NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Security: Policing will always use Artificial Intelligence responsibly

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Trials of AI programmes have been ongoing to help ease call demand, tackle child exploitation and to identify DA

    That’s the message from policing’s first-ever lead for Artificial Intelligence (AI) as he reaffirms his commitment to transforming the service.  

    Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray took up this role in March this year and wants to focus on three key areas: improving productivity, making policing more effective in cutting crime and tackling the criminal use of AI. 

    He is also keen to highlight the innovative work and ambitious pilots already underway to help meet those key objectives.  

    They include:  

    • AI trials in control rooms to help call handlers manage demand and focus on those most at risk.  
    • The development of redaction tools, transcription and translation services.   
    • Tools which can search through huge amounts of data to find out where potential child exploitation is taking place.    
    • The NPCC is also taking part in the Probable Futures programme, a four-year research project which reviews all AI systems across law enforcement and will create a responsible and ‘operational-ready’ framework for using AI. 

    T/Chief Constable Murray said:

    “There are huge benefits to using AI across the wider criminal justice system, not just in policing, and we should not shy away from it. 

    “Technology is moving at such a fast pace, and it will never be this slow again which means we need to mobilise now and equip our workforce for the future. If we don’t, we risk falling behind the criminals who are embracing and exploiting these tools.  

    “AI offers huge opportunities for policing. It can automate a range of administrative tasks such as closing call logs, redacting huge court bundles and translating documents. It can help our call handlers to prioritise those who need their assistance most and can even help identify patterns and trends in evidence. These gains in productivity mean officers and staff will ultimately have more time to be back out in their community.  

    “There is always more demand for policing than it can supply and AI helps release officer time so they can concentrate on those who need them most. 

    “The public can be assured that AI is not replacing officers. Police will remain at the heart of everything we do because violent disorder, domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation for example, will always need a trained human officer to interact, offer support and make the final decisions and that will never change.” 

    The former West Mercia officer, now a Director in the NCA, added:

    “I want to be very clear with the public that our use of AI will always be responsible, transparent and explainable and this is why we have all signed up to the first-ever AI covenant. 

    “The responsible use of AI is paramount if we are to deliver a service that is trusted by communities. People will see the only motivation here is to improve what we do and to better achieve our mission of making people safer.   

    “We are open to scrutiny and want to build transparency into what we do. For us, innovation is about keeping our communities safe, not for profit, not for the sake of it.  

    “We will are committed to working with key partners, academia and industry leaders to improve but will always be open and transparent about our actions and intentions.”  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO and Bulgaria announce major emergency response exercise

    Source: NATO

    In September 2025, Bulgaria will host NATO’s 20th civil emergency response exercise. These exercises are among the world’s largest and most complex training events in disaster response and the management of complex emergencies.

    Organised by NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), the exercise will bring together Allies and partners, as well as other international organizations. Participants will be confronted with scenarios that include natural and industrial disasters, hybrid threats, and complex emergencies. They will be able to test procedures related to the coordination of different activities and logistical support. Exercises like this help to gauge the ability of personnel from different countries to work effectively alongside each other, promote cooperation between civilian and military actors involved in disasters response, and build up the ability of Allies and partners to tackle complex and interconnected security threats. This is essential to building resilience and to preparing for potential challenges, including those related to climate change.

    The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) is NATO’s principal civil emergency response mechanism. It is available to all Allies and partner countries and can support them with both response and preparedness for natural and human-made disasters and other emergencies.

    The exercise was announced today (25 September 2024) at NATO Headquarters by NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Ms. Burcu San, and the Director General for Fire Safety and Civil Protection at the Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria, Mr. Aleksandar Dzhartov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change to approach for mock-ups for VMD assessment

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Changes to when the VMD requires submission of veterinary medicine labelling mock-ups for assessment.

    From 1 October, the VMD has revised requirements for submission of mock-ups.

    The changes outlined below are being adopted with the common objective of reducing administrative burden and introducing efficiencies to application procedures.

    Applicants remain responsible for ensuring the labelling and package leaflet for product in the marketplace comply with the approved QRD and principles set out in VMD’s Product Literature Standard.

    Procedures requiring mock-up assessment

    The VMD will continue to review and approve mock-ups for new product applications, including variation extension applications that result in a stand-alone marketing authorisation (MA), prior to those products being placed on the market.

    The VMD will also review mock-ups for the following variation procedures:

    • G.I.15.z Variation Requiring Assessment (VRA) applied for in the following scenarios:

      • to introduce mock-ups for the first time prior to marketing where not submitted at the end of a new MA procedure
      • to facilitate joint assessment of mock-ups between VMD and HPRA following granting of a new MA
      • to assess significant changes to the design or layout of the mock-ups that are unrelated to the summary of product characteristics (SPC)

    • G.I.18 VRA to align product information to the latest QRD template

    What mock-ups do you need to submit

    Mock-ups for all approved pack sizes need to be submitted for assessment prior to their first marketing.

    Procedures no longer requiring mock-up assessment

    The VMD will not routinely assess new mock-ups or annotate existing mock-ups for other variation categories, however, may request these on a case-by-case basis where we consider that the overall design and readability could be significantly affected.

    If this is the case, the procedure will be closed with a condition, and you will need to submit a separate G.I.15z variation to facilitate review of the mock-ups.

    Mock-ups for ongoing applications

    The VMD will continue to assess mock-ups for applications that are ongoing as of 1 October where these have been requested. If you have received a request to submit mock-ups, please continue to submit these for VMD review.

    Contact

    For any queries relating to this news item, please email postmaster@vmd.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Blue Card will promote highly qualified labour immigration

    Source: Government of Sweden

    EU Blue Card will promote highly qualified labour immigration – Government.se

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    Ministers on this page who have changed areas of responsibility

    Between 18 October 2022 and 10 September 2024 he was Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

    Ministers on this page who have changed areas of responsibility

    Between 18 October 2022 and 10 September 2024 he was Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

    Press release from Ministry of Justice

    Published

    The Government has presented a government bill to the Riksdag with proposals aimed at improving Sweden’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified workers.

    “The rules regarding highly qualified workers must be improved. Sweden must be an attractive country for highly qualified workers, and employers in highly qualified professional sectors must be sure that they can get the workers they need in time. This is an important part of the Government’s efforts to strengthen Sweden’s competitiveness,” says Minister for Migration Johan Forssell.

    The proposals are aimed at implementing the new Blue Card Directive, which replaces the 2009 Blue Card Directive. An EU Blue Card is a combined residence and work permit that can be granted to foreign workers who have an employment contract for highly qualified positions in Sweden and who meet other conditions.

    In the bill, the Government proposes the legislative amendments needed to implement the new Blue Card Directive. The proposals aim to improve the ability to attract and retain highly qualified workers and facilitate their mobility within the EU, and include the following:

    • lowering the salary threshold to be granted an EU Blue Card and lowering the required period of employment to 6 months;
    • making more categories of workers eligible for an EU Blue Card;
    • expanding the possibilities of switching from other types of residence permit to an EU Blue Card; and
    • making it possible to switch to another highly qualified position without applying for a new EU Blue Card.

    It is proposed that the legislative amendments enter into force on 1 January 2025.

    Press contact

    Ministers on this page who have changed areas of responsibility

    Between 18 October 2022 and 10 September 2024 he was Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

    Ministers on this page who have changed areas of responsibility

    Between 18 October 2022 and 10 September 2024 he was Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova: Within the framework of new national projects, the Government will continue to work on modernizing children’s healthcare

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova welcomed the participants of the first All-Russian forum “Children’s Health – Russia’s National Priority”.

    Dear colleagues!

    Today, the first All-Russian forum “Children’s Health – Russia’s National Priority” begins its work in Moscow. And I wholeheartedly welcome the participants, organizers, and guests of this major professional event.

    Tatyana Golikova greeted the participants of the first All-Russian forum “Children’s Health – Russia’s National Priority”

    12 hours ago

    For leading scientists and doctors from different regions of the country, this is an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues, exchange experiences, and outline new paths for joint activities.

    Your forum is taking place in a significant year for the country – the Year of the Family.

    We pay special attention to preserving and improving children’s health. It is important that every child has access to medical care, no matter where they live – in the city or in the countryside. Families and parents of children must be confident that the state will always provide them with help and support, surround them with attention. To this end, within the framework of new national projects, the Government will continue to work on modernizing children’s healthcare, strengthening the medical infrastructure, updating the material and technical base of perinatal centers, children’s clinics and hospitals, as well as creating a healthy environment around children, developing healthy lifestyle skills in them.

    Particular attention will be paid to the introduction of modern technologies for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and medical rehabilitation of children, the creation of new drugs designed for convenient and comfortable administration by the child.

    I am confident that discussions of the medical and scientific community, experts of various profiles will allow us to develop specific measures that will help the modern development of children’s healthcare, maintaining the health of millions of our young citizens.

    I wish all participants fruitful work, constructive communication and success.

    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://government.ru/nevs/52790/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Mismatch between ambitious targets and demand and investment needs for hydrogen – E-001730/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001730/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Beatrice Timgren (ECR), Charlie Weimers (ECR), Dick Erixon (ECR)

    The EU’s plan to invest billions of euro[1] in boosting renewable hydrogen fuel is being questioned by a recent European Court of Auditors report. The report highlights a mismatch between the ambitious targets set by the Commission and the actual demand and investment needs for hydrogen, suggesting that the strategy is politically driven rather than based on robust analysis.

    In light of this, the following questions arise:

    • 1.Reassessment and risk mitigation: According to the report, actual demand for hydrogen is expected to be significantly lower than the Commission’s targets, necessitating a reassessment and adjustment of the hydrogen strategy to reflect realistic market demand projections. Considering the Court’s warning about the EU’s high-risk exposure, what steps are being taken to mitigate these risks and ensure a balanced approach?
    • 2.Taxpayer protection: What measures are in place to protect taxpayers from potential financial losses if significant investments in hydrogen and projects like Northvolt do not yield the expected returns?[2][3]
    • 3.Climate benefit evaluation: How does the Commission evaluate the actual climate benefits of producing green steel and batteries (using imported raw materials) in Sweden compared to other potential green initiatives?[4][5]

    Submitted: 17.9.2024

    • [1] ‘For the 2021-2027 period, total EU funding for hydrogen-related projects is currently estimated at EUR 18.8 billion, mostly funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility.’ Special report 11/2024 on the EU’s industrial policy on renewable hydrogen: https://www.eca.europa.eu/ECAPublications/SR-2024-11/SR-2024-11_EN.pdf.
    • [2] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_224.
    • [3] https://www.eib.org/en/projects/all/20220461.
    • [4] https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2024-015-eib-and-nib-to-provide-eur371-million-with-investeu-backing-for-h2-green-steel-s-large-scale-production-of-steel-with-minimal-carbon-footprint.
    • [5] https://www.eib.org/fr/projects/all/20200902.
    Last updated: 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Launch of the national program to combat foot rot

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    On October 1, the Consumer Affairs and Veterinary Service (SCAV) will begin inspections on all sheep farms in the canton of Geneva. This is part of the new program to combat foot rot, a disease that causes painful lesions on the hooves of affected animals.

    Designed by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), in collaboration with the main associations in the sector, the program aims to reduce the presence of this disease to less than 1% of Swiss farms, compared to around 25% currently. It will last a maximum of 5 years.

    Although this disease does not pose any risk to human health and does not affect the quality of the meat or milk produced by these animals, the fight against this sheep pathology responds to a problem of improving animal welfare. It will also help to minimize the economic impact of this epizootic on the canton’s sheep farms.

    The success of this programme will depend entirely on the good cooperation of sheep farmers with the veterinary services, due to the health treatments they will have to carry out, compliance with the immobilization measures that may be imposed and the rigour of biosecurity practices on their farms.

    More information:

    Fight against foot rot – ge.chFighting foot rot throughout Switzerland – admin.chFoot rot – admin.chOSAV press release – admin.ch

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Collected abusive signatures. The Federal Chancellery has filed a criminal complaint

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Chancellery

    Federal Chancellery

    Berne, 25.09.2024 – The Federal Chancellery has filed today a criminal complaint raised by the Public Ministry of the Confederation for the purpose of electoral fraud. The plainte is directed towards you. The ways of previous joints in plain text indicate that the signatures that the authorities ont declared are not valid pourraient avoir have been falsified.

    The Federal Chancellery has now filed a criminal complaint against the inconvenience of forgery of signatures in the context of popular initiatives in 2022. She completed these plain ones with two reprises bringing new ways of life. The signals come from the same time in the same canton. The second plain text deposited today by the Federal Chancellery brings the suspects here if they are produced this year in the largest cantons and therefore the authors appear to be different.

    The Federal Chancellery will report the suspect cases here in the object of the second plainte lors du contrôle et du dépouillement des lists de signatures. After 2022, the process of in-depth checks includes previously declared signatures not valid for municipalities. Also note the elements that indicate the forgeries, for example of different writings for several signatures of one person and the same person.

    The plaint contains also these signals of falsification that from cantons or communes, and in a particular case, it is common. Les signalements portent parfois sur une seule signature; the plupart, on those dizaines.

    In total, the plain door on the environment 950 signatures powerfully falsified coming from six cantons, for five popular initiatives. The most frequent reasons here reveal the soupcons and conduisent to invalidate the signatures are, other than the different writings for more signatures of one single person and the same person, incorrect dates of naissance, badly spelled names, incorrect or invented addresses Lists of signatures here satisfy the legal requirements. According to the ongoing procedure, the Federal Chancellery will not provide information on the file.

    For the last few weeks, new abusive practices have been discovered. The Federal Chancellery exploits all the possibilities it provides to protect the integrity of the signature collection process. Outside the criminal court, to know the grounds for suspects, it is necessary to prevent and improve the proceedings.

    The chancelier of the Confédération will convene a permanent round table to ensure that those who propose and ask for signatures are committed to respecting the rules of transparency and behavior required to prevent falsifications. An in-depth monitoring of the collection and control processes of the signatures is to help you find them in place. The Federal Chancellery will also contact the scientific community to examine the technical solutions to prevent abuse and fraud in the collection of signatures.

    Address for envoi de questions

    Urs BrudererChef ai Section Communication058 483 99 69urs.bruderer@bk.admin.ch

    Author

    Federal Chancelleryhttps://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/fr/home.html

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU measures in response to the ICJ advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory – E-001713/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001713/2024/rev.1
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE)

    The advisory opinion issued on 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) states that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is clearly illegal. The opinion further stresses that there are ‘legal consequences’ for UN member states, who are ‘under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’.

    In this context:

    • 1.What specific action has the EU taken or does it intend to take within the scope of its powers to ban trade with the settlements, sanction companies operating in them, withdraw eligibility for subsidies and limit participation in EU programmes for, inter alia, companies and universities active in the settlements?
    • 2.What measures to sanction settlers are under consideration?

    Submitted: 13.9.2024

    Last updated: 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Press presentation 25 September 2024

    Source: Danmarks Nationalbank

    Danish economy

    On 25 September 2024 at a press conference, Governor Christian Kettel Thomsen’s main messages were that there is a prospect of moderate progress and stable prices in Denmark, but that there is still a need for monetary and fiscal policy to support low and stable inflation. (Presentation in Danish only).

    See the most recent presentations and speeches

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Does the Commission see it as urgent to adopt an ambitious family policy to tackle the demographic challenge? – E-001728/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001728/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mathilde Androuët (PfE)

    In her State of the Union address[1], and in the political guidelines for 2024-2029[2], Ursula von der Leyen raised the issue of ‘skills and labour shortages’. One of the remedies she proposes to address these shortages is ‘legal immigration’, an idea already put forward in the Pact on Migration and Asylum[3]. The ‘shortages’ concerned largely stem from the demographic decline we are seeing. It is hitting many European regions very hard[4].

    Yet unless they are torrential in nature, the European Economic and Social Committee emphasised back in 2011 that ‘[m]igration inflows […] would not be sufficient in themselves, since immigrants do not necessarily settle in areas where the birth-rate is low’, and that ‘immigration requires active pursuit of integration policies in order to avoid inter-community problems’[5]. What is more, the unemployment rate among immigrants from outside Europe is significantly higher than it is among those in other categories[6].

    As part of a long-term recovery strategy for Europe’s demography, does the Commission not consider it a priority to adopt, as a matter of urgency, ambitious family policies, as already advocated by the EESC back in 2007?

    Submitted: 17.9.2024

    • [1] 2023 State of the Union address by President Ursula von der Leyen – European Commission – 13 September 2023.
    • [2] Europe’s Choice – Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029 – 18 July 2024.
    • [3] Pact on Migration and Asylum – European Commission – https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-way-life/migration-and-asylum/pact-migration-and-asylum_en.
    • [4] Ninth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion – EESC – 30 May 2024.
    • [5] Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘The role of family policy in relation to demographic change with a view to sharing best practices among Member States’ – OJ 2011/C 218/02.
    • [6] Immigrants and descendants of immigrants – INSEE – 11 April 2023.
    Last updated: 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Are measures that make flying less accessible justified by a hypothetical benefit for the climate? – E-001732/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001732/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mathilde Androuët (PfE)

    According to the European Commission, fares for flights within the EU were on average 20 to 30 % higher last summer than before the COVID-19 pandemic[1]. This price hike calls into question how accessible flying is as a means of transport, especially in the coming years with the reform of the EU emissions trading system[2], included in the Fit for 55 package[3], and the announced reform of the Energy Taxation Directive[4].

    Airlines for Europe indicates that compliance with these new rules could cost European airlines 13 to 14 times more in 2030 than in 2019[5]. However, according to calculations by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), flights departing from Europe account for 0.3 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, with approximately half being generated by flights within the EU[6]. While taxing this sector would prevent a 0.002 °C increase in temperature in 2100, it would bring about very damaging indirect consequences (job losses and relocation).

    Does the Commission consider that this hypothetical and derisory ‘benefit for the climate’ justifies the adoption of self-punitive social and economic measures?

    Submitted: 17.9.2024

    • [1] Airline fares in EU 20-30 % higher this summer than in 2019 – The Brussels Times – 10 November 2023.
    • [2] Fit for 55: European Parliament adopts key laws to reach the 2030 climate target – European Parliament press release – 18 April 2024.
    • [3] Fit for 55 package: Council reaches general approaches relating to emissions reductions and their social impacts – Ministry of the Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion – 29 June 2022.
    • [4] Belgium issues ultimatum over energy tax reform – Euronews – 22 April 2024.
    • [5] The European Green Deal and the Fit For 55 Package – AirlinesForEurope – 11 December 2023.
    • [6] IPCC, 6th Assessment Report, Summary for Policymakers, p. 28.
    Last updated: 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ignazio Cassis in Central Asia: Speech on the occasion of the Swiss National Day

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    Bischkek, Swiss Embassy, 03.07.2024 – Speech by H.E. Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – check against delivery

    Benvenuto a tutti
    Bienvenue à tous et toutes
    Ich heisse alle recht herzlich willkommen

    Добро пожаловать!

    Кош келиңиздер!
     
    I would like to welcome you all to our celebration of the Swiss National Day – one month in advance, indeed, but this is the only way to catch you all here!

    This is a very special occasion that I am privileged to share with you today:
    This year, we are also celebrating the 30th anniversary of development cooperation between our countries; and the centenary of the Kara Kyrgyz Autonomous Oblast, the new beginning of the modern Kyrgyz Republic.

    A few years after that beginning, Swiss travellers started to visit your country:
    Notably the writer and photographer Ella Maillart, who is honoured in the karakul museum, and the alpinist Lorenz Saladin, who climbed Khan Tengri.
    Today, I have had the pleasure to discover a bit of your beautiful country and its many similarities with mine.  

    • We both have stunning nature and impressive mountains.
    • We are both rather small and landlocked countries;
    • We both have larger neighbours.

    Geographic, natural, cultural, ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity has been a key asset and factor for success for Switzerland as it is for the Kyrgyz Republic.

    Our relations are fruitful and strong.
    In 2023, Switzerland was the biggest export partner of the Kyrgyz Republic.
    We have regular high-level meetings, including political consultations, and now, my visit to Bishkek.

    It was about time to come here, to strengthen our relations.

    The team at your Embassy in Switzerland and at the Swiss Embassy in Bishkek invest countless hours in nurturing our bilateral relations.

    Not to forget the personal link of friendship between our countries:

    I would like here to recognise some of my compatriots who live in Kyrgyzstan – thank you for promoting Switzerland by your presence.

    I would also like to acknowledge the role of Kyrgyzstani citizens in Switzerland in strengthening links of friendship.

    Dear Guests
    In international fora, Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland support each other.
    The most obvious example is our collaboration within the World Bank and International Monetary Fund boards.
    Yesterday, I attended the constituency meeting in Dushanbe, with participation of the Kyrgyz Republic.
    It showed me how strong our links are.

    Switzerland will stay committed to its development cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic. We will continue to work together in the future.
    We should continue supporting the private sector, local governance and the water-energy sector, to the extent allowed by today’s trying circumstances.

    Speaking of circumstances, the stability and prosperity of our two countries strongly depend on the global balance of power.

    As a neutral country, Switzerland is a traditional partner for peace and dialogue.
    To fulfil this responsibility my country hosted the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine two weeks ago.
    We have launched a broadly supported process, where voices from all corners of the globe can discuss their ideas and points of view.
    The path to peace is long and challenging but it is in the interest of everyone – including Switzerland and Kyrgyzstan – to commit to this ambition.
    Both our countries thrive in peace, as will Ukraine and Russia when a “comprehensive, just and lasting peace” has been achieved.
     
    Ladies and Gentlemen
    On all anniversaries, it is customary to make wishes – and I have three wishes for your exceptional country:

    • May Kyrgyzstan navigate the difficult international context successfully, grounded in its neutrality.
    • May the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan soon find a good and equitable way to resolve the outstanding border issues.
    •  May the Swiss support in the water, health, economic and local governance sectors help make my first two wishes come true!

    Чоң рахмат!
    I wish you all a wonderful anniversary evening.
    Thank you!

    Address for enquiries

    FDFA Communication
    Federal Palace West Wing
    CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
    Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
    E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
    Twitter: @SwissMFA

    Publisher

    Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
    https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RAF 60 Second Update25 Sep 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Royal Air Force

    We’re back with the latest RAF 60 Second Update from the RAF Police Military Working Dog Trials at RAF Honington.

    In this episode:‌

    • Wedgetail, the UK’s newest Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, has completed its maiden UK test flight.
    • Teams battle for ‘Top Dog’ at the RAF Police Military Working Dogs Trials.
    • Her Majesty The Queen visits RAF Leeming in her role as Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Station to meet personnel and their families.

    Thanks for watching and see you next time!

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Population and migration statistics 2023 published25 September 2024 ​​​​Statistics Jersey have today released population and migration statistics including:a provisional estimate of the resident Jersey population at the end of 2023a revision of the estimate of the… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    25 September 2024

    ​​​​

    Statistics Jersey have today released population and migration statistics including:

    • a provisional estimate of the resident Jersey population at the end of 2023

    • a revision of the estimate of the resident Jersey population at the end of 2022

    • new experimental statistics breaking population and migration statistics down by eligibility for Control of Housing and Work Law status (Registered, Licensed, Entitled for Work, Entitled)1

    • new experimental statistics breaking population and migration statistics down by self-declared nationality1

    Summary

    The resident population at the end of 2023 is provisionally estimated to be 103,650, an increase of 350 people from the end of 2022.​

    There were more deaths than births in 2023 for the second year in a row, resulting in a negative natural change of -110. More people inwardly migrated than outwardly migrated during 2023 leading to net migration of +470 people. 

    In the five-year period 2018 to 2023:

    • the number of over 64-year-olds grew by 12%

    • the number of under 16-year-olds fell by 5%

    • the number of working age people (16 to 64 years old) was relatively stable (fell by 1%)

    Although relatively stable in size, this report shows that the working age population would have fallen every year since 2012 by an average of 230 people each ​year without migration.

    ​The report provides detailed experimental statistics by eligibility for Control of Housing and Work Law statuses.1​ Over the five-year period 2018 to 2023:​

    • the number of people with Registered status decreased by 15%

    • the number of people with Licensed status increased by 38%

    • the number of people with Entitled for work status decreased by 4%

    • the number of people with Entitled status increased by 2%

    ​The self-reported nationalities of the resident population are also presented as experimental statistics in the report.1 Over the five-year period from 2018 to 2023:

    • the number of people with a European nationality decreased by 7% from 16,740 to 15,610

    • the number of people with a rest of world nationality (excluding Jersey, British, and European) increased by 150% from 1,720 to 4,300 people

    Statistics Jersey have produced these population and migration statistics using administrative data (data that is already held by government for running public services). See report for detailed data sources and methods, linked below.

    Population and migration statistics 2023​

    ​

    1Experimental statistics are considered to be in the testing phase. The statistics potentially have a wider degree of uncertainty and should be interpreted with care. Publishing experimental statistics gives an opportunity to involve potential users an​d stakeholders in assessing their quality and suitability, while still providing useful information for users. You can read more in the​guidance and interpretation of experimental statistics policy linked below.

    guidance and interpretation of experimental statistics policy

    ​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Next stage of Beach improvement works require temporary closure of Beach Boulevard

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    A temporary closure of the Beach Boulevard between Links Road and the Esplanade will take place from 6pm on Sunday 29 September 2024 as part of the City Centre and Beachfront Masterplan.

    This closure is to allow work to begin on the sites for the new beach park and events field by the main contractor, Robertson Construction Group. The area will be fenced off to allow construction to be carried out safely.

    Clearly signposted diversion routes via Links Road and the Esplanade will be in operation. Two-way traffic on the Esplanade past the Queens Links Leisure Park will continue. The temporary closure will remain in place until the beach park and events field works are completed in 2026.

    These works will be the biggest redevelopment of the beach area for 35 years and are part of a £50million programme to create a transformational waterfront destination which will benefit businesses, residents, and visitors.

    The beach park will include an iconic play feature, the Rope Factory, which was developed through workshops with local school children and young people and was inspired by the city’s rope-making heritage.

    The events field will have an amphitheatre and will be able to host festivals, larger concerts, and gatherings.

    Other works being carried out at the beach include new footpaths, viewing areas, and new street furniture on Broadhill, one of Aberdeen’s best known landmarks, and the demolition of the former beach leisure centre.

    Further details on all the City Centre and Beachfront Masterplan projects can be found on the website www.generationaberdeen.co.uk . You can also register for project updates on the website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Come to the anniversary final of the KVN League of the State University of Management for the mood

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On September 27, 2024 at 17:00 in the Assembly Hall of the State University of Management, the grand finale of the season of the GUU KVN League will take place.

    The strongest and most talented teams that have gone through many challenges and proven that they are worthy of fighting for Olympic gold in the 25th anniversary season of the University League have reached the final.

    The finalists: “Minimum”, GUU; “Fildepersovye”, GUU; “Kontora”, RosNOU; “Charodeyki”, RosNOU; “Nastroika”, MGPPU/Synergy; “Vtoraya seria”, Synergy.

    This game will be a real triumph of humor, intelligence and resourcefulness. Don’t miss your chance to become part of the history of the KVN GUU League.

    Fellow spectators not from the State University of Management must register.

    For those who want to try their hand on stage next season, we recommend joining a special chat.

    Don’t boycott the Games, come to the KVN GUU League final!

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 09/25/2024

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

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

    Come to the anniversary final of the KVN League of the State University of Management for the mood

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: From 12 to 21: how we discovered connections between the Twelve and BlackJack groups

    Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

    Headline: From 12 to 21: how we discovered connections between the Twelve and BlackJack groups

    While analyzing attacks on Russian organizations, our team regularly encounters overlapping tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) among different cybercrime groups, and sometimes even shared tools. We recently discovered one such overlap: similar tools and tactics between two hacktivist groups – BlackJack and Twelve, which likely belong to a single cluster of activity.

    In this report, we will provide information about the current procedures, legitimate tools, and malware used by the BlackJack group, and demonstrate their similarity to artifacts found in Twelve’s attacks. We will also analyze another recently discovered activity that has much in common with the activity of the potential cluster.

    Who are BlackJack?

    BlackJack is a hacktivist group that emerged at the end of 2023, targeting companies based in Russia. In their Telegram channel, the group states that it aims to find vulnerabilities in the networks of Russian organizations and government institutions.

    As of June 2024, BlackJack has publicly claimed responsibility for over a dozen attacks. Our telemetry also contains information on other unpublicized attacks, where indicators suggest BlackJack’s involvement.

    The group only uses freely available and open-source software, such as the SSH client PuTTY or the wiper Shamoon, which has been available on GitHub for several years. This confirms that the group operates as hacktivists and lacks the resources typical of large APT groups.

    Wiper – Shamoon

    BlackJack uses a version of the Shamoon wiper written in Go in their attacks. Static analysis helped us extract the following characteristic strings:

    Strings from the wiper

    During our research, we found Shamoon samples in the following locations:

    Ransomware – LockBit

    In addition to the wiper, BlackJack also uses a leaked version of the LockBit ransomware to harm their victims.

    Verdicts with which BlackJack’s version of LockBit was detected, source: Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal (TIP)

    We found the ransomware in the same directories as the wiper:

    The network directories for placing the malware were not chosen at random. This allows the attackers to spread their samples across the victim’s infrastructure and later place them in C:ProgramData for further execution in the system.

    To launch LockBit, the attackers use scheduled tasks containing the following command line (the 32-character password may vary depending on the host or victim):

    The ransom note only contains the name of the group:

    Contents of the LockBit ransom note

    This confirms that the group is not aiming for financial gain, but rather to cause damage to the compromised organization.

    Ngrok

    To maintain persistent access to compromised victim resources, the attackers use tunneling with the common ngrok utility. We found the utility and its configuration file in the following directories:

    Paths Description
    Archive containing executable and configuration files.
    Ngrok executable file.
    Configuration file containing an authentication token and other information.

    Here is a list of commands related to ngrok execution:

    Commands Description
    Ngrok authentication process.
    Launches the ngrok.exe process and creates a TCP tunnel on port 3389 (RDP).
    Alternative for creating a TCP tunnel on port 3389 (RDP).
    Creates a UDP tunnel on port 3389 (RDP).

    Radmin, AnyDesk, PuTTY

    To ensure remote access to the system, BlackJack installs various remote access tools (RATs). Judging by the incidents we studied, the attackers initially attempted to use the Radmin utility, but all the external connections we observed were made through AnyDesk.

    During the RAT installation, the attackers created the following services:

    Service name Launch commands
    Radmin Server V3
    raddrvv3
    AnyDesk Service

    Additionally, the popular SSH client PuTTY was used to connect to certain hosts within the infrastructure.

    Connection with the Twelve group

    The malware and legitimate tools described above significantly overlap with the arsenal of the hacktivist group Twelve. This group also relies on publicly available software and does not use proprietary tools in its attacks.

    Most of the connections and overlaps between the two groups were discovered through Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) telemetry and Kaspersky Threat Intelligence solutions. KSN telemetry is anonymized data from users of our products who have consented to share and process this information.

    Malware sample similarities

    Let’s first examine the similarities between the ransomware and wiper samples from the BlackJack and Twelve groups. Below is the information from the Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal (TIP) on the LockBit ransomware file discovered while investigating the BlackJack attacks:

    BlackJack file information

    The sample is named bj.exe, presumably an abbreviation for the BlackJack group. Among other things, the TIP page shows a list of similar files compiled using the Similarity technology, which identifies files with similar patterns. Although the sample used by the hacktivists was created with the leaked LockBit builder, Similarity first identifies the most closely related files. Note the first hash in the list: 39B91F5DFBBEC13A3EC7CCE670CF69AD.

    List of similar files

    Checking this hash on the Threat Intelligence Portal reveals that it was mentioned in our recent investigation into the Twelve group.

    This suggests that the two groups use similar LockBit samples. Additionally, analysis of the configuration of the two samples (BlackJack and Twelve) showed that their exclusion lists (files, directories, and extensions to leave unencrypted) are identical.

    Just like the BlackJack’s LockBit sample, the Twelve group’s ransomware also has a list of similar files.

    List of similar files

    Upon checking one of them (underlined in red on the screenshot), we found that the file was also named bj.exe. This means that it is another instance of the BlackJack group’s ransomware, further indicating that the two groups use nearly identical LockBit samples.

    Below is a list of paths where LockBit samples were found during the investigation of incidents related to the BlackJack and Twelve groups:

    BlackJack Twelve
    [DOMAIN]netlogon [DOMAIN]netlogon
    C:ProgramData C:ProgramData
    Sysvoldomainscripts –

    Summing up the ransomware analysis, we can draw the following conclusions:

    • Both groups use similar LockBit ransomware samples;
    • The paths where these samples were found are almost identical.

    Let’s continue searching for further connections.

    Wiper reuse

    The study of wiper samples from incidents involving the BlackJack and Twelve groups also revealed similarities between them.

    Both wipers overwrite the MBR record with almost identical placeholder strings:

    MBR placeholder of the BlackJack wiper

    MBR placeholder of the Twelve wiper

    By analyzing the BlackJack wiper on the Threat Intelligence Portal, we found that in some cases it was extracted from the following archive:

    Information about the archive containing the BlackJack wiper

    Examining the archive, we found the Chaos ransomware – 646A228C774409C285C256A8FAA49BDE:

    Ransomware file in the archive

    Moreover, this file was mentioned in our report on the Twelve group. That is, malware from both groups is distributed in the same archive.

    Checking the file names and paths, we discovered a familiar network directory sysvoldomainscript.

    File names and paths

    In addition, during our investigation of attacks carried out by the Twelve group, we also found the use of Shamoon-based wipers. Moreover, according to KSN data, a specific variant of Shamoon, which was involved in BlackJack group attacks, was also seen in some Twelve attacks.

    Similar to the analysis of the LockBit ransomware, we decided to study the paths where the wipers were found in incidents related to the BlackJack and Twelve groups. As you can see from the table below, these paths are identical:

    BlackJack Twelve
    Sysvoldomainscripts Sysvoldomainscripts
    [DOMAIN]netlogon [DOMAIN]netlogon
    C:ProgramData C:ProgramData

    Summing up the analysis of the Shamoon wiper, we can confidently say that both groups use it or its components in their attacks and place them in identical directories. Moreover, the version of Shamoon that became available as a result of the leak was written in C#, whereas the variants of this wiper used in the BlackJack and Twelve attacks were rewritten in Go, further supporting the connection between these groups.

    Familiar commands and utilities

    In addition to the connections identified through analyzing the malware samples, we also discovered overlaps in the commands and tools used by both groups.

    Below are the commands found in the BlackJack and Twelve group attacks.

    Creating scheduled tasks:

    BlackJack Twelve

    Clearing event logs:

    BlackJack Twelve

    As you can see, apart from the names of the executable files, the commands are identical.

    The list of publicly available utilities used by the groups also partially overlaps:

    BlackJack Twelve
    Mimikatz
    PsExec
    Ngrok
    PuTTY
    XenAllPasswordPro
    Radmin
    AnyDesk    		 Mimikatz
    PsExec
    Ngrok
    PuTTY
    XenAllPasswordPro
    chisel
    BloodHound
    adPEAS
    PowerView
    RemCom
    CrackMapExec
    WinSCP

    New activity

    During our research, we also discovered another activity that closely resembles the ones described above. At this point, we cannot definitively determine which specific group is responsible for this activity; however, the malware samples and procedures clearly indicate that the source is the activity cluster under investigation.

    The similarities we found are listed below:

    1. The discovered wiper contains the characteristic strings we saw in the Twelve and BlackJack wipers and also creates a similar MBR record.
    2. The wiper is spread through the sysvol network directory and saved using a scheduled task, which copies it to that same C:ProgramData directory.
    3. As in the BlackJack and Twelve attacks, before wiping data with the wiper, the attackers launch the ransomware ( enc.exe), which is also copied from the network folder to C:ProgramData:
    4. As in Twelve group attacks, the execution of the wiper, as well as copying the wiper and ransomware from the network directory to the C:ProgramData folder, are performed using scheduled tasks:
    Unknown threat Twelve

    Also during the investigation of this activity, various artifacts and procedures were discovered that we had not seen in the BlackJack and Twelve attacks:

    1. Using the PowerShell cmdlet Get–MpPreference to gather information about disabled Windows Defender features.
    2. Creating scheduled tasks:
      Task name Command line Description
      run1 Executing the wiper from the
      C:ProgramData folder
      def Collecting information about disabled
      Windows Defender features
    3. Using WMIExec for lateral movement into the root directory.

    Victims

    The mentioned malware samples, utilities, and command lines were found in the infrastructures of government, telecommunications, and industrial companies in Russia.

    Attribution

    Based on our research, we cannot be sure that the same actors are behind the activities of both groups. However, we suspect that the BlackJack and Twelve groups are part of a unified cluster of hacktivist activity aimed at organizations located in Russia.

    Conclusion

    In this study, we demonstrated that the BlackJack and Twelve groups have similar targets and use similar malware, distributing and executing it using the same methods. At the same time, they are not interested in financial gain but aim to inflict maximum damage on target organizations by encrypting, deleting, and stealing data and resources.

    Indicators of compromise

    Wiper – Shamoon

    ED5815DDAD8188C198E0E52114173CB6                    wip.exe/wiper.exe
    5F88A76F52B470DC8E72BBA56F7D7BB2               letsgo.exe

    Ransomware – LockBit

    DA30F54A3A14AD17957C88BF638D3436                 bj.exe
    BF402251745DF3F065EBE2FFDEC9A777                  bj.exe

    File paths

    Sysvoldomainscriptswip.exe
    [DOMAIN]netlogonwip.exe
    C:ProgramDatawip.exe
    Sysvoldomainscriptsbj.exe
    [DOMAIN]netlogonbj.exe
    C:ProgramDatabj.exe
    C:ProgramDataletsgo.exe
    [DOMAIN]SYSVOL[DOMAIN]SCRIPTSletsgo.exe
    C:ProgramDataenc.exe
    [DOMAIN]SYSVOL[DOMAIN]SCRIPTSenc.exe
    C:Users[USER]Downloadsngrok-v3-stable-windows-amd64.zip
    C:Program FilesWindows Media Playerngrok.exe
    C:Users[USER]AppDataLocalngrokngrok.yml

    Scheduled task names

    copy
    run1
    go2
    im
    def

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Abusive signature collections: Federal Chancellery files complaint

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Chancellery

    Federal ChancelleryBern, 25.09.2024 – The Federal Chancellery has today filed a criminal complaint against unknown persons with the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland on suspicion of electoral fraud. The evidence included in the complaint indicates that the signatures declared invalid by the authorities may have been forged. The Federal Chancellery had already filed a criminal complaint against unknown persons in 2022 for suspected forgery of signatures collected for popular initiatives. This complaint was supplemented twice with new evidence; in this case, the reports came from a single canton. Today’s criminal complaint, however, includes suspicious cases that were observed in various cantons this year and for which it is assumed that different perpetrators were involved. The criminal complaint includes suspicious cases that the Federal Chancellery came across when checking the lists and counting the signatures. As part of the in-depth checks that have been carried out since 2022, the Federal Chancellery also takes into account signatures that municipalities have already declared invalid. In this way, it was able to identify anomalies that suggest forgery, such as different handwritings in the case of multiple signatures from the same person. The complaint groups together fifteen reports of forgery brought to the attention of the Federal Chancellery by municipalities and cantons and, in one case, by a private individual. Some of these reports concern individual signatures, but most concern a double-digit number of signatures. In total, it involves around 950 suspected forged signatures from six cantons and collected for five different popular initiatives. In addition to the aforementioned different handwritings in the case of multiple signatures from the same person, the most common reasons for suspected forgery and invalidation are incorrect dates of birth, misspelled names, incorrect or non-existent addresses, and lists of signatures that do not meet the legal requirements. In view of the ongoing proceedings, the Federal Chancellery is not providing further details on the complaint. In recent weeks, new cases involving abusive methods of collecting signatures have been discovered. Since then, the Federal Chancellery has been using all available means to protect the integrity of the signature collection process. In addition to reporting suspicious cases for criminal prosecution, it is focusing on prevention and improving processes. The Federal Chancellor will soon convene a permanent round table to ensure that signature providers and buyers commit to transparency and conduct rules to prevent forgery. More detailed monitoring of the signature collection and control processes is currently being implemented. The Federal Chancellery has also contacted the scientific community to explore technical solutions to protect the signature collection process from abuse and fraud. Address for enquiriesUrs BrudererHead of the Communications Section058 483 99 69urs.bruderer@bk.admin.chPublished byFederal Chancelleryhttps://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/it/home.html

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: School-based nurseries funding round to launch next month

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The first stage of the government’s plan to deliver 3,000 nurseries by upgrading spare spaces in primary schools will begin next month.

    The first stage of the government’s plan to deliver 3,000 nurseries by upgrading spare spaces in primary schools will begin next month, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced today. 

    From next month, schools will be invited to bid for a share of £15 million capital funding, with capacity in the programme to deliver up to 300 new or expanded nurseries in this first round.

    Schools will need to demonstrate how their proposals will respond to need in their local area, supporting the 2025 expansion of government-funded hours of childcare and early education for working parents to 30 hours a week.

    Funding will be allocated to successful schools in Spring 2025 to support delivery for the first cohort of places.

    This is the first step to delivering the government’s ambition for 3,000 new nurseries in primary schools, and long-term plan to make early years education and childcare more widely available, accessible, and high quality.

    Currently, availability of early years provision is not evenly distributed across the country, with the most disadvantaged areas often experiencing the lowest access to provision.

    To ensure the programme is delivered in a way that will benefit all parents and children, the department will use the first phase to take learnings for future years and better understand how we can best support underserved and poorer areas.

    Schools will be able to express interest for future phases of the programme to help assess demand in different parts of the country, and the department will engage with the sector on the most appropriate model to extend the programme across the country in its second phase. 

    The government has urged schools interested in bidding for the first round to start discussing with their local authorities, governing organisations and wider stakeholders to consider pupil place planning, local childcare sufficiency and next steps for setting up and running new or expanded nurseries. 

    Guidance to support schools will be issued at the date of launch.

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Digital switch for community alarms

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    Digital telecare systems provide greater reliability as well as faster connections, which means they can send alerts more quickly than analogue ones.

    More than 275,000 calls are made through the alarm system in Perth and Kinross each year.

    In 2017, BT Open Reach declared the termination of analogue telephone networks by 2025, prompting a nationwide shift to digital networks.

    The UK and Scottish Government’s Digital Office, have been collaborating with telecom providers to support this transition. The deadline for the complete switchover has been extended to the end of 2027 to accommodate various challenges faced by local authorities and businesses. However, Perth and Kinross are on track to meet the original 2025 deadline.

    To support the transition in Perth and Kinross, the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) secured £6 million funding from Perth and Kinross Council in February 2022.

    This funding is supporting the replacement of 4,000 analogue alarm units to digital ones.

    To date, 3,850 units have been purchased at a cost of £1.34 million, leaving only 39 units pending replacement.

    The remaining £4.66 million will fund the next phase of the project, including the replacement of peripherals for more complex needs, and addressing future demand due to an ageing population.

    As of June 2024, approximately 2,000 clients have been migrated to the digital network, with the remaining clients expected to transition by the end of the financial year.

    Perth & Kinross HSCP has received national recognition from the Local Government Digital Office, earning a Gold Level 2 Implementation Award for migrating over 50% of clients to a digital service.

    Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership Chief Officer Jacquie Pepper said: “We are committed to completing the digital telecare switchover, ensuring those who rely on this vital service continue to receive reliable and advanced telecare services.

    “We anticipate all of our customers will be fully  switched over to digital by the end of 2024. This will make Perth and Kinross one of the few Scottish local authorities to reach this milestone.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Helping to prevent domestic homicides and suicides

    Source: Scottish Government

    Review process will ensure lessons are learned from each case.

    Legislative proposals to help reduce the number of domestic homicides and suicides in Scotland have been published in Parliament.

    If passed by MSPs, the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill, would require a robust new review process to take place following the death of a partner, ex-partner, or child where abuse is known or suspected.

    The reviews will ensure justice, health, social care, local government and third sector agencies identify and agree any areas for change and improvement so further deaths may be prevented.

    Those with direct experience of domestic abuse and families who have been bereaved because of such abuse overwhelmingly backed the plans for this national multi-agency review model during a public consultation.

    The model, informed by the work of a Scottish Government-led multi-agency Taskforce, is a key part of the new Bill. 

    As the Bill was published, an information board at a previously unmarked memorial cairn in Holyrood Park was installed by Historic Environment Scotland. The cairn, built in memorial to domestic homicide victim Margaret Hall, who was murdered by her husband in 1720, was visited by Justice Secretary Angela Constance and partners involved in developing the review model.

    Elsewhere, the new Bill proposes measures to modernise the justice sector through greater use of digital technology, including evidence-sharing, and efficient processes. It will make permanent a number of temporary measures put in place during the COVID pandemic which have improved how the criminal justice system works and which have support to become permanent measures. The reforms include allowing more ‘virtual’ attendance at criminal courts, electronic signing and sending of documents in criminal cases and increasing the maximum level of fiscal fines that can be imposed.

    Justice Secretary Angela Constance said:

    “One death involving domestic abuse is one too many. While overall homicide rates are falling, there remains a significant number of victims who are killed by a partner or ex-partner, with the vast majority being women.

    “Our plans for a new review process will ensure agencies across justice, health, social care, local government and the third sector are working together to identify what lessons can be learned following known or suspected domestic abuse deaths. I hope that identifying what needs to improve will mean there are fewer deaths of this kind. Ultimately, however, the change we need to see will only happen when those who perpetrate domestic abuse – the majority of whom are men – change their actions and behaviour.

    “This is a dual-purpose Bill and some of the criminal justice measures included are already delivering better outcomes and experiences for those using justice services, so it is right that we look to make them permanent. The Bill, which is backed by justice partners including the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, also supports greater use of digital technology, which will modernise the justice system even further.”

    Fiona Drouet, founder and CEO of EmilyTest, said:

    “The introduction of domestic homicide and suicide reviews marks a critical step forward in Scotland. These reviews will help us better understand the warning signs so often missed before a tragedy. They will be crucial in helping to prevent so many avoidable deaths, whether by murder or suicide.

    “I am privileged to have been invited to chair the Domestic Abuse Related Suicide Task and Finish Group under the Taskforce, helping to ensure that lessons are learned and precious lives are not lost. Through the support and expertise of my depute chair, Sarah Dangar, and the wider group, I am confident we will ensure meaningful lessons are learned.”

    Kate Wallace, Chief Executive at Victim Support Scotland, said:

    “The Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review offers a unique opportunity for lessons to be learned from homicides and suicides within the context of domestic abuse in Scotland, so that we can help ensure these types of crimes can be prevented. 

    “We welcome the opportunity to bring forward legislation which will embed this entirely new approach for Scotland, and fully acknowledge the work and collective efforts required to address the unique issues inherent to this type of crime. We welcome these progressive measures, especially how victims will be considered within the legislation.”

    Background

    Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill

    The Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Model is being developed by the Scottish Government’s Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Taskforce, Model Development Subgroup and ‘Task and Finish’ Groups.

    The commitment to developing a domestic homicide review model is within the Equally Safe Delivery Plan.

    Domestic Homicide Reviews: Consultation Analysis

    For further information about the cairn, contact Historic Environment Scotland – communications@hes.scot; 07721 959 962

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin spoke about the opening of the second fish market in Moscow in the North-West Administrative Okrug

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The second fish market in Moscow has opened in Mitino.

    “The success of the festival

    “Moscow is on the wave. Fish week” inspired us to create the first fish market – in Kosino-Ukhtomsky. During its operation, more than a million buyers visited it. Seeing such a demand for fresh, high-quality fish and seafood, we decided to open a second market – in Mitino. Its area is over four thousand square meters. And with the onset of warm weather next spring, we will additionally open a terrace,” – said Sergei Sobyanin.

    The new market has a branded corner called “Moscow – on the Wave,” for which a special menu has been developed.

    The open kitchen of the new market is twice as big as in Kosino-Ukhtomsky. Products purchased at the market will be cooked for free. And on the master class sites, guests can learn how to cook fish and seafood dishes.

    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.mos.ru/major/themes/11821050/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New event coming to support pensioners in Derby

    Source: City of Derby

    We will be running a Pensioner Advice Event as part of the council’s wider initiative to help pensioners this winter with Pension Credit, Winter Fuel Payments and more.

    This event will be running on Friday 4 October, 10am – 3pm at the Council House. The event is designed specifically to provide guidance, advice and resources for struggling pensioners in Derby. Attendees will have access to expert advice on a wide range of topics, including:

    • Applying for Pension Credit.
    • Information about Winter Fuel Payments.
    • Fire safety advice.
    • Information on local public transportation.
    • Find out how to secure better prices for water, electricity, and phone services.
    • Advice on how to make your home more energy-efficient to lower your heating bills.
    • And more.

    A BSL interpreter will be available at the event, ensuring those who use British Sign Language can access the information they need. No prior booking is required for the event.

    Councillor Sarah Chambers, Cabinet Member for Cost of Living, Equalities and Communities, said:

    We know that pensioners across Derby are feeling the pressure from rising costs, and it’s crucial that we step in to provide the help and advice they need. This event is just one of numerous practical initiatives we are carrying out to support our older residents by offering guidance on everything from pension credit to energy savings.

    We are committed to making sure that pensioners in our city have the resources to get through these challenging times.”

    For more information, you can visit derby.gov.uk/costofliving or visit communityactionderby.org.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice-President’s address at the 2nd edition of Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show at Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh

    Source: Government of India

    सभी को नमस्कार, 

    The largest state of the Union is blossoming and flourishing under his dynamic governance. Yogiji has turned out to be a game changer for this state, and that will help the nation. I am particularly amazed at his 24×7 watchdog governance. 

    Personally, for me, this is an absolute delight to be at the inaugural ceremony of the second edition of UP International Trade Show 2024. I had the good occasion to go around and see for myself. There could not be a greater assurance for a man like me that all is well, things are on the right track. What I witnessed was beyond my concept, imagination, and dream. I felt I was in the most developed country in the world.

     This is indeed a very well-thought-out platform that not only showcases what is there in India, in Uttar Pradesh, it affords an opportunity for people to snatch those opportunities, to be in touch with the best minds, the artisans, the skilled workers, the products, and personally flourish. My congratulations to the Honourable Chief Minister for being so thoughtful, farsighted, and practical.

     The beginning was made for the first edition by the Honourable President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji and in this context, it is my absolute privilege to be part of the second. We are indeed very happy that the trade show will significantly showcase Vietnam as a partner country. As one of Southeast Asia’s robust economies, Vietnam has an impressive GDP of 435 billion US dollars, and we look forward to witnessing their exceptional products and innovative manufacturing practices but I can assure them, they are in the right place, their participation will enormously benefit them and their people to fully exploit their talent and connect with the best artisans and economic potential.

     Friends, this will also be an occasion to get a feel for the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam. They will, ofcourse, everyone will feel the rich heritage of Uttar Pradesh and Bharat, but we will also get a feel for the rich heritage of Vietnam. I had the occasion to have a look at it, full display through captivating traditional music and what a similarity there was with Indian instruments. I am sure there will be enough for them to carry home. The dance performances, it was enriching.

    And it is a state which, in the last few years, is seeing the happiness factor rising. When the happiness factor rises, your appetite is functional.

     My friends from Uttar Pradesh and all over the country who are here will have the occasion to indulge in authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Renowned for its unique flavours, when we look at Vietnam, the savoury delights of Pho and its spring rolls to the mouth-watering Banh Mi, our palates will be treated to a culinary journey. I have had the occasion to know about them and taste them.

    This, in a sense, is a natural partnership if we go into a historical perspective, will surely foster cultural and economic challenges collectively. The exchanges will be rewarding, further enhancing our bilateral relations and strengthening the resolve for a greater role for the Global South in international affairs. 

    It was the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that at the G20 platform, he brought on the international radar, the voice of Global South. This is an important event, their participation is memorable, and I am sure they will carry happy memories of this event.

    The exhibition — the scale, the display, the technological penetration, the cultural wealth, each district’s products. I instructed my team that they will, at the micro level, handle each store, each product, so that the nation comes to know it through Sansad TV. Mr. Chief Minister will seek your cooperation. My team will be here this evening. 

    Friends, the synergy between the Prime Minister of India, his vision, coupled with the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi’s execution, sharp execution, execution which has no accommodation for corruption, no tolerance for inefficiency, this has transformed Uttar Pradesh into Uttam Pradesh. The sustained efforts of Yogiji are leading to another milestone development and achievement, soothing to the entire nation, Uttar Pradesh is fast becoming Udyam Pradesh of the country. 

    This venue is very soothing for development. This venue was also witness to the recently concluded SEMICON India 2024 conference, where the Honourable Prime Minister outlined India’s vision of making the semiconductor industry, and that is going to be the foundation of Viksit Bharat. The conference was a crucial step towards realising India’s goal of becoming a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing.

     Let me, friends, come to the state of the nation, the state of Bharat. For ages, India has been the cradle of civilisation, a crucible of innovation, and a global hub of learning. Our Vedas are a gold mine of knowledge and information. India takes pride in being one of the oldest civilisations with 5,000 years of civilisational ethos. We lost our way somewhere in between, but now we are on our way to regaining it  and that too fast enough to be a beacon for the planet in several ways in this century. 

    Nothing can be more satisfying for me to note than that in this regaining, the largest state of the union, under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, is playing with the straight bat on the front foot to deliver for the nation. Look at a decade ago; the scenario was alarmingly worrisome. The economy was staggering, and the mood of the nation was shaky. From every aspect, governance was challenging for the citizens but what a 360-degree change, soothingly. 

    The last decade is marked by unprecedented transformation — a transformation for the better. Bharat has emerged as the most buoyant economy in the world. It is now the favourite global destination for investment and opportunity, with an ecosystem of hope and possibility all-pervasive in India. Undoubtedly, we are set to regain our pristine glory. India is now a global happening place, and Uttar Pradesh is bubbling with activity. Activity in every sector: infrastructure, growth, industry, and innovation. 

    Today, Bharat is a near 4 trillion dollar economy that has 8% growth prospects for decades to come,  world institutions have analysed. In 2 years, our economy will march ahead of that of Japan and Germany to be the world’s third-largest economy. Incremental infrastructure growth is reflected in 8 new airports annually. The Honourable Chief Minister has indicated the scenario here. Unbelievable achievement! Look at the express highways, virtually doubling, and the state will be on the global map when it comes to the world-class largest airport in Jewar.

     It’s a state where dreams are fructified into ground realities. That’s what I’ve seen. Every 2 years, 3 or 4 metro systems are getting added. Friends, there is daily laying of 28 km of highways and 12 km of railway tracks. In PM Modi’s third term, historic term, 12 new industrial zones are taking shape to boost manufacturing. The nation is fully geared to tap the benefits of artificial intelligence, of electric mobility, green hydrogen, space, and semiconductors. For want of time, I am not focusing on it, but we are among the few countries focusing on the green hydrogen mission, quantum computing. We are in single digits when it comes to the exploitation of 6G technology commercially.

     The journey towards Viksit Bharat is well on track. It will fructify in 2047, if not earlier. The mood of the nation is now one of hope and possibility, with accolades pouring in from global institutions. 

    I have had a long political career, having been elected to Parliament in 1989 and a minister in 1990. The World Bank and IMF are praising us to heights, and rightly so. 

    Based on factual premise, our digitisation and technological penetration is turning out to be a global model for emulation. A decade of Make in India initiative has yielded significant results. Following successes in agriculture and services, India is now poised for manufacturing growth. State governments, UP being in the lead, are competing to attract investments by improving business conditions. 

    Sir, nothing is more important for investment than law and order. Law and order defines democracy and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath defines law and order. It is in this soothing ecosystem that UP has emerged as an MSME hub by leveraging the sector strengths to create a robust supply chain.

    Technology has enabled greater participation from skilled youth in tier two town and rural areas. 

    Imagine skill mapping, skill mapping during challenging, daunting days of COVID-19. You did it. 

    Bharat is now frog leaping from Make in India to conceptualise, design and make in India. We are having our own concept of evolution. We are engaged in design and Make in India. It is encouraging to see multinationals and Indian companies getting in a synergetic stance. They are establishing innovation centres nationwide. Uttar Pradesh is a shining example of it, the defence corridor being one. 

    Micro, small and medium enterprises are much beyond their nomenclature, as I said earlier. This segment is the spine of the economy and a major contributor of human resource employment. 

    Coming to Uttar Pradesh, I state, with that kind of history, cultural background was plagued with law and order challenges, and atmosphere of fear. 

    Not long ago, growth prospects were all time low. And this state now is a beacon of progress and development. The long, long dark tunnel was negotiated with great speed by the Honourable Chief Minister. And there is great light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel is much behind. From the tunnel, the dark tunnel, the state is on the expressway. 

    On the way to take a flight for higher economy on the largest airport that is coming up in Jewar. The state is full of hope and possibility. The transformation is unbelievable. Normally, people would not undertake it. They would get adjusted to the status quo. Because the challenge was really very, very, very, very daunting. 

    In a sense, there is a complete makeover of Uttar Pradesh. You are regaining its pristine glory in every sense. Because the governance exemplifies transparency, accountability, worth emulation, the kind of handholding of the entrepreneur. 

    And corruption is a word unheard in Uttar Pradesh. Power corridors are fully sanitised. Decisions are fast-tracked and duly tracked. 

    The state is now turning out to be a great strength to the nation. In phenomenal economic upsurge and unprecedented infrastructure growth in the nation, the largest state of Uttar Pradesh is now an asset and a major contributor unlike a scenario that existed a few years ago. 

    Uttar Pradesh aspires and rightly so, and why not? To reach the target of $1 trillion economy by 2027 and will be mightily adding to the dream of Prime Minister Modi to his $5 trillion economy by 2027. As rightly focused by the Honourable Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh’s advantages include fertile land, young population, religious tourism, and MSMEs. And look at the size of MSMEs. 

    Some countries in the world may not have that population. As you have a number of units, the massive focus on infrastructure, one has to see to believe it. It’s easier to say that yes, six new expressways are being added. 

    It takes time, planning, execution, and funds. This is happening. All this has a Yogi multiplier, Yogi effect, Yogi impact. 

    Noida contributes 10% of U.P. GDP, I’m told, is crucial for economic growth in the industrial base, IT sector, and upcoming projects like Jewar Airport and Film City. But this city has emerged as one of the leading habitations at a global level. The kind of talent that is there in Noida, I know for sure, I come from the legal profession. 

    It’s becoming a favourite destination. Uttar Pradesh, no longer a sleeping giant, no longer a state with a promise. It’s a state in action with its vast resources, burgeoning population, and strategic location. It’s a growth engine in itself, and tied to the larger growth engine of the nation to take the nation forward. 

    I am particularly impressed by the inclusive growth in the country under Prime Minister Modi’s vision. He believes in a plateau kind of a growth. Everyone has to rise in every sector, every social element. U.P. is in line with it. 

    The trade show focuses on a great opportunity for everyone for boosting MSMEs, promoting geographical indications, and GI products. It was with utmost reluctance that I moved fast. Otherwise, one geographical indicator was good enough to take a few hours. Because it has enormous potential of opportunities. What I saw today was not an exhibition. I saw a basket of opportunities for all. 

    This event, friends, aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of an Atma Nirbhar Bharat and embraces the motto, local to global. 

    India’s progress is evident in various sectors. But this is the right epicentre to take it to the next level, local to global. First it was vocal for local, now local to global. 

    I wouldn’t take long, but India is on the rise as never before. The rise is unstoppable. If I quickly take you, metro services have expanded from five cities to 23. 

    We have the world’s second largest metro network. The number of cities with airports has doubled from 70 to 140. India is now the largest connected nation globally with over 800 million broadband users. Digital technologies have enabled initiatives like housing for 170 million, health coverage for 60 million, and loans for 58 million small businesses annually. India records the highest digital financial transactions globally with 13 billion transactions per month. The country boasts the world’s third largest startup ecosystem with 107 unicorns and the third largest purchasing power in the world. 

    The semiconductor industry, which is very critical. It was here that the beginning was made by the Honourable Prime Minister. It is poised by 2026 to surpass 55 billion. I have no doubt this century belongs to Bharat. This century rightly belongs to Bharat. And that being the situation, let us all get together, ladies and gentlemen, because along with Bharat, we are witnessing a new dawn of Uttar Pradesh, a future where the nation stands tall as a global leader in trade, innovation, and cultural heritage. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has painstakingly brought about 360 degree improvement. Not easy. I feel tasked. He brought it about in law and order, in development, in cultural revolution, in giving skill to the people, and in bringing happiness to the people. The vision of Prime Minister Modi and passion of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are in synergy, preparing this transformation towards the grand mission of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. I have no doubt that this trade show will be a beacon of opportunity, collaboration, and success in our journey ahead. 

    And friends, I conclude by an appeal. एक बहुत बड़ा महायज्ञ भारत में हो रहा है, यह महायज्ञ विकसित भारत के लिए हो रहा है। यह महायज्ञ की पूर्ण आहुति आजादी की शताब्दी का जब महोत्सव होगा तब होगी। इसमें हर किसी को आहुति देनी है और आहुति देने के लिए संकल्प की आवश्यकता है की हम भारतीय हैं, भारतीयता हमारी पहचान है, राष्ट्रवाद हमारा धर्म है। We can never put self or political interest over nationalism.

     

    Thank you so much.

     

    ****

    JK/RC/SM

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Briefing on maintaining peace and security in Ukraine (FR)

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

    Bern, 09.24.2024 – Address by Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – Check against delivery

    Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Dear colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I thank Slovenia for its initiative. It is crucial that this Council continues to reflect on ways to restore peace and end the Russian war against Ukraine. And this, in the presence of Ukraine; I welcome the presence of President Zelenskiy here.

    I firmly believe in the importance of respecting the United Nations Charter, international humanitarian law, as well as the application of the Geneva Conventions, whose 75th anniversary we are celebrating this year.

    And yet, despite all the tools established after World War II, we have not succeeded in silencing the guns. We have not been able to prevent countless civilians from suffering the consequences.

    Ladies and Gentlemen

    So far, this Council has not assumed its responsibility. After 1000 days of war, we still have not found a diplomatic solution.

    Why are we unable to agree on the way forward to restore peace? Have we lost the common grammar of peace?

    If I hold my position as Minister, it is because I believe in the power of politics in the service of the common good. Politics must always challenge the maxim of the strategist von Clausewitz that: “war is the mere continuation of politics by other means.” And the UN is politics.

    Excellencies,

    Making peace takes courage.

    By organising the first Peace Summit in Ukraine last June, Switzerland had the audacity to place peace on the international agenda, and this in the midst of war.

    Countries from five continents gathered near Lucerne to discuss three key issues essential to building peace: • Nuclear security; • Food security; and • The humanitarian dimension of the conflict.

    The joint Bürgenstock communiqué, signed by a majority of participants representing the entire world, has helped to ease certain blockages revealed by the war in Ukraine and to restore a beginning of trust between us.

    This first step towards peace must not be left without follow-up. It is now essential to continue this dialogue also with Russia.

    Only pragmatic diplomacy can get us out of this impasse, which has already cost too many lives.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    While peace must be our priority, the reconstruction of Ukraine is also a collective responsibility. A lasting peace will also depend on well-prepared reconstruction. From the beginning of the conflict, Switzerland laid the foundations for this reconstruction with the Lugano Conference.

    One of our priorities is humanitarian demining. We are currently investing $120 million to demine civilian and agricultural areas in Ukraine. The Ukraine Mine Action Conference, co-organized by Switzerland and Ukraine on October 17-18 in Switzerland, will discuss the needs and solutions for this action.

    Ukraine is about to face its third winter of war. It is our duty to finally offer the Ukrainian people a spring of peace.

    Thank you.

    Address for inquiries

    FDFA CommunicationFederal Palace West WingCH-3003 Bern, SwitzerlandTel. Press service: 41 58 460 55 55E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.chTwitter: @SwissMFA

    Publisher

    Federal Department of Foreign Affairshttps://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Atos selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to expand the capabilities of the Destination Earth (DestinE) services platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Atos selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to expand the capabilities of the Destination Earth (DestinE) services platform

    Funded by the European Commission, the DestinE initiative powers a platform harnessing extensive climate data using a digital model of Earth

    Paris, France – September 25, 2024 – Atos today announces that it has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead a consortium tasked with an initial 12-month mission to expand the capabilities of the Destination Earth (DestinE) services platform. To accomplish this task, the Group will design and implement advanced applications and services (AAS).

    Kick-started by the European Commission, DestinE has the following components: digital twins of the Earth; a data lake to process big data in the cloud; and a services platform engineered by ESA. AAS will expedite the use of DestinE platform data as well as the roll-out of services by stakeholders within Europe’s ecosystem. As a result, European Union member states, European institutions, manufacturers, academics and scientists will be able to devise strategies for adapting to climate change and implement accurate, actionable measures that ensure mitigation.

    Together with its partners Mews and ACRI-ST, Atos will support ESA in its efforts to pinpoint and deploy pioneering technologies in generative AI, data fusion and 3D visualization. These technologies will be integrated into the DestinE services platform, forming the application and architectural building blocks that will enable users to unlock the full potential of the data lake and digital twin capabilities to create content, services and decision-making tools. Users will enjoy access to a host of different algorithms, collaborative digital tools, thematic information, models, simulations, forecasts and graphic visualizations.

    The platform’s components will accelerate the development of multiple use cases spotlighting the impact of natural phenomena and human activities on Earth while planning for extreme weather events, adapting policy to climate challenges and raising public awareness. For instance, what are the effects of climate change on land use? Which initiatives should be led in cities and regions and how can we monitor their positive impact over the course of decades? What tools should be deployed to address the impact of manufacturing and educate others on climate issues?

    ESA entrusted Atos with its expertise in developing and operating advanced services into DestinE platform under large-scale European initiatives, and the Group’s ability to combine its partners’ know-how, in this case, Mews’ consulting acumen and ACRI-ST’s core business skills to process and manage satellite data. Full knowledge of Atos’ cloud platforms will be key, since DestinE runs on a flexible and secure open-source computing infrastructure which is supported by public cloud operators located in Europe.

    This initiative is spearheaded by Atos’ Toulouse-based teams who specialize in deploying and utilizing Earth observation platforms, backed by interdisciplinary experts working for Atos’ Inno’Labs – innovation hubs that are home to scientists, data scientists, AI specialists, IT architects and software developers.

    Raoul Roth, CEO France, Atos, commented: “We are honored that ESA places its trust in our Group. It is a testament to our expertise and long-standing commitment to helping organizations across Europe deliver services with high value-added technologies and a lasting impact on the future of our planet.”

    The DestinE services platform is powered by ESA’s space observation data thanks to the Earth Explorers and Copernicus Sentinel missions, coupled with data provided by Europe’s meteorological organizations, ECMWF and EUMETSAT. DestinE uses climate simulation models based on Europe’s High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems.

    The European Commission launched the DestinE initiative in 2022. The services platform, data lake, and digital twin engine have been launched in 2024. Focusing on weather-induced extremes and climate change adaptation, the first two digital twins also went through demo testing. Between now and 2030, additional digital twins will be integrated, culminating in DestinE’s development as a full digital replica of the Earth.

    ***

    The DestinE platform is co-funded by the European Union. The perspectives and opinions expressed in this press release are those of the contributing authors only, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.

    ***

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 92,000 employees and annual revenue of c. € 10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Press contact

    Isabelle Grangé | isabelle.grange@atos.net | Tél : +33 (0) 6 64 56 74 88

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – KOF Economic Forecast, autumn 2024: Lack of recovery in Europe clouds prospects for the Swiss economy

    Source: KOF Economic Institute

    The economic recovery in Switzerland and internationally is sluggish. The KOF expects real sports-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) to increase by 1.1% in 2024. Weak investment is holding back growth, while the pharmaceutical industry is providing a boost. Sports-adjusted GDP will increase by 1.6% in 2025 and 1.7% in 2026. The main reason for the gloomy outlook is the economic weakness in Europe – for instance in Germany, Switzerland’s most important trading partner.

    Export industry suffers from lack of demand from abroad – domestic consumption provides support

    The economic recovery in Switzerland is progressing more slowly than expected. The lack of stimulus from abroad in particular prevent the Swiss economy to fully utilise its production potential in the forecast period. The euro area is struggling to gain momentum. Above all, there are no signs of a significant economic recovery in Germany. In addition, momentum in the USA will slow in the near future. As a result, the Swiss export industry is suffering, particularly the tech industry, while the pharmaceutical industry is one of the few positive exceptions. Swiss exports in total (goods and services) will virtually stagnate until spring and only pick up speed after the first quarter of 2025.

    The weakness in equipment investment remains pronounced. It is only towards the end of the year that they will develop a little more momentum. Bright spots in Switzerland are the solid development of the labour market and the easing of inflation. Private consumption continues to support the economic development and public consumer spending is also making a positive growth contribution this year. Public consumer spending will remain stable over the remainder of the forecast period.

    GDP growth will be less dynamic in the years ahead

    According to the KOF forecast, real Swiss GDP will increase by an annual average of 1.1% this year if major sporting events such as the European Championships in Germany and the Olympic Games in Paris are excluded (1.5% including sporting events). Next year, GDP growth will be 1.6% after adjusting for sporting events (1.2% including sporting events). In its current forecast, the KOF extends the forecast period to 2026 and assumes that GDP will increase by 1.7% (excluding sporting events; 2.1% including sport events) in 2026, a similar rate to the previous year.

    Employment continues to grow – higher real wages allow scope for additional spending

    Employment growth will continue at a solid pace not only in the short term, but also over the next two years. The KOF expects employment to increase by 1% in 2025. This growth is slightly below the medium-term average rate. For 2026, job growth is expected to be almost as high at 1.1%. The unemployment rate will tend to rise slightly but steadily over the forecast period. However, with rates of 2.7% and 2.8% (according to SECO) and 4.6% and 4.7% (according to ILO) in 2025 and 2026, unemployment will not rise at an above-average rate.

    After two years of declines, real wages will rise again this and in the next two years, allowing scope for additional spending. These developments, the solid labour market and high population growth mean that private consumption will remain an important pillar of the Swiss economic development. Depending on how the 13th AHV is financed, it could also provide a small boost to private consumption towards the end of the forecast period.

    Inflation decreases below 1% – further interest rate cuts by the SNB expected

    Inflation will continue to weaken in the forecast period, so that inflation is likely to be 1.2% this year and 0.7% in each of the next two years. While prices for goods and energy have fallen, price increases for services are above average. In view of the disinflationary trend, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will lower its key interest rates further. The KOF anticipates an interest rate cut of 25 basis points in September and a further cut of the same magnitude in December, bringing the key interest rate down to 0.75%.

    Significant forecast risks due to geopolitical conflicts – Swiss franc could appreciate

    In view of the geopolitical tensions in various regions of the world, the risks to the forecast are currently considerable. The war in Ukraine, but especially the conflict in the Middle East, could have a strong impact on both economic development and inflation if it escalates further. The supply and prices of energy commodities could react strongly. The exchange rate of the Swiss franc is likely to react to a further escalation with an appreciation.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: 🇮🇹 Italy – Prime Minister Addresses United Nations General Debate, 79th Session | #UNGA

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy, addresses the General Debate of the 79th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 24 – 30 September 2024).

    World leaders gather to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Unity and diversity for advancing peace, sustainable development, and human dignity, everywhere and for all.” Heads of State and Government and ministers will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.

    The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

    General debate website: https://gadebate.un.org/

    —————————————-

    مشاهدة هذا الفيديو باللغة العربية على موقع البث الشبكي للأمم المتحدة
    请在联合国网络电视（UN Web TV）观看中文版视频
    Regardez cette vidéo en français sur UN Web TV
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    Смотрите это видео на русском на UN Web TV
    https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1m/k1m9l95hd7

    Screenshot credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

    #UNGA #UnitedNations

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34BBe3i78Nw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: 🇧🇪 Belgium – Prime Minister Addresses United Nations General Debate, 79th Session | #UNGA

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Alexander de Croo, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium, addresses the General Debate of the 79th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 24 – 30 September 2024).

    World leaders gather to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Unity and diversity for advancing peace, sustainable development, and human dignity, everywhere and for all.” Heads of State and Government and ministers will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.

    The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

    General debate website: https://gadebate.un.org/

    —————————————-

    مشاهدة هذا الفيديو باللغة العربية على موقع البث الشبكي للأمم المتحدة
    请在联合国网络电视（UN Web TV）观看中文版视频
    Regardez cette vidéo en français sur UN Web TV
    Vean este video en español en UN Web TV
    Смотрите это видео на русском на UN Web TV
    https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1q/k1qf9qwjy8

    Screenshot credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

    #UNGA #UnitedNations

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2WuxifYHeg

    MIL OSI Video –