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Category: European Union

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — Windyridge Property Investments

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

    Home Building Fund Developer Case Study: Windyridge

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

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

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

    Jatinder Singh Gakhal, Managing Director, Windyridge said:

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

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Home Building Fund — EDG Ironmonger Ltd

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

    EDG development

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

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

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

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

    Neil Edginton, Managing Director of EDG, said:

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

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

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MHRA experts carry out four main responsibilities:  

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

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

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: CoinShares Announces Executive Change

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

    About CoinShares

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

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

    PRESS CONTACT

    CoinShares
    Benoît Pellevoizin
    bpellevoizin@coinshares.com

    M Group Strategic Communications
    Peter Padovano
    coinshares@mgroupsc.com

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: City of Salford

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

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

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

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

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

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

    For Salford, those findings include:

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

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

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

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

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    Date published
    Wednesday 9 April 2025

    Press and media enquiries

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Overhaul of local audit will restore trust in broken system

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Further information:

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Notes to editors: 

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

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New Chief Scientific Adviser appointed

    Professor Anjali Goswami becomes Defra’s new Chief Scientist

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

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

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

    Defra Permanent Secretary, Tamara Finkelstein said: 

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

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

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

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

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

    Professor Anjali Goswami said: 

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

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

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

    Current Defra Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Gideon Henderson said: 

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

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

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

    Professor Anjali Goswami Biography 

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

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

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

    Notes to editors 

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 9th April 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Strabane BID celebrates local culinary excellence as three establishments earn top honours

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Strabane BID celebrates local culinary excellence as three establishments earn top honours

    9 April 2025

    Strabane BID is delighted to congratulate three local establishments on their outstanding success at The Irish Restaurant Ulster Regional Awards held on April 1st at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan.

    Oysters Restaurant achieved remarkable recognition, winning both the Best Restaurant award and Best Chef award for Vincent Mahon in the Tyrone category. The Thirsty Filly was named Best Newcomer for Tyrone, while The Banks Restaurant’s Shane Breslin earned the prestigious Best Restaurant Manager award for Tyrone.

    The award ceremony featured strong representation from Strabane, with seven local establishments nominated, including Oysters, The Thirsty Filly, The Banks Restaurant, The Cherry Tree, Tusk Restaurant, The Farmers Home and The Harp and Fiddle.

    A special acknowledgment goes to John McGowan from The Farmer’s Home, who has been shortlisted for the All Ireland Outstanding Achievement Award.

    All regional winners, along with John McGowan, will attend the All Ireland awards ceremony on May 19th in Dublin.

    Congratulating the winners the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr said: “This outstanding achievements by our local restaurants showcases the exceptional culinary talent we have here in Strabane. Their success not only brings recognition to these fine establishments but also highlights our town as a growing food destination in Northern Ireland. I extend my warmest congratulations to all winners and nominees, and wish them continued success at the All Ireland awards in May.”

    Echoing the Mayor’s comments Kieran Kennedy, chair of Strabane BID said: “The success of our local eateries demonstrates the remarkable quality and innovation that our local hospitality sector brings to the table. I’m immensely proud to see these businesses receive the recognition they deserve for their hard work, creativity, and commitment to excellence. These awards help put Strabane firmly on the map as a culinary destination and contribute significantly to our town’s economic vitality and visitor appeal.”

    Emma McGill, Strabane Town Centre Development Manager, added: “Having seven Strabane establishments nominated and three winning prestigious awards is a testament to the tremendous growth and quality of our local food scene. The dedication of these restauranteurs, chefs and staff to delivering exceptional dining experiences is helping transform our town centre into a vibrant destination. These achievements reflect the passion and entrepreneurial spirit that make Strabane special, and we’re excited to support their journey to the All Ireland awards in May.”

    For more information about Strabane BID and how it can help your business please contact Emma McGill, Town Centre Manager on [email protected]

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A spy detective film about the 1960s was filmed at the Moskino cinema park

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Filming of the four-part series “Dear Willy” about the secret friendship of Leonid Brezhnev and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) Willy Brandt has been completed at the Moskino cinema park. The plot of the series is based on real archival interviews. The director of the project is Vladimir Shchegolkov. The main roles are played by Sergey Makovetsky and Kirill Kyaro.

    The action of the spy detective takes place in the 1960s against the backdrop of the threat of nuclear war. Soviet intelligence intercepts information about an impending US attack from bases in West Germany. To prevent a catastrophe, the leader of the Soviet state Leonid Brezhnev secretly makes a deal with Chancellor Willy Brandt, risking his career and even his life.

    “Opening a cinema park in Moscow is a great idea, it should have been done a long time ago. Several interesting objects for filmmakers are conveniently located here in one location. We filmed in the sets of “Tu-154 Airplane”, “Berlin Border Checkpoint”, “County Town”, “Center of Moscow”. This is very convenient because we do not need to close roads in the city center and cause inconvenience to residents. In the Moskino cinema park, you can fully control the filming process and decorate as needed, for example, decorate and fill the streets in accordance with the era that is needed. We are looking forward to the emergence of new interesting sites,” said Nadezhda Guselnikova, producer of the project “Dear Willie”.

    The development of natural, decorative parks within the city, where modern and historical projects can be filmed, is a huge help in film production and a mutually beneficial mechanism, noted Natalia Bernyakova, executive producer of the Format TV company. According to her, due to administrative difficulties, it is very difficult to work with railway stations and airports, and the film park has such decorations.

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

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

    The director spoke about the filming of the series “Natalie and Alexander” in the Moskino cinema parkActors of the historical series talked about filming in the Moskino cinema park

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152337073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SIA surprise inspections uncover illegal security in Brighton

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    SIA surprise inspections uncover illegal security in Brighton

    A recent SIA-led joint operation investigating unlicensed door staff in Brighton led to three arrests.

    On Friday 4 April the Security Industry Authority (SIA), together with Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) and Sussex Police, conducted unannounced inspections at three venues in Brighton.

    The SIA planned the inspections to check that security workers in the city’s night-time economy were properly licensed and had the right to work in the UK. The choice of venues came as a result of intelligence relating to the use of counterfeit licences.

    The inspecting team didn’t find any security operatives working without licences during the inspection itself. However, they uncovered evidence showing that unlicensed operatives had recently worked illegally as door supervisors at two of the venues.

    HOIE arrested and bailed one door supervisor for not having the right to work in the UK. The security company that employed him will be considered for a civil penalty, which could be as much as £60,000. HOIE detained a second door supervisor, pending removal, for working in breach of his visa conditions. A search of the door supervisor’s home address revealed a third individual, who was also arrested for working in breach of their visa conditions

    Kirsty Grant, the SIA Criminal Investigations Officer who led the inspection, said:

    We would like to thank Home Office Immigration Enforcement and Sussex Police for working with us on this operation. It’s crucial for public safety that door supervisors are properly trained and licensed. People who abuse the system are putting venue customers at risk. They are also putting themselves at risk of arrest and potentially imprisonment and deportation. Security companies should take note: deploying unlicensed staff or failing to conduct basic identity and right to work checks on your employees can be very expensive and lead to a criminal record.

    Background

    The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the home secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

    For media enquiries only, please contact  media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global markets crash on tariff fears

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

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

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

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

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

    Global turbulence 

    Major markets across the globe witnessed a turbulent day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Fear and fury 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Doom and gloom 

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leisure travel tops charts for reasons people choose rail

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Leisure travel tops charts for reasons people choose rail

    The railway network connects people across the country, fuelling business, growth and opportunity.

    • new research from the Department for Transport shows that leisure is the most common reason for travelling by train
    • post-pandemic trends continue as results show the most common days to commute by train are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
    • whether its visiting friends and family, going on holiday or the usual commute, our railway provides vital connections across the country, boosting growth and fuelling our economy as part of the Plan for Change

    Passengers are more likely to take the train for leisure travel while commuters would rather take the train midweek are the key takeaways from a new research report published today (9 April 2025) by the Department for Transport (DfT).

    The railway connects communities across the country, moving people to get to work, education, healthcare and leisure. It provides vital infrastructure essential for delivering growth, providing opportunity and raising living standards as part of the Plan for Change.

    The government is undertaking a once in a generation overhaul of the rail network, bringing train operating companies into public ownership and setting up Great British Railways (GBR), bringing track and train together to put passengers first.

    In order to better understand how passengers use the railway and deliver a network that works for their needs, DfT did an investigation into the reasons passengers take the train. The report found that:

    • 54% respondents said they were travelling for leisure
    • 30% were commuting for work or education
    • 15% were travelling for business
    • 61% said they travelled by rail for leisure at least once a month
    • 41% said they used the railway for commuting at least once a week, with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday being the most popular days

    This shows a return to midweek office working, demonstrating how essential the railway is for connecting people to get to work, providing a path for opportunity and catalysing economic growth.

    Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said:

    Our railway is the backbone of our economy, connecting people across the country and fuelling business, growth and opportunity, supporting the Plan for Change.

    This research shows thousands of passengers choose the train for their leisure travel. To go and see family and friends, go on holiday or go to big events whether its concerts, festivals or a football match, the train is the best way to get there.

    Resetting industrial relations has meant there have been no national strikes since 9 May 2024, which has protected passengers from significant disruption and delays, avoiding further impacts to the hospitality industry and wider economy. This has meant the network has been able to start getting its financial footing back, with green shoots appearing in rail revenue with an increase of 8% from the latest quarter (October to December 2024) compared to the same quarter in 2023. Public ownership will turn the page on fragmentation and mean every penny can be spent for the benefit of passengers rather than private shareholders.

    A key barrier to more people taking the train is still a lack of consistency in reliable services as delays and cancellations mean people miss days of work, hospital appointments or social events. The latest passenger data shows cancellations in the latest quarter (October to December 2024) was 5.1%, with 70,000 fully cancelled trains across the network.

    The government is determined to drive up performance, and the Rail Minister is meeting with all train operators to address concerns and demand immediate action. On top of this, last month the Transport Secretary announced a new era of rail accountability, making performance information available at over 1,700 stations showing the punctuality and reliability of trains visiting those stations.

    This year’s rail sale was the biggest one yet, encouraging more people to take the train with over one million tickets sold and top destinations including Manchester, York and London Bridge. Great British Railways will have a relentless focus on putting passengers at the centre of every journey, encouraging more people to take the train by improving standards and driving up performance.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Capture of Königsberg: 80 Years of a Historic Victory

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On April 9, 1945, during the East Prussian Operation, troops of the 3rd Belorussian Front under the command of Marshal of the Soviet Union Alexander Vasilevsky stormed and captured the fortress city of Königsberg.

    It was not for nothing that the ancient German city was considered the stronghold of East Prussia. Shortly before the start of World War II, the fortress was modernized, equipped with the most modern military equipment, food and ammunition warehouses. The old forts were also strengthened, and anti-tank ditches and hundreds of pillboxes connected by underground passages were built along the perimeter. Documentation on the number of German troops defending the city was lost, but in all likelihood the group numbered at least 100 thousand people, supplemented by police and the Volkssturm – the people’s militia.

    As for the Volksturm, the situation here echoes the current state of affairs in Ukraine, where citizens are mobilized by force, seized right on the streets. In Germany in 1945, an order was issued stating that all men between the ages of 16 and 60 were required to report to mobilization points. In case of evasion, civilians faced a military field court. The mobilized were given uniforms, rifles, and sent into battle without any training. And there was no shortage of civilians in Königsberg. Gauleiter of East Prussia Erich Koch forbade the evacuation of the civilian population, since he saw no reason for this literally until the approach of Soviet troops to the city borders.

    The Red Army’s offensive on Königsberg began on April 6, 1945. Not all of Vasilevsky’s forces were used for it. The marshal formed assault detachments and groups totaling about 25,000 men, which included the most experienced fighters from rifle companies, engineering brigades, and chemical battalions – flamethrowers. The groups also included one or two tanks, several artillery pieces, and platoons of machine gunners and mortarmen.

    Despite fierce German resistance, Hitler’s order to hold the city to the last soldier, and the brutal actions of SS and Gestapo brigades shooting soldiers who tried to escape or surrender, Königsberg capitulated 81 hours after the assault began.

    The fortress commandant, General Otto Lasch, signed the corresponding document on April 9 at 21:30, but the resistance of individual groups of Wehrmacht soldiers continued until the next day, which is why the reverse side of the medal “For the Capture of Königsberg” bears the date April 10, 1945. Incidentally, this is the only medal of the USSR established for the capture of a city other than the capital.

    235 participants in the assault on Königsberg were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, 156 regiments, divisions, and corps were awarded orders, and 98 units were named “Königsberg”. In honor of the capture of the city, a salute was given with 24 artillery salvos from 324 guns.

    On September 30, 1945, a monument to 1,200 guardsmen who died during the assault was ceremoniously unveiled in Königsberg at the site of a mass grave. It is the first monument in the Soviet Union to perpetuate the memory of soldiers who died in the Great Patriotic War.

    The State University of Management congratulates you on this memorable date and remembers the representative of our university who had the opportunity to participate in the East Prussian operation.

    Georgy Lagunov is a junior sergeant, a DShK heavy machine gunner, a candidate of economic sciences, associate professor, and a leading research fellow at the Research Laboratory. He was an Honored Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation. He served in the Red Army from 1943 to 1945, a resident of besieged Leningrad and a participant in the defense of the city, awarded with the appropriate awards. On the day of crossing the border with Germany, he was seriously wounded in the arm and leg by a shell explosion. After an eight-month course of treatment, he was declared unfit for further service. After the war, he studied at the Leningrad Electrical Machine-Building College at the S.M. Kirov Electrosila Plant, the All-Union Correspondence Economic Institute, and the correspondence postgraduate program at MIEI. Since 1958, he worked at the Research Laboratory of Economics and Organization of Production of the Moscow City Council of National Economy, which was formed that year at MIEI. A number of the laboratory’s works were awarded medals of the All-Russian Exhibition Centre, including a gold one, and prizes and certificates of the USSR Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education. Later, he became an associate professor of the Department of National Economic Planning and eventually worked at our university for over 30 years.

    Königsberg was transferred under the jurisdiction of the USSR after the end of World War II, and in 1946 it was renamed Kaliningrad, and remains an integral part of the Russian Federation to this day.

    #Scientific regiment

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

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: From import to innovation: how Grown in Britain and ercol are transforming UK furniture manufacturing

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    From import to innovation: how Grown in Britain and ercol are transforming UK furniture manufacturing

    A woodland management case study demonstrating how traditional craftsmanship and sustainable forestry practices work hand in hand to bring ash trees to market.

    In the heart of Buckinghamshire, a remarkable transformation is taking place. The century-old furniture maker, ercol, has partnered with Grown in Britain and Tyler Hardwoods in a pioneering project supported by the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Fund.

    The UK is currently the second largest importer of wood, importing 73% of timber. 85% of locally sourced hardwood is being burned as fuel while manufacturers import wood for furniture making. In a market worth hundreds of millions of pounds and growing, this is a challenge for the industry to address.

    It also presents a great opportunity for a shift towards home-grown timber for the furniture industry, particularly as customers are becoming more invested in products with local provenance.

    A corridor inside the ercol factory showing pallets of wood. Copyright ercol

    For ercol, this challenge and subsequent opportunity resonated deeply. After closing their sawmill at the end of the 90s, ercol stopped buying locally sourced timber, and with time much of the knowledge and understanding about converting trees into usable timber components was lost.

    This pattern, repeated across UK manufacturing, has led to a significant loss of sawmilling expertise in the sector. At the same time, the ecological condition of our woodlands was being impacted from years of undermanagement.

    An early vision for environmental change

    Ian Peers, Operations Director, ercol said:

    We were already having discussions internally about our environmental journey. We knew we had to do something, but we weren’t quite sure where to begin. The opportunity to work with Grown in Britain came at exactly the right time.

    The winds of change began blowing when ercol started examining their environmental impact. Through discussions with the Sylva Foundation and subsequently Grown in Britain, a vision emerged for what furniture manufacturing could become.

    The project’s ambitions were clear: create a sustainable UK market for ash timber, bring as much of ercol’s manufacturing back to its roots, create skilled local jobs and demonstrate a model others could follow.

    Investing in process to create space to innovate

    Ercol’s vision was clear from the outset as they selected their most iconic pieces to be made in Grown in Britain certified ash. Recognising the impact of ash dieback, ercol wanted to make the most of the timber, finding a high value use. A decision that sent a clear message about ercol’s commitment to the future of home-grown timber while making the most out of a fantastic species. The choice of their most recognised designs – the chair, sofa, and pebble nest tables – demonstrated real conviction in the project’s viability.

    ercol’s Marino chair: a version of the chair in nature within a forest and a version of the chair in a living room. Copyright ercol

    The funding secured by Grown in Britain proved transformative, enabling a complete rethink of the supply chain. At Tyler Hardwoods, this meant substantial investment in new equipment and facilities. A Weinig automatic rip saw improved the efficiency of width processing, while a new Houfek sander with an extraction unit enhanced finish quality. Tyler Hardwoods also installed a biomass heating system powered by processing co-products to create a more efficient manufacturing process.

    Innovation went beyond equipment. The team developed British alternatives to traditionally imported materials, such as using local poplar instead of imported plywood for seat bases. The project team even tackled small but crucial components like dowels and biscuits for furniture jointing, traditionally imported but now made from home-grown timber.

    Production expanded systematically. Following the success of the initial ranges, ercol introduced the Fairmile table and chairs, along with the Lugo chair. Each new product presented new challenges but also gave the opportunity to explore new processes to increase efficiency.

    ercol’s Fairmile dining table and chairs flanked by 2 Lugo armchairs. Copyright ercol

    Overcoming challenges through innovative thinking

    The journey wasn’t without its hurdles, cost was the biggest initial challenge. Grown in Britain timber initially commanded a premium over imports – getting started is challenging and can be expensive in the beginning. Both ercol and Tyler Hardwoods accepted reduced margins while scaling up, resting on their shared vision of the future.

    Technical challenges required innovative solutions. The Lugo chair’s distinctive curved back initially resulted in significant waste during machining. However, the funding gave the team space to innovate, allowing them to redesign manufacturing methods while maintaining design integrity. Teething problems with the cross-cutting system meant the team at Tyler Hardwoods adapted and found alternative solutions while continuing to improve efficiency in other areas.

    Remarkable results

    Autumn marked a significant milestone with the opening of ercol’s first branded store on London’s King’s Road in Chelsea. The 3,500 square foot flagship store showcases their Grown in Britain certified pieces, creating closer relationships with customers and the design community.

    The numbers tell a compelling success story. While the wider furniture market experiences a downturn, ercol’s Grown in Britain ranges are showing remarkable growth and the cost premium continues to fall. 

    Ian Peers, Operations Director, ercol said:

    The design and quality of our products ensures they are long lasting, and the wood will store carbon across their lifetime.

    Future growth and industry impact

    The momentum shows no signs of slowing. After starting with chairs and tables, the 2025 product pipeline may extend, presenting new opportunities for innovation when working with home-grown timber.

    Ian Peers, Operations Director, ercol said:

    As the business has grown, we’ve achieved improvements in economies of scale, closing the gap of competitiveness with imports. Home-grown timber will get more competitive as demand and investment in the supply chain grows.

    Their success demonstrates how UK manufacturers can rebuild lost capabilities while creating new, sustainable business models and the project’s impact is extending beyond ercol as others see what is possible.

    The Grown in Britain logo stamped on ercol furniture. Copyright ercol

    Jack Clough, Grant Manager, Forestry Commission said:

    This stood out as a new and impactful collaboration, bringing together Grown in Britain’s knowledge of domestic timber supply chains with ercol, a family run furniture brand renowned for producing long-lasting and iconic pieces.

    From importing timber to championing home-grown wood, from lost expertise to innovation leadership, ercol’s journey shows what’s possible when vision meets support. They’ve helped create a blueprint for UK manufacturing at scale with a sustainable future.

    With the right partnerships and funding, traditional craftsmanship and timeless design can not only survive, but thrive in the modern marketplace. All while contributing to the health of our woodlands and local economies.

    Find out how the Forestry Commission’s Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds helps to support the future health and resilience of UK woodlands.

    References

    Forest Research details more on the UK being the second largest importer of wood, importing 73% of timber.

    The National Wood Strategy expands on how locally sourced hardwood is being burned as fuel while manufacturers import wood for furniture making.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improving lives for autistic adults

    Source: Scottish Government

    Fund open to third sector organisations.

    Autistic adults will be supported to reach their full potential through a £2.5 million, multi-year fund.

    The Autistic Adult Support Fund is available to third sector organisations providing services to autistic adults – promoting wellbeing and helping them to understand what neurodivergence means for them.

    Since 2023, £1.5 million has been allocated to 15 organisations, including those helping autistic adults enter, remain, and thrive within employment.

    This latest round of funding is now open to applications and will provide £2.5 million for the period from October 2025 to end of March 2028.

    Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Maree Todd said:

    “We know the third sector plays a crucial role in improving the lives of autistic people, and this fund will support organisations to help the autistic people they work with lead fulfilling, independent, and active lives.

    “The grants will be used to support autistic adults to thrive, helping them access services and improve general wellbeing so they can get involved in and truly feel a part of their community.

    “Our commitment to multi-year funding will ensure that funded projects have the security and space to develop and grow, and ensure that the quality of support they provide is as high as it can be.”

    Celia Tennant, Chief Executive Officer at Inspiring Scotland said:

    “We are pleased to be managing the application process for the new phase of the Scottish Government’s Autistic Adult Support Fund.

    “We know from working in this area, there is a real need to provide support to autistic adults around diagnosis or to understand their autism to improve wellbeing.

    “We look forward to hearing from applicants that meaningfully involve autistic people in the development, design and delivery of the activity to improve live chances for autistic adults in Scotland.”

    Background

    The Autistic Adult Support Fund is open to third sector organisations to apply until Wednesday 21 May 2025.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government response to the separate pay spine for nursing call for evidence

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Correspondence

    Government response to the separate pay spine for nursing call for evidence

    The Department of Health and Social Care has responded to the call for evidence on a separate pay spine for nursing staff.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Government response to the separate pay spine for nursing call for evidence

    HTML

    Details

    The government has responded to the evidence received in relation to the commitment to consider a separate pay spine for nursing staff.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

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  • MIL-OSI China: International conference on epic studies held in Athens

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Dozens of scholars from China, Greece, the United States, and Australia gathered in Athens on Monday for a forum on epic studies, where they shared insights on preserving this important facet of cultural heritage and explored opportunities for international collaboration.

    The conference was co-hosted by the Institute of Ethnic Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens. Participants engaged in discussions on the contemporary relevance of epics, strategies for safeguarding epic traditions, and ways to enhance cross-cultural communication.

    Peng Jinhui, Vice President of CASS, emphasized that strengthening cultural exchange, deepening academic dialogue, and actively exploring how epics, as spiritual treasures of humanity, can be preserved and revitalized in the modern era are shared responsibilities for scholars and cultural practitioners worldwide.

    George Didaskalos, Secretary General of the Greek Ministry of Culture, noted that both ancient Greek and Chinese civilizations have profoundly shaped philosophical and cultural development across East and West.

    The conference, he added, not only deepens cultural cooperation between Greece and China but also encourages a broader dialogue on the lasting value of epic traditions and their role in humanity’s collective heritage.

    “This is an opportunity to understand each other better and to communicate more effectively,” said Menelaos Christopoulos, emeritus professor of Ancient Greek Literature at the University of Patras in western Greece, in an interview with Xinhua. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE helps keep soft targets safe from terrorism through interagency co-operation in Turkmenistan

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

    Headline: OSCE helps keep soft targets safe from terrorism through interagency co-operation in Turkmenistan

    Participants in an interactive OSCE workshop on protecting soft targets from terrorism through interagency co-operation in Ashgabat, 1 April 2025. (OSCE/Kamila Sabyrrakhim) Photo details

    From schools and places of worship to shopping malls, any public place can become a target for terrorists and violent extremists. To enhance the protection of these soft targets, practitioners from over twenty Turkmen government agencies came together for an interactive workshop held by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat on 1 and 2 April.
    Participants discussed the current threat landscape, risk and crisis management, and human rights considerations. Through a scenario-based exercise of a potential terrorist attack, they also practiced physical security measures, hostile reconnaissance detection, and evacuation and invacuation procedures.
    During his opening remarks, Geldimyrat Haldurdyyev, Head of Law and International Relations Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, said, “The global nature of the threat of international terrorism has necessitated the unification of international efforts to combat it. Turkmenistan, as a proponent of a policy of peace and good neighbourliness — especially relevant against the backdrop of the challenging global situation, where armed conflicts are erupting in various parts of the world, posing a serious threat to all of humanity — reaffirms, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions on the prevention and fight against terrorism, its unequivocal condemnation of terrorist acts in all their forms. It remains fully committed to the efforts of the international community in combating this evil.”
    Experts from the Berlin Police Department and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism also took part in the event and shared their experience and good practices.
    “By fostering collaboration among stakeholders with diverse expertise, we can collectively identify vulnerabilities, share best practices, and develop tailored solutions to combat terrorism, all while ensuring our measures remain grounded in respect for human rights,” said Bernd Heinze, Ambassador of Germany to Turkmenistan.
    “Terrorism seeks to undermine the very values that unite the OSCE participating States,” said John McGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “In order to better protect soft targets, it is essential to have a good understanding of how attackers behave and make decisions, what risks are present and what possible mitigation measures may be required.”
    The workshop is the first activity conducted in Turkmenistan under the OSCE extrabudgetary project PROTECT. The event was designed to gather feedback and inputs from national beneficiaries on technical needs, and was organized with financial support from Germany.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Call for partners and sponsorship

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Call for partners and sponsorship

    The British Embassy Tokyo is looking for partners, sponsors and media partners to help deliver a new initiative to boost UK-Japan people-to-people connections.

    British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba

    The British Embassy Tokyo is looking for partners and sponsors to help deliver Musubi – an exciting new initiative to boost UK-Japan people-to-people connections and invest in the next generation of Japanese and UK leaders through a range of educational, youth and cultural exchanges, as well as science, innovation and business collaborations, and more. A range of programmes will be announced with the launch of the Musubi initiative and there is an opportunity to be involved in this exciting work.

    The UK-Japan relationship is at its closest in decades and we have set ourselves ambitious commitments to go even further through the Hiroshima Accord that our Prime Ministers agreed May 2023. People-to-people connections are the bedrock on which this relationship will continue to grow, as recognised by the then Foreign Secretary and Foreign Minister when they signed a memorandum of cooperation on people to people exchanges in November 2023. Musubi, will deliver on this commitment as a legacy of deeper connections and shared opportunities for the next generation and beyond.

    Any company wishing to register an expression of interest to partner or provide sponsorship to assist with exciting new initiative should make contact with the Embassy as below by the 1st Augst 2025.

    For partners and sponsorship please contact: public-enquiries.tokyo@fcdo.gov.uk for the attention of Frankie Rushton

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rollout begins on new Employment Support programme with £40 million boost to West London.

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Rollout begins on new Employment Support programme with £40 million boost to West London.

    West London will today become the first of 47 areas across England and Wales set to receive dedicated five-year funding aimed at helping disabled people and those with health conditions and additional support needs into work. 

    • West London becomes first area granted funding as part of DWP’s ‘Connect to Work’ programme, which will ultimately support 100,000 people per year. 

    • The £42.8 million cash injection will fund five years of support for local disabled people and those with health conditions, and complex barriers to employment to find a suitable pathway into a job. 

    • Follows record £1 billion employment support package, announced by Work and Pensions Secretary last month, to unlock work for sick and disabled people, encourage financial independence, and boost living standards as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    West London will today become the first of 47 areas across England and Wales set to receive dedicated five-year funding aimed at helping disabled people and those with health conditions and additional support needs into work.  

    As many as 100,000 people a year are set to receive tailored support nationally – including one-to-one employment advice and skills development – as rollout begins of Connect to Work, a new programme dedicated to help those facing some of the greatest barriers to work.

    Over the next five years, a partnership of Local Authorities in West London will receive a total of £42.8 million to provide targeted help to up to 3,500 people by:

    • matching people with job opportunities that suit their needs and circumstances,
    • providing essential skills training to help people get into and on at work,
    • working with employers to recruit and retain disabled workers. 

    West London will receive almost £9 million of the £115 million already committed to run the programme in its first year – a downpayment on their full five-year deal, allowing local leaders to hit the ground running on tackling inactivity in their area.   

    Work and Pensions Secretary Rt. Hon Liz Kendall MP, said: 

    As part of our Plan for Change we are fixing the broken welfare system – getting more people into work, putting more money in people’s pockets, and putting the benefits bill on a sustainable footing.

    The welfare system we inherited has shut too many talented people out of the workplace – with no support, no prospects, and no opportunities.

    We are changing this. That’s why I’m delighted to see our Connect to Work programme kick off, with over £40 million of funding so local leaders in West London can give people in their area the tools they need to get in and on at work in a way that’s right for them.

    The Work and Pensions Secretary is set to visit a community hub in Shepherd’s Bush to meet people already helped into work by West London’s existing support offer, including: 

    • Arman who had to step away from his job as a bookmaker due to his mental health. With support from West London Alliance Programme, he attended mental health workshops, got help to boost his CV, and found volunteering opportunities, before ultimately landing a new job. 
    • Midula who has learning and speech difficulties. West London Alliance Programme is improving her prospect of getting into work through tailored interview prep and giving her the confidence boost she needs to succeed. 
    • Bill who has been able to keep working at Harrow Council for 40 years, despite his physical heath deteriorating, thanks to adjustments made so he could stay in his job. 

    David Francis, Director of West London Alliance, said: 

    The West London Alliance Boroughs are proud to be at the forefront of the ‘Connect to Work’ initiative, demonstrating the strength of our partnerships and our dedication to improving employment outcomes for West London residents. 

    This programme provides vital and tailored support to those facing challenges in the labour market, helping them to secure sustainable employment and build better lives.

    The Connect to Work Programme is one of a number of initiatives being launched to help towards the government’s aim for an 80% employment rate.

    Work has already begun on the plan to Get Britain Working, with South Yorkshire becoming the first of nine ‘inactivity trailblazers’ across the country to launch their community-led effort to help people into a job.

    This comes as the government unveiled sweeping welfare reforms – backed by a record £1 billion to deliver tailored job support for sick and disabled people – opening doors to opportunity, giving people a chance at financial independence, and boosting living standards, as part of the government’s Plan for Change. 

    With 2.8 million people out of work due to ill-health – one of the highest rates in the G7 – the government is also combating health-related inactivity at its root by investing £26 billion in the NHS and delivering 2 million extra appointments to reduce medical waiting lists, giving people and the economy a chance to get back on track.

    Additional Information: 

    • The West London Alliance Partnership covers Ealing, Barnet, Harrow, Hillingdon, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hounslow Local Authorities. Their Connect to Work service will be delivered under contract by Shaw Trust. 
    • The West Midlands and Greater Manchester Combined Authorities received a year’s funding for employment support as part of their Integrated Settlements – giving Mayors the power to make funding decisions in their area.
    • Guidance issued on 26 November 2024 invited areas covering all of England and Wales to develop their plans to deliver Connect to Work over the next 5 years. Last autumn’s Spending Review confirmed £115 million for year 1 (25/26), subsequent funding for the programme will be confirmed through Spending Review 2025.
    • Biggest shake up to welfare system in a generation to get Britain working – GOV.UK
    • Integrated Settlements for Mayoral Combined Authorities – GOV.UK

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation: update

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation: update

    Minister Phillips today delivered a speech on the government’s plan to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation.

    With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement updating the House on government action to tackle child sexual abuse and exploitation and on progress on the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry.

    Child sexual abuse and exploitation are the most horrific and disturbing crimes – an abuse of power against those who are most vulnerable, leaving lifelong trauma and scars.

    Best estimates suggest that 500,000 children are sexually abused every year. Analysis by the police found that there were 115,000 recorded cases of child sexual abuse in 2023, 4228 group-based offences identified by the CSE Taskforce, of which 1125 were family abuse, and 717 were sexual exploitation cases. In a growing number of recorded cases the perpetrators themselves are under 18.

    The House will be aware that, in its first year of operation up to March 2024, the Grooming Gangs Taskforce contributed to 550 arrests across the country. I can tell the House that – in the last nine months of 2024 – the Taskforce contributed to 597 arrests, in other words it surpassed in that nine month period what it has achieved in its first full year of its operation. Data for the first three months of this year is currently being collected from forces and will available early next month, but all round, we are making progress at every level to increase the number of investigations, increase the number of arrests, and most importantly, increase the number of victims who are seeing their attackers brought to justice.

    Yet despite the seriousness and severity of these crimes, there has been a shameful failure by institutions and those in power over many years to protect children from abuse or exploitation. So we are today setting out a progress update on action the government is taking to tackle Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation to get support and justice for victims to ensure perpetrators are caught and put behind bars.

    CSA Measures

     Action on CSA since the election means we are introducing:

    • A new child sexual abuse police performance framework, including new standards on public protection, child abuse and exploitation;
    • Legislating targeting online offending, including abuse and grooming enabled by AI (Artificial Intelligence);
    • New powers for Border Force to detect digitally held child sex abuse at the UK border
    • New restrictions preventing registered sex offenders from changing their names to hide the threat they pose
    • Increased investment in law enforcement capability, through the Police Undercover Online Network and the Tackling Organised Exploitation Programme.

    In the Home Secretary’s statements to the House in January, she also set out what we are doing to crack down on grooming gangs. And today I can provide an update:

    • Baroness Casey’s 3-month National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse is ongoing. It is building a comprehensive national picture of what is known about child sexual exploitation, identifying local and national trends, assessing the quality of the data, looking at the ethnicity issues faced for example by cases involving Pakistani heritage gangs, and reviewing police and wider agency understanding.
    • We are developing a new best practice framework to support local authorities which want to undertake victim-centred local inquiries, or related work, drawing on the lessons from local independent inquiries like Telford, Rotherham and Greater Manchester. We will publish the details next month.
    • Alongside this we will set out the process through which local authorities can access the £5m national fund to support locally-led work on grooming gangs. Following feedback from local authorities, the fund will adopt a flexible approach to support both full independent local inquiries and more bespoke work, including local victims’ panels or locally led audits into the handling of historic cases.
    • The Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Gavin Stephens, has – at the Home Secretary’s request – urged the Chief Constables of all 43 police forces in England and Wales, to reexamine their investigations into group-based child sexual exploitation which resulted in No Further Action decisions.
    • And, as of 1 April, the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel can review child sexual abuse cases which took place after 2013. Victims and survivors can now ask the Panel to independently review their case if they have not already exercised their Victims Right to Review.
    • I can also announce that we intend to expand the Independent Child Trafficking guardians’ scheme across all of England and Wales, providing direct support to many more child victims of sexual exploitation and grooming, which to date has only been available in selected areas.

    These measures will enable more victims and survivors to receive the truth, justice, improvements and accountability that they deserve – and put more vile perpetrators of this crime behind bars.

    IICSA Inquiry

    Much of this crucial activity builds on the vital work of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse undertaken between 2015 and 2022. Let me – on behalf of this whole House –thank again Professor Alexis Jay for chairing that seven-year National Inquiry with such expertise, diligence and compassion.

    IICSA revealed the terrible suffering caused by child sexual abuse and the shameful failure of institutions to put the protection of children before the protection of their own reputations.

    The Inquiry drew on the testimony of over 7,000 victims and survivors and considered over 2 million pages of evidence.

    Its findings, culminating in the final report published in October 2022, were designed to better protect children from sexual abuse and address the shortcomings which left them exposed to harm.

    The publication of that final report two and a half years ago should have been a landmark moment. But instead, the victims and survivors were failed again.

    None of the Inquiry’s recommendations were implemented or properly taken forward by the previous government in the twenty months they had to do so.

    Progress update

    As part of today’s Progress Update, the Government is setting out a detailed update and timetable on the work that is underway on the IICSA recommendations as part of our action on child sexual abuse. I can announce to the House that;

    • To prioritise the protection of children and improve national oversight and consistency of child protection practice, this Government will establish a new Child Protection Authority.

    • Building on the national Child Safeguarding Review Panel, the Child Protection Authority will address one of IICSA’s central recommendations by providing national leadership and learning on child protection and safeguarding. Work to expand the role of the Panel will begin immediately and we will consult on developing the new Authority this year

    • We have also asked Ofsted, HMICFRS and the CQC to conduct a joint thematic review of child abuse in family settings starting this Autumn.

    Mr Speaker, the IICSA report recommended the introduction of a new mandatory duty to report – something the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and I have all supported for more than a decade

    • In the Crime and Policing Bill we will now be taking forward the new mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse for individuals in England undertaking activity with children – and crucially, a new criminal offence of obstructing an individual from making a report under that duty.

    • Mandatory reporting – will create a culture of openness and honesty rather than cover-ups and secrecy. It will empower professionals and volunteers to take prompt, decisive action to report sexual abuse. It will demonstrate to children and young people that if they come forward, they will be heard. And anyone who seeks deliberately to prevent someone fulfilling their mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse will face the full force of the law.

    Today’s update also sets out how the government is supporting victims and survivors in accessing support and seeking justice:

    • We are tasking the Criminal Justice Joint Inspectorates to carry out a targeted inspection on the experiences of victims of child sexual abuse in the criminal justice system
    • We are instructing the Information Commissioner’s Office to produce a code of practice on the retention of personal data relating to child sexual abuse.

    In some cases where there have been serious institutional failings which contributed to the abuse, those institutions have provided financial redress schemes or compensation to victims and survivors who are affected. We continue to support those schemes as recognition by those institutions that they badly failed children in their care.

    On the IICSA proposal for a wider national redress scheme for all victims and survivors of child sexual abuse in institutional settings, the scale of that proposal demands that it is considered in the context of the Spending Review later this year, and we will make further updates at that stage.

    But one crucial area where we want to make immediate progress is on the provision of therapeutic services for victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. We will therefore bring forward proposals in the coming weeks to improve access to those services, with further details to be set out following the upcoming the Spending Review.

    Also ahead of the Spending Review, I can announce that – in this financial year – the Home Office will double the funding it provides for national services supporting adult survivors of child sexual abuse, providing more help to those adults who are living with the trauma of the horrific abuse they suffered as children.

    Finally, we want to speed up progress to make it easier for victims and survivors to get recompense directly from institutions that failed them. We are therefore removing the three-year limitation period on victims and survivors bringing personal injury claims in the civil courts and shifting the burden of proof from survivors to defendants, thereby protecting victims from having to relive their trauma to get compensation they are owed.

    Next steps/conclusion

    Mr Speaker, today’s update   – building on the measures the Home Secretary announced in January – demonstrates this Government’s steadfast commitment to tackling child sex abuse.

    The measures we are implementing will protect more children, find more criminals, and deliver support and justice to more victims and survivors.

    But this is not the end point; it is just the beginning. We will continue to drive forward reforms to protect more children from abhorrent abuse and support more adult survivors of these traumatic crimes.

    And as we pursue our Safer Streets Mission, we will use every available lever to drive progress on these issues across government and beyond.

    I want to finish with a word for the victims and survivors.

    No one should go through what you did.

    And while the failings of the past cannot be undone, we can, we must and we will strain every sinew to prevent them being repeated.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Essential maintenance work planned at WV Active Central

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    There will be no water for toilets, sinks or water fountains during this time and, as a result, the City of Wolverhampton Council run leisure centre will be unable to open to customers while the work is taking place.

    WV Active Central is expected to reopen as usual on Sunday (13 April).

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “We would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience this may cause.

    “While this essential work takes place, members are reminded that they are able to use the facilities at either WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams and WV Active Aldersley.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Good rating for school with ‘high aspirations’ for pupils and staff

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Inspectors visited in February and, in their report published recently, found that the school ‘has high aspirations for all pupils and staff’.

    They say pupils enjoy coming to Wood End Primary and that its environment is ‘calm, welcoming and showcases children’s work’. Pupils express a sense of belonging and view their school as ‘one big community’.

    Wood End has ‘high expectations of how pupils should behave’ – and pupils rise to these both in and outside of the classroom. Pupils are ‘caring and friendly’, and ‘polite and respectful’, showing ‘positive attitudes towards their learning’.

    Pupils’ personal development is a ‘strength’, and they are given ‘many opportunities to take responsibility’ – from leading lunchtime clubs and taking on librarian roles to activities such as Shakespeare and poetry workshops and recorder recitals. These experiences help pupils ‘develop into confident and responsible young people’.

    The school continues to make improvements in the quality of education for pupils, recognises the value of reading and ensures that children in the early years get off to a good start.

    The needs of children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) are also ‘quickly identified and well supported’, with staff helping ensure pupils with SEND make ‘good progress towards their targets’.

    Pupils also benefit from a ‘well structured’ personal, social and health education curriculum that teaches them about the importance of healthy relationships and online safety. They talk ‘knowledgeably about diversity and demonstrate inclusivity’ and are ‘increasingly prepared for later life’.

    Governors ‘understand their duties well’ and provide a good level of support and challenge to the school.

    Inspectors concluded that the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and early years provision at Wood End Primary are all Good.

    Chair of Governors John Withers said: “We are delighted with this very positive report which accurately reflects the ethos of the school, and the ambitions it has for all the pupils. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the staff, and the way the whole school community works together.”

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This is a lovely inspection report which shows a warm, welcoming and caring school which has high aspirations for its pupils and staff alike, and I would like to congratulate everyone at Wood End Primary School on their continuing success.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: 21Shares Forms Exclusive Partnership with the House of Doge to Launch Dogecoin ETP in Europe

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Zurich, 9 April 2025 – 21Shares AG (“21Shares”), one of the world’s largest issuers of crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs), has formed an exclusive partnership with the House of Doge to create the only Dogecoin ETP endorsed by the Dogecoin Foundation, which will be listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker: DOGE). This collaboration marks a major milestone in bringing institutional-grade exposure to Dogecoin, one of the most community-driven and widely recognised digital assets.

    Exchange Product Name Ticker ISIN Fee
    SIX Swiss Exchange 21Shares Dogecoin ETP DOGE CH1431521033 2.50%

    The 21Shares Dogecoin ETP is 100% physically backed, offering a transparent and seamless way for investors to gain exposure to Dogecoin through traditional financial channels. Originally launched in 2013 as a light-hearted alternative to Bitcoin, Dogecoin has since grown into one of the most widely recognised and accessible cryptocurrencies, known for its fast transaction speeds, low fees, and increasing merchant adoption. Today, leading brands such as Microsoft and AMC Theatres accept Dogecoin as a payment method, reinforcing its role in mainstream finance. 

    Beyond its technical advantages, Dogecoin has built a highly engaged and socially impactful community, rallying around the principle of “Do Only Good Everyday.” Over the years, its supporters have helped drive initiatives ranging from charitable fundraising to financial accessibility efforts, demonstrating the power of decentralised communities in shaping the future of digital finance.

    “With this exclusive partnership we’re providing investors with the most direct and accessible way to gain exposure to the Dogecoin ecosystem,” said Duncan Moir, President at 21Shares. “Dogecoin has become more than a cryptocurrency: it represents a cultural and financial movement that continues to drive mainstream adoption, and DOGE offers investors a regulated avenue to be part of this exciting project.”

    “This partnership marks a very large step forward for the Dogecoin vision,” said Jens Wiechers, Advisory Board Member at House of Doge and Co-Executive Director of the Dogecoin Foundation. “Dogecoin was created to be a fun, accessible form of peer-to-peer money, and over the years, it has demonstrated real-world utility in payments, tipping, and charitable giving. For Dogecoin to reach its full potential as a global currency, institutional support and corporate partnerships are essential. This initiative with 21Shares provides a regulated path for institutions to participate in and amplify the ‘Dogecoin is Money’ vision, while still honoring the community’s spirit. Global adoption is critical, and we’re excited to take this next step – ensuring Dogecoin stays fun, but gains the credibility and backing needed to thrive at scale.”

    “Our partnership with 21Shares demonstrates the evolving maturity and legitimacy of Dogecoin in the financial world,” said Sarosh Mistry, President and CEO of Sodexo North America and Director-Elect of House of Doge. “Institutional products will empower new types of investors to participate in the Dogecoin ecosystem, reinforcing its role as a leader in the future of digital assets.”

    With over $7.3 billion in assets under management and listings on 11 major exchanges, including SIX Swiss Exchange, Nasdaq, and Euronext, 21Shares continues to drive the integration of digital assets into mainstream finance.

    Notes to editors

    About 21Shares

    21Shares is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange traded product providers. We were founded to make cryptocurrency more accessible to investors, and to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. In 2018, 21Shares listed the world’s first physically-backed crypto ETP, and we have a seven-year track-record of creating crypto exchange-traded funds that are listed on some of the biggest, most-liquid securities exchanges globally. In addition to our seven-year track record, 21Shares offers investors best-in-class research and unparalleled client service.

    21Shares is a member of 21.co, a global leader in decentralized finance. For more information, please visit www.21Shares.com.

    About House of Doge

    The House of Doge is the official corporate arm of the Dogecoin Foundation, committed to transforming Dogecoin into a fully integrated and accessible global payment platform and currency. The House of Doge’s mission is to advance the mainstream adoption of Dogecoin by enhancing its utility through real-world applications.

    About Dogecoin Foundation

    The Dogecoin Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to developing open-source technology that enhances Dogecoin’s accessibility and utility as a peer-to-peer digital currency.

    Media Contact
    Matteo Valli
    matteo.valli@21shares.com

    DISCLAIMER

    This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.

    This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.

    This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

    Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

    Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under www.21Shares.com.

    The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

    This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2024 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with BX Swiss AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2024 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).

    ###

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

    For further information, please contact:

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

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

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

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

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

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

    Highlights

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

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

    Dr. Sean Guest, President and CEO commented:

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

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

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

    Q1 2025 Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Operations Update

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

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

    Results Timing and AGM

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

    For further information, please contact:

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

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

    About the Company

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

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

    Advisory and Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    About HAMIC Group:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Timeless Impact, Driven by Innovation.

    Visit our website: www.HAMIC.com

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

    Follow us on @HamicGroup

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

    The MIL Network –