Category: housing

MIL-OSI Global: Do you live near a dam holding mine waste? 6 questions to ask

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charles MacRobert, Associate Professor, Stellenbosch University

Mining is essential to modern lifestyles. Copper, iron and other mined products are vital to the products many people take for granted, like electronic devices. Being able to buy these goods quite easily may give a person a false sense of how difficult it is to extract the elements they’re made of.

Mining involves the removal of mineral-rich rock from the ground and processing it to extract the high-value minerals. Depending on the mineral, this quantity can be as low as a few grams in a tonne of rock.

For example, removing a tiny quantity of platinum from rock requires finely grinding the rock. The fine material that remains once the platinum is removed is known as tailings.

Every mining operation produces tailings. This can be coarse, like instant coffee granules, or fine, like cocoa powder. Tailings are typically mixed with water to form a liquid slurry that can be pumped and transported easily.

Slurry is kept in specially designed tailings dams. The designs are unique and depend on what is being mined and the local area.

Unfortunately, the history of mining is stained with examples of poorly managed dams that collapse, spilling the slurry, which is sometimes toxic. This can cause serious environmental, social and economic damage.

One such mine disaster happened in February 2025 in Zambia at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia copper mine. Over 50 million litres of toxic waste flowed over the dam’s wall into the Mwambashi River. From there it flowed into one of the largest and longest Zambian rivers, the Kafue.

The pollution travelled further than 100km from the dam, contaminating the river, and killing fish and livestock on nearby farms. The Zambian government had to shut down municipal water to the city of Kitwe to protect residents from consuming the polluted water.

This should not have happened, because steps have been taken to ensure proactive management of dams. In 2020, the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management introduced a new set of safety measures and standards.

Many mines are proactively embracing these standards. This enhances community trust in tailings dams. But other mines are not engaging with communities that might be affected by dams. Or communities may feel unsure what to ask the mines.

We are geotechnical engineers who have studied tailings dam collapses. Here, we outline six questions people living near mines should ask mine management to ensure they understand the key hazards and risks in their communities.

1. How far will the slurry flow?

Each tailings dam has a zone of influence. This is determined by analysing what would happen if the slurry breached the dam walls and started to flow out. It is an estimate of the area which would be swamped by tailings if the dam failed.

Generally, tailings disasters have caused significant damage up to a distance of 5km from the dam. If the tailings slurry gets into a river, it can flow hundreds of kilometres downstream.

Read more:
Burst mining dam in South Africa: what must be done to prevent another disaster

Zones of influence are often determined for extreme events, like once in a lifetime storms or large earthquakes. But zones of influence could also include places affected by dust or water pollution from the mine.

If you can see a tailings dam from where you live or work you should consider yourself within the zone of influence.

2. Who is responsible for the dam?

Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for day-to-day operation should be in place in every mine. There should be suitably qualified engineers appointed to carry out monitoring and maintenance of the dam. There need to be enough qualified people to cope with the size of the dam.

The management structure should set out how day-to-day issues related to the tailings dam are discussed between workers on the ground in mines and top management, and how solutions are found. Mines should also keep audit and inspection reports on their tailings dams, and records should be kept over the long term (because tailings dams are often operational for several decades).

3. What about the environment?

Mines should have plans to reduce the impact that tailings dams have on the environment. These would have been informed by public participation. The plans must state what monitoring is in place to measure the impacts of dust and water (groundwater and surface water).

The true extent of impacts only becomes apparent once the mine starts operating. So, the public should hold mines accountable for commitments made. Mines should satisfy communities that monitoring is continuing to identify and track the dam’s environmental impacts.

Closure plans should also be continuously communicated to mining-affected communities. This will assure the community that when the miners leave, they won’t be left with a dangerous dam near their homes, with no one to look after it.

4. Will the tailings dam be safe when it rains?

A common way that tailings dams fail is when water or slurry washes over the dam sidewalls. This washes away the support. It is known as overtopping, and can happen in storms or if too much tailing is pumped into the dam.

Overtopping is best managed by keeping the water a certain distance below the dam wall. Mine management must measure this regularly and control how much tailing they pump to the dam. Their task is to make sure that even in a severe storm the level will stay well below the top of the dam wall.

5. Has the dam always behaved as expected?

Small failure incidents such as sloughs, slides and bulges where dam walls move but no slurry is released can occur. Mines should investigate and report these, detailing likely causes and mitigation measures implemented.

Publicly available satellite imagery can easily show where mine tailings dams are becoming unstable. Mines should be transparent and provide explanations for these to avoid any speculation over whether the dam is stable or not.

6. What alterations have been made?

Sometimes dams must be changed to accommodate changes in mining or the extraction process. These changes could include how fast the dam is being built, moving the position of the dam wall, or placing material at the base of the wall to stabilise it.

The unexpected consequences of alterations to a tailings dam could be water seeping out and creating damp spots, leading to dam walls sagging or cracking. If left unchecked this can lead to structural failure.

When substantial changes are made to a dam’s design, mines need to demonstrate that sufficient consideration has gone into making these changes.

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

– ref. Do you live near a dam holding mine waste? 6 questions to ask – https://theconversation.com/do-you-live-near-a-dam-holding-mine-waste-6-questions-to-ask-256517

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Christine Lagarde: Earning influence: lessons from the history of international currencies

Source: European Central Bank

Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, at an event on Europe’s role in a fragmented world organised by Jacques Delors Centre at Hertie School in Berlin, Germany

Berlin, 26 May 2025

Over the past 80 years, the global economy thrived on a foundation of openness and multilateralism – underpinned by US leadership. By championing a rules-based international system and anchoring the dollar as the world’s reserve currency, the United States set the stage for trade to flourish and finance to expand.

This global order proved immensely beneficial to the European Union, whose founding liberal principles aligned seamlessly with it. But today it is fracturing.

Multilateral cooperation is being replaced by zero-sum thinking and bilateral power plays. Openness is giving way to protectionism. There is even uncertainty about the cornerstone of the system: the dominant role of the US dollar.

All else equal, this fracturing can pose risks for Europe. Our economy is deeply integrated into the global trading system, with exports accounting for close to one-fifth of our value added and supporting 30 million jobs.

Any change in the international order that leads to lower world trade or fragmentation into economic blocs will be detrimental to our economy.

But – with the right policy responses – there could also be opportunities. The changing landscape could open the door for the euro to play a greater international role.

Today, the euro is the second global currency, accounting for around 20% of foreign exchange reserves, compared with 58% in the case of the US dollar. Increasing the international role of the euro can have positive implications for the euro area.

It would allow EU governments and businesses to borrow at a lower cost, helping boost our internal demand at a time when external demand is becoming less certain.

It would insulate us from exchange rate fluctuations, as more trade would be denominated in euro, protecting Europe from more volatile capital flows.

It would protect Europe from sanctions or other coercive measures.

In short, it would allow Europe to better control its own destiny – giving us some of what Valéry Giscard d’Estaing called the “exorbitant privilege” 60 years ago.

So, how likely is this change to happen? History suggests that it is far from guaranteed. The euro will not gain influence by default – it will have to earn it.

For the euro to increase its global status, history tells us that we need to build on three foundations – each of them critical for success.

First, Europe must ensure it has a solid and credible geopolitical foundation by maintaining a steadfast commitment to open trade and underpinning it with security capabilities.

Second, we must reinforce our economic foundation to make Europe a top destination for global capital, enabled by deeper and more liquid capital markets.

Third, we must bolster our legal foundation by defending the rule of law – and by uniting politically so that we can resist external pressures.

Before we explore each of these three foundational components, let us observe what recent history can teach us.

Shifts in the global currency landscape

Shifts in the global currency landscape are not unprecedented in monetary history. There have been previous episodes where the world’s leading reserve currency issuer has taken steps that have called that leadership into question, without ultimately jeopardising it.

For example, the US dollar took over from the pound sterling as the world’s leading reserve currency in the mid-1920s, with its share in foreign exchange reserves rising to 64% by 1931. But this leading position did not stop the United States taking measures to unilaterally change the international monetary order.

For instance, in 1933 President Roosevelt suspended gold convertibility to fight the deflationary forces of the Great Depression. He dismissed European demands for fixed exchange rates with the argument that “the sound internal economic system of a nation is a greater factor in its well-being than the price of its currency”.^[1]

Then again in the 1970s President Nixon ended the Bretton Woods system by unilaterally suspending dollar convertibility to gold and imposing a 10% import tariff.

Faced with growing imbalances between US current account deficits and the surpluses of western Europe and Japan, Treasury Secretary John Connally declared that “no longer can considerations of friendship, or need, or capacity justify the United States carrying so heavy a share of the common burdens.”^[2]

On both occasions, there was a decline in the standing of the US dollar as a foreign reserve currency. In the 1930s, it fell from over 60% to around 20% of global foreign exchange reserves. In the 1970s, it fell from about 70% to 50% two decades later.

But on neither occasion was there a robust alternative currency that could take over at short notice. In the 1930s, the pound sterling was already declining, while in the 1970s the Deutsche Mark and the Yen were backed by markets that were too small.

So, instead, investors flocked to gold. The share of gold in foreign reserves increased by about 20 percentage points in the 1930s to 97% and almost doubled to 60% in the 1970s.^[3]

Today, there is a key difference compared with previous eras. With the euro as the world’s second-largest currency, there is another international currency alongside the dollar. But this has not yet convinced investors.

Over recent years, the dollar’s share in global foreign exchange reserves has fallen, with its current level of 58% being the lowest since 1994. In parallel, central banks have been accumulating gold at a record pace – almost matching the levels seen during the Bretton Woods era.^[4] The share of gold in global foreign reserves^[5] has reached around 20%, surpassing that of the euro.^[6]

As previously mentioned, we can identify three essential foundations for international currency usage, without which a currency cannot succeed on the global stage. And in each case, we can see that Europe has many of the key ingredients for success, but we need to bring them together to reinforce the foundations. Action is in order.

The geopolitical foundation

The starting point is a credible geopolitical foundation – which rests on both a country’s role in global trade and the strength of its military alliances.

A currency’s exposure to trade is especially important, as it provides the initial pathway to wider international use. In the mid-1920s, for example, the dollar overtook the pound sterling as the leading form of trade credit before it became the leading reserve currency.^[7]

Once a currency captures a larger share of trade invoicing, its role in international banking and finance, and ultimately as a reserve asset, becomes self-reinforcing. Higher demand for the currency enhances its role as a store of value and further encourages investors to hold it.^[8]

As a major actor in global trade, Europe already has a key ingredient of a strong geopolitical foundation, creating the potential for a virtuous circle of euro internationalisation to unfold.

The EU has the largest network of trade agreements in the world. Europe is the number one trading partner for 72 countries, which together represent almost 40% of world GDP.^[9] And this status is reflected in the share of the euro as an invoicing currency, which stands at around 40%, more than double its share as a reserve currency.

Europe can press home this advantage by continuing to forge new trade agreements. And we should make clear that we support a win-win approach to trade, ensuring that we are the most attractive partner to make deals with.

The ECB can also help make the euro more attractive for euro-denominated trade. We are working on a potential digital euro and pursuing initiatives to enhance cross-border payments in euro, which could potentially facilitate international cross-border transactions in the future.

And by extending swap and repo lines to key partners, we safeguard against euro liquidity shortages abroad disrupting the smooth transmission of our monetary policy – which in turn encourages those partners to transact more in euro.

But there is a limit to how much a currency can grow simply by virtue of being open to trade. In fact, the euro’s share of global export invoicing is already as large as that of the US dollar, but we are not closing the gap in reserve currency status.

This is because investors – and especially official investors – also seek geopolitical assurance in another form: they invest in the assets of regions that are reliable security partners and can honour alliances with hard power. So a credible geopolitical foundation must also rest on robust military partnerships.

This dual strength is essentially what we can learn from the US dollar’s dominance. It is not just a product of economic fundamentals but it is also powerfully reinforced by US security guarantees. These guarantees not only deepen trade ties^[10], but have been shown to boost a currency’s share in foreign reserves by up to 30 percentage points.^[11]

We are now seeing a major shift in Europe towards rebuilding our hard power, with important initiatives underway at the national and EU levels. And we should be clear that following through with this effort is a precondition for the euro to become more widely used.

The economic foundation

Trade and military power are important for establishing demand for an international currency. But to satisfy this demand, investors need appropriate assets to invest in.

This is why a strong economic foundation – one that provides opportunities for growth and opportunities to invest in growth – is equally essential.

There is a virtuous circle between growth, capital markets and international currency usage. Growth generates robust rates of return, which make investors want to hold assets in a particular currency. And capital markets provide investment opportunities and channel funds back into growth.

At the same time, if capital markets provide a sufficient supply of “safe assets”, investors can hedge their exposures efficiently. When a shock hits and riskier investments lose value, safer assets rise in value. That provides a complete ecosystem for investments in the currency.

The US dollar’s rise to dominance in the interwar period was certainly driven by this virtuous circle. The development of US capital markets boosted growth – with each 1 percentage point increase in market capitalisation yielding 0.5 percentage points more growth^[12] – while simultaneously establishing the foundation for dollar dominance. The depth and liquidity of the US Treasury market in turn provided an efficient hedge for investors.

Europe has all the elements it needs to produce a similar cycle. But so far, we have not been able to put all the pieces together.

Despite our large single market, we have fallen behind the US in terms of growth performance and market returns. Since 2000, US labour productivity per hour has grown twice as much as in the euro area, mainly driven by the tech sector, and US markets have delivered returns that are around five times as high as those of European markets.^[13]

Despite our large savings, we have made little progress in integrating our capital markets to channel more of our funds into growth. 60% of household equity investment goes into home country markets even though there may be greater opportunities abroad.

And despite our strong aggregate fiscal position – our debt-to-GDP ratio is 89%, compared with 124% in the United States – we provide relatively few safe assets. Recent estimates suggest that outstanding sovereign bonds rated at least AA are just below 50% of GDP in the EU and above 100% in the US.^[14]

The conclusion for Europe is clear: if we truly want to see the global status of the euro grow, we must first reform our domestic economy.

That means moving forwards with the priorities identified in recent reports: completing the Single Market, enabling start-ups, reducing regulation and building the savings and investment union. And it means avoiding a piecemeal approach, where we make progress where it is easy and dither where it is hard, else we will never kick-start the positive cycle.

Moreover, in this new geopolitical landscape, the case for acting in a European way has never been stronger.

Each individual country of course needs to make sure that its national policies support growth. But we also need to be mindful of self-defeating fragmentation. For example, we all agree that Europe needs to build up its strategic industries to avoid excessive dependencies – as Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta emphasised in their recent reports. But we will not succeed if we have 27 different policies for these industries.

Nowadays there are also more policy goals that qualify as European public goods, notably strengthening European defence. But due to the free-rider problem, defence is a good that is likely to be undersupplied. Moreover, joining forces to procure equipment and develop new technologies – leading to economies of scale and more interoperability – will result in greater operational effectiveness than if all 27 Member States go it alone.

Economic logic tells us that public goods need to be jointly financed. And this joint financing could provide the basis for Europe to gradually increase its supply of safe assets.

The legal foundation

Geopolitical strength and faster growth can go a long way towards strengthening the euro’s international role. But maintaining demand for the currency will also depend on our ability to uphold a robust legal and institutional foundation.

Ultimately, currencies achieve and maintain their reserve status if the institutions and policies backing them consistently safeguard investor confidence in their long-term value.^[15]

For example, historically, the US dollar’s pre-eminence has rested on the strength and stability of US fiscal and monetary institutions. The Federal Reserve System’s credible commitment to controlling inflation, combined with the unparalleled liquidity of the US Treasury market, created a perception of minimal sovereign risk. This made the dollar a safe haven during global economic turbulence and recessions.^[16]

Since 1970, there have been 34 instances of simultaneous sovereign debt and financial crises globally, but the US has remained immune to such “twin crises”.^[17]

However, when doubts emerge about the stability of the legal and institutional framework, the impact on currency use is undeniable.

These doubts have materialised in the form of highly unusual cross-asset correlations since 2 April this year, with the US dollar and US Treasuries experiencing sell-offs even as equities fell. The same doubts are also cited by investors who are turning to gold: two-fifths say they are doing so as a hedge against rising geopolitical risk.^[18]

Given this context, the EU has a legitimate reason to turn its commitment to predictable policymaking and the rule of law into a comparative advantage.

This commitment is baked into how the EU works. The positive side of our often slow and complicated decision-making processes is that checks and balances are always respected. We have also enshrined into law the independence of our key institutions, like the ECB, in ways that are hard for politicians to threaten.

But relying on the fact that our bureaucratic systems are hard to change is not enough. In the current geopolitical environment, we are facing increasing external pressures to take actions that jeopardise the rule of law. And we will only be able to resist these pressures if we are more politically united and able to speak with a single voice.

As we potentially enter a renewed era of great power rivalry, with countries being asked to take sides, we are likely to find ourselves under pressure to make decisions that are not necessarily in our own interest.

But if we take this opportunity to unite and, preferably, to reform our institutional structure by enabling more qualified majority voting in areas where a single veto has often held back the collective interests of the 26 other countries, that would enable us to act decisively as a united Europe. We would then be in a much stronger position to defend and uphold our values and, as a result, to defend and uphold global confidence in our currency.

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

In the history of the international monetary system, there are moments when the foundations that once seemed unshakeable begin to shift.

The Belgian-American economist Robert Triffin described this with great clarity. He observed that nations’ confidence in the international monetary system depends on the reliability of the reserve currency, which, in his words, is “highly dependent on individual countries’ decisions”.

But moments of change can also be moments of opportunity. The ongoing changes create the opening for a “global euro moment”.

This is a prime opportunity for Europe to take greater control of its own destiny. But this is not a privilege that will simply be given to us. We have to earn it.

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Police appeal for urgent help to find missing vulnerable man

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Officers are appealing for assistance to help find a vulnerable 35-year-old man who has been missing for two days.

Bashir Marhoon, from Russell Square, Camden, was last seen by his carers at his home, on Saturday, 24 May at 18:00hrs.

Police are becoming increasingly worried about his safety due to the challenges Bashir has with day-to-day tasks.

Bashir is 5’8, of medium build, with black hair and wears glasses. He was last seen wearing a navy baseball style shirt, with a red image on the front, dark navy jogging bottoms and black trainers.

He walks with a limp and is known to sometimes engage with strangers, though lacks the capacity to understand fully what he may be doing.

Officers believe he may be travelling across London using public transport. He has an Oyster card and is fascinated with public transport.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarb Kaur from the Met’s Central North Command said: “We are very worried about Bashir’s safety and would urge anyone who may have seen him to contact police. Please approach Bashir with care as he may be confused and suffers with learning difficulties.

“Bashir’s family are understandably incredibly concerned.

“Local officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries in an effort to trace him and we are now turning to the public for help. Please get in touch if you have seen Bashir.

“As time passes we are growing increasingly anxious about his welfare.”

Bashir’s mum, Faridah, said: “We are very worried as he is very vulnerable and often rides the trains and buses to the end of the journey.

“We urgently need the public’s help to find him. Please take a look at these images we are making public today and get in touch with the police if you have any information.”

If you see Bashir, please call 999 providing the reference 5841/24MAY.

If you believe you have seen him in the past two days, or have any other information about his whereabouts, please call 101 providing the same reference.

MIL Security OSI –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Alexey Likhachev became an Honorary Doctor of SPbPU

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

A solemn ceremony of presenting the mantle and diploma of the Honorary Doctor of SPbPU to the General Director of the State Corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev took place at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

The ceremonial event opened with the performance of the Polytechnic University anthem by the SPbPU youth choir “Polyhymnia”.

It is especially gratifying that this important event is taking place in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry, to the development of which Polytechnicians made a significant contribution. Such names as Abram Fedorovich Ioffe, Isaak Konstantinovich Kikoin, Abram Isaakovich Alikhanov, Yuliy Borisovich Khariton, Nikolay Leonidovich Dukhov are inscribed in gold letters in the history of the development of Russian science. Today, Polytechnic University and Rosatom, under the leadership of Alexey Evgenievich, closely cooperate for the benefit of the development of Russian nuclear technologies: both in education and in science. By order of Rosatom, our Institute of Power Engineering annually graduates more than 250 specialists in the field of nuclear energy, thermal power engineering, electric power engineering and power engineering. Together with Rosatom, we are successfully implementing the project of the advanced engineering school “Digital Engineering”, acting in the interests of the technological leadership of our country, – emphasized the rector of SPbPU, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy.

The members of the SPbPU Academic Council unanimously voted to award the title to Alexey Likhachev on April 28 this year. The Scientific Secretary of the Polytechnic University Dmitry Karpov presented the new honorary doctor.

If we try to pick three key words that would define the spirit of modern scientific and technological development in Russia, these words should be: professionalism, leadership and Victory. And these are the words that come to mind when we talk about the State Corporation Rosatom. For the Polytechnic University, whose history is closely connected with the nuclear project, participation in the development of nuclear energy is one of the key, strategic areas of work. And scientific and industrial cooperation with the national leader in several related industries at once is a great honor and responsibility for the university, – noted Dmitry Karpov.

Cooperation between the Rosatom State Corporation and SPbPU, which is one of the flagship universities and its long-term strategic partner, is actively developing. This is a significant amount of work carried out by the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, the Institute of Power Engineering, the Physics and Mechanical Engineering Institute, the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” and other university structures. This is significant international cooperation, in particular, in the interests of the Turkish and Egyptian nuclear energy. This is the training of specialists in a wide range of engineering and technical areas of training – primarily in nuclear, energy, mechanical engineering and construction specialties. This is a cell of the Rosatom Student Council, whose activists participate in organizing meetings with representatives of the corporation’s enterprises, technical tours of production facilities, strategic sessions as part of the university’s career events and other activities. In the context of the 80th anniversary of the nuclear industry, about 40 events are planned at the Polytechnic University, covering more than 4,000 people.

Dmitry Karpov named several completed projects. An optimal design of a vibrating screen for cleaning drilling mud was developed by order of NPO Centrotech. The project was a real breakthrough in the industry: with a target vibration acceleration of 7 g, engineers from PISh SPbPU designed a product that exceeded these parameters in just six months. The results of digital modeling were confirmed from the first factory test of the prototype – the vibration acceleration was 8.2 g. The product and its modifications have been successfully used for many years now.

A digital twin of the VVER-1000 fuel assembly with an anti-debris filter and mixing grids was developed by order of JSC TVEL. Due to digital design and additive manufacturing, the filtration efficiency has been increased tenfold, and the created models, virtual test benches and testing grounds will significantly reduce costs and improve the quality and speed of further developments.

At the request of the Mayak production association, for the first time in engineering practice, the architecture of a highly adequate multiphysical digital model of a furnace for vitrification of high-level radioactive waste has been developed.

By order of JSC TsKBM, key proprietary technological equipment for the ODU-150 hydrogen production unit was developed. The design solutions of the created key hydrogen technology devices are the starting point in the development of a new generation of equipment and future medium- and large-tonnage devices for the hydrogen, petrochemical, and nitrogen industries.

At the request of the composite division of Rosatom, a technology for the production of filaments from continuous carbon fiber was developed, and the customer received pilot equipment. On the official website of the corporation, this installation is listed among the most important achievements of Rosatom in 2024.

At the enterprise of the State Corporation Rosatom — JSC Proryv — the URANIA data and process management system for computational and experimental scientific research was put into operation. It is based on the CML-Bench® Digital Platform — an in-house development of the Engineering Center of our university.

In 2023, under the leadership of Alexey Evgenievich, the State Corporation approved the Unified Digital Strategy, which became the most important step towards accelerating the digital transformation of the industry, including ensuring import substitution. In this regard, Dmitry Karpov noted that specialists from SPbPU and the All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics developed the national GOST “Computer models and modeling. Digital twins of products. General provisions” – the world’s first document regulating the relevant activities.

The scale of the projects of the State Corporation Rosatom is truly astounding. And it is quite obvious that the management of such a system is the lot of rare leaders and true professionals. This entire vast field – from the development and implementation of advanced technologies, solving the most complex multidisciplinary problems of the world level to the transfer of unique competencies and the organization of expert discussion platforms – all this and much more became possible, including thanks to the personal professionalism and leadership of Alexey Evgenievich. Perhaps, being a leader is destiny. Destiny to be born in Arzamas-75 – Sarov, the city-forming enterprise of which is the Russian Federal Nuclear Center. And, having gone the way of an engineer, politician, adviser and Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia, still to head the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom. And to become a leader, ensuring its brilliant victories, – emphasized Dmitry Karpov.

Students in the uniform of the Polytechnic University of the early 20th century brought in a doctoral robe and cap, the Polyhymnia choir performed the Gaudeamus anthem. Andrei Rudskoi presented Alexei Evgenievich with a book about honorary doctors of the Polytechnic University, which has a page dedicated to the CEO of the state corporation Rosatom.

It is a great honor for me to receive this title from one of the leading technical universities in the country, which stands at the origins of the Russian engineering school. St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is a forge of personnel for the nuclear industry, and we highly value the contribution of its teachers, scientists and students to the development of advanced technologies. I am confident that our partnership will continue to contribute to breakthrough achievements in nuclear energy, medicine and new materials, – said Alexey Likhachev in his response speech.

Alexey Likhachev also met with students studying at the Institute of Power Engineering. He spoke about the development of the State Corporation’s systemic cooperation with universities, how contacts with students are built, and shared Rosatom’s corporate values. The Polytechnicians spoke about the activities of the Rosatom student council cell, asked questions about the prospects for the development of nuclear science and the training of personnel for the corporation’s high-tech projects.

You are the future not only of Rosatom and the nuclear industry, but of the entire country. It is you who will manage enterprises, represent the industry on the international stage and develop our technological power. Therefore, such meetings with students are of particular value: we get to know each other better and understand to whom we are transferring responsibility for the future, Alexey Likhachev emphasized.

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 –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Now’s the perfect time to get prepared to head out on the water
Source: Maritime New Zealand

When planning a trip on the water, safety starts at home, and now is the perfect time to make your checks before a busy few months on the water.
Whether you are planning on heading off shore on a power boat, or looking to get on a paddle board or a kayak. There are several checks you need to make to ensure you and others on your vessel are safe. An easy saying to remember is prepare your vessel, check your gear and know the rules before heading out.

Long range forecasts for spring and summer show conditions are likely to be hot up and down the country.

This is likely to see a significant number of people out on the water.

“That is why it is important to make sure you have made the right checks and have the equipment now, instead of realising you don’t have what you need right before you head out,” Maritime NZ’s Principal Advisor Recreational Craft, Matt Wood says.

He is recommending boat users undertake a full clean of their vessel, service their engines annually and check other safety equipment they have on-board.

The first step is to check your lifejackets, make sure there is no damage and they are still fit for purpose.

“Old lifejackets can fail in an emergency.

“Most manufacturers recommend lifejackets are replaced every 10 years, or if there is noticeable damage, while inflatable life jackets should be serviced every year,” he says.

Checking expiry dates on key pieces of equipment is also important.

“Once purchased a lot of people forget about items such as beacons and fire extinguishers after purchasing and then putting them on their vessels.

“However, you want them to be fully functional and working should something go wrong,” Matt Wood says.

“Checking all batteries are fully charged, radios, ropes and flares will ensure you can hit the water with peace of mind next time you head out.

“Salty water can speed up the degradation process of items, causing the lifespans to shorten if they are often exposed,” he says.

Spending a couple of hours doing these checks now will pay off when you do go out again.

“With extra daylight saving having just occurred there are some extra hours of light now available, so the time is right to make the checks on your vessel,” Matt Wood says.

Maritime NZ also recommends you make sure you have the necessary resources on your vessel, including (among other things):
- Boat hook and throwing line
- Warm clothing
- First aid kit
- Navigation equipment
- Bailing system
- Waterproof torch
- Alternative power (a spare outboard, oars or paddles).
- Spare fuel
MIL OSI New Zealand News –
May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Reducing Harm and Saving Lives: Safer Boating Forum Recreational Craft Strategy 2023-2025

Source: Maritime New Zealand

The Safer Boating Forum (Forum) is launching its new Recreational Craft Strategy 2023-2025 to reduce harm and save lives, as part of the 10th annual Safer Boating Week.

The Safer Boating Forum is a network representing a cross-section of national and regional government agencies, local body groups, organisations and the marine industry, involved in promoting recreational boating safety in New Zealand.

Sharyn Forsyth, Chair of the Forum, says the strategy launch on October 17 is a significant achievement that will reduce harm among the two million recreational craft users in New Zealand each year.

“The aim of this strategy is to reduce harm and ultimately to save lives,” says Sharyn. “It’s a big step forward for the 26 organisations in the forum, which have collaborated on the strategy, as it focuses on interventions that are informed by intelligence and insights. The Strategy will increase alignment between the Forum members and the wider water safety sector to focus on the primary causes of harm and working in partnership to find effective solutions.”

Over the next two years the strategy aims to influence significant year-on-year increases in recreational craft users using lifejackets, carrying two forms of waterproof communication, and checking the marine forecast. It also aims to reduce per capita preventable fatalities by 25 percent by 2025.

“I’m excited that we can launch this strategy today as I know it will help the sector take the right steps towards reducing harm among recreational craft users,” says Sharyn.

Over the past 10 years, 18 people on average have died in recreational craft incidents annually. The majority of these fatalities occur when small craft under six metres suddenly capsize and those on-board have little time to put their life jackets on. Failure to wear a life jacket, or wearing of an ill-fitted life jacket, is the number one cause of death in recreational crafts.

People taking to the water on unseaworthy craft, in unsuitable weather conditions, and without adequate equipment are also significant contributing factors to harm.

Peter Busfield, Executive Director NZ Marine Industry Association says “removing unseaworthy craft from circulation is vital”.

“Boating is a way of life for two million New Zealanders and it is important they know the importance of having a seaworthy boat with the correct safety equipment on board. The education and promotion campaigns the Forum delivers are key to getting this message through. As part of our communications strategy we’re looking to gain the support of boating and marine retailers to deliver safety messages so people come home safe from a day out on the water,” says Peter.

An agency that often sees the impact of what happens on the water is CoastGuard.

CEO, Callum Gillespie of Coastguard NZ, says having the strategy will help the sector work together to achieve the same goals: “This strategy shows that as a sector we are aligned and working together to reduce harm”.

“We all want to see the numbers of preventable incidents of injury and death reduced; everyone in the forum wants people on the water to be able to come home safe.”

The strategy is a practical piece of work that spreads right from national regulatory action through to local council bylaws.

Pete Thomas, Deputy Harbour Master Northland Regional Council and Forum leadership group member, added that strategy initiatives would shape a consistent approach to council bylaws.

“Across the motu, there are different bylaws regarding life jacket wearing and this can be confusing for the public. The Forum is committed to encouraging regional councils to strengthen bylaws and make life jacket wearing compulsory, especially for craft under six meters,” says Pete.

A key component of the new strategy is its work to understand the needs of different communities and water users.

Dr Ngahuia Mita, Forum Kaihautū (leader) says the strategy will reduce harm by coordinating work to understand where improvements can be made and promoting collaboration.

“We know Māori and Pacific communities are over represented in fatalities and the Forum needs to work in partnership with these communities to develop effective solutions together.”

Dr Ngahuia says it is important we have conversations with communities so we know how to ensure safety is at the front of mind.

The Forum’s Recreational Craft Strategy supports the outcome in the Water Safety NZ Water Sector Safety Strategy and supports Maritime NZ’s strategy. Daniel Gerrard, CEO of Water Safety NZ, has welcomed the development.

“As a sector it’s essential we’re all travelling in the same direction and working together effectively. We’re talking with similar people and encouraging them to be safe in the water, so it’s paramount that we are joined up and working as one,” says Daniel.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Safer Boating Week: A plea to everyone hitting the water
Source: Maritime New Zealand

Come home safe.

Maritime NZ and its Safer Boating Forum partners want every recreational craft user to put steps in place to ensure they return home from their time on the water with good memories, not injuries, or, even worse, fatalities.
MNZ and the Safer Boating Forum, want everyone who heads out to come home safe.

Safer Boating Week is about getting safety to the forefront of the minds of recreational craft users as they start flocking to the water.

Maritime NZ’s 2022 Recreational Fatal Accidents report states that last year 17 people died tragically, or were reported missing and never found.

“This is a sobering statistic, and one the Safer Boating Forum and our members are dedicated to bringing down,” Sharyn Forsyth, Chair of the Safer Boating Forum, says.

“Our Forum members span right across the recreational craft space, from jet boating through to stand up paddle boarding, and each activity has its own risks to manage.

“Through Maritime NZ’s community grant funding, organisations all over the country are running programmes to bring down instances of harm.

“In 2022 we saw fatal incidents occurring on powerboats, dinghies, kayaks and jet skis, and it is important a targeted approach is taken to preventing harm on recreational crafts.”

Almost all of these fatal incidents occurred one nautical mile from shore, or on lakes and rivers.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are close to shore, tragedy can strike anywhere and that is why it is critical to prepare before heading out onto the water,” Maritime NZ Harm Prevention Lead – Recreational Craft Victoria Slade says.

“If you’re planning to head out on the water make sure to check the marine forecast, take two forms of waterproof communication to call for help, and always wear a properly fitting lifejacket.”

Thirteen of the 17 fatalities occurred when people were capsized or thrown overboard, which is why it is very important to wear a properly fitting life jacket.

“New Zealand is an island nation and conditions can quickly change. A day can start calm, causing a false sense of security. This has especially been the case for users of low powered or human powered vessels,” Victoria Slade says.

Canoers and kayakers represented nearly a third of those who died in recreational craft incidents in 2022.

“Just because you are going out in a small vessel near to shore doesn’t mean you are immune to risks. The weather can change quickly so you need to regularly assess the weather conditions and head back to shore if conditions change. Smaller crafts such as kayaks can easily capsize in larger waves and be battered by high winds which can make situations very dangerous,” Victoria Slade says.

“Of the 17 people who died or went missing in recreational accidents in 2022, 16 of those were male. The ‘she’ll be right’ attitude of a lot of NZ males needs to be left at home when heading out onto the water. Remember, your family needs you home safely.”

For more information about how to plan before you head out, ways to be safe on the water, how to maintain your boat, and how to safely use different types of recreational crafts saferboating.org.nz

Come home safe. Kia Mataara.

Key water user and 2022 fatality report statistics:
- 2022: 17 deaths (spread across 16 incidents)
  
  The 17 fatal accidents that occurred in 2022 placed that year approximately at the 10 year average of 18 deaths
- Of those who died in recreational craft incidents last year:
  
  17 of the 16 people were male
  
  The median age was 53 years old
  
  12 were not wearing a lifejacket when they entered the water
  
  12 of 17 people died in spring and summer
  
  All fatalities occurred in a vessel that was 6m or less in length
- nine deaths of the 17 were due to a capsize, a further four was overboard
- Basic vessel type:
  
  six deaths on a Kayak/Canoe
  
  five deaths on a dinghy
  
  four deaths on a power boat
- Only seven percent of those surveyed say they create detailed plans of their trip. 31% don’t do any planning at all.
- Things considered before and during trips to ensure saftey:
  
  42% have lifejackets
  
  38% know/ check the forecast
  
  11% have a phone
Note to editors:

The Safer Boating Forum (Forum) is a network representing a crosssection of national and regional government agencies, local body groups, organisations and the marine industry, involved in promoting recreational boating safety in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The purpose of the Forum is to work together to develop and implement a recreational strategy for Aotearoa to support agreed safety policy, communications, education, compliance and regulation activities.
Maritime NZ leads the Forum and works with Forum members to coordinate safe boating activities.

Maritime New Zealand
Auckland Transport
Coastguard New Zealand
Drowning Prevention Auckland
Environment Canterbury
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Insurance Council of NZ
Jet Boating New Zealand
Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers
Metservice
New Zealand Marine Industry Association
New Zealand Police
New Zealand Search and Rescue Council
New Zealand Sport Fishing Council
New Zealand Underwater Association
NZ Stand Up Paddling
Northland Regional Council
Queenstown Lakes District Council
Rowing New Zealand
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand
Swimming New Zealand
Te Manatu Waka
Waikato Regional Council
Waka Ama New Zealand
Water Safety New Zealand
Yachting New Zealand
MIL OSI New Zealand News –
May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Klaas Knot: A true treasure – why we need diversity and inclusion in the financial industry

Source: Bank for International Settlements

Welcome dear colleagues! Welcome to the conference and welcome to our renovated building.

After several years of construction, De Nederlandsche Bank returned a few months ago to this updated version of our historic home. It is not only energy-efficient and sustainable, but also – quite unusual for a central bank – partially open to the public: on the ground floor, visitors can walk in to have a coffee, work, study, or simply look around.

Look at our extensive art collection – as you can do later today – or visit the vault where we used to store our gold bars and our money. Now we call it the New Treasury and use it as an exhibition space where visitors can learn more about our role and responsibilities and explore our collection of historic banknotes, with a lot of European pre-euro examples. I hope you take the opportunity to visit the exhibition.

Of course I am convinced that the introduction of the euro was a positive change – I am the president of the Dutch Central Bank, after all – but despite everything we gained in this monetary union, we also lost something.

In our banknotes we lost colour, individuality, diversity. Because the pre-euro banknotes all tell their own story. Of national identity, cultural heritage, time and place. They differ in colour, imagery, size; even in the feel of the paper.

The Italian lira, with historic painters and sculptors: ornate and expressive.
The German mark, with scientists and writers: inventive and efficient.
The Dutch guilder, with colourful birds and sunflowers: bold and modernist.

To name only a few.

These banknotes remind us that diversity is not disorder.

It is depth.
It is opportunity.
It is strength.

The banknotes remind us that it is never one person, one idea that makes us strong.

Our strength as nations, as the European Community, as financial institutions, is always the product of a flock of ideas, a blend of people, a collection of perspectives.

At De Nederlandsche Bank, our vision is ‘connected and diverse’. We believe that to safeguard financial stability and promote sustainable prosperity, we must reflect the society we serve – one that is increasingly complex, international, and indeed, diverse. That is why we aim for a workforce that mirrors the richness of our society.

Diversity for us is sometimes broad and visible: diversity in gender, age and cultural heritage. But it can also be less visible: diversity in physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, faith, background, education. We don’t pursue diversity for appearances sake. We pursue it because it sharpens our thinking, deepens our dialogue, and improves our decision-making. Complex challenges – like climate risk, digital transformation, and geopolitical uncertainty – demand diverse perspectives.

That is not an abstract mission, but a commitment to tangible goals. We are aiming for full gender balance in our workforce and leadership by 2028.

We are not there yet, we hope to hit our target if we can continue improving by 2% per year. Currently, women make up 43% of DNB’s management, and we are still working on this. We are using the updated definitions from the Dutch Statistical Office to improve cultural representation, with the aim of having 26% of our employees and managers come from a migrant background.

We have achieved this on the work floor, but not yet in management, where the figure is currently just over 13%; so this is also a work in progress.

We are making all this happen by translating our ambition for diversity and inclusion into our policies and daily work processes.

And by keeping track of our progress. We believe – obviously – that data drives progress. What gets measured, gets managed.

So we have established a Diversity Board to guide and accelerate our progress, and we measure our progress with a Diversity Dashboard. Recently, we published our Out & Proud Statement, in which we explicitly express our support for LGTBIQ+ inclusion and speak out against intolerance. Because there is a world to be gained, and in some cases, regained when it comes to LGTBIQ+ inclusion.

I am saddened to see that LGTBIQ+ inclusion has declined in recent years in European countries and across the world. Statistics show decreasing support for LGTBIQ+ inclusion – also among younger people.

We are seeing more frequent physical, verbal and online violence, and politicians are rolling back previously attained rights for LGBTIQ+ couples.This declining support and safety affects LGTBIQ+ people throughout society, including those working at central banks and other financial institutions.

For our employees to reach their full potential, for them to make the best contribution to our work and mission and – not least – for us to fulfil our potential as an employer, our employees must feel safe, must be able to express themselves. That’s why we have to work together to become – and stay – diverse and inclusive organisations. And that requires the involvement of all of us.

At DNB, we encourage this by empowering our internal networks, like Young DNB, DNB Pride, DNB International, Blended and Female Capital, but we also try hard to involve every employee outside those networks. Because only by involving everyone can we ensure that every colleague – regardless of who they are – feels seen, heard and valued.

This is my call to action to you today:

let’s talk, let’s exchange experiences, let’s exchange ideas to make this happen. For instance by ensuring that – where that is not already happening – we create space for internal networks, for LGBTIQ+ employee resource groups. And, even better, let’s create an international network for these groups, so they can strengthen each other, and by doing so, strengthen our organisations.

Do you know what this is?

After the introduction of the euro, we shredded all those beautiful old banknotes. We packed the shreds in small bags, which we handed out as souvenirs to visitors of DNB. One of our doormen used to say, with a big wink and a smile: “It’s a jigsaw puzzle.”

But of course there is a lesson here: creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is a human-made jigsaw puzzle that we can only put together through human-made solutions.

We have to look for and connect the diversity of our people. We have to ensure that human uniqueness is not just tolerated, but treasured in our financial institutions.

Because only then can we truly claim to be resilient. Only then can we speak credibly in the public debate. Only then we can see the full picture: a financial sector that not only serves society – but represents it.

And our banknotes?

There is good news on that front: the European Central Bank is preparing to introduce a new generation of euro banknotes. The ECB is consciously seeking to reflect more of the identities, histories and cultures of the people who use them.

So once more – I hope – the designs will be colourful, representative and diverse. Because diversity does not weaken unity, it strengthens it. Not only in the European Union, not only in the financial sector, but for all of us.

MIL OSI Economics –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Sabine Mauderer: Price stability and climate change

Source: Bank for International Settlements

Check against delivery

1 Introduction

Ladies and gentlemen.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to open this conference today.

I am sure, we all agree: climate change alters the environment in which central banks operate.

According to the NGFS long-term scenarios, unmitigated climate change leads to losses in global GDP of almost 15 % by 2050 – relative to a scenario without climate change. This is a conservative estimate, as it does not yet account for key risks, such as sea level rise and climate tipping points.

Given the context of this conference, there is no need to give you any further examples about the relevance of climate change. Instead, allow me to briefly recap why and how we as central bankers need to deal with climate change: In doing so, I will focus on some of the most important aspects.

2 Physical impacts and climate policies

Let me turn to the two dimensions of what we call “climate change” for short: the impacts of climate change itself, and the effects of our attempts to mitigate it.

Central banks monitor both dimensions because of their relevance for output and prices. This is why I highly appreciate that the impacts of physical risk and transition risk on inflation are at the core of today’s conference.

Let’s start with physical risks.

In addition to the consequences of gradual shifts in temperature patterns or sea level rise, acute physical risks such as hurricanes, droughts or floods can damage the economy, with impacts lasting beyond the short-term. As the timing, location and magnitude of such shocks are largely unpredictable, central banks are on high alert.

In theory, the direction of price developments depends on the balance between supply and demand. Severe weather events could affect either side. Supply-side disruptions tend to cause higher prices whereas a reduction in demand tends to entail lower prices.

Without pre-empting the work presented at this conference: As outlined in a recent technical paper by the NGFS¹, the emerging empirical work on the linkage between weather shocks and inflation suggests that the upward pressure from the supply side dominates, for instance, for agricultural production.

One key finding is that food prices tend to rise in the aftermath of a weather shock – associated with negative supply impacts – with some spillovers into overall inflation.² Moreover, the specific nature of the shock matters, with nonlinear inflationary effects being documented in the case of heatwaves.

The type of damages can differ as well: while heatwaves tend to impact labour and agricultural productivity, leaving the capital stock unaffected, severe storms tend to impair infrastructure, housing, and the capital stock of an economy.³

There is also the second dimension – transition risk. Many jurisdictions have committed to decarbonise their economies. This goes hand in hand with substantial structural changes that can also pose risks for price stability.

But the picture emerging here is more mixed: the impact of a green transition on inflation depends on its drivers and how it unfolds in the economy.

Moreover, short and long-run effects can differ.

What are these drivers? Let me briefly elaborate.

Depending on the policy mix, the pace of technological progress, changes in preferences and the role of international trade relations⁴ – to mention just a few main aspects – the transition will affect the supply and demand side of the economy in multiple ways.

Hence there is no straightforward answer to the question whether inflationary or disinflationary effects will dominate. A higher carbon price, for example, makes carbon intensive products and businesses more expensive. As a result, consumer price inflation may rise in the short-term.

Over the medium to long run, however, higher costs of brown products will make it more attractive to shift to greener production processes – and invest in innovative green technologies.

Green innovations, efficiency gains and maturing technologies, together with an increasing usage of clean energy, can drive energy costs and prices down over time.⁵ Therefore, inflationary pressures are likely to remain contained in the medium to long run, especially in the event of an orderly transition with predictable carbon prices.

Along the way, central banks will have to make sure that inflation expectations remain well-anchored, as maintaining price stability is their core mandate.

Accelerating the green transition is up to our governments, but price stability and a sound financial system are important facilitators of this process.

3 Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen.

Our economies are facing multidimensional, unprecedented structural changes. The green transition is just one aspect.

At the current juncture, the approaching threats of climate change are overshadowed by other topics. We are all witnessing the shift in attention to artificial intelligence, tariffs and trade wars, and the rising geopolitical uncertainties.

The many unknowns associated to these topics make strategic long-term decisions particularly challenging for policymakers, firms and households alike.

Yet, climate change is and remains an urgent issue that involves answering complicated questions. The physical principles of climate change have not changed. Climate change will not simply disappear if we try to ignore it.

But we will get closer to a solution every day – if we tackle these questions courageously and analytically.

Events like this conference are important to keep the attention on the problem and to improve our understanding of climate risks.

In this spirit, I wish you a successful and productive discussion.

MIL OSI Economics –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI New Zealand: Maritime NZ announces safer boating funding for 2023

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Maritime NZ has announced recipients of its annual Community Grant funding for safety programmes to help reduce fatalities and injuries to people out on the water in recreational craft.

In total, 21 projects and initiatives around the country will share $876,680 worth of funding. In 2022, 24 projects shared $853,000.

In 2022 there were 17 deaths (spread across 16 incidents) related to recreational craft. The number of fatalities has remained relatively consistent over the last decade, despite significant efforts from recreational craft safety-focussed organisations.

For Maritime NZ Director, Kirstie Hewlett, these fatalities and the substantial number of preventable harm incidents are of significant concern for her and the rest of Maritime NZ.

“With nearly two million people in New Zealand undertaking activities on the water, we know it is very important to get the right safety messages out to a wide range of people, from different backgrounds, all over Aotearoa.

“At Maritime NZ, we will be looking for opportunities to promote the work of other organisations to reduce harm, and are keen to see collaborative approaches to safety across the sector.

“No one organisation has the answer or the ability to reach everyone. This is why it is important to work together to increase water users’ knowledge on how to be safe on the water, and ultimately bring down instances of harm.

A key part of the funding allocation decision was looking at how to reach at-risk groups.

“There are several initiatives that are targeted to supporting different ethnic groups, including Pasifika, Asian and Māori communities.

“Across New Zealand, we know there are differing levels of safety knowledge, safety equipment owned by water users and language barriers for some communities. It is hugely important we keep up our previous momentum with supporting these communities and have them prioritising safety.

“Everyone should go home safely from a day out on the water.

“It is vital water users understand the rules and know how to keep themselves safe,” Ms Hewlett says.

The funding is split across local and national initiatives, with recipients located all around New Zealand.

Among the initiatives that have secured funding are Coastguard’s Old4New lifejacket upgrade programme, which includes Second Life Lifejackets and received $100,000; Northland Regional Council’s Nobody’s Stronger Than Tangaroa campaign, which received $85,000; and $70,000 for Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Kia marutau ki te wai and Safety is Our Wai scheme.

Beneficiary organisations include the Kayak Association of Sea Kayakers, Watersafe Auckland (Drowning Prevention Auckland), New Zealand Stand Up Paddling, Jet Boating NZ, and several regional councils.

A key purpose of the fund is to support campaigns and collaboration led by the members of New Zealand’s Safer Boating Forum, a coalition of organisations dedicated to improving safety in the recreational boating sector.

Successful recipients

Council / Organisation	Programme	Funding Approved
Bay of Plenty Regional Council Jon Jon Peters [email protected]	Safety is our Wai & Kia marutau ki te wai Continuation of on-water safety programme to Harbour & Lakes and safer boating education and resources specifically to local Iwi and Hapū	$70,000
Coastguard New Zealand Tautiaki Moana Aotearoa Daisy Docherty [email protected]	Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade Programme including Second Life Lifejackets and Ngā Hue ō Hinemoa Continuation of the Old4New Lifejacket Upgrade campaign offering heavily discounted lifejackets and PFD’s to those who upgrade their old or damaged lifejackets across NZ and providing new life jackets for at-risk communities Continuation of an existing programme to educate Pasifika boaties to be more knowledgeable and safer skippers.	$100,000
Environment Canterbury Gordon McKay [email protected]	Canterbury Safe Boating Programme Continuation of programme to educate safer boating and providing an Enforcement Officer to specialise in educating the jet boat sector.	$55,000
Environment Southland Zak Smith [email protected]	Environment Southland Boating Safety Program Continuation of existing programme to deliver consistent boating safety education to recreational boating operators on water and on boat ramps.	$20,000
Gisborne District Council Peter Buell [email protected]	Tairāwhiti Haumaru Moana Continuation of promoting safer boating throughout the region	$48,000
Greater Wellington Regional Council Grant Nalder [email protected]	Do you know what you need to? To deliver nationally consistent safe boating messages and the aim is to make this relevant and available to a wide demographic through direct contact with a range of boaties.	$58,410
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Adrian Wright [email protected]	Tamariki and Pakeke Boating Safety Programme Continuation of education program of delivering Safer Boating Education to local iwi and running a “Suddenly in Charge Course” at boating clubs around the region	$18,000
Jet Boating New Zealand Inc. Stephen Woodside [email protected]	Jet Smart – Safer Jet Boating Continuation to produce a series of Jet Smart – Safer Jet Boating videos that contain safety messages focusing on river navigation.	$36,650
Kayak Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK) Steve Cooper [email protected]	KayakSafe NZ Continuation of delivery of key kayaking safety messages through a variety of channels.	$7,000
Marlborough District Council Brittany Hamilton [email protected]	Safer Boating Roadshow Marlborough – bringing boating safety to you! Visiting remote areas and promote safer boating behaviour.	$20,000
Nelson City Council Stuart Whitehouse [email protected]	Maritime Safety Internship Increasing safety education and compliance for Nelson waters	$27,000
Nelson City Council Stuart Whitehouse [email protected]	Sup on water educational programme Continuation of programme to educate SUP users on safety and help develop skills about informed decision making in dynamic environments.	$4,800
New Zealand Stand Up Paddling Inc. (NZSUP) Bill Dawes [email protected]	SUP SAFE Continuation of campaign targeted at stand up paddle boarders to increase safety behaviours.	$24,000
Northland Regional Council Peter Thomas [email protected]	Nobody’s stronger then Tangaroa Continuation of engaging with remote communities with specific messaging and face to face engagement	$85,000
Queenstown Lakes District Council Isabelle Logez [email protected]	QLDC Waterways Skipper Responsibility Campaign Increased public messaging to promote skipper responsibility of waterways within region, which solely comprises of inland waterways – rivers and lakes.	$12,000
Royal New Zealand Coastguard Marilyn Brady [email protected]	Ko Tangata Moana To deliver safer boating courses to Maori, Pasifika and Asian communities	$100,000
Waikato Regional Council Chris Bredenbeck [email protected]	Operation Neptune Continuation of on-water education with three primary tactics education, engagement and enforcement while delivering safety messages	$45,000
Waka Ama NZ Lara Collins [email protected]	Waka Ama Water Safety Continuation of delivery of the CBE Waka Ama Safety Course to all waka ama paddlers around Aotearoa.	$46,000
Watersafe Auckland Inc.(Drowning Prevention Auckland) Nicola Keen-Biggelaar [email protected]	WaiWise for the Pacific, Asian and Indian communities Continuation of programme to provide specific drowning prevention education for the three at-risk communities in Tāmaki Makaurau.	$50,000
Watersafe Auckland Inc.(Drowning Prevention Auckland) Nicola Keen-Biggelaar [email protected]	Supporting growth in use of Lifejacket Hubs for drowning prevention education Continuation to provide hubs where people can access lifejackets and support growing awareness of these hubs.	$25,000
Yachting New Zealand Raynor Haagh [email protected]	Yachting New Zealand’s sailing experience RŪNĀ Continuation of the RŪNĀ framework to encourage a wider and more diverse range of students to connect with sailing both inside and outside the classroom	$25,000
		$876,680

Note to editors

All of Maritime New Zealand’s recreational boating work is funded through fuel excise duty on petrol (about $5.4 million). This is from contributions to the tax boaties make when refuelling their boats. A portion of this funding is used to support the Community Grants programme
Maritime NZ also provides funding to a range of Councils around the country to support on-water compliance. Funding for ‘No Excuses’ and on-water compliance initiatives will not come out of community grants funding. Instead they will be supported from the on-water compliance funding budget.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with New Zealand

Source: IMF – News in Russian

May 26, 2025

Washington, DC – May 26, 2025: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation [1] with New Zealand on May 19, 2025.

Tight monetary policy has helped bring inflation back to target, but at the expense of growth. Real GDP contracted by 0.5 percent y/y in 2024, as investment fell by 4.1 percent y/y, household consumption stagnated. The slowdown has been particularly pronounced in interest-rate-sensitive sectors including retail trade, construction, and manufacturing. The financial sector remains resilient despite rising non-performing loans. A recovery in external demand and improved terms of trade have helped narrow the current account deficit to 6.2 percent of GDP, though it remains above long-term trends. Despite a challenging economic backdrop, the government delivered modest fiscal consolidation in FY2023/24, with the primary deficit narrowing to 2.4 percent of GDP. Tight monetary policy helped bring inflation within the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ)’s 1–3 percent target band in 2024Q3, after 13 consecutive quarters, with headline inflation reaching 2.5 percent y/y in 2025Q1. The RBNZ has thus eased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) several times since August 2024, bringing it closer to the neutral rate.

The return of inflation to target is enabling monetary policy easing and a return to growth. Inflation is forecast to remain within the target band, allowing monetary policy to gradually move to a neutral stance. Real GDP is projected to expand by 1.4 percent y/y in 2025, with monetary policy easing providing a boost to consumption and investment. Growth is expected to accelerate to 2.7 percent y/y in 2026, as the lagged impact of lower interest rates is fully realized. Fiscal policy is expected to continue to balance needed medium-term consolidation with growth considerations. The government’s broad-based structural reform agenda is aimed at boosting medium-term productivity growth, including via reforms to attract foreign investment, enhance competition, reduce regulatory burdens, accelerate housing supply growth, and progress toward closing of the infrastructure gap.

Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside. Downside risks stem from a softer-than-expected recovery due to elevated global uncertainty and a weak labor market or the occurrence of a natural disaster. Upside risks include a stronger rebound in growth due to faster-than-expected monetary policy transmission. As a small open economy, New Zealand is vulnerable to trade disruptions, geoeconomic fragmentation, or a global economic slowdown.

Executive Board Assessment[2]

Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed that the economy is showing signs of a nascent recovery and that inflation has returned to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s target, after a prolonged period of significant price pressures. Noting the country’s exposure to trade and investment shocks, Directors underscored the importance of maintaining prudent policies to safeguard macroeconomic stability and implementing ambitious structural reforms to address medium‑ and long‑term economic challenges.

Directors commended the role of monetary policy in helping bring inflation back to target. They agreed that the current monetary policy easing is appropriate and should continue until reaching a neutral level, while remaining data‑dependent and responsive to economic conditions. Directors welcomed the expanded macroprudential toolbox and concurred that macroprudential tools should continue to be used to address financial risks that may emerge as policy rates are reduced.

Directors agreed that fiscal policy should focus on growth‑friendly, medium‑term consolidation, while supporting the most vulnerable. They called for comprehensive revenue reforms that enhance efficiency and incentivize long‑term investment. Directors also encouraged the authorities to pursue expenditure reforms, including to the pension system, that are grounded in a cost‑benefit analysis.

Directors agreed that financial stability risks are contained and recommended that household and financial balance sheets continue to be monitored closely. They welcomed progress in key reforms, notably the Depositor Compensation Scheme and the Deposit Takers Act. Directors noted the authorities’ efforts to increase banking competition and emphasized that prudential settings should remain adequately calibrated to guard against financial stability risks. Given housing shortages, they called for improving affordability and expanding housing supply and welcomed the reform efforts around resource management in these areas.

Directors commended ongoing structural reforms to overcome slow productivity growth and boost long‑term growth. They welcomed the authorities’ plans to boost competition and innovation, reduce barriers to overseas financing, and deepen capital markets. Investing in infrastructure and enhancing resilience to natural disasters will also be needed.

It is expected that the next Article IV Consultation with New Zealand will be held on the standard 12‑month cycle.

[1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

[2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chair of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm .

Table 1. New Zealand: Main Economic Indicators, 2021-30

(Annual percent change, unless otherwise indicated)



	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030
				Est.	Projections


NATIONAL ACCOUNTS

Real GDP (production)	5.7	2.9	1.8	-0.5	1.4	2.7	2.7	2.2	2.2	2.2
Domestic demand	10.0	4.5	-0.8	-0.8	1.8	2.6	2.4	2.1	2.1	2.0
Private consumption	7.9	4.1	1.0	0.2	1.0	3.1	3.0	2.4	2.4	2.3
Public consumption	7.9	5.2	0.8	0.0	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.7	0.8	0.8
Investment	17.2	4.1	-5.4	-4.1	2.4	3.2	2.7	2.3	2.1	2.1
Public	6.2	3.6	10.2	0.5	0.3	2.3	2.5	2.8	2.8	2.8
Private	12.6	4.3	-3.2	-6.5	1.9	3.5	2.7	2.1	1.7	1.8
Private business	14.5	7.3	-2.2	-5.0	2.6	3.5	2.8	2.1	1.6	1.6
Dwelling	8.6	-2.3	-5.6	-10.1	0.0	3.6	2.3	2.4	2.1	2.4
Inventories (contribution to growth, percent)	1.4	0.0	-1.4	0.2	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net exports (contribution to growth, percent)	-4.8	-1.6	2.6	0.3	0.3	-0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Real gross domestic income	5.0	2.3	1.1	0.3	2.9	3.1	2.8	2.4	2.3	2.3

Investment (percent of GDP)	25.0	26.3	24.2	23.1	23.4	23.4	23.3	23.2	23.1	23.1
Public	5.7	5.9	6.5	6.4	6.3	6.2	6.2	6.2	6.2	6.2
Private	19.4	20.4	17.8	16.7	17.1	17.2	17.1	17.0	16.9	16.8

Savings (gross, percent of GDP)	19.0	17.1	17.3	16.9	18.3	18.8	19.0	19.2	19.4	19.6
Public	-3.5	-4.2	-3.5	-4.4	-5.1	-3.9	-2.5	-1.4	-0.4	0.0
Private	22.5	21.3	20.9	21.3	23.4	22.7	21.5	20.6	19.9	19.6

Potential output	1.5	1.9	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.2
Output gap (percent of potential)	1.8	2.7	2.4	-0.3	-1.1	-0.6	-0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0


LABOR MARKET

Employment	2.2	1.7	3.3	-0.1	0.7	1.5	2.0	1.7	1.3	1.5
Unemployment (percent of labor force, ann. average)	3.8	3.3	3.7	4.7	5.3	5.2	4.7	4.3	4.5	4.4
Wages (nominal percent change)	3.8	6.5	7.0	4.6	4.3	3.9	3.3	3.3	3.0	3.0

PRICES

Terms of trade index (goods and services, % change)	-1.0	-3.1	-3.4	2.9	1.9	1.3	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.1
Consumer prices (avg, % change)	3.9	7.2	5.7	2.9	2.4	2.3	2.2	2.0	2.0	2.0
GDP deflator (avg, % change)	3.0	5.8	5.1	3.6	3.2	2.8	2.2	2.2	2.2	2.1

MACRO-FINANCIAL

Official cash rate (policy rate, percent, avg)	0.3	2.2	5.2	4.7	3.6	3.3	3.3	3.3	3.3	3.3
Credit to the private sector (percent change)	6.1	4.3	0.1	1.6	3.2	5.6	4.5	4.0	3.9	4.0
Interest payments (percent of disposable income)	5.3	6.3	8.5	8.1	7.3	7.2	7.0	6.9	6.9	6.9
Household savings (percent of disposable income)	3.6	3.3	2.7	2.5	2.4	2.3	2.9	3.6	4.4	5.1
Household debt (percent of disposable income)	174	173	168	166	160	160	159	158	157	157

GENERAL GOVERNMENT (percent of GDP) 1/

Revenue	37.6	38.8	37.0	38.7	37.6	37.5	37.5	37.7	37.9	38.0
Expenditure	40.0	43.3	40.9	41.9	43.1	42.3	40.5	39.7	38.8	38.0
Net lending/borrowing	-2.5	-4.4	-3.9	-3.2	-5.5	-4.8	-3.1	-2.0	-0.9	0.0
Operating balance	-0.3	-2.2	-1.7	-0.7	-3.0	-2.5	-0.8	0.1	1.1	1.9
Cyclically adjusted primary balance 2/	-2.8	-4.2	-3.7	-3.4	-3.6	-2.9	-1.4	-0.2	1.1	2.0
Gross debt	46.0	48.6	45.8	48.4	53.2	56.4	59.0	58.8	57.5	55.1
Net debt	10.6	17.0	19.0	19.8	23.5	26.4	28.0	28.6	28.0	26.4
Net worth	94.6	102.0	96.3	94.4	87.1	81.3	77.3	74.8	73.5	73.0

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

Current account (percent of GDP)	-6.0	-9.2	-6.9	-6.2	-5.1	-4.6	-4.3	-3.9	-3.7	-3.5
Export volume	-2.3	-0.5	11.0	4.1	3.9	3.9	4.1	4.0	4.2	4.2
Import volume	14.5	4.7	-0.4	2.4	2.0	3.5	3.2	3.3	3.4	3.4
Net international investment position (percent of GDP)	-47.9	-52.5	-51.3	-49.4	-52.1	-54.0	-55.8	-57.3	-58.6	-59.6
Gross official reserves (bn US$)	16.4	13.7	14.8	23.2	…	…	…	…	…	…

MEMORANDUM ITEMS


Nominal GDP (bn NZ$)	353	385	413	427	448	472	496	518	540	564
Percent change	9.0	9.2	7.1	3.4	4.9	5.5	4.9	4.4	4.4	4.3
Nominal GDP per capita (US$)	48,845	47,819	48,360	48,448	47,158	49,022	50,472	51,643	53,044	54,378
Real gross national disposable income per capita (NZ$)	54,586	55,293	54,662	53,632	54,724	55,635	56,458	57,044	57,611	58,081
Percent change	3.7	1.3	-1.1	-1.9	2.0	1.7	1.5	1.0	1.0	0.8
Population (million)	5.1	5.1	5.2	5.3	5.4	5.5	5.5	5.6	5.7	5.8
US$/NZ$ (average level)	0.708	0.636	0.614	0.605	…	…	…	…	…	…
Nominal effective exchange rate	109.9	106.5	105.0	104.9	…	…	…	…	…	…
Real effective exchange rate	107.6	105.5	105.7	106.1	…	…	…	…	…	…

Sources: Authorities’ data and IMF staff estimates and projections.

1/ Fiscal year.
2/ In percent of potential GDP.

IMF Communications Department

MEDIA RELATIONS

PRESS OFFICER: Pemba Sherpa

Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/23/pr25159-imf-executive-board-concludes-2025-article-iv-consultation-with-new-zealand

MIL OSI

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 27, 2025

MIL-OSI New Zealand: Miraculous rescue in the Pacific highlights regional search and rescue collaboration

Source: Maritime New Zealand

Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) played a key role in ensuring two Tuvaluan fishermen were able to get home safely after becoming lost earlier this month. The two men were rescued following a collaborative coordinated effort by agencies from across the Pacific.

The fishermen, who were on-board a 5.8 metre aluminium vessel, went missing on Saturday 1 July. They did not take any emergency location equipment out with them. Due to the inability to be able to get a read on where they may have drifted, there was a significant search area.

After three days adrift, and multiple searchers working from the sea and air, the MV Nivaga III, a local vessel, found the pair at 9 PM on Tuesday 4 July.

The Fijian Rescue Coordination Centre asked RCCNZ’s assistance with the search after the pair had been missing for two days.

Justin Allan, General Manager RCCNZ and Safety Systems says this rescue wasn’t just finding a needle in a haystack. The coordinating agencies had to start with finding the haystack first.

“The identified search area was approximately 5500 nautical miles. For a comparison, Lake Taupo has a perimeter of 104 nautical miles,” he says.
This successful rescue was based on regional cooperation between the Fijian Rescue Coordination Centre, Tuvalu search and rescue coordinators and response assets, and RCCNZ. The New Zealand Defence Force also sent its new P8A to assist with the search.

Recently RCCNZ has been undertaking work to support the development of their Fijian counterparts’ search and rescue capability. This involved a two-week training course, with a focus on coordination search efforts, assessing search areas and tasking assets such as vessels of opportunity and aircraft.

“The vessel was eventually found right in the middle of the search area, which highlighted the planning and coordination capability of the Fijian MRCC,” Justin Allan says.

The RCCNZ also wants to acknowledge the support of the NZDF who carried out the first operational deployment of the P8A Poseidon in support of this search.

“It is reassuring knowing NZDF has an asset like the P8A that we can quickly call upon to assist with searches such as this,” Justin Allan says.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Forces Conduct Strikes Supporting Somali National Army, Targeting al-Shabaab

Source: United States AFRICOM

AFRICOM logo news release thumbnail

In support of a military operation led by the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) conducted airstrikes against al-Shabaab on May 21, 2025.

The airstrikes, backing a Somali-led operation, occurred approximately 27 miles northwest of Kismayo, Somalia.

AFRICOM’s operational efforts are critical to countering transnational threats, and supporting the Federal Government of Somalia’s offensive posture against violent extremist organizations ensures the promotion of regional security and advancement of national interests.

Al-Shabaab has proven both its will and capability to attack U.S. forces.

AFRICOM, alongside the Federal Government of Somalia and Somali Armed Forces, continues to take decisive action to degrade al-Shabaab’s ability to plan and conduct attacks that threaten the U.S. homeland, our forces, and our citizens abroad.

Specific details about units and assets will not be released to ensure continued operations security.

U.S. Africa Command, one of 11 U.S. Department of Defense combatant commands with an area of responsibility covering 53 African states, more than 800 ethnic groups, over 1,000 languages, vast natural resources, a land mass that is three-and-a-half times the size of the U.S., and nearly 19,000 miles of coastland. Working alongside its partners, AFRICOM counters transnational threats and malign actors, strengthens security forces and responds to crises.

MIL Security OSI –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Promoting social inclusion through pet companionship

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Renata Roma, Postdoctoral Fellow, Center of Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies/Pawsitive Connections Lab, University of Saskatchewan

The benefits of pet companionship have been widely researched and celebrated.

Pets can improve our mood and immune system. They can also encourage staying active and fit, offer emotional comfort and companionship, and foster social connections. Pets can even increase life expectancy.

Unfortunately, pet companionship is not always easily accessible to everyone. Several groups face hurdles when it comes to sharing time or living with a pet. Some of the hurdles that people can face when accessing pets include the lack of pet-friendly housing and financial resources to afford pet food and veterinary care.

There can also be more concrete barriers to pet companionship, such as no-pet clauses in rental agreements or no-pet policies in retirement homes.

As we strive for social equality, it is essential to address hurdles that prevent some people from experiencing the known benefits of spending time or living with a pet.

Challenges and misconceptions

Several factors can make pet companionship less accessible. Some of these factors include lack of appropriate housing and lack of financial resources for pet food and pet-related veterinary services. A Canadian survey found that new immigrants and young people aged 18 to 34 years are the groups most affected by these factors and, often, elderly people experience housing-related and financial challenges.

For pet guardians, the inability to pay for grooming services, food or health-care services can create feelings of distress and, for their pets, this can lead to a reduced quality of life. In this case, we see that the well-being of both pet guardians and their beloved pets can be compromised.

Moreover, some studies link higher income to an increased likelihood of living with companion animals. When it comes to economic factors, it is concerning that some believe certain groups of people should not be pet guardians. The Michelson Found Animals Foundation highlights several misconceptions about living with companion animals, which are often associated with financial hardships.

For example, some people believe that people who live in apartments, rather than homes with backyards and green space, should only have small dogs as pets. However, this belief ignores a dog’s energy level as some small dogs are highly energetic while some big dogs are less energetic. This belief also does not consider the guardian’s ability to provide mental and physical stimulation for their dog.

Still other people believe that if someone cannot afford the costs associated with caring for a pet, they should not have a one. This belief only reinforces social inequalities and reflects a deeper form of discrimination.

Financial problems and housing restrictions may force people to give up their pets, and this is an emotionally difficult decision. Research by Christine Yvette Tardif-Williams, one of the authors of this story, with childhood and youth researcher Rebecca Raby and graduate students at Brock University shows how homeless children often navigate feelings of emotional intimacy towards their pets alongside feelings of loss and grief. In this research, homeless children shared stories about missing or losing companion animals either through separation or death.

Research also shows that most people experiencing homelessness are responsible pet guardians, and that their pets are often very healthy and that they too benefit from human companionship — it’s a mutually beneficial, two-way emotional connection.

A more equitable future in pet companionship

Pet companionship and systemic inequalities are interconnected. For instance, many socioeconomically disadvantaged and marginalized families and communities — including, but not limited to, racialized, Indigenous, homeless, immigrant and refugee families and their children — face barriers to pet companionship.

We need targeted strategies and policies to reduce the barriers faced by these families and communities. It is important to create more opportunities for people and pets to live together. This can help us to address social inequality in pet companionship among diverse groups.

Some studies highlight the need for increasing access to free or low-cost veterinary care. Making shelters and housing more pet-friendly is also essential. Promoting campaigns to reduce misconceptions about pet companionship among diverse groups of people is another key strategy.

One example of a program that helps make pet companionship more accessible is Community Veterinary Outreach (CVO).This is a registered charity located across different provinces in Canada. They provide health care for people and preventive care for pets. They also run education programs covering topics such as animal behaviour, nutrition, and dental care. Together, these services help to support vulnerable populations living with pets.

Another example is the PetCard program, a Canadian financing program that offers flexible options for people to split the payment of veterinary-related services.

Read more:
How ‘One Health’ clinics support unhoused people and their pets

However, we need more consistent collaborative work that begins by raising awareness about the importance of pet companionship for diverse groups of people. Expanding this discussion can help us design fairer policies about pet companionship, foster social justice and bring communities together.

Overlooking the relevance of this discussion can reinforce discriminatory views around pet companionship.

Supporting pet companionship

It is problematic when access to pet companionship is restricted due to a family’s economic status or housing opportunities, since it means they’re less likely to experience the well-being benefits of pet companionship. In this way, pet-related benefits are limited to a select and privileged group.

We can help people and animals build meaningful bonds by promoting equitable access to companionship. The needs of pets must also be prioritized in any effort to increase access to pet companionship. This means making sure pets’ physical and emotional needs are met and that they also benefit from the human-pet bond. Pets’ well-being and rights should always come first when making pet companionship more accessible.

To create a fair approach to supporting pet companionship among diverse populations, we need to balance human and pet needs and ensure the well-being of both humans and their pets.

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

– ref. Promoting social inclusion through pet companionship – https://theconversation.com/promoting-social-inclusion-through-pet-companionship-255089

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI: Best Senior Dating Sites & Mature Dating Apps: Senior Match Review for 50+ Singles
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Vaughan, Ontario, May 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Introduction: Why Senior Dating Is Thriving in 2025

As people live longer, healthier lives, the desire for meaningful companionship well into our 50s, 60s, and beyond has become more common. Online platforms tailored for mature adults have grown rapidly, offering new ways to connect and form lasting bonds. Among these options, Senior Match has built a reputation as one of the most trusted platforms for older singles.

⇒ Join the Best Senior Match Website for Free!

In this review, we’ll explore how Senior Match works, what makes it stand out in the senior dating space, and whether it’s the right platform for you. Whether you’re newly single, divorced, or just ready to meet someone who understands your life stage, this guide covers everything you need to know.

What Is Senior Match? Overview & Background

Senior Match is an online dating service specifically designed for individuals aged 50 and above. Launched in 2001, the platform has maintained a clear mission: to create a safe and welcoming environment where mature singles can find love, friendship, and travel companions.

With over one million registered members and thousands of active users weekly, Senior Match stands out for its age-focused community and straightforward approach. Unlike multi-age platforms, it doesn’t admit members under 45, which keeps interactions relevant and aligned with the interests of older adults.

The platform is accessible via both desktop and mobile apps, offering flexibility for users regardless of their tech preferences.

Mature Dating Made Simple – Discover Matches Near You on Senior Match

Who Should Join Senior Match? Target Audience

Senior Match is built for adults over 50 who are looking for a relationship, casual companionship, or new friendships. The community includes retirees, professionals, widowers, and individuals who want to re-engage with the dating world at their own pace.

It’s also suitable for those who value personal connections, maturity, and thoughtful conversations over swiping-based interactions. However, while it accommodates a wide range of relationship goals, it’s more geared toward meaningful engagement than short-term flings.

For LGBTQ+ seniors, the site does offer some functionality but remains predominantly focused on heterosexual dating, which may limit experience diversity in that area.

Platform Features: How Senior Match Works

Senior Match offers a clean, intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate. Registration is quick, requiring basic details such as age, location, interests, and a profile picture. Once set up, users can access various features:
- Search Filters: You can filter potential matches by age, region, lifestyle habits, and personal values. Free users access basic filters, while premium members enjoy advanced sorting options.
- Match Suggestions: Unlike algorithm-driven matches, Senior Match allows users to browse profiles at their own pace. This manual process encourages more thoughtful engagement.
- Communication Tools: Members can send winks, add favorites, and reply to messages. Direct messaging is reserved for upgraded accounts.
- Community Features: The platform includes blog posts, senior dating advice, safety tips, and even first date ideas — contributing to a more holistic dating experience.
- Mobile App: The app mirrors the website’s functionality and is available for Android and iOS. While not as flashy as modern dating apps, it performs reliably for messaging and profile browsing.
Finally, a Senior Dating Site That Gets You — Try Senior Match Today!

Free vs Paid Membership: What Do You Get?

The free version of Senior Match allows users to create a profile, browse other members, send limited winks, and participate in blog discussions. However, direct communication with other users — including replying to messages — is locked behind the paid tier.

Upgrading to a premium plan unlocks full messaging capabilities, access to who viewed your profile, and advanced search options. It also boosts visibility, placing your profile higher in search results and giving you a greater chance of being seen.

While the free version is a good starting point, most users eventually move to premium for a fuller experience.

Senior Match Pricing & Plans (Updated 2025)

Senior Match offers three premium subscription options as of 2025:
- 1 Month Plan: $29.95
- 3 Month Plan: $59.95 ($19.98/month)
- 6 Month Plan: $95.95 ($15.99/month)
These plans are competitively priced within the senior dating market. The six-month plan offers the best value, especially for users committed to finding a match over time.

Subscriptions auto-renew by default, so it’s important to manage your billing settings if you prefer not to continue. Refunds are not guaranteed, so consider starting with a short-term plan if you’re trying it for the first time.

Ready for Real Connection? Join the Best Senior Dating Site Now!

User Safety, Privacy & Verification

Senior Match emphasizes user safety, especially for an audience that may be more vulnerable to online scams. All new profiles undergo manual review before being published, and uploaded photos must meet content guidelines.

The platform has tools to block users, report suspicious activity, and protect personal data. Email verification is required to complete signup, and user information is never publicly displayed beyond profile basics.

Unlike some mainstream apps, Senior Match is relatively free of bots or fake accounts — a point highlighted in many external reviews.

Real Senior Match Reviews & Testimonials

Below are experiences shared by users on platforms like RetirementLiving and the official Senior Match site:

Marsha D., 62 – Austin, TX
“I joined out of curiosity and ended up meeting someone special within a few weeks. The site feels safe, and I appreciated how simple everything was.”

Robert F., 68 – St. Petersburg, FL
“The profile setup was quick, and I like how it’s tailored for people like me. Conversations feel more mature and respectful than what I experienced on other platforms.”

Helen M., 59 – Sacramento, CA
“I wish the free plan had more features, but the upgrade was worth it. I’ve had meaningful chats and even gone on a few dates.”

Douglas S., 73 – Boston, MA
“It’s nice to have a dating app where you don’t feel out of place. No one here is playing games, and that’s what I wanted.”

Patricia K., 65 – Chicago, IL
“Customer support was responsive when I had trouble logging in. That gives me confidence in the site’s credibility.”

Disclaimer: This review includes general information and user feedback. Results may vary. This is not a paid endorsement, but we may earn a commission if you register through links on this page.

The Mature Dating Site Everyone’s Talking About in 2025 – Don’t Miss Out!

Pros and Cons of Senior Match

Pros:
- Exclusively for adults over 50
- Clean, easy-to-use interface
- Manual profile approval for added safety
- Helpful community blog and dating tips
Cons:
- Messaging limited to premium users
- No video call features
- Not ideal for LGBTQ+ matchmaking
Senior Match vs Other Senior Dating Sites

Here’s how Senior Match stacks up against its main competitors:

Senior Match vs OurTime
- OurTime has a broader audience but includes users under 50
- Senior Match offers a more age-focused environment
- OurTime has more ads and upsells
Senior Match vs SilverSingles
- SilverSingles uses a personality test for matching
- Senior Match offers more browsing freedom
- SilverSingles is better for long-term matchmaking, but Senior Match feels less rigid
Senior Match vs eHarmony 50+
- eHarmony has a higher subscription fee and a longer sign-up process
- Senior Match gets users into conversations faster
- Both are serious about relationship-focused dating
Bottom Line: If you’re over 50 and want a platform exclusively tailored to your age group with less clutter, Senior Match delivers that niche experience better than its competitors.

Thousands over 50 are finding love on Senior Match – what are you waiting for?

Senior Match Mobile App Review (iOS & Android)

The Senior Match mobile app retains all major website features in a compact format. While the design isn’t flashy, users praise its simplicity — which benefits those who may not be tech-savvy.

Features include:
- Profile browsing
- Messaging (for premium users)
- Daily match suggestions
- Account management
Both the iOS and Android versions receive favorable reviews, with most complaints relating to occasional bugs rather than core functionality.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Senior Match

Here are practical ways to make your experience more successful:
- Craft a strong profile: Use clear photos and honest, warm descriptions.
- Be proactive: Don’t wait for others to message — send winks or thoughtful messages.
- Stay safe: Avoid sharing personal details too early and use in-app communication only.
- Engage in community blogs: Sharing thoughts on relationships and senior life can attract attention.
- Be patient: Finding the right person takes time, especially when your standards are higher.
Why Settle? The Best Senior Dating Site Is Waiting – Explore Now

Frequently Asked Questions (Senior Match FAQs)

Q1: Is Senior Match completely free?
You can browse and create a profile for free, but messaging and advanced features require a paid subscription.

Q2: How do I cancel auto-renewal?
Go to Account Settings → Subscription → Turn off auto-renewal.

Q3: Is Senior Match available on mobile?
Yes, you can download it from the App Store or Google Play.

Q4: What’s the average user age?
Most users are between 55 and 70 years old.

Q5: Can I block or report someone?
Yes, the platform allows blocking and reporting directly from the user’s profile.

Q6: Are there fake profiles?
Manual review helps keep the site clear of bots, though vigilance is still advised.

Q7: Can I use it internationally?
Yes, although the majority of users are based in the U.S., there are global members.

Q8: Is the platform LGBTQ+ friendly?
Support is limited; it caters more to heterosexual matchmaking.

Q9: Can I upload multiple photos?
Yes, profiles support several images for better visibility.

Senior Match Success Stories: Real-Life Connections That Lasted

Nothing showcases the platform’s value better than real success stories. Senior Match features numerous testimonials from couples who met through the platform and went on to build lasting relationships.

Barbara & Greg – Atlanta, GA
After joining the platform in early 2023, Barbara connected with Greg within the first month. They began chatting daily, bonding over books and weekend gardening. After six weeks, they decided to meet for coffee — now they’re planning a cross-country road trip together.

Deborah & Alan – Scottsdale, AZ
Deborah, a 64-year-old retired teacher, was hesitant to try online dating. But Senior Match’s user-friendly design helped her ease into the process. She met Alan, 67, and the two now enjoy art shows and salsa classes every week.

James & Carol – Naples, FL
Both divorced in their 60s, James and Carol had almost given up on dating. Their connection started with a shared interest in photography. Today, they’re both exploring Europe — with travel photos featured on their joint blog.

These stories aren’t rare. They represent a growing trend of successful long-term connections initiated online — especially when platforms are designed with mature adults in mind.

Swipe Less, Connect More – The Mature Dating App Seniors Trust

2025 Trends in Senior Dating & What They Mean for You

The senior dating world has evolved dramatically in recent years. In 2025, new trends are shaping how people over 50 approach relationships online:

1. Increased Mobile Use Among Seniors

More users over 60 are using mobile dating apps. Senior Match’s mobile compatibility keeps pace with this shift, offering a smooth user experience on smartphones and tablets.

2. Video Introductions (Still Lacking on Senior Match)

Many modern dating apps now feature short video intros — something Senior Match doesn’t currently offer. Users seeking that feature may find it missing here, though the blog and profile space allow for a deeper self-description.

3. AI-Powered Match Suggestions

Platforms are beginning to adopt AI to suggest compatible matches. While Senior Match doesn’t use AI algorithms, this may be an area for future improvement.

4. Offline Meetups & Events

Many seniors now expect platforms to host virtual or in-person social events. Senior Match currently doesn’t organize community meetups, but the messaging tools do support arranging them independently.

5. Voice and Phone-Based Connections

Some services now allow users to talk directly via app-based calls. This is not yet offered by Senior Match, which relies entirely on text-based chat.

While not the most tech-advanced, Senior Match remains a reliable and trusted platform for those who value simplicity, safety, and connection.

Meet Local Singles on the Senior Dating Site Built for Real Relationships

Senior Match for Divorced & Widowed Singles

Many members on Senior Match are navigating the dating scene after a significant life change, such as divorce or the loss of a spouse. This platform provides a space where emotional maturity, patience, and shared life experiences are deeply appreciated.

For Divorced Singles:
The transition from a long-term relationship to single life again can be overwhelming. Senior Match allows individuals to re-enter the dating world at their own pace. The ability to take things slowly, read detailed profiles, and communicate before meeting in person makes it easier to rebuild trust and confidence.

For Widowed Members:
Grief can make starting over daunting. What stands out about Senior Match is its respectful community, where users understand the value of second chances. Many profiles openly state if someone is widowed, helping to foster understanding and empathy.

Tips for Success:
- Be honest about your relationship history in your profile
- Focus on shared values rather than rushing into romance
- Use the blog and advice sections for inspiration on reentering dating
Whether you’re looking for companionship, friendship, or romance, Senior Match gives divorced and widowed users a soft landing and new beginning.

Fall in Love Again with the #1 Senior Dating Site Online

Senior Match Photo Guidelines & Profile Tips

Your profile is your first impression, and on a platform like Senior Match, a thoughtful presentation can make all the difference. Here’s how to stand out:

Profile Photo Tips
- Use a recent photo: It builds trust and avoids awkward surprises.
- Smile naturally: A warm expression invites conversation.
- Avoid filters: Authenticity resonates with this audience.
- Dress neatly: Casual yet polished photos perform best.
About Me Section
- Write in first person: “I enjoy morning walks…”
- Mention lifestyle habits: travel, hobbies, favorite books or activities
- Keep it concise but personal — avoid clichés
What You’re Looking For
- Be clear if you’re seeking a serious relationship or companionship
- Mention non-negotiables kindly (e.g., non-smoker, pet lover)
This section is your personal space to shine. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about being real. A profile that reflects who you are today (not who you were 10 years ago) will connect better.

How to Stay Safe When Meeting Matches Offline

Meeting someone from an online platform in real life can be exciting — and nerve-wracking. Senior Match encourages users to stay cautious and informed.

Key Safety Tips:
- Always meet in a public place: Coffee shops, parks, or restaurants are great choices.
- Tell a friend or family member your plans: Share the location and expected time of return.
- Use your own transportation: Maintain independence and flexibility.
- Avoid alcohol on the first meeting: Stay alert and in control.
- Keep personal items secure: Don’t leave phones, bags, or medication unattended.
Red Flags to Watch For:
- Pressuring to meet privately or too soon
- Evasive answers to simple questions
- Financial requests or emotional manipulation
Senior Match itself doesn’t arrange in-person events, so all meetups are independently planned. Use good judgment, take your time, and trust your instincts.

Your Next Chapter Starts Here – Find Companionship on a Leading Senior Dating Site

How Senior Match Supports Travel Companionship Connections

Senior Match isn’t just about finding romantic partners — it’s also a hub for seniors looking for travel buddies and companions to explore the world with.

Many users specify in their profile whether they enjoy traveling or are looking for someone to accompany them on trips. Whether it’s a domestic road trip, a cruise, or international adventure, finding someone with similar travel interests can be easier than you think.

How to Highlight Travel Interests:
- Add destinations you’ve visited or dream of exploring
- Mention whether you prefer solo-style exploration or guided tours
- Include photos from past travels in your gallery
By using travel-related keywords and filtering profiles with shared travel goals, Senior Match users can connect with others who are equally adventurous. It’s a great way to turn wanderlust into connection — even if romance isn’t the primary goal.

Senior Match Customer Support & Community Engagement

While many platforms rely on automated support, Senior Match offers responsive assistance for both technical and account-related queries.

Support Features Include:
- Email support for billing or login issues
- FAQ section covering subscriptions, safety, and account settings
- Manual profile/photo review with guidelines available on-site
The platform’s blog and dating advice section also act as informal community spaces. Users can read posts on confidence, senior lifestyle, or dating etiquette — all geared toward a mature audience.

Though it doesn’t have a public forum or direct peer-to-peer threads, Senior Match’s clean layout makes support resources easy to locate. The ability to reach out directly when something goes wrong (or simply ask for help) contributes to overall user satisfaction.

Experience Real Conversations – Try the Senior Dating Site That Works

How to Identify a Genuine Profile on Senior Match

With thousands of members active each week, it’s important to know how to distinguish between genuine and questionable profiles. Senior Match makes efforts to verify new accounts, but here’s how you can spot sincerity from the start.

✅ Traits of a Genuine Profile:
- Multiple, recent photos: Real members usually share at least two or three clear images.
- Complete bios: A real profile will include hobbies, background, and what the person is looking for.
- Message depth: Responses that reflect your profile or ask personal questions are a good sign.
- Consistent tone: Watch for people who answer clearly and consistently without copy-paste replies.
Red Flags:
- No profile photo or only one overly polished image
- Vague responses like “I like you” or “You’re special” without context
- Fast attempts to move the conversation off-platform
- Profiles that seem too perfect or too broad
Always trust your instincts. Senior Match gives you tools like “Favorites” and “Viewed Me” to gauge interest and interaction patterns over time.

Finally, a Senior Dating Site That Gets You — Try Senior Match Today!

How to Spot Romance Scams and Stay Protected

While Senior Match works to keep scammers out, no platform is completely immune. Older users, especially those new to online dating, can be vulnerable to deception.

Common Romance Scam Tactics:
- Claims of love too soon, within a few messages
- Excuses to avoid video calls or in-person meetings
- Financial stories: sudden emergencies, medical bills, or travel issues
- Long, emotionally charged messages early on
How to Stay Safe:
- Never send money or gift cards to someone you haven’t met
- Don’t share financial or personal information (e.g., social security number, address)
- Use Senior Match’s messaging tools until you’re fully comfortable
- Report any suspicious activity immediately
Senior Match provides a “Report” button on all profiles. It’s your right to use it when something doesn’t feel right. Staying cautious doesn’t mean being fearful — it means protecting your time and peace of mind.

Long-Distance Dating on Senior Match: Does It Work?

Many seniors are open to connecting with people outside their hometown. Whether it’s due to relocation plans, retirement travel, or simply wanting a larger pool of matches, long-distance dating is increasingly common.

Tips for Long-Distance Connections:
- Use the search filters to widen your location radius
- Clarify upfront whether travel is possible — for you and your match
- Stay consistent with messaging, video calls, and occasional surprises
- Plan realistic in-person meetings after trust has been built
Some users even relocate after finding a strong connection. Others agree to meet halfway or take turns visiting. The key is managing expectations and ensuring both people are equally invested.

Senior Match doesn’t provide location match alerts, so it’s up to you to use filters and keywords (like “willing to relocate”) to find those with shared flexibility.

Meet Real People, Not Games – Join the Best Mature Dating Site Online

How to Break the Ice on Senior Match

Starting a conversation on a dating site can feel awkward, but Senior Match users tend to appreciate kindness, clarity, and directness.

Here’s how to open with impact:
- Reference something in their profile: “I noticed you enjoy hiking. Have you visited any trails recently?”
- Compliment with context: “You have a great smile — and your dog looks adorable too!”
- Use humor, gently: A light joke can disarm tension but keep it respectful
- Ask thoughtful questions: “What’s one place you’ve always wanted to visit?”
What to Avoid:
- “Hi” or “How are you?” with no follow-up
- Overly flirty or romantic lines too soon
- Asking for phone numbers in the first message
A great icebreaker shows that you’ve read the person’s profile and are genuinely interested in them as a person, not just their photo.

How Senior Match Protects Against Fake Bots

Unlike many free or younger-focused apps, Senior Match maintains a strict policy against fake accounts and spam bots. Here’s how the platform keeps things authentic:

Key Safety Measures:
- Manual Review: All profiles and photos go through a human approval process
- No Instant Messaging: Members must mutually engage before deeper messaging occurs, reducing bot intrusion
- Email Verification: New users must confirm their email to activate the account
- Report and Block Tools: Easily remove unwanted messages or suspicious profiles from your view
While no platform is entirely bot-free, Senior Match maintains a clean user base through consistent moderation. Users frequently note that they feel safer and more respected here than on mainstream dating sites where automation is more prevalent.

If you do come across a suspicious profile, use the “Report” feature — the team usually responds quickly.

You’re not too late. The best Senior Dating Site is still growing fast

What Happens After You Find a Match?

Finding someone you genuinely connect with is a rewarding moment — but what happens next? Senior Match doesn’t pressure users to delete their profiles once they pair up, so you can take the next step at your own pace.

Steps After a Successful Match:
- Start planning offline meetups: Choose neutral, public locations for first meetings
- Exchange contact info safely: After a few conversations, you may decide to move communication off the platform
- Decide if you want to pause your account: Senior Match allows account suspension without deletion
- Update your profile: If you’re seeing someone exclusively, note it in your profile or set your visibility to “off”
Many users keep their account active as a backup or simply to stay connected with friends. Whether your journey ends with one match or multiple experiences, Senior Match supports your choices without pressure.

Senior Match as a Platform for Friendship, Not Just Romance

Not every user on Senior Match is looking for romantic love. A large segment of the community joins to find companionship, friendship, or activity partners in their area.

Some are widowed and not ready to date again, while others are relocating and looking to expand their social circle. The platform allows users to clearly indicate their goals in their profile, whether that’s:
- Coffee meetups
- Shared travel adventures
- Fitness partners
- Conversation buddies
Don’t miss your chance to join the most trusted Mature Dating App in 2025

How to Attract Friendship-Based Matches:
- Select “Friendship” in your relationship goals
- Mention social hobbies like gardening, hiking, or cooking classes
- Include warm, approachable language in your profile description
This makes Senior Match feel more like a community than a typical dating app — perfect for seniors who value meaningful human connections in all forms.

How to Get Noticed More on Senior Match

Getting more profile views — and more messages — often comes down to a few simple tweaks. Here’s how to stand out without feeling like you’re advertising yourself.

Actionable Tips:
- Update your profile regularly: Fresh edits bring your profile back to the top of search results
- Upload 3–5 quality photos: Include a mix of smiling headshots and activity-based shots
- Be active in the blog section: Commenting or posting shows engagement, which others notice
- Reply promptly: Timely responses keep momentum going and improve visibility
- Use “winks” daily: They’re free and show casual interest without pressure
Also, experiment with messaging during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening). This helps your messages stand out in a smaller batch of incoming notes. Users who take 10–15 minutes each day to engage meaningfully often see the best results.

Your Next Chapter Starts Here – Find Companionship on a Leading Senior Dating Site

Senior Match Premium: Is It Worth It Long-Term?

While the free version of Senior Match is a great way to explore the platform, most users find the full experience opens up only with a paid membership.

What You Gain with Premium:
- Unlimited messaging: Essential for building relationships
- Who viewed your profile: Helps prioritize outreach
- Advanced search filters: Narrow matches by interests, lifestyle, or location
- Boosted visibility: Appear more frequently in search results
Users who subscribe for 3 or 6 months report a higher success rate than those on shorter plans. If you’re serious about finding a connection — whether romantic or platonic — the cost pays off in time saved and improved engagement.

Long-Term Value:
- You can always pause your subscription if needed
- Great for those who plan to actively date, not just browse
- Less costly than traditional dating methods (travel, event-based matchmaking)
For seniors ready to invest in quality connections, premium access on Senior Match proves itself within the first few weeks of consistent use.
50+ and Single? Senior Match Is the Senior Dating Site Built Just for You
Final Verdict — Who Will Benefit Most from Senior Match?

If you’re aged 50 or above and want a mature, focused space to meet new people, Senior Match remains a top-tier option in 2025. It may lack some flashy features like video chat or AI matching, but it delivers where it matters most — genuine users, intuitive design, and a respectful environment.

Whether you’re seeking a committed relationship, companionship, or simply someone to share coffee and conversation, the platform makes it easy to connect. It’s particularly ideal for:
- Widows and widowers looking to ease back into dating
- Retirees who want to find love in their next chapter
- People tired of youth-centric dating apps
With pricing that’s fair and a strong support team, Senior Match continues to offer excellent value for senior singles ready to take that next step.

Project name: Senior Match
10 – 8707 Dufferin St, Suite 160
Vaughan, Ontario L4J 0A6
Canada
Company website: https://www.seniormatch.com/
TEL: 1-416-628-1072 OR 1-888-702-1274 (Toll-Free)

Content Accuracy Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in this article. However, due to the dynamic nature of product formulations, promotions, and availability, details may change without notice. The publisher makes no warranties or representations as to the current completeness or accuracy of any content, including product claims, pricing, or ingredient lists.
It is the responsibility of the reader to verify product information directly through the official website or manufacturer prior to making a purchasing decision. Any reliance placed on the information in this article is done strictly at your own risk.
Affiliate Disclosure
This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service through these links, the publisher may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support the creation of in-depth reviews and educational wellness content.
The publisher only promotes products that have been independently evaluated and deemed potentially beneficial to readers. However, this compensation may influence the content, topics, or products discussed in this article. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any affiliate partner or product provider.
All product reviews and descriptions reflect the author’s honest opinion based on available public data, user feedback, and scientific references at the time of writing. The inclusion of affiliate links does not influence the objectivity or integrity of the content. However, readers are encouraged to independently verify product information and consult with healthcare professionals prior to purchase or use.
No warranties, either expressed or implied, are made about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability of the content provided. The publisher and all affiliated parties expressly disclaim any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of any information contained herein.
Product and Trademark Rights
All product names, logos, and brands mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Use of these names does not imply endorsement unless explicitly stated. SM® , Seniormatch® SuccessfulMatch® are the trademarks of its respective brand owner.

Attachment
- Senior Match
The MIL Network –
May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: KDCA and SK bioscience forge ahead to shield South Korea against future pandemic influenza threats, says GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

KDCA and SK bioscience forge ahead to shield South Korea against future pandemic influenza threats, says GlobalData

Posted in Pharma

South Korea has launched the Priority Infectious Disease Pandemic Preparedness Rapid R&D Support Program, led by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) in collaboration with SK bioscience. This proactive initiative is expected to significantly strengthen and prepare the nation against emerging influenza threats, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

This government-led initiative focuses on developing vaccines against avian influenza that are identified as high-risk candidates for future pandemics. SK bioscience has demonstrated technological capabilities by manufacturing vaccines for global partners and successfully launching its own COVID-19 vaccine.

SK bioscience’s portfolio includes the WHO-prequalified SkyCellflu Quadrivalent and Skycellflu, both domestically developed cell-cultured influenza vaccines, and SKYCovione, South Korea’s first homegrown COVID-19 vaccine. It is the only domestic company to have commercialized cell-culture-based vaccines for both influenza and COVID-19 with significant strengths in vaccine development.

Chilamula Srija, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the risk of dependence on international supply chains for essential medical resources. By investing in domestic R&D, South Korea aims for greater autonomy and to ensure timely access to life-saving vaccines for its citizens in future emergencies.”

According to GlobalData’s Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center, SK bioscience is expected to initiate a Phase I/II study for an avian influenza vaccine in H2 2026. Ilyang Pharmaceutical Co Ltd is another domestic company in Phase III trials targeting Influenza A Virus, H1N1, and H3N2 subtypes.

KDCA and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) collaborated in May 2024 to accelerate vaccine development and other biological countermeasures against public health threats. This partnership underscores the commitment to global health security and the rapid response to a broad spectrum of high priority infectious diseases, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Ebola, mpox.

SK bioscience has previously collaborated with KDCA, notably winning the most bids in the government’s 2023-24 national flu vaccination program. Other companies such as GC Pharma, Ilyang Pharmaceutical, Boryung Corp., and Korea Vaccine also contributed millions of doses to support national immunization efforts.

Chilamula concludes: “With a robust vaccine pipeline, national collaboration, and advanced manufacturing capabilities, SK bioscience is poised to lead the nation’s next-generation pandemic preparedness strategy. By encouraging domestic companies, South Korea is preparing to face future pandemics and positioning the country as a global leader in pandemic readiness while reducing reliance on foreign pharmaceutical giants.”

MIL OSI Global Banks –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI: eSports Betting Sites: Thunderpick Named the Best eSports Bookie in the US
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York City, NY, May 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

The world of competitive gaming has exploded in popularity, and with it, eSports betting has become a top choice for US bettors.

Among the many platforms vying for attention, Thunderpick stands out for its robust offerings and user-friendly interface. With a strong focus on eSports markets and competitive odds, it caters directly to fans of games like CS:GO, League of Legends, and Dota 2.

JOIN THE TOP-RANKED ESPORT BETTING SITE: THUNDERPICK

Whether you’re a casual viewer or a seasoned bettor, Thunderpick delivers an experience designed to match your level of involvement.

Backed by a secure platform and exciting promotions, it’s quickly becoming a favorite across the US.

Why Thunderpick Stands Out for US eSports Bettors

Thunderpick is purpose-built for the modern eSports enthusiast, making it a top choice for players in the United States. The platform supports a wide variety of eSports titles, from globally dominant games like Counter-Strike and Dota 2 to emerging favorites such as Valorant and Overwatch 2. This diversity ensures bettors can always find the matchups they care about.

One of Thunderpick’s core strengths lies in its intuitive betting interface, which makes it simple to place single bets, accumulators, and even live wagers with just a few clicks. Real-time match updates and dynamic odds make in-play betting especially engaging, adding a strategic layer to the excitement of watching your favorite teams compete.

US players will appreciate the sleek, mobile-optimized design that works flawlessly on both iOS and Android devices. Whether you’re at home or on the move, Thunderpick makes it easy to keep up with the action. The site’s speed and responsiveness ensure you never miss a betting opportunity, even in fast-paced games.

Beyond its technical features, Thunderpick also excels in offering promotions tailored to eSports fans. Its generous welcome bonus, reload offers, and seasonal competitions help players get more value from every wager. These rewards can be especially enticing during major tournaments like The International or the League of Legends World Championship.

Thunderpick also maintains a strong commitment to responsible gaming, offering tools like deposit limits and self-exclusion for users who want more control over their betting habits. Combined with SSL encryption and a well-regarded reputation, this creates a trustworthy and secure environment.

GET 100% MATCH WELCOME BONUS UP TO $600 AT THUNDERPICK

Getting Started at the Top eSports Betting Sites in the US

Signing up with Thunderpick is fast, simple, and optimized for US users. The process starts by visiting the Thunderpick website or downloading the mobile app, available for both iOS and Android. From there, you’ll be prompted to create an account using your email address and a secure password.
1. Register Your Account: Visit the Thunderpick website and click the “Sign Up” and enter your email, username, and password.
2. Verify Your Email: Check your inbox for a verification link and confirm your identity.
3. Deposit Funds: Head to the cashier section and choose from a range of US-friendly payment methods like credit cards, Skrill, or other eWallets.
4. Claim Your Bonus: Make your first deposit to activate the 100% match welcome bonus up to $600.
5. Place Your First Bet: Browse the eSports section, select your game and odds, and confirm your wager.
From registration to first bet, the entire process takes just minutes. Thunderpick’s user dashboard is clean and well-organized, helping new users feel right at home. It also offers betting guides and FAQs to support less experienced players.

Once your account is active, you can explore a vast array of betting markets across different eSports titles.

Best Games to Bet on at US eSports Sites

eSports betting thrives on the popularity and competitive nature of the games themselves. In the US, bettors gravitate toward certain titles that consistently offer engaging action and well-established professional leagues.

At the top of the list is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), known for its balanced gameplay and international tournaments like ESL and BLAST Premier. Thunderpick offers a rich menu of betting markets for CS:GO, including match winner, map handicap, and total rounds.

League of Legends (LoL) is another standout title. With major events like the LCS and the World Championship, it provides numerous betting opportunities and high viewer engagement. Thunderpick supports various markets, including first blood, total kills, and tower takedowns.

Dota 2, backed by Valve and home to the massive prize pool of The International, is a mainstay in US eSports betting. Thunderpick offers comprehensive coverage, with options for outright winners, individual maps, and series length.

Valorant, a relatively new entry from Riot Games, has quickly built a competitive scene. Events like VCT Masters attract thousands of bettors, and Thunderpick covers them in detail with markets like spike defusals and headshot percentages.

For those who enjoy tactical gameplay, Rainbow Six Siege and StarCraft II provide unique mechanics and deep strategies. Thunderpick includes these games, ensuring niche fans are not left behind.

Thunderpick Mobile eSports Betting Experience

Mobile betting has become a critical feature for US users, and Thunderpick excels in delivering a smooth, reliable experience across devices. The mobile-optimized version of the site doesn’t require a separate app, offering instant access through any browser on iOS or Android. This web-based approach ensures users can start betting without lengthy downloads or installations.

The mobile interface mirrors the desktop site in both design and functionality, preserving intuitive navigation and lightning-fast performance. Thunderpick’s responsive layout adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes, so every feature, from game selection to account settings, is always within easy reach.

One standout mobile feature is live betting. Real-time odds updates and in-play options remain fully accessible, even on smaller screens. This is ideal for users who want to place strategic bets while watching matches on Twitch or YouTube on the same device.

Bonuses and Rewards at Top eSports Sites in the United States

In the competitive eSports betting market, bonuses and ongoing promotions play a pivotal role in attracting and retaining US users. Thunderpick sets itself apart by offering a comprehensive suite of rewards tailored specifically to eSports fans.

At sign-up, users are welcomed with a 100% match bonus up to $600. This generous welcome offer allows new bettors to double their initial deposit, providing a strong starting bankroll for exploring the site’s wide range of eSports markets.

But Thunderpick doesn’t stop at the initial bonus. The platform regularly runs reload promotions, offering extra value for repeat deposits. These reloads often align with major eSports events, giving users extra motivation to stay engaged.

Loyalty is rewarded through Thunderpick’s tiered VIP program. This system offers cashback, exclusive promotions, and early access to new features or events. US players who bet frequently on games like CS:GO or Dota 2 can unlock high-tier benefits faster than on most competitor sites.

Thunderpick also hosts seasonal tournaments and leaderboard contests, where users compete for cash prizes and bonus credits. These events encourage ongoing participation and create a community-driven betting atmosphere.

Ready to Join the Best US eSports Betting Sites?

Thunderpick has earned its reputation as one of the best eSports betting sites for US players, thanks to its focus on game variety, mobile performance, and player rewards. Whether you’re betting on CS:GO or exploring new titles like Valorant, the platform delivers seamless access and top-tier functionality.

Its mobile site makes on-the-go betting easy, while robust bonuses ensure players get real value from their activity. Security is baked into every feature, with advanced protections that keep user data and funds safe.

Thunderpick doesn’t just serve eSports fans, it elevates the entire experience. From intuitive design to real-time odds and community engagement tools, it’s clear why this brand leads the US market.

If you’re ready to dive into the world of eSports betting, Thunderpick offers a secure, rewarding, and exciting platform to get started.

Editorial Note

This article is provided solely for informational and entertainment purposes. Nothing within should be interpreted as legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers should carry out their own research before participating in any gambling activities or signing up with any online casinos mentioned.

Gambling Caution

Online gambling comes with financial risks and may lead to addictive behavior or monetary loss. We urge all readers to gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, professional help is available. The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) can be contacted at 1-800-522-4700 or visited online at www.ncpgambling.org.

21+ only. It is up to each individual to verify whether online gambling is permitted under their local, state, or federal laws. Neither the publisher, the authors, nor any syndication partners condone or support unlawful gambling. Participation in online gambling is done at the reader’s own discretion and risk.

Affiliate Transparency

This article may include affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase or register, a commission may be earned, at no extra cost to you.

Syndication and Liability Disclaimer

Any third-party publishers, media platforms, or syndication partners that republish this content do so understanding that it is meant for informational purposes only. These entities are not responsible for the legality, accuracy, or interpretation of the material.

Contact Data

Thunderpick

https://thunderpick.io

support@thunderpick.io

#1517, Hamchako, Nzwani, Comoros COM1010

Attachment
- Thunderpick
The MIL Network –
May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI: Urbana Corporation Congratulates Tetra Trust Company on Being Selected by Wealthsimple to Provide Digital Asset Custody Services

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S./

TORONTO, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Urbana Corporation (“Urbana” or the “Corporation”) (TSX and CSE: URB, URB.A) congratulates Tetra Trust Company (“Tetra”) on being selected by Wealthsimple to provide digital asset custody services.

Under this partnership, Tetra will act as one of Wealthsimple’s custodians for digital assets, marking the first time Wealthsimple has added a Canadian custodian to its roster. Wealthsimple will utilize Tetra Unity, Tetra’s institutional-grade platform, to streamline digital asset custody, execution, settlement, compliance, and risk management.   This partnership is subject to approval by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization.

“Wealthsimple has consistently led innovation in Canadian financial services, and this partnership represents a significant milestone for both companies,” said Didier Lavallée, CEO of Tetra. “By combining Wealthsimple’s trusted consumer platform with our institutional-grade custody solutions, we’re creating a more secure and accessible digital asset ecosystem for Canadians.”

This strategic collaboration marks an exciting chapter in Canada’s digital asset landscape — secure, compliant and homegrown solutions built by Canadian companies, for Canadian investors.

Urbana currently owns 24,510,434 common shares, representing 55.6% of the Tetra common shares outstanding.

About Urbana

Urbana Corporation is a diversified corporation with a focus on financial services, information services and innovative technologies.   The long-term goal of Urbana is to seek and acquire investments for income and capital appreciation through a combination of public and private investments. The portfolio mix of actively managed publicly traded securities with private equity investments has generated significant long-term investment results. For more information, visit www.urbanacorp.com.

About Tetra

Founded in 2019, Tetra is Canada’s first trust company licensed to custody digital assets. Backed by major players in the industry such as Urbana Corporation, the Canadian Securities Exchange, Icebook and Coinbase Ventures, Tetra delivers the most advanced digital asset storage technology, setting the standard for digital asset custody in the country. For more information, visit www.tetratrust.com.

For further information contact:

Elizabeth Naumovski
Investor Relations
(416) 595-9106  enaumovski@urbanacorp.com

Certain statements in this news release constitute “forward-looking” statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Urbana to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Unless required by applicable securities law, Urbana does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

The MIL Network –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Dedicated health professionals improve care for people on Kiribati

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

Life in Kiribati, an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean, is influenced by its remote location, high disease burden and the worsening impacts of climate change. The country’s healthcare system is under immense strain. With health workforce shortages, Kiribati relies on skilled and dedicated members of the community to provide care on the outer islands.

In the heart of Abaiang island, a northern atoll of Kiribati, Batiua (pronounced Besiwa) has been the sole medical assistant for six years, serving a community of 6,000 people with limited resources. Medical assistants are nurses with additional training in medical conditions and treatment pathways who can treat patients with the support of trained physicians.

Alongside doctors from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Batiua provides essential healthcare, helping to tackle issues like malnutrition, infectious diseases, and pregnancy complications.

MSF midwife Esther Karume teaches local community members in Abaiang how to test for high blood pressure. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are common. Kiribati, April 2025.
Victor Caringal/MSF

Today, patients greet Batiua when they walk into the clinic, a small single-storey cement structure surrounded by coconut trees. Here at the primary healthcare centre, she examines the first patient of the day and translates the patient’s I-Kiribati language to English for the MSF doctor. Batiua is the main focal point for all the patients, while the doctor supports in the diagnosis and treatment plan and provides guidance in patient care.

Nurses and medical assistants employed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services provide valuable community-level care within Kiribati’s healthcare system. They play a vital role in their villages, where there are not enough staff and a high disease burden.

MSF’s medical professionals have been supporting Ministry of Health and Medical Services nurses in Abaiang since 2024.

“We focus our energies here as there is a high incidence of referrals for maternal care from outer islands to Tungaru Central hospital on the main island of Tarawa. We identified the need to support the medical assistants and nurses by implementing the community-based model of care,” says MSF medical coordinator Kiera Sargeant. This means women will be able to receive care closer to home.

A villager sits in shade in Abaiang. The high heat and humidity is consistent through days and nights on Abaiang.
Victor Caringal/MSF

In 2024, MSF screened 888 women for non-communicable diseases in Abaiang. A quarter of the women had diabetes, with almost 20 per cent having hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. More than 60 per cent showed signs of obesity.

Among the 514 children screened nine per cent had had recent diarrhoea, emphasising the ongoing challenges related to water and sanitation.

Kiribati’s high burden of disease

Of the five patients waiting their turn for Batiua, three are pregnant women and two are children accompanied by their mothers.

When it is 10-month-old Gianna’s turn to be examined, Rutii, her mother, crouches beside her.

“Our doctor says her chest sounds better than yesterday, an improvement from when she arrived the day before,” says Batiua.

Rutii nods and smiles. “My baby, Gianna had high fever; she had difficulty to breathe. And she wasn’t eating well,” recalls Rutii. “The MSF doctor and the medical assistant asked me to admit the baby immediately. I was very worried. Now she is much better. She has started to eat.”

The impact of climate change makes children and adults more susceptible to non-communicable and communicable diseases.

Disruptions in food systems exacerbate malnutrition risks, which can lead to overweight and obesity, increasing the risk of non-communicable disease, including pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes. This is in part due to over-reliance on hyper-processed foods and lack of arable land due to erosion, and high salinity of soil and water.

A child receives antibiotics by Batiua, a medical attendant two days after being admitted at the PHC. This was the last dose that the PHC had.
Pratistha Koirala/MSF

More than 15 per cent of children in Kiribati under five years of age are stunted, 3.5 per cent of children under five years of age are affected by wasting, and 90 per cent of children live in food poverty, meaning they have limited access to a diverse and nutritious diet.

Malnutrition makes children more susceptible to infectious diseases and other illnesses. “Children are affected more as it directly impacts the growth,” says Batiua.

Growing preference for imported, processed food, and reduced ability to grow food locally are some of the contributors to malnutrition and many non-communicable diseases in Kiribati. Extreme weather conditions and rising sea levels threaten agricultural production and livelihoods.

The climate crisis is a health crisis

Most patients at the clinics on the outer island of Abaiang are women.

While Kiribati has some of the highest burdens of disease in the Pacific region, it has one of the lowest rates of access to primary healthcare, increasing the vulnerability of pregnant women and children. MSF is helping women have safer pregnancies by working with local health workers to help diagnose and treat diabetes and hypertension in pregnant women.

Any cases, including high-risk pregnancies, that are not treatable at the clinic are referred to the Tungaru Central hospital in the capital, Tarawa, via a two- to four-hour boat trip or a flight which leaves once or twice a week.

The local staff of Médecins Sans Frontières Kiribati waits for water testing equipment to be unloaded as the airplane lands in the outer island of Abaiang. Abaiang is an atoll just north of Tarawa, the main island of Kiribati, with around 6,000 inhabitants. Teirio, the main island of Abaiang, is about 30 km long. There is no running water, no electricity, no restaurants; and the airfield is a gravel strip in the forest. There are 18 villages in Abaiang, 16 of which are on Teiro.
Pratista Koirala/MSF

“Transporting a critical patient is always a challenge,” says Diana, the nurse at Takarano clinic on the north of the island. A single nurse or medical assistant is responsible for each clinic.

“It’s a big relief to the island when we have MSF’s doctor Joseph, as he has more medical knowledge,” says Batiua with a smile.

For the people of Kiribati, the climate crisis is a daily health threat. Rising sea levels contaminate freshwater, increasing diarrhoeal diseases, while extreme weather disrupts food supply, worsening malnutrition. Warmer temperatures fuel mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue, and heat stress impacts those with heart disease and diabetes, as well as pregnant women. These challenges, combined with limited healthcare access, create a worsening cycle of poor health.

Improving access to clean water

Accessing clean, safe water is a daily challenge for people in Kiribati. Shallow groundwater, which is contaminated with seawater, rubbish and other waste, is the main drinking water. The limited access to potable water supply at the clinic poses a significant challenge, affecting both patient care and clinic sanitation. With no running water on the island, the health clinics rely on rainwater or water carried from nearby homes.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is making efforts to secure a water supply. MSF has also been working with the ministry to test the quality of water in the groundwater table on the island and looking at how this correlates with health conditions such as hypertension or diarrhoea in pregnancy.

“We’re also working on geo-mapping the various water wells so the community has more information about the water quality in each well and can make healthier choices about where they get their water,” says Kiera.

The primary sources of freshwater are underground freshwater lenses and rainwater harvesting. Groundwater wells can be salty or contaminated by bacteria.

Remote island logistics

Kiribati faces unique geographical challenges that impact nearly every aspect of daily life, including healthcare, transportation and waste management. Spread across 33 atolls and reef islands, the country’s vast distances and limited infrastructure make it difficult to transport essential medical supplies, access specialised healthcare, and manage waste effectively. Many outer islands rely on infrequent boat or air transport for critical supplies, and delays can lead to medicine shortages and limited healthcare access. Meanwhile, the lack of proper waste disposal infrastructure poses environmental and health risks, with medical waste often accumulating in unsafe conditions.

Médecins Sans Frontières wash supervisor Mila Tirikai pours sample well water in whirl-pakc theo-bag for faecal coliform test. The sample water is interacted with growth medium which them is poured into a compartment bag for incubation. By using different testing methods like the one in the picture, sample water is tested for conductivity (used for conversion to TDS and salinity), pH, turbidity, iron and potassium.
Pratistha Koirala/MSF

The remote location, high disease burden and worsening effects of climate change continue to place immense strain on Kiribati’s healthcare system. With a growing population facing increasing health challenges—including malnutrition, non-communicable diseases, and limited access to clean water—the need for sustained medical support is critical.

MSF’s partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services aims to provide medical care to people, strengthen pharmacy management and improve sanitation efforts. Working in collaboration with medical professionals at all levels, tertiary to grassroots, has been one of the key pillars of the collaboration. Nurses and medical assistants like Batiua find joy in helping people.

“My mission in life is to eradicate malnutrition in Abaiang, especially among children under five,” she says.

You could also be interested in

Hepatitis C

Additional 30,000 Rohingya to receive hepatitis C treatment in Cox’s Bazar

Press Release 22 May 2025

Gaza-Israel war

Aid instrumentalised, health system under fire: Gaza is being deliberately asphyxiated by Israeli forces

Press Release 21 May 2025

United Kingdom

UK government must immediately close Wethersfield mass containment site for asylum seekers

Press Release 15 May 2025

MIL OSI NGO –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Following Deadly Shooting at Capital Jewish Museum, Rep. Sherrill Urges DHS and DOJ to Dedicate Additional Resources to Combat Antisemitic Attacks and Threats

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

WASHINGTON, DC — In the wake of the May 21st shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) today sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Noem and Attorney General Bondi urging immediate action and additional federal resources to protect Jewish communities, houses of worship, and nonprofit organizations.

In her letter, Rep. Sherrill detailed several recent violent antisemitic attacks, including the May 21st shooting, the April 13th arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence following a Passover celebration, and incidents in her New Jersey Congressional District such as the firebombing of Temple Ner Tamid and the vandalism of Oheb Shalom Synagogue.

The May 21st attack came just one day after the Capital Jewish Museum received a grant from the District of Columbia’s Safe and Secure DC Grant Program to cover the costs of security officers at the museum, highlighting the critical need for additional funding to protect houses of worship and nonprofit organizations.

“On the night of May 21, 2025, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, two staffers from the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, were horrifically shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum,” wrote Rep. Sherrill. “While details from the shocking attack are still emerging, the suspect’s antisemitic motivations highlight the threat of violence against Jewish Americans and residents across the United States. This attack was an assault on the core values and ideals of our nation – particularly the right to religious expression and to practice one’s faith without fear of violence – and we must take every effort to prevent it from happening again. In the wake of this violence and yet another devastating antisemitic attack in our country, I write to urge you to dedicate additional resources at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to protect houses of worship and nonprofit organizations and to combat the significant rise in antisemitic attacks and threats nationwide.”

Read the full letter here or below:

Dear Secretary Noem and Attorney General Bondi,

On the night of May 21, 2025, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, two staffers from the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., were horrifically shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum. While details from the shocking attack are still emerging, the suspect’s antisemitic motivations highlight the threat of violence against Jewish Americans and residents across the United States. This attack was an assault on the core values and ideals of our nation – particularly the right to religious expression and to practice one’s faith without fear of violence – and we must take every effort to prevent it from happening again.

In the wake of this violence and yet another devastating antisemitic attack in our country, I write to urge you to dedicate additional resources at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to protect houses of worship and nonprofit organizations and to combat the significant rise in antisemitic attacks and threats nationwide. Over the past two years, our country has seen a concerning number of high-profile instances of antisemitic violence. It is vital that your departments ensure there are sufficient resources focused on preventing and investigating these violent crimes. Specifically, I ask that you surge funding from your departments to ensure that synagogues, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits have the resources to put necessary security measures in place and that law enforcement is prepared and able to investigate antisemitic violence and other hate crimes across the country.

In addition to the heinous attack in Washington, on the night of April 13, 2025, an arsonist set fire to the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. The fire was reportedly set only hours after Governor Shapiro hosted more than two dozen people commemorating the first night of Passover. The suspected arsonist reportedly sought to kill Governor Shapiro over his stated support for Israel. Such a brazen assault on one of our states’ governors highlights the ever-present risk of antisemitism and violence to all Jewish Americans.

In my own Congressional District, Jewish houses of worship have come under these same types of hateful, antisemitic attacks. This January, the Oheb Shalom Synagogue in South Orange, New Jersey was vandalized with antisemitic threats. In 2023, Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, New Jersey was firebombed by an individual with a molotov cocktail in a brazen antisemitic attack.

As antisemitic violence and threats have increased, I remain concerned that synagogues, Jewish faith-based organizations, and nonprofits are under-resourced for the heightened threats that they face. I urge you to take whatever actions you can to ensure that the programs that support these organizations are properly resourced and staffed. One such program, DHS’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, offsets the cost of physical security enhancements for religious, educational, and nonprofit community institutions, including Jewish organizations. Synagogues and schools have been targeted with vandalism, destruction, and violent attacks by extremists who seek to strike fear into congregations and civil society leaders. This funding will help to keep Americans safe from antisemitic and extremist attacks, and allow communities of faith to practice in peace.

I also urge you to ensure that initiatives to combat, investigate, and prosecute hate crimes are fully staffed and resourced. As President Trump has slashed budgets and staffing across the Executive Branch – including for the FBI staff who track and combat domestic terrorism – I am concerned that initiatives within your departments meant to combat antisemitism and other hate crimes will be left unable to address the rising threat that we face today. Specifically, it is vital that DOJ maintains its focus on investigating and prosecuting antisemitic violence across the country. However, prosecutions alone will not reduce antisemitic violence across America. For that reason, it is important that the DOJ continues programs designed to research and address hate crimes like antisemitism in our communities. Activities authorized by the Khalid Jabara & Heather Heyer NO HATE Act and the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, as well as the Community Relations Service, Community Approaches to Advancing Justice Grants, and continued research into domestic extremism and radicalization, are vital tools to allow the federal government to combat the rising tide of antisemitic violence. I urge you to maintain and expand funding for these programs.

Our country faces a crisis of antisemitic violence and threats that show no signs of abating. It is vital that the federal government take urgent action to protect Jewish communities, prosecute perpetrators of antisemitic hate crimes, and support community programs to counter antisemitism. Jewish Americans face the severe threat of antisemitic violence every day, and it is long past time that the U.S. federal government prioritizes their safety.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: SIU secures preservation order against jazz maestro

Source: South Africa News Agency

Friday, May 23, 2025

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a preservation order from the Special Tribunal against renowned jazz musician Selaelo Selota – barring him from selling a luxury vehicle allegedly purchased with misappropriated money.

According to the SIU, the Mercedes Benz vehicle was purchased with National Lotteries Commission (NLC) funds which were meant for “building an old-age home and for providing elderly care in different provinces”.

“The SIU’s investigation uncovered that Selota’s luxury vehicle was purchased using funds diverted from three NPOs [non-profit organisations] that received NLC grants under suspicious circumstances,” the corruption busting unit said.

The three NPOs are:
•    Matieni Community Centre had applied for R20 million in September 2017 and was granted R23 million – R3m more than requested – on 16 Oct 2017. They received R20 million from NLC in November and transferred R5.975 million to Mbidzo Development Programme
•    Lethabong Old Age Home received R20 million from NLC in November 2017 and transferred R15 million to Mbidzo Development Programme
•    War Against Rape and Abuse received R20 million from the NLC during December 2017 and transferred R5 million to Mbidzo Development Programme

“On 18 January 2018, Mbidzo Development Programme deposited R104,600.01 to a car dealership to purchase a Mercedes-Benz. Subsequently, on 23 January 2018, Mbidzo Development Programme paid the remaining R300,000 to finalise the transaction. The vehicle was registered to Selota shortly after.

“The order of the Special Tribunal is part of implementing SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by State institutions because of corruption or negligence. The order forms part of a broader investigation into corruption involving NLC grants intended for community development projects.

“The SIU is empowered to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by corruption, fraud, or maladministration. In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU refers any evidence pointing to criminal conduct it uncovers to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action,” the SIU said. – SAnews.gov.za

Share this post:

MIL OSI Africa –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Government mourns loss of lives during Diepkloof protest

Source: South Africa News Agency

Friday, May 23, 2025

Government has expressed regret at the loss of the lives of two people who died during violent protests in Diepkloof, in Gauteng, this week.

On Monday, residents blocked roads, looted trucks, and clashed with police during a housing protest in that area.

GCIS Acting Director-General, Nomonde Mnukwa, expressed confidence that the law will take its course for those who perpetrated the violence.

“We strongly condemn the violence and looting that took place in Diepkloof and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the two individuals who lost their lives. Every life lost under such circumstances is one too many, and we deeply mourn this tragedy.

“We are confident that law enforcement authorities will conduct a thorough investigation into the events of Monday to ensure those responsible are held accountable and to help prevent similar incidents in the future. Government has full confidence in the ability of the South African Police Service to act decisively and lawfully,” she said.

Citizens are called on to conduct protests within the ambit of the law.

“Government acknowledges and upholds the constitutional right of all South Africans to protest and express their grievances. However, such actions must be conducted peacefully and within the confines of the law. The right to protest does not extend to acts of criminality, violence, or the infringement of the rights and safety of others.

“Government calls on all citizens to exercise their rights responsibly, and to uphold the values of democracy, dialogue, and mutual respect. Violent acts and destruction not only weaken the legitimacy of genuine causes but also threaten the safety and livelihoods of innocent members of the community,” the GCIS said in a statement. – SAnews.gov.za

Share this post:

MIL OSI Africa –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Managing Director takes the helm at Stour Environmental Credits Ltd

Source: City of Canterbury

Home » Latest News » Managing Director takes the helm at Stour Environmental Credits Ltd

Stour Environmental Credits Ltd (SEC) has appointed Mariam Bajulaiye as its first Managing Director, as the Joint Venture company created by Ashford Borough Council and Canterbury City Council prepares to start trading in nutrient mitigation credits.

Mariam has joined Ashford-based SEC from her role as Principal Consultant at Resource Futures, where she managed a team of technical consultants to support UK councils on the implementation of new waste management policies, such as net zero strategies.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, Mariam has more than 17 years’ experience of delivering waste and resource efficiency projects for the private sector, government agencies, local authorities, housing associations and social enterprises.

Expressing her “delight” at joining Stour Environmental Credits, Mariam said: “We look forward to working with mitigation providers and housing developers to enable thousands of much-needed new homes to be delivered across the River Stour catchment area.

“Stour Environmental Credits is a not-for-profit company, whose aim is to buy the benefit of a range of nutrient mitigation to sell on as credits to developers, to unlock the development of homes delayed due to concerns over the water quality in the Stour and at the Stodmarsh nature reserve downstream near Canterbury.

“I’m working at pace with the SEC Board to finalise our action plan and we look forward to announcing more details of this very soon via our website.”

SEC is gearing up to start trading in credits later this year. It went out to soft market testing in January and February 2025 to gauge the range of potential credit generating opportunities that are being developed by individuals and organisations. As a result, SEC is in discussions with the potential providers of land-use change based credits.

Following the considerable interest shown by companies looking to provide septic tank upgrades, SEC has advised them that we are moving into an open market tender. As the company is publicly owned, it is obliged to follow public procurement regulations.

SEC is liaising with potential mitigation providers on the technical and legal information required to be able to secure mitigation for credit provision, to satisfy Natural England, the Environment Agency, the local planning authorities and SEC itself, of the efficacy and longevity of the credits.

This will enable housing developers to have full confidence in the temporary and permanent credits provided for sale by the company.

SEC’s website is being developed to enable organisations to register their interest in nutrient neutrality mitigation online.

It is anticipated that a range of credits will become available later in 2025. We are working in collaboration with the local planning teams at Ashford Borough Council and Canterbury City Council on our timeline to market initial credits and the pipeline of credits that will be coming online. The plan is to make credits available in tranches.

If you have any specific queries please email admin@stourenvironmentalcredits.co.uk.

Finding solutions to the ‘Stodmarsh problem’

In July 2020, Natural England issued advice requiring new housing development in the River Stour catchment to demonstrate nutrient neutrality.

This followed concerns that high levels of phosphates and nitrates in the water were having harmful impacts on the Stodmarsh nature reserve further downstream.

The impact during the past five years has meant that councils, primarily in Ashford and Canterbury, and developers have not been able to build new homes within the River Stour catchment, which is having a negative impact on the Local Plan and new housing provision in the two districts.

SEC is tapping into some of the £9.8m of the Local Nutrient Mitigation Funding awarded to the catchment by Government. This funding is controlled by Kent County Council.

At the time SEC was founded, a report to Ashford Borough Council’s Cabinet warned: “Protecting the natural environment in our rivers remains a priority, however the nutrient neutrality constraints that have been placed on the council present a huge barrier to growth and our ability to address some of the wider social and economic challenges.

“A solution needs to be found swiftly that meets the local requirements without creating further uncertainty.”

Published: 23 May 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Finds Red Lake Man Guilty of Sexually Abusing a Minor

Source: US FBI

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – A federal jury found Clarence Clark, Jr., guilty of two counts of sexually abusing a minor on the Red Lake Indian Reservation after a three-day trial in U.S. District Court, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Clarence Edward Clark, Jr., 37, sexually assaulted a minor victim who was physically incapacitated at a Red Lake Reservation home in the early morning hours of March 1, 2024. Another minor present at the home interrupted the assault and ran to a neighbor’s home for help. The concerned neighbor called 911 to report the crime. Clark was found intoxicated at the scene and was apprehended by Red Lake Tribal Police.

On May 15, 2025, a jury convicted Clark Jr. of both counts with which he was indicted in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim. “This guilty verdict is the result of close and timely coordination between the Red Lake Nation, FBI, and U.S. Attorney’s office. It reflects the courage of two minors and the deep partnership between the Federal and Tribal governments. Those who hurt children will find no quarter in Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.

“Clarence Clark Jr. robbed a child of safety and innocence,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “His actions were not only depraved — they were an egregious violation of trust. This guilty verdict ensures he will face the consequences of his crimes. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protect children, pursue predators relentlessly, and bring them to justice.”

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Red Lake Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel L. Kraker and Michael P. McBride prosecuted the case.

MIL Security OSI –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: 3 dead, 5 missing in landslides in southern China

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

NANNING, May 23 (Xinhua) — Three people were confirmed dead and five were missing after mountain floods and mudslides hit a village in Longsheng County, capital of Guilin City, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, early Friday, local authorities said.

Rescue operations, which began immediately after the incident, continue, with more than 300 rescuers involved.

According to official information, ten houses were also damaged as a result of the landslides. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Senator Peters Celebrates Groundbreaking for New D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette Township

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement to celebrate today’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette Township. In 2023, Peters helped secure the $57.6 million federal investment needed to begin construction of the new Michigan Veteran Homes facility:
“Veterans in Michigan and across our country have made incredible sacrifices to defend our democracy, our freedoms, and our American way of life. We have a moral obligation to support them when they return home and ensure they can receive the quality care they earned during their service.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks a new chapter for veteran care in the Upper Peninsula, helping to ensure we can continue providing the skilled nursing care our veterans deserve for decades to come. I want to thank our partners at Michigan Veteran Homes, as well as other state and local officials, who have made this new facility a reality.”
“This groundbreaking on the new MVH D.J. Jacobetti in Marquette Township marks the beginning of the next chapter in Michigan’s long history of caring for veterans here in the Upper Peninsula. In this new Home, veterans will receive the amazing care and quality of life they’ve received for decades at the Jacobetti, but soon in an environment that promotes the dignity and respect these veterans earned, and deserve,” said Anne Zerbe, Chief Executive Officer, Michigan Veteran Homes. “This is a generational investment in veterans of the U.P. It’s an investment and partnership between the state and federal government that represents a promise to those who’ve worn the uniform. We’re grateful for the state and federal leaders who’ve championed this cause for years – including Senator Gary Peters. That advocacy has come to a point of action. It’s a new – and incredible – era for veteran skilled nursing care in Michigan.”
“On behalf of all Veterans organizations, the Marquette County Veterans Alliance thanks Senator Gary Peters for his persistent and continual support for this much-needed replacement for the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans,” said Jim Provost, Chair of the Marquette County Veterans Alliance. “Having access to private rooms, up-to-date technology, and expanded facilities, along with current outstanding medical staff, administration, and support staff will be appreciated by Veterans and their families. We look forward to seeing the progress and completion of this project in the near future.”
This project was made possible by a federal investment provided through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program, which Senator Peters has consistently championed during his time in the Senate. Peters has annually led a bipartisan group of his colleagues in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide robust funding for the program. Since his appointment to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, Peters has repeatedly helped secure robust funding for the program through the annual government funding laws. Peters has also continued to advocate for the program’s importance, including during a hearing with then-VA Secretary Denis McDonough in 2023.
State Veterans Homes are operated by state governments and partner with the VA to provide nursing home, domiciliary, and adult day care services to veterans with special medical needs, including thousands of elderly veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or construct new facilities to serve aging veteran populations.
More information on the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program can be found here.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Next phase of Hull water project brings boost to wildlife
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Next phase of Hull water project brings boost to wildlife

The next phase of Hull’s Dynamic Drains project gets underway – helping to transform the city’s urban watercourses.
The new mural created on Northern Powergrid’s electricity sub station

Unloved green spaces have been revamped into a new park as the next phase of an exciting project to transform a city’s urban watercourses gets underway.

Hull’s Dynamic Drains aims to improve the city’s urban watercourses, boost wildlife habitats and encourage people to connect with their natural environment.

The latest developments along Holderness Drain in the east of the city includes a new park between Portobello Street and St John’s Grove, a new piece of striking wildlife artwork co-designed by local children that has transformed Northern Powergrid’s electricity substation, and easier access to fishing.

The city’s wildlife and history trail has also been expanded, with wildlife mascots Wendy the water vole and Percy the perch taking walkers from East Carr Road all the way to King George Dock and the Humber Estuary.

Along the way people can find out more about the local history at each of the 12 bridges crossing the drain and spot some wildlife native to the location.

Hull’s Dynamic Drains is a partnership project with the Environment Agency, Groundwork Yorkshire, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Hull City Council.

The £500,000 pilot phase of the project to bring improvements along Beverley and Barmston Drain was completed last year.

Encouraging people to connect with nature

The Environment Agency’s Dan Jagucki said:

We’re delighted to have rolled out the exciting Hull’s Dynamic Drains project to Holderness Drain.

This partnership work has already created new green spaces to enjoy and is encouraging people to connect with nature in what is a largely urban environment.

Bringing together a local artist with local children – supported by Northern Powergrid – and transforming an old building into a new striking mural has really helped to bring the project to life for the community.

Pupils from Archbishop Sentanu School with the mural they helped to design. Credit: Katie Cawthorne.

So far the £235,000 project, largely funded by the Environment Agency, has included:

A new piece of public artwork at Preston Road created by artist Mike Sprout. With permission and support from Northern Powergrid, the walls of a previously dull electricity substation have been transformed into a wildlife themed mural. With support from Mike and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the mural was co-designed by children from Archbishop Sentanu School, Woodlands Primary School and The Hut Youth Centre (Child Dynamix), with some children even helping with the painting.

The expansion of the city’s history and wildlife trail, which was originally created during the Beverley and Barmston Drain pilot project. The new trail takes people from East Carr Road to King George Dock and the Humber Estuary. The wildlife mascots Wendy the water vole and Percy and perch tell people about the history and wildlife of the area.

Designed and delivered by Groundwork Yorkshire a new linear park has been created between St John’s Grove and Portobello Street. A winding footpath leads people through an avenue of trees including apples, pears and plums to pick, with stone seats for people to use. Four new bins have also been provided by Hull City Council along the path to help reduce littering.

Access for fishing on the drain has been made easier and safer with the installation of two flights of fishing steps in the new park, soon to be complemented by two new fishing platforms on the opposite bank at Flinton Grove.

One of the new signs as part of the history and wildlife trail. Credit: Groundwork Yorkshire.

Project shows ‘nature finds a way to thrive’

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s David Craven said:

It’s easy to assume the drains through a major city are brown and lifeless, but this project shows that nature finds a way to thrive.

We hope the ongoing success of Dynamic Drains encourages everyone from school children to commuters to stop and look around them at the wildlife in their community.

The introduction of fruit trees and public art only further the strong sense of community that is being brought together.

Peter Murphy, Operations Director for Groundwork Yorkshire, added:

Working on Hull’s Dynamic Drains programme has been so rewarding, bringing a multi-disciplinary team together to deliver community engagement, landscape design and contract management, resulting in meaningful improvements to the land along these important blue-green corridors.

Future plans to roll out the project further

Future plans for work on Holderness Drain includes more tree planting along the trail and two new pocket parks at Saltshouse Road and Maybury Road.

Hull’s Dynamic Drains also has plans to continue working across the city on its other urban waterways.

Councillor Charles Quinn, portfolio holder for Environment at Hull City Council, said:

Hull’s Dynamic Drains is a very important and exciting local environmental project. As a port city on the Humber estuary, water has always defined Hull’s identity.

Residents have told us how much they appreciate the transformation of the drain bank. It has made a significant improvement to people’s safety, especially the children going to and from Archbishop Sentamu Academy.

Plus, it has improved people’s access to local nature, improved leisure opportunities like fishing, and boosted general fitness with improved accessibility for walking and cycling.

Cathryn Harper, Customer Service Manager for Northern Powergrid, said:

This is the second time we’ve supported the Dynamic Drains team with local projects.

After being part of a successful project to restore a section of Beverley and Barmston drain near our Clough Road depot, it was a yes when they approached us about decorating the Preston Road substation.

Local residents were just as enthusiastic when we went out to check they were happy with the initial designs, but I think it’s fair to say the stunning end result has surpassed everyone’s expectations!

Background

More information on the pilot project at Beverley and Bramston Drain.

More detail on the Hull’s Dynamic Drains project.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 23 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: University hosts World Energy Business Schools (WEBS) Conference 2025 On 22 May 2025, the University of Aberdeen hosted the second World Energy Business Schools (WEBS) Conference, reaffirming its commitment to global collaboration on energy and sustainability challenges.

Source: University of Aberdeen

On 22 May 2025, the University of Aberdeen hosted the second World Energy Business Schools (WEBS) Conference, reaffirming its commitment to global collaboration on energy and sustainability challenges.
Building on the success of the inaugural event in 2024, this year’s conference – entitled ‘Strengthening Global Ties for a Sustainable Future’ – brought together academics from across Europe and Australia to share research and foster partnerships aimed at advancing the energy transition.
While the first conference laid the groundwork for collaboration between the University of Aberdeen, Curtin University (Australia), and the University of Calgary (Canada), the 2025 event expanded the network, drawing participation from seven universities:

University of Aberdeen, Scotland
University of Dundee, Scotland
Curtin University, Australia
University of Insubria, Italy
University of Southern Denmark
University of Groningen, Netherlands
University of Stavanger, Norway

This broader engagement marks a significant step in the evolution of the WEBS initiative, reinforcing its potential as a platform for international cooperation in research and education on energy and sustainability.
Although held primarily online, the event also welcomed in-person attendees at the Sir Duncan Rice Library in Aberdeen, with School Director of Research, Professor Keith Bender, serving as host. The one-day conference featured a full schedule of presentations grouped around four key thematic areas:

Sustainable Workers and Firms
Public and Private Environmental Policy
Energy Transitions
Finance and Policy in Sustainable and Circular Economies

Presentations addressed diverse topics, ranging from workforce sustainability and peer effects in low-carbon housing adoption, to friend-shoring, circular economy challenges and financial risks in the context of climate change. A highlight of the day included cross-national insights into renewable energy governance, corporate sustainability, and collaborative consumption strategies in business-to-business networks.
The WEBS 2025 Conference underscored the value of sustained dialogue among business schools in energy-active regions. As global energy systems evolve, the WEBS network provides a forum for collaborative research, joint funding bids and PhD training opportunities.
With two successful conferences now completed, the WEBS initiative is poised to become a leading academic network driving forward interdisciplinary insights and policy-relevant research on the future of energy.
The Business School at the University of Aberdeen looks forward to continuing this important collaboration in the years ahead. Academics, researchers, and graduate students interested in energy, sustainability, and global collaboration are encouraged to engage with the WEBS network.
Whether through joint research projects, future conference participation, or knowledge exchange, WEBS offers a growing platform for impactful interdisciplinary work. For further information or to express interest in future events, please contact the Business School at bs-research@abdn.ac.uk.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Details of Duncombe Square’s Passivhaus homes revealed

Source: City of York

The latest details of the 34 spacious new Passivhaus homes at Duncombe Square have been revealed.

Those who have already expressed an interest in the homes can now have a clearer idea of the layout, interiors and details of these homes designed by prize-winning architects Mikhail Riches.

Built in stylish terraces, the generously-sized apartments and houses have traditional brickwork with a contemporary twist blending, and render and clay tile finishes.

Internal features include exposed softwood staircases, oak-veneer window sills and shutters. The kitchens are fully-fitted with high-quality Howden’s units, Silestone worktops and integrated appliances.

Duncombe Square’s 34 homes are built to the rigorous Passivhaus standard; widely considered to be the world’s leading standard for energy-efficient homes. Supporting that are electricity-generating solar PV panels on roofs and low-energy air source heat pumps which work alongside high levels of insulation. Inside are mechanical ventilation heat recovery systems to keep air continually filtered and fresh and triple-glazed windows to maintain a comfortable ambient temperature and reduce heat loss.

To create a safe, welcoming environment for all residents, cars are kept off the streetscape to make the neighbourhood a cleaner, quieter and safer place. In its shared green spaces and ginnels, people take priority: children can play and neighbours can meet and build a community in shared green spaces.

Prices for the shared ownership and market sale homes will be announced shortly before the homes are released for sale.

Cllr Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing at City of York Council, said:

This is our first ever Passivhaus development and Duncombe Square is looking to be an exceptional addition to the city’s housing. This is reflected in the tremendous interest we’ve had from people eligible for shared ownership and for the market sale homes.

“The homes’ prices must reflect the market and maximise receipts to enable us to invest in building more much-needed social housing. The new homes for social rent at Duncombe Square will be allocated shortly and will be an important addition to Council housing in the city.”

Cllr Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment at City of York Council, said:

Being Passivhaus ensures residents will have consistent indoor temperatures all year round, significantly reducing the need for heating and cooling – and yes, you can open the windows! This means long-term cost savings and comfortable room temperatures for residents, and a lower carbon footprint for us all.

“The grounds at Duncombe Square are green and community focussed, encouraging residents of all ages to enjoy time outdoors.”

Kate Draper, Senior New Homes Manager and Affordable Housing Specialist at estate agent William H Brown, said:

We are delighted to be partnering with Shape Homes, as selling agent for Duncombe Square, the first Passivhaus development in the North of England to be launched to market.

“Demand is already high and we’re sure the development will be a huge success, bringing something unique to the York housing market.”

Find out more about Duncombe Square’s homes and express your interest here.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Former Electrical Company General Manager Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Keolis Commuter Services

Source: US FBI

BOSTON – The former general manager of a Massachusetts-based electrical company was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for a false invoicing scheme that defrauded Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) of over $4 million.

John Rafferty, 72, of Hale’s Location, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Rafferty was also ordered to pay $4,016,087 in restitution and a $893,227.93 forfeiture money judgment. In June 2023, Rafferty pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Rafferty was charged in April 2023 and his alleged co-conspirator, John P. Pigsley, was charged in a separate case.

Keolis has operated the MBTA commuter rail system since 2014 under an annual contract of $291–$349 million. Rafferty was the general manager of LJ Electric, Inc., an electrical supply vendor to which Keolis paid over $17 million between 2014 through 2021.

Between July 2014 and November 2021, Rafferty and Pigsley defrauded Keolis of over $4 million through a false LJ Electric invoicing scheme. Specifically, Rafferty spent more than $3 million on items for Pigsley and others – including: at least nine trucks; construction equipment including at least seven Bobcat machines; at least $1 million in home building supplies and services; and a $54,000 camper. Rafferty then recovered the cost of these items by submitting false and fraudulent LJ Electric invoices to Keolis, which also included a percentage profit that Rafferty kept for himself.

In April 2025, Pigsley was sentenced to 70 months in prison, three years of supervised release, $8,580,311 in restitution to Keolis and $2,689,206 to the Internal Revenue Service, forfeiture of three real properties and a $7,687,083.70 money judgment.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Northeastern Region, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit and Raquelle Kaye of the Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the cases.

MIL Security OSI –

May 27, 2025