Category: housing

MIL-OSI Russia: An exhibition about students who are ambassadors of Moscow colleges has opened in the center of Moscow

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The photo exhibition “Professionals Around Us” has opened on Chistoprudny Boulevard and in Yekaterininsky Park. The exhibition features 19 inspiring stories of students from Moscow colleges who found their calling thanks to secondary vocational education. You can visit the exhibition until April 30.

“The heroes of the project include a rescuer, a builder, a teacher, and a programmer. Each of them shared their success story and talked about the opportunities that open up for college graduates. We invite everyone to meet young professionals in Moscow,” the press service of the capital’s

Department of Education and Science.

Polina Durova, a final-year student at the Moscow Educational Complex “West”, is a pastry chef. She started working while still a student in a prestigious restaurant. In 2023, she won the “Young Professionals” championship in the “Pastry” category. Polina masterfully creates sculptures from caramel and chocolate, and regularly improves her skills in international pastry and cooking master classes. The girl said that she began her path in the pastry business in early childhood, when she watched cooking shows with her parents. Even then, she realized that creating desserts is a real art. Polina entered college because she decided to devote herself to her favorite hobby. According to her, she became a professional there – thanks to experienced mentors and constant practice. In college, Polina began to participate and win professional skills competitions, and the doors to the world of haute cuisine opened for her. The girl began to collaborate with the best restaurants in the city. She is currently studying in college and works as a pastry chef at a private production facility, where she creates desserts for true connoisseurs.

Another hero of the exhibition, a final-year student of the Technical Fire and Rescue College named after Hero of the Russian Federation V.M. Maksimchuk, Philipp Smirnov, said that he decided on his future profession back in his school years, when he was in the cadet class. Once he helped a drowning man and realized that he would be a rescuer. Philipp is convinced that for this you need to be a professional, and the college promotes this. Now the young man already has the status of a rescuer, he works as a sailor-rescuer and industrial climber.

Muscovites will also learn the story of Yegor Burinsky, a second-year student at the P.A. Ovchinnikov Polytechnic College. He learned about his profession at a college festival in 2023. It was there that Yegor first heard about the “Machine and Equipment Adjuster in Mechanical Processing” program. He was interested in how modern CNC machines work, and he decided to master this specialty. Having chosen targeted training, Yegor signed an agreement with the United Engine Corporation “Salut”. This provided a unique opportunity to begin professional practice in his first year. After just a month of studying at the college, Yegor began working in a real production facility.

At the exhibition, you can learn about the successes of Milena Galyamova, who studies correctional pedagogy in primary school. The girl organizes events for the wards of children’s hospices of the CSKA and Vozmozhnost foundations. In addition, among the heroes is Alina Taekina, who is studying to be a graphic designer. Last year, she collaborated with one of the publishing houses and became a prize winner of the Moscow Masters and Young Professionals championships.

Earlier, a large-scale college forum was held in the capital. It was attended by 60 thousand people. The event brought together 48 colleges that presented more than 140 in-demand specialties in 10 sectors of the Moscow economy. More than 120 master classes were organized for schoolchildren. Famous TV presenters, coaches, scientists and athletes shared their experience with the guests.

You can learn more about the in-demand professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges in the section“Colleges” on the portal“School.Moscow”, in the telegram channel“Colleges of Moscow” and in the community on the social network VKontakte.

Practical classes for students of Moscow colleges are held in modern workshops and laboratories. This contributes to the formation and development of professional skills in students and corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Youth and Children”.

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/152030073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Sports complex and medical center to appear as part of business center in South-West Administrative Okrug

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

A 23-storey business centre with an area of 44.7 thousand square metres will be built on the territory of the former Vorontsovo industrial zone. The facility will appear as part of the implementation of a large-scale investment project (MaIP). This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

“A multifunctional complex with public and office spaces will appear on Akademika Semenikhina Street near the Kaluzhskaya and Vorontsovskaya metro stations. Public spaces with commercial infrastructure with a total area of 19 thousand square meters will occupy the first five floors, with office premises located above. Construction is planned to be completed in 2026. The implementation of this large-scale investment project will create about 1.5 thousand jobs for residents of nearby areas,” said Vladimir Efimov.

MaIP is a special status that can be granted to objects that are significant for the city and aimed at increasing the number of jobs, developing the capital’s infrastructure, and increasing investment in the Moscow economy. Preference is given to multifunctional centers, modern production facilities, high technologies, social and sports infrastructure.

“To implement this large-scale investment project, the city allocated the company a land plot in the Obruchevsky district with an area of about 0.6 hectares. In addition to offices and infrastructure facilities, the business center is planned to accommodate an underground parking lot for 178 cars, including charging devices for electric cars,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property

Maxim Gaman.

Mosgosstroynadzor has already issued a permit for the construction of the facility. Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky clarified that the 23-story building will house 123 office spaces. Their area will range from 42 to 1,400 square meters. They will be located from the sixth to the 23rd floor. The first five will house a shopping gallery, a cafe, a supermarket, a food hall, a co-working space, a medical center, and a sports complex. Both business center employees and residents of nearby houses will be able to visit them.

The atrium of the shopping gallery on the first floor of the building will be decorated with art objects. An area of 0.75 hectares will be landscaped next to the business center. The developer will carry out comprehensive landscaping and lay pedestrian routes. There will be a birch alley and front gardens with cozy recreation areas and benches.

The business center will be built as part of a program for the construction of commercial and residential real estate as part of transport hub projects near metro stations and the Moscow Central Diameters.

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/152035073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Global Assessment Report (GAR) 2025

Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

Disasters, pandemics, and other shocks are becoming more frequent, more intense, and more unpredictable. At the same time, the costs of responding and rebuilding are rising faster than many countries can manage. To avoid falling deeper into debt and disruption, we need a new kind of financial system, one that is ready before the crisis starts, and flexible enough to support recovery after.

This section explores how governments, businesses, and financial institutions can work together to build that system. It looks at how public and private money can be combined to fund resilience, how better data and regulation can reduce risk, and how financial tools, from insurance to social protection, can help people and economies bounce back stronger.

Each part offers practical ways to shift from a system that reacts to disasters, to one that plans, protects, and invests in long-term resilience.

5.1 Scaling Up Blended Finance

Most countries do not have enough public money to meet their growing disaster and climate risks. But private investors are often hesitant to put money into high-risk areas. Blended finance helps solve this problem by using public or development funding to reduce risk and attract private capital.

Platforms like GAIA (Global Action on Investment for Adaptation <<https://www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp223>>) aim to make this easier. [add link] GAIA works to bring governments, private investors, and communities together to support projects that reduce disaster risk, protect ecosystems, and build long-term resilience. These platforms make it easier to fund solutions in places that need them most, but that investors might otherwise avoid.

Blended finance is not just about funding projects. It is about changing how and where money flows, so that resilience becomes part of every investment decision.

5.2 Corporate Climate Risk Disclosures

Businesses face growing risks from climate change and disasters, but many still do not fully understand or report them. This creates blind spots for investors, insurers, and regulators. One important step is to make climate risk disclosure part of standard business reporting.

Mandatory reporting systems, like those being adopted in the European Union and other regions, help companies identify their exposure to climate risks. This includes physical risks, like floods or heatwaves, and financial risks, such as supply chain disruptions or energy price shocks.

When risks are made visible, businesses are more likely to act early. Investors can make better decisions, and regulators can help reduce systemic financial risks across the economy.

5.3 Expanding Regional Insurance Mechanisms

For many small or vulnerable countries, the cost of disasters is too big to manage alone. Regional insurance pools allow countries to share the risk and access quick funding after a shock. These systems are especially useful for small island states and low-income countries with limited financial reserves.

Two leading examples are: [links to those initiatives in the web]

These mechanisms help countries access payouts quickly after hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods. This reduces pressure on public budgets and speeds up recovery. Countries pay into the pool, and when disaster strikes, they get fast, rules-based support. Check how regional insurance helped Dominica recover more quickly from one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbean.

Case study: [CCRIF payout after Hurricane Maria in Dominica]

5.4. Unlocking Green Resilience Bonds

Green bonds are already used to fund projects that reduce emissions or support clean energy. But they can also support disaster resilience. When these bonds include components like flood protection, climate-smart agriculture, or heat-resilient infrastructure, they become powerful tools for long-term risk reduction.

Some governments and financial institutions are now designing green resilience bonds that combine climate and disaster goals. These bonds allow investors to support both environmental and social outcomes.

For example, Costa Rica issued green bonds with a focus on nature-based solutions and climate adaptation. These projects aim to both cut emissions and reduce the impacts of floods and droughts.

Case study: [Costa Rica’s green bond program]

5.5. Adaptive Social Protection for Disaster Recovery

Social protection systems, like cash transfers, food assistance, or public works programs, can be powerful tools for resilience, especially when they are flexible. When designed to scale up during shocks, they can protect people from falling into poverty after a disaster.

This is called adaptive social protection. It links disaster early warning systems with financial systems that can respond quickly to changing needs. For example, a drought warning might trigger extra cash support for farmers before their crops fail.

Like in the Philippines, a national social protection program was adapted to respond to typhoon impacts. It helped deliver assistance more quickly and reach the most vulnerable communities during emergencies.

Case study: [Philippines’ shock-responsive social protection system]

5.6. How Central Banks Can Support Resilience Finance

Central banks play a key role in keeping economies stable. As climate risks grow, they can also help make financial systems more resilient. This means looking at how disasters affect inflation, lending, and investment flows, and adjusting policies to support preparedness.

Central banks can include disaster and climate risks in their stress tests and financial supervision. They can also support green finance guidelines, invest in resilience bonds, or offer incentives for banks that support risk reduction projects.

Bangladesh’s central bank created a special refinancing scheme to support solar energy, flood-resilient housing, and climate-smart farming. This shows how monetary policy can support resilience at the local level.

Case study: [Bangladesh Bank’s green refinancing program]

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Piero Cipollone: Enhancing cross-border payments in Europe and beyond

Source: European Central Bank

Speech by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Regional Governors’ Meeting

Osijek, 1 April 2025

As we gather here today in Osijek, we stand at a crossroads in the world of payments.

Digitalisation is driving economic progress and transforming the way we make retail payments, yet there is growing frustration that the dramatic decline in IT and telecommunications costs has not been reflected in lower fees for cross-border payments in many parts of the world.

This has proven to be an obstacle to economic integration, including in this part of Europe. For instance, a small business owner here in Croatia trying to make a €5,000 transfer to a supplier in a Western Balkan economy that is not part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) faces costs up to 12 times higher than when sending the same amount to a counterpart within SEPA.^[1]

Such disparities are a barrier to growth. Addressing them is a priority, not only to reduce costs but also to drive economic development and bring us closer together. This is why the expansion of SEPA is so important and a key milestone on the European integration path.

Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia recently joined SEPA.^[2] This paves the way for the payment service providers in these countries to be operationally ready to offer SEPA transfers as of October^[3], facilitating transfers in euro at a considerably reduced cost. We also very much support the efforts being made in the other Western Balkan economies towards joining SEPA.

The pressing need to enhance cross-border payments is not just a regional concern, it is a matter of urgency worldwide. As international transaction volumes have surged, outstripping GDP growth, the economic toll of inefficient cross-border payments has continued to mount. Despite technological advancements and recent improvements, progress is heterogeneous across countries and cross-border payment transactions remain expensive and slow in many places.

Moreover, the shifting geopolitical landscape has introduced a new dimension to this challenge. Rising geopolitical tensions have spurred initiatives to create alternatives to existing global infrastructure. This could lead to fragmentation of the global financial system into multiple, non-communicating blocs, which would further hamper the efficiency of cross-border payments and contribute to the refragmentation of trade and investment. In parallel, the emergence of stablecoins – which the United States intends to promote worldwide^[4] – brings its own risks, including for currency substitution.

The Eurosystem is responding proactively to these challenges in line with the G20 Roadmap for enhancing cross-border payments.^[5] Our approach rests on two pillars: on the one hand, harnessing the potential of fast payment systems to enhance the efficiency of cross-border payments and deliver tangible improvements in speed and cost; on the other, continuing to respect the sovereignty and stability of our partners. This can be achieved by interlinking fast payment systems across countries. In other words, we are aiming to address inefficiencies and build lasting connections that are rooted in trade openness and balanced relationships with our partners – goals which have long been a hallmark of the European approach to economic integration.

Today, I will focus on three points. First, I will examine the current state of cross-border payments. Second, I will discuss how geopolitical fragmentation is creating a further imperative to act. Lastly, I will present the Eurosystem’s strategic response to these challenges, which includes initiatives such as interlinking fast payment systems and exploring the possible use of a digital euro in third countries.

The state of cross-border retail payments

Over the past few decades, the world has witnessed a significant surge in cross-border payments, driven by the globalisation of trade, capital and migration flows. Cross-border payment flows are projected to double to €268 trillion by 2030.^[6] But despite this significant expansion and the improvements that have resulted from international efforts, international payments too often remain prohibitively expensive and inefficient.^[7]

While domestic payments have undergone a digital revolution – becoming faster, cheaper and more accessible – cross-border transactions have yet to fully benefit from these technological advancements.^[8] The average cost of international retail payments remains high: for nearly one-quarter of global payment corridors, costs exceed 3%. And in too many cases, cross-border payment is still slow: one-third of retail cross-border payments took more than one business day to be settled in 2024.^[9]

These inefficiencies raise three pressing issues that demand our attention.

First, high costs and slow transaction times are undermining economic integration and growth. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of many economies are disproportionately affected. For SMEs operating on tight margins, exorbitant fees are not just an inconvenience but a barrier that often discourages them from engaging in cross-border trade. According to research by the World Bank, in 2023 it cost SMEs about ten times more to transfer €5,000 between Western Balkan economies than between EU countries.^[10]

Second, the world’s most vulnerable groups – such as migrant workers sending remittances home – bear a disproportionate share of these costs. Remittances are a lifeline for millions of families worldwide, supporting one in nine people globally. Yet sending money home remains prohibitively expensive in many regions. The cost of remittances to the Western Balkan economies averaged 6.7% until recently^[11], only slightly below the 7.7% paid in Sub-Saharan Africa^[12]. The impact that reducing these fees will have on financial inclusion and well-being cannot be overstated. The World Bank has estimated that by meeting the global Sustainable Development Goal target of 3%, the Western Balkan economies would save approximately half a billion euros per year.^[13]

Third, the inefficiencies affecting cross-border payments have created a vacuum that alternative players, particularly in the crypto-asset space, are eager to fill. However, many of these solutions come with significant risks that cannot be overlooked. Unbacked crypto-assets, for instance, are highly volatile and speculative in nature, creating risks for unsuspecting households and businesses.

Furthermore, the United States’ push to maintain the dollar’s global dominance through the promotion of stablecoins worldwide presents its own set of challenges. While stablecoins may be touted as the solution to a problem, they in fact create new problems that require a solution. Unless they are properly regulated according to the Financial Stability Board principles (as achieved in Europe through the Regulation on markets in crypto-assets^[14]), they cannot guarantee convertibility at par value at all times and are susceptible to runs. They may thus destabilise the very system they are meant to improve. Also, because 99% of stablecoins are denominated in US dollar and their expansion could leverage the global customer base of big tech companies^[15], they could considerably increase currency substitution risks, leading to “digital dollarisation”.^[16] This would impair the effectiveness of domestic monetary policy and increase financial stability risks by amplifying capital outflows in response to negative shocks. This could have a destabilising effect on emerging markets and less developed economies, particularly small economies integrated in global value chains.^[17]

Geopolitical fragmentation

That brings me to my second point: the fundamentally changed international order and its potential to fragment payment systems worldwide.

Rising geopolitical tensions are reshaping the very foundations of cross-border payments and endangering the global rules-based system. This could challenge established correspondent banking networks and messaging systems such as Swift.

At a time when we should be integrating payment systems to reduce their complexity and cost for users, separate platforms have sought to create alternatives to existing global infrastructures. This trend began as early as 2013 when Iran, in response to its exclusion from Swift, created its own messaging system. Russia followed suit in 2014 with the System for Transfer of Financial Messages after its annexation of Crimea. China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, launched in 2015, has seen remarkable growth, with over 1,500 financial institutions using it in 2024, a number that has more than doubled since 2018.

The pace of these initiatives has accelerated significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the past two years alone, we have seen nearly 20 new initiatives from countries in emerging markets aimed at bypassing Swift and western correspondent banks. At the BRICS Summit in October 2024, member countries agreed to explore the feasibility of establishing an independent cross-border settlement and depositary infrastructure, BRICS Clear.^[18]

These developments raise serious concerns about the potential fragmentation of the global financial system. We could face disrupted international capital flows and reduced efficiency as the system risks being splintered into multiple, non-communicating blocs.

For the euro’s international role^[19] to contribute to preserving a stable and integrated financial system, the euro needs to provide the benefits of a global public good.^[20] We must ensure it can reliably connect various parts of the global payments system and deliver tangible benefits in terms of speed and cost, while respecting the integrity, sovereignty and stability of our partners.

The Eurosystem’s strategy for efficient and open cross-border payments

In this context, the European Central Bank (ECB), together with euro area national central banks, is promoting a strategy for the integration of global cross-border payments to address inefficiencies while maintaining openness. This strategy rests on two main initiatives.^[21]

Interlinking fast payment systems

The first is the interlinking of fast payment systems. Over the past decade, central banks have made significant improvements to the backend infrastructure for facilitating payments, thereby fostering the digitalisation of domestic payment systems. As of today, over 100 jurisdictions worldwide have implemented their own fast payment systems.^[22] There is already evidence that the global network of fast payment systems tends to be segmented along geopolitical lines^[23], but interlinking these systems could help overcome this fragmentation and extend the benefits of digitalisation to cross-border payments.

This approach offers several advantages. It would reduce costs, increase the speed and transparency of cross-border payments and shorten transaction chains. It would also enable payment service providers to conduct transactions without having to use multiple payment systems or a long chain of correspondent banks. Moreover, it would ensure that the platform to connect and convert currencies would be managed as a public good, thus avoiding closed loops and discriminatory pricing. Accordingly, the G20 Roadmap has identified interlinking as a key strategy for enhancing cross-border payments.^[24]

Europe serves as a compelling example of what this interconnected payments landscape might look like. Within the euro area, account holders can transfer funds instantly 24/7 through the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) service. A key feature of TIPS is that it is a multi-currency platform that settles instant payments within a payment scheme – the SEPA Instant Credit Transfer scheme – governed by uniform rules, standards and protocols, avoiding the risk of fragmentation.

Taking advantage of this multi-currency feature, Sweden is already using TIPS for making fast payments in kronor.^[25] Denmark will do the same as of this month^[26] and Norway as of 2028^[27].

In October 2024 the ECB’s Governing Council decided to take concrete steps towards interlinking TIPS with other fast payment systems to improve cross-border payments globally.^[28]

First, a cross-currency settlement service will be implemented within TIPS. This will make it possible for instant payments originating in one TIPS currency to be settled in another. Initially, this service will enable cross-currency payments between the euro area, Sweden and Denmark.^[29]

Second, a cross-currency settlement service will be implemented for the exchange of cross-border payments between TIPS and other fast payment systems globally.^[30] This will allow to explore interlinking TIPS with fast payment systems that have a compatible scheme, are interested in being involved and ensure full compliance with the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Third, the Eurosystem will explore connecting TIPS to a multilateral network of instant payment systems through Project Nexus, led by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).^[31] By connecting to Nexus, TIPS could evolve into a hub for processing instant cross-border payments to and from the euro area and other countries that are using TIPS.^[32]

Fourth, the Eurosystem is currently assessing the feasibility of creating a bilateral link with India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).^[33] UPI has the highest instant payment transaction volumes in the world, with close to 500 million transactions per day^[34], and India is among the top ten recipients of euro area remittances.

We are going even further to address the situation in the Western Balkans, since most countries in the region do not yet have a fast payment system.^[35] As a service provider for TIPS, Banca d’Italia is working with the central banks of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro to develop an instant multi-currency payment system based on TIPS software, with North Macedonia potentially joining at a later stage.^[36] The new platform will make it possible to pay instantly within each country and across countries. It will also ease the path towards enabling instant payments between participating countries and the euro area.

The international role of the digital euro

Now let me turn to the second initiative we are exploring to enhance cross-border retail payments, namely the creation of a digital euro and its use in third countries.

A digital euro would be a central bank digital currency, an electronic equivalent to cash. It would complement banknotes and coins, giving people an additional option that they could use free of charge for any digital payment across the euro area. It would work both online and offline in shops or when making person-to-person or e-commerce transactions. Moreover, it would provide a European infrastructure that could be used by private payment service providers to offer their own solutions across the continent, thereby fostering competition and innovation.

While the digital euro would primarily be used in the euro area, it is worth considering its possible international use. The current draft legislation foresees an approach that respects the sovereignty of third countries, mitigates potential risks for them and offers them new opportunities.

Non-euro area residents could have access to the digital euro when visiting the euro area temporarily by setting up an account with a European payment service provider. We also believe that we could enable merchants outside the euro area to accept digital euro payments from euro area residents.^[37]

Moreover, users outside the euro area could be granted permanent access to the digital euro subject to an agreement between the EU and third countries, complemented by an arrangement between the ECB and the respective central banks.^[38]

In any case, use of the digital euro in third countries would be implemented gradually and with the appropriate safeguards to ensure that it would be used primarily as a means of payment and would not stoke currency substitution. For instance, individual holding limits for users outside the euro area would not be allowed to exceed the limits set for euro area residents and citizens.

Moreover, the digital euro’s design includes multi-currency enabling features similar to those of TIPS. In practice, this means that non-euro area countries could use the digital euro infrastructure to offer their own digital currencies, thus facilitating transactions across these currencies. The digital euro could therefore provide a solution for offering and transferring central bank digital currencies internationally and serve as a platform for innovation in cross-border payments. On this basis, the digital euro could facilitate cross-border payments and remittances, making them more efficient and cost-effective.

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in the evolution of cross-border payments. The current geopolitical landscape threatens to fragment our global payment systems, potentially leading to inefficiencies and reduced transparency. However, this challenge also presents an opportunity for positive change.

The region where we are meeting today exemplifies the challenges we face, what we can achieve through collaboration and the potential for further progress.

As we move forward, our goal is clear: we must develop safer, more accessible alternatives that make global payments cheaper, faster and more transparent, without compromising on integrity, stability and sovereignty.

The time for action is now. Through innovation, interoperability and a commitment to open financial markets, we can build a global payment system that is resilient to geopolitical shifts and can support economic growth and financial inclusion worldwide.

MIL OSI Economics –

April 2, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Where the Land Meets the Sea

Source: Government of India

Where the Land Meets the Sea

Mangroves as Guardians of Life and Livelihoods

Posted On: 01 APR 2025 2:36PM by PIB Delhi

As the morning tide gently laps against the shores of Navghar, Vandana Patil steps onto the damp earth of her village’s coastline. She recalls a time when the sea was generous, offering abundant crab and fish catch. But over the years, that generosity faded. “Earlier, we used to see unpredictable crab and fish catch and had to rely on other sources of livelihoods,” she says, her voice carrying the weight of years spent worrying about an uncertain future.

The culprit was clear: the unchecked destruction of mangroves. The towering green guardians of the coastline had been silently disappearing, their roots no longer anchoring the land, their dense canopies no longer sheltering marine life. With every tree lost, so too was a piece of the community’s livelihood. Yet, many in Navghar remained unaware of the deep connection between the mangroves and their survival.

Change arrived in the form of a far-reaching initiative. The Government of India, in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund and UNDP, launched a project to enhance climate resilience in India’s coastal communities. This initiative, operational across three coastal states-Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha focused on conserving and restoring marine ecosystems, including mangroves, while creating climate-resilient livelihoods.

Navghar became a symbol of this transformation. In 2021, the project formed a Mangrove Co-Management Committee, bringing together village members, the Gram Panchayat, and women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Their mission was twofold: protect the mangroves and revive local livelihoods. Women, often the most affected by economic instability, were placed at the forefront.

Through structured training, they learned sustainable crab farming techniques, creating new livelihood groups like Healthy Harvest and Wild Crab Aqua Farm. These groups now farm mud crabs over two acres of coastal land while ensuring the protection of mangroves from illegal cutting. The impact was immediate.

“Through our campaigns and drives, we have raised awareness about mangroves and their link to healthy fish catch and livelihoods,” explains Rohan Patil, president of the committee. “People no longer see them as just trees—they see them as protectors.”

By 2023, the once-barren coastline had transformed. The mangroves stood tall, shielding the land from erosion and storms, while the waters teemed with life again. The benefits extended beyond the environment. “The project helped us a lot,” Vandana shares. “Earlier, women worked only seasonally. Now, we have employment throughout the year. Besides, earlier we had to travel far and wide for crab farming; now, we can do it locally.”

What is Mangrove?

A mangrove is a salt-tolerant plant community found in tropical and subtropical intertidal regions. These ecosystems thrive in high-rainfall areas (1,000–3,000 mm) with temperatures ranging from 26°C to 35°C. Mangrove species are adapted to survive in waterlogged soils, high salinity, and frequent tidal surges. They serve as crucial biodiversity refuges and act as bio-shields against extreme climatic events. Additionally, rural populations depend on mangroves for biomass-based livelihoods.

India’s Progress in Mangrove Conservation

India has made significant strides in mangrove conservation through a combination of robust regulatory frameworks and targeted promotional initiatives. As per the India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR-2023), India’s total mangrove cover stands at 4,991.68 sq. km, constituting 0.15% of the nation’s geographical area. There has been net increase of 363.68 Sq.km (7.86%) in Mangrove cover area of the country in 2023 as compared to 2013 and net increase of 509.68 Sq.km (11.4%) between 2001 and 2023.

West Bengal holds the largest share of the country’s mangrove forests, accounting for 42.45% of the total cover, followed by Gujarat (23.32%) and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (12.19%). Notably, Gujarat has recorded an impressive increase of 253.06 sq. km in mangrove cover between 2001 and 2023, attributed to large-scale plantations, community participation, and public-private partnerships.

Key Regulatory Measures

India has implemented a series of stringent legal frameworks to ensure mangrove protection:

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, categorises mangroves as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), restricting activities within a 50-metre buffer zone where mangrove cover exceeds 1,000 sq. m.
Mandates compensatory replantation at a 3:1 ratio if mangroves are affected by development.
Additional protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Indian Forest Act, 1927, and Biological Diversity Act, 2002, among others.

Key Promotional Initiatives and Achievements

Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI):
- Launched on 5 June 2023 to promote restoration and afforestation across 540 sq. km in 9 coastal States and 4 Union Territories.
- Implementation through convergence funding with the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
- For FY 2024–25, ₹17.96 crore has been allocated to Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, and Puducherry for the treatment and restoration of 3,836 hectares of degraded mangroves.
National Coastal Mission – Conservation of Mangroves and Coral Reefs:
- Financial assistance for the conservation of 38 mangrove sites and 4 coral reef sites across the country.
- Operates on a 60:40 cost-sharing model between the Centre and States.
- ₹8.58 crore released to seven coastal States during 2021–23 for mangrove conservation.
GCF-ECRICC Project (Green Climate Fund – Enhancing Coastal Resilience of Indian Coastal Community):
- Active since 2019 in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha.
- Aims to restore and conserve 10,575 hectares of mangroves.
- As of 2024, 3,114.29 hectares have been successfully restored.

Why Mangroves Matter

Mangroves: Nature’s Carbon Vault

As per World Wildlife Fund mangroves store 7.5–10 times more carbon per acre than tropical forests. Their loss contributes to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation. These coastal forests hold over 21 gigatons of carbon, 87% of which is locked in the soil beneath their roots. Restoring just 1.6 million acres of lost mangrove forests could capture an additional 1 gigaton of carbon.

A Tidal Shift Towards Sustainability

Navghar’s transformation reflects a broader movement sweeping across India’s coastline where communities are not just adapting to change but actively shaping it. The revival of mangroves, once overlooked and degraded, now stands as a testament to collective action and inclusive development.

Through the integration of science, policy, and grassroots participation, India is forging a path where ecological restoration directly uplifts local economies. Women like Vandana Patil are no longer passive witnesses to environmental loss but active custodians of their natural heritage, securing livelihoods while nurturing resilience.

This shift marks more than environmental progress. It signals a future where nature-based solutions become central to climate action and communities, once vulnerable, emerge as champions of sustainable change.

References

Click here to see PDF

Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Anchal Patiyal

(Release ID: 2117223) Visitor Counter : 272

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 2, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEVELOPMENT OF SILK SECTOR

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 01 APR 2025 10:09AM by PIB Delhi

The Government through Central Silk Board has been implementing Silk Samagra-2 scheme with an outlay of Rs. 4,679.85 crore for the overall development of sericulture industry in the country from the year 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to States towards implementation of various beneficiary oriented field level critical interventions, which includes raising of kissan nurseries, silkworm rearing packages (includes assistance for plantation, irrigation, rearing house, rearing equipments and prophylactic measures), establishment of chawki rearing centres in pre-cocoon sector, support and infrastructure oriented interventions for silkworm seed sector, silk reeling, spinning, weaving, processing components meant for post cocoon sector.

So far, the central assistance of Rs. 1,075.58 crore has been provided to States to cover around 78,000 beneficiaries under Silk Samagra-2 scheme towards implementation of beneficiary-oriented components covering both pre and post cocoon activities/machineries for the growth and sustainability of sericulture sector.

Additionally, through Research & Development activities, the production and productivity of silk has been improved to achieve the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in silk sector.

Based on the proposals received from the States, central assistance of Rs 72.50 crore to Andhra Pradesh and Rs.40.66 crore to Telangana has been provided towards implementation of beneficiary-oriented components under Silk Samagra-2, during the last three years including the current year.

The Government is implementing Raw Material Supply Scheme (RMSS) and National Handloom Development Programme to promote Handloom sector throughout the country including Andhra Pradesh & Telangana States. Under the above schemes, financial assistance is provided to eligible Handloom agencies/workers for raw material, procurement of upgraded looms and accessories, solar lighting units, construction of workshed, products diversification & design innovation, technical and common infrastructure, marketing of Handlooms products in domestic & overseas markets, concessional loans under weavers’ MUDRA Scheme and Social Security, etc. In addition, to give wider exposure to all the textile stakeholders including Handloom industry, several marketing events in the form of fairs/melas, exhibitions and expos are organised through support of CSB, National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), Export Promotion Councils (EPC) of textiles including Indian Silk Export Promotion Council, with the support of Ministry of Textiles.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA

MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

***

DHANYA SANAL K

(Rajya Sabha US Q3354)

(Release ID: 2117113) Visitor Counter : 58

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Missing man in Yau Ma Tei located

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     A man who went missing in Yau Ma Tei has been located.

     Law Ah-cheung, aged 70, went missing after he was last seen at an elderly home on Man Ying Street on March 28 afternoon. Staff of the caring home then made a report to Police.

     The man was located in a park at the junction of Canton Road and Jordan Road yesterday afternoon (March 31). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Adjustment of income and asset limits of Working Family Allowance Scheme and arrangements for disbursement of one-off extra allowance announced

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Government announced today (April 1) the adjustment of income and asset limits of the Working Family Allowance (WFA) Scheme for 2025-26.

The WFA Scheme supports low-income working households not receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), promoting full-time employment and self-reliance, as well as rewarding hard work. It also provides a child allowance for households with eligible children. The allowance under the WFA Scheme is assessed on a monthly basis with reference to the household income and working hours. Under the WFA Scheme, the claim period covers the six calendar months preceding the submission of an application, and eligible households must make applications for each claim period.

Under the established adjustment mechanism, the Government adjusts the income limits of the WFA Scheme in April each year. These limits are set with reference to the median monthly domestic household income of economically active households of the previous calendar year. According to this mechanism, and based on the 2024 figures, the income limits for households with six or more persons would have been tightened, while the income limits for five-person households would have been lower than those for four-person households. However, considering the ongoing economic challenges in Hong Kong which may affect the income levels of lower-income households, and the need to minimise the adverse impact on WFA households, the Government will:

(a) maintain the income limits for households with six persons or more at the 2024-25 level;

(b) adjust the income limit for five-person households to align with those for four-person households; and

(c) increase the income limits for other household sizes according to the mechanism.

These arrangements will apply for one year starting from the claim month of April 2025.

The asset limits of the WFA Scheme are set with reference to the asset limits for public rental housing. The Government will increase the asset limits for all household sizes according to the mechanism. The adjusted income and asset limits of the WFA Scheme are provided in the Annex.

In addition, if the Appropriation Bill 2025 is passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo), the Government will, as proposed in the 2025-26 Budget, disburse a one-off extra allowance to WFA households. The allowance is expected to be disbursed one month after the passage of the Bill at the earliest.

Households which made WFA applications during the applicable period that were eventually approved are eligible for the extra allowance. The applicable period spans from the first day of the month in which the Bill is passed by the LegCo to the date of its passage, and the six calendar months before that month. For applications submitted by post, the date of the post-stamp will be adopted as the application date.

In order to be eligible for the extra allowance, new applicants or previous WFA recipients who have yet to submit applications during the applicable period should submit their applications before the applicable period expires (i.e. on or before the date of passage of the Bill by the LegCo). The extra allowance is equal to one half of the average monthly allowance in approved months in a recipient’s most recently submitted WFA application, which was submitted within the applicable period and eventually approved. The amount varies from case to case.

If a WFA household is receiving CSSA on the day the LegCo passes the Bill, the household is eligible for only one single extra allowance under either the WFA Scheme or the CSSA Scheme, whichever is higher.

For enquiries, applicants may visit the website of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (wfsfaa.gov.hk) or call the 24-hour hotline of the Working Family Allowance Office at 2558 3000.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank approves $19.85 million grant for emergency support to the most vulnerable in Sudan’s conflict areas

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 1, 2025/APO Group/ —

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a $19.85 million grant to support emergency humanitarian operations in Sudan, with a strong focus on improving women’s livelihoods and easing the impact of the ongoing conflict on communities and infrastructure.

The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project takes a gender-responsive approach to urgent humanitarian needs. Since April 2023, armed conflict has devastated critical infrastructure and triggered a humanitarian crisis that has disproportionately impacted women and children the hardest.

In the short term, the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project will train and mobilize frontline workers such as health professionals, midwives, water and sanitation specialists, and market facilitators. The project will also restore five health facilities and four emergency centers in conflict zones, as well as construct and rehabilitate 10 water and energy systems in urban and rural settings.

The Bank financing also facilitates delivery of emergency food aid, from lentils and sorghum to other staples like tea leaves and sugar. Some 60,000 people will receive farming inputs like fertilizers and seeds this year alone. The project will facilitate cash grants to support livelihoods of another 125,000 people, with a focus on women and their dependents, as well as survivors of gender-based violence.

Overall, the project will benefit 1.5 million Sudanese, or 265,000 households, of which 65 percent are estimated to be led by women. The Bank categorizes the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project “Category 1” on its Gender Marker System, indicating “the principal objective of the project directly addresses gender equality and/or women’s empowerment.”

“Peace, security and stability are urgently needed for Sudanese communities to reach its full potential,” Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, said about the project.

“The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project will help restore social services and economic opportunities to some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. The Bank financing will also strategically promote inclusive and resilient economic activities,” she added.

The Bank’s Transition Support Facility (https://apo-opa.co/3DNnQfy) is financing the project. The Facility, introduced in 2008, provides additional concessional resources to countries facing situations of fragility and conflict.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, will draw on its deep operational experience and long-standing presence in Sudan to implement the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project. The ICRC will work through existing staffing and infrastructure, which include specialists in monitoring and evaluation, environment and safeguards, gender, procurement, and communications.

This Bank crisis response operation, implemented in collaboration with the ICRC, goes beyond short-term humanitarian interventions to invest in long-term resilience and sustainable development with a focus on women and affected communities. It adopts a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach which blends urgent humanitarian relief with efforts to lay the foundation for long-term development and peace. While addressing the conflict with a rapid response focused on food security and other livelihood support, the project’s focus remains on early recovery tactics for affected communities and displaced populations.

To date, an estimated eight million Sudanese have been displaced, and another 1.6 million — mostly women and children — have been forced to flee to neighboring countries. Supporting Sudan’s stabilization requires coordinated efforts of combined immediate relief laying the foundation for long-term development and lasting stability. Policy dialogue will be key to ensuring women’s participation in crisis management.

MIL OSI Africa –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Inside an urban terror network: book reveals how police finally cracked Pagad gang violence in Cape Town

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Irvin Kinnes, Associate Professor of Criminology, University of Cape Town

A campaign against gangsterism in Cape Town, South Africa led by the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) turned violent in the mid-1990s when a group known as Pagad G-Force began what became known as an urban terrorism campaign. Lives on the Line, written by security analyst David Africa, is the true story of the secret team in the country’s crime intelligence division that waged a six-year battle against the terror group – and won. The terror campaign was brought to a standstill in 2002. Criminology professor Irvin Kinnes sets out why it’s a riveting read, a bold tell-all account by a brave author.

What was the backdrop to the terror campaign?

In 1995, one year after the country’s first democratic elections, a new law was passed creating the newly constituted South African Police Service. It was a tough year because the elements of the old order in the police service had great difficulty accepting the new democratic dispensation. But they had to collaborate with the people that they had tortured, jailed and, in some cases, maimed as a result of their role in political oppression in support of apartheid.

The new centurions (police guardians of the new order) of democracy were not yet in place. A system of dual power emerged in the police, where some of the commanders that were appointed were former members of the liberation movements. They were seen as “plastic cops” because they did not train in the police academies around the country, but in the bush. Some subsequently attended various training academies. They were all integrated with other homeland police agencies from the Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei states and other “independent” homelands that had existed under apartheid. In total, 11 agencies combined to form the newly created and democratic police service in 1995.

After 1994, many of the apartheid social controls such as restrictions on people’s movement, racially divided settlement and the death penalty were abolished. People were jubilant, hyper aware of their newly found rights.

The police were not prepared to deal with such a rights-aware population. In addition, freedom also unleashed huge social challenges such as crime and particularly drug and gang crimes. In the immediate aftermath of the political negotiations that ended apartheid and prior to the elections, crime rates surged, especially in 1993. Not all of the crime was criminal: some of the events related to political crime with mass movements and political parties clashing with each other and with the police.

The urban terror campaign, as labelled by members of the South African Police Service, extended from 1996-2002. This was also known as the Cape Flats war (referred to as the Pagad troubles by Africa) and was triggered by the campaign of the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad). The organisation was initially made up of largely ordinary citizens across the religious divide, but later became almost exclusively Muslim led, and so was the G-Force.

Pagad led several marches on the Cape Flats against drug dealers and gangsters. These marches resulted in the death on 4 August 1996 of one of the co-leaders of the Hard Living gang, Rashaad Staggie, by a huge crowd of Pagad members who were escorted by the police’s Public Order Unit.

The execution resulted in a tit-for-tat killing between gang members and Pagad members.

What was Pagad G-Force? What led to its formation?

The Pagad G-Force were a group of men inside Pagad. They operated clandestinely outside its circle of influence of its public structures, but sometimes with its tacit support. Many of the members of the G-Force had received military training both inside and outside the borders of the country.

Some people claimed they were trained in Afghanistan and Iran, and they were operators who were armed and could manage themselves against some of the threats that gang leaders had made against them. They were a tightly knit unit that was able to retain secrecy in most of their operations, guarding it against police infiltration – a battle they ultimately lost, as Africa’s book shows.

The unit was accused of executing up to 30 senior gang leaders and drug dealers. Pagad would lead public marches against them and often publicly warned them to stop their drug dealing. This was followed by the homes of drug dealers being attacked. In many instances they were killed.

What does the book reveal about why it took so long to end the terror campaign?

There have been books that have attempted to document the Cape Flats war from different perspectives. But Africa tells the story from the inner sanctum of the state security apparatus that initially failed and eventually succeeded in penetrating the G-Force, Pagad and other formations.

His book provides significant insights that makes other books on the subject pale in comparison. Fighting terrorism (urban or other) requires patience and deliberate skilled analysis of data, patterns and personalities. It requires skills of analysis built up over many years of sifting through behaviours and actions of individuals and organisations perpetrating such crimes.

For the first time, we are made privy to the ideological reasoning and political thinking, strategising and implementation of police operations that was decidedly different from the old state thinking of actions against adversaries they were investigating.

This was painstaking work and the level of co-operation between the new centurions of democracy in the police under the leadership of Africa and the old order. The old-order guardians were the same men and women in the old South African Police Force that had defended the apartheid government and did not trust the new police investigators from the liberation movements. They still had control of the police service in 1996. This was a recipe for creative and disruptive tensions, mistrust and outright sabotage of each other’s operations.

What was the author’s involvement in the police efforts?

The author was the head of a covert police intelligence team whose exclusive focus was to bring down the Pagad G-Force. He was central in conceptualising a new approach of working in a decontaminated group of intelligence officers made up of former liberation movement officers. Their job was to analyse information and turn it into actionable intelligence products that could be used to act against the Pagad G-Force.

What was different about this approach was they produced court-ready evidence which police detectives could use in courts against the accused Pagad bombers. He led the fight for the new covert unit to have the necessary resources, support from their colleagues when it was required and most importantly, the support of the then national commissioner, Jackie Selebi.

In this fight, Selebi quite clearly took sides and fully supported the actions of Africa and his colleagues to defeat Pagad’s G-Force. Africa makes this clear in his book and emphasises the support that was provided by Selebi.

What are the key takeaways from the book about fighting similar campaigns of violence?

The book puts together all the actors nationally and provincially and accords them the historical roles in each of their fields of expertise. It unravels the networks they spun to target, isolate, recruit and turn suspected G-Force operators.

This look from within the war machine against Pagad raises many questions for any reader.

It is a book for anyone who wants to understand the fight against terror, globally, regionally and locally, and what it really takes to bring people who commit such acts to justice.

Lives on the Line confirms why it is so difficult to investigate organised crime and urban terrorists today.

– Inside an urban terror network: book reveals how police finally cracked Pagad gang violence in Cape Town
– https://theconversation.com/inside-an-urban-terror-network-book-reveals-how-police-finally-cracked-pagad-gang-violence-in-cape-town-253447

MIL OSI Africa –

April 2, 2025

MIL-OSI: YieldMax™ ETFs Announces Distributions on BIGY ($0.4582) and SOXY ($0.4266)

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHICAGO and MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax™ today announced distributions for the YieldMax™ Target 12™ ETFs listed in the table below. The Fund seeks to generate income with a 12% target annual income level.

ETF Ticker¹	ETF Name	Distribution Frequency	Distribution per Share	Distribution Rate²	30-Day SEC Yield³	ROC⁴	Ex-Date & Record Date	Payment Date
BIGY	YieldMax™ Target 12™ Big 50 Option Income ETF	Monthly	$0.4582	12.00%	0.03%	0.00%	4/2/25	4/3/25
SOXY	YieldMax™ Target 12™ Semiconductor Option Income ETF	Monthly	$0.4266	12.00%	0.00%	0.00%	4/2/25	4/3/25

You are not guaranteed a distribution under the ETFs. Distributions for the ETFs (if any) are variable and may vary significantly from period to period and may be zero.

Investors in the Funds will not have rights to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the underlying reference asset(s).

¹ Each ETF’s strategy will cap potential gains if its reference asset’s shares increase in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset’s shares decrease in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF.

²The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on March 31, 2025. The Distribution Rate is the annual distribution rate an investor would receive if the most recent distribution, which includes option income, remained the same going forward. The Distribution Rate is calculated by annualizing an ETF’s Distribution per Share and dividing such annualized amount by the ETF’s most recent NAV. The Distribution Rate represents a single distribution from the ETF and does not represent its total return. Distributions may also include a combination of ordinary dividends, capital gain, and return of investor capital, which may decrease an ETF’s NAV and trading price over time. As a result, an investor may suffer significant losses to their investment. These Distribution Rates may be caused by unusually favorable market conditions and may not be sustainable. Such conditions may not continue to exist and there should be no expectation that this performance may be repeated in the future.

³The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended February 28, 2025, expressed as an annual percentage rate based on such ETF’s share price at the end of the 30-Day period.

⁴ROC refers to Return of Capital. The ROC percentage is the portion of the distribution that represents an investor’s original investment.

Each Fund has a limited operating history and while each Fund’s objective is to provide current income, there is no guarantee the Fund will make a distribution. Distributions are likely to vary greatly in amount.

Standardized Performance

For BIGY, click here. For SOXY, click here.

Important Information

This material must be preceded or accompanied by the prospectus. For all prospectuses, click here.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about each Fund, visit our website at www.YieldMaxETFs.com. Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

There is no guarantee that any Fund’s investment strategy will be properly implemented, and an investor may lose some or all of its investment in any such Fund.

Tidal Financial Group is the adviser for all YieldMax™ ETFs.

THE FUND, TRUST, AND ADVISER ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY UNDERLYING REFERENCE ASSET.

Risk Disclosures

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

Call Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s call writing strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in the positive price returns of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold call options and over longer periods.

Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings. A high portfolio turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses.

Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of call option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in increases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Call Period.

Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

YieldMax™ ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not affiliated with Tidal Financial Group, or YieldMax™ ETFs.

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025

MIL-OSI: Limekiln Wind Farm, Scotland: Boralex’s First Production Site in the United Kingdom Now Operational

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

EDINBURGH, United Kingdom, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boralex inc. (“Boralex” or the “Company”) (TSX: BLX) is pleased to announce that the Limekiln Wind Farm and all its turbines are operational. Limekiln Wind Farm, located near Thurso in Caithness, is the Corporation’s flagship project in Scotland and its first operational site in the United Kingdom, with an installed capacity of 106 MW.

“I am extremely proud of the Boralex team, whose expertise and dedication over the past few years have enabled us to reach this historic milestone for the company today,” said Patrick Decostre, President and CEO. “The UK is a key geography in achieving our growth and diversification objectives, and the operation of Limekiln Wind Farm enables us to strengthen our strategic position in the UK, while contributing to the global energy transition.”

“The operational phase announced today is a major step towards achieving our ambition of increasing our portfolio of ready-to-build and operational renewable energy assets in the UK, a market with high development potential, to 1 GW by 2030,” said Nicolas Wolff, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Europe. “It is also the result of valuable consultation work with local communities carried out by our teams, who have been present on the ground since the very first stages of the project.”

Limekiln Wind Farm consists of 24 Vestas V136-4.5MW wind turbines, measuring 150m to the tip of the blade. Apart from zero-carbon electricity, the wind farm will also deliver a full package of social, economic and environmental benefits, including biodiversity enhancements such as a native species planting scheme and a peat restoration programme, as well as a Community Benefit Fund of over £500,000 annually for the life of the project.

This project benefits from a government-backed 15-year Contract for Difference (CfD) that will start in April 2028. Boralex has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Statkraft, one of the leading PPA providers in the UK, to cover the period between commissioning of the wind farm, and the beginning of the CfD.

In addition, the project offers local employment opportunities: the site’s operation would support at least 8 direct jobs and around 50 indirect jobs. Lastly, the wind farm will provide sufficient electricity to meet the needs of around 100,000 British homes every year, based on the average generation mix of UK power sources.

For more information, please visit the Limekiln Wind Farm page on our website.

Boralex accelerates its development in the United Kingdom

The operation of Limekiln Wind Farm comes at a time of strong growth for Boralex in the UK. Since 2023, the Company has expanded its team from 10 to 23 renewable energy professionals and aims to recruit more than a dozen new employees by the end of the year in all departments. Two major milestones were reached in the past year, with the closing of financing and the signing of the Corporate PPA for Limekiln Wind Farm. Boralex also acquired the Sallachy (wind – up to 50 MW) and Clashindarroch Extension (wind – 145 MW and storage – 50 MW) projects. Boralex opened a new office in Ringwood, in the south of England, in January 2025, allowing it to continue its growth in this region and in Wales.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements based on current expectations, within the meaning of securities legislation. Boralex would like to point out that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such that its results or the measure it adopts could differ materially from those indicated by or underlying these statements, or could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular forward-looking statement. Unless otherwise specified by the Company, the forward-looking statements do not take into account the possible impact on its activities, transactions, non-recurring items or other exceptional items announced or occurring after the statements are made. There can be no assurance as to the materialization of the results, performance or achievements as expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Unless required to do so under applicable securities legislation, Boralex management does not assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or other changes.

About Boralex

At Boralex, we have been providing affordable renewable energy accessible to everyone for over 30 years. As a leader in the Canadian market and France’s largest independent producer of onshore wind power, we also have development activities and production facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. Over the past five years, our installed capacity has more than doubled to over 3.1 GW. Our pipeline of projects and growth path total over 8 GW in wind, solar and electricity storage projects. We develop those projects guided by our values and our corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach. Through profitable and sustainable growth, Boralex is actively participating in the fight against global warming. Thanks to our fearlessness, our discipline, our expertise and our diversity, we continue to be an industry leader. Boralex’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BLX.

For more information, visit boralex.com or sedarplus.com. Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

For more information

MEDIA	INVESTOR RELATIONS
Camille Laventure Senior Advisor, Public Affairs and External Communications Boralex Inc. 438 883-8580 camille.laventure@boralex.com	Stéphane Milot Vice President, Investor Relations and Financial Planning and Analysis Boralex Inc. 514 213-1045 stephane.milot@boralex.com

MEDIA – UNITED KINGDOM
Marlies Koutstaal Communications Manager Boralex United Kingdom 07876 341561 marlies.koutsaal@boralex.com

Source: Boralex inc.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7d9ca4d0-9894-41e3-9bb7-e3a68e59e4b5

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025

MIL-OSI: CECO Environmental Announces Completion of the Divestiture of Its Fluid Handling Business to May River Capital

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ADDISON, Texas, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CECO Environmental Corp. (Nasdaq: CECO), a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company whose solutions protect people, the environment and industrial equipment, today announced it has completed the previously announced divestiture of its Fluid Handling business (also known as its Global Pump Solutions, or GPS, business) contained in its Industrial Process Solutions segment to May River Capital, effective March 31, 2025.

The enterprise value of the transaction is approximately $110 million, paid in cash at closing. The Company intends to use the proceeds from this transaction to pay down debt and to fund future strategic growth investments.

The GPS business consists of three niche leadership severe service industrial metallic, fiberglass and thermoplastic centrifugal pump brands – Dean, Fybroc and Sethco – which joined the CECO family through an acquisition in 2013. The business operates from strategic locations in Indianapolis, Indiana and Telford, Pennsylvania, and services over 1,500 customers globally.

“I am pleased to have completed our previously announced divesture of GPS, which enables greater alignment of our portfolio of leading environmental solution businesses against our high growth opportunities in energy and industrial markets,” said Todd Gleason, CECO’s Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that the GPS business is well positioned as a niche leader in its respective end markets and applications, and we also believe that we have found the right buyer and future home to ensure its continued success and development of the GPS team. This sale will – after our recent acquisitions of Verantis Environmental and Profire Energy – create additional capacity for further investment in CECO’s growth and business expansion, and execution of our strategies in Industrial Air, Industrial Water, and the Energy Transition.”

EC M&A and Koley Jessen were the primary financial and legal advisors to CECO for the transaction. Paul Hastings and TD Securities served as legal and financial counsel to May River Capital.

ABOUT CECO ENVIRONMENTAL
CECO Environmental is a leading environmentally focused, diversified industrial company, serving a broad landscape of industrial air, industrial water, and energy transition markets globally through its key business segments: Engineered Systems and Industrial Process Solutions. Providing innovative technology and application expertise, CECO helps companies grow their business with safe, clean, and more efficient solutions that help protect people, the environment and industrial equipment. In regions around the world, CECO works to improve air quality, optimize the energy value chain, and provide custom solutions for applications in power generation, petrochemical processing, refining, midstream gas transport and treatment, electric vehicle and battery production, metals and mineral processing, polysilicon production, battery recycling, beverage can production, and produced and oily water/wastewater treatment along with a wide range of other industrial applications. CECO is listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “CECO.” Incorporated in 1966, CECO’s global headquarters is in Addison, Texas. For more information, please visit www.cecoenviro.com.

About May River Capital
May River Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on partnering with lower middle-market industrial growth businesses. The firm invests in high-performing companies in advanced manufacturing, engineered products and instrumentation, specialized industrial services, and value-added industrial distribution services. For more information, please visit www.mayrivercapital.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Any statements contained in this Press Release, other than statements of historical fact, including statements about management’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as amended, and should be evaluated as such. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance. We use words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “will,” “plan,” “should” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties, among others, that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed under “Part I – Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and may be included in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and include, but are not limited to: the effect of the divestiture of our Global Pump Solutions business on business relationships, operating results, and business generally, disruption of current plans and operations and potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the transaction, diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations in connection with the integration of recent acquisitions, the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and other charges related to the transaction, the achievement of the anticipated benefits of transactions, our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses and realize the synergies from acquisitions, as well as a number of factors related to our business, including the sensitivity of our business to economic and financial market conditions generally and economic conditions in CECO’s service areas; dependence on fixed price contracts and the risks associated therewith, including actual costs exceeding estimates and method of accounting for revenue; the effect of growth on our infrastructure, resources, and existing sales; the ability to expand operations in both new and existing markets; the potential for contract delay or cancellation as a result of on-going or worsening supply chain challenges or other customer considerations; liabilities arising from faulty services or products that could result in significant professional or product liability, warranty, or other claims; changes in or developments with respect to any litigation or investigation; failure to meet timely completion or performance standards that could result in higher cost and reduced profits or, in some cases, losses on projects; the potential for fluctuations in prices for manufactured components and raw materials, including as a result of tariffs and surcharges, and rising energy costs; inflationary pressures relating to rising raw material costs and the cost of labor; the substantial amount of debt incurred in connection with our strategic transactions and our ability to repay or refinance it or incur additional debt in the future; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations; our ability to repurchase shares of our common stock and the amounts and timing of repurchases; our ability to successfully realize the expected benefits of our restructuring program; economic and political conditions generally; our ability to optimize our business portfolio by identifying acquisition targets, executing upon any strategic acquisitions or divestitures, integrating acquired businesses and realizing the synergies from strategic transactions; and the unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including cyber security threats, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities or public health crises, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. Many of these risks are beyond management’s ability to control or predict. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material aspects from those currently anticipated. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements as they speak only to our views as of the date the statement is made. Except as required under the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we undertake no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Company Contact:
Peter Johansson
Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
888-990-6670

Investor Relations Contact:
Steven Hooser and Jean Marie Young
Three Part Advisors
214-872-2710
Investor.Relations@OneCECO.com

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOEA Extends Household Appliances Subsidy Program, Call for Applications Until October 2025

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has officially launched the 2025 Household Appliances Subsidy Program. Citizens can receive an NT$3,000 subsidy per unit when replacing outdated air conditioners or refrigerators with new ones of Tier-1 efficiency. However, due to a partial budget freeze imposed by the Legislative Yuan, the program is expected that subsidies for 600,000 units will be reduced this year, and the application period has been shortened to the end of October. Should the allocated funds be exhausted before the deadline, applications will close early. Citizens who need the subsidy are encouraged to seize the opportunity, replace their outdated appliances and complete the application process as early as possible.

Between 2023 and 2024, the subsidy program facilitated the replacement of 3.22 million air conditioners and refrigerators, saving approximately 1.93 billion kWh annually. With an estimated 4.08 million outdated appliances still in use nationwide, the government aims to accelerate replacement and achieve deep energy saving goals. Over the next two years, the program will continue, with NT$6.8 billion allocated for 2025 to support the replacement of 2.07 million units.

The Energy Administration noted that the 2025 subsidy fund has been reduced by NT$1.92 billion due to the budget freeze of 20%, which limits the number of subsidized units to 1.47 million, leaving an estimated 500,000 households unable to benefit. The subsidy eligibility period covers purchases made between January 1, 2023, and October 31, 2025. Citizens are encouraged to notice that, applications will be accepted until October 31, 2025, or until the budget is fully utilized.

Application process is same as before, citizens purchasing efficient household appliances during the eligibility period and recycling their outdated units are eligible for the subsidy. Applicants must prepare copies of their ID card, bankbook cover, electricity bill, uniform invoice, product warranty card, and the recycling receipt for the discarded appliance, and submit their applications online via the official website (https://save3000.moeaea.gov.tw) or by post to P.O. Box 8-17, Banqiao Post Office.

The Energy Administration stated that over the past two years, more than 80% of applicants have applied for subsidies online. To enhance the convenience of online applications, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology will continue to be used this year to streamline data entry and reduce processing time. Citizens are encouraged to take advantage of the 24/7 online application service, allowing them to submit their applications easily from home. This not only saves time and effort but also contributes to energy conservation and carbon reduction.

Citizen’s application cases will be processed for funding disbursement sequentially after the announcement of the 2025 budget by the Presidential Office. Moreover, Citizens purchasing efficient air conditioners and refrigerators may also apply for a commodity tax refund from the Ministry of Finance, with a maximum rebate of NT$2,000 per unit. Namely, households replacing outdated air conditioners or refrigerators with new efficient ones may receive up to NT$5,000 in total from saving energy.

For detailed information on subsidy regulations, citizens are encouraged to visit the dedicated subsidy website. For assistance with the application process, applicants may use the online customer service chatbot or call the subsidy hotline at (02) 2955-9666 to speak with professional customer service staff.

Spokesperson for Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs: Deputy Director General, Chih-Wei Wu
Contact Phone Number: 02-2775-7750, 0922-339-410
Email Address: cwwu@moeaea.gov.tw

Contact Person: Director, Shu-Fang Kao
Contact Phone Number: 02-2775-7773, 0918-400-668
Email Address: sfkao@moeaea.gov.tw

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to South African government again pressuring Taiwan to relocate liaison office

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to South African government again pressuring Taiwan to relocate liaison office

Date：2025-02-02
Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

February 2, 2025Since last October, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has been in communication with South Africa through diplomatic channels. In accordance with the principles of parity and dignity, MOFA has engaged with the South African government, seeking to understand its views on future bilateral relations while still staunchly refusing to accept unilateral changes to the status quo. In late January, however, the South African government sent another letter to the Taipei Liaison Office in the Republic of South Africa (TLO) demanding that it leave the capital city of Pretoria before the end of March. The South African government also attempted to downgrade the status of the TLO and have it renamed a trade office.Federal Chairperson Ivan Meyer of the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party, was recently sanctioned by the Chinese government for visiting Taiwan. That the South African government has yet again set a deadline for the TLO’s relocation out of Pretoria—despite ongoing negotiations with Taiwan—demonstrates that China is ramping up efforts to suppress Taiwan in South Africa. Upon receiving a TLO report regarding the South African government’s repeated demand to relocate the office, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung again promptly convened a task force to discuss contingency measures. He remained in constant contact with the relevant MOFA officials both at home and abroad during the Lunar New Year holiday. He also instructed Director General Anthony Chung-yi Ho of the Department of West Asian and African Affairs to summon Representative Zakhele Mnisi of the Liaison Office of South Africa in Taiwan to convey the government’s serious concerns.MOFA reiterates that the Taiwan government remains steadfast in its refusal to accept the South African government’s unilateral violation of their bilateral agreement and that it will continue communicating with South Africa on the principles of parity and dignity. In line with the Taiwan government’s objectives, MOFA will adopt contingency measures depending on the South African government’s responses. It will also apprise the Taiwanese people and media of future developments at the appropriate times.MOFA once again solemnly urges the government of South Africa, which will host this year’s Group of 20 summit, to abide by the legal framework for bilateral relations signed in 1997. And before a consensus is reached through negotiations with Taiwan, MOFA calls on South Africa not to use coercive measures against the TLO or take any other action that could interfere with the TLO’s operations or services that it provides for Taiwanese abroad.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Democracy and the rule of law in Romania – cancellation of the presidential election and exclusion of Călin Georgescu – E-001115/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001115/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Siegbert Frank Droese (ESN)

1.What is the Commission’s view of the fact that Călin Georgescu was not admitted to the Romanian presidential elections, and does it consider it compatible with the principles of democracy and the rule of law under EU law?

2.Does the Commission consider the decision of the Romanian authorities to be in breach of the right to political participation and free elections enshrined in the EU Treaties, and if so, what steps does it intend to take?

3.Given the growing doubts concerning the democratic independence of national governments in the EU, how is the Commission ensuring that Romania complies with its obligations to uphold the fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law?

Submitted: 17.3.2025
Last updated: 1 April 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Energy taxation rules – E-001180/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001180/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Michalis Hadjipantela (PPE)

The Republic of Cyprus, in line with the EU’s energy taxation rules, is expected to impose or expand various environmental taxes on water, fuel and waste management, to meet climate-related targets by encouraging consumers to switch to environmentally friendly alternatives.

These taxes will drive up costs for households, especially for utilities and transportation, thereby contributing to inflation, the worsening of the energy crisis and further economic uncertainty. These consequences will disproportionately affect lower-income citizens and households, contrary to the EU principle of a socially balanced, just transition.

The lack of viable alternatives available to consumers in Cyprus, such as greater renewable energy capacity, modernised waste management and better public transport, will place undue stress on the public.

In the light of the above:

1.Can the Commission provide detailed clarification on whether a deferral of or exemption to the proposed taxes can be granted, under existing or proposed directives?

2.What tools, financial instruments or mechanisms are available to support Cyprus in closing its infrastructure gaps and mitigating the transition costs for households, particularly vulnerable ones?

Submitted: 19.3.2025
Last updated: 1 April 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Sustainability and due diligence: MEPs fast-track vote on postponed application

Source: European Parliament 3

Having voted to use the urgent procedure, Parliament will decide on Thursday whether to delay application of the new sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements.

With 427 votes for, 221 against and 14 abstentions, Parliament voted on Tuesday to fast-track its work on the stop-the-clock proposal to postpone the application of social and environmental reporting and due diligence measures.

Under the proposal to be put to a vote on Thursday, application of social and environmental reporting would be postponed by two years for the second and third waves of companies within its remit.

As part of the same vote, MEPs will decide whether to delay transposition and application of due diligence measures for one year for the largest companies.

Next steps

The Council of the EU, which brings together member states’ ministers, endorsed the Commission proposal on delayed application without changes. If MEPs endorse that text on Thursday, the draft rules would only need formal approval by the Council to enter into force.

Background

On 26 February 2025, the European Commission presented the “Omnibus I” simplification package. It comprises, among other files, a directive delaying application of due diligence and sustainability reporting rules, on which MEPs will vote on Thursday, and another directive changing the scope and content of both the due diligence rules and the sustainability reporting requirements. Work on the second of the two directives will now start in Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee.

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – EIOPA’s supervision of cross-border insurance sales – E-000268/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
Effective supervision is essential to fostering trust in the single market and protecting policyholders. Under the current EU supervisory framework in the insurance sector, national authorities bear primary responsibility for overseeing insurance undertakings and intermediaries within their jurisdiction, ensuring compliance, and taking corrective action when necessary.

Their mandates are clearly defined under the Solvency II[1] and Insurance Distribution[2] Directives, which require them to operate independently.

Within this framework, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) plays an important role in ensuring high-quality supervision and promoting supervisory convergence across Member States.

The recently adopted Solvency II review[3] adds stronger cooperation and more automatic information exchange in case of significant cross-border business between the home and host supervisors and enhances EIOPA’s powers to intervene in complex cross-border cases, including binding mediation[4].

EIOPA, as an independent authority, supports the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission in the development of legislation within the area of insurance and occupational pensions, while being accountable to the European Parliament and the Council.

The Commission is committed to improving the supervisory system at the EU level, as outlined in the mission letter to the Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union.

However, it is important to emphasise that only the co-legislators have the mandate to change the scope of EIOPA’s supervisory powers in the EIOPA Regulation[5] and sectoral legislation.

[1] Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of Insurance and Reinsurance, OJ L 335, 17.12.2009, p. 1-155.

[2] Directive (EU) 2016/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 January 2016 on insurance distribution, OJ L 26, 2.2.2016, p. 19-59.

[3] Directive (EU) 2025/2 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 amending Directive 2009/138/EC as regards proportionality, quality of supervision, reporting, long-term guarantee measures, macro-prudential tools, sustainability risks and group and cross-border supervision, and amending Directives 2002/87/EC and 2013/34/EU, OJ L, 2025/2, 8.1.2025. The directive will apply as of 30 January 2027.

[4] See Articles 33, 152aa, 152ab, 152b, 155, 158, 227, 231, 238.

[5] Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 establishing a European Supervisory Authority (European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority), amending Decision No 716/2009/EC and repealing Commission Decision 2009/79/EC.
Last updated: 1 April 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering – make a difference today

Source: City of Wolverhampton

LGBTQ+ foster and adoptive parents are making a tremendous difference and the 2 organisations are seeking more people to come forward to support their children and young people in care.

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “Fostering and adoption are 2 of the most rewarding things you can do.

“We are always looking for loving and accepting homes for our children and young people, and your impact can last a lifetime.

“Adoption and fostering can have a profound and positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children, and both foster and adoptive parents give vital support to children who have experienced significant trauma and loss.

“We are committed to developing a diverse and inclusive fostering and adoption family here in Wolverhampton and we very much welcome and encourage enquiries from the LGBTQ+ community.”

Fostering offers both short term and long term opportunities to provide stability for children. And where children cannot return to their birth families, adopters can provide a permanent loving home.

You can foster or adopt whether you are single, living together, married, a same sex couple, employed or not, or already have children. Potential foster and adoptive parents must legally be a UK resident for at least 12 months, be aged 21 or over, have a spare bedroom if they are fostering, and be able to provide a stable home for a child until adulthood and beyond.

Adoption@Heart runs an information session every 2 weeks for those who are ready to start their adoption journey or would like more information. For more information visit Adoption@Heart, call 01902 553818 or email info@adoptionatheart.org.uk.

Fostering for Wolverhampton also runs regular information events for those interested in making a difference in a child’s life. To learn more about fostering, visit Fostering for Wolverhampton or call 01902 551133.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Acorn Farm’s New Gate Lodge Garden officially opens

Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

Acorn Farm’s New Gate Lodge Garden officially opens

1 April 2025

Spring has certainly sprung in the new Acorn Farm Gate Lodge Garden located at the St Columb’s Park Gate Lodge which has been officially opened by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr.

The new garden is part of the ambitious Acorn Farm Project, a partnership project supported by funding from The National Lottery Community Fund’s, Climate Action Fund and the UK Government.

Mayor Barr was joined by pupils from St Anne’s Primary School in Derry, who had the opportunity to learn about the importance of seed planting and growing cycles, and taste the benefits of the freshly harvested food.

The new space has been created to connect local communities, families, households and food producers with sustainable food practices, healthy eating and climate-friendly learning. It will help facilitate elements of the Acorn Farm’s wider engagement programme through events, workshops and guided visits.

The Acorn Farm project is delivered by a partnership team consisting of Derry City and Strabane District Council, The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Conservation Volunteers, Developing Healthy Communities and Community Garden Support.

Officially opening the gardens, Mayor Barr said they provided a beautiful learning space for all ages. “I am thrilled to be here today and to see the next stage in the development of the Acorn Farm project. There is a fantastic array of produce already being grown, and local people can draw on the expertise from local horticulturists and other experienced growers. Congratulations to everyone involved in realising this wonderful new green space.”

Paul Sweeney, Northen Ireland Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “I am delighted to be at the Gate Lodge Gardens today for the official opening and to see the progress made so far in the Acorn Farm Project, which has been supported by over £2 million of National Lottery funding.

“A priority of The National Lottery Community Fund’s strategy to 2030 is to support communities in becoming environmentally sustainable. Innovative and ambitious projects like Acorn Farm are a fantastic example of our funding being put into action by communities, by creating a movement and helping develop more sustainable and responsible ways of sourcing and producing food.

“Well done to everyone involved in developing this community hub which will boost mental health, encourage physical activity and build stronger community connections.”

Shauna Kelpie, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland said: “What we see here today is the culmination of outstanding collaboration between partner organisations committed to improving the lives of local people and our environment through access to more sustainable food choices. This project kick starts so many ‘green focused’ activities and will be life changing for so many families now and into the future.”

The total funding investment pot of £6.2m in capital infrastructure (UK Government and Derry City and Strabane District Council) and over £2m (National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund) in skills-based engagement programmes, is assisting local people to take climate action through food choice and make the link between sustainable food and better health outcomes for this generation and future ones.

Find out more about the project at https://acornfarmni.com/

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
Source: European Investment Bank

EIB
- EIB to co-finance with a €95 million loan, the construction and operation of student housing and new academic facilities
- Campuses in cities of Heraklion and Rethymno will benefit from 2,833 new rooms to accommodate up to 4,846 students
- EIB also providing technical assistance for energy efficiency, climate adaptation, PPP best practices and project management
The University of Crete in Greece will benefit from €95 million in European Investment Bank (EIB) financing to help build affordable student housing and upgrade campus facilities as part of a pioneering Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project awarded to the AKTOR Group.

The EIB financing, which is backed by the InvestEU programme, will co-finance the expansion of the university’s campuses in two locations, Heraklion and Rethymno, with 2,833 rooms and apartments to be built, creating up to 4,846 beds. In total, the project will involve the construction of more than 109,000 square meters of student housing and academic spaces, including a new 800-seat amphitheatre at the Rethymnon campus.

The new buildings created will also be highly energy efficient, performing better than the Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in Greece, as well as include climate adaptation measures.

“Investing in university infrastructure is not just about building new facilities—it’s about shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and strengthening the social fabric of our communities,” said EIB Vice-President, Yannis Tsakiris. “Greek universities must have the resources to attract and nurture the next generation of talent, and this project is a crucial step in that direction. At the same time, the shortage of affordable and sustainable student housing is a growing challenge across Europe. With this new financing for the University of Crete, we are not only addressing this urgent need but also delivering on our commitment to support education, sustainability, and economic growth. This investment is a tangible example of how the EIB is turning vision into action, ensuring that students have access to modern, energy-efficient spaces where they can learn, live, and thrive.

”We are envisioning, planning, and—through important synergies such as the one with the EIB and AKTOR—implementing a broad and coherent plan for the upgrading of public universities,” said Sofia Zacharaki, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports.“Ensuring access to quality, free housing for thousands of students, in both new and renovated student residences across the country, is a cornerstone of this plan. Through beneficial public-private partnerships for the Greek state, with a total budget of 700 million euros, we are creating new student residences, increasing the number of available beds to 21,000 from the current 12,457, while also undertaking extensive renovations of existing facilities. It is essential—and this is exactly what is being delivered through the project involving student residences and new academic spaces in Crete—that there is long-term provision and commitment to maintenance and technical management, so that, over time, both taxpayers’ money and the smooth functioning of the public university’s legacy are safeguarded, always for the benefit of Greek families, students, learning, and progress.”

Unlocking sustainable development via PPP

The University of Crete procured the project through a 30-year PPP agreement, with the contract awarded to the AKTOR Group of Companies and implemented through its subsidiary Talaia Estia SA. The total long-term financing of €190 million is co-financed equally by the EIB and Piraeus Bank.

Further to the financial contribution EIB has provided technical assistance focused on three pillars:
- enhancement of the technical specifications associated with energy efficiency, lifecycle global warming potential calculations, climate change adaptation measures and compliance to the EU Taxonomy technical screening criteria
- cooperation with the Greek PPP Unit in the ongoing development of the contractual framework in accordance with best practices and the experience gained from similar previous projects
- provision of best practice tools and capacity building for the University’s PPP contract management team to manage the Partnership Agreement during its 30-year tenor, delivered with InvestEU advisory funding support.
“Collaboration between public and private sectors and institutional banks, such as the EIB, can improve the daily life of citizens, produce sustainable innovations and solve important problems, supporting social progress,” explained AKTOR Group Chairman and CEO, Alexandros Exarchou. “We undertake this ambitious project with great responsibility as it will be the first of its kind in Greece and we aim to mobilize our resources to deliver state-of-the-art facilities that will stand as an example of high quality, green and modern infrastructure. Our youth is our future, and they deserve the finest environment that will allow them to evolve. At AKTOR Group, our mission is to contribute to progress and prosperity through our actions and investments, and we are committed to a sustainable future and creating value for our shareholders and society.”

”We are very proud to co-finance this project as we consider education as a key factor for sustainable development,” added Piraeus Executive General Manager, and Head of CIB, Theodore Tzouros. “Piraeus plays a leading role in supporting infrastructure projects, as part of its strategic commitment to contribute to the economic growth and the prosperity of Greek society. This student housing and academic facilities project at the University of Crete has a strong social impact as it will support the students who need affordable housing and will serve the needs of the local community.”

Tackling the affordable housing issue with concrete solutions

The lack of affordable and sustainable housing, especially for students, is a growing challenge across Europe, particularly in regions with strong tourism-driven real estate markets such as Crete. This investment will not only expand student accommodation capacity but will also enhance access to higher education for students from lower-income backgrounds, and strengthen the university’s competitiveness, as well as its academic and social impact.

The announcement comes after the EIB Group announced at the EIB Forum its action plan to support housing, which includes a new housing one-stop-shop portal to provide advice and finance to support innovation in the construction sector, build affordable homes and invest in energy efficiency and the renovation of housing stock across Europe. The EIB Group is planning investments of around €10 billion over next two years with the aim of delivering 1.5 million new or renovated housing units across Europe.

Background information

EIB

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.

The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high -impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
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Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
Greece: EIB supports student housing and campus upgrades of the University of Crete
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MIL OSI Europe News –
April 1, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: It will take more than an Oscar to stop Israel’s West Bank plans

“I started filming when we started to end.” With these haunting words, Basel Adra begins No Other Land, the Oscar-winning documentary that depicts life in Masafer Yatta, a collection of Palestinian villages in the southern West Bank that are under complete occupation – military and civil – by Israel.

For Basel and his community, this land isn’t merely territory — it’s identity, livelihood, their past and future.

No Other Land vividly captures the intensity of life in rural Palestinian villages and the everyday destruction perpetrated by both Israeli authorities and the nearby settler population: the repeated demolition of Palestinian homes and schools; destruction of water sources such as wells; uprooting of olive trees; and the constant threat of extreme violence.

While this 95-minute slice of Palestinian life opened the world’s eyes, most are unaware that No Other Land takes place in an area of the West Bank that is ground zero for any viable future Palestinian state.

Designated as “Area C” under the Oslo Peace Accords, it constitutes 60% of the occupied West Bank and is where the bulk of Israeli settlements and outposts are located. It is a beautiful and resource-rich area upon which a Palestinian state would need to rely for self-sufficiency.

For decades now, Israel has been using military rule as well as its planning regime to take over huge swathes of Area C, land that is Palestinian — lived and worked on for generations.

This has been achieved through Israel’s High Planning Council, an institution constituted solely of Israelis who oversee the use of the land through permits — a system that invariably benefits Israelis and subjugates Palestinians, so much so that Israel denies access to Palestinians of 99 percent of the land in Area C including their own agricultural lands and private property.

‘This is apartheid’
Michael Lynk, when he was serving as UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, referred to Israel’s planning system as “de-development” and stated explicitly: “This is apartheid”.

The International Court of Justice recently affirmed what Palestinians have long known: Israel’s planning policies in the West Bank are not only discriminatory but form part of a broader annexation agenda — a violation of international humanitarian law.

To these ends, Israel deploys a variety of strategies: Israeli officials will deem certain areas as “state lands”, necessary for military use, or designate them as archaeologically significant, or will grant permission for the expansion of an existing settlement or the establishment of a new one.

Meanwhile, less than 1 percent of Palestinian permit applications were granted at the best of times, a percentage which has dropped to zero since October 2023.

As part of the annexation strategy, one of Israel’s goals with respect to Area C is demographic: to move Israelis in and drive Palestinians out — all in violation of international law which prohibits the forced relocation of occupied peoples and the transfer of the occupant’s population to occupied land.

Regardless, Israel is achieving its goal with impunity: between 2023 and 2025 more than 7,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from their homes in Area C due to Israeli settler violence and access restrictions.

At least 16 Palestinian communities have been completely emptied, their residents scattered, and their ties to ancestral lands severed.

Israel’s settler colonialism on steroids
Under the cover of the international community’s focus on Gaza since October 2023, Israel has accelerated its land grab at an unprecedented pace.

The government has increased funding for settlements by nearly 150 percent; more than 25,000 new Israeli housing units in settlements have been advanced or approved; and Israel has been carving out new roads through Palestinian lands in the West Bank, severing Palestinians from each other, their lands and other vital resources.

Israeli authorities have also encouraged the establishment of new Israeli outposts in Area C, housing some of the most radical settlers who have been intensifying serious violence against Palestinians in the area, often with the support of Israeli soldiers.

None of this is accidental. In December 2022, Israel appointed Bezalel Smotrich, founder of a settler organisation and a settler himself, to oversee civilian affairs in the West Bank.

Since then, administrative changes have accelerated settlement expansion while tightening restrictions on Palestinians. New checkpoints and barriers throughout Area C have further isolated Palestinian communities, making daily life increasingly impossible.

Humanitarian organisations and the international community provide much-needed emergency assistance to help Palestinians maintain a foothold, but Palestinians are quickly losing ground.

As No Other Land hit screens in movie houses across the world, settlers were storming homes in Area C and since the Oscar win there has been a notable uptick in violence. Just this week reports emerged that co-director Hamdan Ballal was himself badly beaten by Israeli settlers and incarcerated overnight by the Israeli army.

Israel’s annexation of Area C is imminent. To retain it as Palestinian will require both the Palestinian Authority and the international community to shift the paradigm, assert that Area C is Palestinian and take more robust actions to breathe life into this legal fact.

The road map for doing so was laid by the International Court of Justice who found unequivocally that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is unlawful and must come to an end.

They specified that the international community has obligations in this regard: they must not directly or indirectly aid Israel in maintaining the occupation and they must cooperate to end it.

With respect to Area C, this includes tackling Israel’s settlement policy to cease, prevent and reverse settlement construction and expansion; preventing any further settler violence; and ending any engagement with Israel’s discriminatory High Planning Council, which must be dismantled.

With no time to waste, and despite all the other urgencies in Gaza and the West Bank, if there is to be a Palestinian state, Palestinians in Area C must be provided with full support – political, financial, and legal — by local authorities and the international community, to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

After all, Area C is Palestine.

Leilani Farha is a former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing and author of the report Area C is Everything. Republished under Creative Commons.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Appeal to find missing woman

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Mary, who is also known to her friends and family as Ellen, was last seen leaving her home in Petherton Road, Islington at around 10:30hrs on Monday, 31 March.

She is also known to have links with the Camden area.

Ellen is slim with brown hair. She was last seen wearing a brown jumper, a long dark green skirt and a black hat.

If you have seen Ellen or have any information about her whereabouts, please call 101 and quote the reference 2696/31MAR.

MIL Security OSI –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: Eberl Claims Service Expands with Strategic Acquisition of Bees360’s Drone-Based Property Inspection Services
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DENVER, April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eberl Claims Service has expanded its technology-driven claims solutions with the acquisition of Bees360’s advanced drone based residential and commercial property claims inspection services. The relative strengths of these two organizations combine to launch e360 – Eberl’s comprehensive field inspection service empowered by advanced property inspection workflows, drone data capture technology, and AI-powered damage assessment analytics.

e360 revolutionizes property claims inspections by integrating Bees360’s cutting-edge claims workflows and technology with Eberl’s proven expertise in claims adjusting, property inspection, damage estimatics, and rapid response at scale. e360 promises to elevate the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of property insurance claims handling.

Importantly, e360’s powerful new capabilities will enhance traditional methods, not replace them. Whether the most appropriate solution involves a drone-enabled or traditional inspection, or full field adjusting, Eberl now offers a dynamic, tech-integrated workflow that adapts to every type of claim, ensuring tailored and effective claim handling.

Key enhancements include:
- Drone-Enabled Claims Inspections: FAA-certified pilots leverage advanced drones for comprehensive and efficient inspections, enhancing accuracy and operational efficiency.
- AI-Powered Claims Damage Analysis & Smarter Triage: Eberl’s adjusting expertise, combined with AI-driven analysis, speeds up estimations and improves accuracy. This integration facilitates smarter triage and effective resource deployment during surge events.
- Scalable Operations & Faster Resolutions: Eberl’s resources combined with Bees360’s intelligent claims workflows will enable carriers to swiftly scale operations during surge events and reduce the time from inspection to resolution. AI automation enhancements improve accuracy, optimize resource distribution, and support fair settlements, ensuring quicker and more efficient claims handling.
- Expanded Nationwide Coverage & Service Offerings: The acquisition equips Eberl to manage a wider range of claims, from large-loss evaluations to virtual fast-track processes, across a technologically advanced national network.
“This acquisition and the formation of e360 is a technology supercharger for Eberl’s claims ecosystem. It’s a game-changer that empowers us to help carriers handle daily claims, surge events, and everything in between with greater agility and better claims outcomes,” said Chris Bergeon, President of Eberl.

Andy Liu, Co-Founder and CEO of Bees360, adds, “This partnership marks a transformative moment for the claims industry. Together, e360 is setting new standards for service delivery, empowering insurance carriers to overcome challenges and leverage opportunities with greater ease and effectiveness.”

Eberl welcomes the talented Bees360’s claims service team into a combined organization with proven expertise in field resource management, property inspections, AI enable damage assessment, and claims estimatics. In facilitating this pivotal venture, Morgan Partners served as Bees360, Inc’s exclusive financial advisor.

While Bees360 will maintain its underwriting services under its well-established brand, its property claims inspection capabilities are now seamlessly integrated within Eberl’s new e360 service line. This integration not only underscores Eberl’s dedication to innovation and excellence but also strengthens its position in the rapidly evolving insurance claims management industry, enhancing the company’s ability to effectively support their carrier partners when they need it most.

About Bees360

Founded in 2018, Bees360 is a technology-driven company that revolutionized property inspections and through breakthrough developments in drone enabled data capture technology and advanced AI damage assessment. With a network of over 5,600 FAA-certified drone pilots operating across 50 states, Bees360 has set a new standard in accuracy and efficiency for residential and commercial claims. Bees360 will continue to operate independently, offering underwriting and other services under their well-known Bees360 name.

About Eberl Claims Service

Founded in 1987, Eberl Claims Service provides comprehensive claims management solutions, including third party administration, FLEX Repair, loss adjusting, specialty claim services, and training. As part of the Cor Partners network, including Envista Forensics, DBI Construction, and Engle Martin, Eberl combines a people-centric culture with innovation and advanced technology to deliver efficient, compassionate, and reliable claims solutions.

The MIL Network –
April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Myanmar earthquake: MSF teams are in Mandalay and Shan state News Mar 31, 2025
Source: Doctors Without Borders –

In response to the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar on March 28, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams made up of medical, logistics, and water and sanitation staff are assessing affected areas in Mandalay and southern Shan state. The full scale of the damage and medical needs is still unknown due to communication blackouts and the difficulty of reaching the hardest-hit areas amid ongoing conflict.

In Myanmar, the earthquake hit Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypitaw, and Shan state. Tremors were also felt in Thailand, Bangladesh, China, and Laos. More than 2,056 people have been killed in Myanmar, with 3,900 injured and at least 270 still missing. The quake caused widespread damage to infrastructure and buildings. Aftershocks are increasing the risk of further collapse and complicating rescue efforts. Residents also report experiencing fear and facing difficulty accessing safe shelter due to the current political situation.
Overview

Myanmar earthquake impact

Schools, mosques, monasteries, government offices, and 1,000-bed Naypyitaw Hospital have been affected.

Yangon-Mandalay highway as well as Innwa and Dokhtawaddy bridges are reported to be damaged or collapsed.

The number of destroyed homes is still unknown.

Power outages have affected the entire country, including Yangon, with phone and internet services also disrupted.

Challenges amid ongoing response

Given the scale and intensity of the earthquake, the impact on people who require emergency trauma care for crush injuries can be devastating. This type of lifesaving assistance is an urgent need in the initial 72 hours after a disaster. We’re also concerned about people made vulnerable as a result of losing access to shelter, health care, and drinking water. Prompt medical aid efforts are crucial to control the spread of waterborne, vector-borne, or endemic diseases.

A massive scale-up of assistance to prevent further loss of life and suffering is urgently needed.

Further, health care facilities need stable power and clean water supplies to provide life- and limb-saving surgeries and deliveries. Damaged facilities may require urgent repair, temporary support structures, or replenished stocks of supplies that were lost or destroyed. Patients who rely on daily treatment to manage chronic conditions like HIV, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes, and hypertension will need close monitoring.

To enable an effective response, swift access to affected areas and timely approval of essential supplies and personnel are critical.

Destruction in Mandalay on March 31. | Myanmar 2025 © MSF

A rapid scale-up is needed in Myanmar

Our medical humanitarian staff in Myanmar and in neighboring countries are preparing to respond at scale to the needs of affected communities. Communication is ongoing with all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, reaffirming our commitment and capacity to scale up quickly and support ongoing response efforts in Mandalay, Naypyitaw, and all other areas impacted by the earthquake.

MSF ready to assist in Myanmar following powerful earthquake

Read more

As the scale of the destruction becomes clearer, a massive scale-up of assistance to prevent further loss of life and suffering is urgently needed. Responding to an emergency of this scale is beyond the capacity of any one organization. All people impacted by the earthquake, no matter where they live, need access to lifesaving medical humanitarian assistance.

We speak out. Get updates.
MIL OSI NGO –
April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Inside an urban terror network: book reveals how police finally cracked Pagad gang violence in Cape Town

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Irvin Kinnes, Associate Professor of Criminology, University of Cape Town

A campaign against gangsterism in Cape Town, South Africa led by the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) turned violent in the mid-1990s when a group known as Pagad G-Force began what became known as an urban terrorism campaign. Lives on the Line, written by security analyst David Africa, is the true story of the secret team in the country’s crime intelligence division that waged a six-year battle against the terror group – and won. The terror campaign was brought to a standstill in 2002. Criminology professor Irvin Kinnes sets out why it’s a riveting read, a bold tell-all account by a brave author.

What was the backdrop to the terror campaign?

In 1995, one year after the country’s first democratic elections, a new law was passed creating the newly constituted South African Police Service. It was a tough year because the elements of the old order in the police service had great difficulty accepting the new democratic dispensation. But they had to collaborate with the people that they had tortured, jailed and, in some cases, maimed as a result of their role in political oppression in support of apartheid.

The new centurions (police guardians of the new order) of democracy were not yet in place. A system of dual power emerged in the police, where some of the commanders that were appointed were former members of the liberation movements. They were seen as “plastic cops” because they did not train in the police academies around the country, but in the bush. Some subsequently attended various training academies. They were all integrated with other homeland police agencies from the Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei states and other “independent” homelands that had existed under apartheid. In total, 11 agencies combined to form the newly created and democratic police service in 1995.

After 1994, many of the apartheid social controls such as restrictions on people’s movement, racially divided settlement and the death penalty were abolished. People were jubilant, hyper aware of their newly found rights.

The police were not prepared to deal with such a rights-aware population. In addition, freedom also unleashed huge social challenges such as crime and particularly drug and gang crimes. In the immediate aftermath of the political negotiations that ended apartheid and prior to the elections, crime rates surged, especially in 1993. Not all of the crime was criminal: some of the events related to political crime with mass movements and political parties clashing with each other and with the police.

The urban terror campaign, as labelled by members of the South African Police Service, extended from 1996-2002. This was also known as the Cape Flats war (referred to as the Pagad troubles by Africa) and was triggered by the campaign of the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad). The organisation was initially made up of largely ordinary citizens across the religious divide, but later became almost exclusively Muslim led, and so was the G-Force.

Pagad led several marches on the Cape Flats against drug dealers and gangsters. These marches resulted in the death on 4 August 1996 of one of the co-leaders of the Hard Living gang, Rashaad Staggie, by a huge crowd of Pagad members who were escorted by the police’s Public Order Unit.

The execution resulted in a tit-for-tat killing between gang members and Pagad members.

What was Pagad G-Force? What led to its formation?

The Pagad G-Force were a group of men inside Pagad. They operated clandestinely outside its circle of influence of its public structures, but sometimes with its tacit support. Many of the members of the G-Force had received military training both inside and outside the borders of the country.

Some people claimed they were trained in Afghanistan and Iran, and they were operators who were armed and could manage themselves against some of the threats that gang leaders had made against them. They were a tightly knit unit that was able to retain secrecy in most of their operations, guarding it against police infiltration – a battle they ultimately lost, as Africa’s book shows.

The unit was accused of executing up to 30 senior gang leaders and drug dealers. Pagad would lead public marches against them and often publicly warned them to stop their drug dealing. This was followed by the homes of drug dealers being attacked. In many instances they were killed.

What does the book reveal about why it took so long to end the terror campaign?

There have been books that have attempted to document the Cape Flats war from different perspectives. But Africa tells the story from the inner sanctum of the state security apparatus that initially failed and eventually succeeded in penetrating the G-Force, Pagad and other formations.

His book provides significant insights that makes other books on the subject pale in comparison. Fighting terrorism (urban or other) requires patience and deliberate skilled analysis of data, patterns and personalities. It requires skills of analysis built up over many years of sifting through behaviours and actions of individuals and organisations perpetrating such crimes.

For the first time, we are made privy to the ideological reasoning and political thinking, strategising and implementation of police operations that was decidedly different from the old state thinking of actions against adversaries they were investigating.

This was painstaking work and the level of co-operation between the new centurions of democracy in the police under the leadership of Africa and the old order. The old-order guardians were the same men and women in the old South African Police Force that had defended the apartheid government and did not trust the new police investigators from the liberation movements. They still had control of the police service in 1996. This was a recipe for creative and disruptive tensions, mistrust and outright sabotage of each other’s operations.

What was the author’s involvement in the police efforts?

The author was the head of a covert police intelligence team whose exclusive focus was to bring down the Pagad G-Force. He was central in conceptualising a new approach of working in a decontaminated group of intelligence officers made up of former liberation movement officers. Their job was to analyse information and turn it into actionable intelligence products that could be used to act against the Pagad G-Force.

What was different about this approach was they produced court-ready evidence which police detectives could use in courts against the accused Pagad bombers. He led the fight for the new covert unit to have the necessary resources, support from their colleagues when it was required and most importantly, the support of the then national commissioner, Jackie Selebi.

In this fight, Selebi quite clearly took sides and fully supported the actions of Africa and his colleagues to defeat Pagad’s G-Force. Africa makes this clear in his book and emphasises the support that was provided by Selebi.

What are the key takeaways from the book about fighting similar campaigns of violence?

The book puts together all the actors nationally and provincially and accords them the historical roles in each of their fields of expertise. It unravels the networks they spun to target, isolate, recruit and turn suspected G-Force operators.

This look from within the war machine against Pagad raises many questions for any reader.

It is a book for anyone who wants to understand the fight against terror, globally, regionally and locally, and what it really takes to bring people who commit such acts to justice.

Lives on the Line confirms why it is so difficult to investigate organised crime and urban terrorists today.

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

– ref. Inside an urban terror network: book reveals how police finally cracked Pagad gang violence in Cape Town – https://theconversation.com/inside-an-urban-terror-network-book-reveals-how-police-finally-cracked-pagad-gang-violence-in-cape-town-253447

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: 19th annual International Women of Courage Award Ceremony – 1:00 PM

Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio delivers remarks at the 19th annual International Women of Courage Award Ceremony with First Lady Melania Trump at the Department of State, on April 1, 2025.

———-
Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
X: https://x.com/StateDept
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

#StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-MDYnEsd3I

MIL OSI Video –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NDA celebrates 20 years of making the nation safer
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

NDA celebrates 20 years of making the nation safer

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, established by the UK Government to decommission the UK’s earliest nuclear sites.
Celebrating 20 years of the NDA

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), established by the UK Government as part of the Energy Act 2004, to decommission the UK’s earliest nuclear sites.

The UK boasts a proud nuclear history, and the NDA has been pivotal in cleaning up the legacy facilities once at the heart of national defence and energy generation.

Since commencing operations on 1 April 2005, the NDA has overseen the clean-up of 17 sites, with the ultimate aim of remediating them for their next use.

Today, NDA staff are celebrating 20 years of progress reflecting on how the organisation has made the UK a safer place.

In the last month alone, the NDA and its operating companies have celebrated some significant milestones including demolishing the turbine hall at Sizewell A and completing the first rail deliveries of material for final capping at the low level waste repository which involves placing a protective layer over legacy disposal trenches which will remain in place for up to 100 years.

Other notable achievements being remembered include:

Commencing the first simultaneous retrievals of waste from Sellafield’s oldest storage ponds and silos, the NDA estate’s high hazard facilities.

Safely defueling all of the Magnox reactors, removing 99 percent of the radioactive hazard on the sites housing them.

Removing and safely destroying around 68 tonnes of highly radioactive liquid metal coolant from the Dounreay Fast Reactor, on the Dounreay site.

Reprocessing 9,000 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel, generating £9 billion in revenue for UK.

Producing and consolidating all plutonium which is now safely stored at Sellafield ahead of final disposal.

Safely packaging and storing significant volumes of intermediate level waste retrieved from legacy facilities and AGR stations, including 50,000 boxes at Sellafield’s Retrievals East River.

Re-using or recycling waste where possible, diverting 98% of waste from having to be disposed of at the NDA’s low level waste repository, preserving capacity and saving nearly £50 million in the past year alone, on top of more than £975 million saved over the past 15 years.

Demolishing or reusing 274 buildings and releasing 9% of land for reuse or to be redesignated.

Positive progress in delivering a GDF as the best approach for the long-term management of the most hazardous radioactive waste with three communities engaging in the process and site evaluations underway.

As well as the NDA, 2025 is year of anniversaries across the NDA group, including 30 years of Direct Rail Services, 50 years of Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited and Dounreay is celebrating 70 years.

NDA Group CEO, David Peattie, said:

Our mission is unique, dating back to the UK’s nuclear origins in the1940s and expected to span into the next century. Much of what we do has never been done before and was never designed to be done.

We’ve made significant strides since 2005, including establishing the NDA group model which is enhancing our collaboration and efficiency in delivering our mission.

I am extremely proud of every single employee for the part they have played, and continue to play, in making the UK safer every day. My thanks not only extends to NDA employees, but also to the many individuals in our operating companies, supply chain and communities.

Ours is one of the most important environmental programmes on the planet. We have a responsibility to leave a positive legacy for the generations of the future and that’s something that will continue to drive us forward over the next 20 years and beyond.

The last 20 years have seen huge skyline changes because of the NDA group’s work include the demolition of the Chapelcross and Calder Hall cooling towers, and the twin reactors at Bradwell entering the care and maintenance state.

In addition, over the NDA’s lifetime Nuclear Transport Solutions has transported over 2000 casks of nuclear material by sea and conducted over 5 million miles of UK nuclear rail transports, with a 100% nuclear safety record.

The value the NDA group delivers for the country extends beyond its decommissioning mission. Keeping the nation safe and secure, supporting energy security ambitions, investing in research and technology, sharing best practice internationally and driving economic growth through jobs and billions of pounds of investment in the supply chain.

Since 2005, the NDA group has invested £277m of socio-economic funding to support significant projects that enable permanent and sustainable change in site communities, leveraging additional investment of nearly £4 for every £1.

It’s an impressive legacy for 20 years but with a mission stretching for many decades to come there’s still so much more to do. To find out more about what the NDA has achieved and its ambitions for the future watch the below.

20 years of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

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Updates to this page

Published 1 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – CBA Emergency Assistance for flood affected areas in Queensland and NSW
Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

Special arrangements are in place to assist customers who may need additional support in flood affected areas in Queensland and NSW.

Commonwealth Bank will provide its Emergency Assistance to customers and businesses in areas affected by flooding in Queensland and NSW.

Retail Banking Services Group Executive, Angus Sullivan, said: “We want our customers to know that we are here to help them. We are thinking of everyone in the impacted regions and have several measures in place to support affected customers and employees through this challenging time.

“We also want to thank the emergency services teams and volunteers who work tirelessly to help keep our communities safe.”

CBA understands each customer will have different needs and we encourage them to discuss their individual circumstances by either contacting the bank in the CommBank app or phoning 1800 314 695. Business customers can also call 1800 314 695 or speak with their dedicated CommBank relationship manager.

For more information on the support we’re providing to impacted communities, visit: commbank.com.au/support/emergency-assistance.

CBA Emergency Assistance includes a range of options for eligible customers, including:

Customised payment arrangements for home loans, business loans, personal loans and credit cards.
Waiving fees and charges, including waiving fees for temporary and damaged merchant EFTPOS terminals, as well as support with merchant terminal rental fees.
Temporary overdrafts, additional loans or emergency credit limit increases (subject to credit approval).
Waiving fees and notice periods for early access to Term Deposits (including Farm Management Term Deposits).
Emergency accommodation may be available for customers who have taken out Home Insurance provided by Hollard, distributed by CommBank, subject to making a claim and policy terms and conditions.
Helping direct claims enquiries for customers seeking support through their Home Insurance provided by Hollard, distributed by CommBank.

To access this support, customers should contact the bank through the CommBank app. Alternatively, they can call 1800 314 695. Branch availability and further information about CBA’s Emergency Assistance is available online at commbank.com.au/support/emergency-assistance.

For emergency help call the State Emergency Service on 132 500 or visit your State Emergency Service Website

Queensland: ses.gov.qld.au
NSW: ses.nsw.gov.au

In a life-threatening emergency call 000 (triple zero).

During this time customers should also remain vigilant and be extra cautious of unexpected calls or messages claiming to be from well-known organisations including banks, telecommunications companies and government agencies.

CommBank will never send customers links in text messages directing them to sites that ask for passwords, and customers should never click on any of these they receive.

If customers receive an unexpected call claiming to be from CommBank, they should ask the caller to verify the legitimacy of the call by using CallerCheck which triggers a security message in the CommBank App.

How customers can better protect themselves from scams

Stop: Does a call, email or text seem off? The best thing to do is stop. Take a breath. Real organisations won’t put you under pressure to act instantly.

Check: Ask someone you trust or contact the organisation the message claims to be from.

Reject: If you’re unsure, hang up on the caller, delete the email, block the phone number.

Change your passwords.
MIL OSI – Submitted News –
April 1, 2025

Category: housing

5.1 Scaling Up Blended Finance

5.2 Corporate Climate Risk Disclosures

5.3 Expanding Regional Insurance Mechanisms

5.4. Unlocking Green Resilience Bonds

5.5. Adaptive Social Protection for Disaster Recovery

5.6. How Central Banks Can Support Resilience Finance

Speech by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Regional Governors’ Meeting

The state of cross-border retail payments

Geopolitical fragmentation

The Eurosystem’s strategy for efficient and open cross-border payments

Interlinking fast payment systems

The international role of the digital euro

Conclusion

Where the Land Meets the SeaMangroves as Guardians of Life and Livelihoods

What was the backdrop to the terror campaign?

What was Pagad G-Force? What led to its formation?

What does the book reveal about why it took so long to end the terror campaign?

What was the author’s involvement in the police efforts?

What are the key takeaways from the book about fighting similar campaigns of violence?

Acorn Farm’s New Gate Lodge Garden officially opens

Myanmar earthquake impact

Challenges amid ongoing response

A rapid scale-up is needed in Myanmar

MSF ready to assist in Myanmar following powerful earthquake

We speak out. Get updates.

What was the backdrop to the terror campaign?

What was Pagad G-Force? What led to its formation?

What does the book reveal about why it took so long to end the terror campaign?

What was the author’s involvement in the police efforts?

What are the key takeaways from the book about fighting similar campaigns of violence?

NDA celebrates 20 years of making the nation safer

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Updates to this page

Where the Land Meets the Sea

Mangroves as Guardians of Life and Livelihoods