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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Commerical Operations begins at Multi Modal Logistic Park in Nagpur

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 APR 2025 8:53AM by PIB Delhi

    Under the PM Gati Shakti initiative of Hon’ble Prime Minister with the aim to provide seamless and efficient connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services across various modes of transport, thereby enhancing last-mile connectivity and reducing travel time, and under the guidance of Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Multi Modal Logistics Park Limited, Nagpur (MMLP Nagpur) at Sindi, near Wardha commenced its commercial operations with a goal to establish a faster link.

    The MMLP Nagpur established by National Highway Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a 100% owned company of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) received its first rake of 123 Maruti Cars from Ex-Farukhnagar on 28th April marking a major achievement for the facility.

    NHLML has signed an agreement with a private developer for the Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in an area of 150 acres in three phases under Public-Private Partnership model with Concession Period of 45 years, at an estimated cost of Rs.673 crore.  Phase-I will be developed with an investment of Rs. 137 crore. 

    An Authority SPV, Maharashtra MMLP Pvt. Ltd., is formed between National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The Authority SPV has to provide land, external rail and road connectivity as well as water and power supply for development of MMLP.

    The MMLP will provide facilities such as warehouses, cold storages, intermodal transfers, handling facilities for container terminals, bulk / break-bulk cargo terminals along with Value Added Services such as sorting / grading and aggregation / desegregation areas, bonded warehouse and customs facilities as well as support logistics facilities such as offices for freight forwarders and transporters and truck terminals.

    Development of MMLP Nagpur will help improve country’s freight logistics sector by enabling efficient inter-modal freight movement to lower overall freight costs and time; providing efficient warehousing, improved tracking and traceability of consignments, thereby enhancing efficiency of the Indian logistics sector. It will further create employment opportunities and bring in economic development in the region.

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    GDH/HR

    (Release ID: 2125325) Visitor Counter : 77

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Smith Statement on USTR Report on IP Protections

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

    Washington, DC — Today Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the Office of the United States Trade Representative released its 2025 Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement.

    “Intellectual property infringement discourages American ingenuity and threatens future advancement. The United States is home to the most pioneering economic ventures in the world because of our commitment to freedom, opportunity, and rule of law. Safeguards for the rights of American innovators must be maintained. This report reflects significant priorities including protecting digital service providers, preventing forced technology transfer, and holding China accountable to Phase One Agreement commitments. I commend Ambassador Greer for his diligence and look forward to continuing to work with the Trump administration to ensure American IP interests are respected in the global marketplace.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Residential mortgage survey results for March 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

    The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced the results of the residential mortgage survey for March 2025.

    The number of mortgage applications in March increased month-on-month by 29.3 per cent to 8 456.

    Mortgage loans approved in March decreased by 5.3 per cent compared with February to HK$24.7 billion. Among these, mortgage loans financing primary market transactions decreased by 16.8 per cent to HK$10.1 billion and those financing secondary market transactions increased by 6.2 per cent to HK$11.6 billion. Mortgage loans for refinancing decreased by 0.9 per cent to HK$3 billion. 

    Mortgage loans drawn down during March decreased by 9.6 per cent compared with February to HK$15.9 billion. 

    The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to HIBOR decreased from 94 per cent in February to 90.4 per cent in March. The ratio of new mortgage loans priced with reference to best lending rates increased from 2.4 per cent in February to 3.2 per cent in March.

    The outstanding value of mortgage loans increased month-on-month by 0.1 per cent to HK$1,877.7 billion at end-March. 

    The mortgage delinquency ratio stood at a low level of 0.13 per cent and the rescheduled loan ratio was unchanged at nearly 0 per cent.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Advance medical directives

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ12: Advance medical directives 
    Question:
     
         The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance (the Ordinance), which was passed by this Council on November 20 last year, aims to establish legislative frameworks for “advance medical directives” (AMDs) and “do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders” and provide legal protection to patients, medical professionals, as well as rescuers, where terminally-ill patients are empowered with a greater degree of autonomy. However, a survey has discovered that approximately 75 per cent of adult respondents have never heard of AMDs. There are views that given the complex medical ethics and legal issues involved in the Ordinance, the Government should enhance public awareness of the Ordinance and establish supporting systems in the long run. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it knows the respective numbers of AMDs signed by and DNACPR orders issued to patients of the Hospital Authority each year since 2019;
     
    (2) whether the Government has currently provided necessary training for frontline staff of medical institutions and relevant organisations regarding the implementation of the Ordinance; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether it knows the progress made by relevant stakeholders in updating their protocols, records and systems in response to the implementation of the Ordinance;
     
    (3) given that the Ordinance will come into effect in May next year, whether the Government has formulated specific plans to publicise the importance and signing procedure of AMDs among the public; if so, of the details (including publicity channels); if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (4) whether the authorities will consider strengthening life and death education among the public, and incorporating the content of the Ordinance into such education (particularly by updating the existing curriculum framework for primary and secondary schools) to promote rational discussions in society over the right to a good death; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (5) given that the Government plans to progressively introduce the full electronic route of AMDs, with the Electronic Health Record Sharing System (eHealth) serving as the designated electronic system to support the making, storage, revocation and retrieval of electronic AMDs, of the authorities’ specific plans and implementation timetable for the relevant work?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Government’s policy objective is to provide quality and comprehensive end-of-life (EoL) care services to patients and their families. Advance decision instruments (i.e. advance medical directives (AMDs) and do-not-attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) orders) are integral components of EoL care, aiming to respect patients’ autonomy and shield them from enduring ineffective and unnecessary treatments in their final stages of life, thereby enhancing the quality of life of terminally-ill patients. Since 2010, the Hospital Authority (HA) has been allowing its patients to make or sign advance decision instruments when necessary according to common law practices. Passed by the Legislative Council in November 2024, the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance (the Ordinance) establishes a corresponding legal framework for and provides clearer legal status for advance decision instruments, safeguarding the makers and subject patients of advance decision instruments, as well as providing legal protection for healthcare professionals in following the directives and orders. The Ordinance is planned to take effect 18 months after its passage (i.e. around mid-2026).
     
         In consultation with the Department of Health (DH), the HA, the Education Bureau and the Security Bureau, the reply to the question raised by Hon Edward Leung is as follows:
     
    (1) According to the Ordinance, pre-existing advance decision instruments made before the commencement of the Ordinance will remain valid and applicable after its commencement, provided that they meet the specific conditions set out in the Ordinance. The number of AMDs made within the HA from 2019 to 2024 is tabulated as follows:
     
     

    Year     The number of DNACPR orders made within the HA from 2019 to 2024 is tabulated as follows:
     

    Year(2) To ensure smooth implementation of the Ordinance, the Health Bureau (HHB) is arranging briefing and training sessions for relevant organisations, such as disciplined services departments and other rescue teams, regarding the legal framework and protection provisions outlined in the Ordinance. The HHB is also co-ordinating with various stakeholders to update relevant guidelines. For instance, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine released the “Best Practice Guidelines on Advance Medical Directives” (BPG) in April this year. The BPG offers practical advice on clinical decision-making, doctor-patient communication and ethical considerations for healthcare professionals’ reference, with a view to enhancing their professional capabilities in handling advance decision instruments while upholding patients’ autonomy and complying with the legal framework of the Ordinance. Moreover, relevant policy bureaux, departments, the HA and other related organisations are currently formulating services and operational guidelines in alignment with their specific operational needs. These guidelines will among other things encompass protocols and precautions for implementing DNACPR orders outside hospital settings. Training sessions will also be conducted for rescue personnel to ensure their readiness to make prompt and accurate decisions in accordance with the legal requirements during emergencies.
     
    (3) and (4) To enhance public understanding of the Ordinance, the HHB, in collaboration with the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project (JCECC) and the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, co-organised a series of eight community talks to elucidate the provisions of the Ordinance. Additionally, the HHB further disseminated information about the Ordinance to the general public through promotional pamphlets, mobile van publicity campaigns and a designated website.
     
         In fact, advance decision instruments under the Ordinance form part of advance care planning (ACP), which is an overarching and preceding process for patients to communicate their preferences regarding medical and personal care. The scope of ACP includes not only the advance decisions concerning life-sustaining treatments documented in AMDs, but also the patient’s previously expressed wishes, personal goals to be accomplished, preferences for EoL care, and treatment expectations, among other aspects. The Ordinance presents an opportunity for patients and their families, as well as the society as a whole, to understand and engage in discussions about ACP, enabling carers to provide suitable EoL care according to patients’ wishes.
     
         By fostering collaboration across departments and sectors, the Government is proactively implementing a range of public education and promotional initiatives within the community and establishing collaborative networks with social service organisations to enhance public awareness and understanding of topics like ACP and life and death education, thereby facilitating rational discussions on life and death matters within society. The DH also disseminates public education on life and death issues through various channels including media interviews, websites, publications, and online videos. In the meantime, the HA actively organises seminars, events, and talks on life and death education, including the advocacy of ACP concept.
     
         Beyond promotional campaigns targeting the general public, the Government has also implemented other targeted promotional initiatives. Specifically tailored for the elderly population, the multidisciplinary Visiting Health Teams of the Elderly Health Service (EHS) of the DH deliver health education on ageing, life and death education, managing loss and grief, and psychological needs of patients needing EoL care. These health talks are conducted for the elderly and their carers at residential care homes for the elderly, elderly centres and elderly health centres. From 2008 to 2025, the EHS has organised over 2 600 relevant health talks.
     
         As for patients, the HA’s “Smart Patient Website” provides diverse information related to palliative care, such as symptom management, caregiving tips and community resources for patients and carers to reference. In mid-2025, the HA will launch a “Smart Patient” talk series on EoL care for patient groups and the general public.
     
         In the context of school education, life education (including life and death education) is an integral part of values education. The Values Education Curriculum Framework (Pilot Version) (2021) has identified “enhancing life education” as one of its major focuses and has included “understanding the course of life: birth, ageing, illness, and death” as one of the suggested proposed learning expectations for students. Relevant learning elements have been incorporated into the primary and secondary school curricula. Schools will align with students’ cognitive development and life experiences to help them understand topics related to ACP both within and beyond classroom.
     
    (5) The Ordinance provides that the Secretary for Health may designate an electronic system, enabling makers to electronically make, store and revoke AMDs. The HHB is currently enhancing eHealth, which will serve as the designated electronic system, to support the implementation of AMDs.
     
         We will introduce electronic AMDs in phases. In the first phase, paper AMDs and the electronic storage of such AMDs will be implemented. After making a paper AMD, the public can opt to electronically store an electronic image of the paper AMD, such as a scanned copy or a photo, on eHealth to serve as a validating copy of the paper directive. The electronic storage will allow both the makers and medical institutions to access the directives through eHealth whenever needed. We plan to launch the first phase with the commencement of the Ordinance in mid-2026. Once the relevant functions of eHealth, along with the electronic systems of medical institutions and related organisations, are in place, we will proceed to enable the electronic making and storing of AMDs directly within eHealth.
    Issued at HKT 16:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ1: Costs of developing and operating public housing

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ1: Costs of developing and operating public housing 
    Question:
     
         The 2025-2026 Budget mentioned that the total public housing supply would reach 190  000 units in the next five years. Regarding the costs of developing and operating public housing, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) given that the Government has been granting land for the development of public housing at nominal premium, premium below the market value or nil premium, of the respective amounts of land premium waived for public housing projects of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) as well as the number of units involved in each of the past five and the coming three financial years, and set out in the table below a breakdown by projects (i.e. (i) public rental housing (PRH)/Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) and (ii) other subsidised sale flats under HA, as well as (iii) rental estates and (iv) subsidised sale housing projects under HKHS):
     

    Financial year(2) of the respective average construction costs (including (i) per square foot of the construction floor area and (ii) per flat) of PRH/rental housing units and subsidised sale flats constructed by HA and HKHS in each of the past five and the coming three financial years, with a breakdown by type of projects;
     
    (3) of the respective expenditures spent by HA and HKHS on site formation and infrastructural works for public housing in each of the past five and the coming three financial years, and the respective numbers of flats involved, as well as the respective ratios of expenditures on PRH/rental estates and subsidised sale flats;
     
    (4) given that according to the paper on the budgets and financial forecasts issued by HA in January this year (the paper), the largest expenditure item under the rental housing operating account is the item “other recurrent expenditure”, of the expenditure/estimates incurred by each of the sub-items of this item in each of the past five and the coming three financial years;
     
    (5) of the actual expenditure involving government rent and rates in HA’s rental housing operating account in each of the past five financial years, and the amount of rates concession provided by the Government in each of these years; and
     
    (6) given that according to the paper, HA’s construction expenditure included items such as “Government non-reimbursement projects”, “Government-funded projects” and “in-house supervision and administration costs”, of the specific work covered by these items?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In consultation with the Lands Department, the reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Wendy Hong is as follows:
     
    (1) In the past five and coming three financial years, the number of units involved in the public housing projects of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), and the respective amounts of land premium waived, are set out by year at Annex.
     
    (2) As a financially autonomous public body, the HA funds its public housing programmes with its own resources. Each year, the Housing Department (HD) prepares the average construction costs per flat of Public Rental Housing (PRH)/Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) and other Subsidised Sale Flats (SSF) projects based on the cost of building tenders approved by the HA in the preceding financial year. The construction costs will be released by the HA Finance Committee after being considered in its meeting.
     
         As the number of building tenders approved by the HA in each financial year and factors such as scale and design of projects, market conditions, etc. are different, the average construction cost per flat varies year to year. From 2020-21 to 2023-24 financial years (Note 1), the average construction costs per flat of PRH/GSH projects and other SSF projects based on the cost of building tenders approved by the HA are set out below:
     

    Financial YearEach year, the HD also reports the average construction costs for superstructure (Note 2) of the preceding financial year to the HA. From 2020/21 to 2023/24 financial years (Note 3), the average construction costs per square foot of construction floor area (ft2-CFA) for superstructure are set out below:
     

    Financial Yearfor superstructure ($) (approx.)     According to existing mechanism, the HD closely monitors changes in market conditions. In compiling and managing the cost budget of new projects, the HD will take various factors into consideration, including tender price trend, anticipated rate of price increase, development programmes, etc. to ensure smooth implementation of public housing schemes.
     
         To further enhance cost-effectiveness of public housing construction, the HD will continue to explore and implement enhancement measures on construction cost control.
     
         The study direction includes the development of a framework for optimising construction cost control, covering areas such as planning, design, application of advanced technologies and innovative construction methods, procurement models, and approval processes. The framework enables a thorough review and optimisation of various processes to effectively manage the construction costs. It also acts in concert with the inter-departmental “Action Group for Expediting Construction for Public Housing” led by the Secretary for Housing, which identifies, streamlines, and resolves inter-departmental issues encountered during public housing developments through strengthening inter-departmental co-operation so as to expedite the progress and further enhance cost-effectiveness of public housing projects.
     
         According to the information provided by the HKHS, from 2020/21 to 2023/24 financial years (Note 4), the average construction cost per rental flat remained at around $1.1 million based on the project contract sum awarded by the HKHS. As for the HKHS’s SSF, each of which is equipped with a green balcony and utility platform, interior finishes such as tiled flooring, partition walls and doors for each room, as well as household appliances such as air conditioners, water heater, cooking hobs, etc., the average construction cost per flat was around $1.6 million.
     
         Due to the differences in design and provisions of the HKHS’s and the HA’s projects, generally speaking, the average construction cost per flat of the HKHS would be about 15 to 30 per cent higher than that of the HA.
     
         The HKHS is actively enhancing its cost efficiency as well as promoting construction digitalisation by applying Digital Works Supervision System and Smart Site Safety System, with a view to enhancing quality control and project management efficiency.
     
    (3) The Government’s expenses under the Capital Works Reserve Fund (CWRF) Head 711 are for the implementation of public housing-related site formation and infrastructure projects undertaken by the Government, while the HA is responsible for the expenditure on the construction of public housing. Besides, quite a number of projects associated with the supply target of public housing are funded by other heads of expenditure under the CWRF.
     
         As for Head 711 under the CWRF, the yearly expenditures of works projects in the past five and current fiscal year (Note 5), including infrastructure works with funding approved or pending funding approval by the Finance Committee to support the implementation of public housing developments undertaken by the HA, are tabulated below:
     

    Financial Year($ million)     As for Head 711 under the CWRF, the expenditures for the past five financial years involve about 98 000 flats for completion in 2024/25 or before, comprising about 83 000 PRH/GSH flats and about 15 000 other SSF flats. The expenditure ratio of the two is about 74 per cent and 26 per cent.
     
         Besides, for Head 711 under the CWRF, some 64 000 flats are estimated to be completed in the coming five-year period (Note 7) (i.e. 2025/26 to 2029/30), comprising about 44 000 PRH/GSH flats and about 21 000 other SSF flats. The expenditure ratio of the two is about 56 per cent and 44 per cent. During project development, the HA will maintain flexibility in housing types and make timely adjustments of the respective supply in order to respond more appropriately to the needs of the community.
     
         As regards the HKHS’s rental and SSF projects, most of the sites handed over to the HKHS by the Government have had the site formation and infrastructure works completed. From 2020/21 to 2025/26 financial years, the HKHS’s total expenditure on site formation works (such as slope maintenance and stabilisation) and infrastructure works (such as temporary roads, road widening, etc.) was approximately over $300 million, concerning six projects.
     
    (4) “Other recurrent expenditures” of the Rental Housing Operating Account are mainly expenses related to estate management, including security, cleansing, electricity charges, estate property management and management fees for estate common areas. The related expenditure for the past five financial years and the next three financial years are as follows:
     

    Financial Year($ million)(5) The actual annual expenditure on government rent and rates of Rental Housing Operating Account in the past five financial years, as well as the rates concessions provided by the Government each year, are as follows:
     

    Financial Year($ million)($ million)# The rates of public rental housing as assessed by Rating and Valuation Department are on a block/floor basis, the HA will pass on the rates concession to tenants according to the respective unit’s share of internal floor area against the total rates of the whole domestic block. As the amount of rates concession is deducted from the rates payable of individual properties, the HA has not calculated the actual total amount of rates concession.
     
    (6) Government non-reimbursable projects mainly include public transport interchanges (PTI) within development projects. Except individual projects which have been committed, the HA is no longer responsible for committing the expenditure related to PTIs after 2007.
     
         The HA provides supervision services and construction of Government-funded projects in new development projects including welfare and community facilities such as schools, residential care homes for elderly, day care centres for the elderly, child care centres, etc.
     
         In-house supervision and administration costs are mainly expenses of the relevant divisions of the HA responsible for supervision of construction projects, including personal emoluments, administrative costs, etc.
     
    Note 1: The figure for 2024/25 financial year is not yet available. 
    Note 2: The construction cost for superstructure excludes costs of demolition, site formation, foundation, underground drainage, external works, other separate contracts for works such as utilities connection/road diversion, etc. These costs vary a lot from project to project subject to site constraints.
    Note 3: The figure for 2024/25 financial year is not yet available.
    Note 4: The figure for 2024/25 financial year is not yet available.
    Note 5: As the estimate beyond 2025/26 financial year will be subject to the project implementation schedule and works progress, the estimated expenditures of 2026/27 and 2027/28 will be published in the related budgets of the Government in future.
    Note 6: 2020/21 to 2023/24 are actual expenditures; 2024/25 expenditures refer to the Revised Estimate; and 2025/26 expenditures refer to the Estimate.
    Note 7: Based on the forecast as at December 2024.
    Note 8: The figures from 2020/21 to 2023/24 are actual expenditures. The figure of 2024/25 is the Revised Budget and 2025/26 is the Approved Budget.
    Issued at HKT 17:15

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Social and Care Support Service to roll out under Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (April 30) that the New Home Association Limited (NHAL) has been commissioned to provide Social and Care Support Service under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong starting from tomorrow (May 1) to provide support to elderly participants and their families. 

    The Social and Care Support Service is one of the measures announced in the 2024 Policy Address to help elderly participants of the Scheme better adapt to the life in the residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) on the Mainland and receive timely assistance when needed.

         The NHAL will provide support services for the elderly participants under the Scheme, especially during the initial six-month trial period upon admission into the RCHEs, to assist them in understanding the Mainland’s medical systems and care services, maintain connections with their families in Hong Kong, and provide them with suitable advice and assistance in handling such matters as housing, medical care, financial matters, etc in Hong Kong. Continuous support will also be rendered in accordance with their needs upon completion of the trial period. 

    The Social and Care Support Service will also conduct assessments under the Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services and follow up applications for those Hong Kong elderly who have settled in Guangdong Province and are interested in joining the Scheme at their places of residence.

    Details of the Scheme are available at the SWD’s website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/elderly/cat_residentcare/subrcheplace/guangdong).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM to visit Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on 1st and 2nd May

    Source: Government of India

    PM to visit Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on 1st and 2nd May

    PM to inaugurate the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai

    India to host the Global Media Dialogue with Ministerial participation from around 25 countries

    PM to dedicate to the nation Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport in Kerala

    It is India’s first dedicated container transshipment port

    PM to lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati

    In a major boost to connectivity in the region, PM to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple road and rail projects in Andhra Pradesh

    Posted On: 30 APR 2025 1:00PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh on 1st and 2nd May. He will travel to Mumbai on 1st May, and at around 10:30 AM, he will inaugurate the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES).

    Thereafter he will travel to Kerala and on 2nd May, at around 10:30 AM, he will dedicate to the nation Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.

    Further, he will travel to Andhra Pradesh and at around 3:30 PM, he will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati. He will also address the public function.

    PM in Maharashtra

    Prime Minister will inaugurate WAVES 2025, India’s first-of-its-kind World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai. The four-day summit with tagline “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries” is poised to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation by bringing together creators, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the world.

    In line with Prime Minister’s vision of leveraging creativity, technology, and talent to shape a brighter future, WAVES will integrate films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech, making it a comprehensive showcase of India’s media and entertainment prowess. WAVES aims to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029, expanding India’s footprint in the global entertainment economy.

    At WAVES 2025, India will also host the Global Media Dialogue (GMD) for the first time, with ministerial participation from 25 countries, marking a milestone in the country’s engagement with the global media and entertainment landscape. The Summit will also feature the WAVES Bazaar, a global e-marketplace with over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 projects. It aims to connect buyers and sellers locally and globally, ensuring wide-reaching networking and business opportunities.

    Prime Minister will visit the Creatosphere and interact with creators, selected from the 32 Create in India Challenges launched nearly a year ago, which garnered over one lakh registrations. He will also visit the Bharat Pavilion.

    WAVES 2025 will witness participation from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups. The summit will feature 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses spanning diverse sectors including broadcasting, infotainment, AVGC-XR, films, and digital media.

    PM in Kerala

    Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport worth Rs 8,900 crore. It is country’s first dedicated container transshipment port that represents the transformative advancements being made in India’s maritime sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat.

    Vizhinjam Port, having strategic importance, has been identified as a key priority project which will contribute in strengthening India’s position in global trade, enhance logistics efficiency, and reduce reliance on foreign ports for cargo transshipment. Its natural deep draft of nearly 20 meters and location near one of the world’s busiest sea trade routes further strengthens India’s position in global trade.

    PM in Andhra Pradesh

    Prime Minister will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati.

    In line with his commitment to ensure world-class infrastructure and connectivity across the country, Prime Minister will inaugurate 7 National Highway projects in Andhra Pradesh. These Projects include widening of various sections of National Highways, construction of Road over bridge and subway among others. These projects will further enhance road safety; create employment opportunities; provide seamless connectivity to religious and tourist places like Tirupati, Srikalahasti, Malakonda and Udayagiri Fort among others.

    Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation railway projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting capacity. These projects are doubling of the rail line between Bugganapalle Cement Nagar and Panyam stations, enhancing connectivity between Rayalaseema and Amaravati and construction of a third rail line between New West Block Hut Cabin and Vijayawada stations.

    Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of 6 National Highway projects and one Railway project. These Projects include widening of various sections of National highways; construction of elevated corridor,  half clover leaf and Road over bridge among others. These projects will improve connectivity, inter-state travel, reduce congestion and improve overall logistics efficiency. Construction of Rail over Rail between Guntakal West and Mallappa gate stations aims to bypass freight trains and reduce congestion at the Guntakal Junction.

    Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for multiple infrastructure projects that include the Legislative Assembly, High Court, Secretariat, other administrative buildings and housing buildings for over 5,200 families, worth over Rs 11,240 crore. It will also include trunk infrastructure and flood mitigation projects featuring a 320 km world-class transport network with underground utilities and advanced flood management systems, worth over Rs 17,400 crore. The Land Pooling Scheme Infrastructure projects will cover 1,281 km of roads equipped with central medians, cycle tracks, and integrated utilities across the capital city of Amaravati, worth over Rs 20,400 crore.

    Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Missile Test Range at Nagayalanka in Andhra Pradesh worth around Rs 1,460 Crore.  It will comprise a launch center, technical instrumentation facilities, Indigenous Radars, Telemetry and Electro-Optical systems enhancing the country’s defence preparedness.

    Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of PM Ekta Mall at Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam. It has been envisioned with the objective of fostering national integration, supporting the Make in India initiative, promoting One District One Product, generating employment opportunities, empowering rural artisans, and enhancing the market presence of indigenous products.

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    MJPS/SR

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Supply of seawater for flushing

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ18: Supply of seawater for flushing 
    Question:
     
         It is learnt that in order to help save fresh water resources, the Water Supplies Department has successfully extended the coverage of the seawater supply network for flushing (network) to about 85 per cent of the population in Hong Kong. However, some residents of housing courts in Sham Tseng have relayed to me that as the Government’s network does not cover their housing courts, residents can only use fresh water to flush toilets or purchase their own pumps to bring in seawater, and they have to pay the Government rent for the mains laid on Government land. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the housing courts that are currently not supplied with seawater for flushing and the number of households involved, as well as the reasons why they are not supplied with seawater for flushing, together with a breakdown by the 18 districts across the territory;
     
    (2) whether the Government has plans to extend the network to cover all the housing courts in the vicinity of Tsuen Wan and Sham Tseng; if so, of the relevant timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) as it is learnt that residents of housing courts who have brought in seawater themselves for flushing purposes currently have to bear the double expenses of the cost of the seawater supply facilities and the Government rent arising from the seawater mains laid on Government land, whether the Government will, on the basis of the principle of fairness, exempt such residents from paying the Government rent; if not, of the specific reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Salt water has been used for flushing in Hong Kong since the 1950s. Over the years, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) has been progressively extending the salt water supply network which, nowadays, has covered about 85 per cent of Hong Kong’s population. The network supplies about 300 million cubic metres per annum of salt water to consumers.
     
         The reply to the various parts of the question raised by Dr the Hon Chan is as follows:
     
    (1) The accounts still using temporary mains fresh water for flushing (TMF) are scattered throughout the territory. The approximate number of accounts according to District Council districts is tabulated below (Note 1):
     

    DistrictNote 1: The number of TMF is counted by the WSD on an account basis. TMF accounts are normally registered by management offices, agents, owners’ corporations and developers (not registered by individual households) for the purpose of collecting water fees relating to TMF. Meanwhile, there are no separate TMF accounts for domestic and non-domestic consumers. Therefore, the WSD does not maintain statistics on the number of households and housing courts using TMF in each district.
     
    Note 2: The reclaimed water supply network in the North District was commissioned in March 2024. The WSD is supplying the reclaimed water to consumers progressively.
     
         The WSD is further extending the salt water supply network to Shui Chuen O Estate in Sha Tin, Tung Chung New Town and its extension, and anticipates to commence the supply of salt water progressively from the second half of 2025 onwards.
     
         In general, in the study of the extension of salt water supply network, the WSD takes into account the actual situation of the areas, including the proximity to the seafront, terrain, population distribution, cost effectiveness and technical feasibility, etc, ensuring the proper use of public funds. To supply salt water for flushing to individual areas that are remote, scattered, with low density or distant from the seafront, etc, the Government needs to lay water mains of long distance and construct pumping stations, which do not constitute the most cost-effective solution. Therefore, consumers in these areas use TMF for flushing. Meanwhile, the Government is promoting the use of recycled water in the Northern Metropolis for flushing and other non-potable uses. This will also help reduce the use of fresh water for flushing. The WSD will take into account the consideration of cost-effectiveness in reviewing the feasibility of extending the salt water and recycled water supply network to the districts listed above in a timely manner.
     
    (2) In 2023, the WSD reviewed the cost effectiveness of extending the salt water supply network to Tsing Lung Tau and Sham Tseng. The review result revealed that although the areas are located in the proximity to the seafront and have a considerable size of population, the population and housing courts are scattered there, which require the laying of long water mains, resulting in higher construction and operating costs (If a salt water supply system is to be provided in Sham Tseng, it is necessary to construct an intake opening and a pumping station at the seawall for pumping salt water to the salt water service reservoir, and to lay water mains with several kilometres long. Such works are of larger scale and involve higher capital cost). Therefore, the extension of salt water supply to the vicinity of Tsing Lung Tau and Sham Tseng is not cost-effective at this stage, and thus the WSD has no relevant extension plan. The WSD will continue to monitor the situation and conduct review in a timely manner, taking into account factors including future developments in the area, engineering technology and cost considerations.
     
    (3) Currently, for some private developments in seafront areas where the WSD does not supply salt water for flushing due to cost-effectiveness considerations, the Government will consider imposing lease conditions to require developers to construct flushing systems for residents, and to pay the licence fees/short term tenancy rentals for supply facilities that occupy Government land. The Sham Tseng housing court referred in the question falls under this situation.
     
         Prior to signing of the land lease, developers have acknowledged these terms and reflected the costs of constructing the flushing system into the land premium payable to the Government. This effectively means the Government shares a definite responsibility for these construction costs through the reduced land premium. Daily expenses being borne by individual property owners typically include (i) licence fees/short term tenancy rentals for water supply facilities occupying Government land; and (ii) maintenance and repair costs for the housing court’s salt water supply system. Regarding the cost of item (i), regarding the mentioned case of Sham Tseng housing court, based on the current licence fees and short term tenancy rentals charged by the Lands Department, and calculated across the approximately 2 200 households in the concerned housing court, the average annual cost per household amounts to over $500. As for the cost regarding item (ii), while specific data for the concerned court is unavailable, the maintenance costs are expected to be reasonably affordable for the majority of households because salt water supply system is not a complex technology and the associated maintenance and repair costs are shared collectively among all households.
     
         For future development projects, the WSD will consider whether to include the relevant conditions in land leases for developers to construct salt water flushing systems based on the factors mentioned in (2) above. If such water supply facilities occupy Government land, the Government currently charges licence fee/short term tenancy rental according to general land administrative policy. For similar new development projects in the future, we will consider whether waivers should be granted for such licence fees/short term tenancy rentals, and will make appropriate announcements before the implementation of development projects.
    Issued at HKT 16:55

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shanghai

    Source: New Development Bank

    On April 29, 2025, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, visited the New Development Bank (NDB) Headquarters in Shanghai.

    President Xi Jinping was warmly welcomed by H.E. Mrs. Dilma Rousseff, NDB President, four Vice-Presidents of the Bank and its staff.

    President Xi Jinping congratulated Mrs. Dilma Rousseff on her re-election as President of NDB and noted that the Bank is the world’s first multilateral development institution established and led by emerging markets and developing countries.

    In his remarks, President Xi Jinping called the Bank “a pioneering initiative for the unity and self-improvement of the Global South,” and said that it conforms to the historical trend of reforming and improving global governance. During the meeting, President Xi Jinping said that the NDB “is the first multilateral development institution initiated and led by emerging markets and developing countries, and that it has grown over the past decade into an emerging force in the international financial system and a symbol of South-South cooperation.” He added that, “as BRICS cooperation enters a phase of high-quality development, NDB is ready to embark on its second golden decade.”

    President Xi Jinping called on NDB to always consider the development needs of the Global South, and to provide more high-quality, low-cost and sustainable infrastructure financing.

    The Bank needs to improve its management and operations, implement more technology and green finance projects, and help developing countries bridge the digital divide and accelerate green and low-carbon transformation, said President Xi Jinping.

    In discussions on the reform of international financial architecture, NDB should amplify the voice of the Global South, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South, and support the countries of the Global South in their pursuit of modernization.

    President Xi Jinping noted that as the Bank’s host country, China will always support the operations and development of the New Development Bank. China is willing to strengthen project cooperation with the Bank and focus on green, innovative and sustainable development to achieve more results, he added.

    China is also willing to share its development experience through the NDB with other member countries and stands ready to provide more international public goods, said President Xi Jinping.

    In her remarks, President Dilma Rousseff expressed her gratitude to China for its enduring strong support for the NDB.

    NDB President noted the remarkable development achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, highlighting China’s important role in enhancing global governance. She also emphasized that, in a world marked by turbulence, the Chinese Government protects the interests of the Global South, supports multilateralism, and upholds international fairness and justice, setting an example for the international community. She also commended China’s open approach to technology cooperation, offering important opportunities for the Global South.

    President Dilma Rousseff emphasized that the NDB remains strongly committed to its guiding principles and mandate, consistently contributing to sustainable development of all member countries.

    NDB President stated that the Bank has already approved more than 120 investment projects, totaling USD 40 billion, focused on logistic and digital infrastructure as well as  social infrastructure, such as water supply and sanitation, investments in education, health, and housing — “crucial for improving the quality of people’s lives”. She stressed that NDB is committed to action against climate change, support energy transition, prevention and mitigation of natural disasters. Another goal is to transform NDB in a truly 21st century bank by adopting the newest AI, and Big Data technology.

    Strengthening the use of local currency has became a distinguishing feature of NDB. Currently, 31% of the financing projects are carried out in member countries’ currencies.

    In this sense, NDB President also mentioned that the Bank is the largest issuer of Panda Bonds — the name given to Chinese currency-denominated bonds issued by non-Chinese institutions — which have already totaled 68.5 billion yuan. “We are expanding this strategy to other local capital markets, supporting our partners in reducing currency mismatch risks, strengthening their local capital markets, and utilizing currency swaps,” said NDB President.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – 30 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/5Lw0WeIZscQ

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn-Szp7Ocso

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions with British Sign Language (BSL) – 30 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Lw0WeIZscQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scotland just an afterthought for Keir Starmer’s Labour

    Source: Scottish National Party

    The SNP’s candidate for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, Katy Loudon, has written to the candidate for Keir Starmer’s Labour, David Russell, challenging him to “call out Labour’s cuts for what they are – austerity in all but name.”

    Last month the Labour government announced plans to cut £4.8 billion of support to disabled people. In the weeks since, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has warned these are “the deepest cuts to social security since Osborne was Chancellor.”

    Meanwhile, Amnesty International have heavily criticised Keir Starmer’s government for their benefit cuts saying they have attempted to redefine the definition of austerity.

    Cllr Loudon said Labour’s attempts to ignore the issue in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse was yet another example of Scotland being treated as an afterthought by this Labour government – just like they did with nationalising British Steel in Scunthorpe whilst ignoring the Grangemouth refinery.

    The by-election is a prime opportunity for the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse to send a message to Labour that they are tired of being treated as an afterthought by Labour.

    In her letter, Katy wrote:

    Dear David,

    The Labour government’s decision to implement nearly £5 billion of cuts to support for disabled people is unconscionable, and yet so far in this campaign you have stayed silent on this issue.

    DWP estimates show it will push 250,000 people, including 50,000 children into poverty, and yet your party has pressed ahead with no regard for vulnerable families who will suffer as a result.

    The Resolution Foundation estimates that lower income households are set to become £500 a year poorer as a result, and the Glasgow Disability Alliance has warned hundreds of thousands of disabled Scots could lose out.

    In South Lanarkshire alone, 11,229 will have their health element of Universal Credit frozen, with new recipients seeing a cut in support.

    That’s austerity in all but name, harming incredibly vulnerable people who in most cases are unable to work.

    Scotland, as usual, is being treated as an afterthought by this Labour government.

    Unsurprisingly, Labour’s Scottish branch office has dutifully fallen in line; with Labour MSPs voting last week to support the cuts or, as Anas Sarwar did, failing to vote at all.

    As the Labour candidate in this by-election, will you too put party before constituency, follow Starmer’s orders and defend the indefensible? Or will you do right by Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and call out these cuts for what they are: Labour austerity.

    The people of this constituency deserve a local champion who stands up for them, and so far, your silence speaks volumes about where your priorities really lie.

    I look forward to your response.

    Yours sincerely,

    Katy Loudon

    SNP Candidate for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester launches annual State of the City Report

    Source: City of Manchester

    The latest State of the City report, detailing Manchester’s progress in delivering its 10-year strategy, comes at a pivotal moment.

    It is published as the current 2015-25 Our Manchester Strategy period concludes, and the city prepares to launch its new strategy for the next decade. 

    The annual State of the City report provides a snapshot of how the city has progressed and where deep-rooted challenges are being addressed. 

    Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “This is a significant year for Manchester as we prepare to launch the new Our Manchester Strategy which will guide the city for the next decade, and reflect on the progress we have collectively made in the last 10 years. 

    “Our annual State of the City report enables us to chart that progress as well as the challenges that still remain. 

    “The report demonstrates Manchester’s dynamism as we continue to see strong population and economic growth and begin to see the impact of a raft of initiatives to tackle inequalities and ensure that everyone is included in the city’s success. That includes overseeing the building of more council, social and genuinely affordable homes than at any time in the last 15 years.  

    “We’re also investing in improving neighbourhoods across the city. Progress is being made. But while Manchester is now firmly established among leading European cities, and is one of the fastest growing, we are focused on taking that success to the next level – and taking all Mancunians with us.”  

    The State of the City report assesses progress against the 2015-25 Our Manchester Strategy’s five key themes: 

    A Thriving and Sustainable City  

    In 2024, Manchester’s population continued to grow, driven primarily by international migration and a rise in student numbers. This growth has had a positive impact on the city’s overall development, particularly in the city centre, which remains a central hub for economic growth, benefiting both Manchester itself and the wider region. 

    The demand for office space in Manchester remains robust, with 2024 expected to see record levels of leasing activity for office spaces, marking a significant milestone in the post-pandemic recovery. Additionally, the Oxford Road corridor continues to attract large-scale investments, such as the launch of City Labs 4.0 and new office and research opportunities on Upper Brook Street, alongside the approval of a strategic regeneration framework for Sister – a new innovation district and global science hub. 

    Manchester’s cultural, tourism, and leisure sectors have also seen a surge in visitor numbers throughout 2024. Aviva Studios and Co-op Live have quickly become key venues, drawing in crowds for major music and cultural events. At the same time, investment in the city’s district centres, supported by Government funding secured by the Council has led to noticeable progress, particularly in areas like Wythenshawe, Gorton, Moston and Withington with impetus to expand this to high streets across the city.  

    A Highly Skilled City 

    As Manchester’s population continues to grow, the city’s workforce has also expanded, with 426,000 people in employment.  Most schools in the city are now rated as good or outstanding. Additionally, more young people are pursuing post-16 education, with an increase in capacity at various colleges and schools, although this remains an ongoing challenge. 

    Manchester continues to attract and retain a large number of graduates, which contributes to the city’s thriving workforce. Economic growth has been fueled by the rise of highly skilled jobs in industries such as digital technology, biotechnology, and advanced materials.  

    However, there are still significant levels of economic inactivity, particularly due to poor health. To address this, a variety of programs have been introduced to help individuals access employment opportunities and improve their skills. 

    Targeted initiatives have focused on specific sectors and employers, with local job fairs and customised support programs being backed by various funding schemes. As part of the city’s efforts to achieve UNICEF Child Friendly City status, partnerships between schools and employers have been established.  

    Furthermore, Manchester has earned the designation of a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning, a step forward in supporting adult education and lifelong learning. In addition to these efforts, significant programs are underway to create green jobs, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable employment in the economy. 

    A Progressive and Equitable City 

    Making Manchester Fairer is the city’s five-year action plan aimed at tackling health inequalities across Manchester. In 2024, key milestones included the delivery of one million meals through the Manchester Food Board Partnership and the continued support of local initiatives via the In Our Nature project, which is designed to help communities across the city. 

    The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has left 100,000 households with less than £30 per month in disposable income. To support these households, Manchester has provided a range of services, including free school meals, digital inclusion initiatives, a dedicated advice line, and direct financial support through a household support fund. 

    Homelessness remains a significant challenge, with a high number of people presenting as homeless each year. However, there has been progress, with the use of B&B accommodation for families all but eradicated, a decrease in rough sleeping, and fewer individuals in temporary accommodation.  

    Alongside this, a new Children and Young People’s Plan for 2024-2027 has been developed, informed by the voices of children and young people. This plan emphasises prevention and early intervention, aiming to help young people stay safe and thrive within their communities. 

    As part of the UNICEF Child Friendly City program, 11,000 children shared their views, and in January 2024, key priorities were established, including ensuring children are safe and secure, have a sense of place, and lead healthy lives. In addition, the city continues to prioritise addressing health inequalities through a variety of public health measures, which remain central to the “Making Manchester Fairer” initiative. 

     A Liveable and Zero Carbon City 

    The Housing Strategy 2022-2032 sets an ambitious target of constructing 36,000 homes, with at least 10,000 of those being affordable.  

    In its first two years, significant progress has already been made. Last year 600 affordable homes were completed with a further 1,500 on site and a further 1,450 in the pipeline – meaning Manchester is on track to meet this target.  

    To further support housing development, Strategic Regeneration Frameworks have been introduced in key areas across the city, including Victoria North, Grey Mare Lane, Strangeways, and Holt Town, which will see large numbers of new homes including affordable homes built. Additionally, a retrofit programme is in place, aiming to improve the energy efficiency of a third of the homes managed by the Manchester Housing Providers Partnership by 2032. 

    Manchester has made progress in reducing its carbon emissions, with a 5% decrease in 2022 (the latest data available). However, more work is needed to meet long-term sustainability targets. To accelerate efforts, a new framework for the period of 2025-2030 is currently under development. 

    Safety remains a top priority for residents, and the Manchester Community Safety Partnership has rolled out several key initiatives to address the city’s main concerns. 

    Meanwhile, Manchester’s parks and green spaces have seen a significant increase in activity, with a 7% rise in the number of events and activities hosted in 2024. 

    The launch of Always, Everywhere: the Manchester Culture Ambition in 2024 followed extensive consultation and marked a significant step forward for the city’s cultural development. The English National Opera (ENO) also announced its move to Manchester, and the completion of HOME Arches provides a new creative workspace for the city’s artists and innovators. 

    In the sporting realm, Manchester hosted 24 major sporting events in 2024, further solidifying its reputation as a sporting hub. Additionally, the city was named the first European Capital of Cycling, showcasing its commitment to sustainable transport and active living. 

    A Connected City 

    In collaboration with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), significant road improvements are currently underway on Whitworth Street West and Deansgate. These upgrades are part of the city’s broader efforts to enhance its infrastructure and transportation network. 

    Manchester has also developed an ambitious plan to expand Electric Vehicle charging across the city, supporting the transition to greener transportation options. This initiative is a key part of the city’s strategy to promote sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. 

    The Bee Network, an integrated public transport system for Greater Manchester, continues to grow and improve. All remaining buses in the city were franchised and brought under local control, further streamlining the public transport experience for residents. 

    Additionally, 14 active travel schemes focused on walking and cycling are either underway or in the planning stages. These initiatives aim to promote healthier, more sustainable travel options, making it easier for residents to choose active modes of transport. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Respite facility gets sensory area boost

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The team at Woodlea Cottage in Perth provides personalised family support programmes to help families where children have complex needs, including respite stays at the purpose-built provision.  

    Through the Council’s Angel Share initiative, aimed at supporting innovative project ideas to come to fruition, the team received £3000 funding to develop a sensory area in Kirsty House, an existing outdoor playhouse at Woodlea Cottage, along with new play facilities, for respite service users.  The funding has enabled the purchase of sensory equipment and toys, and outdoor play equipment including a mud kitchen and trampoline to create an inviting, enjoyable and exciting space. 

    A number of local businesses also got involved to transform the community facility. Robertson Construction Tayside agreed to manage the transformation at zero cost and also donated the outdoor play equipment. Members of its supply chain including Kilmac, Sidey, Lesterose, Devar Flooring, Presdec and Caledonian Play, further supported the project by donating materials, resources and labour to give back to the community facility. 

    On Monday 28 April 2025, Council officials, elected members and representatives from the companies gathered at Woodlea Cottage to see the completed improvements for the first time. 

    Perth and Kinross Council Depute Chief Executive, Clare Mailer said: “Angel Share looks to support fresh ideas that will make a difference for communities within Perth and Kinross. The children and young people who use Woodlea Cottage have significant challenges in their everyday lives, and the team here who support them and their families came up with a great proposal to improve the facilities further. I was very pleased also that local companies were willing and ready to assist with making the sensory area project a reality and contribute positively to their communities.” 

    Kevin Dickson, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Tayside, commented: “This project has been a true team effort together with the Council and our supply chain partners to create an inclusive, engaging and vibrant new space. In total, 12 people dedicated 210 hours alongside in-kind donation to support a truly deserving cause. 

    “We are committed to delivering meaningful, long-lasting benefits in the communities where we work, and we hope the young people at Woodlea Cottage enjoy this new space for years to come.” 

    Lauren Pratt, Social Value Manager for Kilmac said: “Kilmac is passionate about supporting the local community, particularly when it comes to assisting with disability-related needs. By improving the play area’s accessibility and safety, we created a more inclusive environment. We look forward to seeing the positive impact these improvements will have on the families and children who use Woodlea Cottage. ”  

    Jamie Bruce Jones, Managing Director of Caledonia Play commented: “Caledonia Play were delighted to provide a range of play equipment for the sensory area at Woodlea Cottage. We believe that play is essential for a child’s development and to add fun and joy to their daily routine. The area created will offer a welcoming, inclusive space where everyone can enjoy the benefits of play with sensory stimulation.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Regeneration of the Ladywood Estate moves into next phase

    Source: City of Birmingham

    The regeneration of the Ladywood Estate moves into next phase as St Joseph, part of the Berkeley Group, signs Development Agreement with Birmingham City Council

    • Agreement confirms that at least 70% of existing homes will either be refurbished or re-provided with new homes in a single move on the estate.
    • Provides the opportunity to deliver significant new housing of all tenures to meet the desperate need for new homes in the city and wider area.
    • Commitment for project to deliver at least 20% affordable homes.
    • Seeks to minimise demolition and acquisition of private homes.
    • Will provide new jobs and opportunities for local people including training and apprenticeships as well as full-time jobs.
    • The design of the masterplan with the local community will begin immediately.

    The regeneration of the Ladywood Estate is a 20-year project, with work not due to start on site until at least 2028.

    The project will ensure the estate, and its homes, are fit for the future with improved energy efficiency and green spaces.

    It will also deliver significant new additional homes of all tenures, new community facilities; better connected transport links, 1,000 apprenticeships and 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

    The next stage of the project is to work with the community aiming to minimise demolition and disruption, provide greater certainty and deliver the benefits of estate regeneration. A fundamental part of this is St Joseph’s agreement to the principles of Powered By People, the Council’s Vision and Approach to Engagement, the formation of a Residents Steering Group and publication of the Resident & Community Charter, which is a written commitment on how the Council will work with the Community throughout the life of the Project.

    As part of the commitment set within the Charter, a series of community information sessions where both Birmingham City Council and St Joseph will be present are due to take place in June. These sessions will give residents the opportunity to meet the developer and help begin to shape the future of the estate. The Council and St Joseph will also be meeting with faith groups, local schools and other organisations.

    As a partnership, Birmingham City Council retains overall responsibility for resident services, provision and housing. As the developer, St Joseph will work with the community to design, and be responsible for the building of homes, public spaces and infrastructure.

    St Joseph has launched a new community website, www.ladywoodcommunity.co.uk to provide the latest news, events, and information on the project’s progress. Residents can also get in touch by email at ladywoodcommunity@stjosephhomes.co.uk and telephone on 0800 368 7592. Both will be staffed Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm for any queries.

    Members of the St Joseph team will soon be located onsite in Ladywood, so that local people can meet those working on the project, ask questions and shape plans.

    The Council has been in touch with residents to update them on the next phase and St Joseph will be in contact with further information about its upcoming community sessions. For more information on how to get involved in shaping plans for the area and updates on future events, please visit www.ladywoodcommunity.co.uk.

    Cllr Sharon Thompson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills and Deputy Mayor of West Midlands, said: 

    “I want to reassure the community that this is the beginning of the master planning process, and all residents will be given the opportunity to be fully involved.

    ‘’The investment being made is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the regeneration of the Ladywood Estate to make it more sustainable, provide better facilities, better transport links, walking routes, and green spaces.

    ‘’As well as the refurbishment or re-provision of at least 70% of the existing homes on the estate, significant new homes will be built and at least 20% of these will be affordable homes. All Council homes on the estate will either be re-provided or refurbished.

    “We will seek to minimise the demolition of homes and deliver the benefits of estate regeneration.

    “The partnership agreement has been agreed later than planned to ensure we have secured the best deal for Ladywood and the City.”

    Richard Parker, Mayor of West Midlands, said:

    “Too many families are dealing with long waiting lists, and have no choice but to live in unsuitable, overcrowded and poorly regulated accommodation – that is why tackling our housing crisis is one of my key priorities.

    “This regeneration scheme, in the heart of Birmingham, will not only deliver hundreds of new homes, but also see the existing council housing stock renewed and replaced giving local people a safe and warm place to call home.”

    Stephen Kirwan, Managing Director of St Joseph Homes, said:

    “Our St Joseph team is hugely proud and excited to be given this opportunity to work on the regeneration of the Ladywood Estate in consultation with the local community and council. Now we have been appointed, our first priority is to begin to meet local people and to listen carefully to their concerns and aspirations for the future of their neighbourhood. This engagement process will help us to shape a masterplan that the community is proud of, and that will benefit local people for generations to come.

    “At Berkeley Group we fully support the Government’s mission to increase housing delivery across the country and this hugely important regeneration project reflects our commitment to delivering good green homes where they are needed most.“

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Best goalkeeper and bronze medals: GUU victories at the XI All-Russian Championship of Russia in hockey

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    From April 22 to 27, 2025, the GUU hockey team participated in the Student Hockey League Championship, held in St. Petersburg.

    Our hockey players played a total of 12 games in 6 days. This year, 16 of the strongest student hockey teams from 11 subjects of the Russian Federation competed for the title of champion of the Championship.

    Following the draw, HC GUU met three teams from Nizhny Novgorod and St. Petersburg in the group stage. Having lost one match to Spartak RANEPA SPB in overtime with a score of 2:1, our hockey players entered the playoffs from the second line of the tournament table.

    In the quarterfinals of the main tournament, the GUU team faced a serious opponent – the current champions of the Championship “Black Bears – Polytech SPB”: the walls of their home arena helped the “bears” defeat our team, thereby sending the guys to play the tournament for the small cup of the Russian Championship in the 3×3 format.

    The group stage of the small cup took place in one day – our team played 5 matches in a row and again secured the second place in the tournament table. Based on the results of the second group matches, the opponent for the 1/4 finals was determined – “Nevskie Lviv SPB”, into whose gates our hockey players scored 5 goals and won with a score of 5:3. In the battle for a ticket to the final, the GUU team, unfortunately, suffered a defeat from the team from Orel and was forced to fight for bronze medals with the “Black Foxes” from Surgut.

    The magic of numbers in the 3×3 tournament was on our side and HC GUU won a confident victory with a score of 5:2 in the final match for bronze!

    The best player of the tournament was recognized as the goalkeeper of GUU Roman Shiryaev – it was he who received the individual award of the SHL tournament.

    The week was intense and difficult, now our geese are going to win more, because the final matches of the regular championships of the MSHL and NSHL await them in Moscow on the weekend.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/30/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Election Diary: post-election rate cut and phone call from Trump in the pipeline

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    It used to be de rigueur for the prime minister and opposition leader to turn up to the National Press Club in the final week of the election campaign. But now Liberal leaders are not so keen.

    Scott Morrison gave it a miss in 2022, although he was there in 2019. Nobody expected Peter Dutton, who has often been reluctant to face the Canberra press gallery in the past three years, to front the club this week.

    It’s also happened in the past that a leader has said something significantly newsworthy during the Q&A session on these final big occasions.

    Bob Hawke, days away from becoming prime minister in 1983, flagged he would be willing to break election promises if he found, on reaching office, that fiscal circumstances were different from what was anticipated. They were, and he did.

    Anthony Albanese on Wednesday made his appearance, but he was not going to grab a headline with anything unexpected.

    He delivered a spirited stump speech concentrating on everything Labor is offering voters – improvements to Medicare, tax cuts all round, and much else. He played and replayed his familiar mantra about nobody being left behind or held back. When it came to questions, the prime minister defended and deflected.

    Are Australians better off than before he was elected? Well, they’d be worse off if Dutton had had his way.

    Will whoever is in government need to increase the tax base in the next decade? “We’ll have not one but two income tax cuts.”

    Would he consider a compromise on Labor’s plan to tax unrealised capital gains on some superannuation balances? “We have our policy.”

    Is there something he regrets from the last three years? “I don’t pretend to be perfect.” So no regrets? “I’m not saying that at all.”

    What he is saying is that the final sprint of the campaign is not the time to enter the confessional.

    With the polls, and even most Liberals, at least privately, expecting Albanese to still be PM next week, whether in minority or majority government, he knows he has two challenges in these last days: to avoid being caught on any sticky paper, and to continue to project a sense of momentum by going full tilt (Labor people remember Bill Shorten easing up just before polling day in 2019). He is visiting every state, before he votes in his home electorate of Grayndler where, he indicated, his talisman dog Toto will accompany him to the polling booth on Saturday.

    Before his press club appearance, Albanese had encouraging news from the latest consumer price index quarterly figures, which showed underlying inflation falling to 2.9%. This points to another cut in interest rates.

    Westpac said, “Inflationary pressures have moderated, and the door is open for a rate cut in May”.

    The Reserve Bank doesn’t meet until May 19-20, but the prospect of a cut can be a mood lifter for stretched households – just as the pre-campaign February decrease was.

    Also able to be cast positively, US President Donald Trump, who has proved elusive in the face of the government’s attempts to get him to pick up the phone to discuss a tariff deal, confirmed a call would come. Asked whether he would speak to Albanese about trade, the president said, “they are calling, and I will talk to him, yes.”

    There is no detail of whether, or what, deal could be in the offing, but Trump, by signalling the call, has given (inadvertently) another bit of help to the government in an election in which the “Trump factor” has played all Albanese’s way.

    Instead of the press club, Dutton had done an hour’s “Ask Me Anything” appearance on Tuesday with Paul Murray on Sky, taking around a dozen viewers’ questions. It was an easy, friendly gig, directed squarely at his base. That might be one thing if he’s seeking the preferences of those voting One Nation or Trumpet of Patriots, but it is not where the middle-ground swinging voters are.

    In this last week, Dutton has put his anger at a section of the media on display. Earlier in the week he lashed out at the ABC, Guardian and “other hate media”.

    On Wednesday he doubled down, in a bit of pointed but embittered humour on FM radio when quizzed on tips for a good election night party. “I think alcohol is the first essential ingredient, I’m sure of that. Responsible drinking as well, but not watching the ABC would be a good start. For any young ones listening at home, forget the ABC.”

    Dutton’s disdain for the ABC is long-standing and well-known. But in an election campaign, why he thinks it is a good tactic to expose it so blatantly is a mystery. It shows questionable judgement and a lack of discipline.

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

    – ref. Election Diary: post-election rate cut and phone call from Trump in the pipeline – https://theconversation.com/election-diary-post-election-rate-cut-and-phone-call-from-trump-in-the-pipeline-255615

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RSH publishes regulatory judgements for 18 social landlords

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    RSH publishes regulatory judgements for 18 social landlords

    The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has today published a range of judgements following inspections of social landlords and ongoing responsive work.

    RSH has found serious issues with three councils, which have each failed to meet the outcomes in the consumer standards.

    The London Borough of Tower Hamlets:

    • Does not have an accurate understanding of tenants’ homes, with only 47% of individual property surveys carried out within the last five years
    • Has thousands of homes that do not meet the Decent Homes Standard (23% of around 11,000 total homes).
    • Has around 2,500 overdue fire safety actions, 1,400 overdue communal electrical safety actions and 750 overdue water safety actions.

    Reading Borough Council:

    • Failed to provide an effective and timely repairs service, with around 1,600 overdue repairs at the time of the inspection.
    • Only surveyed half of its tenants’ homes over the past five years.
    • Failed to provide meaningful opportunities for tenants to scrutinise its performance, and did not give all tenants access to a fair and effective complaints process.

    Winchester City Council:

    • Does not have up-to-date information about the majority of tenants’ homes, with its last stock condition survey completed more than 10 years ago.
    • Is unable to provide assurance that it is completing required health and safety checks for all homes and communal areas – including those for fire, electrical and water safety.
    • Has not been able to demonstrate that it provides all tenants with accessible information.

    Each council has been given a C3 grade and they must make significant improvements. RSH will continue to engage intensively with them as they deliver their improvement plans and put things right for tenants.  

    Following a self-referral, RSH found that Mid Devon District Council had overcharged rent for over 1,200 tenants, and undercharged over 1,600. As a result it has failed to meet the outcomes of the rent standard. The council is continuing to investigate these issues and has advised RSH that it will confirm the refunds due to individual tenants.  

    RSH also continues its important work in checking that housing associations are well run and financially viable. This is reflected in judgements which reinforce the importance of good governance in managing strategic risks.    

    RSH found weaknesses in how the Community Housing Group and Richmond Housing Partnership are managing their strategic risks. Each landlord needs to improve their internal controls assurance so that consistent improvement is seen in outcomes for tenants. RSH has downgraded both landlords to a G2 grading for governance as a result.

    RSH expects all housing associations and other private registered providers to have G1 governance grades. RSH continues to drive improvements in social landlords, with Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association and Watmos Community Housing upgraded to G1 following improvements in their governance.

    Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at RSH, said:

    “We continue to take action on a wide range of issues when landlords fail to meet our standards.  

    “Our judgements show the importance of good governance in driving improvements for tenants and ensuring landlords are on top of their strategic risks. A clear theme is the need for accurate, up-to-date information about key risks – whether they are financial or relate to tenants’ health and safety.

    “Through our regulation we will continue to support a sector that is well run and financially viable. This is the foundation for providing good-quality homes for tenants and building new homes for the future.”

    RSH has also removed a previous regulatory notice for the London Borough of Croydon as the landlord has delivered the required improvements.

    RSH has published 18 regulatory judgements in total today, following planned inspections and responsive engagement. The full details are provided in the table below along with links to each of the judgements.

    Notes to editors

    Social landlord Consumer grade Governance grade Viability grade Process
    Brentwood Borough Council C2 – – Inspection
    Broadland Housing Association Limited C2 G1 V2 Inspection
    Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council C2 – – Inspection
    Hastoe Housing Association Limited C2 G1 V2 (regrade from V1) Inspection
    Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association Limited – G1 (upgrade from G2) V2 (based on previous assessment) Responsive engagement
    London Borough of Tower Hamlets C3 – – Inspection
    London Borough of Waltham Forest C2 – – Inspection
    Mid Devon District Council – – – Responsive engagement (rent standard)
    Poplar Housing and Regeneration Community Association Limited C1 G1 V2 Inspection
    Raven Housing Trust Limited C1 G1 V2 Inspection
    Reading Borough Council C3 – – Inspection
    Richmond Housing Partnership Limited   G2 (downgrade from G1) V1 Responsive engagement
    South Liverpool Homes Limited C1 G1 V1 Inspection
    St Mungo Community Housing Association C2 G2 V2 Inspection
    Teign Housing C2 G1 V2 Inspection
    The Community Housing Group C2 G2 (downgrade from G1) V2 Inspection
    Watmos Community Homes C1 G1 (upgrade from G2) V2 Inspection
    Winchester City Council C3 – – Responsive engagement
    1. RSH regulates housing associations and other private registered providers against its full set of standards. Councils are regulated against the consumer and rent standards only.
    2. More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and consumer gradings is also available on its website.
    3. RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.
    4. For general enquiries email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk. For media enquiries please see our Media Enquiries page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: European-first semiconductor facility launches in Southampton

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    European-first semiconductor facility launches in Southampton

    A new facility to build the next generation of semiconductor chips, and the first of its kind in Europe, was opened at the University of Southampton.

    • Science Minister Lord Vallance unveils new electron beam facility for creating incredibly small patterns onto chips to enable breakthroughs in AI and medical tech
    • Comes alongside nearly £5 million in new government support to boost talent pipeline and address skills gap in growing semiconductor industry
    • Support will fund new bursaries, chip design courses and outreach in schools – helping deliver growth as part of our Plan for Change by strengthening our sector and creating high-skilled jobs

    A new facility using cutting edge electron beam technology to build the next generation of semiconductor chips, and the first of its kind in Europe, was opened at the University of Southampton by Science Minister Lord Vallance today (Wednesday 30 April).

    The new E-beam lithography facility is just the second in the world, and first outside Japan, and provides incredible accuracy that is critical to designing the tiny components that power technologies of the future, from medical diagnostics to defence systems.

    Semiconductors – the small chips that power devices from smartphones to satellites – already contribute an estimated £10 billion to our economy each year, with the sector projected to grow to an estimated £17 billion by 2030.

    Strengthening the sector offers a major opportunity to drive the growth at the heart of our Plan for Change, through boosting innovation and jobs. It also supports the UK’s wider Industrial Strategy to grow key advanced manufacturing sectors and secure global competitiveness.

    E-beam lithography uses a focused beam of tiny particles called electrons to create patterns in materials with unrivalled resolution – allowing researchers to create features thousands of times smaller than a human hair.

    Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

    Britain is home to some of the most exciting semiconductor research anywhere in the world – and Southampton’s new E-beam facility is a major boost to our national capabilities.

    By investing in both infrastructure and talent, we’re giving our researchers and innovators the support they need to develop next-generation chips right here in the UK.

    Our £4.75 million skills package will support our Plan for Change by helping more young people into high-value semiconductors careers, closing skills gaps and backing growth in this critical sector.

    The Science Minister’s visit to Southampton comes alongside new research being published today, which shows that one of the biggest barriers to achieving growth in the UK’s burgeoning semiconductor industry is a lack of emerging talent. With a single semiconductor worker contributing an average of £460,000 to the economy annually, the sector’s economic potential is huge.

    In response, the government has launched a new £4.75 million semiconductor skills package to help build the talent base needed to fuel this high-growth industry. The package will also help strengthen R&D capacity at leading universities, such as Southampton, which are central to UK semiconductor innovation and talent development. 

    By supporting local talent pipelines and university–industry collaboration, the programme will contribute to both regional and national economic growth, fuelling our Plan for Change, and reinforcing the role the semiconductors industry is set to play in the Industrial Strategy.

    The package includes:

    • £3 million for undergraduate bursaries, offering £5,000 each to 300 students starting Electronics and Electrical Engineering degrees this year, alongside specialist semiconductor content to raise awareness of the field, with a focus on courses that include semiconductor design and manufacturing.
    • £1.2 million for chip design training, with new chip design courses to teach practical chip design skills to undergraduates, postgraduates, and lecturers, as well as a feasibility study for new postgraduate conversion courses.
    • Almost £550,000 for school outreach, giving 7,000 students aged 15–18 and 450 teachers hands-on semiconductor experience in partnership with local employers, helping raise awareness and diversify the future workforce. This programme will be focused on existing UK semiconductor clusters – such as Newport, Cambridge, and Glasgow – helping to strengthen these ecosystems and create long-term career opportunities.

    This targeted skills support will underpin the long-term success of the UK semiconductor sector – helping to attract more students into high-value careers, fill key vacancies and support UK leadership in critical and emerging technologies that will be instrumental to our mission to grow the economy.

    University of Southampton’s Professor Graham Reed, who leads its Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), said:

    The introduction of the new E-Beam facility will reinforce our position of hosting the most advanced cleanroom in UK academia.

    It facilitates a vast array of innovative and industrially relevant research, and much needed semiconductor skills training.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Universal Periodic Review 49: UK Statement on Spain

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Universal Periodic Review 49: UK Statement on Spain

    Statement by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley, at Spain’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Thank you Mr President,

    Welcome to the Secretary of State.

    The United Kingdom welcomes Spain’s strong commitment to of human rights.

    We commend the the passing of the new Cross-Party Pact against gender-based violence. We urge Spain to continue to develop and implement a comprehensive national action plan to address human trafficking.

    We also recognise  efforts to address its housing crisis with the Law on Housing Rights. However, we are concerned about the barriers hindering its effective implementation

    We recommend that Spain:

    1. Develops a strategic housing plan with sufficient funding for social housing to meet the objectives of Spanish recent legislation.

    2. Enhances support services for migrant children by integrating their specific needs into the national framework to protect and promote their rights.

    3. Develops and implements a National Action Plan that adequately addresses all forms of human trafficking, including that of women and girls.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues a EUR 100 million tap under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    30 April 2025 at 10:00 am (EEST)

    Municipality Finance issues a EUR 100 million tap under its MTN programme

    On 2 May 2025 Municipality Finance Plc issues a new tranche in an amount of EUR 100 million to an existing benchmark issued on 28 January 2025. With the new tranche, the aggregate nominal amount of the benchmark is EUR 1.350 billion. The maturity date of the benchmark is 14 December 2029. The benchmark bears interest at a fixed rate of 2.625 % per annum.

    The new tranche is issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and final terms of the notes are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

    MuniFin has applied for the new tranche to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 2 May 2025. The existing notes in the series are admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

    Danske Bank A/S acts as the Dealer for the issue of the new tranche.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The owners of the company include Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the State of Finland.
    The Group’s balance sheet is over EUR 53 billion.

    MuniFin builds a better and more sustainable future with its customers. MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, corporate entities under their control, and non-profit organisations nominated by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA). Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.
    .

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Combined General Shareholders’ Meeting of May 22, 2025: availability of preliminary documents

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France — April 30, 2025

    COMBINED GENERAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING
    OF MAY 22, 2025

    Availability of preliminary documents

    Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: FR0014003TT8, DSY.PA) informs its shareholders that its Combined Shareholders’ Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm at Dassault Systèmes’ headquarters, 10 rue Marcel Dassault – 78140 Vélizy-Villacoublay.

    The preliminary notification stating the agenda and the draft resolutions was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (BALO) on April 14, 2025, and is available on Dassault Systèmes’ website at the following address: https://investor.3ds.com/shareholders-meeting/home.

    The convening notice stating the agenda will be published on May 2, 2025 in the BALO and will be made available at the foregoing address.

    Documents and information relating to this meeting and especially information provided by the article R.22-10-23 of the French Commercial code, are available to the shareholders at the foregoing internet address. They will also be available at Dassault Systèmes’ headquarters.

    Shareholders are invited to consult the Dassault Systèmes’ 2024 Universal Registration Document, filed on March 18, 2025 with the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) and available on Dassault Systèmes’ website at the forgoing internet address. It provides a major part of information mentioned in the article R.225-83 of the French Commercial code.

    ###

    ABOUT DASSAULT SYSTÈMES

    Dassault Systèmes is a catalyst for human progress. Since 1981, the company has pioneered virtual worlds to improve real life for consumers, patients and citizens. With Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 370 000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, can collaborate, imagine and create sustainable innovations that drive meaningful impact. For more information, visit www.3ds.com

    Dassault Systèmes Investor Relations Team                FTI Consulting
    Béatrix Martinez :                                        Arnaud de Cheffontaines: +33 1 47 03 69 48
    +33 1 61 62 40 73                                        Jamie Ricketts : +44 20 3727 1600
    investors@3ds.com                                        

    Dassault Systèmes Press Contacts
    Corporate / France        
    Arnaud Malherbe: +33 1 61 62 87 73
    arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com        

    © Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the 3DS logo, the Compass icon, IFWE, 3DEXCITE, 3DVIA, BIOVIA, CATIA, CENTRIC PLM, DELMIA, ENOVIA, GEOVIA, MEDIDATA, NETVIBES, OUTSCALE, SIMULIA and SOLIDWORKS are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes, a European company (Societas Europaea) incorporated under French law, and registered with the Versailles trade and companies registry under number 322 306 440, or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. Use of any Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries trademarks is subject to their express written approval.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Operation Eclipse

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Police have seized more than $1.7 million worth of vapes and illegal tobacco and more than $80k cash following a truck stop on the states Far North last week.

    About 4.30pm on Friday 25 April, police at Far North Local Service Area, Traffic Services Branch and Serious and Organised Crime Branch stopped a refrigerated truck at Port Augusta at a drug transit route operation at Port Augusta.

    Police spoke with the occupants of the truck and searched the truck where they located and seized in excess of $1.74 million in vapes, $26,000 in loose tobacco and $80,100 cash.

    The seizure resulted in the arrest of a 32-year-old man and a 62-year-old man both from New South Wales, they were charged with unlawful possession and possession of tobacco products for sale.  Both men appeared in Port Augusta Magistrates court on 28 April where they were remanded in custody to next appear in court on 1 July.

    The refrigerated truck has been seized and will be the subject of confiscations proceedings.

    Operation Eclipse have taken carriage of the investigation which is ongoing.

    Operation Eclipse Commander, Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby said, “The seizure demonstrates the risk to syndicates should they seek to transport illicit tobacco through South Australia to other states.

    “Organised crime syndicates transporting illicit tobacco through transit routes in regional areas will be subject to a whole of SAPOL response to disrupt their criminal activity and financial operations.

    “SAPOL will pursue criminal charges when sufficient evidence exists and that includes those who are supporting and enabling that activity and take every opportunity to enforce the full extent of the confiscations legislation to seize assets of those involved,” he said.

    Operation Eclipse has so far resulted in 35 arrests for offences including blackmail, possess tobacco products for sale, arson, money laundering and serious criminal trespass.

    There have been 184 premises searched – 47 residential, 123 businesses and 14 storage facilities – in excess of $2.2 million in cash, three firearms and $17.97 million in tobacco products.

    Significantly, there have been 394 calls to Crime Stoppers since 2 October that have resulted in information being provided to police.

    Anyone with any information on criminal activities surrounding the sale of illicit tobacco is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimstopperssa.com.au – You can remain anonymous.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Ukrainian delegation led by Lviv Mayor Sadovyy

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Ukrainian delegation led by Lviv Mayor Sadovyy

    Date：2024-12-28
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    December 28, 2024  
    No. 468  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung on December 27 hosted a luncheon to welcome a Ukrainian delegation led by Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy. During the event, the two sides exchanged views on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the peaceful development of Ukraine, the strengthening of local municipal exchanges, the building of resilient cities, and other initiatives. In addition to sharing with the guests Taiwan’s experience and insights regarding economic transformation and high-tech industrial development, Minister Lin stressed that cities in Taiwan and Ukraine could engage in exchanges at the annual Smart City Summit and Expo held in Taiwan.
     
    The visiting delegation thanked the Taiwan government for its humanitarian assistance and support to Ukraine, adding that the Ukrainian people were deeply moved by Taiwan’s goodwill. They expressed the wish that the two countries could further engage in reciprocal support and cooperation on the basis of friendship and mutual trust. 
     
    Lviv is the largest city in western Ukraine. Following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, it has become an important hub for other countries to deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine as well as a major medical base to which wounded soldiers and patients are transferred for follow-up treatment. On December 27, the Taipei Representative Office (TRO) in Poland, the Lviv city government, and the Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital of Emergency and Intensive Care signed a memorandum on cooperation and partnership for the reconstruction of the UNBROKEN National Rehabilitation Center in Lviv. The virtual signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu. The government of Taiwan will fund the renovation of a rehabilitation facility, which will be named the Taiwan Friendship Building to accentuate Taiwan’s donation and friendship. 
     
    Speaking as Taiwan’s representative at the MOU signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Wu stated that postsurgery rehabilitation would be available to military personnel and civilians at the Taiwan Friendship Building in the UNBROKEN center and that the Taiwan government would continue to work with Lviv on the basis of mutual trust and support so as to help Ukraine work toward a brighter future amidst current adversity. Mayor Sadovyy presented a briefing on UNBROKEN’s operations and the recovery of those injured. Noting that the rehabilitation facility to be renovated with Taiwan government funding would benefit more Ukrainian patients, he expressed heartfelt appreciation to the government and people of Taiwan. 
     
    UNBROKEN is a national rehabilitation center supported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and overseen by the Lviv city government. The center includes a general hospital, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation center, a surgery facility, a prosthetics manufacturing facility, and temporary housing. To date, more than 940,000 Ukrainian patients have received medical treatment at this nationally renowned center. The facility to be renovated with Taiwan’s assistance is a seven-story building located in the western part of the center. Once the project is completed, it will be home to specialized departments and provide such diverse medical and rehabilitation services as physical therapy, psychological consultations, and prosthetic fittings. It is expected to have the capacity to serve 13,000 patients simultaneously. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 2024 diplomacy review: building a new Taiwan of democracy, peace, and prosperity through integrated diplomacy

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    December 30, 2024  
    No. 471  

    In 2024, the global landscape underwent rapid changes; geopolitical turmoil continued unabated; democracy and authoritarianism remained starkly divided; the Russia-Ukraine war deadlocked; and instability prevailed in the Middle East, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and even in the first island chain. All of these events highlighted the increasingly formidable challenges that the world faces from the axis of upheaval. 
     
    Meanwhile, the Republic of China (Taiwan) successfully completed its eighth presidential election on January 13, another milestone in its democratic advancement. The situation across the Taiwan Strait continued to elicit a high level of international concern, while the Indo-Pacific became pivotal to global strategy. All of these developments were closely intertwined with Taiwan’s national security and interests.
     
    Diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and its overseas missions showed resilience and self-confidence. They did their utmost to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty, dignity, and interests, as well as the Taiwanese people’s rights and interests. Building on the excellent foundation laid by steadfast diplomacy over the past eight years, MOFA implemented integrated diplomacy, which aims at realizing values-based diplomacy and transforming Taiwan into a thriving global economic powerhouse as envisioned by President Lai Ching-te. Based on the three pillars of democracy, peace, and prosperity, MOFA fostered cooperation and deepened partnerships. MOFA pursued mutual benefits and coprosperity with diplomatic allies and like-minded nations, demonstrating that Taiwan was a pivotal force for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and underscoring its value as a global model of freedom and democracy. 
     
    Democratic Taiwan neither yielded nor provoked, remaining calm and confident. It worked with the global democratic community to respond to threats posed by authoritarian regimes. Taiwan stood firm and resilient against authoritarian expansionism, actively provided international humanitarian assistance during times of crisis, and leveraged its strengths to share prosperity with diplomatic allies and like-minded countries. For its contributions, Taiwan gained worldwide acclaim and recognition from all sectors. 
     
    With the support of Taiwan’s people, MOFA and its overseas missions spared no effort to promote head-of-state diplomacy. In December, President Lai led a delegation to Pacific diplomatic allies the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau under the theme “Smart and Sustainable Development for a Prosperous Austronesian Region.” He achieved the three main objectives of smart sustainability, sustainable democracy, and sustainable diplomatic ties while also making successful US transit stops in Hawaii and Guam. The tour was immensely productive and successfully consolidated international support for Taiwan. It both deepened Taiwan’s friendships with allies and launched a new era of values-based diplomacy. 
     
    In October, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, serving as special presidential envoy, attended celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the independence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He also visited Guatemala, Saint Lucia, Belize, and Saint Christopher and Nevis, where he witnessed the achievements of values-based diplomacy and economic and trade diplomacy. In addition, he deepened partnerships on the foundations already laid for bilateral cooperation. In November, Minister Lin visited Belgium, where the European Parliament is headquartered, as well as Lithuania and Poland, further enhancing democratic alliances and cooperation as well as economic and trade linkages between Taiwan and Europe. 
     
    International friendship and support for Taiwan reached new heights this year. Following the successful completion of Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections in January, more than 1,600 prominent political figures from over 100 countries offered congratulations. Taiwan’s significant success in diplomacy was substantively reflected through its solid formal alliances, rock-solid partnership with the United States, growing ties with Europe, and steadfast friendship with Japan. Diplomatic allies and like-minded nations spoke in support of Taiwan’s international participation and reaffirmed the global consensus on maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They lauded Taiwan as a force for good that safeguarded democratic values, provided humanitarian assistance, and made concrete contributions. 
     
    Meanwhile, Taiwan has continued to deploy soft power, pursue public diplomacy, and seek international support. It has integrated resources across ministries, agencies, and departments to bolster its overall diplomatic strength. Furthermore, it has sought to have other countries implement consular measures addressing visas and digital governance to afford greater convenience to Taiwan’s people while also promoting closer people-to-people exchanges with other nations. 
     
    MOFA has devoted a maximum effort to the planning and implementation of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project to deepen substantive relations with allies and like-minded countries. MOFA has formulated eight flagship projects concerning the Five Trusted Industry Sectors, covering semiconductor supply chain resilience, reliable networks and digital governance, new energy and carbon credit cooperation, smart demonstration parks overseas, smart medicine and healthcare, smart agriculture, sovereign AI, and sustainable tourism. Taiwan has brought its industrial strengths to play while integrating the resources of all ministries and agencies. Through the export of smart solutions, Taiwan has stimulated the prosperous development of allies and bolstered democratic supply chains. This has consolidated diplomatic ties and is helping allies enjoy greater prosperity. 
     
    Taiwan is greeting a new world and the world is greeting a new Taiwan. Not only is this MOFA’s mission in its diplomatic work, it is also the stellar outcome of coordinated efforts by the Taiwanese people and related agencies. MOFA has helped to promote the Executive Yuan’s economic diplomacy task force and has a strategic team conducting research and administrative work for the task force. This task force facilitates the efficient integration of resources from across ministries, enabling every citizen to be a diplomat and every ministry to serve as a foreign ministry. 
     
    MOFA will continue to improve the efficiency and quality of its public-facing services so that they have a tangible and positive impact on people’s lives. It will work diligently for the dignity, rights, interests, continuity, and development of the nation and people. MOFA will utilize Taiwan’s strengths as it connects to the world and work steadily to promote technology diplomacy, human rights diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, urban diplomacy, parliamentary diplomacy, medical and public health diplomacy, environmental diplomacy, sports diplomacy, indigenous diplomacy, religious diplomacy, and gender equality diplomacy. MOFA will help the international community better understand the important role that Taiwan plays. It will live up to the expectations of all sectors as concerns diplomatic efforts.
     
    In 2025, the world will usher in a new chapter in geopolitics. With confidence, resilience, and a professional and flexible approach, MOFA will maintain its footing in the new environment. It will leverage Taiwan’s strengths; overcome challenges; and amplify the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity. By integrating diplomatic momentum from all sectors, MOFA will continue to contribute to the international community and realize President Lai’s policy of values-based diplomacy and vision of Taiwan as a thriving global economic powerhouse. MOFA will demonstrate that Taiwan can help and that Taiwan can lead so that Taiwan continues to serve as a beacon shining far and wide across the globe. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Crédit Agricole Assurances: Outstanding activity with record net inflows

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release                                                                             Paris, April 30, 2025

    Outstanding activity with record net inflows

    Q1 2025 KEY FIGURES:

    • Total premium income1at a record high of €14.8 billion, up +20.7%2
    • Record net inflows of +€4,0 billion, including +€1.9 billion on the General Account

    “In the first quarter of 2025, Crédit Agricole Assurances had continued dynamic activity across all business lines, both in France and abroad, and once again proved the usefulness and efficiency of our universal banking and insurance model. In particular, net inflows reached a record high of nearly €4 billion, including €1.9 billion on the General Account. These successes demonstrate the commitment of all our employees who work day after day to satisfy our customers and enable us to consolidate our leading positions in savings and property and casualty. In this year of our 40thanniversary, we will continue to build our new company project and will put conquest at the heart of the strategy with all our partner banks”.
    Nicolas Denis, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Assurances

    DOUBLE-DIGIT ACTIVITY GROWTH, DRIVEN BY SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT BUSINESS

    In the first quarter of 2025, Crédit Agricole Assurances generated record total premium income1 of €14.8 billion, up +20.7%2 compared to the end of March 2024 driven by France (+23.5%) and international markets (+5.7%2). Life insurance business is particularly dynamic in France (+28.3%) thanks to the success of inflow collection by our partner banks.

    In savings and retirement, premium income1 reached €10.8 billion at the end of March 2025, up +26.8% year-on-year. The first three months of 2025 benefited from the full effect of the preferential profit sharing (PAB) offers on euro payments, launched at the end of the first quarter of 2024; these have boosted gross inflows3 on the General Account to €7.1 billion (+36.6%). Unit-Linked gross inflows3 totalled €3.7 billion, up +11.4% compared to the first quarter of 2024. As a result, the share of Unit-Linked within gross inflows3 fell to 34.3% (-4.7 points year on-year).

    Net inflows3 set quarterly record of nearly +€4.0 billion, up +€2.9 billion compared to the first quarter of 2024. By product, net inflows3 amounted to +€2.0 billion on unit-linked and +€1.9 billion on the General Account.

    Life insurance outstandings4 reached €352.4 billion at the end of March 2025 thanks to very strong net inflows and a positive market effect. They included €246.7 billion on the General Account (+1.4% over three months) and €105.7 billion on Unit-Linked (+1.5% over three months). Unit-Linked reserves represented 30.0% of total life insurance outstandings at the end of March 2025, stable compared to December 31, 2024.

    In property and casualty5, the business continued its momentum with gross written premiums1 up +8.0% compared to the end of March 2024, reaching €2.6 billion. Including CATU, a Polish non-life insurance subsidiary, the portfolio grew by +5.1% and exceeded 16.8 million contracts, representing a net contribution of 512,000 contracts over one year; in addition to the price increases induced by climate change and inflation of repair costs, the average premium benefited from changes in the product mix.

    Equipment rates within the Crédit Agricole Group’s banking networks kept growing year-on-year, at the Regional Banks (44.2%6, up +0,8 point), LCL (28.0%6, up +0.2 point) and CA Italia (20.3%7, up +1.0 points).

    In personal protection (death and disability / creditor / group insurance8), gross written premiums1 increased by +4.3% compared to the end of March 2024, to €1.4 billion. Group insurance recorded an excellent first quarter of 2025 (+23.8%) in connection with the entry into force of a significant group health contract. Creditor insurance (+1.8%) and individual death and disability (+2.7%) are resilient.

    A SOLID CONTRIBUTION TO CREDIT AGRICOLE S.A.’S PRE-TAX INCOME

    Crédit Agricole Assurances contribution to Crédit Agricole S.A.’s pre-tax income was €631 million, stable2 year on year, supported by savings and retirement business (linked to the increase of life insurance outstandings) and property and casualty insurance, offsetting a tightening of technical margins in creditor insurance combined with methodological effects.

    The combined ratio9 stood at 93.2%, an improvement by -0.6 point year-on-year thanks to contained claims.
    The net undiscounted combined ratio decreased by -0.4 point over one year to stand at 95.9%, with a broadly neutral effect of discount.

    The Contractual Service Margin10 amounted to €25.8 billion at the end of March 2025, up +2.2% since December 31, 2024, benefiting from a new business contribution which is higher than the release through P&L.

    RATINGS

    Rating agency Date of last decision Main operating subsidiaries Crédit Agricole Assurances Outlook Subordinated debt
    S&P Global Ratings October 3, 2024 A+ A Stable BBB+

    HIGHLIGHTS SINCE THE LAST PUBLICATION

    About Crédit Agricole Assurances
    Crédit Agricole Assurances, France’s leading insurer, is Crédit Agricole group’s subsidiary, which brings together all the insurance businesses of Crédit Agricole S.A. Crédit Agricole Assurances offers a range of products and services in savings, retirement, health, personal protection and property insurance. They are distributed by Crédit Agricole’s banks in France and in 9 countries worldwide, and are aimed at individual, professional, agricultural and business customers. At the end of 2024, Crédit Agricole Assurances had more than 6,700 employees. Its 2024 premium income (non-GAAP) amounted to 43.6 billion euros.
    www.ca-assurances.com

    Press contacts
    Géraldine Bailacq +33 (0)6 81 75 87 59
    Nicolas Leviaux +33 (0)6 19 60 48 53
    Julien Badé +33 (0)7 85 18 68 05
    service.presse@ca-assurances.fr    		 Investor relations contacts
    Yael Beer-Gabel +33 (0)1 57 72 66 84
    Gaël Hoyer +33 (0)1 57 72 62 22
    Sophie Santourian +33 (0)1 57 72 43 42
    Cécile Roy +33 (0)1 57 72 61 86
    relations.investisseurs@ca-assurances.fr

    1« Non-GAAP » revenues
    2Excluding the 1stconsolidation of CATU (Crédit Agricole Towaraystow Ubezpieczeń, property and casualty insurance subsidiary in Poland) on 30 June 2024 with retroactive effect from 1 January 2024, changes are: +20.7% for total premium income, +5.4% for international premium income and +0.1% for Crédit Agricole Assurances contribution to Crédit Agricole S.A.’s pre-tax income
    3In local GAAP
    4Savings, Retirement and Protection (funeral)
    5At constant scope: +7.7% growth in non-life gross written premiums, +2.9% increase in the portfolio, net addition of more than 467,000 policies; at March 31, 2025, CATU’s portfolio comprised nearly 348,000 policies, including net addition of more than 45,000 policies over one year
    6Percentage of Regional banks and LCL customers with at least one motor, home, health, legal, mobile/portable or personal accident insurance policy marketed by Pacifica, French Crédit Agricole Assurances’ non-life insurance subsidiary
    7Percentage of CA Italia network customers with at least one policy marketed by CA Assicurazioni, Italian Crédit Agricole Assurances’ non-life insurance subsidiary
    8Excluding savings and retirement
    9P&C combined ratio in France (Pacifica scope) including discounting and excluding undiscounting, net of reinsurance: (claims + operating expenses + commissions) to gross earned premiums
    10CSM or Contractual Service Margin: corresponds to the expected profits by the insurer on the insurance activity, over the duration of the contract, for profitable contracts, for Savings, Retirement, Death and Disability and Creditor products

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Q1 Trading Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEI: 213800ZBKL9BHSL2K459

    OSB GROUP PLC: Trading update

    Published: 30.04.2025

    OSB GROUP PLC

    Q1 2025 Trading update

    OSB GROUP PLC (OSBG or the Group), the specialist lending and retail savings group, today issues its trading update for the period from 1 January 2025 to date.  

    Highlights

    • OSBG’s first quarter performance was in line with expectations and the Group is on track to meet its full year guidance
    • Originations were £1.1bn (Q1 2024: £1.0bn) in the first quarter
    • The Group’s net loan book was £25.2bn (31 December 2024: £25.1bn) as we maintained pricing discipline and focus on higher-yielding specialist sub-segments of Commercial, Asset Finance, Bridging and Development Finance
    • Retail deposits remained broadly flat at £23.8bn (31 December 2024: £23.8bn) and TFSME balance outstanding was £810m as at 31 March 2025 (31 December 2024: £1.4bn)
    • Three months plus arrears balances were 1.7% as at 31 March 2025, unchanged from the end of 2024, in line with modelled expectations
    • The Group has repurchased £15.7m worth of shares under the £100m share repurchase programme1 which is due complete no later than 10 March 2026
    1. As at market close on 29 April 2025

    Andy Golding, CEO of OSB Group, said:

    “I am pleased with the performance of our lending and savings franchises in the first quarter of 2025.

    We continued to prioritise returns over growth when pricing new and retention mortgage products which led to a broadly flat net loan book compared to the end of 2024.

    We saw growth in originations in more complex Buy-to-Let and our higher-yielding specialist sub-segments and retail deposit pricing remained in line with our assumptions with an attractive blended front book margin.

    Retail deposits were broadly flat as the Group focused on optimising liquidity and utilised funds from the December securitisation to repay c.£600m of its TFSME balance. Since the end of the quarter, we have repaid a further c.£150m of this funding.

    The transformation programme progressed well in the quarter with all new Kent Reliance fixed rate bonds now available on our new savings platform. I am proud that our focus on building and delivering excellent journeys for our customers was recognised in March by FS Tech award for Best Customer Service and Experience – Technology.

    Given the Group’s performance to date, we are on track to deliver the 2025 guidance of low single digit net loan book growth, net interest margin of c.225bps, c.£270m of administrative expenses and low-teens RoTE.

    The Board is cognisant of the geopolitical environment and continues to monitor its impact on the UK economy and the macroeconomic scenarios used in the Group’s IFRS 9 models.

    The Group is well positioned to deliver on its guidance with attractive and sustainable returns for the shareholders and I look to the future with confidence.”

    Enquiries:

    OSB GROUP PLC

    Alexander Holcroft t: 01634 838 973

    Brunswick Group

    Robin Wrench / Simone Selzer t: 020 7404 5959

    About OSB GROUP PLC
    OneSavings Bank plc (OSB) began trading as a bank on 1 February 2011 and was admitted to the main market of the London Stock Exchange in June 2014 (OSB.L). OSB joined the FTSE 250 index in June 2015. On 4 October 2019, OSB acquired Charter Court Financial Services Group plc (CCFS) and its subsidiary businesses. On 30 November 2020, OSB GROUP PLC became the listed entity and holding company for the OSB Group. The Group provides specialist lending and retail savings and is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, part of the Bank of England, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. The Group reports under two segments, OneSavings Bank and Charter Court Financial Services.

    OneSavings Bank (OSB)
    OSB primarily targets market sub-sectors that offer high growth potential and attractive risk-adjusted returns in which it can take a leading position and where it has established expertise, platforms and capabilities. These include private rented sector Buy-to-Let, commercial and semi-commercial mortgages, residential development finance, bespoke and specialist residential lending and asset finance.
    OSB originates mortgages organically via specialist brokers and independent financial advisers through its specialist brands including Kent Reliance for Intermediaries and InterBay Commercial. It is differentiated through its use of highly skilled, experience-based manual underwriting and efficient operating model.
    OSB is predominantly funded by retail savings originated through the long-established Kent Reliance name, which takes deposits online and through a network of branches in the South East of England. Diversification of funding is currently provided by securitisation programmes and the Bank of England’s Term Funding Scheme with additional incentives for SMEs.

    Charter Court Financial Services Group (CCFS)
    CCFS focuses on providing Buy-to-Let and specialist residential mortgages and retail savings products. It operates through its brands: Precise and Charter Savings Bank.
    It is differentiated through risk management expertise and best-of-breed automated technology and systems, ensuring efficient processing, strong credit and collateral risk control and speed of product development and innovation. These factors have enabled strong balance sheet growth whilst maintaining high credit quality mortgage assets.
    CCFS is predominantly funded by retail savings originated through its Charter Savings Bank brand. Diversification of funding is currently provided by securitisation programmes and the Bank of England’s Term Funding Scheme with additional incentives for SMEs.

    Important disclaimer

    This document should be read in conjunction with any other documents or announcements distributed by OSB GROUP PLC (OSBG) through the Regulatory News Service (RNS).

    This document is not audited and contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the business, strategy and plans of OSBG, its current goals, beliefs, intentions, strategies and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance and results, and ESG ambitions, targets and commitments described herein. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those preceded by, followed by or that include the words ‘targets’, ‘believes’, ‘estimates’, ‘expects’, ‘aims’, ‘intends’, ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘anticipates’, ‘projects’, ‘plans’, ‘forecasts’, ‘outlook’, ‘likely’, ‘guidance’, ‘trends’, ‘future’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘should’ or similar expressions or negatives thereof but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about OSBG’s, its directors’ and/or management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that may or may not occur in the future that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual business, strategy, plans and/or results (including but not limited to the payment of dividends) to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements made by OSBG or on its behalf include, but are not limited to: general economic and business conditions in the UK and internationally, including any changes in global trade policies; market related trends and developments; fluctuations in exchange rates, stock markets, inflation, deflation, interest rates, energy prices and currencies; policies of the Bank of England, the European Central Bank and other G7 central banks; the ability to access sufficient sources of capital, liquidity and funding when required; changes to OSBG’s credit ratings; the ability to derive cost savings; changing demographic developments, and changing customer behaviour, including consumer spending, saving and borrowing habits; changes in customer preferences; changes to borrower or counterparty credit quality; instability in the global financial markets, including Eurozone instability, the potential for countries to exit the European Union (the EU) or the Eurozone, and the impact of any sovereign credit rating downgrade or other sovereign financial issues; technological changes and risks to cyber security; natural and other disasters, adverse weather and similar contingencies outside OSBG’s control; inadequate or failed internal or external processes, people and systems; acts of war and terrorist acts or hostility and responses to those acts; geopolitical events and diplomatic tensions; the impact of outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics or other such events; changes in laws, regulations, taxation, ESG reporting standards, accounting standards or practices, including as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU; regulatory capital or liquidity requirements and similar contingencies outside OSBG’s control; the policies and actions of governmental or regulatory authorities in the UK, the EU or elsewhere including the implementation and interpretation of key legislation and regulation; the ability to attract and retain senior management and other employees; the extent of any future impairment charges or write-downs caused by, but not limited to, depressed asset valuations, market disruptions and illiquid markets; market relating trends and developments; exposure to regulatory scrutiny, legal proceedings, regulatory investigations or complaints; changes in competition and pricing environments; the inability to hedge certain risks economically; the adequacy of loss reserves; the actions of competitors, including non-bank financial services and lending companies; the success of OSBG in managing the risks of the foregoing; and other risks inherent to the industries and markets in which OSBG operates.

    Accordingly, no reliance may be placed on any forward-looking statement. Neither OSBG, nor any of its directors, officers or employees provides any representation, warranty or assurance that any of these statements or forecasts will come to pass or that any forecast results will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements made in this document speak only as of the date they are made and it should not be assumed that they have been revised or updated in the light of new information of future events. Except as required by the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the London Stock Exchange PLC or applicable law, OSBG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this document to reflect any change in OSBG’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. For additional information on possible risks to OSBG’s business, (which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement), please see the Risk review section in the OSBG Annual Report and Accounts 2024. Copies of this are available at www.osb.co.uk and on request from OSBG.

    Nothing in this document or any subsequent discussion of this document constitutes or forms part of a public offer under any applicable law or an offer or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any securities or financial instruments. Nor does it constitute advice or a recommendation with respect to such securities or financial instruments, or any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity under section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. Statements about historical performance must not be construed to indicate that future performance, share price or results in any future period will necessarily match or exceed those of any prior period. Nothing in this document is intended to be, or should be construed as, a profit forecast or estimate for any period.

    In regard to any information provided by third parties, neither OSBG nor any of its directors, officers or employees explicitly or implicitly guarantees that such information is exact, up to date, accurate, comprehensive or complete. In no event shall OSBG be liable for any use by any party of, for any decision made or action taken by any party in reliance upon, or for inaccuracies or errors in, or omission from, any third-party information contained herein. Moreover, in reproducing such information by any means, OSBG may introduce any changes it deems suitable, may omit partially or completely any aspect of the information from this document, and accepts no liability whatsoever for any resulting discrepancy.

    Liability arising from anything in this document shall be governed by English law, and neither OSBG nor any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives shall have any liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this document or its contents or otherwise arising in connection with this document. Nothing in this document shall exclude any liability under applicable laws that cannot be excluded in accordance with such laws.

    Certain figures contained in this document, including financial information, may have been subject to rounding adjustments and foreign exchange conversions. Accordingly, in certain instances, the sum or percentage change of the numbers contained in this document may not conform exactly to the total figure given.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: People’s mental health goes downhill after repeated climate disasters – it’s an issue of social equity

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ang Li, ARC DECRA and Senior Research Fellow, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Housing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne

    Across Australia, communities are grappling with climate disasters that are striking more frequently and with greater intensity. Bushfires, floods and cyclones are no longer one-off events. And this pattern is predicted to worsen due to climate change.

    As it becomes more common to face climate disasters again and again, what does this mean for the mental health and wellbeing of people affected?

    In a new study published today in the Lancet Public Health, we found experiencing repeated disasters leads to more severe and sustained effects on mental health compared to experiencing a single disaster.

    What we did in our study

    We drew on ten years of Australian data (2009–19) from the nationally representative Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey.

    Specifically, our study involved data from 1,511 people who experienced at least one disaster. We tracked them from the year before the first disaster, at the first disaster, and, where applicable, each subsequent disaster, and a few years after each disaster.

    We also included 3,880 people who did not experience disasters during this time but shared similar demographic, socioeconomic, health and place-based characteristics for comparison.

    We measured exposure to climate disasters based on whether respondents reported a weather-related disaster (for example, flood, bushfire or cyclone) damaged or destroyed their home in the previous year.

    The mental health outcomes were measured using two questionnaires commonly administered to assess depression and anxiety disorders (the 5-item mental health inventory) and psychological distress (the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale).

    Cumulative effects

    Our results show mental health declines became more severe with repeated disasters.

    The graph below plots the mental health trajectories for everyone in our study who experienced at least one disaster, and the control group who did not experience any disasters. We looked at a maximum of three disasters in the study due to data availability.

    It shows experiencing one disaster led to a decline in mental health during the disaster year, followed by a recovery to pre-disaster levels in the post-disaster period.

    However, with repeated disasters, mental health trajectories declined further and it took longer to recover to pre-disaster levels.

    We also found experiencing an additional disaster close to a previous disaster (for example, one or two years apart) was linked to greater mental health declines than disasters that were spaced further apart.

    Some risk factors

    We observed that certain factors consistently shaped mental health outcomes. For instance, having social support was consistently a protective factor, while having a long-term health condition consistently increased the risk of poorer mental health. This was true regardless of the number of disasters someone experienced.

    On the other hand, some risk factors became stronger with each disaster. In particular, households with lower incomes, those in rural areas, and younger people appeared to experience greater effects of cumulative disasters.

    There are some limitations to our research. For example, the data we had did not detail the type or severity of each disaster. It also was limited in what it could tell us about the mental health effects of three or more disasters.

    Nonetheless, our study provides novel insights into the mental health consequences of multiple climate disasters. This highlights the need for better support for communities facing an increasing number of emergencies.

    Our findings also align with other studies that have observed increasing risk to mental health with multiple disasters.

    At the same time, our findings add a new perspective by showing how trajectories can change over time. People’s mental health often recovers to pre-disaster levels after a single disaster, but repeat disasters can delay or halt this recovery.

    Why might repeated disasters lead to worse mental health?

    Repeated disasters, especially when they occur in close succession, can lead to cumulative stress driven by trauma and uncertainty. This can create a reinforcing cycle. People already facing social disadvantages – such as poor health and low income – are more likely to be exposed to disasters. In turn, these events disproportionately affect those facing existing disadvantages.

    The result is a compounding effect that can contribute to worsening mental health outcomes and slower recovery over multiple disasters. This means disasters are an issue of social equity and must be considered in efforts to reduce poverty and improve social outcomes, as well as health outcomes.

    Repeated disasters in particular can drain financial, social and community resources. They can exacerbate existing strain on household savings, disrupted social ties due to displacement, and reduced access to services after disasters – especially in rural areas.

    What can we do to support people through multiple disasters?

    We need to transform the way we think about disasters. It’s estimated children born today will experience up to seven times the number of extreme weather events across their lifetimes than someone born in 1960.

    We are starting to get a better picture of what people need to recover from climate disasters. Our research points to the need for clinical services (for example, GPs) to screen for past disaster exposures in mental health assessments.

    Emergency services need to plan services to reach at-risk groups during disasters. They also need to ensure recovery planning considers the effects of past disasters, for example by making sure support programs are not just tied to one disaster, but can be used across multiple.

    The current approach to emergency services that looks at “one disaster at a time” doesn’t work anymore. As the climate continues to change, we urgently need to consider the effects of multiple disasters in public health, welfare and disaster services.

    Ang Li receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

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

    – ref. People’s mental health goes downhill after repeated climate disasters – it’s an issue of social equity – https://theconversation.com/peoples-mental-health-goes-downhill-after-repeated-climate-disasters-its-an-issue-of-social-equity-254475

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Symbol of the Unconquered Spirit: 80 Years Since the Raising of the Victory Banner over the Reichstag

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 30, 1945, several banners and flags of various units of the Red Army were installed over the Reichstag building in Berlin. But the Banner of Victory is considered to be a specially made cloth of the 150th Rifle Order of Kutuzov, 2nd degree, Idritskaya Division of the 79th Rifle Corps of the 3rd Shock Army of the 1st Belorussian Front. In accordance with Russian law, this banner is a symbol of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and a state relic.

    The Reichstag had also long had a more symbolic meaning in 1945. After the National Socialist German Workers’ Party came to power in Germany in 1933 and the building was set on fire, government meetings were no longer held there, and the plenary hall was not even repaired. In 1941, the windows were walled up, the basements became a bomb shelter, and anti-aircraft guns were installed in the corner towers. Nevertheless, for the Germans, the building remained one of the symbols of statehood. And the Soviet troops needed the final goal of their victorious campaign in the form of a real object. With the approval of Joseph Stalin, the Reichstag building was chosen as such a goal.

    Given the circumstances, the Reichstag was defended by elite SS units, not only Germans, but also Swedes, Norwegians, and Latvians. And the building was stormed by the most experienced Red Army guards. Due to the ferocity of the battles and the contradictory reports, it is difficult to reliably determine who was the first to raise the flag over the Reichstag. In addition to the nine flags specially made for this purpose, many went into battle with homemade flags. According to various sources, there were from 20 to 40 of them. Recently, it has been accepted that on the afternoon of April 30, the fighters of the 150th Rifle Division, Lieutenant Rakhimzhan Koshkarbayev and Private Grigory Bulatov, were in the lead. Later, two more flags were raised. Noticing this, the Germans began shelling the building and, having broken the glass dome, managed to destroy all three flags.

    Late in the evening of April 30 (already May 1 Moscow time), Junior Lieutenant Meliton Kantaria and Private Mikhail Egorov from the same 150th Rifle Division managed to install the banner on the eastern facade of the building, where it could not be reached by enemy artillery. It was this flag that became the Victory Banner. On May 2, after the capitulation of the Berlin garrison, the same soldiers were ordered to move the banner to the dome of the Reichstag. A few days later, for the sake of safety, the banner was removed, and on June 20 it was transported by plane to Moscow, where it was transferred for permanent storage to the Central Museum of the Armed Forces.

    Thus, both the actual and symbolic victory over Germany was achieved at the very beginning of May. All that remained was to confirm it legally.

    #Scientific regiment

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/30/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health and Employment – Auckland theatre nurses to strike tomorrow – NZNO

    Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

    Te Toka Tumai Auckland Te Whatu Ora theatre nurses will strike for two hours tomorrow over attempts by Health New Zealand not to pay them appropriately for involuntary overtime.
    The 370 perioperative (which includes preoperative, theatre and postoperative) nurses are members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki O Aotearoa (NZNO) working at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Hospital.
    NZNO delegate and perioperative nurse Alissa Baker says nurses are standing up against involuntary overtime. This stand is part of the current collective agreement bargaining between NZNO and Te Whatu Ora.
    “Nurses should be paid appropriately for the work we are doing, and that does not include forced overtime as the Te Whatu Ora proposal seeks to enforce,” Alissa Baker says.
    NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter says it is appropriate the perioperative nurses are striking on May Day.
    “May Day is a day for workers and unions around the world to celebrate workers’ rights and the union movement. It is timely that our perioperative nurses are making a stand for fair pay on May Day.
    “The Government continues to chronically under-resource health, is increasing the privatisation of health services and fails to address the crisis in primary and aged residential care. This is another insult to other nurses and health care workers around the country.
    “This year NZNO members will join their fellow union members around the country at Fight Back for Health and Fight Back Together events,” Paul Goulter says.
    Notes:
    – Striking perioperative nurses will join senior doctors and cross-union members for the May Day Fight Back for Heath event outside the front of Auckland City Hospital from 9am to 1pm tomorrow (Thursday 1 May)
    – NZNO perioperative members from Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre will strike between 9am-11am.
    – NZNO perioperative members working in Post Anaesthesia Care Units on level 4, 8 and 9 at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre will strike between 11.30am-1.30pm.
    – Information about Fight Back for Health events can be found here: https://maranga-mai.nzno.org.nz/fight_back_for_health
    – Information about Fight Back Together can be found here: https://www.together.org.nz/may_day_hui

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –