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Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man pleads guilty to multiple child sexual abuse offences following Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a string of devastating sexual offences against children after being confronted with overwhelming evidence uncovered by the Metropolitan Police.

    Sam Phillips, 28 (07.04.96), of Hillcroome Road, Sutton, appeared at Harrow Crown Court on 30th October, where he admitted to 38 offences committed between December 2023 and February 2024.

    His crimes, which targeted six vulnerable children, including over 20 counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, alongside further charges of sexual communication with a child and making indecent images of children

    The Met investigation demonstrated the tireless dedication of the officers involved, whose swift actions and relentless pursuit of justice ensured that Phillips could not continue his reign of abuse. Their work uncovered the extent of his crimes, providing crucial evidence that led to his guilty plea and ensuring that he will face the full weight of the law.

    Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, who leads policing in north-west London where the investigation was undertaken, said:

    “Phillips is a predator of the worst kind, preying on innocent, vulnerable children for his own gratification. The scale of his offending is both appalling and heartbreaking, and no child should ever have to endure the trauma these young victims have suffered.

    “I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the children and their families who had the courage to come forward. It is impossible to imagine the pain and fear they have experienced, but their bravery has allowed us to hold this dangerous individual to account.

    “I am pleased Phillips has pleaded guilty, it is a testament to the strength and diligence of the case that Met officers have built. This outcome reflects our unwavering commitment to bringing sexual abusers to justice and ensuring that victims are heard and protected.”

    The investigation began in late January 2024, when officers were contacted with serious concerns regarding the welfare of a child who had potentially been sexually exploited. Met detectives in north-west London immediately launched an investigation.

    Through meticulous investigative work, officers uncovered that two additional children had also been groomed by Phillips. He had manipulated these children online, sending them money in exchange for inappropriate images of themselves. Detectives quickly traced the payments to Phillips’ account, and he was arrested on Monday, 11 March 2024. Initially charged with 11 offences involving three children, further analysis of his phone and financial records revealed more victims, leading to the total of 38 charges which were pleaded guilty to.

    Acting Detective Sergeant Maria Giannakidou, the officer in the case, said:

    “We commend the incredible bravery of the survivors who have come forward. It is through their courage that we are able to bring these deeply serious charges forward. Their strength in sharing their experiences is invaluable in holding those responsible to account, and we are committed to ensuring that victim voices are heard.”

    Supporting Victims

    The Metropolitan Police remains steadfast in its commitment to tackling child sexual exploitation and ensuring that every victim receives the care, justice, and support they deserve. Officers continue to work closely with specialist services to provide comprehensive assistance to the children and families affected by these crimes, ensuring that they are never alone in their recovery.

    Support and assistance can be obtained from a number of agencies and charities:

    • National Association for People Abused in Childhood NAPAC helpline: 0808 801 0331
    • Rape Crisis 08085002222
    • Childline 0800 1111
    • National Rape and Sexual Abuse Helpline 0808 802 9999
    • Survivors UK 0203 598 3898 info@survivorsuk.org.
    • Samaritans 116 123 jo@samaritans.org

    Crimes of this nature can be reported online or on the telephone or in person to the police by calling 101 however 999 in an emergency.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: OTC Europa: BaFin warns about websites otceuropa.com, otceuropa.info und otc-500.support

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about services offered by OTC Europa on the websites otceuropa.com, otceuropa.info und otc-500.support. BaFin has information that the company is offering financial services without the required authorisation. There is also a connection to the “OTC-500” platform, which BaFin has already warned about.

    Financial services may only be offered in Germany if the company provid-ing these services has the necessary authorisation from BaFin to do this. However, some companies offer these services without the required au-thorisation. Information on whether particular companies have been authorised by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    Theinformation provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Identity fraud: BaFin warns consumers against offers on websites waystone-im.de and wim-finanzberatung.de

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    Federal Financial Supervisory Authority BaFin warns against alleged fixed-term deposit offers on the websites waystone-im.de (previously: waystone-im.com) and wim-finanzberatung.de. The services are not actually being offered by Waystone Investment Management (IE) Limited, German Branch. This is a case of identity fraud by unknown perpetrators. Contrary to the information on the website, BaFin does not supervise alleged Waystone Investments.

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether companies have been authorised by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    Theinformation provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Capital funding for three city centre projects withdrawn

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The money, from the previous Conservative UK Government’s Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, had been earmarked for three projects to support culture and regeneration in Perth city centre.

    These projects were to create a visitor attraction and office space at Lower City Mills, to create an exhibition and retail space at The Ironworks and a high street outlet for micro producers.

    Perth and Kinross Council leader Councillor Grant Laing said: “We are all well aware of the financial challenges facing the UK but this is an extremely disappointing – and, in my opinion, short-sighted – decision.

    “We have three excellent projects ready to start, all of which would help to breathe new life into Perth city centre for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.

    “Perth fought hard for a share of funding. When the £5 million was announced in March this year I was pleased the UK government had finally recognised the value of investing in Perth and Kinross, even if we received a smaller share than many other areas.

    “To have the rug pulled out from under us by the new Labour government now simply adds insult to injury.

    “We will look to see if other sources of funding is possible for these three projects and continue our ongoing efforts to regenerate Perth city centre.”

    Perth and Kinross Council Chief Executive Thomas Glen said: “It is extremely disappointing the new UK Government has chosen not to uphold the pledge made to Perth and Kinross in March.

    “These three projects are part of our ambitious plans to regenerate Perth city centre but they require funding to become a reality.

    “Consultation on the Perth City Centre Design and Development Framework, which sets out our ambitions for the city, will begin in November.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Boost for climate adaptation in Europe as EIB and WWF join forces to develop Nature-based Solutions at scale

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • EIB and WWF will collaborate to mobilise early-stage funding for Nature-based Solutions.
    • Partnership will develop projects to strengthen climate adaptation by working with nature.
    • Accord signed during United Nations Convention on Biodiversity COP16 in Colombia.

    With Europe facing increasingly intense floods and droughts, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and WWF are teaming up to accelerate climate adaptation in Europe by developing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) that will help to buffer societies and economies against the worsening impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises.

    In a Memorandum of Understanding, the EIB and WWF pledged to promote Nature-based Solutions across Europe to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. Signed during the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity COP16 in Colombia, the four-year partnership will focus on ecosystem restoration projects linked to sectors such as agriculture, energy, and urban resilience, which will harness the power of nature to strengthen climate adaptation in Europe – the fastest-warming continent on Earth.

    By investing in enhancing the health of ecosystems, the projects will also help to reverse nature loss in the continent. The recent WWF Living Planet Report found that species populations have declined by 35 per cent on average in Europe and Central Asia since 1970.

    Under the agreement, WWF will establish an ‘Incubation facility’ to develop a pipeline of Nature-based Solutions from origination until they are investment-ready, while the EIB will provide guidance on mobilising public and private funding for them.

    “Europe’s adaptation to climate change lags far behind what is needed,” said EIB Vice-President, Ambroise Fayolle, ”We want to support more nature-based-solution projects to restore and protect biodiversity and strengthen the climate resilience of our society. Partnerships with organisations like WWF with a strong presence on the ground are a relevant way for us to help deliver tangible results on a large scale.”

    Nature-based solutions face significant obstacles including a lack of awareness among investors and a need for consensus building among a wide range of local players.

    “Nowhere is immune from the climate crisis. Europe has been hit by a series of historic floods and droughts in recent years, devastating lives and livelihoods – and they are only going to get worse unless we urgently and drastically scale up investment in Nature-based Solutions,” said WWF Director General Kirsten Schuijt. “This partnership will do exactly that by creating a pipeline of projects that work with nature rather than against it. These projects will enhance the power of nature to protect Europeans from the worsening impacts of climate change, particularly droughts and extreme floods along the continent’s rivers and coasts.”

    The announcement of this partnership is timely as the new European Commission has announced that it will work on a European Climate Adaptation Plan, which will support building preparedness and planning with regular science-based risk assessments and a European Water Resilience Strategy.

    It also comes after the EU Nature Restoration Law was adopted in August 2024. This regulation combines an overarching restoration objective for the long-term recovery of nature in the EU with binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species.

    Over the years, the EIB has worked with WWF on a range of matters including Nature-based Solutions, biodiversity, climate resilience and ecosystem restoration. Cooperation has focused on the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles, of which the EIB is one of the founding partners alongside WWF. Another example is EIB cooperation with WWF-Greece on stakeholder engagement to identify and develop nature-based solutions for flood resilience in Thessaly, Greece.

    EIB at COP16

    The EIB delegation will be led by Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. For interview requests with members of the EIB delegation please get in touch with the press contact below. Find out more about EIB at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference here.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

    As the Climate Bank, the EIB recognises that climate change and nature loss are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing environmental crises. The EIB Climate Adaptation Plan builds on the EU Adaptation Strategy, setting out how the EU can adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The EIB Environment Framework outlines the EIB’s delivery of environmental sustainability impacts at scale. Mainstreaming nature-positive investments, increasing the co-benefits for nature, protecting biodiversity and managing the risks from biodiversity and nature loss are key elements of the Framework. 

    WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

    Boost for climate adaptation in Europe as EIB and WWF join forces to develop Nature-based Solutions at scale
    Boost for climate adaptation in Europe as EIB and WWF join forces to develop Nature-based Solutions at scale
    ©EIB
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    Boost for climate adaptation in Europe as EIB and WWF join forces to develop Nature-based Solutions at scale
    Boost for climate adaptation in Europe as EIB and WWF join forces to develop Nature-based Solutions at scale
    ©EIB
    Download original
    Boost for climate adaptation in Europe as EIB and WWF join forces to develop Nature-based Solutions at scale
    Boost for climate adaptation in Europe as EIB and WWF join forces to develop Nature-based Solutions at scale
    ©EIB
    Download original

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Compliance of the German Government’s decision to reintroduce border controls with EU law – P-001801/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. In the notification of 9 September 2024, the German authorities indicated as public policy and internal security grounds: the security risks connected to irregular migration, including migrant smuggling, resulting in high levels of illegal entries; the excessive burden on the asylum reception system and solidarity in society and resulting threats to public order and internal security; security risks flowing from the Russian invasion in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, including terrorist Islamist violence; the effects of crimes carried out by refugees on the overall sense of security among the German public.

    2. In the notification, Germany explained that it considers the reintroduction of internal border control to be a necessary and proportionate means of last resort. It does not believe the threats can be sufficiently addressed with alternative measures. It has indicated that the controls will be flexible and risk-based and that the federal police strive to limit the impact on free movement of persons within the area without internal border control and cross-border regions. The Commission will remain in close contact with the German authorities in order to evaluate the situation.

    3. No Member State has brought the matter before the Commission in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 259 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.

    Last updated: 29 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Pink October – B10-0087/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    B10‑0087/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Pink October

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to Rule 149 of its Rules of Procedure,

    – having regard to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan,

    A. whereas Pink October promotes breast cancer screening to detect tumours at an early stage, which improves the chances of remission and the possibility of conservative surgery;

    B. whereas 90 % of breast cancer patients recover if it is detected early;

    C. whereas screening rates are still low, however, and in France less than half of all women between the ages of 50 and 74 take part in the recommended screening;

    D. whereas cancer detection rates are rising, particularly among younger women;

    1. Highlights the growing shortage of medical services, which automatically reduces screening rates;

    2. Urges the Member States to provide better breast services to reduce the delays faced by women and carry out mammograms more quickly;

    3. Calls on the Commission to propose an initiative to combat tobacco addiction;

    4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Water treatment – E-002166/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    18.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002166/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Kathleen Funchion (The Left)

    Thus far in 2024, the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted 67 audits of drinking water plants in Ireland. The reported analysis of these audits found that 97 % of plants required action to be taken and just 19 % of plants were operating satisfactorily.

    The 2023 EPA report entitled ‘Urban Wastewater Treatment’ stated that water treatment at 10 large towns and cities failed to meet EU standards. The same report stated that 16 towns and villages were discharging raw sewage on a daily basis. This annual report is one of many that highlight the inefficiencies of water treatment in Ireland.

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of successive EPA reports highlighting the real concerns over water treatment in Ireland?
    • 2.Can the Commission comment on the 10 large towns and cities that failed to meet EU standards and the 16 towns and villages that were discharging raw sewage?
    • 3.What actions will the Commission take to ensure the Irish authority responsible, Uisce Éireann, takes the urgent and necessary steps to remedy the situation?

    Submitted: 18.10.2024

    Last updated: 29 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Investing in the first peatland UNESCO world heritage site in the world

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Flow Country Partnership has received funding from the Community Loan Fund towards their pioneering peatland restoration project in Sutherland. The fund is delivered by Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited, HOIL, on behalf of The Highland Council.

    The Community Loan fund aims to encourage and support Highland based community and third sector organisations to start up and grow and contribute to a thriving and sustainable Highland and Scottish economy.  Loans can be used for capital start up-costs, growth of an existing organisation, working capital and bridging finance, with a repayment period of 1 to 10 years.

    Peatland restoration is a vital part of Scotland’s twin goals of reducing emissions and restoring nature.  The Flow Country Partnership was founded in 2006 and became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) in February 2024 to bring together a community including crofters, farmers, landowners/managers, local businesses, residents, ecologists and local government to grow the resilience of the Flow Country and its people. This restoration will help achieve emission reduction by restoring the capacity of the peatlands to store carbon and improving biodiversity in the first and only peatland UNESCO World Heritage Site in the World.

    The partnership approached HOIL for funding to finance the peatlands restoration project on a farming and sporting estate.  Securing loan funding before the sale of carbon credits will support its long-term aspirations to become a self-sustaining organisation whilst restoring and protecting the ecosystem. 

    The Flow Country Partnership is a SCIO, with a trading subsidiary, Flow Country Restoration Limited and blends public and private finance to deliver its objectives. This project is supported by The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS) and is being delivered by NatureScot in collaboration with The Scottish Government and in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Scottish Government’s Peatland ACTION Fund.  Trustees,  initiative partners and stakeholders,  amongst others are The Highland Council,  Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, RSPB,  North Highland Initiative, the Environmental Research Institute UHI and local landowners, farmers, crofters and estate owners.

    Councillor Paul Oldham, Chair of HOIl said: “I welcome this opportunity to help The Flow Country Partnership move forward with their Peatland Restoration project which not only helps improve the environment and create carbon storage but also brings local work to Caithness and Sutherland.

    “The Community Loan Fund which is managed by HOIL provides accessible and affordable finance for community projects across the Highlands and is one of several funds we can use to help projects across the area.”

    Graham Neville, Flow Country Partnership Vice-chair and director of Flow Country Restoration Limited added: “We are pleased to have the support of Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited for our peatland restoration project. This funding is a key step in restoring this vital landscape, which plays a crucial role in carbon storage and biodiversity, while also contributing to Scotland’s Net Zero ambitions. By working with local partners, we aim to create lasting community benefits, support sustainable carbon investments, and protect The Flow Country.”

    To find out more about the support HOIL can provide to Highland community organisations and businesses please visit their website

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Voting opens in the Scots Trad Music Awards 2024 as nominated talent unveiled

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    An inspiring 116-strong group of shortlisted talent performing and working across Scotland’s vibrant traditional music scene have today been unveiled as nominees for the 22nd MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.

    Musicians, bands, organisations, teachers, venues, events and individuals involved in the creation and development of Scottish’s homegrown music are shortlisted across 22 categories.

    The public has until Sunday 10th November to vote for their favourites at www.scotstradmusicawards.com. The winners will be announced at a star-studded award ceremony at Inverness Leisure on Saturday 30th November when the event returns to the Highland capital for the first time in 10 years.

    The single most important awards ceremony for folk and trad musicians, bands and artists, the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are organised by Hands Up For Trad – an organisation which stands at the forefront of Scotland’s cultural landscape, promoting traditional music and culture through their talent development, education and advocacy work.

    The gold standard for industry achievement, the awards night will fittingly be held on St. Andrew’s Day and seeks to celebrate stand-out talent from all corners of the country working across a range of genres and styles to create and promote Scotland’s trad music scene over the last 12 months.

    The nominees are:

    Album of the Year, sponsored by Birnam CD

    • Headstrong by HEISK
    • Just a Second by Ryan Young
    • The Waiting Room by Eamonn Nugent
    • A Breaking Sky by Charlie Grey & Joseph Peach
    • The Outset by Project Smok
    • Vent by Laura Jane Wilkie
    • Halocline by Malin Lewis
    • The Magic Roundabout by Session A9
    • ReLoved by Capercaillie
    • The Homeroad by Ross Couper Band

    Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year, sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland

    • Beth Malcolm
    • Siobhan Miller
    • Josie Duncan
    • Seàn Gray

    Club of the Year

    • Glee Club at Celtic Connections
    • Ayr Phoenix Folk Club
    • Ardersier International Folk Club
    • The World’s Room

    Community Project of the Year, sponsored by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland

    • Scottish Polish Song Society – Aberdeen University
    • People’s Parish
    • Fèis air an Oir
    • Falkirk Fiddle Workshop

    Composer of the Year, sponsored by PRS for Music

    • James Ross
    • Gillian Fleetwood
    • Alec Dalgeish
    • Mairead Green and Mike Vass (A.D.A.M)
    • Jack Badcock
    • Ali Hutton & Laura Beth (From the Ground)

    Event of the Year, sponsored by VisitScotland

    • Carrying Stream Festival
    • Skipinnish at Edinburgh Castle
    • Cuirm Nam Bonn òir le Ruairidh Gray
    • Jura Music Festival
    • Ceòl Cholasa
    • Fèis na Mara

    Gaelic Singer of the Year, sponsored by Highland Society of London

    • Ainslie Hamill
    • Ceitlin Lilidh
    • Emma MacLeod
    • Kathleen MacInnes
    • Katie Macfarlane

    Live Act of the Year

    • Kinnaris Quarter
    • An Dannsa Dub
    • Mec Lir
    • Niteworks
    • Ross Ainslie and Tim Edey
    • RuMac

    Music Tutor of the Year, sponsored by Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative

    • Margaret Houlihan
    • Douglas Montgomery
    • Carly Blain
    • Daniel Thorpe

    Musician of the Year, sponsored by University of the Highlands and Islands

    • Ciorstaidh Beaton
    • Anna Massie
    • Tom Callister
    • Adam Holmes
    • Alasdair Iain Paterson
    • Patsy Reid

    Original Work of the Year, sponsored Musicians’ Union

    • Ar Cànan ‘s ar Ceòl by Trail West
    • Centennial March (Glen Burnie Lodge) by Louise Bichan
    • Alice Allen’s New Voices ‘Bass Culture’
    • The Dedication Jigs by Ross Miller
    • Tom Campbell Trio EP

    Scottish Dance Band of the Year, sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs

    • Graeme MacKay
    • Jackie Raeburn
    • Calum Nicolson
    • Michael Philip

    Scottish Folk Band of the Year, sponsored by Threads of Sound

    • Cala
    • Fras
    • Haltadans
    • The Paul McKenna Band
    • RANT
    • DLÙ

    Scottish Pipe Band of the Year, sponsored by National Piping Centre

    • Skye Youth Pipe Band
    • Dunoon Grammar Pipe Band
    • George Watson’s Pipe Band
    • Dornoch Pipe Band

    Trad Music in the Media, sponsored by Glasgow Caledonian University

    • Friday Night Trad – Radio Skye with Robert MacInnes
    • Karine Polwart’s Monthly Newsletter
    • Piping Sounds with Michael Steele and Ewen Henderson
    • Kim Carnie Out Loud
    • Jared Rowan (Social Media)

    Up and Coming Artist of the Year, sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

    • Tarran
    • Amy Laurenson
    • Falasgair
    • Teud
    • Gillie O’Flaherty
    • Lauren Collier Band

    Venue of the Year

    • Catstrand Arts
    • Eden Court
    • Kings Place, London
    • The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
    • Croy Live

    A number of special prizes will also be awarded on the night, selected by a panel of esteemed industry judges, for services to traditional music and culture.

    Legendary Skye band Niteworks will receive the Services to Gaelic Award, sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig; beloved musician Christine Martin will be presented with The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award, while celebrated poet Rab Wilson will receive The Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language Award, supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

    This year’s event also welcomes the introduction of a new award, The Gaisgeach na Gàidhealtachd, which means Hero of the Highlands. This award will recognise a notable local organisation or figure who has made an invaluable contribution to Highland cultural life and the winner will be named on the night.

    A number of stalwarts of the scene who have dedicated their lives to the development of music in Scotland are each year added to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, sponsored by Fèisean nan Gàidheal and will be honoured in a special reception on the night.

    A raft of industry awards will also recognise individuals and organisations which support the creative pipeline of the sector. Those finalists are:

    Industry Person of the Year

    • Michael Pellegrotti
    • Roddy MacKay
    • Gary Innes
    • Laura Harrington
    • Rosie Munro

    Production Company of the Year

    • Pro Sound
    • FE Audio
    • Adlib
    • SM Lighting

    Recording Studio of the Year

    • B&B Studios
    • Castlesound
    • Assumption Studios
    • Black Bay Studios

    Sound Engineer of the Year

    • Alain ‘Dinner’ MacKinnon
    • Carla Feuerstein
    • Ross Cathcart

    Stage Technician of the Year

    • John McFarlane
    • Chris Adam
    • Ronnie Phipps
    • Gary Ebdy

    As well as all category sponsors and the event’s headline sponsor, this year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, the ceremony’s return to the Highlands is made possible with funding and support from Creative Scotland, Inverness Common Good Fund, Highland Council via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Scottish Government.

    Scots Trad Music Awards organiser Simon Thoumire said: “Scotland’s traditional music scene is bursting at the seams with exceptional talent and it’s incredibly important we take time to recognise the achievements and progress over the last year. From some of the most exciting young new bands, to legends of the industry we will be tipping our hats to the best of the best in Inverness this November. Voting is now open and it’s over to the public to decide who they would like to see honoured on the night. We’re proud that this event has become synonymous with excellence in Scottish music and incredibly grateful to all those who make its staging possible.”

    Siobhan Anderson, Music Officer at Creative Scotland said: ““Congratulations to all the nominees. Now public voting is open, it’s a fantastic chance for people to celebrate and honour all their favourite artists, recordings, organisations, projects and contributors to this vibrant sector. The list of nominees reflects the vast array of talent across the genre and all the people who contribute towards sustaining traditions and creating innovative work.”

    Margaret Cameron, Director of Content at MG ALBA, said: “Now in its 22nd year, it’s incredible to see how the event continues to flourish, showcasing the very best of Scots Trad music. This year’s nominations of the MG ALBA Scots Trad Awards once again highlight the remarkable talent within the scene, reflecting the vibrancy and depth of Scotland’s musical heritage. We’re thrilled to bring the awards to the fantastic Inverness Leisure Centre on St. Andrew’s Day, and MG ALBA is proud to support the event and broadcast the celebration live on BBC ALBA, ensuring audiences across the country can join the party.”

    An outstanding lineup of talent is set to take to the stage over the course of the evening, including the Hebridean-born and Highland-based singer and musician Julie Fowlis, whose award-winning talent is recognised the world over; Skipinnish who round off their 25th anniversary year in a fitting fashion’ BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2024 Calum McIlroy; party-starters An Dannsa Dub; the inimitable duo of Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr; Aberdeenshire folk star Ellie Beaton; and young local talent in the form of Highland Young Musicians and Arc Fiddlers.

    The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards will take place at Inverness Leisure Centre on St. Andrew’s Day, Saturday 30th November 2024. The awards will be broadcast on BBC ALBA from 9pm.

    Voting opens today and closes on Sunday 10th November. Votes can be cast at www.scotstradmusicawards.com. Tickets for the event are on sale now at https://tickets.highlifehighland.com/events/highlifehighland/1374627.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Remembrance Day Parade road closures – Inverness

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    A number of roads in Inverness will be closed for safety reasons during the Remembrance Day Parade on Sunday 10 November 2024 between 2pm and 5pm.
    .
    The temporary prohibitions will affect vehicular traffic in the following roads.

    • U4048 Huntly Street, Inverness, between its junction with the U4018 Greig Street and its junction with Young Street (forming part of the 8861 Inverness – Leys – lnverarnie Road).
    • Ness Bridge, Inverness (8861), between its junction with Young Street (8861) and its junction with Bridge Street (8861).
    • Castle Road, Inverness (forming part of the 8862 Fort Augustus – Whitebridge – Torness – Dores – Inverness Road), between its junction with Bridge Street (8861) and its junction with Haugh Road (8862).
    • C1201 Ness Bank and CavelI Gardens Road, Inverness, between its junction with Castle Road (8862) and its junction with Island Bank Road (8862).
    • Bridge Street (forming part of the 8861 Inverness – Leys – lnverarnie road), Inverness, between its junction with Bank Street (forming part of the 8862 Fort Augustus – Whitebridge – Torness – Dores – Inverness Road) and its junction with High Street (8861).
    • High Street (8861), Inverness, between its junction with Bridge Street (8861) and its junction with Castle Street (8861).
    • And finally, Castle Street (8861), Inverness, between its junction with High Street (8861) and its junction with the C1184 View Place.

    The Infirmary Bridge will be closed between 1pm and 5pm.

    29 Oct 2024

    Share this story

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CCI approves the proposed combination involving acquisition of additional shareholding in Thoughtworks Holding, Inc. by AP Funds and Temasek

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 29 OCT 2024 9:15PM by PIB Delhi

    The Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed combination involving acquisition of additional shareholding in Thoughtworks Holding, Inc. by AP Funds and  Temasek

     

    Tasmania Midco LLC (Acquirer) is an SPV indirectly wholly-owned by the Apax Partners LLP (AP). AP is a limited liability partnership incorporated under the laws of United Kingdom and the parent of a number of entities which provide investment advisory services to private equity funds investing in a range of industry sectors.

    Nevado Investments Pte. Ltd. (Nevado) is a limited company incorporated in Singapore. It is an investment holding company and does not have any business operations other than holding investments. It is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited (Temasek). 

    Thoughtworks Holding, Inc. (Target) is a global technology consultancy corporation, providing IT consultancy and application implementation and managed services.

    The Proposed Transaction concerns an acquisition by the investment funds advised by Apax Partners LLP (AP) (the “AP Funds“) of additional shareholding in the Target such that post consummation of the proposed transaction the Target will be wholly owned by the AP Funds (through the Acquirer) with Temasek (through Nevado) holding approximately 10% of the Target’s equity as a minority non-controlling passive investor (Proposed Combination).

    Detailed order of the Commission will follow.

    ****

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    (Release ID: 2069427) Visitor Counter : 38

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: You Said… We Did… Lifestyles

    Source: City of Liverpool

    A key part of Liverpool City Council’s improvement journey is reaching out and listening to our residents; as part of that initiative we have had some great feedback which has led to some changes which will hopefully raise fitness levels, without putting an extra squeeze on finances.

    Residents told us they can’t afford gym membership in the three of the most deprived areas of the city – we listened to that feedback and we have introduced the Neighbourhood Platinum site-specific membership will launch on Friday 1 July as part of a three-month pilot scheme which will see membership costs reduced at Austin Rawlinson, Everton Park and Park Road Lifestyles.

    It is hoped by reducing costs, it will increase physical activity in these areas and improve life expectancy – which is currently 3.3 years lower than the English average.

    For £16.99 a month (a 55 per cent reduction), members will be able to use all of the facilities in their chosen centre, making the most of the pool, gyms and the varied classes on offer in that individual location.  There is no contract commitment and members will be able to renew on a monthly basis.

    Residents also told us the opening hours weren’t helpful, we’ve listened to that and from July Lifestyles Park Road and Everton will be open for longer:

    Lifestyles Park Road

    Monday to Friday – 8am to 8.30pm

    Saturday & Sunday – 8am to 2pm

    Lifestyles Everton Park

    Monday to Friday – 7.30am to 9pm

    Saturday – 9am to 1pm

    Sunday – 7.30am to 1pm

     For the latest information head to the official Lifestyles web pages.

    Liverpool’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:

    “It’s no exaggeration to say our Lifestyles Centres offer a lifeline for so many.  The figures about deprivation and life expectancy are both shocking and disturbing and make us even more committed to making it as easy as possible for people to get active, as we know this has a positive impact on our physical and mental wellbeing.

    “I’m a Lifestyles member and have spent time visiting the different centres across the city, chatting to other members and finding out what they like and don’t like about the service we currently offer. There is a huge amount of love for these community assets and we should make them more accessible to all our residents, and the this trial is a good way to do that.

    “Clearly a one-size-fits-all membership price does not work – the cost of living crisis is already starting to bite and we need to look at ways in which we can help residents get active at a reasonable and achievable price.

    “Thanks to everyone who has engaged with us over recent months – we do listen and we do take action where we can and I really hope we see some great results from the Neighbourhood Platinum trial which will help to turn the tide on health inequalities experienced in parts of our city.”

    Lifestyles General Manager, Mark Lancaster, said:

    “We want our centres to meet their full potential and increasing opening hours gives people more opportunity to use the facilities.

    “In recent months we have seen a rise in demand for swim time, particularly at the weekends, so extending the timetable will allow us to meet this need.

    “We always encourage feedback from members – and potential members – and we hope these latest changes will support residents in their ambition to lead healthier and happier lives and at the same time support their local centre.”

    #YouSaidWeDid #ImprovingLiverpool #TheNextChapter

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Urgent need for humanitarian corridors to Gaza for basic necessities and the case of the NGO Music for Peace – E-002063/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    14.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002063/2024
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Brando Benifei (S&D), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Annalisa Corrado (S&D), Marco Tarquinio (S&D), Giorgio Gori (S&D), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Lucia Annunziata (S&D)

    The restrictions imposed by the Israeli Government on humanitarian access to Gaza are increasingly becoming a problem for the survival of civilians and constituting a violation of international humanitarian law.

    One such example is the NGO Music for Peace, a civil society organisation registered with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and active in Gaza for many years. One of its shipments – 80 tonnes of essential goods, with a total value of approximately EUR 800 000 – has remained blocked at the NGO’s headquarters in Genoa, Italy since June 2024, due to the lack of support from national and international stakeholders.

    On 1 October 2024, the NGO submitted its packing list to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), via the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS), but the application remains pending. On 2 October, the NGO was then informed of the new restrictive regulations introduced by the Israeli authorities.

    Given the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza and the principles of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their 1977 Additional Protocols, can the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy say whether:

    He intends to call for the opening of humanitarian corridors as a matter of urgency to allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza?

    Submitted: 14.10.2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Members address digitalization, capacity building at trade facilitation meeting

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Members address digitalization, capacity building at trade facilitation meeting

    In line with the Committee’s 2024 theme “Use of Digitalization to Facilitate Trade,” five members – China, El Salvador, Georgia, Jamaica, and Japan – shared national experiences with the use of digitalization in the “Single Window for Trade Facilitation” process. Under the TFA, members undertake to establish a single window enabling traders to submit documentation and data related to the importation, exportation, or transit of goods through a single entry point.
    In addition, another six members – Bolivia, Chile, Fiji, the Kyrgyz Republic, Nicaragua, and Uzbekistan – made presentations at the Committee meeting on different topics related to TFA implementation, such as average release times for goods, pre-arrival processing, electronic certification of cross-border shipment of plastics, digitalization of border procedures, and regional trade facilitation strategies.
    The TFA entered into force in 2017 and contains provisions for expediting the movement, release, and clearance of goods, including goods in transit, thereby enhancing efficiency, and promoting greater cooperation in cross-border transactions. It is the first WTO agreement in which developing members and least developed country (LDC) members can determine their own implementation schedules, in accordance with their national priorities and capacities, and seek to acquire implementation capacity through the provision of related assistance and support.
    Technical assistance and capacity building
    The Committee also organized a dedicated session on 24 October focused on technical assistance and capacity building, which allowed beneficiary and donor members as well as international development partners to interact and exchange ideas on the topic. 
    Members received an update on progress in technical assistance and capacity building support for the next two-year period through 2026, including a status report from the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility, which was set up to help developing and least developed country (LDC) members in the implementation of the TFA. This year, members redesigned the dedicated session to focus on interactive panel discussions. A first discussion took place on enhancing the coordination of technical assistance and capacity building, followed by a round-table discussion where members involved in both the delivery and receipt of technical assistance and capacity building addressed how to mobilize such support for sustained reform.
    The Chair expressed appreciation for the constructive engagement of all members, which enriched the discussion and highlighted the importance of collaboration and the need to address ongoing challenges for sustained support. Additionally, member insights on coordination, monitoring, and tailored assistance will contribute to strengthening implementation efforts and ensuring that trade facilitation benefits all members, including developing and LDC members.
    Separately, the United States presented a communication on technical assistance and capacity building which outlines considerations regarding its process of delivering technical assistance, including how to identify specific national contacts, prepare for engagement with donors, and contact donors. During the course of the meeting, the United Kingdom also circulated a paper outlining some general guidance that countries could follow to help guide them in seeking and successfully utilising collaboration with donors for capacity building support.
    Other Committee work
    The WTO Secretariat provided a status report concerning the ratification and implementation of the TFA. Notifications submitted by developing and LDC members currently show they have committed to implement 79% of their TFA obligations. Developed members were required to implement all provisions of the TFA from its entry into force.
    Other topics covered during the meeting included the United States’ concern over Indonesia’s customs procedures for intangible products. In addition, members continued discussions on a revised version of a Committee paper entitled “Good Practices and Building Blocks of Successful National Trade Facilitation Committees”, which seeks to reflect the experiences shared by members and international organizations in this area.
    The next committee meetings will be held on 12-13 March, 4-5 June and 21-23 October 2025.
    All presentations made are available here.
    If you would like to receive news on trade facilitation, subscribe to the TFA Newsbytes here.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: A NEW SATELLITE AGREEMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE PAN-AFRICAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FRANCE AND MOROCCO

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: A NEW SATELLITE AGREEMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE PAN-AFRICAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FRANCE AND MOROCCO

    • French President Emmanuel Macron set to meet with Moroccan King Mohammed VI on a state visit this week.
    • Morocco’s Panafsat and Thales Alenia Space sign memorandum of understanding to build a pan-African satellite telecommunications system.

    Rabat, October 29, 2024 – Moroccan company Panafsat and Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), today announced they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of a Moroccan satellite communications system. The system will deliver very-high-throughput services (VHTS) to 26 African countries, 23 of them in French-speaking Africa, covering a combined population of around 550 million people over an area spanning 12 million square kilometers.

    The memorandum of understanding between the Moroccan operator Panafsat and Thales Alenia Space was signed today as part of the state visit of French President, Emmanuel Macron, to the Kingdom of Morocco,in the presence of Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Moroccan Minister of the Economy and Finance and Antoine Armand, French Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry.

    Under the MoU, Thales Alenia Space will build a very-high-performance flexible satellite. Once in orbit, the satellite will deliver high-speed internet to accelerate the transformation of Africa’s digital landscape. This will be achieved by providing the connectivity required for high value-added services for the benefit of governments, businesses and individuals. It will also help bridge the digital divide in rural and isolated communities.

    Chairman and CEO of Panafsat Ahmed Toumi stated: “This project is the next key stage in the digital transformation process and the development of a digital economy in Morocco, and across Africa as a whole. It will change the lives of millions of people, eager to benefit from Internet access and all the essential services they need. We are delighted to be able to draw on the outstanding expertise and capabilities of a partner like Thales Alenia Space. We look forward to working together on this major project, which will bring significant benefits across the continent.”

    Thales Alenia Space CEO Hervé Derrey added: “It is a privilege for Thales Alenia Space to be chosen by Panafsat to deliver this new geostationary telecommunications satellite. The project will make a significant contribution to bridging the digital divide in rural areas, as well as boosting economic growth and strengthening digital sovereignty across the African continent. We are honored to embark on this long-term partnership with Africa’s foremost private operator, helping it to expand its capabilities and develop space services for the benefit of the entire continent.”

    The MoU is part of a roadmap developed by France and Morocco encompassing digitalization initiatives such as Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A) and Digital Morocco 2030, as well as the hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2030 in Morocco.

    About Panafsat

    Panafsat SA is a Moroccan private equity firm with Casablanca Finance City (CFC) status.

    It was set up by Ahmed Toumi, an elected board member of the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Radio Regulation Board from 1998 to 2002. Ahmed Toumi was also Chairman and Director-General of ITSO-Intelsat (the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization) from 2001 to 2009. He was awarded the Order of the Throne Officer class. Panafsat is developing Morocco’s first geostationary satellite to provide Internet access for 26 African countries. The project will contribute to the digital transformation of Africa in line with regional and global objectives.

    Press contact

    Kaoutar HAKAM            Tel: +33 7 79 80 39 26               kaoutar.hakam@panafsat.ma

    ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACE

    Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately €2.2 billion in 2023 and has around 8,600 employees in 9 countries, with 16 sites in Europe and a plant in the US. www.thalesaleniaspace.com

    THALES ALENIA SPACE – PRESS CONTACTS

    Tarik Lahlou                    Tel: +33 (0)6 87 95 89 56           tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com

    Catherine des Arcis       Tel: +33 (0)6 78 64 63 97           catherine.des-arcis@thalesaleniaspace.com

    Cinzia Marcanio             Tel.: +39 (0)6 415 126 85           cinzia.marcanio@thalesaleniaspace.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Low Pay Commission recommendations accepted in full

    The Government has today announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW). The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

    NMW Rate Increase (£) Percentage increase
    National Living Wage (21 and over) £12.21 £0.77 6.7
    18-20 Year Old Rate £10.00 £1.40 16.3
    16-17 Year Old Rate £7.55 £1.15 18.0
    Apprentice Rate £7.55 £1.15 18.0
    Accommodation Offset £10.66 £0.67 6.7

    The LPC’s recommendations meet the remit set by the Government. The recommended NLW rate is expected to equal two-thirds of median earnings and to have the highest real value in the history of the UK’s minimum wage. The increase in the 18-20 Year Old Rate narrows the gap between that and the NLW, in anticipation of the adult rate being extended to 18 year olds in future years.

    Baroness Philippa Stroud, Chair of the LPC, said:

    The Government have been clear about their ambitions for the National Minimum Wage and its importance in supporting workers’ living standards. At the same time, employers have had to deal with the adult rate rising over 20 per cent in two years, and the challenges that has created alongside other pressures to their cost base.

    It is our job to balance these considerations, ensuring the NLW provides a fair wage for the lowest-paid workers while taking account of economic factors. These rates secure a real-terms pay increase for the lowest-paid workers. Young workers will see substantial increases in their pay floor, making up some of the ground lost against the adult rate over time.

    The data show some signs of employers finding it harder to adapt to minimum wage increases. The tightening of the labour market since the pandemic has unwound, but the overall picture is similar to 2019.The economy is expected to grow over the next year, although productivity growth remains subdued.

    We look forward to continuing our work next year as the detail of the Make Work Pay plan is elaborated upon. The NMW is a major part of the Government’s ambitions for the future of the labour market, and it is important that it continues to be informed by the expertise and consensus-building the LPC provides.

    The LPC’s recommendations are based on extensive consultation with employers, workers, representatives of both groups and other expert bodies, as well as a series of regional visits across the UK. They reflect unanimous agreement among Commissioners, including those representing workers, employers and independent experts.

    The recommended increase in the 16-17 Year Old Rate restores that rate to its original value relative to the adult minimum wage. In line with previous recommendations, the Apprentice Rate will remain equal to the 16-17 Year Old Rate.

    Notes for editors

    1. The LPC’s recommendations were submitted to the Government on 25 October 2024. The Government has today announced acceptance of those recommendations.

    2. The LPC will on Wednesday 30 October publish its letter of recommendations to the Government and a short report summarising the main evidence Commissioners relied on to make those recommendations. The LPC’s full annual report will be laid before Parliament and published in the new year.

    3. The Government’s remit to the LPC, which determines the Commission’s work through the year, was published in July and is available here.

    4. The LPC’s recommended NLW rate is intended to meet the Government’s ambition for this rate to reach at least two-thirds of median earnings in 2024.

    5. For the first time, the Government asked the LPC to take into account the cost of living, including expected trends in inflation up to March 2026, when recommending the NLW. The LPC expects its recommended rate to represent a real-terms increase across the whole of the period to March 2026, using any major inflation measure, thereby protecting low-paid workers’ living standards.
    6. We last published projections in September of the NLW rate needed to achieve the level of two-thirds of median earnings. At the time, our projected range was between £11.82 and £12.39, with a central estimate of £12.10.
    7. Our assessment of and projections for median earnings rely on the ONS’s Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) series. These are supplemented by HMRC’s Real Time Information (RTI) data and wage forecasts from the Bank of England and HM Treasury’s Independent Panel of Economic Forecasts.
    8. The National Living Wage (NLW) is currently the statutory minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over. This age threshold came down from 25 to 23 in April 2021 and from 23 to 21 in April 2024.
    9. Different minimum wage rates continue to apply to 18-20 year olds, 16-17 year olds and apprentices aged under 19 or in the first year of an apprenticeship. The Government has stated its ambition to reduce the NLW age threshold from 21 to 18; this follows the LPC’s own stated ambition and advice, as set out in the publication The National Minimum Wage Beyond 2024. The LPC will consult next year on the pathway to achieving this goal.
    10. Rates for workers aged under 21, and apprentices, are currently lower than the NLW to reflect lower average earnings and higher unemployment rates. International evidence also suggests that younger workers are more exposed to employment risks arising from the pay floor than older workers. Unlike the NLW (where the possibility of some consequences for employment have been accepted by the Government), the LPC’s remit requires us to set the rates for younger workers and apprentices as high as possible without causing damage to jobs and hours.
    11. The National Living Wage is different from the UK Living Wage and the London Living Wage calculated by the Living Wage Foundation. Differences include that: the UK Living Wage and the London Living Wage are voluntary pay benchmarks that employers can sign up to if they wish, not legally binding requirements; the hourly rate of the UK Living Wage and London Living Wage is based on an attempt to measure need, whereas the National Living Wage is based on a target relationship between its level and average pay; the UK Living Wage and London Living Wage apply to workers aged 18 and over, the National Living Wage to workers aged 23 and over. The Low Pay Commission has no role in the UK Living Wage or the London Living Wage.
    12. The Accommodation Offset is an allowable deduction from wages for accommodation, applicable for each day of the week. In April 2025 it will increase to £10.66 per day.
    13. For an NLW worker working 37.5 hours per week, the increases announced today will increase their annual gross pay by £1,505.54 and their monthly gross pay by £125.46.
    14. The Low Pay Commission is an independent body made up of employers, trade unions and experts whose role is to advise the Government on the minimum wage. The rate recommendations introduced today were agreed unanimously by the Commission.
    15. The current Low Pay Commissioners are: Baroness Philippa Stroud (Chair), Nigel Cotgrove, Matthew Fell, Andrew Goodacre, Louise Fisher, Professor Patricia Rice, Simon Sapper and Professor Jonathan Wadsworth.
    16. Baroness Philippa Stroud can be contacted via the Low Pay Commission’s press office (07341 098734).

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    Published 29 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Video: UNRWA, Ukraine, Biodiversity & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (29 Oct 2024) | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    -Briefings
    -Biodiversity
    -UNRWA
    -Occupied Palestinian territory
    -Security Council
    -Lebanon/Israel
    -Lebanon
    -Financial contribution
    -Ukraine
    -Democratic Republic of the Congo
    -Sudan
    -International Day of Care and Support

    BRIEFINGS
    Tomorrow, you will have a heavy day. We’ve asked Amy Pope, the head of the International Organization for Migration who is currently in Sudan to brief you. She will be here at 11 a.m. vie videoconference from Port Sudan to brief you on her ongoing trip. At noon you will have to deal with me. Then at 1 p.m., there will be a briefing here by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel and that Commission includes Navid Pillay, Miloon Kothari and Chris Sidoti. Then at 2:00 p.m., Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967 will be here live in person in this very room.

    BIODIVERISTY
    This morning, the Secretary-General is in Cali, in Colombia, where he is attending the high-level segment of the 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16). In his remarks, he highlighted that nature is life, and yet we are waging a war against it, a war where there can be no winner. He is in fact about to deliver those remarks and he is expected to warn that no country, rich or poor, is immune to the devastation inflicted by climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation and pollution, adding that these environmental crises are intertwined, they know no borders.
    The Secretary-General noted that when the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century. He said that we must now turn these promises into acts.
    This morning, he had a series of bilaterals. He met with Leslie Voltaire, the President of the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti. They agreed on the need to expedite the political transition towards holding elections. In the meeting, the Secretary-General appealed to Haitian stakeholders to set aside their differences and work together for Haiti’s peace and security.
    This afternoon, the Secretary-General will engage in discussions with indigenous people and local communities, as well as representatives of civil society, including youth and women.
    And I think he just met with Gustavo Petro, the President of Colombia.  Tomorrow, on the sidelines he will speak at an event on plastic pollution organized by the UN Environment Programme. He will also speak to journalists at a press conference before heading out of Cali and coming back to New York.

    UNRWA
    You saw that last night we issued a statement in the Secretary-General’s name in which he expressed his deep concern at the adoption yesterday by the Israeli Knesset of two laws concerning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, better known to all of us as UNRWA, and the laws which, if implemented, would likely prevent UNRWA from continuing its essential work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as mandated by the General Assembly of these United Nations.
    The Secretary-General emphasized that UNRWA is the principal means by which essential assistance is supplied to Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. There is no alternative to UNRWA.
    He calls on Israel to act consistently with its obligations under the Charter of the UN and its other obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and those concerning the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. National legislation cannot alter those obligations. He is bringing this matter to the attention of the General Assembly and will keep the Assembly closely informed on the situation as it develops. 
    Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner General of UNRWA, added that these bills will only deepen the suffering of Palestinians, especially in Gaza, where people have been going through more than a year of sheer hell. He said that these bills increase the suffering of the Palestinians and are nothing less than collective punishment. Mr. Lazzarini also sent a letter to the President of the General Assembly to express those concerns in detail.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29%20October%202024

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvOsMwPEo38

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Seaway7 awarded offshore wind contract in UK

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Luxembourg – 29 October 2024 – Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced the award to Seaway7, part of the Subsea7 Group, of a substantial1 contract by Ørsted for the transport and installation of the inter-array cables of the Hornsea 3 offshore wind project located in the UK sector of the North Sea.

    Seaway7’s scope of work covers the transportation and installation (T&I) of 192 66kV inter-array cables, measuring approximately 500 kilometres in length, with offshore activities scheduled to commence in 2026.

    Stuart Fitzgerald, CEO Seaway7, said: “With this award we look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with Ørsted. The Hornsea 3 project represents our seventh offshore wind project together, including the inter-array cables on the two previous phases of the Hornsea Wind Zone, Hornsea 1 and Hornsea 2. The award adds to our backlog and leading position in the UK, Europe’s largest offshore wind market.

    (1) Subsea7 defines a substantial contract as being between USD 150 million and USD 300 million.

    *******************************************************************************
    Subsea7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry. We create sustainable value by being the industry’s partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs.

    Subsea7 is listed on the Oslo Børs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

    *******************************************************************************

    Contact for investment community enquiries:
    Katherine Tonks
    Investor Relations Director
    Tel +44 (0)20 8210 5568
    ir@subsea7.com

    Contact for media enquiries:
    Nikki Beales
    Communications Manager, Seaway7
    Tel +44 (0)7843895292
    nikki.beales@seaway7.com
    www.seaway7.com

    Forward-Looking Statements: This document may contain ‘forward-looking statements’ (within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to our current expectations, beliefs, intentions, assumptions or strategies regarding the future and are subject to known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘future’, ‘goal’, ‘intend’, ‘likely’ ‘may’, ‘plan’, ‘project’, ‘seek’, ‘should’, ‘strategy’ ‘will’, and similar expressions. The principal risks which could affect future operations of the Group are described in the ‘Risk Management’ section of the Group’s Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements. Factors that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to): (i) our ability to deliver fixed price projects in accordance with client expectations and within the parameters of our bids, and to avoid cost overruns; (ii) our ability to collect receivables, negotiate variation orders and collect the related revenue; (iii) our ability to recover costs on significant projects; (iv) capital expenditure by oil and gas companies, which is affected by fluctuations in the price of, and demand for, crude oil and natural gas; (v) unanticipated delays or cancellation of projects included in our backlog; (vi) competition and price fluctuations in the markets and businesses in which we operate; (vii) the loss of, or deterioration in our relationship with, any significant clients; (viii) the outcome of legal proceedings or governmental inquiries; (ix) uncertainties inherent in operating internationally, including economic, political and social instability, boycotts or embargoes, labour unrest, changes in foreign governmental regulations, corruption and currency fluctuations; (x) the effects of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster; (xi) liability to third parties for the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfil their obligations; (xii) changes in, or our failure to comply with, applicable laws and regulations (including regulatory measures addressing climate change); (xiii) operating hazards, including spills, environmental damage, personal or property damage and business interruptions caused by adverse weather; (xiv) equipment or mechanical failures, which could increase costs, impair revenue and result in penalties for failure to meet project completion requirements; (xv) the timely delivery of vessels on order and the timely completion of ship conversion programmes; (xvi) our ability to keep pace with technological changes and the impact of potential information technology, cyber security or data security breaches; (xvii) global availability at scale and commercially viability of suitable alternative vessel fuels; and (xviii) the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this document. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
    This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
    This stock exchange release was published by Katherine Tonks, Investor Relations, Subsea7, on 29 October 2024 at 21:05 CET.

    Attachment

    • SUBC Hornsea 3 Cables

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. Schedules Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLRE) (the “Company” or “Greenlight Re”), a multiline property and casualty insurer and reinsurer, today announced that it expects to release financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, after the market closes on Monday, November 4, 2024.  A live conference call to discuss the financial results will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

    Conference Call Details

    To participate in the Greenlight Re Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Call, please dial in to the conference call at:

    U.S. toll free        1-877-407-9753
    International        1-201-493-6739

    The conference call can also be accessed via webcast at:

    https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1692074&tp_key=a944f284f8

    A telephone replay will be available following the call through November 11, 2024.  The replay of the call may be accessed by dialing 1-877-660-6853 (U.S. toll free) or 1-201-612-7415 (international), access code 13749374. An audio file of the call will also be available on the Company’s website, www.greenlightre.com.

    About Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.
    Greenlight Re (www.greenlightre.com) provides multiline property and casualty insurance and reinsurance through its licensed and regulated reinsurance entities in the Cayman Islands and Ireland, and its Lloyd’s platform, Greenlight Innovation Syndicate 3456. The Company complements its underwriting activities with a non-traditional investment approach designed to achieve higher rates of return over the long term than reinsurance companies that exclusively employ more traditional investment strategies. The Company’s innovations unit, Greenlight Re Innovations, supports technology innovators in the (re)insurance space by providing investment capital, risk capacity, and access to a broad insurance network.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Karin Daly
    Vice President, The Equity Group Inc.
    (212) 836-9623
    IR@greenlightre.ky

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 29.10.2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    29 October 2024 at 22:30 EET

    Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 29.10.2024

    Espoo, Finland – On 29 October 2024 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 1,382,271 4.54
    CEUX 263,565 4.55
    BATE – –
    AQEU – –
    TQEX – –
    Total 1,645,836 4.54

    * Rounded to two decimals

    On 25 January 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to return up to EUR 600 million of cash to shareholders in tranches over a period of two years. The first phase of the share buyback program started on 20 March 2024. On 19 July 2024, Nokia decided to accelerate the share buybacks by increasing the number of shares to be repurchased during the year 2024. The post-increase 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 22 July 2024 and end by 31 December 2024 with a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 600 million for all purchases during 2024.

    Total cost of transactions executed on 29 October 2024 was EUR 7,474,564. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 189,427,128 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.

    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 40 803 4080
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    • Daily Report 2024-10-29

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Stifel Declares Quarterly Common Stock Cash Dividend and Declares Preferred Stock Cash Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST. LOUIS, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend on shares of its common stock of $0.42 per share, payable December 16, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2024.

    The Board of Directors also declared a quarterly cash dividend on the outstanding shares of its 6.25% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), 6.125% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C (the “Series C Preferred Stock”), and 4.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D (the “Series D Preferred Stock”). The declared cash dividend on the Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, and Series D Preferred Stock is for the period from September 17, 2024, up to, but excluding, December 16, 2024. The declared cash dividend equated to approximately $0.390625 per depositary share, or $390.625 per share of the Series B Preferred Stock outstanding. The declared cash dividend equated to approximately $0.3828125 per depositary share, or $382.8125 per share of the Series C Preferred Stock outstanding. The declared cash dividend equated to approximately $0.281250 per depositary share, or $281.250 per share of the Series D Preferred Stock outstanding. The cash dividends are payable on December 16, 2024 to shareholders of record on December 2, 2024.

    The Company’s Series B Preferred Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SF PrB”, the Company’s Series C Preferred Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SF PrC”, and the Company’s Series D Preferred Stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SF PrD.”

    Stifel Company Information
    Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel’s broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners and Miller Buckfire business divisions; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; and Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC; in Canada through Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc.; and in the United Kingdom and Europe through Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited. The Company’s broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company’s website at www.stifel.com. For global disclosures, please visit https://www.stifel.com/investor-relations/press-releases.

    Stifel Investor Relations Contact
    Joel Jeffrey, Senior Vice President
    (212) 271-3610 direct
    investorrelations@stifel.com                                

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Enstar Announces Changes to Executive Leadership Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Appoints Paul Brockman as Chief Commercial Officer

    • Names Adrian Thornycroft as Chief Administrative Officer from May 2025

    HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enstar Group Limited (“Enstar”) (Nasdaq: ESGR), today announces changes to its executive leadership team in connection with the upcoming retirement of Orla Gregory, President, at the end the year, and the expanding role of Enstar in the insurance industry.

    Paul Brockman has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer with immediate effect. Paul has been with Enstar since 2012, most recently in the role of Group Chief Operating Officer. This newly created role reflects the continued expansion of the scope of solutions Enstar can bring to the global insurance industry. Paul has over three decades of experience across the legacy and (re)insurance sectors. His new responsibilities will include corporate development, serving as one of the primary liaisons to the insurance market, engaging with industry leaders, and optimising market opportunities.

    Adrian Thornycroft will join as Chief Administrative Officer in May 2025. Adrian will be based in Bermuda and will assume a number of responsibilities from Orla as well as take a leading role with respect to change strategy. Adrian has extensive operational and leadership experience, having successfully delivered significant business and change programmes at companies such as Brit, Lloyd’s, and MS Amlin.

    The remaining responsibilities under the role of the outgoing President will be assumed by the wider leadership team.

    Dominic Silvester, Enstar CEO, said:

    “With Paul’s depth of legacy expertise and his versatile, wide-ranging experience, we are confident Paul will continue to make a significant impact as we continue to maintain and expand our industry relationships and drive forward our reputation as the leading provider of legacy solutions.

    Adrian’s skillset and expertise aligns perfectly with Enstar’s strategic direction with regard to our operating platform at an important juncture and will further strengthen Enstar’s leadership team.”

    About Enstar
    Enstar is a NASDAQ-listed leading global insurance group that offers capital release solutions through its network of group companies in Bermuda, the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia and other international locations. A market leader in completing legacy acquisitions, Enstar has acquired over 117 companies and portfolios since its formation. For further information about Enstar, see www.enstargroup.com.

    Cautionary Statement
    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that include words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “may,” “will” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the federal securities laws or otherwise. These statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management team. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those related to the satisfaction of any post-closing regulatory requirements.

    Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, in addition to those identified above, include: (i) the completion of the proposed transaction on the anticipated terms and timing, (ii) the satisfaction of other conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction, including obtaining required shareholder and regulatory approvals; (iii) the risk that the Company’s stock price may fluctuate during the pendency of the proposed transaction and may decline if the proposed transaction is not completed; (iv) potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction that could be instituted against the Company or its directors, managers or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; (v) the risk that disruptions from the proposed transaction (including the ability of certain customers to terminate or amend contracts upon a change of control) will harm the Company’s business, including current plans and operations, including during the pendency of the proposed transaction; (vi) the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; (vii) the diversion of management’s time and attention from ordinary course business operations to completion of the proposed transaction and integration matters; (viii) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; (ix) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (x) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships, during the pendency of the proposed transaction that could affect the Company’s financial performance; (xi) certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction that may impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (xii) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including but not limited to acts of terrorism, outbreaks of war or hostilities or global pandemics, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors; (xiii) the possibility that the proposed transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (xiv) unexpected costs, liabilities or delays associated with the transaction; (xv) the response of competitors to the transaction; (xvi) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transaction, including in circumstances requiring the Company to pay a termination fee; (xvii) those risks and uncertainties set forth under the headings “Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports filed by the Company with the SEC from time to time, which are available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov; and (xviii) those risks described in the Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on October 11, 2024 and available from the sources indicated below.

    These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transaction, are more fully discussed in the Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on October 11, 2024 in connection with the proposed transaction. There can be no assurance that the proposed transaction will be completed, or if it is completed, that it will close within the anticipated time period. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statements or publicly announce any updates or revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein, or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, circumstances or assumptions underlying such statements, except as required by law. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from what we may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution that you should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. You should specifically consider the factors identified in this communication that could cause actual results to differ. Furthermore, new risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict those events or how they may affect the Company.

    Contact:

    For Enstar:
    For Investors: Matthew Kirk (investor.relations@enstargroup.com)
    For Media: Jenna Kerr (communications@enstargroup.com)

    The MIL Network –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of U.S.-Croatia Bilateral Defense Consultations

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Department of Defense Spokesman Cmdr. Javan Rasnake provided the following readout:

    On October 29, 2024, Ms. Lisa Sawyer, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for European and NATO Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, co-chaired the U.S.-Croatia Bilateral Defense Consultations (BDC) with Ms. Nikolina Volf, Deputy Director of Policy, Croatian Ministry of Defense. The meeting took place in the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and included participation from the Ministry of Defense and General Staff of Croatia, the U.S. Joint Staff, U.S. European Command, the Minnesota National Guard, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and the Department of State.

    Participants discussed global security, support to Ukraine, and bilateral security cooperation priorities, including exercises, training, military-to-military engagements, defense modernization initiatives, and Croatia’s longstanding State Partnership Program with the Minnesota National Guard.  Croatian defense officials provided their perspective on the security situation in the Western Balkans, their role within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance including the fielding of a Heavy Brigade to meet a NATO capability, infrastructure development at its training ranges and ports, logistics cooperation, and combating malign influence in the Western Balkans. The United States thanked Croatia for a productive BDC and reaffirmed the importance of the EU-facilitated Dialogue as the best way to achieve a stable and secure Western Balkans.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Sets New Benchmark in TV Security With FIPS 140-3 Certification

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung Electronics today announced that its proprietary cryptography module, Samsung CryptoCore,1 has earned the prestigious FIPS 140-3 certification2 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This certification underscores Samsung’s commitment to providing industry-leading security and data protection for Smart TV users.
     
    “As home entertainment systems become more connected, it becomes critical for technology companies to safeguard the personal data that enables the seamless connectivity enjoyed by so many,” said Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the R&D Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “By integrating the FIPS 140-3-certified CryptoCore into our Smart TVs, Samsung is taking our commitment to secure home entertainment a step further and ensuring that our users can freely experience the value of our products.”
     
    Beginning in 2025, Samsung CryptoCore will be fully integrated into Tizen OS,3 Samsung’s Smart TV operating system, enhancing the security of key products such as TVs, monitors and digital signage. With Samsung CryptoCore embedded in Tizen OS, personal data linked to Samsung accounts will be securely encrypted, SmartThings authentication information will be protected from external hacking threats and content viewed on TVs will benefit from enhanced copyright protection.
     
    Since 2015, Samsung has equipped its Smart TVs with Samsung Knox,4 a security platform that has earned Common Criteria (CC) certification5 for 10 consecutive years. But with its newly acquired FIPS 140-3 certification, Samsung has strengthened its defenses against hacking and data breaches even further, proactively protecting personal information with advanced encryption technology.
     
    Recognized by governments in 10 countries,6 the FIPS 140-3 certification requires comprehensive testing of cryptographic modules to ensure their security, integrity and reliability. For users, this means Samsung Smart TVs offer cutting-edge protection against privacy breaches, allowing them to enjoy their content, connect smart devices and engage with IoT services securely and without concerns.
     

     
    1 Samsung CryptoCore is a software library that encrypts and decrypts data during both transmission and storage.2 Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-3 covers the security requirements for cryptographic modules.3 Tizen OS 9.0.4 Samsung Knox provides privacy protection on its Smart TVs through features like Tizen OS Monitoring, Phishing Site Blocking and Knox Vault. Knox Vault is available only on the QN900D and QN800D models.5 Common Criteria (CC) certification is a global security standard recognized by 31 countries for IT product integrity.6 Recognized in the United States, Canada, UK, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Xi encourages more China-Finland cooperation in emerging industries

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

    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is on a state visit to China, in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, Oct. 29 — China welcomes Finland to actively participate in the Chinese modernization process and expand cooperation in emerging industries, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

    Xi made the remarks as he held talks with visiting Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Beijing.

    He called on both sides to expand cooperation in green transformation, information technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy, and build a new pattern of mutually beneficial cooperation in the new era.

    Xi noted that Finland was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic of China and the first Western country to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China.

    “As the world is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century and the risks and challenges facing humanity are increasing, the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between China and Finland holds exceptional value and should be cherished and advanced,” Xi said.

    China-Finland practical cooperation got off to an early start, has yielded fruitful results and demonstrated great potential, he said.

    China is willing to further expand people-to-people exchanges with Finland, and has decided to apply the unilateral visa-free policy to Finland, he added, noting that China welcomes more Finnish friends to visit for business, tourism and study.

    Xi said both China and Finland love peace and advocate multilateralism and free trade, adding that China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with Finland on climate change, biodiversity conservation, global sustainable development, artificial intelligence governance and other issues.

    Noting that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union (EU), Xi called on Finland to continue to play an active role in promoting the sound and stable development of China-EU ties.

    Stubb said he is very pleased to visit China shortly after taking office and meet with Xi again after 14 years.

    He noted that the global landscape has changed profoundly since their last meeting and China has made remarkable accomplishments.

    Finland abides by the one-China policy and is willing to have a good celebration with China of their 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, Stubb said.

    He added that Finland will work with China to deepen practical cooperation in areas like economy and trade, green energy, and sustainable development.

    Finland appreciates the major initiatives and concepts proposed by China to address global challenges, and will advance multilateral exchanges and coordination with China, Stubb said.

    The economies of the EU and China are closely interconnected, and “decoupling” or a “new Cold War” is not in the interest of any party, Stubb said, noting that Finland is willing to play an active role in promoting the sound development of EU-China relations.

    The two leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis and the conflict between Palestine and Israel. Xi expressed China’s readiness to work with all concerned parties, including Finland, to continue playing a positive role in promoting a peaceful settlement of the crises.

    After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple documents on bilateral cooperation in such areas as education, water resources, environmental protection, circular economy and agricultural and food products.

    The two sides issued the Joint Action Plan between China and Finland on Promoting the Future-oriented New-type Cooperative Partnership 2025-2029.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is on a state visit to China, in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is on a state visit to China, in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is on a state visit to China, in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is on a state visit to China, in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb prior to the talks between Xi and Stubb at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Stubb, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. Xi held talks with Stubb in Beijing on Tuesday. After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of multiple documents on bilateral cooperation. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier meets Finnish president

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

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Finnish President Alexander Stubb at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, Oct. 29 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Tuesday in Beijing.

    Li said that since China and Finland established the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership, bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of development and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields has been continuously promoted, benefiting the people of both countries.

    China is willing to work with Finland to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain close high-level exchanges, continue to carry forward the traditional friendship, consolidate and enhance political mutual trust, and push bilateral relations and cooperation to a new high, Li said.

    Economic globalization is facing headwinds at present but openness and cooperation remain the general trend, Li noted. China is willing to work with Finland to stick to opening up and cooperation, expand trade, strengthen cooperation in key areas such as circular economy, information and communication, smart energy and agricultural and food products, give full play to economic complementarity, and promote mutual benefit and win-win results at a higher level.

    China will continue to foster a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework and welcomes Finnish companies to deepen their presence in the Chinese market, Li said.

    It is hoped that Finland will provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises and play a positive role in promoting the healthy development of China-Europe economic and trade relations, he added.

    Li said that China is ready to work with Finland to further facilitate personnel exchanges and expand exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education and sports to consolidate popular support for the friendly cooperation between the two countries.

    Stubb said Finland attaches importance to developing relations with China and is a reliable cooperative partner of China.

    Finland looks forward to strengthening exchanges with China at all levels, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation on economy, trade, agriculture, green energy and sustainable development, and strengthening education and people-to-people exchanges to open a new chapter in bilateral relations, he added.

    Finland appreciates China’s important role in international affairs and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in fields like global security and tackling climate change, Stubb noted.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Finnish President Alexander Stubb at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 29, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to 2024 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change,

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    October 30, 2024

    Scientists comment on the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change report.

    Dr Josh Foster, Lecturer in Human Environmental Physiology, King’s College London, said:

    “The report highlights the growing number of extreme heat events worldwide, which are associated with severe health impacts. Air conditioning is unaffordable for most in the UK, making us highly vulnerable to increased risks of indoor overheating. The UK’s older population are at particularly high risk due to slow uptake of adaptation measures, such as building modifications, development of personal cooling systems, and up to date public health messaging. During the 2022 heat wave, over 4,000 deaths were reported in the UK’s older population, and temperature extremes have worsened exponentially over the last decade. The trends highlighted in the Lancet report are therefore alarming and will result in more frequent mass mortality events in older people as the devastating impacts of climate changed are realised. At King’s, the Centre for Ageing Resilience in a Changing Environment (CARICE) is pioneering research into improving the resilience of older people to extreme heat. We focus on the urgent need to develop solutions to combat indoor overheating, decreasing strain on our already overstretched healthcare systems.”

    Dr Nathan Cheetham, Senior Postdoctoral Data Scientist, King’s College London, said:

    “The UK Met Office has recorded official heatwaves in each of the past 3 years, with the extreme heatwaves like the UK faced in summer 2022 set to become more regular.

    “As the latest Lancet Countdown report highlights, these changes in climate pose particular health risks for older people, especially those living in poorer areas of cities where houses cope less well in heat.

    “And, similar to what we saw with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is key workers who tend to be most exposed and unable to shield as easily during heatwaves, such as those working in one of our many hospitals without air conditioning, or outdoor construction workers.

    “The report also emphasises that emergency responses and adaptations to deal with the health risks of climate change are currently generally lacking. So there’s a responsibility by governments to support adaptation of housing, as well as where and how we work when these extreme weather events happen.”

    ‘The 2024 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: facing record-breaking threats from delayed action’ by Marina Romanello et al. was published in The Lancet at 00:01 UK time on Wednesday 30th October. 

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01822-1

    Declared interests:

    Dr Nathan Cheetham: “Receive a minority of funding in part by the King’s College London Centre for Ageing Resilience in a Changing Environment (CARICE). One of the focuses of the centre is how to improve resilience of older people in the face of climate change. Majority funded by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), on a project trying to understand the long-term consequences of COVID-19. Previously worked for an NHS organisation. Nothing else to declare such as industry funding.”

    Dr Josh Foster: No interests to declare.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FM: Chancellor must invest in opportunity

    Source: Scottish Government

    First Minister and Scottish Chambers of Commerce issue joint call for investment to support growth.

    A joint call for investment has been issued to the Chancellor on the eve of the UK Budget from Scottish Government and Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

    Speaking to business leaders at a reception with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce on Tuesday 29 October, First Minister John Swinney said:

    “My Government is committed to growing the economy to generate the wealth to invest in our public services and eradicate child poverty. We want to use that investment to create a partnership between government and business that will make the most of Scotland’s many economic opportunities.

    “It takes political willpower to adapt and evolve our economies and grow thriving societies in all four nations – something the Chancellor can signal by including steps to advance the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in the UK Budget, which would provide new opportunities for workers in the oil and gas sector in Grangemouth and in other parts of Scotland.

    “The Office for Budget Responsibility highlighted recently the potential for public investment to deliver permanent improvements in the economy. It is welcome that my calls for the Chancellor to amend her fiscal rules have been heard, with indications last week that there will be scope for greater investment.

    “The Chancellor has the chance to choose to deliver a UK Budget that invests in our public services and supports the entrepreneurial spirit displayed in Scotland’s business sector. With these new rules in place the Chancellor must use the fiscal headroom they create to deliver a Budget that immediately and significantly enhances Scotland’s resource and capital funding, enabling us to invest more in our public services and take forward the vital infrastructure projects that support economic growth, net zero, and action to tackle child poverty.”

    Scottish Chambers of Commerce Chief Executive Dr Liz Cameron CBE said:

    “Our budget focus is on growth, investment and competitiveness. That means investing in skills, technology and infrastructure, and equipping the workforce for tomorrow’s challenges. 

    “The Chancellor’s actions and the message they send will directly impact business confidence and investment at a time when we need to create positive momentum. We hope that our calls to support business have been listened to and not ignored.” 

    Background

    The Office for Budget Responsibility’s conclusions on impact on GDP of a permanent uplift in capital investment can be found on page 23 of Discussion paper No.5: Public investment and potential output (obr.uk)

    UK Autumn Budget: Letter to UK Government – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 25, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: REMINDER: SH2 resurfacing through Dannevirke gets underway

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    A reminder that resurfacing takes place this week on a stretch of State Highway 2 (SH2) in Dannevirke.

    This asphalt resurfacing work has begun today, on SH2 Stanley Street, between Denmark Street and Miller Street and will take 4 days.

    During day-time work hours, a detour will be in place for northbound traffic; southbound traffic will continue to flow freely on SH2. The detour is suitable for all vehicle types.

    Crews will be working from 6.30am to 5pm each day between Tuesday 29 October and Friday 1 November (weather permitting).

    During these work hours, northbound traffic will be detoured via Rawhiti Street, Queen Street, Allan Street and onto Cole Street, before rejoining SH2.

    A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place for southbound traffic near the worksite. Outside of work hours, SH2 will be open with a reduced speed limit in place.

    This resurfacing work will improve the durability and long-term condition of this section of road. A one-way daytime closure allows crews to complete the work as efficiently and safely as possible while keeping traffic moving, and minimising ongoing disruption and long delay times.

    Resident and business access remains and northbound road users are advised to follow the detour to get to your destination. The detour is expected to add less than 5 minutes to journey times.  

    Other works underway or coming up on SH2

    • State Highway 2, resealing: Maintenance works are taking place near Tamaki River Rd from  today (29 October) til 15 November, between 6am – 7pm each day. Daytime stop/go will be in place.
    • State Highway 2, rebuild:Crews are starting rebuild works on SH2 north of Ball Rd, between Woodville and Dannevirke, slightly earlier than expected from today (29 October). It’s expected to take 4-5 weeks. Daytime stop/go will be in place.
    • State Highway 2, resurfacing: Asphalting works are underway on SH2 near the Mangatera Stream Bridge, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go is in place at night, with works expected to finish on Saturday 12 October.
    • State Highway 2, rebuild: From 31 October – 28 November, road rebuild work will take place on SH2 in Papatawa, north of Ball Road, between Woodville and Dannevirke. Daytime stop/go will be in place.

    For more information about the 2024/2025 road maintenance season, please visit:

    NZTA’s Manawatū-Whanganui maintenance and operations webpage

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 25, 2025
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