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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Foreign resident capital gains withholding overview

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    About foreign resident capital gains withholding

    Foreign resident capital gains withholding (FRCGW) applies to all (individual and non-individual) vendors (property sellers) selling or disposing of certain taxable real property (property).

    When selling or disposing of property in Australia:

    • Australian residents for tax purposes (Australian residents) must have a valid clearance certificate issued by us at, or before settlement. Without a clearance certificate, FRCGW must be withheld from the sale proceeds by the purchaser and paid to us.
    • Foreign residents (also known as non-residents) may incur capital gains tax (CGT) on the sale of Australian property. Purchasers withhold FRCGW from the sale price and remit this to us to go toward payment of this liability. FRCGW must be withheld unless the foreign resident vendor has a variation notice specifying a reduced rate of FRCGW.
    • Purchasers must pay any amount they withhold to us at, or before settlement.

    The most common reasons for disposing of a property include selling and transferring to another person or entity, for more reasons see CGT events.

    Rate of withholding from a property sale

    The following FRCGW rates apply to the market value of property contracts signed:

    • Up to and including 31 December 2024, a rate of 12.5% applies to property valued at $750,000 or more.
    • On and after 1 January 2025, a rate of 15% applies to the value of all property.

    Example: contract signed before 1 January 2025

    Jane is a foreign resident and wants to sell her apartment.

    Toni decides to purchase the property, signing the sale contract on 16 December 2024 for $1.2 million (its market value at that time).

    Their settlement period is 28 days, with the settlement date 6 January 2025.

    As the contract was signed before 1 January 2025, Toni must withhold 12.5% of $1.2 million, that is $150,000 and pay this to us.

    Note: If the contract was signed after 1 January 2025, Toni would have to withhold at a rate of 15% of $1.2 million ($180,000) and pay this amount to us.

    End of example

    Types of assets

    Taxable Australian real property requiring a clearance certificate include:

    • vacant land, buildings, residential and commercial property
    • mining, quarrying or prospecting rights where they are situated in Australia
    • a lease over real property in Australia
    • indirect Australian real property (IARP) interests, where the holder has a right to occupy land or buildings on land.

    Other assets

    Other types of real property-related assets, such as leases, shares that are indirect real property interests (IARPI) and options in those that aren’t listed on an official stock exchange are also subject to FRCGW.

    See Vendor declarations for more info about what to do.

    Excluded transactions

    Some transactions (due to the way they are sold or disposed of) aren’t subject to FRCGW, including:

    • transactions through an approved stock exchange (such as the Australian Stock Exchange) or those using a broker-operated crossing system
    • transactions subject to another withholding obligation, see List of CGT assets and exemptions
    • securities lending arrangements, as these don’t cause a CGT liability
    • transactions when a vendor is in external administration, or transactions from a bankrupt estate, a composition or scheme of arrangement, a debt agreement, a personal insolvency agreement, or same or similar circumstances under a foreign law.

    Market value

    Usually, the market value of property is the sale price. However, if the sale price has been negotiated between the vendor and the purchaser:

    • at arm’s length we accept the sale price as the market value. This is the sale price before adjustments for disbursements at settlement. For example, council rates, water and sewer charges and strata levies.
    • at non-arm’s length, this is when the market value is different to the sale price. For example, the vendor and purchaser are related (non-arm’s length), the purchaser must seek a separate expert evaluation from a professional valuer.

    Example: non-arm’s length property sale by a foreign resident

    Franz is a foreign resident. He inherits a farm in Australia from a relative in February 2025.

    The farm has been in drought for the last 10 years and he is happy to sell the property to another relative, at below market value (a non-arm’s length transaction) for $500,000.

    The purchaser organises a market valuation, which values the farm at $800,000 (the arm’s-length value).

    As a foreign resident, Franz is subject to FRCGW and a rate of 15% applied to the market value of the property when the contract is signed in March 2025.

    Franz is happy with this arrangement as he’s not sure how long it would take to sell it at the market rate.

    The purchaser must withhold $120,000 from the property sale and pay it to us.

    Market value $800,000 × FRCGW rate of 15% = $120,000 withholding

    Sale price $500,000 − withholding $120,000 = $380,000 paid to Franz.

    Franz applies for a TFN and lodges an income tax return for the year ended 30 June 2025. As Franz didn’t make a capital gain on the disposal of the farm, the $120,000 FRCGW credit on his income tax account is refunded to him.

    End of example

    Australian residents selling property

    All Australian residents for tax purposes must have a clearance certificate from us when selling property to avoid the requirement of purchasers to withhold an amount from the sale. When selling property, be aware that:

    • you don’t have wait to sign a contract, apply for a clearance certificate as soon as you are thinking of selling – they are free
    • each vendor must give their clearance certificate to the purchaser at, or before, the settlement date
    • most clearance certificates issue within a few days, but some can take up to 28 days to process and issue
    • if there’s no clearance certificate provided by the vendor at, or before the settlement date, the purchaser must withhold an amount of FRCGW and pay it to us
    • clearance certificates are valid for 12 months from their date of issue (as long as the vendor’s residency status doesn’t change during that time)
    • if you decide not to sell, but have a clearance certificate, there’s no requirement to use it.

    Example: the importance of getting a clearance certificate early – 15% withheld from sale

    Willow and Stanley are Australian residents for tax purposes. On 1 September 2024 they decide to sell their family home, their main residence. They need the funds from the sale to purchase a new residence.

    They are both are listed as owners of the property on the certificate of title, so both must apply for their own clearance certificate.

    They find a purchaser on 8 January 2025 and sign the contract of sale, with a settlement 30 days later, on 6 February.

    They don’t apply for a clearance certificate until 15 January and don’t have both of their clearance certificates at, or before settlement.

    The property sold for $600,000, however:

    • Willow’s clearance certificate issued and was given to the purchaser.
    • Stanley was still waiting for his clearance certificate.

    The sale goes through with settlement occurring. As Stanley didn’t have a clearance certificate at settlement, 15% of his share of the sale ($90,000) must be withheld by the purchaser and paid to us.

    Stanley must wait until his 2025 tax return is lodged and processed for a refund.

    As the purchaser had received a clearance certificate from Willow, there’s no withholding required on her share of the sale.

    End of example

    Example: the importance of getting a clearance certificate early – no withholding

    Maisie and Max are Australian residents for tax purposes. On 1 September 2024 they decide to sell their family home, their main residence. They need the funds from the sale to purchase a new residence.

    They are both are listed as owners of the property, so both must apply for their own clearance certificate.

    They apply for their clearance certificates straight away, which are issued to them on 29 September 2024. They note the clearance certificate is valid until 28 September 2025 – 12 months from its date of issue.

    A few months later, on 7 January 2025, they put their home on the market and a week later accept an offer of $650,000 and a fast 14-day settlement.

    They already had clearance certificates, which they gave to the purchaser prior to settlement. The purchaser doesn’t withhold any FRCGW.

    Note: If they didn’t have their clearance certificates, 15% of the sale price ($97,500 – $48,750 each) would have to be withheld by the purchaser and paid to us.

    They would have to wait until their 2025 tax returns are lodged and processed for a refund, which could delay purchasing their new residence.

    End of example

    For more information, see Australian residents and clearance certificates.

    Australian residency

    Depending on circumstances, residency can change. We will confirm your residency status for foreign capital gains withholding when you apply for a clearance certificate.

    Individuals

    The residency test for individuals for tax purposes is different to that for social security and immigration purposes.

    Generally, an individual will be an Australian resident for tax purposes if they:

    • have always lived in Australia, or came to Australia and live here permanently
    • have been in Australia continuously for 6 months or more, and for most of that time, worked in one job and lived at the same place
    • have been in Australia for more than 6 months of the year, unless their usual home is overseas and they don’t intend to live in Australia
    • go overseas temporarily and don’t set up a permanent home in another country
    • are an overseas student who came to Australia to study and are enrolled in a course that is more than 6 months.

    You can work out your tax residency or work out your residency status for tax purposes.

    Non-individuals

    Different residency tests apply to non-individual entities such as companies, corporate limited partnerships and trusts.

    Non-individuals can refer to Working out your residency.

    Foreign residents selling property

    Foreign resident vendors aren’t entitled to a clearance certificate and must not apply for one.

    Foreign residents are subject to the full rate of FRCGW to the sale price or market value (if non-arm’s length), unless they have a variation notice that reduce this.

    To see how residency affects CGT, refer to How your residency affects CGT.

    See Foreign residents and variations for more detail.

    Purchasing property

    Any individual or entity purchasing property in Australia may have to withhold an amount from the sale price a FRCGW amount and pay it to us.

    If the vendor:

    • provides a clearance certificate, there’s no requirement to withhold FRCGW. The entire sale price can be paid to the vendor
    • provides a variation notice, the purchaser must withhold an amount from the sale price or market value (if non-arm’s length). The variation notice shows a withholding rate (between 0% to 14.99%) to calculate the FRCGW amount. The remainder of the sale price or market value (if non-arm’s length) can be paid to the vendor
    • doesn’t give you a clearance certificate or a variation, the purchaser must withhold an amount from the sale price or market value (if non-arm’s length) and pay it to us.

    Purchasers failing to withhold when required to do so may be subject to penalties. General interest charges may also apply.

    For more details see Paying foreign resident capital gains tax.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian residents and clearance certificates

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    Clearance certificates for Australian residents

    All Australian residents (for tax purposes) selling or disposing of Australian real property (property) must have a clearance certificate and give it to the purchaser at, or before settlement.

    Without a clearance certificate, the purchaser must withhold up to 15% of the sale (or market value if not sold at arm’s length) for foreign resident capital gains withholding (FRCGW) purposes.

    Australian residency

    Depending on circumstances, residency can change. We will confirm your residency status when you apply for a clearance certificate.

    Individuals

    The residency test for individuals for taxation purposes is different to that for social security and immigration purposes.

    Generally, an Australian resident for tax purposes is an individual who:

    • has always lived in Australia or has come to Australia and lives here permanently
    • has been in Australia continuously for 6 months or more, and for most of that time, worked in the one job and lives at the same place
    • has been in Australia for more than 6 months of the year, unless their usual home is overseas and they don’t intend to live in Australia
    • goes overseas temporarily and doesn’t set up a permanent home in another country
    • is an overseas student in Australia to study and is enrolled in a course that is more than 6 months.

    You can work out your tax residency or work out your residency status for tax purposes.

    Non-individuals

    Different residency tests apply to non-individual entities such as companies, corporate limited partnerships and trusts.

    Non-individuals can refer to Working out your residency.

    Rate of withholding from a property sale

    The following FRCGW rates apply to the market value of property contracts signed:

    • Up to and including 31 December 2024, a rate of 12.5% applies to property valued at $750,000 or more.
    • On and after 1 January 2025, a rate of 15% applies to the value of all property.

    Example: the importance of getting a clearance certificate early – 15% withheld from sale

    Willow and Stanley are Australian residents for tax purposes. On 1 September 2024 they decide to sell their family home, their main residence. They need the funds from the sale to purchase a new residence.

    They are both listed as owners of the property on the certificate of title, so both must apply for their own clearance certificate.

    They find a purchaser on 8 January 2025 and sign the contract of sale, with a settlement 30 days later on 6 February.

    They don’t apply for a clearance certificate until 15 January and don’t have both of their clearance certificates at, or before settlement.

    The property sold for $600,000, however:

    • Willow’s clearance certificate issued and was given to the purchaser
    • Stanley was still waiting for his clearance certificate.

    The sale goes through and settlement occurs. As Stanley didn’t have a clearance certificate at settlement, 15% of Stanley’s share of the sale ($90,000) must be withheld by the purchaser and paid to us.

    Stanley must wait until his 2025 tax return is lodged and processed for a refund.

    As the purchaser had received a clearance certificate from Willow, there’s no withholding required on her share of the sale.

    End of example

    Example: the importance of getting a clearance certificate early – no withholding

    Maisie and Max are Australian residents for tax purposes. On 1 September 2024 they decide to sell their family home, their main residence. They need the funds from the sale to purchase a new residence.

    They are both are listed as owners of the property, so both must apply for their own clearance certificate.

    They apply for a clearance certificate straight away which is issued to them on 29 September 2024. The clearance certificate is valid until 28 September 2025 – 12 months from its date of issue.

    A few months later, on 7 January 2025, they put their home on the market and a week later accept an offer of $650,000 and a fast settlement.

    As they had clearance certificates, which they gave to the purchaser prior to settlement, the purchaser doesn’t withhold any FRCGW.

    Note: If they didn’t have their clearance certificates, 15% of the sale price ($97,500 – $48,750 each) would have to be withheld by the purchaser as FRCGW and paid to us.

    They would have to wait until their 2025 tax returns are lodged and processed for a refund, which could delay purchasing their new residence.

    End of example

    Types of property

    Taxable Australian real property requiring a clearance certificate includes:

    • vacant land, buildings, residential and commercial property
    • mining, quarrying or prospecting rights where the material is situated in Australia
    • indirect Australian real property interests (IARPI), where the holder has a right to occupy land or buildings on land.

    Applying for a clearance certificate

    In this section:

    Clearance certificates

    Most clearance certificates issue within a few days, but some can take up to 28 days to process and issue. Apply for a clearance certificate as soon as you think about selling a property.

    The vendor (or seller) is the entity that owns the legal title to the property.

    An ATO-issued clearance certificate confirms the vendor’s Australian residency for foreign capital gains withholding.

    When selling Australian real property:

    • you don’t have to wait to sign a contract – apply for a clearance certificate as soon as you are thinking of selling, they are free
    • each vendor must give their clearance certificate to the purchaser before the settlement date
    • most clearance certificates will issue within a few days, but some can take up to 28 days to process and issue
    • if there’s no clearance certificate provided by the vendor by the settlement date, the purchaser must withhold an amount of FRCGW and pay it to us
    • clearance certificates are valid for 12 months from their date of issue (as long as the vendor’s residency status doesn’t change during that time)
    • if you decide not to sell, but have a clearance certificate, there’s no requirement to use it.

    If a vendor is a non-individual entity, for example a super fund, partnership, trust or company, see Clearance certificates in certain circumstances.

    In certain circumstances, the property can be looked after on behalf of another entity, for example, a trustee for a deceased estate.

    Note: When vendors don’t have a valid clearance certificate from us at or before settlement, the purchaser must withhold a FRCGW amount from the sale.

    Apply for a clearance certificate

    If someone else is completing your clearance certificate application, see Who can apply on your behalf.

    For more information on how to complete the form, see Capital gains withholding clearance certificate application online form instructions – for Australian residents.

    A paper form and instructions are also available. See Capital gains withholding clearance certificate application paper form instructions for more information.

    The contract is longer than 12 months

    There may be instances where the settlement date is after the expiry date on the vendor’s clearance certificate. For example, where an off-the-plan apartment is acquired and the contract period is greater than 12 months.

    The purchaser may rely on the clearance certificate being valid as long as the date it’s made available to the purchaser is within the clearance certificate period stated on the certificate, and some of this period covers the time the transaction is entered is in effect.

    Who can apply

    Those who can apply for a clearance certificate include:

    • vendors
    • legal practitioners
    • tax agents
    • conveyancers
    • real estate agents
    • solicitors and registered tax agents representing the vendor on their behalf.

    Conveyancers, real estate agents and others charging a fee for services (but who aren’t legal practitioners or registered tax agents) should give the vendor a paper application to complete and sign. The representative can use the details on the paper clearance certificate application form to complete the online form, ensuring faster processing, as part of the settlement process.

    For more information about a representative’s role see Conveyancing and the TASAExternal Link on the Tax Practitioners Board website.

    Processing times

    Applications must be lodged at least 28 days before settlement to ensure you have your clearance certificate in time.

    Each application is processed separately, so members of a couple or group may receive them at different times.

    Processing may take longer if:

    • the vendor hasn’t lodged income tax returns recently
    • there’s a change in residency status
    • the names on our records don’t match the names on the Certificate of Title – see Name on the clearance certificate
    • the property is owned by complex entity structures and determining the residency takes longer.

    If you lodge your application close to the settlement date, we can’t guarantee it will be processed by that date.

    If you don’t have a clearance certificate

    If an Australian resident vendor doesn’t provide a valid clearance certificate at or before settlement, the purchaser must withhold a FRCGW amount, even if the Australian resident vendor:

    • is entitled to a clearance certificate, but didn’t get one
    • didn’t provide their certificate to the purchaser at or before settlement.

    Name on the clearance certificate

    The first and last names on the clearance certificate must match the property’s Certificate of Title for it to be accepted by the purchaser.

    Middle names don’t need to be supplied or matched.

    Clearance certificates are issued in the legal name on our system. If the vendor’s name has changed, update the vendor’s name on our system before applying. In some circumstances, this may not be required – see Name mismatch.

    Name mismatch

    If the vendor’s first and last names on the clearance certificate aren’t the same as the Certificate of Title, supply the purchaser with both:

    • the clearance certificate
    • a proof of a name change (for example, a marriage certificate, or a change of name certificate, issued from an Australian state or territory registry).

    If the proof of name change is from an overseas source, you must update your name with us by post. 

    We don’t reissue certificates for a name mismatch in the above instances.

    Title or honorific mismatch

    A title (honorific) match isn’t required. For example, Susie Tan, is often known as ‘Miss’ Tan and ‘Ms’ Tan. The ‘title’ she uses on her clearance certificate application doesn’t need to match the Certificate of Title for the property.

    Receiving your clearance certificate

    Clearance certificates are sent by email (if it’s included in the application).

    To get their clearance certificate online, individual vendors can:

    • log in to myGov, go to ATO online services
    • My profile menu, go to Communication
    • then History.

    If there’s no email address, the clearance certificate is posted to the vendor and their contact using the address in the application.

    If you choose to communicate with us via email, be aware the internet isn’t a secure environment. We can’t guarantee the privacy and security of personal information.

    Lodging a tax return to claim a credit

    If you don’t provide a clearance certificate to the purchaser at, or before settlement and an amount of FRCGW was withheld, you must lodge a tax return to get that amount credited to you – even if your income was below the threshold to lodge.

    1. You need a copy of the FRCGW payment confirmation from the purchaser as proof of the amount withheld.
    2. When completing your tax return
      • declare your assessable income, including any capital gain or loss from the sale or disposal of the property, if applicable
      • claim a Credit for foreign resident capital gains withholding amounts taken from the sale proceeds.
    3. The FRCGW amount will be refunded in full if
      • there are no tax debts
      • there’s no CGT payable on the sale of the property.

    A credit for the amount withheld for FRCGW applies to the income year the contract was signed. It may be months later when the vendor can lodge their tax return to declare their capital gain and claim any credit for the amount withheld. This is generally because tax returns can’t be lodged before the end of the relevant income year. Any amount due to the vendor will be refunded to them after the tax return is assessed.

    If the contract is signed in one income year but the purchaser pays the FRCGW in the next income year, the capital gain and claim for the credit for FRCGW amounts should be included in the income year the sale contract was signed.

    Invalid or fraudulent clearance certificates

    We can withdraw a clearance certificate at any time if we learn a vendor is a foreign resident (also known as a non-resident).

    If a purchaser, in good faith, hasn’t withheld FRCGW from the purchase price, they won’t be subject to a penalty for failure to withhold.

    We will hold the vendor liable for making a false and misleading statement and may prosecute them.

    Clearance certificates in certain circumstances

    In certain circumstances, there are different requirements for clearance certificates.

    In this section:

    Relationship breakdown

    A clearance certificate (or an FRCGW variation) isn’t required when a relationship breaks down, as long as:

    • the transfer of property happens under the Family Law Act 1975 or under a relevant state, territory or foreign law
    • the transferee has documentation specified in subsection 126-5(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (ITAA 1997) by the time of the transfer.

    For more information, see PAYG Withholding variation for foreign resident capital gains withholding payments – marriage or relationship breakdownsExternal Link.

    Example: property transfer and clearance certificates in a divorce settlement

    After 10 years of marriage, Jenny and Mark decide to separate and file for divorce. Jenny is a resident and Mark is a foreign resident.

    They own 2 properties:

    • a house in Melbourne valued at $3 million
    • an apartment in Sydney valued at $2 million.

    They agree that Jenny will keep the Melbourne house and Mark will take the Sydney apartment and file consent orders for these transfers, which are granted by the court.

    Jenny, an Australian resident, needs to apply for a clearance certificate for the transfer of her interest in the Sydney apartment to Mark, to ensure withholding doesn’t apply.

    As Mark is a foreign resident, he can’t get a clearance certificate. However, he qualifies for CGT roll-over reliefExternal Link as the transfer is due to their marriage breakdown, which ensures a 0% rate for withholding applies. Mark doesn’t need a variation notice.

    For more information, see PAYG Withholding variation for foreign resident capital gains withholding payments – marriage or relationship breakdowns.

    End of example

    Mortgagee sales

    When you borrow funds (mortgagor) from a mortgagee (a creditor, such as a bank) and aren’t able to repay the loan, the mortgagee can force the sale of the property.

    There are 3 situations where this commonly applies:

    1. The mortgagor keeps the title to the sale while the mortgagee orders the property be sold but hasn’t repossessed the title to the property.
    2. The mortgagee takes possession of the property and sells it, but there’s no transfer of title from mortgagor to mortgagee.
    3. Foreclosure, when the mortgagee repossesses and takes the title to the property. FRCGW may apply when the transfer of title is made from the mortgagor to the mortgagee (generally, a sale of the property at market value).
      • The transfer of title from the mortgagee to the final purchaser.

    However, if the mortgagee is an Australian Deposit-taking Institution (such as an Australian bank), in some circumstances, the rate of withholding is varied to 0%. For more detail, see PAYG Withholding variation for foreign resident capital gains withholding payments – no residue after a mortgagee exercises a power of sale 2020External Link.

    Deceased estates

    When the executor or trustee (legal representative) of a deceased estate is selling or disposing of a property, there are some circumstances when a clearance certificate or FRCGW isn’t required:

    • a beneficiary of the will acquires the property (regardless of their residency)
    • a surviving joint tenant acquires the property
    • the property is transferred to the legal representative.

    If the property is sold or transferred to anyone else, the legal representative must have a clearance certificate, otherwise whoever acquires the property will be required to withhold to FRCGW on their behalf and remit it to us.

    When completing a clearance certificate application, the legal representative must include the deceased vendor’s name according to the name on the property title. They don’t need to have ‘as executor for’ on the application.

    Example: deceased vendor passes property in the will

    When Judy died, her will provides for her house to be left to her son, John.

    Because there is a will in place, the executor for Judy’s estate arranges the transfer of her property to John.

    There is no need for a clearance certificate and FRCGW doesn’t apply.

    The executor retains a copy of her will for their records.

    End of example

    Example: deceased estate sells property to someone else

    Lei has died and her will states that her house is to be sold and the proceeds of the sale are to go to her favourite charity.

    The property title was transferred from Lei to the legal personal representative (LPR). No clearance certificate is required.

    The LPR is arranging the sale of the property.

    When her LPR applies for a clearance certificate, it’s not necessary to include ‘as executor for’ or ‘as legal representative for’ on the clearance certificate.

    The LPR applies for the clearance certificate in Lei’s name and when the property sells, it is not subject to FRCGW.

    End of example

    For further information, see PAYG Withholding variation for foreign resident capital gains withholding payments – deceased estates and legal personal representativesExternal Link.

    Executor of a will is a foreign resident

    If the executor of the will is a foreign resident, FRCGW is applicable on the sale of the property.

    They can apply for a variation of the withholding amount if:

    • they’re not entitled to a clearance certificate
    • the withholding amount is more than the Australian tax liability on the sale of the asset.

    See Foreign residents and variations for more information.

    Income tax exempt entities

    A clearance certificate isn’t required when a vendor provides evidence they’re an income tax exempt entity, provided they have:

    For more information, see PAYG Withholding variation for foreign resident capital gains withholding payments – income tax exempt entitiesExternal Link.

    Trusts and super funds

    The entity that has legal title to the property applies for the clearance certificate. In most cases this is the trustee who applies in their own capacity as either a company or an individual.

    The name on the Certificate of Title and clearance certificate must match.

    The trustee must:

    • ensure the associates’ detailsExternal Link in the Australian business register are updated and correct
    • apply for the clearance certificate
    • use one of either
      • the trustee’s tax file number (TFN)
      • their Australian business number as the identifier if applicable.

    The clearance certificate is issued in the name that appears on our systems.

    Trustee doesn’t have a TFN

    If the:

    • corporate trustee is a company that doesn’t have a TFN, attach the details of the trust and the company’s Australian company number (ACN) to the application
    • trustee is an individual that doesn’t have a TFN, attach the details of the trust’s name with the application. For example, a copy of the trust deed.

    For example, this may be needed where the trust is registered in ATO systems as ‘The trustee for ABC Trust’ where the property title contains ‘XYZ as the trustee for ABC Trust’, or the clearance certificate only lists the trustee’s name.

    For assistance in completing the clearance certificate application, use the online instructions.

    Consolidated groups and multiple entry groups

    Withholding and intra-group transactions

    A member of a consolidated group or multiple entry groups that purchases from another member of the group an asset to which the withholding applies is still required to comply with the withholding obligation.

    Entity obtaining the clearance certificate

    We issue a clearance certificate to the head company or provisional head company of the group, which includes the members of the group as an attachment.

    We rely on the group membership information as recorded on our systems. If group membership has changed, it’s up to the head company to notify us of these changes before making a clearance certificate request.

    Alternatively, subsidiary entities can, in their own right, apply for a clearance certificate and have one issued in their own name.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Aggravated burglary – Ludmilla

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police are calling for information in relation to an aggravated burglary that occurred overnight in Ludmilla.

    Around 1.30am this morning, police received multiple reports that two unknown male offenders had unlawfully entered a residential address on Mawallan Court and allegedly assaulted the occupants with a hammer. The offenders subsequently fled the scene.

    Police and St John Ambulance attended and located a 57-year-old man with serious head injuries. Four other victims, aged between 12 and 14, were in the residence at the time and suffered minor injuries.

    The 57-year-old man was conveyed to hospital in a critical condition, and two of the teenagers were conveyed for treatment for minor injuries.

    At this stage, police believe the attack was targeted towards the man.

    Police are urging residents in the area with CCTV or dash cam to review their footage for two males in the vicinity of Mawallan Court between 1am – 2am.

    Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference P24357169. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 23 Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes across Gaza

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Children wait to receive food relief at a food distribution center in the city of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on Dec. 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    At least 23 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

    At least nine people, including three children and two women, were killed, and some others were injured as a result of the Israeli bombing of the Musa bin Nusayr School, which houses displaced people in the Al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City, WAFA said.

    Four more people were killed when the Israeli army bombed a vehicle on the Al-Jalaa Street in Gaza City, it added.

    Five citizens, including four children, were killed on Sunday morning in Israel’s shelling of the Jabalia town, north of Gaza City, WAFA said in a separate report.

    In the southern Gaza Strip, two people were killed when the Israeli army bombed their apartment west of Khan Yunis, and three others died in the Israeli bombing of the city of Rafah, WAFA said.

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday that with the direction of intelligence, the air force conducted a “precise strike” on Hamas militants who were operating inside a command-and-control center in the Gaza Strip.

    The command-and-control center, which was embedded inside a compound that previously served as the Musa bin Nusayr School, was used by the militants to plan and execute attacks against IDF troops and the State of Israel, it added.

    Israel has been on a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

    The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 45,227, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Saturday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sharing the National Collection: Masterpieces travel back to Heidelberg

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    A collection of eight works of art from Australia’s famed Heidelberg School will travel back to their area of inspiration in northeast Melbourne thanks to the Albanese Labor Government’s Sharing the National Collection program.

    Gallery 275, part of the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub in Melbourne’s northeast suburbs, will host the works of art for two years. During that time, they will feature in the exhibition: Early Impressions – Bringing the Heidelberg School back to Heidelberg.

    The loan includes paintings by some of Australia’s eminent artists, including Tom Roberts, Clara Southern, Louis Buvelot, Charles Conder and Arthur Streeton. 

    These figures were among the pioneers of the Heidelberg School, which developed in the area from the late 1880s to 1890s. Often working “en plein air” outdoors in campsites, the artists created a distinctly Australian impressionist style inspired by local landscapes. 

    Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said this loan was demonstrative of the continued success of Sharing the National Collection. 

    “These artists’ names are instantly recognisable to many Australians and now, through the Sharing the National Collection program, audiences have a chance to view these works near the locations in which they were created.

    “Previous loans have had great success in driving visitors to see significant artworks in their local galleries that they may not have had the chance to see in the National Gallery. 

    “This program is proving that there’s a want for people to experience and appreciate great art in their own community.”

    Dr Nick Mitzevich, National Gallery Director, said the loan was a rare viewing opportunity.

    “The Sharing the National Collection program provides the chance for a collection of paintings from the Heidelberg School of painters to return to the region they were created in and inspired by.  

    “The partnership between the National Gallery and Gallery 275 at Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub shares Australian Impressionist works of art by Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Charles Conder, Louis Buvelot and Clara Southern that will inspire a series of diverse educational programs and artistic responses to these nationally significant works of art.”  

    Federal Member for Jagajaga, Kate Thwaites, said the loan is an exciting opportunity for the local community.

    “It is wonderful to see these artworks return to our region, where their artists took inspiration so many years ago.”

    “These pieces showcase our beautiful local landscape; I know many in our community will take pride in having them home.”

    Banyule Council Mayor, Cr. Elizabeth Nealy, said the loan was a great win for the local community.

    “These are popular, nationally significant artworks and are adored by locals. It’s truly remarkable that these Heidelberg School artworks are finally coming home to where they were painted; the area which lent the name to this important Australian art movement. 

    “We’re bringing them back to Heidelberg and the surrounding suburbs, where they will be on display in Gallery 275 at the Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub.”

    Regional galleries can register their interest in the loan program here.

    Works can be viewed via the National Gallery’s website.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: More than $2.5m worth of assets restrained in undeclared tobacco case

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    A discovery of undeclared tobacco by the New Zealand Customs Service has resulted in the restraint of more than NZ$2.5 million worth of assets by New Zealand Police under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009.

    This case shows crime doesn’t pay, and profiting from criminal activities will eventually catch up with people, say the agencies.

    In November 2023, Customs intercepted 110 kilograms of loose tobacco and over 230,000 cigarettes (or approximately 10,000 packets) concealed in Chinese tea packets destined for residential and business addresses in Napier and Gisborne.

    No importation permits were held for the seized tobacco and cigarettes, and no excise equivalent duties were paid, amounting to around $645,000 in defrauded revenue.

    Further investigations identified previous similar consignments had been successfully imported into New Zealand and were being sold by a restaurant in Gisborne to the public.

    In March 2024, Customs carried out search warrants in Gisborne and located $10,000 cash in a bedroom, $106,371.20 cash inside a vehicle parked outside the restaurant, and over a kilogram of loose tobacco along with 11,000 cigarettes inside the restaurant.

    The Customs investigation resulted in the seizure of 306,200 cigarettes in total, and charges were laid against four people for various offences under the Customs and Excise Act 2018.

    With court proceedings still underway, the Police Asset Recovery Unit applied to the court and was granted restraint of the cash seized in the investigation along with further money from bank accounts, as well as four residential properties in Gisborne.

    In total, over $2.5m in assets has been restrained, and a forfeiture of the money and residential properties will be sought by the Police Asset Recovery Unit at the conclusion of the criminal charges.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Fischer from the Central Asset Recovery Unit said this investigation shows the reach of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, and how closely Police are working with other government organisations to disrupt the flow of illicit funds.

    “Funds sourced from any type of illegal activity can form the basis of criminal proceeds action. In this case, the blatant disregard of the law for personal gain has helped Customs and Police uncover a large-scale fraud generating a high amount of income, from an activity that is unfortunately becoming more and more common,” he said.

    Chief Customs Officer, Nigel Barnes, said that illicit tobacco is not a victimless crime.

    “It takes money out from our communities and puts it in the pockets of organised crime groups that then go on to use the money for other crimes,” Mr Barnes says.

    “The motive for this offending is you can make a lot of money with low risk – but it’s not actually low-risk, and this is a prime example of how criminals can expect to lose their ill-gotten gains.”

    If you know or suspect someone may be involved in illegal smuggling, call Customs on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768), a 24-hour confidential hotline, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Build to Rent initial affordability standards from 1 January

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Today the Albanese Government has taken steps to establish an initial set of affordability standards for Build to Rent developments to help increase housing options for those that need it the most.

    These standards will open the door to more affordable rental housing for more Australians.

    The affordability standards will support front line workers on moderate incomes and other hard‑working Australians to find secure, long term rental accommodation in eligible Build to Rent developments.

    The Albanese Government is helping to build more houses because that’s the best way to make sure people can find a home, whether that’s to rent or to buy.

    Build to Rent tax incentives are part of the Government’s broad and ambitious $32 billion Homes for Australia plan to build 1.2 million well‑located homes by 2029 and take housing pressures off Australians.

    The Government has finalised a legislative instrument to establish the initial standards for affordable dwellings from 1 January 2025, following the recent passage of primary legislation that delivers tax incentives to encourage investment and construction in the build‑to‑rent sector.

    Under the primary legislation at least 10 per cent of dwellings in a Build to Rent development must be ‘affordable dwellings’. The standards require those dwellings to be rented at 74.9 per cent or less of the market rate and set out income thresholds for eligible tenants.

    These affordability standards are the first tranche of requirements for the affordable dwellings in eligible Build to Rent developments.

    Over coming months, the Government will work closely with stakeholders on the next tranche of affordability standards, including:

    • requiring community housing organisations to be involved in managing affordable dwellings;
    • preventing Build to Rent operators from including no‑fault evictions clauses in tenancy agreements; and
    • ensuring a proportion of affordable dwellings are reserved for lower income earners based on their household income.

    Industry estimates show the Build to Rent measure will support the construction of around 80,000 new rental homes over the next decade that will offer longer tenancies and affordable options, giving renters more security and stability.

    The Government’s Build to Rent measure will operate in addition to state and territory initiatives designed to support the Build to Rent sector.

    Build to Rent is a model that has been used successfully overseas to increase housing supply.

    This Build to Rent measure complements other measures put in place by the Albanese Labor Government to support renters, including increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 45 per cent to help more than 1 million households with rental costs, and working with states and territories to ban no‑fault evictions and improving rental standards through our Better Deal for Renters.

    Our big investment in housing is building more homes for Australians and Build to Rent is an important part of that.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Implementing a minimum tax for multinationals

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    The Albanese Government is continuing to take action so that multinationals pay their fair share of tax in Australia.

    Today the Government has published subordinate legislation in the form of Ministerial Rules as part of Australia’s implementation of a 15 per cent global minimum tax and domestic minimum tax for large multinationals.

    To pay for the things that matter most to Australians like Medicare, pensions and housing, it’s important that multinationals operating in Australia pay their fair share of tax and that’s what these Rules help achieve.

    Multinational companies making a profit in Australia should pay tax on those profits in Australia.

    The publication of the Rules follows the recent passage through Parliament and Royal Assent of the primary legislation to implement the global and domestic minimum taxes.

    Minimum taxes are a key part of a coordinated global approach by the OECD to put a floor on tax competition and establish a fairer domestic and international tax system.

    From 1 January 2024, there will be a 15 per cent global minimum tax and domestic minimum tax for multinational enterprise groups with an annual global revenue of at least EUR 750 million (approximately A$1.2 billion).

    The global minimum tax will enable Australia to apply top‑up tax on a resident multinational parent or subsidiary company where the group’s income is taxed below 15 per cent overseas.

    The domestic minimum tax will enable Australia to apply top‑up tax for any low‑taxed Australian income.

    The Rules provide details on how multinationals should calculate any top‑up tax.

    The Rules will also ensure that future administrative guidance released by the OECD can be incorporated in a timely and efficient manner.

    An international tax system where big multinationals pay their fair share is better for small businesses, better for taxpayers and better for the economy.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Employers encouraged to set up parent-friendly jobs

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Shanghai has encouraged employers to set up “parent-friendly job posts” and adopt measures that facilitate a balance between work and family responsibilities, creating a supportive environment for parenthood in the workplace.
    “Parent-friendly job posts” should have flexible working hours and working methods, and job applicants should be parents with a child or children under the age of 12, the Shanghai Human Resources and Social Security Bureau said on Friday when introducing the policy regarding implementation of the pilot program.
    Such posts will operate under a flexible work system, allowing employers to implement flexible start and end times, remote or home-based work, flexible leave policies, and performance assessments to facilitate employees in managing both work and parenthood responsibilities.
    Government departments will guide industries, such as manufacturing, hospitality, food services and housekeeping services, as well as emerging sectors like the platform, digital, cultural and creative economies and the elderly care economy, to unveil such job opportunities in the first phase of the program.
    To support the initiative, the city will establish a list of employers offering such jobs.
    “Also, labor unions at all levels are tasked with assisting such employers in creating parent-friendly workplaces, including pushing forward the construction of breastfeeding rooms and organizing summer and winter holiday programs as well as after-school childcare services,” the policy document said.
    Similar policies have been introduced in various regions across the country, but in those cases it was clearly stipulated that such posts were provided to female applicants only, as they were called “mom’s job posts”. Working hours for such jobs are flexible, and workers can have time to take children to and from school. In addition, such workers do not need to work overtime.
    For example, in January, the city of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, announced a list of 58 employers that have set up such posts. In June, Xingtai, a city in Hebei province, introduced the new employment model of “mom’s job posts”, under which the city has helped more than 25,000 women find employment.
    Earlier this month, Qingdao, Shandong province, released the city’s first list of “mom’s job posts”, involving 190 jobs mainly in the catering and domestic services sectors.
    Zhang Lei, deputy director of Peking University’s Institute of Population Research, said that such posts help women achieve a balance between family and work.
    However, the jobs “must improve in both quantity and quality, as the current setting of such posts may accelerate the loss of human capital of educated women”, she said.
    Regarding the Shanghai initiative, some have said it stands out for not restricting such job opportunities to female applicants. Recognizing that family and childcare responsibilities are not solely the domain of women, the policy aims to address work-life balance issues for all parents, they said.
    “So I hope that more jobs involving a lot of male workers will be on this list, so that this initiative is not set up to once again marginalize women from the workplace,” said Zhao Jing, a mother of a 5-year-old child. Zhao has stopped working several times after giving birth due to parenting responsibilities and unsatisfactory work content.
    Such moves regarding parent-friendly workplaces have been praised by some women who believe that these initiatives provide a larger chance for mothers to return to the workforce.
    A survey conducted last year by a research institute affiliated with the All-China Women’s Federation in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, found that, among respondents, 82.7 percent of stay-at-home mothers under the age of 40 had plans to return to work.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Drawing inspiration from a city

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Beijing, Beijing, a popular song by singer-songwriter Wang Feng occupies a special place in the hearts of the capital’s residents, especially in the hearts of those who have come from elsewhere to make their dreams come true, who are collectively known in Chinese as beipiao.

    “Here we laugh, here we cry, …Here we pray, here we feel lost, here we chase.”

    The lyrics summarize the complicated feelings of a person enmeshed in metropolitan prosperity and opportunity, as well as in the sacrifices necessary to survive and settle in the big city.

    Over 100 years ago, a little-known painter from rural Hunan province experienced the same progression — the mix of hope, self-doubt and anxiety — for some time after relocating to Beijing.

    At the age of 55, Qi Baishi (1864-1957) made his third trip to the capital. His previous trips had already exposed him to the dynamism of its cultural landscape and this time well-prepared, he arrived ready to confront the challenges he would face.

    Qi sought to carve out a niche for himself in the art community in this highly competitive city with its long history and rich culture.

    In the nearly four decades until his death, he developed an intimate relationship with Beijing and as he gradually rose in artistic prominence and success, he took as much pride in the capital as it did in him.

    If the charismatic Qi was alive today, he would likely share a love for the growing trend of city walking, particularly as he celebrated his wandering around the city’s streets in his art.

    Details of this life can be seen in Qi Baishi in Beijing, an exhibition on at the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing, which runs until March 30.

    The exhibition, which celebrates the artist’s 160th birth anniversary, includes some 200 paintings, pieces of calligraphy, seals, photos, manuscripts and documents, together with animations and digital re-enactments, presents a picture of the varied nature of Qi’s life and work in the decades after he moved to Beijing in 1919.

    The objects on show have been taken from the collections of several museums and cultural institutions.

    The curatorial team includes the members of the Capital Museum, which administers the Grand Canal Museum, the Beijing Fine Art Academy, and Rongbaozhai, a historical shop and atelier to the west of Beijing’s Liulichang Street.

    Qi was the first — and so far the only — honorary director of the Beijing Fine Art Academy, which was established in 1957. It has a collection of his work, donated by Qi himself, as well as by members of his family, and close associates.

    Beginning life in the 17th century as a small shop selling paper and other implements used in Chinese ink work, Rongbaozhai has grown into a time-honored cultural brand. During Qi’s life, it hosted exhibits of his work and helped him with sales. For many years, it also produced finely patterned paper he had commissioned. It owns a collection of his work, and is fully licensed to reproduce his paintings as woodblock prints.

    The exhibition takes the form of a city walk that follows Qi throughout the course of a year to the restaurants where he often dined, the hutong alleyways, which led to the gardens, areas and homes of close friends where he would spend time, images of which he re-created with his brushes, capturing their ambience.

    “This time we are not following the transformation of Qi’s art in chronological order, as we normally do. We’ve put together a kind of painterly map, which shows the life he led in Beijing, how he made friends, and the anecdotes that inform his work,” says Wang Yanan, the exhibition’s co-curator and a researcher at the Beijing Fine Art Academy.

    She says the exhibition demonstrates the way how Qi evolved from overlooked rural painter to one of the leading figures of the 20th-century Chinese art.

    His early paintings not only illustrate his attempts to be accepted by Beijing’s art circle, but also reveal his homesickness and lack of confidence.

    Qi first visited Beijing in 1903 and later for a second time in 1917. He was impressed by its vigorous cultural scene, and was introduced to important figures. He tried to become one of them, but his work sold poorly.

    He had been a painter of note in Hunan, making money from portrait commissions but in Beijing, he was initially at a disadvantage because of his humble upbringing and background as a carpenter, as well as his lack of formal or institutional training.

    The first two visits motivated Qi to invest in improving his art. In a newspaper interview in 1946, he explained why he made the third attempt to return to Beijing: “I felt that I had excelled. I didn’t want to give up. Beijing was, ultimately, a hub of people of gift and insight, and there had to be someone who would recognize my art. … I was quite determined, there was no turning back for me.”

    His patience and perseverance finally gained him the attention of people of discernment, among them Chen Shizeng, an influential artist, and Mei Lanfang, the great Peking Opera performer.

    Chen suggested that Qi leave his comfort zone — copying the styles, compositions and motifs of the great painters in ancient times — to explore his own path.

    Qi took Chen’s advice, and committed himself wholeheartedly to a course later described as, “reinventing himself in his later years”.

    His early experience in carpentry and wood relief making lent detail to his paintings.

    He developed a style called “red flower blossoms and black leaves”, that made use of loose strokes and expanses of color in large-format compositions.

    Mei became Qi’s apprentice and often invited him to dinners at home, where he would introduce his teacher to the other guests at Zhui Yu Xuan, as Mei’s home was known. This helped Qi win a position in the circles of arts and culture.

    As his new work achieved success, Qi felt that after years of being nourished by Beijing’s cultural atmosphere, he was finally being accepted as a member, and was able to contribute wholeheartedly to the cultural scene.

    Through his art, Qi enthusiastically celebrated the Beijing scenes that nurtured him.

    “Qi said that he had enjoyed the best oranges at Rongbaozhai, and seen the most beautiful views at Taoranting Pavilion (a popular city park today); that the blossoming lilacs at the Fayuan Temple (a famous 7th century Buddhist temple) were marvelous, and the morning glories at Mei’s home were impressive in size,” says Wang.

    Zhang Nan, another of the exhibition’s co-curators, says that to immerse the audience fully in Qi’s world, they decorated the rooms using three theme colors: pink, to remind people of the lilac at the Fayuan Temple; yellowish brown, to represent bottle gourds Qi grew in his courtyard home; and red, the color of peonies, a favorite subject of his paintings.

    Wu Hongliang, director of the Beijing Fine Art Academy, says since last year they have launched a series of activities to mark the 160th anniversary in collaboration with institutions that own collections of Qi’s work in China and abroad.

    Through touring exhibitions, public programs, performances, and digital re-enactments, they hope to raise the international profile of this modern icon of Chinese art. Another exhibition is being held at Rongbaozhai’s headquarters in Liulichang, a street of antiques shops, which focuses on Qi’s sales.

    An exhibition of selected work from the Beijing Fine Art Academy’s collection, Qi Baishi: Inspiration in Ink, opened on Dec 12 at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum. It runs until April 7, after which it will travel to Boston.

    Wu says the exhibition at the Grand Canal Museum directs attention to the link between Qi, his art, and Beijing, and how that connection would inspire new perspectives of the capital.

    Wang says the exhibition is like a trip through time to meet an interesting man on the streets of Beijing. “Through Qi’s eyes, and following in his footsteps to the scenes he depicted, maybe we will gain new experiences that will help soothe our hearts.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appeal for information following woman’s death, Lower Hutt

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Please attribute to Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard, Wellington Police:

    Police are investigating after the death of a Wellington woman who died in hospital after she was admitted following an assault just over a week ago.

    The victim, 53-year-old Lillian Wharton, died in Wellington Hospital on Thursday (19 December 2024).

    Police are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding her death and are treating it as unexplained at this stage.

    On Saturday 14 December, Lillian was at a friend’s address in Lower Hutt and left with people known to her to walk back to her home on Waiwhetu Road.

    At some point after the leaving the address she was assaulted and admitted to hospital in a serious condition before she passed away on Thursday.

    Police have charged a man, who is known to the victim, with assault, assault with intent to injure and injuring with intent to injure and he appeared in Lower Hutt District Court yesterday where he was remanded in custody until his next appearance.

    Police are asking the public for any sightings on Saturday 14 December, between 8pm and 10pm, of two adult women and one male. One of the women was pushing a pram.

    We are asking if anyone saw them or anything of concern between Randwick Road, York Street, Awamutu Road, Leighton Avenue and around the intersections of Whites Line East and Waiwhetu Road.

    We would ask anyone who has information which may assist our enquiries to please update Police online or call 105 quoting file number 241219/9880. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. 

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Ramaphosa signs the Presidential Proclamation to bring the BELA Act into full operation.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    President Cyril Ramaphosa signs the Presidential Proclamation to bring the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act into operation from , 20 December 2024, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

    The President has instructed the Minister of Basic Education to see to the full implementation of the BELA Act following the endorsement by leaders of the parties to the Government of National Unity.

    The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act enacts measures that ensures the ability of schools to give effect to the promotion of all official languages.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxWB563R5P0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Stay safe this Christmas and enjoy a happy New Year

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    A message from Police Commissioner Michael Murphy APM

    As Christmas morning 2024 draws near, our thoughts turn to a day etched into Darwin’s history: 50 years ago, the fury of Cyclone Tracy tore through this city, leaving devastation in its wake and testing the grit and determination of all Territorians.

    On that fateful morning in 1974, Tracy battered our shores with winds so ferocious they forever changed the landscape – and the psyche – of our community. Yet, out of the wreckage, Darwin rose stronger, prouder, and more united than ever before.

    That spirit of resilience still lives on today. In the face of any emergency – be it a cyclone, flood, bushfire, or other crisis – your Northern Territory Police Force stands ready and willing to step forward and protect all who call this place home. Through rigorous planning, training, and preparation, we remain unwavering in our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of Territorians.

    This Christmas, as we pause to remember the hardships endured in 1974, we also celebrate the extraordinary unity that carried us through. It is that same sense of togetherness that will guide us whenever danger looms anywhere in the Territory. From the lessons of Cyclone Tracy, we know there is no storm we cannot weather if we stand shoulder to shoulder.

    So, as you gather with loved ones this festive season, reflect on the legacy of a city rebuilt, and on the courage it took to get us here. And know this: the NT Police Force will be here to safeguard our community – ready to act swiftly and decisively, no matter what comes our way.

    On Behalf of the Northern Territory Police Force, enjoy a safe and Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai attends 2024 Presidential Hackathon awards ceremony

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    President Lai attends 2024 Presidential Hackathon awards ceremony
    2024-12-22

    On the afternoon of December 22, President Lai Ching-te attended the 2024 Presidential Hackathon awards ceremony. In remarks, President Lai praised the winning teams for proposing innovative solutions in the areas of health promotion and digital and net-zero development. The president also stated that in these challenging and rapidly changing times, the Presidential Hackathon exemplifies collaboration between the government and civil society, breaking through conceptual limitations to implement government innovations that respond to people’s needs and resolve various social problems. If we all work together, he said, the nation can look forward to a better, more advanced, and more prosperous future.
    Upon arrival, President Lai first took in presentations by outstanding domestic and international hackathon teams on their proposals, and then delivered remarks.
    A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
    With the support of former President Tsai Ing-wen, the Presidential Hackathon was officially launched in 2018 during my tenure as premier. I am delighted to see that it has become a thriving platform for cross-sector collaboration between the government and civil society. Now in its seventh year, the hackathon has since its inception selected a total of 35 domestic and 12 international outstanding teams. Their achievements are truly remarkable, and I want to thank everyone for their efforts.
    This year, the theme of the domestic track is “Aging Together in Good Health.” With Taiwan becoming a “super-aged society” and our National Health Insurance reaching its 30th anniversary next year, we hope that your collective wisdom will help us jointly achieve the vision of Healthy Taiwan.
    Let me congratulate the five outstanding teams in the domestic track. The first team is Drone for Life. Their aim is to use drones to set up a transportation network that covers remote areas to promote an equitable distribution of medical resources, which is extremely important for rural healthcare. The second team is Quiet Tracker. They want to improve noise management processes and create a noise suitability indicator map database for Taiwan, taking domestic quality of life to the next level. The third team is Greens Plus. Their goal is to develop an AI-enabled agricultural identification platform to alleviate water shortage concerns and improve the quantity and quality of agricultural products for farmers, treating every drop of water as a precious resource.
    The fourth team is CONNECT 10. Their proposal will enhance care services in remote areas to improve the quality of life for recipients, and I am confident that this will make the government’s Long-term Care 3.0 Plan more complete. And the fifth team is Tranquil Aging Master. They want to use a communication platform centered on the elderly to connect care teams, seniors, and their families to create a new model of holistic health care. If this proposal can be implemented, human dignity will be given greater importance, which is good for everyone.
    The theme of this year’s international track is Digital and Green: Next-Generation Public Infrastructure. By integrating digital technology with net-zero, sustainable solutions, we want to promote the digital and net-zero twin transformation, lay a more sustainable foundation for Taiwan’s future generations, and achieve the goal of a smarter, more sustainable new Taiwan.
    I was pleased to see that this year’s international track received a record-breaking 77 team proposals. Here, I would like to congratulate the two winning international outstanding teams. The first team is GreenhopeBCTW. With members from the United States and Taiwan, the group hopes to use personal carbon wallets to turn environmental actions into assets and encourage more people to cut emissions. The second team is MooApps, whose three members are all from Indonesia. They have proposed an innovative digital monitoring system to help livestock farmers improve animal health and reduce herd mortality rates. I am confident that having a constant understanding of physical health conditions – not just for animals but for people as well – can be a powerful aid to individual health.
    Once again, I would like to thank all the outstanding teams for their hard work in proposing innovative solutions in the areas of health promotion and digital and net-zero development. In these challenging and rapidly changing times, the Presidential Hackathon exemplifies collaboration between the government and civil society, breaking through conceptual limitations to implement government innovations that respond to people’s needs and resolve various social problems.
    In closing, congratulations once more to all the outstanding teams. In your contributions, I can see the limitless potential for Taiwan. If we all work together, our nation can look forward to a better, more advanced, and more prosperous future.
    President Lai then presented trophies and certificates to the winning teams in both the domestic and international tracks.
    Also in attendance at the event were American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene and Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei Representative Arif Sulistiyo.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump says may keep TikTok around ‘for a little while’

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that he may allow TikTok to continue operations in the United States.

    At an event hosted by the conservative organization Turning Point USA in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump said that the popular video-sharing app may have helped reach some key voters in the presidential election, and expressed the possibility of keeping TikTok around “for a little while.”

    “We did go on TikTok, and we had a great response. We had billions and billions of views,” said the president-elect, adding that he was shown a chart highlighting the views his campaign had received on the app.

    On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a request from TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to block a law that would require the sale of the popular video-sharing app by Jan. 19, or face a ban on national security grounds.

    The nation’s top court is set to hear arguments on Jan. 10 regarding whether the law unconstitutionally limits freedom of speech, in breach of the First Amendment.

    The court’s ruling was issued two days after TikTok’s petition for an injunction against the law. TikTok argued that the potential ban would shutter one of America’s most popular speech platforms the day before a presidential inauguration, and “silence the speech of Applicants and the many Americans who use the platform to communicate about politics, commerce, arts, and other matters of public concern.”

    In April, U.S. President Joe Biden enacted the law that gives ByteDance only 270 days to sell TikTok, citing unfounded national security concerns. If the company fails to comply, the law will require app store operators such as Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their platforms.

    In May, TikTok sued the U.S. government to block the potential ban, which has drawn widespread criticism.

    In early December, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. dismissed TikTok’s claim that the ban is unconstitutional.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Qingcheng Palace opens to the public

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This photo shows a view in the Qingcheng Palace complex in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

    The Qingcheng Palace complex, located within the Altar of the God of Agriculture, opened to the public for the first time on Saturday.

    It is the second area within the altar — part of the “Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital”, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List — to open to the public this year, following the Divine Granary on April 18.

    First constructed in 1458 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the palace was initially named Zhaigong (Temple of Abstinence), where emperors conducted ritualistic fasting before worshipping the God of Agriculture.

    In 1755, during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the complex was refurbished into its current layout. It was renamed Qingcheng Palace and served as a celebratory venue where emperors convened with officials after worship ceremonies.

    “The Qingcheng Palace is the highest-ranking complex within the Altar of the God of Agriculture,” said Xue Jian, director of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, which manages the altar.

    “It features a four-sided hipped roof, the highest-grade form in imperial architecture,” he added. “The roof uses green glazed tiles, second only to yellow glazed tiles in the hierarchy. The dragon patterns painted below the eaves further signify the structure’s elevated status.”

    According to Xue, the complex only recently opened because the area has become a residential neighborhood. Conservation efforts for the Beijing Central Axis, especially since 2023, have helped relocate residents, demolish non-heritage buildings and restore the site, allowing the complex to be brought back into public view.

    Visitors to the Qingcheng Palace can enjoy an exhibition showcasing the preservation efforts of the Beijing Central Axis, which led to its World Heritage List inscription on July 27. Additional exhibitions highlight the history and architectural features of the palace and include a digital display introducing the rituals of worshipping the God of Agriculture.

    As the Qingcheng Palace is located in the outer area of the altar and is temporarily not connected to the inner area where the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum is situated, visitors with museum tickets can access the Qingcheng Palace complex following a separate ticket check.

    Zhang Lixin, director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, stated that the palace’s opening marks a new milestone in the altar’s history. The Beijing government has mandated that heritage sites along the Beijing Central Axis make maximum efforts to open to the public, enabling more people to experience the beauty of ancient architecture and traditional Chinese culture.

    “Now, the palace serves as a demonstration of the preservation achievements of the Beijing Central Axis, with active participation and support from the public,” Zhang said. “In the future, the palace will become a cultural reception hall for Beijing, fostering cultural exchange and mutual learning.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How global inequality hinders climate action

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Susan Ann Samuel, PhD Candidate, School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds

    Leaders from around the globe are meeting in Davos. Michael Derrer Fuchs/Shutterstock

    World leaders have gathered for the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. One of their main goals is to align their responses to geopolitical shocks such as floods and wildfires that hamper trade, investment and more.

    The meeting also supposedly aims to find ways to stimulate economic growth to improve living standards, foster a just and inclusive energy transition, achieve security and cooperation amidst conflicts, and accelerate the economic response to an “intelligent age” of AI.

    But, a new report from Oxfam International, published on the first day of the meeting in Davos, highlights how global inequality is more rampant than ever. The report, written by a team of policy campaigners and inequality research advisers outlines how billionaire wealth rose sharply in 2024 worldwide, with the pace of the increase three times faster than in 2023.

    The World Economic Forum lists extreme weather as one of the top global risks. But, as world leaders convene in Davos, the high-profile anti-climate stances of some of them stand in stark opposition to any meaningful progress for climate action.

    The Oxfam report highlights the exploitation involved in creating and sustaining wealth and outlines how, as inequalities deepen, vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected. The most vulnerable – overwhelmingly women, people of colour, Indigenous groups and low-wage workers – are caught in a cycle of insufficient wages, limited services and minimal political influence.

    The report also highlights how wealth inequality is often intertwined with historical processes of extraction — both within countries (for example, through weak labour protections that lowers wages) and between countries (through trade, finance, and resource exploitation).

    The climate connection

    Other research has also shown how inequality is deeply interwoven with climate breakdown. Each crisis exacerbates the other. Historically, the richest nations – and within them, the wealthiest people – have contributed the most to greenhouse gas emissions.

    Meanwhile, lower-income countries that bear little responsibility for global heating suffer the most. These countries, already burdened by debt and systemic inequality, have fewer resources to protect communities from extreme weather, crop failures and infrastructure damage. This makes day-to-day survival a struggle for billions.

    When climate change exacerbates existing inequalities, marginalised communities are denied basic human rights. For instance, droughts reduce crop yields and deplete water sources, so more people — often women and children — have to ration supplies or go without. This directly infringes on their rights to food, safe drinking water and sanitation.

    In these ways, without climate action, the warming planet threatens to widen inequalities by affecting the poorest people most severely. A 2020 World Bank report estimated that an additional 68 to 135 million people could be pushed into poverty by 2030 because of climate change. French researchers identified that climate change also slows down the economic catch-up of poorer countries.



    Read more:
    Extreme weather has already cost vulnerable island nations US$141 billion – or about US$2,000 per person

    The reality on the ground is bleak. Floods in Pakistan displaced thousands and affected more than 33 million people in 2023. That’s ten times more than the total population of Los Angeles where, when the recent wildfires struck, 170,000 people had to be evacuated.

    Around the world, climate movements continue. Law suits that demand climate action are transforming governance. High-level negotiations like the UN’s annual climate summit carry on seeking progress, although the processes could be improved to accelerate change.

    What can Davos do? World leaders need to look at how wealth and power can be redistributed (reparations for climate damages is one way to do this) and low-income, climate-vulnerable nations can be better represented in global decision-making.

    Without this kind of change, there’s a risk climate action will perpetuate the same structural imbalances that first enabled environmental exploitation. Only by tackling both climate injustice and economic inequality together can the world prevent further climate disasters and ensure a more equitable future.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Susan Ann Samuel receives funding from the University of Leeds, for her PhD research.

    – ref. How global inequality hinders climate action – https://theconversation.com/how-global-inequality-hinders-climate-action-247841

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Countdown to CES 2025: Looking Ahead to Panasonic Group’s Opening Keynote and Revisiting Past Innovations

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Countdown to CES 2025: Looking Ahead to Panasonic Group’s Opening Keynote and Revisiting Past Innovations

    Panasonic to deliver opening keynote at CES 2025

    On October 1, 2024, Yuki Kusumi, Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Panasonic HD) CEO, was joined in Tokyo by Ms. Kinsey Fabrizio, President of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)—owner and producer of CES—to announce that Kusumi would deliver an opening keynote speech at CES 2025. The world-renowned tech event takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 7–10, 2025.
    Panasonic Group’s key message for CES 2025, “Well into the future,” expresses the Group’s desire to realize its vision for a better future not only through products, technologies, and services, but also through business activities that include the development of green energy technologies and circular economy practices to help address the urgency of the climate crisis.
    “In our opening keynote, we will introduce cutting-edge initiatives that focus on innovative technologies to enhance the sustainability of society, as well as the health, comfort and safety of families and individuals,” said Kusumi, “and will demonstrate that the Panasonic Group is taking a new step towards realizing the future it aims for.”
    The opening keynote will be the first for Panasonic since 2013. 

    Kusumi CEO speaking at the October 1 event

    Longstanding CES Connection: 57 consecutive years as exhibitor

    Panasonic has exhibited at every CES since 1967, when the first event—known then as the Consumer Electronics Show—was held in New York City. “CES is one of the most important events in our industry because it is a place where people from around the world can gather together to experience cutting-edge technology and seek inspiration,” said Kusumi.
    The Group maintains a long-standing partnership with the CTA, the event’s organizer, as the two hold a shared belief in the potential of technology to realize a sustainable future and the importance of applying technology to the benefit of customers, society, and the global environment.
    “Our relationship with CTA is not just that of organizer and exhibitor, but is also based on a strong desire to solve global issues using the latest innovations. Of course, this strong desire also aligns with the mission of the Panasonic Group,” said Kusumi. 
    At CES2025, Panasonic will continue to showcase its latest initiatives related to Artificial Intelligence, Energy/Power, Lifestyle, and Sustainability at its booth in LVCC Central Hall #16605.

    Chance to share Panasonic Group goals with the world

    CES caters to a global audience. In addition to attracting more than 4,300 exhibitors, CES 2024 saw a total verified attendance of 138,789 people, of whom 56,432 were from overseas. Also in attendance were 5,355 members of the media from 76 countries/regions around the globe. For the Panasonic Group, the annual event is a unique opportunity to share its goals with people around the world and gain their understanding of the strategies and innovations the organization is bringing to bear to realize a better future. 
    A great example of this is CES 2022, where the Panasonic Group chose to announce its global goal of reducing CO2 emissions by more than 300 million tons globally by 2050 through its long-term environmental vision Panasonic GREEN IMPACT, which sets ambitious and high-reaching targets for reducing carbon emissions.
    Sustainability was the featured topic at CES 2023 and Panasonic was among the leading global companies demonstrating their contribution to the fight against climate change. This contribution began with Panasonic’s exhibition spaces: designed to use fewer and recycled materials while cutting down on waste, the booth was crafted from environmentally friendly materials such as bamboo and wheatgrass and did not use carpeting. The exhibit allowed visitors to explore the technologies and solutions Panasonic has developed that support its vision of a smart, ecological world, including hydrogen-powered factories, energy efficient consumer products, and electric mobility.

    Panasonic Exhibition Booth at CES 2024

    At CES 2024, Panasonic’s press conference and booth explained how the Group is positioning environmental initiatives at the center of every aspect of its business. In the first booth area, visitors could see products and solutions that are helping to move homes, businesses, and society toward a decarbonized tomorrow based on sustainable energy, including air-to-water heat pumps, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, vehicle-to-home (V2H) storage battery systems, and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The second booth area introduced systems and services that promote the transition toward a circular business model based on reduced use of plastic, product refurbishment, and resource recycling.

    “Well into the future” for CES 2025

    Panasonic is now putting the finishing touches on its key message for CES 2025, “Well into the future.”
    Panasonic’s legacy of social contribution continues to drive the steps it takes toward its commitment of making today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today. Panasonic is looking forward to engaging with people from all corners of the world at CES 2025, explaining its activities and why they are meaningful, and encouraging everyone to become part of the conversation as Panasonic charts the path toward a sustainable future.
    Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman & CEO, Panasonic Corp. of North America and CTA member, commented: “This year marks a significant milestone in Panasonic’s 57-year journey with CES. Guided by our founding philosophy of contributing to society through innovation, our theme, ‘Well into the future’ highlights how technology can improve health, comfort, and safety while driving a more sustainable world. I invite everyone to join the livestream and experience how Panasonic is shaping the future for individuals, families and societies alike.”

    From right: Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman & CEO, Panasonic Corp. of North America; Yuki Kusumi, Panasonic Holdings Corporation CEO; Kinsey Fabrizio, President of CTA; and Megan Pollock, VP, Branding & Strategic Communication at Panasonic North America

    Opening Keynote at CES 2025

    Main Speaker: Yuki Kusumi, Group CEO, Panasonic Holdings Corporation
    Venue: Palazzo Ballroom, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas
    Date and Time: Tuesday, January 7, 2025 8:30–10:00 AM PST (Wednesday, January 8, 2025 1:30-3:00 AM JST)

    CES 2025

    Related Articles

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New federal actions will help California better manage water supply

    Source: US State of California 2

    Dec 20, 2024

    What you need to know: The federal government adopted a new water management framework that will help the state better manage water supply and protect endangered fish species.

    SACRAMENTO – Today, California joined the Biden-Harris Administration as it signed off on a new framework key to moving and supplying water for tens of millions of Californians. Adoption of this framework is an important step for integrating future water projects vital to maintaining the state’s water supply, including the Sites Reservoir and the Delta Conveyance Project.

    Combined, the new framework covering the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project provides a more balanced approach to water management that will allow water managers greater flexibility when responding to extreme swings between drought and flood brought on by a changing climate. 

    The framework also benefits California’s endangered fish species through habitat restoration, improved flow measures, monitoring and hatchery production. The federal government’s adoption of this framework follows the approval of a new operating permit for the State Water Project system in November.

    We know what the future has in store for our state: hotter hots and drier dries. That means we have to do everything we can now to prepare and ensure our water infrastructure can handle these extremes. Thanks to the support of the Biden-Harris Administration, California is taking action to make our water systems more resilient and lay the groundwork for new capacity in the future.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    This week, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation signed a Record of Decision for new documents known as “biological opinions,” which address the water projects’ ecological impacts – shaping how water can be pumped and moved through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

    “The new framework supercharges our adaptive management and enables project operators to work with water users and the broader public to better manage the system to benefit millions of Californians and endangered fish species,” said California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director Karla Nemeth. “Extreme storms and extended droughts mean we need to be as nimble as possible in operating our water infrastructure. DWR remains committed to working with our federal and state partners and using the best available science to support the water supply needs of California’s communities while protecting fish and wildlife.”

    In November, the state received a new operating permit for the State Water Project (SWP). The permit, known as an Incidental Take Permit, was issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) following the certification of a Final Environmental Impact Report for long-term operations of the SWP. 

    Building up California’s water supply

    Other actions the state has taken recently:

    • Nearly 400 communities across California have received support to bolster their drinking water and wastewater systems, securing clean drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people. 
    • California is forging ahead with major water projects, including the Sites Reservoir and the Delta Conveyance Project, that promise to provide water supply for millions of Californians once completed.
    • California recently marked the first decade of protecting and sustaining our critical groundwater supplies through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which empowers local agencies to tackle overpumping that endangers water supplies for communities, agriculture and ecosystems. 
    • California has increased its groundwater reserves, investing in projects that recharge groundwater basins, including capturing excess stormwater.
    • Governor Newsom unveiled an update to the California Water Plan, outlining comprehensive solutions to enhance the state’s ability to capture and store more water, especially during extreme weather events like floods. 
    • The state distributed $880 million to eliminate water utility debts for 4 million Californians, alleviating financial burdens on residents and businesses and ensuring continued access to water services during challenging economic times.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Dec 19, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and the California Museum today inducted the 18th class of the California Hall of Fame in a virtual ceremony. This all-women posthumous class consists of trailblazers in athletics, civil…

    Dec 19, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a new plan to reduce reliance on the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility in Southern California. Aliso Canyon must be closed for…

    Dec 19, 2024

    News What you need to know: California supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s new greenhouse gas reduction target announced today as part of America’s commitment to the Paris Agreement. SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued the following statement after…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Šiaulių bankas to invest additional €60 million to finance the renovation of multi-apartment buildings in Lithuania

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    On 20 December, 2024, Šiaulių bankas AB and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed amendments to the Pre-financing and Contingent loan agreements concluded in 2016 to increase the Bank’s investment by €60 million – up to €255 million from €195 million – to finance the modernization programme of multi-apartment buildings in Lithuania.

    “The multi-apartment building modernisation fund under Bank’s administration has signed financing contracts for almost €200 million this year alone. The demand for renovation projects is gaining pace and we have committed to increase Šiaulių Bankas’ investments in renovation financing by €60 million after discussions with the Ministry of Environment of Lithuania and the EIB. This way we continue to contribute to a more sustainable and country and wellbeing,” says Vytautas Sinius, CEO of Šiaulių Bankas.

    Šiaulių Bankas has been involved in the financing market for the modernization of multi-apartment buildings in Lithuania for more than 12 years. During this period, the Bank and its partners have financed the renovation of more than 3,000 projects total loan worth exceeding €1.2 billion.

    “The Ministry of the Environment appreciates the cooperation with Šiaulių bankas, the financial intermediary chosen by the EIB, which, recognising the importance of renovation, has made it possible to finance the long-standing modernisation of multi-apartment buildings. The additional funding will ensure the continuity of the loan funds created with EU funds and a smooth transition to new financial instruments. I hope that these additional funds will accelerate the implementation of renovation projects,” said Povilas Poderskis, Minister of the Environment.

    “This collaboration between Šiaulių bankas and EIB represents another significant step in strengthening our long-term partnership in the housing sector. We are pleased to support this initiative at a time when financing for renovation and energy efficiency is most needed. By contributing to the Government’s goals in this critical sector, we are helping to drive sustainable development and support the creation of greener, more resilient homes, while advancing broader climate objectives,” said Junona Bumelytė, EIB Fund and Structuring Officer.

    Šiaulių Bankas launched the €200 million SB Modernisation Fund 2, financed by Šiaulių bankas itself, the Government, with the EIB as fund manager, as well as Swedbank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and pension funds managed by the Šiaulių bankas Group this year. This fund has already signed financing agreements for almost all allocated amount to renovate up to 300 multi-apartment buildings across Lithuania.

    The aim is to renovate most of the multi-apartment buildings in Lithuania by 2050. Two thirds of these buildings are currently energy class D and below. Modernized buildings save energy while improving living conditions and increasing value.

    Additional information:

    Tomas Varenbergas

    Head of Investment Management Division

    tomas.varenbergas@sb.lt

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: China: Five years on, activists jailed in ‘cruel’ 2019 crackdown must be released

    Source: Amnesty International –

    It is time to step up demands for the Chinese government to release human rights defenders detained after attending a social gathering five years ago, Amnesty International said today.

    In December 2019, a number of human rights activists met in the southeastern city of Xiamen for a dinner and discussion of social issues. From the 26th of that month, and over the weeks that followed, Chinese authorities forcibly disappeared human rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi and legal scholar Xu Zhiyong until they re-surfaced in government detention.

    Amnesty International considers both men prisoners of conscience and has consistently advocated for their immediate and unconditional release.

    “The Xiamen crackdown epitomizes the Chinese authorities’ all-out assault on civil society and the cruelty with which they treat peaceful rights advocates,” said Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China Director.

    At least five other activists were also targeted, and detained, for their affiliation with the gathering. In the months that followed, all seven activists were reportedly held in “residential surveillance at a designated location” (RSDL), a form of secret incommunicado detention that places detainees at increased risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment.

    “Over the past five years, Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi – along with several of their companions – have endured arbitrary detention, torture and unfair trials, merely because they attended a private gathering and discussed the civil society situation and current affairs in China.”

    Following closed-door trials, on 10 April 2023 Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi were sentenced to 14 and 12 years in prison respectively for “subverting state power”. In October 2024, Xu Zhiyong began a hunger strike to protest his treatment in prison, which included being harassed by fellow cellmates, apparently at the behest of prison officials.

    “The continued imprisonment of Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi is an outrage, and the international community must ramp up pressure on the Chinese government to address this injustice and secure their release,” Sarah Brooks said.

    The Chinese authorities must immediately release Ding and Xu and stop punishing all those who participated in the Xiamen gathering.

    Both Ding and Xu have been the subject of recommendations to Chinese authorities by multiple governments and by UN officials, including High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Yet concrete actions to demand access to these individuals or to increase the consequences to Chinese authorities for their crackdown on human rights defenders have not materialized.

    “The harsh sentences meted out to Xu and Ding are meant to send a message: that to fight to defend one’s rights is unacceptable to the Chinese government. Yet they persisted, and now their family members carry on advocating for their release with that same conviction.”

    Ding Jiaxi’s wife, Sophie Luo, told Amnesty International ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Xiamen gathering: “I know that attending a private gathering does not violate any laws, and these citizens should not be imprisoned for even a day. Therefore, I will fight tirelessly for the dismissal of this case.”

    A support group active online coordinated by activists in and outside of China is collecting messages and prayers to share with Xu, despite censorship and the risk of government retaliation.

    “The Chinese authorities must immediately release Ding and Xu and stop punishing all those who participated in the Xiamen gathering. The grim picture painted by their continued imprisonment should galvanize international condemnation for China’s crackdown on civil society,” Sarah Brooks said.

    Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi were prominent members of the New Citizens’ Movement, a loose network of activists founded by Xu in 2012 to promote government transparency and expose corruption. Both had been jailed previously due to their advocacy; Ding served three and a half years and was released in October 2016, while Xu – whose sentence was slightly longer – was released in 2017. 

    Xu and Ding appealed their 2023 convictions, but in November 2023, the Shandong Provincial High Court upheld the verdict and sentence against them. Both have now requested a second appeal.

    In jail, Ding and Xu have been deprived of fundamental rights, including access to reading and writing materials; have severe restrictions on their right to communicate with family and friends; and have reported challenges seeking medical care. Possibly in response to his hunger strike, the Chinese authorities allowed Xu to meet with his lawyer on 26 November 2024. It appears that Xu has since stopped his hunger strike.

    Human rights defenders in China continue to face intimidation, harassment, arbitrary detention, as well as torture and other ill-treatment for defending human rights and exercising their freedoms of expression and association. Such retaliation often also extends to their family members and colleagues.

    As in many cases of Chinese activists, friends and family of Xu and Ding have faced threats and harassment for speaking out. For years, Xu was not only prevented from seeing his family but lacked legal counsel of his choosing; three lawyers appointed by his family withdrew from representing Xu, reportedly due to threats and intimidation from Chinese authorities.

    Other human rights activists targeted in connection with the Xiamen gathering include:

    • Chang Weiping was sentenced to three and a half years in prison; he has served his sentence and was released in July 2024 but remains subject to a travel ban
    • Li Qiaochu received a sentence of three years and eight months; she has served her sentence and was released in August 2024 but remains subject to a travel ban plus two years of deprivation of political rights
    • Zhang Zhongshun was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in November 2024
    • Dai Zhenya and Li Yingjun were released on bail after spending time in RSDL, and they are also subject to a travel ban.

    Amnesty International considers a prisoner of conscience to be any person imprisoned solely because of their political, religious or other conscientiously held beliefs, their ethnic origin, sex, colour, language, national or social origin, socio-economic status, birth, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or other status, and who has not used violence or advocated violence or hatred in the circumstances leading to their detention.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: China provides emergency assistance to quake-hit Vanuatu

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

    BEIJING, Dec. 23 — The Chinese government has provided 1 million U.S. dollars in emergency assistance to the quake-hit Vanuatu to support the country’s response to the disaster and reconstruction efforts, said Li Ming, spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency on Monday.

    At the request of Vanuatu, the Chinese side has coordinated experts from Chinese enterprises based in the country to conduct a preliminary disaster assessment, and the Chinese medical team in Vanuatu has actively participated in the treatment, rescue and operation of injured individuals, said Li.

    The Red Cross Society of China has also provided 100,000 U.S. dollars in emergency cash assistance to Vanuatu, Li added.

    The spokesperson said that China is willing to continue to provide follow-up assistance according to the needs of Vanuatu and help the country overcome difficulties and rebuild homes as soon as possible.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB, Vastu Housing Finance to Enhance Access to Affordable and Sustainable Housing in India

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    NEW DELHI, INDIA (23 December 2024) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Vastu Housing Finance Corporation Limited (Vastu) have entered into a senior secured loan agreement of up to $70 million to enhance access to affordable and sustainable housing loans in India’s underserved states. This financing will be utilized to provide loans to economically weaker sections and low-income groups, with an emphasis on female borrowers. At least 15% of the funds will be allocated to first-time borrowers.

    “ADB aims to address the critical housing shortage in India while promoting environmentally friendly housing that enhances climate resilience for homeowners by focusing on lower-income households and sustainable housing,” said PSOD Director General Suzanne Gaboury. “This partnership with Vastu illustrates ADB’s commitment to supporting financial inclusion and sustainable development in India, in alignment with the country’s national financial inclusion strategy.”

    According to the Reserve Bank of India, shortfalls of 45 million houses for economically weaker communities and 50 million for low-income groups account for 95% of India’s overall housing deficit. These groups often struggle to access credit due to high mortgage costs and limited credit history. This highlights the necessity for affordable housing finance companies that provide loans to new borrowers and self-employed individuals in rural and semi-urban areas.

    Sandeep Menon, Founder, MD & CEO, Vastu, said, “Vastu is poised to expand our reach and deepen our impact in extending affordable housing finance to the credit-underserved segments, with a focus on women borrowers. We are glad to partner with ADB to further this vision. Together, we aim to bridge the credit gap for India’s emerging middle-class and lower-income households.”

    Vastu is a technology-driven affordable housing finance company that focuses on self-employed customers in growing peri-urban and rural cities and towns. With a strong presence in semi-urban and rural areas, Vastu offers affordable housing loans and loans against property, emphasizing sustainability and financial inclusion.

    ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Adopted brothers make festive donation to city children

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The boys, aged 8 and 5, who are both adopted via Adoption@Heart, the adoption agency for the Black Country, came up with the idea after hearing about how many children would normally go without presents over the festive period.

    The children said: “We are lucky as we have so many toys, and we want to make other children smile too, especially at Christmas.”

    The boy’s mother said: “We believe every child deserves joy and love, no matter their circumstances. These toys are donated to bring smiles to the faces of less fortunate children, spreading hope and kindness to those who need it most.”

    The family, who also donated to the children of Wolverhampton last year, were once again touched by the generosity of their boys and got in touch with their social worker at Adoption@Heart to see how they could coordinate the donation. On speaking to their friends about the children’s offer, 3 other families also decided to get involved, providing sacksful of presents for children across Wolverhampton.

    The boys’ mother said: “As adoptive parents, we feel incredibly blessed to share smiles and joy with our sons every day. Each year, alongside other school parents, we honour the memory of our sons’ dear friend who passed away in 2021 by giving back in this meaningful way.

    “Equally, we all wanted to install these values with our boys. To be grateful for what they have, to be charitable, to look after those more in need and to share.”

    The gifts have been donated to Graiseley Family Hub for distribution to children in need in Wolverhampton this Christmas. The Hub provides support and activities for families with children 0 to 18 years, including support such as parenting, housing, benefits, training and employment.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “I am touched by this simple act of kindness which will make all the difference to our children in need, not just because of the gifts themselves, but because of the selfless nature of the young people and families who are donating gifts.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to send them a heartfelt thank you from all at our Family Hubs.”

    The family decided to start their adoption journey 10 years ago after being unable to have children.

    The boy’s mother said: “The adoption process was smooth, and we never really had any issues.

    “We adopted our eldest when he was 8 months old, and never planned on having a second child. However, as he got older, we could see when we took him out, he would be playing on his own.

    “We then decided on a sibling for him, and his brother joined our family when he was 7 months old.

    “They together are so close, and absolutely love each other to bits. It’s the best thing we ever did, giving us our perfect family.”

    Adoption@Heart is the regional adoption agency for the Black Country, providing adoption services for the City of Wolverhampton Council, Walsall Council, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council and Sandwell Children’s Trust.

    Lots of people can adopt, whether they are single, living together, married, a same sex couple, in employment or not working, or already have children or not. Potential adopters must legally be a UK resident and have been so for at least 12 months, as well as being aged 21 or over. They should be able to provide a stable home for a child until adulthood and beyond.

    Adoption@Heart is currently holding virtual information events online every fortnight. They are the perfect place for those who are ready to start their adoption journey or would like more information. Details of future events are available at Adoption@Heart. For further information, call 01902 553818 or email info@adoptionatheart.org.uk 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A Christmas message from the Leader of the Council

    Source: City of Derby

    Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy looks back on the year and ahead to 2025.

    As the year draws to a close and we gather with loved ones to celebrate the festive season, it seems a fitting time to reflect on the incredible progress Derby has made over the past year. It’s been a year of milestones and achievements, but also one that has brought its fair share of challenges. Progress is rarely easy, and as a city, we’ve faced obstacles that have tested us. Yet, through it all, we’ve worked tirelessly together, to keep moving forward and make Derby a better place.

    Our city has always been a place of innovation, resilience, and community spirit. These qualities have shone brightly throughout 2024, even when times were tough. Whether it’s dealing with the complexities of large-scale projects or addressing concerns in our communities, we’ve shown that by pulling together, we can overcome difficulties and deliver for Derby.

    The restoration of the historic Market Hall is a shining example of Derby’s ability to balance innovation with heritage. Sealing a time capsule earlier this year was a poignant reminder of the rich history we’re building upon, even as we navigate the complexities of modern restoration. With the Market Hall set to reopen in 2025, it will once again become a thriving hub for creativity, independent businesses, and community life—a true testament to our city.

    Equally exciting has been the progress at Becketwell Live, where the final seat was recently installed in the new state-of-the-art performance venue. Set to open in 2025, it symbolises our ambition to reshape Derby’s cultural landscape. But big aspirations like this require patience and perseverance. The journey hasn’t always been straightforward, yet it is now bearing fruit, a thought we should hold in our minds as we strive to meet our other ambitions.

    Speaking of which, our plans for Derby’s Cultural Heart are also moving forward. Regenerating the Market Place is absolutely key to unlocking the full potential of our city. Culture and community are central to the former Assembly Rooms site and what goes there next needs to be a space that belongs to everyone and that everyone feels welcome in. The restoration of the Guildhall as a home for community performances will equally play its part in focusing the Market Place as the cultural heart of the city. Such transformative projects require years, sometimes decades of commitment and determination, and while they come with their share of hurdles, I am certain the opportunities they will bring will be worth every step.

    Strengthening the connections between areas of our city centre has been a key focus this year, and the. Eastern Gateway project at Derbion is transforming the area nearest to the Bus Station. Creating a welcoming space that blends urban gardens with modern design has involved careful planning and cooperation, but this development speaks to our vision of a better-connected, sustainable Derby that prioritises people and the environment.

    Meanwhile, the work on Victoria and Albert Streets to improve active travel and public transport links is almost complete, making it easier than ever to explore Derby. These improvements are part of our broader commitment to reducing congestion and pollution while encouraging healthier, more active lifestyles—a goal that, while essential, often requires tough decisions and balancing competing needs. But we are confident we are taking the right steps for our city.

    The delivery of Pocket parks is an example of how small projects in our communities can have a big impact. These welcoming mini-green spaces are much more than a breath of fresh air; they provide places for people to meet, relax, and connect. Located across the city, these parks are helping to make walking and cycling easier and more accessible, while contributing to a greener, cleaner, and more community-focused Derby. Though just one piece of a much larger puzzle, they represent the positive change that focused, local initiatives can bring to our everyday lives.

    Looking back, I am struck by how much we have accomplished together, especially when the path hasn’t always been smooth. From enhancing public spaces to revitalising our cultural offer, every project is a testament to the shared passion and determination of Derby’s citizens, businesses, and community groups.

    As we prepare to welcome a new year, my focus remains clear: to continue working with the city, for the city. Whether it’s by creating opportunities for innovation, improving sustainability, or fostering inclusivity, we are shaping a stronger, healthier Derby for all.

    Thank you for being part of this journey. It’s not always easy, but together, we’re building a Derby to be proud of—a city that truly has something for everyone.

    Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a bright start to the New Year.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New Year’s working hours of Polytechnic University dormitories

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    During their studies at the university, the dormitory becomes a second home for many students. Many stay here for holidays and vacations, so it is so important to create a joyful New Year mood for the kids. In all the dormitory buildings, they decorate Christmas trees, halls, buildings and courtyards.

    The administration has prepared a gift for the residents. On New Year’s Eve, admission to all SPbPU dormitories will be free for university students. This will allow the guys to celebrate 2025 in the company of friends!

    Let all the doors of our dormitories be open on New Year’s Eve to meet your classmates and fellow students. New Year is a bright holiday that you want to celebrate with your loved ones and friends. Let your New Year’s Eve be cheerful, bright and memorable, – said the director of the Student City Vyacheslav Olshevsky.

    Well, what New Year would be complete without tangerines! “Tangerine Boom” is a real fun event where kids are treated to tangerines and congratulated on the holiday. It is organized by the administration of the Student City, the Directorate of Cultural Programs and Youth Creativity, PROF and the United Student Council of Dormitories.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BLOG: How we’re tackling rogue landlords

    Source: City of Liverpool

    One year ago, Liverpool City Council launched a Private Sector Housing Intelligence and Enforcement Task Force, and the results have made a real difference in our city. Tom Mullan from the team reflects on the last year...

    This anniversary gives us a chance to celebrate the team’s achievements in disrupting rogue landlords, improving housing conditions and creating safer communities. Through multi-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing and enforcement, the Task Force has delivered significant outcomes that benefit our city and its residents.

    The Task Force, established with funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Pathfinders Programme, was tasked with establishing new and innovative ways to combat landlords who:

    • Ignore their legal obligation to license properties
    • Fail to meet safety standards for tenants
    • Use properties for illegal activities, like drug-related crime or human trafficking

    Cllr Sam East, Cabinet Member for Housing, emphasised the importance of the initiative: “This Task Force was established to proactively target and disrupt rogue and criminal landlords and managing agents operating in the private sector in Liverpool and the threats they pose to our city’s vulnerable residents, safe neighbourhoods and community cohesion. The team’s collaborative, intelligence-led, multi-agency approach is a real success.”

    Some of our achievements so far…

    Improved housing safety
    Over 129 serious hazards were identified in private rental properties, with 139 enforcement notices issued, including 21 Housing Act Improvement Notices and a further 8 Emergency Prohibition Orders.

    Disrupting criminal activity
    Joint operations with Merseyside Police and the Home Office resulting in the seizure of £13 million (street value) of cannabis and the emergency closure of eight properties.

    Creating trusting relationships
    Established service level data sharing agreements with the other local authorities in the Liverpool City Region and our external partners to foster joint working in tackling rogue and criminal landlords.

    Safeguarding vulnerable residents
    Investigated over 20 properties linked to human trafficking and sexual exploitation, working with our third sector partner, Changing Lives, to provide support for victims.

    Investigating Trading Standards
    Proactively investigated and enforced trading standards compliance on over 40 managing and letting agents operating in Liverpool.

    Making an impact across the country
    Submitted 586 intelligence reports to a national database, helping disrupt criminal operations locally and nationwide, and partnered with Shelter to develop e-learning modules for agents on tenant rights, deposit security and consumer protections.

    Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Communities & Streetscene, said: “The targeted work across the city has had a real impact, improving housing conditions and creating safer neighbourhoods for our residents. Their proactive partnership working with Merseyside Police, housing providers and local voluntary organisations is helping to restore pride in our communities and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

    Making a difference in our communities

    Beyond the numbers, the Task Force’s work is creating safer, more stable communities:

    In Norris Green, operations reduced drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour by targeting rogue landlords and unsafe properties.

    Cllr Kevin Pilnick reflects on the work in his ward: “The team’s targeted operations in the Norris Green area have made a real difference.  Their work with the Council’s community co-ordinators and neighbourhood managers, alongside other stakeholder agencies, is helping to reduce anti-social behaviour and drug-related crime.”

    Working together to make an impact

    This progress is the result of teamwork across the council and partnerships with external agencies. Here’s what some of our partners had to say:

    Sarah Clarke, from Changing Lives, said: “The collaborative working that we undertake with the Task Force in Liverpool provides us with critical opportunities to offer safeguarding to victims of adult sexual exploitation and human trafficking who face significant harm from organised crime groups.  We cannot safeguard in silo and the joint working has evidenced this.”

    Peter Yoh, Head of Liverpool City Region Housing at Riverside: “The partnership working and intelligence sharing is proving vital to the success in making a real difference to customers of the private rented sector living within our communities.  Our collaborative approach with the Council’s Task Force is resulting in enforcement action being taken against irresponsible landlords, which is stabilising communities and sustaining tenancies.”

    Merseyside Police said: “Merseyside Police works in close partnership with the Task Force and other partner agencies from the voluntary and community sector, establishing a multi-agency approach to engaging the local community and gathering intelligence for detecting and disrupting sexual exploitation and supporting victims.”

    Looking Ahead

    With three months left in its current phase, the Task Force is already embedding its strategies into Liverpool City Council’s long-term private sector housing operations. The aim is to make our proactive, intelligence-led approach a standard for how we handle housing enforcement.

    If you have any concerns about rogue and criminal landlords, please contact privatesectorhousing.intel@liverpool.gov.uk or use our freephone number 0800 707 6245.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London set to be undisputed global capital for women’s sport in 2025 as city plays host to the world’s biggest events

    Source: Mayor of London

    • The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final at Twickenham set to have world-record attendance for a one-day women’s rugby event
    • Women’s tennis will return to the Queen’s Club for first time in more than 50 years
    • World class women’s cricket, football, netball, hockey, basketball and athletics also feature on packed sporting events calendar in London next year

     

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has today declared that London is set to be the undisputed global capital for women’s sport in 2025, with some of the world’s biggest sporting events to be hosted in the capital next year.

    The final in London is set to have a world-record attendance for a one-day women’s rugby event, with demand outstripping the supply of tickets for the Twickenham showpiece. Attendance is expected to top both the 58,498 who watched England beat France at the same venue in 2023 and the 66,000 at the Stade de France for the women’s Olympic sevens at Paris 2024. In total, more than 220,000 tickets have already been sold for the tournament, ensuring it will be the best attended in history.

    Ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Twickenham will host one of the biggest matches in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Rugby as England face France on 26 April, in a clash of the two highest ranked teams in the tournament.

    Another major milestone for women’s sport next year will be the return of a women’s tennis tournament to the iconic Queen’s Club for the first time in more than 50 years. The new Women’s WTA 500 event begins on 9 June, with former British No.1 and Olympic Silver medallist Laura Robson appointed as Tournament Director. The tournament will be held shortly ahead of the prestigious 2025 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, where the world’s best women’s and men’s tennis players will compete for the for the biggest prize in the sport.

    In cricket, England Women face India in a highly anticipated clash between two of the world’s best sides. They will compete in a T20 International at The Kia Oval on 4 July, ahead of a One Day International (ODI) on 19 July at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket. The first ever Vitality Blast Women’s Finals Day will take place at The Kia Oval on 27 July while The Hundred competition is scheduled to take place across August, where London has two women’s teams – the Oval Invincibles (based at The Kia Oval) and London Spirit (based at Lord’s).

    The summer will also see the return of world class athletics to London Stadium as the 2025 London Athletics Meet is staged on 19 July as part of the Wanda Diamond League series. The 2024 event was a sell out for a second year in a row and featured international superstars including Dina Asher-Smith, Keely Hodgkinson and Femke Bol, with a world class line up expected again this year.

    London remains the world’s top destination for women’s football. On 26 February the England Lionesses, the current European Champions, will host reigning World Champions Spain at Wembley Stadium in a repeat of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final. The Adobe Women’s FA Cup final will take place at the same venue on 18 May.

    London teams also make up almost half of the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL). Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are all currently competing in the 24/25 WSL, with the season running until May 2025. After a summer break, the 25/26 WSL season will begin in September.

    The capital is also the best city to watch netball, with the Copper Box on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park the home of Netball Super League (NSL) team London Pulse. The new NSL season will run from March to July 2025, with the NSL Grand Final taking place at the O2 Arena on 6 July.

    In basketball, the Playoff Finals will also return to the O2 Arena on May 18, where the top teams from the Women’s and Men’s Super League’s will compete for the coveted title.

    Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I’m so excited that London is set to be the undisputed global capital for women’s sport in 2025, with some of the world’s biggest events coming to our city next year.

    “I am delighted that we will be playing host to the Women’s Rugby World Cup, while we will also see the historic return of women’s tennis to the Queen’s Club. This is in addition to world class women’s cricket, football, netball, hockey, basketball and athletics in the capital.

    “I would urge Londoners to take up the opportunity to attend some of these amazing events, cheering on our top athletes and sports women. Ensuring London hosts many of the world’s leading sporting events is an important part of our work building a better London for everyone.”

    An estimated six million people attended sporting events across the capital this summer, including the UEFA Champions League Final and European Professional Club Rugby Finals, cementing London’s position as the undisputed sporting capital of the world.*

    Polling from YouGov found that 62 per cent of Londoners feel proud of living in London when major sporting events are hosted, with 72 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds feeling proud. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Londoners think that hosting major sporting events impacts positively on London’s economy.**

    The capital was also crowned the world’s leading sporting events host in the 2024 Global Cities Report as well as the best cultural experience destination.***

    Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Managing Director, Sarah Massey said: “With the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 set to capture hearts and headlines globally, the anticipation for the tournament is reaching new heights.

    “We’ve seen unprecedented demand for tickets across the tournament and with the iconic Twickenham Stadium hosting the final, fans can expect an unmissable experience and an incredible celebration of women’s rugby on its biggest stage.”

    The FA’s Women’s Technical Director, Kay Cossington said: “2025 is shaping up to be another momentous year for the women’s game and the Lionesses as we look forward to an unmissable EURO in the summer. Before then, the European champions will take on the world champions Spain at Wembley Stadium in February with another bumper crowd expected through the turnstiles.

    “The Lionesses’ fixtures at Wembley are always so special and reminiscent of that memorable July day in 2022 when the team made history by lifting our first major trophy. Away from England, Wembley Stadium will once again play host to the landmark event in the domestic women’s calendar – the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final. With the final selling out Wembley for the last two seasons in a row, we’re expecting the May 2025 final to be another unmissable showpiece.”

    The FA’s Women’s Technical Director, Kay Cossington said: “2025 is shaping up to be another momentous year for the women’s game and the Lionesses as we look forward to an unmissable EURO in the summer. Before then, the European champions will take on the world champions Spain at Wembley Stadium in February with another bumper crowd expected through the turnstiles.

    “The Lionesses’ fixtures at Wembley are always so special and reminiscent of that memorable July day in 2022 when the team made history by lifting our first major trophy. Away from England, Wembley Stadium will once again play host to the landmark event in the domestic women’s calendar – the Adobe Women’s FA Cup Final. With the final selling out Wembley for the last two seasons in a row, we’re expecting the May 2025 final to be another unmissable showpiece.”

    The All England Lawn Tennis Club Chief Executive, Sally Bolton said: “There is no doubt that London is a sporting powerhouse and 2025 is set to be a year of fantastic women’s sport for the capital. We look forward to playing our part as we welcome the world to Wimbledon for the 138th staging of The Championship with the world’s best tennis players going head to head on the lawns of SW19.”

    The ECB Director of Women’s Professional Game, Beth Barrett-Wild said: “Off the back of another year of extraordinary growth in 2024, we are set for an unmissable summer of women’s cricket in London in 2025.

    “In June, England Women take on India with two huge games here in the capital; in July, the first ever Vitality T20 Blast Women’s Finals Day is coming to the Kia Oval; and across August, The Hundred will be front and centre with The Final at Lord’s.

    “Last year The Hundred once again broke the global record for total attendance at a women’s cricket competition, with 320,000 fans in attendance, we’ll be hoping to see even more fans this year.

    “All this sets the scene for a huge 2026 when we host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup here in England, with women’s cricket here in London at the centre of a global competition.”

    Netball Super League Managing Director, Claire Nelson said: “We are incredibly excited to bring the Netball Super League Grand Final to The O2 for the very first time in 2025.

    “The O2 is one of the most prestigious arenas in the world and will provide the perfect backdrop to a world class event and an unforgettable experience for fans, players and everyone involved. As we enter a new professional era for League, this event will be a major moment for our sport that will see us continue to push the boundaries to make our events bigger and better than ever before.”

    UK Sport CEO, Sally Munday said: “2025 is going to be a spectacular year for women’s sport in the UK. In particular,  we are incredibly excited about the Women’s Rugby World Cup, which is set to be a big celebration of Women’s sport with huge potential to unite and inspire people right across the UK. The final at Twickenham Stadium promises to be one of the iconic sporting moments of next year.

    “We know that live sport has a unique place in the hearts of the British public. As our nation’s capital, London is a crucial partner in making live sport matter and maintaining the UK’s world-leading reputation for hosting major sporting events. 

    “We look forward to working together with the Mayor and his team to bring more of the biggest and best sporting events in the world to our shores in 2025 and beyond.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: How to have a pet-safe Christmas

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Chief Veterinary Officer shares advice on helping pets stay safe over Christmas

    The Chief Veterinary Officer has reminded families of some of the ways to exercise caution with their pets around Christmas to ensure a safe festive period for the whole family.

    It is particularly important to remain vigilant about what your pet is consuming as harmful foods can often be more accessible around the house during this time of year.

    It is best to check with your vet regarding any specific diets, but here are some general reminders which can help:

    • Chocolate is poisonous for dogs and if consumed requires urgent vet attention, so be wary about leaving boxes of chocolates exposed to dogs.
    • If you are sharing your Christmas dinners with pets, certain elements should not under any circumstances be given to them: Turkey bones can cause blockages in their airways, while onions, garlic, shallots and leeks should also not be shared with dogs as these ingredients are all toxic to them.
    • Sweet items should also be shared with caution as mincemeat, currants, raisins and sultanas are also toxic. Vets will be best placed to advise on the entire list, as diets can also vary depending on the pets.

    Pets should also be supervised around Christmas decorations: keep tinsel and decorations such as Christmas lights at a safe distance to avoid animals eating or chewing them, and regularly hoover to avoid pets eating fallen pine needles. Be mindful of other festive hazards including poinsettias, holly berries and mistletoe which can also be harmful if eaten.

    Keep your pets safe in the cold weather by making sure their bedding is kept away from cold draughts and keep dogs away from frozen ponds and lakes when out on a walk.

    UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

    Whilst Christmas is not the best time to introduce a new pet to your household, there are precautions you can take over the festive period to make sure you are taking steps to keep them safe and happy.

    There are some increased risks around this time – from potential hazards such as toxic foods to making sure your animals are kept warm – and being aware of these will help you and your pets have a safe and enjoyable Christmas.

    If you are buying a new dog for Christmas, make sure you check the animal is microchipped and that the keeper’s details are registered to a compliant database. Deceitful pet sellers use a range of tactics to ‘Petfish’ unsuspecting buyers. These unscrupulous sellers pretend that the puppy or kitten they’re selling you comes from a happy home. In reality, the animal may have been bred or kept in poor conditions.

    Bringing pets to the UK from overseas has increased animal health and welfare risks. If rescuing a pet from abroad, families should check who the rescue organisation is, that the pet will be transported by an authorised transporter and that the animal has received a vet check before travel. Prospective owners should also check that the pet has been tested for any relevant disease before moving them to the UK. 

    It’s important to do your research so you know your new pet has come from a responsible seller.

    If you have any concerns or queries regarding your pets over Christmas, it is best to get in touch with your vet. Further information on our Petfished campaign is available on GOV.UK.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 December 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Himax to Unveil State-of-the-Art WiseEye Module Solutions at CES 2025 Empowering Seamless AIoT Integration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TAINAN, Taiwan, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Himax Technologies, Inc. (“Himax” or “Company”) (Nasdaq: HIMX), an industry leader in fabless display driver ICs and other semiconductors, today announced that the Company and its AI ecosystem partners will unveil a suite of innovative, production-ready AIoT applications at CES 2025, powered by Himax’s groundbreaking ultralow power WiseEye Module solutions. These designs will showcase intuitive, user-friendly AI capabilities set to transform multiple industries by improving productivity, scalability, automation, and efficiency, all while delivering better performance and lower power consumption. Himax’s ultralow power WiseEye Module solutions are leading the AIoT revolution with their advanced, efficient, and scalable AI-driven technologies.

    The Himax WiseEye Module seamlessly integrates ultralow power WiseEye AI processors and proprietary always-on CMOS sensors, designed with compact form factors, high integration, and plug-and-play functionality. Characterized by remarkably low power consumption at just single-digit milliwatts, it is ideal for battery-powered endpoint devices that cater to everyday life. The WiseEye Module incorporates versatile AI models from in-house or third-party partners, enabling no-code/low-code AI development for use cases like people counting, gesture recognition, human detection, face recognition, and audio command classification. This simplifies the AI development process, reducing cost and time, allowing AI developers, even those with limited AI expertise, to easily integrate advanced AI features into their systems and applications. Given their versatility, WiseEye Modules are poised to become foundational technology for a wide range of IoT applications.

    At the event, a visionary and innovative lineup of ultralow power WiseEye Module solutions will be on display, showcasing their potential to revolutionize AI-powered applications across industries.

    • WiseEye PalmVein Module: Offers secure, reliable contactless biometric authentication by utilizing unique vein patterns, ensuring robust security and privacy through on-device inferencing
    • AI Baby Cry Detection Module: Accurately detects infant and child crying even in noisy environments, enhancing child safety and enabling timely, automated caregiving
    • Dynamic Gesture Module: Enables intuitive human-machine interaction, supporting a wide range of static and dynamic gestures for seamless control, enhancing accessibility and convenience without the need for traditional input methods
    • Human Sensing Module: Provides precise and energy-efficient human presence detection, creating more responsive and convenient environments in smart homes and offices
    • People Flow Management Solution: Improves space optimization and operational efficiency by analyzing human movement patterns, enabling better resource planning and allocation

    More compelling joint demonstrations with ecosystem partners will also be showcased at the event, including the world-first AI agent SenseCAP Watcher developed with Seeed Studio, mixed reality eye-tracking solutions with Ganzin, and AI-enabled thermal sensing modules in collaboration with leading thermal sensor partners, among others.

    “Our WiseEye™ Modules are designed to drive innovation and enhance lives through advanced, seamless AI integration, all while consuming ultralow power,” said Mark Chen, Vice President of Smart Sensing Business at Himax. “At Himax, we are dedicated to advancing the future of AI vision with innovative, ultralow power, easy-to-adopt AI solutions, enabling seamless integration of advanced vision AI into diverse IoT applications that power the next generation of intelligent, connected devices, enhancing everyday life,” concluded Mark.

    Himax invites all interested parties to stop by our exhibition booth at The Venetian Las Vegas Hotel (3355 Las Vegas Boulevard S, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.) Venetian Tower Suite 34-208 to experience the Company and partners’ cutting-edge WiseEye Module solutions. To schedule a meeting or booth tour, please contact Himax at: Himax_CES2025@himax.com.tw.

    About Himax Technologies, Inc.

    Himax Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIMX) is a leading global fabless semiconductor solution provider dedicated to display imaging processing technologies. The Company’s display driver ICs and timing controllers have been adopted at scale across multiple industries worldwide including TVs, PC monitors, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, automotive, ePaper devices, industrial displays, among others. As the global market share leader in automotive display technology, the Company offers innovative and comprehensive automotive IC solutions, including traditional driver ICs, advanced in-cell Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI), local dimming timing controllers (Local Dimming Tcon), Large Touch and Display Driver Integration (LTDI) and OLED display technologies. Himax is also a pioneer in tinyML visual-AI and optical technology related fields. The Company’s industry-leading WiseEyeTM Ultralow Power AI Sensing technology which incorporates Himax proprietary ultralow power AI processor, always-on CMOS image sensor, and CNN-based AI algorithm has been widely deployed in consumer electronics and AIoT related applications. Himax optics technologies, such as diffractive wafer level optics, LCoS microdisplays and 3D sensing solutions, are critical for facilitating emerging AR/VR/metaverse technologies. Additionally, Himax designs and provides touch controllers, OLED ICs, LED ICs, EPD ICs, power management ICs, and CMOS image sensors for diverse display application coverage. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, Himax currently employs around 2,200 people from three Taiwan-based offices in Tainan, Hsinchu and Taipei and country offices in China, Korea, Japan, Germany, and the US. Himax has 2,683 patents granted and 390 patents pending approval worldwide as of September 30, 2024.

    http://www.himax.com.tw

    Forward Looking Statements

    Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in this conference call include, but are not limited to, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company’s business; general business and economic conditions and the state of the semiconductor industry; market acceptance and competitiveness of the driver and non-driver products developed by the Company; demand for end-use applications products; reliance on a small group of principal customers; the uncertainty of continued success in technological innovations; our ability to develop and protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices; changes in customer order patterns; changes in estimated full-year effective tax rate; shortage in supply of key components; changes in environmental laws and regulations; changes in export license regulated by Export Administration Regulations (EAR); exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; our ability to collect accounts receivable and manage inventory and other risks described from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including those risks identified in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC, as may be amended.

    Company Contacts:

    Eric Li, Chief IR/PR Officer
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-6-505-0880
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw

    Karen Tiao, Investor Relations
    Himax Technologies, Inc.
    Tel: +886-2-2370-3999
    Fax: +886-2-2314-0877
    Email: hx_ir@himax.com.tw
    www.himax.com.tw

    Mark Schwalenberg, Director
    Investor Relations – US Representative
    MZ North America
    Tel: +1-312-261-6430
    Email: HIMX@mzgroup.us
    www.mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network –