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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – 2 April 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

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

    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=_GjAO_ZzMq8

    MIL OSI Video –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions with British Sign Language (BSL) – 2 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=rHtholONviA

    MIL OSI Video –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Speeding backwards: Greenpeace slams Coalition commitment to neuter vehicle efficiency standards

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    MELBOURNE, 2 APRIL 2025–Greenpeace Australia Pacific has slammed the Coalition’s promise to neuter the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) by removing fines from the scheme as policy that bends the knee to the petrol car lobby while costing Australians and increasing carbon pollution

    “The NVES finally brought Australia onto the same playing field as other major countries, which have strong standards for the efficiency of cars. Sabotaging this policy by removing penalties shunts us to the back of the pack once again,” said Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy, Greenpeace Australia Pacific. 

    “Removing the thing that makes the NVES an effective policy—penalties for car importers insistent on dumping their most polluting cars in Australia—is a capitulation to the petrol car lobby and overseas companies like Mitsubishi Motors, at the expense of Australian drivers and businesses. 

    “The NVES will prevent 80 million tonnes of car-related carbon pollution from entering our atmosphere by 2035—as much as the entire state of Victoria emits in a year.

    “Emissions from petrol and diesel cars constitute a third of all greenhouse gases in Australia, and the sector is on track to be the top polluter in our economy. There are already low-emissions vehicles for sale around the world that address this challenge. 

    “Giving foreign car companies a free pass to continue selling polluting cars in Australia, which they cannot sell anywhere else, pushes the burden of reducing emissions onto other Australian industries and businesses. 

    “This ill-considered policy U-turn, which flies in the face of a mountain of evidence from around the world on the benefits of strong efficiency standards, will also make it harder for Australians to access more affordable, cheaper-to-run electric cars. 

    “It will keep more polluting cars on our roads for longer, prolonging Australians’ exposure to toxic tailpipe emissions while other countries move quickly towards cleaner, safer cars on their streets. 

    “Removing fines from the NVES and making it essentially unenforceable is like selling a car without brakes, and simply hoping it will stop when needed. Instead of removing this important enforcement mechanism, it is important to ensure that Australia’s car industry stays the course towards lower emissions, and cleaner, more affordable cars.

    “Greenpeace Australia Pacific fought hard to secure this essential legislation, which brought Australia in line with other major economies. We will resist the Coalition’s plans to neuter this legislation every step of the way.” 

    —ENDS—
    For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 / [email protected].

    MIL OSI NGO –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Week 3 of “Dirty Dems” campaign exposes the Rubio sisters

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    WEST COVINA, CA — (April 1, 2025) As part of the ongoing “Dirty Dems” campaign, Greenpeace USA, in collaboration with the California Working Families Party and Courage California, continues to hold California State legislators accountable for their damaging connections to the oil and gas industry and their failure to support critical climate, economic justice, and progressive priorities.

    This week, the spotlight is on Senator Susan Rubio and Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, who represent Southern California districts, including West Covina, Ontario, Pomona, Baldwin Park, and Glendora. Both have failed to take meaningful action to protect their communities from the harmful impacts of the oil and gas industry after receiving substantial campaign contributions from fossil fuel interests.

    Amy Moas, Ph.D., Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner, said: “Senator Susan Rubio and Assembly Member Blanca Rubio are textbook examples of ‘Dirty Dems’ who have chosen corporate donors over the people they are supposed to represent. Their failure to take decisive action on critical climate, health, and economic justice issues is a betrayal of their constituents and the values we need in our leaders.”

    Senator Susan Rubio

    Senator Susan Rubio, representing the 22nd Senate District in Southern California, has been serving in the California State Legislature since 2018. During her time in office, Rubio has accepted over $116,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry, with $74,500 coming in the most recent legislative session alone. She was initially elected with the help of an independent campaign fueled by more than $2.8 million in oil money, illustrating the extent of her ties to the fossil fuel industry.

    Senator Rubio has a troubling pattern of abstaining from votes on key environmental justice and progressive priority bills. Her failure to take a stand on critical climate and public health issues, such as SB 1137 (a bill to reduce pollution from oil drilling in neighborhoods) and AB 1167 (a bill to ensure oil companies pay to clean up idle wells), shows her disregard for the health and safety of her constituents.

    Despite fluctuating scores across some progressive scorecards, Rubio has earned failing grades from groups like Courage California, Sierra Club, and California Environmental Justice Alliance during her time in office. In fact, she consistently scored among the very lowest of Democrats in the State Legislature on California Environmental Voters scorecard every year since first being elected.

    Assembly Member Blanca Rubio “Big Oil Blanca”

    Assembly Member Blanca Rubio, representing the 48th District of Los Angeles’ eastern San Gabriel Valley, has taken over $240,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry, including $45,000 in the most recent session. In addition, she has accepted gifts, including sponsored travel from the California Independent Petroleum Association, an industry trade group. These financial ties have earned her the nickname “Big Oil Blanca” from critics.

    Assembly Member Rubio has earned failing grades from environmental and progressive organizations year after year. Since 2019, she has consistently received F grades from Courage California, California Environmental Voters, and the Sierra Club. She has also never scored higher than a D on the California Environmental Justice Alliance scorecard.

    Blanca Rubio has purposefully skipped votes on critical bills aimed at reducing harmful pollutants, such as AB 674, which would address air quality issues related to asthma and cancer-causing chemicals, and SB 1137, which would regulate the harmful impacts of oil drilling in residential areas. Her absences extend to key economic justice measures as well, including bills like AB 2584, which would limit big corporate control of housing, and AB 2666, which would protect Californians from inflated utility rates.

    Holding the Rubio Sisters Accountable

    Both Senator Susan Rubio and Assembly Member Blanca Rubio are the third and fourth Dirty Dems to be named, joining Stephanie Nguyen and Mike Gipson on the growing list. These Dirty Dems have repeatedly chosen to prioritize corporate donations over the well-being of their constituents, but this campaign  will continue to expose these harmful practices and demand that these legislators be held accountable for their repeated failure to act to protect the communities they represent.

    Contact: Gigi Singh, Communications Manager at Greenpeace USA
    (+1)  631-404-9977, [email protected]  

    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    MIL OSI NGO –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change to earnings limit for carers

    Source: Scottish Government

    Please see media release announcing increase in earnings limit for Carer Support Payment.

    Change to earnings limit for carers  

    More unpaid carers set to benefit from Carer Support Payment.

    More unpaid carers in Scotland could benefit from financial support as a key change in eligibility rules comes into effect from 6 April 2025.

    The earnings limit for Carer Support Payment will increase from £151 to £196 a week. This means that a carer can earn £45 more a week, after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses, and be eligible for the payment.

    The change could mean carers already receiving Carer Support Payment will be able to undertake more paid work and still receive the payment. In addition, many carers earning a take home pay of £10,192 or less a year, who were previously unable to access the additional support could now be eligible.

    To receive Carer Support Payment of £83.30 a week, carers also need to be providing 35 hours or more of care a week to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit.

    Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland, delivered by the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

    Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government proposed back in 2022 to raise the earnings limit for Carer Support Payment once fully launched. This was on the back of strong feedback from carers and support organisations that the previous limit was set too low.

    “The increase puts the earnings limit at a level which equates to 16 hours at the national living wage. Alongside other improvements we have made, this should help more carers to balance paid work with caring and provide more stable financial support.

    “The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring everyone gets the financial support they’re entitled to, despite the UK Government’s recent announcement on changes to welfare.”

    Fiona Collie, Head of Public Affairs and Communication at Carers Scotland said: “Carers Scotland welcomes the increase in the earnings threshold to £196 which will support more unpaid carers to earn more from paid employment alongside their Carer Support Payment. This change will also enable more carers to claim Carer Support Payment.

    The new threshold amount applies once a carer has taken away deductions for tax, national insurance and half of any pension contribution. Carers may also be able to deduct some of the costs to provide care whilst you are working.

    We would encourage all carers in employment or who are thinking about returning to employment to find out more about Carer Support Payment and the earnings threshold from Social Security Scotland or their local carers centre or advice agency.”

    Background

    • Carer Support Payment is a payment of £83.30 a week from 6 April 2025 and is available to carers who are aged 16 or over and who provide unpaid care for 35 hours or more a week to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit. Carers need to earn £151 a week (increasing to £196 a week from 6 April 2025) or less after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses. The earnings limit for carers in Scotland who are getting Carer’s Allowance will also increase to £196. Carers getting Carer’s Allowance in Scotland will have their benefits transferred automatically to Carer Support Payment. This process is due to complete this spring.
    • Improvements made to Carer Support Payment includes making the earnings rules clearer, assessing eligibility based on average earnings where carers have earnings that vary to provide more stable support, and using information from the HMRC and planned reviews to check and track earnings. Find out more at If you work – mygov.scot Many carers in education are also eligible for Carer Support Payment. Find out more at If you study – mygov.scot

    Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment for eligible unpaid carers who are getting Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on two qualifying dates. The payment is made twice a year and is unique to Scotland. Each payment of Carer’s Allowance Supplement in 2025 will be £293.50. It is paid automatically without the need to apply.  

    Young Carer Grant  is available for carers aged 16, 17 or 18 who provide support for an average of 16 hours a week to someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit. It is a yearly payment of £390.25 from 1 April 2025 and the money can be spent on whatever the young person wants.  

    Information on other support for carers, such as wider financial support, wellbeing support and short breaks from caring, can be found at Help if you’re a carer – mygov.scot 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Have your say on student accommodation

    Source: City of Norwich

    Published on Tuesday, 1st April 2025

    City residents are being asked to have their say on student accommodation in Norwich.

    Norwich City Council is seeking views on its new Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) concerning student accommodation within the city through Get Talking Norwich.

    A council spokesperson, said: “Norwich is home to two thriving universities, the University of East Anglia and Norwich University of the Arts, both of which are significant contributors to the local economy and are projected to continue their growth.

    “Over the past decade, a substantial amount of student accommodation has been developed, primarily within the city centre.  

    “We recognise the valuable contribution purpose built student accommodation makes to the housing market of Norwich alongside other forms of accommodation. However, we believe there is enough existing and planned student accommodation supply to meet the city’s needs until 2038.”

    The SPD also gives advice on the design of student accommodation, how it should be managed and where in the city they have been built.

    To get involved and make your views known on the SPD go to https://gettalking.norwich.gov.uk/pbsa

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: New plan for safer and more secure Europe

    Source: European Union 2

    The Commission has presented ProtectEU, a new European internal security strategy to support EU countries in guaranteeing security for its citizens. It sets out a workplan with a stronger legal framework, better information sharing and closer cooperation. 

    To address increasing security and hybrid threats like terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, and attacks on critical infrastructure, Europe needs to review its approach to internal security. The strategy aims to adopt a whole-of-society approach that includes citizens, businesses, researchers, and civil society who can contribute to better safety for all. 

    Key objectives and actions: 

    • a new European internal security governance 
    • anticipating security threats through new ways of sharing intelligence 
    • more effective tools for law enforcement and stronger justice and home affairs agencies 
    • building resilience against hybrid threats 
    • fighting serious and organised crime 
    • combatting terrorism and violent extremism 
    • the EU as a strong global player on security  

    The actions are backed by evidence from the EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA). The strategy complements the preparedness union strategy and the European defence white paper. Together with the forthcoming European Democracy Shield, they form a comprehensive framework for a safe, secure, and resilient EU. 

    For more information 

    Press release 

    Factsheet 

    Questions and answers 

    Security and defence 

    The European internal security strategy 

    Internal Security 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Euro area bank interest rate statistics: February 2025

    Source: European Central Bank

    2 April 2025

    Bank interest rates for corporations

    Chart 1

    Bank interest rates on new loans to, and deposits from, euro area corporations

    (percentages per annum)

    Data for cost of borrowing and deposit interest rates for corporations (Chart 1)

    The composite cost-of-borrowing indicator, which combines interest rates on all loans to corporations, decreased in February 2025. The interest rate on new loans of over €1 million with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to three months decreased by 27 basis points to 3.92%. The rate on new loans of the same size with an initial rate fixation period of over three months and up to one year fell by 11 basis points to 3.77%. The interest rate on new loans of over €1 million with an initial rate fixation period of over ten years decreased by 16 basis points to 3.44%. In the case of new loans of up to €250,000 with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to three months, the average rate charged stayed almost constant at 4.37%.
    As regards new deposit agreements, the interest rate on deposits from corporations with an agreed maturity of up to one year fell by 17 basis points to 2.50% in February 2025. The interest rate on overnight deposits from corporations fell by 4 basis points to 0.72%.
    The interest rate on new loans to sole proprietors and unincorporated partnerships with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to one year remained broadly unchanged at 4.55%.

    Table 1

    Bank interest rates for corporations

    i.r.f. = initial rate fixation
    * For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.

    Data for bank interest rates for corporations (Table 1)

    Bank interest rates for households

    Chart 2

    Bank interest rates on new loans to, and deposits from, euro area households

    Data for cost of borrowing and deposit interest rate for households (Chart 2)

    The composite cost-of-borrowing indicator, which combines interest rates on all loans to households for house purchase, increased in February 2025. The interest rate on loans for house purchase with a floating rate and an initial rate fixation period of up to one year decreased by 6 basis points to 4.00%. The rate on housing loans with an initial rate fixation period of over one and up to five years rose by 4 basis points to 3.53%. The interest rate on loans for house purchase with an initial rate fixation period of over five and up to ten years increased by 49 basis points to 3.37%. The rate on housing loans with an initial rate fixation period of over ten years rose by 12 basis points to 3.09%, driven by both the interest rate and the weight effects. In the same period the interest rate on new loans to households for consumption decreased by 7 basis points to 7.58%.
    As regards new deposits from households, the interest rate on deposits with an agreed maturity of up to one year decreased by 14 basis points to 2.19%. The rate on deposits redeemable at three months’ notice fell by 19 basis points to 1.53%. The interest rate on overnight deposits from households remained broadly unchanged at 0.32%.

    Table 2

    Bank interest rates for households

    i.r.f. = initial rate fixation
    * For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories; deposits placed by households and corporations are allocated to the household sector. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.
    ** For this instrument category, the concept of new business is extended to the whole outstanding amounts and therefore the business volumes are not comparable with those of the other categories. Outstanding amounts data are derived from the ECB’s monetary financial institutions balance sheet statistics.

    Data for bank interest rates for households (Table 2)

    Further information

    The data in Tables 1 and 2 can be visualised for individual euro area countries on the bank interest rate statistics dashboard. Additionally, tables containing further breakdowns of bank interest rate statistics, including the composite cost-of-borrowing indicators for all euro area countries, are available from the ECB Data Portal. The full set of bank interest rate statistics for both the euro area and individual countries can be downloaded from ECB Data Portal. More information, including the release calendar, is available under “Bank interest rates” in the statistics section of the ECB’s website.

    For media queries, please contact Nicos Keranis, tel.: +49 69 1344 7806

    Notes:

    • In this press release “corporations” refers to non-financial corporations (sector S.11 in the European System of Accounts 2010, or ESA 2010), “households” refers to households and non-profit institutions serving households (ESA 2010 sectors S.14 and S.15) and “banks” refers to monetary financial institutions except central banks and money market funds (ESA 2010 sector S.122).
    • The composite cost-of-borrowing indicators are described in the article entitled “Assessing the retail bank interest rate pass-through in the euro area at times of financial fragmentation” in the August 2013 issue of the ECB’s Monthly Bulletin (see Box 1). For these indicators, a weighting scheme based on the 24-month moving averages of new business volumes has been applied, in order to filter out excessive monthly volatility. For this reason the developments in the composite cost of borrowing indicators in both tables cannot be explained by the month-on-month changes in the displayed subcomponents. Furthermore, the table on bank interest rates for corporations presents a subset of the series used in the calculation of the cost of borrowing indicator.
    • Interest rates on new business are weighted by the size of the individual agreements. This is done both by the reporting agents and when the national and euro area averages are computed. Thus changes in average euro area interest rates for new business reflect, in addition to changes in interest rates, changes in the weights of individual countries’ new business for the instrument categories concerned. The “interest rate effect” and the “weight effect” presented in this press release are derived from the Bennet index, which allows month-on-month developments in euro area aggregate rates resulting from changes in individual country rates (the “interest rate effect”) to be disentangled from those caused by changes in the weights of individual countries’ contributions (the “weight effect”). Owing to rounding, the combined “interest rate effect” and the “weight effect” may not add up to the month-on-month developments in euro area aggregate rates.
    • In addition to monthly euro area bank interest rate statistics for February 2025, this press release incorporates revisions to data for previous periods. Hyperlinks in the main body of the press release lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Unless otherwise indicated, these euro area statistics cover the EU Member States that had adopted the euro at the time to which the data relate.
    • As of reference period December 2014, the sector classification applied to bank interest rates statistics is based on the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010). In accordance with the ESA 2010 classification and as opposed to ESA 95, the non-financial corporations sector (S.11) now excludes holding companies not engaged in management and similar captive financial institutions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Notice to convene Annual General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 3/2025

    According to Art. 9.1 of the Articles of Association, notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of Columbus A/S to be held on:

    Tuesday 29 April 2025 at 10.00
    at Columbus, Lautrupvang 6, 2750 Ballerup

    Agenda:

    1. Board of Directors’ report on the business of the Company during the past year.

    2. Presentation and approval of the Annual Report.

    3. Resolution on the appropriation of profit or covering of loss as recorded in the adopted Annual Report.

    4. Presentation of and indicative ballot on the Remuneration Report.

    5. Proposal to authorize the Board of Directors to acquire for the Company up to 10 per cent of the Company‘s share capital

    6. Election of members of the Board of Directors

    7. Election of one or two state authorized public accountants as auditors.

    7.1. Election of state authorized public accountants as auditors
    7.2. Election of state authorized public accountants as sustainability auditors

    8. Any other business

    Full wording of proposals

    Re. item 1:
    The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting takes note of the Board of Director’s report on the business of the Company during the past year.

    Re. item 2:
    The Board of Directors recommends that the Annual Report 2024 be approved.

    Re. item 3:
    The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting approves the Board of Directors’ proposal for the allocation of profit as stated in the Annual Report for 2024, including distribution of an ordinary dividend to shareholders of DKK 0.125 per share of DKK 1.25 (nom.), corresponding to total dividends of DKK 16,159,533.

    Re. item 4:
    The Board of Directors recommends that the General Meeting approves the Remuneration Report.

    Re. item 5:
    The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors for a period of 18 months from the date of the General Meeting to acquire for the Company up to 10 per cent of the Company‘s share capital against payment which shall not deviate more than 10 per cent up or downwards from the latest listed price of the shares at Nasdaq Copenhagen prior to the acquisition.

    Re. item 6:
    The Board of Directors proposes re-election of the following Board members:

    Ib Kunøe
    Sven Madsen
    Peter Skov Hansen
    Karina Kirk
    Per Kogut

    For further information about the individual Board members, see Appendix 1.

    Re. item 7.1:
    The Board of Directors recommends that Pricewaterhousecoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, CVR-no. 33 77 12 31 be re-elected in accordance with the recommendation from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has not been influenced by third parties and has not been subjected to any agreement with third parties which limits the General Meeting’s election of certain auditors or auditing firms.

    Re. item 7.2:
    The Board of Directors recommends that Pricewaterhousecoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, CVR-no. 33 77 12 31 be elected to provide a statement on sustainability reporting in the management’s review in accordance with the recommendation from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has not been influenced by third parties and has not been subjected to any agreement with third parties which limits the General Meeting’s election of certain auditors or auditing firms.

    Adoption requirements
    For adoption of the proposals under the items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 on the agenda simple majority is required.

    Registration date
    The date of registration is 22 April 2025, at 23:59 CET.
    Only shareholders who possess shares in the Company at the expiration of the registration date are entitled to participate and vote at the Annual General Meeting. On expiry of the date of registration, the shares held by each of the Company‘s shareholders on the date of registration date is determined on the basis of the shares registered in the register of shareholders and duly evidenced notifications to the Company of share acquisitions not yet entered in the register of shareholders, but received by the Company before expiry of the date of registration.

    Participation is furthermore conditional on the shareholder‘s punctual requisitioning of an admission card as described below.

    Procedure for participating in and voting at the Company’s Annual General Meeting
    Requisition of admission cards:
    digitally via the Shareholder Portal on the Company’s website: cgr@columbusglobal.com.

    Registration must reach Computershare A/S or the Company no later than Friday 25 April 2025 at 23:59 CET.

    Ordered admission cards will be sent out by e-mail. This requires that your email address is registered on the Shareholder Portal, or that you register your e-mail address when ordering admission card via the Shareholder Portal. After registration, you will receive an electronic admission card. Bring your electronic version on your smartphone or tablet. If you have forgotten your admission card for the general meeting, it can be obtained against presentation of appropriate proof of identification. Ballot papers will be handed out at the entry point at the General Meeting.

    Proxies:
    Proxies can be granted:
    digitally via the shareholder portal on the Company’s website: Information from the Company

    No later than 7 April 2025 the following information will be available to the shareholders at the Company’s website

    • This agenda including the full wording of proposals for the Annual General Meeting and information about the nominated Board candidates (appendix 1)
    • The total number of shares and entitled voters at the time of notice to convene the Annual General Meeting
    • The documents which will be presented at the Annual General Meeting, including the audited Annual Report 2024, the Remuneration Report for 2024 and the proposed revised Articles of Association.
    • The forms which must be used when voting by proxy or postal votes

    By the notice to convene annual general meeting Columbus A/S has registered a share capital of nominal DKK 161,595,330, corresponding to 129,276,264 shares of nominal DKK 1.25. Each share of nominal DKK 1.25 provides 1 vote.

    Ballerup, April 2nd, 2025
    Board of Directors, Columbus A/S

    Appendix 1: Election of members to the Board of Directors 

    Election of members to the Board of Directors and recruitment criteria
    Pursuant to Columbus A/S’ Articles of Associations, the Board of Directors must consist of 3-7 members to be elected by the general meeting for a term of one year.

    When nominating new Board members, management experience, professional and financial competencies needed to ensure that the Board has the necessary competencies to be able to manage the interests of the Company and thereby the shareholders are carefully assessed.

    Besides competencies and qualification, new candidates are selected on the basis of criteria such as the need for seniority, renewal and diversity.

    The Company’s Articles of Association do not include restrictions concerning the number of times a member is allowed to be re-elected to the Board of Directors. Seniority in itself is not a crucial criterion, but the Board of Directors finds that long seniority and thereby extensive experience for part of the Board members is highly beneficial to the company. Seniority combined with continuous renewal ensure a broad-based composition of the Board of Directors.

    Gender, age and nationality are not qualifications alone, but are part of the total assessment of the competencies of a board candidate.

    Information about proposed candidates
    Below, competencies and directorships in other companies are described for each of the proposed candidates.

    It is the Board of Director’s assessment that the proposed candidates represent the necessary competencies in the Board of Directors to ensure that the size, composition and competencies of the Board of Directors is such that constructive discussions and efficient decision-making process can be ensured during Board meetings.

    Ib Kunøe
    Born 1943
    Chairman of the Board
    Member of the Board since 2004, re-elected in 2024
    Does not fulfill the Committee of Corporate Governance definition of independency

    Education:
    Holds an HD Graduate Diploma in Organisation and Management as well as a background as a professional officer (major).

    Chairman of the Board for:
    Consolidated Holdings A/S, X-Yachts A/S, X-Yachts Marina A/S, CALUM Ballerup K/S, CALUM Åbyhøj K/S, CALUM Værløse K/S, CALUM Rødovre K/S, Komplementarselskabet Åbyhøj ApS, Komplementarselskabet Værløse ApS, Komplementarselskabet Rødovre ApS, Komplementarselskabet Ballerup ApS

    Member of the Board for:
    Atrium Partner A/S

    Special competencies:
    Company management, including management of IT companies, development of and dealing with companies.

    Sven Madsen
    Born 1964
    Member of the Board since 2007, re-elected in 2024
    CFO in Consolidated Holdings A/S
    Member of the Audit Committee
    Does not fulfill the Committee of Corporate Governance definition of independency

    Education:
    Holds a Graduate Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting and an MSc in Business Economics and Auditing

    Chairman of the Board for:
    Atea ASA, CHV III ApS, Dansk Emballage A/S

    Member of the Board for:
    Consolidated Holdings A/S, core:workers AB, core:workers Holding A/S, X-Yachts A/S,  X-Yachts Marina A/S, Ejendomsaktieselskabet af 1920 A/S, DAN-Palletiser Finans A/S, MonTa Biosciences ApS.

    Special competencies:
    General management, M&A, business development, economic and financial issues.

    Peter Skov Hansen
    Born 1951
    Member of the Board since 2012, re-elected in 2024
    Chairman of the Audit Committee
    Transitioning from being independent to no longer fulfilling the Committee of Corporate Governance’s definition of independence due to the duration of the board tenure exceeding 12 years.

    Education:
    Completed State Authorized Public Accountant education in 1980, registered as non-practicing 

    Member of the Board for:
    X-Yachts A/S

    Special competencies:
    Business development and financial, accounting and tax related issues.

    Karina Kirk
    Born 1971
    Member of the Board since 2018, re-elected in 2024
    Owner of KIRK & CO., Executive and board advisory
    Fulfills the Committee of Corporate Governance definition of independency

    Education:
    Holds a Master of Science in International Business Administration (1996), NYU Stern School of Business, MBA selected classes (1994), Executive, Board Leadership and Governance (2017)

    Member of the Board for:
    Ringsted Olie A/S, BRO Kommunikation A/S

    Special competencies:
    General management, management of consulting companies, market and customer leadership, business development and business transformation.

    Per Kogut
    Born 1964
    Member of the Board since 2022, reelected in 2024
    Fulfills the Committee of Corporate Governance definition of independency

    Education:
    Per Kogut holds a Master, Public Administration & IT science from the University of Copenhagen.

    Chairman of the Board for:
    Digital Hub Denmark

    Member of the Board for:
    Loyal Solutions A/S, Loyal Solutions A/S, Enhance TopCo A/S, Enhance BidCo ApS, Relatable Consulting A/S and Automize A/S

    Special competencies:
    General management, management of consulting companies, market and customer leadership and business development.

    Attachment

      SE_03_2025_Notice_to_convene_Annual_General_Meeting

    The MIL Network –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Star Alliance: ITA Airways Set to Start Integration into Star Alliance

    Source: Lufthansa Group

    ITA Airways has officially received approval to start the integration process into Star Alliance following a verdict by the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB). Building on its induction into the Lufthansa Group earlier this year, this decision paves the way for its much anticipated entry into the world’s largest airline alliance. The onboarding process will now move at full throttle.

    Celebrating the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias stated: “In early 2026, ITA Airways is expected to officially join the Star Alliance network as a full member. The decision by our Chief Executive Board underscores the strong confidence our members have in ITA Airways. As a gateway for Italy, its addition strengthens our global network, offering seamless and connected journeys to more travellers worldwide.”

    Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said: “We are excited to join the Star Alliance network and to bring the excellence of Made in Italy into the alliance, further enhancing its global reach. This is a significant milestone in ITA Airways’ growth, and we look forward to offering our customers the future privileges of the world’s largest airline network.”

    ITA Airways will add 360 daily flights to the Alliance network, further strengthening the Alliance’s footprint in the European region. The biggest growth will come from its home cities, especially Rome and Milan, which are currently served by 16 Star Alliance members collectively.

    Leveraging their legacy within the Alliance, Lufthansa Group is mentoring ITA Airways through its integration journey into Star Alliance.

    “I am proud that ITA Airways will become the fifth hub airline of the Lufthansa Group to join Star Alliance. As the mentor of the membership process, we will do our utmost to ensure a smooth and swift integration. ITA Airways’ future membership will provide Star Alliance customers with many new opportunities for personalised travel planning. I am confident that ITA Airways will be an excellent addition to the Star Alliance portfolio,” said Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group.

    Upon completing induction, the Star Alliance network will grow to 26 member airlines, offering over 18,000 daily flights connecting 192 countries.

    About Star Alliance

    Established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, the Star Alliance network was founded on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since its inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience throughout the entire Alliance journey.

    The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United.

    Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers 17,500 daily flights to over 1,150 airports in 189 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner Juneyao Airlines.

    Star Alliance Press Office:

    +65 8729 6691; mediarelations@staralliance.com

    About ITA Airways

    ITA Airways is the Italian reference carrier. The Company is 59% owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and 41% by Deutsche Lufthansa AG. ITA Airways operates both passenger and cargo air transport services, providing Italy with high-quality connectivity to international destinations, supporting tourism and foreign trade, as well as domestic connectivity within the Country, also leveraging integrated mobility.

    Through strong digitization of processes to ensure the best possible experience and personalized services, ITA Airways places customer service at the core of its strategy. This is combined with a commitment to sustainability, which encompasses environmental aspects (such as a young, technologically advanced fleet to reduce environmental impact), social aspects (a strong focus on its employees and the communities in which it operates), and governance aspects (integrating sustainability into internal strategies and processes).

    For press information:

    Pietro Caldaroni, Chief Communication Officer

    Mail: media@ita-airways.com

    About Lufthansa Group

    Lufthansa Group is a global aviation group with worldwide operations and a total of more than 300 subsidiaries and equity investments. The company’s mission is to connect people, cultures, and economies in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, safety, quality, reliability, and innovation are main priorities. The Lufthansa Group comprises the Passenger Airlines and Aviation Services segments.

    The Italian airline ITA Airways is the newest member of the Lufthansa Group, with the Group having a 41 percent stake in the airline. Now, the network carriers consist of Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways. These airlines offer their customers a premium experience, with high-quality products and services. The multi-hub strategy offers passengers a comprehensive route network along with the greatest possible flexibility for their journey. Eurowings is positioned as a carrier with an exclusive focus on point-to-point traffic on European short- and medium-haul routes. The Passenger Airlines segment also includes the regional airlines Lufthansa CityLine, Lufthansa City Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss Air, Discover Airlines and the equity investment in SunExpress, the joint venture with Turkish Airlines. Since the summer of 2021, Discover Airlines has complemented the Lufthansa Group’s offering in the growing segment of leisure travel.

    Aviation Services comprises the segments Logistics and MRO, as well as additional businesses, which in particular include Lufthansa Aviation Training and Lufthansa Systems.

    The Lufthansa Group is currently investing in its onboard product, with both Lufthansa’s Allegris and SWISS Senses showcasing an entirely new travel experience. Lufthansa’s Allegris can already be experienced on certain long-haul routes. The full revamp will also include lounges, ground processes, individuality, and exclusivity.

    Lufthansa Airlines, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines are already members of the Star Alliance.

    For press information:

    Thomas Jachnow, Senior Manager Media Relations

    Deutsche Lufthansa AG

    lufthansa-group@dlh.de

    MIL OSI Economics –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: US cable MVNOs offer lowest total cost of ownership for Apple, Samsung, Google flagship phones, finds GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    US cable MVNOs offer lowest total cost of ownership for Apple, Samsung, Google flagship phones, finds GlobalData

    Posted in Technology

    Cable companies’ mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are leading the US wireless market by offering the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) for popular flagship devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google. By combining competitive pricing on devices and service plans, they provide an attractive alternative to traditional postpaid carriers, focusing on home internet customers and cost-efficient WiFi and 5G technologies, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Considering the promotional device cost and the cost to carry the required plan over term, GlobalData compared the minimum TCO of the Apple iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 9 across multiple carriers and found that cable MVNOs offer the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) on the most popular flagship devices – by far. TCO is calculated by including the cost of required service with the monthly promotional device cost, and service cost is the TCO driver.

    Nicole Teasley, Senior Telecom Consumer Services Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Cable MVNOs win the lowest total cost of ownership battle on plan costs alone and are poised to make big waves within their relatively massive broadband footprints.”

    Cable MVNO entities such as Spectrum Mobile, Optimum Mobile, and Xfinity Mobile present the minimum TCO across the industry. Their device promotions are formidable, yet their principal advantage stems from competitively priced WiFi-enabled mobile services. By harnessing both WiFi and 5G technologies, the US multiple system operators (MSOs) can direct nearly 90% of data traffic through WiFi.

    This strategy keeps MVNO expenses minimal and profit margins robust, enabling them to substantially undercut the pricing of postpaid mobile services. Plan pricing stands out as the foremost determinant of TCO, even when combined with the most aggressive device promotions.

    Teasley continues: “Postpaid wireless players are attaching high-spend plan requirements to most device promotions. But the cable MVNOs target home internet customers with offers of free or low-cost mobile service and pair it with device promotions that are often just as competitive as the big three carriers.”

    AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile mandate that most device promotions, which are generally distributed over two to three years, be tied to premium postpaid plans priced at $75 to $100 or more. MVNOs also attach plan requirements to device promos, but the costs of those plan range between $20 and $50 per month.

    Teasley concludes: “As they find success in mobile, the cable MVNOs aim to poach from postpaid and will promote devices at a low monthly cost to build out sticky, multiline accounts. In response, postpaid operators AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile need to heavily underscore benefits and value-added services associated with premium plans.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues SEK 1 billion tap under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

    Municipality Finance issues SEK 1 billion tap under its MTN programme

    On 3 April 2025 Municipality Finance Plc issues a new tranche in an amount of SEK 1 billion to an existing series of notes issued on 21 February 2025. With the new tranche, the aggregate nominal amount of the notes is SEK 2.5 billion. The maturity date of the benchmark is 21 February 2028. The notes bear interest at a floating rate equal to 3-month Stibor plus 150 bps per annum. 

    The notes are issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and the 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 notes to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 3 April 2025. The existing notes in the series are admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

    Danske Bank A/S act as the Dealer for the issue of the notes.

    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’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, joint county authorities, corporate entities under the control of the above-mentioned organisations, and affordable social housing. 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 –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI China: Five cities eye globally attractive consumption

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China will accelerate the transformation of five major cities — Shanghai; Beijing; Guangzhou, Guangdong province; Tianjin; and Chongqing — into global consumption centers on par with New York and London, and create globally attractive retail environments, as part of the country’s latest moves to boost consumption.

    The document, formulated by the Ministry of Commerce, said China aims to further expand domestic demand and promote high-standard opening-up.

    The country will actively promote the debut economy by supporting high-quality domestic and foreign brands to launch new products and exhibitions, and providing Customs clearance convenience for new imported products.

    The government will support the holding of events such as fashion weeks and car expos in these five cities. It will also work to attract high-quality global brands to launch their first stores, establish research and development design centers as well as regional headquarters, the document said.

    It is critical to adapt to local conditions for developing the debut economy. Shanghai has been doing well in attracting debuts of global brands in China and launching pop-up stores, the ministry said.

    In the recently delivered Government Work Report, boosting consumption was listed as a top priority among this year’s tasks.

    As part of measures to build global consumption centers, China plans to further expand its unilateral visa-free entry policy in an orderly manner, and better leverage the role of tax refund stores and tax refund policies by opening more such stores and optimizing tax refund procedures for overseas visitors.

    Since late 2023, China has launched unilateral visa-free policies for multiple countries, encouraging more overseas travelers to visit the nation. Last year, the number of inbound foreign visitors in the above-mentioned five cities doubled the 2023 figures, said the National Immigration Administration.

    “In those five cities, the number of tax refund stores for overseas visitors accounted for 60 percent in the country last year, and total sales made up for over 70 percent of the value nationwide,” said Li Gang, director-general of the department of market operation and consumption promotion of the Ministry of Commerce, during a news conference earlier in Beijing.

    Besides trendy products, foreign tourists have also favored domestic time-honored brands and specialty products. Tong Ren Tang, a venerable traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, has seen a growing number of foreign visitors take advantage of tax refund procedures at its stores in the Qianmen area of Beijing, and the products they buy mainly include traditional Chinese patent medicines and medicinal materials.

    Compared to overseas metropolises, there is still a gap between China and developed countries. The government will guide the building of a group of featured commercial complexes, and encourage sales of more domestic trendy products at tax refund stores, the ministry said.

    In addition, China plans to organize various large-scale consumption promotion activities, support the hosting of more high-level international sporting events and performances, and increase the supply of high-quality services.

    In late March, the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix took place in Shanghai, attracting fans from home and abroad. The guideline noted that China plans to hold more motor racing events, foster new consumption scenarios such as recreational vehicle camping, and further expand the aftermarket consumption of automobiles.

    Meanwhile, China will encourage the innovative growth of the cruise market and low-altitude tourism. The country will also promote the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and big data in the consumption market, and accelerate the promotion of smart home appliances, new energy vehicles and other smart products, the document said.

    In the first two months, total retail sales of consumer goods in China reached 8.37 trillion yuan ($1.15 trillion), up 4 percent year-on-year, with the growth rate 0.5 percentage point higher than the whole year figure last year, the ministry said.

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Trump, Musk, & RFK Jr. Hollow Out HHS, Threatening Americans’ Health and Wellbeing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Trump carries out mass firings across HHS and subagencies today
    ICYMI: Murray, Former Health Department Leaders, Sound Alarm on Trump and RFK Jr. Gutting HHS
    ICYMI: Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin Demand Answers on RFK Jr.’s Plans to Gut HHS
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), responded to the Trump administration’s mass firings across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its many subagencies, which are responsible for protecting Americans’ health and delivering essential health and social services. 
    “Today, two billionaires are making good on their vow to take a wrecking ball to the Department of Health and Human Services and put Americans’ health and wellbeing at serious risk–and Republicans are letting them,” said Senator Murray. “These firings make a lot of sense if you believe measles spreading like wildfire is good–or think we should be slashing cancer research. While Republicans work to pass more tax breaks for billionaires, Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. are ripping essential health services away from the American people and decimating our country’s ability to prevent outbreaks and keep families safe. There’s no two ways about it: this is the type of carelessness that gets people killed.”
    Late last week, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to unilaterally push out 20,000 HHS employees (a ~25% reduction) and to dramatically reorganize and hollow out the Department–in clear violation of annual spending laws, including the one that Congress passed and was signed into law just weeks ago. 
    On Monday, Senator Murray led a letter to Secretary Kennedy demanding more information about the sweeping, devastating plans–noting that if this administration is truly committed to transparency, as it claims to be, and is confident its drastic plans will protect Americans’ health, it should be eager to share basic information about them. Thus far, however, the administration has provided no additional details to Congress or the public about its mass firings and reorganization.
    This morning, thousands of health officials woke up to emails notifying them that they were being fired. In addition to the mass firings, HHS says it will eliminate 5 of 10 regional offices, trim 28 divisions into 15, and consolidate and move essential functions to other agencies.
    Since taking office, Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. have taken a sweeping array of actions to halt HHS’ essential, lifesaving work and diminish its capacity to keep families healthy. It has systematically choked off lifesaving medical research, and just last week, Trump ripped away resources communities nationwide are using to address bird flu, measles, the fentanyl epidemic, the mental health crisis, and more. 
    FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)
    The FDA protects Americans’ health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medicines, biologics, and medical devices–and regulating food, cosmetics, and tobacco products. 
    The Trump administration announced last week it will cut 3,500 employees at the FDA. It has now pushed out senior leaders across the agency focused on food, drug, and medical device policy, as well as the head of the Center for Tobacco Products and the head of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Among the thousands of FDA staff fired by the Trump administration are experts who manage the review of new applications for drugs, vaccines, and medical devices–which will delay approval of new, potentially life-changing products that patients are counting on. Others reportedly pushed out include veterinary medicine experts working on bird flu preparedness and response, the top Type 1 Diabetes expert, and regulatory staff focused on negotiations on User Fee Agreements that fund some of FDA’s work–among many others. 
    “Americans depend on the FDA every time they sit down for a meal or pick up a prescription–but that’s no matter: Trump and Musk are hollowing out the agency and putting their health at risk. Let’s be crystal clear: there’s nothing strategic about firing thousands of people who inspect our food and ensure our prescriptions and babies’ formula are safe. While they work overtime to pass more tax breaks for themselves, Trump, Musk, and RFK Jr. are insisting on senseless cuts to all but destroy FDA, jeopardizing Americans’ safety and leaving patients waiting longer for lifesaving drugs to get to market,” said Senator Murray.
    CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC)
    CDC is charged with protecting the American people from health threats, including infectious diseases like measles and bird flu.
    The Trump administration announced plans to force out 2,400 employees at CDC. 
    Today, scores of CDC staff woke up to emails notifying them they are being fired. This includes mass reductions in force across most CDC centers, which will prevent the critical work CDC is responsible for from being carried out. Staff were fired en mass across CDC offices for domestic violence prevention, Smoking and Health, HIV prevention, Tuberculosis elimination, disability and health, childhood lead poisoning, asthma control, among many others. Trump has even reportedly fired the entire team focused on assistive reproductive technology like IVF–despite his wild claims to be the “fertilization president.”
    The Trump administration has also reportedly fired nearly two-thirds of the CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) staff, or nearly 900 people. The Trump administration is now, for example, apparently working to shutter the CDC NIOSH Spokane Research Laboratory in Washington state, firing dozens of workers today who study how to protect workers’ health and safety on the job, particularly those in fields like mining, the maritime industry, and firefighting, where workers face elevated risks.
    “Decimating the CDC is a great way to make our communities less safe and less prepared to respond quickly and effectively when diseases–like measles and bird flu–put lives and livelihoods in danger. When the next pandemic hits and America is unprepared, it will be thanks to Donald Trump and Republicans destroying our public health infrastructure. Decimating the agency that helps prevent workplace injuries and illnesses is a slap in the face to workers across America–and will threaten the safety of firefighters, miners, construction and agricultural workers, and so many others while on the job,” said Senator Murray.
    NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
    NIH is the nation’s premier biomedical research agency. Each year, NIH supports biomedical research that produces life-changing and, in many cases, lifesaving treatments and cures.
    The Trump administration has already pushed out top experts, scientists, and senior leadership, well over 1,100 NIH employees, and systematically choked off billions of dollars in NIH funding for new treatments and cures for devastating diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.
    Now, it is firing even more NIH scientists and staff–including veterans and more than 1,300 additional employees as of this afternoon–decimating the agency. President Trump and RFK Jr. are pushing out senior NIH leadership, including Institute and Center Directors at the Fogarty International Center (FIC), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD).  
    “Since taking office, Trump has systematically worked to break the NIH–he’s taking patients’ hopes for new treatments and cures and throwing them right in the shredder. These sweeping firings at NIH will set back our efforts to discover medical breakthroughs that save lives by decades. And they won’t just delay research, they will halt clinical trials in their tracks and cut patients off from care,” said Senator Murray.
    CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS)
    CMS helps ensure over 100 million Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act marketplaces. 
    The agency has long been understaffed and under-resourced, including for essential functions like nursing home safety inspections and protecting Americans from surprise medical bills. Nonetheless, Trump and Musk are pushing even more people out–and jeopardizing Americans’ health care in doing so. Trump announced that 300 employees at CMS will be cut. 
    “The American people are looking to their leaders to make sure they can get quality, affordable health care–instead, two billionaires are gutting the very agency that helps over 100 million Americans get health care. Undercutting CMS is an attack on Americans’ health care–full stop. Firing the people who keep our systems running, who ensure long-term care facilities are safe, and prevent health care companies from ripping people off makes no sense and will hurt patients nationwide,” said Senator Murray.
    INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE (IHS)
    IHS is responsible for providing direct medical and public health services to members of federally recognized Tribes, and it is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Tribal communities across the country. 
    IHS is already struggling to provide quality health care to 2.8 million Americans who rely on its services, and the actions being taken by the Trump administration to freeze federal hiring, reduce office space, and reduce the HHS workforce that IHS relies on are making matters worse. Chronic understaffing continues to plague the IHS, and despite some hiring exemptions for doctors and nurses, quality health care can’t be delivered without sufficient administrative personnel at HHS and at IHS hospitals and health clinics. 
    Adding to the IHS’ staffing struggles, the Trump administration is arbitrarily canceling leases that house IHS administrative offices across all service areas and its medical supply warehouse, which stockpiles and distributes critical medical supplies to all IHS hospitals and health clinics. IHS needs more resources and staffing to fulfill its mission, not less. 
    “Trump and Musk are leaving the Indian Health Service and our Tribes in the dust–freezing hiring at an already-strapped agency, canceling leases it counts on, and now, gutting essential HHS functions that enable IHS to serve patients. They are breaking government with no idea of what they are doing and no regard for who gets hurt–all while they enrich themselves,” said Senator Murray.
    SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA)
    SAMHSA is charged with improving services and support available to people across the country for substance use disorder and mental health. The agency plays a leading role in tackling the fentanyl and opioid crisis, and it oversees the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 
    The Trump administration has announced plans to eliminate SAMHSA and collapse it into a new “Administration for a Healthy America.” But it has not provided any additional details on its illegal reorganization or how it will ensure SAMHSA’s statutorily-mandated, lifesaving functions would be carried out. Today, the Trump administration made more deep cuts to SAMHSA’s staff, which will result in the agency’s staffing levels being reduced by fifty percent since January–weakening the ability of communities to respond to the mental health and substance use crises. 
    “Just as we are finally starting to make progress getting opioid overdose deaths to trend down nationally, Trump and Musk have decided to scrap the agency responsible for our national response to the epidemic. These billionaires believe our country can afford to pay for more tax breaks for them but cannot afford to keep up the fight against the opioid epidemic. These chaotic, senseless moves will undermine federal support for all the work our communities on the frontlines are doing to tackle the opioid and mental health crises–and save lives,” said Senator Murray.
    ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF)
    ACF is responsible for administering a variety of programs to help children and families thrive–including the primary federal child care grant program, Head Start, family violence prevention programs, and Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), among many others. 
    Today, the Trump administration made deep cuts to the staff responsible for carrying out these programs, threatening the services and essential oversight families count on. The administration also shuttered half of the regional offices for the Office of Head Start, which are charged with ensuring Head Start services delivered to families are high-quality, without any explanation of how it will fulfill its mission and continue serving children and families without these offices or staff. Trump also gutted the Office of Community Services, which administers the LIHEAP program to help low-income individuals and families afford to heat and cool their homes and administers the Community Services Block Grant program, which helps communities nationwide fight poverty.
    “While the child care crisis crunches families’ budgets, Trump and Musk are focused on firing the very people who help make sure there are safe, affordable child care options available to families in every part of the country,” said Senator Murray. “Decimating this agency may well mean child care and Head Start centers don’t get the funding they need to keep their doors open, and shuttering regional offices will threaten families’ access to quality and reliable Head Start services. These firings will certainly risk kids’ safety–because that’s what happens when you get rid of the people who monitor centers’ care. These billionaires are ripping the rug out from under families just as they seek to give themselves more tax breaks.”
    ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING (ACL)
    ACL provides unique and critical support to help ensure seniors and Americans with disabilities can live independently and with the same opportunities as others in their communities. ACL programs improve access to health care and long-term care supports, fund essential services like congregate and home-delivered meals and respite care, and invest in essential research and innovation to better support seniors and Americans with disabilities.
    The Trump administration announced plans to eliminate ACL in clear violation of annual appropriations law that explicitly funds ACL–and has provided no additional details on how its essential, statutorily-mandated functions will continue without interruptions that seriously hurt seniors and people with disabilities.
    Today, Trump gutted ACL, firing scores of staff and leaving the administration of these critical programs in jeopardy.
    “Trump and Musk are ripping the rug out from underneath seniors and Americans with disabilities by gutting the agency that helps them get the support they need to not only live independently, but also thrive in their communities,” said Senator Murray.
    ADMINISTRATION FOR STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE (ASPR)
    ASPR leads our country’s medical and public health preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters and public health emergencies–coordinating planning and response for when fires erupt, pathogens like COVID or bird flu emerge, and so much more.
    The Trump administration has announced that ASPR will be consolidated into CDC, and today laid off a number of staff, including staff for the Strategic National Stockpile.
    “As bird flu rages and measles spreads across the country in an outbreak with little recent precedent, apparently Donald Trump thinks it’s a good idea to destroy the very agency tasked with leading our public health preparedness efforts. Firing this staff puts our economy and our families in serious danger,” said Senator Murray.
    HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA)
    HRSA is charged with improving access to care for vulnerable and underserved populations. The agency runs critical programs to bolster the nation’s health workforce, improve maternal and child health, support high-quality care in community health centers and Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, address rural health needs, modernize the nation’s organ transplant system, and more.
    The Trump administration has announced it plans to eliminate HRSA and collapse it into a new “Administration for a Healthy America” but has not provided any additional details on how this reorganization might work and how it will ensure HRSA’s statutorily-mandated functions will be carried out.
    Today, the Trump administration reportedly fired hundreds of staff who provide support to the nation’s 1,400 community health centers, which operate more than 15,000 sites serving millions of patients across the U.S. regardless of their ability to pay. Others fired include those working on HRSA’s maternal and child health programs, who oversee states’ block grants and operate the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program to support mothers, children, and families. Staff were also fired from HRSA’s health workforce programs, where they work to engage with communities nationwide to address shortages of doctors and nurses, and provide scholarships and loan repayment for those working in high-need communities.
    “It defies logic to get rid of the people who help strengthen our nation’s health workforce, support our nation’s health centers, and work to ensure children grow up healthy. These reckless firings and thoughtless reorganization will set back efforts to improve maternal care, help Americans in rural areas get basic health services, and so much more,” said Senator Murray.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Contract awarded for final construction phase of government hub

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Contract awarded for final construction phase of government hub

    Construction of a new government office in Manchester City Centre is entering its final phase with the appointment of Wates to conduct the Category B fit-out

    Credit: Ask Real Estate

    Construction of a new government office in Manchester City Centre is entering its final phase with the appointment of a new contractor.

    The Government Property Agency (GPA) has appointed Wates to conduct the Category B (Cat B) fit-out of its First Street Hub following a competitive tender process. 

    The company will be responsible for the hub’s fit-out works, ensuring the nine-storey building is functional for office use. It marks another key development in the programme following the recent practical completion of the Category A (Cat A) fit-out and lease commencement. 

    Launched as part of the GPA’s Government Hubs Programme, the Manchester First Street Hub will accommodate around 2,600 civil servants from departments including Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), and the Department for Education (DfE). It is earmarked for completion in Autumn 2026.

    Georgina Dunn, the GPA’s Interim Director of Capital Projects, said: 

    Appointing the Cat B contractor was the final major hurdle to overcome before the home straight of delivering this exceptional building. The hub will provide a state-of-the-art office space for thousands of civil servants and will be one of the largest cross-departmental hubs outside London. It also has enviable sustainability credentials with the building achieving  a NABERS 5.5* rating – ranking it among the most sustainable buildings in the UK.

    We are proud of the progress we continue to make as we look to provide high quality and sustainable workplaces for civil servants throughout the UK.

    The £105M development, which was forward-funded by the Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), supports the Government Hubs Programme’s aim of securing growth across the country. The programme is rationalising the government’s estate in towns and cities across the UK, playing a pivotal role in delivering modern, customer-focused and varied workspaces where civil servants can thrive. 

    Just a few minutes’ walk from Oxford Road and Deansgate rail stations, First Street Hub has been designed to be class-leading, meeting inclusive and accessible design standards. The design for the 12,000sq m building will support a variety of different working styles including spaces to enable collaboration, creativity and community.

    Scott Camp, Managing Director of Wates’ fit-out and refurbishment business, Smartspace, said:

    We are delighted to continue our successful partnership with the Government Property Agency following our work at Darlington Economic Campus and 2 Ruskin Square in Croydon.

    Securing the contract for the Cat-B fit-out at Manchester First Street is a testament to our expertise in delivering high-quality, modern office environments. This project will provide thousands of civil servants with a state-of-the-art workspace, enabling them to foster collaboration and efficiency. It also reinforces our commitment to our purpose – ‘Reimagining places for people to thrive’ – by creating another exceptional workspace that supports productivity and well-being.

    For media enquiries, email: pressoffice@gpa.gov.uk

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    Published 2 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update in investigation into deaths in Roseneath

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police can confirm that the deaths of two people at a residential property on Palliser Road, Roseneath are being treated as a murder-suicide.

    Police are providing support to the family at the centre of this tragic event. The family have requested privacy as they grieve their loss.

    We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that can help our enquiries, and anyone with residential CCTV that captures traffic movements in the Roseneath area, particularly on Palliser Road and surrounding streets, to contact Police.

    Please update us online now or call 105, and reference the file number 250401/2474 or “Operation Palliser”.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Bharti Airtel and Nokia expand core network collaboration to speed-up new 5G service delivery

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Bharti Airtel and Nokia expand core network collaboration to speed-up new 5G service delivery

    2 April 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Nokia and Bharti Airtel are expanding their partnership with the deployment of Nokia’s Packet Core appliance-based and Fixed Wireless Access solutions for providing a better network experience for Airtel’s growing 4G/5G customer base. The solution will help seamlessly integrate 5G and 4G technologies into a single set of servers. Nokia’s FWA will provide additional capacities for home broadband and enterprise-critical application services. Airtel will use Nokia’s automation framework to realise zero-touch service launch and efficient lifecycle management for core network functions to enhance its ability to deliver new services faster while reducing network operational costs.

    Using Nokia’s converged Packet Core solution for 5G standalone (SA) readiness, Airtel will continue its evolution toward advanced 5G and simplify its network architecture to meet the ever growing need of data while reducing network operational costs. This will help Airtel optimise its hardware footprint and reduce its cost per bit by utilising appliance-based Packet Core gateways, while maintaining the rest of the network elements in a cloud-native architecture.

    The rollout covers network automation in a multi-year deal that spans the majority of Airtel service regions across the country. The collaboration entails advancing autonomous networks by utilising GenAI for service orchestration and assurance.

    “Nokia’s innovative Packet Core deployment architecture enables critical changes to our network quality and reliability for meeting the fast-rising growth in customer data requirements. This rollout further demonstrates our longstanding success in jointly collaborating to strengthen the overall Airtel customer experience,” said Randeep Sekhon, CTO of Airtel.

    “Nokia and Airtel have a long-standing partnership and we are pleased to bolster its 5G SA readiness. Airtel’s use of Nokia’s Packet Core to build greater network agility and reliability demonstrates how we are both helping customers solve problems and furthering Nokia’s leadership position in the Core space, in India and around the world,” said Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.

    Nokia’s solution provides a pre-integrated and modular server-based configuration for increased flexibility to support a wider range of business and operational deployment models. This allows Airtel to better target new customers and create new revenue streams.

    Nokia’s Packet Core solution for Fixed Wireless Access enables additional capacity for home broadband and enterprise-critical application services for the delivery of extreme bandwidth and capacity to customers.

    Nokia has an expansive core footprint in Bharti Airtel’s network and already provides several other core technologies including VoLTE (Voice over LTE), HSS (Home Subscriber Server), HLR (Home Location Register), UDM (Unified Data Management) and VoNR (Voice over New Radio), along with MANO (automated Management & Orchestration).

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

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation. 

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

    About Bharti Airtel Limited
    Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 550 million customers in 15 countries across India and Africa. The company also has its presence in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka though its associate entities. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high-speed 4G/5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloud based communication. Within our diversified portfolio, we offer passive infrastructure services through our subsidiary Indus Tower Ltd. For more details visit www.airtel.com

    Media inquiries 
    Nokia Press Office 
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com  

    Follow us on social media 
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    The MIL Network –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Padilla Joins Booker’s Marathon Floor Block to Condemn Trump Administration’s Attacks on the Environment, California’s Climate Action

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    WATCH: Padilla Joins Booker’s Marathon Floor Block to Condemn Trump Administration’s Attacks on the Environment, California’s Climate Action

    WATCH: Padilla slams Trump Administration for gutting climate progressWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in holding the Senate floor to stand up to President Trump’s relentless attacks on the environment and attempts to roll back decades of California’s climate action. Booker broke the record for time holding the Senate floor to give voice to the millions of Americans being harmed and ignored by the Trump Administration. Padilla praised Booker for his passion and empathy while speaking on the floor to highlight the consequences of the President’s reckless actions for public health, disaster aid, and the climate crisis.
    “Senator Booker has every right to be angry because of what’s going on. I know I’m angry with so much of what’s going on, and the American people have every right to be angry with what’s going on because none of what we’re seeing come out of the Trump White House is normal. But every day, this approach of ‘flooding the zone’ with more and more extreme actions runs the risk of making people grow numb to these attacks. And we certainly can’t surrender to the feeling of just being overwhelmed by their tactics.”
    Padilla underscored the devastating impacts of climate inaction and pollution on California, emphasizing the catastrophic toll of the Los Angeles County fires and his own personal experience with toxic school bus emissions. Last month, Padilla and Booker joined federal officials for a tour and briefing on cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the devastating Eaton Fire in Altadena.
    “Growing up, I can tell you not just about the smell of diesel exhaust, which I’ll never forget, sitting on a school bus going to and from school. Or the regular days where school would be shut down early, we’d all be sent home because of the smog, toxic smog, in the air in the Greater Southern California area. These were concrete reminders of the real threat that emissions pose to our health.”
    “California also knows the dangers posed by extreme weather. We know the droughts, we know the floods, and yes, all too often, we’ve come to know wildfires — devastating wildfires, like the ones we experienced in Los Angeles County at the beginning of this year.”
    As Senator Padilla highlighted, California has long been at the forefront of fighting against pollution and climate impacts, from creating the first tailpipe emissions standards for passenger vehicles in 1966, to setting ambitious conservation goals, to establishing the first Earth Day. He criticized the Trump Administration’s attacks on California and the nation’s environmental progress, including the reversal of the endangerment finding, funding freezes of Congressionally appropriated project funds, and the roll backs of 31 critical environmental rules. He also slammed the Trump Administration for politicizing disaster aid, proposing to eliminate FEMA, implementing federal freezes on hazardous fuel removal and the hiring of seasonal firefighters, and illogically and irresponsibly opening up dams and flooding the Central Valley, claiming to “turn on the water” to fight the Los Angeles fires after they had already been contained.
    “Earlier this month, the EPA, Trump’s EPA, announced that they would be rolling back more than 30 environmental rules. By doing so, they’re not just going to make Americans less healthy; they’re also going to hurt our economy, and it’s going to clear the way for China to become the world leader in green technology. So much for America First if they continue down that road.”
    “They’re not just refusing to act or to help — they’re making matters worse for states like California and many others.”
    Padilla concluded by stressing the importance of fighting against Trump’s anti-environment agenda, asking Senator Booker how young Americans can make their voices heard.
    “So that’s what this fight is about. Our fight for the environment is about America’s health and safety. It’s about American jobs and it’s about America’s future.”
    “For the next generation of Americans, for the young people who are tuning in and wondering, well what is it that I can do? Do I have a voice? Do I have any power? What would you say to them? How can they take action?”
    Video of Senator Padilla’s remarks is available here.
    Footage of his speech can be downloaded here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council looks to buy land for new food waste service

    Source: City of Derby

    Space for a new weekly food waste collection service will be created if plans to buy land are approved at Council Cabinet on Wednesday 9 April. 

    The current depot at Stores Road is already operating at capacity so more space is needed for the new service. A 7.5-acre brownfield site (the same size as 5 football pitches) has been identified on Stores Road. The new site will be home to a Highways Hub, creating space in the Council’s existing depot for the new food waste service. Funding for the purchase of the site will come from the Stores Road Depot Scheme, part of the current Capital Programme. 

    Under ’Simpler Recycling’ regulations, the Council has to implement separate, weekly food waste collections to residents in April 2026. As the Council currently provides fortnightly food waste collections mixed with garden waste, £1.6m of capital funding has been provided by Defra to enable the purchase of 14 new collection vehicles, food waste caddies and hiring new colleagues to collect the waste. 

    Defra announced an additional £0.5m in revenue funding for Derby in March 2025 to support delivery of the service including communicating to residents about the new service and delivery of caddies.

    Weekly food waste collections mean residents won’t have to use their black or brown bins for their food waste and will only need to present a small collection caddy. Households will receive a kitchen caddy and a collection caddy. Residents using their brown bins to recycle food waste need to ensure they don’t place food waste in the brown bin from April 2026. 

    Ahead of the service launching, the Council will be sharing messages with residents about their food waste collection day, how to present their caddies and what can be placed in them as well as how to reduce food waste. Any food waste collected in caddies will be sent for recycling, contributing positively to Derby’s recycling rate and reducing the cost of disposal of general waste. 

    Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Safety and Leisure commented: 

    “We know that food waste makes up a big chunk of the waste in some black bins in the city and costs a significant amount to dispose of. Introducing weekly food waste collections brings a lot of benefits to residents including helping them reduce food waste which saves money but ensuring food waste in the city is recycled is also far better for the environment. 

    “We’re undertaking the groundwork now to help make Derby a cleaner, greener city in the future.” 

    The next Cabinet meeting takes place on Wednesday 9 April and can be watched on the Derby City Council YouTube channel. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: A landscaped space will appear in the north-east of the capital under the KRT program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Lianozovo district, two sites will be reorganized under the integrated development of territories (IDT) program. The corresponding draft resolution posted on the Moscow Government website. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman.

    “Two plots of 0.05 hectares in the north-east of the capital at the address: Cherepovetskaya Street, Buildings 12a and 14a are part of one KRT project. Currently, there are outdated retail facilities here that are of no use to the city and its residents. As a result of the redevelopment, the territory will be transformed into a comfortable, well-appointed public space with green spaces and small architectural forms. The site is located near residential development, not far from the Altufyevo metro station,” commented Maxim Gaman.

    This is already the 10th redevelopment project in the North-Eastern District of the capital, prepared under the program of integrated development of territories. In total, more than 113 hectares are planned to be reorganized under these projects.

    As part of the integrated territorial development program, multifunctional urban quarters are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all the necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 KRT projects with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of implementation in Moscow. This work is being carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152077073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Artist Louise Skačej to honour Canberra’s ‘Soup Kitchen Lady’ with a public artwork

    Source: Australian National Party

    As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.

    Released 02/04/2025

    The ACT Government has commissioned artist Louise Skačej to create a public artwork honouring Stasia Dabrowski OAM, Canberra’s ‘Soup Kitchen Lady,’ in recognition of her decades of selfless service to the community’s most vulnerable. This commission is part of an ongoing initiative to celebrate the legacy of significant Canberra women through the public art collection.

    Louise Skačej will collaborate with a strong team including partner and studio manager and technician Dean Colls, mentor Peter Corlett OAM, who has several works across Canberra, as well as two young and talented creatives, studio assistants, Isabeau Colls and Mads Hillam.

    Louise’s work may be familiar to Canberrans. A thought-provoking artwork displayed at the Australian War Memorial, the Battle of Kapyong Diorama, was created in collaboration with Dean Colls.

    Through the lens of her immigrant background, Louise’s art often explores themes of culture, heritage, and memory.

    The sculpture of Stasia Dabrowski will be installed in Garema Place in early 2026, close to the location of the original soup kitchen, creating a permanent tribute to her extraordinary life and work.

    Stasia Dabrowski (1926-2020), a Polish immigrant, became an iconic figure in the Canberra community through her dedication to helping those in need. From 1982, she ran a mobile soup kitchen from a corner of Garema Place, providing hot meals, bread, drinks, and most importantly compassion to the those in need every Friday night.

    Stasia funded the initiative by babysitting at night and cleaning houses during the day, using her earnings to purchase the ingredients. By 2005, she was feeding up to 500 people each week, with the help of her grandson Josh Kenworthy. Josh remembers Stasia as a humble and private person who never sought out the spotlight. She simply wanted to lend a hand.

    Despite receiving numerous awards in acknowledgement of her work and kindness, Stasia remained modest. “I never keep photos because I am not proud… the soup kitchen is a simple thing, just people cooking veggies, nothing special,” she once said. Stasia continued her work till the age of 92 and passing away two years later in 2020.

    Minister for Business the Arts and Creative Industries, Michael Pettersson is committed to continuing the ACT Government’s public art program that puts the focus on significant Canberra women.

    “Congratulations to the talented Louise Skačej, who has been selected to create a sculpture honouring this iconic Canberran,” said Minister Pettersson.

    “For decades Stasia Dabrowksi made an enormous contribution caring for thousands of Canberra’s most vulnerable. Her kindness and compassion left a lasting mark on our community. This tribute will ensure her legacy lives on.

    “I look forward to the unveiling of Louise’s artwork in Garema Place next year. It will offer Canberrans the chance to stop, reflect and admire the life of a woman who made a profound difference in the lives of so many.”

    More information on the public art commissioning process is available from artsACT on 02 6207 2384 or on the website at www.arts.act.gov.au/public-art.

    Quote attributable to artist Louise Skačej:

    “I’m honoured and grateful for the opportunity to create a sculpture of Stasia Dabrowski. Her simple but profound act of sharing love and compassion, shows us that love isn’t just a word – it’s something we do.

    “I hope this sculpture will inspire others to take action and bring light to those in need, just like Stasia did for so many.”

    – Statement ends –

    Michael Pettersson, MLA | Media Releases

    «ACT Government Media Releases | «Minister Media Releases

    MIL OSI News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Graham, Blumenthal Introduce Hard-Hitting Primary and Secondary Sanctions Legislation Against Russia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Since taking office, President Donald Trump and his administration have prioritized negotiating a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. While Ukraine announced its willingness to support a 30-day ceasefire proposal, Russia has not. 
    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and 50 of their colleagues, to introduce the bipartisan Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025. This bill would impose primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors backing Russia’s aggression if the country refuses to engage in good-faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or undermines the sovereignty of Ukraine after peace is negotiated.
    The legislation also imposes a 500 percent tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products.
    “The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025 will issue decisive consequences aimed at deterring Russian aggression,” said Cramer. “This bill sends a clear message: bullies have a price to pay for their actions. Vladimir Putin and Russia must face serious consequences for their destructive and unprovoked war on Ukraine.”
    Members who cosigned the legislation include U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Katie Britt (R-AL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Todd Young (R-IN), Angus King (I-ME), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Curtis (R-UT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Peter Welch (D-VT), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jon Husted (R-OH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Cornyn (R-TX), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Fetterman (D-PA), John Boozman (R-AR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), James Lankford (R-OK), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Rick Scott (R-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jim Justice (R-WV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jack Reed (D-RI).
    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Russia: From projects to expeditions: what children do in environmental clubs

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Distinguishing animals by their tracks, determining the quality of water in reservoirs and finding their way around the area are all things that students of environmental clubs open in the capital’s schools and institutions of additional education can do. Children participate in campaigns, go on hikes and expeditions, conduct research and implement projects. We tell you about the activities that help schoolchildren become real defenders of nature.

    Moscow Palace of Pioneers: from expeditions to Kamchatka to space exploration

    You can study the laws of nature and get acquainted with natural sciences at the environmental education center inMoscow Palace of Pioneers on Sparrow Hills (Kosygina Street, Building 17, Buildings 4, 5). There are classes for children from five to 18 years old.

    “We introduce children to natural sciences. The center has more than 100 clubs in a variety of areas – from botany and zoology to medicine and organic chemistry. Among them, there is a unique one – a biogeography club, which helps children understand the relationship between biology and geography. Schoolchildren are told about the features of the climate, types of soil and plants. Our goal is to instill in children a love for nature and teach them to protect it. We show how important it is to take care of the environment, because it is a source of inspiration and knowledge,” says the head of the environmental education center, Alexey Bobrov.

    To make studying sciences more exciting, a botanical garden has been opened in the Palace of Pioneers. Classes are held there for young biologists of the environmental education center. The botanical garden has a rich collection – more than five thousand species of plants from all over the world. Future zoologists can also get in touch with nature. A zoological museum has been created for them in the Palace of Pioneers, which contains four thousand exhibits. There is also a special living corner. It is home to basilisk lizards that look like small dragons, giant New Guinea grasshoppers, macaws, guinea pigs, chinchillas, meerkats and other animals.

    From a young age, children in the environmental education center’s clubs develop projects and even participate in research by the state corporation Roscosmos. Children plan biological experiments that cosmonauts then conduct in flight. For example, for one of the studies, a container with duckweed leaves was sent into orbit. Together with the cosmonauts, the children tracked how the plant develops in zero gravity.

    In the spring, students from different clubs at the center form teams and go to the Moscow region, where they have practical classes and conduct field research. The kids work in forests, meadows, rivers and swamps. Like real scientists, they take soil and water samples and then analyze them in a mobile laboratory. In addition, schoolchildren learn to identify species of animals, plants and mushrooms. Anyone can go on such an adventure starting in the third grade.

    “From the age of 14, young ecologists, together with teachers from our center, go on expeditions to regions of Russia or other countries. Such trips last up to six weeks. During them, the children take samples on assignment from Russian research institutes or study flora and fauna, collect minerals. Schoolchildren have already visited Karelia, Baikal, Chukotka, the North and South Caucasus, and even China. Last summer, the children were in Kamchatka, where they studied plants and marine life from the Red Book, watched birds, and even saw a brown bear,” says Alexey Bobrov.

    According to him, the knowledge and skills acquired in eco-clubs often help schoolchildren choose their future profession. Many of them enter the natural science departments of the country’s leading universities and build a career in science.

    Northern rivers, smoking volcanoes and mountain peaks: what hikes Moscow schoolchildren and students have been onWinter Garden, Ship Laboratory and Robot Workshop: How the Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Gory Is Organized

    Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani”: from preschoolers to future scientists

    The environmental center also offers great opportunities for young biologists. Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani” (Ogorodnaya Sloboda lane, building 6, building 1). Popular areas include the sections “Young connoisseurs of nature”, “Zoological research” and “Our pets”, where children study animals and the conditions in which they are kept, if they are domestic, or ways to preserve them as a species, if they live, for example, in forests, steppes or swamps.

    “Each program is designed for two to three years. If the child wants to develop further, he can choose any other section. We have sections for children of different ages – from preschoolers to graduates. We strive to teach children to take care of nature,” says Andrey Rodionov, a teacher of additional education, head of the environmental center of the Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani”.

    Classes for the youngest children (from age five) are held in a playful manner. Together with teachers, they go to parks, where they close their eyes and listen to the singing of birds or the rustling of leaves. Older children conduct laboratory research with microscopes, study the habits of animals and learn to care for them.

    In addition, the center’s students traditionally participate in the All-Russian environmental social and educational project “Ekolyata”. They plant trees and hold clean-up days, defend their work at competitions and forums. Recently, the children performed in the library of the Moscow Zoo with the program “Ekostinye Ekolyata: “Amazing is Nearby””, dedicated to the Red Book of Russia. Young ecologists presented projects to preserve rare animals of the country and endangered species of the planet. The ideas interested scientists – now they await further development.

    Thanks to the classes at the center, the children created a project of an invisible ecological shield — a system of ionizing nets, developed jointly with the participants of the physics club section “Robotics in Space”. Initially, the schoolchildren went to Lefortovo Park and examined local ponds, took water samples and analyzed its composition. The nets retain ions of heavy metals and other harmful impurities, preventing them from settling on water and plants.

    And the guys from the robotics section will work on creating automated systems for cleaning networks from pollution and maintaining their magnetization. This approach will help effectively protect the capital’s water bodies from pollution.

    Herbariums, microscopes and wild animals: what schoolchildren study in the Moscow Zoo’s young biologists’ clubAmur tiger, anteaters and potto: how the scientific department of the Moscow Zoo helps to preserve rare animals

    Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”: the world under the microscope

    Schoolchildren are invited to get to know nature betterPalace of Children and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”. Each branch holds classes for children aged five to 15. For example, in the “Island of Freedom” palace division (65 Svobody Street, Building 1), children conduct research, study plants and animals, and participate in environmental campaigns.

    “One of the most interesting areas is “The World Under the Microscope”, where children conduct natural science research. During lessons, they use microscopes with digital screens, binoculars, laboratory sets for experiments and interactive boards. In addition, the “Amazing Nearby” club is popular. At different times of the year, children go to natural areas, where they learn to identify the tracks of hares and squirrels or distinguish beaver teeth marks – gnawings – from broken branches. They also observe how nature changes with the onset of new seasons,” says Anna Lukyanchikova, an additional education teacher at the Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”.

    This year, the Undiscovered Islands Children and Youth Creativity Palace opened a club called “Birds: Amazing Ornithology.” Its participants try to observe birds and learn how their living conditions are affected by proximity to humans. There are groups for every age. Registration is open from September to May.

    “In addition, for interested children, we hold master classes where they can make crafts related to the topics of the classes. For example, if we study fauna, we make animal figurines. We also organize eco-quests. During them, children solve riddles, look for animal tracks and study nature in a playful way. In addition, we participate in clean-up days and feed birds. It is important to take care of what surrounds us and try to preserve it,” adds Anna Lukyanchikova.

    Moscow Children’s and Youth Center for Ecology, Local History and Tourism: Go on a Hiking Trip

    Environmental education helps not only to learn more about nature, but also to develop personal qualities, the director is sure Moscow Children and Youth Center for Ecology, Local History and Tourism (Odesskaya street, house 12a) Dmitry Morgun.

    “Nature is a book that a child needs to be taught to read. To do this, we develop thematic programs and invite zoologists, botanists, ecologists, geographers and other experts to classes. More than 7.5 thousand people study at our center. Clubs are open to children from 10 to 16 years old. Younger schoolchildren study nature, and older students offer solutions to environmental problems, go on hikes and expeditions across the regions of Russia. During trips, under the guidance of teachers, children learn to pitch tents, cook over a fire and navigate the terrain. This not only develops practical skills, but also helps them develop leadership qualities and learn to work in a team,” says Dmitry Morgun.

    Schoolchildren bring back rock samples, fossils and animal photographs from expeditions, which they then display at exhibitions in the center. Today, the exhibitions “Plant Diversity,” “Mammals of Russia,” and “Paleontological Finds in the Central Federal District” are open there.

    The center’s students can study the nature of Russia not only on long expeditions, but also in the natural areas of Moscow. This spring, the center opened a club called “Young Naturalist Path.” Classes are held in the Losiny Ostrov National Park. The children learn to assess the environmental situation, find solutions to improve the environment, study plants and observe animals. Employees of the Losiny Ostrov Ecocenter the capital’s Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection talk about the importance of preserving biodiversity.

    Closer to the summer holidays, a “Field Eco-School” will open for schoolchildren. Children will walk routes in parks every day, observe seasonal changes, and study flora and fauna.

    “Nature will always be the center of attention. Therefore, if a parent sees that a child is interested in ecology, it is necessary to support such interest. And the capital has all the opportunities for this,” says Dmitry Morgun.

    Enroll a child You can join an environmental club on the mos.ru portal in the “Education” section. The window that opens will show filters for selecting an institution and direction. You can also specify the most convenient area or the nearest metro station. It is recommended to enroll in clubs at the beginning of the school year, as the number of places is limited.

    From Art to Science. The Best Educational Programs for Children in MoscowRobots, biochemistry and composites for the Arctic: what innovative developments are being created by Moscow schoolchildrenFrom artistic fencing to eSports. What unusual sections do young Muscovites attend?

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152067073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Subsidiary of EfTEN Real Estate Fund AS acquired a registered immovable for construction of the Nõmme Südamekodu elderly care home

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    On 31.03.2025, EfTEN Hiiu OÜ finalized the transaction by which the subsidiary of the fund acquired the property located at Hiiu 42, Tallinn from the Südamekodu AS.
    Previously (20.02.2025), the fund has notified the stock exchange of the conclusion of a contract of sale under the law of obligations. All the agreed preconditions for the transfer of ownership and the conclusion of a real right contract have as of now been met.
    The North Estonia Medical Centre will continue to use the part of the property under a valid lease agreement. For the remaining part, a long-term (10 + 10 years) lease agreement was signed with Hiiu Südamekodu OÜ, a subsidiary of Südamekodud AS. In cooperation with the lessee and Südamekodud AS, the building will be partially rebuilt into an elderly care home “Nõmme Südamekodu”, which will accommodate up to 170 Südamekodu clients in the future.

    Viljar Arakas
    Member of the Management Board
    Tel. 655 9515
    Email: viljar.arakas@eften.ee

    The MIL Network –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police wheel in stolen property from city burglaries

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Auckland Central Police have cleared out two apartments full of stolen property, resulting in four arrests.

    In the process an excess of 80 stolen items, including 13 electric scooters, have been recovered by Police.

    Auckland Central Area Commander Inspector Grant Tetzlaff says an investigation has been underway into a series of burglaries at businesses and apartments in the city over the past month.

    On Wednesday morning, the City Tactical Crime Unit along with the Beat Team and Police Support Unit executed two search warrants.

    “Operation Rocket homed in on two apartments within a Hobson Street complex,” Inspector Tetzlaff says.

    “Inside our teams came across an Aladdin’s cave of stolen property and it’s going to take some time to work through where everything has come from.”

    Amongst the find was 13 electric scooters, an assortment of power tools and other electronic valuables.

    Some of the power tools have been linked to a North Shore burglary in 2019, Inspector Tetzlaff says.

    Four people at the addresses have been arrested and charged.

    “Charges laid at this point relate to two burglaries at a Wellesley Street business, and a Union Street apartment last month,” he says.

    Those charged are two men, aged 28 and 36, and two women, aged 35 and 41.

    A 28-year-old man has been charged with two counts of burglary. He has also been charged with the aggravated robbery of an electric scooter in January.

    A 41-year-old woman faces two charges of burglary. The other two arrested face charges of receiving stolen property.

    Separately, a 47-year-old woman was located during search warrants in possession of methamphetamine and charged accordingly.

    “The team working on Operation Rocket are continuing with their enquiries and further charges cannot be ruled out at this stage,” Inspector Tetzlaff says.

    “Burglary is a serious offence and brings with it a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

    “It’s a fantastic outcome as our team continue to work hard in holding this offending to account.”

    Those charged are now before the Auckland District Court.

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Whop Levels Up with Iman Gadzhi as Co-Owner and Investor

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Whop, the all-in-one digital marketplace for creators and entrepreneurs, has welcomed serial entrepreneur and investor Iman Gadzhi as a co-owner, and strategic partner. Iman’s extensive experience in digital education and content-driven business growth will accelerate Whop’s mission to empower the next generation of online creators.

    Iman Gadzhi joins Whop as a co-owner, bringing his expertise in digital business, online education, and content-driven growth. Whop is set to process over $1Bn in payments annually with creators earning an average of $8,413 per month.

    As a co-owner, Iman will take a hands-on role in expanding Whop’s reach, bringing his suite of digital products onto the platform and working closely with the team to scale operations. With millions of followers and a proven track record in digital business, his addition marks a significant milestone in Whop’s journey to becoming the leading marketplace for monetizable skills, software, and communities.

    By investing in Whop, Iman joins legendary investor Peter Thiel, as well as The Chainsmokers and Insight Partners, further cementing Whop’s position as a powerhouse in the digital commerce space.

    Whop is already at the forefront of digital commerce, set to process over $1Bn in payments annually and offering a platform where creators can sell everything from SaaS tools and online courses to exclusive communities and digital downloads. The average creator on Whop leverages the platform’s built-in analytics, secure transactions, and flexible payment options.

    With its robust ecosystem of tools, seamless payment processing, and a rapidly growing network of top-tier creators, Whop is redefining what’s possible in the digital marketplace. The addition of Iman Gadzhi signals a new era of growth and innovation for the platform and its community of entrepreneurs.

    About Iman Gadzhi:

    Iman Gadzhi is a serial entrepreneur, investor and founder of Educate an online learning platform and BIG DAY, a lifestyle brand. As an early adopter of ‘personal branding’, Iman shares his business journey to millions of followers across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. An advocate for universal education, Iman has a strong philanthropic record, funding the construction of multiple schools in Nepal.

    About Whop:

    Whop is the all-in-one digital marketplace empowering creators and entrepreneurs to sell their expertise, products, and services online. Founded by Steven Schwartz, Cameron Zoub, and Jack Sharkey in 2021, Whop enables users to monetize everything from online courses and SaaS tools to exclusive communities and digital products. Backed by top investors such as Peter Thiel, The Chainsmokers, and Insight Partners, and set to process over $1Bn in sales, Whop is redefining digital commerce by making it easier than ever to start, scale, and succeed in the online economy.

    Whop’s mission is to create the ultimate one-stop marketplace for digital products, communities, and services, giving entrepreneurs, creators, and businesses the tools they need to monetize their expertise, scale their brands, and thrive in the evolving digital economy.

    For media enquiries:

    Company Name: Educate.io
    Media Contact: Ciaran Anderson
    Email: ciaran@educate.io
    Website: https://educate.io/
    Source: Educate

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the Whop. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6b71b530-f1ca-4880-bb90-46cf30a2df7b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19403d01-bf4b-47fc-aae3-47e12a81806d

    The MIL Network –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Markey Slams LIHEAP Firings

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Washington (April 1, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the entire federal staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as a part of the mass firing of 10,000 HHS workers.

    “The Trump administration’s mass firings at HHS are a direct attack on the health, safety, and dignity of American families. Eliminating the entire federal staff responsible for LIHEAP—a program that millions of households depend on to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer—isn’t reform, it’s sabotage.

    “This is what Trump governance looks like: Dismantle the programs people rely on, create chaos in essential services, and leave working families to foot the bill. In my home state of Massachusetts, where energy bills are soaring—and some natural gas bills even doubling this year alone—LIHEAP is a critical lifeline. Now, as extreme weather pushes thermostats to extremes, and the threat of Trump’s tariffs looms ever closer, which will make energy prices climb ever higher, Trump has slashed the staff there dedicated to help. And with that, the Administration is cutting off the federal government’s ability to distribute the critical remaining 10 percent of this year’s LIHEAP funds that families are depending on.

    “I’ve fought for LIHEAP for decades because energy access is a basic human right. From demanding full funding to hosting roundtables with local providers and national advocates, I’ve worked to ensure the program meets the scale of the crisis. That’s why yesterday, I reintroduced my Heating and Cooling Relief Act—to modernize LIHEAP, permanently expand access, and ensure no family is left without support because of bureaucratic dysfunction or political cruelty. These cuts make that fight as urgent as ever.

    “I will keep fighting to restore these jobs, unlock the remaining funds, and guarantee that every family—no matter their income or ZIP code—has access to safe, affordable, clean energy.”

    Despite the urgent need for relief, in 2023, only about 18 percent of income-eligible households received LIHEAP assistance, with less than 3 percent of eligible households receiving cooling assistance. Meanwhile, low-income families spend nearly three times more on energy bills than non-low-income households, and nearly one in six households are behind on their utility bills.

    Senator Markey is a champion for energy access, affordability, and reliability. On Monday, Senator Markey and Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) reintroduced the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, bold legislation to significantly expand and modernize the severely underfunded LIHEAP. In March 2025, he hosted a roundtable with Massachusetts LIHEAP providers, consumer advocates, and national energy assistance organizations to discuss the urgent need to strengthen and expand LIHEAP. In July 2024, Senator Markey and several New England Senators sent a letter to the Department of Energy urging the Department to consider the disproportionate negative impacts of LNG on New England—especially on energy prices—in its underlying environmental and economic analyses for LNG export authorization decisions. In December 2023, Senator Markey led a letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to immediately intervene, investigate, and rigorously enforce consumer protection laws against certain electric supply companies. In October 2023, he celebrated the release of $130 million in LIHEAP funding for Massachusetts, helping residents afford winter heating costs. Additionally, he has pushed for greater investments in home efficiency and electrification to help low-income families reduce their energy burdens. He originally introduced the Heating and Cooling Relief Act with former Representative Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) in January 2022.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Australia: Stolen car drives onto O-Bahn track

    Source: New South Wales – News

    Two teenagers have been arrested after driving a stolen car on the O-Bahn bus track.

    Just after 6am on Wednesday 2 April, a red 2016 Ford Mustang was reported stolen from the driveway of a Rosslyn Park home.

    Police spotted the Mustang travelling south out of Bute about 11.15am before heading east on the Copper Coast Highway through to Port Wakefield.

    Patrols set up cordons around the area and awaited PolAir to commence tracking the vehicle from the air.

    The Mustang was tracked through Two Wells and Virginia and into the northern suburbs.

    About 12.45pm the Mustang drove onto the O-Bahn track at Tea Tree Plaza and travelled south for about 2km’s before becoming stuck near Welloch Street, Modbury.

    Two people ran from the car and over fences of nearby houses but were quickly arrested by patrols.

    Two Port Augusta teens aged 14 and 19 have been arrested and are currently being interviewed by police.

    The O-Bahn track remains closed until a crane can remove the vehicle.

    MIL OSI News –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: US Senator Cory Booker just spoke for 25 hours in Congress. What was he trying to achieve?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Bruce Wolpe, Non-resident Senior Fellow, United States Study Centre, University of Sydney

    The Democrats have been under intense pressure to find an effective way to challenge US President Donald Trump without control of either chamber of Congress or a de facto opposition leader.

    They may have just found one. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker took the Senate floor on Monday evening in Washington to give a speech lambasting Trump’s actions. He didn’t stop talking – aside for the occasional question from a fellow Democrat – until Tuesday night, 25 hours later.

    So, how common are these types of speeches in the US Congress, and what’s the point?

    Cory Booker reportedly did not leave the chamber to use the toilet and sipped from two glasses of water.

    Filibusters throughout history

    Booker’s speech set a new record for the longest continuous speech in the Senate, surpassing Senator Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour speech in 1957 to try to prevent the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

    This was during the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe during the second world war. The army was the great desegregation force in the 1940s, and Eisenhower, as president in the 1950s, was strongly in favour of civil rights.

    Strom Thurmond.
    Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division/Wikimedia Commons

    In 1957, Congress was going to pass a civil rights bill that would make it harder for officials in southern states, in particular, to prevent Black people from voting. So Thurmond, the South Carolina senator and fierce proponent of segregation, launched what was (until today) the longest speech in Senate history to oppose it.

    Thurmond’s speech was a filibuster, an extended speech in the Senate to attempt to delay or block a vote on a bill or confirmation. Thurmond, however, was unable to stop enactment of the bill.

    Senators engage in filibusters when they know they’re going to lose, especially when it’s a piece of legislation they really dislike or disagree with. Because they can’t stop the passage of the bill, they use the filibuster to call attention to their opposition to it. The intention is to rally the troops and say, “I’m standing with you, even if this vote goes the other way”.

    In 2016, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who represents the state of Connecticut where the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School took place, launched a nearly 15-hour filibuster to force the Republican Senate leadership to allow votes on two gun control measures.

    Republican Senator Ted Cruz also spoke all night – 21 hours in total – against Obamacare in 2013. It wasn’t all focused on health policy; he filled the time by reading the children’s book, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss.

    Highlights from Ted Cruz’s filibuster.

    What Booker was trying to achieve

    Booker’s speech was not technically a filibuster – he wasn’t holding the floor to talk against a specific bill, as Thurmond was. He was giving time to his Democratic colleagues to just control the shape of the general debate about Trump.

    Senators use speeches like this when they’re losing on a issue, and Booker feels the Democrats are currently losing to Trump. They have been unable to stop any of his executive actions, so they feel they need to cut through in some way to reach the American people.

    Trump has been “flooding the zone” from the moment he took office in January with hundreds of policies and executive actions – and he has been extremely successful at it. These actions cut across so many areas, it’s been very hard for the Democrats, on any given day, to pick out the top things to fight against.

    Because they don’t have control of the House or Senate, and there is no opposition leader, there is no single, principal Democrat who can stand up day by day and say, “This is what happened, this was what the threat to the country is, this why we’re opposing it and this is the way we’re going to attack it”.

    Trump is controlling the narrative and the media environment. And the Democratic leadership has been unable to counter it, even though, at the grassroots level, Democrats and many others who voted for Trump are really angry.

    As Booker put it during his speech:

    Moments like this require us to be more creative or more imaginative, or just more persistent and dogged and determined.

    There comes a certain point in a human drama that transcends partisanship when you’re looking at someone speaking from the heart, speaking their convictions and you can come to respect them.

    Booker ran for the presidency in 2020 and ultimately yielded to Joe Biden, and I expect we’ll hear much more from him in 2028 when the next presidential election occurs. He is most likely going to run again.

    Bruce Wolpe receives funding, as a non resident senior Fellow, from the United Statses Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He served for ten years on the Democratic staff in the US House of Representatives.

    – ref. US Senator Cory Booker just spoke for 25 hours in Congress. What was he trying to achieve? – https://theconversation.com/us-senator-cory-booker-just-spoke-for-25-hours-in-congress-what-was-he-trying-to-achieve-253616

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 2, 2025
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Backing builders by cracking down on cowboys

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is backing builders by making changes so Kiwis will more easily be able to identify high-quality, trusted professionals to carry out work on their homes, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.
    “Most tradies are highly skilled and trustworthy, but the industry tells me high-profile examples of poor workmanship are tarring the good with the bad. I have also heard that Kiwis want assurances that the Government’s work to unblock the building consent system won’t lead to corners being cut. 
    “There is an urgent need to strip back the layers of regulation choking productivity in the building system. Builders are waiting too long for the necessary paperwork to get on with the job adds costs for homeowners. That’s why we are hammering away at an ambitious programme of reforms, including a proposal that will enable trusted tradespeople to sign-off their own work. 
    “This will make it easier and more affordable to deliver new homes, but it’s important that there are checks in the system to protect against shoddy work. 
    “New rules announced today will help increase accountability and give consumers a clear path forward if things go wrong.“Master Builders welcome these changes, which will be significant in helping to bolster the reputation of the building and construction profession, and include:

    Strengthening the disciplinary process and introducing greater transparency by giving the Licensed Building Practitioners Registrar, who oversee the registration of Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP), more tools and publishing details of builders who have been suspended.
    Establishing a new waterproofing licence class for LBPs so consumers can be confident those completing wet area bathrooms and level-entry showers are suitably qualified and accountable for their work.
    Improving the complaints processes for licensed electrical workers, and licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers by enabling the Registrars to initiate investigations more easily and enabling the creation of Codes of Ethics to promote professional standards of behaviour. 

    “We want builders to take pride in their work, and homeowners to have peace of mind about the quality of workmanship carried out. New rules will give the small minority of bad operators the chance to shape up or ship out.“This is just the beginning. More reforms are on the way to crack down on cowboy builders – including increasing penalties for careless work.”Notes to editors: 

    The changes will apply to work completed by licensed electrical workers, licensed building practitioners and plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers, and are expected to come into force in 2026.
    More information can be found on the MBIE Building Performance website: https://www.building.govt.nz/about-building-performance/all-news-and-updates/licensing-changes-for-licensed-building-professionals

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    April 2, 2025
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