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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI: Orrön Energy publishes it’s Annual and Sustainability Report for 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Orrön Energy AB (“Orrön Energy”) is pleased to announce the publication of it’s Annual and Sustainability Report for 2024 and encourages shareholders to read or download the report on Orrön Energy’s website, www.orron.com. For shareholders who would like to receive a printed copy of the Annual and Sustainability Report 2024, this can be requested on Orrön Energy’s website or by telephone on +46 8 440 54 50.

    For further information, please contact:

    Robert Eriksson
    Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations
    Tel: +46 701 11 26 15
    robert.eriksson@orron.com

    Jenny Sandström
    Communications Lead
    Tel: +41 79 431 63 68
    jenny.sandstrom@orron.com

    This information is information that Orrön Energy AB is required to make public pursuant to the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication at 09.00 CEST on 9 April 2025.

    Orrön Energy is an independent, publicly listed (Nasdaq Stockholm: “ORRON”) renewable energy company within the Lundin Group of Companies. Orrön Energy’s core portfolio consists of high quality, cash flow generating assets in the Nordics, coupled with greenfield growth opportunities in the Nordics, the UK, Germany and France. With significant financial capacity to fund further growth and acquisitions, and backed by a major shareholder, management and Board with a proven track record of investing into, leading and growing highly successful businesses, Orrön Energy is in a unique position to create shareholder value through the energy transition.

    Forward-looking statements
    Statements in this press release relating to any future status or circumstances, including statements regarding future performance, growth and other trend projections, are forward-looking statements. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “seek”, “will”, “would” or similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that could occur in the future. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to several factors, many of which are outside the company’s control. Any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which the statements are made and the company has no obligation (and undertakes no obligation) to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia, Telia and Finnish Defense Forces achieve world’s first 5G standalone slice handover across borders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia, Telia and Finnish Defense Forces achieve world’s first 5G standalone slice handover across borders

    • Companies showcase the potential of 5G technology in enhancing critical communications for defense units operating within coalition environments.
    • Leverage Telia’s network infrastructure powered by Nokia’s 5G Standalone Core and, AirScale radio equipment, to ensure seamless experience, even when crossing country borders.

    9 April 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Nokia, Telia and the Finnish Defense Forces have successfully conducted the world’s first seamless 5G standalone slice handover between multiple countries in a live network. This groundbreaking trial, carried out in Finland in March, represents a significant milestone in advancing critical 5G capabilities for defense and other mission critical industries.

    The test, conducted as part of a Nordic exercise with the Finnish Defense Forces, demonstrated a continuous and secure data connection over a 5G standalone slice while moving across three separate networks in three different countries. This capability is crucial for modern defense forces, as military personnel increasingly operate in coalitions beyond their national territories while requiring uninterrupted access to mission-critical applications and services.

    “This trial marks a significant milestone in showcasing the dual-use possibilities of 5G for defense while also enhancing communication capabilities within the NATO domain. We are delighted to have partnered with Nokia and Telia on this project and are eager to explore further opportunities for integrating 5G into our operations,” said Jarmo Vähätiitto, Major General, Finnish Defense Command, Chief of C5.

    “5G and network slicing enable secure, mission-critical communications. In collaboration with the Finnish Defense Forces and Nokia, we are pioneering in using commercial technology for critical defense communications. This trial meets the Defense Forces’ needs and proves that commercial 5G networks can be utilized also in this domain,” commented Jari Collin, CTO at Telia Finland.

    “Seamless 5G slice continuity over country borders is a breakthrough for defense operations, enabling secure and reliable communications for collaborative missions that extend beyond national territories. Our trial with Telia and the Finnish Defense Forces reflects our commitment to delivering robust 5G solutions for defense customers, helping them achieve mission-critical objectives,” said Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia.

    The trial was achieved through Nokia’s industry-leading 5G Core Software as a Service (SaaS) and AirScale 5G base stations powered by ReefShark System-on-Chip technology, connected to Telia’s commercial network. Additionally, Nokia’s intelligent network management system, MantaRay NM, provided a consolidated network view, optimizing monitoring and management.

    Multimedia, technical information, and related news
    Web Page: Nokia communication technology for defense
    Web Page: Nokia 5G
    Web Page: Nokia Core SaaS
    Web Page: 4G/5G slicing
    Product Page: Manta Ray NM
    Product Page: AirScale Radio Access

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow us on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Valeura Energy Inc.: Q1 2025 Operations and Financial Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Valeura Energy Inc. (TSX:VLE, OTCQX:VLERF) (“Valeura” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update on Q1 2025 operations.

    Highlights

    • Operations continuing smoothly, with oil production averaging 23.9 mbbls/d(1);
      • Continual programme of development and appraisal drilling throughout the quarter;
      • Strong ongoing safety performance, with no lost time injuries;
    • Strong cash position at March 31, 2025 of US$238.3 million, and no debt;
      • Taxes paid of US$39.2 million in Q1;
      • Repurchased 963,401 shares in Q1;
    • Resilient ongoing business based on strong balance sheet and cash flow, creating growth optionality in the current volatile climate.

    (1) Working interest share oil production, before royalties.

    Dr. Sean Guest, President and CEO commented:

    “Our strong operational and financial performance continued throughout Q1 2025, and our business is more resilient than ever. With our corporate restructuring completed in November 2024, and the final tax payment under the previous structure now behind us, we see an energised ability to generate cash flow as we look at the remainder of 2025. 

    We are carefully monitoring the current volatile market conditions while simultaneously reviewing and optimising our expenditures. However, our strong financial position with cash of US$238 million and no debt makes Valeura not only resilient, but also well positioned for attractive inorganic opportunities that may emerge during such a turbulent market environment.

    Notwithstanding the recent market volatility, we are maintaining all of our previously disclosed guidance assumptions for the year.” 

    Q1 2025 Update

    Valeura’s working interest share production before royalties averaged 23.9 mbbls/d during Q1 2025, a decrease of 8.4% from Q4 2024. Rates were affected by a planned seven-day annual maintenance shutdown of the Nong Yao field near the end of the quarter. All planned work on the Nong Yao facilities was conducted safely and under time and budget with production resuming on April 1, 2025. Valeura re-iterates its full year 2025 production guidance outlook of 23.0 – 25.5 mbbls/d.

    Oil sales totalled 1.88 million bbls during Q1 2025, less than the 2.15 million bbls produced. Sales were lower than in Q4 2024 and reflect the fact that at the beginning of the quarter, the Company had record low crude oil in inventory. At the end of the quarter Valeura had 0.89 million bbls in inventory, which is expected to be sold in Q2 2025 (including a lifting of approximately 0.25 million bbls which was sold on April 1, 2025).

    Price realisations averaged US$78.7/bbl during Q1 2025, reflecting a US$2.9/bbl premium over the Brent crude oil benchmark. Oil revenue during Q1 2025 was US$148.1 million, 35% lower than Q4 2024. The quarter-on-quarter difference is due to less oil volumes sold, and also one sale occurring very late in the quarter, for which revenue is expected to be received in April 2025. Accordingly, the Company recorded a receivable associated with that lifting of approximately US$30 million as at March 31, 2025.

    In addition to routine operating costs and planned capital spending, the Company has made a final tax payment of US$39.2 million in connection with its corporate restructuring that was completed in November 2024. This payment effectively completes the tax obligations for its Thai III licences under their previous organisation structure, and became due in Q1 2025, earlier than usual tax payments for Thai III licences which are payable in May and August of each year. Following the restructuring, petroleum income tax loss carry-forwards that were previously associated with only the Wassana asset are now being applied to all of the Company’s Thai III petroleum concessions, being Wassana, Nong Yao, and Manora, thereby resulting in a more efficient tax structure for the business.

    While the Company acknowledges the global market and oil price volatility experienced in early April 2025, at this time, Valeura re-affirms all of its guidance outlook expectations for 2025. The Company maintains a scenario-based approach to planning its investments, driven largely by forecast oil prices. Recent market conditions underscore the importance of such an approach, but more importantly highlight the value of maintaining a strong balance sheet so as to capitalise on emerging inorganic growth opportunities. As of March 31, 2025, Valeura had US$238.3 million in cash, with no debt.

    During the quarter, the Company acquired 963,401 shares as part of its NCIB programme.

    Operations Update

    Valeura provided an operations update on March 25, 2025, along with its announcement of results for Q4 and the full year 2024. Since that time, the Company has been conducting a drilling campaign on the Jasmine / Ban Yen field, and will provide an update in due course. 

    On March 28, 2025, an earthquake struck central Myanmar, which borders Thailand to the north-west. All Valeura’s personnel were confirmed safe, and all facilities continue to operate safely.

    Results Timing and AGM

    Valeura intends to release its full unaudited financial and operating results for Q1 2025 on May 14, 2025, and will discuss the results in more detail through a management webcast hosted in conjunction with its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “meeting”) later that day. The notice of meeting and related Management’s Information Circular have been mailed to shareholders and are available on the Company’s website at www.valeuraenergy.com/governance and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    For further information, please contact:

    Valeura Energy Inc. (General Corporate Enquiries)
    +65 6373 6940
    Sean Guest, President and CEO
    Yacine Ben-Meriem, CFO
    Contact@valeuraenergy.com

    Valeura Energy Inc. (Investor and Media Enquiries)
    +1 403 975 6752 / +44 7392 940495
    Robin James Martin, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
    IR@valeuraenergy.com

    About the Company

    Valeura Energy Inc. is a Canadian public company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas in Thailand and in Türkiye. The Company is pursuing a growth-oriented strategy and intends to re-invest into its producing asset portfolio and to deploy resources toward further organic and inorganic growth in Southeast Asia. Valeura aspires toward value accretive growth for stakeholders while adhering to high standards of environmental, social and governance responsibility.

    Additional information relating to Valeura is also available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Advisory and Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    Certain information included in this news release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking information is for the purpose of explaining management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “target” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

    Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company’s anticipated full year 2025 guidance assumptions, being full year working interest share oil production before royalties of 23.0 – 25.5 mbbls/d, capex of US$125 – 150 million, exploration expense of approximately US$11 million, and adjusted opex of US$125 – 245 million, all as more fully described in the January 9, 2025 press release; the anticipated receivable of approximately US$30 million as at March 31, 2025; and Valeura’s expectation that it will benefit from a more efficient tax structure as a result of the corporate restructuring. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

    Forward-looking information is based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things: political stability of the areas in which the Company is operating; continued safety of operations and ability to proceed in a timely manner; continued operations of and approvals forthcoming from governments and regulators in a manner consistent with past conduct; ability to achieve extensions to licences in Thailand and Türkiye to support attractive development and resource recovery; future drilling activity on the required/expected timelines; the prospectivity of the Company’s lands; the continued favourable pricing and operating netbacks across its business; future production rates and associated operating netbacks and cash flow; decline rates; future sources of funding; future economic conditions; the impact of inflation of future costs; future currency exchange rates; interest rates; the ability to meet drilling deadlines and fulfil commitments under licences and leases; future commodity prices; the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; the impact of conflicts in the Middle East; royalty rates and taxes; management’s estimate of cumulative tax losses being correct; future capital and other expenditures; the success obtained in drilling new wells and working over existing wellbores; the performance of wells and facilities; the availability of the required capital to funds its exploration, development and other operations, and the ability of the Company to meet its commitments and financial obligations; the ability of the Company to secure adequate processing, transportation, fractionation and storage capacity on acceptable terms; the capacity and reliability of facilities; the application of regulatory requirements respecting abandonment and reclamation; the recoverability of the Company’s reserves and contingent resources; future growth; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the impact of increasing competition; the availability and identification of mergers and acquisition opportunities; the ability to successfully negotiate and complete any mergers and acquisition opportunities; the ability to efficiently integrate assets and employees acquired through acquisitions; global energy policies going forward; international trade policies; future debt levels; and the Company’s continued ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner. In addition, the Company’s work programmes and budgets are in part based upon expected agreement among joint venture partners and associated exploration, development and marketing plans and anticipated costs and sales prices, which are subject to change based on, among other things, the actual results of drilling and related activity, availability of drilling, offshore storage and offloading facilities and other specialised oilfield equipment and service providers, changes in partners’ plans and unexpected delays and changes in market conditions. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

    Forward-looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Exploration, appraisal, and development of oil and natural gas reserves and resources are speculative activities and involve a degree of risk. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company including, but not limited to: the ability of management to execute its business plan or realise anticipated benefits from acquisitions; the risk of disruptions from public health emergencies and/or pandemics; competition for specialised equipment and human resources; the Company’s ability to manage growth; the Company’s ability to manage the costs related to inflation; disruption in supply chains; the risk of currency fluctuations; changes in interest rates, oil and gas prices and netbacks; the risk that the Company’s tax advisors’ and/or auditors’ assessment of the Company’s cumulative tax losses varies significantly from management’s expectations of the same; potential changes in joint venture partner strategies and participation in work programmes; uncertainty regarding the contemplated timelines and costs for work programme execution; the risks of disruption to operations and access to worksites; potential changes in laws and regulations, including international treaties and trade policies; the uncertainty regarding government and other approvals; counterparty risk; the risk that financing may not be available; risks associated with weather delays and natural disasters; and the risk associated with international activity. See the most recent annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis of the Company for a detailed discussion of the risk factors.

    Certain forward-looking information in this news release may also constitute “financial outlook” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Financial outlook involves statements about Valeura’s prospective financial performance or position and is based on and subject to the assumptions and risk factors described above in respect of forward-looking information generally as well as any other specific assumptions and risk factors in relation to such financial outlook noted in this news release. Such assumptions are based on management’s assessment of the relevant information currently available, and any financial outlook included in this news release is made as of the date hereof and provided for the purpose of helping readers understand Valeura’s current expectations and plans for the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on any financial outlook may not be appropriate for other purposes or in other circumstances and that the risk factors described above or other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from any financial outlook.

    The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This news release is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful. 

    Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

    This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Coalition’s domestic gas plan would lower prices – just not very much

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University

    A LNG carrier departs Gladstone. Ivan Kuzkin/Shutterstock

    It surprised many Australians when the Coalition announced a plan straight from the progressive side of politics: force large gas companies to reserve gas for domestic use – at a lower cost than they could sell it for overseas.

    As a populist move during a cost-of-living election, it’s a good one. Australia’s gas producers sell 70% of gas extracted on the east coast overseas under long-term contracts, even as southeastern states such as Victoria face possible gas shortages. Western Australia has long had an effective policy requiring up to 15% of offshore gas to be reserved for domestic use.

    After a fortnight’s delay, the Coalition has now publicly released the modelling behind its policy. Undertaken by Frontier Economics, the modelling indicates that reserving 50 to 100 petajoules of gas in the first year would cut wholesale prices by 23%. This would mean a 15% drop in prices for large-scale users – but only a 7% fall for household gas bills and a 3% fall in electricity bills.

    This doesn’t sound like much, because it isn’t. Gas prices soared during the Ukraine war and haven’t yet returned to their pre-war levels. Labor has dubbed the plan “gaslighting”, and will rely instead on a gas policy released last year to open up more gasfields and build import terminals. Gas producers don’t like the Coalition’s plan, and neither does billionaire Liberal benefactor Gina Rinehart. Dutton’s plan isn’t crazy – it’s just not likely to make a big difference.

    Most of Queensland’s gas is exported at present.
    Chris Andrews Fern Bay/Shutterstock

    How would this gas reservation policy work?

    The Coalition has proposed what it calls an East Coast Reservation Scheme, with the goal of progressively decoupling Australia’s east coast gas market from the volatile international market.

    It has two parts. First, it would require new exporters, in the first year of operation, to reserve an additional 50–100 petajoules for the domestic market. Second, it would create a gas security charge, to be imposed on gas producers seeking to export “additional” (non-contracted) gas on the international market.

    This would give gas producers an incentive to sell non-contracted gas to the domestic market, because they would get greater profits selling in Australia, even at a lower base price.

    Further, the policy would prevent gas producers from charging domestic buyers international prices, setting a competitive price.

    In effect, the gas security charge is akin to a levy or a reverse tariff. The levy can be avoided if producers supply up to 100 petajoules to domestic markets. That’s about as much gas as New South Wales’ gas pipelines deliver each year – 101 petajoules (PJ) as of 2022–23, or the equivalent of 26 full liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, which hold about 3.8 PJ on average.

    What are the issues with this plan?

    There are legitimate concerns. First, the policy does not directly address domestic gas pricing and won’t help with the cost of living crisis. Over time, it could create a more competitive domestic market, but the fact producers could make marginally more money selling gas on the domestic market doesn’t guarantee change.

    Second, the policy does not directly address the looming gas supply crisis. That’s because existing gas producers would not be legally obliged to commit to more gas domestically – they could still export it. The obligation to commit an additional 50-100 petajoules to the domestic market only applies to gas exporters in their first year of operation.

    If policymakers want to solve the supply crisis, they would be better served by imposing direct export controls in the form of a clear gas reservation mandate. This works, as Western Australia’s long experience shows.

    How did we get here?

    When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, it led to huge spikes in global gas prices and shortages in Europe as the world moved away from Russian gas.

    In the 2010s, Australia had already been ramping up gas production. But in the wake of the Ukraine war, Australia became a major gas exporter. Producers traded as much gas as possible on the international market, selling it for over A$40/GJ. Meanwhile, Australia’s coal production was falling.

    Domestic gas demand shot up, and prices went from $8 to $30 a gigajoule. In response, the Albanese government introduced an emergency price cap for the wholesale gas market, prohibiting producers from entering into supply contracts with domestic purchasers for prices above a cap, currently set at $12/GJ. While the cap did partly insulate domestic consumers, it was always intended as a temporary measure.

    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recently predicted a gas supply shortfall of up to 40 petajoules in the southern states as early as September due to declining production in Victoria and South Australia as well as higher demand. Without access to uncontracted Queensland gas, supply will run very low. This is a significant energy security risk, and one the Coalition’s gas policy doesn’t directly address.

    Victorian residents are more reliant on gas than other states – and shortfalls are looming.
    M-Production/Shutterstock

    What’s next?

    Australia is one of the world’s top three LNG exporters. The fact a gas giant could be facing domestic shortages is both unnecessary and embarrassing. Reaching this point represents decades of policy failure.

    Reserving gas for domestic use works for the west coast, and it would work for the east. But the Coalition’s plan is not quite a gas reservation scheme. It doesn’t create a comprehensive reservation mandate and questions remain about its capacity to address domestic pricing and supply.

    At present, it seems like a lot of effort without great benefit. Will households really notice their gas bill is 7% cheaper?

    Samantha Hepburn does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The Coalition’s domestic gas plan would lower prices – just not very much – https://theconversation.com/the-coalitions-domestic-gas-plan-would-lower-prices-just-not-very-much-254194

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Billionaire Businessman Hasan Abdullah Mohamed Ismaik Unveils New Identity: HAMIC Group

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Visionary entrepreneur and renowned billionaire Hasan Abdullah Mohamed Ismaik has officially launched the new identity of his business conglomerate: HAMIC Group, an acronym for Hasan Abdullah Mohamed Ismaik Capital. This bold new brand represents an elevated vision for the future—rooted in a legacy of excellence and driven by innovation and global ambition.

    Formerly known as the Hasan Ismaik Group, HAMIC Group stands as a testament to over 30 years of success, with a presence in 10 countries and management of more than 25 diverse investment projects. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, HAMIC Group is a powerhouse of investment and asset management, with a dynamic, diversified portfolio spanning financial investments, real estate, retail, general trading, and hospitality.

    With the UAE as its strategic launchpad, HAMIC Group aims to capitalize on the region’s thriving economy and its status as a global financial and commercial hub. The group is set to scale its legacy to unprecedented heights, advancing regional and international ventures that embody innovation, sustainability, and economic value creation.

    “At this transformative moment in our journey, I am proud to unveil HAMIC Group—a name that reflects our ambition, purpose, and commitment to building a future-ready investment powerhouse,” said Hasan Ismaik, Founder and Chairman of HAMIC Group. “With a portfolio valued in the billions of dollars, we are poised to lead in shaping opportunities, driving growth, and supporting the UAE’s vision of a diversified and sustainable economy.”

    Built on the enduring success of the MARYA Group, which played a pivotal role in shaping real estate, retail, and investment landscapes, HAMIC Group is poised to expand its impact through a distinguished suite of companies including:

    • MARYA Development: Delivering iconic real estate projects in the UAE and globally.
    • SOHO: A leading retail player managing premium assets and brands in fashion and F&B.
    • HII Investments: Specializing in strategic, high-impact financial investments.
    • HAMG General Trading: Powering trade solutions across regional and global markets.

    HAMIC Group’s investment philosophy is deeply rooted in market intelligence, strategic foresight, and a commitment to excellence. The group is uniquely positioned to drive value through sustainable and socially responsible initiatives, with a strong emphasis on enhancing lifestyles and meeting evolving consumer aspirations.

    “Our strategy is aligned with the UAE’s national priorities and global economic trends,” Ismaik added. “HAMIC Group is more than an investment group—it is a catalyst for progress, a platform for innovation, and a legacy in motion.”

    With a clear vision and purpose-driven leadership, HAMIC Group is set to redefine the landscape of modern investment, blending luxury, sustainability, and impact across every venture it undertakes.

    About HAMIC Group:

    Hasan Ismaik Group (HAMIC Group) is a global investment powerhouse with over 30 years of experience, headquartered in the UAE, and managing a multi-billion-dollar portfolio.

    At HAMIC, we believe in the power of innovation and collaboration to transform industries. With a global footprint spanning 10 countries—including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Bahrain, Turkey, France, Germany, and the United States—we operate more than 25 projects that drive growth and create lasting impact.

    HAMIC Group operates across five key sectors: general investments, real estate, retail, trading, and hospitality. Under its umbrella, HAMIC owns and manages several leading companies, each driving excellence in its respective industry:

    MARYA Development: Elevating life through timeless design and thoughtful craftsmanship. We are committed to developing exceptional properties that redefine urban landscapes, enhance communities, and provide premium living experiences.

    SOHO: Combining luxury retail, fashion, and the F&B industries with a passion for enhancing the customer experience and driving innovation in lifestyle.

    HII & HAMG: Focused on connecting industries through strategic partnerships, driving growth across sectors, and generating financial returns through visionary investment strategies.

    With a proven track record and a visionary brand portfolio, HAMIC Group is shaping the future with uncompromising excellence and a lasting impact.

    Timeless Impact, Driven by Innovation.

    Visit our website: www.HAMIC.com

    For more information, please contact: PR@hamic.com +971 58 291 3443

    Follow us on @HamicGroup

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/18f30f48-b6dd-4bf8-915d-bed03b46eebf

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: TIR transport service launched between China, Uzbekistan

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    SHENYANG, April 8 — Loaded with 20 tonnes of locally-produced ice cream, two refrigerated trucks bearing TIR signs on Monday departed from an international road transport assembly center in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province.

    The shipment will exit China via the Bakti port in Xinjiang, traverse Kazakhstan and arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, in around 8 to 10 days.

    This marks the official launch of Shenyang’s first TIR cross-border road transport route connecting China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, a new route that expands the assembly center’s existing China-Russia transport network.

    TIR, an abbreviation for Transports Internationaux Routiers, or International Road Transport, is an international customs transit system that saves time and cuts costs for transport operators and customs authorities moving goods across borders. Notably, China became a member of the TIR system in 2016.

    “This direct route from Shenyang to Tashkent ensures seamless delivery without transshipment,” said Han Qingfeng, general manager of the shipping company, adding that monthly operations are planned.

    Since its certification by the International Road Transport Union in late 2024, the Shenyang assembly center has handled 50 TIR shipments valued at over 30 million yuan (about 4.16 million U.S. dollars), exporting machinery, auto parts, office supplies and food.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The number of products in the online showroom “Made in Moscow” has increased by a third

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Thanks to the program’s tools “Made in Moscow” Moscow brands have sold products worth 350 million rubles since the beginning of the year. This is four times more than in the first quarter of 2024, reported Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

    “The project has already united over seven thousand entrepreneurs. Over the past year, the number of goods on the Made in Moscow website has grown by a third – to 34 thousand items. These are interior items, food products, toys, cosmetics and much more,” said Natalia Sergunina.

    According to her, since January, the online showroom has been visited by about 700 thousand people. Most of them were interested in clothes, shoes and accessories.

    Product cards lead to online store pages where you can make a purchase. Since the beginning of the year, about 70 percent of all sales have come from marketplaces.

    The program’s reach is increasing not only through promotion on online platforms, but also through city events. For example, brands that presented their collections at Moscow Fashion Week have joined the ecosystem. This area is now one of the most numerous. Every seventh resident of the project belongs to it.

    The magic market was a successful experience. In seven pavilions, which operated from December 20 to February 28 as part of the Winter in Moscow project, more than 50 thousand products from Moscow manufacturers were sold.

    In addition, the program has its own branded retail network – five offline stores.

    Sergei Sobyanin announced the launch of a chain of branded stores “Made in Moscow”The number of participants in the Made in Moscow program has exceeded six thousand

    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

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A new quarter with sports and business infrastructure will appear in Kommunarka under the integrated territorial development program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A residential area will be built in the Kommunarka district of the Novomoskovsky administrative district of the capital. Inefficiently used plots with a total area of 13.74 hectares will be reorganized under the program of integrated development of territories (IDT). The corresponding draft decision has been published on the website Moscow Government. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “As part of the redevelopment of two sites near Alexandra Monakhovaya Street in a rapidly developing district of Moscow, another modern residential quarter with the infrastructure necessary for city residents will appear. Thanks to the construction of various facilities, it is planned to create over 2.5 thousand jobs here. Investments in the implementation of the project will amount to 60.64 billion rubles, and the annual budget effect is estimated at more than one billion rubles,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The plots are conveniently located – the Kommunarka station of the Troitskaya metro line is nearby.

    “In accordance with the draft decision, the territory will be used for the construction of multi-apartment residential complexes. More than four thousand people will be able to live in the new buildings. In addition, an administrative and business complex with a parking lot for 740 cars, with an area of 62.64 thousand square meters, will be built nearby. A sports and recreation complex with public spaces with a total area of 5.4 thousand square meters and a parking lot for 300 cars will also appear here. The plots themselves will be landscaped and greened,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property.

    Maxim Gaman.

    According to the KRT program, multifunctional city blocks are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all the necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 projects for the integrated development of territories with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of development and implementation in Moscow. This work is being carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

    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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Another 10 ultra-fast charging stations for electric buses installed in the capital

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Another 10 ultra-fast charging stations for environmentally friendly ground transport have been installed in the Novokosino district in the east of the capital. This will allow more electric bus routes to be opened and the operation of existing ones to be improved, said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    “We continue to expand the charging infrastructure at terminal stations. This allows us to replace buses with innovative Russian-made electric buses faster. In total, there are already more than 370 charging stations operating in the capital. We are developing environmentally friendly transport on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin,” said Maxim Liksutov.

    Moscow remains the leader in the number of electric buses in Europe. More than 2.3 thousand Russian-made vehicles serve 190 routes. To replace buses with electric buses, the city is developing charging infrastructure. With the creation of new charging stations in Moscow, new electric bus routes are opening.

    Charging stations for electric buses work in any weather and are suitable for all models of eco-friendly transport. The electric bus pantograph is connected to the charging dome, and the batteries are recharged.

    In total, there are about 850 ground transportation routes in Moscow, covering all districts. On a weekday, on average, more than four million trips are made on all buses and electric buses in the capital. Passengers are transported by the most modern and convenient for all categories of citizens ground city transportation.

    Moscow was the first in Russia to start building modern electric bus depots. In 2022, the first in Russia and the largest in Europe, Krasnaya Pakhra, opened in TiNAO. Eco-friendly vehicles first hit the routes in new districts. In the summer of 2023, the Mitino depot opened in the northwest of the capital. At the end of 2023, the third innovative electric bus depot, Saltykovka, opened. It serves routes in the east of the city.

    Since 2022, the capital has been supplied with improved equipment. Such vehicles have adaptive interior lighting, which changes from a cold shade to a warm one at 14:00 for the comfort of passengers. The front route indicator, increased by 18 percent, makes it even easier to see the number from afar. The interior has an electric heater, which minimizes the impact on the environment and maintains an optimal temperature. The power reserve has increased from 40-50 kilometers to 80 kilometers, while the weight of the vehicle has remained the same. Since 2024, KAMAZ and LiAZ vehicles with an updated design have been entering service.

    Electric buses are purchased under life cycle contracts. For 15 years after the vehicles are transferred to the Mosgortrans State Unitary Enterprise fleet, the manufacturers independently ensure the proper operation of the equipment on the routes.

    The new technology increases the comfort of travel and reduces the impact on the environment. The cabin has climate control, there are chargers for phones, and the nearest stops are shown on media screens. For passengers with limited mobility, there is a folding ramp and driver call buttons. If necessary, they will help enter and leave the cabin. Strollers or bicycles can be conveniently placed on the storage area.

    In 2023, Moscow signed the largest contract in Europe for the supply of 1,200 new electric buses. According to the State Budgetary Institution MosEcoMonitoring of the capital Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection, the introduction of innovative vehicles on routes has made it possible to increase the total environmental impact of replacing buses with electric transport by almost two times.

    In 2024, electric buses began to serve another 71 capital routes. This is twice as many as in 2023. Over 800 electric buses from PJSC KAMAZ and LLC LiAZ arrived in the fleets of GUP Mosgortrans, including 600 vehicles in a new, even more modern design. It is planned that by 2035, almost the entire fleet of GUP Mosgortrans will operate on electric traction.

    Three modern electric buses have entered a new route in the South-West Administrative DistrictSobyanin: Switching to electric buses has reduced pollutant emissions

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Between Blue and Gray: How to Prepare Recyclables for Recycling

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Every year, more and more city residents join the separate waste collection program. The two-stream waste collection system has been in effect in Moscow since 2020. So, if in 2019, before the start of the program, only 450 thousand tons of recyclable materials were allocated, then in 2024 – over 1.65 million tons.

    Today, many residents have already become accustomed to two-container sorting and know that plastic, paper, glass and metals should be placed in the blue bin, and food, contaminated and mixed waste should be placed in the grey bin.

    The Moscow City Services Complex shared advice with those who are just planning to start sorting waste at home, and told them how to properly prepare recyclable materials for recycling.

    How to become a participant of the program

    Anyone can join the separate waste collection program. It does not require much effort, it is enough to have two separate trash cans (or two bags) at home. The first will be intended for non-recyclable waste – for this, a gray bin is installed at the container sites, and the second will be used for recyclables – this waste must be put in a blue container. Thanks to recycling, they will get a new life.

    For those who have not yet decided to sort waste, there is a website “Clean Moscow”, where online lectures with answers to the most popular questions on this topic are posted and links to useful publications on separate waste collection are collected. There, pop, theater and film stars share their personal experience of participating in the separate waste collection program.

    How to Properly Prepare Recyclables for Recycling

    The first thing to remember is that items submitted for recycling must be clean. Plastic and glass bottles, aluminum cans must be rinsed with water and dried before recycling, plastic trays and food trays must be cleaned of food residues. Contamination spoils the quality of secondary raw materials or makes their recycling impossible. For example, plastic at modern sorting plants is sorted by special mechanisms – optical separators. They may not recognize contaminated containers and not select them for recycling.

    Plastic bottles need to be flattened – they will take up less space both in your bin and in the container. However, more importantly, an unflattened bottle, when it arrives at the sorting plant, will roll along the conveyor belt, so the optical separator will not be able to recognize it.

    Non-obvious sorting rules

    There are also some nuances, the knowledge of which will significantly facilitate the further processing of recyclable materials. Thus, it is recommended to hand over different types of waste separately. For example, plastic cups with dairy products can be sealed in cardboard, and cookies or marmalade are often placed in a plastic tray, sealed with film and then placed in a cardboard box. All these materials should be separated from each other – this way they will have a chance to be sent for recycling.

    Plastic caps can be left on PET bottles. Although these items are made from different types of plastic, technologies allow for the separation of materials during recycling. Another way is to collect caps separately. In this case, they should be placed in canisters or five-liter bottles and in this form handed over to the blue bin or taken to special boxes of the “Good Caps” project.

    The shrink wrap needs to be removed and sent to a grey container because it is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) – the third type of plastic that cannot be recycled. Juice bottles and fermented milk cups are often wrapped in such film. PVC film is easy to recognize – it follows the shape of the container, and it is easy to remove – just cut and pull the edges.

    Aerosol cans may only be thrown away when empty.

    Batteries and accumulators are hazardous waste that are first rendered harmless and only then recycled. They cannot be placed in regular containers with other waste. Before throwing away an old children’s electronic toy or other electrical appliance, you need to take out the batteries and accumulators. They can be handed over for recycling in special boxes that are available in many stores and shopping centers.

    Doors, nightstands, chairs, cabinets, plumbing and other items that are larger than 50 centimeters on one side should not be placed in regular bins. There are special bins for large-sized waste for such items.

    Car tires and tyres are not municipal waste and also require special recycling technology. They cannot be thrown into regular bins. Car tires and tyres must be handed over separately to special points – often large car shops and tyre repair shops accept them for free.

    Gadgets and household appliances are accepted by network communication stores and large household appliance stores.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152364073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Heart diagnostics in clinics will become more accurate thanks to new equipment

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow polyclinics have received more than five thousand units of modern equipment for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. Now patients can undergo a full heart examination using the latest cardiographs, 24-hour monitoring systems and stress tests, and doctors can identify risks earlier and prevent the development of diseases. This was reported by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    “We regularly improve the availability of care for patients with cardiovascular diseases. We pay great attention to the prevention of heart diseases along with emergency medicine. They develop gradually, but they can be detected and prevented long before complications arise. As part of a large-scale modernization, we have supplied city clinics with more than five thousand modern devices for cardiac diagnostics. All updated medical institutions have electrocardiographs, Holter monitors, devices for 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, and stress systems that help doctors more accurately identify hidden pathologies and risks. The new equipment helps to more accurately assess the condition of the heart, identify hidden rhythm disturbances, monitor blood pressure levels throughout the day, and conduct functional tests with physical activity,” the deputy mayor said.

    The renovated clinics received more than two thousand electrocardiographs, over 1.7 thousand Holter ECG monitoring devices, more than 1,450 24-hour blood pressure monitoring systems (ABPM) and 145 stress systems, including treadmills and bicycle ergometers.

    At the same time, one of the most important elements in the development of the cardiology service remains the digitalization of diagnostics. All adult and children’s clinics use electrocardiographs connected to the unified medical information and analytical system (EMIAS). Smart algorithms help to analyze studies faster and identify possible deviations, and also allow doctors to receive automatically decoded ECGs. The same digital technologies work in the analysis of Holter monitoring and ABPM, thereby reducing the time of diagnosis and increasing its accuracy.

    AI services in Moscow have learned to identify pathologies in 39 clinical areasSobyanin spoke about early diagnostics of oncology in the Kommunarka Endocenter

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: StepStone Evergreen Funds Added to Bergos Private Markets Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, Switzerland, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StepStone Group Inc. (Nasdaq: STEP), a leading global private markets solutions provider, announced today that several of its private market evergreen funds are now accessible through Bergos AG, which manages CHF7.3 billion in assets on behalf of clients.

    StepStone funds now available at Bergos AG are:

    • StepStone Private Venture and Growth Fund (“SPRING Lux”) is a broadly diversified venture and growth strategy fund leveraging an open architecture approach, selecting managers across the innovation economy. As of February 28, 2025, SPRING Lux has $341.7M in AUM and has delivered a 59.92% total net return since inception in November of 2022.
    • StepStone Private Infrastructure Fund (“STRUCTURE Lux”) seeks to provide current income and long-term capital appreciation by offering investors access to a global investment portfolio of private infrastructure assets. As of February 28, 2025, STRUCTURE Lux has $79.9M in AUM and has delivered a 24.91% total net return since inception in September of 2023.
    • StepStone Private Credit Fund (“SCRED Lux”) offers a permanent private debt co-investment solution deploying various credit-related strategies across market cycles to generate both current income and long-term capital appreciation. As of January 30, 2025, SCRED Lux has $43.6M in AUM, leveraging a ‘multi-lender’ approach since inception in June of 2024.
    • StepStone Private Credit Europe ELTIF (“SCRED Europe”) is structured to offer investors access to a broadly diversified, European-focused private credit strategy, with a primary focus on senior secured direct lending. The fund has successfully launched with over €250 million in seed capital, backed by a robust pipeline of opportunities.

    “Investors have embraced our approach to accessing the private markets through StepStone’s evergreen platform, and we are excited to deliver this access to Bergos’ clients,” said Neil Menard, Partner and President of Distribution at StepStone. “Bergos aligns with our mission of providing investors access to institutional-quality private market investments around the globe, and we are proud to partner with an institution whose values reflect our own.”

    Earlier this year, StepStone launched SCRED Europe, a private credit fund available to EU-domiciled professional and retail investors1. SPRING Lux and STRUCTURE Lux were also recently converted from reserved alternative investment funds (RAIFs) to UCI Part II compliant structures, allowing professional investors and semi-professional investors greater access to the private markets, including private equity, infrastructure, and real estate.

    1 As defined under Directive 2014/65/EU. SCRED Europe is only available to professional and retail investors in those EEA Member States into which the manager of the fund has registered it for marketing. Further detail on the fund’s registration status is available from the manager on request. This press release is not and should not be understood to be an offer of securities in any fund mentioned herein.

    About StepStone

    StepStone Group Inc. (Nasdaq: STEP) is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to its clients. As of December 31, 2024, StepStone was responsible for approximately $698 billion of total capital, including $179 billion of assets under management. StepStone’s clients include some of the world’s largest public and private defined benefit and defined contribution pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies, as well as prominent endowments, foundations, family offices and private wealth clients, which include high-net-worth and mass affluent individuals. StepStone partners with its clients to develop and build private markets portfolios designed to meet their specific objectives across the private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate asset classes.

    About Bergos

    Bergos AG is an independent Swiss Private Bank focusing on private wealth management. Bergos emerged in 2021 with a new shareholder base from its former mother company, the Berenberg Group founded in 1590, and has been serving international private clients and entrepreneurs in the Swiss financial center for over thirty years. Its headquarters are in Zurich with an office in Geneva. The Swiss Private Bank is dedicated to “Human Private Banking” and specializes in wealth management and advisory services. With more than 130 employees, the focus is on providing expert guidance in all known liquid asset classes, as well as in private markets and alternative investments. Following a “beyond money” approach, we also offer expertise in art collecting and philanthropy. For entrepreneurial clients, Bergos offers access to M&A and other corporate finance services. Bergos AG offers private clients, entrepreneurs and their families a holistic, cross-generational service that focuses on security, neutrality, internationality and openness to the world.

    BERGOS’ SERVICES ARE NOT MARKETED, SOLICITED OR OFFERED TO ANY PERSON RESIDENT OR ORGANISED INSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AT ANY TIME. THEREFORE, BERGOS DOES NOT MARKET, SOLICIT OR OFFER STEPSTONE EVERGREEN FUNDS IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO US PERSONS.

    THIS DOCUMENT IS A MARKETING COMMUNICATION. PLEASE REFER TO THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM OF SPRING LUX, STRUCTURE LUX, SCRED LUX AND SCRED EUROPE (COLLECTIVELY, THE “FUNDS”) BEFORE MAKING ANY FINAL INVESTMENT DECISIONS.

    PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE MAY VARY.

    This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, or as an offer to provide advisory or other services by StepStone Group Private Wealth LLC (“SPW”), StepStone Group LP (“StepStone”), StepStone Group Europe Alternative Investments Limited (“SGEAIL”) or their subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, the “Managers”) in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The information contained in this document should not be construed as legal, financial or investment advice on any subject matter. The Managers expressly disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken based on any or all of the information in this document.

    Before investing you should carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information are explained in the relevant Offering Memorandum for each Fund, a copy of which may be obtained from SGEAIL upon request.

    Information contained herein is subject to change and amendment. An indication of interest in response to this advertisement will involve no obligation or commitment of any kind.

    Prospective investors should inform themselves and obtain appropriate advice as to any applicable legal or regulatory requirements and any applicable taxation and exchange control regulations in the countries of their citizenship, residence or domicile which might be relevant to the suitability, subscription, purchase, holding, exchange, redemption or disposal of any investments.

    An investment involves a number of risks and there are conflicts of interest. Please refer to the risks outlined in detail in the relevant Offering Memorandum for each Fund.

    Marketing in the European Union

    The Funds are alternative investment funds (“AIFs”) for the purpose of Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”). SGEAIL is the alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”) of the Funds.

    The Funds that do not qualify as ELTIFs can be marketed to Professional Investors in the EEA in accordance with the requirements set out in Article 32 of AIFMD.

    Marketing of the Funds outside the EEA or in the EEA to investors other than Professional Investors (where relevant) must comply with applicable national private placement regimes. Those investors are required to inform themselves of any applicable local requirements or restrictions before investing in the Funds and to assess the impact of any risks they may be exposed to when investing in the Funds.

    Notice to all European Economic Area (EEA) residents

    In the EEA, this document is disseminated by SGEAIL.

    The Funds may only be offered or placed in an EEA Member State: (1) to Professional Investors to the extent that they have been registered for marketing in the relevant EEA Member State in accordance with Article 32 AIFMD (as amended and as implemented into the local law/regulation of the relevant EEA Member State); (2) to non-professional investors who meet the requirements of any national law/regulation which permits them to invest in AIFs, as specifically identified below; or (3) as they may otherwise be lawfully offered or placed in that EEA Member State, including at the exclusive initiative of an investor where permitted in accordance with the AIFMD.

    A list of the EEA Member States in which the Funds are registered for marketing under Article 32 AIFMD is available from the Managers upon request.

    Notice to investors in Austria

    Certain of the Funds have been notified to the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) for marketing to professional investors (Professionelle Anleger) within the meaning of § 2 para 1 no 33 of the Austrian Alternative Investment Funds Act (Alternative Investmentfonds Manager-Gesetz; AIFMG) in accordance with Article 32 AIFMD and § 31 AIFMG. In the Republic of Austria, the relevant Funds may only be offered or placed and any offering or marketing materials related thereto may only be distributed to investors who are either (a) professional investors (Professionelle Anleger) as defined in § 2 para 1 no 33 AIFMG or where relevant (b) qualified retail investors (Qualifizierte Privatkunden) as defined in § 2 para 1 no 42 AIFMG. Distribution of the relevant Funds and any offering or marketing materials related thereto to retail investors (Privatkunden) as defined in § 2 para 1 no 36 AIFMG in the Republic of Austria is not permitted. Subscriptions by retail investors (Privatkunden) will therefore not be accepted. None of the Managers or the relevant Funds are subject to supervision by the FMA or any other Austrian authority. Neither the relevant Offering Memorandum, nor the relevant key information document (KID) have been reviewed by the FMA or any other Austrian authority.

    Notice to professional and semi-professional investors in Germany

    Certain of the Funds have been notified to the German Financial Services Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, or BAFIN) in accordance with Section 323 of the German investment code (Kapitalanlagegesetzbuch – KAGB).

    The relevant Funds may only be marketed and offered to professional and, where relevant to semi-professional investors in the Federal Republic of Germany, as defined in Section 1 (19) nos. 32 and 33 of the KAGB. The relevant Funds have not been admitted for marketing to retail investors within the meaning of Section 1 (19) no. 31 of the KAGB in Germany. Accordingly, the relevant Funds may not be offered and marketed to retail investors in Germany. This disclosure, the relevant Offering Memorandum and any other document relating to the relevant Funds, as well as information or statements contained therein, may not be supplied to retail investors in Germany or any other means of public marketing. Any resale of the relevant Funds in Germany may only be made to professional and semi-professional investors in Germany and in accordance with the provisions of the KAGB and any other applicable laws in Germany governing the sale and offering of the relevant Funds.

    Notice to investors in Italy

    Certain of the Funds have been passported with the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB) for the marketing in Italy vis-à-vis professional investors in accordance with Article 32 AIFMD, article 43 of the Italian Legislative Decree of 24th February 1998, no. 58 (testo unico della finanza, the “TUF”) and relevant local implementing regulations in Italy. The relevant Funds may be distributed exclusively to the following categories of investors: (i) “professional investors” as defined in the AIFMD; or where relevant (ii) “non-professional investors” who: (1) invest at least EUR 500,000 in the relevant Fund; or (2) invest at least EUR 100,000 in the relevant Fund, and in the case of the latter, either: (a) the investment is made by a licensed portfolio manager on behalf of the non-professional investor; or (b) the investment is made by the non-professional investor in the context of the provision of investment advice, and is subject to the requirement that the entirety of any investments by that same non-professional investor in EU AIFs does not exceed ten percent (10%) of his or her financial portfolio as a result of a subscription or investment in the relevant Fund.

    Notice to investors in Switzerland

    The offer and the marketing of the Funds in Switzerland will be exclusively made to, and directed at, qualified investors (the “Qualified Investors”), as defined in Article 10(3) and (3ter) of the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act (“CISA”) and its implementing ordinance, at the exclusion of qualified investors with an opting-out pursuant to Article 5(1) of the Swiss Federal Law on Financial Services (“FinSA”) and without any portfolio management or advisory relationship with a financial intermediary pursuant to Article 10(3ter) CISA (“Excluded Qualified Investors”). Accordingly, the Funds have not been and will not be registered with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) and no representative or paying agent have been or will be appointed in Switzerland. This document and/or any other offering or marketing materials relating to The Funds may be made available in Switzerland solely to Qualified Investors, at the exclusion of Excluded Qualified Investors. The legal documents of the Funds may be obtained free of charge from the Managers.

    Notice to investors in the United Kingdom

    The Funds are alternative investment funds for the purpose of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations, 2013, as amended by the Alternative Investment Managers (Amendment, etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (“UK AIFM Regulations”). SGEAIL is the alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”) of the Funds. 

    The Funds have been registered for marketing under Regulation 59(1) of the UK AIFM Regulations. On that basis, the Funds may be marketed in the United Kingdom to UK persons who qualify as Professional Investors.

    Contacts

    Shareholder Relations:
    Seth Weiss
    shareholders@stepstonegroup.com
    +1 (212) 351-6106

    Media:
    Brian Ruby / Chris Gillick / Matt Lettiero, ICR
    StepStonePR@icrinc.com
    +1 (203) 682-8268

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aegon announces reset of perpetual subordinated bonds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Hague, April 9, 2025 – Aegon today announces that it will reset the coupon on its EUR 113 million (NLG 250 million) 1.506% perpetual cumulative subordinated bonds (ISIN: NL0000120004, originally issued in 1995, the “bonds”) on June 8, 2025.

    As of June 8, 2005, and every ten years thereafter, Aegon has had the option to either call the bonds or reset the coupon.

    The bonds will continue to be outstanding in accordance with their terms, with the next optional redemption date on June 8, 2035. The new coupon will be published on or around June 3, 2025.

    Contacts

    About Aegon

    Aegon is an international financial services holding company. Aegon’s ambition is to build leading businesses that offer their customers investment, protection, and retirement solutions. Aegon’s portfolio of businesses includes fully owned businesses in the United States and United Kingdom, and a global asset manager. Aegon also creates value by combining its international expertise with strong local partners via insurance joint-ventures in Spain & Portugal, China, and Brazil, and via asset management partnerships in France and China. In addition, Aegon owns a Bermuda-based life insurer and generates value via a strategic shareholding in a market leading Dutch insurance and pensions company.

    Aegon’s purpose of helping people live their best lives runs through all its activities. As a leading global investor and employer, Aegon seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion & diversity. Aegon is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, domiciled in Bermuda, and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange. More information can be found at aegon.com.

    Forward-looking statements
    The statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following are words that identify such forward-looking statements: aim, believe, estimate, target, intend, may, expect, anticipate, predict, project, counting on, plan, continue, want, forecast, goal, should, would, could, is confident, will, and similar expressions as they relate to Aegon. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. In addition, any statements that refer to sustainability, environmental and social targets, commitments, goals, efforts and expectations and other events or circumstances that are partially dependent on future events are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Aegon undertakes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which merely reflect company expectations at the time of writing. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from expectations conveyed in forward-looking statements due to changes caused by various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following:

    • Financial risks – Rapidly rising interest rates; Sustained low or negative interest rate levels; Disruptions in the global financial markets and general economic conditions; Elevated levels of inflation; Illiquidity of certain investment assets; Credit risk, declines in value and defaults in Aegon’s debt securities, private placements, mortgage loan portfolios and other instruments or the failure of certain counterparties; Decline in equity markets; Downturn in the real estate market; Default of a major financial market participant; Failure by reinsurers to which Aegon has ceded risk; Downgrade in Aegon’s credit ratings; Fluctuations in currency exchange rates; Unsuccessful management of derivatives; Subjective valuation of Aegon’s investments, allowances and impairments;
    • Underwriting risks – Differences between actual claims experience/underwriting and reserve assumptions; Losses on products with guarantees due to volatile markets; Restrictions on underwriting criteria and the use of data; Unexpected return on offered financial and insurance products; Reinsurance may not be available, affordable, or adequate; Catastrophic events;
    • Operational risks – Competitive factors; Difficulty in acquiring and integrating new businesses or divesting existing operations; Difficulties in distributing and marketing products through its current and future distribution channels; Slow to adapt to and leverage new technologies; Failure of data management and governance; Epidemics or pandemics; Unsuccessful in managing exposure to climate risk; Unidentified or unanticipated risk events; Aegon’s information technology systems may not be resilient against constantly evolving threats; Computer system failure or security breach; Breach of data privacy or security obligations; Inaccuracies in econometric, financial, or actuarial models, or differing interpretations of underlying methodologies; Inaccurate, incomplete or unsuccessful quantitative models, algorithms or calculations; Issues with third-party providers, including events such as bankruptcy, disruption of services, poor performance, non-performance, or standards of service level agreements not being upheld; Inability to attract and retain personnel;
    • Political, regulatory, and supervisory risks – Requirement to increase technical provisions and/or hold higher amounts of regulatory capital as a result of changes in the regulatory environment or changes in rating agency analysis; Political or other instability in a country or geographic region; Changes in accounting standards; Inability of Aegon’s subsidiaries to pay dividends to Aegon Ltd.; Risks of application of intervention measures;
    • Legal and compliance risks – Unfavorable outcomes of legal and arbitration proceedings and regulatory investigations and actions; Changes in government regulations in the jurisdictions in which Aegon operates; Increased attention to sustainability matters and evolving sustainability standards and requirements; Tax risks; Difficulty to effect service of process or to enforce judgments against Aegon in the United States; Inability to manage risks associated with the reform and replacement of benchmark rates; Inability to protect intellectual property;
    • Risks relating to Aegon’s common shares – Volatility of Aegon’s share price; Offering of additional common shares in the future; Significant influence of Vereniging Aegon over Aegon’s corporate actions; Currency fluctuations; Influence of Perpetual Contingent Convertible Securities over the market price for Aegon’s common shares.

    Additionally, Aegon provides some information in this report that is informed by various stakeholder expectations, non-US regulatory requirements, and third-party frameworks. Such information, whether provided here or in Aegon’s other disclosures (including website materials), is not necessarily material for SEC reporting purposes.

    Even in instances where we use “material”, this should not in all instances be deemed to refer to materiality for purposes of our U.S. federal securities filings, as there are various definitions of materiality used by different stakeholders, including but not limited to a more expansive “double materiality” standard pursuant to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards that has informed much of our sustainability disclosure. Similarly, while we leverage various frameworks in our disclosures, we cannot guarantee, and language such as “align” or “follow” is not meant to imply complete alignment with these requirements.

    We similarly cannot guarantee complete alignment with any stakeholder’s interpretation or preference for the measurement or presentation of sustainability or other information in this report. Expectations, as well as our own approach, continue to evolve and may change for a variety of reasons, including regulatory or business requirements or other factors that may not be in our control. Similarly, certain disclosures are based on hypothetical scenarios which may not be reflective of expectations or future events; such scenarios are subject to inherent uncertainty given the long-time frames and breadth of variables involved. As a final note, documents and website references included herein are provided solely for convenience and are not incorporated by reference absent express language to the contrary.

    This document contains information that qualifies, or may qualify, as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014). Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Aegon are described in its filings with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2023 Integrated Annual Report. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, Aegon expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Aegon’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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  • MIL-OSI: RIBER reports solid growth in sales and earnings in 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RIBER reports solid growth in sales and earnings in 2024

    • Revenues: €41.2m (+5%)
    • Income from ordinary operations: €4.5m, representing 11% of revenues
    • Net income: €4.1m (+21%)
    • Proposed payout of €0.08 per share for 2024 (+14%)

    Bezons, April 9, 2024 – 8:00am – RIBER, the global leader for molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) equipment serving the semiconductor industry, is announcing its full-year results for 2024, marked by solid growth in sales and profitability.

    (€m – at December 31) 2024 2023 Change
    Revenues 41.2 39.3 +4.8%
    MBE systems revenues 31.0 29.0 +7.0%
    Services and accessories revenues 10.2 10.3 -1.2%
    Gross margin
    % of revenues    		 14.8
    36.1%    		 13.2
    33.7%    		 +12.1%
    Income from ordinary operations
    % of revenues    		 4.5
    10.9%    		 3.9
    10.0%    		 +14.4%
    Operating income
    % of revenues    		 4.4
    10.6%    		 3.9
    10.0%    		 +11.3%
    Pre-tax income
    % of revenues    		 4.4
    10.6%    		 3.6
    9.1%    		 +22.5%
    Net income
    % of revenues    		 4.1
    10.0%    		 3.4
    8.7%    		 +21.4%

    Key developments

    In 2024, RIBER achieved its revenues targets, driven by solid growth in MBE system sales. This momentum reflects the strengthening of its positions in the MBE market, for both research and industrial production, as evidenced by the strong order intake during the year, with 13 new MBE systems. In this context, the company’s earnings show a clear improvement compared with the previous year.

    Alongside this, RIBER moved forward with its innovation efforts with the development of ROSIE (RIBER Oxide on SIlicon Epitaxy), a new system dedicated to the silicon photonics sector. Designed to meet the growing demands of optical transmission and reception applications, its commercial launch, scheduled for 2026, opens up new prospects in a fast-growing market. This dynamism is supported by the demand for advanced semiconductor materials dedicated to data transmission and Artificial Intelligence. The technology developed by RIBER will help reduce energy consumption, particularly in data centers.

    Revenues

    Full-year revenues for 2024 increased to €41.2m, up +5% from 2023. Revenues for MBE systems were up +7% to €31.0m for 12 machines delivered, compared with 13 in 2023. Revenues for services and accessories amounted to 10.2 million euros, representing 24.8% of 2024 revenues, and were broadly stable year-on-year.

    Earnings

    The gross margin was €14.8m, up +12.1%, driven by growth in system business.

    Income from ordinary operations was €4.5m, up +14.4% compared with the previous year, thanks to effective control of operating costs. It represents 11% of revenues, compared with 10% in 2023.

    Net income totaled €4.1m, compared with €3.4m in 2023, an increase of +21.4%.

    Cash flow and balance sheet

    The cash position at end-2023 was positive at €8.6m, compared to €9.7m at end-2023.

    Shareholders’ equity totaled €23.6m, up +€2.3m compared with end-2023. This change is driven by the earnings for the year 2024 and the distribution of amounts drawn against the issue premium for 2023 to shareholders.

    Order book

    The order book at December 31, 2024 represented €21.7m, down 17% year-on-year, including 7 MBE systems (€16.7m), of which 5 for production, as well as orders for services and accessories (€5.0m).

    The order book is up after factoring the two new orders announced in January 2025 for a production system in Europe and a research system in the United States, both scheduled for delivery in 2025.

    Outlook

    In view of the uncertainties linked to the application of US customs duties and the economic environment, RIBER is reserving its position on issuing guidance for fiscal year 2025.

    RIBER remains committed to its medium-term objectives. In this context, RIBER is moving forward with its growth strategy by strengthening its technological leadership and expanding its solutions into new high value-added markets, particularly silicon photonics and materials for quantum technologies. These developments will be presented at the next Annual General Meeting on June 18, 2025.

    Distribution of amounts drawn against the “issue premium” account

    The Board of Directors will propose to the June 18, 2025 General Meeting a cash distribution of €0.08 per share, through a partial reimbursement of the issue premium. It will be released for payment on June 25, 2025.

    Next dates

    • April 18, 2025 – 6:00pm:         2024 annual financial report
    • June 18, 2025 – 10:00am:         General Meeting in Paris

    The annual financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on April 8, 2025. The statutory auditors have completed the audit procedures on the corporate and consolidated accounts. The certification report will be issued once the necessary procedures have been finalized for publishing the full-year financial report.

    In compliance with AMF regulations and the operating rules of Euronext Growth Paris, RIBER will henceforth publish its sales figures on a half-yearly basis, except in the event of significant developments.

    About RIBER

    Founded in 1964, RIBER is the global market leader for MBE – molecular beam epitaxy – equipment. It designs and produces equipment for the semiconductor industry and provides scientific and technical support for its clients (hardware and software), maintaining their equipment and optimizing their performance and output levels. Accelerating the performance of electronics, RIBER’s equipment performs an essential role in the development of advanced semiconductor systems that are used in numerous applications, from information technologies to photonics (lasers, sensors, etc.), 5G telecommunications networks and research, including quantum computing. RIBER is a BPI France-approved innovative company and is listed on the Euronext Growth Paris market (ISIN: FR0000075954).
    www.riber.com

    Contacts

    RIBER : Annie Geoffroy| tel: +33 (0)1 39 96 65 00 | invest@riber.com
    ACTUS FINANCE & COMMUNICATION : Cyril Combe | tel: +33 (0)1 53 65 68 68 | ccombe@actus.fr

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  • MIL-OSI: Trifork subsidiary Nine wins strategically important contract for the Danish Agency for Digital Government: Developing Denmark’s Digital Identity Wallet

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release

    Trifork subsidiary Nine wins strategically important contract for the Danish Agency for Digital Government: Developing Denmark’s Digital Identity Wallet

    Copenhagen, 9 April 2025 – The Danish Agency for Digital Government (Digitaliseringsstyrelsen) has awarded the contract for the first phase of developing Denmark’s new Digital Identity Wallet to the IT company Nine, a subsidiary of Trifork Group. The project is awarded through the SKI framework agreement 02.14, category 1 (competence procurement), with a total value of DKK 29 million for the initial phase, which includes development starting in April 2025, go-live in Q1 2026, followed by two years of support and continued development.

    The Digital Identity Wallet will initially enable citizens to obtain digital proof of age and a digital ID credential, usable both physically and online, without having to share unnecessary personal information.

    In subsequent project phases, the functionality will be expanded to include a wide range of digital credentials and comply with the requirements of the EU’s eIDAS2 regulation. This means the wallet will ultimately be interoperable with other EU member states’ digital identity wallets – serving as a secure and standardized solution across borders.

    In the long term, many public authorities are expected to use the wallet to issue digital credentials.

    Nine has had a long-standing collaboration with the Danish Agency for Digital Government over several years, including work on the Next Generation Digital Post (NgDP) and the Rights Portal (Rettighedsportalen).

    “We are proud to be entrusted with developing Denmark’s Digital Identity Wallet. It is an exciting and meaningful task where security, user-friendliness, and future EU compatibility are at the core,” says Jacob Strange, CEO of Nine.

    The parent company, Trifork, is closely engaged in the awarded project. Trifork wishes to take part in the development of EU wallets in other member states, seeing great potential in leveraging Nine’s experience from Denmark in the broader European market.


    Investor and media contact
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director, Head of IR & PR
    frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 7317

    About Trifork Group
    Trifork is a pioneering global technology partner, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative solutions. With 1,229 professionals across 73 business units in 16 countries, Trifork delivers expertise in inspiring, building, and running advanced software solutions across diverse sectors, including public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. Trifork Labs, the Group’s R&D hub, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic and high-potential technology companies. Trifork Group AG is a publicly listed company on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow supported more than three thousand innovative solutions with patent grants

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Since 2022, Moscow developers have been approved for city grants to patent 3,180 inventions and utility models in Russia and abroad. The total amount of grants was more than 290 million rubles. The support was used by creators of innovations in the field of radio electronics, robotics, public safety, construction and information technology.

    Entrepreneurs can receive a grant of 75 thousand rubles for each Russian patent for an invention or utility model registered in the last 12 months. The maximum amount of grant support for submitted foreign patent applications is up to five million rubles per year.

    Two grants were received by a company that develops and manufactures robotic devices for industrial high-pressure cleaning. The funds were allocated for patenting a microhydropercussion hydrodynamic cleaning complex for the inner surface of heat exchanger pipes. Patents for the invention are currently being processed in Russia and abroad.

    Another recipient of financial support was a research and production enterprise that manufactures innovative equipment for disinfecting air, hard surfaces and water from all types of dangerous bacteria. The technology of high-intensity pulsed ultraviolet radiation allows disinfecting premises of all classes with an efficiency of up to 99.9 percent in a minimum period of time – from 30 seconds. More than 3.5 thousand such installations are successfully used in more than 500 Russian organizations. In addition, the enterprise exports its products to the Republic of South Africa, Mexico, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

    A Russian developer and manufacturer of thermal indicators has received five grants for filing foreign patent applications and nine grants for Russian patents. The company has developed a new type of thermal fire alarm designed to prevent pre-emergency and pre-fire situations by detecting overheating of contact connections that occur in electrical distribution devices. Its products are patented in more than 40 countries.

    As part of the strategy Sergei Sobyanin for business development and innovation support, the Moscow Innovation Cluster promotes support for patenting and commercialization of intellectual property through grant, consulting, and educational programs, as well as preferential lending secured by rights to the results of intellectual activity.

    The application period for grant support for patenting inventions and utility models in Russia and abroad is open until June 30, 2025.i.moscow platform.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The grand marble staircase is being restored at the Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo estate

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Restoration work continues at the Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo estate. Specialists are paying attention to every detail of the unique historical monument of the 18th-19th centuries, trying to preserve its interior decoration and return the estate to its former appearance. In particular, the main staircase with tritons, which is located in the central volume of the main house of the estate, is currently being restored.

    “The main marble staircase was brought to Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo from the city estate on Bolshaya Nikitskaya in the 1910s. At that time, Princess Evgenia Shakhovskaya-Glebova-Streshneva was rebuilding the estate. A vestibule with a main staircase made of white and gray marble with a bypass gallery (balcony) at the level of the second floor appeared in the central volume. The balcony is supported from below by two decorative figures of tritons, and the bypass gallery is decorated with columns and pilasters of the Ionic order, the composition is completed by a round ceiling lamp,” said the deputy head of the Department of Capital Repairs

    Vladimir Alyabyev.

    Before the work began, the staircase was in poor condition. The steps were worn and cracked, the five lower ones were different in shape and color of the stone, and the last one was completely missing. The marble balusters and wide handrail were completely destroyed. Two figures of tritons on the sides of the staircase also needed restoration, one of them was missing the tip of its tail. In addition, the balcony railing was lost.

    “During the work, a comprehensive restoration of the main staircase was carried out. Specialists cleaned the marble steps, completed the assembly in places of losses, sealed cracks with a special compound in the tone of the stone, polished the surfaces. They replaced the steps that did not correspond to the historical ones and recreated the lower one that was lost. In a special workshop, balusters, railings and pedestals were recreated according to historical samples, and their installation is currently underway. They also restored the marble figures of newts supporting the balcony, and restored the lost tip of the tail, copying it from the surviving one,” Vladimir Alyabyev clarified.

    In addition, the columns and pilasters of the Ionic order located in the bypass gallery were put in order. Having cleaned the surviving elements from late layers of paint, specialists discovered places of damaged plaster and additional compositions from late materials, as well as areas of incorrect joints of architectural elements. Then the plaster elements were cleaned to a solid base and restored. To do this, they cast the missing fragments according to historical samples, removed late inserts from alabaster, cement and other materials, and repaired small chips and cracks. In addition, the ceiling lamp was restored.

    The restoration work of the Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo estate ensemble corresponds to the goals and objectives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Sobyanin: The lost spire has been returned to the greenhouse of the Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo estateAtmosphere of manor life: stucco work is being restored in Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moskino Cinema Park to Host Space Weekend

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Guests of the Moskino Cinema Park can look forward to a space weekend on April 12 and 13. The program includes performances by professional stuntmen, space tricks, fantastic performances for the whole family, games for children, film screenings, and much more. Login by tickets.

    Space adventures and incredible stunts

    On April 12 at 13:00 and 14:30, the Gonzaga Theatre will host a performance for the whole family, “Frantic Cosmists.” It will be performed by actors from the Village Theatre. The fantastic story will tell viewers about the great discoveries of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Nikolai Fyodorov and Alexander Chizhevsky, as well as about the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. The heroes of the production will have to prevent a catastrophe that threatens the planet.

    From 17:00 to 18:00, stuntmen will perform on stage. Viewers will learn how stunts are done for space films, watch fragments of famous Russian films, and will also be able to take part in the performance themselves. Professionals will demonstrate special technical devices that are used to film flight scenes. Varvara Nikitina, the first Russian female stuntwoman and vice-president of the Stuntmen’s Guild at the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, will take part in the program.

    On the weekend, guests will be able to take part in the interactive quest “Space Frontier”. Adults and children will transform into heroes who save the Earth from an alien invasion. Unusual characters will support them in passing the tests. For example, together with Professor Zvezdochetov, participants will build a star map, conduct physical experiments with engineer Kapustin, and the young cosmonaut Baikonurov will help find items important for a trip into space.

    Songs, games and master classes

    On April 13, musicians will perform famous songs from films on the stage of the Gonzaga Theatre, from musicals to Soviet hits. You can listen to the concert and sing along with the artists from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

    Master classes will be held for children on the central square. Young guests will make space-themed keychains, paint a souvenir in the form of the Earth’s natural satellite, the Moon, and create interior items. Participants will also be able to take photos in a model of Yuri Gagarin’s space capsule, dressed in special suits, and play mini-football and big dominoes.

    At the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology, children and animators will build a spaceship from cubes, catch meteorites and play other games in the fresh air.

    On April 12 and 13, the Moskino Kinopark cinema will show films for the whole family. The comedy drama Everything That Concerns You will tell about a fascinating emotional journey and the search for a loved one. The comedy Batya-2. Ded will continue the audience’s favorite story about family, growing up and nostalgia for childhood. Animal lovers will appreciate the film Palma-2. This is a film about a boy, his faithful shepherd dog and a bear cub. The friends will have to go through a forest full of wild animals, hunters and other dangers. Buy tickets you can here.

    You can get to the Moskino cinema park not only by your own car, but also by free transport. Buses M1 and M2 run every 25 minutes from the Salaryevo and Teply Stan metro stations. You can find out more about the routes and see the schedule on the cinema park’s website in the section “How to get there”.

    The Moskino cinema park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s “Moscow – City of Cinema” project and an object of the Moscow cinema cluster, which is being developed by the capital Department of CultureThe first stage of development has already been completed here: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built, including the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow in the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Yurovo Airport”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “Deaf Village”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and others.

    The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino film park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino film factory, the Moskino cinema chain, the film commission and the Moskino film platform.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Another 32 lifting platforms for people with limited mobility will be installed in nine districts of the North-Eastern Administrative District

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the North-Eastern Administrative District, 32 lifting platforms are planned to be installed this year. They will be mounted in the entrances of apartment buildings where wheelchair users live, in accordance with previously submitted applications.

    “Work has already begun on the installation and connection of seven platforms, including six inclined and one vertical. After the survey and design, the installation of lifts for people with disabilities will begin in another 25 entrances,” said the Deputy Head of the Department of Capital Repairs of the City of Moscow

    Evgeniy Adamov.

    In Bibirevo, 10 platforms will be installed, in Otradnoye – five, in Lianozovo and Losinoostrovsky district – four each, in Yaroslavsky district – three, in Sviblovo and Babushkinsky district – two each, in Altufevsky district and Yuzhnoye Medvedkovo – one each.

    With the installation of a lifting platform in the entrance hall, the life of a person with special needs, who is forced to spend entire days in an apartment, changes dramatically. It becomes possible to go outside without outside help, which means meeting with friends, working, attending various events. The lift also makes life much easier for families with children with disabilities. Trips to the doctor, to school, or just walks become accessible if the mother does not have to lift a heavy stroller up the stairs.

    You can submit an application for installation of the platform on the mos.ru portal or on the website Department of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the City of Moscow in the section “Internet Reception”. Permanent registration in Moscow and the presence of a recommendation in the IPRA (individual rehabilitation and habilitation program) on the need for a wheelchair are required. According to the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, neither a meeting nor a decision of the owners of the premises in an apartment building is required to install a lifting platform in the entrance.

    The technical feasibility of installing a platform in an entrance is determined by interdepartmental commissions that have been created in each district of the capital. After this, the design stage begins, during which the type of platform is selected taking into account current GOSTs, regulations, building codes and rules. Projects are subject to mandatory state examination, which confirms the correctness of the technical solutions adopted.

    “In entrances with spacious halls, vertical lifting platforms are most often installed, which are more convenient to use. They resemble mini-elevators and allow you to rise to a height of up to four meters. If there is not enough space or the free space is occupied, for example, by a concierge room or a stroller room, an inclined lift is installed. This design is mounted on the wall parallel to the stairs. It is compact and does not disturb the neighbors,” noted Evgeny Adamov.

    When installing lifting platforms, other work is also carried out to create a barrier-free environment for people with limited mobility: ramps and handrails are installed at the entrance to the building, as well as doors with closers that a person in a wheelchair can open remotely. If technically possible, an additional entrance to the building is made, to which a ramp is brought. In addition, visual and dispatch control systems are installed. This not only ensures the safety of descent and ascent, but also prevents the platform from being used for other purposes.

    From 2011 to 2024, the Department of Capital Repairs installed 2,128 lifting platforms for wheelchair users in all 12 districts of the capital.

    Installing ramps and laying tactile tiles: how the portal “Our City” helps make the capital more comfortable29 lifts for people with limited mobility will be installed in residential buildings in northwest Moscow

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: In April, more than 600 educational events were prepared for schoolchildren and college students

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    More than 600 educational events were prepared for young Muscovites, their parents and teachers in April. Registration for them is available on the service “Horizons” based on the Moscow Electronic School (MES). Here you can find a list of all free educational events for children and youth in the capital — lectures, festivals, master classes, competitions, quests, hackathons and excursions.

    “The Horizons service allows schoolchildren and college students to attend sports, cultural and educational events. Since its launch in 2023, it has been used more than 2.5 million times, and the number of unique users has exceeded 1.3 million. The service was most in demand among 10th-11th grade students and parents of schoolchildren,” the press service of the capital said.

    Department of Education and Science.

    So, on April 12 at 12:00 a master class will be held at the Moscow University of Finance and Law “Traditional Chinese Cuisine”. Participants will not only learn about the national dishes of the Celestial Empire, but also learn to write their names in Chinese. Schoolchildren and college students are invited to the lesson.

    On April 12 at the same time, the Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Vostochny” will host a festival for schoolchildren master class in karate. The course is suitable for both beginners and experienced athletes. And at 16:00, students will be able to join the lesson right here “Rhythm in vocals”The children will be told about methods of working with musical ear and will be revealed the secrets of expressive performance.

    Available for primary school students and their parents excursion through the enclosure complex of the Bitsevsky Forest natural and historical park. Guests will get acquainted with wild and farm animals – squirrels, pheasants, chickens, goats and sheep, and learn interesting facts about them. The event will begin on April 16 at 14:30.

    On April 19 at 12:45 at the Russian State University of Oil and Gas named after I.M. Gubkin you can attend a lecture “Computer – from Babbage to smartphone”. Pupils of grades 7–11, college students, their parents and teachers will be told about the creation of computers and the first programs.

    In total, more than 10 thousand events were published in the Gorizonty service. The events are divided into four areas: “Technology, exact, natural sciences”, “Humanities and economics”, “Medicine, health and sports”, “Culture and art”. For the convenience of users, a filter is available that helps select an event according to age. After registration, information about the event automatically appears in the schedule of the MES electronic diary, and is also sent to e-mail.

    The Horizons service is available in the School section (News tab) of the electronic diary and in the Events section of the mobile application “MESH Diary”. You can also use the service on the website Horizons.Mos.ru.

    “Moscow Electronic School”— a joint project of the capital’s departments education and science Andinformation technology, created in 2016. A single digital educational platform is available to Moscow teachers, students and their parents. Among the main services of “MES” are a library of educational materials, an electronic diary and journal, “Moskvenok”, “Student Portfolio” and “Olympiads”.

    Providing the capital’s schoolchildren with modern digital services increases the efficiency of the educational process, helps children to plan their school and personal time wisely and corresponds to the objectives of the “All the Best for Children” national project “Youth and Children”.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Services and services for large families: how the mos.ru portal helps Moscow families

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Large families in Moscow have access to various benefits, payments and city support measures that help take care of children. Many of them can be quickly and conveniently applied for on the mos.ru portal, without wasting time on personal trips to departments and collecting paper documents. All the necessary electronic services and services are collected in the subsection “Assistance for families with children, including large families” of the section “Family, children” catalog of services for residents.

    “On the mos.ru portal, you can register as a large family and get a corresponding digital ID, apply for a parking permit or a Muscovite card for yourself and your children, apply for cash compensation, and much more. And some services, such as extending a parking permit for large families, are provided proactively: at the right time, the city sends a notification through the portal, and the person only has to agree to receive the service or refuse it,” said the Deputy Head of the Moscow City Department of Information Technology

    Dmitry Ivanov.

    Authorized mos.ru users with a standard and full account can use electronic services and services. You can find out how to register on the portal and upgrade your account status fromthis instruction.

    Obtain the status of a large family and a digital ID

    On the mos.ru portal, submit an electronic application for receiving orextending the status of a large family is convenient and simple. Any parent living with their children may apply for the government service, provided that the family is registered at their place of residence in the city of Moscow.

    Everyone who has received the status of a large family will automatically have access to a digital certificate confirming it in their personal account on the portal. This is an electronic document that contains a unique QR code with information about all members of such a family and the validity period of benefits. It can be downloaded to your smartphone as a pdf file or used using the QR code in the city mobile application “My id”A digital ID is equivalent to a paper ID.

    Apply for a Muscovite card for each family member

    Children from large families, regardless of their place of study, as well as both of their parents, can apply Muscovite card. It will allow you to use free travel on public transport, receive discounts on goods and services of loyalty program partners and much more. Submitting an electronic application for a Muscovite card is available on the mos.ru portal.

    Children over 14 years old can apply for this service independently. And for a child who has not yet reached this age, the card is issued by parents or legal representatives.

    Apply for a parking permit for families with many children

    For families who have a car, it will be useful to apply for a special parking permit. It gives the right to 24-hour free parking in all paid city parking zones in Moscow, except for spaces for buses, trucks and cars of people with disabilities. Large families can also apply for a permit online nand on the mos.ru portal.

    Only one such permit can be obtained per family. In this case, the vehicle whose owner issues the document must not have any fines.

    The extension of parking permits for families with many children is carried out in a proactive (anticipatory) format – without the need to apply. If the information about the large family has not changed, then two months before the expiration of the permit, a notification with a reminder about the extension is sent to the user’s personal account on mos.ru and to his e-mail. The person only needs to agree to the provision of this state service or refuse to receive it.

    Apply for social benefits and payments

    Information about what other city support measures, payments and subsidies are available to large families in Moscow has been collected in this instruction. In it you can find information on the procedure for registering all benefits and a list of the documents required for this.

    In addition, parents with many children can ask questions of interest during an online consultation. You can also sign up for it is conducted on the portal. After registering, a link to a video call and instructions on how to connect will be sent to the user’s personal account on the portal and to their email. The parent will only need to go online at the right time. The consultation lasts up to 20 minutes.

    Today, the mos.ru portal allows you to solve almost any everyday task. To use all its capabilities, you will need full account. And you can learn about how the mos.ru portal turned from a news feed with a book of reviews into a resource where today more than 450 electronic services are presented in the popular science film “Moscow in Digital”.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    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/152367073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Phenomenon of Smoktunovsky. A Photo Exhibition to Mark the Artist’s 100th Birthday to Open on Strastnoy Boulevard

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    People’s Artist of the USSR, Soviet and Russian theater and film actor – the unforgettable Yuri Detochkin from the film “Beware of the Car”, Prince Myshkin on the stage of the Bolshoi Drama Theater named after G.A. Tovstonogov and Hamlet in the film of the same name by Grigory Kozintsev. Known to the general public, Innokenty Smoktunovsky created images that shook the imagination of his contemporaries and resonate in the hearts of viewers today. On the eve of the opening of the exhibition on April 10 on Strastnoy Boulevard, Marfa Bubnova, Deputy Director for Exhibition and Exposition Activities of the Moscow Art Theater Museum, and Maria Smoktunovskaya, a specialist in the archival department of the Moscow Art Theater Museum, spoke about the preparation for the event and the phenomenon of Innokenty Smoktunovsky.

    — The 100th anniversary of the birth of a significant person for our culture, a beloved actor by many, is a truly great date. Marfa Nikolaevna, please tell us how you prepared for the opening of the exhibition and selected the photographs?

    — The Moscow Art Theatre Museum approached the 100th anniversary of Innokenty Smoktunovsky’s birth very responsibly, since this amazing artist is very dear to the history of the Moscow Art Theatre. The works on display at the exhibition are mainly from the museum’s collections, photographs from the plays “The Idiot” and “Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich” were kindly provided to us by the G.A. Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theatre and the Academic Maly Theatre, and photographs from films were provided by the Mosfilm studio and Gosfilmofond.

    — Innokenty Mikhailovich said that his main theme is man. And indeed — in the images he created, one can feel a special humanity, a subtle understanding of emotional nuances, complex feelings, both in dramatic roles and in comedies. Do you think that the early awakening of love for the theater contributed to the development of such human-orientation?

    – Innokenty Mikhailovich experienced many different events – he sympathized and empathized with people, then his feelings grew into images created by him on the stage and in cinema.

    All this was also facilitated by the great work in learning the acting profession, which Innokenty Mikhailovich served all his life.

    — It was often said about Innokenty Smoktunovsky that he is an actor of a new type. Please tell us what this means? What was so innovative in Innokenty Mikhailovich’s creative manner that he was quickly recognized as a genius?

    – Innokenty Mikhailovich created a unique type of acting, which consisted of simplicity, naturalness and openness of the inner world. And the images he created allowed the audience to call him a genius. Innokenty Mikhailovich himself did not consider himself as such, but said that he was a capable person and nothing more – he just works very hard.

    The First Curtain, the Legendary Seagull. What Can You See in the Showcases of the Moscow Art Theatre Museum

    — Maria Innokentyevna, how did participation in the Great Patriotic War influence your father’s personality and his acting work?

    — I think that participation in the Great Patriotic War tempered Innokenty Mikhailovich’s character. Dad himself wrote about it this way: “I don’t know how my life would have turned out if there had been no war, my military biography, I don’t want everyone to go through the same path, because it was a very difficult path. It was so hard that I was on the verge of leaving this life when I was captured, and we were treated very cruelly in the prisoner of war camps. I don’t know what was the reason that I had such a rich creative life, but, obviously, the difficult events of the war made their own adjustments to it.” I think this experience helped him create deeper, psychologically complex characters.

    — Innokenty Mikhailovich was ahead of his time in many ways, his acting art still seems very relevant, alive, and exciting. What is the secret of such timeless performance? What makes his characters close, understandable, and dear to today’s viewers too?

    — I think my dad’s secret is in his desire and amazing talent to get into the skin of his characters. He always deeply studied the historical situation around the events in the play, read correspondence, thought through associative moves. Preparatory work, careful search for makeup, and choice of costume were very important to him.

    — The creative legacy of Innokenty Smoktunovsky is certainly great and deserves special attention. How do you manage to preserve his memory and maintain the interest of modern viewers?

    — To mark the 100th anniversary of Innokenty Mikhailovich’s birth, the I.M. Smoktunovsky Festival was held in Achinsk from March 17 to 23. The program included exhibitions, quizzes, concerts, creative laboratories and workshops, quizzes and master classes. The premiere of the play “To Be Smoktunovsky” was successfully held at the Norilsk Polar Drama Theater named after Vl. Mayakovsky — a VR walk with a genius directed by Anna Babanova. Marfa Bubnova gave a lecture, and actress Svetlana Toma held a creative evening in which she talked about working with Innokenty Mikhailovich. In the green foyer of the Moscow Art Theater named after A.P. Chekhov, the Moscow Art Theater Museum opened the exhibition “Many-Faced, But the Only One”. The House of Scientists showed Vera Tokareva’s documentary “Memories in the Garden”, in which Innokenty Mikhailovich spoke about his life and amazing work. In addition, Olga Egoshina’s book “Actor’s Notebooks of Innokenty Smoktunovsky” will be reissued. And on April 20, at the A.P. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, director Pavel Vashchilin will present the production “I Love. I Kiss. Kesha. / All the Letters Are Only About Love”. I would like to see more films with dad’s participation shown on television.

    — How do you think such projects on the city’s boulevards, like the photo exhibition opening tomorrow, influence the development of culture?

    — In my opinion, such exhibitions only contribute to the cultural enrichment of both residents and guests of the capital. These are very necessary projects.

    The photo exhibition on Strastnoy Boulevard will be located opposite house 12, and the photos will be on display until May 4. The project was prepared by the Moscow Department of Culture and the Moscow Directorate of Mass Events together with the Moscow Art Theatre Museum.

    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/152360073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Gold rush Melbourne and post-war boom: how Australia overcame housing shortages in the past

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Stevens, Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University

    As part of their federal election campaign, the Coalition announced plans to limit the number of international students able to commence study each year to 240,000, “focused on driving […] housing availability and affordability”.

    This announcement was criticised as a “fact free zone” by the Property Council.

    The Coalition proposal falsely equates high immigration with housing shortages. Studies indicate limiting international students will have minimal impact on housing supply. Most international students stay in student housing or share house accommodation, not suitable or desirable for many Australians to live in.

    History shows us Australia has previously gone through periods of high migration and economic uncertainty. But history also shows us, if we are willing to adapt and innovate, high immigration and housing affordability can co-exist.

    Lessons from Australia’s gold rush

    The discovery of gold in Victoria caused Melbourne’s population to explode.

    In 1851, Melbourne’s population was 77,000. Within a decade, that figure had more than quadrupled to 540,000.

    As a young colony, the Victorian government actively recruited British and Irish migrants, subsidising fully or partially the cost of the sea voyage to Australia.

    It wasn’t all smooth sailing: competition across migrant groups developed, and new Chinese immigrants in particular were singled out. Europeans staged violent anti-Chinese riots, which included the murder of three Chinese migrants.

    To accommodate new migrants, the Victorian colonial government expanded housing supply in two ways.

    ‘Canvas Town’ was built on the banks of the Yarra in South Melbourne, captured in this illustration from the 1850s.
    State Library Victoria

    First, in 1852 Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe permitted the establishment of Canvas Town, essentially a tent city on the southern bank of the Yarra River.

    There were problems in Canvas Town: disease was common, sanitation nonexistent, and crime rife. But Canvas Town provided newcomers protection from the elements. Canvas Town was officially disbanded in 1854, although people continued to live in tents across Melbourne as they awaited the construction of more permanent housing.

    Second, prefabricated iron houses were imported to Melbourne from Britain to overcome supply shortages. These British-built “kit homes” were dismantled, every component labelled and then shipped to Australia for assembly.

    Rapidly-built homes appeared in Port Melbourne, North Melbourne, Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond. Three such examples still exist today in South Melbourne.

    A portable town for Australia erected at Hemming’s Patent Portable House Manufactory, Bristol.
    National Library of Australia

    Gold Rush Victoria reminds us of the importance of nimble government intervention in the housing market to offset housing pressures and mitigate anti-foreigner sentiments.

    Responding to migrants after World War II

    One hundred years later, Australia was again facing an immigration and population boom. Australia faced housing shortages in the post-World War II years, as the population grew from 7.6 million to 10.5 million people between 1947 and 1961.

    In the era of post-war shortages and rationing, Australians worried about the impacts of the new arrivals on employment and social issues such as crime.

    The arrival of displaced persons and assisted migrants from Europe strained existing housing stock. Some new and existing Australians resorted to squatting and other forms of temporary housing.

    Commonwealth and state governments took leading roles in housing construction.

    Houses were pre-fabricated in the United Kingdom, like in this photograph from 1947, before being shipped to Australia.
    State Library Victoria

    Between 1947 and 1961, Australia’s housing stock increased by 50% compared with a 41% increase in population. Australian governments directly contributed to 24% of this increase in stock, or 221,700 homes.

    As the minister for immigration, Harold Holt said in 1950, “migrant labour was helping to solve Australia’s housing problems, not aggravating it” by working in essential industries that produce housing materials.

    Once again, prefabricated homes were part of the solution.

    British migrant bricklayers work on building new State Housing Trust houses in Elizabeth, South Australia, in 1958.
    National Archives of Australia

    But on-site construction also had a role to play and could capitalise on the skills of new migrants, particularly in the new migrant town of Elizabeth, South Australia.

    Migrants also pooled their resources and constructed homes for their community.

    In Wexcombe, Western Australia, 12 British families formed a building group. Within three years, they had built new homes for each family.

    Eras of innovation

    In the 1850s and 1950s, increased immigration triggered bigotry and xenophobia. However, governments at this time were focused on nation building.

    Bill Wilson from Belfast making a footpath around his new home in Wexcombe, Western Australia, in 1960.
    National Archives of Australia

    Even if this was largely focused on supporting new white migrants, many politicians resisted the temptation to fan social divisions for political gain.

    Instead, during the Gold Rush and post-World War II eras, Australian governments assisted individuals to adapt and innovate to new circumstances and create novel forms of housing.

    Australian history gives us episodes where we see our society under strain and yet capable of addressing social issues with innovation and adaptability, while welcoming migrants.

    Rachel Stevens works for the Australian Catholic University, which will be impacted by the proposed reforms on international students discussed in this article.

    – ref. Gold rush Melbourne and post-war boom: how Australia overcame housing shortages in the past – https://theconversation.com/gold-rush-melbourne-and-post-war-boom-how-australia-overcame-housing-shortages-in-the-past-253952

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global markets plunge as ‘reciprocal tariffs’ spark fears on Black Monday

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, the United States, April 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Major stock indexes across the globe plunged sharply on Monday, as investors dumped riskier assets amid mounting fears over U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

    Panic sentiments took hold of the market once trading opened in the morning. The day of April 7, with similarities to the 1987 stock market crash, is being seen as another “Black Monday” by analysts and the media.

    Washington’s controversial new set of tariffs has stirred tensions since its announcement on Wednesday, hitting global markets hard, sparking backlash from other countries and drawing widespread criticism from economists and investors.

    Global turbulence 

    Major markets across the globe witnessed a turbulent day.

    Three major benchmarks of the U.S. stock market met with major setbacks on Monday.

    The S&P 500 Index, which is composed of 500 leading companies listed in the United States, dived as much as 21.41 percent from its record high on Feb. 19 and entered the technical territory of the bear market in the morning session.

    As of 9:40 a.m. Eastern time (1340 GMT), the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.63 percent, the S&P 500 shed 3.14 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped by 3.85 percent.

    Later, false reports that the White House would pause most of Trump’s tariffs for 90 days had pumped up the market, leading to a sudden surge. However, as the White House denied the news, the market declined again. The up and down within hours indicate how desperate investors were for any potential relief from the tariffs.

    All the leading European benchmark indexes opened in the red on Monday, down by 4 to 7 percent compared with the closing prices on the previous trading day.

    Britain’s blue-chip stock index, the FTSE 100, dropped by about 5 percent, France’s CAC 40 went down by over 5 percent, and the pan-European STOXX 600 index dropped over 6 percent in morning trade.

    Germany’s DAX index was among the hardest-hit, opening down by 9.5 percent before paring back part of the losses later in the morning. The significant gains since the beginning of the year have thus been almost completely wiped out.

    The S&P/ASX 200 — Australia’s benchmark share market index — closed down 4.2 percent on Monday in a plunge worth more than 100 billion Australian dollars (60.1 billion U.S. dollars). The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that it was the index’s biggest one-day fall since May 2020.

    Singapore’s Straits Times Index on Monday plunged by 8.7 percent at the open. The sharp drop marked the index’s steepest single-day decline since an 8.9 percent plunge during the 2008 global financial crisis, and exceeded the 8.4 percent fall seen in March 2020 amid COVID-19.

    A pedestrian passes a screen showing stock market information in Tokyo, Japan, April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Fear and fury 

    The aggressive tariffs that triggered the global stock market plunge have drawn widespread criticism of the U.S. government, amid fear and fury across the globe.

    Trump’s tariffs have a shocking effect on stock markets, Gilles Moec, chief economist at AXA Group, told Les Echos, a French economy-specialized daily.

    “This shock has no real precedent in history, which amplifies market volatility because investors have no point of reference,” he said.

    Moec noted that the current damage to global stock markets is “entirely self-inflicted by the U.S. authorities,” unlike past stock market crises which were reflections of then macroeconomic situations.

    Richard Branson, British entrepreneur and co-founder of Virgin Group, said it is time for Washington to change course. “Otherwise, America will face ruin for years to come,” he warned.

    Branson noted that companies should be given enough time to adapt, and the current market response is preventable.

    Hasan Tevfik, a research analyst at advisory firm MST Marquee, also warned of severe consequences for the U.S. economy.

    “The U.S. economy has endured a barrage of headwinds, all self-inflicted, and the end consequence will be a contraction in the economy that was humming along, exceptionally, over the last couple of years,” he told the Australian Financial Review newspaper.

    This photo taken on April 7, 2025 shows a screen at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Independent Australian economist Saul Eslake noted the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s next decisions and what he called the “madness” of the White House. He warned that the impact on the Australian economy was likely to be worse than the Treasury’s forecast that the country is well-placed to avoid a recession despite the “damage” being done by the U.S. tariffs.

    Doom and gloom 

    Investors have lost trillions of dollars since the tariff announcement on Wednesday. Recession odds are rising, and massive trade wars are looming. With no constructive response in sight, market confidence has been severely hit.

    DBS economists in a weekly review released on Monday noted that global markets and economies are still struggling to absorb the seismic tariff shock, with risk aversion and market selloff.

    “The key reason for that is that despite the spate of announcements, there is still substantial fear that more measures are to come. Perhaps more critical is the notion that nations trying to do a deal with the U.S. will not be able to rest easy upon signing agreements, as no deal with the U.S. seems to be reliable any longer,” wrote DBS economists Taimur Baig and Radhika Rao.

    David Gerald, president of the Securities Investors Association (Singapore), told The Straits Times, “If tariffs are sustained, they could contribute to higher inflation and slower global growth, which may in turn trigger further volatility and potential sell-offs in markets globally, including Singapore.”

    Germany’s Friedrich Merz, who is expected to become the next chancellor, also fears that U.S. trade policy could further escalate the turmoil in global stock markets. “The situation on international equity and bond markets is dramatic and threatens to worsen further.”

    JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned on Monday, “The recent tariffs will likely increase inflation and are causing many to consider a greater probability of a recession.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 9, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 9, 2025.

    Chinese-Australian voters were key to Labor’s win in 2022. Are some now swinging back to the Liberals?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wanning Sun, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Technology Sydney Chinese-Australian voters were pivotal to Labor’s win in the 2022 election, with the swing against the Liberals in several key marginal seats almost twice that of other seats. Many traditionally pro-business Liberal supporters switched sides

    The ‘monogamy superiority myth’: new research suggests unconventional relationships are just as satisfying
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Anderson, Associate Professor in LGBTIQA+ Psychology, La Trobe University Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock From The Bachelor to Married at First Sight, reality TV sells us the idea that one perfect partner will complete us. The formula is familiar: find “the one,” lock it down and live happily ever after.

    ‘Germany is back’: 3 ways NZ can benefit from Europe’s renewed centre of power
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathew Doidge, Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Research on Europe, University of Canterbury Getty Images It’s unlikely many New Zealanders paid close attention to Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ statement late last year that “New Zealand and Germany are committed to enhancing their partnership”. Peters had been

    Bringing manufacturing back from overseas isn’t an easy solution to Trump’s trade war
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Stone, Credit Union SA Chair of Economics, University of South Australia Shutterstock The past week has seen the United States single-handedly rewrite the underlying paradigm for global trade. And while it is fair to say that the methods are extreme, the underlying goal of the policy

    How to build a cinematic universe: the secret to Marvel’s enormous success among a history of failures
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Tran, Academic Tutor at Swinburne University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology Since Iron Man hit the big screen in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has made more than US$30 billion, from films to series, to merchandise and comics. As scholars and the press have

    ChatGPT just passed the Turing test. But that doesn’t mean AI is now as smart as humans
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zena Assaad, Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering, Australian National University Hanna Barakat & Cambridge Diversity Fund/Better Images of AI, CC BY-SA There have been several headlines over the past week about an AI chatbot officially passing the Turing test. These news reports are based on a recent

    A grab bag of campaign housing policies. But will they fix the affordability crisis beyond the election?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Cull, Associate professor, Western Sydney University Secure and affordable housing is a fundamental human right for all Australians. Therefore, it is unsurprising the election campaign is being played out against a backdrop of heightened voter anxiety about rental stress and housing affordability. A growing number of

    These complementary therapies may soon be eligible for private health insurance rebates
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Wardle, Professor of Public Health, Southern Cross University Rui Dias/Pexels Private health insurers may soon be able to offer rebates for seven complementary therapies previously prohibited. This includes some movement therapies – Pilates, yoga, tai chi and Alexander technique, which teaches body awareness and posture –

    Winston Peters at 80: the populist’s populist clocks up 50 years of political comebacks
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Winston Peters turns a venerable 80 on April 11, but he showed no sign of retiring as New Zealand’s archetypal populist during his recent state of the nation speech. He

    Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kaitlyn DeGhetto, Associate Professor of Management, University of Dayton To attract business investment, American cities and states offer companies billions of dollars in incentives, such as tax credits. As the theory goes, when governments create a business-friendly environment, it encourages investment, leading to job creation and economic

    Election Diary: The election’s first debate was disaster-free but passion-free too
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The election’s first debate, on Sky News on Tuesday night, was disappointingly dull. Viewers who’d been following the campaign would have learned little. There was minimal spontaneity. Among the 100 undecided voters in the room, 44 said Anthony Albanese won,

    Reality check: coral restoration won’t save the world’s reefs
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University A coral ‘rope’ nursery in the Maldives Luca Saponari/University of Milan, CC BY-ND Coral reefs are much more than

    No major gaffes and no knockout punch: the first leaders’ debate was a pedestrian affair
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Partnerships, Western Sydney University Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have faced off in the first leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election. The debate, hosted by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph, was held at the Wenty

    Politics aside, new research shows there are good financial reasons to back working from home
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dorina Pojani, Associate Professor in Urban Planning, The University of Queensland Fizkes/Shutterstock In the pre-industrial era, people often lived and worked in the same building. This removed the need to travel to work. The separation of home and work occurred much later, during the Industrial Revolution. Factories

    Labor’s $1 billion for mental health is good news for young people in particular – but leaves some gaps
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sebastian Rosenberg, Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra, and Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney mooremedia/Shutterstock The Labor government has announced it would invest A$1 billion in mental health if re-elected to provide more Australians – particularly young people – with “free, public mental

    We’re hardwired to laugh – this is why watching comedians try to be the ‘Last One Laughing’ is so funny
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fergus Edwards, Lecturer in English, University of Tasmania Amazon MGM Studios Last One Laughing is a battle royale for stand-ups. Ten comedians, one room, surrounded by cameras. Laugh once and they’re warned. Laugh again, and they’re out. Last comic left wins. It is an international TV phenomenon,

    Here’s a simple, science-backed way to sharpen your thinking and improve your memory
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Singh, Research Fellow, Allied Health & Human Performance, University of South Australia Centre for Ageing Better/Unsplash Many of us turn to Sudoku, Wordle or brain-training apps to sharpen our minds. But research is increasingly showing one of the best ways to boost memory, focus and brain

    If Australia switched to EVs, we’d be more reliant on China’s car factories – but wean ourselves off foreign oil
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hussein Dia, Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Swinburne University of Technology Prapat Aowsakorn/Shutterstock Australia has huge reserves of coal and gas – but very little oil. Before the 20th century, this didn’t matter – trains ran on local coal. But as cars and trucks have come to

    ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for April 8, 2025
    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 8, 2025.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Pets allowed on high-speed railway trains

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A dog is taken care of at the pet waiting lounge of Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, May 8, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    China’s railway operator on Tuesday launched a pilot program allowing pets to travel on select high-speed trains along the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, marking a first for the country’s rail system.
    The trial service, introduced by China Railway Express Co, enables passengers to book a spot for their cat or dog in a specially designed pet transport container aboard the same train. However, animals are housed separately in a designated logistics compartment, away from passenger seating areas.
    The pilot service is being tested on 10 train services running between five major stations: Beijing South, Jinan West, Nanjing South, Shanghai Hongqiao and Hangzhou East. Travelers can make reservations through the 12306 system, the railway ticket and service booking network, at least two days in advance.
    Each pet must be a domesticated cat or dog in good health, weighing no more than 15 kilograms and no taller than 40 centimeters at the shoulder. Required documents include a valid ID and a certificate of animal quarantine.
    Pets are placed in high-speed rail-exclusive containers equipped with air circulation, oxygen and humidity sensors, noise reduction and odor control. The containers are monitored in real time by railway staff, who conduct inspections at intervals of no more than two hours. Water may be provided as needed, though feeding and mid-journey visits by owners are not permitted.
    Passengers are advised to arrive at the station two to six hours before departure to complete the necessary check-in procedures. Pets can be collected within one hour after arrival, with pickup notifications sent via text message or phone call.
    The service follows a “same departure, same arrival” policy, ensuring that pets and their owners travel on the same train.
    Limited time offers
    Pricing is based on travel distance and is currently offered at a 30 percent discount during the trial phase. For example, transporting a pet on a journey under 1,000 kilometers will cost 558 yuan ($76) once the service is fully implemented, but for the trial period, it is discounted to 360 yuan.
    For distances between 1,000 and 1,500 km — like the 1,300-km route between Beijing and Shanghai — the standard rate will be 658 yuan, but currently costs 460 yuan.
    A second-class seat on the same high-speed route typically costs between 550 and 670 yuan, making the pet transport service comparably priced to a passenger fare. Each booking includes insurance coverage of up to 2,000 yuan.
    According to China Railway Express, the service is part of broader efforts to modernize the country’s transportation infrastructure and meet the growing demand for pet-friendly travel options.
    Before this initiative, pets were not permitted on China’s high-speed trains. However, pet transport is allowed on certain routes in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom under specific conditions. In China, updated regulations issued in July 2022 prohibit the carriage of live animals such as chickens or ducks on passenger trains, with some exceptions for slower services in rural areas.
    The idea for the new service emerged last year when the China Railway Customer Service Center launched a public survey to gauge interest in pet transportation. The campaign drew widespread attention on Chinese social media, generating millions of views and comments.
    “In recent years, we have received numerous inquiries from passengers regarding the possibility of pet transportation on high-speed trains,” the center said in a statement. “Based on feedback from the survey, we will further explore the feasibility of high-speed pet transportation. We welcome suggestions and opinions from the public.”
    Shen Peilan, a Shanghai native living in Beijing with two cats, welcomed the move but expressed concerns about animal welfare.
    “It’s a great start, but I’m still a bit concerned about the safety of the pets, especially cats, who can get very stressed when confined with other animals,” Shen said. “I really hope that in the future, there could be a dedicated carriage where pets can stay with their owners.”
    Shen said she typically leaves her cats in Beijing during holidays and relies on friends, pet care services or boarding at pet stores while she visits family in Shanghai.
    Other pet owners applauded the new service. Wei, a Beijing resident who has raised her cat Niuniu for over a decade, said the program would make her travels more enjoyable.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Chinese-Australian voters were key to Labor’s win in 2022. Are some now swinging back to the Liberals?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wanning Sun, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Technology Sydney

    Chinese-Australian voters were pivotal to Labor’s win in the 2022 election, with the swing against the Liberals in several key marginal seats almost twice that of other seats.

    Many traditionally pro-business Liberal supporters switched sides in protest against the Coalition’s anti-China rhetoric under then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison. This exacerbated the widespread anti-Chinese racism many people felt in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

    A new survey by Sydney Today, a digital Chinese-language media outlet, suggests Labor will most likely retain the support of many of these Chinese-Australian voters.

    Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the 3,000 respondents in the ongoing survey have said they would vote for Labor in the upcoming federal election, while just 27% were backing the Liberals, 2% the Greens and 5% independents.

    If these results mirror the views of the wider Chinese-Australian community, it bodes well for Labor’s prospects, at least in seats with a high concentration of Chinese-Australian voters.

    However, Labor may not succeed in improving on its performance in the last election. One in five voters said they would vote differently this time compared to 2022, with 55% of this group indicating they would switch from Labor to the Coalition and just 18% going the other way.

    When asked why they were changing their vote, 51% said economic management, while 26% said Australia–China relations.

    Survey respondents were predominantly first-generation migrants from China. Nearly four in five were born outside Australia, but have lived here for more than ten years. Most (73%) were Australian citizens and eligible to vote.

    What issues are most important

    The 2021 census counted approximately 1.39 million Australian residents with Chinese heritage, around 536,000 of whom were born in mainland China. As this group continues to grow rapidly, first-generation Chinese-Australians are becoming a significant political force.

    The survey results reveal a complex and shifting picture of party loyalties and preferences among these voters.

    Participants were asked to identify one issue out of a list of 17 that concerns them most in this election. This list included things such as housing, income, taxes, welfare, health, education, immigration and the environment. The economy ranked first with 14% of respondents, followed closely by Australia–China relations (12%).

    The fact that many Chinese-Australians see the Liberals as better economic managers may account for the shift back to the party among some swing voters.

    Yet, most Chinese-Australians seem to agree Labor has handled Australia–China relations much better than the Liberals. This may be why the majority of respondents overall have preferred to stick with Labor.

    About 70% of respondents said they would consider voting for a party that is friendly to Chinese-Australian communities, while 72% said they would consider voting for a party that adopts a moderate approach to China.

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, long a hardline critic of the Chinese Communist Party, has attempted to soften his stance in the lead-up to this election. He said last year, for instance, he was “pro-China” and wanted to see the trade between the two countries double.

    In recent days, however, he has attacked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for his “weak” response to the presence of a Chinese research vessel off the coast of Australia.

    Some Chinese-Australian voters would prefer Australia to adopt a more independent foreign policy that is less reliant on the US for its national security. Research suggests Chinese-Australians tend to be more critical of the bipartisan AUKUS agreement with the United States and United Kingdom than the general public.

    And I’ve observed anecdotal evidence in conversations with Chinese-Australian voters suggesting some are unhappy with both major parties’ positions on China and the US. This is convincing a small number of rusted-on Labor supporters to consider voting for the Greens, minor parties or independents.

    Support for Chinese candidates not a guarantee

    There is a widespread assumption that ethnic voters tend to vote for a candidate who shares their cultural or ethnic background. This seems to be the thinking behind both major parties’ choice of candidates to run in electorates with high concentrations of Chinese voters.

    The Liberals’ preselection of Grange Chung (Reid), Scott Yung (Bennelong), and Howard Ong (Tangney) are cases in point.

    But the survey indicates this may not be a foolproof strategy. When asked whether they would support a candidate on the basis of their Chinese or Asian appearance, respondents were split down the middle. Only slightly more than half (52%) said they would.

    Much can change between now and election day on May 3. Whether the Liberals can retain the small swing they seem to have gained among Chinese-Australians may depend on Dutton’s stance on China. They will no doubt be watching closely to see what he says.

    Wanning Sun does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Chinese-Australian voters were key to Labor’s win in 2022. Are some now swinging back to the Liberals? – https://theconversation.com/chinese-australian-voters-were-key-to-labors-win-in-2022-are-some-now-swinging-back-to-the-liberals-254052

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iran confirms ‘indirect talks’ with US in Oman

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Tuesday that he would engage in “indirect talks” with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Oman on Saturday.

    In a post on social media platform X early Tuesday, Araghchi said Iran and the United States would meet in Oman on Saturday for “indirect high-level talks.”

    He added, “It is as much an opportunity as it is a test. The ball is in America’s court.”

    His remarks came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump, during a meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, claimed that direct talks with Iran were set to take place.

    “We’re having direct talks with Iran,” Trump said. “It’s getting to be very dangerous territory, and hopefully, those talks will be successful.”

    He also disclosed that a “very big meeting” involving “very high-level” officials would be taking place this Saturday.

    The discrepancy over whether the talks are direct or indirect has persisted since early March, when Trump stated he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders — via the United Arab Emirates — proposing direct negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

    While Iran later confirmed receiving the letter, it rejected face-to-face talks, though it left the door open for indirect engagement.

    Trump, in an interview with NBC News in late March, threatened to launch “unprecedented military strikes” on Iran if it refused to negotiate over its nuclear program.

    Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States — in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

    However, the United States withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have not achieved substantial progress. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia, US to hold next round of talks in Istanbul

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Russian and U.S. officials will hold a new round of talks in Istanbul in the coming days, local media reported Tuesday, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry.

    Russia’s new Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev will lead the Russian delegation, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter will head the U.S. side, the ministry said.

    Substantive work would continue to “remove numerous technical obstacles that hinder the work of diplomats” from both countries, the ministry added.

    Russian and U.S. officials previously met in Istanbul on Feb. 27, where the sides covered bilateral issues. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst, Grassley, Marshall Protect Family Farms, Consumers from Burdensome Government Overreach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – After the U.S. Supreme Court left an open invitation for Congress to strike down California’s Proposition 12, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is leading her colleagues in ending this unjustified and burdensome regulatory overreach to protect family farms and bring down pork prices for consumers.
    The Food Security and Farm Protection Act prohibits any state or local government from interfering with commerce and agricultural practices in another state outside their jurisdiction. The bill is co-led by Ernst’s fellow Senate Agriculture Committee members Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).
    “Proposition 12 is dangerous and arbitrary overregulation that stands in direct opposition to the livelihoods of Iowa pork producers, increases costs for both farmers and consumers, and jeopardizes our nation’s food security,” said Senator Ernst. “I’m proud to be leading the charge to strike down this harmful measure and will keep fighting to make sure the voices of the farmers and experts who know best – not liberal California activists – are heard.”
    “California’s Proposition 12, along with Massachusetts’ Question 3, are based on arbitrary, nonsensical standards and have resulted in a harmful patchwork of regulations across the 50 states. They’re a threat to Iowa, which leads the nation in pork production, and to farmers and consumers across this country. Consistent with its authorities under the Commerce Clause, it’s time for Congress to solve this problem by passing legislation. Our bill will end California’s war on breakfast and make sure delicious Iowa pork can be sold everywhere,” said Senator Grassley.
    “The United States is constantly faced with non-tariff trade barriers from protectionist countries, which hurts American agriculture’s access to new markets. The last thing we need is for states like California imposing its will on ag-heavy states like Kansas with regulations that will also restrict our ability to trade among the states,” said Senator Marshall. “Midwest farmers and ranchers who produce our nation’s food supply should not be hamstrung by coastal activist agendas that dictate production standards from hundreds of miles away, and I am proud to support this legislation that gives Kansas agriculture producers the freedom to produce safe, affordable food for all.”
    Agriculture organizations across Iowa support Ernst’s effort:
    “We appreciate Sen. Ernst fighting to protect the livelihoods of Iowa pig farmers by introducing this legislation. The Supreme Court said Congress should address California’s Proposition 12 law regulating sow housing,” said Iowa Pork Producers Association President and pig farmer from Carroll, Iowa, Aaron Juergens. “Congress must act this year to prevent a patchwork of more state regulations from being enacted into law in the future. Since this overburdensome regulation has gone into effect, it’s not only proven costly for producers but consumers as well. We hope Sen. Ernst’s colleagues will join her in supporting efforts to stop Prop 12,”
    “We thank Senator Ernst for standing up for the American pork producer, especially during these times of uncertainty. U.S. pork producers have just suffered the worst 18 months of financial losses in history, and many farm families are contemplating whether they can pass along their farm to the next generation,” said National Pork Producers Council President and Ohio pork producer, Duane Stateler. “We urge the Senate to take up this legislation immediately to provide us much-needed relief.”
    “Iowa soybean farmers are grateful for Senator Ernst’s leadership to address challenges Prop 12 creates for Iowa farmers. It’s crucial we recognize the negative consequences regulations like this create for the entire supply chain, starting with farmers and ending with increased prices for consumers. California’s Prop 12 creates a patchwork of rules that force farmers, including those in Iowa, to comply with costly regulations,” said Iowa Soybean Association President and farmer, Brent Swart. “Not only do the increased costs of compliance threaten to put pork farmers out of business, Prop 12 increases the price of pork at the grocery store by as much as 40%. Higher prices for pork dampen demand for this high-quality protein which negatively impacts market demand for soybeans used for pig feed. This legislation gives us a chance to protect our farms, our livelihoods, and ultimately, families that need affordable food.”
    “The Iowa Cattle industry has made it clear that government overreach and overregulation is incredibly burdensome to industries that provide safe, quality, and sustainable products for the world. Proposition 12 has the potential to further dismantle the livestock industry with the lack of science-based measures. Proposition 12 has already proven to be an unfunded mandate with consumers unwilling to pay premiums for the products that must be compliant with the proposition,” said Iowa Cattlemen’s Association President, Rob Medberry. “The inherent cost to become compliant is overbearing and the simple fact of dollars and cents does not add up. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association believes that consumers have the right to buy products that fit their desires. However, ICA does not support state-by-state regulation of interstate commerce and fervently opposes proposition 12 and similar legislation that has no sound scientific backing.”
    “Turkey farmers across the nation work tirelessly to ensure the production of safe, wholesome, and nutritious turkey products. Through collaboration with veterinarians and industry experts, farmers adhere to rigorous standards and practices designed to provide optimal care for their birds. This effort includes implementing auditable systems that are continuously monitored and improved to meet evolving standards of animal welfare, food safety, and environmental responsibility,” said Iowa Turkey Federation Executive Director, Gretta Irwin. “The proliferation of varying state and local laws that attempt to regulate farming and processing practices presents significant challenges. These inconsistencies create unnecessary burdens for farmers operating across state lines, hinder efficient production, and undermine well-established, science-based practices developed in coordination with industry experts.
    “The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) thanks Senator Ernst for her continued pushback on California’s Proposition 12,” said ICGA President and farmer from Galt, Iowa, Stu Swanson. “Iowa’s corn and pig farmers work together to provide nutritious pork to families across the U.S. With barriers like Proposition 12 cutting off our ability to supply fellow Americans with Iowa grown pork, it’s not only those families who are being affected, but also our farm families here in Iowa. As farmers, we take pride in the crops and livestock we raise, and we need support, not restrictions, as we continue supplying a safe, nutritious product to the growing world. We will continue to work with our livestock partners to see that this issue gets resolved.”
    Background:
    Since Proposition 12 passed in 2018, Ernst has been a vocal opponent of California’s attempts to regulate hardworking pork producers in Iowa and is leading the charge to strike down this harmful initiative that threatens all of American agriculture. She has secured critical support from the Trump administration to aid in these efforts.

    MIL OSI USA News –