NewzIntel.com

Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI: Resolutions by the Annual General Meeting of Municipality Finance Plc held on 25 March 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    25 March 2025 at 1:00 pm (EET)

    Resolutions by the Annual General Meeting of Municipality Finance Plc held on 25 March 2025

    The Annual General Meeting (hereinafter the AGM) of Municipality Finance Plc (MuniFin) held on 25 March 2025 adopted the company’s financial statements and discharged the members of the Board of Directors (the Board), the CEO, and the Deputy to the CEO from liability for the financial year 2024.

    Use of Profit Shown on the Balance Sheet and the Distribution of Dividend
    The Annual General Meeting decided that a dividend of EUR 1.86 per share, totaling 72,658,664.28 EUR shall be paid out. Dividends will be paid on 3 April 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter to each shareholder who is registered in the company’s shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of dividend payment on 27 March 2025.

    Remuneration and Composition of the Board
    The AGM decided on the remuneration for the members of the Board for the term from the closing of the 2025 AGM to the closing of the next AGM (the Term 2025–2026) as follows:

    • annual fixed remuneration of the Chair of the Board EUR 51,000;
    • annual fixed remuneration of the Vice Chair of the Board EUR 33,000;
    • annual fixed remuneration of the Chair of the Risk or Audit Committee EUR 36,000;
    • annual fixed remuneration of a Board member EUR 28,000 and
    • for each Board and committee meeting as well as for each meeting required by the authorities, for the members and Vice Chair of the Board, a fee of EUR 600 per meeting attended and for the chairs, EUR 950 per meeting attended.

    The annual remuneration of the Chair of the Board was increased by EUR 6,000, the annual remuneration of the Vice Chair of the Board was increased by EUR 4,000, the annual remuneration of the Chairs of the Risk and Audit Committees was increased by EUR 5,000 and the annual remuneration of a Board member was increased by EUR 3,000. No amendments were made to the meeting fees.

    The AGM decided to elect nine members to the Board for the Term 2025–2026 and to re-elect the following current members: Ms. Maaria Eriksson, Mr. Kari Laukkanen, Mr. Tuomo Mäkinen, Ms. Elina Stråhlman, Ms. Leena Vainiomäki and Mr. Arto Vuojolainen. In addition, the AGM decided to elect Ms. Liisa Harju, Mr. Juho Malmberg and Mr. Henrik Rainio as new board members.

    The CEO’s Review

    Esa Kallio, the President and CEO of MuniFin, discussed the company’s development in 2024. There are currently many uncertainties in the world, and therefore it is important that MuniFin can provide stability and ensure the security of supply for the Finnish society through its operations. The year 2024 was a record year for MuniFin’s sustainable finance: the company issued a record number of sustainable bonds, and the demand for green finance grew significantly.

    Election and Remuneration of the Auditor

    PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy was elected as the company’s auditor with Jukka Paunonen, Authorized Public Accountant, as the principal auditor. The auditor’s fees will be paid against the invoices approved by the company.

    Election and Remuneration of the Sustainability Reporting Assurer

    PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy was selected as the sustainability reporting assurer, with Tiina Puukkoniemi as the responsible sustainability reporting auditor. The assurer’s fees will be paid against the invoices approved by the company.

    Constitutive Meeting of the Board
    At its constitutive meeting, the Board appointed Kari Laukkanen as the Chair and Maaria Eriksson as the Vice Chair of the Board. The following persons were appointed to the Remuneration Committee: Kari Laukkanen as the Chair, and Leena Vainiomäki, Maaria Eriksson and Tuomo Mäkinen as members. The following persons were appointed to the Audit Committee: Elina Stråhlman as the Chair, and Liisa Harjula, Kari Laukkanen and Henrik Rainio as members. The following persons were appointed to the Risk Committee: Leena Vainiomäki as the Chair, and Maaria Eriksson, Juho Malmberg and Arto Vuojolainen as members.

    Additional information on the company’s operations in 2024 is available in the company’s Annual Report, which is available for downloading in PDF format at the company website www.munifin.fi.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Esa Kallio
    President and CEO
    tel. +358 50 337 7953

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

    MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, joint county authorities, corporate entities under the control of the above-mentioned organisations, and affordable social housing. Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

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

    Read more: www.munifin.fi

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government paves the way for local people to build more homes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government paves the way for local people to build more homes

    The government has announced a £20 million investment to support the delivery of community-led housing.

    • Thousands more homes to be unlocked through government investment in community-led housing
    • Local communities to get more power to locate, design and build high quality homes with £20 million package
    • All part of the government’s Plan for Change – delivering 1.5 million homes and the biggest boost in affordable housing in a generation

    Thousands of new high-quality homes, including social and affordable, will be designed and built by local people for local people, thanks to new government investment to accelerate the delivery of community-led housing.  

    A £20 million package for community groups, such as community land trusts and housing co-operatives, has been confirmed by the Housing Minister that will directly support the construction of more than 2,500 new homes over the next decade. These housebuilding projects will be led by communities to specifically address local needs in their area.   

    Community-led housing is about placing power into the hands of local people who will take the lead in the design and location of new homes, with community groups being able to access land and receive planning permission where speculative developments cannot.  

    This is the first time the government has supported this approach to finance housebuilding at this scale and will help overcome critical barriers to community-led housing delivery, such as community groups accessing the capital needed for housebuilding.

    The new investment announced today forms part of the government’s Plan for Change and commitment to build 1.5 million new homes as well as helping more working people and families achieve the dream of homeownership, boosting growth and raising living standards across the country.

    Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook said:

    “Community-led housing not only delivers social and affordable homes for local people, it also gives local communities a greater say on where new homes are built and how they are designed.

    “This investment will help community-based organisations overcome barriers to housing delivery and will support the growth of the community-led housing sector.

    “Through our Plan for Change we are boosting housing supply and reforming the housing system, delivering on our commitment to the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.”

    The community-led housing sector is grossly under-developed in the UK compared to other countries in Europe, resulting in a significant loss of potential social and affordable housing as well as depriving communities of the high-quality housing they want.  

    Recognising the value of community-led housing, the government is investing the £20 million in a social finance fund, which will be led by Resonance who have strong experience in working with community organisations to support the delivery of these homes.  

    This investment will be used to attract up to £30 million in match-funding from the private sector as well as local authorities and combined mayoral authorities.

    Head of Developing Communities at Resonance, Jon Rolls said:

    “This is a landmark moment for our fund and for the community-led housing movement. MHCLG’s investment will act as a vital catalyst, unlocking more support for communities determined to shape their own futures. It’s simple – when communities are in the driving seat, brilliant things happen.”

    Chief Executive at the Community Land Trust Network, Tom Chance said:

    “This investment will be welcomed by hundreds of communities working to build thousands of much-needed homes, from tourist hotspots where local are priced out to city neighbourhoods blighted by a lack of investment. Community-led development offers local people a tool to be builders rather than blockers.”

    The new funding follows the government’s overhaul of the planning system with a new growth-focused National Planning Policy Framework, which has imposed new mandatory housebuilding targets for councils so they can play their part to meet local housing need.  

    The updated planning framework has also strengthened support for community-led housing, which includes broadening the definition of organisations able to deliver this housing and making changes to the size limit on community-led sites to allow more homes to be built.  

    Government investment in housing has increased to £5 billion for this year, including a top-up of £800 million being injected into the existing Affordable Homes Programme to help deliver tens of thousands of new social and affordable homes across the country.  

    An extra £2 billion injection of new grant funding to build up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes has also been confirmed today, helping to deliver the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation while making sure those homes go to the people who need them most.

    As part of its Long-Term Housing Strategy, which is due to be published later this year, the government is considering further measures to help grow the community-led housing sector.

    Further information

    Community-led housing is developed by community-based organisations, such as community land trusts and housing co-operatives, to deliver much-needed affordable housing in their area.  

    The government has invested £20 million in the Resonance Community Developers social finance fund for a 10-year period. Resonance Limited is an established social finance company with experience in supporting the delivery of community-led housing.  

    Resonance is expected to begin investing directly into local housebuilding schemes across England over the next few weeks.  

    Community-led organisations and housebuilders across the country have already benefitted from previous funding. This includes Chagford Community Land Trust delivering nearly 30 affordable homes in Devon, YorSpace building 19 affordable homes and a common house in York, and Cohousing in Cambridge providing 42 apartments and town houses with community facilities and a sociable shared garden.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Bureau of Indian Standards establishes Standards on Respiratory Protection, Fall Prevention, and Fire Safety for overall occupational health and safety of workers

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 3:42PM by PIB Delhi

    The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is dedicated to ensuring the quality of products and services in India. The Indian Standards formulated by BIS serve as the foundation for Product Certification Schemes, offering third- party assurance of product quality to consumers. To strengthen the country’s quality eco system, the Government of India has issued various Quality Control Orders (QCOs) that mandate BIS certification for a range of products including industries and construction sectors. Under the provisions of BIS Act, 2016, products for compulsory BIS certification are notified by the concerned regulator/line ministry of Government of India through Quality Control Orders (QCOs) under various considerations viz. public interest, protection of human, animal or plant health, safety of environment, prevention of unfair trade practices and national security. Through the issuance of QCOs, the notified products shall conform to the requirements of the relevant Indian Standard including safety standard and the manufacturers of these products have to compulsorily obtain certification from BIS. So far, a total of 187 Quality Control Order’s covering 769 products have been notified for compulsory certification of BIS by various regulators/line ministries of Government of India, the list of which is available at https://www.bis.gov.in/product-certification/products-under-compulsory-certification/.

    Additionally, the following two horizontal QCO’s exclusively for safety aspects of products are also notified by Government of India:

    1. Safety of Household, Commercial and Similar Electrical Appliances (Quality Control) Order, 2024 issued by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Through the QCO, all electrical appliances intended for household, commercial or similar applications with rated voltage not exceeding 250 V single phase alternating current or 415 V three phase alternating current and which do not fall under the scope of any other Quality Control Order issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act are covered under compulsory certification of BIS.
    2. Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024 issued by Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India. Through the QCO, 20 categories of Machinery and electrical equipment’s and their sub-assemblies / components are covered under compulsory certification of BIS

    Branch Offices of BIS have conducted Manak Manthans on the subject Labour Safety at Workplace in different cities like Gwalior, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Hubli, Chennai, Dehradun. These sessions facilitated discussions among stakeholders, including government bodies, industries, and standard organizations, to improve safety practices at the workplace and raised awareness about labour safety standards and promoting their implementation.

    Workplace safety is a critical component of occupational health, ensuring employee well-being and reducing risks that may lead to injuries or fatalities. The introduction and adherence to newly developed safety standards provide comprehensive guidelines for mitigating workplace hazards. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has established various Indian Standards on Respiratory Protection, Fall Prevention, and Fire Safety to enhance overall occupational health and safety (OHS), safeguarding workers and fostering a safer working environment.

    1. Respiratory Protection Standards and their Role in Occupational Health and Safety: Respiratory protection is crucial in industries such as mining, construction, chemical processing, and healthcare, where workers are exposed to harmful airborne contaminants. The Indian Standards (IS) for respiratory protective devices ensure that workers have access to high-quality protective equipment, reducing the risk of respiratory illnesses. Key Indian Standards in Respiratory Protection are given as under:
    1. IS 9473: 2002– Respiratory protective devices — Filtering half masks to protect against particles.
    2. IS 14166: 1994– Respiratory protective devices – Self-contained open-circuit compressed air breathing apparatus.
    3. IS 14746: 1999– Respiratory protective devices – Self-contained closed-circuit breathing apparatus.
    4. IS 15803: 2008– Respiratory protective devices – Powered filtering devices incorporating a helmet or hood.
    5. IS 10245 (Part 1): 1996– Respiratory protective devices – Self-contained breathing apparatus.
    6. IS 10245 (Part 2): 2023– Industrial and firefighting self-contained breathing apparatus.
    7. IS 10245 (Part 3): 1999– Respiratory protective devices – Chemical oxygen apparatus.
    8. IS 10245 (Part 4): 1982– Respiratory protective devices – Industrial and mining oxygen respirators.
    1. Fall Prevention Standards and their Role in Occupational Health and Safety: Falls from height are a leading cause of workplace fatalities and injuries. The IS 3521 series provides guidelines on personal fall protection systems to mitigate risks in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and warehousing. Key Indian Standards in Fall Prevention are given as under:
    1. IS 3521 (Part 1): 2021 – Full-body harnesses.
    2. IS 3521 (Part 2): 2021– Lanyards and energy absorbers.
    3. IS 3521 (Part 3): 2000 – Self-retracting lifelines.
    4. IS 3521 (Part 4): 2021– Vertical anchorage systems.
    5. IS 3521 (Part 5): 2021  – Horizontal anchorage systems.
    6. IS 3521 (Part 7): 2021 – Connectors.
    7. IS 3521 (Part 8): 2021 – Rescue equipment.
    8. IS 3521 (Part 9): 2021 – Anchorage devices.
    1. Fire Safety Standards and their Role in Occupational Health and Safety: Fires pose a significant threat to workplace safety, particularly in industries handling flammable materials. The implementation of stringent fire safety standards ensures that workers are adequately protected from burns, smoke inhalation, and other fire-related hazards. Key Indian Standards in Fire Safety are given as under:

     

    1. IS 16890: 2024  – Firefighter suits.
    2. IS 16874: 2018 – Firefighter gloves.
    3. IS 15683: 2018 – Fire extinguishers.
    4. IS 2745: 1983 –  Non – Metal helmet for firemen and Civil Defence personnel
    5. IS 18582 (Part 6): 2024 – Foot wear used by Firefighters

    This information was given by the Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri B.L. Verma in a written reply today in the Rajya Sabha.

     

    *****

    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

    (Release ID: 2114827) Visitor Counter : 39

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: WATER CONNECTION TO SCHEDULED CASTE HOUSEHOLDS

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 2:12PM by PIB Delhi

    Drinking water is a State subject. The power to plan, design, approve and implement drinking water supply schemes/projects lies with State Government including Maharashtra. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance.

    JJM follows a universal approach to cover all rural households including the remote rural households. Following the principle of ‘no one is left out’, under Jal Jeevan Mission, provision of tap water supply is envisaged for every rural household, including all SC/ ST rural households in the country. Further, priority is given for provision of tap water supply in water quality affected habitations, desert and drought-prone areas, SC/ ST villages, Aspirational & JE – AES affected districts, Saansad Adarsh Gramin Yojana villages, etc.

    As reported by Maharashtra on JJM-IMIS, total 4.11 lakh households are present in SC concentrated habitations. Of this, as on 20.03.2025, 3.62 lakh households (88.11%) have tap water supply in their homes.

    In the last three years from 2022-23 to till date, tap water connection has been provided to 1.13 lakh households in SC concentrated habitations of Maharashtra.

    This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

    ***

    DHANYA SANAL K

     (Rajya Sabha US Q2643)

    (Release ID: 2114774) Visitor Counter : 27

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: DEPENDENCY ON PRIVATE TANKERS IN MARATHWADA

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 2:11PM by PIB Delhi

    Government of India, in partnership with States/UTs including Maharashtra is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission, since August, 2019, to make provision of tap water supply to every rural household in the country.

    Drinking water is a state subject and the power to plan, approve and implement drinking water supply schemes/projects is vested in the State Government. As per the operational guidelines of JJM, the State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) and District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) is responsible for the overall implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission at the state and district level respectively.

    Under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation provides financial, policy guidance and technical assistance to the States and Union Territories for implementing their drinking water supply schemes. The details of villages being provided drinking water through water tankers are not maintained at Government of India level.

    (c)   As reported by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), the impact of excessive groundwater extraction for sugarcane farming on water availability has not been assessed. However, Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), in collaboration with State Governments, is conducting an annual assessment of Dynamic Ground Water Resources across the country since 2022, including Marathwada region of the State of Maharashtra.

    As per the latest (2024) assessment, the Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource for Marathwada region is 7.676 BCM (Billion Cubic Metre). The Annual Ground Water Extraction for all uses is 3.891 BCM, out of which, about 3.669 BCM (94.3%) has been utilised for irrigation activities. The Stage of Ground Water Extraction, which is a measure of Annual Ground Water Extraction for all uses (irrigation, industrial and domestic uses) over Annual Extractable Ground Water Resource is 50.70% for the Marathwada region as a whole.

    (d)  Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. Under JJM, provisions have been made for drinking water source development/ strengthening/ augmentation; and infrastructure for bulk transfer of water, treatment and distribution systems in water deficit drought-prone and desert areas without dependable ground water sources, apart from creation of in-village water supply infrastructure.

    To achieve drinking water security, every village has to prepare a 5-year Village Action Plan under Jal Jeevan Mission which inter alia includes augmentation and strengthening of drinking water sources to be taken up in convergence with other schemes at village level viz. MGNREGS, 15thFinance Commission tied grants to Rural Local Bodies (RLBs)/ PRIs, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), State schemes, District Mineral Development Fund, CSR funds, community contribution, etc.

    The important steps taken by the Central Government for sustainable ground water management and addressing water scarcity in the country including Marathwada region may be seen at

    https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2024/07/20240716706354487.pdf.

    This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

    ***

    DHANYA SANAL K

     (Rajya Sabha US Q2626)

    (Release ID: 2114773) Visitor Counter : 30

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PROVIDING TAP WATER CONNECTION UNDER JJM

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 2:14PM by PIB Delhi

    Government of India is committed to the provision of safe & potable tap water supply in adequate quantity, of prescribed quality and on a regular & long-term basis to all rural households in the country. Towards this end, the Government of India launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), to be implemented in partnership with States/ UTs, in August 2019. The Government of India supports the states by providing technical and financial assistance.

    Significant progress has been made in the country since the launch of JJM, towards enhancing access to tap water for rural households. At the start of JJM in August 2019, only 3.23 Crore (16.71%) rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by State/UTs as on 20.03.2025, around 12.30 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 20.03.2025, out of 19.36 Crore rural households in the country, approximately 15.53 Crore (80.22%) households are reported to have tap water supply. The year-wise and State-wise including the Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh details of the progress made under the JJM in providing tap water connections since its inception are available on JJM IMIS Dashboard at https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx.

    The government of India is building strategic international partnerships to enhance international cooperation in specific areas of water supply, water distribution, wastewater and solid waste treatment, sewerage systems, re-use of treated wastewater, water management, and energy optimization.

    At present, India and Denmark have entered into a Green Strategic Partnership on 28th September, 2020. Joint Work Plan (2021-2024) has subsequently been formulated between the National Jal Jeevan Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, New Delhi and Danish Environment Protection Agency, Ministry of Environment, Denmark (DEPA) to support Government of India’s objective of providing drinking water supply to all rural households. The objective of the work plan is to enhance cooperation in the specific areas of water supply, water distribution, wastewater treatment, sewerage systems, re-use of treated wastewater, water management and energy optimization in the water sector.

    The cooperation is working to support a range of priorities of the JJM and co-create solutions in the fields of policy, planning, regulation and implementation as well as technology, research & development and skilling that combine Danish and Indian expertise.

    As on date, 11 States/ UTs have become ‘Har Ghar Jal’ States/ UT i.e. 100% households are having tap water supply and the remaining States/ UTs are at various stages of achieving the objectives of the mission.

    Government of India has taken a number of steps to ensure coordinated planning between infrastructure development projects, like road construction and water supply system, like pipelines installations which inter alia includes (i) nomination of a nodal officer in the Department for coordinating with Central nodal Ministries/ Departments/ agencies viz. M/o EF&CC, M/o RTH, NHAI, M/o Railways etc. to facilitate the States in obtaining Statutory/ other clearances; (ii) regular review meetings with central agencies and State level officers; (iii) State Programme Management Units (SPMUs) and District Programme Management Units (DPMUs) have been set up to bridge the gap in availability of technical skill sets and of HR for programme management; (iv) A network of Civil Society Organizations working in the water sector, the Rural WASH Partner Forum, has been set up to extend support to states for time bound implementation.

    Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, as per existing guidelines, Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards are adopted as benchmark for quality of water being supplied through the piped water supply schemes. BIS specifies ‘acceptable limit’ and ‘permissible limit in the absence of alternate source’ for various physio-chemical and bacteriological parameters for drinking water quality.

    This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI V. SOMANNA in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

    ***

    DHANYA SANAL K

     (Rajya Sabha US Q2632)

    (Release ID: 2114775) Visitor Counter : 30

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Steps taken to expand healthcare professionals in rural areas

    Source: Government of India

    Steps taken to expand healthcare professionals in rural areas

    Hard area allowance is provided to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas

    Honorarium is provided to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills trained doctors to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area

    Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have been introduced under NHM

    Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 1:45PM by PIB Delhi

    The details of healthcare professionals in urban and rural areas are available at website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Uniform Resources Locator (URL) as under: https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/.pdf

    Under the National Health Mission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system including to take measures to improve healthcare infrastructure in rural areas to support and retain medical professionals based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides financial approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. The details are available in public domain at: https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php

    Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging healthcare professionals including females to practice in rural and remote areas of the country:

    • Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such areas.
    • Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area.
    • Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.
    • States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as “You Quote We Pay”.
    • Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
    • Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving improvement in health outcomes.

    In addition to the National Health Mission, Government of India has implemented the following to improve healthcare infrastructure in rural and urban areas of the country:

    • Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to provide better access to health in rural areas by i) Strengthening of Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities for early detection of diseases; ii) Addition of new critical care-related beds at district level hospitals; iii) Support for Block Public Health Units (BPHU) in 11 high focus States; and iv) Integrated district public health laboratories in all districts.
    • The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the health sector and spread over the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 to facilitate strengthening of health system at the grass-root level.

    Further, as per the ‘Guidelines for Human Resources for Health, National Health Mission (NHM)’, States/ UTs should make sure that living quarters/lodging facilities are provided to the HRH, especially in rural and difficult areas, close to the health facilities. The State may also explore the option of providing crèche facilities for women working with the NHM in the Block/District/ State offices.

    The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

    ****

    MV

    HFW/ Steps taken to expand healthcare professionals in rural areas/25 March 2025/4

    (Release ID: 2114753) Visitor Counter : 9

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ICMR Pioneers Drone-Based Cornea Transport to Revolutionize Eye Care

    Source: Government of India

    ICMR Pioneers Drone-Based Cornea Transport to Revolutionize Eye Care

    Successful Pilot Demonstrates the Potential of Aerial Medical Logistics for Timely and Efficient Cornea Transplants under ICMR’s i-DRONE Initiative

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 1:38PM by PIB Delhi

    Aligning with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make India self-reliant and technologically empowered, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a pioneering study on the aerial transport of human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts.

    ICMR in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi and Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital and with the support from Ministry of Civil Aviation has conducted a feasibility study to assess the potential of using drones to transport sensitive ophthalmic biomaterials such as human corneas and amniotic membrane grafts from peripheral collection centres to tertiary hospitals for transplantation procedures, in Sonipat and Jhajjar, Haryana. The drone successfully transported corneal tissue from Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital (Sonipat centre) to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), AIIMS Jhajjar, and subsequently to AIIMS New Delhi. The distance between the two cities was covered in around 40 minutes via drones which usually takes around 2-2.5 hours to cover via road. The drone maintained optimal conditions for specimen integrity and upon arrival, the cornea was evaluated, leading to a successful transplant surgery.

    Drones are emerging as game changers in healthcare logistics, offering rapid delivery of life-saving medical supplies to remote and hard-to-reach areas. The timely transportation of corneal tissues is critical, as the viability of donated corneas is time-sensitive. Delays in transportation can compromise tissue quality and reduce the chances of successful transplantation. Drone-based transport offers a swift, temperature-stable, and efficient alternative to traditional road networks, which are often slow or unpredictable—especially in semi-urban or rural areas. This can help bridge the gap between donor sites and recipients, ensuring that no viable tissue goes unused and that more patients regain sight in time.

    Over the past few years, ICMR’s i-DRONE initiative has demonstrated the successful use of drones to deliver essential medical supplies in states such as North East India (Covid-19 and UIP vaccines, medications, and surgical), Himachal Pradesh (medications and samples in high altitude and sub-zero temperatures), Karnataka (intraoperative oncosurgical samples), Telangana (TB sputum samples) and the NCR (blood bags and its components). These efforts highlight the growing capability and promise of drones in bridging the last-mile healthcare gap.

    Commenting on the development, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General, ICMR, stated:

    “The i-DRONE platform was originally conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver vaccines to remote regions. Since then, we’ve scaled our efforts to include low-temperature delivery of blood products and essential medicines to high-altitude and sub-zero locations. This cornea transport study marks another step forward—enhancing patient access, ensuring timely transplants, and reducing pressure on overburdened tertiary hospitals. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Honourable Prime Minister’s vision of a self-reliant India powered by innovation. Drone-based healthcare logistics are the future, and India is taking the lead by applying this to areas where it matters most—saving lives and restoring sight.”

    Shri Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary and Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation, added:

    “This collaboration between health and aviation sectors is an inspiring example of tech-enabled social impact. The use of drones for cornea delivery showcases India’s growing capability to solve real-world healthcare challenges using homegrown solutions. Drones offer a scalable solution for timely medical delivery in geographically challenging areas. As India strengthens its drone ecosystem, such studies are critical to building resilient and responsive healthcare infrastructure.”

    Prof. (Dr.) M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi, remarked:

    “Corneal blindness affects millions in India, and timely availability of donor tissue is often a limiting factor. This drone-based transport model could be a transformative step toward ensuring equitable access to vision-restoring surgeries, especially in underserved areas. The success of this pilot project opens the door to deploying precision drone logistics for a wide range of critical medical applications.”

    Through this study, researchers aim to document operational workflows, identify technical bottlenecks, and generate evidence to support the integration of drone logistics in routine medical practice—especially for time-sensitive and temperature-sensitive biological materials like human corneas. The findings will help shape future protocols, policies, and best practices for aerial transport in healthcare. The event was attended by many dignitaries including Dr Anil Kumar, Director, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, MoHFW.

    ****

    MV

    HFW/ ICMR – Drone Based Cornea Transport/25 March 2025/5

    (Release ID: 2114748) Visitor Counter : 72

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Schemes by NCDC for Women Cooperatives

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 1:37PM by PIB Delhi

    National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), is implementing the following two schemes exclusively for women cooperatives:

    1. Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojna – The objectives of this scheme are to facilitate access to the affordable, cost-effective and reliable financial services to the poor, to facilitate women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to access adequate bank credit to undertake the common/collective socio-economic activities and to promote sustainable livelihood. Under this scheme, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) and SHGs Federated Cooperatives/Cooperative Federations are eligible for NCDC assistance.
      1. Nandini Sahakar- Nandini Sahakar scheme of NCDC is a women focused framework of financial assistance, project formulation, hand-holding and capacity development aimed at assisting women cooperatives take up business model-based activities in any sector, except urban housing. The objectives of this scheme are aligned with the principles of Atmanirbhar Bharat. This initiative supports women cooperatives by fostering entrepreneurial dynamism through inputs like enterprise development, business planning, capacity building, and financial support via credit and interest subvention.

    NCDC has disbursed total financial assistance of Rs.3099.33 crore to women cooperatives during the last three years as under:

    (Rs. in crore)

    Year

    2022-23

    2023-24

    2024-25 (till 18.03.2025)

    Total

    Amount

    1437.24

    711.55

    950.54

    3099.33

     

    Details of the financial assistance disbursed by NCDC to the women cooperatives for infrastructure projects are as under:

    (Rs. in Crore)

    S.No.

    Financial Year

    Amount

    1.

    2022-23

    1.101

    2.

    2023-24

    1.179

    3.

    2024-25 (till 18.03.2025)

    0.089

    4.

    Total

    2.369

    This was stated by the Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

    ****

    RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2114746) Visitor Counter : 59

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New Cooperative Societies

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 1:36PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government on 15.2.2023, has approved the plan to establish and strengthen 2 lakh multipurpose PACS, Dairy, and Fishery Cooperative Societies, covering all the Panchayats and villages across the country over a period of five years, which is being implemented with the support of NABARD, NDDB, NFDB and State Governments.

    The Government has undertaken several measures to strengthen both Urban and Rural Cooperative Banks across the country, including in State of Chhattisgarh ensuring their expansion and enhancing financial accessibility, which are enclosed at Annexure.

    The Ministry of Cooperation has launched a Cooperative-led “White Revolution 2.0” initiative which aims at expanding the share of dairy cooperative societies in organized dairy sector, provide market access to small dairy farmers and contribute to employment generation & women empowerment. The objective of this initiative is to increase the milk procurement of dairy cooperatives by 50% from the present level over next five years. In this regard, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has also been launched on 19.11.2024. As on 27.1.2025, 8,294 new Dairy Cooperative Societies have been registered in the country.

    In order to promote self-employment and entrepreneurship among women & youth through cooperatives, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), a statutory corporation of Ministry of Cooperation, is implementing the following schemes:

    • SWAYAM SHAKTI SAHAKAR YOJNA: The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to Agricultural Credit Cooperatives for providing loan/ advances to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs).
    • NANDINI SAHAKAR: The scheme aims to improve the socio-economic status of women and supports the entrepreneurial dynamism of women through women’s cooperatives. It converges critical inputs of women’s enterprise, business plan formulation, capacity development, credit and subsidy, and/ or interest subvention of other schemes.
    • YUVA SAHAKAR- Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme: The scheme aims at encouraging newly formed cooperative societies with new and/ or innovative ideas.

    In addition to the above, NCDC- Laxmanrao Inamdar National Academy for Cooperative Research and Development (LINAC) along with Regional Training Centres has conducted a total of 1,370 training programs in the last five years (i.e. from 2020-21 to 2024-25) on subjects like Business Development and Assets Management, General Management in PACS, Role of Women Directors in Governance and Business Development in Cooperatives/SHGs, Accounts and Book Keeping and various programmes through which around 1,90,894 participants including 38,179 women participants have benefitted.

    NCDC is also an implementation agency of various Centrally sponsored/ Central sector Schemes of Government of India, under which financial assistance is provided to promote agro- based industries (such as food processing) through cooperative model, such as Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI)- a sub-scheme of Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Marketing (ISAM), Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), National Beekeeping Honey Mission (NBHM) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO). In FY 2024-25, NCDC has released an amount of Rs. 89,750 crores for the development of cooperative societies, including processing sector.

    ANNEXURE

    Measures taken by Ministry of Cooperation, GoI to strengthen the Urban and Rural Cooperative Banks

    1. Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) have been allowed to open new branches to expand their business: UCBs can now open new branches up to 10% (maximum 5 branches) of the existing number of branches in the previous financial year without prior approval of RBI.
    1. UCBs have been allowed by RBI to offer doorstep services to their customers: Door step banking facility can now be provided by UCBs. Account holders of these banks can now avail various banking facilities at home such as cash withdrawal, cash deposit, KYC, demand draft and life certificate for pensioners, etc.
    1. Cooperative banks have been allowed to make one-time settlement of outstanding loans, like Commercial Banks: Co-operative banks, through board-approved policies, can now provide the process for settlement with borrowers, along with technical write-off.
    1. Time limit increased to achieve Priority Sector Lending (PSL) targets given to UCBs: RBI has extended the timeline for UCBs to achieve Priority Sector Lending (PSL) targets by two years i.e., up to March 31, 2026.
    1. A Nodal Officer designated in RBI for regular interaction with UCBs: In order to meet the long pending demand of the cooperative sector for closer coordination and focused interaction, RBI has notified a nodal officer.

    6. Individual housing loan limit more than doubled by RBI for Rural and Urban Cooperative Banks:

    1. Housing loan limit of Urban Cooperative Banks has now been doubled from Rs. 30 lakhs to Rs.60 lakhs.
    2. Housing loan limit of Rural Cooperative Banks has been increased to two and a half times to Rs.75 lakhs.
    1. Rural Cooperative Banks will now be able to lend to commercial real estate/ residential housing sector, thereby diversifying their business: This will not only help Rural Cooperative Banks to diversify their business, but will benefit Housing cooperative societies also.
    1. License fee reduced for Cooperative Banks: License fee for onboarding Cooperative Banks to ‘Aadhaar Enabled Payment System’ (AePS) has been reduced by linking it to the number of transactions. Cooperative financial institutions will also be able to get the facility free of cost for the first three months of the pre-production phase. With this, farmers will now be able to get the facility of banking at their home with through biometrics.
    2. Non-scheduled UCBs, StCBs and DCCBs notified as Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) in CGTMSE Scheme to increase the share of cooperatives in lending: Cooperative banks will now be able to take advantage of risk coverage up to 85 percent on the loans given. Also, cooperative sector enterprises will also be able to get collateral free loans from cooperative banks now.
    1. Notification of Scheduling norms for including Urban Cooperative Banks: UCBs that meet the ‘Financially Sound and Well Managed’ (FSWM) criteria and have maintained the minimum deposits required for classification as Tier 3 for the last two years are now eligible to be included in Schedule II of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 and get ‘Scheduled’ status.
    1. Monetary ceiling doubled by RBI for Gold Loan: RBI has doubled monetary ceiling from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs.4 lakhs, for those UCBs that meet the PSL targets.
    1. Umbrella Organization for Urban Cooperative Banks: RBI has accorded approval to the National Federation of Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies Ltd. (NAFCUB) for the formation of an Umbrella Organization (UO) for the UCB sector, which will provide necessary IT infrastructure and operational support to around 1,500 UCBs.

    This was stated by the Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

    ****

    RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2114745) Visitor Counter : 57

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Singapore and India signs Letter of Intent to Cooperate on Maritime Digitalisation and Decarbonisation

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 12:53PM by PIB Delhi

    Singapore and India have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to cooperate on maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation. The LOl was inked by Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Shri R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Ports. Shipping and Waterways ( (MOPSW) of India, and witnessed by Dri Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Transport Singapore, and Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways of India.

    Under the LOl, both sides will collaborate on maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation projects, including identifying relevant stakeholders who could contribute to the effort, and work towards formalising the partnership through a memorandum of understanding on a Singapore-India Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC).

    India is a leading player in information technology with the potential to become a major producer and exporter of green marine fuels. Singapore, as a key transshipment and bunkering hub, also supports a dynamic research and innovation ecosystem.

    The Singapore-India GDSC, when established, will enhance collaboration from both countries and help accelerate the development and uptake of zero or near-zero Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission technologies and the adoption of digital solutions.

    ***

    GDH/HR/SJ

    (Release ID: 2114721) Visitor Counter : 88

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Escalation of violence against Christian minorities in Syria and the need for EU intervention – P-001149/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001149/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Nicola Procaccini (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Alessandro Ciriani (ECR), Geadis Geadi (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Assita Kanko (ECR), Mario Mantovani (ECR), Ruggero Razza (ECR), Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza (ECR), Georgiana Teodorescu (ECR), Dominik Tarczyński (ECR), Francesco Torselli (ECR), Ivaylo Valchev (ECR), Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Alexandr Vondra (ECR), Kosma Złotowski (ECR), Elena Donazzan (ECR)

    In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dramatic escalation of violence, particularly in Tartus and Latakia, traditional strongholds of Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the new Syrian regime’s forces have launched a harsh offensive in these areas, resulting in over 800 deaths, with numerous civilians, women and children among the victims.

    Particularly alarming are the targeted attacks against the Christian community. Testimonies report the killing of a Greek Orthodox priest and entire Christian families in their homes. The patriarchs of the Christian churches in Syria are denouncing a ‘dangerous escalation of violence, torture and killings’ against innocent civilians.

    The leader of the new Syrian regime, Ahmed al-Sharaa, pledged to protect Christian minorities as recently as January 2025. However, the recent wave of violence casts doubt on his actual willingness and ability to uphold these commitments.

    We therefore ask the Commission:

    • 1.What immediate measures does the Commission intend to take to protect Christian communities and other minorities in Syria?
    • 2.How will the Commission ensure that EU aid effectively reaches the affected communities?
    • 3.How does the Commission assess the actions of the new Syrian regime and its leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, with respect to persecuted minorities?

    Supporter[1]

    Submitted: 18.3.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Fernand Kartheiser (ECR)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission meddling in the Romanian presidential election – E-001112/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001112/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Petra Steger (PfE)

    On 11 March 2025, the Romanian Constitutional Court upheld the decision of the Central Electoral Committee barring Romanian presidential hopeful Călin Georgescu – who had come out on top in the first round – from the electoral re-run. As this antidemocratic coup unfolded, the EU proved itself to be anything other than a guardian of democracy; on the contrary, its antidemocratic meddling precipitated the vote’s annulment. For example, shortly after the first round yielded a result it deemed unsavoury, the Commission responded by launching a series of formal proceedings against the video platform TikTok, citing alleged violations of the Digital Services Act. By employing such tactics, the Commission is groundlessly exerting its influence over national elections and undermining the sovereignty of an EU Member State.

    Although free elections are the bedrock of democracy, basic democratic principles are being jettisoned, with disinformation and claims of foreign influence used as a smokescreen. Against such a background, US Vice-President JD Vance was absolutely right to say that Europe has a democratic deficit.

    • 1.What does the Commission make of the Romanian Constitutional Court’s decision to strip an EU citizen – who had triumphed in the first round – of the right to stand for election?
    • 2.Did the Commission exert pressure on Romanian institutions to advance decisions against anti-EU and anti-NATO presidential candidate Georgescu?
    • 3.What specific evidence does the Commission have to justify annulling the vote and barring the candidate in pole position?

    Submitted: 14.3.2025

    Last updated: 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Road safety: deal for modern EU driving licence rules

    Source: European Parliament

    Parliament and Council negotiators agreed new driving licence rules, introducing a mobile licence, a probation period for new drivers, and “accompanied” driving.

    The agreement on an update of EU driving licence directive reached on early Tuesday morning is intended to improve road safety in Europe, with almost 20,000 lives lost on EU roads annually.

    Training on phone usage and driving in dangerous conditions

    MEPs managed to insert new requirements so that drivers are better prepared for real driving situations and develop sufficient risk awareness of pedestrians, children, cyclists and other vulnerable road users. To qualify for a licence, a driver will have to learn about safe phone usage while driving, blind spot risks, driver-assistance systems, the safe opening of doors, and driving in snow and slippery conditions.

    Mobile driving licence

    A digital driving licence, available on a smartphone with EU-wide digital wallet technology, will become the main format in the EU, under the new rules. Member states will have five years and six month following the entry into force of the new rules to implement this. However, MEPs made sure drivers will continue to have the right to request a physical driver’s licence.

    Two-year probation for new drivers, alcohol limit

    For the first time, EU rules will set a probationary period of at least two years for new drivers. Novice drivers will be subject to stricter rules and sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while not using safety belts or child-restraint systems. MEPs secured an encouragement in the text for EU countries to pursue a zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs, that would ban consumption for all drivers.

    Lowering the eligibility age for professional licences, introduction of accompanying drivers

    To mitigate a shortage of professional drivers, the minimum age whereby a driver can obtain a truck licence will be lowered from 21 to 18, and for a bus driving licence from 24 to 21, provided the applicant holds a certificate of professional competence. EU countries may allow 17-years-old to drive a truck or van on their territory only, if accompanied by an experienced driver. This system of accompanied drivers will apply more widely across the EU for car drivers.

    Validity and health checks

    Negotiators agreed that driving licences should be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars. EU countries may reduce this period to 10 years if the licence can be used as a national ID, while truck and bus licences will have to be renewed every five years. EU countries can shorten the validity of driving licences of older drivers (65 years and older).

    Before they are issued with first licence, a driver should pass a medical check, including of their eyesight and cardiovascular condition. However, for car drivers or motorcycle riders EU countries may opt to substitute the medical check by self-assessment forms or, in case of driving licence renewal, other alternative measures. At the initiative of MEPs, national authorities will be encouraged to enhance the public awareness of minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving.

    Quote

    EP rapporteur Jutta Paulus (Greens, DE) said: “The new driving license directive makes people’s lives easier – more digital, more flexible, and with less bureaucracy. At the same time, we are sending a clear signal for greater road safety in line with Vision Zero: fewer accidents, fewer injuries, and fewer fatalities on our roads.

    Additionally, we introduce uniform standards across Europe and make it easier for young people to enter the driving profession. On top, we strengthen our volunteer civil protection services and tackle the shortage of skilled workers in the transport sector. Finally, we ensure that no one’s right to drive is restricted due to long processing times.”

    Next steps

    The preliminary deal still needs to be approved by Council and Parliament. EU countries will have four years to transpose new provisions into national law and prepare for its implementation.

    Background

    Revised EU driving licence rules are part of a road safety package presented by the Commission in March 2023, which aims to improve safety for all road users and to move as close as possible to zero fatalities in EU road transport by 2050 (“Vision Zero“). The same package also contains driving disqualification rules on which Parliament and Council negotiators are working to find an agreement.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met officers identify prolific shoplifters who targeted Tesco in Hackney

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two prolific offenders have been identified following a Met Police investigation into shoplifting at a shop in Hackney.

    Officers worked with staff at the Tesco Express, Old Street, Hackney to identify Garvey Powell and Carmen Sinclair. Through analysing CCTV, they linked the pair to more than 30 thefts.

    One officer from the local policing team in Hackney worked a 33-hour shift after the pair were arrested to collate the evidence and secure charges against them.

    Sergeant Adam Hunter, from the Met’s Neighbourhood Policing Team in Haggerston, said:

    “We know shoplifting has a huge impact on businesses and also fuels other crime and anti-social behaviour. We recognise it’s something that Londoners are concerned about and we’re working hard to tackle it. This outcome demonstrates the commitment of officers.

    “This pair’s offending cost Tesco many thousands of pounds in stock and tens of thousands in additional security measures, and we’re pleased our investigation has brought them to justice.”

    Powell was repeatedly seen on CCTV entering the shop with a large bag or rucksack and filling them with bottles of wine. He was regularly assisted by Sinclair. On many occasions, they would steal wine worth hundreds of pounds in under a minute and sometimes targeted the retailer two or three times a day.

    The offences happened between July 2024 and March 2025. Officers viewed more than 40 hours of CCTV footage to identify the offenders. They were arrested at their house on Thursday, 13 March and charged the following day.

    A Tesco spokesperson said:

    “Our colleagues work hard to serve our customers every day, and every member of our team deserves to feel safe at work. We would like to thank all the Police Officers, store teams and our internal security team who have worked collaboratively on this case. We continue to work closely with partners such as the Metropolitan Police to share information and invest in new ways to keep our stores, like the Old St Hackney Express, safe places to work and shop.”

    Garvey Powell, 45 (24.07.79), of Aitken Close, Hackney, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of theft and breach of court bail. He was sentenced at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 18 March to 9 months’ imprisonment and a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order. One of the conditions bans him from being in possession of a bag or rucksack in Hackney.

    Carmen Sinclair, 47 (21.09.77), of Whiston Road, Hackney, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of theft. She will be sentenced at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 22 April.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: East West Rail services planned to begin this year as Chiltern Railways named operator

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    East West Rail services planned to begin this year as Chiltern Railways named operator

    This milestone will unlock the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and provide greater connectivity across the region.

    • Chiltern Railways named as operator for first East West Rail services later this year   
    • passengers will benefit from better and faster connections between Oxford and Milton Keynes, unlocking job, education and business opportunities
    • forms a critical part of the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth by unleashing the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor

    In a significant step towards boosting connectivity and growth between Oxford and Cambridge, the Rail Minister has today (25 March 2025) named Chiltern Railways as the operator for the first stage of East West Rail. 

    This comes ahead of its planned launch later this year, which will support almost 100 new jobs at Chiltern, boost local economies along the route and see passengers benefit from slashed journey times and better access to jobs, education and business opportunities. 

    When delivered in full, East West Rail is set to generate £6.7 billion of growth per year in Oxford-Cambridge by 2050, bolstering the thriving life science cluster and supporting up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone. 

    Serving 6 stations, the new line will initially link Oxford and Milton Keynes for the first time in nearly 60 years, accelerating the regeneration of town centres and helping build new homes across the full line as part of our Plan for Change. 

    Rail Minister Peter, Lord Hendy, said: 

    Appointing Chiltern Railways to run the first East West Rail services is one of the crucial last steps in getting the line up and running later this year and means local people in the area are closer to experiencing the benefits of this transformative project. 

    This milestone demonstrates that we are serious about unlocking the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, providing greater connectivity across the region and delivering on our Plan for Change mission to drive economic growth.

    A brand-new station at Winslow will reconnect the town to the rail network for the first time since the 1960s, with trains also stopping at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village and a revamped Bletchley station along the new line. 

    Chiltern will manage the newly constructed station in Winslow, opening up better employment opportunities, easier access to public services and reduced reliance on road travel. 

    Richard Allan, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said:

    The first stage of East West Rail will provide fast, direct train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes and we are delighted that Chiltern has been announced as operator.  

    Chiltern has a proud track record of delivering new services and infrastructure, including our London to Oxford connections and introduction of new stations at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.  

    We are looking forward to carrying customers on this exciting new route which is set to make a critical contribution to the UK’s economic growth.

    David Hughes, CEO of East West Railway Co, said: 

    This is a huge milestone which will allow Chiltern Railways to deliver a much-needed rail service linking the dynamic cities of Oxford and Milton Keynes, providing new opportunities for commuters and leisure travellers alike. 

    This is the first part of East West Rail’s vision to extend services to Bedford and Cambridge, which will transform connectivity across the region and unlock new opportunities for economic growth.

    The announcement comes following a 10-week consultation period giving local people the chance to shape the second and third stages of East West Rail, which will see the line reaching Bedford from 2030 and Cambridge from the mid-2030s. 

    This outlined the government’s aim for trains to be powered on the route with greener traction and hybrid battery-electric trains, which would result in cleaner and faster journeys for passengers. 

    Gary Walsh, Route Director for West Coast South at Network Rail said: 

    We’re delighted by today’s announcement, which is fantastic news for passengers who will soon benefit from the new journey opportunities that East West Rail provides between Milton Keynes and Oxford.

    Following completion of major construction, which included installing 70km of new track, 17 brand new bridges and a modern signalling system, we’re working closely with our partners at Chiltern Railways and the DfT ahead of passenger services starting later this year.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report on Statutory Performance Indicators to be scrutinised by Highland councillors

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Members of The Highland Council are to be presented with the Annual Report of Statutory Performance Indicators, Benchmarking and Best Value for financial year 2034/24 when they meet on Thursday, 27 March 2025. 

    Leader of the Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner thanked staff for their continued efforts to support service improvements. He said: “I am pleased to see improvement across a number of areas of the Council including those that support the vulnerable in our communities, especially for children and young people, and in Housing Benefit and Council Tax services.” 

    Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban said: “It is encouraging to see the overall evidence of improvement in the Council’s key performance indicators when compared to what was reported at the same time last year. These results are evidence of the positive impact that our services can have on our communities such as the increase of community payback order supervision and the reduction in the time taken to process homelessness applications.” 

    The report explains that data is currently available for analysis of 70 indicators out of a total 81. Fifty five (79%) of the 70 indicators analysed are on target or within agreed performance threshold. This compares to a 2% increase on target or within threshold as reported at the same time last year. 

    Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) are locally determined and are drawn from local performance indicators (LPI) and the Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) indicators used in the Council’s Performance Plan. 

    There are 34 SPIs which the Council considers to be Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).  KPIs provide a high-level overview of the Council’s performance overall and are selected considering their weighting in terms of evidencing effective service delivery of key Council functions. 

    The performance analysis available for 27 of the Council’s KPIs in 2023/24 shows that 85% are on target or within the performance threshold. 

    Some of the key areas of improvement to be highlighted to councillors are: 

    Children’s Services:  

    Adult Services: 

    Corporate Services: 

    Business Development Services: 

    Housing Services: 

    Cultural and Leisure Services:

    The Council’s Performance Plan sets out its strategic and operational priorities along with relevant Local Government Benchmarking Framework indicators and targets to monitor progress, with the Council’s Delivery Plan being a key mechanism through which the priorities are delivered. These LGBF indicators along with locally determined indicators are now the focus of the Council’s SPI reporting.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Call for targeted energy bill support

    Source: Scottish Government

    Working group proposals put to UK Government

    The Scottish Government has called on UK Government ministers to urgently deliver a targeted energy bill discount to protect customers in greatest need and drive down high fuel poverty rates.

    The final report of the Social Tariff Working Group – comprising energy suppliers, consumer and fuel poverty groups and disabled people’s organisations – published today, recommends targeted energy bill support to address the issue of unaffordable bills, plus a move beyond determining eligibility based on receipt of benefits.

    The group concluded that support applied automatically to eligible households, using metrics based on a combination of household income, medical need and rurality would have a positive impact. 

    Acting Climate Action Minister Alasdair Allan said:

    “High energy prices remain the single greatest driver of fuel poverty in Scotland, and we have taken various steps – within the limits of our devolved powers – aimed at raising household incomes and improving energy efficiency. We have reinstated the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners; we have increased funding for Warmer Homes Scotland by £20 million, helping around 1,500 more households save on energy bills; and we have committed a further £20 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund to support the most vulnerable people.

    “However, this is not enough to drive down stubbornly high fuel poverty rates and energy prices continue to rise. Targeted bill support is urgently needed to ensure that consumers are protected against high costs at source and can afford all their energy needs.

    “We have worked very productively with energy providers and advice groups to come up with a deliverable scheme, and the final report demonstrates clear consensus on the way forward. However, the fundamental levers to make a difference are with the UK Government.

    “Existing one-off flat rate rebates are insufficient and are not a long-term solution, and the UK Government must urgently deliver a unit rate discount, with the level of discount proportionate to need. The outputs from our group must act as a foundation and mainstay of a revised strategy, providing a signal of intent and leadership by the UK Government in tackling fuel poverty at source.”

    The group considered fuel eligibility, consumer eligibility and data, level and form of support, and funding, as well as feedback from frontline advisers and campaigners.

    Its conclusions differ from previous models which would have meant moving customers on to a different tariff, thereby removing them from the competitive market and from other means of saving money.

    Background

    Energy: Social Tariff Working Group – gov.scot

    Letter to UK Government Energy Consumers Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Northern Ireland Open Judo Open is back at the Foyle Arena

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Northern Ireland Open Judo Open is back at the Foyle Arena

    25 March 2025

    An international field of judoka from across the UK and Europe will join the cream of local players when the Northern Ireland Judo Open returns to the Foyle Arena next month on Saturday 12th and Sunday April 13th.  
    The tournament, which has a new sponsor for 2025 in the form of SmartPayNI, will see hundreds of judoka descend on the Waterside venue.
    SmartPayNI deliver payment solutions to businesses and have added the capability to pay by card for those attending this year’s tournament.
    Excitement is building for the Open already and Steve Setterfield, Area Leisure Manager for Derry City and Strabane District Council said they were delighted to again host the prestigious event.
    “The team at the Foyle Arena are delighted to welcome the SmartPayNI Northern Ireland Open back in April 2025,” he said.
    “The event has been a resounding success since the centre opened back in 2015 and it now forms an important part of our events calendar.
    “We would like to wish all the competitors the very best of luck.
    “We’ll see you next month!”
    Russell Brown, Chairman for Northern Ireland Judo added: “There’s always a buzz around the Open, the fact that competitors are looking to qualify for further events, the homegrown talent testing their mettle against those across the water and the high level of competition always draws excitement.
    “It’s fantastic to welcome SmartPayNI to the team this year, and we’d like to thank them for their input and support for the event.”
    Marc McLaughlin, Sales Director from SmartPayNI said:
    “SmartPayNI are proud to be sponsoring partners of the Northern Ireland Judo Open we are always keen on supporting the growth of local sport.”
    The SmartPayNI Open is ready for entries, and you can find out more about the event here – https://www.nijudo.com/events/calendar
    To learn more out more about services at the Foyle Arena visit derrystrabaneleisure.com/foyle-arena email [email protected] or call 028 71 376555 and to find your nearest Judo club, log on to www.nijudo.com.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Repair & Share Foyle awarded £188,094 to tackle waste

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Repair & Share Foyle awarded £188,094 to tackle waste

    25 March 2025

    Repair & Share Foyle has successfully secured £188,094 to tackle waste through three key repairing and sharing initiatives, Tech Connect, Fixing Factory & RePaint.

    Repair & Share Foyle is supported by The National Lottery Communities Fund through the ‘People and Communities’ grant to launch more ‘repairing & sharing’ initiatives.

    These projects will actively engage local residents across the Derry City & Strabane District Council area to tackle the growing problem of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste paint. Through community engagement programmes, skills-based workshops and wider business development, the community interest company (C.I.C) plans to collaborate with a broad range of participants, community organisations and businesses to develop circular economy solutions.

    Welcoming the news, Managing Director, Caroline McGuinness-Brooks, said: “Working towards an authentic circular economy at the local level requires forward thinking, collaboration and innovation. Our volunteer led team has demonstrated that we are leaders in grassroots sustainability solutions. This funding award is our first significant leap forward as a young non profit and we’re confident that we’ll make a positive impact, tackling waste streams collectively with our community.”

    For the first time since starting their repair cafes back in 2022, the team will now employ three permanent members of staff to take the C.I.C to the next level. They will scale up their existing laptop campaign, via ‘Tech Connect’, training volunteers and residents with new repair skills and understandings of supply chains and material recovery. Their ‘Fixing Factory’ model will enable the group to expand their current repair cafe capacities, beyond monthly pop ups.

    Ever wanted to learn how to fix household electricals yourself? This is where the fixing factory comes in, with workshops for schools, residents, and businesses interested in repair culture. Additionally, these projects will continue to advocate for the ‘Right to Repair’ movement where legislation and policy change is required to make repair more accessible and affordable for everyone. A ‘Waste Electrical & Electronic Coordinator’ will spearhead these projects.

    Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Congratulations to Repair and Share Foyle on their £188,094 National Lottery grant. We look forward to seeing the difference this project will make to support local people to repair and re-use, creating a more sustainable community, and reducing the effect of the cost-of-living crisis.

    “Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are continuing to deliver on our strategy, ‘It starts with community’, with several programmes open for applications to support those in need.”

    Derry City & Strabane Council and Council works closely with Repair & Share Foyle on a number of waste reduction initiatives, and Council’s Climate Programme Manager, Cathy Burns, said: “E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world and processing of waste paint costs the taxpayer significantly as local authorities have a statutory obligation to manage waste. Social enterprises like Repair & Share Foyle are vital in developing the circular economy, keeping valuable resources in circulation.”

    After securing £4000 capital costs from the SSE energy fund in 2024 to remanufacture waste paint, Repair & Share Foyle are delighted to now have funding in place from the National Lottery to create a ‘Paint & Innovation Technician’ role, which will be advertised in the coming weeks.

    Caroline McGuinness-Brooks said she was looking forward to expanding their team. “As an accredited real living wage employer, we expect to receive plenty of applications for the job postings, and will be ensuring that our first team of staff will set precedent for the future of jobs within Repair & Share Foyle. This is a really exciting time to join our team.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool residents invited to a day of wellbeing and community support

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Residents in a Liverpool community are coming together for an inspiring event designed to promote well-being, reduce social isolation and connect people with local services.

    The event will take place at Wavertree Aquatics Centre on Wednesday, 26th March 2025, from 10 – 3pm.

    With more than 16 organisations participating, including Age Concern, LCC Adult Services, Primary Care Network, House of Memories Bus, Love Wavertree, Riverside Housing, and many more, people who come along will have access to:

    • free blood pressure checks
    • housing advice
    • benefits support

    The meeting will also provide residents with connections to local services that tackle issues such as social isolation, dementia, and mental health challenges.

    These services aim to improve wellbeing, and ensure that everyone in the community has access to the support they need.

    Residents can also take part in interactive activities that will bring people closer, including shared reading sessions with The Reader, pickleball, and cardio tennis at Wavertree Tennis Centre.

    The event is a collaboration between the City Council and local organisations, all working together to strengthen community support networks and ensure residents have access to vital services.

    Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene, said: “This event is more than just services. It’s about people, connection, and belonging.

    “We want to ensure that everyone in Wavertree feels supported and empowered, and we invite all residents to come along, meet new people, and find out what’s available to them.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Atsign’s NoPorts Brings “Invisible” Peer-to-Peer Connectivity to OpenWrt Devices, Empowering Manufacturers and Their Customers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Atsign, the leader in invisible networking, announced today that its NoPorts technology is now available for devices running OpenWrt. This breakthrough enables secure, peer-to-peer device communication and remote management, even in traditionally challenging network environments, empowering both device manufacturers and their customers with unparalleled privacy and security.

    Building on Atsign’s proven “security through invisibility” approach, NoPorts on OpenWrt eliminates the need for open ports and centralized servers, making devices effectively invisible to attackers. This advancement extends the benefits of secure, private connectivity to a wider range of devices, including routers, IoT devices, and custom hardware running OpenWrt.

    “This is a fundamental shift in how devices connect and communicate,” said Colin Constable, CTO at Atsign. “By embedding NoPorts into their OpenWrt-based devices, manufacturers can offer their customers a truly secure and private way to connect and manage their networks and the devices behind them. This is especially crucial in scenarios where traditional network configurations fail. The best part is that NoPorts is far more simple and far more secure than other alternatives today, such as VPNs.”

    Key Benefits for Device Manufacturers and their Customers:

    • Secure, Zero Trust, Direct Device Communication – Enables private, peer-to-peer device communication without relying on open ports or centralized servers, facilitating secure data exchange and edge computing applications.
    • Universal Remote Management – Provides reliable remote access and management of OpenWrt devices, even behind restrictive networks like CGNAT and double NAT, eliminating the need for complex VPN configurations.
    • Enhanced Security and Privacy by Design – Manufacturers can embed an “invisible” security layer, eliminating attack surfaces and protecting customer data from external scans and unauthorized access.
    • Simplified and Secure IoT Deployments – Streamlines the secure connection and management of IoT devices running OpenWrt, regardless of location or network complexity.
    • Elimination of Traditional Attack Vectors – By making devices invisible to external scans and unauthorized access, NoPorts eliminates cybersecurity risks associated with conventional network configurations.

    “The significance for device manufacturers is clear,” said Constable. “They can now offer their customers the ability to securely and privately access their routers and devices behind them, even when those devices are on networks that are traditionally difficult to reach, such as mobile networks, networks using CGNAT like satellite networks or Double NAT such as home labs. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also strengthens the overall security posture of their products.”

    NoPorts leverages Atsign’s atPlatform, a unique, peer-to-peer architecture that eliminates the need for centralized servers and open ports. This approach provides a secure, private, and efficient way for devices to communicate and connect, even behind firewalls and NATs. This technology creates connections that are fully encrypted and private without any of the headaches of overlay networks.

    This advancement further solidifies Atsign’s commitment to providing “invisible” security solutions that empower manufacturers and their customers to control their data and devices without compromising security or usability.

    About NoPorts

    NoPorts eliminates network & security vulnerabilities by securing connections between people, entities, and things making them invisible to would-be attackers by eliminating attack network surfaces. With a zero trust architecture, end-to-end encryption, and no reliance on cumbersome security layers, NoPorts enables seamless and secure communication across virtually any environment. Organizations gain scalability, operational efficiency, and stronger security—all while reducing costs and complexity. For more information, visit NoPorts.com.

    About Atsign

    At Atsign, we believe that people, entities, and things—including AI—should connect securely and directly, while always being invisible to bad actors. By eliminating the need for open ports and centralized servers, the atPlatform empowers developers and organizations to build applications with “invisible” security built in, placing data and device control back into the hands of their owners. Atsign is the creator of the atPlatform, the most robust infrastructure available for “invisible networking” and secure, private, peer-to-peer connectivity. Learn more at Atsign.com.

    For More Information Contact:

    Scott Hetherington
    Atsign
    Scott@Atsign.com
    844-827-0985

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man pleads guilty to stabbing in Croydon

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A 31-year-old man has pleaded guilty to stabbing five people in a commercial warehouse in Marlowe Way, Beddington.

    Babah Sesay, 31 (01.03.1994) of Rodney Estate, Southwark, appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, 20 March. He admitted 10 charges related to the incident, including wounding with intent and actual bodily harm.

    Shortly before 10:15hrs on Thursday, 23 January, Sesay burst into the distribution centre, where he used to work, and attacked a handful of former colleagues as they tried to stop him.

    Five men were taken to hospital – one in his 50s, two in their 30s and two in their 20s – where thankfully their injuries were confirmed to be non-life-threatening or life-changing.

    Detective Superintendent Dan Rutland, who leads policing in south London, said: “The swift actions of our officers helped to ensure no one was seriously hurt in this incident.

    “I hope this, and the judicial result, brings closure and comfort to those involved and highlights to the community that we will not tolerate violence in any form.”

    Despite Sesay fleeing the scene, he was arrested an hour later at a nearby restaurant. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries following his arrest, before being transferred to custody.

    He was later charged with five counts of wounding with intent, two counts of aggravated burglary, one count of actual bodily harm, one count of assault by beating and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.

    He will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Thursday, 5 June.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: WOO Staking revamped to deliver real yield

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WOO X, a leading global crypto trading platform,  has introduced My WOO, a new system that offers fee discounts and perks based on total WOO token holdings, just by holding or staking the token. 

    Ben Yorke, VP of Ecosystem at WOO, announced the update, which includes a revamped WOO Staking model that replaces inflationary rewards with real yield from trading fees.

    Key changes:

    • No inflationary staking yields – Rewards come from trading fees on WOO X and WOOFi.
    • Hold or stake – Perks are based on total daily average WOO holdings across Spot, Vault, Yield Farming, and Staking.
    • No 7-day lockups – 0% fee for standard unstaking, with funds available in 24 hours.
    • Hassle-free staking: WOO X will manage the logistics of staking onchain and auto-compounding USDC yields into more WOO with daily automated buybacks.

    “With 86% of WOO’s supply already in circulation and all fundraising vesting completed, WOO is shifting focus to sustainable revenue growth,” Yorke said adding that in Q1, WOO Staking has generated $1,035,565 in USDC rewards, auto-compounded 6.4M WOO, and burned 5.3M WOO. 

    Yorke said staked WOO tokens are to reach 17% of the total supply this year. He also said that WOO will announce incentive campaigns for loyal users and a roadmap report in early April, outlining WOO’s AI-powered trading platform.

    To learn more about WOO X, download our app or visit our website at: woox.io 

    Contact: media@woo.network 

    About WOO X

    WOO X is a global centralized crypto futures and spot trading platform offering the best-in-class liquidity and price execution. WOO X has achieved a daily volume exceeding $1.6 billion and is home to hundreds of thousands of traders worldwide. WOO X traders benefit from radical transparency through our industry-first live Proof of Reserves & liabilities dashboard and the company’s mission to maintain the trust of its growing community of traders.

    Disclaimer

    The content above is neither a recommendation for investment and trading strategies nor does it constitute an investment offer, solicitation, or recommendation of any product or service. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only, does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or professional advice of any kind, and does not bind WOO in any way.

    Cryptocurrencies and similar instruments, including any products linked to such instruments, including without limitation leveraged or derivatives products thereof (“Products”), involve significant risk and are NOT suitable for the majority of investors. The value of such Products can be extremely volatile, and you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite before participating in any staking or investment activities in connection with such Products. We strongly recommend that you seek independent advice from a qualified professional before making any investment or financial decisions related to the Products. We shall in NO case be liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this content.  By reading this content, you attest that you are fully aware that the trading of the Products may not be suitable for the general retail public and that you are an informed and qualified investor, and are also fully cognisant of all technological and financial risk(s) associated with trading such Products.

    We strongly recommend that you seek independent advice from a qualified professional before making any investment or financial decisions related to cryptocurrencies or staking. We shall in NO case be liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank breaks ground on historic state-of-the-art Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Barbados, first outside Africa

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

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, March 25, 2025/APO Group/ —

    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com/), Africa’s leading Multilateral Financial Institution, made history today when it broke ground on its first-ever state-of-the-art Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in the Caribbean, marking a pivotal moment for trade relations between Africa and the CARICOM region.

    The US$180 million Barbados AATC, the first to be established outside Africa, is an authentic icon of trade embodying the ambition, resilience, and influence of leading commercial cities in Africa and the Caribbean that serve as dynamic focal points for commerce, fostering regional and global trade connections.  It is expected to enhance intra-and extra-African trade, with a focus on countries of the Global South through Afreximbank’s Global Africa initiative.

    To facilitate the construction of its iconic AATC in its capital, Bridgetown, the government of Barbados granted Afreximbank 6.4 acres of land at Jemmotts Lane, the former Ministry of Health headquarters. Upon completion, the business complex will house Afreximbank’s CARICOM office, a conference facility, a technology and SME incubator, a Digital Trade Gateway, 100 room hotel, and a trade and exhibition centre, as well as office spaces for local, regional and international financial and policy organisations. This groundbreaking event marks the official commencement of construction for this historic project and is a significant step in Barbados and CARICOM’s journey towards economic advancement and regional integration.

    Afreximbank initiated the AATC concept following a 2018 Board decision to create trade facilitation hubs in key commercial capitals across Africa. These hubs will provide integrated trade information, services, finance, and ancillary facilities. Nine leading commercial cities were subsequently selected to host the network of AATCs across Africa and the Caribbean. They include Abuja (Nigeria), Harare (Zimbabwe), Kampala (Uganda), Cairo (Egypt), Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire),Yaoundé (Cameroon), Bridgetown (Barbados), Kigali (Rwanda) and Tunis (Tunisia).They will serve to link buyers, sellers, suppliers, service providers, enterprises, governments, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, economic development organisations and the general African and global trade and investment community.

    Delivering the keynote address during the event, The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), highlighted the site’s historical significance as the location of Barbados’ first hospital, opened in 1844 to look after the health of emancipated slaves.

    “My government stands proud here today to be able to bring in to the pantheon of financial institutions in this country, Afreximbank, not simply as an entity that is leasing a building from somebody for an office, but as an institution ready to lay roots and foundations in this country – the first AATC outside of Africa, just like Barbados was the first hub (for slaves) outside of the continent of Africa, and in so doing, we send the signal that we intend to be able to reclaim our Atlantic Destiny.”

    She added: “Professor Oramah, I ask you to accept, on behalf of Afreximbank, this clear offer from the Government of Barbados to make available this gesture of over two hectares of land to ensure that the investment will bring jobs to the people of Barbados; that it will bring foreign exchange and investment opportunities to the people of Barbados and the region.”

    Speaking during the groundbreaking, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, thanked the Hon. Mia Mottley, her government and its people for the warm welcome and for being a strong agent for the reunification of Global Africa and hosting Barbados AATC that will also serve as Afreximbank’s regional CARICOM office.

    Prof. Oramah said: “The Barbados AATC will serve as the gateway for Afri-Caribbean trade and investments, creating opportunities for doing business with the Caribbean and for Caribbeans doing business in Africa.

    He expressed confidence that the project would deliver tangible positive economic, community and social impact to Barbados and the Caribbean region by enhancing trade and fostering sustainable development. Prof. Oramah assured the Prime Minister and other leaders present that Afreximbank remained committed to supporting the economic growth and prosperity of Africa and the Caribbean by attracting investments, removing barriers to trade and reshaping the narrative of business in the region.

    The event also featured the official handover of the land for the project from the Government of Barbados to Afreximbank. Construction of the complex is projected to take approximately 30 months, generating around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during this phase. Additionally, about 50 SMEs will benefit from business opportunities as subcontractors and suppliers of construction materials, labour, and other services. Upon completion, the facility will create 300 permanent jobs, significantly contributing to employment. The facility will include a hotel, which will boost the supply of hotel rooms in Barbados, critical for tourism promotion. It will also house the Bank’s office as well as lettable office spaces, which are expected to be occupied by Caribbean businesses as well as African Banks and businesses that are already beginning to do business in CARICOM.

    Afreximbank has extended its credit lines to CARICOM to the tune of US$2.5 billion, aiming to bolster the region’s development, particularly on the backdrop of Guyana and Suriname’s new oil discoveries, expected to impact the entire region once fully commercialised. In 2024, the Bank provided Barbados with US$25 million for its Cricket World Cup sports complex refurbishment, and currently has deals worth US$500 million in the pipeline.

    Meanwhile, Hon. Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, noted that in the very short period since the Bank landed by choice on the shores of the Caribbean, the region has benefitted tremendously.

    PM Mitchell added: “Grenada will follow Barbados, Guyana and The Bahamas, hosting on July 28 and 29 the Afreximbank Trade and Investment Forum in Grenada. And we do so cognisant of the economic opportunities, trade, investment, financing, the movement of our people, our goods and services between the continent of Africa and the Caribbean.”

    Also participating in the groundbreaking ceremony was Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary General of CARICOM, Afreximbank’s Board Members, the Bank’s Senior Executive Vice President and Vice Presidents and several other notable local and regional government officials and business leaders.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £3.4 million funding awarded to city council to improve energy efficiency of council homes

    Source: City of Winchester

    Winchester City Council has been awarded £3,458,753 to improve the energy ratings of its council homes following a successful bid for funding to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

    The grant, provisionally allocated to the council as part of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, is the highest individual allocation to be received by a Hampshire local authority although some councils are part of larger consortium bids.

    With support from the newly announced funding, the council aims to bring improvements to 672 homes over the next three years by making use of energy-saving technology such as air source heat pumps, solar panels and solar batteries, as well as building fabric improvements such as cavity wall and loft insulation.

    The new funding will continue work delivered by the city council’s Energy Saving Homes Programme, which has been improving the energy efficiency of council homes, helping to save tenants money on their energy bills and reduce the homes’ carbon footprints.

    Works taking place to upgrade the roof of a Swedish cottage in Shedfield

    So far, the council has already delivered upgrades to 600 properties, raising their energy ratings as part of its Energy Saving Homes programme.

    Speaking about the new funding, Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Chris Westwood said:

    “Our Energy Saving Homes programme is already having a really significant impact, reducing costs for our tenants and bringing down the carbon footprint of our homes. I’m really pleased we’ve been able to successfully bid for further funding that will allow us to carry out even more energy efficiency improvements, meaning more of our tenants will benefit from cheaper bills and warmer homes as part of our efforts to become greener faster.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: A Chengdu meeting with top architecture award laureate Liu Jiakun

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    When asked about his favorite architectural form, Liu Jiakun, the newly crowned Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, did not mention soaring skyscrapers or grand monuments, but instead simply said, “Wells.”

    “In a well, time loops, parallel universes exist, and wherever you are, you are both inside and outside yourself. If the stage is dark, you cultivate your own light and if the sky isn’t vast, you dig deep,” he told Xinhua in an interview in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, where he was born.

    For over four decades, Liu has stayed rooted in his homeland, proving that a deeply local practice can grow into something towering and universal.

    HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL HONOR

    Earlier this month, the Pritzker Architecture Prize committee announced Liu as its 54th laureate.

    “Liu creates public areas in populated cities where the luxury of space is largely absent, forging a positive relationship between density and open space. By multiplying typologies within one project, he innovates the role of civic spaces to support the breadth of requisites for a diverse society,” the committee said.

    Liu is the second Chinese citizen to receive this prize — which is regarded internationally as architecture’s highest honor.

    However, unlike many past laureates, his career was not shaped by international education or global commissions. Instead, he has spent most of his life in Chengdu, crafting buildings that respond to the land, the people and the culture that raised him.

    One of his most emblematic works, known as West Village, is a five-story urban complex. Designed like a hotpot, where various ingredients come together in a bubbling and flavorful mix, it blurs the boundaries between public and private, formal and informal. At this complex, elderly men walk with their birds, influencers pose for photos, and children chase soccer balls — with all of them weaving seamlessly through the open and wall-free structure.

    In 2016, a model of West Village was displayed at the Venice Biennale, and today it stands as a defining reason for Liu’s Pritzker win. “Liu Jiakun takes present realities and handles them to the point of offering sometimes a whole new scenario of daily life,” the jury noted.

    BOTH FORM AND MEANING

    In the eyes of his friends, Liu is as much a man of letters as he is a man of bricks. He reads voraciously, drawing inspiration from literature, philosophy and history. These influences manifest in his work — not just in form, but also in meaning.

    In 2008, after a devastating earthquake hit Wenchuan in Sichuan, Liu rushed to the disaster zone to volunteer. “As a Sichuan resident, I felt the pain. As an architect, I had to do something I knew how to do.”

    Liu repurposed rubble from the quake into “recycled bricks,” which he used to rebuild homes and construct a memorial site. At the earthquake’s memorial site, these bricks form courtyards that bear silent witness to loss and resilience. “They are more than materials. They carry memories,” Liu explained.

    One of his smallest yet most poignant works is a memorial hall, dedicated to a 15-year-old girl who perished in the quake. A lover of literature, she had dreamed of becoming a writer. With her parents’ consent, Liu designed a delicate and pink-walled sanctuary nestled in a grove — with a circular skylight casting soft, shifting light.

    “It wasn’t a commission,” Liu said. “It was something I had to do, because I was there, and I was an architect.”

    EVOLUTION OF AN ARCHITECT

    Liu’s path to architecture was far from predetermined. Before college, he had never even heard of architecture. When filling out university applications, he listed majors like warehouse management and leather processing, simply seeking a path to securing a stable job.

    Notably, for over a decade after graduating, Liu abandoned architecture almost entirely, pouring his energy into writing.

    But in 1993, a solo exhibition by a former classmate in east China’s Shanghai changed everything. “I realized architecture could be captivating. Architects could have exhibitions. China’s architectural era was coming.”

    His return to architecture coincided with a boom in China’s construction industry — a time when architects finally had space to innovate. Yet, while many chased monumental and high-profile projects, Liu opted for less glamorous quests.

    To Liu, architecture is akin to the likes of literature and painting, disciplines of lifelong pursuit. “Both are endless labors, but their beauty is that they push you to keep growing,” he said.

    Each project, he added, is a love letter to his homeland. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ethnic melodies cherished, echo globally

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Yang Xiangni, the founder of a Dong ethnic minority chorus in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, never imagined those melodies sung by her ancestors could link to a stunning show in a blockbuster Chinese animation.

    In a mesmerizing scene in “Ne Zha 2,” the fifth highest-grossing film globally, a Chinese lotus gradually blooms while a traditional melody swells in the background. The music breathes life into the visuals, filling Dong people, like Yang, with immense pride and love for their musical heritage.

    The grand song of the Dong ethnic group has echoed through the ages. Revered as a soulful art form, it draws inspiration from the natural flow of life, mimicking bird sounds, the pattering of rains and the gentle rush of rivers.

    In Guizhou, singing the grand song of the Dong is more than a performance for the Dong people; it also serves as a way for them to express their hopes, dreams, and feelings.

    After graduating from the Academy of Music of Guizhou University in 2020, Yang worked as an art training teacher for two years before returning to her hometown to promote ethnic minority culture.

    One year later, Yang established the chorus, finding a way to combine her hobbies of singing Dong songs with the opportunities brought by the Village Super League, a grassroots football carnival in Guizhou. She made cultural inheritance her life-long career and also answered the country’s calls to revitalize traditional culture.

    Yang started her touch with the Dong performance art at age six and learned the grand song in primary school. She gave an innovative performance of her ancestors’ music by joining hands with rock music during their shows at the opening ceremony of the Guizhou Village Super League.

    “Positive changes and innovations make the grand song of the Dong well-known. Thus, traditional Chinese music goes further and is alive,” said Yang.

    Mu Qian, who got his PhD in ethnomusicology from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, was one of the promoters of the grand song of the Dong, making it echo in ears outside China.

    In 2019, a music album titled “Wanp-Wanp Jangl Kap” in Dong ethnic dialect, namely “Everyone, Listen Close,” made a wave of Chinese ethnic minorities’ music on the world stage. It was selected by the Transglobal World Music Chart as the Best Asia & Pacific album of the 2019-2020 season and broadcast by more than 10 radio stations.

    The music album producer, Mu, got the golden chance to promote this art form globally, bringing the chorus of Dong touring to several U.S. cities and holding 10 concerts in September of the same year when the album was published.

    Welcoming a recent handshake between “Ne Zha 2” and the grand song of the Dong, Mu feels pleasure to see the mix of all art forms, thus raising the popularity of the grand song.

    “I expect more original works by Dong artists to appear in the music market. Seeing their trails and marks on world stages, I also anticipate a delicate balance between ethnic characteristics and market trends,” Mu added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New cost of living tax cuts under Labor

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    The Albanese Government will deliver two more tax cuts to every Australian taxpayer in 2026 and 2027, adding to the first round that Labor delivered in July last year.

    Every Australian taxpayer gets another tax cut from next year – all 14 million, not just some.

    This will give a top up to every taxpayer, right up and down the income scale.

    Labor’s new tax cuts are modest but they will make a difference.

    Combined with Labor’s first round of tax cuts, the average tax cut is expected to be around $43 per week or more than $2,200 in 2026–27, and around $50 per week or more than $2,500 in 2027–28.

    It’s a bit of extra help for every taxpayer and it tops up our tax cuts that started flowing on 1 July 2024.

    Labor’s new tax cuts will be phased in over two years, ensuring our fiscal settings are consistent with inflation remaining sustainably in the target band.

    Last year, we cut two rates and lifted two thresholds to deliver tax cuts for all Australian taxpayers, including around three million people who would have missed out completely under Scott Morrison’s policy from before the election.

    The Albanese Labor Government will cut income taxes further over two years:

    • From 1 July 2026, we will reduce the 16 per cent tax rate to 15 per cent (for income between $18,201 and $45,000).
    • From 1 July 2027, this tax rate will be reduced further to 14 per cent.

    As a result of these changes:

    • All 14 million Australian taxpayers will receive a tax cut, on top of our tax relief that’s already rolling out.
    • Every Australian taxpayer earning above $45,000 (around 80 per cent of taxpayers) will get an extra tax cut of $268 in 2026–27 and $536 from 2027–28, compared to 2024–25 settings.
    • A worker on average earnings ($79,000) will get an extra tax cut of $268 in 2026–27 and $536 per year from 2027–28.
    • Every Australian taxpayer earning between $18,201 and $45,000 will get an extra tax cut of up to $268 in 2026–27 and up to $536 from 2027–28, compared to 2024–25 settings.
    • A person earning $40,000 will get an extra tax cut of $218 in 2026–27 and $436 every year from 2027–28.

    Combined with Labor’s first round of tax cuts:

    • The average tax cut is expected to be around $43 per week or more than $2,200 in 2026–27, and around $50 per week or more than $2,500 in 2027–28, compared with 2023–24 settings.
    • An average earner will receive total tax relief of $1,922 in 2026–27 and $2,190 per year from 2027–28, compared to 2023–24 tax settings.
    • The average income earner will pay around $30,000 less in tax to 2035–36, compared to 2023–24 settings.

    The Government’s personal income tax reforms lower the first tax rate from 19 to 14 per cent, the second tax rate from 32.5 to 30 per cent, and lift two thresholds.

    Our changes to the bottom tax rate under the new tax cuts will bring this rate to its lowest level in over 50 years.

    In addition, the Government will increase the Medicare levy low‑income thresholds from 2024–25.

    This will benefit more than a million Australians, ensuring people on lower incomes continue to pay a reduced levy rate or are exempt from the Medicare levy.

    Labor’s tax cuts return bracket creep, increase the financial rewards from work and boost labour supply.

    Whether you’re a truckie, a teacher or a tradie, whether you’re in manufacturing, mining or the care economy, you will earn more and keep more of what you earn.

    Our new tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer come on top of our substantial and responsible cost of living relief including:

    • Cost of Living Tax Cuts from 1 July 2024;
    • Energy bill relief for every household and for small businesses;
    • Strengthening Medicare with more bulk billing;
    • Cheaper medicines, with a script to cost Australians no more than $25 under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
    • Cheaper child care;
    • Cutting student debt and repayments;
    • Free TAFE;
    • Increased rent assistance and working age payments;
    • Building more homes;
    • Higher wages.

    The changes to the personal income tax system will cost $17.1 billion over the forward estimates.

    The increase to the Medicare levy low‑income thresholds will cost $648 million over the forward estimates.

    The Albanese Government’s responsible economic and fiscal management has allowed us to fund important priorities like this tax relief for every Australian taxpayer.

    Our economic plan is all about helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn and that’s what these tax cuts will help to achieve.

    To find out how much the Government’s tax cuts will benefit you, use the calculator on the Budget website.

    Table 1: New personal tax rates and thresholds
    Tax thresholds ($) Tax rates (%)
    2023–24 2024–25 and 2025–26 2026–27 2027–28
    0 – 18,200 Tax free Tax free Tax free Tax free
    18,201 – 45,000 19 16 15 14
    45,001 – 120,000 32.5 30 30 30
    120,001 – 135,000 37 30 30 30
    135,001 – 180,000 37 37 37 37
    180,001 – 190,000 45 37 37 37
    190,001 and above 45 45 45 45
    Table 2: Summary of tax benefits
    Taxable Income Current tax cut from 1 July 2024 compared to 2023–24 tax settings 2026–27 First new tax cut (from 16 to 15 per cent) compared to 2024–25 tax settings Total benefit from Labor’s tax cuts compared to 2023–24 tax settings 2027–28 onwards Second new tax cut (from 15 to 14 per cent) compared to 2026–27 tax settings Total new tax cut compared to 2024–25 tax settings Total benefit from Labor’s tax cuts compared to 2023–24 tax settings
    $40,000 $654 $218 $872 $218 $436 $1,090
    $47,627^ $870 $268 $1,138 $268 $536 $1,406
    $50,000 $929 $268 $1,197 $268 $536 $1,465
    $79,000* $1,654 $268 $1,922 $268 $536 $2,190
    $100,000 $2,179 $268 $2,447 $268 $536 $2,715
    $103,000** $2,254 $268 $2,522 $268 $536 $2,790
    $150,000 $3,729 $268 $3,997 $268 $536 $4,265
    $200,000 $4,529 $268 $4,797 $268 $536 $5,065

    ^ The national minimum wage is $47,627, set by the Fair Work Commission under the Fair Work Act as of 1 July 2024.
    * Annualised average weekly earnings is around $79,000, based on $1,510.90 per week in November 2024 (ABS data release), which captures average gross wages across all employees, including full‑ time and part‑time workers.
    ** Average ordinary full‑time earnings is $103,000, based on $1,975.80 per week in November 2024 (ABS data release), which captures average gross wage income across full‑time employees only, and excludes any income earned from overtime.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: More energy bill relief for every Australian household and for small business

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    The Albanese Labor Government will provide another $150 in Energy Bill Relief, extending our energy rebates until the end of 2025.

    This responsible cost of living relief measure will help every household and small businesses.

    From 1 July 2025, every household and around one million small businesses will see another $150 in rebates automatically applied to their electricity bills in quarterly instalments, on top of the previous rebates already being rolled out to Australian households and small businesses.

    Treasury estimates this will directly reduce headline inflation by around half of a percentage point in 2025, and reduce household bills by 7.5 per cent on average nationally, compared to bills without the extension.

    As the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown, the energy bill rebates we have been rolling out with the states have directly reduced electricity prices. In 2024, electricity prices fell 25.2 per cent, but would have fallen just 1.6 per cent without energy rebates.

    The extension of energy bill rebates will cost $1.8 billion over the forward estimates.

    In addition, the ACCC’s Inquiry into the National Electricity Market will be extended for 12 months, helping to ensure households and small businesses are getting a fair deal from their energy retailer.

    The Albanese Labor Government’s energy reforms will help consumers to switch between energy plans to secure the best value for their money, remove excessive fees and charges, and ensure people get the concessions they are entitled to, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars per year.

    We are providing immediate relief on energy bills now while we continue to progress the overdue reform needed to deliver the modern, affordable and reliable energy grid Australians deserve.

    Our economic plan is all about finishing the fight against inflation, providing responsible cost of living relief and building a stronger and more productive economy.

    Helping with the cost of living is the number one priority of the Albanese Government and the Budget, and that’s what our energy rebates will do.

    MIL OSI News –