NewzIntel.com

Category: European Union

  • MIL-Evening Report: Former PNG army commander Jerry Singirok pays tribute to Sir Julius Chan

    By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent

    The former Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) commander who defied a government decision to send mercenaries to Bougainville during the civil war in the late 1990s has paid tribute to Sir Julius Chan, prime minister at the time.

    Retired Major-General Jerry Singirok, who effectively ended the Bougainville War and caused Sir Julius to step aside as Prime Minister in 1997, expressed his condolences, saying he had the highest respect for Sir Julius — who died on Thursday aged 85 — for upholding the constitution when the people demanded it.

    “Today, I mourn with his family, the people of New Ireland and the nation for his loss. We are for ever grateful for such a selfless servant as Sir Julius Chan,” he said.

    Retired Major-General Jerry Singirok . . . “We are for ever grateful for such a selfless servant as Sir Julius Chan.” Image: PNG Post-Courier

    As a captain, Jerry Singirok had served on the PNGDF’s first-ever overseas combat deployment in Vanuatu to quell an independence rebellion.

    The decision to send PNGDF forces to Vanuatu was made when Sir Julius was prime minister in 1980.

    Seventeen years later, again under Sir Julius’ leadership, the 38-year-old Singirok was elevated to be the PNGDF commander as the government struggled to put an end to the decade-long Bougainville War.

    Sandline affair
    In late 1996, the Sir Julius-led government signed a secret US$38 million deal with Sandline International, a UK-based mercenary company.

    Under the arrangement, 44 British, South African and Australian mercenaries supported by the PNGDF, would be sent in to Bougainville to end the conflict.

    Singirok disagreed with the decision, disarmed and arrested the mercenaries during the night of 16 March 1997, and with the backing of the army he called for Sir Julius to step aside as prime minster. Sir Julius’ defiance triggered violent protests.

    “Yes, I disagreed with him and opposed the use of mercenaries on Bougainville and the nation mobilised and expelled Sandline mercenaries,” he said.

    “But it did not once dampen my respect for him.”

    Under immense public pressure, Sir Julius stepped aside.

    Throughout the period of unrest, Singirok maintained that the military operation called “Opareisen Rausim Kwik” (Tok Pisin for “Get rid of them quickly”), was aimed at expelling mercenaries and was not a coup against the government.

    His book about the so-called Sandline affair, A Matter of Conscience, was published in 2023.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Coons warns about Russian efforts against Romania and Moldova in interview with The Counteroffensive

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) sat down with The Counteroffensive’s Tim Mak to encourage continued western support for Romania and Moldova, both of which are victims of intensive Russian coercion campaigns in eastern Europe amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
    Last month, Senator Coons led a congressional delegation to Moldova and Romania, where he saw firsthand Russia’s attempts to undermine the independence and democracy of both countries. Romania, a crucial NATO ally, faced widespread Russian interference in their November presidential election that propelled pro-Russia NATO-skeptic candidate Calin Georgescu to first place before the election was annulled. Meanwhile, Moldova also faced intensive Russian interference, including disinformation and vote-buying campaigns, in its October presidential election and a referendum on joining the European Union, which ultimately passed despite Russia’s efforts. The country is also dealing with an energy crisis, as Russia started off the year by cutting off gas supplies to Moldova’s only power plant, with devastating consequences for Moldovan civilians now struggling through the winter. 
    In the interview, Senator Coons also encouraged President Trump and Republicans not to abandon Ukraine nearly three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country.
    The Counteroffensive: TOP DEM SENATOR: DON’T TAKE EYES OFF MOLDOVA, ROMANIA 
    As violent as the war in Ukraine is, there are broader Russian threats that the United States needs to pay attention to, said Sen. Chris Coons, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
    Coons recently returned from a Congressional delegation to Moldova and Romania, and gave an exclusive interview with The Counteroffensive to share lessons learned.
    “Russia has a playbook, and it has a set of plays that it’s running,” and not just in Ukraine, he said, referring to hybrid warfare techniques that include threats to Moldova’s energy security and influence operations in Romania.
    “Their sabotage operations are continuing right now across Central and Western Europe: fires and attacks and assassinations; and that their influence operations using social media; cyber attacks; good old fashioned bribery – are actually having an influence on politics,” he warned. “These are not isolated.”
    Read the full article here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Diplomacy key to ending crisis in eastern DR Congo: UN peacekeeping chief

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The head of UN Peace Operations has underscored the need for continued diplomatic efforts to end the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and avert the potential for wider conflict. 

    Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed journalists at UN Headquarters on Friday, as the M23 rebel group and Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) continued their march toward the city of Bukavu, having taken control of the provincial capital, Goma, earlier this week.

    “We are concerned not only as far as the eastern DRC is concerned, but if you look at the past, this has the potential of triggering a wider regional conflict,” he said.

    “Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that all diplomatic efforts should be geared towards avoiding this and bringing about a cessation of hostilities.”

    Protection a priority

    Mr. Lacroix was speaking as the M23 were some 60 kilometres north of Bukavu and “seem to be moving quite fast.” 

    He provided an update on Goma, where the situation remains tense and volatile but calm is gradually being restored.  Water and electricity are also up and running, though unexploded ordnance continue to present “a very serious obstacle to freedom of movement”.

    The UN has a peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known by the French acronym MONUSCO, and several of its bases have been re-supplied which he said is critical as a “significant number” of people are also sheltering in these locations.

    “The priority of the mission remains the protection of its personnel, assets, and, of course, the many civilians sheltering within its premises – civilians and disarmed combatants. All are being protected by MONUSCO in accordance with international humanitarian law,” he said.

    He reported that the bases “are under significant pressure” when it comes to providing water rations, sanitation and other support to those inside.  

    Political engagement ongoing

    Meanwhile, the MONUSCO leadership is increasing political engagement with the Congolese authorities. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the mission, Bintou Keita, has held discussions with top officials, including the Prime Minister and the leaders of the army and police.

    A joint Government-MONUSCO group has been established to coordinate on various issues, including in the security, human rights, humanitarian and communications spheres, as well as the legal status of the territories under the control of the M23 and the RDF.

    Mr. Lacroix highlighted the “florescence” of diplomatic activities in response to the crisis, which includes two UN Security Council meetings, a summit by the East African Community (EAC), another by the Southern African bloc SADC, and a meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council. 

    The European Union, along with the United Kingdom, the United States and others, have also weighed in.

    “Up to now, this has not resulted in cessation of hostilities,” he remarked, noting that “the M23 and the RDF are currently progressing towards the south, towards Bukavu, and that is of course a matter of concern.”

    Respect UN premises

    The peacekeeping chief emphasized the need to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and civilians, including those sheltering in MONUSCO bases, and respect for UN premises which are inviolable.

    “We cannot stress this enough in the current circumstances where MONUSCO bases are under stress, but also in some cases they have been under threat,” he said.

    He stated that “diplomatic engagement and activities need to continue” towards the ultimate objective of ending the violence. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 31.01.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    31 January 2025 at 22:30 EET

    Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 31.01.2025

    Espoo, Finland – On 31 January 2025 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:

    Trading venue (MIC Code) Number of shares Weighted average price / share, EUR*
    XHEL 872,093 4.49
    CEUX – –
    BATE – –
    AQEU – –
    TQEX – –
    Total 872,093 4.49

    * Rounded to two decimals

    On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million.

    Total cost of transactions executed on 31 January 2025 was EUR 3,912,384. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 236,030,991 treasury shares.

    Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.

    On behalf of Nokia Corporation

    BofA Securities Europe SA

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

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

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

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Miha Švent appointed as EIB Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The EU Bank announces appointment of its new representative and remains committed to strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sustainable connectivity, climate action, energy security, and market competitiveness.
    • To date, EIB Global has provided €3.5 billion in affordable financial support and technical assistance to the country for strategic projects.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB Global) has appointed Miha Švent as its new representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Under the new stewardship, the EU bank will remain committed to supporting the country’s green transition, connectivity and progress on its EU accession path to build on the achievements made during the tenure of the outgoing EIB representative, Sandrine Friscia, whose mandate ended in 2024.

    Miha Švent brings nearly 30 years of experience in international development, public infrastructure financing and private business development. Prior to this appointment, he was a senior member of the EIB Advisory Department, where he led the advancement of advisory partnerships with international financial institutions, governments and development banks. Before joining the EIB, he worked for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, leading business advisory programmes in the Western Balkans and other regions. A Slovenian national, he holds master’s degrees from the Universities of Sheffield and Ljubljana.

    EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot, who is responsible for the Western Balkans, stated: “With the European Commission and our partners in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are supporting projects that lead to improved road safety, a more secure and diversified energy supply, better water supply across municipalities, modern healthcare facilities, and new jobs. With €3.5 billion invested so far, we have increased the country’s climate and economic resilience, while creating conditions for more successful regional and EU market integration. Now, with the EU’s Growth Plan and our new representative, we hope to propel these initiatives even further.”

    Expressing his vision for the role, Miha Švent, the new EIB representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: “I am honoured to take on this new role and look forward to further strengthening cooperation with all our partners in the country. Coming from the EIB advisory team, I would like to emphasise the importance of technical support in preparing strategic projects, which is often a prerequisite for accessing available EU funds, including grants under the Western Balkans Investment Framework. Therefore, as well as providing favourable financing, our priority for the country remains to strengthen the capacities of local project management teams, develop and implement new viable investments for the benefit of people and local businesses.”

    Among the milestones achieved in EIB-supported projects in 2024, the Herzegovina Bridge was inaugurated last September – the largest bridge on Corridor Vc in BiH, spanning nearly 1 km across the Neretva river. Additionally, Sarajevo has new state-of-the-art trams, 40 years after they were replaced, as part of the urban transport rehabilitation project.

    Background information:

    About the EIB and EIB Global

    The European Investment Bank is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives. EIB projects bolster competitiveness, drive innovation, promote sustainable development, enhance social and territorial cohesion, and support a just and swift transition to climate neutrality.

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 – around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices around the world.

    About the EIB in BiH

    The EU bank has been active in BiH since 1977. To date, it has invested €3.5 billion, mostly in support of the transportation sector and small and medium businesses. For more information regarding the EIB’s projects in BiH, please refer to: https://www.eib.org/en/projects/regions/enlargement/the-western-balkans/bosnia-herzegovina/index.htm

    The EIB is one of the leading international financiers in the Western Balkans. For detailed information on the EIB’s activities in the Western Balkans, visit www.eib.org/en/publications/the-eib-in-the-western-balkans.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU (HOUS) constituted – Special committee on the European Democracy Shield

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament established a Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union on 18 December 2024. The committee’s primary objective is to propose solutions for decent, sustainable, and affordable housing for all European citizens.
    The Special Committee comprises 33 Members and will operate with a 12-month mandate.

    The constitutive meeting was held on 30 January 2025 in Brussels, where HOUS Members elected Ms Irene TIGNALI (S&D, Italy) as Chair. The following Members were elected as Vice-Chairs, forming the Bureau:

    First Vice-Chair: Mr Dirk GOTINK (EPP, Netherlands)
    Second Vice-Chair: Mr Vicent MARZÀ IBÁÑEZ (Greens, Spain)
    Third Vice-Chair: Mr Ciaran Mullooly (Renew, Ireland)
    Fourth Vice-Chair: Ms Regina Doherty (EPP, Ireland)

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Rights of the Child Closes Ninety-Eighth Session after Adopting Concluding Observations on Reports of Ecuador, Eritrea, the Gambia, Honduras, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Slovakia

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Rights of the Child this afternoon concluded its ninety-eighth session after adopting concluding observations on the periodic reports under the Convention on the Rights of the Child of Ecuador, Eritrea, the Gambia, Honduras, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Slovakia.  The concluding observations will be made available on the session’s webpage on Thursday, 6 February.

    In closing remarks, Ann Marie Skelton, Committee Chairperson, said that the Committee had worked steadily to hold States to account where they were failing to uphold children’s rights.  The Committee had observed staggering levels of violence against children, including sexual violence, in several of the States reviewed.  Further, the Committee had also seen a normative pushback against gender equality, happening against a backdrop of high rates of teenage pregnancy, which the Committee also noted in many of the countries reviewed this session.

    Over the three weeks in which the session was held, Ms. Skelton noted, many children around the world had continued their daily struggle to survive.  Over this period, the war in Sudan had raged on, with children bearing the brunt of it.  At least 23 children were reported to have died in January.  Tensions had also increased in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and there had been a surge in children who were separated from or not accompanied by their parents.

    Ms. Skelton thanked the Committee’s many partners for their cooperation during the session, including United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions, children, Committee members, members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat and other persons who had contributed to the session.

    Francisco Vera-Francisco, a young child rights advocate from Colombia, also addressed the Committee, saying that this was a crucial moment for children’s rights across the world.  In Colombia, the internal conflict continued to impact children’s wellbeing and rights, he said.  Several thousands of children had been displaced near the border with Venezuela. The same situation was seen around the world, with children’s rights violated in Sudan, Yemen and Gaza, where many thousands of children were killed.  The violence needed to stop now.  He concluded by calling on the Committee to continue fighting for children.

    During the meeting, five Committee Experts whose mandates are coming to an end – Mikiko Otani (Japan), Luis Ernesto Pedernera Reyna (Uruguay), Velina Todorova (Bulgaria), Ratou Jean Zara (Chad), and the Chair, Ann Marie Skelton (South Africa) – made statements of thanks and reflection on their tenure.

    The Committee adopted the report of its ninety-eighth session.

    Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, and webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.  Documents related to the Committee’s ninety-eighth session can be found here.

    The Committee will hold its ninety-ninth session from 5 to 23 May 2025, when it is scheduled to review the periodic reports under the Convention of Brazil, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Norway, Pakistan, Qatar and Romania, as well as the reports of Brazil and Pakistan under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

    Statements

    ANN MARIE SKELTON, Committee Chairperson, said that the Committee had worked steadily to hold States to account where they were failing to uphold children’s rights.  The Committee had observed staggering levels of violence against children, including sexual violence, in several of the States reviewed.  There appeared to be widespread impunity regarding violence in the home and in communities and religious institutions.  In some States, children were in the grip of chaos caused by gang violence and organised crime.

    Over the last few years, Ms. Skelton said, the Committee had also seen a normative pushback against gender equality, which threatened to prevent adolescent girls from accessing reproductive health rights and services.  This was happening against a backdrop of high rates of teenage pregnancy, which the Committee also noted in many of the countries reviewed this session.

    Poverty stalked children’s lives in most of the States reviewed this session, and massive inequality left so many children behind.  Some States were also ambivalent about seeing children as independent rights holders.  Children were often not consulted and their views not considered in decisions that affected their lives.

    Over the last three weeks in which the session was held, Ms. Skelton noted, many children around the world had continued their daily struggle to survive. Over this period, the war in Sudan had raged on, with children bearing the brunt of it.  At least 23 children were reported to have died in January.  Tensions had also increased in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and there had been a surge in children who were separated from or not accompanied by their parents.

    On a more positive note, Ms. Skelton said, during the past three weeks, a ceasefire had been announced in Gaza.  Some detained teenagers had been released, and hostages were being released, which hopefully would include the two remaining child hostages.

    Ms. Skelton announced that one of the Committee’s decisions in a case concerning Finland had been voted as the top United Nations treaty body case of 2024 by the Hertie School Centre for Fundamental Rights.  The case concerned three Sami indigenous girls who challenged the permission for a mining exploration permit that threatened their way of life.  The Committee was happy to know that its decisions were attracting attention and having an impact on the lives of children.

    FRANCISCO VERA–FRANCISCO, child rights advocate from Colombia, said that this was a crucial moment for children’s rights across the world. In Colombia, the internal conflict continued to impact children’s wellbeing and rights, he said.  Several thousands of children had been displaced near the border with Venezuela. The same situation was seen around the world, with children’s rights violated in Sudan, Yemen and Gaza, where many thousands of children were killed.  The violence needed to stop now.

    War was the most regrettable act that human beings could engage in, Mr. Vera-Francisco said.  In war, young soldiers killed each other for the sake of old men.  He said that, for him, children were the present, and killing children amounted to killing the present.  Countries needed to not lose hope and continue fighting for children’s rights.

    Countries declared a war on children when they made environmental issues worse, he said. More than seven trillion United States dollars had been dedicated to subsidising fossil fuels last year. Almost 30 per cent of global finances had been used to finance military activities.  In the latest Conference of the Parties, developed countries decided to dedicate only 300 billion United States dollars to climate financing, even though developing States had asked for 1.2 trillion dollars.

    All children had the right to live in a peaceful world, Mr. Vera-Francisco stressed.  Countries needed to continue fighting for peace, children’s rights and their well-being. States made many inspiring statements, but these needed to be backed up with actions.  Countries needed to make peace with nature and life.  Mr. Vera-Francisco concluded by calling on the Committee to continue fighting for children.

    ANN MARIE SKELTON, Committee Chairperson, reported that, as of 22 May, there were 196 States parties to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with the United States having not ratified; 173 States parties to the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict; 178 States parties to the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography; and only 52 States parties to the Optional Protocol on the communications procedure.  There had been no new ratifications/accessions since the beginning of this session.

    Ms. Skelton said that during the session, the Committee had conducted 90 hours of meetings.  In addition to reviewing the reports of seven States parties, the Committee adopted decisions on eight individual communications received under the Optional Protocol on a communications procedure, concerning the child justice system, separation of children from parents subject to criminal sentences, and access to health services for children with disabilities being returned to their country of origin.  The Committee found no violation of the Convention in two cases against Switzerland, and declared the communications inadmissible in a case against Belgium and a case against Ecuador.  The Committee also discontinued the consideration of four cases after they had become moot.  Finally, the Committee adopted its report on follow up to individual communications, deciding to close the follow up dialogue in nine additional cases.

    During the session, the Committee also discussed inquiries under article 13 of the Optional Protocol.  It was currently dealing with four inquiries.  It had published the report of its second inquiry against Paraguay on the killing of two 11-year-old girls by security forces, which concluded that there had been a grave violation of the right to life.  The Committee had also adopted its latest inquiry report, which it would send to the State party concerned for their observations.

    Further, during the session, the Committee had received briefings from the United Nations Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls, the United Nations Children’s Fund and Child Rights Connect.  Ms. Skelton thanked the Committee’s many partners for their cooperation during the session, including United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions and children. 

    She announced that the Committee had continued its work on the next general comment, concerning children’s rights to access to justice and effective remedies.  A first round of consultations on the general comment had gathered more than 300 submissions from different parts of the world, including children’s groups.  Ms. Skelton called on interested parties to look out for the second draft of the general comment and provide feedback.

    Also, during the session, the Committee held its sixteenth informal meeting with States at the Palais des Nations.  Sixty States participated and seven took the floor for observations and questions.

    In closing, Ms. Skelton expressed thanks to Committee members, members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretariat and other persons who had contributed to the session.

    Ms. Skelton then invited the outgoing Committee Experts to make statements.

    MIKIKO OTANI, Committee Expert, said that during her time as Chair of the Committee, the Committee issued 37 public statements on country-specific issues concerning children.  She had also worked to mainstream child rights in the wider United Nations system and had contributed to the Secretary-General’s guidance note on child rights mainstreaming. She had advocated for child participation in major conferences and had invited children to speak in the public openings of the Committee’s sessions.  The diversity of the Committee had tremendously deepened her knowledge of children’s rights.  She expressed hope that the Committee would continue to use its voice to advocate for child rights in every possible way.

    LUIS ERNESTO PEDERNERA REYNA, Committee Vice-Chair, said that over the last eight years, the Committee had launched four general comments, adopted more than 100 decisions on individual communications, reached out to other treaty bodies and special procedures mandate holders, and increased its workload without budget increases.  There had also been attacks against the Convention in the name of family values on behalf of conservative and religious groups.  The Committee’s work was more necessary than ever, and it was vital to ensure that there was no backsliding.  Mr. Pedernera Reyna said that he had learned much from fellow Committee Experts.  He expressed thanks to the governments that understood the Committee’s mandate and opened their doors to the Committee, to civil society, which had made the Committee’s work easier, and to the children and adolescents who had shared their stories with the Committee. 

    VELINA TODOROVA, Committee Expert, thanked the States parties that elected her to the Committee.  She said she was grateful to the Committee and its secretariat, non-governmental organization partners, and children.  Her eight years on the Committee had been a time of progress for children but also frustration with the slow process of implementation of the Convention, coupled with an increase in hate and polarisation in societies and a lack of protection for human rights.  She expressed hope that the Committee would continue to work to protect children’s rights.

    RATOU JEAN ZARA, Committee Expert, said that the work that the Committee had accomplished over her time on it had been very important.  She had learned much each day and shared each member’s common aim of upholding children’s rights.  She had warm memories of her time on the Committee that she would incorporate into her daily work in Chad.  She wished the Committee all the best in its important work in upholding children’s rights.

    ANN MARIE SKELTON, Committee Chairperson, said that chairing an 18-member group had been challenging at times.  Listening to different voices from different countries made the Committee able to engage with States around the world while holding true to the Convention.  Members came and went, but the Committee remained.

    Ms. Skelton expressed concern about backsliding in children’s rights.  The Committee needed to be tough in this regard. It had a collective heart that needed to be big enough to think about all the children in the world.  The Committee had kept its finger on the pulse, reviewing the situation of children in situations of war around the world, including those in Ukraine, Sudan and Israel.  It was important that even States parties in conflict had interacted with the Committee.

    Children needed to grow up in an environment of happiness, love, understanding and peace, Ms. Skelton said.  She said she was proud of the jurisprudence that the Committee had built up over her time on it.

    BRAGI GUDBRANDSSON, Committee Vice Chair, on behalf of the remaining Committee members, expressed admiration for the outgoing members’ wonderful contributions to protecting children’s rights.  They had held States parties to account, and contributed to the Committee’s jurisprudence and general comments.  Further, they had been leaders in developing and promoting children’s rights globally. Their departure from the Committee represented a great loss.  They had set high standards that the remaining Experts needed to work to meet. He called on them to continue sharing their wisdom with the Committee after they left.

    FRANCISCO VERA–FRANCISCO, child rights advocate from Colombia, also expressed thanks to the outgoing Experts on behalf of all children.  It was the responsibility of all to fight for children’s rights.  Everyone needed to stay focused to fight violence and hate, and keep fighting for children’s rights.

    __________

    CRC-25-010E

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2771 (2025)

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The Security Council today decided to renew the long-standing United Nations peacekeeping presence in Cyprus for another year, underscoring the need to avoid any unilateral actions that could undermine the prospects for a peaceful settlement.

    Unanimously adopting resolution 2771 (2025) (to be issued as document S/RES/2771 (2025)), the 15-member organ decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) — which was first deployed in 1964 — until 31 January 2026.  It affirmed its intention to continue to monitor the situation in Cyprus closely, review the resolution’s implementation after six months and consider any adjustments or other action as needed.

    Reiterating that disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, the text urged the leaders of the two Cypriot communities and all involved parties to refrain from any actions and rhetoric that might damage the settlement process and raise tensions on the island.

    Accordingly, the Council condemned the continued violations of the military status quo along the ceasefire lines, the reported encroachment by both sides into the United Nations Buffer Zone and the ongoing reported military violations, calling on the sides and all involved parties to respect UNFICYP’s mandated authority in and around the Buffer Zone and refrain from unilateral actions that contravene it.  Additionally, the Council strongly urged full respect for UNFICYP’s freedom of movement throughout Cyprus and the cessation of all restrictions on the mission’s movement and access.

    Urging the sides to renew their efforts to achieve an enduring, comprehensive and just settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, the text welcomed the agreement between the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, to explore the possibility of opening new crossing points.

    Relatedly, the text welcomed the Secretary-General’s plans to convene an informal broader meeting with the two sides and the guarantor powers — Greece and Türkiye — to discuss the way forward, encouraging further rounds of informal talks to freely negotiate a mutually acceptable settlement under United Nations auspices.

    The Council requested the Secretary-General to submit two reports — by 4 July 2025 and 5 January 2026 respectively — on his Good Offices, in particular on progress towards reaching a consensus starting point for meaningful results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement, as well as on the implementation of this resolution.  It also encouraged the leaders of the two communities to provide relevant written updates every six months.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Activities of Secretary-General in Lebanon, 16-19 January

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Beirut, Lebanon, on 16 January.  Upon arrival he was met by the caretaker Foreign Minister of Lebanon, Abdallah Bou Habib.

    On Friday, the Secretary-General flew by helicopter from Beirut to Naqoura to visit UNIFIL — the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon — to express his gratitude for the courage and determination of the UN peacekeepers who have been working in very challenging circumstances.

    During his time on the ground, the Secretary-General visited a number of UNIFIL positions, including one that had been under Israeli attack in 2024.

    In remarks to the assembled leadership of the UN mission, the Secretary-General told them that they are not just on the Blue Line of Lebanon, they are on the front line of peace, and that the UNIFIL mission is the most challenging environment for peacekeepers anywhere.  He added that their contributions have been crucial in supporting the restoration of stability in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line.

    The continued occupation by the Israel Defense Forces inside the UNIFIL area operations and the conduct of military operations in Lebanese territory are violations of resolution 1701 (2006) and pose continued risk to your safety and security, Guterres told the peacekeepers.  He also noted that blue helmets had uncovered over a 100 weapons caches belonging to Hizbullah or other armed groups since 27 November 2024.

    The Secretary-General also said that strong support for, and closer coordination with, the Lebanese Armed Forces will be fundamental in supporting an enduring cessation of hostilities and realizing the ultimate goal of resolution 1701 (2006).  (See Press Release SG/SM/22525.)

    The Secretary-General returned to Beirut later in the afternoon where he met with France President Emmanuel Macron of France who was also on a visit to Beirut.

    In the evening, upon his return to Beirut, the Secretary-General, along with the UN Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the UNIFIL Force Commander, General Aroldo Lázaro, attended a working dinner hosted by the caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati.

    On Saturday, the Secretary-General spent the day in Beirut where he met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Designate Nawaf Salam and the Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri.

    The Secretary-General held a press conference late on Saturday afternoon.

    He returned to New York on Sunday, 19 January.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Essential work to improve Lendal starts 3 February

    Source: City of York

    Published Friday, 31 January 2025

    Two urgent improvement works are due to begin on Lendal. To ensure the safety of public and workers on site, Lendal will have daily and temporary closures to vehicles as follows:

    Northern Gas Networks will carry out essential work to the roadway on weekdays from Monday 3 February until Friday 14 February. The road will be open for deliveries and access before 10:30am and will be closed to vehicles from 10:30am until 5pm, Monday-Saturday.

    Outside those times, metal plates will be laid over the workings so vehicles can drive along Lendal. Pedestrian access will remain open throughout to ensure access to businesses.

    City of York Council will resurface and improve footways from 24 February for three months until late May 2025, weather permitting. The road will be open before 10:30am and closed to vehicles from 10:30am until 4pm each weekday.

    Outside those times, works will be barriered off but access will be maintained. Pedestrian access will remain open throughout. Pathways and cyclist routes will be maintained, where possible, to allow access to any properties and businesses safely. Emergency services will be permitted through the works at all times.

    Work will pause during the busy Easter holiday period from the end of Friday 4 April and start again on the morning of Tuesday 22 April. Access will be open during that period and the Blake Street barriers will be staffed as usual.

    Blue Badge parking will be suspended on Blake Street, Lendal and St Helen’s Square during the closure periods.

    During these two closures, access for Blue Badge holders will be via Goodramgate, which is used by the vast majority of Blue Badge holders. Blue Badge holders will be able to access and park along Goodramgate, Church Street and Colliergate as usual.

    Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said:

    The decision to pause Blue Badge vehicle access along the Lendal loop has not been taken lightly, but the forthcoming roadworks are essential and the footway repairs will improve accessibility for everyone.

    “We have checked to see if these two periods of work could run alongside each other to minimise disruption. Unfortunately, the access needed for staff and vehicles couldn’t be safely operated.

    “We’re notifying Blue Badge holders, taxi drivers and affected businesses ahead of these temporary closures.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Prime Minister Ramgoolam of Mauritius: 31 January 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Mauritius Navin Ramgoolam this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Mauritius Navin Ramgoolam this afternoon. 

    The leaders began by reflecting on their first months in office and discussed the strong relationship between the UK and Mauritius, which they looked forward to expanding. 

    The Prime Minister underlined the need for a deal to secure the military base on Diego Garcia that ensures strong protections, including from malign influence, and that will allow the base to continue to operate. 

    Both leaders reiterated their commitment to a deal, and they looked forward to speaking again soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: PM call with Prime Minister Ramgoolam of Mauritius: 31 January 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Mauritius Navin Ramgoolam this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Mauritius Navin Ramgoolam this afternoon. 

    The leaders began by reflecting on their first months in office and discussed the strong relationship between the UK and Mauritius, which they looked forward to expanding. 

    The Prime Minister underlined the need for a deal to secure the military base on Diego Garcia that ensures strong protections, including from malign influence, and that will allow the base to continue to operate. 

    Both leaders reiterated their commitment to a deal, and they looked forward to speaking again soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A busy weekend ahead in the city centre as Manchester welcomes Year of the Snake

    Source: City of Manchester

    Manchester is expected to be even busier than usual this weekend (Feb 1 & 2) as the city comes together to welcome in the Year of the Snake, with a weekend full of activities including the annual Chinese New Year Dragon Parade which takes place on Sunday.

    Already a sea of colour with trees decked out in traditional red lanterns in celebration of the Lunar New Year, visitors heading into the city centre this weekend are promised a dazzling display of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture.

    The weekend’s activities – organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) – will see Manchester’s Chinatown transformed into a festive wonderland with lanterns, music, food, and family-friendly activities.

    Anyone planning to come into Manchester and enjoy the activities is advised to use public transport and to travel as light as possible with no big bags, and to consider using back packs or other carriers for babies and toddlers as an alternative to pushchairs.

    Visitors should note that the busiest part of the weekend is likely to be from 12 noon to 2 pm on Sunday when the Dragon Parade takes place.  

    People coming in to see the parade should be aware that access into Chinatown may be restricted during this time in order to manage the number of people in the area, and they may be advised to enjoy the parade from elsewhere along the route instead.

    Chinatown visitors throughout the weekend will be able to enjoy a host of activities across the two days from 12 noon – 8 pm, including sampling a variety of delicious Chinese delicacies and authentic street food from local vendors.

    Mesmerising traditional dance and music performances will also be taking place on both Saturday and Sunday on the main stage in the Chinatown carpark.

    Other highlights include performances from the Guizhou Acrobatic Troupe at 2:45 pm and 3:45 pm on Sunday, and a DJ playing Cantonese and Mandarin pop songs from 8 pm – 10 pm on Saturday.

    FCAM’s famous Night Dragon will also be making appearances in the Chinatown carpark on Saturday at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, whilst Sunday will see the spectacular annual Dragon Parade take place, featuring a stunning traditional dragon, acrobatic performances, dancers and drummers.  

    Starting from the junction of Oxford Street and George Street at 12 noon on Sunday, the Dragon Parade will make its way along Portland Street, into Chinatown, with a final performance on Princess Street.

    This year’s festivities will culminate on Sunday evening with the record-breaking Illuminated Dragon which will take to the streets of Chinatown from 6:30 pm, featuring members of the public recruited earlier in the day by organisers to help take part in dancing the dragon.

    Away from Chinatown, activities will also be taking place at Central Library throughout the weekend, with an afternoon of arts and crafts on Saturday from 1 – 4 pm and a Hanfu Show featuring traditional Chinese clothing. 

    On Sunday, the Library will be throwing open its doors for the day to help even more families celebrate the Year of the Snake, with a fun-filled programme of dance and music performances, arts and crafts, face-painting, and much more. 

    The day will begin with an unmissable Lion Dance outside the Library at 11 am before the Library opens its doors at 11:30 am for a day of activities which finish at 4 pm.

    Cllr Pat Karney, City Centre spokesperson, Manchester City Council, said: “We know how much Mancunians love visiting Chinatown and joining in with all the fantastic celebrations to mark the start of the new lunar year. 

    “We want everyone to enjoy themselves but it will be busy so people should plan their visit accordingly.  Use public transport, travel light, think about what time will be best for you to come in, and most of all be kind to each other as you navigate your way around the city centre which is sure to be much busier than usual.” 

    Important travel and traffic advice

    Members of the public travelling into Manchester are advised to use public transport where possible.  
    More information and advice on travelling into Manchester this weekend is available on TFGM’s website here 

    A number of road closures will be in place over the weekend to allow the activities to take place. 

    Road closures

    Chinatown

    From 5am Saturday 1 February to 11.59pm Sunday 2 February:

    • Nicholas Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
    • St James Street (Nicolas Street to Princess Street)
       

    From 5am to 11.59pm Sunday 2 February:

    • Faulkner Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
    • Reyner Street  (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
    • St James Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
    • Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
    • George Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
    • Chain Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
    • Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Charlotte Street)
    • Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
    • Pine Street (Chain Street to New York Street)

    Parade route

    From 10am to 3pm Sunday 2 February:

    • Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street) soft closure at the junction of Peter Street / Deansgate. Access for residents and businesses only.
    • Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street West)
    • Portland Street (Chepstow Street to Chorlton Street)
    • Princess Street (Major Street to Cooper Street)
    • George Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
    • St James Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
    • Back George Street (Dickinson Street to Princess Street)
    • Faulkner Street (Princess Street to Novotel Hotel Entrance/ End of Faulkner Street)
    • Dickinson Street (Back George Street to Portland Street and Portland Street to Linley House/end of Dickinson Street)
    • Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)
    • Hall Street (Bale Street to Oxford Street) 
    • Soft Closure inbound at Whitworth Street/Princess Street, Whitworth Street/ Sackville Street, and Whitworth Street/Chorlton Street junctions. No through traffic. Access to residents, businesses, and buses only.  

    Parking suspensions

    Chinatown

    From 6pm on Friday 31 January to 11.59pm Sunday 2 February:

    • George Street (New York Street to Dickinson Street)
    • Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
    • Faulkner Street (New York Street to Princess Street)
    • Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
    • Chinatown Car Park (all bays)

    Accessible parking on Saturday can be found on Fountain Street (Booth Street to York Street) 

    Parade route

    From 8pm Saturday 1 February to 4pm Sunday 2 February:

    • Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street)
    • Mount Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
    • Oxford Street (Lower Mosley Street to Whitworth Street West)
    • Hall Street (Oxford Street to Bale Street)
    • George Street (Oxford Street to Dickinson Street)
    • St James Street (Oxford Street to Charlotte Street)
    • Chepstow Street (Oxford Road to Great Bridgewater Street)
    • Portland Street (Chepstow Street to New York Street)
    • Dickinson Street (Back George Street to Portland Street, and Portland Street to Linley House/end of Dickinson Street)
    • Princess Street (Cooper Street to Major Street)

    Accessible parking on Sunday can be found on Fountain Street (Booth Street to York Street) or Mount Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square).All bays, loadings bays, accessible parking bays, and taxi ranks, will be suspended.

    Metrolink

    Sunday 2 February

    Between 12 noon and 1pm there will be congestion around St Peter’s Square due to an increased number of pedestrians. Passengers are advised to expect delays.

    Chester Road roadworks

    There are significant road works taking place in the Chester Road roundabout area. Road travel into the city centre will be very busy, please use public transport if you can.

    Road closure information is also available here  

    More information about Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year celebrations in Manchester here 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: DeepSeek claims to have cured AI’s environmental headache. The Jevons paradox suggests it might make things worse

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Peter Howson, Assistant Professor in International Development, Northumbria University, Newcastle

    William Stanley Jevons also invented an early computer. University of Manchester Libraries / wiki, CC BY-SA

    AI burns through a lot of resources. And thanks to a paradox first identified way back in the 1860s, even a more energy-efficient AI is likely to simply mean more energy is used in the long run.

    For most users, “large language models” such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT work like intuitive search engines. But unlike regular web-searches that find and retrieve data from anywhere along a global network of servers, AI models return data they’ve generated from scratch. Like powering up a nuclear reactor to use a calculator, this tailored process is very inefficient.

    One study suggests the AI industry will be consuming somewhere between 85 and 134 terrawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity by 2027. That’s a similar amount of energy as the Netherlands consumes each year. One prominent researcher predicts that by 2030, over 20% of all electricity produced in the US will be feeding AI data centres (huge warehouses filled with computers).

    Big tech firms have always claimed to be heavy investors in wind and solar energy. But AI’s appetite for 24/7 power means most are developing their own nuclear options. Microsoft even plans to revive the infamous Three Mile Island power plant, scene of America’s worst ever civil nuclear accident.

    Despite Google’s ambitious target of being carbon neutral by 2030, the company’s AI developments mean its emissions have climbed 48% in the past few years. And the computing power needed to train these models increases tenfold each year.

    However, Chinese start-up DeepSeek claims to have created a fix: a model that matches the performance of established US rivals like OpenAI, but at a fraction of the cost and carbon footprint.

    An environmental game changer?

    DeepSeek has created a powerful open-source, relatively energy-lite model. The company claims it spent just US$6 million renting the hardware needed to train its new R1 model, compared with over $60 million for Meta’s Llama, which used 11 times the computing resources.

    DeepSeek uses a “mixture-of-experts” architecture, a machine-learning method that allows the model to scale up and down depending on the complexity of prompts. The company claims its model can also store more data and be trained without the need for huge amounts of expensive processor chips.

    Compared with its US rivals, DeepSeek promises to do more with less.
    Chitaika / shutterstock

    In reaction, US chip manufacturing and energy stocks plummeted following investor concerns that AI companies would rethink their energy-intensive data centre developments. As the world’s largest supplier of specialist AI processors, Nvidia saw its share price fall by US$589 billion, the biggest one-day loss in Wall Street history.

    Paradoxically, as well as upsetting the performance of US tech stocks, improving the energy efficiency of AI platforms could actually worsen the industry’s environmental performance as a whole.

    With tech stocks crashing, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella tried to bring a longer-term perspective: “Jevons paradox strikes again!” he posted on X. “As AI gets more efficient and accessible, we will see its use skyrocket, turning it into a commodity we just can’t get enough of.”

    The Jevons paradox

    The idea that energy efficiency isn’t always a good thing for Earth’s resources has been around for well over a century. In 1865, a young Englishman named William Stanley Jevons wrote “The Coal Question”, a book in which he suggested that Britain’s place as an industrial superpower might soon come to an end, due to its rapidly depleting coal reserves.

    But to Jevons, frugality was not the solution. He argued: “It is wholly a confusion of ideas to suppose that the economical use of fuel is equivalent to a diminished consumption. The very contrary is the truth.”

    According to Jevons, any increase in resource efficiency generates an increase in long-term resource consumption, rather than a decrease. Because greater energy efficiency has the effect of reducing energy’s implicit price, it increases the rate of return – and demand.

    Jevons offered the example of the British iron industry. If technological advancements helped a blast furnace produce iron with less coal, profits would rise and new investment in iron production would be attracted. At the same time, falling prices would stimulate additional demand. He concluded: “The greater number of furnaces will more than make up for the diminished [coal] consumption of each.”

    More recently, the economist William Nordhaus applied this idea to the efficiency of lighting since the dawn of human civilisation. In a paper published in 1998, he concluded that in ancient Babylon, the average labourer might need to work more than 40 hours to purchase enough fuel to produce the equivalent amount of light emitted by a modern lightbulb for one hour. But by 1992, an average American would need to work for less than half a second to produce the same.

    Throughout time, efficiency gains haven’t reduced the energy we expend on lighting or shrunk our energy consumption. On the contrary, we now generate so much electric light that areas without it have become tourist attractions.

    Warming and lighting our homes efficiently, driving our cars, mining Bitcoin and, indeed, building AI models are all subject to the same so-called rebound effects identified in the Jevons paradox. And this is why it will be impossible to ensure a more efficient AI industry actually leads to an overall reduction in energy use.

    A Sputnik moment

    In the 1950s, the US was horrified when the Soviets launched Sputnik, the first space satellite. The emergence of a more efficient rival caused America to allocate more resources to the space race, not less.

    DeepSeek is Silicon Valley’s Sputnik moment. More efficient AI will probably mean more distributed and powerful models, in an arms race that is no longer made up only of US tech giants. AI offers superpower status, and the floodgates may now be fully open for the UK and other global competitors, as well as China.

    What’s for certain is that in the long term, the AI industry’s appetite for energy and other resources is only going to increase.

    Peter Howson has received research funding from the British Academy.

    – ref. DeepSeek claims to have cured AI’s environmental headache. The Jevons paradox suggests it might make things worse – https://theconversation.com/deepseek-claims-to-have-cured-ais-environmental-headache-the-jevons-paradox-suggests-it-might-make-things-worse-248720

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Combined General Meeting of January 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, France – January 31, 2025 – The Combined Annual General Meeting of Atos SE shareholders convened to approve the 2023 financial statements was held today at the Company’s registered office, chaired by Philippe Salle, Chairman of the Board of Directors until today and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer as of February 1, 2025.

    Broadcast live on the Atos website, the Annual General Meeting was a key opportunity to inform and exchange views with shareholders, who approved all the resolutions submitted to the vote.

    In particular, the Annual General Meeting approved the statutory and consolidated financial statements for the 2023 financial year.

    Detailed voting results and a replay of the Annual General Meeting will be available on the Atos website (under Investors – Annual General Meeting).

    Changes to the Board of Directors composition

    The Annual General Meeting approved all the ratifications of appointments submitted to it. In particular, the ratification of Philippe Salle’s appointment was approved by 94.18% of the votes cast.

    The shareholders approved the renewal of Sujatha Chandrasekaran’s term of office as Director, and the appointments of Joanna Dziubak and Hildegard Müller as new Directors.

    At the close of the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors noted the end of Mandy Metten’s term of office as the second Director representing employees, with the Board reduced to eight members (excluding the Director representing employees), and the expiry of the terms of office of Alain Crozier, Katrina Hopkins, Monika Maurer and Astrid Stange.

    On the recommendation of the Nomination and Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has decided to appoint Mandy Metten as a censor to the Board of Directors, with effect from today, subject to ratification by the next Annual General Meeting.

    The Board again noted the resignation of Jean Pierre Mustier from his duties as Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company with effect from today. The Board also reiterated its unanimous decision of October 14, 2024 to combine the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and to appoint Philippe Salle as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer with effect from February 1, 2025. The Board would like to thank Jean Pierre Mustier, who remarkably steered the Group’s restructuring, for his unfailing commitment and contribution to the Group’s success, as well as for the exemplary transition he implemented with Philippe Salle.

    At the close of the Annual General Meeting and the Board of Directors, the Atos Board of Directors comprised nine Directors, of whom 75% are independent Directors1 and 62.5% are women2, and one censor:

    • Philippe Salle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    • Laurent Collet-Billon*, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors
    • Elizabeth Tinkham*, Lead Independent Director
    • Sujatha Chandrasekaran*
    • Joanna Dziubak*
    • Farès Louis, Director representing employees
    • Françoise Mercadal-Delasalles*
    • Jean-Jacques Morin*
    • Hildegard Müller
    • Mandy Metten, censor

    * Independent Directors

    The Board of Directors has also amended its Internal Rules3, in particular to strengthen the duties and resources of the Lead Independent Director, whose appointment is now mandatory when the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are combined. The matters reserved to the Board of Directors have also been extended.

    Changes to the Board Committees composition

    Taking into account its renewed composition, the Board has restructured its committees, as of today, on the recommendation of the Nomination and Governance Committee:

    • Audit Committee: Jean-Jacques Morin* (Chair); Laurent Collet-Billon*; Joanna Dziubak*; Sujatha Chandrasekaran*
    • Nomination and Governance Committee: Elizabeth Tinkham* (Chair); Sujatha Chandrasekaran*; Farès Louis; Joanna Dziubak*
    • Remuneration Committee: Laurent Collet-Billon* (Chair); Farès Louis; Françoise Mercadal-Delasalles*; Hildegard Müller
    • CSR Committee: Françoise Mercadal-Delasalles* (Chair); Hildegard Müller; Farès Louis

    * Independent Directors

    Philippe Salle, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Atos SE, said: “I am delighted by the confidence expressed by our shareholders. With a more compact and strengthened Board of Directors, we are fully mobilized and focused on deploying the Group’s new strategy. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to thank the Directors whose terms of office have ended for their commitment and contribution to Atos during this critical period.”

    ***

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 82,000 employees and annual revenue of c. €10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Contacts

    Investor relations: David Pierre-Kahn | investors@atos.net | +33 6 28 51 45 96
    Individual shareholders: 0805 65 00 75
    Press contact: globalprteam@atos.net

    1 In accordance with article 10.3 of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Director representing employees is not taken into account in determining the percentage of independent members.

    2 In accordance with the law, the Director representing employees is not taken into account in determining the parity ratio on the Board of Directors.

    3 Available on the Atos website, under Investors – Corporate Governance.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Office of the Public Guardian appoints non-executive Board Chair

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Alison Sansome appointed as non-executive Board Chair for the Office of the Public Guardian.

    Alison Sansome has been appointed as the new non-executive Board Chair for the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). In her role, Alison will lead the Board, facilitating Board meetings and helping to inform decision making, using her knowledge and expertise to provide independent scrutiny and constructive advice.  

    Non-executives are senior external figures who provide independent advice, support, and challenge to government departments on policy implementation, operational delivery, and strategic direction. 

    The non-executive Board Chair has regular meetings with the Chief Executive to reflect on the organisation’s direction and the board’s role in supporting and challenging the executive team. Alison has extensive board, committee and tribunal experience in a range of sectors including justice, health, defence, emergency services and information technology. She currently holds a number of roles in a non-executive portfolio, including Vice Chair of the Fire Standards Board and Board Member for the Office of Legal Complaints. Alison also previously held several Senior Civil Service roles in the Ministry of Defence. 

    On Alison’s appointment, Public Guardian and Chief Executive Amy Holmes, said: 

    “We’re delighted to have Alison join the OPG Board. Alison has a wealth of knowledge and experience, including time within the Civil Service. Her expertise is welcomed by the Board and will be key in creating positive impact for our customers.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Recruitment for a Senior Safety Assessor

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Senior Safety Assessor vacancy, working on authorising veterinary medicines in the UK.

    We have a vacancy for a Senior Safety Assessor.

    Job Title

    Senior Safety Assessor

    Grade

    G7

    Salary & Pension

    £ 59,900 per annum with Pension Scheme

    Annual Leave entitlement

    Commencing at 25 days

    Role

    This exciting and interesting job puts you at the heart of authorising veterinary medicines in the UK.  You will be a senior assessor within the Human and Environmental Safety Team, which is part of the VMD’s Authorisations Division.

    Assessment of data relating to human risk assessments being the primary focus, with the secondary requirement being the assessment of environmental safety.

    How to apply

    You must make your application via Senior Safety Assessor – Civil Service Jobs – GOV.UK where you will find a full job description.

    Closing Date

    24 February 2025

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: PROACTIS SA – Press release 31.01.2025 (New address)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Transfer of the registered office

    Paris, France – (31 January 2025) — PROACTIS (ISIN code : FR0004052561) announces that its registered office has been transferred from 26-28, quai Gallieni – 92150 Suresnes to 54, rue de Londres – 75008 Paris. The company is now attached to the registry of the Tribunal des Affaires Economiques (formerly the Tribunal de Commerce) in Paris.

    PROACTIS’ Articles of Association have been amended accordingly.

    This transfer of the registered office is in line with the company’s policy of reducing its fixed costs.

    * * * *

    About Proactis SA (https://www.proactis.com/proactis-sa), a Proactis Company

    Proactis SA connects companies by providing business spend management and collaborative business process automation solutions for both goods and services, through The Business Network. Our solutions integrate with any ERP or procurement system, providing our customers with an easy-to-use solution which drives adoption, compliance and savings.

    Proactis SA has operations in France, Germany, USA and Manila.

    Listed in Compartment C on the Euronext Paris Eurolist.

    ISIN: FR0004052561, Euronext: PROAC, Reuters: HBWO.LN, Bloomberg: HBW.FP

    Contacts
    Tel: +33 (0)1 53 25 55 00
    E-mail: investorContact@proactis.com

    * * * *

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Wisdomtree Multi Asset Issuer Public Limited Company (the “issuer”) WISDOMTREE S&P 500 3X DAILY LEVERAGED (ISIN: IE00B7Y34M31) NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE IN THE DAILY SWAP FEE AND FUNDING SPREAD

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    31 January 2025

    LEI: 2138003QW2ZAYZODBU23

    WISDOMTREE MULTI ASSET ISSUER PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (THE “ISSUER”)
    (a public company incorporated with limited liability in Ireland)

    WISDOMTREE S&P 500 3X DAILY LEVERAGED (ISIN: IE00B7Y34M31)
    (THE “AFFECTED SECURITIES”)

    NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE IN THE DAILY SWAP FEE AND FUNDING SPREAD OF THE AFFECTED SECURITIES

    Terms not defined in this notice shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Issuer’s Base Prospectus dated 5 September 2024.

    BNP Paribas acts as Swap Provider for the Affected Securities.

    The Issuer and the Swap Provider have agreed with the Issuer to reduce the Daily Swap Rate of the Affected Securities, as permitted pursuant to the terms of the Swap Provider Agreement and in accordance with paragraph 2.2(iii) of Annex A of the Conditions of the Affected Securities. The Issuer announces that the Daily Swap Rate for the following Affected Securities will be amended from 0.00233% to 0.00136%.

    As also permitted under paragraph 2.2(iii) of Annex A of the Conditions of the Affected Securities, the Swap Provider has notified the Issuer of its intention to amend the Funding Spread of the Affected Securities from 0.50% to 1.10% per annum.

    The Trustee, the Manager and the Issuer have entered into an amendment to the supplemental trust deed for each class of Affected Securities to effect the aforementioned changes (the “Affected Securities Amendments”). The effective date of the Affected Securities Amendments shall be 1 February 2025.

    For further information, please contact: europesupport@wisdomtree.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Interim Financial Report 2024/2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Regulated information, Leuven, 31 January 2025 (17.40 hrs CET)

    Interim Financial Report 2024/2025

    KBC Ancora recorded a profit of EUR 73.9 million in the first half of the financial year 2024/2025. This compared with a profit of EUR 72.9 million in the same period in the previous financial year. The result for the first six months of the financial year was determined chiefly by dividend income totalling EUR 77.5 million from the participating interest in KBC Group, operating costs of EUR 1.5 million and interest charges amounting to EUR 2.3 million.

    Abridged financial summaries and notes1

    Results for the first half of financial year 2024/2025

      1H fin. year

    (x EUR 1,000)

    		 2024/2025
    per share
    (in EUR)    		 1H fin. year

    (x EUR 1,000)

    		 2023/2024

    per share
    (in EUR)
    Income 77,738 1.01 77,953 1.01
    Operating income 0 0.00 0 0.00
    Recurring financial income 77,738 1.01 77,953 1.01
    Expenses -3,805 -0.05 -5,074 -0.07
    Operating costs -1,536 -0.02 -1,567 -0.02
    Financial expenses -2,269 -0.03 -3,508 -0.05
    Result after taxes 73,933 0.96 72,879 0.95
    Number of shares in issue*   77,011,844   77,011,844

    * No instruments have been issued which could lead to dilution.        

    KBC Ancora recorded a profit of EUR 73.9 million in the first six months of the current financial year, equivalent to EUR 0.96 per share, compared with a profit of EUR 72.9 million in the same period in the previous financial year.

    Income consisted principally of dividend received on the participating interest in KBC Group (EUR 77.5 million) and interest income on term investments (EUR 0.2 million). Expenses principally comprised interest charges on debt (EUR 2.3 million) and operating costs (EUR 1.5 million).

    Balance sheet as at 31 December 2024

    (x EUR 1,000) 31.12.2024 *30.06.2024
    BALANCE SHEET TOTAL 3,660,323 3,599,986
    Assets    
    Fixed assets 3,599,979 3,599,979
    Current assets 60,344 8
    Investments (other) 59,700 0
    Cash at bank and in hand 611 1
    Accrued income and deferred expense 33 7
    Liabilities    
    Equity 3,557,524 3,483,591
    Contribution 3,158,128 3,158,128
    Legal reserve 175,258 175,258
    Available reserves 149,427 149,427
    Profit (loss) carried forward 777 777
    Result for the period 73,933 n/a
    Creditors 102,798 116,396
       Amounts falling due after more than one year 100,000 100,000
    Amounts falling due within one year 419 16,050
    Accrued expense and deferred income 2,379 345

    * The balance sheet at 30 June 2024 is shown after appropriation of the result.

    The balance sheet total at 31 December 2024 stood at EUR 3.7 billion, an increase of EUR 60.3 million compared with the end of the financial year 2023/2024.

    The number of shares held by KBC Ancora in KBC Group remained unchanged at 77,516,380. The book value of these shares was EUR 46.44 per share (i.e. the historical acquisition cost). The price of the KBC Group share stood at EUR 74.54 on 31 December 2024, while the IFRS equity value amounted to EUR 54.1 per KBC Group share on 30 September 2024.
    Current assets increased by EUR 60.3 million to EUR 60.3 million, principally the result of interim dividend received in November 2024 on the participating interest in KBC Group (EUR +77.5 million) and the repayment of short-term financial debt (EUR -15.6 million).

    Total equity rose by EUR 73.9 million. This increase was due to the result in the first half of the current financial year (EUR 73.9 million).
    Debt showed a net reduction of EUR 13.6 million, due on the one hand to the repayment of short-term financial debt totalling EUR 15.6 million, and on the other an increase of EUR 2.0 million in the (pro rata) interest charges in respect of the first half of the financial year.

    Interim report on the first six months of the current financial year 2024/2025

    Notes on the first half of the current financial year 2024/2025

    Extension of shareholder agreement concerning the anchoring of KBC Group

    On 29 November 2024 Cera and KBC Ancora, together with MRBB and the Other Permanent Shareholders, confirmed that they would be extending unchanged their collaboration as a syndicate with respect to KBC Group for a further term of ten years. The extension of the syndicate agreement came into effect on 1 December 2024. Cera, KBC Ancora, MRBB and Other Permanent Shareholders will henceforth collectively hold 41.7% of the total number of KBC Group shares. In this way, the shareholders concerned will continue to ensure the shareholder stability and support the further development of the KBC group.

    Result for the first six months of the financial year 2024/2025

    KBC Ancora recorded a profit of EUR 73.9 million in the first six months of the current financial year, compared with a profit of EUR 72.9 million in the same period in the previous financial year.

    This result was influenced principally by the following factors:

    • Dividend income totalling EUR 77.5 million. As in the same period in the previous financial year, this consisted of an interim dividend of EUR 1.00 per KBC Group share.
    • Interest income totalling EUR 0.2 million on term investments, compared with EUR 0.4 million in the same period in the previous financial year.
    • Interest charges amounting to EUR 2.3 million, a reduction of EUR 1.2 million compared with the same period in the previous financial year, due to the reduction in outstanding financial debt.
    • Operating expenses amounting to EUR 1.5 million, in line with the previous financial year. The operating expenses consisted primarily of costs incurred under the cost-sharing agreement with Cera (EUR 1.2 million). There were also the usual expenses, such as listing costs and costs associated with the statutory director.

    Participating interest in KBC Group, net debt position and net asset value

    The number of KBC Group shares in portfolio remained unchanged during the past six months at 77,516,380.

    The net asset value of the KBC Ancora share is defined as 1.0066 times2 the price of the KBC Group share, less the net debt3 per share. KBC Ancora’s net debt position at 31 December 2024 stood at EUR 0.55 per share.

    Based on the price of the KBC Group share on 31 December 2024 (EUR 74.54), the net asset value of one KBC Ancora share amounted to EUR 74.48, and the KBC Ancora share (EUR 50.50) was trading at a discount of 32.2% to the net asset value.

    The following charts illustrate the movements in the price of the KBC Group and KBC Ancora shares and the discount of the KBC Ancora share to its net asset value.

    Trend in KBC Group and KBC Ancora share price
    (January – December 2024)    		 Trend in discount of KBC Ancora share to its net asset value (January – December 2024)
       

    Principal risks and uncertainties in the remaining months of the financial year

    Certain risk factors could have an impact on the value of the assets held by KBC Ancora and on its ability to distribute a dividend. Reference is made in this regard to the description of the risks in the most recent annual report (page 20).

    KBC Ancora’s expenses in the second half of the current financial year (2024/2025) will consist principally of interest charges plus the usual limited operating expenses. KBC Ancora estimates the total expenses in respect of the full financial year 2024/2025 at approximately EUR 8 million.

    KBC Group reported a net result of EUR 2.3 billion for the first nine months of 2024. KBC Group will announce its annual result for the financial year 2024 on 13 February 2025.

    Partly dependent on the decisions taken by KBC Group regarding the distribution in the first half of 2025 of a final dividend in respect of financial year 2024, the Board of Directors of Almancora Société de gestion, statutory director of KBC Ancora, will take a decision at the end of May 2025 on whether to distribute an interim dividend in June 2025 in respect of financial year 2024/2025, in line with its dividend policy. KBC Ancora’s dividend policy sets out the intention to pay out 90% of the recurring result available for distribution in the form of an (interim) dividend (i.e. after adjustment for any exceptional results and after mandatory formation of the legal reserve).

    Declaration by the responsible individuals

    “We, the members of the Board of Directors of Almancora Société de gestion, statutory director of KBC Ancora SA, hereby jointly declare that, in so far as we are aware:

    a)   the abridged financial summaries, drawn up in accordance with the applicable standards for financial statements, present a true and fair picture of the capital position, financial position and results of KBC Ancora;

    b)   the interim financial report presents a true and fair view of the key events and principal transactions with affiliated parties during the first six months of the current financial year and of their impact on the abridged financial summaries, as well as a description of the principal risks and uncertainties during the remaining months of the financial year.”

    Information on the external audit

    The statutory auditor has reviewed the abridged interim financial information and accompanying notes. The auditor’s report is appended to this interim report.

            ———————————

    KBC Ancora is a listed company which holds 18.6% of the shares in KBC Group and which together with Cera, MRBB and the Other Permanent Shareholders is responsible for the shareholder stability and further development of the KBC group. As core shareholders of KBC Group, these parties have signed a shareholder agreement to this effect.

    Financial calendar:
    29 August 2025 (17.40 hrs CEST)        Annual press release for the financial year 2024/2025
    30 September 2025 (17.40 CEST)        Annual Report 2024/2025 available
    31 October 2025        General Meeting of Shareholders

    This press release is available in Dutch, French and English on the website www.kbcancora.be.

    KBC Ancora Investor Relations & Press contact: Jan Bergmans
    Tel.: +32 (0)16 279672
    E-mail: jan.bergmans@kbcancora.be or mailbox@kbcancora.be

    Appendix: Balance sheet and profit and loss account with comparative figures

    (x EUR 1,000) 31.12.2024 *30.06.2024
    BALANCE SHEET TOTAL 3,660,323 3,599,986
    Assets    
    Fixed assets 3,599,979 3,599,979
    Financial fixed assets 3,599,979 3,599,979
    Companies with which there is a participatory   
    relationship    		 3,599,979 3,599,979
    Participating interests 3,599,979 3,599,979
    Current assets 60,344 8
    Investments 59,700 0
    Other investments 59,700 0
    Cash at bank and in hand 611 1
    Accrued income and deferred expense 33 7
    Liabilities    
    Equity 3,557,524 3,483,591
    Contribution 3,158,128 3,158,128
    Issued capital 3,158,128 3,158,128
    Reserves 324,686 324,686
       Unavailable reserves 175,258 175,258
    Legal reserve 175,258 175,258
    Available reserves 149,427 149,427
    Profit/loss carried forward 777 777
    Profit/loss for the period 73,933 n/a
    Creditors 102,798 116,396
    Amounts falling due after more than one year 100,000 100,000
    Financial liabilities 100,000 100,000
    Credit institutions 100,000 100,000
    Amounts falling due within one year 419 16,050
    Financial liabilities 0 15,635
    Credit institutions 0 15,635
    Trade creditors 159 173
    Suppliers 159 173
    Other creditors 260 241
    Accrued expense and deferred income 2,379 345

    * The balance sheet at 30 June 2024 is shown after appropriation of the result.

    (x EUR 1,000) 01.07.2024-31.12.2024 01.07.2023-31.12.2023
         
    Operating income 0 0
    Other operating income 0 0
    Operating costs 1,536 1,567
    Services and sundry goods 1,535 1,417
    Other operating costs 0 149
    Operating results -1,536 -1,567
         
    Financial income 77,738 77,953
    Recurring financial income 77,738 77,953
    Income from financial fixed assets 77,516 77,516
    Income from current assets 222 437
    Financial expenses 2,269 3,508
    Recurring financial charges 2,269 3,508
    Cost of debt 2,269 3,508
    Other financial expenses 0 0
    Financial result 75,469 74,445
         
    Profit (loss) before tax 73,933 72,879
         
    Profit (loss) after tax 73,933 72,879

    Statutory auditor’s report to the board of directors of KBC Ancora NV on the review of the condensed interim financial information as at 31 December 2024 and for the 6-month period then ended

    FREE TRANSLATION OF THE ORIGINAL IN DUTCH

    Introduction

    We have reviewed the accompanying interim financial report 2024/2025, containing the condensed balance sheet of KBC Ancora NV as at 31 December 2024, the condensed profit and loss account for the 6-month period then ended, as well as the notes (“the condensed interim financial information”). The board of directors is responsible for the preparation and presentation of this condensed interim financial information in accordance with the financial reporting framework applicable in Belgium for the preparation of condensed interim financial information. Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on this condensed interim financial information based on our review.

    Scope of Review

    We conducted our review in accordance with the International Standard on Review Engagements 2410, “Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity.” A review of condensed interim financial information consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and, consequently, does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

    Conclusion

    Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the accompanying condensed interim financial information as at 31 December 2024 and for the 6-month period then ended has not been prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the financial reporting framework applicable in Belgium for the preparation of condensed interim financial information.

    Diegem, 31 January 2025

    The statutory auditor,
    PwC Reviseurs d’Entreprises SRL / Bedrijfsrevisoren BV
    Represented by

    Damien Walgrave*
    Bedrijfsrevisor / Réviseur d’Entreprises

    * Acting in behalf of Damien Walgrave BV/SRL

    1         KBC Ancora’s reporting is based on Belgian GAAP. The valuation principles are set out in the filed annual
            financial statements and in the annual report.
            See Appendix for the balance sheet and profit and loss account.
    2         Number of KBC Group shares held / number of KBC Ancora shares in issue: 1.0066
            (= 77,516,380 / 77,011,844).
    3         Net debt is defined here as total liabilities less total assets excluding financial fixed assets.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Shareholders’ Nomination Committee proposal on the composition and remuneration of the Board of Directors of Oma Saving Bank Plc

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 31 JANUARY 2025 AT 19.00 P.M. EET, OTHER INFORMATION DISCLOSED TO THE RULES OF THE EXCHANGE

    Shareholders’ Nomination Committee proposal on the composition and remuneration of the Board of Directors of Oma Saving Bank Plc

    The Shareholders’ Nomination Committee proposes the following to the Annual General Meeting of Oma Savings Bank Plc (OmaSp or the Company) on 8 April 2025:

    The number of members of the Board of Directors is proposed to be confirmed at seven.

    The Shareholders’ Nomination Committee proposes that the current Board members Juhana Brotherus, Irma Gillberg-Hjelt, Aki Jaskari, Jaakko Ossa, Carl Pettersson, Kati Riikonen and Juha Volotinen.

    All candidates are proposed to be elected for the period starting at the Annual General Meeting 2025 and ending at the Annual General Meeting 2026. All nominees have given their consent to the election. At the time of election, all proposed nominees are independent in their relationship with the company and its significant shareholders.

    Details of the Board members nominated for election:

    JUHANA BROTHERUS
    Juhana Brotherus (born 1986) has been a member of OmaSp’s Board of Directors since December 2024. Brotherus has been the Director and Chief Economist of the Federation of Finnish Enterprises since 2023. In addition, Brotherus worked as Chief Economist and Director of the Mortgage Society of Finland in 2014–2023 and as the Economist of Danske Bank in 2011–2014. Brotherus has served as the Vice Chairman of the Board of HOAS since 2018, as a member of the Investment Committee of the Finnish Business School Graduates since 2016, as a member of the Board of the Foundation for Economic Students in Helsinki in 2015–2020, and as a member of the Board of aTalent Recruitingin in 2012–2018, of which as the Chairman of the Board in 2014–2018. Brotherus holds a Master of Economic Sciences.

    IRMA GILLBERG-HJELT
    Irma Gillberg-Hjelt (born 1962) has been a member of OmaSp’s Board of Directors since December 2024. Gillberg-Hjelt has has been the Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Banking of Aktia Bank Plc in 2017–2020, employed by Danske Bank and its predecessors from 1987 to 2017 holding managerial positions in the corporate customer business in 2010–2017, as Bank Director in 2007–2012, as financial director in 2003–2007, and in customer-responsible positions in 1987–2003. In addition, Gillberg-Hjelt has been a member of the Board of Directors of Saldo Bank UAB in 2023–2024. Gillberg-Hjelt holds a Master of Laws.

    AKI JASKARI
    Aki Jaskari (born 1961) has been a member of OmaSp’s Board of Directors since 2014. Jaskari has served as the CEO of Nerkoon Höyläämö Oy since 1995. In addition, Jaskari has been a member of the Advisory Board of Leppäkosken Sähkö Group Oy since 2001, a member of the Regional Advisory Committee of Pohjola Insurance Oy in 2001–2015 and as a member of the Board of the Parkano Savings Bank in 2010–2013. Jaskari holds a master’s degree in economics.

    JAAKKO OSSA
    Jaakko Ossa (born 1965) has been the Chairman of the Board of OmaSp since May 2024 and a member of the Board since 2023. Ossa has been a professor of financial law at the University of Turku since 1998. Ossa has an extensive written production, particularly in the field of corporate taxation and investment taxation. Along with his academic career, Ossa has held expert positions at Asianajotoimisto Astrea Oy for around 20 years and currently at Ossa Partners Oy, a family company. Ossa has been as a member of the Board of several companies, including Liedon Savings Bank, Sp-Fund Management Company and the Savings Bank Association. In addition, he is currently the Chairman of the delegation of Taxpayers Association of Finland (TAF) and the inspector of the Satakuntalais-Hämäläinen Student Nation (osakunta) of the University of Turku. Ossa holds a Doctor of Laws.

    CARL PETTERSSON
    Carl Pettersson (born 1979) has been the Vice Chairman and a member of OmaSp’s Board of Directors since January 2025. Pettersson has been the Managing Director of Elo Pension Company since 2021. In addition, Pettersson has been the Managing Director of Veritas Pension Insurance Company in 2017–2021, Deputy Managing Director of Aktia Bank Plc in 2016–2017 and prior to that in several management positions of Aktia Bank Plc in 2008–2016 and as Director of OP Raasepori’s branch office in 2006-2008. Pettersson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an eMBA.

    KATI RIIKONEN
    Kati Riikonen (born 1971) has been a member of OmaSp’s Board of Directors since December 2024. Riikonen has been the VP, Head of Online, Marketing and Analytics of Telia Finland Plc in 2020–2024, Head of Industry of Google Finland in 2017–2020, Managing Director of Isobar Finland Oy in 2015–2017, Chief Digital Officer of DNA Oy in 2013-2015 and Marketing Director of DNA Oy in 2011–2013, an entrepreneur of KRi Marketing and Training in 2006–2009, Marketing Director of Motorola Inc. USA in 2003–2006 and as various expert and team leader positions at Nokia Plc in 1996–2003. In addition, Riikonen has been a member of the Board of Directors of Kamux Plc since 2024, a member of the Board of Directors of Verkkokauppa.com Plc since 2023, a member of the Board of Directors of Nooa Savings Bank in 2021–2024, a member of the Board of Directors of Kotipizza Group in 2021–2022, a member of the Board of Directors of City Digital Oy in 2016–2018, and a member of the Board of Frantic Media Oy in 2012–2014. Riikonen holds a Master of Business Administration.

    JUHA VOLOTINEN
    Juha Volotinen (born 1975) has been a member of OmaSp’s Board of Directors since December 2024. Volotinen has been the CIO of the Municipality Finance Plc since 2021. In addition, Volotinen worked as CIO of Aktia Bank Plc in 2017–2021 and before that in several managerial positions in Aktia Bank Plc in 2010–2017, in SEB Ab in several managerial positions in 2003–2010, and as IT Manager of Danske Securities in 2002–2003. Volotinen has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Aktia Finance in 2017–2020. Volotinen holds a Master of Economic Sciences.

    Shareholders’ Nomination Committee proposal on the remuneration of the Board of Directors of OmaSp:
                                                                                      
    The Shareholders’ Nomination Committee proposes that the members of the Board of Directors be paid annual remuneration as follows:

    • Chairperson of the Board EUR 85,000
    • Vice Chairperson of the Board EUR 60,000
    • Other members of the Board EUR 40,000

    In addition, the Chairperson of the Board Committees are paid a separate annual fee as follows:

    • Chairperson of the Remuneration Committee EUR 6,000
    • Chairperson of the Risk Committee EUR 9,000
    • Chairperson of the Audit Committee EUR 9,000

    The Shareholders’ Nomination Committee proposes that meeting fees be paid as follows:

    • Board meeting EUR 1,000
    • Committee meeting EUR 1,000
    • Email meeting of the Board or Committee EUR 500

    The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that 25 percent of the annual remuneration of the Board of Directors be paid from the market in Oma Savings Bank Plc’s shares acquired on behalf of the members of the Board of Directors. The shares will be acquired directly on behalf of the members of the Board of Directors at a price formed on the market in public trading when the interim report for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2025 has been published. The Company is responsible for the costs of acquiring the shares and any transfer tax. The rest of the annual fee is paid in cash to cover the taxes arising from the fee.

    In addition, Oma Savings Bank Plc pays or reimburses travel expenses and other expenses related to board work to the members of the Board of Directors.

    The proposals of the Nomination Committee shall be included in the notice of the Annual General Meeting.

    Raimo Härmä (nominated by the South-Karelian Savings Bank Foundation) is the Chairman of the Shareholders’ Nomination Committee of OmaSp, members are Ari Lamminmäki (nominated by the Parkano Savings Bank Foundation), Jouni Niuro (nominated by the Liedon Savings Bank Foundation), Aino Lamminmäki (nominated by the Töysän Savings Bank Foundation), Simo Haarajärvi (nominated by the Kuortane Savings Bank Foundation), and as a specialist acts Jaakko Ossa, the Chairman of the Board of OmaSp.

    Additional information:
    Raimo Härmä, Chairman of the Nomination Committee, tel. +358 44 363 7063
    Minna Sillanpää, CCO, tel. +358 50 66592, minna.sillanpaa@omasp.fi

    DISTRIBUTION
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

    OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons decries President Trump’s freeze on almost all foreign assistance in speech on Senate floor

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Appropriations and Foreign Relations Committees, condemned President Donald Trump’s executive order (EO) to pause almost all U.S. foreign assistance in a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, calling it unconstitutional and harmful to U.S. security and values.

    Last week, following the Trump EO, the State Department issued a “stop-work” order that halted all current foreign assistance and paused new projects, with narrow exceptions. This abrupt action created widespread confusion, further complicated by the White House budget office’s decision to send and then rescind a separate memo that had ordered a freeze on all federal grant spending. The actions have left essential aid programs and global partnerships in a state of uncertainty, weakening the United States’ standing around the world.

    In his remarks, Senator Coons emphasized that foreign assistance is not charity, but an investment that strengthens our security and economy. The Trump EO by contrast, harms our allies and friends, and benefits adversaries like China. It has halted payments to contractors rebuilding Ukraine’s electrical infrastructure in the wake of Russian attacks and frozen support that is critical to ensuring Taiwan’s defense. This pause has halted vital pandemic surveillance work that keeps us safe from lethal diseases and rapidly emerging pandemics, at a time when we are seeing new outbreaks of highly transmissible diseases like Ebola in Uganda and Marburg in Tanzania. The pause has impacted critical global health funding, including PEPFAR, which provides HIV treatment for more than 20 million people living with HIV globally. U.S. institutions that monitor global elections like the National Democratic Institute and International Republic Institute are also frozen in the run-up to elections in nations like Moldova and Romania that are expected to be targets of Russian interference. This reckless step harms U.S. credibility and economic stability and creates long-term consequences that weaken our allies and empower our adversaries.

    Senator Coons also underscored that while foreign assistance accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget, its strategic significance is crucial.

    A video and partial transcript of Senator Coons’ comments are available below.

    WATCH HERE.

    Senator Coons: Mr. President, I’m speaking today in strong opposition to President Trump’s illegal executive order of last Friday night that pauses all of our foreign assistance and development assistance. Let’s be clear: our development assistance, our foreign aid, isn’t about charity. It’s about security, and it’s about values. We have alliances and partnerships around the world that are undergirded by our soft power – by our partnerships and investment in helping make our world safer, more stable, and more secure. What happened last Friday night, at the end of the workday and there was no one there to answer urgent questions – was a freeze on all foreign assistance, with a very narrow exception for food aid, and it has caused chaos in the global community that delivers aid and assistance around the world. 

    For days, there were questions unanswered. What did this mean in Ukraine, in Lebanon, where there are wars and ceasefires, where critical grant funding and work by contractors helps put the lights back on after Russian attacks on the electrical infrastructure in Ukraine, where ceasefire implementation in Lebanon was ongoing. In parts of the world where we were continuing to bring home to the United States those who served alongside us in Afghanistan, Afghan SIVs waiting for processing, abandoned in Qatar and here in the United States. 

    A halt on drug supplies that helped keep 20 million people living with HIV through the program PEPFAR, long supported by presidents and Congresses of both parties. A freeze on activity to counter fentanyl and narcotics trafficking, to push back on Chinese and Russian disinformation, and to promote democracy. With urgent upcoming elections, the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute are frozen in their activities and forced to lay off or furlough their workforce. Let me thank Secretary Rubio for responding to urgent calls to broaden the aperture for humanitarian waivers for this freeze, but let me also say that with dozens and dozens of the most senior people at USAID put on furlough, implementing this got harder, and with thousands of contractors who work for USAID in countries around the world dismissed or laid off, the consequences will be severe. 

    I’ll just give you one example. I suspect everyone listening has heard of the disease Ebola. I suspect not everyone has heard of the disease Marburg. They are related. They’re highly transmissive and deadly viruses. There is a new outbreak of Ebola in the capital of Uganda. There’s an ongoing outbreak of Marburg in the neighboring country of Tanzania. This freeze pauses the pandemic surveillance work, the urgent public health work, the assistance we provide that makes sure that we are safe from a rapidly emerging and lethal global pandemic that we put in place after the last pandemic. 

    When we halt foreign assistance, it has consequences. It’s just one percent of our total budget. Most Americans think it’s a big percent of our spending, but it’s one percent, actually, less than one percent of the total federal budget. And there’s a winner here, and it’s not the American taxpayer. Freezing programs like this causes chaos and often costs more to restart them after a review. The winner is China. Our biggest global competitor and adversary is delighted that we’ve handed them an opportunity to say to communities and countries around the world that we are not a reliable partner – that despite contracts and promises, commitments, and programs, they now have months to crow about how we have abandoned our partnerships with county after country around the world. China is delighted when we layoff, or furlough, or cut the resources that help fuel the work of our diplomats and our development professionals. And China has seen its opportunity to expand its influence through programs like the Belt and Road Initiative. They’ve spent a trillion dollars on projects across the Global South in the last decade, and our ability to counter Chinese influence, to make strategic investments, has been put gravely at risk by putting on hold the workforce and the contracts that help deliver them. 

    The administration may be claiming that this pause is temporary, but its effects will not be. The lasting impacts on small businesses, on contractors, on NGOs and loss of expertise, loss of their workforce, loss of their credibility I think will be lasting, dangerous, and harmful.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PSPRB response to the 2025-26 England and Wales remit letter and timetable.

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence from PSPRB Chair to the Minister of State for Justice relating to 2025-26 remit letter and timetable.

    Applies to England and Wales

    Documents

    PSPRB response to 2025-26 England and Wales remit letter

    PDF, 105 KB, 1 page

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    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email PSPRB@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Details

    The correspondence sets out the response of the Prison Service Pay Review Body to the 2025-26 remit letter and sets out the timetable for the round.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 January 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Westminster City Council to Open New Community Hub in Pimlico in 2026 | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster City Council has announced the planned opening of a brand-new community hub in the heart of Pimlico, set to launch in 2026. This transformative project is part of the Council’s ambitious Community Hubs Programme, striving to connect residents to the support they need across the city. The council opened two mini-hubs, at Victoria and Charing Cross libraries, in 2024.

    The new hub will be located at the historic site of the old Pimlico Library, at the junction of Tachbrook Street and Lupus Street, directly opposite Pimlico Station and the Bessborough Family Hub. Originally built as part of Westminster City Council’s vision for the Lillington Garden Estate, the mid-20th-century civic building is steeped in history and boasts a highly visible street frontage. This refurbishment will restore a valued community asset to full public use.

    The new Pimlico Community Hub is part of the council’s response to the priorities found during the Pimlico Community Conversations – the council’s engagement with over 400 local residents, organisations and businesses across the area. Through these discissions, it was discovered that the highest priority for the Pimlico community was more community activities, events, and spaces – and the new hub will respond to this need. The new hub will also help to improve the area around Pimlico Station, another priority highlighted by the Community Conversations.

    By breathing new life into the site, the hub will provide an inclusive space where residents can come together, access essential services, and participate in exciting community activities. The hub will also contribute to the council’s ambition to reinvigorate local high streets, and its central position will be easily accessible and highly visible, ensuring it becomes a vibrant focal point for residents and visitors alike.

    By creating spaces that bring people together, the council is delivering on its vision for a fairer, more equitable Westminster.

    Councillor Cara Sanquest, Cabinet Member for Communities, said:

    Through the Community Hubs Programme, we are reimagining our public spaces to better serve our communities. 

    “I am delighted and proud that we will be reopening the old Pimlico Library site as a Community Hub which will provide residents with access to face to face to support services from the council and other community organisations.”

    Cllr Jason Williams, Pimlico Project lead member,  said:

    I am delighted to welcome the opening of the Pimlico Community Hub which will bring much needed community activities and services at such a great location. We discussed the importance of Community spaces in the Pimlico conversation and it’s great to see this being delivered for our community for the benefit of all.”

    For more information contact mediateam@westminster.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Emphasis on leadership, sustainability, youth engagement and digitalisation as International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential candidates present plans for global sports

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    LAUSANNE, Switzerland, January 31, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The seven candidates running to become the next President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are hoping that with their 15-minute presentations at the Olympic House on Thursday, 30 January, they have been able to convince the IOC membership of their capabilities to lead the biggest sports organisation in the world. 

    Although they were unable to read the room during the in-camera meeting, especially as their audience was barred from asking questions, the candidates appeared satisfied with their campaign pitches. 

    BEHIND CLOSED DOORS There will be no other opportunities for presentations before the election scheduled for 20 March in Greece. Speaking to the media after giving their presentations behind closed doors, some of the candidates believe the current election process requires a review. 

    Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, who was the first to appear before the press, said: “If I’m President, I think I would have more flexibility in the rules… We are part of a global sports community and the world has the right to know who is running and what they stand for.” 

    Below are excerpts from the candidates’ interaction with the media at the Château de Vidy, the historical building next to Olympic House, where the presentations took place. 

    HRH PRINCE FEISAL AL HUSSEIN  

    PRESENTATION: It was an honor to deliver my speech to my fellow IOC members, where I laid out my vision for the future blueprint of the Olympic Movement centered on consensus leadership. My speech was structured around three strategic imperatives that are in my manifesto; inspiring imagination, ensuring integrity and developing inclusion. 

    EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH HEADS OF STATE, AN ADVANTAGE?: Absolutely, yes. I think I’ve learned from the experience of not just learning how to deal with people, but by consensus. At the end of the day, all leaders are human beings, and the ability to find a common ground upon which you can build an understanding is a key benefit from the experience that I’ve had just being who I am. 

    DEALING WITH THE IOC’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE: One of the things we have to face and we have to deal with literally focuses on the issue of integrity. When you see the global community, the youth in particular have lost their trust in global institutions, and the IOC is a global institution, so we need to regain both the trust and the sense of relevance with the youth of this world. They are our future movement. And I think this is one of the key areas I would focus on as IOC president. 

    CONFIDENCE IN WADA DESPITE WITHDRAWAL OF US FUNDING: It’s not for me to comment on the policies of the United States. We (the IOC) are an institution that helped establish WADA and I think it has been doing a terrific job in dealing with the issue of doping. We’ve seen such a large reduction of doping incidents in the Olympic Games, and I think this means that they have been effective, and we will continue to support that. 

    DEALING WITH BOXING AHEAD OF LA28: I would love to see boxing back on the programme. It is one of the oldest Olympic sports, and I just hope that we can find a global Federation that can take on that responsibility of organising boxing in LA. 

    RUSSIA’S RETURN TO THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: There’s nothing I’d like more than to be able to have the whole world at the Olympic Games, I think that’s what our objective is. But I also recognise that there are certain limitations and concerns. Right now, to my understanding, the exclusion of Russian athletes is based on a violation of the Olympic Charter. As President of the IOC, my role and responsibility is to uphold the Olympic Charter. And as long as nobody is in violation, then there is no reason for sanctions. And I would very much like to find a mechanism where we can reintroduce Russia. The world is stronger when we are all together. And I think that is what the Olympic Games does.  

    MR DAVID LAPPARTIENT  

    PRESENTATION: I hope that I have convinced my colleagues that I can be a real leader for the IOC. 

    RUSSIA’S RETURN TO THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: Russia shouldn’t be indefinitely suspended by the IOC. This is a country of sport, so our objective would be to have them come back into the fold. However, there are reasons why the IOC suspended the NOC of Russia… So it is obvious then that these subjects should be dealt with before decisions can be taken.  

    THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN AFRICA: The IOC is on the five continents. Sport is universal, and African athletes are exceptional, but Africa has until today, never hosted the Olympic Games, they of course, are going to have the Youth Olympic Games. I suggest that the Olympics should take place in Africa, not fixing a specific date. But the idea is, nonetheless, that during this coming mandate or two mandates, we would like Africa to host the Olympic Games, because Africa deserves the Olympic Games.  

    BIGGEST CHALLENGE: One of the challenges will be the instability of the world. It’s becoming more and more difficult, and sure we’ll have some crises to face in the future. This is why we need to source strong leadership. Climate change is also an issue. We also saw what happened in the winter time in Los Angeles, and it’s also the result of climate change. Another key challenge will be digitalization. The world is completely changing, disrupting. But what I also tried to explain this morning is how we can turn all these challenges into opportunities. We have opportunities to bring the world together. This is what we want. This is our vision. This is the ideal of the Olympic movement. We can also properly address the issue of climate change. This is what Paris has done. We also have the potential Olympic Esports Games, that’s also a way to interact with the younger generation. We can also reach a wider audience with digitalization.  

    MR JOHAN ELIASCH 

    TRACK RECORD: In a world of division and disruption, we need hope more than ever before. I’m standing because I believe that I have a proven track record and experience to deliver. I have successfully run large international corporations, led important commercial and political negotiations across business, sport, media and entertainment, foreign affairs, technology, and a lot of areas. I’ve been very active in climate action, preserving millions of acres of rainforest. In the last four years, I’ve led the transformation of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. We oversee more than half of the medal events in the Olympic Winter Games. So I think that’s a perfect and perfect trip for the presidency. I know what it takes to lead and drive change. This is not a popularity contest. 

    RUSSIA’S RETURN TO THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: The individual, neutral athletes programme works very well. And I think it’s very important, because no athlete can choose where they were born. And the athletes must never be weaponized for political purposes. So I believe in this programme, and that we should make sure that also for Milano-Cortina, this is something that all the winter federations will adopt. 

    WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE: Of course, we have to put the athletes front and centre. And we need to make sure that they have the best experience before, during, and after the Games. We have a very fast-changing landscape when it comes to digital, and we have to stay ahead of the curve here. We have a responsibility and a very strong voice when it comes to sustainability and this is an area which is very close to my heart, so this will certainly be at the forefront of my agenda. We also need to make sure that we uphold the magic of the Olympic Games. There is a lot of competition from other events and other sports and we need to make sure that we’re the best. 

    ENGAGING SPONSORS: Well, sponsorship is much more than just sticking your name to something. It’s about partnership. And this area is also changing very fast. Activations, people expect more here. We need to make sure that we deliver, that these partnerships are value-added for our sponsors. We have an incredible brand. But in today’s day and age, we also have to make sure that these partnerships are as attractive as possible. 

    BALANCING FUTURE OLYMPICS IN AFRICA, INDIA OR THE MIDDLE EAST WITH SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS: Here, for instance, the proposed rotation scheme of the Winter Olympics is very important. We have infrastructure in place to deliver the events. We need to make sure that we find solutions with the IFs to make sure that the capacity of investment is kept up. So we don’t have to retrace what already exists in places where it’s not going to go. Now, with the Middle East, with Africa, with India, it is essential that we are very strong and committed to no carbon impact on anything that we do. 

    MR JUAN ANTONIO SAMARANCH  

    THE IOC: I understand our organization as two different parts. On one hand, we are an extraordinarily big, large and efficient NGO – we distribute most of the money we generate in our business through the International Federation, National Olympic Committees and the organizing committees to the base of the world’s sports pyramid. So this is an NGO. Second, we need a powerful business machine to generate the necessary revenues to feed the NGO. So I have thrown my hat in the ring because I have significant experience on both sides. I’ve more than 25 years of experience in critical roles throughout the Olympic movement, and I’ve more than 25 years of experience in critical roles with my own company in the finance industry. 

    EMPOWERING IOC MEMBERS We must empower the members and ensure governance led by members and not by a selected few. 

    CHANGES In the 12 years of President Bach, we had to deal with so many complications and so many threats and managed to get the organization to move and evolve at a rapid pace. But that rapid pace of change that we implemented is no way near what is coming. I think we have a very important base, a very solid base, from the past, but the recipes of yesterday will not make it in the future. 

    LEGACY OF HIS FATHER, HELP OR HINDRANCE: My father left office 25 years ago and, as his son, I appreciate his legacy very much. His example is always with me, but the recipes of today have nothing to do with a presidency that ended years ago. Bear in mind, he joined the Olympic Movement more than 60 years ago. 

    PRESENTATION: I felt very good in the room, because I have something interesting to say, something I am passionate about. And I was so happy to have the opportunity to share that with my fellow members. So, it’s for them to decide. But my presentation is clear. I have a very clear programme. My manifesto is very much action-based and it leaves very little room for future surprises. 

    BIDDING PROCESS FOR OLYMPIC GAMES HOSTS: I think that we need to produce not a more traditional, but a better, new model that is more aligned to the current times, that would include a final decision in a significant participation of all IOC members. 

    MEDIA: I told my fellow IOC members this, ‘let’s refocus our relationship with the media. They are not our enemies. They are our allies.’ You (the media) shape the opinion of the world on the Olympic Games. This I intend, if I become IOC President, to maintain and you can hold me accountable for that if I am there. 

    MRS KIRSTY COVENTRY 

    THE OLYMPIC DREAM: My journey started as a nine-year-old girl watching the 92 Barcelona Olympic Games and just setting myself a dream and then finally realizing that dream in Athens getting to stand on the podium and win my first Olympic medal. In Athens, I won three medals and finally in my last event got to win the gold even though Zimbabwe was in a difficult situation. But when I got home to Zimbabwe, it was a time of three or four days of peace, so I really got to see the power of sport. 

    TODAY’S NINE-YEAR-OLD: The nine-year-olds in today’s world are not watching a television screen, they’re holding a phone and that phone is going to be their starting point to connect with us through online streaming platforms, and it’s going to be our chance to engage with them and ensure that we’re inspiring them, and to take it even further, we’re going to be developing and promoting applications that are going to allow them to train anywhere and everywhere in the world. And this is the world that we live in today, and let’s embrace it and walk that road together. 

    SUPPORTING AFRICAN ATHLETES: We need to find more ways of directly impacting and getting revenue to athletes before they become Olympians. That is generally the toughest thing most athletes find. From my own journey it was easy to get sponsorship once I’d won a medal. But getting to that medal was tough. 

    BACKING FROM BACH?: I have known President Bach since I came into the IOC, and I think being a fellow athlete, we share a lot of commonalities, a lot of common ideas and philosophies. But in this race, he’s the President. He has a vote, but he doesn’t vote, he chooses not to vote, and I do very firmly believe that he is being very fair to all candidates.  

    BEING A MOTHER OF A SIX-MONTH OLD AND A CAREER WOMAN: First and foremost, I want to be the best candidate to win, not just because of my gender or from where I come from. And I believe I’ve got a lot of expertise to bring to this role, to leading the organisation. 

    IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD: When I was stepping into my ministerial role seven years ago, I was pregnant with my first baby girl and had to quickly learn how to navigate and be a woman with a career as well as a mom and a wife and everything else. And it can be done. I’m very lucky to come from Africa because culturally we know and we firmly believe that it takes a village to raise a child. 

    PROTECTING WOMEN ATHLETES: As a female athlete, you want to be able to walk onto a level playing field always. It’s our job as the IOC to ensure that we are going to create that environment, and that we are going to not just create a level playing field, but we’re going to create an environment that allows for every athlete to feel safe. Along the road. We’re going to learn lessons, and we’re going to get stronger and we’re going to make better rules and regulations.  

    LORD SEBASTIAN COE 

    PRESENTATION: I enjoyed this morning’s process. I hope I was able to communicate my love for the movement. It’s something that I genuinely feel I’ve been training for for the best part of my life, or at least since the age of 11, when my father bought me my first pair of running shoes. I hope I was able to convey that, but I’m also hoping that I was able to convey the core pillars of my manifesto, my commitments and my pledges. 

    SUSTAINING IOC REVENUE: The world has changed and we do have to change with it – I’ve been in the sports marketing world for 30 years. Primarily we do need to adopt an audience first approach, which is in essence, to give them what they want, when they want it, and where they want it. Above all, for National Olympic Committees of all shapes and sizes, of some of the smaller International Federations, to enjoy that with a barrier-free physical and digital experience. 

    BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE IOC: The biggest challenge faced by the International Olympic Committee is no different, and it is not unique from any National Olympic Committee, any sporting organization, any club, private or public. It is how do you continue to excite and engage with young people, and how do you utilize, optimize fully the use of cutting edge technology? And we talk a lot about technology, we actually run the risk of sounding a little bit analog, because I don’t think there’s anyone in this room that hasn’t recognized that the organizations they work in, they deliver services in, have gone through that digital transformation. But I do think that engaging, exciting and challenging tomorrow’s generation is going to be critical, because it’s that cohort that is ultimately going to be your future sponsors, your future thought leaders, your future governments, your future politicians. And we need to create amongst that group of people a lifelong bond for sport. So even if they don’t remain in sport as coaches, administrators, communicators, we at least have the opportunity for them to assume leadership roles wherever they are, and really fundamentally understand the nature of sport, and it is only that way that we will raise sport to the top of government agendas. Engaging with young people is the key to unlocking so many of the other interdependencies. 

    ELECTION RULES: I’ve been in politics for a long time. I’ve found it a fairly unproductive process to pick a fight with the returning officer in the process. The rules are the same for everybody. I do think we need to review them, and I’m sure that whoever succeeds in March will want to look at that amongst other things too. 

    MR MORINARI WATANABE 

    OLYMPIC GAMES IN FIVE CONTINENTS: I propose to stage the Olympic Games in five cities on five continents at the same time. It would allow the IOC to offer the best possible conditions for each sport, to reduce the financial burden on host cities, to offer greater potential for broadcast and commercial opportunities, sustainability with reduction of travel, and alleviate other hosting problems like governmental restrictions and war.  

    POTENTIAL OF SPORT: Paris 2024 was a historic success, thanks to all the athletes, thanks to the leadership of President Thomas Bach and thanks to the excellent work of the Paris Organizing Committee. However, I believe that we should not be satisfied and that we must build on the success of these Games. Because, in contrast to the spectacular Olympic Games, the situation of the NOCs is far from strong. As FIG President, I have visited 162 countries. I have seen with my own eyes the situation of our sport in each country. As a result I saw the reality. Economically, these countries are not wealthy. In many countries, their relations with the government are not good. The presence of sport in each country is not high enough. I used to be a gymnast myself. That’s why I believe sport has even greater potential. To unleash that potential I propose that the Games be held on all five continents at the same time. 

    WORLD SPORTS ORGANISATION: I also envision upgrading the IOC into a World Sports Organization, like the World Health Organization. If the IOC continues and expands its activities, it would remain independent of politics and uphold the barriers of democracy, transparency, and gender equality. As a World Sports Organization we must contribute to society. We must make a new business for sports. My vision is not focused on only the Olympic Games. We must see a wider view for sports. Sports can contribute to society. I believe the 21st century industrial revolution will be driven by sports and healthcare. So, which organization is best placed to lead this transformation globally? It is the IOC. 

    BICAMERALISM: I am proposing a two-chamber system; a House and a Senate because many IOC members have very good ideas, even non-IOC members. We must take these ideas and listen to these opinions to develop sports. We have to be open. There are many professionals, athletes, royalty, politicians, lawyers, bankers, and many others. If we work together, we can do anything. Let’s open the door to a new era. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four week firearms amnesty to take lethal convertible guns off the streets

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A firearms amnesty will get underway on Monday after new evidence emerged about the potentially lethal risk posed by a particular type of blank firing gun.

    The guns, known as ‘top-venting blank firers’ (TVBFs), are manufactured in Turkey. In their original form they pose little risk, but in recent years an increasing number have been converted and have been used in serious violence.

    Since 2021, more than 800 have been recovered in criminal circumstances across the UK.

    A converted TVBF was used in the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Sebastiaan James-Kraan in Ealing in June 2024.

    Three people charged in connection with Sebastiaan’s murder will stand trial in April.

    While no gun was ever recovered, forensic analysis indicates that a TVBF was also used in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Tyler McDermott in Tottenham in April 2023.

    In June, four people were found guilty of Tyler’s murder.

    TVBFs can be handed in at police stations across London from Monday, 3 February until Friday, 28 February.

    This is part of a national amnesty taking place across the country over the same period.

    Detective Superintendent Tim Mustoe, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “We are increasingly concerned about the risk posed by these weapons if they fall into the hands of criminals and those intent on causing serious violence on the streets of London.

    “We’ve already seen their lethal potential in at least two cases here in London. We know they’ve also been used in many other non-fatal incidents too.

    “The majority of top venting blank firers in circulation were bought lawfully by people with no ill intent. However we now know what can happen if they’re converted to do harm which is why it’s important that we recover as many as we can.

    “I would urge anyone who has one of these weapons at home to do the responsible thing and hand it in at a police station. They will not face police action for possession of the gun at the point of surrender if they do so during the amnesty, but if they choose not to do so now and are found to have one of these guns at a later date, then the consequences will be quite different.”

    TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK without a licence, unless they are readily convertible.

    Tests by the National Crime Agency and police forces show models produced by four Turkish manufacturers – Retay, Ekol, Ceonic and Blow – are readily convertible and are therefore illegal.

    Anyone found to be in possession of one, after the amnesty period, could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

    During the Amnesty period, those handing in a Turkish manufactured TVBF will not face prosecution for the illegal possession and will not have to give their details.

    However, the weapons will be examined to determine if they’ve previously been used in serious violence or other criminality.

    Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, the National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for the Criminal Use of Firearms, said: “The top-venting blank firers are used by criminals and can be converted into lethal firearms.

    “During the last two years, policing and the NCA have identified and disrupted several workshops used to convert these pistols into lethal weapons.

    “In the same period, large numbers of converted weapons were recovered across multiple locations, alongside thousands of rounds of blank calibre and modified ammunition.

    “One investigation recovered more than 400 converted weapons from a single crime group. There is a strong demand for them evidenced by the numbers imported and subsequent recovery from criminals.

    “Stopping the sale of these top-venting blank firers from being converted will go a significant way to help protect the public.”

    While TVBFs can be handed in at any police station during the amnesty, the Met is asking people to aim to go to one of these stations:

    • Edmonton
    • Chingford
    • Colindale
    • Wembley
    • Islington
    • Stoke Newington
    • Bethnal Green
    • Ilford
    • Lewisham
    • Bexleyheath
    • Croydon
    • Bromley
    • Kingston
    • Brixton
    • Acton
    • Charing Cross
    • Hammersmith

    Anyone intending to hand in a TVBF as part of the amnesty is encouraged to check the opening times of the relevant station on the Met Police website. To receive advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to the police station, phone 101 before travelling.

    If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity, you should call the police on 101 or report the information to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    Every call to Crimestoppers is anonymous and potentially vital to preventing or solving serious crimes. Removing an illegally held firearm from circulation may just save someone’s life.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: What has Brexit meant for the people of Scotland?

    Source: Scottish National Party

    With five years having passed since Scotland was dragged out of the EU as part of the UK, what has Brexit meant for people in Scotland?

    Brexit means…your weekly shop costs more than ever.

    Brexit means our NHS is missing out on thousands of doctors and nurses from the EU.

    Brexit means waiting in longer queues to travel abroad, and it has become much more difficult for anyone in Scotland to live or work in the EU – with touring musicians calling it a ‘catastrophe’.

    Scotland voted to stay in the EU.

    Scotland didn’t vote for Brexit.

    But the UK Government decided Scotland must Brexit.

    Brexit means there’s less public money, due to businesses losing revenue.

    Brexit means businesses who relied on buying goods from the EU, or selling to the EU, are having a really tough time of it.

    Thousands of businesses have had to close.

    Some politicians told us to  “vote No to stay in the EU” back in 2014. Bet they wish they could scrub those clips from the internet.

    Brexit means Scotland’s economy has lost out on billions of pounds due to trade barriers, with analysis showing exports have dropped by over 7%.

    Brexit means Nigel Farage is no longer the European Parliament’s problem. He’s now the UK’s problem.

    As he’s now the bookies’ favourite to be the next Prime Minister, he could soon be Scotland’s problem too.

    And Scotland didn’t vote for any of this.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thinking of setting up a CIC? Take a look at our recent webinar

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    “From idea to Impact: Your Guide to setting up a CIC”. Take a look at our most recent joint webinar with the Business Support Service

    Picture advertising a webinar

    Take a look at our most recent joint webinar with the Business Support Service where they provide an insight to the free advice and guidance they can offer to you throughout your business journey; alongside a detailed explanation of how the CIC model operates and some great tips on how to complete a successful CIC application.

    “From idea to Impact: Your Guide to setting up a CIC”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dedicated team to serve businesses amongst DWP overhaul of employer support to Get Britain Working

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Ministers are encouraging UK businesses to work with Jobcentres to fill the thousands of jobs currently vacant as the UK goes for growth, the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall set out today (30 January).

    • Following the Chancellor’s growth speech yesterday, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall visited fast growing UK retailer B&M – who successfully filled almost 3,000 vacancies using local jobcentres in 2024. 
    • The Work and Pensions Secretary has today set out overhaul the DWP’s approach to supporting employers to Get Britain Working again as part of Plan for Change.
    • Comes as just one in six businesses has ever used a Jobcentre to recruit with the latest data showing tens of thousands of vacancies in key sectors. 
    • New DWP team have built partnerships with 37 new industry leaders in just a few week as department transforms Jobcentres.

    It comes as the Work & Pensions Secretary visits B&M – a retailer that has had huge success using the Jobcentre network. As a fast growing UK retailer, B&M has filled almost 3,000 vacancies through the jobcentre network, with over 85% of new recruits coming directly through the DWP – benefiting jobseekers and the businesses’ growth. 

    The DWP has hit the ground running to reset engagement with employers through new teams to support employers, with dedicated account managers and a focus on growing the number of Jobcentre training programmes tailored to employer’s needs.

    As B&M has opened new stores across the country, it has teamed up with the local DWP team to run information sessions – offering interested candidates a guaranteed interview. 

    Over 73,000 jobs have been added to the labour market since the start of this Parliament according to the ONS, with new announcements in the Chancellor’s speech yesterday expected to add thousands more roles to the UK jobs market – including over 100,000 jobs in the local area around Heathrow. 

    However, new figures show only 1 in 6 employers surveyed reported using the JobCentre Plus network to hire for their business – highlighting the need for genuine reform. 

    That’s why as part of the Get Britain Working plan, the government will reform jobcentres by bringing it together with the National Careers Service to ensure people have better access to training and address local skills gaps and help train the workforce businesses need.

    The reforms to get Britain working and modernise the employment support offer are just one part of the Government’s Plan for Change, which will lay strong foundations to kickstart economic growth and break down barriers to opportunity across the country. 

    Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: 

    To get Britain growing again, we need to get Britain working again.  

    As the HR department for the Government’s growth mission, our job is to work with businesses to meet their recruitment needs.

    To help employers grow, hire new staff, and boost opportunity in every corner of the country, we are determined to change our approach

    As part of reforming Jobcentres we will overhaul our service to better meet employer’s needs – turning the DWP into a genuine public employment service. So businesses can fill jobs and people can build a better life for themselves and their families.

    A B&M spokesperson said:

    There is a wealth of talent and experience in Jobcentres across the UK. We encourage other businesses to get in touch with their local Jobcentre and discover the talent that’s available in their community.

    The new dedicated team set up to support businesses of all sizes across the country with their recruitment needs has already added 37 new employers to the department’s roster in recent weeks, with notable names including Home Bargains, KFC and Swissport. 

    In a letter to CEOs from 10 of the UK’s top businesses, DWP ministers said that at a time when recruitment can be a major cost, the DWP “provides a service to help businesses grow and support people into work.

    To help other businesses replicate B&M’s success, the department is transforming its service for employers by:

    1. Hosting summits with employers and stakeholder representatives across sectors crucial to growth – including construction, social care and clean energy in the next three months. 
    2. Boosting the number of training programmes in these sectors on offer at Jobcentres to upskill jobseekers and provide employers with the work ready staff they need.   
    3. Serving employers through a dedicated team with highly experienced experts to provide recruitment support, including designing tailored campaigns to tackle large numbers of vacancies. 
    4. Providing an account manager for employers to get more information about how the JCP can help them and provide recruitment support – following feedback from businesses that they wanted an establish a single contact. 
    5. Commissioning Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead an independent review into the role of employers in reducing health-related inactivity and promoting healthy and inclusive workplaces – which is already underway.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at ultraprocessed food consumption and obesity in Canadian children

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in JAMA Network Open looks at UPF consumption and obesity in Canadian children. 

    Dr Ian Johnson, Nutrition researcher and Emeritus Fellow, Quadram Institute, said:

    “This study is consistent with previous work suggesting an association between consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and obesity, and it is interesting to see the link established at such an early age (although the study only seems to find a link in boys, not girls).  However, as with most such studies, and as the authors themselves seem to acknowledge, the general nature and poor specificity of the definition of UPF makes it very difficult to establish any causal mechanism.”

    ‘Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Obesity Development in Canadian Children’ by Zheng Hao Chen et al. was published in JAMA Network Open at 16:00 UK time on Friday 31 January 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57341

    Declared interests

    Dr Ian Johnson: “No conflict of interest.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –