future financial performance. Our forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about ETC and its subsidiaries that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

– Financial Tables Follow –

Table A
Environmental Tectonics Corporation
Summary Table of Results
(in thousands, except per share information)
(unaudited)

	Thirteen weeks ended						Variance
	August 23, 2024			August 25, 2023			($)			(%)
Net sales	$	14,083		$	9,016		$	5,067		56.2
Cost of goods sold		9,886			6,726			3,160		47.0
Gross Profit		4,197			2,290			1,907		83.3
Gross profit margin %		29.8%			25.4%			4.4%		17.3%

Operating expenses		2,219			2,364			(145	)	-6.1
Operating income (loss)		1,978			(74	)		2,052		2772.9
Operating margin %		14.0%			-0.8	%		14.8%		1799.0%

Interest expense, net		233			228			5		2.2
Other expense, net		29			93			(64	)	-69.0
Income (loss) before income taxes		1,716			(395	)		2,111		534.4
Pre-tax margin %		12.2%			-4.4	%		16.6%		377.3%

Income tax provision		20			40			(20	)	-50.0
Net income (loss)		1,696			(435	)		2,131		489.9
Preferred Stock dividends		(121	)		(121	)		–		0.0
Income (loss) attributable to common and
Participating shareholders	$	1,575		$	(556	)	$	2,131		383.2

Per share information:
Basic earnings (loss) per common and participating share:
Distributed earnings per share:
Common	$	–		$	–		$	–
Preferred	$	0.02		$	0.02		$	–		0.0
Undistributed earnings (loss) per share:
Common	$	0.10		$	(0.04	)	$	0.14		350.0
Preferred	$	0.10		$	(0.04	)	$	0.14		350.0
Earnings (loss) per diluted share	$	0.09		$	(0.04	)	$	0.13		325.0


Total basic weighted average common and participating shares		15,569			15,569

Total diluted weighted average shares		16,725			15,569

Table B
Environmental Tectonics Corporation
Summary Table of Results
(in thousands, except per share information)
(unaudited)

	Twenty-six weeks ended						Variance
	August 23, 2024			August 25, 2023			($)			(%)
Net sales	$	27,575		$	16,683		$	10,892		65.3
Cost of goods sold		18,851			12,559			6,292		50.1
Gross Profit		8,724			4,124			4,600		111.5
Gross profit margin %		31.6%			24.7%			6.9%		27.9%

Operating expenses		5,194			4,973			221		4.4
Operating income (loss)		3,530			(849	)		4,379		515.8
Operating margin %		12.8%			-5.1	%		17.9%		351.0%

Interest expense, net		349			426			(77	)	-18.1
Other expense, net		85			143			(58	)	-40.6
Income (loss) before income taxes		3,096			(1,418	)		4,514		318.3
Pre tax margin %		11.2%			-8.5	%		19.7%		231.8%

Income tax provision		40			80			(40	)	-50.0
Net (loss) income		3,056			(1,498	)		4,554		304.0
Preferred Stock Dividends		(242	)		(242	)		–		0.0
Income (loss) attributable to common and
Participating shareholders	$	2,814		$	(1,740	)	$	4,554		261.7

Per share information:
Basic earnings (loss) per common and participating share:
Distributed earnings per share:
Common	$	–		$	–
Preferred	$	0.04		$	0.04		$	–		0.0
Undistributed (loss) per share:
Common	$	0.18		$	(0.11	)	$	0.29		263.6
Preferred	$	0.18		$	(0.11	)	$	0.29		263.6
Earnings (loss) per diluted share	$	0.17		$	(0.11	)	$	0.28		254.5

Total basic weighted average common and participating shares		15,569			15,569

Total diluted weighted average shares		16,725			15,569

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: OLAF intelligence supports Spanish Operation enforcing EU sanctions against Russia

Source: European Anti-Fraud Offfice

Press release 17/2024
PDF version

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) assisted the Spanish authorities with the enforcement of EU sanctions against Russia during Operation “Probirka” (Russian for “Test Tube”). The operation led to the arrest of four individuals involved in the illegal export of chemicals to Russia and the seizure of 13 tons of chemical substances.

Since 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has imposed sanctions on the country, including strict bans on the export and import of certain goods. OLAF has been actively engaged in investigating, monitoring trade flows, conducting analytical work, and identifying potential attempts to circumvent these sanctions. By mapping out suspicious trade routes and identifying operators, OLAF has played a key role in preventing illegal transactions that could support Russia’s military capabilities.

As part of the Joint Sanctions Enforcement Operation that OLAF has been running since July 2023, OLAF was called upon by the Spanish authorities to assist with investigations into the export of chemical substances from Spain. It was suspected that certain companies were bypassing EU sanctions by rerouting goods through intermediaries in Kyrgyzstan, with the final destination being Russia.

OLAF responded by gathering export data from various EU Member States and sharing critical intelligence with the Spanish investigators. OLAF’s collaboration provided crucial evidence to confirm that these illegal exports were indeed reaching Russia.

Ville Itälä, Director-General of OLAF, reiterated that: “OLAF’s ability to join the dots and to bring together the data and intelligence from national authorities is once again key to the success of our partners. OLAF is best placed to facilitate this synergy and cooperation and we remain steadfast in our commitment to support our partners in their endeavours to enforce the sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus. Sanctions are only as effective as their enforcement, and we are proud to contribute actively.”

Four arrested and 13 tons of chemicals seized

As part of the investigation, the Spanish National Police and Customs Surveillance Service arrested four individuals in the Spanish region of Catalonia, three of whom are Russian nationals. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 13,000 kilograms of a chemical compound subject to export restrictions, at the Port of Barcelona.

The investigation revealed that a Spanish company, managed by Russian nationals, had established a sophisticated logistical and economic scheme to export internationally sanctioned chemical products to Russia. This network involved the use of shell companies in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan to disguise the true destination of the goods, which were later rerouted to Russia.

OLAF’s contribution has been pivotal in enhancing the Spanish authorities’ ability to enforce EU sanctions and prevent illegal trade that could undermine the effectiveness of the sanctions against Russia. The investigation remains ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying and arresting additional individuals involved in this smuggling network.

_{OLAF mission, mandate and competences:}
_{OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.}

_{OLAF fulfils its mission by:}
_{•    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;}
_{•    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;}
_{•    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.}

_{In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:}
_{•    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;}
_{•    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;}
_{•    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.}

_{Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.}

For further details:

Pierluigi CATERINO
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335
Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
X: @EUAntiFraud
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

Theresa ZAHRA
Deputy Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32 (0)2 29-57270
Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
X: @EUAntiFraud
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

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MIL OSI Europe News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/LEBANON – Israeli strike on Christian-majority village in Northern Lebanon

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Tuesday, 15 October 2024 wars

Beirut (Agenzia Fides) – At least 23 people were killed yesterday, October 14, in a bomb attack on a building in the predominantly Christian village of Aitou, near Zgharta, in the far north of Lebanon, which has so far been spared by Israeli airstrikes. According to information received by Fides from local sources, the building in question was probably already known to the Israelis, as it had been rented to the Hezbollah-affiliated television station Al-Manar since 2006, at the time of the last war between Israel and Hezbollah. In recent weeks, the house had been used to house Shiite refugees from southern Lebanon who fled the Israeli offensive. First they were elderly people, then families with children. The Israeli airstrike was reportedly triggered when a Hezbollah representative arrived at the building with a large sum of money to be distributed to the displaced. The building was destroyed by bombs and, according to the latest reports, there are at least 23 dead. “The Lebanese population,” say Fides sources, “is once again wondering how Israel was able to know the exact time of the arrival of the person who was to be hit.” According to military observers, the Israeli forces tried to destroy not only weapons and ammunition depots, but also Hezbollah’s cash reserves, an essential means of payment in a country that has been in financial crisis since the end of 2019. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 15/10/2024)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo: “The Church cannot remain silent in the face of the illegal exploitation of mineral resources in Africa”

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

ROME, Italy, October 15, 2024/APO Group/ —Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa, DR Congo
President of the Symposium of Episcopal
Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM)

[1] CENCO, “NEW WINE, NEW WINESKINS” (Mk 2, 22) Do not disappoint the nation’s expectations, Message from the National Episcopal Conference of Congo on the occasion of the 43rd Plenary Assembly, Kinshasa, Edition of the General Secretariat of CENCO, n. 11. L

MIL OSI Africa –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Hamburg Sustainability Platform – New alliances are needed to provide blended finance at scale (15 Oct. 2024)

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

Public-private stakeholder coalition kicks-off joint work to scale up private SDG investment in emerging markets and developing economies: At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, a coalition of private and public institutions announced to join forces to set up the Hamburg Sustainability Platform. This platform aims at scaling sustainable investments into emerging markets and developing economies through standardization.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the climate and biodiversity goals, cannot be achieved with public funds alone. More private investment is urgently needed, especially in emerging markets and development economies. To close this financing gap, it must become easier for private investors to invest. Blended finance provides efficient mechanisms to address this challenge. This is the aim of an alliance of public and private stakeholders, the Hamburg Sustainability Platform (HSP), announced at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference.

The German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, (BMZ); the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); Global Affairs Canada; the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Treasury of the Republic of South Africa; the Secretary of State in charge of International partnerships of France; the German Development Bank KfW; British International Investment (BII); as well as Allianz and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) are partnering to jointly develop the Hamburg Sustainability Platform. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) acts as an advisory body to the platform.

Sustainable investments in emerging markets and developing economies have so far been for the pioneers in the private sector: while promising investment opportunities exist, large institutional investors such as pension funds or insurance companies rarely invest at scale. This is because implementation takes a long time, as preparations can take several years and financial products are often very complex. To make it easier for private investors to invest at scale, it would be necessary to pool the funds of public donors and standardize financial vehicles.

As a solution, the HSP aims at better combining public and private investments through standardized financial products as well as harmonized public strategies. The initiative thereby aims to enhance simplicity, replicability and efficiency, thus enabling considerable additional investment volume.

Standardization is a key enabler of operational efficiency. By delivering simplicity, efficiency and speed, volume becomes possible. Standardization acts like a common language, combatting fragmentation and accelerating procedures. It could therefore be an important step to help scaling private investment. This is recognized and demanded by different institutions and initiatives such as the UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA), the OECD, as well as the B20 Finance & Infrastructure Working Group. Nevertheless, standardization is currently lacking in blended finance.

The HSP was announced at the inaugural Hamburg Sustainability Conference, held on 7-8 October. Under the motto “together we co-create development”, the Hamburg Sustainability Conference challenges barriers to SDG implementation. It establishes a new global forum to speed up progress towards achieving the SDGs and deliver result-oriented solutions. The annual conference is a joint initiative of the United Nations (UNDP), the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Michael Otto Foundation and the City of Hamburg.

On their motivations for the HSP, the founding members have said:

Anneliese Dodds, Minister for Development and Minister for Women and Equalities, United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: “Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals will require trillions of dollars of additional public and private investment into emerging markets and developing economies. To get private capital moving quickly and at scale, investors need to be able to compare options and make decisions with confidence. That’s why the UK is pleased to support the Hamburg Sustainability Platform, which will focus on scaling up sustainable investment into the regions that need it most, by providing standardized investment products in a clear and simple format.”

Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development: ”The SDGs represent an unprecedented global consensus and as such, a joint mission of public and private stakeholders. We need to join forces to make this mission heard. Over the past years, numerous good examples of blended finance vehicles have been set up. It is now time to identify those success cases, standardize, and scale them. This is what the Hamburg Sustainability Platform stands for. It is a great example of how the German government enhances international partnerships and how development cooperation efficiently uses market mechanisms to co-create impact. “

Thani Mohamed Soilihi, French Secretary of State for Francophonie and international partnerships: “We need to boost financing capacities if we collectively want to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and this requires far more private sector leveraging. This is a priority for France, that we are pursuing with 66 partners through the Paris Pact for People and Planet. In that perspective, the Hamburg Sustainability Platform plays an important role and we hope it will bolster current efforts to scale sustainable investments and deliver tangible results.”

Lina Gandløse Hansen, State Secretary for Trade and Investments, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark: “We need to bridge the financing gap to deliver on the SDGs and the Paris agreement. The numbers tell a clear story: We are far off track. We need all hands on deck and the private sector must play a key role. We need to deliver scale and replicable models. The Hamburg Sustainability Platform can play an important role. Denmark is looking forward to bringing our strong focus on innovative financing to the table and explore synergies, not least with the work in the Investment Mobilization Collaboration Alliance (IMCA) which aims at mobilizing billions of USD in private capital in support of climate action.”

Mmakgoshi Lekhethe, Head of Asset and Liability Management at the National Treasury of the Republic of South Africa: “We need impactful solutions and investments on a global scale. And for investments to be impactful, private and public sector need to work together. Development efforts can only be sustainable in the long run if we succeed in mobilizing private markets for our goals. The Hamburg Sustainability Platform can become a key lever on this mission.”

Patricia Peña, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Global Affairs Canada: “Setting up the Hamburg Sustainability Platform involves learning from and working with existing solutions, ensuring what we put forward and how we work together adds value and avoids duplication. Recognising the need to cooperate more efficiently with other donors and private investors from an early stage, the Hamburg Sustainability Platform could become a key tool to enhance donor cooperation and address existing challenges in blended finance.”

Claus Stickler, Global Co-Lead at Allianz Investment Management: “Speed and scalability are key success factors in achieving sustainable change globally, including for example accelerating the deployment of renewable energy in emerging markets. The Hamburg Sustainability Platform can help simplify the creation and management of blended finance vehicles, thereby increasing their investability. Let’s work together to create this important platform for real action.”

Vito Dellerba, Managing Director, Sustainable Investing at CDPQ: “Templates and standardized frameworks for financial returns and impact – initiatives highlighted by the Hamburg Sustainability Platform – facilitate timely and knowledgeable decisions by providing streamlined and consistent information. In addition, it has the potential to boost market efficiency by enhancing risk management practices, lowering transaction costs and increasing liquidity.“

OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mary Beth Goodman: “The OECD supports the Hamburg Sustainability Platform in an advisory role. Promoting innovative approaches to scaling up private capital mobilization in Emerging Market and Developing Economies is core to the work of the OECD. As a convener, we will be a partner in driving this initiative forward. Based on the OECD’s work in harmonising blended finance approaches, and with standardization featuring prominently in the current update of the Blended Finance Principles Guidance, the OECD can be a key contributor of this initiative.”

Christiane Laibach, Member of the Executive Board of KfW: “We have all learnt valuable lessons from the past twenty years of blended finance and impact investment. But to reach scale, we need to join forces, agree on common models based on these lessons and roll them out in a predictable and standardized manner. This is the objective of the Hamburg Sustainability Platform.”

Liz Lloyd, Chief Investment Officer at BII: “Unlocking private capital is critical to meet the twin challenges of development and the climate emergency. One important way to do that is through innovative blended finance, using concessional public finance to encourage private investment to achieve the SDGs. We are pleased to collaborate with others to reach a common approach to blended finance, to help mobilize private capital into sustainable investments at scale.“

MIL OSI Europe News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Everything will be ArtCamp

MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

First-year students of the Polytechnic University from different parts of the country went for the 13th time to the most colorful event of their new student life – ArtCamp, organized by the Student Club of the Directorate of Cultural Programs and Youth Creativity of SPbPU.

Students came to the Svyazist base to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of creativity, self-realization and friendship. Fur hats and construction helmets, rabbit ears and red caps were scattered across the pine forest: such distinctive attributes of the teams were invented by the Student Council of the Dormitories, a co-organizer of ArtCamp.

At the grand opening ceremony, 300 students loudly chanted as one: “Polytech! Polytech!” and greeted the organizers.

You are at a wonderful celebration created for you by the Polytechnic University student club with the support of the university rectorate. I am convinced that during these few days, suns will light up in your hearts, which will shine for you and the people around you throughout your student years and in your future life, – Boris Kondin, the head of the Directorate of Cultural Programs and Youth Creativity, addressed the students.

ArtCamp-2024 was dedicated to street culture: street art, hip-hop, graffiti and other elements of the youth movement accompanied all the activities of the trip. The first meeting point was the “Night Game” – a station quest, where the participants tried themselves in basketball and skateboarding, went through a wooden labyrinth, learned how to creatively tie shoelaces and learned hip-hop moves.

The second day started with creative trainings: theater training from the Polytechnic Student Theater, dance training from the LPH Crew team of the PolyDance studio, and art-casting of clothes with paints on fabric. And in the evening, under the starry sky, the Polytechnicians gathered for a traditional joint dance accompanied by a song about the Student Club, specially recorded by the vocalists of the PolyVox studio.

The main event was the traditional performance “Color Room” with an art installation and a dance number from the DJ studio Gate. The participants had great fun painting the white walls of the hall and white T-shirts in different colors.

The event ended with a team game called “Capture,” in which students learned to defend their territory and stick together, and also used letters to form the slogan for the trip: “And remember: everything will be ArtCamp!”

I met some fun guys, had a fantastic time, and was filled with positive emotions. It’s incredibly cool that Polytech is holding such an event for us, – said PhysMekh student Alisa Ryabtseva.

ArtCamp is the best thing that has happened to me in recent times. Three days flew by in one breath. The trainings and games helped me get to know the other guys better, and most importantly, to discover my own creative side, said GI student Alisa Merkulova.

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://www.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/student_life/everything-will-artcamp/

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Imposing it won’t work – the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has declared insurance without the borrower’s consent illegal

MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Mainfin Bank –

What was the dispute between the bank and the borrower that was being considered by the court?

The decision on the inadmissibility of imposing services was made by the Supreme Court in the context of a civil dispute between a bank and a resident of the Sverdlovsk region. The citizen had previously taken out a loan, but the bank imposed insurance on him and refused to terminate the contract during the “cooling-off period”. The borrower managed to restore his rights with the help of the financial ombudsman – the bank did not agree with this decision and went to court.

The Supreme Court found that the bank had violated the requirements of the law by including a clause in the terms of the loan agreement requiring the borrower to purchase an insurance policy from a specific company. At the same time, the client did not check the box about consent to connect the protection, although he agreed to the proposed terms of the loan. The highest court overturned the decisions of the lower courts and sent the case back for a retrial on the merits.

What restrictions apply to creditors when connecting additional services?

The Supreme Court’s decision on the dispute that arose imposes a number of restrictions on banks when provided to borrowers credits and connecting them to additional services. Thus, the court recalled that:

the bank’s duty is to provide the client with a choice: to agree or refuse imposed services; the lender does not have the right to put notes on consent or include clauses in the terms that provide for the mandatory connection of additional services; it is prohibited to create conditions within which the borrower’s unambiguous consent to the purchase of individual services is assumed.

“A bank that fails to comply with these requirements violates the rights of the borrower and the norms of the law, since the imposition of insurance and other services is unacceptable,” the Supreme Court panel noted.

Thus, the court prohibited banks from including in loan agreements the obligation to purchase insurance – the borrower must independently agree to take out the protection.

15:50 10/15/2024

Source:

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://mainfin.ru/news/to impose-it-will-not-work-on-all-Russian-Russian Federation-has-recognized-illegal-insurance-without-consent-borrowing

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Religious hate crimes in England and Wales are at a record high – but many still go unreported

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Peter Hopkins, Professor of Social Geography, Newcastle University

Shutterstock

Religious hate crimes in England and Wales are at record levels. New Home Office statistics reveal that although hate crime overall saw an annual decrease of 5% in the year to March 2024, there was a 25% increase in religious hate crimes.

Hate crimes against Jewish people more than doubled from the previous year, making up 33% of religion-based hate crime in the new figures. Those against Muslims rose by 13%, making up 38% of the total.

There was a sharp increase in reported incidents against both Jewish and Muslim people after the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023. While the total number of offences has since declined, it is still higher than before the conflict began.

These figures reflect police-recorded hate crime, but other organisations also track these incidents. The organisation Tell Mama, which tracks anti-Muslim hate, recorded a 335% increase in cases in the months after October 7 2023 compared to the year before. And the Community Security Trust tracked a 147% rise in anti-Jewish hate in 2023 compared to 2022. Of these incidents, 66% were on or after October 7.

The October 7 attacks are an example of a trigger event that usually precedes a spike in hate crime. These events can “galvanise tensions and sentiments against the suspected perpetrators and groups associated with them”.

Trigger events can be one-off events or last only a short period of time, but the continuing high levels of hate crime that the UK has seen over the past year is still likely due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

These trends had been increasing worldwide, and not only since the latest conflict. A UN report in 2021 found that Islamophobia had reached “epidemic proportions”. Additionally, as my colleagues and I have found in our research, such racism is also experienced by a diverse range of ethnic groups and not only Muslims. A rise in antisemitism has been recorded around the world too.

Unreported hate

Not only are the latest statistics in the UK alarming, they are only the tip of the iceberg. As my work on the inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland found, many incidents go unreported.

We found that many did not report incidents due to concerns about institutional racism in the police and a lack of confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system. Added to this were worries about not having enough evidence, the incident not being “serious enough”, and fear of reprisal. Some even felt that it happened so often that there was “no point” in reporting it.

Anti-Jewish hatred has risen in the UK since October 7 2023.
Shutterstock

The long-term impacts of hate crime are deeply concerning. Victims who experience constant discrimination are likely to experience poor health outcomes and premature ageing.

The rising numbers also promote a culture of fear that can discourage members of ethnic or religious minority groups from participating fully in society.
My colleagues and I have found in our research that Islamophobia and prejudice has stopped some Muslims from participating in politics and going out to socialise.

Encouragingly, however, others chose to become more active in their communities in order to challenge stereotypes about Muslims.

Making prejudice mainstream

In addition to the trigger event of the Israel-Hamas war, there are a number of factors that contribute to rising hate crime, particularly against Muslims.

First is the prevalence of organisations and individuals, including media outlets, online influencers, far-right think-tanks and political figures who promote anti-Muslim messaging and hatred.

The rise of far-right politics around the world plays a role. The election of Donald Trump, as well as
recent electoral gains by Marine Le Pen in France, the Freedom Party in Austria and Reform UK show how such politics are seeping into the mainstream.

But even supposedly centrist politicians spread narratives that contribute to Islamophobia and racism. For example, former prime minister David Cameron decried the failure of multiculturalism and this message was repeated by Suella Braverman when she was home secretary.

This perpetuates the idea that it is not possible for different ethnic and religious groups to live in harmony. I would argue this provides an ideal platform for the promotion of Islamophobia.

Mainstream media outlets and social media also shape the narratives that contribute to a culture of fear around Muslims. High profile acts of religious hatred, such as the atrocities committed by Anders Breivik in Oslo in 2011 or by Brenton Tarrant in Christchurch in 2019, tend to be put down to a “lone wolf” or to be regarded as “fringe incidents”, rather than part of a wider problem to be addressed. Both Breivik and Tarrant promoted white supremacy and were explicitly anti-Muslim.

The spread of inaccurate information on social media has stirred up Islamophobia, antisemitism and racism, and led to violence against migrants. This was seen in the far-right riots in summer 2024 following the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport, near Liverpool.

According to a report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a false name and disinformation suggesting the attacker was Muslim reached around 1.7 billion people across several platforms.

The long history of Islamophobia in Britain can be traced back to the response to the 9/11 terror attacks and the “war on terror”. The UK’s counter-terrorism programme Prevent has made life intolerable for Muslims by promoting the idea that all Muslims are potential terrorists and a threat to security.

The obsession with this approach persists internationally despite the existence of several alternatives, yet it urgently needs to be replaced alongside the thinking that supports it.

The result of all this is that Islamophobia has flourished in the UK without being called out by those in power. This must be challenged if we want to see a reduction in racially and religiously motivated hate crime.

Peter Hopkins receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust.

– ref. Religious hate crimes in England and Wales are at a record high – but many still go unreported – https://theconversation.com/religious-hate-crimes-in-england-and-wales-are-at-a-record-high-but-many-still-go-unreported-241071

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Homes England invests in Schroders Capital’s Real Estate Impact Fund
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Schroders Capital’s Real Estate Impact Fund (SCREIF) has received a £50 million investment from Homes England, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, underlining the key role this market-leading investment strategy has in addressing social inequality in the UK
The investment was today confirmed as part of a package of key measures announced by the UK’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (sponsor of Homes England) and HM Treasury, following a roundtable hosted by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, as part of the UK Government’s programme of activities to support its high-profile International Investment Summit.

The Summit has been focused on driving investment and growth across the UK, with up to 300 industry leaders attending alongside the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

SCREIF is a real estate focused strategy with the dual aims of delivering a positive social and environmental impact in addition to securing appropriate risk adjusted returns for investors. Last month, the strategy became only the second real estate fund in the UK to receive approval from the Financial Conduct Authority to use the ‘Sustainability Impact’ label under SDR.

With a residential-led approach, the fund is predominantly focused on addressing the UK’s housing crisis, specifically, the shortage of social and affordable accommodation and the regeneration of town centres. The fund aims to ensure that its investments are made in accessible and resilient locations, with access to green space, public transport, schools and GPs.

The investment from Homes England will increase the ability of the fund to grow and invest more widely across the UK and secure further allocations from pension funds, insurers and foundations.

Chris Santer, Schroders Impact Fund Manager, Schroders Capital’s Real Estate team, said:

This investment by Homes England is a clear indication of the absolutely vital role this fund is looking to play in the UK by delivering real and tangible change. Our homes, and the built environment around us, impact our daily lives. We believe this allocation from the public sector will be catalytic in unlocking further institutional investments, boosting broader confidence and interest in this key sector meaning the fund can enable more communities to thrive across the UK.

Peter Denton, Homes England Chief Executive, said:

This is a brilliant example of how public and private sector organisations can get behind a clear and common aim – namely supporting social justice and thriving communities. Our commitment aims to help spark deep and diverse market investment from a range of institutions. Fundamentally, this is about coming together to accelerate regeneration and the creation of affordable, high-quality homes within sustainable, thriving places that people, especially those in more deprived areas, want, need and deserve.

For further information, please contact:

Andy Pearce, Head of Media Relations +44 20 7658 2203 andy.pearce@Schroders.com

Rachael Dowers, PR Manager +44 207 658 2086 rachael.dowers@schroders.com

Justine Crestois, PR Executive +44 20 7658 5186 justine.crestois@schroders.com

Note to Editors

To view the latest press releases from Schroders visit: Media Centre | Schroders global

Schroders Capital

Schroders Capital provides investors with access to a broad range of private market investment opportunities, portfolio building blocks and customised private market strategies. Its team focuses on delivering best-in-class, risk-adjusted returns and executing investments through a combination of direct investment capabilities and broader solutions in all private market asset classes, through comingled funds and customised private market mandates.

The team aims to achieve sustainable returns through a rigorous approach and in alignment with a culture characterised by performance, collaboration and integrity.

With $97.3 billion (£77.0 billion; €90.8 billion)* assets under management, Schroders Capital offers a diversified range of investment strategies, including real estate, private equity, secondaries, venture capital, infrastructure, securitised products and asset-based finance, private debt, insurance-linked securities and BlueOrchard (Impact Specialists).

*Assets under management as at 30 June 2024 (including non-fee earning dry powder and in-house cross holdings)

Schroders plc

Schroders is a global investment manager which provides active asset management, wealth management and investment solutions, with £773.7 billion (€912.6 billion; $978.1 billion) of assets under management at 30 June 2024. As a UK listed FTSE100 company, Schroders has a market capitalisation of circa £6 billion and over 6,000 employees across 38 locations. Established in 1804, Schroders remains true to its roots as a family-founded business. The Schroder family continues to be a significant shareholder, holding approximately 44% of the issued share capital.

Schroders’ success can be attributed to its diversified business model, spanning different asset classes, client types and geographies. The company offers innovative products and solutions through four core business divisions: Public Markets, Solutions, Wealth Management, and Schroders Capital, which focuses on private markets, including private equity, renewable infrastructure investing, private debt & credit alternatives, and real estate.

Schroders aims to provide excellent investment performance to clients through active management. This means directing capital towards resilient businesses with sustainable business models, consistently with the investment goals of its clients. Schroders serves a diverse client base that includes pension schemes, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, high net worth individuals, family offices, as well as end clients through partnerships with distributors, financial advisers, and online platforms.

About Homes England

Homes England is the government’s homes and regeneration agency. It drives the creation of more high-quality homes and thriving places so that everyone has a place to live and thrive. The Agency’s team work in partnership with thousands of public and private bodies including local authorities, home builders, developers, affordable housing providers, commercial real estate companies and financial institutions to make this happen. For more information visit: Homes England – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Issued by Schroder Investment Management Limited. Registration No 1893220 England. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For regular updates by e-mail please register online at http://www.schroders.com for our alerting service.

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Published 15 October 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: GITEX GLOBAL 2024: Historic opening day marked by record international participation and capacity crowds at key events
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 15, 2024/APO Group/ —
- Entire international tech ecosystem descended on Dubai to mark the start of GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (www.GITEX.com) – the world’s largest and best-rated tech event
- Innovative showcases and GITEX Editions & European Innovation Council pavilion launches also star on “Tech Investor Day”
- “AI Super Tuesday” next up at GITEX GLOBAL 2024
International audiences enjoyed a memorable first day at GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (http://apo-opa.co/4h8HyRu) on Monday as the world’s largest and best-rated tech event kicked off in sensational fashion – setting the stage for an unforgettable week of breakthrough tech showcases.

Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 14-18 October, GITEX GLOBAL presents a record-breaking edition in its 44^th year. It welcomes over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries – the highest-ever international participation at GITEX GLOBAL – comprising enterprises, experts, investors, startups, academia, researchers, and the entire global tech ecosystem.

Eagerly awaited exhibitions and events take centre stage

Across a capacity-crowd venue, international audiences became acquainted with a wide variety of incredible innovations on Day 1 of GITEX GLOBAL 2024. UAE technology group G42 presented its Intelligence Grid immersive experience, enabling visitors to discover how AI can power every aspect of future life as a ‘super utility’. Lenovo showcased its new range of hardware and cloud solution equipped with transformative AI capabilities of the future, while e& showcased some the world’s most mindblowing protypes in all of tech. One of the highlights was the XPeng AeroHT eVTOL Flying Car – enabling audiences to discover how such innovations represent a historic opportunity to revolutionise aviation and personal transportation.

With five incredible themes across five unmissable days this year, “Tech Investment Day” was first up with World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit (http://apo-opa.co/4dLQ9qC) amongst the many shows that drew huge crowds and received widespread audience acclaim.

In a special briefing, His Excellency (H.E.) Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Cabinet Member & UAE Minister of Economy, addressed attendees during ‘Rise of the New Economy: AI & Emerging Industries’. This session delved into the UAE’s strategic initiatives fostering innovation, enhancing competitiveness, and positioning the country as a global leader in the new economy.

With the UAE’s non-oil sector accounting for 74% of national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, H.E. Al Marri reaffirmed the Ministry of Economy’s ambitious plans for the years ahead, insisting: “We are in the business of breaking records. We’ve already achieved a non-oil sector that accounts for 74% of GDP – this record has never happened before in our country’s history. The UAE’s environment and ecosystem attracts people from around the globe – and the target now is to reach 80% by 2030 and become an R&D hub for the world.”

With several leadership sessions held throughout the Monday schedule, H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President & Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), shared key insights and perspectives during ‘AI Leadership: Steering Societal Transformation’. AI socio-economic implications were discussed alongside global AI leadership, models, governance, and regulation.

Elsewhere on a historic opening day to celebrate GITEX GLOBAL’s record-extending 44^th edition, new industry-defining programmes were also launched – including GITEX Editions, an exclusive platform for late-stage advanced tech companies and a premier hub for unicorns, soonicorns and rhinos.

GITEX Editions connects 59 top global unicorns and was attended by H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy & Remote Work Applications, also addressed attendees between another applauded leadership session – ‘The UAE As The Sandbox For Pragmatic Ai Regulation And Policy Development’.

The year’s most impactful discussions surrounding AI’s future in society and industry were also attending by high numbers of visitors. While discussing the most transformative AI case studies across government, enterprise, and startups, the need to balance AI’s potential with creativity and human intuition was examined in various sessions, including ‘Regulating Tech: The Intersection of Tech, Crime and Law’.

Didier Jacobs, Head of ICT & Chief AI Officer at Europol, stressed that heightened collaboration and cooperation are needed to overcome challenges and solve international crime, adding: “Cybercrime knows no borders. There are many technologies that can be misused for hacking, extortion, sabotage, illegal transactions, and so on. What’s needed are solutions – a blend of increased human collaboration and technology deployment is essential.”

As this week marks the largest-ever European participation at GITEX GLOBAL with 38 European countries exhibiting alongside 1,000-plus SMEs and 450-plus startups, the European Innovation Council pavilion was officially launched to commemorate the milestone.

With debuting exhibitors from countries including Austria, Portugal, Latvia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Switzerland in attendance, Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of DWTC, the organiser of GITEX GLOBAL, opened the brand-new site. This casts a unique spotlight on Europe’s AI, tech, and innovation advancements alongside the cross-continental collaboration efforts currently taking shape across the continent.

What next at GITEX GLOBAL 2024?

GITEX GLOBAL 2024 continues Tuesday as “Super AI Tuesday” showcases how AI is transforming business strategies, revolutionising industries, and creating new growth opportunities across the globe. Up until Friday (October 18), attendees can also explore the latest tech sector services and solutions being rolled out across Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting with world’s largest network of tech events with its stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

More information on GITEX GLOBAL and to purchase passes, please visit http://www.GITEX.com

MIL OSI Africa –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Crunchyroll partners with Bango to boost membership growth through Super Bundling

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crunchyroll has entered into an agreement with Bango (AIM: BGO) to further grow its international subscriber base through bundling partnerships with telcos and other third parties.

Crunchyroll is the ultimate global brand for all things anime, offering the world’s largest dedicated streaming library with over 25,000 hours of content. With new series arriving every season, it remains the go-to destination for anime fans everywhere. Through its new partnership with Bango, Crunchyroll opens up the bundling of its subscription offer with mobile and broadband plans, as well as other consumer services such as bank accounts and retail clubs.

As a leader in bundling technology, Bango takes care of all technical aspects of resellers creating and managing subscription bundles. It can also manage targeting offers such as trials and discounts that could include Crunchyroll in future.

Telcos and other resellers will now be able to offer Crunchyroll in bundles, providing consumers with more cost-effective deals, and less administrative hassle. The partnership also opens up the opportunity for ‘Super Bundling’, making it easier for telcos to build Crunchyroll into their all-in-one subscription platforms and content hubs. Through this Bango agreement, Crunchyroll will be able to further expand its 14 million strong subscriber base through these new, indirect channels.

Commenting on the partnership, Anil Malhotra, CMO at Bango, said, “Crunchyroll is the number one choice for anime fans across the globe, and bundling through third parties will continue to drive its rapid growth. Indirect subscriptions have become increasingly essential for the SVOD market, and we look forward to helping Crunchyroll capitalize on this emerging trend.

“As consumers look for more flexibility, and to access more services in one place, Super Bundling represents a clear strategic step forward for brands like Crunchyroll to reach new audiences and further grow their subscriber base.”

About Bango
Bango enables content providers to reach more paying customers through global partnerships.

Bango revolutionized the monetization of digital content and services, by opening-up online payments to mobile phone users worldwide. Today, the Digital Vending Machine® is driving the rapid growth of the subscriptions economy, powering choice and control for subscribers.

The world’s largest content providers, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft, trust Bango technology to reach subscribers everywhere.

Bango, where people subscribe. For more information, visit http://www.bango.com

About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the global anime brand that fuels fans’ love of anime. With the ambition to make anime an even bigger part of pop culture, Crunchyroll offers fans the ultimate anime experience and destination centered around a premium streaming service. Crunchyroll has the largest dedicated anime library, an immersive world of events, exciting theatrical releases, unique games, must-have merchandise, timely news, and more. Anime is for everyone and is accessible to stream across territories through Crunchyroll—whether on the go on mobile, through gaming consoles and big-screen devices at home, or on desktops anywhere.

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

Media contact:
Anil Malhotra, CMO, Bango
anil@bango.com
Tel: +44 7710 480 377

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Micron Fuels New Wave of AI PCs With Launch of Ultra-Fast Clock Driver DDR5 Memory Portfolio

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BOISE, Idaho, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), today announced the availability of a brand-new category of clock driver memory with the launch of its Crucial^® DDR5 clocked unbuffered dual inline memory modules (CUDIMM) and clocked small outline dual memory modules (CSODIMM), which are now shipping in volume. The JEDEC-standard solutions run at speeds up to 6,400 MT/s (megatransfers per second), more than twice as fast as DDR4¹ and 15% faster than traditional non-clock-driver-based DDR5.² Designed to provide more speed stability, faster downloads and better refresh rates, these solutions represent a completely new frontier of memory form factors for next-generation PCs. Micron’s CUDIMM and CSODIMM solutions are the industry’s first commercially available JEDEC-standard DDR5 CUDIMM and CSODIMM solutions to hit the market since JEDEC standardized the specification earlier this year.

In addition, Intel has validated Micron DDR5 CUDIMM and CSODIMM solutions up to capacities of 64 gigabytes (GB) for use with its Intel^® Core™ Ultra processors (Series 2), which were launched last week on Oct. 10.

“As AI takes flight, a memory paradigm shift is needed to keep pace with unprecedented system performance requirements,” said Dinesh Bahal, corporate vice president and general manager of Micron’s Commercial Products Group. “Micron is shipping the industry’s first JEDEC-standard, commercially available DDR5 CUDIMM and CSODIMM solutions to power fast, out-of-the-box speeds for AI PCs and high-end workstations. With this new category, we are arming the ecosystem with next-generation memory solutions to future-proof today’s devices for tomorrow’s AI workloads.”

While DDR5 offers rapid speeds, scaling challenges have made it difficult to deliver DDR performance increases while ensuring reliable high speeds and signal integrity, especially when combining high bandwidth with large capacity. Representing an evolution of traditional UDIMMs, the new category of CUDIMMs and CSODIMMs feature a clock driver directly on the memory module to stabilize speeds. While most systems today rely on the clock from the CPU, using innovative engineering, Micron has directly integrated the clock driver into the memory module to conquer electrical challenges at the root, making memory faster and more stable.

The validation of these new client memory modules by Intel will empower top PC manufacturers and integrators to begin adopting Micron’s innovative clock driver-based memory into forthcoming PC platforms. Notably, Micron is the first memory vendor to validate 32 gigabit die-based 64GB CUDIMM and CSODIMM solutions for Intel^® Core™ Ultra desktop processors. This enables system capacities up to 256GB for AI PCs and high-end workstations, which demand high memory densities and performance.

“Micron and Intel have been working together to bring next-generation compute performance to the market,” said Dimitrios Ziakas, vice president of memory and I/O technologies at Intel. “The powerful combination of Intel Core Ultra desktop processors and Micron’s latest clock driver-powered CUDIMM/CSODIMMs with up to massive 64 GB capacities will be critical to helping propel the next wave of data-rich AI PCs to 6400 MT/s speeds. By aligning our strategies and co-validating, we are offering the most advanced memory and CPU products to our customers and the market and accelerating ecosystem adoption of future-looking form factors.”

The 6,400MT/s speeds provided by Crucial’s plug-and-play DDR5 CUDIMM and CSODIMM memory offer an out-of-the-box performance boost to AI PCs and other data-hungry workloads, whether users are upgrading from a DDR4 system or looking to increase DDR5 performance. The CUDIMM solutions are suited for desktop computers and the CSODIMM solutions for laptops.

Consumers will be able to purchase the CUDIMM and CSODIMM solutions in 16GB capacities through Crucial.com, which will come with a limited lifetime warranty.³ Capacities of 64GB will be available for purchase through the channel during the first half of calendar year 2025.

With the addition of DDR-based CUDIMMs and CSODIMMs, Micron continues to expand its memory portfolio with form factor and performance innovations to power next-generation PCs, including AI PCs, and increasingly demanding workloads.

To learn more, visit here to learn more about Micron’s CUDIMM offerings and here to learn more about its CSODIMM offerings.

Follow us online!
Micron social channels:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micron-technology
X: https://www.x.com/MicronTech
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicronTechUSA/

Crucial social channels:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crucialmemory
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crucial_memory
X: https://www.x.com/crucialmemory
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/crucialmemory

About Micron Technology, Inc.
We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron® and Crucial® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and compute-intensive applications
that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.

© 2024 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information, products, and/or specifications are subject to change without notice. Micron, the Micron logo, and all other Micron trademarks are the property of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

¹ DDR5 6,400MT/s speeds are comparable to extreme-performance DDR4 memory speeds and 2x faster than maximum standard DDR4 speeds of 3,200MT/s.
² Based on DDR5 running at maximum bandwidth of 5600 MT/s
³ Limited lifetime warranty valid everywhere except Austria, Belgium, France, and Germany, where warranty is valid for ten years from the date of purchase.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0d734e10-1dab-4baf-b5ec-62f82945edeb

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: CarGurus Teams With NFL Legend Drew Brees for “Keys to Success” Campaign
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Known for his confidence and ability to deliver under pressure, the former NFL quarterback and auto enthusiast is coaching today’s drivers in new digital campaign

BOSTON, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG), the No. 1 visited digital auto platform for shopping, buying, and selling new and used vehicles¹, today launched a new campaign with NFL legend Drew Brees focused on helping today’s drivers feel even more confident and prepared during the car buying and selling process. The “Keys to Success” campaign taps Brees—who is known for his ability to deliver under pressure both on and off the field—to empower all drivers in getting “game day-ready” to feel assured they’re getting the best deal and are in control through the car buying and selling process.

“CarGurus helps today’s shoppers get ready for their big moment by providing access to thorough vehicle information, the most extensive deal ratings, and the most new and used cars so you know you’re getting the best deal possible,” explained Brees. “So much of performing at a high level is about focusing on the process and having the tools that instill confidence so that by the time you step on the field—or into the dealership—you’re ready to make things happen.”

As one of the largest financial commitments today’s consumer can make, purchasing a car can be daunting for many. According to a recent CarGurus study², many game-time decisions can erode a shopper’s confidence:
- The top three factors that can cause someone to second-guess their car purchase are 1) Not being sure what makes for a fair price (39%); 2) Feeling rushed to make a decision (37%); and 3) The general stress of making such a big purchase/commitment (36%).
- Nearly two-thirds (61%) of buyers said that negotiating a price is one of the most intimidating aspects of buying a car.
- Mirroring the trend seen for car buying, 50% of respondents said the most intimidating aspect of selling or trading in a car was getting the most money.
“Known for his rigorous mental and physical preparation during his professional football career, Drew’s winning combination of steady confidence and rigorous research both on and off the field makes him the perfect confidence coach for today’s drivers, and a natural partner for CarGurus,” said Dafna Sarnoff, CarGurus Chief Marketing Officer. “Car shoppers can identify with Drew’s mindset of gathering the best information and tools available to feel confident that they are getting the best deals for their unique individual needs.”

The “Keys to Success” campaign will be featured on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and other digital video placements. See here to learn more about the campaign.

About CarGurus, Inc.

CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG) is a multinational, online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles that is building upon its industry-leading listings marketplace with both digital retail solutions and the CarOffer online wholesale platform. The CarGurus platform gives consumers the confidence to purchase and/or sell a vehicle either online or in-person, and it gives dealerships the power to accurately price, effectively market, instantly acquire and quickly sell vehicles, all with a nationwide reach. The company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms and data analytics to bring trust, transparency, and competitive pricing to the automotive shopping experience. CarGurus is the most visited automotive shopping site in the U.S.¹

CarGurus also operates online marketplaces under the CarGurus brand in Canada and the United Kingdom. In the United States and the United Kingdom, CarGurus also operates the Autolist and PistonHeads online marketplaces, respectively, as independent brands.

To learn more about CarGurus, visit http://www.cargurus.com, and for more information about CarOffer, visit http://www.caroffer.com.

CarGurus^® is a registered trademark of CarGurus, Inc., and CarOffer^® is a registered trademark of CarOffer, LLC. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

¹Similarweb: Traffic Insights (Cars.com, Autotrader.com, TrueCar.com), Q2 2024, U.S.
²Methodology: July 2024 survey of 1,501 U.S. licensed residents, 18+

Media Contact:
Maggie Meluzio
Director, Public Relations & External Communications
pr@cargurus.com

Investor Contact:
Kirndeep Singh
Vice President, Investor Relations
investors@cargurus.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cd48575-34a4-44b2-90ed-3b28fd021eed

The MIL Network –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City celebrates unique green awards hat-trick
Source: City of Liverpool

Liverpool has scored a unique treble at a major international climate change awards ceremony.

Liverpool City Council’s Urban GreenUP project, which was recently shortlisted for a world Green City Award, won big at the CIRIA 2024 Big Biodiversity Awards.

Held in London, the city’s innovative nature-based solution programme secured awards in the following categories:
- CIRIA Innovation Award
- CIRIA Habitat Creation Project of the Year Award
- CIRIA Biodiversity Overall Winner
The EU-funded programme, which has introduced urban raingardens, green walls and pollinators posts around the city centre as well as a number of floating islands in the city’s docks and parks, was also Highly Commended in the ‘Living Green for Climate Change’ category at the World Green City Awards 2024 held in Utrecht.

The accolades follow hot on the heels of the programme scooping a golden pineapple trophy for its Climate Resilience submission at the 2024 Festival of Place.

Liverpool has also recently become the world’s first ‘Accelerator City’ for climate action, under UN Climate Change’s Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA) programme.

The title comes in recognition of Liverpool’s impressive commitment to innovation and smart regulation to rapidly decarbonise the live music and TV/Film production sectors – both vital parts of the city’s economy – following several years of developmental work by ACT 1.5, an artist-led research and action effort, and climate scientists from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
- Liverpool’s Urban GreenUP programme involves a collaboration between the Council, the Mersey Forest and the University of Liverpool. It has set a number of goals to mitigate climate change impact on the city, such as enhancing air quality, reducing flooding risks, improving water management, and increasing urban sustainability.
For more information go to: https://www.urbangreenup.eu/cities/front-runners/liverpool/liverpool-uk-re-naturing-urban-plan-with-nbs.kl
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: River of Light Shines Bright For All
Source: City of Liverpool

With just over a week to go until River of Light returns, Liverpool City Council unveils plans to make the popular event even more accessible, inclusive and engaging.

Building on the success of last year, the FREE event will once again offer Quiet Hour sessions to accommodate visitors with additional sensory needs. These special sessions will run from 4-5pm on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 October, and the same times on Sunday 3 and Monday 4 November. During these hours, the 12 featured installations will have reduced soundscapes or will operate entirely without sound. Where possible, lighting will also be softened, creating a calmer environment for those with sensory sensitivities.

This year’s light festival runs from Friday 25 October to Tuesday 5 November, taking place at the same time as Diwali – the Hindu festival of lights. To mark the cultural celebration, on Friday 1 November visitors can enjoy a programme curated by Indian arts organisation, MILAP, featuring performances by the popular Bombay Baja Brass Band and Piano with Bhav between 5-8pm– all taking place near the Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos installation by award-winning artist MURUGIAH.

The young people’s engagement programme, developed by the City Council’s Culture Liverpool team returns this year and connects young people with three of the event’s featured artists, offering creative, hands-on workshops that encourage artistic expression and learning.
- Families attending Granby Children’s Centre and Family Hub will have the opportunity to work with MURUGIAH, who will guide participants through the creation of Mandalas – repetitive geometric designs which represent harmony and balance.
- Students at St John Bosco Arts College will have a masterclass in sign-making from locally commissioned artist Liz Harry, learning the art of communication through visual design.
- Pupils at Holy Family Catholic Primary School will collaborate with Rachel Darnell and Jorge Fernandez from Australia’s Amigo & Amigo, designing and crafting their very own gnomes – inspired by their 2024 River of Light installation, No Place Like Gnome.
- Working with the City Council’s Children and Young People’s team, there will also be a guided tour for young people who are part of the Positive Pathways scheme, aimed at those who could otherwise be at risk of being involved with anti-social behaviour.
The theme for this year’s outdoor trail and the engagement programme is Play, tying into Liverpool’s ongoing pledge to become a recognised UNICEF UK Child Friendly City. The initiative highlights the importance of children’s rights to play, recreation, rest, and leisure, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. #ChildFriendlyLpool

To get the latest information visit http://www.visitliverpool.com/riveroflight or follow @visitliverpool (X, Facebook and TikTok) or @visitliverpool_ (Instagram).

River of Light will be part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as the lead authority. Avanti is the official travel partner for the event.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:

“We’re thrilled to bring back the quiet hours this year after receiving such positive feedback from visitors in 2023. It brought in a new audience who hadn’t experienced the trail previously, and thanks to some adaptations to the light and sound, they felt part of this massively popular event.

“It’s also great to see the return of the workshops – they’re so unique, and the youngsters and the artists always get a huge amount out of the sessions. Encouraging children to express themselves through art and creativity is an incredibly powerful tool that will hopefully inspire future artists.

“Celebrating Diwali as part of the River of Light is a fantastic way to embrace cultural diversity and unity and we’re delighted to be working with Milap on this. Bringing together communities through art, music, and tradition, fostering a real sense of belonging and is certain to be a highlight of the festival.”

Alok Nayak, Milap’s CEO and Artistic Director, said:

“We are excited to be part of River of Light 2024, an event that unites art, culture, and community. At Milap, we believe in the power of the arts to inspire, educate, and bring people together.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the richness of Indian arts, while contributing to Liverpool’s dynamic cultural landscape. Diwali, the festival of light, is beautifully reflected in Liverpool’s own light festival, making our collaboration with Culture Liverpool to bring MURUGIAH’s ‘Rangoli Mirrored Cosmos’ to the city even more meaningful.

“Rangoli patterns are recreated in homes, in designs and works of art worldwide, and this concept will come to life on Liverpool’s waterfront through MURUGIAHS’s unique reimagining. We’re eager to share this experience with the public and celebrate the positive impact of creativity and diversity!”

Denise Wright, Liverpool City Council’s Family Learning Co-ordinator for Children Centre’s and Family Hubs, said:
“This is a wonderful opportunity for families with young children to work with a world-renowned artist at one of our main Family Hub sites. The River of Light’s theme of PLAY this year is great for engaging families in rich creative and cultural experiences in their own communities and for connecting families to a major interactive and cultural event in the city.”
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trailblazing fostering hub celebrates its first birthday
Source: City of Sunderland

Foster with North East was launched last year with the aim of recruiting more foster carers across the North East by offering dedicated support and a specialised recruitment hub working alongside all 12 local authorities in the region.

Since then more than 850 people have come forward to enquire about becoming a foster carers, many of whom are in the process of being approved as foster carers.

A direct response to the call for more foster carers, Foster with North East has also been a trailblazer for the Department for Education’s pathfinder project, leading to a further nine spin off schemes now operating in other parts of the country.

The hub acts as the first port of call for prospective foster carers offering a warm welcome, directing enquiries to their local authority, and providing support throughout the application process.

It seeks to recruit foster carers from a range of different backgrounds and circumstances in the region to improve the experience of foster carers and offer the best outcomes for children in care.

While nationally the average length of time from application to approval for anyone applying to be a foster carer is 6 months, Foster with North East have managed to condense this to 4.8 months. And there are plans to do this even quicker.

The percentage of initial enquiries to Foster with North East from prospective foster carers which ultimately convert into successful applications (regardless of subsequent outcome), is also much higher at 23.1 per cent than the national rate of 12 per cent..

Newly approved foster carers Vicky and Phil Metcalfe are some of the first to be approved as foster carers since the launch of Foster with North East.

Speaking about their experiences at the one year on celebration, Vicky said: “Fostering is something I thought about doing for years. Eventually last year I spoke to my husband and said I wanted to do it. We applied, and now here we are celebrating our approval alongside other new carers from the region.

“Fostering has always been in my mind. I’ve got a son of my own and I just kept thinking that there are kids out there that need that love and care and if I ever needed someone to look after my son, I’d want to know there was somebody out there that would do this for us. We’ve a lot of love to give and to us it was a no brainier to look at fostering.

“The whole application process with Foster with North East was really smooth, and our social worker was really lovely, she kept us informed and we felt very comfortable talking to her.

“The training also included meeting young people who are care experienced and gave us really good insight. It helped us to better understand their side of things. A lot of what they said was also very positive and really showed how much difference you can make.

“Our was son was on board with our plans to foster from the minute we told him. He’s been absolutely brilliant and has welcomed our first child to our home too recently who is fantastic – we couldn’t have asked for a more loving little boy, he’s got the best smile, and he loves to learn, he’s very creative and it’s lovely to see him getting along so well with our son.

“For anyone thinking about fostering, I’d say that if it’s in the back of your mind go for it. I’ve only been doing it a short time, but I’m all in, this is me now.”

In its first year:
- The collaboration between the 12 local authorities has brought together fostering teams, marketing experts and fostering families to support and drive recruitment of new carers.
- Information sessions, events and pop-up stalls fostering a strong network of support have been held across the region.
- Foster with North East has provided extensive training, equipping applicants with the tools they need to thrive as foster carers.
- As the heart of the work lies in the stories of the children and families, Foster with North East has captured the joys of fostering directly from foster carers through several heartwarming video case studies to showcase the real-life transformative power of fostering.
Daniel Kenny, Hub (Service) Lead for Foster with North East, said: “Foster with North East was created to tackle the decline in foster carers in the region and it’s been fantastic to see the progress and collaborative work over the last 12 months.

“This has included building and strengthening connections across the region to reach as many people as possible with our fostering message, and ensure we are offering the best service possible to those looking to become foster carers.

“We’ve had great support from our local authorities and positive feedback from newly approved carers at our celebration event, with some sharing their experiences on camera to shed light on the impact of our hub. The day highlighted everyone’s commitment to improving the lives of children in care, and it was wonderful to share such an important milestone with all those who have been part of our journey and be able to recognise the new foster carers as they embark on their fostering career.

“We know there’s still a long way to go, as we need even more people from all walks of life to provide the safe homes for children and young people in care whether that’s for one night, a week, for a few months at a time or long-term.

“But we’re really excited about continuing our work to grow the number of foster carers in the North East fostering for their local authority and ensure every child has a safe and stable home. As more regional hubs are being launched across England, we’re also looking forward to sharing our stories of hope throughout the country and supporting the other hubs.”

Anyone interested in fostering in the North East, can visit the Foster with North East website here to find out more and make an enquiry.

Foster with North East is a collaborative partnership between 12 local authorities from across the North East of England. For the first time every, fostering services all across the region are joining forces to recruit much-needed prospective foster carers for vulnerable children and young people.

Anyone considering fostering in the region will benefit from a united, single support hub. The hub provides additional support for prospective foster carers and is supported by the Department for Education.

The 12 local authorities involved in Foster with North East are:
- Darlington
- Durham
- Gateshead
- Hartlepool
- Middlesbrough
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Northumberland
- North Tyneside
- Redcar and Cleveland
- South Tyneside
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Sunderland (Together for Children)
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Electric blanket testing sessions15 October 2024 Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (JFRS) will once again be supporting Jersey Electricity’s (JE) annual electric blanket safety testing on Thursday 17th October and Friday 18th October 2024. No need to book,… Read more
Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

15 October 2024

Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (JFRS) will once again be supporting Jersey Electricity’s (JE) annual electric blanket safety testing on Thursday 17th October and Friday 18th October 2024.

No need to book, simply take your electric blanket along on:
- Thursday 17th October to Western Fire Station, between 10am and 3pm
Or,
- Friday 18th October 2023 to Fire Headquarters, Rouge Bouillon, between 10am and 3pm.
The free safety test will be completed by Jersey Electricity’s electrical engineers.

If it can’t be tested on the spot while you wait, they will tell you what time you can collect it if it passes the test.

If your blanket fails the safety test, Jersey Electricity will keep and dispose of it. You will receive a Powerhouse 10% discount voucher, which can be redeemed against the purchase of a new one.

JFRS recommend that all electric blankets over 10 years old should be replaced. For this reason, JE staff will not test any blankets over 10 years old but will provide a Powerhouse 10% discount voucher in return for your old electric blanket.

A Community Fire Safety Officer will also be on hand throughout the testing to offer advice on fire safety in the home.

Here are some simple tips to stay safe when using electric blankets:
- Regular Inspections: Examine your electric blanket for any signs of wear, fraying, or damage before use.
- Follow Manufacturer Instructions: Adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions regarding usage, washing, and storage of electric blankets.
- Avoid Overheating: Never leave an electric blanket turned on for an extended period, and switch it off before getting into bed.
- No Pets or Heavy Objects: Keep pets and heavy objects off the electric blanket to prevent damage.
- Replace Old Blankets: If your electric blanket is more than ten years old or shows signs of wear, consider replacing it with a newer model.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council pledges to plant 8,000 trees by 2028

Source: City of Salford

Salford City Council has pledged to support the planting of 8,000 trees by 2028, as part of their commitment to fighting climate change.

The council will work with the Greater Manchester community forest and charity, City of Trees, to identify planting sites for street trees and new woodland areas, and work together to plant the trees over the next four years.

They will also work with developers in the planning process to plant new trees as part of new developments.

Trees have a host of benefits, from improving air quality by taking up pollutants and helping to reduce flood risk by intercepting water in their leaves and roots, to releasing chemicals which strengthen people’s immune, hormonal and nervous systems.

Importantly, they absorb carbon dioxide, helping us in the fight against climate change. A single, fully-grown tree can absorb up to 22kg of carbon every year.

Cllr Jane Hamilton, Executive Support Member for Climate Change, Low Carbon and Green Agenda at Salford City Council said “the council declared a climate emergency in 2019 in recognition of the need for more urgent action to combat climate breakdown and ensure the city is as resilient as possible. Responding to climate change is one of the key priorities in our corporate plan, This is our Salford, which aims to create a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all.

“Our pledge to plant 8,000 trees by 2028 is just one of the practical steps we are taking to protect current and future generations from the impacts of climate change.”

Kevin Wigley from City of Trees said “We have the funding for trees and woods, and so finding suitable locations for them to be planted is a priority of ours. We’re pleased to be working with Salford City Council to identify the best place for the new trees to be planted so their benefits can be enjoyed by residents for generations to come.

“We would encourage any other landowners in Salford to get in touch about planting woodlands on their land. Each wooded area contributes to creating a greener, more climate-resilient Salford.”

To find out more about how Salford is responding to climate change visit Greener Salford.

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Date published

Tuesday 15 October 2024

Press and media enquiries

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New bus service will help shoppers get to the city centre

Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

Published: Tuesday, 15th October 2024

Residents in Norton without a nearby bus service are being encouraged to make the most of a new service.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been working closely with local bus operators to reintroduce a bus service for residents in the area.

Now the number 42 service is officially up and running after the city council struck a deal with Stantons of Stoke.

The weekday service, which goes from Ball Green to Hanley via Norton Lane, Milton Crossroads and Abbotts Square in Abbey Hulton, will run on a temporary basis ahead of a more formal tender process.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker said: “We have listened to residents, and I am so pleased that we have been able to start the long-awaited bus service along Ford Green Road which residents are so desperate for. The number 42 service will mean residents can easily visit the local shops, the crematorium and the city centre – something they have not been able to do for a long time.

“The contract for the number 42 is currently only until early next year but it will give us a chance to establish if this service will be viable going forward. We have tried our best to include the areas around Norton which are not currently very well served to give this service the best chance of survival, and we would really encourage residents to make use of this new bus route.”

The service is being delivered through the city council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which is being funded by £31.6 million of funding from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The plan has so far seen the launch of the council’s flagship Affordable Fares scheme which offers discounted bus tickets for adults and young people, the introduction of a number of new bus routes and enhanced services across the city.

It also comes ahead of the launch of the city council’s new Transport Prospectus which will outline the council’s proposed vision for transport in Stoke-on-Trent through to 2040.

Keith Stanton, managing director at Stantons of Stoke, said: “We are keen to work closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, who are making all this possible.

“With funding via the Bus Service Improvement Plan we are able to re-establish areas with a bus link, which brings so much with regards to connectivity and inclusion that other areas take for granted.

“We look forward to future opportunities and we will ensure that the travelling public are provided with a reliable, affordable service.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Escalating cyber threats demand stronger global defense and cooperation
Source: Microsoft

Headline: Escalating cyber threats demand stronger global defense and cooperation

Microsoft customers face more than 600 million cybercriminal and nation-state attacks every day, ranging from ransomware to phishing to identity attacks. Once again, nation-state affiliated threat actors demonstrated that cyber operations—whether for espionage, destruction, or influence—play a persistent supporting role in broader geopolitical conflicts. Also fueling the escalation in cyberattacks, we are seeing increasing evidence of the collusion of cybercrime gangs with nation-state groups sharing tools and techniques.

We must find a way to stem the tide of this malicious cyber activity. That includes continuing to harden our digital domains to protect our networks, data, and people at all levels. However, this challenge will not be accomplished solely by executing a checklist of cyber hygiene measures but only through a focus on and commitment to the foundations of cyber defense from the individual user to the corporate executive and to government leaders.

These are some of the insights from the fifth annual Microsoft Digital Defense Report, which covers trends between July 2023 and June 2024.

State-affiliated actors increasingly are using cybercriminals and their tools.

Over the last year, Microsoft observed nation state actors conduct operations for financial gain, enlist cybercriminals to collect intelligence, particularly on the Ukrainian military, and make use of the same infostealers, command and control frameworks, and other tools favored by the cybercriminal community. Specifically:
- Russian threat actors appear to have outsourced some of their cyberespionage operations to criminal groups, especially operations targeting Ukraine. In June 2024, a suspected cybercrime group used commodity malware to compromise at least 50 Ukrainian military devices.
- Iranian nation state actors used ransomware in a cyber-enabled influence operation, marketing stolen Israeli dating website data. They offered to remove specific individual profiles from their data repository for a fee.
- North Korea is getting into the ransomware game. A newly-identified North Korean actor developed a custom ransomware variant called FakePenny, which it deployed at organizations in aerospace and defense after exfiltrating data from the impacted networks—demonstrating both intelligence gathering and monetization motivations.
Nation state activity was heavily concentrated around sites of active military conflict or regional tension

Aside from the United States and the United Kingdom, most of the nation-state-affiliated cyber threat activity we observed was concentrated around Israel, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, and Taiwan. In addition, Iran and Russia have used both the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict to spread divisive and misleading messages through propaganda campaigns that extend their influence beyond the geographical boundaries of the conflict zones, demonstrating the globalized nature of hybrid warfare.
- Approximately 75% of Russian targets were in Ukraine or a NATO member state, as Moscow seeks to collect intelligence on the West’s policies on the war.
- Chinese threat actors’ targeting efforts remain similar to the last few years in terms of geographies targeted—Taiwan being a focus, as well as countries within Southeast Asia—and intensity of targeting per location.
- Iran placed significant focus on Israel, especially after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Iranian actors continued to target the US and Gulf countries, including the UAE and Bahrain, in part because of their normalization of ties with Israel and Tehran’s perception that they are both enabling Israel’s war efforts.
Example of Iran’s targeting shift following the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Russia, Iran, and China focus in on the U.S. election

Russia, Iran, and China have all used ongoing geopolitical matters to drive discord on sensitive domestic issues leading up to the U.S. election, seeking to sway audiences in the U.S. to one party or candidate over another, or to degrade confidence in elections as a foundation of democracy. As we’ve reported, Iran and Russia have been the most active, and we expect this activity to continue to accelerate over the next two weeks ahead of the U.S. election.

In addition, Microsoft has observed a surge in election-related homoglyph domains—or spoofed links—delivering phishing and malware payloads. We believe these domains are examples both of cybercriminal activity driven by profit and of reconnaissance by nation-state threat actors in pursuit of political goals. At present, we are monitoring over 10,000 homoglyphs to detect possible impersonations. Our objective is to ensure Microsoft is not hosting malicious infrastructure and inform customers who might be victims of such impersonation threats.

Financially motivated cybercrime and fraud remain a persistent threat

While nation-state attacks continue to be a concern, so are financially motivated cyberattacks. In the past year Microsoft observed:
- A 2.75x increase year over year in ransomware attacks. Importantly, however, there was a threefold decrease in ransom attacks reaching the encryption stage. The most prevalent initial access techniques continue to be social engineering—specifically email phishing, SMS phishing, and voice phishing—but also identity compromise and exploiting vulnerabilities in public facing applications or unpatched operating systems.
- Tech scams skyrocketed 400% since 2022. In the past year, Microsoft observed a significant uptick in tech scam traffic with daily frequency surging from 7,000 in 2023 to 100,000 in 2024. Over 70% of malicious infrastructure was active for less than two hours, meaning they may be gone before they’re even detected. This rapid turnover rate underscores the need for more agile and effective cybersecurity measures.
Threat actors are experimenting with generative AI

Last year, we started to see threat actors—both cybercriminals and nation states—experimenting with AI. Just as AI is increasingly used to help people be more efficient, threat actors are learning how they can use AI efficiencies to target victims. With influence operations, China-affiliated actors favor AI-generated imagery, while Russia-affiliated actors use audio-focused AI across mediums. So far, we have not observed this content being effective in swaying audiences.

Nation-state adversarial use of AI in influence operations.

But the story of AI and cybersecurity is also a potentially optimistic one. While still in its early days, AI has shown its benefits to cybersecurity professionals by acting as a tool to help respond in a fraction of the time it would take a person to manually process a multitude of alerts, malicious code files, and corresponding impact analysis. We continue to innovate our technology to find new ways that AI can benefit and strengthen cybersecurity.

Collaboration remains crucial to strengthening cybersecurity.

With more than 600 million attacks per day targeting Microsoft customers alone, there must be countervailing pressure to reduce the overall number of attacks online. Effective deterrence can be achieved in two ways: by denial of intrusions or by imposing consequences for malicious behavior. Microsoft continues to do our part to reduce intrusions and has committed to taking steps to protect ourselves and our customers through our Secure Future Initiative.

While the industry must do more to deny the efforts of attackers via better cybersecurity, this needs to be paired with government action to impose consequences that further discourage the most harmful cyberattacks. Success can only be achieved by combining defense with deterrence. In recent years, a great deal of attention has been given to the development of international norms of conduct in cyberspace. However, those norms so far lack meaningful consequence for their violation, and nation-state attacks have been undeterred, increasing in volume and aggression. To shift the playing field, it will take conscientiousness and commitment by both the public and private sectors so that attackers no longer have the advantage.

Microsoft continues to share important threat intelligence with the community, including our recent Cyber Signals research looking at cyber risks in the education sector.

Tags: AI, artificial intelligence, China, cyberattacks, cybercrime, cybersecurity, election, elections, generative ai, Hamas, homoglyphs, Iran, Israel, malware, Microsoft Digital Defense Report, NATO, North Korea, phishing, Russia, Secure Future Initiative, Tech scams, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States
MIL OSI Global Banks –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Former SECDEF Panetta Shared Concerns, Insights During Guest Lecture at NPS
Source: United States Navy

With decades of public service, Panetta offered frank advice and lessons learned to the more than 1,300 students, faculty and staff gathered in the packed NPS King Hall auditorium.

“Fundamental to everything our democracy stands for is leadership, and that requires character, integrity, and courage,” said Panetta. “Those qualities are abundant in this room, and being selected to come to NPS further sets you apart. When you graduate, you will carry the additional obligation to do more, take risks, make hard decisions and lead solutions to complex national defense challenges if we’re going to remain the world’s strongest democracy.”

In his opening comments, Panetta stressed the importance of alliances in addressing today’s conflicts, and terrorism instigated and supported by a growing axis of autocracies lead by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

“Our adversaries are actively working to undermine trust,” Panetta remarked. “When our nation is distracted, tyrants will fill the void. The leader’s job is not to point fingers, but to point out falsehoods and elevate reality so we can agree on the problem, then work together to address it. Across the aisle, or across alliances, that’s how leaders get things done. That’s how we win.”

The “Fireside Chat” was moderated by retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Eric Wendt, a former Special Forces Green Beret and current professor of practice in the school’s Department of Defense Analysis, and an NPS distinguished alumnus. When asked the one thing he would do to improve DOD today, Panetta responded, “There are many things, but the one thing I am most concerned about is speed.”

“We need DOD bureaucracy to move at the speed of technology,” added Panetta. “I’m concerned that we can’t act swiftly enough to ensure our advantage by leveraging and learning about cutting edge technologies. Industry is setting the pace, and much of it is American innovation, but we need to apply innovative thinking to how we acquire, adapt and adopt technology to meet capability needs. I believe NPS and the future Naval Innovation Center at NPS are parts of the solution.”

During his visit, Panetta also spoke with Defense Analysis students in the DA 3900 Command and Leadership course taught by Wendt, where he further encouraged students to apply their operational experience, NPS education and research to solving the most vexing challenges facing DOD.

Before leading the DOD, Panetta served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, director of the Office of Management and Budget, White House Chief of Staff, and as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Today, Panetta co-directs with his wife, Sylvia, the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University, Monterey Bay. The Institute is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit center that seeks to instill in young men and women the virtues and values of public service.
- For more information on the Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture program at NPS, and to watch past lectures, visit https://nps.edu/sgls
Learn more about the NPS Department of Defense Analysis at https://nps.edu/web/da

MIL Security OSI –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for terrorism offences after joint HMRC and Met Police investigation

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

An east London man who sent night vision and thermal imaging rifle scopes to support terrorist activity by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017 and 2018 has been jailed.

Muhammad Choudhary, 41 (15.06.83) previously pleaded guilty to terrorism funding and fundraising offences following a joint investigation by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

He was sentenced on Tuesday, 15 October, at the Old Bailey to a total of seven years’ imprisonment, with an additional year to be served on an extended licence.

Detectives and investigators identified that Choudhary sent thermal imaging night vision rifle scopes to Pakistan on a number of occasions in 2017 and 2018. He later admitted they were intended for use by the Taliban, which, at the time, launched various attacks against the then-Government and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Acting Commander Gareth Rees, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This case is a prime example of how terrorist activity can take many different forms, and shows that we will investigate anyone in the UK who supports terrorist activity, regardless of what it may be in support of or to where it may be linked.

“This was a unique case where Government colleagues identified potential terrorist-related activity and shared information with us. Further enquiries conducted by Counter Terrorism Command officers led to Choudhary being convicted and jailed for various terrorism offences.”

Mike Pass, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “The UK operates a strict licensing regime to uphold international sanctions and to ensure military equipment does not fall into the wrong hands. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure effective controls and enforcement on military goods, which contributes to the UK’s national security.”

Choudhary first came to the attention of HMRC after a seizure of rifle scopes at Heathrow Airport in January 2018. It was identified that Choudhary was the person behind the consignment, which was intended for an address in Pakistan.

Further enquiries revealed that Choudhary bought the sniper sights from legitimate hunting suppliers. He was interviewed under caution by HMRC investigators and he later admitted in interview that the recipient and end users were members of the Taliban.

As a result, this information was passed to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and officers launched an investigation, which resulted in Choudhary being charged with various terrorism offences in September 2023.

At an Old Bailey hearing in January, he pleaded guilty to a charge of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism (contrary to section 15 of the Terrorism Act, 2000), and two charges of making funding arrangements for the purposes of terrorism (contrary to section 17, TACT, 2000).

Choudhary was also previously charged with 23 offences under the Customs and Excise Management Act (1979). He pleaded not guilty to these offences at a hearing in February, and it was subsequently agreed for these offences to lay on file.

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Two charged in connection with Dontae McLaren murder

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A man and woman have been charged with offences relating to the murder of 24-year-old Dontae McLaren in Lambeth last month.

Tyanne Corbin, 25 (23.05.1999) and Hamid Hamdi, 25 (31.10.1998) appeared at Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, 14 October charged with causing Dontae grievous bodily harm with intent, and violent disorder.

Both were remanded in custody to appear at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 6 November.

A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion violent disorder and causing grievous bodily harm is currently on bail. Next due on a date in early November.

Police were called at around 04:05hrs on Sunday, 29 September to reports of a large group fighting with knives in Wandsworth Road, SW8.

Officers, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended.

Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, 24-year-old Dontae McLaren was pronounced dead at the scene. Specialist officers continue to support his family.

+ Dynzell Patrick, 26 (18.06.1998) has previously appeared in court charged with Dontae’s murder. He is next due to appear at Central Criminal Court on 23 December.

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025

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15 October 2024

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