NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Poland and Canada suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (April 9) that in view of notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Åšrem District of Wielkopolskie Region in Poland, and in Lambton County of Ontario Province in Canada, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

    A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 6 600 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Poland, and about 400 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Canada last year. 

    “The CFS has contacted the Polish and Canadian authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT MEETS THE PRIME MINISTER OF PORTUGAL AND THE PRESIDENT OF ASSEMBLEIA DA REPUBLICA

    Source: Government of India

    PRESIDENT MEETS THE PRIME MINISTER OF PORTUGAL AND THE PRESIDENT OF ASSEMBLEIA DA REPUBLICA

    ADDRESSES THE MEMBERS OF THE INDIAN COMMUNITY IN PORTUGAL AT A COMMUNITY RECEPTION

    PRESIDENT LEAVES FOR SLOVAKIA

    Posted On: 09 APR 2025 1:31PM by PIB Delhi

    On the concluding day (April 8, 2025) of her visit to Portugal, the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu met the President of Assembleia Da Republica (Portuguese Parliament), H.E. José Pedro Aguiar-Branco at Lisbon. They were in accord that regular exchanges between the Parliaments of India and Portugal would boost the people-to-people ties between the two countries. The President also met and held talks with the Prime Minister of Portugal, H.E. Mr Luis Montenegro at Lisbon. During the meeting, both leaders discussed the way forward for further strengthening bilateral relations. They agreed that there are greater opportunities for cooperation in many areas, such as trade and commerce, defence, science and technology, and energy.

    Yesterday (April 8, 2025), President Droupadi Murmu, accompanied by President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa, visited Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon and witnessed various research and development initiatives, including in the fields of neuroscience, oncology, experimental clinical research, and automated medicine delivery. The President also had a lively interaction with Indian researchers and scholars working at the Foundation and at other institutions across Portugal. She commended the Indian scholars for their role in deepening India-Portugal collaboration in emerging technologies and scientific research.

    The Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown is a state-of-the-art medical, scientific and technological institution where interdisciplinary clinical care is being developed alongside applied research activities and advanced education programmes.

    Later, the President paid floral tributes at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi in Lisbon. She also visited the Radha-Krishna Temple and offered her prayers.

    In the final engagement in Lisbon, the President addressed the members of the Indian Community at a Reception hosted by the Ambassador of India to Portugal.  The accompanying Minister of State, Smt. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya as well as Members of Parliament, Shri Dhaval Patel and Smt. Sandhya Ray were present on the occasion.

    Addressing the enthusiastic gathering of Indian community members who had travelled to Lisbon for the occasion from all parts of Portugal, the President said that representing many parts of India and different communities, they not only reflect the diversity of India but also represent the shared values that bind our countries – democracy, pluralism, the spirit of fraternity.

    The President said that their contributions to Portugal, and their efforts to promote Indian culture, make them true ambassadors of our country. She was happy to note that they are achieving success and accomplishments through their hard work and making India proud. She thanked the Government and people of Portugal for welcoming the Indian diaspora and ensuring their safety and well-being.

    The President said that the Government of India is committed to strengthening the bond with its diaspora and ensuring their welfare. The Government has taken several initiatives to support the diaspora in times of crisis. She told members of the Indian diaspora that the Indian Missions abroad are ready to assist every Indian because wherever they are, their motherland is always with them!

    Following the reception, the President departed for the Slovak Republic.

    Please click here to see the President’s Speech – 

     

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    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2120316) Visitor Counter : 88

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: First batch of non-locally trained dentists join DH to provide public service

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    First batch of non-locally trained dentists join DH to provide public service 
    Following the passage of the Dentists Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the Legislative Council in July last year, new pathways were to be introduced to admit qualified non-locally trained dentists. The DH launched a global recruitment drive in the same month. Apart from posting the information on its website, the DH collaborated with the offices outside Hong Kong to organise a series of online briefings and disseminated information to dental institutions and dental associations around the world.
     
    The DH received over 90 applications from non-locally trained dentists and issued 12 letters of appointment after a rigorous selection process. The Dental Council of Hong Kong (DCHK) is actively processing the relevant registration matters. Three of them, after obtaining the DCHK’s approval for limited registration in February this year, took up their appointments with the DH on March 10 this year.
     
    “The DH welcomes non-locally trained dentists to join the team. The three new colleagues have practical experience of practising in the Mainland, the United Kingdom and Australia after obtaining their professional qualifications in dentistry from Mainland and overseas institutions respectively,” said the Consultant in-charge, Dental Services of the DH, Dr Kitty Hse.
     
    “A one-week induction training was provided to these non-locally trained dentists to help them better understand the scope of public dental services in Hong Kong and the duties of government dentists. The three new colleagues, who are proficient in Cantonese, have been assigned to work in government dental clinics with general public sessions to serve the public,” she added.
     
    Dr Hse stressed that the DH will continue to adopt a multipronged approach to the recruitment and retention of dentists, and will maintain close contact with the DCHK to complete the vetting and approval of registration applications from non-locally trained dentists as soon as possible in order to meet the demand for local dental services.
     
    The three newly recruited dentists expressed their honour in being able to utilise their professional knowledge and experience to serve the citizens of Hong Kong. They were particularly pleased to be able to contribute to the place where they grew up and have more time to spend with their families. They noted that the DH’s induction training was comprehensive and practical, covering topics such as infection control, operation of the medical record system and consultation procedures, adding that it has helped them quickly adapt to the work environment. The professional support and teamwork from their colleagues have enabled them to start their work smoothly. Looking ahead, they are eager to develop their careers in Hong Kong on a long-term basis and continue to serve the community with their professionalism.
     
    With the commencement of the amended provisions of the Dentists Registration Ordinance (Cap. 156), new pathways for qualified non-locally trained dentists to come to Hong Kong have been introduced with effect from January 1 this year, including limited registration which is open to all dentists and special registration targeting specialist dentists. Non-locally trained dentists who are selected for full-time employment in specified institutions, including the DH, the Hospital Authority, the University of Hong Kong and Prince Philip Dental Hospital, subject to the approval of the DCHK, can directly practise in specified institutions to better meet the demand for public or subsidised dental services in Hong Kong.
    Issued at HKT 15:45

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Next meeting of DPAL: 07/05 @ 15.00-16.30 in Strasbourg – Delegation for relations with Palestine

    Source: European Parliament

    The meeting of the Delegation for relations with Palestine will take place on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, in room DE MADARIAGA S5, in Strasbourg.
    Further details on the agenda will be shared shortly

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Swiss–US relations: Federal Council establishes steering body

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    At its meeting on 9 April 2025, the Federal Council took the decision to set up a project structure responsible for steering Swiss–US relations. The body, which will be led by the head of the FDFA, will operate until the end of 2025 and involve all departments.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Federal Council reaffirms its support for UNDP

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    At its meeting on 9 April 2025, the Federal Council approved a contribution of CHF 31.8 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CHF 2 million to the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), thereby reaffirming Switzerland’s support for sustainable development, the fight against poverty and multilateralism. The UNDP and UNCDF play a key role in implementing the 2030 Agenda, supporting governments in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Understanding trilogue: Parliament’s rules and practices for reaching provisional agreement on legislation – 09-04-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Thanks to successive Treaty revisions, the European Parliament legislates on an equal footing with the Council. Today, a vast number of policies are decided under the ordinary legislative procedure (Article 294, Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union − TFEU), previously known as co-decision. To adopt legislation, Parliament, representing European Union citizens, and the Council, representing the governments of the EU Member States, have to agree on an identical text. This requires time and negotiation. The complexity of the EU legislative process has sometimes been criticised as lengthy and subject to gridlock. To overcome this issue, the co-legislators have developed methods of informal contact to speed up the legislative process, while ensuring representativeness and oversight. One of the tools commonly used today are trilogue meetings, defined as ‘informal tripartite meetings on legislative proposals between representatives of the Parliament, the Council and the Commission’. Due to the absence of any explicit reference in the Treaties, trilogue began in the early 1990s, on a very informal basis, and evolved over time. In the beginning, the institutions filled the legal void with an informal practice that became progressively formalised over time and resulted, inter alia, in successive modifications of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. These modifications were driven by the need to ensure that trilogue negotiations support the legislative process in Parliament efficiently, while remaining fully transparent and representative. Today, Parliament’s Rules of Procedure define the key elements of trilogue: how to conduct negotiations, and how to ensure that both the committee(s) responsible and plenary are fully informed and can exercise their oversight role. Other elements, such as the number and frequency of meetings, and the practical conduct of the negotiations depend on the nature of the legislative file to be negotiated, and thus remain uncodified. This briefing updates a 2021 EPRS publication.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Ciatti case and the need to strengthen cooperation between Europol and national police forces to tackle transnational violent crime – E-001323/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001323/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Francesco Torselli (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Carlo Ciccioli (ECR), Giovanni Crosetto (ECR), Alberico Gambino (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Denis Nesci (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR)

    Niccolò Ciatti, a young man from Florence, was brutally killed in Lloret-de-Mar, Spain, in 2017, when he was beaten up and kicked in the head outside a nightclub. His killer, Rassoul Bissoultanov, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Spain and 23 years in prison in Italy, is still on the run.

    This case has raised concerns about how effective the coordination between police and judicial authorities is in addressing violent crimes that involve citizens from different EU Member States. Despite the seriousness of the case and the broad media impact, the investigations revealed limitations and delays in transnational cooperation between the competent authorities of the different countries.

    Given that cooperation between Europol and national police forces is not always timely and effective, that transnational violent crime is increasing across the EU and that Europol has a central role in coordinating investigations:

    • 1.What steps will the Commission take to tackle complex transnational violent crimes, such as the Ciatti case, and improve cooperation between Europol and national police forces, including during the stages of investigation and monitoring of defendants?
    • 2.Will the Commission address the limited effectiveness of transnational precautionary measures, including by means of real-time ‘data exchange’ systems for surveillance of defendants, in order to prevent them from going on the run?

    Submitted: 31.3.2025

    Last updated: 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Language policy in Latvia – E-001312/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001312/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Siegbert Frank Droese (ESN)

    • 1.What does the Commission make of the Latvian Government’s decision to ban Russian in public service broadcasting from 2026?
    • 2.How does the Commission view this decision, particularly in the context of the 1992 European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages?
    • 3.How does the Commission define the group affected – ‘Russian minority’, ‘Russian-speaking minority’, ‘Russians in Latvia’ or another term?

    Submitted: 31.3.2025

    Last updated: 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Transnational repression in the EU: legal and institutional responses to Iran’s actions – E-001318/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001318/2025
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Hannah Neumann (Verts/ALE)

    Reports that agents of the Iranian regime have carried out targeted assassinations of Iranian dissidents in Europe raise questions about transnational repression once again. A recently published and subsequently deleted interview[1][2][3] with retired Brigadier-General Mohsen Rafikdust allegedly confirms that the Iranian regime is responsible for political assassinations in European countries, including Germany and France. These new revelations reinforce concerns that Iranian intelligence structures continue to operate actively in EU Member States. In view of the increasing threat of state-sponsored transnational repression, can the Commission answer the following questions:

    • 1.What is the Commission’s current knowledge of transnational repression by Iran in the EU?
    • 2.To what extent are European security authorities specifically monitoring Iranian activities aimed at political assassinations, intimidation or espionage against Iranians in exile, and what measures are in place at EU level to effectively protect Iranians in exile and other dissidents in Member States who are at risk from Iranian transnational repression?
    • 3.To what extent is transnational repression being taken into account in the current negotiations on EU-Iran policy?

    Submitted: 31.3.2025

    • [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWfDgAwI9xU&t=7442s (2:16:40).
    • [2] https://www.iranintl.com/en/202503093512.
    • [3] https://x.com/manelimirkhan/status/1899147743731298585?s=46.
    Last updated: 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Poland’s security in the context of European defence – E-001352/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001352/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Marlena Maląg (ECR)

    Point 23 of the European Council conclusions of 20 March 2025 stresses ‘the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States, and takes into account the security and defence interests of all Member States, in accordance with the Treaties’.

    In addition, the European Parliament resolution of 12 March 2025 on the White Paper on the future of European defence, in paragraph 66, calls for ‘the creation of a council of defence ministers and for the move from unanimity to qualified majority voting for decisions in the European Council, the Council of Ministers and EU agencies’.

    There is a good deal of controversy around the issue of how the EU institutions will interpret these provisions. Given the attitude of Western European countries which, despite the calls from the countries of my region in the period before Russia’s full-scale aggression, continued to pursue their interests with the Russian Federation, I would like to ask the Commission:

    • 1.What guarantees does the Commission intend to give those countries which are particularly at risk, such as Poland and other frontline states, if Western European countries take a different stance on security questions?
    • 2.In the Commission’s view, in the event of a threat from the Russian Federation, will Member States such as Poland be free to make decisions on their security and on the actions of their national armed forces?
    • 3.What action does the Commission intend to take to minimise any potential threats to the interests of Poland and other countries bordering the aggressor?

    Submitted: 2.4.2025

    Last updated: 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over £35 million in Cold Weather Payments support paid this winter

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Over £35 million in Cold Weather Payments support paid this winter

    Over 1.4 million Cold Weather Payments – worth around £35 million in total – were paid this past winter to people in England and Wales, according to statistics released today [09 April].

    • Over 1.4 million Cold Weather Payments were made this past winter
    • This represents around £35 million in support, in addition to other benefits
    • Over £9 million of this was issued to those in receipt of Pension Credit

    Cold Weather Payments are issued to vulnerable households when the average temperature in their local area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days. 

    Those eligible received £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

    Of those who received a Cold Weather Payment, 385,000 were also in receipt of Pension Credit – equating to around £9 million.

    It comes as the Government’s drive to support low-income pensioners has led to around 50,000 extra Pension Credit awards since the summer – an increase of 64 per cent compared to the same period last year. 

    Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said:

    We supported millions of households this winter through Pension Credit and Cold Weather Payments, alongside extending the Household Support Fund and the Warm Home Discount. 

    For pensioners, this will have come on top of the State Pension which is set to increase by up to £1,900 over this parliament for millions, thanks to our commitment to the Triple Lock.

    Pensioners who receive Pension Credit automatically qualify for Cold Weather Payments. This is alongside extra support available such as the Household Support Fund, which was extended from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026, providing support with the cost of essentials such as food, heating and bills.

    Working age people who receive qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit and Jobseeker’s Allowance can also receive a Cold Weather Payment if they meet further criteria relating to employment, health conditions and caring responsibilities for young children or a disabled child.

    Additional Information

    • A breakdown of Cold Weather Payments issued can be found on gov.uk: Cold Weather Payment estimates: 2024 to 2025 – GOV.UK
    • There have been an estimated 1,402,000 Cold Weather Payments in the year 2024/25.
    • There have been an estimated 220,000 more Cold Weather Payments 2024/25 compared to the 2023/24 season, including an additional 21,000 to those receiving Pension Credit.
    • Eligibility criteria for Cold Weather Payments can be found on gov.uk: Cold Weather Payment: Eligibility – GOV.UK

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — Esquire Developments Ltd

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — Esquire Developments Ltd

    How Homes England supported an ambitious developer based in Kent.

    Home Building Fund Developer Case Study: Esquire Developments Ltd

    Esquire Developments Ltd, an award-winning SME housebuilder, was established in 2011 and currently delivers approximately 120 homes annually across Kent and the South East.

    Esquire Developments approached Homes England to support their project Millers Field, a 1.21-acre site in Maidstone, Kent and we provided a £2.68 million loan to transform the site into 9 attractive family homes.

    Esquire Developments is known for its dedication to quality and sustainability, achieving up to 50% carbon reduction in their developments compared to current building standards. They also prioritise sourcing materials and supply chains locally, and all the homes in this project were equipped with air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging stations.

    Following the successful completion of Millers Field, Homes England has supported Esquire Developments with a second scheme, Hill Farm in Sittingbourne, which is made up of 30 homes, 3 key worker homes and an overflow carpark for Demelza Children’s Hospice situated next to the development.

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — Kingswood Homes, Lancashire

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — Kingswood Homes, Lancashire

    Watch our film to see how Homes England has supported a regional house builder to significantly grow their housing output.

    Kingswood Homes

    Kingswood Homes, a mid-sized developer operating in the north-west and south-west of England, approached Homes England for support in 2020 after struggling to build a pipeline of sites due to funding constraints.    

    The phased nature of house building projects often means that sites become self-funding after around two thirds of the project have completed, as the builder can use the resulting sales income to repay the debt and meet ongoing construction costs. However, this means it is difficult for smaller builders to invest funds in their next project until the last house on a site has been sold.   

    Homes England provided development finance funding on four Kingswood residential schemes before developing an innovative new multi-site loan facility in 2020, which allows cash that would normally be used to repay debt, to instead be used to fund future costs, including site acquisitions.     

    With Homes England support Kingswood has grown from building 36 homes per year in 2016 to over 100 homes per annum and it is anticipated that with continued support, it will remain on track to meet the annual 200 homes target within the next three to four years.

    Paul Jones, Managing Director of Kingswood said: 

    Kingswood has proven that with appropriate financial support, small house builders can grow into medium sized businesses and play a role in helping to address the sustainable quality housing requirements set by government.  Homes England has been brilliant in understanding the financial support that we needed in order to deliver that growth and enable Kingswood to potentially access corporate finance in future years.  

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — The PG Group

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — The PG Group

    A development loan from Homes England helped The PG Group transform a derelict site in Bristol into a vibrant new neighbourhood

    The Carriageworks is a landmark brownfield site in Bristol which has been derelict for the past 30 years. A listed building, it was originally a Victorian commercial building used for the manufacture of horse drawn carriages. Having acquired the site in 2017, the PG Group proposed a place making scheme of apartments and retail units at the site in central Stokes Croft.

    However, the group encountered numerous challenges in bringing the site forward, with rising construction costs, complex planning negotiations, contractor availability, high levels of remediation and a lack of funding options available in the market.

    This is where Homes England stepped in, approving an initial loan to fund the development of 124 new homes and retail commercial units on the ground floor.

    Assisted by close communication with the local community throughout the process, the scheme has proved an unqualified success, with all homes sold and the market square providing Stokes Croft with a new focal point.

    Stuart Gaiger, Managing Director at PG Group, said:

    The Carriageworks has been one of the most technically challenging sites that the PG Group has undertaken. Combining difficult ground conditions, an ambitious scheme delivering residential accommodation and a strong placemaking theme, all delivered on a brownfield site in Bristol’s busy city centre.

    Given the challenges we faced, we were delighted be able to work with the team at Homes England who rapidly became valued partners. Their unique approach allowed us to deliver much needed residential, affordable housing and the community vision for placemaking aspects of the scheme.

    In addition, through support from Homes England we were able to more than treble the number of affordable homes on the site.

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — V&A Homes

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — V&A Homes

    Watch our film to find out how our funding helped a regional housebuilder to deliver an outstanding waterfront scheme.

    V&A Homes Yorkshire Ltd

    V&A homes is a family-run SME developer based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Waterside, a stunning nine-home scheme overlooking the River Nidd, was their second Homes England-supported development. 

    The brownfield site, a former abattoir, is located on a steep waterside location which required complex groundworks to complete the build. Homes England worked closely with the team at all stages to provide both financial and specialist support. 

    Today all three townhouses and six semi-detached homes are occupied, with residents benefitting from spectacular views and outstanding design.    

    Following the success of Waterside, V&A homes is now completing a scheme of homes opposite Thirsk Racecourse and are working on their next scheme which will deliver 60 new homes in Sharow near Ripon. 

    Victoria Denman, Managing Director of V&A Homes said:

    We first worked with Homes England after agreeing a land deal to bring our first development to market. From the outset I found the experience of working with the team extremely supportive. I was guided with care and consideration through the process and given reassurance at all stages. We are now working on a scheme which will deliver 60 homes – our biggest project to date. We wouldn’t have grown as we have without the great partnership we have developed with the agency.

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — Sky-House Co

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — Sky-House Co

    A development loan from Homes England helped newly-established housebuilder Sky-House Co to grow its business

    Sky-House development

    In 2017, Sky-House was a newly established, Yorkshire-based developer with a vision to create high-quality, urban ‘back-to-back’ housing for the 21st century, complete with balconies, rooftop garden spaces and shared pocket parks. Specifically, it had plans for a new, 44-home community, Waverley, located on a brownfield site, a former colliery, near Sheffield.

    As a new developer the company struggled to secure the finance from the private sector that it needed to bring forward this concept. But Homes England was attracted to the strong place-making ethos of the scheme, its aim to reduce carbon output, and the targeted ownership group of first-time buyers and lower income families and provided £3.2m in development finance.

    The completed scheme was an undeniable success. Sales demand exceeded expectations, and it was well received by the design and development community, with several award nominations.

    Importantly, Homes England was able to help Sky-House to utilise the equity and profit released from Waverley to fund the land acquisition of Oughtibridge Mill. Alongside this, it provided £3.7m of additional development funding.

    The scheme, comprising 40 eco-friendly homes with riverside balconies, private roof gardens and woodland views, is adjacent to a new development by David Wilson homes. The development has already secured two award wins.

    David Cross, Managing Director of Sky House, said:

    It is no understatement to say that without Homes England’s support we wouldn’t have been able to start even our first development.

    From Waverley Phase 1 to Oughtibridge Mill, we will complete 84 homes alongside commercial space, and we now have close to 400 homes and commercial space on the drawing board and a secure pipeline of funding and sites for the next 3 to 5 years.

    By accessing Homes England’s support, we have shifted from developer to housebuilder and now, more importantly, to place maker with close to 40 full and part time staff across the business alongside a growing cabinet of awards. All the team at Homes England have been amazing and we cannot thank them enough- all we can do is keep delivering great homes.

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — Windyridge Property Investments

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — Windyridge Property Investments

    Watch our film to see how Homes England has supported a new SME developer to deliver a scheme of starter homes in West Bromwich.

    Home Building Fund Developer Case Study: Windyridge

    In March 2022 Homes England supported Windyridge Property Investments, a new entrant SME developer, with a £1.4 million development loan to deliver Sienna Way, a scheme comprising of 9 homes based in West Bromwich. As a first-time developer, Windyridge had experienced numerous funding barriers before receiving support from the Home Building Fund. Funding was legally contracted in 54 days from credit approval, demonstrating Homes England’s ability to provide SMEs access to much needed funding at pace.  

    Our regional team worked closely with the developer to design a flexible funding structure that incorporated possible delays in build completions and generous timeframes to sell the homes.  

    Completed in July 2023, Sienna Way meets the latest energy efficiency standards and provides a high-quality living environment for first time buyers, key workers and young families. Features include private courtyards, electric car charging points and underfloor heating. The scheme uses locally sourced, sustainable products, minimising waste in the construction process. 

    Jatinder Singh Gakhal, Managing Director, Windyridge said:

    As a new SME housing developer, we found securing development funding particularly challenging given the macro-economic factors affecting the construction industry. However, thanks to the team at Homes England, who provided exceptional support and guidance throughout the application process, we swiftly secured a development loan to fully fund our scheme. We strongly recommend SMEs consider Homes England funding to help unlock their future development sites.

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Home Building Fund — EDG Ironmonger Ltd

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — EDG Ironmonger Ltd

    A development loan from Homes England helped EDG to convert a derelict vacant office building to create 37 apartments for first-time buyers and key workers in central Coventry.

    EDG development

    In 2021, Homes England worked for the second time with EDG Ironmonger Ltd (“EDG”) to provide the SME housebuilder with a development loan.

    The funding helped EDG to convert a derelict vacant office building to create 37 apartments for first-time buyers and key workers in central Coventry. The funding was legally contracted in 111 days from credit approval, demonstrating that even during challenging times, Homes England can provide SMEs with access to much needed funding at pace.

    This was the second development loan to EDG which enabled them to deliver complex projects in areas with largely unproven values. The first scheme was the conversion of a mixed-use scheme including 63 apartments, known as The Co-Operative in Coventry City Centre.

    The Co-Operative was difficult to ‘traditionally’ fund due largely to unproven residential values in the location. The barriers were overcome with development funding from Homes England and EDG were able to complete the scheme ahead of schedule, under budget. The loan facility was repaid two years early and the scheme has proven residential values within the city and acted as a catalyst for other developers.

    Neil Edginton, Managing Director of EDG, said:

    This is our second deal in Coventry with Homes England and we are keen to do many more. Homes England has a shared ambition of supporting the creation of outstanding homes, so we are aligned entirely, which really assists us in the delivery of complex projects.

    The Homes England team were true partners in both projects, and we look forward to continuing and growing our successful working relationship with the team there.

    More information about the Home Building Fund can be found on our Home Building Fund — development finance page, or you can get in touch with one of our regional specialists. You can:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World Health Organization confirms MHRA to continue playing vital role in ensuring the quality of global biological medicines  

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    World Health Organization confirms MHRA to continue playing vital role in ensuring the quality of global biological medicines  

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the successful redesignation of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)’s Science and Research group as one of its Collaborating Centres for the Standardisation and Evaluation of Biologicals for the next four years.   

    This is critical for the work this group at the MHRA does on behalf of the WHO to develop, produce and distribute physical standards that are applied to assure the quality of biological medicines. 

    Biological medicines, such as vaccines, are among the most important medicines available in preventing killer diseases. Increasingly, newly developed biological medicines will play an important role in global healthcare, opening up many possibilities for the prevention or treatment of disease and illness. The work the Science and Research group at the MHRA does for WHO helps to ensure that patients across the world receive biological medicines of the highest quality. 

    The Science and Research group at the MHRA, and formerly the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), was granted its first designation back in 1954, and is one of only four institutes worldwide that WHO designates as a custodian laboratory for its International Biological Reference Preparations.   

    MHRA Interim Executive Director for Science and Research Nicola Rose is the Head of the Collaborating Centre. Nicola said:

    Biological medicines are an increasingly important part of healthcare. Our role as the UK medicines regulator is to make sure the medicines people take are of an acceptable quality. 

    Standards allow both the public and medical practitioners to have confidence in the quality of the medicines they use. 

    Standards also can help enable manufacturers make use of new and innovative technologies – ensuring patients receive the most advanced treatments possible.

    MHRA experts carry out four main responsibilities:  

    • Supporting WHO in developing, producing, and distributing international standards and reference materials for quality control and assurance of clinically relevant biological materials.  

    • Conducting collaborative research to assure the quality of vaccines and other biologicals.  

    • Providing technical input that may inform WHO when developing international written standards and guidelines for production and quality control of vaccines and other biologicals.  

    • Contributing to WHO’s regional work to assure the quality and safety of vaccines and other biologicals through the provision of technical support and technical assistance to build capacities.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New cooperation: GUU and FNAC VIM signed an agreement

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A cooperation agreement was concluded between the State University of Management and the Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM. The document was signed by the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and the director of the Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM Andrey Izmailov.

    One of the first projects for joint implementation will be “Ensuring food security of the country based on the creation of software and hardware systems and intelligent platform digital solutions in the field of development of agro-industrial technologies of the full life cycle”, which will be implemented in the period from 2024 to 2026.

    The development of a working project for a digital agricultural management platform is planned for 2025.

    The specialists of the Federal Scientific and Technical Center of VIM are experts in the field of development, production and testing of robotic systems and digital technologies used in agriculture, which will expand the range of innovative technical solutions and technologies that are the basis for the formation of a technological package, on the basis of which the specialists of the State University of Management are developing a digital platform for agricultural management.

    Let us recall that in March, a delegation from the State University of Management visited the Federal Scientific and Technical Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for preliminary discussions on areas of future cooperation.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/09/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: CoinShares Announces Executive Change

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    April 9, 2025 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey | CoinShares International Limited (“CoinShares” or “the Group”) (Nasdaq Stockholm: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF), a leading global investment company specialising in digital assets, today announced the departure of Frank Spiteri, Head of Asset Management, and member of the executive committee, from the Group.

    CoinShares’ strong existing team will continue to uphold the high standards that clients and partners have come to expect under the leadership of its executive committee. 

    As part of Mr. Spiteri’s departure arrangements, the Company confirms the following:

    1. Termination of Options: the Company will repurchase 1,019,995 vested stock options previously issued to Mr. Spiteri under the Company’s employee incentive program and such stock options will be cancelled following completion of the transaction outside the market.
    2. Share Repurchase: The Company has entered into an agreement to buy back 435,500 ordinary shares from Mr. Spiteri and his related parties. This repurchase will be executed as a block transaction.
    3. Both transactions were concluded at an average consideration per share of  66.42 SEK

    Each of the transactions have been approved by the Board of Directors and are in compliance with applicable securities regulations.

    CoinShares remains focused on delivering its strategic roadmap and continuing to offer further value to its investors, partners, and shareholders.

    About CoinShares

    CoinShares is a leading global digital asset manager that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment management, trading and securities to a wide array of clients that includes corporations, financial institutions and individuals. Founded in 2013, the firm is headquartered in Jersey, with offices in France, Stockholm, the UK, and the US. CoinShares is regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, in France by the Autorité des marchés financiers, in the US by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.

    For more information on CoinShares, please visit: https://coinshares.com
    Company  | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com
    Investor Relations | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com 

    PRESS CONTACT

    CoinShares
    Benoît Pellevoizin
    bpellevoizin@coinshares.com

    M Group Strategic Communications
    Peter Padovano
    coinshares@mgroupsc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Salford City Council launch new healthy families programme, HAPPI

    Source: City of Salford

    • Healthy, Active, Positive, Purposeful and Inspired programme give families the support they need to make simple lifestyle changes
    • Ten-week course focuses on overall health management by setting up healthy habits around food, exercise and lifestyle choices
    • Compassionate, supportive and non-judgmental approach to drive more effective outcomes

    Small changes to your lifestyle can make a big, positive impact on health and wellbeing. Salford City Council has launched a new free Healthy Families Programme, HAPPI, which has been designed to help promote a more compassionate and holistic approach to overall healthy living.

    Developed to overcome the growing public health issues that families are managing, the Health Improvement Team at Salford City Council will work with families to deliver a ten week practical, solution-focused course. It will provide parents and children the support they have been asking for to establish healthy habits around food, exercise and lifestyle choices.

    Instead of taking a traditional approach that focuses purely on weight loss as the desirable outcome, the new programme takes a more holistic and forward-thinking approach. It aims to cultivate a deep sense of body awareness, fostering self-acceptance and a positive relationship with one’s physical and mental well-being. By focusing on evidence-based lifestyle strategies, the programme empowers individuals and families to embrace sustainable habits that promote long-term health. This comprehensive initiative is designed to create meaningful, lifelong health benefits for the whole family, encouraging vitality, balance, and resilience across generations.

    Faced with widening health inequalities and major public health issues such as obesity and mental health that are significantly increasing pressure on the NHS, research consistently highlights the increasing need for greater intervention so that people can pursue their own health goals and are fully supported to do so, without judgement or assumptions.

    Amidst growing health disparities and escalating public health challenges such as obesity and mental health crises, the strain on the NHS has reached unprecedented levels. Compelling research underscores the urgent and escalating need for robust, targeted interventions to empower individuals to take control of their health and well-being. Without decisive action, these challenges will only continue to intensify, placing an unsustainable burden on healthcare services and society as a whole

    For Salford, those findings include:

    • In Reception Year, 21.7% of children are overweight or obese, this is significantly worse than the national rate of 9.6%   
    • In Year 6, 40.7% of children are overweight or obese, which is significantly worse than the national rate of 22.1%.  

    (Public Health England, National Child Measurement Programme, 2023/34, school year)

    Councillor Mishal Saeed, Executive Support Member for Social Care and Mental Health at Salford City Council said: “It’s great to see this programme being launched! There’s no need for New Year resolutions to commit to living a more heathier lifestyle and improve overall family and child health and wellbeing. The HAPPI Programme gives families the support, resources and confidence that help to focus on health gain in a positive way.
     
    “Our Health Improvement Team has a strong track record of delivering community-based health activities and programmes, which is why I would highly recommend HAPPI to all considering a healthier lifestyle. Developing healthy habits and good emotional wellbeing isn’t just for adults – it’s a family affair.”

    As part of Salford City Council’s vision to create a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all, one of the council’s Corporate Plan priorities for 2024 to 2028 is to create healthy lives and quality care for all, which is fully aligned with the objectives that the HAPPI Programme aims to achieve.

    Share this

    Date published
    Wednesday 9 April 2025

    Press and media enquiries

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Overhaul of local audit will restore trust in broken system

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Overhaul of local audit will restore trust in broken system

    Road to recovery outlined in new commitments for local audit reform to streamline and fix the fragmented and broken system.

    • Road to recovery outlined in new commitments for local audit reform to streamline and fix the fragmented and broken system
    • Reform will ensure local authorities get their books in order to restore transparency, provide better value for taxpayers and create effective public early warning system
    • And up to £49 million in funding announced to support local authorities in clearing the backlog as part of the Plan for Change

    New reforms to repair the ‘broken’ local audit system will boost taxpayers’ confidence  in council spending and streamline the sector so it’s fit-for-purpose, legal and decent.  

    Today, 16 commitments have been set out to achieve this, including simplifying financial reporting requirements and increasing capacity to avoid reliance on a small number of auditors.  

    The reforms will be backed by up to £49 million of support to help councils clear their backlogs and cover the additional cost of restoring audit assurance. Releasing funds to councils will be reliant on compliance with statutory backstops and linked to the publication of audited accounts and audit fees being paid.  

    In addition, a further £15m of grant was paid to local bodies in March 2025 as part of an existing package to help meet the wider costs of meeting audit requirements and fees. 

    Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon OBE said:

    We inherited a broken local audit system, not fit for purpose, inefficient, fragmented and with a massive backlog.

    Taxpayers’ expect and deserve to have confidence in the way their money is being spent locally.  A functioning local audit system is the bedrock of local transparency and accountability so we are fixing the foundations of local government as part of our Plan for Change.

    We are working in lock-step with local bodies to clear the backlog and move towards a simplified streamlined system.

    The 16 new measures follow an open consultation on the local audit strategy, which attracted hundreds of responses. 

    The measures build on an existing commitment to set up the Local Audit Office as an independent and unified body, which will stop fragmentation in the system by co-ordinating functions spread across different organisations including the Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd, the National Audit Office and the Financial Reporting Council.   

    These reforms will be crucial to fixing the foundations and bringing long-term stability to local government as committed in the Plan for Change. 

    Further information:

    • Up to £49 million in funding for clearing the local audit backlog will be paid in two stages during 2025/26,  in the form of a non-ring-fenced grant. Allocations will be based on the size of bodies’ audit fees and the number of modified audit opinions received.   Allocations will be reviewed before the second stage of payments in 2025/26 to take into account revised cost estimates.
    • Funding of £15 million for 2024/25 was paid on 31 March  to eligible local government bodies towards the rise in audit fee expenditure. This includes allocations to 537 eligible bodies allocated as a proportion of Public Sector Audit Appointment fee scales.
    • The full government response to the local audit reform strategy consultation can be found on Gov.uk here.
    • Following the 13 December 2024 backstop, the system has taken a significant step forward. The vast majority of bodies (approximately 95%) published audited accounts for all years up to and including financial year 2022/23.
    • While the government has been clear the broken system requires fundamental long-term fixes that cannot happen overnight, decisive and immediate action has already begun. In July, we announced a series of backstop dates to clear the backlog of hundreds of missing and overdue accounts which resulted in 95% of audited accounts being published.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Museums can now apply for £20 million of funding to invest in their future

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Museums can now apply for £20 million of funding to invest in their future

    Treasured civic museums supported with new £20 million grant to help safeguard access to local culture and secure their futures

    • Funding will ensure museums can continue to serve communities, care for and share collections, and tell our national story at a local level
    • Support will boost access to culture, delivering the government’s Plan for Change by increasing opportunities for all

    Museums across England can now apply for a share of £20 million to safeguard community access to their collections and invest in upgrading their services. 

    The new £20 million Museum Renewal Fund, which is now open to applications, is designed to support valued regional museums, with a local authority link. It will improve public access to collections and buildings, as well as community and educational programmes which will help ensure they are fit for the future.

    These museums help keep memories alive across generations through their broad, diverse public collections. As well as being a crucial resource for schools, they help communities to connect with their local story by highlighting an area’s distinctive industrial, archaeological, natural and artistic heritage.

    The money will boost community programmes, support and grow schools activities, driving more visitors to museums. It will also enhance revenue generation, investing in organisational change and IT upgrades, whilst also supporting jobs in the local community. 

    This follows the announcement from the Culture Secretary last month of the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change to boost economic growth and increase opportunities for people across the country.

    Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

    Our local and civic museums are the storytellers of our nation’s history, with a shared mission to educate, inspire and entertain. 

    They are key to preserving our national heritage at a local level through their collections and creative programmes, which draw in thousands of people from across the country, driving the growth and opportunity central to our Plan for Change. I am delighted that we have been able to provide this support, helping them to continue to flourish. 

    The programme will be delivered by Arts Council England and will run from April 2025 until March 2026. It will be open to regional and local museums, with a funding or governance link to a local authority, across England to support them to safeguard access and services and invest in resilience measures. 

    The government is committed to working in partnership with local councils and leaders, as co-investors in culture. 

    Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, commented:

    Regional museums make a vitally important contribution to the way people engage with culture where they live and gain a deeper understanding of their communities and place. It is therefore vital that access to their collections is protected for generations to come. The Museum Renewal Fund will help these cherished institutions address immediate pressures and enable them to look ahead and plan a sustainable future serving their communities.

    Notes to editors: 

    • In February, Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy announced more than £270 million in funding for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector in a major boost for growth. 

    • The online portal to apply for the Museum Renewal Fund will open at 10am on 9 April 2025. Full guidance, including eligibility criteria and details of how to apply can be found on the Arts Council England website. 

    • This Fund is intended to safeguard public access to nationally and regionally significant collections at risk, as set out in the eligibility criteria. Museum Renewal grantees will be expected to undertake additional work to boost business and financial sustainability beyond 31 March 2026.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Capital entrepreneurs will present their projects at Innovator’s Day

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A large-scale event in the field of technological entrepreneurship — Innovator’s Day — will take place on April 26 at the Digital Business Space. The event, which is being held for the fifth time, will be held as part of the implementation of the Moscow Mayor’s strategy to involve residents of the capital in entrepreneurship.

    Innovator’s Day will be the finale of the fifth stream of the international program for the development of technology projects from idea to startup “Academy of Innovators” and will bring together the best aspiring entrepreneurs of the capital, venture investors and large businesses. The event will be attended by founders of tech startups, business angels, representatives of city structures, large corporations and investment funds. Residents of the “Academy of Innovators” will discuss the development of startups, analyze business cases and receive feedback from industry experts and mentors in the format of individual meetings.

    The authors of 15 accelerator projects that have shown the best results will pitch to investors and customers. The unique format of the interactive show will allow viewers to learn about the best developments of the participants of the “Academy of Innovators” program, evaluate the technological solutions of the accelerator residents and try themselves in the role of investors.

    In addition, guests will enjoy interactive and art spaces, a unique exhibition of the most promising technological solutions from residents of the Academy of Innovators, an HR zone with current vacancies, a quiz, and a DJ performance.

    Entry to the event is free, pre-registration.

    The project is supervised by the autonomous non-profit organization “Development of Human Capital”, subordinate to the capital Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development.

    “Academy of Innovators” is a flagship program for the development of youth entrepreneurship and creation of startups in Moscow. You can join it at any stage to learn how to create competitive products and effective projects from scratch, expand your business, find partners and customers. You can participate in the program from the age of 14.

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

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152345073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Orenburgneft’s environmental investments in 2024 exceeded 3 billion rubles

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Orenburgneft (part of the Rosneft oil production complex) allocated more than 3 billion rubles for environmental protection activities in 2024, which is almost 13% more than the previous year. The funds were used to implement the gas investment program, improve the reliability of pipelines, reclaim land, improve the efficiency of industrial waste disposal, resource conservation, reforestation and maintain the biodiversity of water resources.

    As part of the target gas program, in 2024 the main process equipment was installed at the gas compressor station of the Donetsk-Syrtovskoye field, and the construction of gas pipelines of the Eastern group of fields is being completed. These measures will allow additional volumes of associated petroleum gas to be sent to the Buzuluk gas processing plant, where the gas is prepared to commercial quality and a wide fraction of hydrocarbons is separated from it – a valuable raw material for the petrochemical industry.

    Investments in the implementation of the pipeline reliability improvement program ensured the planned replacement of pipeline sections, repair and inhibition of pipes. Stable operation of the field infrastructure is ensured, among other things, by diagnostics using modern devices.

    The company is implementing resource-saving technologies. Last year, Orenburgneft reduced energy consumption by 6.8 million tons of equivalent fuel, which contributed to improving the environmental performance of production. Key initiatives included optimizing the operation of pumping equipment in reservoir pressure maintenance systems, upgrading downhole submersible equipment in oil production, and reengineering ground infrastructure.

    The enterprise provides environmental monitoring of natural components. Regular sampling of atmospheric air, water, and soil is carried out in the territories where production activities are carried out. Methane emissions are monitored using advanced technical means.

    Orenburgneft uses modern technologies for recycling industrial waste. The resulting secondary products are re-involved in industrial use. The company’s volunteers contribute to preserving the environment. For several years, employees have been organizing the collection of used plastic and waste paper. Schoolchildren from the region participate in environmental campaigns of oil workers. In 2024, more than 12 tons of secondary raw materials were sent for recycling through joint efforts.

    Employees carry out volunteer campaigns to clean up the territories of the cities where they are present and the coastal zones of water bodies, and organize clean-up days. Over the past three years, oil workers have planted about 3 thousand young pines, firs, lindens, and birches. Together with activists from the “Movement of the First,” oil workers cleaned up the territory of the Dendrosad in the Buzuluksky Bor National Park. Earlier, with the support of the company’s employees, a tourist trail was laid in the reserve, which is integrated into the network of ecological trails of the National Park.

    The company’s environmental performance has been repeatedly noted at various levels. In the regional competition “Leader of Economy”, “Orenburgneft” has been recognized as the winner in the nomination “Leader of Environmental Responsibility” for over 10 years.

    Reference:

    JSC Orenburgneft, a subsidiary of NK Rosneft, carries out production activities in the Orenburg, Samara and Saratov regions. Cumulative oil production exceeds 470 million tons.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft April 9, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Why the state values science fiction writers, while business attaches importance to predictive models

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    In the 20th century, a pragmatic approach to the future began to form. In a certain sense, it became an object of management. “The task of people who professionally deal with the future — forecasters, strategists, futurologists and futurists — is now not to make forecasts, but to make the future. And the future began to be understood not as a certain calendar date, but as a project that a person or an organization can implement,” says Sergei Zhigarev.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Chief Scientific Adviser appointed

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New Chief Scientific Adviser appointed

    Professor Anjali Goswami becomes Defra’s new Chief Scientist

    Professor Anjali Goswami has been appointed as the new Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 

    Professor Goswami, who is currently a Research Leader in Evolutionary Biology at the Natural History Museum, will join the department from 1 July 2025. She will succeed Professor Gideon Henderson, who is leaving Defra after six years in the role. 

    Professor Goswami is a celebrated scientist who has served as President of the Linnean Society of London and is a Fellow of the Royal Society. In addition to her academic achievements, she has authored a children’s book on palaeontology and received numerous prestigious awards, including the Zoological Society of London Scientific Medal, the Palaeontological Association President’s Medal, and the Humanists UK Darwin Day Medal. 

    Defra Permanent Secretary, Tamara Finkelstein said: 

    “World-leading science is fundamental to the research and development which underpins this department’s diverse responsibilities. I offer my sincere thanks to Gideon for his dedication and drive throughout his time at Defra for his scientific leadership and his wider leadership of the department.  He has been an inspiring colleague bringing his values and commitment to innovation to bear to the benefit of citizens.

    “Professor Goswami brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her career in academia and at the Natural History Museum. I am delighted to have her as part of the Defra leadership team, providing her science expertise both in Defra and the wider government scientific community.” 

    Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed said: 

    “I would like to thank Professor Henderson for his exceptional leadership and expert insight as Chief Scientific Adviser. 

    “Supporting nature’s recovery, protecting people and animals from disease outbreaks, strengthening food security – all our key areas of focus rely on the world-class advice of our scientists. I welcome Professor Goswami and look forward to working with her as this government secures Britain’s future under the Plan for Change.” 

    Professor Anjali Goswami said: 

    “I am delighted to be joining Defra at this critical time for the UK and the planet. 

    “The UK public is rightly concerned about the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change, which are increasingly evident in our everyday lives.  Fortunately, there is immense scientific innovation that can support Defra’s mission, from cleaning our waterways and restoring nature to improving the resilience of our rural communities and our food supply to global change.   

    “I look forward to joining the Defra team and ensuring that the most cutting-edge scientific understanding is being harnessed to meet the complex challenges we face and deliver for the UK public.”  

    Current Defra Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Gideon Henderson said: 

    “It’s been a challenging but hugely enjoyable privilege to be the Chief Scientific Advisor at Defra for the last six years. 

    “The department can be proud of the way it values science and scientists as it cares for the air, water, food and natural environment that we all rely on.  I will miss working with passionate colleagues who make sure Defra’s wide range work is always informed by up-to-date and accurate science and analysis.   

    “I am pleased to hand over to Anjali who will be a great leader of Defra’s scientific community.  She will bring a wealth of knowledge and insight and I’m confident will continue to put science and analysis at the heart of Defra’s work.” 

    Professor Anjali Goswami Biography 

    • Professor Anjali Goswami is a Research Leader in Evolutionary Biology at the Natural History Museum and President of the Linnean Society of London. Her previous roles include Dean of Postgraduate Education at the Natural History Museum and Professor of Palaeobiology at UCL. 

    • Her research focuses on vertebrate evolution and development, with a focus on using mathematical approaches to understand the impact of life history and environmental change on biodiversity. 

    • Professor Goswami was elected to the fellowship of the Royal Society of London in 2024 and has been awarded the Linnean Society Bicentenary Medal, the Zoological Society of London Scientific Medal, the Hind Rattan Award, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Robert L. Carroll award, the Palaeontological Association President’s Medal, and the Humanists UK Darwin Day Medal. 

    Notes to editors 

    • The Defra Chief Scientific Adviser is responsible for overseeing the quality of evidence that the Department relies on for policy decisions, providing ministers with scientific advice and setting the priorities for scientific research and evidence-gathering.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bus passengers encouraged to make the most of new services and discounted fares in Stoke-on-Trent

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 9th April 2025

    Three more bus services are being rolled out in Stoke-on-Trent as part of a city council commitment to make public transport more accessible for everyone.

    Last month, 14 new services were introduced in the city, making it easier for passengers to get to work, school, see friends and relatives and get to the shops and hospitals during the evenings and weekends.

    Now even more bus services will begin this month. They are:

    • Service 500 – serving Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station and Festival Park during peak hours (launched on Monday 7 April).
    • Service 27 – serving Dividy Road, Beverley Drive, Meir Hay and Longton, providing the first direct link to Longton in a number of years for parts of the Bentilee estate (starting on Monday 14 April)
    • Service 96 – serving Newchapel, Packmoor, Tunstall and Middleport (starting on Monday 14 April). It’s been over 10 years since buses last served the centre of Middleport.

    In addition, the number 40 bus – which had previously been operated by D&G – will now be operated by First Potteries from Monday 14 April. The bus will operate an hourly weekday daytime service between Newstead, Longton and Mount Pleasant.

    First Potteries also runs a new Saturday service on the number 40A bus – introduced last month (March) – which serves Mount Pleasant and World of Wedgwood in Barlaston.

    The latest routes all form part of the city council’s government-funded Bus Service Improvement Plan, which has seen more than 30 new services introduced over the past 12 months.

    Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Last month, we launched 14 new services to help residents get to their jobs, schools, universities and shops. Now we’re launching even more.

    “We have listened to residents and we know that these new services are vitally needed, so we are delighted that, as part of our Bus Service Improvement Plan, we have recently secured an extra £9.9 million to continue improving our bus network.

    “As I always say, the more people who use the buses then the more sustainable they become and the longer these services can continue. So, whether you’re travelling between Packmoor and Tunstall, Bentilee and Longton or Stoke and Festival Park, there’s never been a better time to take the bus in Stoke-on-Trent. I encourage as many people as possible to use these services or you will lose them.”

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council recently announced that the additional funding, secured from the Department for Transport, will be used to improve four problem junctions in the city where bus passengers are currently experiencing frustrating delays.

    It will also be used to install new lighting and additional security measures at Hanley and Longton bus stations and continue to improve links between Etruria Valley, neighbouring retail parks, the city centre and Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station.

    In addition, the city’s discounted travel scheme will be extended, meaning adults and young people can continue to make the most of lower bus fares.

    Adults can secure day, weekly, monthly and three-monthly tickets for £4.80, £12, £42 and £115 respectively while young people, under the age of 19, will pay just £3.50 (day ticket), £9 (weekly ticket), £31.50 (monthly ticket) and £85 (three-month ticket). 

    For more information about the city council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan visit: Bus Service Improvement Plan | Bus Service Improvement Plan | Stoke-on-Trent

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –