Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DfE Update: 7 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Correspondence

    DfE Update: 7 May 2025

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

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Details

    Latest for further education

    Article Title
    Information 16 to 19 subcontracting
    Information New guidance for training providers for replacement apprenticeships certificates
    Information Learning aim reference service: category codes
    Information Provision recognised as higher education for Office for Students regulatory purposes
    Information Post-16 budget grant
    Information College financial planning handbook and college financial forecasting return (CFFR) 2025 now published
    Your feedback Guided Learning Hours (GLH) thematic review

    Latest information for academies

    Article Title
    Information Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (FBIT) replaces the Schools Financial Benchmarking website
    Information 16 to 19 subcontracting
    Information Learning aim reference service: category codes
    Information Provision recognised as higher education for Office for Students regulatory purposes
    Information Post-16 budget grant
    Events and webinars FMS comparison matrix
    Events and webinars Academy finance professionals May Power Hour – HMRC
    Events and webinars RPA Members only – Cyber workshop
    Events and webinars Schools Commercial team summer webinars

    Latest information for local authorities

    Article Title
    Action Submit your section 151 (S151) officer assurance return and schools financial value standard (SFVS) assurance statement for 2024 to 2025
    Information 16 to 19 subcontracting
    Information Learning aim reference service: category codes
    Information Provision recognised as higher education for Office for Students regulatory purposes
    Information Local authority planning calendar 2025 to 2026
    Information Post-16 budget grant
    Your feedback Guided Learning Hours (GLH) thematic review
    Events and webinars RPA Members only – Cyber workshop
    Events and webinars Schools Commercial team summer webinars

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Plantro Ltd. Releases Questions for Information Services Corporation’s 2025 First Quarter Earnings Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plantro Ltd. (“Plantro”) a shareholder of Information Services Corporation (TSX: ISC) (“ISC” or the “Company”) today released questions it hopes ISC management will address to investors and the news media on its 2025 first quarter earnings call.

    1. ISC just reported one of its worst quarters of cash generation in many years. With cash expense levels remaining elevated, when can shareholders expect an improvement in non-adjusted cash flow?
    2. Achieving ISC’s 2028 management guidance for adjusted EBITDA will require annual growth of 16% -18% from 2025 to 2028. What organic growth rate is the Company targeting in 2026 – 2028 to help meet that guidance?
    3. How will ISC generate the cash required for the M&A the Company says it needs to meet its 2028 guidance without exceeding its commitment to continue deleveraging to its target of 2.0x to 2.5x EBITDA or without diluting shareholders by issuing equity?
    4. ISC’s valuation has been declining since its IPO and significantly lags its peers. Will ISC consider returning capital through repurchasing shares or increasing dividends, and/or reducing indebtedness as better uses of shareholder cash than additional non-accretive M&A?
    5. The majority of ISC’s workforce appears to be concentrated and growing in high-cost global hubs, such as Toronto and Dublin, Ireland. Will ISC consider establishing a center of excellence in Saskatchewan, that could offer enhanced operational performance and enable opportunities for margin expansion?

    About Plantro
    Plantro is a privately held company, with an established track record of making successful investments in undervalued and high quality legal, financial, and information services businesses.

    Media Contact: Gagnier Communications
    Riyaz Lalani / Dan Gagnier
    Email: Plantro@gagnierfc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint statement – response to the interim proposals for Local Government Reorganisation, Norfolk

    Source: City of Norwich

    Published on Wednesday, 7th May 2025

    The Government has responded to our joint proposal for the reorganisation of local government in Norfolk, which we will now examine in detail over the coming days.

    Collectively, we remain confident in our comprehensive vision for a three-unitary model for the county, which we believe will deliver significant benefits for our communities: including improved public service outcomes, enhanced local economic growth and stronger democratic representation.

    Our model is rooted in our detailed knowledge and experience of Norfolk and our clear understanding of how to address the unique challenges and opportunities ahead while aligning closely with the Government’s criteria for local government reorganisation.

    The three-unitary model proposes the establishment of three distinct unitary authorities centred around the historic urban centres of Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn. This structure is designed to reflect the functional and geographic significance of these areas as civic and economic hubs, ensuring that local governance is both effective and responsive to the needs of our diverse communities.

    This approach also aligns with the Government’s preference for maintaining existing boundaries where possible while providing a clear rationale for necessary changes to optimise service delivery and community alignment.

    Our three-unitary model will enable tailored approaches to local economies and housing, recognising the distinct characteristics and needs of each area. It will also provide a balanced power dynamic ensuring that no single entity dominates and that local voices are heard across the county.

    One of our next steps will include launching a significant public and stakeholder engagement exercise to listen to the views on local people to help us refine this proposal into a full business case that maximises the potential of devolution and local governance in Norfolk by the Government deadline of September.

    Issued on behalf of: Broadland District Council, Breckland Council, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, Norwich City Council

    Read more about Local Government Reorganisation at the process so far. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: North Antrim MP reflects on centrality of VE Day to our nation’s liberty

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister MP:-

    “As we mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, which was a most momentous day in our nation’s history, the range of national events remind us that WW II touched every corner of the United Kingdom, with headstones in every county.

    “One of the last Ulstermen to die before VE Day was James Noel Deane who is remembered on a family headstone in Second Broughshane Presbyterian Church in North Antrim. Signalman Deane, who served with Royal Corps of Signals, was killed in action on 6th May 80 years ago.

    “I am grateful to Nigel Henderson of History Hub Ulster, who does so much to keep alive the memories of our war dead, for the information on James Deane.

    “Northern Ireland’s strategic importance in the war led to Churchill’s famous tribute in his VE Day broadcast, praising NI’s ‘loyalty and friendship’ and stating without it the British people ‘should have been confronted with slavery or death’. He especially spoke of NI’s strategic importance to the Atlantic supply lines.

    “4.3m military personnel passed through Larne , including US troops preparing for the Normandy landings

    “Allied warships in Foyle and Belfast loughs provided protection for Northern Atlantic convoys and, of course, Northern Ireland was a major base for thousands of American troops.

    “Above all WW2 was about defending the territorial integrity of nation states. In light of this, how sad that Larne is now a frontier port for goods entering NI from our own nation under the Union-dismantling Protocol/Windsor Framework. It is the EU’s brazen disrespect for the territorial integrity of the U.K. which permits this outrageous partitioning of the United Kingdom.

    “But it is remembering the importance of territorial integrity, especially at this time, which redoubles my determination not to rest until the travesty of the Protocol is reversed.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: EA steps up dry weather prep after driest spring start since 1956

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    EA steps up dry weather prep after driest spring start since 1956

    Driest start to spring in 69 years across England.

    The Environment Agency has urged water companies to do more to safeguard water supplies after the driest start to spring in 69 years. 

    The environmental regulator convened a meeting of the National Drought Group today (Wednesday 7 May 2025) and said more needed to be done to cut leakage and help customers use water more wisely. 

    In England, March was the driest since 1961 and April received just half its normal rainfall. Farmers have had to start irrigating crops earlier and reservoir levels are either notably low or exceptionally low across the North East and North West of England. Both these regions have seen their driest start to the year since 1929.   

    Representatives from the EA told the meeting – which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers and conservation experts – that while no area is currently officially in drought there is a medium risk of one this summer without sustained rainfall.

    Chairing the meeting, Environment Agency Deputy Director of Water, Richard Thompson, said:   

    The changing climate means we will see more summer droughts in the coming decades.

    The last two years were some of the wettest on record for England but drier conditions at the start of this year mean a drought is a possibility and we need to be prepared.  

    It’s heartening to see more people looking to reduce their water use and we expect water companies to do more to cut leakage and rollout smart meters.

    Whilst there are currently no plans for hosepipe bans, if the prolonged dry weather continues, water companies may need to implement their dry weather plans in the weeks and months ahead.   

    The EA is closely monitoring water companies’ implementation of these plans, especially high-risk locations, as well as working with farmers to help them plan for irrigating their crops. It is also preparing dry weather advice and information for the public, including small steps they can take to reduce usage. 

    Water Minister, Emma Hardy, said:  

    Our water infrastructure is crumbling after years of underinvestment.

    Water companies must go further and faster to cut leaks and build the infrastructure needed to secure our water supply.

    The Government has secured over £104 billion of private sector investment to fund essential infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs to secure our future water supply into the decades to come.

    The National Drought Group will meet to discuss action regularly in the coming months. At today’s meeting, attendees heard about the current water resources situation:

    • A dry start to the year means farmers have had an earlier start to the irrigation season and have seen an increased demand on their on-site storage reservoirs.   
    • Reservoir storage across England is 84% of total capacity. This compares to 90% at the end of April in the 2022 drought year.
    • River flows are currently below normal or lower for this time of year across northern and central England.   
    • Chalk groundwater levels are generally in a good position.   
    • Wildfires have been reported in Cumbria, Derbyshire and Dorset as vegetation is dry.   

    The EA has called on the group’s membership to take action to ensure they are prepared for drought. This includes:  

    • Water companies stepping-up action on leakage and preparing their dry weather plans. 
    • Water companies communicating with customers about current risk and supporting them to use water wisely during this dry period.  
    • Farmers to work with NFU to assess their water needs this summer and take action now to ensure they have enough to last the summer  
    • EA to work with fishery owners to have ensure plans are in place to manage dry weather.  

     The public can play their part too by reducing individual water consumption, such as installing a water butt in the garden to harvest rainwater, taking shorter showers, and turning off taps when not in use.  

    According to EA figures, by 2050, England will need to find an additional 5 billion litres of water a day to meet demand for public water supply. This is more than a third of the 14 billion litres of water currently put into public water supply.  

    Note to editors  

    • Each water company produces a drought plan, including measures to take when drought triggers are hit following dry weather. This includes campaigns on water usage, changes to their abstraction permits, and temporary usage bans (TUBS) – also known as hosepipe bans.   
    • The last drought was in 2022, with five water companies imposing hosepipe bans on a total of 19 million customers to ensure drinking and wastewater services were prioritised. South West Water’s ban was lifted in September 2023.   
    • More about drought can be found here: Are we prepared for a drought? The water resilience challenge – Creating a better place

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to ARIA’s announcement on research projects in the Exploring Climate Cooling programme

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on new research projects as part of ARIA’s Exploring Climate Cooling programme. 

    Prof Stuart Haszeldine, Professor of Carbon Capture and Storage, School of School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, said:

    Humans are losing the battle against climate change.  Engineering cooling is necessary because in spite of measurements and meetings and international treaties during the past 70 years, the annual emissions of greenhouse gases have continued to increase.  The world is heading towards heating greater than any time in our civilisation.

    “Many natural processes are reaching a tipping point, where the earth may jump into a different pattern of behaviour.  Geological records of the past 20,000 years around the UK and globally show that rapid changes can happen within a few years and can take tens to hundreds of years to recover.

    “Natural processes can cool the climate, notably volcanic eruptions can place tiny rock particles and sulphur gases high into the stratosphere.  In the geological and recent past, these have cooled earth temperatures by 1 or 2 degrees C for 2 to 5 years.  The scientific understanding of short timescale earth behaviour is not yet good enough to make reliable predictions.  So research is needed, together with testing of remedies in the real world not just in laboratories.

    “Projects in geo-engineering will be subject to unusually strong and transparent governance.  Strong public reactions have resulted from previous investigations.  And novel and appropriate communication is especially needed, to explain to citizens in urban and remote communities how and why this work is necessary.

    “In a world before satellites and computer models for weather forecasting – the best that humans could do was appeal to the weather gods.  Or look out of the window to watch the rainstorm approach.  Or the drought continue.  Now humans need more information to work out how the climate, not just the imminent weather, can be predicted and managed.  Before making big interventions, it’s necessary to make sure the modelling works in controlled experiments.  And also to understand who could be winners or losers during global geo-engineering.  Ignoring the problem is not an answer to a situation which humans have created.”

     

    Dr Naomi Vaughan, Associate Professor of Climate Change, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, UEA, said:

    Question: Lots of scientists, including many who research SRM, say they don’t want it to ever have to be deployed.  Why is that?

    “SRM methods do not address the causes of climate change – SRM methods seek to cool the climate by reflecting more sunlight back to space to offset the warming we are causing by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere that come from the burning of coal, oil and gas and deforestation.

    “Deployment is a major issue for SRM ideas, because the way that SRM balances out the warming we’ve caused is not a perfect offset.  Deploying SRM would create a new risk to global society – the risk of stopping the SRM whilst greenhouse gas concentrations were still high, as it would cause very rapid warming.  To stop SRM once it had been deployed safely, would require global society to reach net zero emissions and pay to remove large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere.

    “It’s for these reasons that many scientists are cautious about SRM research because of how it could be used or misused in the future.”

     

    Dr Phil Williamson, Honorary Associate Professor, UEA, said:

    The ARIA research programme focuses on technical capabilities for five specific cooling approaches.  Progress will undoubtedly be made, with one or more indicating that we could abandon net-zero knowing there would be a safety net to avoid climate catastrophe.  Yet the most crucial component of the initiative is the one concerning ethics and governance: is there any chance at all that there could ever be international agreement on such action?  In our divided world, the answer is no.  We would then be faced with the intolerable situation of the global climate being controlled by the most powerful nations (maybe our friends, maybe our foes) with scant regard for worldwide human rights, despite ARIA’s stated concerns regarding “impacts on the Global South”.”

     

    Prof Mike Hulme, Professor of Human Geography, University of Cambridge, said:

    £57m is a huge amount of tax-payers money to be spent on this assortment of speculative technologies intended to manipulate the Earth’s climate.  I say this because these technologies will always remain speculative, and unproven in the real world, until they are deployed at scale.  Just because they “work” in a model, or at a micro-scale in the lab or the sky, does not mean they will cool climate safely, without unwanted side-effects, in the real world.  There is therefore no way that this research can demonstrate that the technologies are safe, successful or reversible.  The UK Government is leading the world down what academic analysts call ‘the slippery slope’ towards eventual dangerous large-scale deployment of solar geoengineering technologies.  This is public money that would be far better invested in enhancing technologies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels or to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.”

     

     

     

    https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/future-proofing-our-climate-and-weather/exploring-climate-cooling

     

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Stuart Haszeldine: “Stuart Haszeldine has no competing interests.  His research on climate engineering is not funded by ARIA, or UKRI or commercial companies.”

    Dr Naomi Vaughan: “No industry links.  I worked on a NERC-funded geoengineering research project, which included SRM, in 2010-2014.”

    Dr Phil Williamson: “Formerly employed by Natural Environment Research Council, including as Science Coordinator of UK Greenhouse Gas Removal Programme (2016-2020); now retired, with no external funding.  Lead author of two reports (2012, 2016) on Climate Geoengineering for UN Convention on Biological Diversity.”

    Prof Mike Hulme: “I am a signatory to the international Solar Geoengineering Non-Use Agreement: https://www.solargeoeng.org/.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regulator investigates charity’s property and governance issues

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Regulator investigates charity’s property and governance issues

    The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into CG Community Council.

    The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into CG Community Council (registered charity 502955) to look into concerns about its governance and financial management. 

    CG Community Council was established in the 1960s with the object of improving the lives of people living in Croxteth and Gillmoss, to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for health, recreation and leisure-time.  

    Information obtained by the Commission through its regulatory compliance work suggests CG Community Council property may be at risk.  

    While the charity holds the leasehold for 16 properties, it recorded nil income and expenditure in its annual return for the financial year ending 31 March 2023 and it has failed to submit financial returns for the financial year ending 31 March 2024.   

    The regulator has already issued an order to prevent CG Community Council property from being sold or otherwise disposed of without the prior consent of the Commission.  

    The inquiry will examine if trustees of CG Community Council have complied with their legal duties in respect of the administration, governance and management of the charity, in particular if: 

    1. the charity is accounting for its funds and assets, in line with legal requirements  

    2. it has suffered a financial loss as a result of any misconduct and/or mismanagement. 

    The scope of the inquiry may be extended if additional regulatory issues emerge during the Commission’s investigation.  

    ENDS 

    Notes to editors  

    1. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society. Find out more: About us – The Charity Commission – GOV.UK 

    2. On 3 April 2025, the Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 as a result of its regulatory concerns there were indications of potentially significant risk to charity property.  

    3. A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern within a charity and to use protective powers for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, assets, or reputation.  

    4. An inquiry will investigate and establish the facts of the case so that the Commission can determine the extent of any misconduct and/or mismanagement; the extent of the risk to the charity, its work, property, beneficiaries, employees or volunteers; and decide what action is needed to resolve the concerns.

    Press office

    Email pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk

    Out of hours press office contact number: 07785 748787

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update on UK – Turkey trade talks

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Update on UK – Turkey trade talks

    UK and Turkey agree on date to relaunch talks for an upgraded free trade agreement

    Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander met today in London [Wednesday 7 May] with their Turkish counterparts, Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat and Deputy Minister of Trade, Mustafa Tuzcu, to discuss how to grow the UK economy by boosting trade. 

    The UK and Turkey have a strong economic relationship, with trade between the two totalling around £28 billion in 2024, making Turkey the UK’s 16th largest trading partner, with UK companies already exporting £9.3 billion of goods and services to its growing market of 86 million people.  

    Ministers affirmed the importance and strength of the UK-Turkey trading bilateral relationship, committed to continue to pursue closer cooperation and increased trade and investment, and underlined the importance of defending free trade.  

    They also confirmed their intention for the first round of Free Trade Agreement negotiations to take place by the end of July.  

    Ministers concluded the meeting by signing an upgraded Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) chapter, in the form of an amendment to the 2020 UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This chapter closely aligns UK-Turkey TBT provisions with those found in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), reducing costs and making it easier for businesses to trade.  

    Background 

    • The UK is the second largest services exporter in the world, but in 2024 only 34% of our exports to Turkey were services. 

    • UK exports to Turkey directly supported around 57,100 jobs across the UK in 2020, more than 68% of which were in services. 

    • More than 7,800 UK companies currently export goods to Turkey (2024). 

    • Turkey’s economy is currently the 17th largest in the world. By 2050 is expected to be the 12th-largest in the world and the fourth largest in Europe. 

    • The Turkish company, Eren Holding Group, recently invested £1 billion in the redevelopment of Shotton Mill in Deeside, North Wales. This investment is set to safeguard 147 jobs and create a further 220. The project is supported by nearly £13 million from the Welsh Government and £136 million from UK Export Finance.

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: Russia and China, who won the victory with enormous sacrifices, will not give it up to anyone – Deputy Chairman of the ORCD G. Kulikova

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, May 7 /Xinhua/ – China and Russia, which won the great Victory with enormous sacrifices, will never give it up to anyone, said Galina Kulikova, First Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society (RCFS), recipient of the Order of Friendship of the People’s Republic of China.

    “Since 1931, China has been fighting against Japan, which means it was holding back Japan’s forces when Germany attacked the Soviet Union. If China had not waged such a heroic fight, Japan could have sided with Germany and started a war on the Eastern Front. That would have been very bad for us,” she said.

    According to her, the USSR helped China in the heroic struggle of the Chinese people against Japanese aggression, but China, despite the difficult years of struggle, held Japan back. “China sent the USSR both food and some rare metals that were needed for the front… and our pilots defended the skies of China. Therefore, we have every reason to say that the 80th anniversary of the Victory is the victory of Russia and China over world fascism,” the deputy chairwoman of the ORKD emphasized.

    For G. Kulikova, that war is not just history. It is also her personal experience, personal memories. “I myself belong to the generation of children of war, because I was very young when the war began. I remember Moscow on the defensive, I remember Moscow being bombed. I myself spent the night at the Mayakovskaya metro station with my mother and grandmother, because my father went to the front,” she said.

    According to her, friendship born in battle is the strongest friendship. Friendship born during the war is strong, it continues and develops. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft volunteers improved more than 50 monuments to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War on the eve of the Victory Day anniversary

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    In anticipation of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, volunteers from Rosneft enterprises renovated and improved more than 50 monuments, memorials, obelisks, commemorative signs, and burial sites of heroes of the Great Patriotic War in different parts of Russia.

    In the regions where the Company operates, employees take an active part in commemorative events dedicated to the anniversary of the Great Victory.

    Volunteers from the Central Office and Moscow enterprises of Rosneft have landscaped the area around the monument to the workers of the Moscow Oil Depot who died on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War. In 1941-1945, the oil depot, located on Sormovskaya Street in Moscow, played a key role in supplying the capital with fuel, ensuring uninterrupted supplies of fuel for military equipment. The Company’s employees installed new stone vases near the monument and planted flower beds. The wall of the oil depot was decorated with a mural dedicated to the contribution of oil workers to the Victory.

    Environmentalists and activists of the Novokuibyshevsky and Kuibyshevsky Oil Refineries, the Novokuibyshevsk Petrochemical Company and the Novokuibyshevsky Oil and Additives Plant, together with volunteers from the EcoRavnovesie movement, improved the park in the village of Kryazh in the Samara urban district. There is a monument to soldiers who died during the Great Patriotic War. Volunteers collected and removed household waste from the area, laid out flower beds and planted a rowan alley.

    Employees of the Kuibyshev Oil Refinery have improved more than a dozen burial sites of veterans of the Great Patriotic War in the Kuibyshev District of Samara. The oil workers cleaned the graves of the front-line soldiers after the winter and painted the fences.

    Volunteers of the Novokuibyshevsk Oil Refinery improved the Victory Alley and the area adjacent to the monument to home front workers. The memorial was erected in Novokuibyshevsk in 2022 on the initiative and with the support of the enterprise. In addition, the plant workers restored four burial sites of fellow countrymen – participants in the Great Patriotic War, installed new monuments, and improved the adjacent territories.

    Samaraneftegaz employees tidied up the monument to fallen heroes of the Great Patriotic War in the village of Mirny in the Samara Region. Volunteers cleaned up, painted the fences, and planted bushes and trees.

    In the Republic of Bashkortostan, in the city of labor valor Ishimbay, Bashneft volunteers together with activists of the Movement of the First improved the territory of the memorial to the Ishimbay oil workers who died in battles for the Motherland. The participants of the action collected and removed more than a ton of dead wood and household waste, painted the curbs and tree trunks.

    For several years, RN-Krasnodarneftegaz employees have been looking after the monument to the residents of the 2nd Zapadny farmstead in the Krymsky District of Krasnodar Krai. The fascist occupiers destroyed the farmstead along with all its residents in May 1943. Their memory is carefully preserved by Rosneft volunteers, who have taken patronage over the monument.

    In addition, RN-Krasnodarneftegaz volunteers tidied up the territory of the Monument to the Separate 16th Rifle Brigade in the village of Sputnik in the Seversky District of the Krasnodar Territory, the Memorial to those killed in the battles for the liberation of the village of Saratovskaya, the cultural heritage site “Mass grave of 52 Soviet soldiers killed in battles with the fascist invaders in 1943” in the Khankov farm in the Slavyansky District, the Victory Obelisk and the Worship Cross at the site of the death of Soviet citizens.

    According to a long-standing tradition, employees of the Tuapse Oil Refinery improved the monument to oil refiners who died during the Great Patriotic War and cleaned up the territory of Victory Park in Tuapse.

    Volunteers of the Ryazan NPK improved three memorial sites: a memorial in the village of Nikulichi in honor of the villagers who fought in the Great Patriotic War, a street named after the Hero of the Soviet Union and National Hero of Italy, a native of the Ryazan region, Fyodor Poletaev, and a monument to the pilots who died in an unequal battle with the enemy at the end of 1941.

    Udmurtneft employees together with activists of the Movement of the First improved the monument to those killed in the Great Patriotic War in the village of Svetloye in the Votkinsk district of Udmurtia. The company’s volunteers also participated in the arrangement of memorials in six settlements in the Sarapul, Sharkansky and Igrinsky districts of the republic.

    A large-scale volunteer initiative to improve war memorials was carried out by RN-Service employees. They tidied up the monuments to soldiers who died in Moscow hospitals and to fallen soldiers of the Kremlin Regiment. In Ufa, volunteers looked after individual burials in city and rural cemeteries. In Krasnoyarsk, oil workers improved the monument to “Soldiers-athletes of the Krasnoyarsk Territory – participants in the Great Patriotic War”. In Nefteyugansk, the monument to “Loyal Sons of the Fatherland” was renovated. In Buzuluk, work was carried out at the memorial to “Mass grave of soldiers of the Czechoslovak People’s Army” and at the burial sites of veterans. In the village of Kolva in the Komi Republic, the “Memorial sign to soldiers of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945” was improved. In the village of Sernovodsk in the Samara Region, the monument to “Defenders of all generations” was tidied up. In all regions, the patriotic event ended with the ceremonial laying of wreaths and a minute of silence.

    Volunteers from Voronezhnefteprodukt organized the cleanup of the military burial ground in the village of Chertovitsy, Ramonsky District, Voronezh Region. 383 soldiers who died of wounds in hospitals in 1942-1943 are buried here.

    Workers of Kaluga Oil Products cleared and landscaped the area around the memorial sign to pilots near the village of Kosmachi in the Babyninsky District of the Kaluga Region. The sign was installed 10 years ago at the site of the heroic death of the Pe-2 aircraft crew in 1941.

    Employees of RN-North-West take care of the memorial to the sailors of the warship TShch-100 who died there, guarding the “Road of Life” during the siege of Leningrad. The memorial is located in the village of Vladimirovka in the Priozersky District of the Leningrad Region.

    For several years now, Orelnefteprodukt employees have been patronizing a mass grave in the village of Gnilets, Trosnyansky District, Oryol Region. Here are buried 427 soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 605th Infantry Regiment, 132nd Infantry Division, who died in the fiercest battles on the Northern Face of the Kursk Bulge on July 7, 1943. This year, in honor of the Victory anniversary, volunteers have decorated a flower bed in the form of a St. George ribbon on the territory of the Vyazhi military-historical complex in the Novosilsky District, Oryol Region, where the offensive operation to liberate Oryol began in July 1943.

    Rosneft supports projects and initiatives aimed at preserving the historical memory of the immortal feat of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft May 7, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: We honor and remember: events dedicated to Victory Day were held at the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On May 7, the State University of Management held celebrations dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    Veterans, staff and students of the university traditionally gathered for a ceremonial rally at the Memorial Stone to honor the memory of fallen soldiers.

    The rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev gave a welcoming speech, emphasizing the importance of preserving the memory of ancestors.

    “This year is a special date, we are celebrating 80 years since the Great Victory. It is especially important to talk about this to our youth, who, unfortunately, can hardly communicate with living veterans of the Great Patriotic War, while experiencing events very similar to the past war years. Even 10 years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine that the enemy would again be at the threshold of our land and even on this sacred holiday for us would not abandon attempts to enter our territory. Right now, civilians, our fellow citizens, are dying. I would like to see another common victory in the near future, which we will also celebrate and the history of which we will pass on to our descendants,” said Vladimir Stroyev.

    The veteran of the Great Patriotic War and participant in the military operations, Mikhail Spektr, addressed the audience.

    “In two days we will celebrate the greatest holiday of our time. Not only soldiers in the trenches worked for this victory, but also women and children. Not only Germany was against us, but all of Europe, as it is now. We won then, and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren have not disgraced the Russian land and are winning today. We will win,” concluded Mikhail Naumovich.

    The ceremonial meeting ended with a flower-laying ceremony at the memorial to the fallen participants of the Great Patriotic War.

    After this, everyone who wanted could try the soldier’s porridge and attend a festive concert, which featured singer Natalia Manulik, children’s brass bands from Moscow, students from the Pre-University of the State University of Management and students from our university.

    The concert began with a video greeting from the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Olga Petrova and a minute of silence in memory of the fallen heroes of the Great Patriotic War. In addition to the performances, the concert included an award ceremony for the winning teams of the patriotic game “Zarnitsa”, which had been held earlier at the State University of Management.

    Commemorative events dedicated to Victory Day and the Day of Military Glory of Russia are held at the State University of Management every year. Traditionally, they are held at the Memorial Stone, a memorial complex erected on the Alley of Veterans in honor of the students, staff, and teachers of the Moscow Engineering and Economics Institute (MIEI) who died in the Battle of Moscow and on the Rzhev-Vyazma line in the ranks of the 7th Division of the People’s Militia. The memorial complex was opened in 2006 in honor of the anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War and contains soil from the sites of fierce battles for Moscow in its foundation.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 05/07/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Indonesia’s ‘thousand friends, zero enemies’ approach sees President Subianto courting China and US

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Gilang Kembara, Research Fellow, Nanyang Technological University

    Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto participates in a panel discussion in Antalya, Turkey, on April 11, 2025. Photo by Ahmet Serdar Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images

    For much of April and into May, a team of negotiators from Indonesia have been in Washington to discuss trading relations between the world’s largest economy and another forecast to be in the Top 5 within a generation.

    The Southeast Asian nation was among those hit hard by the across-the-board tariffs announced on April 2, 2025, by President Donald Trump, with a proposed 32% levy on its exports to the U.S. Trump subsequently backpedaled, putting in place a 90-day pause on any additional tariffs beyond a new 10% minimum.

    So far, Indonesia – whose-second largest export market is the United States – has signaled its intent to negotiate rather than respond with countermeasures like some other countries targeted by Trump, such as China and Canada.

    Indonesia may even offer to relax protectionist policies aimed at boosting domestic manufactures as a concession. “People who have known me for a long time would say I’m the most nationalist person … but we have to be realistic,” said President Prabowo Subianto.

    The issue of Trump’s tariff policy is a major early test for Subianto, a right-wing populist whose worldview was shaped by decades of military experience. He views Indonesia and its place in the broader world through a lens of realist power politics – wanting to ensure Indonesia possesses adequate hard military power and robust economic performance.

    Through pushing both, Subianto hopes to ensure that Indonesia is not easily swayed by foreign influence and can avoid domestic discontent due to any economic malaise. His approach to ruling the nation of over 280 million people is driven by a desire to retain friendly relations with the United States and China, retaining close economic and security cooperation with both.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on April 16, 2025.
    Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

    Good neighbors, multilateral expansion

    Since declaring independence from the Netherlands almost 80 years ago, Indonesia’s foreign policy has been tied to a doctrine of “Bebas dan Aktif,” or “Free and Active.”

    Formulated by the country’s first president, Sukarno, at the onset of the Cold War, the policy intended to keep the country officially nonaligned from any major power bloc. While moving much closer to the West and the U.S. during the subsequent longtime authoritarian presidency of Suharto, Jakarta retained its official independent position in foreign policy.

    Subianto served in the military during the reign of Suharto, who was also at one point his father-in-law.

    As Indonesia’s leader, Subianto has pledged to enact a so-called foreign policy philosophy of “zero enemies, one thousand friends.” That approach stems from two main considerations. First, he seeks to secure economic agreements that will help fulfill his promise of 8% annual economic growth. Second, he aims to strengthen defense procurement and security cooperation to bolster Indonesia’s military position.

    Toward multilateralism

    As a part of his vision, Subianto has attempted to reframe some of the considerations that have long guided Jakarta’s foreign policy strategy.

    For decades, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, has served as Indonesia’s collective security buffer, forming a crucial component of its “Mandala” – or concentric circles – foreign policy perspective. However, the current administration has thus far appeared indifferent to using the regional body as a source of projecting power, as underscored by Indonesia’s absence from the ASEAN informal consultations on conflict-ridden Myanmar in December 2024.

    That is just one of several indications that Subianto is attempting to shift Indonesia’s role from a regional actor to an active global player.

    A crucial development in that more assertive approach came with the country’s accession in January 2025 to the BRICS groups of nations, the first time a Southeast Asian nation has been admitted.

    In a further bid to multilateral engagement, Indonesia has initiated plans to pursue membership in two transnational economic groupings: the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

    Much of this inclination toward multilateral engagement is rooted in Subianto’s worldview that can be summed up as this: “If you’re not at the table, you’re likely to end up on the menu.”

    The crucial China and US relationships

    And yet, despite Subianto’s broader multilateral ambitions, it is the U.S. and China that remain the critical relationships.

    During the early weeks of his presidency, Subianto made China his first overseas bilateral visit. It resulted in agreements between China and Indonesia worth up to US$10 billion, primarily focused on green energy and technology.

    The visit, which was especially notable given that Jakarta appeared to move closer to China’s position on conflicting territorial claims in the South China Sea can be seen as part of a broader shift toward Beijing.

    China’s massive population already serves as a lucrative export destination for Indonesian goods. Since 2016, China has been Indonesia’s biggest export market, beating out Japan and the U.S.

    That shift is likely to pick up pace in light of Trump’s tariffs, with Jakarta seeking to offset the increasing cost of American trade. And though Jakarta has signaled neutrality regarding the wider U.S.-Chinese dispute, officials in Jakarta and Beijing agreed in mid-April to boost mutual defense cooperation in the South China Sea.

    At the same time, the U.S. holds a particularly important place in Subianto’s mind. As a young soldier, Subianto spent time at military bases in the U.S., where he underwent special forces and counterterrorism training.

    He was later subjected to a travel ban from the U.S. from 2000 to 2020 on account of myriad allegations of human rights abuses related to his time in Indonesia’s special forces unit, Kopassus, which led to his being forcibly discharged from the Indonesian military in 1998.

    Yet the ban was rescinded after then-President Joko Widodo appointed Subianto to be Indonesia’s defense minister, and he was subsequently invited to Washington in 2020 during the first Trump administration.

    Washington was Subianto’s second official presidential visit destination in November 2024. During his trip, Subianto met with President Joe Biden to discuss Indonesia-U.S. bilateral relations, regional security issues and various other global matters. Subianto also had a brief phone call with President-elect Trump to congratulate him on his election victory.

    That relationship with Trump is likely to be a crucial one now, especially given the stakes of the mutual trading relationship.

    The U.S. is Indonesia’s second-biggest trading partner, after China. The value of trade between the two parties amounted to about $38.3 billion in 2024, with Indonesia exporting $28.1 billion to the U.S. while importing $10.2 billion. Seeking to avoid tariffs of 32%, an Indonesian trade delegation has been negotiating with Trump administration officials, signaling its intent to buy more American goods, make trade concessions and even lower local content requirements on Indonesian-made goods to allow more American-made components.

    Promoting pragmatism

    There are, of course, ongoing differences between Indonesia and the U.S. – not only the ongoing trade issue but also other areas, including the Israel-Hamas war. Indonesia, the largest majority Muslim country in the world, has been a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights and highly critical of Israeli policy.

    Yet even here, Subianto seemingly is open to pragmatism, with reports that the Indonesian government is floating the idea of normalizing ties with Israel in a bid to ease entry into the OECD.

    In a similar vein, one can expect that Subianto will opt for pragmatism in his dealings with Trump, prioritizing Indonesia’s security and defense cooperation with Washington, while sidestepping any issues that might divide them along the way.

    Under Subianto, Indonesia is embarking on a foreign policy that stresses the importance of maintaining robust and active bilateral ties with the U.S. At the same time, it is strengthening its China relationship. And away from both, it is asserting its own independence through bolstering its position in numerous multilateral bodies.

    How Subianto handles those various dynamics is likely to be a defining issue of his presidency.

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

    ref. Indonesia’s ‘thousand friends, zero enemies’ approach sees President Subianto courting China and US – https://theconversation.com/indonesias-thousand-friends-zero-enemies-approach-sees-president-subianto-courting-china-and-us-252219

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation launched into incinerator permit draft decision

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Consultation launched into incinerator permit draft decision

    The Environment Agency has launched a consultation into its ‘minded to’ decision to issue a permit to a Teesside incinerator.

    Viridor Tees Valley Ltd applied for an environmental permit to operate an Energy Recovery Facility incinerating non-hazardous waste at Grangetown in Redcar.

    After reviewing 27 comments and evidence from the original consultation last year the Environment Agency is ‘minded to’ issue the environmental permit.

    This means after exploring the issues and concerns that have been raised, it can’t find any reason to refuse the application, but is yet to make a final decision.

    A draft permit document and draft decision document can be found here.

    The consultation into the ‘minded to’ decision documents will close at the end of Tuesday 3 June.

    Documents have been ‘carefully considered’

    Gary Wallace, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in the North East, said:

    We have carefully considered all the documents provided to us by Viridor, as well as the consultation comments, and currently can’t find any reason to refuse the permit application.  

    We’re keen to hear people’s views on this draft decision and encourage those interested to view the decision documents and send us their comments.

    We will make our final decision once we have reviewed the responses to this consultation.

    The original consultation into this application took place between 2 September and 14 October 2024.

    The Environment Agency may only refuse a permit application if it does not meet one or more of the legal requirements under environmental legislation, including if it will have an unacceptable impact on the environment or harm human health.

    If all the requirements are met, it is legally obliged to issue a permit. 

    The draft decision document explains the Environment Agency’s decision-making and outlines how it has considered the comments from the original consultation. The draft permit outlines the conditions would need to meet if the permit is granted.

    The Environment Agency would only issue the permit if it is satisfied the operator could comply with the permit conditions and has appropriate systems in place to operate the incinerator without causing harm to the environment, human health or wildlife.

    People can respond to the consultation directly on the website or alternatively by email to pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk

    Background

    Environmental permits 

    • Environmental permits set out strict legal conditions by which an operator must comply in order to protect people and the environment. Should an environmental permit be issued, the Environment Agency has responsibility for enforcing its conditions.
    • The Environment Agency’s powers include enforcement notices, suspension and revocation of permits, fines and ultimately criminal sanctions, including prosecution.
    • The Environment Agency may only refuse a permit if it does not meet one or more of the legal requirements under environmental legislation, including if it will have a significant impact on the environment or harm human health. If all the requirements are met, we are legally required to issue a permit.

    Consultation responses  

    • Responses to the consultation can be made electronically.
    • People can respond directly on the website or alternatively by email to pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk
    • Those unable to view the documents or make representation via the consultation website or by email should contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506.

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Join a friendly bike ride to Stoneywell and get free access to a National Trust gem

    Source: City of Leicester

    A FRIENDLY group cycle ride to Stoneywell is being planned for Sunday 11 May.

    The ride will set off at 11am from the Bike Park in Town Hall Square, and will use cycle tracks and country roads as it winds through the beautiful Charnwood countryside to Stoneywell, a historic National Trust property.

    Cyclists who join the ride – which is free to sign up to – will also get free access to the property. The cottage is an architectural gem designed and built by Ernest Gimson, one of the most influential architects and designers of the Arts and Crafts movement, and is filled with original hand-crafted furniture and family treasures. The cottage is nestled in an idyllic four acres of garden, featuring a vegetable patch, tennis court, and around 150 varieties of rhododendron. Beyond, paths wind across 11 acres of semi-ancient woodland. 

    Andy Salkeld, active travel team leader at Leicester City Council, said: “We are delighted that this ride is being supported by The National Trust and by Ride Leicester. We’re also really pleased to be able to offer free ebike loans so that we can widen participation in the ride.

    “Non-electric bikes are welcome too, but we ask that riders can ride at a pace of at least 10 miles per hour, and the route will include a steep hill as we approach Stoneywell. Please bring an inner tube if you are using your own bike, and dress accordingly for the weather. First-timers are very welcome so if you’ve never joined a group ride before, come along and give it a go!”

    Assistant city mayor Cllr Geoff Whittle, who leads on environment and transport, said: “We’re very pleased to support a regular programme of group bike rides like this one. They are aimed at helping everyone to discover just how easy and enjoyable it can be to get around by bike, and being in a group can also help to build your cycle confidence.

    “Whether you’re commuting, exploring the city, or just enjoying the fresh air, an electric bike could be perfect for your journey, which is why we’re delighted to be offering free ebike loans for this ride, too.”

    Zsolt Schuller from the National Trust said: “Cycling is a fantastic way to visit many of the places in the care of the National Trust and more than a quarter of them (26%) are within a mile of the National Cycle Network. It’s great to be working with organisations such as Ride Leicester, linking up a visit to somewhere as special as Stoneywell with initiatives to help build people’s cycling confidence”.

    The ride and visit to Stoneywell – plus the all-important stop at Stoneywell’s tearoom, which serves hot and cold drinks, light meals, and snacks – will take approximately three hours. To register for the ride, visit https://www.letsride.co.uk/rides/national-trust-stoneywell-cottage-1

    Ebike loans for the Stoneywell ride are free of charge and include a helmet if required. Ebikes must be booked in advance by 4pm on Friday 9 May at the latest – email ecycles@leicester.gov.uk to enquire about a loan. Please also ensure that you have registered for a place on the ride.

    Entry to Stoneywell is free for ride participants but if you are a member of the National Trust, please bring your membership card with you. Stoneywell is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays until 2 November 2025. Visits must be booked in advance. Find out more about Stoneywell at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/leicestershire-northamptonshire/stoneywell

    Ride Leicester’s goal is to enable fun, safe, inclusive, organised and free guided rides and events as part of the city council’s Cycle City Action Plan. Find out more about Ride Leicester group rides at: https://letsride.co.uk/groups/ride-leicester

    ENDS

    Picture of Stoneywell ©National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI China: China appreciates Spain’s emphasis on developing bilateral relations: FM spokesperson

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

    China appreciates the Spanish government’s emphasis on developing relations with China and its continuous promotion of practical cooperation and personnel exchanges between the two countries, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

    Lin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on Spain’s 2025-2028 foreign action strategy, which, among others, emphasizes the need to deepen its comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

    Citing Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s visit to China not long ago, Lin noted that the two countries had jointly issued an action plan on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, proposing to build a more strategically resilient and dynamic comprehensive strategic partnership.

    He mentioned that the two sides had jointly signed a number of documents of cooperation in economy and trade, education, science and technology, and had achieved important cooperation results in the field of new energy such as electric vehicle and power batteries.

    China is willing to work with Spain to continue deepening open cooperation, especially in areas such as green development, artificial intelligence and digital economy, to enhance the well-being of the two peoples and add impetus to China-EU relations, Lin said.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Police appeal for information after death of a man in Soho

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives are seeking witnesses after a man fell from height in Brewer Street, Soho during the early hours of Saturday, 3 May.

    Officers were called to a residential property in Brewer Street at 02:02hrs that morning. Despite the best efforts of first responders, 22-year-old Ryley Harbord sadly died at the scene.

    His death is being treated as unexpected and is under investigation at this stage.

    Officers are appealing for anyone who saw or spoke to Ryley on the evening of Friday 2, May to come forward. They are particularly interested in hearing from those who had contact with him between 19:00hrs on Friday and 02:00hrs on Saturday.

    Detective Chief Inspector Anne Linton, who is leading the investigation, said:

    “First and foremost, our thoughts are with Ryley’s family as they come to terms with this tragic loss. This is an unimaginably difficult time for them.

    “Soho was bustling at the start of a Bank Holiday, which means there is a likelihood someone saw or spoke to Ryley. If this is you, you may hold really important information that helps us piece together the circumstances surrounding Ryley’s death and we would ask you to please get in touch with us as soon as possible.”

    Anyone who can help is asked to contact police via 101, quoting 217/3May, or if you wish to remain anonymous go through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens on track for Senedd breakthrough as countdown begins

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    With today (7 May) marking one year until the Senedd election, Wales Green Party has said it is on track to elect its first MS. Last night’s YouGov poll would see the party win its first seat in Caerdydd Penarth, according to a projection by Cavendish Consulting[1].

    Anthony Slaughter, party leader will top the list in the Caerdydd Penarth constituency. At last year’s Westminster election, the Green Party finished second in Cardiff South and Penarth, which forms half of the new Senedd constituency.

    Anthony said:

    “Living costs are out of control, public services are collapsing, and the climate and nature crises are being left to get worse. We’re on track to break through to the Senedd, where we’ll challenge the cosy consensus that has allowed things to get so bad.

    “I’m working flat out until the election to speak to residents, champion their needs, and campaign for the bold policies we need to turn things around.

    Candidate selections are currently underway across Wales, with announcements expected next month.

    Anthony Slaughter continued:

    “I’m excited about the people putting their names forward for the party next year – they would all make excellent Senedd members, and I’m looking forward to campaigning alongside them in the next year.”

    ENDS
    [1] https://x.com/CavendishCymru/status/1920060028683268448

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Lindsay Chorale to Perform Free Concert at the Guildhall in Support of Mayor’s Charity

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    The Lindsay Chorale to Perform Free Concert at the Guildhall in Support of Mayor’s Charity

    7 May 2025

    Derry City and Strabane District Council is delighted to announce that renowned Saintfield-based choir, The Lindsay Chorale, will be performing a special concert at the Guildhall on Sunday 18th May.

    The event, which takes place from 3pm, hopes to raise much needed funds for the Mayor’s chosen charity, The BUD Club, a vital local organisation supporting children and young adults with additional needs.

    Established in 1997, The Lindsay Chorale is known for its rich repertoire of classical, sacred, and contemporary choral music. Their visit to Derry~Londonderry offers music lovers a unique opportunity to hear one of Northern Ireland’s most accomplished amateur choirs in the majestic surroundings of the Guildhall. Having previously performed with The Priests and for Derry Girls creator, Lisa McGee, audience members are in for a treat with this special afternoon of music.

    The choir will be led by Musical Director Keith Acheson on the day. Keith is an Irish composer and conductor based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After obtaining a BMus (Hons) in 1996 he was awarded a PhD in Composition from the Ulster University. Along with many pieces for choir, he has had work performed by the likes of the Ulster Orchestra, Gemini Ensemble, HuuJ Ensemble and Arco String Quartet.

    Taking to the famous Guildhall organ, Daniel Clements will accompany the choir and provide the decadent musical background that will add to the atmospheric afternoon.

    Speaking ahead of the event, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr, encouraged the public to come along and support the cause:

    “I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome The Lindsay Chorale to our beautiful Guildhall for what promises to be a very special afternoon of music and community spirit. This free concert is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy world-class choral singing while supporting a cause that is close to my heart. The BUD Club provides life-changing support for families across our district, and I would encourage everyone to come along, donate what they can, and enjoy a truly uplifting event.”

    The choir, which has performed across the UK and Ireland, also expressed their excitement about the upcoming concert:

    “We are honoured to be performing in the historic Guildhall and to be part of an event that supports such an inspiring local charity. Music has the power to connect communities, and we hope our performance will not only entertain but also make a meaningful contribution to the vital work of The BUD Club,” said Keith Acheson, Musical Director.

    The concert is free to attend, and no booking is required. The concert will start at 3pm, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Voluntary donations will be collected on the day in aid of The BUD Club.

    For more information about the Mayor’s charity, please visit:
     www.derrystrabane.com/about-council/mayor/mayor-s-charity

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI: Intermex Reports First-Quarter Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company to Host Conference Call Today at 9 a.m. ET

    MIAMI, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International Money Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMXI) (“Intermex” or the “Company”), one of the nation’s leading global omnichannel money transfer services to Latin America and the Caribbean, today reported financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2025.

    Financial performance highlights for the first quarter of 2025:

    • Revenues of $144.3 million
    • Net income of $7.8 million
    • Diluted EPS of $0.25
    • Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.35
    • Adjusted EBITDA of $21.6 million

    Bob Lisy, Chairman, President, and CEO of Intermex, stated “Intermex’s first quarter results reflect the strength and discipline of the Intermex business model, despite an economic and political backdrop that was difficult to anticipate. Year-over-year volume growth reflects our highly resilient consumer base and our ability to serve them effectively through our omnichannel strategy.”

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Results (all comparisons are to the First Quarter 2024)
    Year over year volumes grew at 3.7%, however total revenues for the Company were down 4.1% to $144.3 million. This was driven by a shift in retail consumer sending behavior as consumers sent fewer transactions, but in larger amounts transferred per transaction in the quarter. The reduction in service fees from lower transactions was partially offset by an increase in revenue primarily related to growth in digital channels. The Company’s user base generated 12.8 million money transfer transactions, down 5.2% from last year. The total principal amount transferred for the period was $5.6 billion, an increase of 3.7%.

    The Company reported net income of $7.8 million, a decrease of 35.5%. Diluted earnings per share were $0.25, a decrease of 28.6%. The decreases in net income and diluted earnings per share were driven primarily by the items noted above for revenues, partly offset by lower services charges from agents and banks. It is worth noting that while revenue was down from lower transactions, the higher year over year volume offset much of the interest and banking expense reductions that would otherwise typically be captured with a lower number of transactions. Lower income tax provision also positively impacted net income. Diluted earnings per share was positively impacted by the reduction in share count from the Company’s stock repurchase activity.

    Adjusted net income totaled $10.9 million, a decrease of 25.9%. Adjusted diluted earnings per share totaled $0.35, a decrease of 18.6%. Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share were impacted by the items noted above, adjusted for certain items detailed in the reconciliation tables below following the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Adjusted diluted earnings per share was positively impacted by the reduction in share count from the Company’s stock repurchases.

    Adjusted EBITDA decreased 15.0% to $21.6 million, attributable to the same items noted above, partially offset by the higher net effect of the adjusting items detailed in the reconciliation tables below following the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

    Adjusted and other non-GAAP measures discussed above and elsewhere in this press release are defined below under the heading, Non-GAAP Measures.

    Other Items
    The Company ended the first quarter of 2025 with $151.8 million in cash and cash equivalents. Net Free Cash Generated for the first quarter of 2025 was $10.3 million, up from the first quarter of 2024. Year-over-year Net Free Cash Generated primarily reflects the investments in assets placed into service as a result of the Company’s move to the new U.S. headquarters facility in the first quarter of 2024, partially offset by the decrease in net income.

    The Company incurred $1.2 million in transaction costs for the first quarter, primarily legal and professional fees incurred in relation to its previously announced evaluation of strategic alternatives. In addition, the Company incurred restructuring costs of approximately $0.3 million primarily related to the Company’s foreign operations.

    The Company repurchased 367,873 shares of its common stock for $5.0 million during the first quarter of 2025 through its underlying share repurchase program and a privately-negotiated transaction.

    Guidance
    Based on our first quarter 2025 financial results and the underlying market dynamics we have observed to date, the Company is revising its previously issued full-year guidance below. Current levels of uncertainty and volatility affecting market conditions and consumer behavior, have increased the difficulty of reliably forecasting short-term results.   Moreover, as previously announced, the Company is in the process of executing on a long-term strategy of investing in its digital business offerings to increase their contribution to the Company’s revenue and to increase its profitability.   Accordingly, the Company is discontinuing issuing quarterly guidance.

    Full-year 2025:
    •Revenue of $634.9 million to $654.2 million.
    •Diluted EPS of $1.53 to $1.65.
    •Adjusted Diluted EPS of $1.86 to $2.02.
    •Adjusted EBITDA of $103.6 million to $106.8 million.

    Non-GAAP Measures
    Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings per Share, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Net Free Cash Generated, each a Non-GAAP financial measure, are the primary metrics used by management to evaluate the financial performance of our business. We present these Non-GAAP financial measures because we believe they are frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. Furthermore, we believe they are helpful in highlighting trends in our operating results, because certain of such measures exclude, among other things, the effects of certain transactions that are outside the control of management, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the jurisdictions in which we operate and capital investments.

    Adjusted Net Income is defined as Net Income adjusted to add back certain charges and expenses, such as non-cash amortization of certain intangible assets resulting from business and asset acquisition transactions, non-cash compensation costs, and other items outlined in the reconciliation table below, as these charges and expenses are not considered a part of our core business operations and are not an indicator of ongoing future Company performance.

    Adjusted Earnings per Share – Basic and Diluted is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by GAAP weighted-average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted).

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Net Income before depreciation and amortization, interest expense, income taxes, and adjusted to add back certain charges and expenses, such as non-cash compensation costs and other items outlined in the reconciliation table below, as these charges and expenses are not considered a part of our core business operations and are not an indicator of ongoing future Company performance.

    Adjusted EBITDA Margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by Revenues.

    Net Free Cash Generated is defined as Net Income before provision for credit losses and depreciation and amortization adjusted to add back certain non-cash charges and expenses, such as non-cash compensation costs, and reduced by cash used in investing activities and servicing of our debt obligations.

    Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings per Share, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Net Free Cash Generated are non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered as an alternative to operating income, net income, net income margin or earnings per share, as a measure of operating performance or cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity. Non-GAAP financial measures are not necessarily calculated the same way by different companies and should not be considered a substitute for or superior to U.S. GAAP.

    Reconciliations of Net Income, the Company’s closest GAAP measure, to Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, and Net Free Cash Generated, as well as a reconciliation of Earnings per Share (Basic and Diluted) to Adjusted Earnings per Share (Basic and Diluted) and Net Income Margin to Adjusted EBITDA Margin, are outlined in the tables below following the condensed consolidated financial statements. A quantitative reconciliation of projected Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS to the most comparable GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable efforts because of the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying the amounts necessary under GAAP guidance for operating or other adjusted items including, without limitation, costs and expenses related to acquisitions and other transactions, share-based compensation, tax effects of certain adjustments and losses related to legal contingencies or disposal of assets. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information.

    Investor and Analyst Conference Call / Presentation
    Intermex will host a conference call and webcast presentation at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. Interested parties are invited to join the discussion and gain firsthand knowledge about Intermex’s financial performance and operational achievements through the following channels:

    • A live broadcast of the conference call may be accessed via the Investor Relations section of Intermex’s website at https://investors.intermexonline.com/.
    • To participate in the live conference call via telephone, please register HERE. Upon registering, a dial-in number and unique PIN will be provided to join the conference call.
    • Following the conference call, an archived webcast of the call will be available for one year on Intermex’s website at https://investors.intermexonline.com/.

    Safe Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, which reflect our current views concerning certain events that are not historical facts but could have an effect on our future performance, including but without limitation, statements regarding our plans, objectives, financial performance, business strategies, projected results of operations, restructuring initiatives and expectations for the Company. These statements may include and be identified by words or phrases such as, without limitation, “would,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “continues,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “assumes,” “estimates,” “approximately,” “shall,” “our planning assumptions,” “future outlook,” “currently,” “target,” “guidance,” and similar expressions (including the negative and plural forms of such words and phrases). These forward-looking statements are based largely on information currently available to our management and our current expectations, assumptions, plans, estimates, judgments, projections about our business and our industry, and macroeconomic conditions, and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, estimates, contingencies, and other factors, many of which are outside our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and liquidity. Such factors include, among others: changes in immigration laws and their enforcement, including any adverse effects on the level of immigrant employment, earning potential and other commercial activities; our success in expanding customer acceptance of our digital services and infrastructure, as well as developing, introducing and marketing new digital and other products and services; new technology or competitors that disrupt the current money transfer and payment ecosystem, including the introduction of new digital platforms; loss of, or reduction in business with, key sending agents; our ability to effectively compete in the markets in which we operate; economic factors such as inflation, the level of economic activity, recession risks and labor market conditions, as well as volatility in market interest rates; international political factors, including ongoing hostilities in Ukraine and the Middle East, political instability, tariffs, including the effects of tariffs on domestic markets and industrial activity and employment, border taxes or restrictions on remittances or transfers from the outbound countries in which we operate or plan to operate; volatility in foreign exchange rates that could affect the volume of consumer remittance activity and/or affect our foreign exchange related gains and losses; consumer confidence in our brands and in consumer money transfers generally; expansion into new geographic markets or product markets; our ability to successfully execute, manage, integrate and obtain the anticipated financial benefits of key acquisitions and mergers; cybersecurity-attacks or disruptions to our information technology, computer network systems, data centers and mobile devices applications; the ability of our risk management and compliance policies, procedures and systems to mitigate risk related to transaction monitoring; consumer fraud and other risks relating to the authenticity of customers’ orders or the improper or illegal use of our services by consumers, sending agents or digital partners; our ability to maintain favorable banking and paying agent relationships necessary to conduct our business; bank failures, sustained financial illiquidity, or illiquidity at the clearing, cash management or custodial financial institutions with which we do business; changes to banking industry regulation and practice; credit risks from our agents, digital partners and the financial institutions with which we do business; our ability to recruit and retain key personnel; our ability to maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements, including those intended to prevent use of our money remittance services for criminal activity, those related to data and cybersecurity protection, and those related to new business initiatives; enforcement actions and private litigation under regulations applicable to money remittance services; changes in tax laws in the countries in which we operate; our ability to protect intellectual property rights; our ability to satisfy our debt obligations and remain in compliance with our credit facility requirements; public health conditions, responses thereto and the economic and market effects thereof; the use of third-party vendors and service providers; weakness in U.S. or international economic conditions; and other economic, business, and/or competitive factors, risks and uncertainties, including those described in the “Risk Factors” and other sections of periodic reports and other filings that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, we caution investors and all others not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date such statement is made and we undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements.

    About International Money Express, Inc.
    Founded in 1994, Intermex applies proprietary technology enabling consumers to send money from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany to more than 60 countries. The Company provides the digital movement of money through a network of agent retailers in the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany; Company-operated stores; our mobile apps; and the Company’s websites. Transactions are fulfilled and paid through thousands of retail and bank locations around the world. Intermex is headquartered in Miami, Florida, with international offices in Puebla, Mexico, Guatemala City, Guatemala, London, England, and Madrid, Spain. For more information about Intermex, please visit www.intermexonline.com.

    Alex Sadowski
    Investor Relations Coordinator
    ir@intermexusa.com
    tel. 305-671-8000

    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
             
        March 31,   December 31,
    (in thousands of dollars)     2025     2024
    ASSETS   (Unaudited)    
    Current assets:        
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 151,764   $ 130,503
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $4,095 and $3,546, respectively     131,026     107,077
    Prepaid wires, net     32,577     49,205
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     10,561     10,998
    Total current assets     325,928     297,783
             
    Property and equipment, net     52,603     50,354
    Goodwill     55,195     55,195
    Intangible assets, net     26,058     26,847
    Deferred tax asset, net     18    
    Other assets     30,787     32,198
    Total assets   $ 490,589   $ 462,377
             
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
    Current liabilities:        
    Accounts payable   $ 23,410   $ 19,520
    Wire transfers and money orders payable, net     115,081     85,044
    Accrued and other liabilities     47,977     47,434
    Total current liabilities     186,468     151,998
             
    Long-term liabilities:        
    Debt, net     147,385     156,623
    Lease liabilities, net     17,493     18,582
    Deferred tax liability, net         250
    Total long-term liabilities     164,878     175,455
             
    Stockholders’ equity:        
    Total stockholders’ equity     139,243     134,924
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 490,589   $ 462,377
             
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
         
        Three Months Ended March 31,
    (in thousands of dollars, except for per share data)     2025     2024
        (Unaudited)
    Revenues:        
    Wire transfer and money order fees, net   $ 120,167   $ 126,921
    Foreign exchange gain, net     20,181     20,346
    Other income     3,962     3,145
    Total revenues     144,310     150,412
             
    Operating expenses:        
    Service charges from agents and banks     93,788     97,934
    Salaries and benefits     18,288     18,106
    Other selling, general and administrative expenses     10,989     9,953
    Provision for credit losses     2,066     1,595
    Restructuring costs     306    
    Transaction costs     1,169     10
    Depreciation and amortization     3,629     3,228
    Total operating expenses     130,235     130,826
             
    Operating income     14,075     19,586
             
    Interest expense     2,700     2,702
             
    Income before income taxes     11,375     16,884
             
    Income tax provision     3,606     4,778
             
    Net income   $ 7,769   $ 12,106
             
    Earnings per common share:        
    Basic   $ 0.25   $ 0.36
    Diluted   $ 0.25   $ 0.35
             
    Weighted-average common shares outstanding:        
    Basic     30,587,949     33,675,441
    Diluted     30,831,633     34,188,814
    Reconciliation from Net Income to Adjusted Net Income
         
        Three Months Ended March 31,
    (in thousands of dollars, except for per share data)     2025       2024  
        (Unaudited)
             
    Net Income   $ 7,769     $ 12,106  
             
    Adjusted for:        
    Share-based compensation (a)     2,112       2,153  
    Restructuring costs (b)     306        
    Transaction costs (c)     1,169       10  
    Other charges and expenses (d)     327       437  
    Amortization of intangibles (e)     711       977  
    Income tax benefit related to adjustments (f)     (1,466 )     (1,012 )
    Adjusted Net Income   $ 10,928     $ 14,671  
             
    Adjusted earnings per common share:        
    Basic   $ 0.36     $ 0.44  
    Diluted   $ 0.35     $ 0.43  

    (a) Represents share-based compensation relating to equity awards granted primarily to employees and independent directors of the Company.

    (b) Represents primarily severance, write-off of assets and, legal and professional fees related to the execution of restructuring plans.

    (c) Represents primarily financial advisory, professional and legal fees related to business acquisition transactions and strategic alternatives.

    (d) Represents primarily loss on disposal of fixed assets.

    (e) Represents the amortization of certain intangible assets that resulted from business and asset acquisition transactions.

    (f) Represents the current and deferred tax impact of the taxable adjustments to Net Income using the Company’s blended federal and state tax rate for each period. Relevant tax-deductible adjustments include all adjustments to Net Income.

    Reconciliation from Basic Earnings per Share to Adjusted Basic Earnings per Share
         
        Three Months Ended March 31,
          2025       2024  
        (Unaudited)
    Basic Earnings per Share   $ 0.25     $ 0.36  
    Adjusted for:        
    Share-based compensation     0.07       0.06  
    Restructuring costs     0.01        
    Transaction costs     0.04       NM  
    Other charges and expenses     0.01       0.01  
    Amortization of intangibles     0.02       0.03  
    Income tax benefit related to adjustments     (0.05 )     (0.03 )
    Adjusted Basic Earnings per Share   $ 0.36     $ 0.44  

    NM—Amount is not meaningful

    The table above may contain slight summation differences due to rounding

    Reconciliation from Diluted Earnings per Share to Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share
         
        Three Months Ended March 31,
          2025       2024  
        (Unaudited)
    Diluted Earnings per Share   $ 0.25     $ 0.35  
    Adjusted for:        
    Share-based compensation     0.07       0.06  
    Restructuring costs     0.01        
    Transaction costs     0.04       NM  
    Other charges and expenses     0.01       0.01  
    Amortization of intangibles     0.02       0.03  
    Income tax benefit related to adjustments     (0.05 )     (0.03 )
    Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share   $ 0.35     $ 0.43  

    NM—Amount is not meaningful

    The table above may contain slight summation differences due to rounding

    Reconciliation from Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
         
        Three Months Ended March 31,
    (in thousands of dollars)     2025     2024
        (Unaudited)
    Net Income   $ 7,769   $ 12,106
             
    Adjusted for:        
    Interest expense     2,700     2,702
    Income tax provision     3,606     4,778
    Depreciation and amortization     3,629     3,228
    EBITDA     17,704     22,814
    Share-based compensation (a)     2,112     2,153
    Restructuring costs (b)     306    
    Transaction costs (c)     1,169     10
    Other charges and expenses (d)     327     437
    Adjusted EBITDA   $ 21,618   $ 25,414

    (a) Represents share-based compensation relating to equity awards granted primarily to employees and independent directors of the Company.

    (b) Represents primarily severance, write-off of assets and legal and professional fees related to the execution of restructuring plans.

    (c) Represents primarily financial advisory, professional and legal fees related to business acquisition transactions and strategic alternatives.

    (d) Represents primarily loss on disposal of fixed assets.

    Reconciliation from Net Income Margin to Adjusted EBITDA Margin
         
        Three Months Ended March 31,
        2025     2024  
        (Unaudited)
    Net Income Margin   5.4 %   8.0 %
    Adjusted for:        
    Interest expense   1.9 %   1.8 %
    Income tax provision   2.5 %   3.2 %
    Depreciation and amortization   2.5 %   2.1 %
    EBITDA Margin   12.3 %   15.2 %
    Share-based compensation   1.5 %   1.4 %
    Restructuring costs   0.2 %   %
    Transaction costs   0.8 %   %
    Other charges and expenses   0.2 %   0.3 %
    Adjusted EBITDA Margin   15.0 %   16.9 %

    The table above may contain slight summation differences due to rounding

    Reconciliation of Net Income to Net Free Cash Generated
         
        Three Months Ended March 31,
    (in thousands of dollars)     2025       2024  
        (Unaudited)
             
    Net income for the period   $ 7,769     $ 12,106  
             
    Depreciation and amortization     3,629       3,228  
    Share-based compensation     2,112       2,153  
    Provision for credit losses     2,066       1,595  
    Cash used in investing activities     (5,313 )     (13,480 )
    Term loan pay downs           (1,641 )
             
    Net Free Cash Generated during the period   $ 10,263     $ 3,961  

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy Launches IQ Balcony Solar System in Germany

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, today announced the launch of the Enphase® IQ® Balcony Solar System in Germany. Designed for plug-and-play installation, the new system empowers apartment dwellers and homeowners with limited roof space to generate their own clean energy from balconies, patios, and small outdoor areas. It’s also a simple and affordable solution for fully off-grid use cases, offering reliable daytime power for alpine cabins, camping sites, mobile home setups, and more. The IQ Balcony Solar System includes Enphase IQ8HC™ Microinverters, IQ® Balcony Gateway, and other components.  

    Balcony solar systems – or “plug-in solar” systems – are rapidly expanding access to clean energy for residents without traditional rooftop space. According to SolarPower Europe, Germany registered 435,000 new balcony systems in 2024, compared to 276,000 in 2023. There are now 780,000 total balcony solar installations across the country, driven by significant regional subsidies. The Enphase IQ Balcony Solar System will help more people participate in the energy transition, supporting greater energy independence across Europe.

    The IQ Balcony Solar System offers the following key features:

    • Do-it-yourself installation: The system has an easy setup with plug-and-play connectors for self-installation and commissioning through the Enphase® App.
    • Off-grid operation: The system’s IQ Microinverters switch seamlessly between grid-tied and off-grid modes, so connected devices can stay powered during daytime grid outages, or function entirely off-grid when the sun is shining in rural or remote areas where grid power isn’t available.
    • Scalable solution: Homeowners can start with a small system and expand over time using an Enphase expansion kit as energy needs grow. Additional energy from the expansion kit can be harvested using the auxiliary socket.
    • Integrated connectivity: The system offers a simplified setup using Wi-Fi or cellular data, supported by a 5-year data plan for seamless monitoring and updates.
    • Highly reliable: The IQ8HC Microinverters come with an IP67 rating, while the IQ Balcony Gateway has an IP65 rating and a 5-year warranty.

    “Germany’s energy landscape is changing, and products like the Enphase IQ Balcony Solar System are making the shift easier and more accessible,” said Kevin Malek, CEO of solago, a bundler of solar energy products in Germany. “This system empowers people to generate their own clean energy – even without a traditional roof – while enjoying the safety, reliability, and simplicity that Enphase is known for.”

    The standard Enphase IQ Balcony Solar Kit includes two IQ8HC Microinverters, one IQ Balcony Gateway, IQ® Cables, and one AC Power Cable. Retailers can bundle it with solar panels and racking before it is sold. The scalable system can accommodate up to seven IQ8HC Microinverters and panels, enabling the system to evolve with energy needs. System owners can easily install the system on their own and commission it using the Enphase App, which also allows users to monitor and view their energy production.

    “The installation process was incredibly fast, and the setup was seamless,” said Doris Filipović, a customer in Germany using the Enphase IQ Balcony Solar System. “What I love most is being able to track the performance of each panel in real time through the Enphase App. It’s a great feeling to know exactly how much clean energy I’m producing every day – right from my balcony.”

    “Thanks to our easy-to-install IQ Balcony Solar System, more people in Germany can now increase their energy independence and participate in the clean energy transition,” said Sabbas Daniel, senior vice president of sales at Enphase Energy. “We’re excited to support improved solar accessibility in Europe, and we look forward to launching into other regions in the future.”

    The Enphase IQ Balcony Solar System is available for purchase today on the Enphase website or with select partners. Solar panels, shelves, and mounting hardware are not included in this kit and must be purchased separately. To learn more about Enphase’s IQ Balcony Solar System, visit the websites for homeowners and installers.

    About Enphase Energy, Inc.

    Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power – and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 81.5 million microinverters, and approximately 4.8 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in over 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

    ©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, IQ8, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Forward-Looking Statements

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

    Contact:

    Enphase Energy

    press@enphaseenergy.com

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

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business – Sustainability start-ups Krosslinker and Ayrton Energy secure S$1 million each in catalytic funding at The Liveability Challenge 2025 Grand Finale

    Source: Eco-Business

    The 2025 Grand Finale witnessed another record-breaking year, attracting more than 1,200 submissions from over 100 countries competing for the top prize in two tracks: Decarbonisation and Cool Earth.

    Passive cooling using advanced aerogel technology and safe, cost-effective storage and transport to accelerate adoption of hydrogen as a clean fuel were the top winners at the Grand Finale.
    The Liveability Challenge, was presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business. 

    Singapore, 7 May 2025: Krosslinker and Ayrton Energy have emerged as the top winners at The Liveability Challenge (TLC) 2025 Grand Finale for their innovative solutions to drive decarbonisation and tackle climate challenges.

    The two groundbreaking projects were the standouts among eight finalists, each securing a S$1 million grant in catalytic funding to help advance and scale their solutions sustainably.

    The winner of the Cool Earth track was Singapore-based deep-tech start-up Krosslinker, which develops passive cooling technologies in the form of aerogel materials capable of reducing surface temperatures by up to 10 degrees Celsius and ambient temperatures by up to 5 degrees Celsius.

    The winner of the Decarbonisation track was Canada-based Ayrton Energy, which develops technology for safe and cost-effective hydrogen storage and transport, and addresses infrastructure challenges that currently hinder the widespread adoption of hydrogen energy.

    The two winners were selected after a competitive and rigorous judging session, where all eight finalists pitched their innovative solutions live to a judging panel at the Grand Finale, held at ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay as part of Ecosperity Week.

    These pioneering climate solutions are integral in advancing progress towards the climate targets set under the Paris Agreement in 2015 – an urgent imperative as global temperatures reach dangerously new highs each year.  

    With rising heat, extreme weather events and ecological deterioration afflicting society and natural ecosystems, solutions must be mobilised to address these climate impacts while contributing to the global targets of reducing emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.

    This will require coordinated efforts across society, enabling regulatory frameworks and strategic investments to enable the large-scale deployment of innovative climate technologies.

    Presented by Temasek Foundation and organised by Eco-Business, TLC was launched in 2018 as a platform to search for the most disruptive and innovative solutions that solve the pressing sustainability challenges of today.

    Today, TLC is Asia’s largest sustainability solutions platform and since its first edition, has attracted thousands of applications globally, shortlisted and incubated 53 finalists, and deployed more than S$12 million in funding to help these startups, who have gone on to raise hundreds of millions more.  

    In its eighth edition, TLC searched for solutions across two tracks: Decarbonisation and Cool Earth. The Decarbonisation track seeks disruptive deep-tech solutions that provide scalable and impactful solutions to reduce carbon emissions across diverse industries. The Cool Earth track seeks groundbreaking innovations that specifically address the challenges posed by climate-induced extreme weather conditions.

    The eight shortlisted finalist teams – Ayrton Energy, CatAmmon, Cetogenix, CO2Tech, D-CRBN, Eztia Corp, Krosslinker and SXD, Inc – represent various countries including Singapore, Australia, Belgium and the United States.

    TLC’s strategic partners this year are Enterprise Singapore, OCTAVE Well-being Economy Fund, TRIREC and Valuence Ventures. Amazon Web Services was the Tech for Good partner for the event.

    “We are very happy and excited [to have secured this award], but this is just the beginning. We have a very big job to do to make sure that we develop solutions that equitably reach everybody and not just the tech-savvy community. Many thanks to Temasek Foundation for all the inspiring work that you have been doing, and to all our investors who have specially flown in for this event. To all the fellow finalists who keep inspiring us – it’s such amazing work to solve some of the most difficult challenges in this world and committing to a cause rather than building easy solutions,” said Dr Gayathri Natarajan, Co-founder and CEO of Krosslinker Private Limited.  

    “We’re really excited to be able to have this funding support and cement our position in Singapore and Southeast Asia. I’m very grateful to Temasek Foundation for believing in the tech that we’re building, and in our ability to decarbonise these hard-to-abate sectors. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my fantastic team of nerds, as I like to call them back home, as well as the support that we have from our investors both locally and internationally,” said Dr Brandy Kinkead, Chief Technology Officer of Ayrton Energy Inc.

    “At Temasek Foundation, we believe in the urgency of supporting bold and deep-tech innovative solutions that can drive real progress in decarbonising our planet, and keeping our environment cool even with rising temperatures. Our catalytic funding reflects this important commitment – helping innovators move from promising innovations to operational prototypes with potential to scale. Beyond The Liveability Challenge, Temasek Foundation is growing our network of climate tech challenges across the region into China, Indonesia and Vietnam. By doing so, we aim to accelerate innovators’ paths to commercialisation and deliver real impact for both the people and the planet. Our heartiest congratulations to Krosslinker Private Limited and Ayrton Energy Inc on this exciting milestone,” said Heng Li Lang, Head of Climate and Liveability at Temasek Foundation.  

    “TLC has become a fixture in the global sustainability innovation ecosystem, providing a vital catalytic platform for promising start-ups with cutting-edge climate tech solutions from all over the world. By driving innovation, entrepreneurship, ecosystem collaboration and access to finance, it helps groundbreaking ideas move beyond the prototype stage to deliver real-world impact. In a world dangerously close to irreversible planetary thresholds, accelerating these solutions is no longer optional – it is critical,” said Jessica Cheam, Founder and CEO of Eco-Business.

    In addition to the two S$1 million in grants (S$1 million for each winner), a total of S$400,000 in investment and grant opportunities were awarded to the finalists by TLC’s strategic partners [see Appendix A].  

    The Grand Finale also hosted an Innovation Dialogue where speakers Mark Gainsborough, Chairman, Seatrium; Magdalene Loh, Director, Urban Systems and Solutions, Enterprise Singapore; and Dr Dazril Phua, Chief Operating Officer, Nandina REM, identified the solutions needed to advance climate tech solutions and innovation in Singapore and globally – including ecosystem building, policy and financial support and public private partnerships.

    Experts said that clear market signals and policy coherence were key to enabling climate technologies to scale. “Technology risk is (usually) the least of the problem. But is the market going to develop the way as expected and is there a supportive policy framework and regulation? Unfortunately, there are too many cases in the climate tech space where the market hasn’t developed as we expected because of an ever-changing policy and regulation landscape,” Mark Gainsborough, Chairman of Singapore-listed marine engineering company Seatrium, shared during the Innovation Dialogue.  

    Magdalene Loh, Director, Urban Systems and Solutions, Enterprise Singapore, noted that in addition to scaleability and exportability, climate tech solutions must be effectively priced to attract customers, and designed for easy integration into existing systems or processes.

    “Today, many of the climate tech solutions that we’re seeing do need to interact with existing infrastructure – existing systems that clients would already be used to. How would these tech solutions integrate? Many times, you need the buy-in internally within the organisation, not just with the innovation team. There are different facets of the clients to [consider] to secure buy-in as well,” Loh said.  

    For more information, visit The Liveability Challenge website at  www.theliveabilitychallenge.org.  

    About Temasek Foundation 

    Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. Temasek Foundation’s programmes are made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, as well as gifts and contributions from other donors. These programmes strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now and for generations to come. Collectively, Temasek Foundation’s programmes strengthen social resilience, foster international exchange and regional capabilities, advance science and protect the planet. 

    For more information, visit www.temasekfoundation.org.sg

    About Eco-Business 

    Established in 2009, Eco-Business is Asia Pacific’s leading media organisation on sustainable development. Its independent journalism unit publishes high quality, trusted news and views that advance dialogue and enables measurable impact on a wide range of sustainable development and responsible business issues. Eco-Business is headquartered in Singapore, with a presence in Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and correspondents across major cities in Asia Pacific. Visit www.eco-business.com  

    Appendix A

    Additional investment and grant opportunities:

    Singapore’s Krosslinker Private Limited received S$100,000 from OCTAVE Well-being Economy Fund to develop urban cooling solutions using zero energy aerogel coating.

    Canada’s Ayrton Energy Inc received S$100,000 from TRIREC and S$100,000 from Valuence Ventures to develop safe hydrogen storage and transport which seamlessly integrates with existing liquid fuel infrastructure.

    Australia’s CO2Tech received S$100,000 from Enterprise Singapore to develop a cost effective and compact CO2 capture solution which converts emissions into carbon-negative and valuable products.

    Appendix B

    Comments from our Strategic Partners:

    Emily Liew, Assistant Managing Director, Innovation, Enterprise Singapore, said: “As the world races to address pressing environmental challenges, we need platforms such as The Liveability Challenge more than ever to uncover and support breakthrough climate innovations. Start-ups can leverage Singapore’s robust innovation ecosystem, infrastructure and strategic networks to validate and scale their climate solutions. Enterprise Singapore is committed to working with important partners such as Temasek Foundation to accelerate the development of innovative solutions for a sustainable future.”

    Axel Tan, Venture Partner, OCTAVE Well-being Economy Fund, said: “Climate tech startups are pioneering vital solutions for a more liveable planet, but they face steep challenges in scaling. At the OCTAVE Well-being Economy Fund, we believe in backing these innovators by bridging capital, partnerships and purpose. Together with platforms like The Liveability Challenge, we can direct collective investment toward breakthrough technologies – accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more conscious and regenerative future.”

    Andrew Wong, Director, TRIREC, said: “The Liveability Challenge is crucial as it catalyses breakthrough innovations urgently needed to tackle escalating climate crises. By matching catalytic capital with the most promising solutions in climate change, the Challenge accelerates the commercialisation of transformative technologies, especially in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. This platform not only empowers innovators to scale their impact but also drives collective action toward a net-zero and a climate-resilient future worldwide. TRIREC looks forward to supporting ambitious climate founders.”

    Andrew Hyung, General Partner, Valuence Ventures, said: “At a time when the world’s attention is pulled in many directions and the climate crisis is too often set aside, The Liveability Challenge brings much needed focus. It unites visionaries, doers and believers to shape a future we all deserve. By turning urgency into momentum and bold ideas into real solutions, this platform reminds us that hope backed by action can still change everything.”

    Ashley Tan, International Head of Social Impact & Sustainability at Amazon Web Services (AWS), said: “We’re excited by the powerful sustainability solutions presented by winners Krosslinker Private Limited and Ayrton Energy Inc, and the other finalists. Together with Temasek Foundation and Eco-business, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is committed to making a positive environmental and social impact around the world. We will continue to provide the latest AI-driven technologies and bench of deep technical expertise to power innovative solutions in the cloud and solve the climate crisis’s most pressing decarbonisation and food security challenges of our time.”

    Appendix C

    Finalists for The Liveability Challenge 2025:

    1. Ayrton Energy Inc (Canada)  

    Solution: Safe hydrogen storage and transport that seamlessly integrates with existing liquid fuel infrastructure for scalable deployment that is up to 50 per cent lower cost 

    2. CatAmmon (Israel) 

    Solution: ”Cold” (400ºC) ammonia cracking, catalysed by Ruthenium – free, ceramic nanomaterials that achieves over 30 per cent reductions in cost for hydrogen generation 

     3.  Cetogenix (New Zealand)

    Solution: Transforming urban waste into renewable natural gas, green ammonia and other circular bioeconomy products with carbon intensities 19 times less than those of fossil equivalents 

    4.  CO2Tech (Australia) 

    Solution: Cost effective and compact CO2 capture solution capable of converting emissions into carbon negative and valuable products  

    5. D-CRBN (Belgium) 

    Solution: Plasma-based CO2 recycling with a fossil price parity  

    6. Eztia Corp (US)

    Solution: Cooling wearables that absorb body heat, reducing skin temperature by 10°C  

    7. Krosslinker Private Limited (Singapore)

    Solution: Cooling cities 24/7 with a zero energy aerogel coating: passive, powerful and planet friendly 

    8. SXD, Inc (US) 

    Solution: SXD uses its patent-published AI to co-design and scale zero material waste garments, driving 10 times the material savings, approximately 80 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions and up to 55 per cent in cost savings.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Joint statement on Artificial Intelligence and Freedom of Expression

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

    Headline: Joint statement on Artificial Intelligence and Freedom of Expression

    BRUSSELS, 7 May 2025 – Considering the vital impact that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has on freedom of expression, freedom of the media and the information ecosystem;acknowledging that the development and use of AI can be beneficial but raise serious human rights-related concerns;stressing the need to ensure that the design, development and deployment of AI are firmly anchored in international human rights law, principles and commitments;reaffirming human dignity, equality and human rights as guiding principles for the integrity of the information ecosystem,
    the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa (“Mandate Holders”), gathering in Brussels, Belgium to mark World Press Freedom Day 2025, made the following statements:
    “The rapid development of artificial intelligence systems often proceeds without sufficient incorporation of human rights considerations. Developers primarily operate within frameworks of technical ethics and market effectiveness, while the human rights community engages too late in the process. We must shift from a risk-mitigation approach to one where freedom of expression and information integrity are foundational principles embedded from the earliest stages of AI development. This requires bridging the gap between technical innovation and human rights protection, and ensuring that AI systems enhance rather than undermine the information ecosystem that sustains our democracies.” – Pedro Vaca, Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Organization of American States (OAS).
    “There is a complex relationship between journalism and Big Tech, including AI. This is characterized by growing media dependency on platforms, concerns about journalist safety, and a struggle for news visibility, which affects both access to accurate, fact-based news, as well as the economic and financial sustainability of media outlets. In addition, we witness the unauthorized, unattributed, and uncompensated use of journalistic content to train AI systems. We should take advantage of this AI momentum to explore opportunities to create public information spaces where public interest information is prioritized, in support of democracy, peace and security.” – Jan Braathu, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media.
    “Africa faces further intensification of the global digital divide as AI technology thrives on high powered computer chips, electricity intensive data centres, strong research capacity and finance for the development of AI foundation models. These currently do not exist in Africa. The minority of Africans who have access to digital connectivity will only be using AI applications or AI built-into existing services, such as maps and video streaming. As most of the AI underlying foundation models are developed outside Africa, for reasons covered above, the consequence is that AI applications and AI built into other applications are therefore weak in African languages, African skin tones, African languages and African specificities. All this affects the tools available to African media and African citizens. This will lead to discrimination and the exacerbation of social inequalities, to African detriment.”- Geereesha Topsy Sonoo, Special Rapporteur for FOE and ATI with the African Commission of Human and Peoples Rights.
    “Like all technologies, AI comes with benefits as well as risks but undoubtedly it has come to stay. Governments, companies and above all civil society must work together to ensure that AI’s use is shaped by a people-centred human rights approach. AI’s success should be measured not by the speed of news, but by its quality, not by its capacity to increase profits, but its ability to restore public trust in information. With a true commitment to freedom of expression, AI could become the kind of tool the world needs for sustainable development that leaves no one behind.” – Irene Khan, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression.
    The Freedom of Expression Mandate Holders reaffirm the importance of international fora and multi-stakeholder collaborations for dialogue on AI-related developments. Overcoming isolated conversations and merging AI discussions with the issues affecting Freedom of Expression and media freedom, the Mandate Holders will aim at providing guidance to a range of stakeholders on safeguards and approaches to leverage technology in ways that strengthen democratic processes and foster information integrity as a vital foundation of democracy, peace and security.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI: Greystone Housing Impact Investors Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMAHA, Neb., May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On May 7, 2025, Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP (NYSE: GHI) (the “Partnership”) announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

    Financial Highlights

    The Partnership reported the following results as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2025:

    • Net income of $0.11 per Beneficial Unit Certificate (“BUC”), basic and diluted
    • Cash Available for Distribution (“CAD”) of $0.31 per BUC
    • Total assets of $1.54 billion
    • Total Mortgage Revenue Bond (“MRB”) and Governmental Issuer Loan (“GIL”) investments of $1.18 billion

    The difference between reported net income per BUC and CAD per BUC is primarily due to the treatment of unrealized losses on the Partnership’s interest rate derivative positions. Unrealized losses of approximately $3.9 million are included in net income for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Unrealized losses are a result of the impact of decreased market interest rates on the calculated fair value of the Partnership’s interest rate derivative positions. Unrealized gains and losses do not affect our cash earnings and are added back to net income when calculating the Partnership’s CAD. The Partnership received net cash from its interest rate derivative positions totaling approximately $847,000 during the first quarter.

    In March 2025, the Partnership announced that the Board of Managers of Greystone AF Manager LLC declared a regular quarterly distribution to the Partnership’s BUC holders of $0.37 per BUC. The distribution was paid on April 30, 2025, to BUC holders of record as of the close of trading on March 31, 2025.

    Management Remarks

    “We continue to evaluate investment opportunities despite continuing market volatility,” said Kenneth C. Rogozinski, the Partnership’s Chief Executive Officer.  “Our successful Series B Preferred Units issuance provides low-cost, non-dilutive capital for us to deploy into accretive investment opportunities. In addition, the dedicated pool of capital that we have from the new BlackRock construction lending joint venture is a powerful tool for us to serve our affordable housing developer relationship base.”

    Recent Investment and Financing Activity

    The Partnership reported the following updates for the first quarter of 2025:

    • Advanced funds on MRB and taxable MRB investments totaling $21.5 million, offset by an MRB redemption of approximately $10.4 million.
    • Advanced funds on GIL and taxable GIL investments totaling $39.1 million.
    • GIL, taxable GIL, and property loan redemptions and paydowns totaling approximately $102.7 million.
    • Advanced net funds to joint venture equity investments totaling $5.6 million.
    • Received proceeds of $14.2 million upon sale of Vantage at Tomball, inclusive of return of capital and accrued preferred return.
    • Issued $20 million Series B Preferred Units with an annual distribution rate of 5.75% to an existing investor.

    In May 2025, the managing member of Vantage at Helotes sold the property to a governmental entity who in turn leased the property to a non-profit entity. That non-profit entity financed its purchase of the leasehold interest by issuing tax-exempt and taxable bonds. The Partnership received gross proceeds of approximately $17.1 million, inclusive of the return of capital contributions and accrued preferred return. The Partnership expects to recognize investment income of approximately $1.8 million and a gain on sale of approximately $163,000 in the second quarter of 2025, before settlement of final proceeds and expenses. The Partnership expects to recognize approximately $0.08 of net income per BUC, basic and diluted, and CAD per BUC, based on the number of BUCs outstanding on the date of sale.

    Investment Portfolio Updates

    The Partnership announced the following updates regarding its investment portfolio:

    • All MRB and GIL investments are current on contractual principal and interest payments and the Partnership has received no requests for forbearance of contractual principal and interest payments from borrowers as of March 31, 2025
    • The Partnership continues to execute its hedging strategy, primarily through interest rate swaps, to reduce the impact of changing market interest rates.
    • Six joint venture equity investment properties have completed construction, with three properties having previously achieved 90% occupancy. Four of the Partnership’s joint venture equity investments are currently under construction or in development, with none having experienced material supply chain disruptions for either construction materials or labor to date.

    Earnings Webcast & Conference Call

    The Partnership will host a conference call for investors on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the Partnership’s First Quarter 2025 results.

    For those interested in participating in the question-and-answer session, participants may dial-in toll free at (877) 407-8813. International participants may dial-in at +1 (201) 689-8521. No pin or code number is needed.

    The call is also being webcast live in listen-only mode. The webcast can be accessed via the Partnership’s website under “Events & Presentations” or via the following link:
    https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=a4hicNZA

    It is recommended that you join 15 minutes before the conference call begins (although you may register, dial-in or access the webcast at any time during the call).

    A recorded replay of the webcast will be made available on the Partnership’s Investor Relations website at http://www.ghiinvestors.com.

    About Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP

    Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP was formed in 1998 under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act for the primary purpose of acquiring, holding, selling and otherwise dealing with a portfolio of mortgage revenue bonds which have been issued to provide construction and/or permanent financing for affordable multifamily, seniors and student housing properties. The Partnership is pursuing a business strategy of acquiring additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments on a leveraged basis. The Partnership expects and believes the interest earned on these mortgage revenue bonds is excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes. The Partnership seeks to achieve its investment growth strategy by investing in additional mortgage revenue bonds and other investments as permitted by its Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement, dated December 5, 2022 (the “Partnership Agreement”), taking advantage of attractive financing structures available in the securities market, and entering into interest rate risk management instruments. Greystone Housing Impact Investors LP press releases are available at www.ghiinvestors.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Certain statements in this press release are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of statements that include, but are not limited to, phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “estimates,” “potential,” “continue,” or other similar words or phrases. Similarly, statements that describe objectives, plans, or goals also are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Partnership. The Partnership cautions readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, implied, or projected by such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: defaults on the mortgage loans securing our mortgage revenue bonds and governmental issuer loans; the competitive environment in which the Partnership operates; risks associated with investing in multifamily, student, senior citizen residential properties and commercial properties; general economic, geopolitical, and financial conditions, including the current and future impact of changing interest rates, inflation, and international conflicts (including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war) on business operations, employment, and financial conditions; uncertain conditions within the domestic and international macroeconomic environment, including monetary and fiscal policy and conditions in the investment, credit, interest rate, and derivatives markets; any effects on our business resulting from new U.S. domestic or foreign governmental trade measures, including but not limited to tariffs, import and export controls, foreign exchange intervention accomplished to offset the effects of trade policy or in response to currency volatility, and other restrictions on free trade; adverse reactions in U.S. financial markets related to actions of foreign central banks or the economic performance of foreign economies, including in particular China, Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom; the general condition of the real estate markets in the regions in which the Partnership operates, which may be unfavorably impacted by pressures in the commercial real estate sector, incrementally higher unemployment rates, persistent elevated inflation levels, and other factors; changes in interest rates and credit spreads, as well as the success of any hedging strategies the Partnership may undertake in relation to such changes, and the effect such changes may have on the relative spreads between the yield on investments and cost of financing; the aggregate effect of elevated inflation levels over the past several years, spurred by multiple factors including expansionary monetary and fiscal policy, higher commodity prices, a tight labor market, and low residential vacancy rates, which may result in continued elevated interest rate levels and increased market volatility; the Partnership’s ability to access debt and equity capital to finance its assets; current maturities of the Partnership’s financing arrangements and the Partnership’s ability to renew or refinance such financing arrangements; local, regional, national and international economic and credit market conditions; recapture of previously issued Low Income Housing Tax Credits in accordance with Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code; geographic concentration of properties related to investments held by the Partnership; changes in the U.S. corporate tax code and other government regulations affecting the Partnership’s business; and the other risks detailed in the Partnership’s SEC filings (including but not limited to, the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K). Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements.

    If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or if any of the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements proves to be incorrect, the developments and future events concerning the Partnership set forth in this press release may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our expectations and beliefs to change. The Partnership assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, unless obligated to do so under the federal securities laws.

     
     
    GREYSTONE HOUSING IMPACT INVESTORS LP
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (UNAUDITED)
     
        For the Three Months Ended March 31,    
        2025     2024    
    Revenues:              
    Investment income   $ 21,878,167     $ 19,272,345    
    Other interest income     2,288,165       3,003,838    
    Other income     958,825       94,471    
    Total revenues     25,125,157       22,370,654    
    Expenses:              
    Provision for credit losses     (172,000 )     (806,000 )  
    Depreciation     3,542       5,967    
    Interest expense     14,134,816       13,803,935    
    Net result from derivative transactions     3,036,137       (6,267,664 )  
    General and administrative     4,570,261       4,930,388    
    Total expenses     21,572,756       11,666,626    
    Other income:              
    Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated entities     5,220       50,000    
    Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities     (233,334 )     (106,845 )  
    Income before income taxes     3,324,287       10,647,183    
    Income tax benefit     (2,733 )     (1,198 )  
    Net income     3,327,020       10,648,381    
    Redeemable Preferred Unit distributions and accretion     (760,679 )     (767,241 )  
    Net income available to Partners   $ 2,566,341     $ 9,881,140    
                   
    Net income available to Partners allocated to:              
    General Partner   $ 25,611     $ 98,311    
    Limited Partners – BUCs     2,483,685       9,725,097    
    Limited Partners – Restricted units     57,045       57,732    
        $ 2,566,341     $ 9,881,140    
    BUC holders’ interest in net income per BUC, basic and diluted   $ 0.11     $ 0.42   *
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, basic     23,171,226       23,000,754   *
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, diluted     23,171,226       23,000,754   *
    * The amounts indicated above have been adjusted to reflect the distribution completed on April 30, 2024 in the form of additional BUCs at a ratio of 0.00417 BUCs for each BUC outstanding as of March 28, 2024 on a retroactive basis.
       

    Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Measures – Cash Available for Distribution

    The Partnership believes that CAD provides relevant information about the Partnership’s operations and is necessary, along with net income, for understanding its operating results. To calculate CAD, the Partnership begins with net income as computed in accordance with GAAP and adjusts for non-cash expenses or income consisting of depreciation expense, amortization expense related to deferred financing costs, amortization of premiums and discounts, fair value adjustments to derivative instruments, provisions for credit and loan losses, impairments on MRBs, GILs, real estate assets and property loans, deferred income tax expense (benefit), and restricted unit compensation expense. The Partnership also adjusts net income for the Partnership’s share of (earnings) losses of investments in unconsolidated entities as such amounts are primarily depreciation expenses and development costs that are expected to be recovered upon an exit event. The Partnership also deducts Tier 2 income (see Note 22 to the Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements) distributable to the General Partner as defined in the Partnership Agreement and distributions and accretion for the Preferred Units. Net income is the GAAP measure most comparable to CAD. There is no generally accepted methodology for computing CAD, and the Partnership’s computation of CAD may not be comparable to CAD reported by other companies. Although the Partnership considers CAD to be a useful measure of the Partnership’s operating performance, CAD is a non-GAAP measure that should not be considered as an alternative to net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, or any other measures of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP.

    The following table shows the calculation of CAD (and a reconciliation of the Partnership’s net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to CAD) for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (all per BUC amounts are presented giving effect to the BUCs Distributions described in Note 22 of the condensed consolidated financial statements on a retroactive basis for all periods presented):

        For the Three Months Ended March 31,  
        2025     2024  
    Net income   $ 3,327,020     $ 10,648,381  
    Unrealized (gains) losses on derivatives, net     3,883,196       (4,604,215 )
    Depreciation expense     3,542       5,967  
    Provision for credit losses (1)     (172,000 )     (806,000 )
    Amortization of deferred financing costs     381,334       367,418  
    Restricted unit compensation expense     234,047       332,321  
    Deferred income taxes     1,227       2,998  
    Redeemable Preferred Unit distributions and accretion     (760,679 )     (767,241 )
    Tier 2 income allocable to the General Partner (2)            
    Recovery of prior credit loss (3)     (16,967 )     (17,155 )
    Bond premium, discount and acquisition fee amortization, net of cash received     25,220       (40,475 )
    (Earnings) losses from investments in unconsolidated entities     233,334       106,845  
    Total CAD   $ 7,139,274     $ 5,228,844  
                 
    Weighted average number of BUCs outstanding, basic     23,171,226       23,000,754  
    Net income per BUC, basic   $ 0.11     $ 0.42  
    Total CAD per BUC, basic   $ 0.31     $ 0.23  
    Cash Distributions declared, per BUC   $ 0.37     $ 0.368  
    BUCs Distributions declared, per BUC (4)   $     $ 0.07  
    (1) The adjustments reflect the change in allowances for credit losses under the CECL standard which requires the Partnership to update estimates of expected credit losses for its investment portfolio at each reporting date.
       
    (2) As described in Note 22 to the Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements, Net Interest Income representing contingent interest and Net Residual Proceeds representing contingent interest (Tier 2 income) will be distributed 75% to the limited partners and BUC holders, as a class, and 25% to the General Partner. This adjustment represents 25% of Tier 2 income due to the General Partner. There was no Tier 2 income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.
       
    (3) The Partnership determined there was a recovery of previously recognized impairment recorded for the Live 929 Apartments Series 2022A MRB prior to the adoption of the CECL standard effective January 1, 2023. The Partnership is accreting the recovery of prior credit loss for this MRB into investment income over the term of the MRB consistent with applicable guidance. The accretion of recovery of value is presented as a reduction to current CAD as the original provision for credit loss was an addback for CAD calculation purposes in the period recognized.
       
    (4) The Partnership declared the distribution completed on April 30, 2024 in the form of additional BUCs equal to $0.07 per BUC for outstanding BUCs as of the record date of March 28, 2024.
       

    MEDIA CONTACT: 
    Karen Marotta 
    Greystone 
    212-896-9149 
    Karen.Marotta@greyco.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT:
    Andy Grier
    Investors Relations
    402-952-1235

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stage 3 of the Crime Procurement Process opened on 1 May

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Stage 3 of the Crime Procurement Process opened on 1 May

    Stage 3 will be open until at least 30 September 2034, subject to any early notice, and is open to anyone who has not yet tendered.

    From July 2025, Stage 3 bids will be opened the month after they have been submitted.

    Subject to verification, contracts will commence – no longer than – three months after the date that the bid was opened. 

    Stage 2 of the procurement process closed on 30 April 2025. Those who tendered will be notified of the outcome of their bids by week commencing 26 May 2025.

    How do I tender?

    Tenders must be submitted using the LAA’s eTendering system. 

    For full details of the procurement process, please read the Application Guide which is available at Crime Contract 2025 Tender – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tango Meets Tokamak: Bill Bailey talks fusion energy with UKAEA

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Tango Meets Tokamak: Bill Bailey talks fusion energy with UKAEA

    British musician, comedian and television star Bill Bailey’s interest and passion for fusion energy saw a recent visit to UKAEA’s Culham Campus.

    Bill Bailey visits MAST Upgrade as part of tour at UKAEA’s Culham Campus – Image Credit United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

    The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) welcomed British musician, comedian and television star, Bill Bailey, to its Culham Campus to explore the vital research being undertaken to advance fusion as a sustainable source of energy for future generations.

    The Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball Trophy winner visited UKAEA’s campus in Oxfordshire, after mentioning fusion during his ‘Thoughtifier’ stand-up tour. Spotted in the audience, UKAEA’s Executive Director for Engineering and Computing, Dr Joe Milnes, invited Mr Bailey to see fusion’s research and development in action.

    Mr Bill Bailey, said:

    The central premise of this show (‘Thoughtifier’) is celebrating human endeavour and the constant ingenuity of humans. I talk about it in terms of human evolution, about discovering music, and one of those fields is also fusion. It felt like a natural fit to put fusion into the show and to ask the members of the audience what they feel about it.

    I’ve noticed a change over the past year and half where, every time I mention fusion, there has been a gradual uptick in people’s awareness of it. When I say, ‘We need to find a solution to the world’s energy needs, what about fusion?’, there are cheers from the crowd.

    My visit to UKAEA was fascinating and eye-opening, and amazing to hear about how our understanding of fusion is progressing. Seeing all this being done in the English countryside gave me a huge surge of patriotic pride, and enormous hope for the future.

    Dr Joe Milnes, Executive Director for Engineering and Computing, UKAEA, said:

    I’ve always been a big fan of Bill’s, particularly his sense of humour combined with his obvious fascination with how the world works.

    Spending a few hours with Bill, showing him all the incredible things happening at UKAEA, revealed how excited he is about fusion and other endeavours where humans can demonstrate their incredible problem-solving abilities.

    Fusion promises to be a safe, low carbon and sustainable part of the world’s future energy supply. It has the potential to provide ‘base load’ power, complementing renewable and other low carbon energy sources.

    During his visit, Mr Bailey toured UKAEA’s MAST-Upgrade and the Joint European Torus (JET) facilities and recorded a fireside chat with Dr Joe Milnes.

    Watch the full fireside chat on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/7FS1yO3zs5k

    Bill Bailey in fireside chat with UKAEA’s Dr. Joe Milnes – Image Credit United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New rules to sack officers guilty of gross misconduct

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New rules to sack officers guilty of gross misconduct

    Police officers to no longer be able to escape the sack for gross misconduct as major government reforms to boost standards in policing continue.

    Image: Getty Images

    Police officers found guilty of gross misconduct will no longer be able to escape dismissal under new rules that will help to root out rogue individuals and drive up standards.

    The new rules, being laid in parliament today and due to come into effect at the end of the month, will strengthen the ability of police chiefs to clean out their forces of officers unfit to serve by setting clear expectations about what should happen to those guilty of the most serious behaviour.

    Whilst many officers who are found guilty of gross misconduct do get sacked, with over 500 officers dismissed – or “would have been dismissed” if they hadn’t already left the service – last year, there currently is no guarantee that gross misconduct will lead to dismissal.

    In some cases, officers remain in post, with 56 officers remaining in policing last year despite being guilty of gross misconduct.

    Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

    We place a huge amount of faith and trust in the police officers we see in our communities, and it is vital that only those fit to wear the uniform are serving the public.

    We cannot let the majority of officers, who are brave and committed to keeping us safe, be tarnished by the few who commit serious criminality or gross misconduct. They, and the public, deserve certainty that those who are unfit to serve will be dismissed.

    With our Plan for Change, we are sending the clear message that no matter where you are in the country, the officers serving on our streets are only of the highest standards.

    Under the new rules, which will come into force from 28 May, a presumption of dismissal will be created for proven gross misconduct, which means there will be a clear expectation that officers will be sacked unless there are exceptional circumstances.

    These new rules will provide clarity and certainty to the public and officers that gross misconduct has no place in policing, and form part of a series of government reforms to boost public confidence in policing as part of its Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change. It builds on a new process to sack officers who fail background checks that was announced last month, with holding vetting becoming a legal requirement.  

    Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, Isabelle Younane, said:

    Women’s Aid welcomes reforms to policing announced today by the Home Office, which will help ensure that forces are able to remove dangerous perpetrators from their ranks more swiftly.

    It is essential that women are able to trust that when they are bravely reporting their experiences of abuse to the police, they aren’t speaking to an officer who has been accused of violence against women and girls (VAWG) related misconduct themselves.

    These reforms, alongside those announced previously, are positive first steps to improving women’s trust in the police. We continue to urge for further action to ensure that no individuals with the misogynistic attitudes and beliefs that underpin VAWG are eligible to join.

    Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Newlove said:

    Today’s changes are a welcome and necessary step toward restoring public trust – and reaffirming the values policing must uphold. Too often and for far too long, red flags have been missed, minimised or ignored.

    While only one piece of the puzzle, I hope these measures will help to kick urgently needed cultural change into gear, ensuring only those worthy of the badge are allowed to serve.

    The new legislation being laid today will also create a presumption of accelerated hearings for former officers, ensuring swifter proceedings for those who resign or retire before they face a misconduct hearing. Former officers who would have been dismissed had they still been serving will continue to be barred from future service.

    Unsatisfactory performance procedures are also being streamlined so that underperforming officers are taken through the process more quickly.

    Serious criminal offences will also automatically amount to gross misconduct under these new measures. Whilst ‘indictable only’ criminal offences like rape and grievous bodily harm often lead to misconduct proceedings, this is not currently defined in law, and the government is therefore making it more straightforward for forces to deal with these cases quickly.

    As part of the government’s reform agenda, further measures will be brought in later this year to strengthen national vetting standards and ensure every force follows them, as well as introduce stronger requirements to suspend officers under investigation for violence against women and girls.

    Updates to this page

    Published 7 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Get fit for FREE this summer at Victoria Park

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Launching on Wednesday 7 May 2025, ‘PT in the Park’ sessions will take place every week in Victoria Park from 5pm-6pm until September 2025 (weather depending*).

    Sessions will be led by BH Live Active instructors and will incorporate a warm-up, health and safety briefing, HIIT-based exercises, and a cooldown to inspire more people to stay active in one of the city’s beautiful parklands.

    All fitness levels and abilities are welcome, with alternative movements demonstrated for both advanced and beginner levels. Participants aged 12+ are welcome, but under-18s must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

    Sessions are free to attend with no booking required – simply turn up on the day. A suggested £2 donation (cash or electronic donation via QR code) on the day is encouraged, with all funds donated to BH Live’s Investing In Community Fund to contribute to the delivery of future health and wellbeing community projects across the city.

    Other activities, including Stretch and Relax Yoga sessions, will also be running in Victoria Park throughout the summer, to highlight the park’s importance to the local community. A full list of activities and further information on park facilities can be found at victoriaparkportsmouth.org.uk.

    The Victoria Park summer events project is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and delivered by Portsmouth City Council.

    BH Live is a registered charity and social enterprise. BH Live manages and operates several leisure centres across the city in partnership with Portsmouth City Council. These include Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Pyramids and Exploria in Southsea, Charter Community Sports Centre, Wimbledon Park Sports Centre, and Portsmouth Tennis & Gymnastics Centre.

    On behalf of BH Live, Carla Earle, Community Sports Manager for Portsmouth, shared;

    “It’s great to work with Portsmouth City Council and the Victoria Park team to deliver these free group exercise sessions in the community. We hope this will encourage more people across the city to have a go at a new activity, discover the benefits of being regularly active, and of course enjoy the lovely setting in Victoria Park.”

    A representative from Portsmouth City Council’s Victoria Park Project team shared;

    “We are excited to collaborate with BH Live Active to bring these fitness sessions to Victoria Park. By offering these sessions, we aim to encourage everyone to take advantage of the park’s facilities and join us in promoting a healthier, more active lifestyle. Exercise can be so important to build friendships, confidence, and self-esteem, and we would love new members of the community to join these groups. Our goal is to make fitness accessible to all and to highlight the park’s role in fostering community spirit and well-being.”

    Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport at Portsmouth City Council added:

    “Victoria Park is known as the ‘people’s park’, so it is fitting that it should host these sessions, which are open to everyone looking to improve their fitness and wellbeing.

    “Encouraging healthy lifestyles in our communities and promoting positive physical health is a priority for us. I’m delighted to see us coming together with our partners to offer this fantastic opportunity in the heart of the city.”

    More information on BH Live’s health and wellbeing and community activities can be found at bhliveactive.org.uk/health-and-wellbeing-activities.

    More information on BH Live Active can be found at bhliveactive.org.uk.

    More information on Victoria Park can be found at victoriaparkportsmouth.co.uk.

    -ENDS-

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Restoration works begin on famous Armada Shipwreck collection

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Restoration works begin on famous Armada Shipwreck collection

    7 May 2025

    The Tower Museum’s famous Armada Shipwreck collection is on the move, as National Museums NI commences restoration work on the key artefacts before they make the transition to their new home in the state-of-the-art new DNA (Derry~Londonderry on the North Atlantic) Museum in Ebrington Square.

    The collection will be closed to the public while the essential work is being completed, however visitors can still access the popular Story of Derry and Derry Girls Exhibitions over the coming months.

    The ‘Armada Shipwreck ~ La Trinidad Valencera’ exhibition has been a central focus of the museum’s visitor experience, bringing to life the 16th century story of conflict between England and Spain, and the drama and tragedy that unfolded as over 20 Spanish ships foundered off the Donegal coast.

    The collection has been on loan to the Museum from National Museums NI since 2004 and is recognised to be of international importance. The transfer is just one element of the Tower Museum’s legacy as the collection will soon become an integral part of the new DNA Museum.  Once restored the Armada pieces will remain in storage until they can be rehoused in the new museum which is due to open in early 2027.

    Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, said it was an exciting milestone in the project. “The Spanish Armada collection has been a popular attraction at the Museum since 2005, and we are delighted to continue our relationship with National Museums NI in keeping these significant pieces here in the North West, where they were first discovered by local divers. Once restored they will take pride of place in the new DNA museum where they will help tell the wider story of our history and heritage.

    “It’s exciting to see preparations well and truly underway in archiving and restoring the collections that will move to the DNA site, where new technology and facilities will really bring these collections to life.”

    Among the artefacts are a gun carriage wheel and bronze siege gun, canon and other weaponry, textiles and items recovered from the wreck site discovered at Kinnagoe Bay. The collection also documents the remarkable story of the diving expedition which uncovered the treasure trove of artefacts.

    Council’s Head of Culture, Aeidin McCarter, said: “Work is continuing to progress on the delivery of the much-anticipated new DNA Museum which is one of the exciting strategic projects being delivered as part of Derry and Strabane’s City Deal portfolio. The decant and conservation of items from the Tower Museum is an essential part of this process, and will take place gradually over the coming months.

    “We are delighted that the new museum will have the capacity to house the majority of collections currently on display in the Tower Museum in the seven new galleries, with DNA becoming our new civic museum, creating a central hub linking to other tourism experiences across the region. I want to thank National Museums NI for their ongoing support and I look forward to seeing the successful transition to the new site.”

    William Blair, Director of Collections at National Museums NI said: The Armada collection, and particularly the story of the La Trinidad Valancera – the ship that foundered off the coast of Donegal in 1588 – has an ensuring resonance with the North West and Derry~Londonderry. It’s time at the Tower Museum has helped share its remarkable story with many thousands of visitors.

    “At National Museums NI, we have a responsibility to preserve and protect this important heritage. That’s why we are temporarily bringing the collection back into our care – to conserve it and prepare it for public display at its new home in the DNA Museum, where it can continue to inspire and be appreciated by future generations.”

    The DNA Museum once completed will also include a dedicated archive discovery zone, access to genealogy advice, a temporary exhibition space, multi-purpose learning and events space, café, retail and external interpretation space.

    The galleries will be dedicated to telling the story of the city and wider North West area and will complement the existing museum and heritage venue offering throughout the city. A new website is also being developed to provide enhanced digital collections and online learning resources accessible to everyone.

    Council has successfully completed a Tender process and is currently working with all the relevant project partners on the appointment of a contractor which will be announced in the coming weeks, with work expected to begin on site this summer.

    Anyone who would like to access the Armada exhibition digitally while awaiting its new iteration in DNA can do so online along with associated collections and archives by visiting https://towermuseumcollections.com/la-trinidad-valencera/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major grants for community organisations

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    The Belmont Cinema, an all-ability wheelchair swing project, youth club equipment, and a community radio station are among a raft of local organisations which are to benefit from grants totalling £965,000 approved today.

    Aberdeen City Council’s Finance and Resources Committee agreed the monies for projects around the city including The Belmont Community Cinema Project, Aberdeen Deeside Rotary Trust, Kingswells Community Centre, and Station House Media Uni (SHMU).

    Committee Convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “These are major projects which have been awarded funding today and the monies will assist the organisations in bringing forward their respective projects. 

    “These grant applications, from a number of partners and third sector organisations, will make a positive impact on our city in their own way.”

    Council Culture spokesperson Councillor Martin Greig said: “These grants will make a positive difference for organisations and people across Aberdeen. I look forward to seeing the progress on all of these projects in the coming months.”

    A report to committee said the grants awarded included:

    • Aberdeen Deeside Rotary Trust – all-ability wheelchair swing project – £13,000;
    • Aberdeen Performing Arts – building management system upgrade at HMT – £48,895;
    • Aberdeen Science Centre – community engagement and accessibility project – £73,198;
    • Alcohol and Drugs Action – family harm reduction/recovery support – £19,801;
    • Aberdeen City Council – Bucksburn Swimming Pool recommissioning project – £173,140;
    • Befriend a Child – family support project – £19,152;
    • Belmont Community Cinema – improving the entrance project – £100,000;
    • Citymoves Dance Agency – United Aberdeen Dance project – £47,089;
    • Community Outreach Group – upgraded kitchen – £3,800;
    • Denburn Residents and Tenants Association – Upper Denburn Gardens – £10,000;
    • East Grampian Coastal Partnership – Aberdeen City Coastal Path Study – £9,450;
    • Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association – specialist exercise service for people with cardiac and chronic health conditions in Aberdeen – £15,000;
    • Grampian Women’s Aid – support services – £45,470;
    • Growing2gether – strengthening communities by building local skills, wellbeing and resilience project – £28,865;
    • Instant Neighbour – Upcycle Inc Project – £10,000;
    • Kingswells Community Centre – youth club equipment – £876;
    • Sound Scotland – Soundcommunities year 2 – £24,000;
    • Station House Media Unit – extension to Station House – £110,000;
    • Techfest – TechFests Blueprint Challenge: A Future Highstreet – £10,000;
    • The Kings Community Foundation – the Bridge Centre Retrofit – £50,000.

    The report to committee said allocation of grant funding is from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The UKSPF money was allocated to the City Council by the UK Government. The core UKSPF element can be used across three priority areas – community and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grants for VisitAberdeenshire’s cruise ship volunteer programme and Northern Nights campaign

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Grants totalling more than £73,000 have been approved for two schemes which will help bring tourists and visitors to the city.

    Aberdeen City Council’s Finance and Resources Committee today agreed the monies for VisitAberdeenshire. A total of £23,932 will be used for VisitAberdeenshire’s Cruise Volunteer Programme and £50,000 for its Northern Nights campaign.

    Council Culture spokesperson Councillor Martin Greig said: “Aberdeen is a beautiful and historic place and we look forward to sharing it with visitors from abroad and other parts of the country.

    “These two schemes from VisitAberdeenshire will help to attract more people to the city and area and will guide them to what there is to discover while they are here.”

    Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “Both of these VisitAberdeenshire projects are excellent ways of helping tourists and visitors orientate themselves while they are in the city.

    “We want to attract more people to come and experience Aberdeen for themselves and being able to offer added benefits through the campaign and cruise volunteer scheme will help to do just that.”

    The Cruise ‘Welcome’ Volunteer Scheme was created to meet and help orientate visitors during their first moments in Aberdeen, focusing primarily on cruise passengers arriving in the city.

    The programme aims to provide a positive first impression of the region, create fulfilling volunteering opportunities that upskill local people and generate civic pride, and change the narrative of the region as a tourism destination.

    This funding will enhance the delivery and experience of the welcome volunteer scheme, supporting programme development and preparation for the 2026 season through additional training and recruitment to grow the volunteer pool to 40 people.

    By driving more footfall into Aberdeen businesses during the cruise season, engaging local residents as volunteers, and fostering civic pride, the programme benefits the local economy, people, and place.

    The “Northern Nights: The City Comes to Light” campaign will promote Aberdeen as a vibrant winter destination in early 2026, leveraging cultural events like SPECTRA and Granite Noir to boost hotel occupancy, visitor footfall, and revenue, while supporting local tourism and hospitality businesses through targeted marketing, digital cultural trail maps, and night-time city photography.

    The proposed Northern Nights: the City comes to Light campaign will also promote experiences in the city during the early months of 2026 when nights are longer. The message will be about making this a positive reason to travel and Visit Aberdeenshire intends to bolster hotel occupancy and revenue per available room during these times in the city centre.

    VisitAberdeenshire CEO Chris Foy said “Attention is already turning towards the 2026 cruise season, and this award will not only help to deliver thousands of warm welcomes to our visitors but also contribute towards making volunteering a highly positive experience for local participants. And whilst Aberdeen currently enjoys the early summer sunshine, planning is underway to grow the visitor economy during the winter season.

    “Our inaugural Northern Nights campaign in 2024/25 resulted in over £1/2million of additional visitor spend, demonstrating that our part of the world can shine brightly during the darker months. This funding award will allow us to build on the momentum already created.”

    The report to committee said allocation of grant funding is from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The UKSPF money was allocated to the City Council by the UK Government. The core UKSPF element can be used across three priority areas – community and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom