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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop interview, Shellharbour

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Stephen Jones:

    Well, after 15 years and 5 elections, I’ve decided that it’s time for me to hand the baton on to somebody else and this will be my last term of office as the member for Whitlam. I want to start by thanking this fantastic community for the trust and the faith that they’ve placed in me over 15 years, together we’ve done lots of great things. I want to thank the members of the Australian Labor Party who supported me over 5 elections. I’ve held our values dearly and always have had those values in the forefront as I’ve made the decisions that I’ve made as a local member and as a Minister in the Albanese government.

    I want to thank the Prime Minister who’s been a friend of mine for many decades. I want to thank him for the faith that he’s placed in me and allowing me to be the Assistant Treasurer and the Minister for Financial Services in his government. The toughest job and the best job that I’ve ever had and it’s been an enormous honour. I want to thank all the amazing staff who are standing behind you, who are working for me and the staff that have worked with me over the last 15 years. Everything that I’ve done has been a group effort and in large part, it’s been a result of the amazing commitment, the loyalty, the dedication, and the brilliance of the people who’ve worked for them from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for everything that you’ve done for me.

    I want to thank my family, my wife Brooke, Jess is with me here today, my daughter, my son, Patty. For the love and affection and my huge friendship network, for the support that they’ve given me over those 15 years. It’s been a long journey, but a great one. And an enormous honour. Together, we’ve done lots of things. I have had the pleasure of growing up in this fantastic region. And lived most of my life here and I’ve seen enormous changes over those years. We still make steel here and we still mine coal, but as a region, we’re much, much more.

    We’ve got a world‑class university, which is on a yearly basis, graduating thousands of students, many of whom are the first in their generation ever go to university. And it’s giving them a great opportunity in life. We’re rebuilding the TAFE system, which is actually the reason I first came to the Illawarra when my father moved down here to be a TAFE teacher at Wollongong TAFE and its a sense of great pride to me that my government is prioritising TAFE and apprenticeships and fee‑free TAFE to ensure that whether you go to university or whether you take up a trade, you’ve got a path in life, which is going to give you a secure and decent job.

    There’s new infrastructure for new suburbs. Anyone who has lived down here in the southern part of the Illawarra or up in the Southern Highlands will know where once there was farmland, there are now suburbs. Large parts of the electorate that I represent weren’t actually there when I was first to elected to parliament. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know and representing a diverse and vibrant community from the coast to the Hume Highway, and all the challenges that has entailed.

    We’re building new infrastructure. More needs to be done in that area. I look with pride at the fact that we’re investing in social housing. There are kids who are down the road living in social and supported housing in Warilla because of the investments that we’ve put into this region. We’ve connected every house and business to the NBN. It was a big feature of my first campaign back in 2010 to connect the region and connect the businesses, and the things we now take for granted had to be fought for and had to be delivered. More to come in that area.

    The National Disability Insurance Scheme, I worked in the disability sector here in the Illawarra before I was elected and I have a sense of great pride that I belong to a government that said, now’s the time and we’re going to make this second. Not perfect, more needs to be done, but we’ve got a scheme and people’s lives are immeasurably better because it took the courage and the conviction of the government that I was a part of back in 2010 to put that in place.

    We’re rebuilding Medicare. It’s a huge priority. GP services are stretched here in the Illawarra, both the availability and the affordability, so Medicare, which I believe will be a key feature of the campaign, is more important now than ever and rebuilding Medicare after years of neglect, is a national priority.

    I have also had the great honour of being a member of the government’s economic team. When we came into government, inflation was double what it is today, so we put a lot of work into bringing inflation down while supporting people. Many people who are saying we should just slash and burn. Australia would be in a recession today if we followed their advice and that would mean instead of millions of people being in work, there’d be millions of people who are out of work.

    I left school in 1983 in this region. Some of you might remember, I remember what it was like when people were leaving school and couldn’t get a job and didn’t have hope for their future. So people will criticise the decisions we’ve made, but they were right. It means Australians, particularly young Australians are in jobs today and I’m proud of that. We’ve balanced our budgets, but we’ve done that in a responsible way. We’ve got full employment, something that I haven’t seen in my adult lifetime.

    And as a minister, I’ve been really proud to prioritise consumer protections, new rights, and new methods for consumers to ensure that whether it’s at the supermarket or online, their rights are protected and their money is kept safe. I’ve got a bill in parliament next week, which I want to get passed. The Scams Prevention Framework, I’ve put a lot of work into that over the last 5 or 6 years when I started talking about it nobody was. Now everyone’s talking about it. I want to ensure that Australia is the safest place for Australians to do their business and the hardest place for criminals to rip Australians off. So my job is not done. I’ve got some work to do. I want to get legislation through parliament. The Prime Minister has asked that I stay on until the election in the role as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, I’ll continue to do that.

    I’ll continue to fight for something I started as a scruffy union official in the mid‑80s. To fight for superannuation. I feel passionate about that. I want to ensure that this great national institution that started from zero is now the fourth largest pool of private savings anywhere in the world, tenth largest economy, fourth largest pool of superannuation savings. That’s an amazing achievement. A lot of people want to pull it apart, I’ve put a lot of work into saving it and ensuring that as of July this year, every worker gets 12 per cent of their salary on a fortnightly basis going into their pay. Nobody at the age of sixty thinks ‘I’ve got too much money in super’, nobody and that’s because of the great system that we have built.

    We’re building financial advice so that people who retire and have access to the information and advice that they need. Now in a moment I’ll take some questions, and my media advisors will hate when I say this, people sometimes ask you into moments like this, what’s your legacy? I’ve always thought that people in my position they brag about their legacy, they’re Wallys. This is always a collective and a group effort and I strongly believe that we’re custodians. We look after something while we’re here. The truly greats have a legacy and the rest of us, we’re custodians and we do our best, we ensure that the system we inherited is looked after and improved along the way. And that’s where I put myself and it has been one of the great honours of my life to be the member for this amazing area, and a Minister in this fantastic government. Happy to take your questions.

    Journalist:

    I guess the big question is what has prompted the decision to call it quits?

    Jones:

    Thanks Glen. Fifteen years is a long time. The average length of time for a member of Parliament is 5 and a bit years. I’ve done 15. I’ve just reached the stage in my life where I think, it’s time for me to do something else, I don’t know what that is yet, frankly. I don’t know what that is yet. I’m taking a decision which some people might describe as courageous. I’m going to do something different, and I’m confident that the Labor party will select a candidate who’ll run in this election and uphold the values and stand for the things that people in this region need. Whether it’s free TAFE, better infrastructure, the future for our steel industry, rebuilding Medicare, I didn’t say enough about the steel industry by the way. There were times over my 15 years where it was touch and go. I remember in that first term of one between 2010 and 2013, it was direct intervention by the Gillard government which ensured that Port Kembla Steelworks continued to exist and if it didn’t make those interventions, which I was involved in, it wouldn’t have. It’s going from strength to strength today, it’s turning a profit and that’s a great thing and I’m proud to have been a part of that. Wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, I’ll be fighting for the future of manufacturing in this country and this region, that’s really important.

    Journalist:

    What achievements are you most proud of Stephen?

    Jones:

    Proud of being a part of a government that delivered the NDIS, delivered the National Broadband Network. I’m proud of a bunch of the conversations that I’ve either been a part of or lead or been a leader in. When I first stood up in, if you look back through your archives, Glen, you’ll see some front pages of the Illawarra Mercury, saying perhaps some unfavourable things about me for standing up on marriage equality. It was controversial then it’s the law of the land today. It was a part about trying to make that a mainstream issue. It’s about equality. I was proud of how an issue that’s on the agenda again today.

    Some you might remember a bloke by the name of Robbie Waterhouse who was on our TV screens every 15 seconds back in 2012/13. I was annoyed that I’d take my kids to the sport and they’d hear more about the odds than the rules of the game and there weren’t a lot of voices jumping up then and saying, yeah, we’ve got knock this gambling advertising on the head and we reformed it and it’ll fall to others to do more in that space down the track.

    Really proud of protecting superannuation, the former government tried to cancel the superannuation guarantee levy increases from 9.5 per cent to 12 per cent. I was proud back then when a lot of people thought that was a campaign that couldn’t be won, I said, this is a campaign that must be won. Worked with my good mate, Paul Keating, who I was talking to this morning and we agree this is a campaign that must be won, this is a Labor story, that must be protected for generations to come. Proud of that. We’ll continue to fight for superannuation.

    Almost 3 years to the day. I was talking to my sister a couple days ago, the anniversary of the death of my nephew almost 3 years to the day, I got up in parliament and gave a speech which was very heartfelt as a father and an uncle about the conversation that the country was headed down. I don’t think it’s the role of parliament to be telling individuals who their identity is or parents how they should be parenting, and I felt that very personally, and more than that, I thought the conversation that the nation was involved in about people’s sexual identity and gender identity was not only wrong, it was incredibly harmful because this was sending a very clear message to people that they weren’t right and they weren’t loved. I thought that was not only wrong, I thought it was dangerous. What we say in parliament matters, the tone with which we use our voice matters and it was important to me. So, when you talk about legacy, I think some of it is how we set the public conversation and how we talk about things that matter and I’ve always tried to use my voice responsibly and that way to ensure, the people’s rights and values and dignity and individualism is protected.

    Journalist:

    And when did you use your voice to tell the prime minister that you were going to step down and what was his response for hearing that news?

    Jones:

    Anthony, the Prime Minister is a very old mate of mine and a great Australian and a great Prime Minister. I had the first conversation with him about 6 months ago just thinking about this, I love what I’m doing but I don’t know if I’ve another 3 years in me, I had the conversation again before Christmas and went away on leave to see whether it was going to pass, it didn’t. Anyone – some of you have – worked alongside me for many years know, I chuck everything at it. There’s no off button and you can only do that for so long. These people behind me deserve a bit more time. I’m not going to use that cliche line. But I actually do want my weekends back. And I want to spend a bit more time with the people I love. It’s true. It’s a bit hacky, but more than anything, I want to hand the baton over, I want to leave well, and I want to ensure that I go on and lead a new chapter in my life.

    Journalist:

    Are you confident that Whitlam will remain Labor heartland?

    Jones:

    I’ve never taken this seat for granted. I’ve always treated it as a seat that is marginal, and if you act like that the people will see that you’re not taking them or their issues for granted and they’ll respect that. And that’s the advice I will give to whoever succeeds me.

    Journalist:

    Any regrets? Anything you wish you could re‑do?

    Jones:

    There’s always things you thought you might have gone harder at, you might have gone, maybe I shouldn’t have said that this way, but, I always look forward, not backwards again, Liv, it’s been an honour of my life to represent a region that I love and that I grew up in and that has given so much to me. I hope people reflect on my time here and agree that I’ve given everything I could to it.

    Journalist:

    Are you going to remain here?

    Jones:

    I love this region and I’ll always be attached to it. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do next. In large part that’ll be driven by that. But frankly, if you had a choice between spending a summer afternoon on a beach in Sydney or a summer afternoon on any of the beaches around here, you wouldn’t linger too long on which place you’d go to, would you?

    Journalist:

    And in terms of the replacement, will the branches get to preselect their own candidate, or is that going to be something parachuted in by the Prime Minister?

    Jones:

    That’ll be a matter for the party to work through and I deeply respect the views and aspirations of the members in that respect, but I’m only one voice in that. I will continue to serve with all my heart, energy and strength until the election is determined. But matters of succession will be dealt with by others, I’m just one just one voice in it.

    Journalist:

    What does Labor need to do to stay in government given the polls are suggesting we’re heading towards a minority government?

    Jones:

    I think if people look at the bare facts and ask themselves, who’s got the better plan for the future, there is only one answer to that. If your concern is energy, then ensuring that you vote for the party that backed you in and gave you energy relief, instead of the party that voted against energy relief is a rational decision. If your concern is about having a new energy generation system, which is fit for the future, has got the best technology and is online over the next year or 2. You’ll go with Labor’s plan, not this nuclear fantasy which won’t generate one new watt of power for another 20 years. That is a recipe to provide every Australian household with an increase in their power bills of $1,200 a year. That’s nuts.

    I think we’ve done a lot in the last 2 and a half years. We’ve restored workers rights, we’re rebuilding Medicare, we’ve balanced the budget twice, paid down $80 billion worth of debt, we’ve got a million Australians who are in work who wouldn’t otherwise be. We need another term to finish the job to ensure that we rebuild manufacturing in this region in this country through a Future Made in Australia. We rebuilt Medicare, we fixed the National Disability Insurance Scheme. And more than anything can I say this to you?

    Australia’s got to have a big story. Australia is a great country and a big continent, it’s got to have a big story and there’s got to be a place in it for everyone. We don’t want to have a prime minister and a government that goes down the route of saying, my path to government is by dividing Australians and saying to some Australians there is no place in our national conversation for you and you’ve got to be invisible because I’ve got this view about Australia looks like and that’s the only view of Australia that I’m comfortable with and I think we’re better than that. I think the story of Australia, as I said once before, it’s the story of Breaker Morant, It’s the story of Puberty Blues, it’s the story Priscilla Queen of the Desert, it’s the story of Jedda, it’s the story of The Chant of Jimmie – it’s all of these stories. And to ignore one or some of them and say the only way to be Australian is the one that looks like me is un‑Australian.

    Journalist:

    And what’s it been like to be serving in an electorate named for perhaps the party’s greatest leader?

    Jones:

    He’s a great man. And it’s a great honour. As you can see I’ve got some of his key photos on the wall. He was a great man. Australia’s largest trading partner is China. You talk about economic management, Scott Morrison and the Liberals left our trading relationship with China in tatters. Over 3 years we’ve rebuilt it. It means farmers are selling produce into China that they were locked out of. It means iron ore is flowing into Chinese ports. It means our traded goods are moving into China and Australians are wealthier for it. That started with Gough Whitlam. That started with the Labor government when it was controversial to say we need to trade with every country in Asia, a Labor government did it and we are immeasurably wealthier as a country to today and we will be immeasurably wealthier as a country, over the next 3 years if we back in the Albanese government, the Future Made in Australia and a plan to build a better future that has a place in it for every Australian. Unless there’s any further questions.

    Journalist:

    Just one last one Stephen. I just want to ask one just about the news bargaining code. Who would you like to see take up the work negotiating with the tech giants?

    Jones:

    I will continue the work until the election on the news media bargaining code. I’ve been working closely with my colleague Michelle Roland on this, we will continue that work. I want to see a unity ticket across the parliament on this because when we are talking to the rest of the world, we should talk with one voice. Not as the blue team, or the red team or the green team or the brown team, or whatever, we should be talking with one voice. So I want a unity ticket across the parliament and I’ll continue to put as much energy over the next few months into that as I did over the last 6 months. Thanks so much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New appeal to find man who went missing four years ago

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Police are issuing a renewed appeal for information about the whereabouts of a man who went missing from east London four years ago.

    Hussam Bashraheil was last seen in the Poplar area on 14 January 2021. He was 21 years old at the time of his disappearance and would now be 25.

    Officers from the Central East Missing Persons Unit continue to lead on the enquiry. They believe he travelled to the Theydon Bois area of Essex on 30 January 2021. Since then it is possible he has travelled beyond London, and is now living elsewhere in the UK.

    Police believe Hussam may have been going by a different name and could have established links with people in the local homeless communities.

    Hussam’s picture may not accurately reflect how he looks today. At the time of his disappearance he had dark curly hair, however he may have changed his hairstyle or grown facial hair. He is 5ft 11ins tall.

    Officers from the Central East Missing Persons Unit have said: “If anyone has seen or heard from Hussam, or if Hussam is reading this appeal, we would urge them to please contact us. We would like Hussam to know that there are many people concerned for his wellbeing who would be delighted to hear from him again.”

    If you can help contact the police on 101 and quote reference 01/884146/24. You can also report information anonymously to the Missing People charity on 180 000.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Karolinska Development’s portfolio company Dilafor advances tafoxiparin following successful meetings with FDA and European regulatory authorities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – January 30, 2025. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) today announces that its portfolio company Dilafor has successfully completed regulatory meetings with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, and European Health Agencies, regarding the continued development of the company’s drug candidate tafoxiparin. The completed meetings mark the end of a comprehensive dialogue with regulatory authorities in the US and EU to reach an alignment between the authorities on designing pivotal clinical Phase 3 studies in Europe and the US to evaluate tafoxiparin as a new potential treatment for priming of labor.

    Dilafor has completed interactions with US and European authorities during 2023 – 2024 to achieve an alignment in the regulatory process ahead of the upcoming clinical phase 3 trials with the company’s drug candidate tafoxiparin, developed for priming of labor. Positive outcomes from scientific advice meetings with the FDA and the EMA, were followed by a Simultaneous National Scientific Advice, SNSA, including five key national EU authorities, in December 2024. The meetings resulted in an agreement on the overall study design; in particular the primary endpoint, inclusion criteria, and the performance of the study. Following this positive development, Dilafor will now finalize the detailed planning for pivotal Phase 3 studies in the US and Europe.

    “There is generally a lack of new product development in the obstetrical area, and tafoxiparin represents a new principle and mode of action compared to available therapies. The extensive interactions with regulatory bodies in the US and Europe have been extremely helpful and have led to an alignment on the design of a Phase 3 program. Along the way, the FDA has been clear that they share the view on tafoxiparin’s mode of action resulting in priming of labor,” says Lena Degling Wikingsson, CEO, Dilafor.

    Currently, more than 30 percent of term pregnant women are induced into labor. Existing interventions require fetal and maternal surveillance in hospital due to maternal and fetal high risk of complications, generating high healthcare costs. National guidance for labor induction have recently been revised to encourage delivery at 39 weeks of gestation in the US and at 40–41 weeks in Europe. The change in routines is supported by strong scientific publications and has been shown to reduce the risk of stillbirth, neonatal complications, operative deliveries leading to improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. The new guidance will lead to a further increase in the number of deliveries requiring labor induction. To reduce the constraints at the obstetrical clinics a new, safe home-based treatment option for labor priming may be a future solution.

    Tafoxiparins novel mechanism of action represents a potential breakthrough in obstetrical care by mimicking the natural priming of labor process. The drug candidate uniquely initiates both cervical ripening and myometrial remodeling over several days, initiating a spontaneous onset of labor leading to a vaginal delivery without traditional mechanical or pharmacological interventions. Tafoxiparin is the first drug developed for self-administration by the mother using a daily autoinjector at home, marking a possible improvement in quality of life for the pregnant woman and her family. Moreover, the tafoxiparin drug candidate has in Phase 2 studies demonstrated potential to reduce fetal and maternal complications and associated healthcare expenses.

    “We are seeing a clear trend towards earlier induction of labor in both Europe and the US as it has been shown to reduce infant mortality and the risk of complications during delivery radically. This is putting pressure on an already strained maternity care system with increased hospitalization. The aim of tafoxiparin is to enable treatment at home to start a natural process of labor priming resulting in spontaneous onset of labor,” says Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development.

    Karolinska Development’s direct ownership in Dilafor amounts to 3% and indirect ownership interest via KDev Investment in Dilafor amounts to 29%.

    For further information, please contact:

    Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB
    Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com 

    Johan Dighed, General Counsel and Deputy CEO, Karolinska Development AB
    Phone: +46 70 207 48 26, e-mail: johan.dighed@karolinskadevelopment.com

    TO THE EDITORS

    About Karolinska Development AB

    Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The Company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patient’s lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.

    Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.

    Karolinska Development has a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.

    The Company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.

    For more information, please visit www.karolinskadevelopment.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government signs NZ up to a decade’s more pine planting – Federated Farmers

    Source: Federated Farmers

    The Government’s announcement today of a 2035 climate target of a 51-55% emissions reduction has signed New Zealand up for a decade more of planting pine on productive land, Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams says.
     “In the past, New Zealand has signed up to Paris Agreement targets that are achievable only by either paying billions of dollars for international units or planting large areas of New Zealand in carbon forestry.
    “The 2030 target of a 50% reduction in all greenhouse gas emissions in just the next five years is already completely beyond reach.
    “Even by 2035, as half of New Zealand’s emissions are from agriculture, a target of 51-55% is still not feasible.
     “All the target does is commit us to 10 more years of planting pines, because that’s the only way for our country to achieve such a steep reduction.” 
    Williams says New Zealand’s options for achieving the climate targets are simple. 
    “We can’t reduce our emissions to the extent required without trade-offs that would see New Zealand worse off.
    “Treasury has estimated that the 2030 target, if we were to meet it, would cost up to $24 billion. The Prime Minister, when interviewed on Q+A with Jack Tame late last year, couldn’t commit to hitting the target, as he said it was very challenging.
    “So, our only other options are to send billions of dollars overseas to buy offshore credits, or plant pine trees, destroying our iconic and world-famous landscapes.” 
    Last year, the Climate Commission suggested keeping an all-gases target and at least a 50% reduction, which would mean another 850,000 hectares of land converted to forestry.
    “To paint a clear picture: that’s an area five times the size of our country’s treasured Molesworth Station,” Williams says. 
    “That would be devastating, forever changing the face of New Zealand.
    “There is a very real risk that we could become the great pine plantation of the South Pacific – hardly something to be proud of.”
    Williams says the Government needs to be setting climate targets that are realistic and achievable. 
    “Mr Luxon is right now facing an unachievable target for 2030 left to him by the previous Government. 
    “Signing up to an even more ambitious target for 2035 has simply created the same headache for a future Prime Minister.”
    Parliament agreed in 2019 to set ‘split-gas’ targets for greenhouse gas reductions domestically. This means short-lived methane is treated differently to long-lived carbon dioxide. 
    Taking this split-gas approach to our international targets would see New Zealand in a position to set more achievable targets.
    “Federated Farmers wrote to Climate Change Minister Simon Watts in October last year asking for a meeting to discuss a split-gas approach to an emissions target, but we didn’t get a reply,” Williams says. 
    “That’s extremely disappointing. It seems he doesn’t even want to hear our concerns for rural New Zealand, let alone understand them. It’s wilful blindness.
    “We really need the Government to start setting achievable targets that don’t require huge levels of forestry, and we need the Government to use the most up-to-date science on the warming impact of methane.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Firearms incident at Gulfview Heights

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are at the scene of an incident at Gulfview Heights.

    About 4.45pm Thursday 30 January police were called to a home on Brabham Crescent after reports that a group of people had broken in and allegedly discharged a firearm injuring one of the occupants.

    The suspects left the scene prior to police arrival. The victim was taken to hospital with a non-life-threatening leg injury.

    Police are investigating the incident. Although the investigation is in its early stages police believe the incident is not random.

    Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or phone 1800 333 000 – you can remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: School and kindergarten: an educational complex will be built in Troitsk

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An educational complex will be built in the Desna microdistrict of the Novye Vatutinki district in TiNAO. The installation of the monolithic part and waterproofing of the walls, as well as backfilling of the pit, are currently being completed. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The educational facility is being built at the address: Troitsk district, block 4. It will include a school for 1,350 students and a kindergarten for 350 pupils. After the construction is completed, the facility will be transferred to the city. Thus, the school will include laboratory and research complexes, a hall for holding events and an IT testing ground. The project also includes an amphitheater. The kindergarten, school and sports and health cluster will be located in different parts of the complex. The construction is planned to be completed in 2026,” Vladimir Efimov noted.

    The school building will house modern universal and specialized classrooms and studios, halls with zoning options, a room for individual lessons with a teacher-psychologist. The complex will include a gymnastics hall and a transformable sports hall, as well as a gym for primary school students.

    “The educational complex project is distinguished by its design and engineering solutions: in the universal and specialized classrooms, a large surface of the walls will be made of magnetic marker coating, on which you can draw, and the gym will have panoramic windows. The media library will be equipped with an amphitheater staircase, where students will be able to comfortably spend time between classes. In the adjacent territory, specialists will organize a physical education and sports area with areas for gymnastics, active games and mini-football with stands. They will allocate areas for tennis, basketball, volleyball, equip running tracks and a preschool block with children’s play areas,” added the head of the Department for the Development of New Territories of the City of Moscow.

    Vladimir Zhidkin.

    A ceremonial area for events will be arranged in front of the school entrance. A heated room will be built on the territory, where parents will be able to wait for their children in comfort in any weather.

    According to the head of the capital’s State Construction Supervision Committee (Mosgosstroynadzor) Anton Slobodchikova, the permit for the construction of a social facility with a total area of 26.6 thousand square meters was issued in February 2024. The work is supervised by inspectors of Mosgosstroynadzor, who regularly go out for inspections. Specialists from the subordinate Center for Expertise, Research and Testing in Construction also participate in them: they assess the quality of the work performed and the materials used for compliance with the requirements of the design documentation.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin reported, that in 2025 it is planned to complete the construction and reconstruction of about 30 educational institutions in TiNAO.

    The construction of social facilities in Moscow corresponds to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Construction of a road to an educational complex in Troitsk is nearing completion

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149476073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A residential building will appear in Kuntsevo under the renovation program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Another house for resettlement under the renovation program will be built in the west of the capital. It will appear at the address: Molodogvardeyskaya Street, vladikavka 54, 58. The building will be constructed as part of the integrated development project of the territory of part of the former industrial zone Kuntsevo. This was reported by Juliana Knyazhevskaya, Chairman of the Moscow Committee for Architecture and Urban Development (Moskomarkhitektura).

    “Moskomarkhitektura has issued an urban development plan for a land plot of 4.23 hectares for a house that will be built for the purposes of the renovation program. The maximum area of the new building will be 156 thousand square meters,” said Yuliana Knyazhevskaya.

    One of the main advantages of the area is its well-developed infrastructure, which includes convenient access to public transport, educational and medical institutions, and shopping centers. In addition, the Moskvoretsky natural and historical park is located nearby, where residents of the new building can relax in the fresh air.

    Since 2021, a capital company has been engaged in the comprehensive development of a part of the former Kuntsevo industrial zone with an area of 15.89 hectares.

    “The redevelopment project for part of the former Kuntsevo industrial zone provides for the creation of not only housing, but also the necessary infrastructure facilities within walking distance. The total area of residential buildings will exceed 596 thousand square meters. In addition, more than 13 thousand square meters of public and business facilities will appear here. Among them are two kindergartens for 100 and 350 children, as well as a center for additional education. Walking areas, bike paths, and playgrounds and sports grounds will be installed in the adjacent territory,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    Renovation program approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin ordered to increasethe pace of implementation of the renovation program has doubled.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction volumes. High rates of housing construction correspond to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149488073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Transcript – Rural Queensland Today with Ben Dobbin

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    BEN DOBBIN [HOST]: Welcome back to Rural Queensland Today on the Resonate Broadcast Network, it’s my great pleasure to bring in Senator Anthony Chisholm, the Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Ag, Fisheries and Forestry. He’s a Queenslander and it’s great to have him on the show. Good morning, Anthony. Thanks so much for being with us.

    ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Good morning, Ben. Good to be with you and your listeners.

    DOBBIN: Mate, a lot going on but some good news. Yesterday you joined the University of Queensland to speak about the Federal Government’s efforts to help students pursue a career in the ag sector through the AgConnections program.

    CHISHOLM: Yeah, we think this will be an important program, Ben. And when you get around and meet with farmers on the land, you know that they’re always struggling to find future workers and I think for a lot of Queenslanders, particularly those from the city, they don’t necessarily think about a career in Ag, they don’t have that exposure. But there’s so many different jobs in agriculture these days, particularly when you consider how much new tech is involved. We want to grow that next generation of workers and think that this is a really good program. The University of Queensland have obviously got a proud history in this regard of connecting the two and ensuring that we have that future production line of workers coming through that are going to experience the ag sector, become passionate about it and go on to have a fabulous career in agriculture.

    DOBBIN: It’s a pretty significant day. You are right with the University of Queensland. It’s a first of its kind that will encourage students to diverse their disciplines. I’ve got a son who is at University of Queensland and all he wants to do is be back on the land at the farm, but he has to go and do a degree and so he’s doing engineering. But this now offers people who can go and get some skills, can go and get a university degree with some hands-on experience through an unbelievable team. But I’ve got to say, is this, is this a band aid from the State Government’s dark days when they closed the Ag colleges? I mean there was always a pathway and I understand this is a state level and you’re a Federal Senator, but I mean this seems to me like, yes, I’m so pleased this is happening, but it could have also been prevented a little bit if the State Government hadn’t gone and shut all these Ag colleges down a few years ago. Is that the reason why UQ and why the Federal Government have stepped in for this?

    CHISHOLM: We’ve also provided support to some of the other universities around the country, including Charles Sturt, ANU, and Charles Darwin University. So, there is some diversity there. It’s funny you mentioned the Ag colleges and I was out in Longreach just before Christmas, and they’ve turned the Longreach college there into a Regional University Study Hub, which will be a great addition. But I understand the point you’re making and from my point of view, who’s got responsibility for workforce issues within agriculture, what I want to see is growing the pie, and this is what I talk to industry about. So, we need people in school thinking about a career in agriculture. We need those who are studying at university thinking about agriculture. We need to look at what we can do in vocational training to ensure that there’s people coming through interested in agriculture. But I think the challenge is exposing people to the industry and then realising that you don’t have to have a family farm, you don’t have to grow up in a farming location. There are so many diverse jobs and a great career and you’ll have so much fun at the same time. That’s what it’s about. So, we understand that there’s going to be a need for people coming in on visas overseas or backpackers of the PALM scheme. All of that is in the mix. But we also want to grow those people who live in Australia and get an opportunity in Ag, and I’m confident that once they get that taste, they’ll really enjoy and want a career in that area.

    DOBBIN: Yeah, this is a very, very good initiative. I’ve got to be honest with you, and everybody needs to be congratulated on this. You also are Assistant Minister for Regional Development. Gee whiz, you’ve got a headache there trying to get the regions right. I mean, we are a little bit behind in this state and you know it too well. And you talked about Longreach, you talked about some of these areas that are growing, but we’ve got some challenges. How do we fast track it and not just be so laser focused on the south east?

    CHISHOLM: Yeah, it’s something that I see as an important responsibility for me. I try and get around the country as much as I can. I’m off to Toowoomba today to help open a bridge out of town there. So, I think it’s about ensuring that we’re working with councils and investing in infrastructure that’s going to make a difference. I think the other challenge in many of these places is housing and the program that we’ve had to support councils to develop their headworks, whether it be sewerage, whether it be guttering and be able to build more houses in what is often the case where they lack builders or lack a market for new houses. So, I think those sorts of things are really important that are going to make a difference in these regional rural communities. I was in Normanton last year and they’ve got some money to develop some land for housing. So, that just shows you that the work that’s going on. We will continue to invest in the Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnership Program that invest in place-based infrastructure as well. But obviously childcare is another really important issue because a lot of people moving to these towns want to know that they’ve got access for childcare. So, I think across a range of measures we’re making progress. But I accept what you’re saying and it can’t happen quick enough and we need to ensure that we’re constantly out there listening, but then acting on that and delivering at the same time.

    DOBBIN: Well, this is a great news story and we’ve led the show with the Ag Skills Accelerator given the green light. You were part of the University of Queensland yesterday, where there is now going to be, as you said, an opportunity for people who haven’t been born and bred in the bush, who can make a choice to choose Ag and go into there and do a university degree and create a future for themselves around this industry. A great news story. Senator, we really appreciate your time this morning. Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Ag and Fisheries, thanks so much for being with us.

    CHISHOLM: Thanks, Ben. Good to be with you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Setting New Zealand’s second international climate target

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. 

    New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035.

    “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious and achievable, reinforcing our commitment to the Paris Agreement and global climate action,” Mr Watts says.

    “Meeting this target will mean we are doing our fair share towards reducing the impact of climate change, while enabling New Zealand to be stronger and thrive in the face of a changing climate.

    “This target also brings our international and domestic climate change commitments into line, so we can focus our efforts on the actions that will make the biggest difference towards reaching our net zero 2050 target.”
    “We are already laying the foundation for meaningful emissions reductions, with the potential to meet our net zero target as early as 2044. Our climate strategy focuses on strengthening New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme, supporting innovative technologies to reduce agricultural emissions, and accelerating the transition to a cleaner, electrified economy – ensuring we meet our climate targets while driving economic growth.”

    “This will mean greater innovation originating here in New Zealand to advance low-emission technologies that grow our economy. It will also mean industries are powered by abundant and affordable clean energy, attracting investment and boosting productivity across the country.”

    The Paris Agreement is the global climate treaty which seeks to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Under the Agreement, each country sets targets for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, known as Nationally Determined Contributions.

    “New Zealand is committed to achieving its first and second Nationally Determined Contributions and is serious about playing our part to reduce the impact of climate change,” Mr Watts says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: In Floor Speech, Rosen Calls Out Trump Administration’s Reckless and Chaotic Freeze on Federal Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
    During Speech, Senator Rosen Shared the Stories of Nevadans Impacted by Trump’s Reckless Actions
    VIEW FULL SPEECH HERE
    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) spoke on the Senate floor against the Trump Administration’s chaotic and reckless freeze on all federal grants and loans. She highlighted the dire impact it will have on Nevada, specifically referencing the state’s programs to address homelessness and support seniors, as well as federal funding to benefit firefighters, law enforcement, and veterans.
    Below are excerpts of Senator Rosen’s floor remarks:
    Since President Trump’s Administration issued the guidance on Monday night, my office has received hundreds of calls and emails from Nevadans who are rightfully concerned about what this would mean for them, for their families, for their jobs. 
    We also received additional emails and calls from non-profits, service providers, and community stakeholders who depend on this funding to support Nevadans. 
    […]
    My office also heard from Northern Nevada HOPES, a community health center based in Reno, Nevada.
    Northern Nevada HOPES provides affordable, high-quality health care services to people in our community who need it most. 
    In fact, 56% of their patients live at or below the Federal Poverty Level, and 10% are experiencing homelessness. 
    This is what Northern Nevada HOPES told my office, “At Northern Nevada HOPES, this pause has significant implications for the services we provide to over seventeen thousand patients, many of whom are children and families. As we assess the situation, we have been forced to take immediate actions, including implementing a hiring freeze and preparing to limit care for patients who rely on our sliding fee scale, including those who are uninsured or underinsured.”
    Think about that. Think about these children. Think about these families.
    President Trump’s chaos and reckless actions have put the health of Nevadans in jeopardy. 
    […]
    I can keep going on and on about all of the ways President Trump’s freeze would hurt my state of Nevada. 
    I could talk about how this freeze led to a disruption in the Medicaid website, which was down for hours, affecting Nevadans who rely on this critical program to literally stay alive in many cases.
    This is precisely the problem – the chaos and disruption that this reckless action caused is just unnecessary and harmful.
    It’s helping no one.
    [PAUSE]
    I want to ask everyone at home. I want to ask you at home to think about this: how is any of this actually helping you?
    Is it helping you at the grocery store?Is it helping you at the gas pump? 
    Is it helping you get an affordable home? 
    It’s not.
    That’s why I call on President Trump to fully and permanently rescind this harmful Executive Order to freeze federal funds now. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: UK VC funding surges 16.3% to $16.6 billion in 2024 despite fewer deals, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    UK VC funding surges 16.3% to $16.6 billion in 2024 despite fewer deals, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    The UK’s venture capital (VC) market experienced a decline in the number of deals announced in 2024, with 1,209 deals compared to 1,289 in 2023. Despite this, the total funding value rose by 16.3%, reaching $16.6 billion. This shift reflects a growing trend among VC firms to prioritize high-value investments in fewer, more promising startups, according to GlobalData a leading data and analytics company.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database revealed that the UK witnessed the announcement of a total of 1,289 VC deals during 2023 while the disclosed funding value of these deals stood at $14.2 billion.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The growth in funding value despite a decline in deal volume showcases a trend wherein VC firms seem to be weighing quality over quantity and have put in big money in few promising startups. In fact, 2024 saw a growth in the number of big-ticket deals (≥ $100 million) from 23 in 2023 to 29.”

    Bose adds: “The UK, apart from being the top European market for VC funding activity, is also among the top five markets globally in terms of both deal volume and value.”

    The UK accounted for 7.3% of the total number of VC deals announced globally during 2024 while its share in terms of the total funding value stood at 6.1%.

    Some of the notable VC funding deals announced in the UK during 2024 included $1.05 billion worth of funding raised by Wayve Technologies, $1 billion raised by Abound, $500 million by Core Power, $431 million raised by Monzo, $370 million by Lighthouse, and $267 million worth of funding raised by Zepz.

    Bose concludes: “The increase in big-ticket deals underscores strong confidence in the UK’s innovation ecosystem, reinforcing its position as a global VC hotspot. As funding strategies evolve, the market’s resilience and ability to attract large-scale investments will be key in shaping the future of venture capital in the region.”

    Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview – Rural Queensland Today

    Source: Australian Ministers for Education

    BEN DOBBIN [HOST]: Welcome back to Rural Queensland. Today on the Resonate Broadcast Network, it’s my great pleasure to bring in Senator Anthony Chisholm, the Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Ag, Fisheries and Forestry. He’s a Queenslander and it’s great to have him on the show. Good morning, Anthony. Thanks so much for being with us.

    ANTHONY CHISHOLM [HOST]: Good morning, Ben. Good to be with you and your listeners.

    DOBBIN: Mate, a lot going on but some good news. Yesterday you joined the University of Queensland to speak about the Federal Government’s efforts to help students pursue a career in the ag sector through the AgConnections program.

    CHISHOLM: Yeah, we think this will be an important program, Ben. And when you get around and meet with farmers on the land, you know that they’re always struggling to find future workers and I think for a lot of Queenslanders, particularly those from the city, they don’t necessarily think about a career in Ag, they don’t have that exposure. But there’s so many different jobs in agriculture these days, particularly when you consider how much new tech is involved. We want to grow that next generation of workers and think that this is a really good program. The University of Queensland have obviously got a proud history in this regard of connecting the two and ensuring that we have that future production line of workers coming through that are going to experience the ag sector, become passionate about it and go on to have a fabulous career in agriculture.

    DOBBIN: It’s a pretty significant day. You are right with the University of Queensland. It’s a first of its kind that will encourage students to diverse their disciplines. I’ve got a son who is at University of Queensland and all he wants to do is be back on the land at the farm, but he has to go and do a degree and so he’s doing engineering. But this now offers people who can go and get some skills, can go and get a university degree with some hands-on experience through an unbelievable team. But I’ve got to say, is this, is this a band aid from the State Government’s dark days when they closed the Ag colleges? I mean there was always a pathway and I understand this is a state level and you’re a Federal Senator, but I mean this seems to me like, yes, I’m so pleased this is happening, but it could have also been prevented a little bit if the State Government hadn’t gone and shut all these Ag colleges down a few years ago. Is that the reason why UQ and why the Federal Government have stepped in for this?

    CHISHOLM: We’ve also provided support to some of the other universities around the country, including Charles Sturt, ANU, and Charles Darwin University. So, there is some diversity there. It’s funny you mentioned the Ag colleges and I was out in Longreach just before Christmas, and they’ve turned the Longreach college there into a Regional University Study Hub, which will be a great addition. But I understand the point you’re making and from my point of view, who’s got responsibility for workforce issues within agriculture, what I want to see is growing the pie, and this is what I talk to industry about. So, we need people in school thinking about a career in agriculture. We need those who are studying at university thinking about agriculture. We need to look at what we can do in vocational training to ensure that there’s people coming through interested in agriculture. But I think the challenge is exposing people to the industry and then realising that you don’t have to have a family farm, you don’t have to grow up in a farming location. There are so many diverse jobs and a great career and you’ll have so much fun at the same time. That’s what it’s about. So, we understand that there’s going to be a need for people coming in on visas overseas or backpackers of the PALM scheme. All of that is in the mix. But we also want to grow those people who live in Australia and get an opportunity in Ag, and I’m confident that once they get that taste, they’ll really enjoy and want a career in that area.

    DOBBIN: Yeah, this is a very, very good initiative. I’ve got to be honest with you, and everybody needs to be congratulated on this. You also are Assistant Minister for Regional Development. Gee whiz, you’ve got a headache there trying to get the regions right. I mean, we are a little bit behind in this state and you know it too well. And you talked about Longreach, you talked about some of these areas that are growing, but we’ve got some challenges. How do we fast track it and not just be so laser focused on the south east?

    CHISHOLM: Yeah, it’s something that I see as an important responsibility for me. I try and get around the country as much as I can. I’m off to Toowoomba today to help open a bridge out of town there. So, I think it’s about ensuring that we’re working with councils and investing in infrastructure that’s going to make a difference. I think the other challenge in many of these places is housing and the program that we’ve had to support councils to develop their headworks, whether it be sewerage, whether it be guttering and be able to build more houses in what is often the case where they lack builders or lack a market for new houses. So, I think those sorts of things are really important that are going to make a difference in these regional rural communities. I was in Normanton last year and they’ve got some money to develop some land for housing. So, that just shows you that the work that’s going on. We will continue to invest in the Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnership Program that invest in place-based infrastructure as well. But obviously childcare is another really important issue because a lot of people moving to these towns want to know that they’ve got access for childcare. So, I think across a range of measures we’re making progress. But I accept what you’re saying and it can’t happen quick enough and we need to ensure that we’re constantly out there listening, but then acting on that and delivering at the same time.

    DOBBIN: Well, this is a great news story and we’ve led the show with the Ag Skills Accelerator given the green light. You were part of the University of Queensland yesterday, where there is now going to be, as you said, an opportunity for people who haven’t been born and bred in the bush, who can make a choice to choose ag and go into there and do a university degree and create a future for themselves around this industry. A great news story. Senator, we really appreciate your time this morning. Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Ag and Fisheries, thanks so much for being with us.

    CHISHOLM: Thanks, Ben. Good to be with you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Proposals by the Board of Directors to Nokia Corporation’s Annual General Meeting 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    30 January 2025 at 8:10 EET

    Proposals by the Board of Directors to Nokia Corporation’s Annual General Meeting 2025

    Nokia Corporation’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 29 April 2025 at 13:00 (EEST) at Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, Finland. The Board submits the following proposals to the Annual General Meeting. Complete proposals are available as of today at www.nokia.com/agm2025. The notice of the Annual General Meeting with more detailed information on the participation and voting will be published separately during week 7, 2025 on the Company’s website and by a stock exchange release.

    Authorization of the Board of Directors to decide on the distribution of dividend and assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity

    The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting to be authorized to resolve in its discretion on the distribution of an aggregate maximum of EUR 0.14 per share as dividend from the retained earnings and/or as assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity.

    The authorization will be used to distribute dividend and/or assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity in four installments during the period of validity of the authorization unless the Board of Directors decides otherwise for a justified reason. The proposed total authorization for asset distribution is in line with the Company’s dividend policy. The authorization would be valid until the opening of the next Annual General Meeting.

    The Board would make separate resolutions on the amount and timing of each distribution of the dividend and/or assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity so that the preliminary record and payment dates will be as set out below. The Company shall make a separate announcement of each such Board resolution.

    Preliminary record date Preliminary payment date
    5 May 2025 12 May 2025
    29 July 2025 7 August 2025
    28 October 2025 6 November 2025
    3 February 2026 12 February 2026

    Each installment based on the resolution of the Board of Directors will be paid to a shareholder registered in the Company’s shareholders’ register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy on the record date of the payment.

    Board composition and remuneration

    Søren Skou and Carla Smits-Nusteling have informed the Board’s Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee that they will no longer be available to serve on the Nokia Board of Directors after the Annual General Meeting. On the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, the Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the number of Board members be ten (10). However, should any number of the candidates proposed by the Board not be available for election, the number of Board members shall be decreased accordingly.

    On the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, the Board further proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the following current Board members be re-elected as members of the Board of Directors for a term until the close of the next Annual General Meeting: Timo Ahopelto, Sari Baldauf, Elizabeth Crain, Thomas Dannenfeldt, Lisa Hook, Mike McNamara, Thomas Saueressig and Kai Öistämö. In addition, it is proposed that Pernille Erenbjerg, Danish citizen, former Group CEO and President of TDC Group; and Timo Ihamuotila, Finnish citizen, Chief Financial Officer of ABB Ltd, be elected as new members of the Board of Directors for a term until the close of the next Annual General Meeting.

    Resumes of the Board candidates are presented in the Board’s proposal available as of today at www.nokia.com/agm2025.

    The Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee will propose in the assembly meeting of the new Board of Directors after the Annual General Meeting that Sari Baldauf be re-elected as the Chair of the Board and Timo Ihamuotila be elected as the Vice Chair, subject to their election to the Board.

    On the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee, the Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the annual fees payable to Board members for a term ending at the close of the next Annual General Meeting are kept at the current levels:

    • EUR 440 000 for the Chair of the Board;
    • EUR 210 000 for the Vice Chair of the Board;
    • EUR 185 000 for each member of the Board;
    • EUR 30 000 each for the Chairs of the Audit Committee and the Personnel Committee and EUR 20 000 for the Chairs of the Technology Committee and the Strategy Committee as an additional annual fee; and
    • EUR 15 000 for each member of the Audit Committee and the Personnel Committee and EUR 10 000 for each member of the Technology Committee and the Strategy Committee as an additional annual fee.

    In line with Nokia’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board proposes that approximately 40% of the annual fee be paid in Nokia shares. The rest of the annual fee would be paid in cash to cover taxes arising from the remuneration. The Directors shall retain until the end of their directorship such number of shares that they have received as Board remuneration during their first three years of service on the Board.

    In addition, the Board proposes that the meeting fees for Board and Committee meetings remain at their current level. The meeting fees are based on travel required between the Board member’s home location and the location of a meeting and paid for a maximum of seven meetings per term as follows:

    • EUR 5 000 per meeting requiring intercontinental travel; and
    • EUR 2 000 per meeting requiring intracontinental travel.

    Only one meeting fee is paid if the travel entitling to the fee includes several meetings of the Board and the Committees. Moreover, it is proposed that members of the Board shall be compensated for travel and accommodation expenses as well as other costs directly related to Board and Committee work.

    Auditor election and remuneration

    On the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Deloitte Oy be re-elected as the auditor of the Company for the financial year 2026.

    It is also proposed that the auditor elected for the financial year 2026 be reimbursed based on the purchase policy approved by the Audit Committee and the invoice approved by the Company.

    Sustainability reporting assurer election and remuneration

    On the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Authorized Sustainability Audit Firm Deloitte Oy be re-elected as the sustainability reporting assurer for the financial year 2026.

    It is also proposed that the assurer of the sustainability reporting elected for the financial year 2026 be reimbursed based on the purchase policy approved by the Audit Committee and the invoice approved by the Company.

    Authorization to the Board to issue shares and repurchase Company’s shares

    The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorize the Board to resolve to issue in total a maximum of 530 million shares through issuance of shares or special rights entitling to shares under Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act in one or more issues during the effective period of the authorization. The Board may issue either new shares or treasury shares held by the Company. Shares and special rights entitling to shares may be issued in deviation from the shareholders’ pre-emptive rights within the limits set by law. The authorization may be used to develop the Company’s capital structure, diversify the shareholder base, finance or carry out acquisitions or other arrangements, to settle the Company’s equity-based incentive plans or for other purposes resolved by the Board. It is proposed that the authorization be effective until 28 October 2026 and terminate the authorization for issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares resolved at the Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024.

    The Board also proposes that the Board be authorized to resolve to repurchase a maximum of 530 million shares. The repurchases would reduce distributable funds of the Company. The shares may be repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the shares held by the shareholders (directed repurchase). Shares may be repurchased to be cancelled, held to be reissued, transferred further or for other purposes resolved by the Board. It is proposed that the authorization be effective until 28 October 2026 and terminate the authorization for repurchasing the Company’s shares granted by the Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 to the extent that the Board has not previously resolved to repurchase shares based on such authorization.

    530 million shares corresponds to less than 10 percent of the Company’s total number of shares. The Board shall resolve on all other matters related to the issuance or repurchase of Nokia shares in accordance with the resolution by the Annual General Meeting.

    Other matters to be addressed by the Annual General Meeting

    Furthermore, the Annual General Meeting would address adopting the Company’s financial statements for the financial year 2024, discharging the members of the Board of Directors and the President and Chief Executive Officer from liability for the financial year 2024, adopting the updated Remuneration Policy for the Company’s governing bodies and adopting the Remuneration Report 2024.

    The Remuneration Report for 2024 and the “Nokia in 2024” annual report, which includes the Company’s Annual Accounts, the review by the Board of Directors and the auditor’s report, are expected to be published and available at www.nokia.com/agm2025 in week 11 of 2025. The updated Remuneration Policy is expected to be published as an attachment to the Notice of the Annual General Meeting and available at www.nokia.com/agm2025 in week 7 of 2025.

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

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

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

    Inquiries:

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Academician Lingyun Xiang was awarded the International Cultural Exchange Ambassador Certificate by the Ukrainian Ambassador to China

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Beijing, China, Jan. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, Professor Lingyun Xiang, a Foreign Academician of the National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine, was awarded the International Cultural Exchange Ambassador Certificate by the Embassy of Ukraine in China.

    Ukrainian diplomat Gili and the Secretary to Professor Lingyun Xiang, a Foreign Academician of the National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine in China.

    Ukraine, with its capital Kyiv, is located in Eastern Europe along the northern coasts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It shares borders with Belarus to the north, Russia to the northeast, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west, and Romania and Moldova to the south. Rich in mineral resources, Ukraine covers 603,700 square kilometers, making it the second-largest country in Europe by land area. The country is divided into 24 oblasts (provinces), one autonomous republic (the Republic of Crimea), and two cities with special status (the capital Kyiv and Sevastopol).

    As of September 2022, Ukraine’s total population was 41.13 million (excluding the Crimea region). Ukraine is classified as a developing country with a highly advanced agricultural sector, though its industrial development, particularly in manufacturing, lags. Ukraine ranks as the fifth-largest exporter of IT services in the world. It is the largest market for software development, programming, and IT outsourcing services in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2021, Ukraine’s GDP was approximately $200 billion.

    The National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine (Академія Інженерних Наук України) is one f Ukraine’s highest academic institutions. It originated as the Ukrainian Republic Branch of the Soviet Union Academy of Engineering. In 1998, it became a member of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS), a global alliance that includes engineering academies from 27 countries, such as the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

    As of December 2023, the National Academy of Engineering of Ukraine has over 160 academicians, more than 130 corresponding members, and over 50 foreign academicians. The current president of the academy is Petro Mihailovich Talanchuk, who previously served as Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science, President of the National Technical University of Ukraine (formerly Kyiv Polytechnic Institute), a candidate in the 1994 Ukrainian presidential election, and currently an advisor to the President of Ukraine.

    Professor Xiang was elected on July 22, 2024. He is also a recipient of the British King’s Medal and the European Outstanding Achievement Award, a Fellow of the Royal Society of the United Kingdom, a Lifetime Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering of the United Kingdom, and a Foreign Full Member of Academy of Engineering Sciences of Ukraine, a lifelong full-time professor of the European Union University, a lifelong professor (doctoral supervisor) of the National University of Maryland, a Special Term professor of Peking University Boya, a visiting professor of Beijing Union University, a visiting professor of Capital Normal University, a visiting professor of Shaanxi University of Science & Technology.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: What just happened in Davos, and how is the world different now?

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    What happened at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025, where the world met to discuss ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’?

    On Day 1, Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term as US president, and announced he was withdrawing from the Paris climate deal, as well as the World Health Organisation, and vowed to use trade tariffs to re-shore jobs. On Day 4 he addressed the meeting in a link-up from Washington.

    We hear some of that and talk to the people who lead the Forum’s work throughout the year, reflect on the impact of the meeting, held at a pivotal moment for world affairs.

    Catch up on all the action from the Annual Meeting 2025 at wef.ch/wef25 (http://wef.ch/wef25) and across social media using the hashtag #WEF25.

    Davos 2025 sessions mentioned in this episode:

    Special address by Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/davos-2025-special-address-donald-trump-president-united-states/

    All Hands on Deck for the Energy Transition: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/all-hands-on-deck-for-the-energy-transition/

    The Dawn of Artificial General Intelligence?: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/the-dawn-of-artificial-general-intelligence/

    Debating Tariffs: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/debating-tariffs/

    Forum reports and initiatives mentioned in this episode:

    Chief Economists Outlook: January 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/chief-economists-outlook-january-2025/

    Global Risks Report 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/

    The Future of Jobs Report 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/

    Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-cybersecurity-outlook-2025/

    First Movers Coalition: https://initiatives.weforum.org/first-movers-coalition/home

    1t.org: https://www.1t.org/

    AI Governance Alliance: https://initiatives.weforum.org/ai-governance-alliance/home

    AI Competitiveness through Regional Collaboration: (https://initiatives.weforum.org/ai-governance-alliance/aicompetitive) https://initiatives.weforum.org/ai-governance-alliance/aicompetitive

    Global Lighthouse Network: https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-lighthouse-network/home

    Yes/Cities: https://initiatives.weforum.org/alliance-for-urban-innovation/yes-cities

    Related podcasts:

    Global Risks Report: the big issues facing the world at Davos 2025 (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-risks-report-2025/) : https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-risks-report-2025/

    The global economy ‘at a crossroads’ ahead of Davos: Chief Economists Outlook (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-ralph-ossa-wto/) : https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-ralph-ossa-wto/

    Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025: the risks we all face and how to fight back (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/cybersecurity-outlook-2025/) : https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/cybersecurity-outlook-2025/

    IMF’s Gita Gopinath: What’s ahead for economic growth in 2025 (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/gita-gopinath-imf-economic-outlook/) : https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/gita-gopinath-imf-economic-outlook/

    Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts (http://wef.ch/podcasts) : 

    YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts) – https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts

    Radio Davos (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1504682164) : https://pod.link/1504682164

    Meet the Leader (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1534915560) : https://pod.link/15§ 34915560 (https://pod.link/1534915560)

    Agenda Dialogues (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/agenda-dialogues) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1574956552) : https://pod.link/1574956552

    Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club (https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRG_lIMvGJ8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation Financial Report for Q4 and full year 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Financial Statement Release
    30 January 2025 at 08:00 EET

    Nokia Corporation Financial Report for Q4 and full year 2024

    Strong Q4 growth and profitability as market trends improve

    • Q4 net sales increased 9% y-o-y in constant currency (10% reported). Network Infrastructure net sales grew strongly with all units contributing, Nokia Technologies grew significantly and Cloud and Network Services also grew in Q4.
    • Comparable gross margin in Q4 increased by 250bps y-o-y to 47.2% (reported increased 280bps to 46.1%), with a strong contribution from Nokia Technologies along with smaller contributions from other businesses.
    • Q4 comparable operating margin increased 380bps y-o-y to 19.1% (reported up 540bps to 15.3%), mainly due to higher gross margin, continued cost control and higher contribution from Nokia Technologies.
    • Q4 comparable diluted EPS for the period of EUR 0.18; reported diluted EPS for the period of EUR 0.15.
    • Q4 free cash flow of EUR 0.05 billion, net cash balance of EUR 4.9 billion.
    • Full year 2024 net sales declined 9% in both reported and constant currency, of which 7 percentage points was related to India. Comparable operating profit was EUR 2.6 billion (reported EUR 2.0 billion).
    • Full year comparable diluted EPS of EUR 0.39; reported diluted EPS of 0.23.
    • Board proposes dividend authorization of EUR 0.14 per share.
    • Nokia issues full year 2025 outlook on an organic basis. Nokia expects comparable operating profit of between EUR 1.9 billion and 2.4 billion and free cash flow conversion from comparable operating profit of between 50% and 80%.

    This is a summary of the Nokia Corporation Financial report for Q4 and full year 2024 published today. Nokia only publishes a summary of its financial reports in stock exchange releases. The summary focuses on Nokia Group’s financial information as well as on Nokia’s outlook. The detailed, segment-level discussion will be available in the complete financial report hosted at www.nokia.com/financials. A video interview summarizing the key points of our Q4 results will also be published on the website. Investors should not solely rely on summaries of Nokia’s financial reports and should also review the complete reports with tables.

    PEKKA LUNDMARK, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ON Q4 AND FULL YEAR 2024 RESULTS

    In the following quote, net sales growth rates are on a constant currency basis
    We saw a strong finish to 2024 with 9% net sales growth year-on-year in Q4. I am optimistic that the improving market trends we are now seeing will persist into 2025. Alongside the net sales growth, we saw excellent profitability in Q4 with a comparable operating margin of 19.1%. This meant our full year comparable operating profit was EUR 2.6 billion, at the mid-point of our guidance of EUR 2.3 to 2.9 billion.

    All business groups delivered a strong operational performance in the quarter. Net sales growth in Network Infrastructure accelerated to 17%, with IP Networks growing 24%, Fixed Networks 16% and Optical Networks 7%. This reflected a strong recovery in demand from communication service providers, notably in North America.

    Mobile Networks net sales stabilized with continued resilience in gross margin. We also secured many important deals, winning 18 000 additional base station sites, since the start of 2024 on a net basis. This was achieved while maintaining our commercial and pricing discipline to protect our gross margins.

    Cloud and Network Services returned to 7% net sales growth in the quarter, despite a headwind of 4 percentage points from a prior business disposal, and its operating margin improved over the full year. Both Core Networks and Enterprise Campus Edge grew strongly. The fourth quarter saw the acquisition of Rapid’s technology assets. This will bolster our R&D capacity in Network as Code and increase our developer access. Taken together with our autonomous networks application suite, we are accelerating our efforts to help operators fully automate and monetize their networks.

    Nokia Technologies had an extremely active quarter. We signed a deal with Transsion, a previously unlicensed mobile devices vendor, along with multimedia deals with HP and Samsung, as well as many other smaller deals. Our annual net sales run-rate increased to approximately between EUR 1.3 and 1.4 billion in Q4, progressing towards our mid-term EUR 1.4 to 1.5 billion target.

    We delivered a strong cash performance throughout 2024, ending with full year free cash flow of EUR 2.0 billion. This means we continue to have a strong balance sheet supporting our business with net cash of EUR 4.9 billion at the end of the year, even after returning EUR 1.4 billion to shareholders through dividend and share buybacks. The Board is proposing an increase in the dividend to EUR 0.14 per share in respect of the financial year 2024. We also continue to execute against our outstanding share buyback program to offset any dilution from the equity component of our pending Infinera acquisition. Going forward, our target remains to maintain a net cash position of between 10-15% of annual net sales.

    Q4 also saw further progress in efforts to expand our presence in the data center market. We signed important deals with Microsoft and Nscale for our data center switching products, along with announcing partnerships with both Kyndryl and Lenovo. We are now stepping up our investments to broaden our addressable market in data center IP networking. We will invest up to an additional EUR 100 million in annual operating expenses with a view to driving incremental net sales of EUR 1 billion by 2028. In the short-term this will moderate the pace of operating margin expansion in Network Infrastructure, but we anticipate a strong return on investment considering the momentum we already have today in the market.

    Looking further ahead into 2025, we expect the improved trends we have seen in Network Infrastructure in the second half of this year, to sustain and drive strong growth. Cloud and Network Services is also expected to grow with strong 5G Core momentum and growth in our Enterprise Campus Edge business. End markets in Mobile Networks are improving and we currently assume largely stable net sales. Nokia Technologies is expected to deliver approximately EUR 1.1 billion of operating profit.

    At the Nokia level, we currently estimate we will deliver comparable operating profit of between EUR 1.9 and 2.4 billion in 2025. We also target free cash flow conversion from comparable operating profit of between 50% and 80%. Excluding the one-time items that benefited 2024 by over EUR 700 million which were mostly in the first half of the year, this guidance would imply a strong improvement in our comparable operating profit in 2025 despite select increased investments.

    Given the market volatility in 2024, our results demonstrate the responsiveness and capacity of the Nokia team to execute in all market conditions. I thank the whole Nokia team for their commitment, hard work and drive which made these results possible.

    FINANCIAL RESULTS

    EUR million (except for EPS in EUR) Q4’24 Q4’23 YoY change Constant currency YoY change Q1-Q4’24 Q1-Q4’23 YoY change Constant currency YoY change
    Reported results                
    Net sales 5 983 5 416 10% 9% 19 220 21 138 (9)% (9)%
    Gross margin % 46.1% 43.3% 280bps   46.1% 40.4% 570bps  
    Research and development expenses (1 136) (1 080) 5%   (4 512) (4 277) 5%  
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (789) (774) 2%   (2 890) (2 878) 0%  
    Operating profit 917 534 72%   1 999 1 661 20%  
    Operating margin % 15.3% 9.9% 540bps   10.4% 7.9% 250bps  
    Profit/(loss) from continuing operations 746 (51)     1 711 649 164%  
    Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations 67 18 272%   (427) 30    
    Profit/(loss) for the period 813 (33)     1 284 679 89%  
    EPS for the period, diluted 0.15 (0.01)     0.23 0.12 92%  
    Net cash and interest-bearing financial investments 4 854 4 323 12%   4 854 4 323 12%  
    Comparable results                
    Net sales 5 983 5 416 10% 9% 19 220 21 138 (9)% (9)%
    Gross margin % 47.2% 44.7% 250bps   47.1% 41.1% 600bps  
    Research and development expenses (1 129) (1 023) 10%   (4 298) (4 143) 4%  
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (638) (615) 4%   (2 423) (2 448) (1)%  
    Operating profit 1 142 830 38%   2 619 2 337 12%  
    Operating margin % 19.1% 15.3% 380bps   13.6% 11.1% 250bps  
    Profit for the period 977 555 76%   2 175 1 590 37%  
    EPS for the period, diluted 0.18 0.10 80%   0.39 0.28 39%  
    ROIC(1) 13.0% 9.9% 310bps   13.0% 9.9% 310bps  

    1 Comparable ROIC = Comparable operating profit after tax, last four quarters / invested capital, average of last five quarters’ ending balances. Refer to the Alternative performance measures section in Nokia Corporation Financial Report for Q4 and full year 2024 for details.

    Business group results Network
    Infrastructure    		 Mobile
    Networks    		 Cloud and Network Services Nokia
    Technologies    		 Group Common and Other
    EUR million Q4’24 Q4’23 Q4’24 Q4’23 Q4’24 Q4’23 Q4’24 Q4’23 Q4’24 Q4’23
    Net sales 2 031 1 712 2 431 2 450 1 054 977 463 251 6 25
    YoY change 19%   (1)%   8%   84%   (76)%  
    Constant currency YoY change 17%   (2)%   7%   85%   (76)%  
    Gross margin % 45.4% 44.7% 38.1% 38.3% 48.1% 47.6% 99.8% 100.0%    
    Operating profit/(loss) 398 264 187 281 236 223 356 169 (35) (106)
    Operating margin % 19.6% 15.4% 7.7% 11.5% 22.4% 22.8% 76.9% 67.3%    

    SHAREHOLDER DISTRIBUTION

    Dividend

    The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting 2025 authorizes the Board to resolve on the distribution of an aggregate maximum of EUR 0.14 per share to be paid in respect of the financial year 2024. The authorization would be used to distribute dividend and/or assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity in four installments during the authorization period, in connection with the quarterly results, unless the Board decides otherwise for a justified reason.

    Under the current authorization by the Annual General Meeting held on 3 April 2024, the Board of Directors may resolve on the distribution of an aggregate maximum of EUR 0.13 per share to be paid in respect of financial year 2023. The authorization will be used to distribute dividend and/or assets from the reserve for invested unrestricted equity in four installments during the authorization period, in connection with the quarterly results, unless the Board decides otherwise for a justified reason.

    On 30 January 2025, the Board resolved to distribute a dividend of EUR 0.03 per share. The dividend record date is 4 February 2025 and the dividend will be paid on 13 February 2025. The actual dividend payment date outside Finland will be determined by the practices of the intermediary banks transferring the dividend payments.

    Following this announced distribution of the fourth installment and executed payments of the previous installments, the Board has no remaining distribution authorization.

    Share buyback programs

    In January 2024, Nokia’s Board of Directors initiated a share buyback program to repurchase shares to return up to EUR 600 million of cash to shareholders in tranches over a period of two years. The share buyback execution started on 20 March 2024. On 19 July 2024, Nokia’s Board of Directors decided to accelerate the timeframe for the share buyback program with the aim of completing the full EUR 600 million program by the end of the year instead of the initial two year timeframe. The program was completed on 21 November 2024 and the repurchased 157 646 220 shares were canceled on 4 December 2024.

    On 27 June 2024, Nokia announced its intention to acquire Infinera in a transaction that valued Infinera at US$1.7 billion equity value with up to 30% of the consideration to be paid in Nokia American depositary shares (“ADSs”), depending on the elections of Infinera shareholders. To offset the dilution from the transaction to Nokia shareholders, on 22 November 2024 Nokia announced a new share buyback program targeting to repurchase 150 million shares for an aggregate purchase price not exceeding EUR 900 million. Under this share buyback program, by 31 December 2024, Nokia had repurchased 19 186 046 of its own shares at an average price per share of approximately EUR 4.14.

    OUTLOOK

      Full Year 2025
    Comparable operating profit(1) EUR 1.9 billion to EUR 2.4 billion (excluding any impact from pending Infinera acquisition)
    Free cash flow(1) 50% to 80% conversion from comparable operating profit (excluding any impact from pending Infinera acquisition)

    1Please refer to Alternative performance measures section in Nokia Corporation Financial Report for Q4 and full year 2024 for a full explanation of how these terms are defined.

    The outlook, long-term targets and all of the underlying outlook assumptions described below are forward-looking statements subject to a number of risks and uncertainties as described or referred to in the Risk Factors section later in this report. release.

    Along with Nokia’s official outlook targets provided above, Nokia provides the below additional assumptions that support the group level financial outlook. Considering the pending Infinera acquisition along with the transfer of Managed Services from Cloud and Network Services to Mobile Networks (further details of this transfer are included in the Additional Topics section), Nokia is not currently providing assumptions by business group as it did previously.

      Full year 2025
    Group Common and Other operating expenses approximately
    EUR 400 million
    Comparable financial income and expenses Positive EUR 50 to 150 million
    Comparable income tax rate ~25%
    Cash outflows related to income taxes EUR 450 million
    Capital Expenditures EUR 550 million

    2026 TARGETS

    Nokia’s current targets for its existing perimeter of the business for 2026 are outlined below. This does not consider pending acquisitions. Nokia sees further opportunities to increase margins beyond 2026 and believes an operating margin of 14% remains achievable over the longer term.

    Net sales Grow faster than the market
    Comparable operating margin(1) ≥ 13%
    Free cash flow(1) 55% to 85% conversion from comparable operating profit

    1 Please refer to Alternative Performance measures section in Nokia Corporation Financial Report for Q4 and full year 2024 for a full explanation of how these terms are defined.

    The comparable operating margin target for Nokia group is built on the following assumptions by business group for 2026:

    Network Infrastructure 13 – 16% operating margin
    Mobile Networks 6 – 9% operating margin
    Cloud and Network Services 7 – 10% operating margin
    Nokia Technologies Operating profit more than EUR 1.1 billion
    Group common and other Approximately EUR 300 million of operating expenses

    ADDITIONAL TOPICS

    Progress on Infinera acquisition
    On 27 June 2024, Nokia announced a definitive agreement under which Nokia will acquire Infinera, a global supplier of innovative open optical networking solutions and advanced optical semiconductors. The acquisition process continues to proceed as expected. On 13 September 2024, the applicable waiting period under the US pre-merger review expired and the Department of Justice decided not to investigate the planned transaction. On 1 October 2024, Infinera shareholders approved the planned acquisition. On 7 October 2024, Nokia and Infinera received approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). During the fourth quarter Nokia received many of the outstanding required approvals for the deal. At this point approval from the European Union and Taiwan, along with contractual closing conditions, are the major items outstanding to proceed to closing. Assuming the current target timelines, Nokia and Infinera now expect the deal to close during the first quarter of 2025.

    Nokia exercised NSB call option to simplify ownership structure in China

    Nokia and its joint venture partner China Huaxin have been together reviewing the future ownership structure of Nokia Shanghai Bell (NSB). Following those discussions, Nokia exercised its call option, outlined in NSB’s shareholders’ agreement, to initiate the process to become the sole shareholder by purchasing China Huaxin’s approximately 50% share in NSB. This will allow Nokia to simplify its ownership structure in China while Nokia remains committed to continue serving the local market.
    Since the creation of the joint venture Nokia has recorded a liability on its balance sheet based on the estimated future cash settlement to acquire China Huaxin’s ownership interest. The execution of the call option is subject to completing required steps under the shareholders’ agreement.

    Managed Services business transferred from Cloud and Network Services into Mobile Networks in 2025
    Nokia has moved its Managed Services business into Mobile Networks (MN), effective 1 January 2025. The Managed Services business provides outsourced network management of multi-vendor RAN networks for operators and since 2021 has been part of our Cloud and Network Services (CNS) business group. Considering CNS is increasingly transitioning towards cloud-native software sales, ‘as-a-service’ product offerings and helping customers to monetize networks through API’s, Nokia believes that this business is more aligned and fits better with its MN business. Based on 2024 results, this change is expected to lead to a transfer of approximately EUR 430 million of net sales and approximately EUR 40 million of comparable operating profit from CNS to MN. Nokia will provide recast financial information for 2024 for MN and CNS reflecting this change prior to Nokia’s Q1 financial results.

    RISK FACTORS

    Nokia and its businesses are exposed to a number of risks and uncertainties which include but are not limited to:

    • Competitive intensity, which is expected to continue at a high level as some competitors seek to take share;
    • Changes in customer network investments related to their ability to monetize the network;
    • Our ability to ensure competitiveness of our product roadmaps and costs through additional R&D investments;
    • Our ability to procure certain standard components and the costs thereof, such as semiconductors;
    • Disturbance in the global supply chain;
    • Impact of inflation, increased global macro-uncertainty, major currency fluctuations, changes in tariffs and higher interest rates;
    • Potential economic impact and disruption of global pandemics;
    • War or other geopolitical conflicts, disruptions and potential costs thereof;
    • Other macroeconomic, industry and competitive developments;
    • Timing and value of new, renewed and existing patent licensing agreements with licensees;
    • Results in brand and technology licensing; costs to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; on-going litigation with respect to licensing and regulatory landscape for patent licensing;
    • The outcomes of on-going and potential disputes and litigation;
    • Our ability to execute, complete, successfully integrate and realize the expected benefits from our ongoing transactions;
    • Timing of completions and acceptances of certain projects;
    • Our product and regional mix;
    • Uncertainty in forecasting income tax expenses and cash outflows, over the long-term, as they are also subject to possible changes due to business mix, the timing of patent licensing cash flow and changes in tax legislation, including potential tax reforms in various countries and OECD initiatives;
    • Our ability to utilize our Finnish deferred tax assets and their recognition on our balance sheet;
    • Our ability to meet our sustainability and other ESG targets, including our targets relating to greenhouse gas emissions;

    as well the risk factors specified under Forward-looking statements of this release, and our 2023 annual report on Form 20-F published on 29 February 2024 under Operating and financial review and prospects-Risk factors.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Nokia’s current expectations and views of future developments and include statements regarding: A) expectations, plans, benefits or outlook related to our strategies, projects, programs, product launches, growth management, licenses, sustainability and other ESG targets, operational key performance indicators and decisions on market exits; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses (including the expected impact, timing and duration of potential global pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and the general or regional macroeconomic conditions on our businesses, our supply chain, the timing of market changes or turning points in demand and our customers’ businesses) and any future dividends and other distributions of profit; C) expectations and targets regarding financial performance and results of operations, including market share, prices, net sales, income, margins, cash flows, cost savings, the timing of receivables, operating expenses, provisions, impairments, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, investment funds, inflation, product cost reductions, competitiveness, revenue generation in any specific region, and licensing income and payments; D) ability to execute, expectations, plans or benefits related to our ongoing transactions, investments and changes in organizational structure and operating model; E) impact on revenue with respect to litigation/renewal discussions; and F) any statements preceded by or including “anticipate”, “continue”, “believe”, “envisage”, “expect”, “aim”, “will”, “target”, “may”, “would”, “see”, “plan” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are based on management’s best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to them. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and views of future events and developments and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences, include those risks and uncertainties identified in the Risk Factors above.

    ANALYST WEBCAST

    • Nokia’s webcast will begin on 30 January 2025 at 11.30 a.m. Finnish time (EET). The webcast will last approximately 60 minutes.
    • The webcast will be a presentation followed by a Q&A session. Presentation slides will be available for download at www.nokia.com/financials.
    • A link to the webcast will be available at www.nokia.com/financials.
    • Media representatives can listen in via the link, or alternatively call +1-412-317-5619.

    FINANCIAL CALENDAR

    • Nokia plans to publish its “Nokia in 2024” annual report, which includes the review by the Board of Directors and the audited annual accounts, during the week starting on 10 March 2025.
    • Nokia plans to publish its first quarter 2025 results on 24 April 2025.
    • Nokia’s Annual General Meeting 2025 is planned to be held on 29 April 2025.
    • Nokia plans to publish its second quarter and half year 2025 results on 24 July 2025.
    • Nokia plans to publish its third quarter and January-September 2025 results on 23 October 2025.

    About Nokia

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

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

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

    Inquiries:

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

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

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Will new $10,000 apprentice payments help solve job shortages in construction? Not anytime soon

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pi-Shen Seet, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Edith Cowan University

    In an election pitch last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced new incentive payments of $10,000 for eligible apprentices in residential construction.

    The federal government has committed to an ambitious target of building 1.2 million new homes over the next five years through the National Housing Accord. That means it urgently needs to boost Australia’s construction workforce.

    But a recent strategic review into incentives for Australian apprentices and trainees found cost-of-living pressures were a major barrier to apprenticeship entry and completion.

    Only about half of apprentices currently finish their apprenticeships.

    The new program has been touted as the federal government’s initial response. It will target 62,690 apprentices and cost $627 million.

    But previous attempts to attract new apprentices with cash payments have had mixed results. A similar 2023 scheme to get more tradies into “green jobs” only attracted about 2,200 sign-ups in the first year.

    There are also concerns the new scheme may have unintended consequences, such as diverting talent from important sectors of the new economy – including the previous “green jobs” scheme.



    Read more:
    There may not be enough skilled workers in Australia’s pipeline for a post-COVID-19 recovery

    How will it work?

    From July 1, eligible apprentices in the new Housing Construction Apprenticeship Program will receive five payments of $2,000 each: after six, 12, 24 and 36 months, and upon completion. The payments are staged to encourage apprentices to complete their training.

    Cash payments won’t be the only new financial incentive. There’ll also be a boost to the Living Away From Home Allowance to help cover the costs of relocating, while an increase in the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support payment provides financial support to employers who hire apprentices with disability.



    Read more:
    Albanese to promise $10,000 for apprentices in housing construction

    Will the scheme succeed?

    The government’s previous attempts to address chronic labour shortages through cash incentives have had mixed results.

    Introduced in 2023, the New Energy Apprenticeships Program also offers $10,000 in staged payments to apprentices in priority green roles, such as electric vehicle technicians.

    Despite 2,200 apprentices joining in the first year, the program was deemed too restrictive by the industry. That was despite employers themselves receiving $15,000 per apprentice (which is also what is proposed for the construction scheme).



    Read more:
    Yes, we know there is a ‘skills shortage’. Here are 3 jobs summit ideas to start fixing it right away

    As part of the strategic review, the Centre for International Economics was commissioned to conduct an international literature review. It found that financial incentives such as wage or training subsidies and incentives were only “somewhat relevant” to the Australian context, and there was mixed support, at best, for their effectiveness.

    A major factor behind the mixed results may be the crowding-out effect in economic theory.

    This suggests that increasing public spending (by giving financial incentives) could undermine the intended effect by reducing or even eliminating private-sector investment. And it does not address apprehension among employers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, about taking on more apprentices.

    More than six months after the government expanded eligibility for clean energy work, the green energy sector continues to face significant skills shortages.

    While these payments may help in the long run, their staggered nature over three years won’t provide immediate relief.

    The plan will likely only contribute to the government’s home-building targets by 2029, if and when more Australians enrol and complete their apprenticeships in the construction sector.

    Will this have effects outside the construction industry?

    More strategically, by shifting the focus from “new economy” industries outlined in the Future Made in Australia policy, this scheme risks weakening efforts to transform Australia’s economy.



    Read more:
    Australia has a new National Skills Agreement. What does this mean for vocational education?

    The cash incentive for apprentices in home-building comes at a time when there is intense global competition for skills in “new industries”.

    However, despite the many state and federal government initiatives for fee-free TAFE courses since the COVID pandemic, recently released data indicates a continued trend of long-term decline in Vocational Education and Training (VET) enrolments.

    Albanese was asked about the government’s commitment to technology and digital innovation, with increasing global competition in artificial intelligence.

    He responded by discussing the government’s commitment to the “new economy”.

    However, the construction sector has until now not been identified as an essential part of the new economy’s priority industries by the government.

    Instead, expanding incentives to construction apprentices marks a shift away from the priorities on green energy and new industries, and towards more traditional trades.

    The cash incentives could divert school leavers from considering apprenticeships in key future industries. That is something that schemes such as the new energy program were specifically designed to do in response to multiple skills and training reviews over the past two decades.

    So, despite the lack of evidence that cash incentives work, and the fact they may cause unintended effects, the proposed incentive payments appear to be a pitch addressing cost-of-living/cost-of-building concerns for the upcoming election.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Will new $10,000 apprentice payments help solve job shortages in construction? Not anytime soon – https://theconversation.com/will-new-10-000-apprentice-payments-help-solve-job-shortages-in-construction-not-anytime-soon-248446

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: January 29th, 2025 Heinrich Delivers Hour-Long Floor Remarks on President Trump’s Unlawful Federal Funding Blockade

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
    VIDEO
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor uplifting stories from communities across New Mexico on how President Trump’s unlawful unilateral blockade of all federal grant funding is creating chaos and harming the lives of New Mexicans.
    VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivers hour-long remarks on the Senate floor uplifting New Mexicans voices and highlighting how President Trump’s unlawful federal funding blockade threw the entire country into chaos, January 29, 2025.
    “In an overnight maneuver on Monday, President Trump unlawfully and unilaterally blockaded much of the federal budget,” Heinrich said. “Hitting “send” on a two-page memo, the Trump administration triggered a chaotic 24-hours that threw every town, county, Tribe, nonprofit, doctor’s office, hospital, nursing home, school, and preschool into total disarray.”
    “We need to call out Trump’s brazen action for what it really was: a power grab, and it was a test run to see just how much he can get away with,” Heinrich continued. “President Trump and his cronies are testing how far they can go to dismantle and dismember our democracy in service of his strongman impulses and ideological agenda.
    As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I know how much work goes in to writing and passing our funding laws. I am here now talking on the Senate floor because I will fight like hell to stop this – or any – of Trump’s brazen, illegal funding blockades.”
    In his remarks, Heinrich uplifted New Mexicans’ voices by reading letters he has received over the last 48 hours from constituents. Find the video of Heinrich reading letters from New Mexicans here.
    He detailed a number of federal funding programs that impact New Mexico and were thrown into uncertainty by Trump’s funding freeze. Find the video of Heinrich detailing those programs here.
    Heinrich provided specific examples of New Mexico organizations that were disrupted by Trump’s funding freeze. Find the video of Heinrich providing those specific examples here.
    Heinrich also detailed how the Trump administration’s ongoing unlawful hold on Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act federal funds is harming New Mexico’s Communities. Find the video of Heinrich detailing the Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act federal funds here.
    Heinrich concluded his remarks by calling on his Republican colleagues to demand that President Trump work together with Democrats on the challenges Americans want them to solve, saying, “This type of chaos and uncertainty is not what Americans elected President Trump to deliver. It’s certainly not what New Mexicans sent me to Washington to deliver. Americans are calling on us — all of us — to work together on policies that will bring down the cost of their groceries, rent, internet, and health care. They want us to help get fentanyl off our streets, make our communities safer, and support survivors of sexual assault, and put our veterans in safe housing. They want us to help the small businesses, support the public lands that are the beating heart of their local economies, and create jobs they can build their families around, in their home communities. What they don’t want is all of this chaos.”
    He finished, “I would hope that my Republican and Democratic colleagues alike would join me in calling on the President to get back to following the laws we passed together. Let’s get back to creating certainty that our communities — and our democracy itself — depend upon. As Benjamin Franklin put it years ago, this is a Republic — If We Can Keep It. I will fight like hell to keep it. And I know I am not alone.”
    To share how Trump’s blockade is affecting you, write to Senator Heinrich here.
    Earlier today, Heinrich joined a press conference with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to highlight how President Trump’s unlawful federal grant funding freeze threw the lives of New Mexicans into chaos. Find the video of that press conference here.
    Yesterday, Heinrich delivered remarks on the Senate floor slamming Trump’s unlawful federal funding blockade. In his remarks, Heinrich pointed to the illegality of this action, citing the law that Congress passed — the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 — after President Richard Nixon tried to withhold Congressionally appropriated funds.
    Heinrich also hosted a press conference with the N.M. Delegation on the federal funding blockade and released a statement condemning Trump’s unlawful direction.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland News – Developers Urged to Act Swiftly as Auckland Council Plans Major Development Fee Increases

    Source: WarkWorth Web

    The Auckland Council is planning a considerable hike in development contributions, which are the monetary fees residential property developers pay to fund local infrastructure projects. These contributions, currently calculated over a 10-year timeframe, are proposed to be spread over 30 years, leading to significant cost increases for developers.

    The average development contribution in Auckland is projected to increase from $21,000 per lot to around $50,000 per lot. In some areas, such as Tamaki, the rise is even steeper, jumping from $31,157 to $119,000 per lot. The Inner Northwest region is set to see contributions soar from $25,167 to between $89,000 and $101,000 per lot.

    Troy Patchett, Director of Auckland residential development company Subdivide Simplified, expressed concern over these proposed changes. “This increase could halt housing developments. Many developers may struggle to pass these costs on to consumers, making some projects unfeasible. This could further restrict future development and worsen the housing shortage in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest and fastest-growing city,” Patchett stated.

    Patchett also warned that the increased contributions could lead to fewer housing developments and place upward pressure on the value of existing properties.

    He strongly advises developers to submit their council applications as soon as possible. “If you can get your applications in before March, you should only need to pay the current development contributions and avoid this increase. Don’t delay starting your development projects,” he urged.

    The calculation of development contributions takes place when development applications are lodged, with this window expected to close around April.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: 32 architectural monuments to be restored in Kuzminki estate in three years

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Kuzminki Estate (Vlakhernskoye) is the largest in terms of the number of cultural heritage sites in Moscow. There are about 40 architectural monuments from the late 18th – early 20th centuries, each with its own individual appearance, referring to the traditions of both the West and the East. Last year, the long-awaited restoration of the estate began. The plans for the next three years include putting 32 architectural monuments in order. About this in his blog Sergei Sobyanin said.

    Famous architects and sculptors such as Ivan Zherebtsov, Rodion Kazakov, Ivan Egotov, Alessandro and Domenico Gilardi, Mikhail Bykovsky, Ivan Vitali, Pyotr Klodt, Andrey Voronikhin and others participated in the creation of the architectural ensemble of Kuzminki. The owners of the estate at different times were the barons Stroganov and the princes Golitsyn. The imperial persons – Peter I, Alexander II, Maria Feodorovna – visited here.

    Today, the estate and the surrounding park are a favorite place for walks for Muscovites and tourists. The museum-reserve also houses the residence of Father Frost and the K.G. Paustovsky Museum. City festivals are held in summer and winter.

    “The primary task is to put in order the buildings that form the core of the estate. The restorers are already working on 19 objects. Among them are the eastern and western wings of the main house, which form the front yard. The house itself has not survived, but the exquisite wings built by the architect Gilardi create the impression of mini-palaces,” the Moscow Mayor noted.

    During the work, specialists will clean the white-stone elements, tidy up the historical stucco decoration and roof. Special attention will be paid to preserving the sculptures of lions that adorn the fence of the main courtyard, the entrances to the wings and the Round (Lion) Pier.

    To date, the blind area in the outbuildings has been dismantled, the damaged plaster layer and floor coverings have been removed. And the original wooden windows and doors have been sent to workshops for careful restoration.

    Sergei Sobyanin announced the start of restoration of the capital’s Kuzminki estateSergei Sobyanin: 166 Moscow parks are cultural heritage sites

    The soap house, or bath house, was built in the late 18th – early 19th century on the site of an older building of the same purpose. The Golitsyn bathhouse was given the appearance of a strict park pavilion, echoing the outbuildings of the main house. In the 20th century, it was rebuilt, suffered fires, and was restored.

    The restoration of the soap house’s historical appearance continues. Specialized workshops will recreate the vases in the niches of the eastern facade, and clean the white-stone elements: steps, parapets, and basement. In addition, the unique copper roofing, typical of buildings of that time, will be put in order. Specialists have already started work, and the plastering of the walls and ceilings is currently being dismantled.

    The forge was rebuilt in the early 1820s from a poultry yard, where many exotic birds were kept before the war of 1812. It is well preserved and requires rather aesthetic restoration. Specialists will have to put in order the white-stone parts of the central and two side porches, the basement and the blind area, and also adapt the building for modern use.

    The laundry building on Slobodka, on the contrary, needs a comprehensive restoration. The work will affect the roof, windows and doors, as well as wooden stairs, panel parquet and stucco decoration.

    The single-arch and triple-arch grottoes were the first objects in Kuzminki where restoration work began in the summer of 2024. More than 20 years have passed since their last restoration, so the white-stone elements were partially lost, and the remaining ones needed to be cleared.

    In the single-arch grotto, specialists have already completed excavation work, installed waterproofing and a drainage system, and plastered the walls and ceiling. The three-arch grotto, which was used for theatrical productions and musical concerts during the holidays, has also been plastered. Now, craftsmen are working on installing a retaining slab and restoring the brick and white stone retaining wall.

    Three-arched, Bolshoi, “Belvedere”: what grottoes can be found in Moscow estatesCount Orlov’s Grotto has been restored for the first time in Neskuchny Garden

    Specialists are also restoring the music pavilion, one of the most recognizable buildings on the estate. It is decorated with the same equestrian figures by sculptor Pyotr Klodt as the Anichkov Bridge in St. Petersburg. The only difference is that they are made of cast iron, not bronze.

    Previously, the portico of columns was also crowned with a sculptural group of Apollo playing the lyre and two muses. In order to restore the historical appearance of the pavilion, it will be recreated during the work. In addition, the facades will be restored here. The white-stone row above the base will be plastered with the reconstruction of the rustication. Particular attention will be paid to the restoration of the stucco decor and cast-iron sculptures, and inside, the wooden floor made of larch will be put in order according to the existing model. Specialists have already begun installing scaffolding and are conducting trial clearings.

    The restoration of the Lion’s, or Round, pier on the bank of the Upper Kuzminsky Pond is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The Egyptian lions that adorn it will also be restored. They have already been dismantled and transported to specialized workshops. In addition, the fences will be put in order: lost elements will be replaced, and the cast-iron slabs of the observation deck will be cleaned and sorted out.

    This year, the bridge with griffins will also be put in order. Soon, the floor lamps with mythical sculptures will move to the workshops, and after the main work on the pylons is completed, they will return to their historical place. In addition, the bridge covering will be restored with the organization of a modern water drainage system on it. At the final stage, architectural and artistic lighting will appear here.

    In parallel, restoration of other objects will begin. For example, the interiors of the Orange Dacha (orange greenhouse) with an ancient Egyptian theme, which have survived to this day. After restoration, a unique wooden two-tiered chandelier with candlesticks in the form of lotus flowers, which survived the fire, will also return here.

    In addition, the craftsmen will put the kitchen wing (Egyptian pavilion) in order. The architecture of this unique building of the estate ensemble used motifs of ancient Egyptian architecture. For example, the pediment is decorated with an image of the head of a sphinx.

    “Once the work is completed, the estate buildings will house exhibitions and museum displays, and concerts and other events will be held,” the Moscow Mayor emphasized.

    Sheremetev’s Grotto, Shchukin’s Theatre and Katyushas: Which Moscow Parks Have Preserved Historical MonumentsSobyanin spoke about architectural monuments that are being restored in Moscow

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

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

    HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12312050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sydney to host Rugby World Cup final and semi-finals

    Source: New South Wales Government 2

    Headline: Sydney to host Rugby World Cup final and semi-finals

    Published: 30 January 2025

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for Jobs, Minister for Sport, Minister for Tourism

    NSW is the big winner from the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 host city announcement, with our state set to host more games than any other, including both semi-finals and the final.

    The third largest sporting event in the world, the Rugby World Cup has delivered decades of drama including Wallabies glory, extra-time heartbreak and Nelson Mandela hoisting the trophy alongside the Springboks.

    All of that history, along with 24 national teams, an estimated 215,000 visitors, and hundreds of millions of global TV viewers, will culminate in NSW for six weeks in October and November in 2027.

    The host city agreement has resulted in 17 of a total 52 games being played in NSW, with Newcastle hosting four pool matches and Sydney hosting 13 fixtures, including five pool matches, two Round of 16 matches, two quarter-finals, both semi-finals, the bronze final and the final set to take place at Stadium Australia on November 13.

    Destination NSW estimates the tournament will inject more than $610 million into the state’s visitor economy and be Sydney’s biggest sport event in over 20 years.

    In addition to the direct social and economic benefits, the right to host the finals will mean Sydney is centre stage for the global television audience, providing immeasurable marketing impact for the NSW visitor economy.

    The announcement confirms NSW as a premier destination for world class sporting events including the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Sail GP and the Sydney Marathon which recently gained world marathon major status.

    Supporting major events is a key part of the Minns Labor Government’s strategy to grow the visitor economy. In October the government committed to a new ambitious growth target of $91 billion of visitor expenditure by 2035, a 40% increase on the previous 2030 goal.

    Sydney has a proud Rugby World Cup history, having hosted six games during the inaugural tournament in 1987 and 16 games – including the final – when Australia last hosted in 2003. The NSW Government is also proud to support this year’s British and Irish Lions Tour while Australia will also host the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029.

    In the lead up to the event Chair of Destination NSW Sally Loane will lead a committee tasked with maximising the tourism opportunities of hosting the Men’s Rugby World Cup.

    NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

    “It’s great to see NSW come out on top – securing hosting rights to the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

    “Staging the finals and having more matches than any other state, demonstrates just how attractive NSW is as a destination for global sporting events.

    “To all those keen rugby fans across the globe – it’s time to lock in your travel plans. Not only will you get to watch some fantastic sport, but you will also get to tour the best state in the world, home to extraordinary national parks and unparalleled Harbour views.”

    Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

    “With more games than any other state, NSW will be the home of the tournament which means hundreds of thousands of fans will travel here and experience what our incredible state has to offer.”

    “The stadiums and the streets of Sydney and Newcastle will be absolutely buzzing during the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.

    “Hosting world class events is a key part of our strategy to significantly grow the NSW visitor economy over the next ten years.”

    “My message to rugby fans around the world is – come for the rucks and mauls, stay for the food, the wine, the beaches and cultural experiences!”

    Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

    “Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be a festival of rugby union like no other that will inspire the next generation of players.

    “The choice of Sydney to host the tournament’s final match – along with both semi-finals and the bronze final – reflects the city’s position as world class sporting events capital, and the NSW Government is excited to welcome the world’s best rugby teams – and their fans – in 2027.

    “For 6 weeks, we are going to be centre stage for the sporting world.

    World Rugby Chair, Brett Robinson said:

    “We are delighted to reach another significant milestone on our journey to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. The selection of these incredible host cities reflects our commitment to bring Rugby World Cup to Australians’ backyard and maximise the tournament’s positive impact and sporting legacy in all host communities.

    “Australia’s iconic cities and rich culture will create an extraordinary atmosphere for fans and players alike, uniting an entire nation for six unforgettable weeks. We look forward to working with host cities to make this tournament one for the ages.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why the WHO has recommended switching to a healthier salt alternative

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xiaoyue (Luna) Xu, Scientia Lecturer, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney

    goodbishop/Shutterstock

    This week the World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidelines recommending people switch the regular salt they use at home for substitutes containing less sodium.

    But what exactly are these salt alternatives? And why is the WHO recommending this? Let’s take a look.

    A new solution to an old problem

    Advice to eat less salt (sodium chloride) is not new. It has been part of international and Australian guidelines for decades. This is because evidence clearly shows the sodium in salt can harm our health when we eat too much of it.

    Excess sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure, which affects millions of Australians (around one in three adults). High blood pressure (hypertension) in turn increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, among other conditions.

    The WHO estimates 1.9 million deaths globally each year can be attributed to eating too much salt.

    The WHO recommends consuming no more than 2g of sodium daily. However people eat on average more than double this, around 4.3g a day.

    In 2013, WHO member states committed to reducing population sodium intake by 30% by 2025. But cutting salt intake has proved very hard. Most countries, including Australia, will not meet the WHO’s goal for reducing sodium intake by 2025. They WHO has since set the same target for 2030.

    The difficulty is that eating less salt means accepting a less salty taste. It also requires changes to established ways of preparing food. This has proved too much to ask of people making food at home, and too much for the food industry.

    There’s been little progress on efforts to cut sodium intake.
    snezhana k/Shutterstock

    Enter potassium-enriched salt

    The main lower-sodium salt substitute is called potassium-enriched salt. This is salt where some of the sodium chloride has been replaced with potassium chloride.

    Potassium is an essential mineral, playing a key role in all the body’s functions. The high potassium content of fresh fruit and vegetables is one of the main reasons they’re so good for you. While people are eating more sodium than they should, many don’t get enough potassium.

    The WHO recommends a daily potassium intake of 3.5g, but on the whole, people in most countries consume significantly less than this.

    Potassium-enriched salt benefits our health by cutting the amount of sodium we consume, and increasing the amount of potassium in our diets. Both help to lower blood pressure.

    Switching regular salt for potassium-enriched salt has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death in large trials around the world.

    Modelling studies have projected that population-wide switches to potassium-enriched salt use would prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from cardiovascular disease (such as heart attack and stroke) each year in China and India alone.

    The key advantage of switching rather than cutting salt intake is that potassium-enriched salt can be used as a direct one-for-one swap for regular salt. It looks the same, works for seasoning and in recipes, and most people don’t notice any important difference in taste.

    In the largest trial of potassium-enriched salt to date, more than 90% of people were still using the product after five years.

    Excess sodium intake increases the risk of high blood pressure, which can cause a range of health problems.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Making the switch: some challenges

    If fully implemented, this could be one of the most consequential pieces of advice the WHO has ever provided.

    Millions of strokes and heart attacks could be prevented worldwide each year with a simple switch to the way we prepare foods. But there are some obstacles to overcome before we get to this point.

    First, it will be important to balance the benefits and the risks. For example, people with advanced kidney disease don’t handle potassium well and so these products are not suitable for them. This is only a small proportion of the population, but we need to ensure potassium-enriched salt products are labelled with appropriate warnings.

    A key challenge will be making potassium-enriched salt more affordable and accessible. Potassium chloride is more expensive to produce than sodium chloride, and at present, potassium-enriched salt is mostly sold as a niche health product at a premium price.

    If you’re looking for it, salt substitutes may also be called low-sodium salt, potassium salt, heart salt, mineral salt, or sodium-reduced salt.

    A review published in 2021 found low sodium salts were marketed in only 47 countries, mostly high-income ones. Prices ranged from the same as regular salt to almost 15 times higher.

    An expanded supply chain that produces much more food-grade potassium chloride will be needed to enable wider availability of the product. And we’ll need to see potassium-enriched salt on the shelves next to regular salt so it’s easy for people to find.

    In countries like Australia, about 80% of the salt we eat comes from processed foods. The WHO guideline falls short by not explicitly prioritising a switch for the salt used in food manufacturing.

    Stakeholders working with government to encourage food industry uptake will be essential for maximising the health benefits.

    Bruce Neal receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and MTP Connect, for research on potassium-enriched salts. All funds are administered by UNSW Sydney and The George Institute for Global Health.

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

    – ref. Why the WHO has recommended switching to a healthier salt alternative – https://theconversation.com/why-the-who-has-recommended-switching-to-a-healthier-salt-alternative-248436

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: First Responders – Tiwai Peninsula vegetation fire update

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Fire and Emergency New Zealand crews have been working hard to contain a large vegetation fire in mixed scrub and wetland on Tiwai Peninsula in Invercargill today.
    The fire has grown to 1,200 hectares across the centre of the peninsula, with an 18 kilometre perimeter, due to higher temperatures and wind speed this afternoon.
    There are currently eight trucks in attendance, with ten helicopters in support.
    Firefighters will work until 6pm tonight, then two crews will monitor the fire overnight. All crews will return at 7am tomorrow to continue battling the fire.
    Incident Controller Hamish Angus says the fire is not an immediate threat to people, homes, the smelter, or the Tiwai Bridge.
    “The Tiwai Bridge is closed to all traffic except our crews and the smelter staff, and we’re asking people to keep away from Tiwai Road so we can continue to work safely,” he says.
    “We are working closely with mana whenua and the Department of Conservation, to ensure culturally and ecologically sensitive areas still threatened by the fire are prioritised for protection.”
    Awarua Rūnaka Manager Gail Thompson says she is deeply saddened at the damage caused in such a short time.
    “This peninsula is a precious taonga, with a history going back a long way, which is important to Ngai Tahu,” she says.
    She’s happy to see the newly-established Mana Whenua Emergency Facilitator for Murihiku, Angie Hopkinson, at the site to support Fire and Emergency and the Department of Conservation with the response.
    Department of Conservation’s Operation Manager for Murihiku, John McCarroll, says Awarua Peninsula has considerable environmental value, and today’s fire is a huge blow.
    “Awarua has a significant number of biodiversity values and is used by a lot of wading birds for flocking and feeding, including the endangered Southern New Zealand Dotterel/Pukunui,” he says.
    “As well as the loss of wildlife, we’ve also lost assets such as predator-trapping infrastructure.
    “We will assess the losses once the fire is under control and we can return there safely. We may never know the full impact on biodiversity, but it is likely significant.”
    The nearby Awarua wetland is also a Department of Conservation area of environmental significance, which was devastated in April 2022 when wildfire burnt through 1,330 hectares.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Even as the tide turned for fur, crocodile leather kept selling in high-end fashion. But for how much longer?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Lamarche-Beauchesne, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Enterprise, Torrens University Australia

    apple2499/Shutterstock

    Dotted across northern Australia are 21 saltwater crocodile farms, home to around 130,000 crocodiles. Their skins are turned into crocodile leather, long sought for use in luxury handbags, belts and other items.

    While fur lost favour due to welfare concerns about animals such as mink, chinchillas and arctic foxes raised for their skins, crocodile leather has kept selling. Australia dominates the global market of saltwater crocodile skins, producing almost 60% of all such skins traded internationally.

    But the industry now faces real headwinds. Major retailers and fashion events in Australia and internationally are phasing out or banning crocodile and other exotic skins due to growing concerns over animal welfare.

    The Northern Territory government’s crocodile farming plan acknowledges shifting consumer demand and increasing scrutiny as the industry’s largest threat.

    Most of the world’s crocodile leather comes from Australian farms.
    Venus Angel/Shutterstock

    Feathers, fur and now skins

    Early animal rights activists in the 19th century focused on feathers due to concern about the enormous environmental damage done by plume hunters killing ostriches and egrets. Only later did activists turn their focus to fur.

    In the early 20th century, countries such as the United States and Britain enacted bans or restrictions on feathers. In this century, sentiment has largely turned against wearing real fur, though faux fur and vintage fur are still popular.

    But even as feathers went out of fashion, new animal products were arriving. By 1928, exotic skins such as crocodile, alligator and snake began commercialisation in Europe and the US. By the 1970s, they were widely used in fashion.

    That looks to be changing.

    By 2026, department store David Jones will phase out all exotic skins, including ostrich, crocodile, alligator, lizard and snake. The move builds on the company’s existing animal welfare policies, which already prohibit the sale of fur, angora rabbit wool and foie gras (duck or goose liver).

    The 2025 Melbourne Fashion Festival will also ban exotic leathers, while London Fashion Week will be the first of the “Big Four” fashion weeks to follow suit.

    In recent years, the kangaroo leather industry has also come under pressure due to concerns over animal welfare. California banned it altogether, and a full US ban is under consideration.

    Feathers are also under increasing scrutiny, with fashion weeks in Copenhagen, Helsinki and Melbourne announcing feather bans starting this year.

    These decisions reflect a growing shift toward ethical fashion, driven by consumer demand and rising awareness of animal welfare.

    Fur has lost its appeal for many consumers.
    ChiccoDodiFC/Shutterstock

    Exotic leather, native species

    Crocodile leather is described as an “exotic” skin, even though saltwater crocodiles are native to Australia.

    Two-thirds of Australia’s skins come from the Northern Territory, while Queensland and Western Australia have smaller industries.

    Crocodile farms operate by harvesting eggs from the wild and raising the animals in captivity. In the wild, they are protected from hunting. But in farms, they are legally considered stock or production animals, which means they lose these protections.

    When we farm animals, it’s common to think of them as resources waiting to be used for our purposes.

    But the fashion backlash suggests another way of thinking is emerging. My research points to a more animal-centric perspective on how animal-derived materials are produced for fashion.

    Crocodile farms emerged as a way to protect these reptiles from being hunted to extinction. But the industry is now under increasing scrutiny.
    RWK007/Shutterstock

    From unregulated hunting to farmed crocodiles

    Skin hunters nearly drove the saltwater crocodile to extinction in Australia. An estimated 300,000 animals were killed for their skins between 1945 and 1970. Saltie populations fell as low as 3,000 animals before authorities acted.

    Freshwater crocodiles, too, were hunted for their skins from 1959. After both species were protected in the 1970s, their populations rebounded.

    Crocodile farming started in Queensland in 1972, and in the Northern Territory in 1979.

    In 1975, the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora on trading endangered animals came into effect, in part to regulate the trade of exotic animals in luxury products.

    But this agreement doesn’t rule out uses for fashion. As crocodile experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature write:

    […] crocodile farming was seen not only as a way to reduce pressure on the wild populations, but also as a means through which commercial incentives for the conservation of crocodilians could be generated.

    As the website of one Australian crocodile farm states, crocodiles are a “natural renewable resource with considerable potential for sustainable commercial use”.

    By 2018, the crocodile farming industry was worth A$26.7 million to the Northern Territory’s economy. Around 100,000 juvenile crocodiles are raised annually on farms. The NT industry plans to expand in coming years, with a target of 50,000 skins annually.

    Trends in fashion heavily influence how crocodiles are farmed. While saltwater crocodiles can live up to 70 years in the wild, it takes three to four years for a crocodile to reach 1.5 metres, at which point their skins can make larger fashion items.

    But in recent years, crocodiles have been slaughtered at around two years. Their smaller skins are used for smaller accessories.

    Welfare concerns

    The crocodile farming industry promotes its sustainability and positive economic impacts on First Nations communities. But this has come under question in recent years, with the release of documentaries featuring ex-crocodile farm workers, while activists from the Farm Transparency Project flew drones over crocodile farms and released footage of slaughtering practices in an effort to increase scrutiny and draw media coverage.

    This image of a crocodile in a Northern Territory farm was taken by activists using a drone.
    Farm Transparency Project, CC BY

    Animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA have long opposed the practice.

    In 2023, the federal government announced an update of the code of humane treatment of wild and farmed crocodiles to incorporate new science and techniques, according to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. The updated code was expected late last year but has not been released.

    In response, NT Crocodile Farmers Association chief Jodi Truman said the industry “supports independent audits to ensure humane treatment”. She added:

    […] animal rights activists have made clear that they are against all farms and the farming of all animals.

    This drone image taken by animal activists shows the slaughter of crocodiles at a NT farm.
    Farm Transparency Project, CC BY

    What’s likely to happen?

    While commercial operators and governments plan to expand, there are now real barriers to the industry’s growth.

    For decades, animal derived products such as fur, feathers and leather have been prized in fashion. But consumers are increasingly less comfortable with how these products are made. That’s the thing about fashion – it changes.

    The author has previously been a member and lower-house candidate for the Animal Justice Party in Victoria.

    – ref. Even as the tide turned for fur, crocodile leather kept selling in high-end fashion. But for how much longer? – https://theconversation.com/even-as-the-tide-turned-for-fur-crocodile-leather-kept-selling-in-high-end-fashion-but-for-how-much-longer-245471

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Living on orchard and enjoying outdoors fostered love for environment in EIT student | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    37 seconds ago

    Growing up on a Twyford orchard and living an outdoor life fostered a love for the environment which led Jordyn Campbell to study Environmental Management at EIT.

    This has proved to be a good move with Jordyn, who finished the NZ Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 6) last year, currently doing conservation surveying and monitoring work. She is working for SPS Biota| Biosecurity & Environmental Services, collecting data about the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and Spongy Moth – both serious pests and risks to NZ fruit and vegetable industries. This project started in October and runs until April 2025.

    Jordyn, 20, attended Iona College in Havelock North and won a Year 13 scholarship in 2022 to study at EIT. A Year 13 Scholarship, which is offered annually by EIT, covers one year of tuition fees. The Scholarship supports school leavers across the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions to study any one of EIT’s degrees or selected level 5 diploma programmes that lead into a degree by providing one year FREE study.

    Jordyn Campbell completed the NZ Diploma in Environmental Management (Level 6) at EIT last year and is looking forward to completing her Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management).

    Jordyn entered the Environmental Management programme in 2023, completing her level 5 NZ Diploma in Environmental Management, and has loved every moment.

    “I live on an orchard, too, so I decided to study more about the environment around me, because I’ve been growing up in a rural area.”
    She says choosing EIT to study at was an easy decision, especially when she won the Year 13 scholarship.

    “It was close to home and easier to study there, especially since I liked the sound of the programme. The scholarship also helped me make the decision.”

    Jordyn says that her new job is working on behalf of the Ministry for Primary Industries and involves searching for evasive species of Spongy Moths and Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs in Napier, Hastings and Havelock North.

    “We have an app called Field Maps and it has all the locations on it, which are indicated by dots on the map. You complete forms depending on if you get a sample or you’re just doing a trap clearance, and then it will change the colour of the dots on the map. There are 63 traps for the Spongy Moth and six traps for the Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs across Hawke’s Bay.”

    This year Jordyn will be completing her final year of study to achieve the Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management). As for the future, Jordyn is leaning towards working in biosecurity, but she does not rule out studying further.

    She says that wherever she winds up, she will not forget what she has learned from EIT. She has no hesitation in recommending the institute to others.

    “I like EIT because you get to know everyone on a very personal level, including the lecturers. You are not just a number to them, you’re an actual person and you get one-on-one help from them.”

    Environmental Management Lecturer Dr Glen Robertshaw says: “I think this is a fantastic opportunity for Jordyn, who I know really enjoyed our level 6 Biosecurity course”.

    “It is also a real validation of the value of our programme and demonstrates that what we are teaching can lead to employment locally. It’s great to think that one of our students is helping to protect the local horticulture industry from invasive species that could potentially devastate it.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Minister must reverse all Oranga Tamariki cuts after Barnardos u-turn

    Source: PSA

    The PSA urges Children’s Minister Karen Chhour to reverse all the damaging cuts to community service contracts, and to Oranga Tamariki, in the wake of her u-turn today on funding Barnardos.
    The backflip follows revelations that Barnardos’ youth telehealth counselling service was at risk of closing in July along with other services supporting vulnerable families. This followed funding cuts by Oranga Tamariki under the Government’s austerity drive.
    “This backflip shows how rushed and reckless her original decision was to order Oranga Tamariki to cut contracts for dozens of community service providers across Aotearoa,” said Duane Leo, National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “The PSA calls on the Minister to urgently reverse all the cuts – reinstate the contracts that have been axed and restore the funding to existing contacts that were cut – before lasting damage is done to families.
    “She must also reverse the cuts to Oranga Tamariki which has seen 419 jobs axed, nearly 10% of the workforce.
    “Last year the Minister accused charities of abusing their contracts with Oranga Tamariki, claiming they had become ‘cash cows’ through the contracts – this was offensive, disrespecting the vital work they do.
    “The Minister has tried to wash her hands of these cuts, calling them ‘operational matters’ for Oranga Tamariki, but now that the reality is hitting home, the Minister needs to do the right thing.
    “She knows New Zealanders are increasingly alarmed by the cuts.
    “The Government promised its cuts would not impact frontline services. The Minister’s u-turn over the Barnardos’ contract shows the Government slowly realising it can no longer get away with this spin.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Farmers welcome Kāinga Ora back-track on wool carpets – Federated Farmers

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers is welcoming today’s decision by Kāinga Ora to give wool carpet providers the chance to tender for supply of carpet and underlay in its homes.
    A previous request for proposals (RFP) confined bids to synthetic carpets, not even allowing wool to compete.
    “This decision is cause for celebration for all strong-wool farmers,” Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams says.
    “The change of stance by Kāinga Ora has come about because of relentless pressure from the sheep and wool sector, with Federated Farmers and Campaign for Wool leading the charge.
    “Kāinga Ora’s previous tender process pulled the rug out from under the nation’s farmers and didn’t even give the sector a chance to put its best foot forward.
    “Now it’s up to wool carpet providers to make sure their proposals are competitive, and highlight all the factors that make the natural product superior to synthetics.”
    Wool provides better insulation and warmth, it’s moisture wicking, and it’s a natural fire retardant, Williams says.
    “It’s also hypoallergenic, and better for those with asthma.”
    Kāinga Ora says the new RFP is for supplying floor coverings for 2,650 new homes and 3000 renovations between now and June 2026.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Repeat and Dangerous Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison After Traveling from Arkansas to Albany to Sexually Abuse 11 Year Old

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kyle Biswell, age 39, of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a life term of supervised release, after a federal judge determined that he is a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

    In July 2024, Biswell pled guilty to interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and transportation of child pornography.  After his plea, the United States Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Probation Office, and the FBI obtained evidence that Biswell had previously sexually abused an infant, which established that Biswell is a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors – significantly enhancing his sentencing range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.  Faced with the evidence amassed by the government, Biswell informed the prosecution that he would waive an evidentiary hearing and his objection to being sentenced as a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors in exchange for an agreed-upon sentence of 20 years’ incarceration and a life term of supervised release. 

    According to the plea agreement and documents submitted to the Court, Biswell admitted that between January and April 2023, he communicated with an individual he believed was the mother of an 11-year-old girl through an internet-based social networking application and using his cellular phone.  Over the course of those communications, Biswell expressed his interest in engaging in sexual contact and impregnating the 11-year-old and ultimately purchased airfare to travel from his home in Arkansas to Albany, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual contact with the child on April 8, 2023.  Upon his arrival in the Capital Region on April 8, 2023, Biswell was arrested by FBI agents and admitted that he had traveled from Arkansas to Albany for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with a child he believed to be 11 years old.  Biswell further admitted that he brought child pornography with him on his cell phone.  The cell phone was subsequently searched by the FBI and found to contain numerous videos and images depicting child pornography, including several videos depicting the sexual abuse and rape of children under the age of 5.   

    In sentencing Biswell today, United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci found that he had previously engaged in oral-to-genital contact with an infant, making him a repeat and dangerous sex offender against minors.  In addition to a 20-year term of incarceration and a lifetime of supervised release, Judge Nardacci imposed restitution in the amount of $9,000 and a special assessment of $200.  When Biswell is released from prison, he will be required to register as a sex offender. 

    The FBI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. 

    Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Ross Brown appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM)

    Source: Brown Family Wine Group

    Ross Brown appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) Brown Family Wine Group is thrilled to announce that Ross Brown, third generation of the family business has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the Winemaking Industry and to Tourism at the 2025 Australia Day honours.

    The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.
     Individuals are appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.
    Ross is extremely humbled by the honour and said, “I feel very thankful that my passions have made a significant contribution to our industry.”
    Ross has dedicated his life to the wine industry, demonstrating unwavering commitment to the success of Brown Family Wine Group. 
    His passion extends beyond his family business and has contributed his energy and enthusiasm to numerous boards and committees within both the wine and tourism sectors.
    Over the years Ross has held board positions for Wine Australia, Wine Victoria, Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW), Regional Wine and Food Tourism, and Brown Family Wine Group.
    He has also been a committee member for Australian Grape and Wine (AGW), Chairman of the North East Valleys Food and Wine Group, and the Rural City of Wangaratta Tourism Development Committee.
    When asked about what his greatest impact has been, Ross shared, “One of my greatest passions is the concept of ‘co-opetition,’ which I believe is essential to both the wine and tourism industries. The idea that we can be competitors while also collaborating for the greater good of the industry is crucial for future success.”
    One of Ross’ greatest achievements has been creating and sharing a compelling vision for Prosecco in the King Valley. Always attuned to customer trends, Ross observed the rising popularity of Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand and saw an opportunity to harness this momentum locally. The Prosecco potential emerged, and alongside fellow King Valley producers, Ross played a key role in establishing a distinct home for Prosecco in the region.
    Ross was a driving force in advocating for the growth of Prosecco, lobbying local, state and federal governments on behalf of Prosecco producers and the broader Australian wine industry. His efforts were pivotal in securing long-term protection for the Prosecco name, ensuring the future of this iconic wine variety in Australia.
    Ross was a founding member of the Milawa Gourmet Region, with a vision to make the Milawa Gourmet Region one of Australia’s leading wine and food short break destinations, which it remains to this day.
    Ross is a Churchill Fellow and in 1997 he travelled the world investigate the development of international benchmarking for world best practice in family owned and operated wine companies.
    Ross has been a mentor for the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program and the North East Regional Executive Forum.
    In recent years, Ross has contributed to Tourism Tasmania, Wine Tasmania and the Tasmanian Department of State Growth.
    In 2014 Ross was inducted into the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival ‘Legend Hall of Fame’ which pays tribute to the leaders, ground breakers and visionaries of Victoria’s food, drink and hospitality industry.
    In 2015 Ross was awarded ‘Legend of the Vine’ for WCA initiated the Legend of the Vine Awards to recognise an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the Australian industry and who ‘engage, connect, learn and inspire’ within the wine industry.
    Together with his wife Judy and three daughters, Ross developed the Madge Brown Charitable Trust which supports local charities, particularly those that support under privileged youth and the homeless.
    Ross’ late father John Charles Brown AM received the same honour in 1989 for recognition of service to the wine industry, along with the Centenary Medal in 2001.
    His brother, John Graham Brown AO has been awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia (2005), the National Medal (1998) and Centenary Medal (2001) for service to promoting rural and regional economic development initiatives in Victoria, to the community through sporting and emergency services activities, and to the wine industry.
    June Brown OAM (wife to John Graham Brown) was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2023 for her services to the creative arts.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is a ‘vaginal birth after caesarean’ or VBAC?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University

    MVelishchuk/Shutterstock

    A vaginal birth after caesarean (known as a VBAC) is when a woman who has had a caesarean has a vaginal birth down the track.

    In Australia, about 12% of women have a vaginal birth for a subsequent baby after a caesarean. A VBAC is much more common in some other countries, including in several Scandinavian ones, where 45-55% of women have one.

    So what’s involved? What are the risks? And who’s most likely to give birth vaginally the next time round?

    What happens? What are the risks?

    When a woman chooses a VBAC she is cared for much like she would during a planned vaginal birth.

    However, an induction of labour is avoided as much as possible, due to the slightly increased risk of the caesarean scar opening up (known as uterine rupture). This is because the medication used in inductions can stimulate strong contractions that put a greater strain on the scar.

    In fact, one of the main reasons women may be recommended to have a repeat caesarean over a vaginal birth is due to an increased chance of her caesarean scar rupturing.

    This is when layers of the uterus (womb) separate and an emergency caesarean is needed to deliver the baby and repair the uterus.

    Uterine rupture is rare. It occurs in about 0.2-0.7% of women with a history of a previous caesarean. A uterine rupture can also happen without a previous caesarean, but this is even rarer.

    However, uterine rupture is a medical emergency. A large European study found 13% of babies died after a uterine rupture and 10% of women needed to have their uterus removed.

    The risk of uterine rupture increases if women have what’s known as
    complicated or classical caesarean scars, and for women who have had more than two previous caesareans.

    Most care providers recommend you avoid getting pregnant again for around 12 months after a caesarean, to allow full healing of the scar and to reduce the risk of the scar rupturing.

    National guidelines recommend women attempt a VBAC in hospital in case emergency care is needed after uterine rupture.

    During a VBAC, recommendations are for closer monitoring of the baby’s heart rate and vigilance for abnormal pain that could indicate a rupture is happening.

    If labour is not progressing, a caesarean would then usually be advised.

    Giving birth in hospital is recommended for a vaginal birth after a caesarean.
    christinarosepix/Shutterstock

    Why avoid multiple caesareans?

    There are also risks with repeat caesareans. These include slower recovery, increased risks of the placenta growing abnormally in subsequent pregnancies (placenta accreta), or low in front of the cervix (placenta praevia), and being readmitted to hospital for infection.

    Women reported birth trauma and post-traumatic stress more commonly after a caesarean than a vaginal birth, especially if the caesarean was not planned.

    Women who had a traumatic caesarean or disrespectful care in their previous birth may choose a VBAC to prevent re-traumatisation and to try to regain control over their birth.

    We looked at what happened to women

    The most common reason for a caesarean section in Australia is a repeat caesarean. Our new research looked at what this means for VBAC.

    We analysed data about 172,000 low-risk women who gave birth for the first time in New South Wales between 2001 and 2016.

    We found women who had an initial spontaneous vaginal birth had a 91.3% chance of having subsequent vaginal births. However, if they had a caesarean, their probability of having a VBAC was 4.6% after an elective caesarean and 9% after an emergency one.

    We also confirmed what national data and previous studies have shown – there are lower VBAC rates (meaning higher rates of repeat caesareans) in private hospitals compared to public hospitals.

    We found the probability of subsequent elective caesarean births was higher in private hospitals (84.9%) compared to public hospitals (76.9%).

    Our study did not specifically address why this might be the case. However, we know that in private hospitals women access private obstetric care and experience higher caesarean rates overall.

    What increases the chance of success?

    When women plan a VBAC there is a 60-80% chance of having a vaginal birth in the next birth.

    The success rates are higher for women who are younger, have a lower body mass index, have had a previous vaginal birth, give birth in a home-like environment or with midwife-led care.

    For instance, an Australian study found women who accessed continuity of care with a midwife were more likely to have a successful VBAC compared to having no continuity of care and seeing different care providers each time.

    An Australian national survey we conducted found having continuity of care with a midwife when planning a VBAC can increase women’s sense of control and confidence, increase their chance to be upright and active in labour and result in a better relationship with their health-care provider.

    Seeing the same midwife throughout your maternity care can help.
    Tyler Olson/Shutterstock

    Why is this important?

    With the rise of caesareans globally, including in Australia, it is more important than ever to value vaginal birth and support women to have a VBAC if this is what they choose.

    Our research is also a reminder that how a woman gives birth the first time greatly influences how she gives birth after that. For too many women, this can lead to multiple caesareans, not all of them needed.

    Hannah Dahlen receives funding from NHMRC, ARC and MRFF.

    Hazel Keedle and Lilian Peters do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What is a ‘vaginal birth after caesarean’ or VBAC? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-vaginal-birth-after-caesarean-or-vbac-247572

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –