NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Marine aggregate extraction, saltmarsh footbridge and research project all given green light by MMO

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Marine aggregate extraction, saltmarsh footbridge and research project all given green light by MMO

    Marine aggregates, scientific research and saltmarsh restoration feature in the latest applications granted by the MMO Marine Licensing team.

    Aggregate dredging in Area 1806 

    Hanson Aggregates Marine Limited applied for a marine licence to dredge marine aggregates at Area 1806, south-southeast of Beachy Head in the East English Channel Region. 

    The licence allows Hanson Aggregates to dredge marine aggregates for 15 years and extract a maximum of 1 million tonnes of aggregate in any 12-month period. The total permitted extraction over the 15-year term of the licence is 15 million tonnes. 

    The extraction of aggregates uses trailer suction hopper dredgers and cargo screening will be employed.  

    Marine aggregates are crucial to the construction industry as they are used for building houses and transport infrastructure and are also important to the marine environment through replenishing beaches and improving coastal defences.  

    Marine aggregate extraction has wider environmental benefits as it reduces both quarrying on land and lorry deliveries over large distances. Due to cargo screening, it is also possible to extract different sediments based on customer demand. 

    New footbridge at Stiffkey Saltmarsh 

    The National Trust applied for a marine licence to construct a replacement footbridge over Cabbage Creek at Stiffkey Saltmarsh on the Norfolk Coast Path. 

    There has been a crossing at the location since the late 19th century. The new footbridge will replace the former bridge that had fallen into disrepair and had to be removed in 2022.  

    Stiffkey Saltmarsh is a valuable habitat and has several protected site designations as well as being an area of outstanding natural beauty. The new footbridge is designed to be unobtrusive to the surrounding environment while also providing safe access for everyone to enjoy the saltmarsh. The crossing will also remove the risk of visitors becoming cut off by high tides and requiring evacuation.  

    The marine licensing team worked with the applicant to ensure appropriate measures were in place to protect the natural environment, while also enabling the project to begin before winter restrictions pushed the project back by a year. 

    Stronger Shores – Scientific Sensor Array 

    Durham Wildlife Trust were granted a marine licence as part of their Stronger Shores project. The aim of the project is to gather information that can be used to inform technical models assessing the potential for natural subtidal seaweed and seaweed aquaculture.  

    The project involves depositing 12 scientific units in the North Sea off the coast of County Durham, fitted with instruments to measure wave force, attenuation, turbidity, water quality and biodiversity metrics. The units can be fitted with either seeded rope or unseeded rope for aquaculture growth. The data gathered over the 23 month length of the project should provide information on the effects of seaweed in contributing to climate resilience through nature-based-solutions. 

    The marine licensing team supported the applicant through the application process through positive and proactive communication which enabled the application to be processed within the 90-day KPI.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Government not to set euro adoption date for now

    Source: Czech National Bank

    The government has acknowledged the joint recommendation of the Ministry of Finance and the Czech National Bank not to set a date for adopting the single European currency for the time being. The recommendation is based on the findings contained in Assessment of the Fulfilment of the Maastricht Convergence Criteria and the Degree of Economic Alignment of the Czech Republic with the Euro Area. This document has provided an objective assessment of the Czech Republic’s economic preparedness for adopting the euro since the country joined the European Union.

    The assessment covers three areas. The first assesses compliance with the nominal (Maastricht) convergence criteria, which are a necessary but not sufficient condition for joining the euro area. These criteria set fiscal and monetary reference values, compliance with which is meant to reduce the risks and costs associated with the absence of an independent monetary policy. Successful compliance with the relevant criteria should also mitigate risks to stability and prevent the emergence of imbalances in the monetary union. In 2024, the Czech Republic fulfilled the interest rate convergence criterion and the government financial position criterion. However, it did not meet the criterion on price stability, due to a low reference value and persisting elevated growth of service prices in the domestic economy. The Czech Republic is formally non-compliant with the exchange rate fluctuation criterion, as it is not part of the ERM II exchange rate mechanism.

    The second area assesses the Czech Republic’s economic preparedness for adopting the euro. A key element of these indicators is an assessment of the Czech Republic’s economic alignment with the euro area and the ability of the Czech economy to absorb any negative economic shocks through other mechanisms after losing its monetary policy independence. The Czech Republic has made no substantial progress in this area since the last assessment in 2023. There are still many obstacles on the path to the single European currency. One of them is the unfinished process of economic convergence of the Czech economy, especially as regards the price and wage levels, which remain well below the euro area average. The relatively low structural similarity between the Czech economy and the euro area could also create problems under the single monetary policy. Unresolved domestic structural issues related to the current economic model and future challenges to public finances (population ageing, infrastructure investment, etc.) pose a significant risk. Planned large-scale projects (the construction of high-speed railways and new nuclear units) will place a significant financial burden on public budgets. Addressing the current challenges of economic transformation and long-term public finance sustainability should therefore be prioritised before making a decision on joining the monetary union.

    On the other hand, the high degree of openness of the Czech economy and its close trade and ownership links with the euro area are key positive factors. Some labour market indicators, especially the low long-term unemployment rate and the banking sector’s resilience to negative shocks, are also favourable.

    The final area of assessment concerns the euro area itself. The economic heterogeneity of the euro area is high. This was further highlighted by the energy crisis and its impacts on Member States’ economies. Economic alignment of euro area countries is essential to the smooth functioning of the monetary union. The fiscal positions of most euro area countries are also a negative factor.

    The institutions and rules of the euro area have changed over recent years, and discussions on further deepening integration are still ongoing. The future potential financial and non-financial commitments relating to the Czech Republic’s euro area entry thus cannot be reliably estimated at the moment.

    Petra Vlčková
    Spokesperson
    CNB Communications Division

    Petra Vodstrčilová
    Spokesperson
    Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Government announces landmark NI Troubles archives projects

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK Government announces landmark NI Troubles archives projects

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has today (9 April) set out the details of two landmark archival projects relating to the Troubles.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, during his visit to The National Archives

    • Two archival projects seek to provide greater accessibility, transparency and understanding of UK Government policy during the Troubles.
    • The announcement follows the appointment of an independent expert advisory panel to make recommendations on key details of the archival research project.
    • As part of the Government’s commitment to support efforts to address the legacy of the Troubles, these projects will now be taken forward to the implementation stage.

    The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has today set out the details of two landmark archival projects relating to the Troubles.

    The first is a project to digitise and publish open UK Government records relating to the NI Troubles in collaboration with The National Archives. This will broaden access by publishing digital copies of paper records that have previously only been available by visiting The National Archives at Kew, making them free to view online.

    The second is an archival research project, which will see official historians appointed, following a transparent and independent recruitment process, to research UK Government policy towards Northern Ireland during the Troubles. They will be given full access to UK state archives. 

    These projects will provide a unique resource for anyone interested in the history of the Troubles and government policy. They will seek to build public confidence through greater accessibility and transparency, and provide a deeper understanding of UK Government policy and decision making on Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

    Speaking during a visit to The National Archives at Kew, the Secretary of State said:

    I am pleased to support work by The National Archives to digitise and publish key records relating to this complex period in our history. I have seen today examples of the records digitisation process and look forward to the first records in this project being published in the autumn.

    I am also grateful to members of the academic advisory panel for lending their expertise to the important archival research project, and I have every confidence that they will ensure it is conducted to the highest academic standards. Their first task will be to identify highly qualified and independently-minded historians via open competition, and I would encourage anyone interested in this project to find out more on their website. 

    Taken together, these projects will provide an invaluable resource for the public, journalists, educational institutions, researchers, and academics, making information about this period in Northern Ireland’s history more accessible, and so making government decision-making more transparent.

    Saul Nassé, Chief Executive of The National Archives, said:

    The National Archives’ documents provide a valuable perspective on the Troubles.

    This project will mean the widest possible audience will be able view the records online to grow their understanding of this significant period in modern history.

    Co-chairs of the independent advisory panel, Professor Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid and Lord Bew, said:

    We welcome the Government’s strong commitment to increasing access to state archives, which has been an important part of dealing with the past in many other countries.  

    The Government has rightly recognised the need for work of this nature to be conducted transparently and independently, and as co-chairs of the expert advisory panel we look forward to engaging with colleagues across the academic community as we collectively seek to further understanding of this important period in our history.

    Notes to Editors:

    1. The previous Government originally announced these two non-legislative Northern Ireland Legacy initiatives – an Official History granting independent historians privileged access to state archives and a Digitisation Project, making open Government records relating to the Northern Ireland Troubles readily available to all, virtually and free of charge.
    2. An initial phase of the digitisation project took place in May 2023 with the launch of a stand-alone digital resource hosted on the The National Archives website, which brought together a selection of key documents from the Major and Blair Governments to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
    3. As part of the Government’s commitment to support efforts to address the legacy of the Troubles, these projects will now be taken forward to the implementation stage. Further updates on both projects will be provided as they progress. There will be a phased approach to the digitisation project, and we expect the first tranche of records to be available on The National Archives’ website by autumn 2025.
    4. The Government’s Official History series began in 1908, and involves independent historians appointed by the Prime Minister granted privileged access to closed files beyond the normal provisions of the Public Records Act. Previous examples of official histories include the Official History of the Falklands Campaign (published in 2007)  and the Official History of the Royal Navy in World War II (published in volumes between 1954 and 1961). 
    5. In 2008, the previous Labour Government commissioned Sir Joseph Pilling to review the Official History series. Sir Joseph made a number of recommendations to increase the transparency and relevance of the programme, and the report is published here. 
    6. The Government has appointed an independent expert advisory panel to make recommendations on key details of this project. The panel consists of Lord Paul Bew (Emeritus Professor of Politics at Queen’s University Belfast); Professor Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid (Senior Lecturer in Modern History at University of Sheffield); Professor Henry Patterson (Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of Ulster); Dr Edward Burke (Assistant Professor in the History of War, University College Dublin); Professor Richard Bourke (Professor of the History of Political Thought, University of Cambridge); Professor Helen Parr (Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Keele University); Professor Ian McBride (Foster Professor of Irish History, Oxford University).
    7. A website with further information about the project is at www.niofficialhistory.org.uk. The advisory panel is overseeing an independent recruitment process for up to five official historians. The panel is currently seeking expressions of interest for these posts, and further information can be found here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    BILLINGS – An Atlanta, Georgia man who defrauded banks in multiple states was sentenced today to 57 months in prison to be followed by 5 years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.  The defendant was also ordered to pay $161,401.17 in restitution.

    Stanford Wilvin Lightfoot, 33, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.

    The government alleged in court documents that for approximately 5 months in 2023, Stanford Lightfoot was a member of a large fraud ring that had been defrauding banks in Montana, Maine and Missouri.  In each location, Lightfoot and other coconspirators would travel to the state from the base of operations in Atlanta, Georgia.  Once there, they would recruit local homeless individuals who possessed valid ID cards.  They would then take these homeless individuals to local banks and provide them with fraudulent checks from real accounts.  These checks all possessed forged signatures of real people and were, therefore, means of identification.  The homeless individuals would then attempt to cash the checks and, if successful, would provide the money to Lightfoot and his coconspirators.  If the homeless individuals were caught by police, they would be abandoned to take the blame.  In Montana, Lightfoot hit multiple banks in Belgrade, Bozeman, and Livingston utilizing local homeless individuals to forge checks in excess of $20,000.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the FBI, Livingston Police Department, Belgrade Police Department, and Bozeman Police Department.

    XXX

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Angola exported more liquefied natural gas to Europe and less to Asia in 2022 and 2023

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    April 9, 2025

    Angola exported more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe and less to Asia in 2022 and 2023, according to estimates from the Statistical Review of World Energy, when Europe increased LNG imports to offset reduced natural gas imports by pipeline from Russia following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.

    Prior to 2022, most of Angola’s LNG exports went to the Asia-Pacific region, primarily India. In 2023, however, Europe received 75% of Angola’s total 175 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of LNG exports; France and the United Kingdom were the largest recipients in Europe, taking about 32 Bcf and 28 Bcf, respectively, in 2023. The Asia-Pacific region received the remaining 25%, with India receiving the most at about 35 Bcf for the year.

    Most of the natural gas produced in Angola is associated gas produced at its offshore oil fields. However, a substantial amount of that natural gas is flared as a byproduct of oil operations or is reinjected into oil fields to increase oil recovery. Angola does not import any natural gas because it produces enough natural gas to meet domestic demand. The natural gas that Angola does not consume or flare domestically is exported in the form of LNG.

    Angola LNG Limited (ALNG) owns and operates Angola’s sole LNG export terminal in Soyo, which has a liquefaction capacity of 250 Bcf per year. The LNG facility produced its first cargo of LNG in 2013, but it subsequently shut down as a result of technical failures and did not restart operations until 2016. The LNG facility uses associated gas produced at Angola’s offshore fields as feedstock, and ALNG also plans to draw additional supplies from non-associated gas projects. One such project is the Northern Gas Complex, where operator Eni plans to begin production from the Quiluma and Maboquerio fields in 2026.

    The Northern Gas Complex is Angola’s first non-associated gas project, and Eni aims to develop two offshore platforms, an onshore natural gas-processing plant, and pipelines to transport natural gas from the two fields to the Angola LNG terminal in Soyo. The Northern Gas Complex is expected to reach peak production of about 141 Bcf per year.

    For more on Angola’s energy sector, please see the latest version of the Country Analysis Brief: Angola.

    Principal contributor: Eric Han

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni meets with Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    9 Aprile 2025

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met with Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan today. 

    The meeting underscored the excellent bilateral cooperation between Italy and Jordan, including in the areas of education and family and childhood protection, in relation to which Queen Rania has launched numerous initiatives at both national and global level.

    The meeting also provided the opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, highlighting the important cooperation that already exists between Italy and Jordan to deliver aid to the civilian population, especially through the Food for Gaza and Sky Hope initiatives.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: A plan to shape Europe’s leadership in artificial intelligence

    Source: European Union 2

    The Commission presented the artificial intelligence continent action plan, which will shape the next phase of AI in Europe. From building AI infrastructure to strengthening AI skills and talents, it will promote the development and deployment of AI solutions that benefit society and the economy.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: A Decade of Progress: 10 Years of the EU Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans

    Source: European Asylum Support Office

    Over the past decade, the European Union (EU) funded programme “EU Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans” has played a pivotal role in strengthening migration and asylum systems across the region. Implemented as a partnership among the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), this initiative has supported authorities in the Western Balkans in enhancing migration and asylum governance, towards aligning them with EU and international standards.

    Launched in response to the growing complexities of migration management and asylum in the region, the programme was conceived at a critical moment. Between 2015 and 2016, the Western Balkans witnessed a significant surge in arrivals, with over 1 million people transiting through Serbia and North Macedonia alone. This movement underscored the urgent need for protection-sensitive and sustainable migration and asylum management systems. 

    Over the past decade, the initiative has played a key role in transitioning from an emergency response to shaping comprehensive legal and policy frameworks, improving border and asylum procedures, and reinforcing protection mechanisms for individuals in vulnerable situations. 

    On 8 April, a reception event took place in Brussels, marking the ten-year milestone of the programme, organized in cooperation with the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, who provided opening remarks. The reception celebrated the efforts towards the effective and rights-based management of migrants and persons in need of international protection in the Western Balkans. 

    More than 1,180 border guards and other officials and frontline responders have received specialized and protection-sensitive training on integrated border management, focusing on key areas such as fundamental rights, screening, debriefing, detection of falsified documents, countering trafficking in human beings, non-voluntary returns and contingency planning. “The regional programme allows Frontex to support Western Balkan partners on their EU-accession path and integration in the European border and coast guard community. Equally importantly, the regional programme and other EU support allow to extend the EU fundamental rights standards and integrated border management principles to the region“, noted Paweł Śliwiński, Acting Head of Frontex Pre-accession Cooperation Sector.

    The programme has significantly enhanced border cooperation and risk analysis, reinforcing efforts to manage migration effectively while safeguarding access to asylum. In the last two years alone, the programme reached 11,300 individuals with immediate legal counselling, while legal assistance was provided to 1,700 asylum seekers and refugees. Speaking at the event, Alexander de Chalus, Senior Operations Officer for UNHCR, reflected: “UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is proud of the collective actions undertaken within the regional IPA project, especially those which positively impact and help develop the implementation of asylum systems in the Western Balkans. UNHCR also acknowledges the importance of partnering within the project with local civil society actors, which also fosters the sustainability of the activities.“

    The programme has also facilitated voluntary return and reintegration, supporting thousands of migrants stranded in the region. “Not only we have supported them with return assistance, but also with tailored reintegration support to help them rebuild their life with dignity and opportunity“, emphasized Donatella Bradić, IOM Senior Western Balkans Programme Coordinator. “Since its inception, more than 3,000 migrants have benefited from assisted voluntary return programmes.“

    Regional cooperation has been at the core of the programme, bringing together authorities from the Western Balkans, international partners, and EU member states to develop harmonized policies and share best practices. “The EUAA’s commitment to support our Western Balkans partners in strengthening their asylum and reception systems continues, to bring them closer to the practices of the Common European Asylum System as part of the EU enlargement process. With over 260 capacity development actions delivered across the region, we have moved beyond just enhancing individual technical skills to focus on institutional procedures,” stressed Eva Wipler, Head of EUAA International Cooperation Sector.

    As the region advances on its path towards EU accession, the programme remains committed to fostering sustainable migration and asylum governance. Celebrating its 10-year milestone, it highlights the significant achievements made through a unique joint collaboration. By bringing together two EU agencies, two UN partners, and national authorities of the Western Balkan region, it has not only addressed post emergency response but also continues to strengthen resilient, sustainable, and EU-aligned migration and asylum systems for the future.
     

    Media contacts:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Viridien: Availability of the preparatory documents for the Combined General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Viridien

    Société anonyme with a share capital of € 7,161,465

    Registered office : 27 avenue Carnot, 91300 Massy, France

    Evry Trade and Company Register No. 969 202 241

    AVAILABILITY AND CONSULTATION OF THE PREPARATORY DOCUMENTS FOR THE VIRIDIEN COMBINED GENERAL MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2025

    Paris, France – April 9, 2025

    The Combined General Meeting of Viridien (the “Company”) will be held on

    Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 10.30 a.m.

    at Cloud Business Center, 10 bis rue du Quatre Septembre, 75002 Paris, France.

    The meeting notice published in the Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (BALO) on Monday, March 24, 2025 (Bulletin n°36) contains the agenda, draft resolutions and main terms and conditions for taking part in and voting at the Meeting. The convening notice will be published on Friday, April 11, 2025 in the BALO (Bulletin n°44) as well as in Le Parisien.

    The preparatory documents and information relating to the Combined General Meeting will be kept available for the Company’s shareholders in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The documents and information listed under article R. 22-10-23 of the French Commercial Code are available on the Company’s website at the following address: https://www.viridiengroup.com/investors/shareholders/general-meetings.

    In accordance with Article R. 22-10-29-1 of the French Commercial Code, the General Meeting will be broadcast live in its entirety in the 2025 Shareholders’ Meeting section of the Company’s website: htps://www.viridiengroup.com/investors/shareholders/general-meetings.

    Contact Viridien :                 General Secretary, 27 avenue Carnot, 91300 Massy, France
                                    general.secretary@viridiengroup.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Gevo and Future Energy Global Sign SAF Scope 1 and Scope 3 Voluntary Carbon Credit Offtake Agreement to Accelerate Book-and-Claim Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) and Future Energy Global (FEG) are pleased to announce that they have signed a pioneering offtake agreement for carbon abatement attributes, to enable airlines and other companies to reduce their CO2 emissions through Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Under the multi-year agreement, FEG will acquire from Gevo the Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions credits from 10 million gallons per year of fuel to be produced at Gevo’s alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) SAF production facility, Gevo ATJ-60, to meet demand from FEG customers, both airlines and corporates, seeking to decarbonize their operations. The agreement also includes an option for FEG to increase the off-take at a later date.

    This agreement is expected to enable Gevo’s financing of the construction of its ATJ-60 facility. Gevo has secured a loan guarantee conditional commitment of $1.63 billion (including capitalized interest during construction) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) and is originating equity from project level capital providers. Under development in Lake Preston, South Dakota, ATJ-60 is designed to address the market need for cost-effective jet fuel while abating carbon and to respond to growing worldwide demand for SAF. Gevo’s proprietary plant design is expected to be able to produce 60 million gallons of SAF per year at similar production costs to conventional jet fuel, but with far lower carbon emissions.

    The aviation industry has targeted net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and SAF is expected to contribute around two thirds of the necessary emissions reduction, but to achieve this, its production quantities need to scale more than 400-fold. SAF is not yet available at all major airports worldwide so FEG provides SAF-derived Scope 1 credits to airlines who wish to buy additional SAF but who cannot easily source the physical fuel at their own airports. Similarly, when companies purchase and retire SAF-derived Scope 3 credits to compensate for their business travel emissions, they mitigate the added cost of SAF to airlines and thus enable the faster scale-up of SAF production.

    The Greenhouse Gas Protocol defines different “scopes” of responsibility for emissions. The emissions from a flight fall under an airline’s direct responsibility (i.e., Scope 1), but a company with staff flying for business on that flight is responsible for its staff’s share of the flight’s emissions (i.e., Scope 3 or indirect emissions). Separating the Scope 1 and Scope 3 attributes from the physical fuel, an approach known as “Book and Claim,” reduces fuel transportation and storage costs and carbon emissions, and unlocks a global SAF market both for airlines and for indirect aviation fuel customers around the world who are seeking to mitigate their emissions.

    “Gevo has always planned to leverage SAF market economics to scale our business, and a Book and Claim market that enables the trading of SAF environmental attributes can accelerate SAF production even faster,” says Dr. Patrick R. Gruber, CEO of Gevo. “Future Energy Global is building just such a market, spanning corporate customers, airlines, and aircraft lessors. Aircraft lessors own about half of all commercial aircraft worldwide, and Book and Claim is a critical enabler to allow them and their airline customers to adopt SAF faster.”

    “FEG’s collaboration with Gevo strongly enhances the portfolio of Book and Claim solutions we can offer our airlines, our lessors and our corporate customers,” says Natasha Mann, CEO and Co-Founder of FEG. “It’s crucial to scale SAF production, and our business model lets us unlock the capital to do so. We’re impressed with Gevo’s pipeline, which combines technology ready for today’s market and additional technologies far along in development that could increase production efficiency and accelerate the trajectory of SAF scaling.”

    FEG’s unique business model brings together investors, suppliers, and buyers to help accelerate and scale SAF production globally. FEG generates additional revenue streams by commercializing the carbon credits which SAF provides, enhancing the business case for faster production scale-up. FEG’s offtake agreement with Gevo is expected to fulfill a market need by giving buyers access to SAF credits at predictable prices, while providing financial commitments and revenue certainty that are expected to allow suppliers like Gevo to expand. FEG’s initial focus has been on aviation, though its sustainable-fuel credit solutions span the transport spectrum, including marine and land transport.

    About Gevo
    Gevo is a next-generation diversified energy company committed to fueling America’s future with cost-effective, drop-in fuels that contribute to energy security, abate carbon, and strengthen rural communities to drive economic growth. Gevo’s innovative technology can be used to make a variety of renewable products, including SAF, motor fuels, chemicals, and other materials that provide U.S.-made solutions. By investing in the backbone of rural America, Gevo’s business model includes developing, financing, and operating production facilities that create jobs and revitalize communities. Gevo owns and operates one of the largest dairy-based renewable natural gas (“RNG”) facilities in the United States, turning by-products into clean, reliable energy. We also operate an ethanol plant with an adjacent carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) facility, further solidifying America’s leadership in energy innovation. Additionally, Gevo owns the world’s first production facility for specialty ATJ fuels and chemicals. Gevo’s market-driven “pay for performance” approach regarding carbon and other sustainability attributes, helps ensure value is delivered to our local economy. Through its Verity subsidiary, Gevo provides transparency, accountability, and efficiency in tracking, measuring and verifying various attributes throughout the supply chain. By strengthening rural economies, Gevo is working to secure a self-sufficient future and to make sure value is brought to the market.

    For more information, see www.gevo.com.

    About Future Energy Global
    Future Energy Global, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and with staff in Europe and North America, is a pioneering SAF market accelerator.

    Through its innovative SAF pre-purchasing ecosystem, Future Energy Global accelerates the flow of capital into the SAF industry, operating at the intersection of investors, suppliers, and buyers, and bringing benefits to all parties, and ultimately also to the environment. FEG’s activities are guided by three core values: visionary independence, collaborative energy and sustainable ethos.

    FEG’s initial focus has been on aviation, though our sustainable-fuel credit solutions span the transport spectrum, including marine and land transport.

    Future Energy Global is backed by Aviation Partners, the world leader in advanced winglet technology which has already saved more than 140 million tons of aviation CO2 emissions.

    For more information, see fe.global

    About Book and Claim
    Book and Claim is a well-established structure for accounting for environmental attributes and has been in use for many years in markets such as renewable electricity generation, where individual electrons cannot be tracked through the grid. Book and Claim systems overcome this challenge by allowing renewable electricity providers to “book” the electricity they supply to the grid, while customers can “claim” the renewable electricity they have bought, whether or not they physically receive the renewable electrons. Book and Claim systems, whether in renewable electricity or in SAF, rely on robust tracking and accounting procedures to ensure that environmental credits are counted only once.

    Forward Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to a variety of matters, including, without limitation, Future Energy Global and its business system, Gevo’s ATJ-60 project and the financing thereof, the markets for SAF and associated environmental attributes, and other statements that are not purely statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are made based on the current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of the management of Gevo and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Gevo undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Gevo believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Gevo in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Gevo for the year ended December 31, 2024 and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Gevo.

    Media Contact
    Heather L. Manuel
    VP, Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
    PR@gevo.com

    IR Contact
    Eric Frey
    VP, Corporate Development
    IR@Gevo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Community Bankshares Inc. Reports Over $69 Million in Government Guaranteed Lending in Q1 Across 14 States

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAGRANGE, Ga., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Community Bankshares, Inc., the holding company of Phoenix Lender Services, Thomas Financial Group, and Community Bank & Trust, announced today the successful deployment of over $69 million in Small Business Administration (SBA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) backed loans through the end of Q1 2025. The financing activity spans 14 states, reflecting the company’s growing national presence and commitment to delivering critical capital to underserved and rural communities.

    Together, the loans will help create over 400 new jobs and retain more than 350 while enabling key infrastructure expansion, debt refinancing, and facility upgrades for small to mid-sized businesses.

    The lending activity included 17 SBA loans totaling over $23 million, funded by Community Bank & Trust, with origination, underwriting, and closing assisted by Phoenix Lender Services and Thomas Financial Group through their Lender Service Provider (LSP) relationship. Furthermore, Phoenix Lender Services helped to originate, underwrite, and close another $46.7 million in USDA-backed loans.

    “This is exactly the type of impact we built Phoenix Lender Services to deliver,” said Chris Hurn, President of Community Bankshares and President & CEO of Phoenix Lender Services. “We are proud to empower community banks with the tools and expertise they need to deliver transformative capital into rural, urban, and working-class communities — especially when it strengthens supply chains, creates jobs, and preserves family-run businesses.”

    Phoenix Lender Services serves as the Lender Service Provider (LSP) on SBA, USDA, and commercial loans, overseeing eligibility, origination, underwriting, packaging, closing, compliance, and servicing to ensure a seamless borrower and lender experience.

    “Phoenix Lender Services was instrumental in helping us deploy this capital efficiently and effectively,” said Steve Jefferies, President & CEO of Community Bank & Trust. “They bring unmatched knowledge of SBA and USDA lending, and our partnership allows us to expand our reach and serve more businesses across our communities nationwide.”

    Their growing national presence included financing business owners in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina, and Wisconsin — and spans industries such as food logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, petroleum, distribution and specialty retail.

    “Securing a loan through Community Bank & Trust, with the support of Phoenix Lender Services, made it possible for us to acquire Firm Foundations Framing—marking a pivotal moment in our journey,” said Ed Black, President of Firm Foundations Framing. “As a construction company building between 750 and 1,000 homes annually across Georgia, this acquisition enables us to retain and grow a business that directly impacts hundreds of lives. More importantly, it fulfills a lifelong dream of business ownership and lays the groundwork for continued growth and opportunity within our communities.”

    “This isn’t our first time working with Thomas Financial Group—and for good reason. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their support,” said Kevin Durling, President of Petroleum Equipment & Services, Inc. “The company’s expertise and understanding of the USDA process are unmatched.”

    About Community Bankshares, Inc. (CBI)
    Community Bankshares, Inc., is a dynamic bank holding company revolutionizing the financial landscape through its support for America’s small and mid-sized businesses. As a mission-focused company, CBI is redefining how lending capital is provided across the nation and its territories in ways that promote business stability and encourage local area prosperity. In doing so, CBI fosters economic growth, job creation and retention, and community strength.

    About Phoenix Lender Services (PHX)
    Based in Georgia and serving clients nationwide, Phoenix Lender Services offers a comprehensive suite of commercial lending solutions, including loan originating, underwriting, closing, and servicing; participant lender matching (USDA); secondary market sales; portfolio management; risk analysis; and compliance reviews and regulatory support. PHX’s seasoned professionals combine extensive industry expertise in SBA and USDA government-guaranteed lending (over 700 combined years) with industry-leading technologies to deliver tailored solutions that align with each client’s unique strategic goals. PHX is a wholly owned subsidiary of CBI.

    About Thomas Financial Group (TFG) 
    Thomas Financial Group, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a nationally recognized leader in providing innovative and comprehensive commercial lending solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of rural and underserved communities across America. With over 40 years of experience in originating and packaging loans within the USDA and SBA government-guaranteed lending space, TFG’s highly capable team helps clients successfully navigate even the most complex financing scenarios to meet the needs of our nation’s businesses. TFG is a wholly owned subsidiary of CBI.

    About Community Bank & Trust (CB&T)
    Community Bank & Trust, a subsidiary of Community Bankshares Inc., is a trusted financial institution dedicated to serving individuals, families, and businesses across its service area and nationwide. Headquartered in LaGrange, GA, CB&T is committed to leveraging its rural roots to empower local consumers and commercial entities, as well as underserved groups and communities, with a broad slate of accessible, personalized banking solutions while also reaching a diverse and growing nationwide audience.

    MEDIA CONTACT

    Hannah Williams
    Uproar PR by Moburst for Community Bank Shares, Inc.
    hannah.williams@moburst.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Poppulo Unveils the First AI Agents Purpose-Built for Enterprise Employee Communications

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER and CORK, Ireland, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Poppulo, a global leader in employee communications solutions, introduces the industry’s first AI Agents that automate and optimize the entire communications lifecycle. By integrating data, governance, and insights, these custom-built agents deliver hyper-personalized messaging at scale and provide precise, actionable communications recommendations that drive measurable business impact. 

    Building on its existing Poppulo AI solution set, which leverages generative AI for content tailoring, language translation, analytics, and best practice recommendations, Poppulo’s AI Agents take the platform’s intelligence a step further. With a deep understanding of employees’ communication preferences, behaviors, and attributes, Poppulo’s AI Agents go beyond extracting insights; they provide strategic guidance for every communicator’s next move. From analyzing past campaigns and assessing employee sentiment to delivering real-time recommendations for content, delivery, and channel strategies, these agents act as trusted strategic partners to enterprise communications teams. 

    “Our AI Agents elevate employee communications from a function to a critical business advantage,” said Ruth Fornell, CEO of Poppulo. “By adopting a brand’s style and voice, our agents ensure every message is personalized, aligned with business goals, and optimized for impact. Through real-time insights and strategic recommendations, Poppulo’s AI Agents empower communicators to drive measurable outcomes, accelerate change initiatives, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen alignment between employees and enterprise strategy.” 

    Poppulo’s suite of AI Agents includes:

    • Plan and Simulate Agents learn the nuances of previously sent messages, understanding what was said by the business and understood by employees. These agents support the optimization of communications strategies that increase engagement, reduce information overload, and ensure employees receive only the most relevant and timely content.
    • Create and Target Agents generate drafts and design templates, personalize messages, translate into multiple languages, and tailor content for different channels, reducing creation time while enabling new levels of personalization and engagement.
    • Personalize and Share Agents allow employees to engage in the mode they prefer (audio, video, or text) in any language, on any endpoint, with smart orchestration for delivery at peak engagement times without a need for manual scheduling.
    • Analyze Agent leverages natural language to provide conversational insights on sentiment, employee feedback, and predictive analytics, enabling continuous communication refinement. These AI-driven insights help companies proactively address issues, gauge sentiment, and optimize messaging for maximum impact on engagement, morale, and productivity. 

    “For too long, time and resource constraints have limited the impact of internal communications on business outcomes,” said Frank Gauld, chief product and technology officer, Poppulo. “Our AI-first employee communications platform changes that. Poppulo’s AI Agents continuously learn from historical campaigns, applying company- and industry-specific best practices to refine messaging, maximize reach, and drive measurable results.” 

    Poppulo has invested heavily in AI innovation to meet the evolving needs of enterprise communications teams. Released in November 2024, the Comms Coach chatbot uses natural language querying to answer questions instantly regarding measurables such as email performance benchmarks, best practices, and campaign ideas. Released in January 2025, Poppulo’s email auto-translate feature uses a combination of machine translation, generative AI, and a human-in-the-loop workflow to facilitate professional translations, reducing the need for outsourced translation services and improving organizational inclusivity by making mass multilingual communications more attainable.  

    The AI Agents join the previously released tools, Translations, and Comms Coach as part of Poppulo AI. General availability of Poppulo’s agentic AI will commence in the second half of 2025. To learn more, visit www.poppulo.com/ai. 

    About Poppulo
    Poppulo helps enterprise organizations achieve more by effortlessly connecting their employees, customers, and workplaces through omnichannel employee communications, digital signage, and workplace management. Poppulo’s 4,500+ customer base is representative of the world’s most successful companies, including more than 40 of the Fortune 100. For more information, visit www.poppulo.com. Follow Poppulo on LinkedIn and on X.   

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Varonis Names Winners of Global Partners in Excellence Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Varonis Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRNS), the leader in data security, today announced the winners of its annual Partners in Excellence awards. The program recognizes channel partners who worked tirelessly in 2024 to deliver Varonis’ top-ranked Data Security Platform to customers worldwide. Varonis leadership selected the winners based on their accomplishments throughout the year.

    “Securing critical data is a top priority for our customers, and our mission at Varonis is to protect sensitive data wherever it lives, across IaaS, SaaS, and hybrid environments,” said Greg Pomeroy, Varonis SVP of Worldwide Sales. “In 2024, our partners used their expertise to help Varonis ensure that customer’s data is secured with automated outcomes delivered via our Data Security Platform. Congratulations to the Partners in Excellence award winners.”

    Winners for North America

    • Partner of the Year — CDW
    • Growth Partner of the Year — Trace3
    • Cloud Partner of the Year — World Wide Technology
    • West Regional Partner of the Year — Optiv Security Inc.
    • East Regional Partner of the Year — GuidePoint Security
    • West Growth Partner of the Year — AHEAD
    • East Growth Partner of the Year — Alchemy Technology Group

    Winners for France

    • Partner of the Year — Metsys
    • Growth Partner of the Year — Orange Cyberdefense
    • Partner Excellence Award — Synetis

    Winners for Central Europe

    • Partner of the Year — SVA
    • Growth Partner of the Year — ORBIT
    • Partner Excellence Award — link protect

    Winners for U.K.

    • Partner of the Year — Softcat Plc
    • Growth Partner of the Year — Saepio Solutions Ltd
    • Partner Excellence Award — Bytes Software Services Ltd

    Winners for Spain and Portugal

    • Partner of the Year — Inspiring Solutions

    Winners for Australia

    • Partner of the Year — CyberCX

    Winners for India

    • Partner of the Year — Hitachi Systems India
    • Distributor of the Year — RAH Infotech

    Winners for Latin America

    • Partner of the Year — Infosec Data Security

    Winners for Italy

    • Partner of the Year — Spike Reply
    • Growth Partner of the Year — Lutech

    Additional Resources

    About Varonis
    Varonis (Nasdaq: VRNS) is the leader in data security, fighting a different battle than conventional cybersecurity companies. Our cloud-native Data Security Platform continuously discovers and classifies critical data, removes exposures, and detects advanced threats with AI-powered automation.

    Thousands of organizations worldwide trust Varonis to defend their data wherever it lives — across SaaS, IaaS, and hybrid cloud environments. Customers use Varonis to automate a wide range of security outcomes, including data security posture management (DSPM), data classification, data access governance (DAG), data detection and response (DDR), data loss prevention (DLP), AI security, and insider risk management.

    Varonis protects data first, not last. Learn more at www.varonis.com.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Tim Perz
    Varonis Systems, Inc.
    646-640-2112
    investors@varonis.com

    News Media Contact:
    Rachel Hunt
    Varonis Systems, Inc.
    877-292-8767 (ext. 1598)
    pr@varonis.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fusion Fuel Signs Non-Binding Letter of Intent to Acquire British Fuel Distribution Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBLIN, Ireland, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN – Fusion Fuel Green PLC (Nasdaq: HTOO) (“Fusion Fuel” or the “Company”), a leading provider of full-service energy engineering and advisory solutions, today announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI”) to acquire 100% of a privately held British fuel distribution company (the “Target”).

    In the proposed acquisition, the Company will purchase 100% of the outstanding shares of the Target from its shareholders for total consideration valued at £50 million, consisting of £25 million in cash funded through debt financing, £2 million in cash financed from a capital raise, £8 million in the Company’s shares subject to a make-whole agreement, and two additional payments of £7.5 million cash each within nine months and 18 months from the closing.

    The Target reported over $50 million in revenue and $4 million in net income for the year ending in 2023 and delivered strong growth in 2024, generating over $54 million in revenue and $7 million in net income. The transaction, if consummated, would mark a significant expansion of Fusion Fuel’s presence in the energy distribution sector, aligning with the Company’s broader strategic objectives.

    John-Paul Backwell, Chief Executive Officer of Fusion Fuel, commented: “This proposed transaction reflects our progress in executing our growth strategy, which began with our acquisition of Quality Industrial Corp. late last year. Our short-term priority is to build a synergistic portfolio of profitable and cash-generating businesses across the energy value chain. In addition to significantly increased revenues and profitability, acquiring this United Kingdom-based fuel distribution company would enable us to expand our footprint in the energy distribution space while also broadening our geographic presence into a key new market.”

    The LOI is non-binding, and consummation of the transaction remains subject to further due diligence, the negotiation of definitive agreements, and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The Company expects to provide further updates as discussions progress.

    About Fusion Fuel Green PLC

    Fusion Fuel Green PLC (NASDAQ: HTOO) is an emerging leader in the energy services sector, offering a comprehensive suite of energy supply, distribution, and engineering and advisory solutions through its Al Shola Gas and BrightHy brands. Al Shola Gas provides full-service industrial gas solutions, including the design, supply, and maintenance of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems, as well as the transport and distribution of LPG to a broad range of customers across commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. BrightHy, the Company’s newly launched hydrogen solutions platform, focuses on delivering innovative engineering and advisory services that enable decarbonization across hard-to-abate industries.

    Learn more about Fusion Fuel by visiting our website at https://www.fusion-fuel.eu and following us on LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target”, “may”, “intend”, “predict”, “should”, “would”, “predict”, “potential”, “seem”, “future”, “outlook” or other similar expressions (or negative versions of such words or expressions) that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Fusion Fuel has based these forward-looking statements largely on its current expectations, including but not limited the ability of the investment reported on to be consummated as anticipated. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the Company’s ability to enter into a definitive share purchase agreement with the shareholders of the Target, the ability of the parties to complete their due diligence and all other closing conditions, the Company’s ability to complete the proposed acquisition and integrate the Target’s business, obtain all necessary regulatory and other consents and approvals in connection with the transaction, andthose set forth in Fusion Fuel’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2024, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements.

    Investor Relations Contact

    ir@fusion-fuel.eu

    Wire Service Contact:
    IBN
    Austin, Texas
    www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
    512.354.7000 Office
    Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens call for crackdown on property-hoarding tax avoiders

    Source: Scottish Greens

    09 Apr 2025 Finance Housing

    The UK has become the world’s biggest destination for overseas property investors.

    More in Finance

    Scotland must act to crack down on property-hoarding tax avoiders to tackle the housing crisis, says the Scottish Greens’ finance spokesperson Ross Greer MSP.

    Mr Greer will shortly lodge proposals in Parliament to end the tax breaks currently enjoyed by two types of companies infamous for buying up and hoarding property – open-ended investment companies and residential property holding companies. He will also propose an additional charge for overseas buyers to crack down on property speculators based in tax havens buying up homes across Scotland. The proposals will be lodged as amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill.

    It was recently revealed that buy-to-let housing firms have become the biggest type of business in the UK, outnumbering fast food shops by four to one. A report by the Common Wealth think tank also found that the UK has become the world’s biggest destination for overseas property investors. At the same time, a housing emergency has been declared in Scotland, with thousands of children currently homeless and in temporary accommodation.
    [1][2]

    Mr Greer said:

    “Scotland is in the grips of a housing emergency, yet we still allow homes to be bought and hoarded by overseas speculators without them even paying the same tax that anyone else would. These companies are only interested in making a profit, even if it means the property sitting empty for months or even years at first.

    “Ideally these nonsense companies should be banned from buying homes in Scotland at all, but at the very least they should face a hefty tax bill for the privilege. That should at least put some of them off. We can be a society where everyone has somewhere to call home, but that won’t happen for as long as we have a broken market, one tilted in favour of the speculators, the tax avoiders and the super-rich.”

    “Most people will never have access to the kind of tax wheezes and loopholes that these wealthy buyers have access to. My proposals would force them to either pay their fair share or make way and free up more homes for people and families who really need them.”

    Notes:

    Mr Greer’s amendments will end the exemption from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) currently enjoyed by two types of companies, open-ended investment companies and property holding companies. An additional amendment will apply an LBTT surcharge when the buyer of a property which will not be their primary residence is based outside of the UK.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New accommodation completed for soldiers in Bicester

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New accommodation completed for soldiers in Bicester

    A major investment programme to improve living conditions across the army estate has delivered new accommodation for soldiers at St George’s Barracks, Bicester.

    The new Single Living Accommodation block at St George’s Barracks. Crown copyright.

    The new Single Living Accommodation (SLA) block, constructed using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), provides 72 ensuite single bed spaces, kitchen and diner facilities, utility rooms and furnished communal space for Junior Rank soldiers. The project was funded under the army’s SLA programme and delivered by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), contracting to off-site construction specialists Reds10 and engineering consultants Arcadis. 

    The modular, sustainable SLA features solar energy harvesting, air source heat pumps and a SMART building management system, which processes data from an array of sensors and equipment to monitor energy consumption and to ensure the building runs as efficiently as possible.

    At the formal opening of the Junior Ranks block on 24 March, Brigadier Peter Quaite OBE, Head of Infrastructure Plans, Army Basing and Infrastructure said:

    As a key part of our long-term investment programme, we are embracing modern methods of construction to enable us to build faster, while providing a better standard of living space for our people and improving the sustainability of our estate. This new, energy-efficient building has been designed using soldier feedback to ensure it meets their specific needs and showcases the impressive standard of accommodation we are committed to delivering.

    Lt Col Gerard Hennigan, Bicester Garrison Commander, said:

    It is excellent to see the result of significant investment at St George’s Barracks to deliver better accommodation for our soldiers and provide modern living facilities that meet their needs. The quality of the bedrooms, common areas and kitchen areas are impressive, and we look forward to moving soldiers into their new home in the coming weeks.

    Warren Webster, DIO MPP Army Programme Director said: 

    We are delighted to have completed the latest in a series of new SLA blocks for our armed forces across the country. This new block will provide the army with fantastic homes for junior ranks at St George’s Barracks while utilising sustainability features built into the design from the outset, making the building efficient to run and comfortable to live in.

    Phil Cook, Defence Director, Reds10, said:

    We are proud to support the army’s commitment to improving service personnel accommodation with modern, high-quality, and sustainable living spaces. Through industrialised production, we have delivered a building that not only meets the needs of personnel today but also ensures long-term efficiency and environmental benefits. This project exemplifies how innovation and collaboration can enhance the living conditions of our service personnel, and we look forward to continuing our work in delivering exceptional accommodation that will transform the lived experience.

    Overall, the Army SLA Programme is investing £1.4 billion over ten years to enhance living conditions for service personnel. More than 1,000 new bed spaces are currently in construction across the estate, with six blocks due to complete this year.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cutting edge tech introduced in social care

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Cutting edge tech introduced in social care

    Care leaders will be trained to use cutting-edge technology to improve patient care, free up staff time and help people live independently in their own homes

    Care leaders will be trained to use the latest cutting-edge technology to improve patient care, free up staff time and help people live independently in their own homes for longer.

    In a bid to shift adult social care from analogue to digital as part of the Plan for Change, the Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has announced a new qualification that will equip care leaders with the skills to use and rapidly deploy technology across care homes and other settings.

    The training will focus on tools which have been shown to improve the quality of care and reduce pressure on staff. This includes motion sensors that can detect and alert staff when a patient has had a fall; video telecare to allow remote appointments with doctors and carers to reduce the need to travel; and artificial intelligence which can automate routine tasks like note taking or predict when a patient might need additional care.

    Care technologies like these will help people to receive the best possible care in the community and prevent avoidable trips to the hospital, reducing pressure on the NHS.  It supports the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to make health and social care fit for the future.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

    We will harness the full potential of cutting-edge technology to transform social care, helping people to live independently in their own homes and improving the quality of care.

    By investing in skills training for care workers, introducing a Fair Pay Agreement, and providing more opportunities for career progression, we will help retain the incredible professionals we need. 

    Our Plan for Change will make sure we have the people and the skills needed to build a National Care Service.

    Speaking at Unison’s 2025 National Health Care Conference, the Health and Social Care Secretary also outlined a series of wider measures to boost the recruitment and retention of care staff. The plans will professionalise the adult social care workforce and help staff progress in their careers, leading to better pay and recognition.

    This includes:

    • Setting up new job roles – like deputy managers, registered managers, personal assistants and a new enhanced care worker role – in recognition of increasingly complex care requirements. It will mean their skills will be recognised across the health service, so that GPs, doctors and other health professionals understand their expertise.
    • £12 million to fund courses and qualifications for carers to develop new skills, build expertise and advance in their careers.

    The boost for social care careers will support the 1.59 million strong workforce which provides vital care and support to people of all ages and with diverse, complex needs and is in recognition of the vital work they do.

    The measures come as unpaid carers’ see the biggest rise in their earnings limit since the 1970s this month, and the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for the sector continues to progress through Parliament.

    Baroness Louise Casey will soon begin her independent commission into adult social care which will look at how we recruit, retain and support the workforce as part of its focus on building a social care system fit for the future.

    Background

    Care Workforce Pathway

    • The Care Workforce Pathway is the first universal career structure for the adult social care workforce. It focuses on direct care and support roles. The second part of the Pathway includes four further role categories to continue to match the breadth of careers in adult social care.
    • The Pathway provides clear guidance for progression and development for professionals in the adult social care sector by outlining the necessary knowledge, skills, values and behaviours they will need in their work/practice. 8 It sets out how people can develop across a long-term career in adult social care with support and training; attracting people to join and remain in the sector and supporting sustainable workforce growth. 

    Level 5 Digital Leadership Qualification

    • This new qualification will ensure adult social care leaders and managers have the skills they need to adopt digital innovations and new technology to help transform the sector.
    • This supports the fundamental shift from analogue to digital in adult social care will support high quality, safe, efficient and person-centred care. This shift is dependent on the adult social care workforce feeling confident, skilled and supported to embed digital ways of working. 
    • Awarding Organisations can decide which technologies to focus on and these are included, but not limited to: smart home technologies, assistive technologies, technologies worn by staff, telecare, diagnostic tools, digital social care records, business software and AI and robotics technology. Further information can be found in the Level 5 Award in Understanding Digital Leadership in Adult Social Care Qualification Specification. 

     Publication of updated care certificate standards

    • The Care Certificate standards have been refreshed to bring the contents up to date and in line with the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification that was launched in June 2024. 
    • The Care Certificate Standards were developed for use in England and are the recommended minimum training, supervision and assessment that staff new to care (health and adult social care) should receive as part of induction and before they start to deliver care. It provides a foundation for healthcare support and social care worker roles, ensuring that the new worker can provide a compassionate and caring service.

    International Recruitment Fund

    • Additionally, the government will also reduce reliance on overseas recruitment for social care. £12.5 million has been made available for the international recruitment fund to tackle the exploitation of international care workers. This will help find new employment for displaced overseas care workers, prioritising those already in the UK before hiring internationally.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DfE Update: 9 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    DfE Update: 9 April 2025

    Latest information and actions from the Department for Education about funding, assurance and resource management, for academies, local authorities and further education providers.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    DfE Update further education: 9 April 2025

    HTML

    DfE Update academies: 9 April 2025

    HTML

    DfE Update local authorities: 9 April 2025

    HTML

    Details

    Latest for further education

    Article Title
    Action Post-16 subcontracting exemption request form now available
    Information Advanced learner loans funding allocations for the 2025 to 2026 funding year

    Latest information for academies

    Article Title
    Action Post-16 subcontracting exemption request form now available
    Information Department for Education energy for schools – a new way to buy energy

    Latest information for local authorities

    Article Title
    Action Post-16 subcontracting exemption request form now available
    Information Advanced learner loans funding allocations for the 2025 to 2026 funding year
    Information Department for Education energy for schools – a new way to buy energy

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Wevr Unveils Groundbreaking Immersive Experience, Catch the Wave at the Malta Pavilion at World Expo 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wevr, a creative development and production studio specializing in interactive and immersive experiences, today revealed its visionary design for the Malta Pavilion Experience at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The immersive installation will welcome global visitors from April 13, 2025 through October 13, 2025, showcasing Malta’s rich heritage and bold aspirations at the prestigious international event held once every four years. Titled “Catch the Wave,” the multi-sensory experience is being created in partnership with Malta Enterprise under the direction of Wevr’s cofounder and CEO Neville Spiteri. 

    “What better way to illustrate Malta’s forward-thinking future than by using immersive technology to surround visitors with the sights and sounds of Malta’s rich history in the Mediterranean, alongside our ambitious vision for tomorrow,” said Malta Enterprise CEO George Gregory. “Wevr’s creative vision and mastery of next-generation technologies made them the natural choice to showcase all that Malta offers in terms of heritage, industry and innovation.”

    With a focus on sustainability and technological advancement, the pavilion seamlessly integrates art, science, technology, culture, and the natural world. Key features include:

    • Dynamic Exterior Canvas: A spectacular 16m × 5m high-resolution LED screen envelops approaching visitors in the breathtaking Mediterranean environment. Digital twins capture the singular beauty of Malta’s iconic structures, from Megalithic temples to the old medieval city of Mdina and the UNESCO world heritage Valletta entrance, weaving a tapestry from past to present, each frame alive with the shifting light of the time of day. Ambient music intertwines with the imagery casting reflections that ripple on the dramatic fountain entrance. 
    • Immersive Time Portal: Inside the pavilion, a 9m x 3m surround screen creates a portal through Maltese history which surrounds visitors in a 180-degree storyscape, unfurling an 8,000-year saga in the Mediterranean Sea cradling the island of Malta. This captivating narrative journey, woven with spatial audio, dramatic lighting, and state of the art 3D and AI technology, traces the island’s metamorphosis from an ancient Mediterranean crossroads to a luminous hub of future innovation.
    • Multi-modal Storytelling: Through collaboration with the Heritage Malta, Wevr utilized state of the art 3D photogrammetry and proprietary Generative AI technology to faithfully bring to life key moments from Malta’s past with unprecedented detail and authenticity. And with the guidance of Malta Enterprise, visualizing an innovative and future extending to renewable energy and the metaverse.  

    “The Malta pavilion experience weaves an immersive journey that envelops visitors in the beauty and essence of Malta,” said Neville Spiteri, CEO of Wevr who directed and produced the experience. “By bringing key historic moments to life and offering glimpses into the future using our R&D in Generative AI and real-time 3D Unreal workflows, we’re demonstrating what tomorrow’s business and entertainment experiences look and feel like.”

    Wevr’s global virtual studio, composed of multiple creative teams across multiple continents, collaborated with Maltese historians, artists and domain experts at the center. The design leverages Wevr’s decade of expertise creating stories and environments with Epic’s Unreal Engine, now enhanced with proprietary Generative AI tools developed specifically for creating spectacular immersive content for forward-thinking clients like the Malta Government. 

    About Wevr

    Wevr is a leading creative immersive studio. We collaborate with artists, brands and IP to co-create immersive experiences and spatial applications. Wevr’s expertise includes Interactive real-time 3D, Spatial/XR, Simulations, Immersive video and Generative AI. Wevr was recognized on Fast Company’s list of “Top 10 Most Innovative companies in AR/VR.” Wevr’s world class leadership team is composed of repeat successful technology entrepreneurs, veteran AAA game developers, and award-winning designers, artists and storytellers. Investors include HTC and Epic Games. 

    Contact:
    Amanda Orr for Wevr
    amanda@wevr.com
    202-459-1304

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4bfb9631-df39-4ca8-a0a0-2ff2816e620d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy Expands in Europe with IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase, Delivering Three-Phase Backup Power in Poland

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, today announced the launch of its most powerful and versatile battery yet, the IQ® Battery 5P with FlexPhase, for customers in Poland. The IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase is an all-in-one AC-coupled system that delivers reliable backup power and supports both single-phase and three-phase applications, providing superior flexibility to meet diverse home energy needs. Enphase recently launched the FlexPhase battery in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

    The IQ Battery 5P starts at 5 kWh of capacity and multiple units can be configured to provide up to 70 kWh. Each 5 kWh battery is designed to deliver continuous power of up to 3.68 kW in single-phase configuration and 1.28 kW per phase in three-phase configuration. The new batteries can be configured to meet the needs of each homeowner, offering grid-tied support or backup power. The batteries are designed to discharge up to two times the maximum continuous power for three seconds, enabling the start-up of high-power devices without the grid when paired with the IQ® System Controller 3 INT. The IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase comes with an industry-leading 15-year warranty in Poland.

    “We’re thrilled to bring Polish homeowners the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase,” said Szymon Konieczka, CEO of BTI Solar, an installer of Enphase products in Poland. “What sets this technology apart is its adaptability – the battery’s scalable architecture accommodates both single-phase and three-phase systems, letting us customize backup solutions for each home. Enphase continues to be an industry leader with innovations like this.”

    “The IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase is a game-changer for our customers,” said Tomasz Noga, owner of iPowerInstall, an installer of Enphase products in Poland. “The ability to scale from a single 5 kWh unit to multiple units providing up to 70 kWh, while delivering robust backup power, makes it ideal for homes with varying energy needs.”

    “It’s a great time to introduce the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase to our customers in Poland,” said Radosław Koczwara, owner of Roka Energy, an installer of Enphase products in Poland. “With its flexible design, the IQ Battery 5P is one of the most versatile and reliable battery systems that we offer homeowners.”

    “We’re excited to bring the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase to Poland as demand for home energy storage continues to accelerate,” said Sabbas Daniel, senior vice president of sales at Enphase Energy. “With its compatibility for both single-phase and three-phase systems, the IQ Battery 5P is ideally suited for retrofitting the country’s large base of existing solar homes. As the market shifts toward requiring batteries, we’re proud to offer a flexible, reliable solution that helps homeowners get more value from their solar investments.”

    For more information about the IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase in Poland, please visit the Enphase website.

    About Enphase Energy, Inc.

    Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power — and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 80.0 million microinverters, and approximately 4.7 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

    ©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected capabilities and performance of Enphase Energy’s technology and products, including safety, quality, and reliability; and statements regarding the timing and availability of Enphase Energy’s products in Poland. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in Enphase Energy’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other documents filed by Enphase Energy from time to time with the SEC. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

    Contact:

    Enphase Energy

    press@enphaseenergy.com

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE Presence supports SPAK Task Force to prevent and investigate electoral crimes

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

    Headline: OSCE Presence supports SPAK Task Force to prevent and investigate electoral crimes

    Head of SPAK Altin Dumani (left), Ambassador Tarran (across) and their staff meet on the occasion of a donation by the OSCE Presence to enhance SPAK’s newly-established Task Force’s capacities in preventing and investigating electoral crimes, Tirana, 9 April 2025. (OSCE/Joana Karapataqi) Photo details

    As part of its efforts to support the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), on 9 April 2025, the OSCE Presence in Albania donated several sets of IT equipment to enhance SPAK’s newly-established Task Force’s capacities in preventing and investigating electoral crimes in the 11 May parliamentary elections.
    The equipment – consisting of 25 laptops, 25 printers/scanners and accessories – will be used by the 13 mobile investigation units as well as the co-ordinating unit in Tirana. The mobile units will cover all 12 regions of Albania and will be composed of SPAK prosecutors, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) investigators, financial investigators and support staff. They will focus on preventing and investigating criminal offences related to misuse of public administration and state infrastructure as well as the involvement of criminal groups in elections.
    This technical assistance will be followed by capacity-building training aimed at enhancing the skills of special prosecutors, financial and NBI investigators in gathering, analysing and investigating evidence related to electoral crimes.
    During the handover ceremony at SPAK premises, Head of Presence Ambassador Michel Tarran and Head of SPAK Altin Dumani emphasized the importance of strong institutional mechanisms in safeguarding electoral processes.
    “Today is about more than just equipment – it is about empowering the institutions that contribute to strengthening Albania’s democracy. I would like to commend SPAK for their initiative and commitment to investigating and prosecuting electoral crimes. We hope that heightened co-ordination and action from relevant institutions will dissuade potential violators and are confident that your work will contribute to ensuring that elections are free from unlawful interference,” said Tarran.
    “Elections represent a cornerstone of a democratic state. We express our gratitude to the OSCE for its continued support. This equipment will help to enhance the capacity of special prosecutors and investigators in the timely identification and effective prosecution of electoral crimes”, said Dumani.
    The donation was made possible as part of OSCE Presence’s project “Support to electoral reform and processes in Albania” funded by Sweden, Switzerland, the U.S. Mission to the OSCE and Poland.
    The OSCE Presence remains committed to supporting Albania’s institution in further strengthening electoral integrity.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to statement by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office concerning China’s military exercises around Taiwan

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA response to statement by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office concerning China’s military exercises around Taiwan

    • Date：2025-04-03
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    April 3, 2025

    The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office released a statement on April 2 indicating its concern over China’s military exercises around Taiwan, underscoring that they increased tensions and risked dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait. The statement reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, adding that this was critical to global prosperity. It went on to declare that the United Kingdom supported a free and open Indo-Pacific, that the Taiwan issue should be settled by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue and without the threat or use of force or coercion, and that military drills or threats to Taiwan were not conducive to such dialogue. The statement further pointed out that the United Kingdom did not support any attempt at unilaterally changing the status quo, calling for restraint and the avoidance of actions that undermine peace and stability.

    The UK statement follows those made by the United States, the European Union, and Japan, and is another expression of concern by a major country over China’s military exercises around Taiwan. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes the statement and thanks the UK government for continuing to pay close attention to the situation across the Taiwan Strait and for stating clearly that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are of global importance. 

    MOFA stresses that Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, will continue to work with like-minded partners to jointly safeguard the rules-based international order. Taiwan hopes that the world’s democracies will unite in calling on China to return to reason and restraint and to stop threatening Taiwan and unilaterally increasing regional tensions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to social media post by German Foreign Office expressing concern over China’s military exercises around Taiwan

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA response to social media post by German Foreign Office expressing concern over China’s military exercises around Taiwan

    • Date：2025-04-04
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    April 4, 2025

    On April 2, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany posted a message on the social media platform X pointing out that China’s military exercises around Taiwan had increased tensions and were a cause of concern. It stated that stability in the Taiwan Strait was paramount for regional and global security and also affected prosperity in Europe. The Foreign Office underlined that the status quo could only be changed through peaceful means and by mutual agreement, and not by force or coercion.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung sincerely thanks the government of Germany for its continued attention to cross-strait peace and stability and for this further expression of concern over China’s military drills. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscores that Taiwan, as a responsible member of the international community, will continue to work with like-minded partners to jointly defend the rules-based international order. It joins other nations in calling on China to exercise self-restraint, stop threatening Taiwan, and cease its unilateral attempts to escalate regional tensions. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Women’s Wellness Event promotes health, well-being and empowerment

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Over 70 women gathered at a Women’s Wellness Event at South Lakes Leisure Centre recently for a day dedicated to enhancing physical, mental and emotional well-being.

    The event brought women together for a series of interactive activities, informative health checks and valuable opportunities for connection and self-care.

    Organised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT), and ABC Community Network, this impactful event was made possible through funding from The Executive Office, the National Lottery, and the Public Health Agency.

    The programme offered a wide range of activities aimed at promoting health and wellness in a fun, engaging and supportive environment.

    Event highlights included an inspiring talk and music from local comedian Emer Maguire and physical activities such as dance, table tennis, badminton, and boccia, encouraging women of all ages and fitness levels to get active and try new things.

     There were also health checks and complementary therapies providing opportunities for stress relief, relaxation, and self-care plus a wide array of local health organisations on hand to share valuable resources including Women’s Aid, PCSP, Volunteer NOW, Red Cross, SHCST – Breast Health, Sexual Health, Promoting Wellbeing Division, People First and Southern Regional College.

    The event cultivated an inclusive environment where women could access information, gain practical health advice, and discover resources that support their overall well-being.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local children’s home achieves Outstanding Ofsted rating for the seventh time in a row

    Source: City of Sunderland

    A children’s home in Sunderland has once again been recognised as Outstanding by Ofsted following an inspection in February 2025.

    The Colombo Road home in Castletown is one of nine homes operated by Together for Children, the children’s services partner of Sunderland City Council. Six young people aged between 11 and 17 live at the home.

    This is the seventh time in a row the home has received this highest judgement from Ofsted, with inspectors saying: “The physical environment for children is safe and secure and offers a warm and homely atmosphere. All staff and managers are passionate about building a home for children that they can be proud to welcome their friends and loved ones back to.”

    Councillor Michael Butler, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Child Poverty and Skills said: “The children’s homes in Sunderland provide a safe, caring, and positive environment for young people across the city and we are honoured that Colombo Road has once again been recognised by the independent Ofsted inspectors as leading the way in terms of the care and support in homes like this.  The team offer young people of the city personalised support, opportunities and give them the stability they need to thrive and eventually move on, and their passion and commitment to our young people is clear to see in the report.”

    Director for Children’s Services and Together for Children’s (TfC) Chief Executive, Simon Marshall, added: “The report highlights that Colombo Road staff consistently place children and their well-being at the heart of their practice and are they are highly skilled at responding to their individual needs. As a result, young people know they have a secure, comfortable, and loving home with people who genuinely care about them. We are incredibly proud of the support our staff provide to the young people at the home, and I extend a huge thank you to them for their ongoing hard work – this recognition is truly well-deserved.”

    The Ofsted report noted that:

    • Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding
    • How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding
    • The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

    The Ofsted inspector’s report said: “Staff provide a nurturing environment and strive to ensure that children feel loved and genuinely cared for. This has proved effective, as children begin to confide in trusted staff with sensitive issues and requests to keep them safe. Children develop an appropriate sense of permanence and belonging here and see it as their home.”

    The report noted that all the young people at Colombo Road attend school or other educational provisions, where they are learning and making good progress. They highlight that staff are ambitious for children and support them to attend and do well in their education and talk to them about the importance of achieving a full education.  The team also liaise well with schools, colleges and virtual school heads.

    The inspector said: “Leaders and managers understand the plans for the children and drive and celebrate the achievement of important milestones, goals and permanence for their futures. Leaders and managers monitor the progress that individual children make and can demonstrate the positive impact that living at the home has had on individual children’s progress and life chances. Feedback from other agencies and professionals was all extremely positive and demonstrated how leaders’ and managers’ passion drives positive progress and outcomes for children.”

    Home manager, Michael More added: “Achieving our seventh consecutive Outstanding Ofsted rating is a huge accolade for my team at Colombo Road. We welcome the Ofsted findings and take great pride in the positive feedback we received. The report highlights how living in our home significantly enhances the life chances of our young people, and notes that we are committed to placing their individual needs at the heart of everything we do.  We work closely with other homes across the city to support one another and for me this report really sums up the incredibly dedicated and passionate teams across all of our homes and we are incredibly proud to be supporting our young people in becoming the best they can be.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cabinet to consider move towards zero waste

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Last updated:

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet is set to consider a new Zero Waste Strategy, which will look to rid the City Region of all unnecessary waste by 2040.

    The strategy, co-created by all councils in the Liverpool City Region and the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA), is an important step towards the Council’s plans to significantly reduce carbon emissions from waste collection and disposal in the next 15 years.

    If agreed at next week’s Cabinet Meeting, the strategy will work alongside the Council’s Recycling and Waste Strategy, which was adopted earlier this year.

    Currently, waste collection and processing in Liverpool creates 51,751 tonnes of CO2 each year, the equivalent of 9,200 car journeys circumnavigating the globe.

    Both the newly proposed strategy and existing waste strategy share targets to reduce purple bin waste by 50 per cent by 2040 and achieve a recycling rate of 65 per cent, up from the current rate of 17.9 per cent, in the next 10 years.

    The Zero Waste Strategy, if agreed, could reduce carbon emissions emitted by waste collection and processing across the region by 80 per cent.

    To help reach these goals, the strategy adopts three main themes of ‘People, Planet, and Economy’. Together, the City Region partnership would focus on awareness and education, promoting positive behaviours in buying habits to prevent waste from being created in the first place.

    This includes meal planning to prevent excess food, reusing and repairing items rather than throwing them away, and buying second hand.

    The strategy explains that the best way to remove carbon emissions from waste is by creating a circular economy. This means encouraging businesses and manufacturers to reduce waste created during the production process, while making materials that can be used again and again.

    If items do need to be thrown away, they should be recycled so that the raw materials can be used to manufacture new products.

    One major step towards a circular economy is the introduction of a food waste collection, which all local authorities across the country must introduce by the end of March next year.

    Households across Liverpool will have a new, weekly food waste collection, which will see unused food taken away to be broken down and repurposed.

    The Council is committed to reducing the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. In 2019, it declared a climate emergency, followed by an action plan to reach net zero across all Council operations by 2030.

    One of the key aims outlined in the plan is to tackle the carbon footprint created through waste collection and processing. Both strategies outline clear steps needed in Liverpool to reach this goal.  

    Work has already started to meet these goals, with the introduction of solar bins and underground refuse bins across the city, as well as optimising collection routes. Together, these changes have reduced the frequency of collections and to the number of emissions released while doing so.

    The Council has also worked with residents to promote positive waste behaviours, including the introduction of a new environmental enforcement team to tackle fly-tipping and Keep Liverpool Tidy, which has seen a big increase in community litter picking since it started in 2022.

    Further support is available for residents looking to reduce their waste on zerowastelcr.com, including an interactive map featuring charity shops, refill shops, and repair and reuse organisations.

    Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council said: “Liverpool City Council remains fully committed to achieving net zero, and the new Zero Waste Strategy will be a crucial step towards that goal.

    “By working in partnership with our City Region colleagues, we can create meaningful change that benefits everyone, but we can’t do this alone. Only by working together serving residents and businesses can we fully address the climate crisis and create a sustainable future.

    “Not only will this strategy help us to do our bit to protect the planet, but it will also save residents money. If we repair and reuse more often than throwing away, there’ll be less need to buy new items and we can move towards eliminating single-use materials.

    “Together we can create a greener, more sustainable Liverpool for future generations.”

    Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Communities and Streetscene said: “Our Recycling and Waste Strategy already sets out an action plan to reduce the amount of rubbish across the city and this new Zero Waste Strategy is further confirmation that these steps are vital.

    “While the waste that doesn’t get recycled in Liverpool is incinerated to make energy which goes back into the system, this still releases harmful gases into the environment. The only way to combat this is to reduce the amount of rubbish that we produce and increase the amount sent to be recycled.

    “We’re already tackling the amount of waste both on our streets and in our homes and making our waste collection as sustainable as possible. Our successful solar bin pilot and eco-friendly waste wagons are both working towards reducing the number of emissions in collecting our waste. In the near future we’ll be introducing food waste collections and increasing the number of materials households can recycle too, but there’s still more that we can do together.

    “We have a collective responsibility to make sure the actions we take now has a positive impact for our planet in the future.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA – Religious deception in human trafficking: Victims passed off as “pilgrims” and “missionaries”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 9 April 2025

    Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) – There is a new, insidious stratagem used by human traffickers in organizing trafficking, preparing, and involving victims, in order to evade airport controls: passing themselves off as missionaries, especially Christians, traveling for religious reasons, or using the definition of “pilgrims” traveling for reasons of faith. This is a phenomenon that the Philippine and Thai police have revealed after investigations and wiretaps, which documented various episodes in which the “religious cover” had been uncovered.The Philippine police reported that three women (aged 23, 25, and 50) were attempting to board a flight to Singapore, with a stopover in Thailand, identifying themselves as “missionaries,” “volunteers belonging to the Catholic Church, for missionary work in Thailand.” Due to certain inconsistencies in their documents, and after further investigations and questioning, the truth was revealed: the older woman, who claimed to be a “preacher,” was one of the organizers of an illegal trafficking of women to Thailand. Seduced by “a teaching job,” the two young women allegedly fell into a criminal network and ended up fueling prostitution. The police explained the system whereby a regular traveler, acting as a smuggler, accompanies groups of passengers under false pretenses, who become victims of trafficking. Coordinated police action across the borders of Southeast Asian countries (the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia) led to the arrest of smugglers involved in trafficking networks.In its end-of-2024 report, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration reported 998 victims of human trafficking during the year and identified several activities and schemes such as fake pilgrimages, arranged marriages, and surrogacy. Often, victims, lured, particularly through social media, end up employed in slave labor in the so-called “scam cities” in Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar.The Catholic Foundation PREDA (People’s Recovery, Empowerment, and Development Assistance), founded in the Philippines by Father Shay Cullen, an Irish Catholic missionary and member of the Missionary Society of St. Columbanus, has denounced the fact that many young Filipino women were lured by fake, well-paid job offers and transported to Burma, where they faced threats and abuse and were forced to work in slave-like conditions. In the Philippines, the Philippine Interfaith Movement Against Human Trafficking (PIMAHT)—which brings together representatives of the major Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist communities—praised the efforts of the police and government and reaffirmed their commitment to combating child trafficking and sexual exploitation. Father Bryand Restituto, Assistant to the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, strongly condemned individuals and trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable populations and use language, clothing, and presumed religious practices to commit criminal acts.In Thailand, among the nuns committed to the fight against trafficking, Sister Marie Agnes Buasap of the Hospitaller Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres, as coordinator of the Talitha Kum Thailand network, promotes awareness among young people, families, teachers, and educators. Talitha Kum is also involved in the reception and reintegration of victims. Catholic communities in Southeast Asian nations, where the phenomenon of human trafficking is particularly widespread and deep-rooted, renewed their commitment on the Day of Prayer and Commitment against Human Trafficking, which the Church celebrates on February 8, the feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Catholic associations are promoting innovative strategies, especially in schools, by integrating anti-trafficking education into the curriculum. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 9/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/ZAMBIA – Controversy over the proposed constitutional amendments

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Lusaka (Agenzia Fides) – “Constitutional reform is not a priority but, on the contrary, constitutes a mass distraction from the nation’s real problems.” This is the meaning of the statement by the Archdiocese of Lusaka Presbyteral Council on the proposed constitutional amendments announced on September 13 of last year by President Hakainde Hichilema.”The Archdiocese of Lusaka Presbyteral Council notes with dismay and concern the government’s persistent strategy to divert the population’s attention from important and urgent national issues by using, among other strategies, the proposal of constitutional amendments,” says the statement published on the official account of the Archdiocese of Lusaka. Among the “important and urgent national issues,” the Archdiocese of Lusaka Presbyteral Council lists: “The high cost of living, the crippling energy crisis, food insecurity, youth unemployment, divisive politics, reduced revenues from the mining sector, increased arrests and illegal detention of opposition politicians, selective efforts to combat corruption, nepotism, a lack of medicines, and the deplorable state of health facilities.””Therefore, constitutional amendment is not a national priority in the current context and time.” The Council urges “the government to immediately abandon the proposed constitutional amendments and instead focus on the pressing national issues of concern to the majority of Zambians.”After recalling that the current government majority contributed to drafting the Constitution that came into effect in 2016, the statement asserts that “we are not facing a constitutional crisis, nor a compelling historical opportunity or event that justifies amending the Republican Constitution. In fact, this government has failed to keep its political promises!” The statement by the Archdiocese of Lusaka Presbyteral Council prompted a stance from several lay members of the faithful who serve in President Hakainde Hichilema’s cabinet. In a reply signed, among others, by Defense Minister Ambrose Lufuma, the Catholic lay members of the government stated: “We, members of the Roman Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Lusaka, who also hold various government positions, wish to express our deep dismay at the letter in circulation, presumably written by the Archdiocese of Lusaka Presbyteral Council, regarding the proposed constitutional amendments. We wish to clarify that the opinions expressed in this letter do not reflect our collective position on this important nation-building process.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 9/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Subsidies and support to achieve financial autonomy: How the Dicastery for Evangelization supports local Churches

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 9 April 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – How much funding does the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches) allocate to help the dioceses in the territories under its jurisdiction achieve financial autonomy? This question was discussed yesterday in the Aula Magna of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, which provided the setting for the IV Study Day dedicated to the chair named after Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the Scalabrinian Cardinal, an authoritative canonist, who died in 2017.Speakers included Professor Vincenzo Buonomo, Grand Rector of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Professor Andrea D’Auria, Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, and Professor Yawovi Jean Attila.Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery and Vice Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, presided over and moderated the day. Father Tadeusz J. Nowak, OMI, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, along with Sister Roberta Tremarelli (AMSS), who works in the administration of the Pontifical Mission Societies, illustrated what it means to accompany local Churches on their path to financial independence.In his address, Father Nowak recalled that to date, more than 3,000 particular Churches in communion with the Successor of Peter fall under the jurisdiction of the Dicastery for Evangelization. This represents more than a third of all particular Churches in the world, he emphasized. Specifically, the list includes “dioceses, both of the Latin and Eastern Rites, apostolic vicariates, apostolic prefectures, apostolic administrations, missions sui iuris, territorial prelatures, and territorial abbeys.”While “in the past, a particular Church began with a mission in an area where the Gospel had only recently been proclaimed and the Church was not yet truly established,” which was then “elevated to the rank of apostolic vicariates and later to the rank of dioceses,” today “most new Churches arise from the division of existing dioceses in areas where the Church was already present.” However, they remain “under the care of the Dicastery for Evangelization until they achieve full financial autonomy.” Once this is achieved, “they may request to be transferred from the jurisdiction of the Dicastery for Evangelization to that of the Dicastery for Bishops.”A transition that can take up to several hundred years, added Father Nowak, recalling that “the Dicastery for Evangelization accompanies the churches under its authority on their path to financial autonomy, primarily through the Pontifical Mission Societies (the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, the Pontifical Society of Holy Childhood, and the Pontifical Missionary Union).The task of these four Societies, according to the Secretary General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, is to place themselves at the service of the Pope and his “care for missionaries.” Above all, however, the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith specifically accompanies young Churches by providing financial subsidies for the creation and strengthening of their ecclesial infrastructure.Last year alone, the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith “disbursed more than $23 million in ordinary subsidies,” which bishops can use “for any purpose related to the pastoral life and evangelization of the local Church.” “Normally,” Father Nowak explained, “this grant is used for the health care of the clergy or for the office expenses of the diocesan Curia. Without such subsidies, the dioceses would suffer great difficulties that would slow down or even hinder the work of evangelization.” In this context, for example, the Society for the Propagation of the Faith also provided “almost $9 million” in subsidies “for the support of catechists in the particular Churches.” This money was used “to provide resources for the support and training of catechists.” Because, as Father Nowak emphasized, “catechists are indispensable because the number of ordained priests in many territories is insufficient to ensure adequate pastoral care for all the baptized.” In addition to ordinary subsidies, there are also extraordinary subsidies for which the Pontifical Mission Societies receive “thousands of requests every year.” In most cases, these are requests for financing the construction of chapels and churches, monasteries, schools, clinics, pastoral centers or homes for retired clergy, as well as for the purchase of transportation for missionaries, etc. For these types of projects, “the Society for the Propagation of the Faith allocated more than 16 million dollars in 2024.” “The Dicastery has provided extraordinary subsidies, responding to requests from bishops in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas,” said Father Nowak, who pointed out that the Society “also provides more than nine million dollars a year for the administration of five colleges in Rome, which serve the ongoing formation of clergy and religious of the particular Churches under the care of the Dicastery. Hundreds of priests and religious from these Churches can thus come to Rome to pursue advanced academic studies and then return to their local Church to provide valuable services to the pastoral life of the particular Church.”Not only that: “Every year, the Dicastery for the Oriental Churches receives significant financial support from the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith to accompany the Churches of the Oriental Rite on their path to financial autonomy.” The Dicastery, the Secretary General continued, “also provides the episcopal vestments for priests appointed bishops in the particular Churches administered by the Dicastery (including two episcopal cassocks, a miter, the episcopal ring, the bishop’s cross, and crosier). In this way, the new bishop is fully equipped to begin his episcopal ministry.”It must be clarified, as Sister Roberta Tremarelli also emphasized, that “the Dicastery for Evangelization does not finance projects through the Pontifical Mission Societies.” According to the statutes of the Pontifical Mission Societies, they “participate in projects initiated by the local community and for which it assumes responsibility. The bishop must present a solid financial plan for the implementation of the project and commit the community to its completion and ongoing maintenance.” In this sense, it is being examined “whether a room created for children’s catechism can also be used for other purposes,” which could also lead to “continuous funding for the structure itself over time,” Sister Roberta Tremarelli emphasized, concluding: “The subsidy is an aid; the Pontifical Mission Societies must not replace the local Church. Our aid must be based on the principle of autonomy.”In this way, the particular Churches are encouraged to manage their finances responsibly and transparently, while remaining independent of external funding: “We are rich in young Churches, but we must not remain immature Churches. The growth and independence of the local Churches is our goal,” Archbishop Nwachukwu said in his concluding remarks. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 9/4/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/NIGERIA – Resignation of bishop of Port Harcourt

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 9 April 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, presented by Bishop Camillus Archibong Etokudoh.Il Santo Padre ha accettato la rinuncia al governo pastorale della Diocesi di Port Harcourt presentata da S.E. Mons. Camillus Archibong Etokudoh. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 9/4/2025)
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