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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: SASC Leaders Reed & Wicker Request Inspector General Probe into Signal Incident

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC — Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) sent a letter to the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Defense regarding their bipartisan concern and interest about the Signal group chat involving senior members of the Trump Administration.
    Full text of the letter follows:
    Mr. Steven A. Stebbins
    Acting Inspector General
    U.S. Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General
    4800 Mark Center Drive
    Alexandria, VA 22350-1500
    Dear Mr. Stebbins,
    On March 11, 2025, Jeffrey Goldberg, the Editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was reportedly included on a group chat on the commercially available communications application called Signal, which included members of the National Security Council. This chat was alleged to have included classified information pertaining to sensitive military actions in Yemen. If true, this reporting raises questions as to the use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information, as well as the sharing of such information with those who do not have proper clearance and need to know.
    Accordingly, we ask that you conduct an inquiry into, and provide us with an assessment of, the following:
    1. The facts and circumstances surrounding the above referenced Signal chat incident, including an accounting of what was communicated and any remedial actions taken as a result;
    2. Department of Defense (DOD) policies and adherence to policies relating to government officers and employees sharing sensitive and classified information on non-government networks and electronic applications;
    3. An assessment of DOD classification and declassification policies and processes and whether these policies and processes were adhered to;
    4. How the policies of the White House, Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and other Departments and agencies represented on the National Security Council on this subject differ, if at all;
    5. An assessment of whether any individuals transferred classified information, including operational details, from classified systems to unclassified systems, and if so, how;
    6. Any recommendations to address potential issues identified.
    Please include a classified annex to these responses as needed. The Senate Armed Services Committee will work with you to schedule a briefing immediately upon completion of your review.
    Respectfully,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Energy bills and debt are rising yet again – here are three things that would help vulnerable households

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Elaine Robinson, Research Associate, Centre for Research in Social Policy, Loughborough University

    Energy prices are rising faster than benefits, wages or pensions, meaning the amount that UK households owe to energy suppliers – their energy debt – is also likely to grow.

    On April 1 2025, the energy price cap, which is the maximum amount suppliers can charge, will rise by 6.4%. This is the third consecutive quarterly increase, and a rise of 9.4% compared with the limit set the previous April, which amounts to an increase of £159 on the typical bill.

    Meanwhile, benefits such as universal credit are being increased by only 1.7%, which will mean those on low incomes will find it challenging to pay for the energy they need. The increase is so low because, every April, benefits rise in line with the rate of overall inflation for the previous September.

    State pension increases have outpaced increases to working age benefits due to “the triple lock”, which ensures annual increases are pegged to the highest of earnings growth, inflation or 2.5%. Nonetheless, the state pension is set to rise by only 4.1%.

    Combined with the loss of the winter fuel payment (at least £200 a year) for all but the poorest pensioner households, the price cap rise will especially hurt those who are just above the threshold to receive pension credit.

    People in low-paid work will fare slightly better. But still, the minimum wage rise of 6.7% for those over 21 in April 2025 will not keep pace with the 9.4% annual increase in energy prices. Essentials, such as energy, make up a greater proportion of spending for low-income households, so these price rises will have a greater impact here.

    Energy debt highest since 2012

    Energy regulator Ofgem reported those in arrears (without a repayment plan) owed an average of £1,568 for electricity and £1,324 for gas at the end of September 2024, an annual increase of 33% and 85% higher than debt levels in September 2021.

    Even for those on repayment plans, debt remains high, having risen by two-thirds since the start of 2022. Record levels of energy debt – the highest since records began in 2012 – are inflating bills for all consumers, as energy providers seek to recover the cost of debt. This situation looks set to worsen, given that this data precedes price rises since October 2024.

    Moving to a fixed rate or cheaper tariff with another supplier is not possible for those with more than 28 days unpaid energy bill debt. Households at risk of going into debt also tend to ration their energy use or self-disconnect. But living in a cold home risks damp and mould, which has severe health consequences.

    Available help is not enough

    The government is expanding the warm home discount scheme to make more households eligible for an annual payment of £150, but it is unclear at this stage who will benefit. The payment may not be enough, since price cap changes mean that from April 2025, average annual bills will be £159 more expensive. Crucially, energy debt repayments are not reflected in the government’s fuel poverty calculations.

    The government urgently needs to introduce an effective debt relief scheme.

    Ofgem has acknowledged that energy is essential for everyone and that disconnection has harmful consequences. It also recognises energy market failures prevent those with small debts from accessing better deals. The regulator recommends a debt relief fund of up to £1 billion to help vulnerable households that have been affected by the energy crisis and for suppliers to adopt consistent standards in handling and preventing debt.

    Here’s are three ways the government can protect vulnerable households.

    1. Store more energy

    Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are intermittent, so demand won’t always match supply. In a marketised energy system, that means prices will be more volatile. However, a leading cause of high bills in the last few years has been the fact that Britain’s privatised system sets electricity bills according to the wholesale price of gas, which is often the most expensive energy source.

    If the UK can create more energy storage options (such as batteries, pumped hydro and thermal storage), the grid can store excess green energy when it is abundant to use when it is needed. This would reduce price volatility and reliance on expensive gas.



    Read more:
    How gas keeps the UK’s electricity bills so high – despite lots of cheap wind power

    2. Insulate homes

    Home improvements such as insulation and draught-proofing can help people spend less on energy for heating, which accounts for most of the cost of domestic energy bills. This needs to be combined with adequate ventilation to prevent damp and mould.

    3. Cover medical energy costs

    Since late 2024, energy pricing reform has permitted tariffs without a standing charge. This is an amount you pay on your energy bill every day, regardless of whether you use any energy. The change will benefit those who spend the least on energy. However, it won’t help people whose energy needs are higher due to health conditions, or who spend more time at home.

    Older people, the disabled and those who are terminally ill will need more help, as highlighted by research I led on fuel poverty in the last year of life. Living in a cold home can exacerbate health conditions and cut lives short.

    People who are dying are more vulnerable to cold and may need to use more electricity for medical equipment. Our research found that they are more likely to be in fuel poverty. For the terminally ill, home energy-efficiency improvements take time that they don’t have. Getting work done is disruptive. What these people urgently need is help with their bills.

    End-of-life charity Marie Curie is campaigning for a social tariff which would provide cheaper energy for those who are terminally ill. It has asked the government for additional help to cover the energy costs of medical equipment, so that vulnerable people don’t fall into energy debt.

    Incomes are failing to keep pace with rising energy prices and existing schemes to help those on low incomes fall well short. This will push more people into hardship. The government must put the needs of the most vulnerable first.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Elaine Robinson is a member of the Labour Party. She has received funding from Marie Curie.

    – ref. Energy bills and debt are rising yet again – here are three things that would help vulnerable households – https://theconversation.com/energy-bills-and-debt-are-rising-yet-again-here-are-three-things-that-would-help-vulnerable-households-252570

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Melsonby hoard: iron-age Yorkshire discovery reveals ancient Britons’ connections with Europe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Duncan Garrow, Professor of Archaeology, University of Reading

    The Melsonby hoard is a remarkable collection of more than 800 iron-age metal artefacts, which was found in a field near Melsonby, North Yorkshire, in December 2021.

    Its discovery represents a triumph of cross-sector collaboration in British archaeology. This extraordinary find excavated from Yorkshire soil is not just a collection of ancient objects, but signals a need for a significant revision of how we understand iron-age Britain.

    The presence of materials imported from the Mediterranean, and a type of continental European wagon new to Britain, challenges the idea that iron-age Britons were isolated. Instead, it tell us that “wealthy” iron-age people in northern England had contacts extending out across Europe.

    This 2022 excavation, supported by a £120,000 grant from Historic England and expertise from the British Museum, revealed more than 800 items dating to the first century BC – around the time of the Roman conquest under Emperor Claudius. The objects are almost certainly associated with the Brigantes tribe who dominated northern England during this period.

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    The scale of this discovery sets it apart from typical iron-age finds. The hoard includes partial remains of at least seven four-wheeled wagons and/or two-wheeled chariots, harnesses for at least 14 horses, 28 iron tyres (many deliberately bent), three ceremonial spears and two ornate cauldrons.

    In iron-age Britain, communities regularly placed metalwork in rivers and bogs to mark significant life events, including death. The Thames has yielded deliberately deposited human skulls alongside weapons and metal objects. The Melsonby hoard can be seen as a land-based equivalent of these water deposits.

    One of the most significant aspects of this discovery is the first evidence of four-wheeled wagons used by iron-age British tribes, possibly imitating vehicles seen in continental Europe. This finding suggests that northern Britain was far from isolated, instead participating in widespread networks spanning Europe to the Mediterranean.

    The craftsmanship displayed in the hoard as whole is exceptional. Some horse harnesses feature Mediterranean coral and coloured glass, showcasing the distinctive curving patterns typical of Celtic Art. One cauldron, likely used for mixing wine, combines Mediterranean and iron age artistic styles – concrete evidence of cultural exchange between Britain and continental Europe.

    Particularly intriguing is evidence that many items were deliberately burned or broken before burial. This practice of ritually “killing” valuable objects has deep roots in British prehistory, stretching back to the bronze age. By destroying such items, iron age elites may have been demonstrating their wealth and status through conspicuous consumption.

    However, the burning might also relate to funerary practices in some way. Though no human remains were found, the objects could have been burned on a funeral pyre in a cremation ritual. This places the Melsonby hoard in an interesting position between traditional archaeological categories. It is part “hoard” (a deliberate deposit of objects) and part “grave goods” (items placed with the dead).

    This dual nature isn’t without precedent. Chariot burials are well-documented in iron-age Yorkshire, while collections of horse equipment appear in other discovered hoards. The Melsonby find might represent a combination of these traditions.

    However, we wouldn’t know about any of this if it hadn’t been for the decision of metal detectorist Peter Heads to resist unearthing the hoard himself.

    On making the discovery in December 2021, Heads immediately contacted archaeologists at Durham University, setting in motion a textbook example of proper archaeological practice. This allowed crucial contextual information that would have been lost forever had the site been disturbed without professional supervision.

    The hoard’s objects were carefully identified using scanning technology at the University of Southampton, allowing archaeologists to excavate without causing damage. This meticulous approach will enable years of productive research into these artefacts.

    Valued at £254,000, the Melsonby hoard is now the subject of a fundraising campaign by the Yorkshire Museum. A selection of objects is already on display, giving the public access to these remarkable artefacts.

    As research continues on this extraordinary find, it stands as a powerful example of how proper archaeological practice – from responsible metal detecting to collaborative, well-funded excavation – can transform our understanding of Britain’s past.

    The Melsonby hoard offers a unique window into iron-age life in Britain, challenging long-held historical assumptions about regional development and cultural sophistication.

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

    – ref. Melsonby hoard: iron-age Yorkshire discovery reveals ancient Britons’ connections with Europe – https://theconversation.com/melsonby-hoard-iron-age-yorkshire-discovery-reveals-ancient-britons-connections-with-europe-253274

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Embracing Uncertainty: what we can all learn from how artists thrive in an unpredictable world

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Pearson, Professor of Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience, Anglia Ruskin University

    In a recent interview, the 91-year-old Trinidadian artist John Lyons described painting as “an adventure in creative uncertainty. It is a way of existing in a world we still know very little about.”

    A similar perspective forms the central theme of entrepreneur Margaret Hefferman’s latest book, Embracing Uncertainty. This is a spiritual successor to her previous book, Uncharted, which portrayed uncertainty as an inevitable aspect of modern life that should be embraced rather than controlled.

    This time Hefferman focuses on the creative industries, proposing that artists, musicians and writers constantly live with uncertainty and can still thrive in this increasingly unpredictable world.

    The book’s five core chapters are interspersed with evocative vignettes describing episodes of creative uncertainty. These include the establishment of Bristol’s Paraorchestra, a collective of disabled and non-disabled musicians led by conductor Charles Hazlewood, and director Gabriella A. Moses’s work on the film Boca Chica.

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    Hefferman argues that such seemingly disparate episodes can be linked by a shared artistic drive that approaches uncertainty with a combination of pragmatism and optimism. She concludes that applying a mindset of curiosity and flexibility is essential not just for promoting artistic endeavour, but to flourish in general.

    The book is at its most successful when advocating for the importance of viewing the arts as an essential foundation for a prosperous and healthy society – not as a frivolous and dispensable luxury. The closing chapters focusing on arts education and the role of art in politics are particularly compelling.

    Hefferman notes that arts education worldwide has suffered substantial cutbacks and marginalisation. In the UK, funding for arts, design and media courses has been decimated despite the sector contributing an estimated £126 billion to the country’s economy. In the US, arts and cultural funding is increasingly portrayed as a partisan political issue instead of a common good.

    The political belief that the sciences should be prioritised over arts education ignores the substantial evidence that they’re mutually beneficial. My career in science owes much to my involvement as a teenager in Leicestershire Youth Theatre. Led by the pioneering educator Robert Staunton, this experience taught me a creative and reflexive way of viewing human behaviour that has informed my research ever since.

    I was struck while reading the numerous accounts of creativity in this book how many would be unlikely to reach fruition today. Hefferman produced programmes for the BBC for 13 years and in one chapter, discusses the complex development of the classic 1990s TV serial Our Friends in the North. Such a uniquely British drama would struggle to secure funding in the current television landscape, dominated by international streaming services.

    Hefferman is less convincing, though, when trying to explain how creative individuals can thrive.

    In the opening chapter, she discusses the early 20th-century psychological movement of Behaviourism – which claimed that all human behaviour could be explained by mechanisms of conditioned learning. But otherwise, there is no consideration of research focused specifically on understanding human creativity.

    Rather, the overarching theme of “embracing uncertainty” is applied very broadly and conflates certain concepts. For instance, it combines divergent thinking (the ability to create multiple possible solutions to a problem) with resilience and creative flow (a highly motivating mental state associated with effortless concentration). In my view, these ideas are better considered separately.

    Bristol’s Paraorchestra features as a creative case study in the book.

    Many of the stories of creative problem-solving discussed in the book brought to my mind the pioneering work of creativity researcher Frank X. Barron in the 1960s. Barron described highly creative individuals as “more primitive and more cultured, more destructive and more constructive, occasionally crazier and yet adamantly saner than the average person”.

    Hefferman is an engaging storyteller and there is a great deal to enjoy in her accounts of how – frequently against all odds – artists succeed in producing work that reflects and changes wider society.

    This book is published at a time when the creative industries are facing unprecedented challenges worldwide. Writers, musicians and artists will certainly not thrive if the uncertainty they are forced to embrace is a lack of financial support – or the cannibalisation of their work by AI.

    Albert Einstein noted that “the greatest scientists are artists as well”. As our world faces a perfect storm of environmental, societal and economic challenges, the need to support innovation and champion persistence has seldom felt greater. The hopeful and inspiring stories portrayed in Embracing Uncertainty point the way to a more optimistic future.

    David Pearson receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    – ref. Embracing Uncertainty: what we can all learn from how artists thrive in an unpredictable world – https://theconversation.com/embracing-uncertainty-what-we-can-all-learn-from-how-artists-thrive-in-an-unpredictable-world-252993

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: David Blunkett: the world has changed since Liz Truss’s mini budget, so what is Labour still so scared of?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Blunkett, Chair in Politics in Practice, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Sheffield

    Much has been said about UK chancellor Rachel Reeves’ self-imposed fiscal rules, and her repeated assertion – which she included in the spring statement – that they are “non-negotiable”. Of course, this is true if you’re not prepared to listen to alternatives, but in the real world there is no set economic template with which people cannot argue.

    Put simply, the chancellor’s rules demand that day-to-day expenditure should be covered by government income at the end of the five-year economic cycle. This is what has led to the current need to cut spending – including to health and disability benefits – so drastically. The length of this cycle is determined by the government as part of their “rule”.

    All of this is predicated on the government’s belief that economic policy will be undermined if the international financial markets (including the bond markets on which governments depend for borrowing) react badly. Which, it is commonly asserted, would significantly push up the cost of borrowing. Other factors, such as US president Donald Trump’s extraordinary threats to trade, and the borrowing requirements of other countries, will also have an immediate impact.

    Underpinning all of this is the split between capital investment – spending on things like roads and hospitals – and day-to-day revenue to keep services operating.

    Therefore, the chancellor imposes rules to avoid the financial markets hitting the UK in the way they did when former prime minister Liz Truss and her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng introduced a “mini budget”. The unfunded tax cuts it contained led to the markets losing confidence in the UK’s financial stability.

    This is the spectre at the feast. Everything being done by the present government is with the backcloth of what happened in 2022. We are, in effect, binding ourselves to a moment in time.

    Many economists disagree with the rigidity (or what is known as “Treasury orthodoxy”) about how the economy works. Leading international economist Mariana Mazzucato, along with a group of other renowned academics, published a letter in the Financial Times spelling out their concerns about the imposition of the “rules”.

    In practice, while public spending over the next two years will not be hit drastically (other than the welfare budget), the following three years will see a massive tightening of what is available for most public services. This includes local government and the criminal justice system – which have seen eye-watering cuts in previous years.

    The average 1.2% increase in departmental budgets projected over the three years from 2027 is far less than this for many government departments and for local government. This is because spending in areas such as health and for schools (but not education more broadly) are predicted to rise much more substantially.

    This is why people are starting to use the word “austerity” – they are seeing a reflection of the years between 2010-2017, when many felt that public services were decimated.

    Scorecard for government spending plans

    During that austerity period, the body known as the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was brought in by the then-chancellor George Osborne. Now being carried through even more rigidly by Reeves, this is intended to be an independent group which “scores” the government’s likely success against its predictions. I use the word “likely”, because just three members are charged with the analysis, by the Treasury, of how successful the policy is likely to be.

    The OBR has come to have massive influence over what the government believes it can undertake, confining the options even beyond the self-imposed rules.

    Just before her spring statement, the chancellor altered the amount that would have to be saved from changes in the welfare system. This was in order to take account of the analysis by these three individuals who believed that the reforms as proposed would not achieve the savings required.

    So, we go round in a circle – with one set of economists double-checking the calculations and projected analysis of another set of economists. But they have such enormous influence that they can change government policy.

    You might believe that the OBR (being full of experts) is pretty much infallible. You would be wrong. Since its inception, it has often been wide of the mark. Even when only marginally, this has had an impact on both policy and perceptions, including by those financial markets that have such a stranglehold on nation states.

    In 2012, the OBR projected that over the five years ahead, growth would average 2.8%. In fact, it was 1.7%. In 2020, their prediction was that gross domestic product (GDP) would fall by 11.3% when in fact the drop was 9.8%. Most recently, in 2023, it projected a fall in GDP of 0.3% – which sadly turned out to be 0.8%.

    I use these stats merely to illustrate that forecasts and scorecards as to whether the government has got its sums wrong are highly subjective. For politicians to place their economic and political policies in the hands of a group of disparate individuals with their own political and economic outlook and personal experiences is, in my view, bizarre.

    This is why some of us who know about the difficulties of government from having been there, and who are not in any way dismissive of the huge power of the international markets, are challenging this economic orthodoxy.

    We are simply asking whether rigid economic respectability is truly more important than long-term investment and sustaining essential public services.

    David Blunkett is a Fellow of the Association of Social Sciences and a Labour Peer in the House of Lords.

    – ref. David Blunkett: the world has changed since Liz Truss’s mini budget, so what is Labour still so scared of? – https://theconversation.com/david-blunkett-the-world-has-changed-since-liz-trusss-mini-budget-so-what-is-labour-still-so-scared-of-253270

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Signal-gate security blunder overshadows Black Sea ceasefire

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    Depending on what you think of Donald Trump, his administration could fit either of the following two descriptions. Chaotic, vindictive and accident-prone, marked by mendacity, driven by impulse and bent on securing the will of the leader, rather than – as in the US constitution – the will of the people. Or it could be a government masterminded by a man playing 4D chess while all around him are playing chequers. A president whose deal-making skills and focus on outcomes ensure the security and prosperity of America and its allies.

    If you base your assessment on the people Trump has chosen as his key national security advisers then, after the recent Signal chat group intelligence debacle, you’d almost certainly opt for chaotic and accident-prone, at the very least.

    Looking around the Signal chatroom, who do we have? National security advisor Mike Waltz, Vice-President J.D. Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA director John Ratcliffe and a supporting cast of other senior Trump staffers. And, unwittingly, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg.

    Heads must roll, say Trump’s critics. But who from this hydra-headed beast should take the fall? Should it be Waltz, who invited Goldberg to the chat group? Or Hegseth, who posted operational details of a US attack, including the when, where and how, hours before it was due to take place? Should it be Vance, whose swipe at America’s freeloading European allies has caused considerable angst across the Atlantic?

    Or perhaps one or another of Gabbard and Ratcliffe, who sat in front of the Senate select committee on intelligence on Tuesday and maintained that no classified material or “war plans” had been revealed to the group – sworn evidence now revealed to be unreliable at best?

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    At present it seems as if none of them are going to pay for their dangerous incompetence. Instead their ire is turned on Goldberg, who has variously been called a “sleazebag” by Trump himself, “loser” and the “bottom scum of journalists” by Waltz and a “deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist who’s made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again” by Hegseth.

    Robert Dover of the University of Hull, whose research centres on intelligence and national security, believes this is a “national security blunder almost without parallel”. He points to the hypocrisy of people like Hegseth who savaged Hillary Clinton for using a private email server to conduct official business when she was secretary of state under Barack Obama.

    Dover also notes the damage the episode will have done to America’s already shaky relations with its allies in Europe. Being disparaged by the vice-president as freeloaders and dismissed by the defense secretary as “pathetic”, he believes, will be “difficult to unsee”.



    Read more:
    Signal chat group affair: unprecedented security breach will seriously damage US international relations

    But credit where it’s due, it appears that US diplomacy may at least be bearing some – limited – fruit. At least, that is, if the two partial ceasefires recently negotiated between Russia and Ukraine actually materialise. That’s a fairly big if, of course. Despite a pledge by both sides that they could support a deal to avoid targeting each other’s energy infrastructure, there’s no sign yet of a cessation of attacks.

    And there has been a degree of scepticism over the recently announced plan for a maritime ceasefire to allow the free passage of shipping on the Black Sea. Critics say this favours Russia far more than Ukraine. Over the course of the war, Ukraine has successfully driven Russia’s Black Sea fleet away from its base in Crimea, giving it the upper hand in the maritime war. But maritime strategy expert, Basil Germond, says the situation is more nuanced, and the deal represents considerable upside for Ukraine as well.



    Read more:
    Russia has most to gain from Black Sea ceasefire – but it’s marginal, and Ukraine benefits too

    Setting aside America’s eventful recent forays into foreign relations, there’s a major domestic fix brewing which many US legal scholars believe could plunge the country into a constitutional crisis.

    Anne Richardson Oakes, an expert in US constitutional law at Birmingham City University, anticipates a potential clash between between the executive and the judiciary which could threaten the separation of powers that lies at the heart of American democracy.

    Oakes observes there are more than 130 legal challenges to Trump administration policies presently before the courts, some of which will end up in front of America’s highest legal authority, the Supreme Court, which is tasked with assessing the constitutionality of those policies. She warns that we’ve already seen evidence that Trump and his senior officials resent what they consider to be interference from the judiciary into the legitimate executive power of the elected president.

    Will there be a stand-off where the Trump administration simply ignores the Supreme Court’s ruling? It’s happened before, says Oakes. In the mid-20th century, in Little Rock, Arkansas, when the governor used the state’s national guard to prevent the court-ordered desegregation of public schools. On that occasion the then president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, sent in federal troops to enforce the court’s ruling and a constitutional crisis was averted.



    Read more:
    US stands on the brink of a constitutional crisis as Donald Trump takes on America’s legal system

    But what if it’s the serving president who chooses to ignore a Supreme Court ruling? This was the case in the 1830s when greedy cotton farmers in Georgia were bent on forcing the Native American peoples off their lands. The Cherokee actually took the state of Georgia to the Supreme Court, which ruled that as a “dependent nation” within the United States they were entitled to the protection of the federal government and that the state of Georgia had no right to order their removal.

    As historian Sean Lang of Anglia Ruskin University recounts, Georgia ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling and sent in troops to expel the Cherokee who were then forced to move to new lands in a journey known as the “Train of Tears”. Lang writes that then US president, Andrew Jackson, a populist advocate of states’ rights and former “Indian fighter”, ignored the Supreme Court’s ruling, “sneering that [Chief Justice John] Marshall had no means of enforcing it”.

    Lang concludes: “It’s a history lesson Greenlanders, Mexicans and Canadians – and indeed many Americans who may fall foul of this administration and seek recourse to the law – would do well to study.”



    Read more:
    Trump’s America is facing an Andrew Jackson moment – and it’s bad news for the constitution

    Trump’s chilling effect

    The Trump administration’s antipathy towards judges who have opposed its policies have extended towards those law firms who have in some way crossed the US president. But the legal system is not the only sector to feel the chilling effect of Trump’s displeasure, writes Dafydd Townley.

    The world of higher education in the US is also apprehensive after the administration went after Columbia University, home to some of the most outspoken protest over US policies towards Israel and Gaza. Columbia has recently had to agree to allow the administration to “review” some of its academic programmes, starting with its Middle Eastern studies, after the administration threatened to cancel US$400 million (£310 million) of government contracts with the university.

    The news media is also under heavy pressure. The administration has taken control of the White House press pool from the non-partisan White House Correspondents’ Association and has blackballed Associated Press for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. We’ve also seen Trump himself bring lawsuits against media organisations he judges to have crossed him. And now the president has called for the defunding of America’s two biggest public broadcasters, NPR and PBL, for what he perceives as their liberal bias.

    Townley, an expert in US politics at the University of Portsmouth is concerned that this all adds up to a deliberate attempt to cripple institutions which underwrite American democracy.



    Read more:
    Donald Trump’s ‘chilling effect’ on free speech and dissent is threatening US democracy

    Popularity falls as prices rise

    Trump’s leadership continues to be very polarising, writes Paul Whiteley, a political scientist and polling specialist at the University of Essex, who has spent years studying political trends in the US. Looking at the most recent numbers, Whiteley finds that while Trump’s approval ratings are fairly steady at 48% approval and 49% disapproval, when you dig down you find that only 6% of registered Democrats approve of his performance, while 93% disapprove. For registered Republicans it’s almost exactly the opposite.

    Whiteley takes his analysis further, looking at measures such as consumer sentiment, which has fallen sharply since January, with talk of tariffs and the return of inflation affecting people’s confidence in the economy. He points out there tends to be a fairly strong historical correlation between confidence in the economy and popular approval of a president’s performance.



    Read more:
    Three graphs that show what’s happening with Donald Trump’s popularity

    Another factor which will surely affect people’s confidence in the government are the job losses flowing from Elon Musk’s work as “efficiency tsar”. Thomas Gift, the director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London, believes that federal job losses as a result of Musk’s cuts are spread indiscriminately among Democrat and Republican states. As a result there may be some Republican voters who are experiencing what he calls “buyer’s remorse”.

    At the same time, rising inflation is flowing into the cost of living, something many people voted for Trump to punish the Democrats for. As Gift points out, both parties are experiencing a dip in support at present as people reject politics for having a generally negative effect on their lives. But from now, it’ll be the Republicans who will feel the sting of popular disapproval more keenly.



    Read more:
    Trump’s job cuts are causing Republican angst as all parties face backlash

    World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. Signal-gate security blunder overshadows Black Sea ceasefire – https://theconversation.com/signal-gate-security-blunder-overshadows-black-sea-ceasefire-253245

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Shakespeare can help us put meaning back in money

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Paul Yachnin, Tomlinson Professor of Shakespeare Studies, McGill University

    From greed for resources and money to technology run amok and a politics of domination, hatred and fear of others, our world sometimes seems to be on a course of assured destruction.

    How can our society not only avert disaster, but move toward a better path forward, driven not only by money-making (the accumulation of wealth, power and status), but also by meaning-making (the search for deeper purpose for ourselves in community with others and with the natural world)?

    As scholars who have respectively studied Shakespeare and health and economics — along with a team of thinkers in economics, health policy, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and a number of theatre and literary artists and humanities scholars — we’re building a project called Reimagining Shakespeare, Remaking Modern World Systems.

    Shakespeare and the arts can help researchers see the way toward new ways of thinking through our period of massive disruption, especially since the world in Shakespeare’s time, like our world now, was riven by social, political, ecological and epidemic crises.



    Read more:
    After the plague, Shakespeare imagined a world saved from poison, slander and the evil eye

    Making meaning with audiences

    Why Shakespeare? In some ways, Shakespeare was the Jeff Bezos of his time.

    Unlike the billionaire entrepreneur Bezos, who founded Amazon and is now its executive chair, Shakespeare didn’t sell everything under the sun. However, like Bezos, who innovated new ways of packaging stories for people via books and movies, for example, Shakespeare repackaged existing stories and authored plays as a leader of the creation of a new money-making industry.

    Shakespeare’s new industry was different from TV streaming in important ways. Theatre, which fosters real-time, embodied and collective experiences, never operates on a one-way supplier-to-buyer axis.

    Shakespeare’s theatre made money — he became a wealthy man — but his theatre always also made meaning in collaboration with its audiences, educating playgoers and stimulating conversations about about state politics, money and power and about the care of other people and of the natural world.

    Shakespeare as social entrepreneur

    Shakespeare was a social entrepreneur whose work strengthened the convergence of money-making and meaning-making. Shakespeare showed all kinds of people how they might play creatively with the systems that ruled their world.

    Shakespeare didn’t dismantle the systems, but what the characters in the plays say and do opens up fissures in those systems that invite characters like Rosalind in As You Like It or Imogen in Cymbeline to wriggle through, toward the possible restoration of freedom that allows them to do things differently.

    The divine right of kings was the foundation of the political system in Shakespeare’s time.

    In Richard II, John of Gaunt says to the Duchess of Gloucester that there is nothing he can do to avenge the murder of her husband (King Richard’s uncle) because while the king orchestrated the murder, he is above the law.

    Shakespeare’s play, which dramatizes the history of the deposition and assassination of King Richard, does not dismantle the system of monarchy as it stood in Shakespeare’s time — the divine right of kings remains in place. But it dramatizes how the characters are able to do what they need to do for the good of the state by finding their way through the cracks in the political system.

    Recognition of mortality

    Theatrical art like Shakespeare’s also leads us away from the fatuous life goal of the endless accumulation of wealth.

    In King Lear, Shakespeare shows us how money-making can become divorced utterly from meaning-making and how money and meaning have to be brought back into convergence. At the start, Lear is wedded to wealth, power and prestige.

    Even his daughters are required to declare publicly their worshipful love and loyalty to him. By virtue of his uncrowning, the suffering that follows for him, and his recognition of his own mortality, he learns to see other people as people, including his truly loving daughter Cordelia. He also learns how his meaningfulness as a man can come back to him only once he embraces the equitable distribution of resources among all the people of Britain.

    Not that Shakespeare is the only one offering insights into how to address the multiple crises that the world is facing. Many others have brought forward new ideas about how to “green” the world of finance or how to restore human values to a sense of value calculated exclusively in monetary terms.

    But something more is needed now to move us toward a healthier and more just future, and the makers of art are the ones who can provide it.

    Money poisonous when ill-used

    Consider one moment from Shakespeare’s play, Timon of Athens. The once fabulously wealthy Timon has squandered money on scores of men whom he thought were friends. Here the character Flavius distributes the money he has saved from his employment as Timon’s steward to the other household servants, all of them now unemployed.

    He insists that they take their share, and he reflects on the poisonous power of money when it is not used to support meaningful community:

    Good fellows all,

    The latest of my wealth I’ll share amongst you.

    Let each take some;

    Nay, put out all your hands—not one word more:

    (The servants embrace, and part several ways)

    O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us!

    Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt,

    Since riches point to misery and contempt?

    Who would be so mock’d with glory? or to live

    But in a dream of friendship?

    In Timon, Shakespeare shows us that money must not be stripped of a search for a meaningful life in community with others. Money without meaning conjures a mere dream of friendship, a fantasy world that must finally give way to a reality of misery and contempt.

    If that is what we want, bring on the dollars — so much money, we won’t know where to spend it all — and away with art!

    By bringing Shakespeare into conversations about finance, health, climate and AI, our research collaboration aims to help change the prevailing rationale of western modernity that positions money-making as the core driver of individual and collective progress.

    Paul Yachnin receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada.

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

    – ref. How Shakespeare can help us put meaning back in money – https://theconversation.com/how-shakespeare-can-help-us-put-meaning-back-in-money-250903

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why it’s a critical time for Canada to renew its commitment to global health co-operation

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Kelley Lee, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Global Health Governance; Scientific Director, Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society, Simon Fraser University

    As the United States moves to end longstanding commitments to global health co-operation — punctuated by its withdrawal from World Health Organization (WHO) — a new report by the joint Expert Panel of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, which we co-chaired, offers guidance on how Canada can strategically position itself in this fast-changing context.

    Traditionally, Canada has taken pride in being a good global health citizen through distinct contributions as a middle power. Active participation in multilateral institutions such as the WHO, close co-operation with like-minded states and research partnerships led by low- and middle-income countries have defined Canada’s global health brand.

    Since the early 2000s, Canada has also initiated and funded major initiatives on reproductive, maternal and child health, nutrition and the control of infectious diseases. The International Development Research Centre and Grand Challenges Canada, alongside researchers and civil society organizations, have generated further tangible benefits for the health and well-being of populations worldwide, while also elevating Canada’s standing on the world stage.

    Pandemic stress test

    However, the COVID-19 pandemic has since triggered seismic changes in the global health landscape. The pandemic itself stress-tested Canada’s global health role, earning the country mixed reviews.

    While the federal government provided billions of dollars to collectively fight SARS-CoV-2, through initiatives such as the COVAX Facility and ACT-Accelerator (Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator), these important contributions were overshadowed by Canada’s failure to champion global vaccine equity. Rather than bringing countries together, the pandemic prompted many to prioritize national interests.

    Since the end of the emergency phase, governments have struggled to agree to a pandemic treaty and there has been a shift in attention to other pressing needs. Calls to decolonize global health have instead been met with a decline in financial commitments by the U.S. and other donor countries.

    This concerning shift in the global health landscape signals an important need for Canada to reflect on its role in global health. Key findings of our panel’s report directly challenge the outdated notion that global health is simply about development assistance.

    Instead, we identify where domestic and global health needs intersect in an interconnected world of shared risks and opportunities. We conclude that domestic health and well-being cannot be advanced without a robust commitment to global health co-operation. The key is to urgently identify these win-wins as points of navigation in an era of what’s known as polycrisis.

    Priority issues

    To renew Canada’s global health role, the panel identifies four priority issue areas that bring together domestic and global health needs:

    • Champion an accelerated and equity-focused universal health coverage strategy with particular emphasis on primary care and the rights of women and girls;

    • Advance a One Health security approach to pandemic readiness that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life, need for primary prevention and central importance of sustainability and equity; spans upstream risks as well as downstream preparedness and response measures; and builds core capacities such as a standing emergency workforce;

    • Renew Canadian leadership in health promotion and protection by advancing a well-being economy focused on serving people and the planet, rather than the generation of wealth as an end goal; and prevents the harms and promotes the benefits from for-profit businesses, their activities and the economic systems that sustain them, known as the commercial determinants of health;

    • Initiate a Canadian Emergency Workforce for Health Innovation Program to urgently tackle the domestic and global health workforce crisis including a commitment to zero poaching of international health-care workers by 2035.

    Taking action

    Microscopic view of H5N1 avian influenza particles. The growing threat from highly pathogenic avian flu offers a clear example of how a retreat from global health co-operation directly weakens the capacity of all countries to protect domestic populations.
    (CDC and NIAID), CC BY

    The panel recommends that three strategic actions are needed to take forward these priority issue areas:

    • A Canadian Global Health Strategy that sets out a renewed rationale for global health engagement, key priorities for federal, provincial/territorial and local levels of government, targeted investments and clear metrics to monitor progress;

    • A coherent and targeted plan to bolster public and private investments in science and innovation for critical priorities such as the health workforce, One Health Security, along with research capacity in Indigenous communities and the developing world; and

    • A commitment to ensuring Canadian capacity to engage in global health decision-making, diplomacy and partnerships through the appointment of a Global Health Ambassador; establishment of a Canadian Global Health Hub (CG2H) that brings together available expertise, talent and resources; and a training program for our next-generation of leaders.

    The growing threat from highly pathogenic avian influenza and the health impacts of climate change are looming examples of how a retreat from global health co-operation at this time would directly weaken Canada’s capacity to protect health and well-being at home.

    From the World Health Organization’s tracking of the ever-changing influenza virus to the rapid development and deployment of medical countermeasures and the joint tackling of the causes of global warming, a retreat behind national borders makes little sense. Building on a storied history of engagement that supersedes partisan politics, there is no time to lose for Canada to strategically renew its role in global health.

    Kelley Lee receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, New Frontiers in Research Fund, Canadian Biomedical Research Fund, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

    Tim Evans is a Board member of the not-for-profit group CanWaCH.

    – ref. Why it’s a critical time for Canada to renew its commitment to global health co-operation – https://theconversation.com/why-its-a-critical-time-for-canada-to-renew-its-commitment-to-global-health-co-operation-251894

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Italy-Eu Joint press release

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    Piano Mattei, evento di alto livello tecnico Italia-Ue per rafforzare la cooperazione con l’Africa

    Today, Italy and the European Union hosted a joint event to reinforce collaboration with Africa.

    The event served as a platform to outline and further coordinate efforts in implementing Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa and the EU’s Global Gateway (GG) initiative —two complementary strategies designed to foster tailored partnerships that address the specific needs of African nations.

    By actively engaging the private sector, both strategies aim to drive sustainable investments and leverage cutting-edge expertise while aligning with Italy and the EU’s shared priorities to achieve economic security jointly with the African continent. 

    The event brought together over 400 participants, including senior officials from the Italian government, the EU, African nations, the United States, private sector leaders, and representatives from international organizations. Discussions focused on key sectors where the Mattei Plan and Global Gateway team up, such as energy, physical and digital infrastructure, and the coffee supply chain.
     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/MALI – Operation Sounkalo Solidarité: solidarity, sharing, social cohesion during Ramadan and Lent

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 27 March 2025

    Bamako (Agenzia Fides) – Since March 1, the official start of Ramadan, thousands of people of all faiths have gathered in various locations across the country to share food, which is distributed every afternoon at 6:00 p.m., when Muslims can break their fast.The initiative, launched by the Malian government, aims to create a climate of solidarity and cohesion among the population and consists of distributing meals and food packages to everyone. Every day, workers, local authorities, and NGOs gather with the population to break the fast at designated locations such as football fields, open spaces, or mosques to share the meals provided (61 locations across the country and 300 food packages per day and location).This year, the occasion is even more significant, as Ramadan for Muslims coincides with Lent for Christians. Thanks to this initiative, the entire population has the opportunity to share not only food but also genuine moments of aggregation. In a climate of solidarity, people feel motivated and encouraged, despite the instability in the country. Life continues as normal for everyone until the evening, when everyone, from local authorities to religious and ordinary citizens, gathers for meals that conclude with prayers and blessings in a true atmosphere of conviviality, peace, and social cohesion.In addition to the packages delivered to the main religious organizations by the President of the Republic’s Commissioner for Social Works on March 4, 2025, another 50 tons of rice were delivered to the country’s main Muslim and Christian religious organizations on March 13, 2025, by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Worship, and Customs, Mahamadou Konè, in the presence of Mahamane Adamou Cissé, Deputy Director General of the Maison du Hadj, as well as numerous religious leaders, members of the government, and civil society actors at the Maison du Hadj.Mahamane Konè recalled on this occasion that this initiative is part of the Operation “Sounkalo Solidarité” of the President of the Transitional Government, Army General Assimi Goita, and aims to provide support to vulnerable populations through religious structures. For his part, Mahamane Adamou Cissé emphasized that this initiative testifies to the commitment of the highest authorities of the transition to the Muslim and Christian religious communities, noting that in this blessed month, a month of sharing, piety, and solidarity, this gesture takes on a very special meaning that will allow many families to live this time with dignity.Since 2012, Mali has been ravaged by a civil war between the country’s regular army, Tuareg rebels, and various jihadist groups in conflict with the central government and among themselves. According to international statistics, the escalation of this political crisis has led to two further military coups in 2020 and 2021, respectively, while conflicts between the various armed groups within the country have further intensified since August 2022, when French troops withdrew from Malian territory, ending a nine-year military operation.Following the dismissal of Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga on November 20 of last year, the government is currently led by General Abdoulaye Maïga, and presidential elections are not expected soon. Local sources indicate that security in the country has improved thanks to the opening of various barracks and frequent movements organized by the countries of the “Alliance pour l’État du Sahel” (AES). (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 27/3/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Combating Hunger Demands Global Effort at Every Level’, Says Secretary General, in message to Nutrition for Growth Summit

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the Nutrition for Growth Summit, in Paris today:

    In 2015, world leaders made a pledge to humanity:  To eradicate hunger by 2030.

    Sadly, with less than five years to go, we are far off track.

    Today, 1 in 11 people suffers from hunger.  In Africa, it is one in five.

    Among children, malnutrition is a tragedy — and a moral failure.  Meanwhile, millions of people struggle with obesity due to a processed diet — high in sugar and saturated fats, but low in essential nutrients.

    This dual threat strains our healthcare systems, widens inequalities and hinders sustainable development.

    Combating hunger demands a global effort at every level — and unprecedented political and financial engagement to sustainably transform our food systems.

    The Global Alliance against Hunger aims to mobilize funds and concrete solutions to support countries in this transformation.

    In July, the second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa must result in tangible commitments — notably financial ones.

    Only a third of low- and middle-income countries have adequate funding for nutrition.

    Too often, vulnerable countries are left on their own — facing economic crises, protracted conflicts and climate disasters.

    The Pact for the Future calls for reforming the international financial architecture.  It includes a commitment to advance an SDG Stimulus.  To increase the lending capacity of multilateral development banks; to alleviate the burden of countries drowning in debt; and to mobilize more international and domestic resources, public and private, for vital investments — particularly in food security.

    Excellencies, a world without hunger is not a utopia.  It is a choice.

    We have the necessary resources, knowledge and tools. And your Summit represents a key opportunity to drive concrete action for a healthy nutrition for all.  So let us work together to keep our promise and make malnutrition a thing of the past.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint for $47 Million in Proceeds From the Sale of Iranian Oil

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

               WASHINGTON – A civil forfeiture complaint was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or its Qods Force (IRGC-QF), designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).

               The forfeiture was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. of the Minneapolis Field Office, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso of the New York Office.

               The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme between 2022 and 2024 to facilitate the shipment, storage, and sale of Iranian petroleum product for the benefit of the IRGC and IRGC-QF. The facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the Iranian oil as Malaysian, including by manipulating the tanker’s automatic identification system (AIS) to conceal that it onboarded the oil from a port in Iran. The facilitators presented falsified documents to the Croatian storage facility and port authority, claiming that the oil was Malaysian. The facilitators paid for storage fees associated with the oil’s storage at the Croatian facility in U.S. dollars, transactions that were conducted through U.S. financial institutions that would have refused the transactions had they known they were associated with Iranian oil. The petroleum product was sold in 2024, and the United States seized $47 million in proceeds from that sale.

               The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which has perpetuated a federal crime of terrorism by providing material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.

               “We will aggressively enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran, in furtherance of President Trump’s maximum pressure campaign,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “With the continued seizures of Iranian oil and U.S. dollar profits, we are sending a clear message to Iran that bypassing the sanctions put in place by the U.S. Government is not as easy as playing a shell game with tankers filled with oil. We remain committed to thwarting Iran’s devious attempts, and to deprive its terrorists of the funding they desire.”

               “The FBI will not allow hostile regimes to evade U.S. sanctions or exploit our financial systems to fund designated terrorist organizations,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Winston. “The FBI, alongside our partners, will relentlessly enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran and safeguard U.S. national security by disrupting illicit networks that seek to profit from sanctioned oil sales.”

               “Through the work of HSI’s Counterproliferation Investigations group, alongside the FBI, the U.S. government has seized $47 million worth of funds allegedly meant for terrorist groups intent on causing catastrophic harm,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “The expertise of HSI personnel, coupled with federal law enforcement’s whole-of-government approach, ensures the wellbeing of the United States and our innocent foreign counterparts, alike. We are relentlessly utilizing every tool at our disposal in pursuit of any and all security threats.”

               Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

               FBI Minneapolis Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations New York are investigating the case.

               Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert, Maeghan O. Mikorski, and Brian Hudak for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Adam Small of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case. They received assistance from former Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

               A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation.  The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stamford Man Indicted for Defrauding Mars, Inc. out of Millions of Dollars

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a nine-count indictment charging PAUL R. STEED, 58, of Stamford, with fraud and tax offenses stemming from his alleged commission of multiple frauds against his former employer Mars, Inc.

    The indictment was returned yesterday, and Steed was arrested this morning.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport, pleaded not guilty, and is currently detained.

    The indictment alleges that, between approximately 2011 and 2023, Steed was employed by Mars Wrigley, a subsidiary of Mars. Inc. (“Mars”), working remotely from his home in Stamford.  Steed served as Global Price Risk Manager for Mars Wrigley’s Global Cocoa Enterprise.  As part of his employment, Steed was responsible for managing Mars Wrigley’s participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Sugar-Containing Products Re-Export Program.  In approximately 2016, Steed created a company, MCNA LLC, to mimic an actual Mars entity, Mars Chocolate North America.  He then diverted millions of dollars in Mars assets to a bank account he set up in MCNA’s name by directing sugar refineries purchasing Mars’s re-export credits, obtained through the USDA program, to pay MCNA LLC as if it were a legitimate Mars entity.

    The indictment also alleges that Mars had an ownership interest in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (“ICE”), a financial services company that operated financial exchanges and clearing houses, and received quarterly dividends in connection with that ownership.  In 2017, Steed directed Computershare Limited (“Computershare”), a company that ICE utilized for stock-related services, to pay MCNA LLC for Mars’s dividends from its ownership shares in ICE.  As a result, more than $700,000 in dividend payments were diverted to the MCNA LLC account.  In 2023, after Steed had used a fraudulent letter purportedly from the Mars Treasurer authorizing him to trade ICE shares, Steed directed Computershare to sell Mars’s ICE shares entirely.  Computershare issued a check in the amount of more than $11.3 million, which Steed deposited into the MCNA LLC account.

    The indictment further alleges that, from 2013 through 2020, Steed used a company he owned called Ibera LLC to invoice Mars for services Mars did not receive.  Mars paid Ibera LLC approximately $580,000 through this scheme.

    The indictment charges Steed with seven counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment on each count.  Steed is also charged with two counts of tax evasion, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count, for failing to report and pay taxes on his stolen income, as alleged.

    According to statements made in court, Steed is alleged to have stolen more than $28 million from Mars and through his schemes.  More than $18 million was seized today for forfeiture, and the government is seeking to forfeit a Greenwich home that Steed is alleged to have purchased with nearly $2.3 million in stolen funds.  It is alleged that another $2 million was sent by Steed to Argentina, where he is a dual citizen, has family ties, and owns a ranch.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Novick.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Killeen Man and Former Soldiers Sentenced for Multi-Million Dollar Fort Cavazos Equipment Theft Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WACO, Texas – A Killeen man was sentenced in a federal court in Waco to 120 months in prison for buying and selling U.S. Army equipment that had been stolen by soldiers and former soldiers.

    According to court documents, beginning in January 2017, Benjamin Alvarado Jr., 32, purchased thousands of military items, owned by the United States, from co-conspirators Darius Alston, Justin Wallas and Gabriel Taylor, and Kynyqus Bryant. The co-conspirators were U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Fort Cavazos and had participated in at least seven thefts of U.S. government property from Fort Cavazos. Collectively, they coordinated with Alvarado throughout the scheme through telecommunications and text messages.

    Investigators with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigations Division (Army CID) traced several transactions through online sellers, such as eBay, to Alvarado, who, on Aug, 9, 2021, was discovered to be selling multiple M-50 gas masks similar to what had been reported stolen from Fort Cavazos. Alvarado was also selling filters for the masks, night vision device image intensifier tubes, Litefighter tents, and other miscellaneous sensitive property being transported in interstate and foreign commerce with a value of $5,000 or more.

    Executed search warrants resulted in the recovery of more than 24,000 individual items stolen from the U.S. government, including, in addition to the items previously named, weapons parts, and Level III and Level IV body armor. The recovered properties were valued at approximately $2.75 million. Another search warrant led to the recovery of another $100,000 worth of military property at a Killeen storage building. The investigation also revealed that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Alvarado participated in the sale and transfer of a Joint Chemical Agent Detector M4A1 to a buyer in China through an intermediary in Delaware.

    Alvarado stated he had purchased 90% of the 24,000 items seized from Bryant and Alston, who were assigned to the 553rd Combat Service Support Battalion. Taylor later confessed that he had participated as the lookout in a July 2021 robbery on Fort Cavazos, while other members of the conspiracy retrieved the items. Alston stated that he had conducted seven or eight theft operations with Bryant and the others, also as a lookout.

    On Sept. 3, 2019, Alvarado transferred a cashier’s check for $52,890.55 to a title company for a residence in Killeen. On July 7, 2021, Alvarado transferred a personal check for $50,000 to a licensed automobile dealer for the purchase of a 2013 McLaren MP4. Following the April 2022 indictment, Alvarado forfeited the house and the car.

    Alvarado pleaded guilty on Oct. 31, 2023 to one count of theft of government property conspiracy, one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, two counts of money laundering, and one count of smuggling goods from the United States.  On March 26, Alvarado was sentenced to 120 months custody in federal prison.

    Alston, Wallas and Taylor were also sentenced with Alvarado. Alston and Wallas were each sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Taylor was sentenced to five years of probation. Bryant was sentenced to five years of probation and incurred a $2,000 fine on March 24.

    In addition to their sentences, Alston, Wallas, Taylor, and Bryant were ordered to pay $618,750 in restitution. Alvarado was ordered to pay a restitution of $2,367,780.12.

    “Alvarado and his co-conspirators engaged in a massive scheme to steal, store and sell millions of dollars’ worth of U.S. military equipment—not only taking advantage of our government but placing personal profit over national security and military readiness,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Thank you to all of the federal law enforcement agencies involved for provided their individual specialized investigative skills to this case and reinforcing the fact that criminals who engage in this illicit reckless behavior will be caught and prosecuted.”

    “We traced Alvarado’s sales and profits, which helped lead the team to seize assets like his real estate, his bank accounts and his McLaren. There are no sports cars and lavish lifestyles for Alvarado in prison,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan, of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “The moment he left a money trail, it sealed his fate. As the law enforcement division of the IRS, we follow the money to bring criminals to justice.”

    “These sentencings are a result of a highly successful joint investigative effort by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our investigative partners” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch of the Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General, DCIS Southwest Field Office.  “Ensuring the integrity of DoD supply chains, safeguarding taxpayer investments and, most importantly, protecting the warfighter are top priorities for DCIS.”

    “This case highlights the partnership and commitment between Homeland Security Investigations and Army CID in securing the Homeland by targeting malicious actors stealing and exporting sensitive military equipment,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “HSI, in collaboration with law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that threaten the country’s national security.”

    IRS-CI, DCIS, Army CID, the Department of State and HSI investigated the case with assistance from the Killeen Police Department.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Blanton prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee and Tuberville Introduce Bill to Abolish the TSA

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    Bill would privatize airport security under federal oversight
    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) today introduced the Abolish the TSA Act, which would dissolve the bloated and ineffective Transportation Security Administration while allowing America’s airports to compete to provide the safest, most efficient, and least intrusive security measures, under a new Office of Aviation Security Oversight.
    “The TSA has not only intruded into the privacy and personal space of most Americans, it has also repeatedly failed tests to find weapons and explosives,” said Sen. Lee. “Our bill privatizes security functions at American airports under the eye of an Office of Aviation Security Oversight, bringing this bureaucratic behemoth to a welcome end. American families can travel safely without feeling the hands of an army of federal employees.” 
    “The TSA is an inefficient, bureaucratic mess that infringes on Americans’ freedoms,” said Sen. Tuberville. “It’s a bloated agency—riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars—that has led to unnecessary delays, invasive pat downs and bag checks, and frustration for travelers. We need to focus on more efficient and effective methods to protect our country without sacrificing the liberties and freedoms of American citizens. The TSA should be eliminated and replaced with privatized solutions that are more targeted, streamlined, and where appropriate, accountable to limited government oversight.”
     
    BACKGROUND 
    Within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall submit a reorganization plan to Congress that includes: 
    Creation of the Office of Aviation Security Oversight within the FAA, solely responsible for overseeing the privatization of aviation security screening.
    Rapid transfer of security activities and equipment to qualified private companies.
    Transfer of non-aviation security functions to DOT (mass transit, freight rail, pipelines, etc.).
    Proportional reductions of TSA operations and personnel to facilitate transfer of duties.
    The reorganization plan cannot include requirements for private security companies to conduct warrantless searches and seizures or extend the TSA’s existence. Congress will consider, amend, vote up or down on the reorganization plan through expedited and privileged procedure. Compliance will be monitored by the GAO and regular reports to Congress.
    You can read the one pager HERE.
    You can read the bill text HERE.
    You can read the FOX exclusive HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta is ending the photo radar cash cow

    For years, Alberta has had the most ATE sites of any jurisdiction in Canada with many serving as a “cash cow,” generating millions of dollars in revenue with no clear evidence they were improving traffic safety. Now, following thorough consultation and review of existing ATE sites, Alberta’s government is making significant changes to restore public trust in the use of photo radar.

    Effective April 1, the updated ATE Technology Guideline will prohibit photo radar on numbered provincial highways and connectors, restricting it only to school, playground and construction zones. Intersection safety devices in Alberta will also be limited to red light enforcement only, ending the “speed-on-green” ticketing function.

    “We have officially killed the photo radar cash cow and the revenue-generating “fishing holes” that made Alberta the biggest user of photo radar in Canada. The updated guideline will ensure that photo radar is used for safety only. The new provincial traffic safety fund will support municipalities in physical improvements at key intersections, helping to reduce traffic risks and enhance safe roads.”

    Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

    Alberta’s government has also created a new $13-million Traffic Safety Fund for municipalities to upgrade local roads and intersections that pose demonstrated safety risks. Details will be made available on how to apply for the Traffic Safety Fund, once the application process has been finalized.

    “This shift ensures that photo radar is used where it matters most – near schools, playgrounds and construction zones. Traffic enforcement should be about protecting people, not generating revenue. The new Traffic Safety Fund gives municipalities the tools to make targeted improvements to roads and intersections with real safety concerns. Keeping Edmontonians safe on our streets must always remain the priority.”

    Tim Cartmell, Pihêsiwin councillor, City of Edmonton

    “Shifting photo radar to playgrounds and construction zones enhances safety where it matters most – protecting our children and workers on Calgary’s roads. I’m proud to back this important step toward safer communities.”

    Dan McLean, Ward 13 councillor, City of Calgary

    “The Traffic Safety Fund is a welcome addition to the overall funding available to municipalities. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta support a dynamic approach to managing traffic safety.”

    Kara Westerlund, president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta

    Municipalities are encouraged to use traffic calming measures instead of photo radar but may request provincial approval for an exemption to the photo radar ban in high-collision locations. To do so, municipalities must submit a business case detailing high-collision frequency and severity at the site, relative to similar locations, and demonstrate how other safety measures are not possible or will be ineffective. To be approved for an exemption, they must also commit to audit the exempted site every two years to assess the effectiveness of photo radar in reducing collisions at that location.

    The updated ATE Technology Guideline also includes parameters around equipment testing and maintenance, data collection and reporting requirements, traffic safety plans, signage and public communication of photo radar locations.

    Quick facts

    • On April 1, the new ATE 2025 Technology Guideline comes into force.
    • The newly created Traffic Safety Fund will provide $13 million over three years to help municipalities re-engineer intersections to reduce collisions:
      • $1 million in 2025-26
      • $2 million in 2026-27
      • $10 million in 2027-28
    • Alberta first introduced photo radar in 1987.

    Related information

    • Photo radar in Alberta | Alberta.ca

    Related news

    • Putting an end to the photo radar cash cow (Dec. 2, 2024)
    • Protecting drivers from photo radar fishing holes  (Nov. 23, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Building the future of skilled trades in Alberta

    [. Alberta’s government is addressing the labour market demands of today and tomorrow through strategic investments to increase training capacity in high-demand areas, helping students get the skills and knowledge they need to enter Alberta’s workforce.

    Through Budget 2025, if passed, Alberta’s government is investing $20 million in continuing funding for the Advanced Skills Centre at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), as part of a three-year total investment of $43 million for pre-construction planning and design. Once operational, the centre is expected to train an additional 4,200 apprentices per year, helping to meet Alberta’s growing demand for skilled workers.

    “By investing in skilled trades and apprenticeship education, Alberta is responding to the needs of industry and targeting our investments in ways that support the economy. Projects like the Advanced Skills Centre exemplify our commitment to helping ensure students are able to make the most of opportunities in high-demand fields and get the skills they need to be successful in Alberta’s workforce.”

    Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education

    The new facility will add 640,000 square feet of state-of-the-art learning space to NAIT’s main campus. The Advanced Skills Centre will deliver comprehensive, leading-edge apprenticeship and technology-based education to help meet the needs of industry by targeting four key sectors: construction, transportation, manufacturing and energy. 

    “Alberta’s economy is built by skilled tradespeople, and this investment ensures more Albertans can access the training they need to secure stable, high-paying jobs. The Advanced Skills Centre will help meet workforce demands in key industries, keeping our province competitive and prosperous for many years to come.”

    Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

    The Advanced Skills Centre is now in the planning and design phase and is anticipated to be fully operational by 2029. As part of the centre, NAIT has proposed a 10,000-square-foot space for trades and technology skills exploration, which will serve as a hub for K-12 partners, community groups and industry to receive hands-on training opportunities.

    “The Advanced Skills Centre will build the skilled workforce needed to build Alberta’s future. The Government of Alberta’s latest investment will accelerate getting this all-important project shovel-ready. NAIT would like to thank the Government of Alberta for its continued trust and partnership. Together, we will confidently create new economic opportunities for the next generation.” 

    Laura Jo Gunter, president and CEO, NAIT

    “Growth in Edmonton’s construction industry, and our regional economy, depend on ECA members’ ability to hire and retain skilled trades workers. The ECA welcomes the Government of Alberta’s investment in the Advanced Skilled Centre, and pledges continued support to grow NAIT’s ability to attract, train and educate tomorrow’s construction workforce.” 

    Matt Schellenberger, director of corporate development, Edmonton Construction Association

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta communities with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts

    • The investment of $20 million for pre-construction planning and design of the Advanced Skills Centre is part of a three-year total investment of $43 million, first announced in 2024.
    • The yearly funding breakdown from Alberta’s government is as follows:
      • $2 million in 2024-25
      • $20 million in 2025-26
      • $21 million in 2026-27
    • Through Budget 2025, if passed, Alberta is also investing an additional $78 million per year over three years for seats in apprenticeship programs at 11 post-secondary institutions across the province.
    • Each year, 30,000 to 40,000 students are enrolled in programs across NAIT’s campuses.
      • Of those students studying in full-time programs, more than 30 per cent are enrolled in apprenticeship and skilled trades programs.
    • Demand for seats and apprenticeship registration has increased over the last three years and is expected to continue rising due to Alberta’s growing economy and vacancies created by retirees.
    • As of February 2025, there were more than 73,000 registered apprentices in Alberta, representing an increase of 19 per cent compared to last year.

    Related information

    • Information about apprenticeship and the skilled trades is available at tradesecrets.alberta.ca.

    Related news

    • Investing in the future of apprenticeships at NAIT (May 28, 2024)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government Announces End to Temporary SINP Pause

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on March 27, 2025

    And Announces Program Changes Due to Federal Government’s Allocation Cut 

    Today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced changes to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) in response to the federal government’s reduction to the program. The Government of Canada cut nomination allocations to all provincial nominee programs by 50 per cent earlier this year, leaving Saskatchewan with 3,625 nominations, the lowest since 2009 and added a requirement that 75 per cent of all nominees must already be living in Canada as temporary residents. 

    “We are disappointed with the federal government’s decision to cut provincial nominee program allocations,” Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said. “The SINP has been essential for Saskatchewan employers seeking to hire international workers when qualified Canadians are unavailable. The changes announced today will ensure that our reduced number of nominations is used effectively and in a way that prioritizes building our economy.” 

    The previously announced pause to the intake of Job Approval Forms (JAFs) will end immediately.

    To manage the constraints imposed by the federal government, the Government of Saskatchewan is implementing program changes to the SINP effective immediately. These changes will ensure fair access across sectors while maintaining program integrity and aligning with Saskatchewan’s long-term labour market needs. Changes to the SINP will focus on prioritizing growing the work force in health care, agriculture and the skilled trades.

    The changes to the SINP include:

    • Approvals for candidates overseas will be prioritized for Health, Agriculture and the skilled trades. Recruitment for all other sectors and occupations will only be supported for candidates who are already temporary residents in Canada on a valid temporary visa;
    • Nominations for the accommodation, food services, retail trade and trucking sectors will be capped at 25 per cent of total annual nominations;
    • Spas, salons and pet care services (excluding veterinarians) are no longer eligible to recruit through SINP; and
    • The Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur and Farm Owner/Operator categories will be permanently closed. 

    A full list of the changes can be found on https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/moving-to-saskatchewan/live-in-saskatchewan/by-immigrating/saskatchewan-immigrant-nominee-program/immigration-faqs.

    Due to the program changes, applications under the Saskatchewan Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand sub-categories that do not have a Saskatchewan-based job offer will be returned. Candidates whose applications are returned will be required to contact the SINP to request a refund of their application fee. Applicants with questions about their application status and requirements can contact the SINP at immigration@gov.sk.ca or 1-833-613-0485.

    The SINP is Saskatchewan’s immigration program that allows the province to nominate qualified candidates for permanent residence in Canada. Over 90 percent of Saskatchewan’s economic immigration is facilitated through the SINP with it playing a key role in supporting Saskatchewan’s growing economy and labour needs. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: More money for reading, writing and math skills | Plus d’argent pour les habiletés en lecture, en écriture et en mathématiques

    Reading, writing and math skills are important for lifelong success in and out of the classroom. This year, schools started screening students in kindergarten to Grade 3 more often to ensure no student falls behind in reading, writing and math. To help young students that need extra support, Alberta’s government is providing a one-time grant of $7.5 million to ensure schools have the resources and staff needed to support students in developing these important skills. 

    “Basic skills like reading, writing and math are key to student success. This funding will help schools identify students that need help the most and get them the extra help they need.”

    Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

    The additional $7.5 million in grant funding builds on the $10 million that is being provided for reading, writing and math support for this school year. Budget 2025, if passed, also invests more than $40 million into school boards for reading, writing and math support over the next three years.

    “Today’s announcement solidifies Minister Nicolaides’ ongoing commitment to address learning difficulties in our province. This is a strong statement of support to school divisions, teachers and researchers as they work collaboratively to ensure that our students have the resources they need to succeed.”

    George Georgiou, professor, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta

    “Alberta School Boards Association welcomes the government’s additional investment in supports and interventions for literacy and numeracy. This grant will help Alberta’s locally elected school boards provide essential early learning resources to support the unique needs of our youngest learners.”

    Marilyn Dennis, president, Alberta School Boards Association

    Quick facts

    • Since 2021, Alberta’s government has provided $85 million in Learning Disruption Funding to support students who need additional support in literacy and numeracy.   
    • In 2024, Learning Disruption Funding was renamed Literacy and Numeracy Support Funding, to help support the development of crucial early literacy and numeracy skills in Alberta’s youngest learners.  
    • Funding will be distributed to school authorities that previously received funding in the 2024/25 school year.
    • The $7.5 million may continue to be used in the 2025/26 school year to provide interventions to kindergarten to Grade 3 children and students who require additional support.

    About literacy and numeracy screenings:

    • All kindergarten students are screened in January.
    • All students in grades 1 to 3 are screened twice a year, in September and January.
    • Students in grades 1 to 3 who are identified as needing additional support in January will be screened a third time at the end of the school year to monitor their progress. 
    • New screening requirements will be introduced for students in grades 4 and 5 in September 2026. 

    Related information

    • Early Years Assessments  

    Related news

    • Timely, impactful support for young learners (Dec. 4, 2024)
    • Supporting Alberta’s youngest students (July 11, 2024) 

    Le gouvernement de l’Alberta fournit 7,5 millions de dollars aux autorités scolaires pour aider les élèves à acquérir des habiletés en lecture, en écriture et en mathématiques

    Les habiletés en lecture, en écriture et en mathématiques sont importantes pour réussir tout au long de la vie, en classe et ailleurs. Cette année, les écoles ont commencé à administrer plus souvent des tests de dépistage à leurs élèves de la maternelle à la 3e année afin de s’assurer qu’aucun élève ne prend de retard en lecture, en écriture et en mathématiques. Afin d’aider les jeunes élèves qui ont besoin de soutien supplémentaire, le gouvernement de l’Alberta accorde un financement de 7,5 millions de dollars sous forme de subvention ponctuelle. Cela permettra au gouvernement de s’assurer que les écoles aient les ressources et le personnel nécessaires pour aider les élèves à acquérir ces habiletés importantes.

    « Les habiletés de base comme la lecture, l’écriture et les mathématiques sont essentielles à la réussite des élèves. Avec ce financement, les écoles pourront identifier les élèves qui ont le plus besoin d’aide et leur apporter le soutien supplémentaire dont ils ont besoin. »

    Demetrios Nicolaides, ministre de l’Éducation

    Ce financement supplémentaire de 7,5 millions de dollars s’ajoute aux 10 millions de dollars qui ont été versés, au cours de la présente année scolaire, pour appuyer le renforcement des habiletés en lecture, en écriture et en mathématiques. Le budget 2025, s’il est adopté, octroiera aussi plus de 40 millions de dollars sur trois ans aux autorités scolaires pour le soutien à la lecture, à l’écriture et aux mathématiques.

    « L’annonce d’aujourd’hui consolide l’engagement continu du ministre Nicolaides à s’attaquer aux difficultés d’apprentissage dans notre province. Il s’agit d’un puissant message de soutien aux autorités scolaires, aux enseignants et aux chercheurs, qui travaillent ensemble pour s’assurer que nos élèves disposent des ressources nécessaires à leur réussite. »

    George Georgiou, professeur, Faculté d’éducation, Université de l’Alberta

    « Alberta School Boards Association se réjouit de cet investissement supplémentaire du gouvernement dans les soutiens et interventions en matière de littératie et de numératie. Cette subvention aidera les conseils scolaires élus localement de l’Alberta à fournir des ressources d’apprentissage indispensables pour répondre aux besoins uniques de nos plus jeunes apprenants. »

    Marilyn Dennis, présidente, Alberta School Boards Association

    En bref

    • Depuis 2021, le gouvernement de l’Alberta a alloué 85 millions de dollars en financement visant les perturbations de l’apprentissage (Learning Disruption Funding)  afin d’aider les élèves qui ont besoin d’un soutien supplémentaire en littératie et en numératie.
    • En 2024, le financement visant les perturbations de l’apprentissage est devenu le fonds de soutien à la littératie et à la numératie (Literacy and Numeracy Support Funding) afin d’appuyer le développement des compétences essentielles en littératie et en numératie chez les plus jeunes apprenants de l’Alberta.  
    • Le financement sera distribué aux autorités scolaires qui ont déjà reçu un financement au cours de l’année scolaire 2024-2025.
    • Le financement de 7,5 millions de dollars pourra être utilisé au cours de l’année scolaire 2025-2026 pour continuer à intervenir auprès des élèves de la maternelle à la 3e année qui ont besoin d’un soutien supplémentaire.

    À propos du dépistage en littératie et en numératie

    • Tous les élèves de la maternelle passent un test de dépistage en janvier.
    • Tous les élèves de la 1re à la 3e année font l’objet d’un dépistage deux fois par année, en septembre et en janvier.
    • Les élèves de la 1re à la 3e année qui ont été identifiés, en janvier, comme ayant besoin de soutien supplémentaire, passeront un troisième test de dépistage à la fin de l’année scolaire afin que l’on puisse suivre leurs progrès.
    • De nouvelles exigences relatives à l’administration de tests de dépistage en 4e et 5e année seront mises en œuvre dès septembre 2026. 

    Renseignements connexes

    • Évaluations lors des premières années du parcours scolaire  

    Nouvelles connexes

    • Un soutien rapide et efficace pour les jeunes apprenants (4 décembre 2024)
    • Soutenir les plus jeunes apprenants de l’Alberta (11 juillet 2024) 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Grants for cycling, walking paths support sustainability

    Cyclists and walkers will enjoy more multi-use pathways, protected bike lanes, pedestrian bridges, and safety improvements as the Province helps local governments expand their active transportation infrastructure.

    “With this funding, we’re helping communities across B.C. build a more sustainable future,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “By connecting communities with dedicated active transportation infrastructure, we’re encouraging people to cycle, walk or roll, which is good for our health and lessens our reliance on passenger vehicles.” 

    A new round of provincial funding is supporting 53 active transportation infrastructure projects in B.C. communities. Additionally, nine communities are receiving funding to create network plans for future active transportation. These communities are benefiting from $24 million in provincial funding.

    The grants will improve connections to employment, school, transit and recreational centres throughout the province.

    The Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants program funds Indigenous, local and regional governments with cost-sharing investments of up to $500,000 for infrastructure projects and as much as $50,000 in funding to develop active transportation network plans. These projects make it safer and more efficient for people to use active transportation in their communities.

    Since 2020, the Province has funded 327 projects across 187 communities through the Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants program, supporting the Province’s CleanBC commitment to increase shares of trips by walking, cycling and transit.

    Learn More:

    To learn about the B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/funding-engagement-permits/funding-grants/active-transportation-infrastructure-grants

    A backgrounder follows.

    In 2024-25, the Province is providing $24 million for 53 active transportation projects.

    Northern B.C.

    • Burns Lake – 2025 Government Street multi-use pathway
      Active transportation between the high school, the Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation Office, a daycare and Head Start program, college, senior housing and downtown commercial areas will be provided by a multi-use path, sidewalk, two street crossings, one pedestrian-activated crosswalk, a bench and a rest area.
    • Chetwynd – Chetwynd 46 Street Northeast sidewalk extension
      Installation of sidewalk connecting an elementary school to a residential subdivision.
    • Dawson Creek (1) – Kin Park trail lighting
      Installation of lighting along approximately 2.5 kilometres of existing pathway to improve safety.
    • Dawson Creek (2) – Rotary trail/MUP 17th Street bypass
      New multi-use trail connecting existing trail networks.
    • Fort St. John (1) – 2025 trail lighting
      Improving safety by adding lighting to approximately 1.6 km of existing trail.
    • Fort St. John (2) – 2025 Kin Park trail connections
      New multi-use path through Kin Park, complete with a pedestrian boardwalk, lighting, and wayfinding.
    • Smithers – Main Street active transportation improvements
      New multi-use pathway connecting downtown Smithers to the Fulton Avenue multi-use pathway, as well as a multi-use pathway connecting to existing multi-use pathways on HWY 16 and Fulton Ave.
    • Telkwa – Hankin Avenue paved path adjacent to school
      New multi-use path adjacent to an elementary school.
    • Terrace – North Thomas Street reconstruction
      Full reconstruction of North Thomas Street, including upgraded sidewalk, improved accessibility, and new and upgraded multi-use pathways.
    • Tumbler Ridge – Downtown core sidewalk replacement
      Sidewalk replacement in the downtown core, improving public safety and encouraging active transportation.

    Kootenays

    • Cranbrook – McPhee Road corridor improvements
      Construction of multi-use pathway along McPhee Road from Theatre Road to Industrial Road F.
    • Invermere (1) – 10th Street end-of-trip facility
      End-of-trip facility located at 10th Street and 8th Avenue in downtown Invermere consisting of a washroom building, e-bike charging station, walking trail network signage, and an end-of-trip bike service facility (including repair station, pump, wash station, installation kit).
    • Invermere (2) – Tarte Street trail
      Approximately 325 metres of multi-use path connecting existing active-transportation facilities.
    • Kimberley – Marsden Street active-transportation project
      Approximately 191 metres of sidewalk connecting to the city’s skate and bike park, as well as other recreation amenities.
    • Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (Electoral Area ‘C’/Christina Lake) – Christina Creek active transportation bridge
      New bridge across Christina Creek, providing a safer and more direct route for pedestrians and cyclists, and diverting users away from the highway.
    • Rossland – Centennial Trail improvements
      Safety and accessibility improvements on the Centennial Trail multi-use pathway that serves as an inter-community link from Red Mountain Resort, through Rossland and Warfield, to Trail.

    Thompson Okanagan

    • Kelowna (1) – Rutland neighbourhood bikeway (Phase 1: Houghton to Rutland Recreation Park)
      1.2 km of AAA neighbourhood bikeway increasing connectivity between a residential neighbourhood, local park, the YMCA and a secondary school.
    • Kelowna (2) – KLO Road bridge replacement
      The project consists of the replacement of the KLO Bridge and newly constructed AT facilities that connect adjacent neighbourhoods to the Mission Creek Greenway.
    • Lake Country – Construction on Lodge Road-Sherman Drive to Woodsdale Road
      Improvements to the Lodge Road corridor and Rail Trail, including paving, curb, gutter and sidewalk, transit stop access, transit stop improvements and intersection reconfiguration to improve pedestrian visibility and activated beacons at crossings.
    • Oliver – Raised crosswalks with multi-mode accessibility considerations
      The installation of two raised crosswalks that will improve Oliver’s existing active-transportation network. First at McKinney Road at Coyote Street, and a second at Fairview Road at Dividend Street.
    • Peachland – Peachland to West Kelowna multi-use pathway Phase II
      Multi-use path connecting Peachland to West Kelowna
    • Revelstoke – Pearkes Drive multi-use pathway
      New multi-use pathway along Pearkes Drive connecting the existing greenbelt pathway to Colbeck Road.
    • West Kelowna – Horizon Drive active transportation corridor
      Providing an active-transportation corridor, including sidewalks, neighborhood bikeways and painted bike lanes, linking Highway 97 to Westlake Road, as well as the Westbank First Nation and nearby neighborhoods.

    South Coast

    • Bowen Island – Multi-use path, Charlies Lane to Forster Lane
      Multi-use pathway along Grafton Road from Charlies Lane to Forester Lane.
    • Chilliwack (1) – McIntosh active transportation improvement project
      Approximately 450 metres of multi-use pathway (MUP) connecting a middle school and pedestrian rail tunnel.
    • Chilliwack (2) – Edward to Mary active transportation improvement project
      Multi-use pathway starting at the Edward St. frontage of 45489 Bernard Ave, travelling along Menholm Road, and ending at the corner of Hodgins Ave and Mary Street.
    • Coquitlam – Pipeline Road active transportation improvements
      New sidewalks and new separated cycle tracks, pathway lighting, and protected only phasing for vulnerable road users between Guildford Way and David Avenue. Additionally, new bidirectional micromobility facilities will be constructed between Lincoln Avenue and Guildford Way.
    • Delta (1) – 56 Street multi-use pathway (6 Avenue to 8A Avenue)
      New multi-use pathway connecting to an existing multi-use pathway and local park.
    • Delta (2) – River Road protected cycle lanes (68 Street to Deas Island Road)
      New protected bike lanes connecting to recently installed bike lanes from 68 Street to Deas Island Road.
    • Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (Metro Vancouver) – Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades – causeway improvements
      New bike lanes and multi-use pathways connecting Sea Island and the Iona Beach Regional Park.
    • Langley (Township) (1) – Fraser Highway widening: 24300-24600 block, north side
      Approximately 800 metres of multi-use pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, including street lighting, landscaping and intersection upgrades.
    • Langley (Township) (2) – Fraser Highway Widening: 24300 – 24600 block, south side
      Approximately 800 metres of multi-use pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, including street lighting, landscaping and intersection upgrades.
    • North Vancouver – Spirit Trail eastern extension: Seymour to Windridge/Berkley
      New on-street cycling facilities, and off-street multi-use pathways, as well as pedestrian improvements and crossing improvements that will connect to the North Shore Spirit Trail linking Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove.
    • Squamish (1) – Victoria Street interim active transportation improvements
      New protected bike lanes on Victoria Street with pedestrian crossing improvements at intersections.
    • Squamish (2) – Depot Road active transportation upgrades
      New multi-use pathway on the north side of Depot Road with pedestrian crossing improvements at cross streets.
    • Tzeachten – Chilliwack River Road sidewalks (Phase 3)
      Increase connectivity with the installation of approximately 400 metres of sidewalk on the west side of Chilliwack River Road.
    • White Rock – Buena Vista bike path
      Approximately 400 metres of bi-directional bikeway and multi-use paths on Buena Vista Avenue between Johnston Road and Best Avenue.

    Vancouver and Gulf Islands

    • Alert Bay – Willow Road stairway replacement
      Replacement of approximately 65 metres of damaged stairs with new concrete.
    • Capital Regional District – Pender Island – Schooner Way school trail
      New multi-use transportation trail connecting Pender Island School, Health Centre, and commercial areas.
    • Comox – Aspen Road/Bolt Avenue sidewalk improvement and cycle lanes project
      Installation of new sidewalk and bike lanes that will provide direct access to a park and elementary school.
    • Esquimalt – Esquimalt Road active transportation and underground improvements – Phase 1
      Protected bike lanes connecting bike facilities on Lampson Street to the City of Victoria bike lanes at Dominion Road. This project includes two new rectangular rapid-flashing beacons and one upgraded beacon pedestrian crossing.
    • Langford (1) – Latoria active transit Improvements: Phase 1B – school safety improvements and eastern connectivity
      Improvements to Latoria Road including additional sidewalks, as well as buffered and protected bike lanes that will provide active transportation routes to a new elementary school.
    • Langford (2) – Latoria active transit improvements: Phase 1A – western connectivity
      Improvements to Latoria Road, including additional sidewalks, as well as buffered and protected bike lanes that will provide active transportation routes to a new elementary school.
    • Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation – MMFN Woss Lake Grease Trail and Malaspina Trail renewal
      Trail clearing and pre/post trip amenities for the Grease Trail and Malaspina Trail, including signs, benches, picnic tables and washroom facilities.
    • Nanaimo (1) – Crosswalk upgrades that improve active transportation routes
      Crosswalk upgrades to improve active transportation at seven locations.
    • Nanaimo (2) – Third Street active transportation improvements
      Widening of Third Street to allow for active-transportation improvements, including bike lanes and a sidewalk.
    • Saanich (1) – Shelbourne Street improvement project, Phase 3
      AAA bike lanes, new multi-use pathways and additional pedestrian improvements on Pear Street.
    • Saanich (2) – Albina, Maddock, Orillia improvements project
      Improvements to Albina, Maddock and Orillia Road with approximately 750 metres of new sidewalks, improved pedestrian crossings, traffic calming and widened boulevards, adjacent to Tillicum elementary school.
    • Sidney – Bowerbank neighbourhood bikeway
      AAA neighbourhood bikeway connecting a local park and elementary school, which will improve connection to the Lochside Trail, and will be a bicycle corridor for commuters.
    • Sooke (2) – Active transportation Throup Road corridor improvements
      Construction of new sidewalk, multi-use paths, crosswalks and boulevards through Throup Road Corridor connecting schools, recreation centres and bus routes.
    • Victoria (1) – Cook Street North multi-modal corridor improvements
      Approximately 1.8 km of complete streets that expands the AAA cycling network and provides accessibility and pedestrian improvements. This project connects with Saanich’s AAA bike lanes on Cook Street.
    • Victoria (2) – Blanshard Street North – multi-modal corridor improvements
      Approximately 608 metres of complete street that expands Victoria’s AAA cycling network by upgrading bike lanes to wider protected lanes and a fully protected intersection at Bay Street.
    • View Royal (1) – Atkins Road sidewalk project
      New sidewalk connecting Atkins Road to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail.

    Provincewide Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP) grant recipients:

    • Castlegar ATNP
      The integration of an ATNP into a transportation master plan. Update of an existing plan.
    • Granisle ATNP
      Granisle ATNP. New plan.
    • Gold River usage counter
      The purchase of a mobile multi-pedestrian/cyclist counter that will be used in multiple places to support upcoming project proposals to support project development. 
    • Lantzville ATNP
      A comprehensive update of the Lantzville Trails and Journey ways Strategy (2010) to develop and expand an AAA active transportation network: New plan.
    • Regional District of Nanaimo (Cedar Village) ATNP
      The development of a plan to identify and develop safer and more contemporary active transportation methods and infrastructure that addresses conflict areas and prioritizes safety and comfort for all users: Update of an existing plan.
    • Snuneymuxw First Nation ATNP
      A plan to develop safe, efficient and sustainable active transportation infrastructure, as well as end-of-route culturally reflective benches, shelters and water fountain locations. New plan.
    • Strathcona Regional District – Cortes Island ATNP
      The development of an ATNP and implementation strategy to establish priorities for future investment: New plan.
    • Strathcona Regional District – Oyster Bay-Buttle Lake ATNP
      The development of an ATNP and implementation strategy to establish priorities for future investment. New plan.
    • Whistler ATNP
      A plan for improvement to achieve Whistler’s active-transportation vision, as outlined by the Whistler Active Transportation Strategy (2024). The plan will align with CleanBC, the ATDG, and Universal Design and GBA+ principles. Implementation plan for recent active-transportation strategy.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Innovative drop in the ocean brings boost to the Tees

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Innovative drop in the ocean brings boost to the Tees

    A new project to install three floating islands in the River Tees Estuary is complete, creating new habitat and bringing a boost for wildlife.

    The Tees Rivers Trust (TeRT) joined forces with the Environment Agency, Middlesbrough Development Corporation, Middlesbrough Council and bp on the work.

    The islands, designed by Biomatrix Water, were installed at Middlehaven Dock in Middlesbrough.

    They are created from modular units with a total surface area of 180 square metres (around 600 square foot), a format which allows the islands to be created in different shapes.

    The new floating islands are pre-seeded with native plants and will provide a ‘haven in the haven’ for wildlife including insects, birds, molluscs and fish in an area where little natural habitat exists. The new ecosystem will also provide shelter for juvenile and migrating fish.

    Elsewhere on the walls of the dock, Tees Rivers Trust will install artificial rock pools that offer a simple and versatile solution for creating new wildlife habitats on existing structures. 

    These features have been used in other locations across the North East and are an innovative solution to provide ecological enhancement.

    This work is funded by the Environment Agency and bp.

    Features will provide ‘great new habitat’

    Ben Lamb CEO, Tees Rivers Trust, said:

    Although this project is literally a drop in the ocean, the features that have been installed in the Middlehaven Dock will provide some great new habitat for animals and plants in, on and around the river to colonise.

    Initiatives such as this make places better for people to live and work in, which in turn helps support economic growth and the wider benefits that brings to local communities.

    Liz Walters, Project Manager from the Environment Agency, said:

    Creating artificial habitats is an innovative solution which provides an opportunity for nature to thrive in an area where little natural habitat remains.

    This work is a great example of local partners joining forces to bring shelter and food for fish and wildlife and support improvements to water quality and biodiversity.

    The project is part of the Trust’s Estuary Edges project, which sits alongside a programme of river estuary restoration on the Tees.

    Working in partnership and using nature-based solutions, it will improve sites across Teesside for local people and businesses, whilst providing employment.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fisheries team takes action to protect endangered European eels

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Fisheries team takes action to protect endangered European eels

    The Environment Agency’s Fisheries Enforcement Officers have started patrols along the coast to help protect the endangered European eel from illegal poaching.

    Image of a European eel in Cumbria (Credit: Lyndsay McRae)

    The Environment Agency’s Fisheries Enforcement Officers have started patrols along the Morecambe Bay and North Lancashire coastlines to help protect the critically endangered European eel from illegal poaching.

    There has been a 95% decline in the number of European eels returning to rivers across the continent since the 1980s. 

    Young eels, known as elvers, are highly prized on the black market, attracting the attention of illegal poachers who often have links to organised crime gangs.

    The Environment Agency, working closely with the Northwestern Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority (NWIFCA), has started patrols to help protect the elvers during their migration.

    These patrols are part of a wider large scale work program,  Operation Lake, which is a EUROPOL joint operation with law enforcement authorities across Europe and the globe. 

    Hiding by day and feeding by night, elvers enter the river systems to feed and grow.

    With the nocturnal feeding habits in mind, the partnership uses advanced night vision capable drone technology to help detect illegal poaching activity. 

    The drones help by covering a larger stretch of coastline than previously possible by patrol boats alone.

    An Environment Agency Spokesperson said:

    Embracing technology and working alongside our partners from Northwestern Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority, allows us to use their detailed knowledge of our coastline during patrols, and gives us more boots on the ground, allowing us to discretely monitor targets within a wider area. 

    If we detect illegal poaching activity, we can quickly intercept and make arrests. 

    We urge members of the public to share with us any information they might have on poaching activity, however small or inconsequential it might appear – it could be the missing piece of the jigsaw.  

    A North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority spokesperson said:

    Joint working with the Environment Agency continues to be a priority in the North West region, benefiting from shared expertise and resourcing.

    This partnership approach means we can plan patrols in areas based on seasonal risk and intelligence between agencies. Additionally, Operation Lake allows us to patrol high risk estuarine habitats in protected areas which are vulnerable to poaching.

    The deployment of the NWIFCA enforcement drone with night vision and thermal imaging capabilities will continue to be a crucial asset for safety and the detection of crime during joint working.

    European eels breed in the Sargasso Sea, near Bermuda, from which young elvers migrate annually to reach European river estuaries for the spring tides.

    When they mature, eels migrate back to breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea to reproduce for a single time before dying, and the cycle begins again.

    If you see, or suspect illegal poaching, report it via the Environment Agency’s incident hotline 0800 80 70 60, or call the police on 101, unless an incident is progress – then call 999.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pathways to Work: Green Paper FAQ

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Pathways to Work: Green Paper FAQ

    We understand that many people have questions about the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper.

    To help clarify what this means for you, we have published some FAQs addressing some key concerns.

    Why is the government making changes to health and disability benefits?

    The proposals aim to build a system that is fairer and provides vital support for those who need it most, whilst making sure that everyone who can realise the benefits of work is supported to do so.

    Will my benefits change immediately?

    No, please be assured there will be no immediate changes to your health and disability related benefit payment.

    For more information about the proposed changes to health and disability benefits please see Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper

    I’ve submitted a claim but haven’t heard the outcome, will my claim be affected?

    No, there will be no immediate changes to your health and disability related claim. If you have made a claim or are getting a health and disability related benefit you should continue to contact us as usual and provide any information or changes to your circumstances and current needs.

    For more information about the proposed changes to health and disability benefits please see Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper

    When will the changes to health and disability benefits be made?

    Legislation will need to be passed by Parliament before any changes can be brought into effect. We are also consulting on some of our proposed changes to health and disability benefits. The consultation will be open for at least 12 weeks from when all accessible versions are published and no changes will be made until we have reviewed all the responses. You are welcome to take part in the consultation.

    For more information about the proposed changes to health and disability benefits please see Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper

    Watch Green Paper Explainer:

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Cegedim Full year 2024 results: Operating profitability improved

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

     

    PRESS RELEASE

    Quarterly financial information as of December 31, 2024
    IFRS – Regulated information – Audited

    Full year 2024 results: Cegedim’s operating profitability improved

    • 2024 revenues rose 6.3% to €654.5 million
    • Recurring operating income(1) increased 24.7% to €39.5 million
    • Recurring operating margin came to 6.0% in 2024, up from 5.1% in 2023

    Boulogne-Billancourt, France, March 27, 2025, after the market close

    Cegedim generated consolidated revenues of €654.5 million in 2024, an increase of 6.3%, and recurring operating income(1)of €39.5 million, a 24.7% increase. Recurring operating margin was 6.0%, up from 5.1% one year earlier.

    Consolidated income statement

      2024 2023 Change
      (in €m) (in %) (in €m) (in %) (in %)
    Revenue 654.5 100% 616.0 100.0% +6.3%
    EBITDA(1) 123.6 18.9% 108.8 17.7% +13.5%
    Depreciation and amortization -84.1 -12.8% -77.2 -12.5% +9.0%
    Recurring operating income(1) 39.5 6.0% 31.7 5.1% +24.7%
    Other non-recurring operating income and expenses(1) -28.4 -4.3% -11.7 -1.9% -143.0%
    Operating income 11.1 1.7% 20.0 3.2% -44.5%
    Financial result -20.9 -3.2% -11.9 -1.9% -75.8%
    Total tax -5.8 -0.9% -14.8 -2.4% -61.1%
    Net profit attributable to owners of the parent -14.7 -2.2% -7.4 -1.2% -98.6%
    Earnings per share (in euros) -1.1 – -0.5 – -120.0%

    Consolidated revenues: rose €38.5 million, or +6.3%, to €654.5 million in 2024 compared with €616.0 million in 2023. The positive scope effect of €8.2 million, or 1.4%, was attributable to the first-time consolidation of Visiodent starting March 1, adjusted for the deconsolidation of INPS from Cegedim’s accounts since December 10. The positive currency impact was €1.1 million, or 0.2%. Like-for-like(2) revenue increased +4.7% over the period.

    Recurring operating income(1): rose €7.8 million in 2024 to €39.5 million compared with €31.7 million in 2023. It amounted to 6.0% of 2024 revenue compared with 5.1% in 2023. This increase was driven chiefly by the profitability improvement in the insurance businesses, especially the Software and BPO offerings, as well as further strong growth in Cegedim Business Services in Human Resources and in digitalized flow services for businesses and healthcare. Another highlight of the year’s results was the very strong performance of the marketing in pharmacies offering and the positive contribution from the first-time consolidation of Visiodent.

    Other non-recurring operating income and expenses(1): amounted to an expense of €28.4 million in 2024 compared with an income of €11.7 million in 2023. Following the voluntary placement of its INPS subsidiary in administration, the Group recognized a capital loss of €8.8 million. The remainder consists of an €8.6 million asset impairment charge on its software for pharmacies business in France and the United Kingdom and a goodwill impairment charge of €4.7 million related to its Clamae subsidiary. Of this total of €28.4 million, the cash impact was only €5.7 million, related principally to payroll costs.

    Depreciation and amortization expenses: rose €6.9 million in 2024. Amortization of R&D costs rose €6.0 million year on year compared with 2023, and depreciation of capital expenditures rose €2.4 million as a result of investments in the operations of cegedim.cloud and C-Media. Amortization of intangible assets and depreciation of right-of-use assets declined by €1.5 million.

    EBITDA: the €14.8 million or 13.5% increase between 2023 and 2024 was the result of a stabilization in payroll costs, external expenses and purchases used relative to the pace of revenue growth, reflecting the special attention the Group paid to cost control.

    Financial result: was a loss of €20.9 million, down €9.0 million compared with 2023, owing to a provision related to the voluntary placement of INPS in administration and the increase in interest expense owing to the new financing arrangement put in place in the summer.

    Total tax: came to a charge of €5.8 million, down €9.0 million compared with 2023. As a reminder, note that in 2023 the Group made a €12.3 million accounting adjustment to previously recognized deferred tax assets. The adjustment had no cash impact and was intended to reflect recent developments in judicial precedent that led the Group to measure its potential unrealized gain more conservatively.

    Analysis of business trends by division

    in millions of euros Total Software & Services Flow Data & Marketing BPO Cloud & Support
    Revenue            
    2023 as reported 616.0 326.6 95.9 114.9 71.5 7.1
    2023 reclassified (*) 616.0 302.3 93.4 114.9 71.5 33.9
    2024 654.5 307.8 100.3 125.9 82.7 37.8
    Change +6.3% +1.8% +7.3% +9.6% +15.8% +11.3%
                 
    Recurring operating income(3)            
    2023 as reported 31.7 4.2 12.1 15.9 4.0 -4.5
    2023 reclassified (*) 31.7 2.3 11.2 15.9 4.1 -1.8
    2024 39.5 5.1 12.5 16.5 7.2 -1.9
    Change +24.7% +126.7% +11.8% +3.5% +77.2% -5.0%
                 
    Recurring operating margin            
    2023 as reported 5.1% 1.3% 12.6% 13.9% 5.5% -62.9%
    2023 reclassified (*) 5.1% 0.8% 11.9% 13.9% 5.7% -5.2%
    2024 6.0% 1.7% 12.4% 13.1% 8.7% -4.9%
                 

    (*)As of January 1, 2024, our Cegedim Outsourcing and Audiprint subsidiaries—which were previously housed in the Software & Services division—as well as BSV—formerly of the Flow division—have been moved to the Cloud & Support division in order to capitalize on operating synergies between cloud activities and IT solutions integration.

    • Software & Services: 2024 revenue rose 1.8%, boosted by the HR solutions, insurance businesses and the first-time consolidation of Visiodent from March 1, 2024. The pharmacy business and Cegedim Santé felt the impact of comparisons with Ségur public health investment spending, while the international businesses recorded a business contraction owing to the decision to wind down, then shutter its software for doctors business in the United Kingdom.

    Recurring operating income (REBIT) amounted to €5.1 million in 2024, a €2.8 million increase compared with income of €2.3 million in 2023. Of this income, €3.2 million flowed from the firmer business trends at Cegedim Santé, chiefly as a result of the first-time consolidation of Visiodent. This cost control policy together with strong activity levels boosted the Insurance business, and HR solutions also made a positive contribution to the improvement in recurring operating income. The pharmacy software business in France was adversely affected by the slowdown in equipment sales after many pharmacies updated their equipment in 2023. The international businesses recorded a small decrease in their recurring operating income owing to the deconsolidation of INPS, which incurred expenses for the Pharmacy business in the United Kingdom.

    Software & Services Change
    2024/2023 reclassified
    in millions of euros 2024 2023 reclassified (*) 2023 as reported
    Revenue 307.8 302.3 326.6 +5.5 +1.8%
    Cegedim Santé 80.2 76.5 76.5 +3.7 +4.8%
    Insurance, HR, Pharmacies, and other services 176.7 173.3 197.6 +3.4 +2.0%
    International businesses 50.9 52.5 52.5 -1.6 -3.0%
    Recurring operating income(4) 5.1 2.3 4.2 +2.8 +126.7%
    Cegedim Santé 0.3 -2.9 -2.9 +3.2 +111.9%
    Insurance, HR, Pharmacies, and other services 13.3 12.8 14.7 +0.5 +4.4%
    International businesses -8.5 -7.6 -7.6 -0.9 -12.4%

    (*)As of January 1, 2024, our Cegedim Outsourcing and Audiprint subsidiaries—which were previously housed in the Software & Services division—have been moved to the Cloud & Support division in order to capitalize on operating synergies between cloud activities and IT solutions integration.

    • Flow: Revenue rose 7.9%, propelled by e-business, e-invoicing, and digitized data exchanges (+5.6%), and by the Third-party payer business (+9.9%), which was supported by the powerful momentum of its fraud detection and long-term illness detection offerings.         
      The €1.3 million improvement, or +11.8% increase, in recurring operating income was driven by the rapid growth in the business and by a tight grip on expenses and payroll costs.
    • Data & Marketing: Revenue came to €125.9 million, up +9.6% on the back of a record performance by the Marketing division. It posted growth of 19.9%, underpinned by its phygital media communication strategy and boosted by special campaigns during the Olympic Games. Even though performance in 2023 was highly impressive, the Data business still managed to post growth of 1.6% in 2024.

    The division’s recurring operating income(1) grew by €0.6 million or +3.5% owing to the Marketing division converting robust revenue growth into operating income growth. On the other hand, the slowdown in international Data was a drag on the division’s profitability.

    • BPO: the division’s revenues grew 15.8% in 2024 compared with 2023, owing principally to services managed on behalf of health and personal protection insurers, which grew by 20.2% as a result of its flourishing overflow business and a favorable comparison linked to the start of the new contract with Allianz on April 1, 2023. Revenues from services management on behalf of HR departments rose 5.5%.

    The division’s recurring operating income rose by €3.1 million, or +77.2%. Most of this increase came from BPO Business services, which benefited from the tight control of payroll costs amid revenue growth and an allocation of its internal IT expenses more appropriate for its business level. The business for insurers posted an increase in recurring operating income, despite the costs incurred on the Allianz contract, as a result of the improvement in the profitability of other BPO contracts and, crucially, the impact of its flourishing overflow offering.

    • Cloud & Support: the Cloud & Support division posted a revenue increase of €3.9 million on the back of its expanded range of sovereign cloud-backed products and services, which earned the ANSSI security visa for SecNumCloud

    certification. The 2024 recurring operating loss(1) was €1.9 million, almost stable compared with 2023, demonstrating the Cloud business’ ability to offset the support activity expenses.

    Highlights

    To the best of the Company’s knowledge, there were no events or changes during 2024 that would materially alter the Group’s financial situation.

    • Acquisition of Visiodent

    On February 15, 2024, Cegedim Santé acquired Visiodent, a key French publisher of management software for dental practices and health clinics. Visiodent launched the market’s first 100% SaaS solution, Veasy, at a time of significant expansion for those organizations. Its users now include the country’s largest nation-wide networks of health clinics, both cooperative and privately owned, as well as several thousand dental surgeons in private practice. Visiodent generated revenue of c.€10 million in 2023 and began contributing to Cegedim Group’s consolidation scope on March 1, 2024.

    On December 10, 2024, Cegedim announced that it had voluntarily placed its UK subsidiary—INPS, which sells software for doctors—under administration.

    • New financing arrangement

    On July 31, 2024, Cegedim announced that it had secured a new financing arrangement consisting of a €230 million syndicated loan. The arrangement is split into €180 million of lines drawn upon closing to refinance the Group’s existing debt (RCF and Euro PP, which were to mature in October 2024 and October 2025 respectively) and an additional, undrawn revolving credit facility (RCF) of €50 million. This new financing arrangement will bolster the Group’s liquidity and extend the maturity of its debt to, respectively, 5 years (€30 million, payments every six months); 6 years (€60 million, repayable upon maturity); and 7 years (€90 million, repayable upon maturity).

    Cegedim S.A. has been subject to two tax audits since 2018, which have resulted in reassessments relating to the use of tax-loss carryforwards contested by the tax authorities. After consultation with its lawyers and based on the applicable tax law and ample precedent, Cegedim S.A. believes that the tax authorities’ proposed reassessments are unwarranted. As a result, the Company has appealed the decision and continues to explore its options for contesting the reassessments.

    In the event of an unfavorable ruling, based on the tax losses used up to December 31, 2024, Cegedim S.A. would have to book tax expense of €30.8 million in its P&L, of which it has already paid €23 million, and to cancel €4.1 million in deferred tax assets, which would not entail any cash outflow.

    In the last quarter of 2023, the Company referred this dispute to the administrative court, and the dispute is likely to continue for several years.

    Significant transactions and events post December 31, 2024

    To the best of the Company’s knowledge, there were no post-closing events or changes after December 31, 2024, that would materially alter the Group’s financial situation.

    Outlook

    Based on the currently available information, the Group expects 2025 like-for-like(1) revenue growth to be in an approximative range of 2-4% relative to 2024. Recurring operating income should continue to improve, following a similar trajectory to 2024.

    These targets are not forecasts and may need to be revised if there is a significant worsening of geopolitical, macroeconomic, or monetary risks.

    —————

    The Audit Committee met on March 26, 2025. The Board of Directors, chaired by Jean-Claude Labrune, met on March 27, 2025. It approved the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2024, and will ask the Shareholders’ Meeting to approve the financial statements for the year 2024. The consolidated accounts have been audited. The statutory auditors’ report will be issued once the formalities required for submission of the Universal Registration Document have been completed.

    The Universal Registration Document will be available in a few days’ time, in French and in English, on our website.

    ———

    (1) At constant scope and exchange rates.

    WEBCAST ON MARCH 27, 2025, AT 6:15 PM (PARIS TIME)
    The webcast is available at:www.cegedim.fr/webcast

    The fiscal 2024 results presentation is available on the website:

    https://www.cegedim.fr/finance/documentation/Pages/presentations.aspx

    Financial calendar for 2025

    2025 March 28 at 10:00 am

    April 24 after the close

    June 13 at 9:30 am

    July 24 after the close

    September 25 after the close

    September 26 at 10:00 am

    October 23 after the close

    		 SFAF meeting

    Q1 2025 revenues

    Shareholders’ meeting

    H1 2025 revenues

    H1 2025 results

    SFAF meeting

    Q3 2025 revenues

    Financial calendar: https://www.cegedim.fr/finance/agenda/Pages/default.aspx

    Disclaimer
    This press release is available in French and in English. In the event of any difference between the two versions, the original French version takes precedence. This press release may contain inside information. It was sent to Cegedim’s authorized distributor on March 27, 2025, no earlier than 5:45 pm Paris time.
    The figures cited in this press release include guidance on Cegedim’s future financial performance targets. This forward-looking information is based on the opinions and assumptions of the Group’s senior management at the time this press release is issued and naturally entails risks and uncertainty. For more information on the risks facing Cegedim, please refer to Chapter 7, “Risk management”, section 7.2, “Risk factors”, and Chapter 3, “Overview of the financial year”, section 3.6, “Outlook”, of the 2023 Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF on April 3, 2024, under number D.24-0233.

    About Cegedim:
    Founded in 1969, Cegedim is an innovative technology and services group in the field of digital data flow management for healthcare ecosystems and B2B, and a business software publisher for healthcare and insurance professionals. Cegedim employs nearly
    6,700 people in more than 10 countries and generated revenue of over €654 million in 2024.
    Cegedim SA is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: CGM).
    To learn more please visit: www.cegedim.fr
    And follow Cegedim on X: @Cegedimgroup, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

    Aude Balleydier
    Cegedim
    Media Relations and
    Communications Manager

    Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 09 68 81
    aude.balleydier@cegedim.fr

    		 Damien Buffet
    Cegedim
    Head of
    Financial Communication

    Tel.: +33 (0)7 64 63 55 73
    damien.buffet@cegedim.com

    		 Céline Pardo
    Becoming RP Agency
    Media Relations Consultant

    Tel.:         +33 (0)6 52 08 13 66
    cegedim@becoming-group.com

    		  

    Appendix

    Consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2024

    • Assets at December 31, 2024
    In thousands of euros 12/31/2024 12/31/2023
    Goodwill arising on acquisitions 235,747 199,787
    Development costs 857 1,562
    Other intangible assets 190,555 192,616
    Intangible assets 191,412 194,178
    Land 594 544
    Buildings 1,451 1,660
    Other property, plant and equipment 51,539 45,829
    Advances and non-current assets in progress 4,876 831
    Right-of-use assets                   86,273                   89,718
    Property, plant and equipment 144,733                 138,582
    Equity investments 0 0
    Loans 14,156 15,332
    Other financial assets 5,820 5,230
    Financial assets excluding investments in affiliates 19,976 20,563
    Investments in affiliates 15,354 22,065
    Deferred tax assets 16,597 19,747
    Prepaid expenses: long-term proportion – –
    Non-current assets 623,819                 594,922   
    Goods held for resale 6,741 5,498
    Advances and deposits received on orders 1,296 3,703
    Trade receivables: short-term portion 186,003 175,199
    Other receivables: short-term portion 66,945 59,563
    Current tax credits 29,152 16,495
    Cash equivalents 0 0
    Cash 49,577 46,606
    Prepaid expenses: short-term portion 23,357 22,082
    Current assets 363,071 329,146
    Total assets 986,890 924,068
    • Liabilities and equity at December 31, 2024
    In thousands of euros 12/31/2024 12/31/2023
    Share capital 13,432 13,337
    Retained earnings 268,728 282,521
    Group unrealized exchange gains/losses -3,105 -12,275
    Group profit (loss) -14,707 -7,407
    Shareholders’ equity, Group share 264,348 276,175
    Non-controlling interest 18,156 18,381
    Equity 282,503             294,556   
    Financial liabilities 223,777 188,546
    Lease liabilities 77,639 78,761
    Deferred tax liabilities 1,654 5,600
    Post-employment benefit obligations 33,024 31,007
    Provisions 2,073 2,521
    Non-current liabilities 338,167             306,435   
    Financial liabilities 10,315 3,006
    Lease liabilities 14,118 14,789
    Trade payables and related accounts 71,784 61,734
    Current tax liabilities 279 235
    Tax and social security liabilities 128,289 121,371
    Provisions 1,502 1,730
    Other liabilities 139,932 120,212
    Current liabilities 366,220             323,077   
    TOTAL Liabilities and equity             986,890               924,068  
    • Income statement as of December 31, 2024
    In thousands of euros 12/31/2024 12/31/2023
    Revenue 654,496 615,995
    Purchases used -29,565 -28,547
    External expenses -143,770 -138,544
    Taxes and duties -4,468 -5,352
    Payroll costs -349,803 -331,748
    Impairment of trade receivables and other receivables and on contract assets -1,984 -2,444
    Allowances to and reversals of provisions -4,832 -2,714
    Other operating income and expenses 1,640 431
    Share of profit (loss) from affiliates included in operating income 1,853 1,757
    EBITDA(1) 123,567 108,834
    Depreciation expenses other than right-of-use assets -66,934 -59,471
    Depreciation expenses of right-of-use assets -17,149 -17,693
    Recurring operating income(1) 39,484 31,670
    Impairment of goodwill arising on acquisitions -4,667 –
    Non-recurring operating income and expenses -23,730 -11,687
    Other non-recurring operating income and expenses(1) -28,397 -11,687
    Operating income 11,087 19,983
    Income from cash and cash equivalents 1,650 475
    Cost of gross financial debt -17,902 -11,742
    Other financial income and expenses -4,629 -614
    Financial result -20,881 -11,881
    Income taxes -4,010 -4,509
    Deferred taxes -1,770 -10,336
    Total taxes -5,780 -14,845
    Share of profit (loss) from affiliates 440 -1,195
    Consolidated net profit -15,134 -7,937
    Group share -14,708 -7,407
    Non-controlling interests -426 531
    Average number of shares excluding treasury stock 13,706,333 13,610,429
    Earnings per share (in euros) -1.1 -0.5

    (1) Alternative performance indicator.

    • Cash flow statement as of December 31, 2024
    In thousands of euros 12/31/2024 12/31/2023
    Consolidated net profit -15,133 -7,937
    Share of profit (loss) from affiliates -2,293 -561
    Depreciation and amortization expenses and provisions 93,449 84,010
    Capital gains or losses on disposals of operating assets 8,030 -1,816
    Cash flow after cost of net financial debt and taxes 84,053 73,695
    Cost of net financial debt 20,881 11,881
    Tax expense 5,780 14,845
    Cash flow from operating activities before tax and interest 110,714 100,420
    Tax paid -16,216 -4,233
    Change in working capital requirement: requirement – –
    Change in working capital requirement: release 7,350 1,736
    Cash flow generated from operating activities after tax paid and change in working capital requirements 101,848 97,923
    Acquisitions of intangible assets -58,607 -53,538
    Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment -31,309 -21,952
    Acquisitions of financial assets – -1,036
    Disposals of property, plant, and equipment and of intangible assets 4,969 2,598
    Disposals of financial assets 934 805
    Change in deposits received or paid 3,904 83
    Impact of changes in consolidation scope -36,878 -3,371
    Dividends received from outside the Group 5,663 1,114
    Net cash flow used in investing activities -111,324 -75,296
    Capital increase 985 0
    Dividends paid to minority shareholders of consolidated companies -105 -2
    Dividends paid to shareholders of the parent company – –
    New borrowings 180,000 0
    Repayments of borrowings -136,398 -263
    Employee profit sharing -445 -65
    Repayment of lease liabilities -17,283 -19,796
    Interest paid on borrowings -8,880 -5,050
    Other financial income received 4,098 966
    Other financial expenses paid -8,856 -6,861
    Net cash flow generated/(used in) financing activities 13,116 -31,071
    Change in net cash excluding currency impact 3,640 -8,444
    Impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates -672 -503
    Change in net cash 2,968 -8,947
    Opening cash 46,606 55,553
    Closing cash 49,574 46,606
    • Financial covenants
    In thousands of euros 12/31/2024 Criterion
    Net debt(1) 172,489  
    EBITDA(2) 103,551  
    Leverage ratio 1.67 < 2.5
    In thousands of euros 12/31/2024 Criterion
    Interest expense 10,192  
    EBITDA(2) 103,551  
    Interest cover ratio 10.16 > 4.5

    (1)   excluding employee profit sharing liabilities, the FCB loan,and IFRS 16 liabilities and excluding cash allocated to BPO insurance activities
    (2)   Recurring EBITDA excluding IFRS 16 amortization impact

    The Group complied with all these covenants as of December 31, 2024, and there is no foreseeable risk of default.

    (1)   Alternative performance indicator. See pages 112–113 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document.
    (2)   At constant scope and exchange rates.

    (1)   Alternative performance indicator. See pages 112–113 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document.

    (1)   Alternative performance indicator. See pages 112–113 of the 2023 Universal Registration Document.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Flow Traders 1Q 2025 Pre-Close Call Script

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Flow Traders 1Q 2025 Pre-Close Call Script

    Eric Pan – Head of Investor Relations, Flow Traders

    Welcome to the Flow Traders 1Q 2025 pre-close call, which is being conducted post the European market close on 27 March. During this call I will highlight relevant publicly available data and industry trends in our markets as well as previously published data by Flow Traders and relate these data points to their impact on our business for the quarter. We will publish our 1Q 2025 Trading Update on 24 April at 07:30 CEST.

    Market Environment

    In general, the market trading volumes in Equity improved in the quarter, both when compared to the same period a year ago as well as compared to last quarter. Equity volatility was mixed, however, depending on the comparison period and region. Within Fixed Income, volume trends were mixed depending on the segment while volatility declined both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter. In Digital Assets, trading volumes increased compared to the same period a year ago but decreased compared to last quarter as fund flows into digital asset ETFs were lower than last year, which was expected given the spot Bitcoin ETF launches in January of 2024.

    Diving deeper into each of the asset classes and regions:

    Equity

    In Equity, European exchange operators Euronext, Deutsche Börse and the London Stock Exchange saw double-digit improvements in trading volumes both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter. In the Americas, volumes on both the Nasdaq and NYSE also increased by double-digits year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter, for the most part. APAC saw mixed trading in the quarter as volumes across the Hong Kong and Shanghai Stock Exchange increased significantly year-on-year, but to a lesser extent quarter-on-quarter, while the Tokyo Stock Exchange saw volumes declined both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter.

    Volatility, as exemplified by the VSTOXX in Europe, VIX in the Americas, VHSI in Hong Kong, and JNIV in Japan, declined for the most part across the different regions. The VSTOXX declined by double-digits year-on-year and was flat quarter-on-quarter. The VIX also declined by double-digits year-on-year but was up slightly quarter-on-quarter. VHSI was flat year-on-year and declined slightly quarter-on-quarter, while JNIV increased year-on-year but declined quarter-on-quarter.

    FICC

    In Fixed Income, the market trading environment in the quarter continue to be mixed as trading volumes improved in some segments but declined in others, either on a year-on-year or quarter-on-quarter basis. Fixed income volatility, as indicated by the MOVE index, declined by double-digits both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter.

    Within Digital Assets, trading volumes in Bitcoin, the barometer of the industry, increased year-on-year but decreased quarter-on-quarter. Fund flows into digital asset ETFs were down meaningfully when compared to the spot Bitcoin ETF launches in the U.S. during the same period last year.

    ETP Market Volumes

    As per Flow Traders’ previously published monthly ETP Market Statistics, quarter-to-date, On and Off Exchange Value Traded was up 39% year-on-year in EMEA, up 1% in the Americas, up 67% in APAC, and up 11% globally. Average volatility, as indicated by the VIX, was up 22% quarter-to-date compared to the same period a year ago.

    Impact on Flow Traders

    Coming to Flow Traders’ quarterly performance, the improvement in trading volumes in the period within Equity positively contributed to NTI when compared to the same period a year ago, offset by the expected lower contribution from Digital Assets given the unprecedented spot Bitcoin ETF launches in the U.S. last year. From a regional perspective, EMEA and APAC improved compared to the same period a year ago, positively impacted by the market outperformance in these regions as a result of the current geopolitical climate, offset by the market underperformance in the Americas. On the cost front, Fixed Operating Expenses in the quarter were in-line with our previous guidance.

    Contact Details

    Flow Traders Ltd.

    Investors
    Eric Pan
    Phone:         +31 20 7996799
    Email:                investor.relations@flowtraders.com

    Media
    Laura Peijs
    Phone:         +31 20 7996799
    Email:                press@flowtraders.com

    About Flow Traders

    Flow Traders is a leading trading firm providing liquidity in multiple asset classes, covering all major exchanges. Founded in 2004, Flow Traders is a leading global ETP market marker and has leveraged its expertise in trading European equity ETPs to expand into fixed income, commodities, digital assets and FX globally. Flow Traders’ role in financial markets is to ensure the availability of liquidity and enabling investors to continue to buy or sell financial instruments under all market circumstances, thereby ensuring markets remain resilient and continue to function in an orderly manner. In addition to its trading activities, Flow Traders has established a strategic investment unit focused on fostering market innovation and aligned with our mission to bring greater transparency and efficiency to the financial ecosystem. With over two decades of experience, we have built a team of over 600 talented professionals, located globally, contributing to the firm’s entrepreneurial culture and delivering the company’s mission.

    Important Legal Information

    This publication is prepared by Flow Traders Ltd. and is for information purposes only. It is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and you must not rely on the content of this document when making any investment decisions. The information in this publication does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice and is not to be regarded as investor marketing or marketing of any security or financial instrument, or as an offer to buy or sell, or as a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell, securities or financial instruments.

    The information and materials contained in this publication are provided ‘as is’ and Flow Traders Ltd. or any of its affiliates (“Flow Traders”) do not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the information and materials and expressly disclaim liability for any errors or omissions. This publication is not intended to be, and shall not constitute in any way a binding or legal agreement, or impose any legal obligation on Flow Traders. All intellectual property rights, including trademarks, are those of their respective owners. All rights reserved. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Flow Traders. No part of it may be redistributed or reproduced without the prior written permission of Flow Traders.

    Flow Traders expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any statements contained in this publication to reflect any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which such statements are based. Unless the source is otherwise stated, the market, economic and industry data in this publication constitute the estimates of our management, using underlying data from independent third parties. We have obtained market data and certain industry forecasts used in this publication from internal surveys, reports and studies, where appropriate, as well as market research, publicly available information and industry publications. The third party sources we have used generally state that the information they contain has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed and that the projections they contain are based on a number of assumptions.

    By accepting this publication you agree to the terms set out above. If you do not agree with the terms set out above please notify legal.amsterdam@nl.flowtraders.com immediately and delete or destroy this publication.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Statement on Trump Plans to Hollow Out HHS, Risking Americans’ Health and Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), responded to President Trump’s plans announced today to push out roughly 20,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and hollow out the Department, which is responsible for protecting Americans’ health and delivering essential health and social services.
    “In the middle of worsening nationwide outbreaks of bird flu and measles, not to mention a fentanyl epidemic, Trump is wrecking vital health agencies with the precision of a bull in a china shop. RFK Jr.’s absurd suggestion that hollowing out the Department will somehow allow it to better protect Americans’ health defies common sense—and everything we have witnessed with our own eyes over the last two months. 
    “Looking for new ways to make government more efficient is important, but it does not take a genius to understand that pushing out 20,000 workers at our preeminent health agencies won’t make Americans healthier—it’ll just mean fewer health services for our communities, more opportunities for disease to spread, and longer waits for lifesaving treatments and cures. Importantly, Congress just provided funding for specific agencies to administer the very programs and functions that Trump has unilaterally decided should no longer exist—this flies in the face of the law and congressional intent, and will leave our most vulnerable populations at risk.
    “When our health agencies are unprepared for a deadly pandemic or our hospitals are overwhelmed with sick kids because our local public health officials can’t track a worsening measles outbreak, the American people should remember it was thanks to the Measles President, Donald Trump, callously hollowing out HHS. People will suffer because this administration is hell-bent on cutting essential services—that keep Americans safe and healthy—down to the bone for no reason. These cuts will not reduce the deficit in any appreciable way and threaten to incur massive costs down the road when we are caught flat-footed by the next health crisis.
    “Over the last few weeks, Trump and Musk have chaotically fired cancer researchers and food safety inspectors, single-handedly choked off lifesaving medical research, ripped away resources for our communities to address public health threats, and empowered anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists at every level of government. I have never seen an administration so determined to tear down public health and biomedical research. and make no mistake: the consequences will be deadly.”
    Today’s announcement follows weeks of mass firings across HHS, creating chaos at the Department that has prevented it from executing its mission to protect people’s health, and an onslaught of detrimental policies that are halting lifesaving biomedical research and more. HHS announced that it plans to cut its workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 (a 25% reduction) through a combination of mass firings and buy-outs and remake HHS without thoughtful consideration and partnership with Congress. 
    Among others, Trump, RFK Jr., and Musk plan to cut:
    3,500 employees at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is charged with protecting Americans’ health by ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medicines, biologics (including vaccines), and medical devices–and regulating food safety, cosmetics, and tobacco products.
    2,400 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is charged with protecting the American people from health threats, including infectious diseases. 
    1,200 employees at NIH, the world’s premier medical research agency, which propels biomedical research that produces life-changing and, in many cases, lifesaving treatments and cures. These cuts come as the Trump administration has already systematically decimated ongoing work at NIH to advance new cures and treatments.
    300 employees at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which has long been understaffed and is charged with helping to ensure over 100 million Americans have access to health insurance by overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK demands unconditional ceasefire and withdrawal of M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces from DRC: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    The UK demands unconditional ceasefire and withdrawal of M23 and Rwandan Defence Forces from DRC: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    First, the UK regrets that despite the clear and urgent message that this Council sent last month, with the unanimous adoption of resolution 2773, M23 and the Rwandan Defence Forces have continued their territorial advance. 

    We strongly condemn the capture of Walikale. 

    And we reiterate that the Rwandan Defence Forces must withdraw from sovereign Congolese territory, and all regional actors must cease support for armed groups. 

    In addition, the UK condemns M23’s continued restrictions on MONUSCO which have prevented the Mission being able to deliver key tasks mandated by this Council.

    Second, the UK welcomes efforts to deliver a peaceful resolution to the conflict. 

    This includes the joint work of EAC and SADC and its creation of a Panel of Facilitators. 

    The UK also recognises the efforts of His Highness the Amir of Qatar to convene President Tshisekedi and President Kagame for discussions in support of regional processes. 

    We regret that despite the commitments made, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire has not yet materialised.

    In addition, the UK is grateful to Angola and President Lourenco for his exemplary leadership in securing significant agreements for a sustainable peace. 

    The Luanda process made important steps forward, including agreement on a harmonised plan for neutralising the FDLR, disengaging the Rwandan Defence Forces from DRC and, most recently, agreement by the DRC government to direct talks with M23. 

    We deeply regret that M23 were not willing to participate in these talks.

    Third, as we’ve heard from our breifers, the humanitarian situation in DRC remains dire. 

    The UK supports the joint calls by EAC and SADC for the reopening of Goma airport and humanitarian supply routes. 

    We call on all parties to protect civilians, including from sexual and gender-based violence, and immediately end and prevent the abduction and recruitment and the use of children. 

    The UK has committed over 18 million dollars of humanitarian support to those in need in eastern DRC.

    Finally, President, the conflict in eastern DRC is undermining security across the region. 

    We urge the parties to engage now in the regionally led peace processes to bring it to a sustainable end.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Announces T-Mobile as a Gold Cosponsor for National Small Business Week 2025

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced T-Mobile as a gold cosponsor for National Small Business Week, taking place May 4-10, 2025. This marks T-Mobile’s fourth year cosponsoring National Small Business Week at the gold level, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the success of America’s entrepreneurs and job creators.

    “SBA is grateful for the private-sector sponsors who make National Small Business Week possible,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said. “Across every industry, big businesses rely on small businesses every day – and when we empower our local entrepreneurs, our entire economy benefits. By helping to promote small businesses, our cosponsors are highlighting the innovation, dedication, and importance of America’s job creators – while supporting the resources and opportunities to help them thrive.”  

    For more than 60 years, National Small Business Week has served as the SBA’s annual tribute to America’s small businesses and innovative startups, who serve as the tireless engine of our economy and the backbone of our communities. T-Mobile’s support of this week-long celebration aligns with the company’s commitment to help small businesses grow.

    “We’re proud to join the SBA in celebrating the big impact small businesses have in our communities,” Callie Field, President of T-Mobile Business Group said. “They are the driving force behind local economies, fueling job creation and growth across America. And T-Mobile is here to support them with the tools they need to thrive in a highly connected, digital-first world.”

    Details on National Small Business Week, the virtual summit, registration and speakers are featured on National Small Business Week and will be updated as additional information and activities are confirmed. Local events will be featured on Find upcoming events and are identifiable by searching with #SmallBusinessWeek.  

    # # #

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of entrepreneurship. As the leading voice for small businesses within the federal government, the SBA empowers job creators with the resources and support they need to start, grow, and expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

    Cosponsorship Authorization #24-44-C. SBA’s participation in this Cosponsored Activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The world is in crisis – what role should our universities play?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vinita Srivastava, Host + Exec. Producer, Don’t Call Me Resilient | Senior Editor, Culture + Society

    It’s hard not to categorize our present global moment as a crisis. And just when we think things can’t get worse — they do.

    Across the globe, we’re witnessing a rise in far-right movements and governments.

    Just a few weeks ago, the AfD party in Germany secured second place. This marks the first time a far-right party has gained this level of power in the country since the Second World War. Germany is not alone in this trend: Italy, Hungary, Finland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Croatia are now led by far-right governments.

    And it may come as no surprise that many of these new leaders are increasingly hostile towards universities.

    In India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, universities have the lowest academic freedom since the 1940s. In Brazil, former president Jair Bolsonaro claimed that public universities transform students into leftists, gays, drug addicts and perverts.

    Meanwhile in the United States, Vice President JD Vance has called universities the enemy for allegedly teaching that America is “an evil, racist nation.” (Vance was echoing President Richard Nixon who called professors and the press the enemy. President Donald Trump even signed an executive order demanding higher education institutions dismantle their DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs. He’s also pulled federal funding from universities that allow “illegal protests”, and he’s demanded that Columbia University’s Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies Departments be independently reviewed.

    But, despite this hostility, universities — and students — have historically been springboards for progressive change. It was student protests 25 years ago that helped lead to the downfall of apartheid in South Africa. More recently, in Bangladesh, student protests helped topple the country’s authoritarian leader. This past year, students across the world have worked to raise public awareness of acts of genocide in Gaza.

    Meanwhile, here in Canada, universities are facing financial pressure because of reductions in international student permits. This drop in revenue has caused alarming budget constraints at universities, revealing a deep reliance on international students as a revenue source.

    This has led to existential questions about our universities. With today’s world in crisis, what should the role of the university be? And why are our public universities so underfunded? And how can they continue to serve their communities?

    Theses are big questions, ones that seemed fitting to tackle on our final episode of Don’t Call Me Resilient recorded live in front of an audience at the University of British Columbia. Joining us to tackle them was Annette Henry, a professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at UBC who is cross-appointed to the Institute for Race, Gender, Sexuality and Social Justice. Her work examines race, class, language, gender and culture in education for Black students and educators in Canada.

    We also spoke with Michelle Stack, an associate professor in UBC’s Department of Educational Studies whose work looks at educational policy, university rankings and equity and education.

    At a time when critical conversations in higher education are under attack worldwide, can Canadian universities rise to the challenge and be a force for good?

    Read more:

    Universities should stand up for integrity and public trust in university teaching

    How Commonwealth universities profited from Indigenous dispossession through land grants

    Universities should respond to cuts and corporate influence with co-operative governance

    Cops on campus: Why police crackdowns on student protesters are so dangerous

    Student protests: How the university perpetuates colonial violence on campus

    This episode was coproduced by Ateqah Khaki (associate producer), Marisa Sittheeamorn (student journalist) and Jennifer Moroz (consulting producer). Our sound engineer was Alain Derbez, with onsite assistance from Josh Mattson. Thank you to UBC’s Global Journalism Innovation Lab and its crew, The UBC School of Journalism and the Social Science Research Council of Canada for their generous support.

    – ref. The world is in crisis – what role should our universities play? – https://theconversation.com/the-world-is-in-crisis-what-role-should-our-universities-play-250235

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Environment Secretary Steve Reed – Circular Economy speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed – Circular Economy speech

    Speech by Environment Secretary Steve Reed at the Dock Shed in London, setting out his vision for a circular economy

    Thanks to British Land and Mace for hosting us at the Dock Shed today.

    The views up here are absolutely spectacular.

    I don’t think any of us can ever tire of looking at that iconic London skyline. No matter how many times you’ve seen it before.

    Or seeing the city shift and grow as buildings go up and down, as spaces are developed. As communities are created.

    When I was Lambeth Council Leader, I was co-chair of the Vauxhall Nine Elms Redevelopment – that’s the biggest regeneration project in Europe.

    But what people don’t always see is the waste that kind of development can produce.

    62% of all waste generated in the United Kingdom comes from construction.  

    That’s resources lost from our economy.

    Lost economic value.

    As we meet our commitment as a Government to build 1.5 million homes, the infrastructure for clean green energy and a reliable and clean water supply, the datacentres to make the UK an AI superpower, we can and we must get better use out of our materials and eradicate waste.

    Mace and British Land – and many others in the room – are already rising to the challenge.

    In this building alone, thousands of tonnes of carbon were saved by smarter material choices, meaning every structure has a smaller carbon footprint.

    The stone floor beneath your feet is completely recycled.

    And in new buildings across the development, British Land and Mace are using material passports to digitally track all components so they can be adapted and reused in the future.

    Later this morning I’m looking forward to visiting the Paper Garden, just a few minutes from here, transformed from an old printworks into an education centre and a garden, where 60% of materials have been retained or reclaimed, including railway sleepers and the logs of fallen trees from Epping Forest.

    The principles of a Circular Economy are embedded in these designs.

    That’s what I want to talk about today.

    Not just in construction but across all sectors.

    We have an opportunity to end the throwaway society and move to a futureproofed economy.

    Where things are built to last.

    Where products are designed to be reused and repaired. And materials given new life again and again.

    This isn’t about merely modifying the way we currently manage waste.

    I want to work with all of you to fundamentally transform our economy so we get more value from it.

    When I was in opposition, this is what business leaders told me they wanted a Labour Government to do.

    So when I became Secretary of State for Defra, I made creating a Circular Economy one of my five core priorities for that department.

    British businesses want to make this change.

    So now it’s part of the Government’s national Plan for Change.

    But it needs long-term direction on how regulation will develop.

    So you can plan with certainty, so we can build the infrastructure we need, and financial institutions and businesses can invest with confidence.

    Today I want to set that direction so, together, we can make the Circular Economy a reality.

    Turn back the years and the things Britain made were built to last.

    Washing machines would be fixed, clothes mended, broken pieces of furniture repaired. 

    But in recent times we’ve become trapped in a throwaway culture.

    It’s easier and quicker to replace something on Amazon than get it fixed.

    Our lives follow a ‘take, use and throw’ model that is economically unsustainable, creates mountains of waste that we have to bury or burn, and leaves our supply chains vulnerable and exposed.

    Yet we know the British public support change.

    Carrier bags sold by the main supermarkets have reduced by over 98% since 2014.

    We’ve cleaned up streets, rivers and beaches by banning single-use plastic items like cutlery and polystyrene cups.

    Both policies had huge public support.

    But we are falling behind the rest of the world.

    This Government is changing that.

    Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility will begin later this year, incentivising businesses to remove unnecessary packaging and make their products more recyclable and refillable.

    Simpler Recycling for the workplace starts next week.

    And a standardised, national approach to household recycling – paper, card, plastic, glass, metals and food waste – will be introduced next year so everyone understands more clearly what they can recycle and how they recycle it.

    This will end postcode confusion about bin collections and make sure households, workplaces and businesses never have to deal with the madness of 7 separate bin collections which the previous Conservative Government legislated to inflict on us.

    And this April, we will appoint the business-led organisation that will launch the UK’s first Deposit Management Scheme for drinks containers starting in 2027.

    Less than 60% of waste electricals are collected for reuse or recycling.

    4 in 5 of our plastic products are still made from virgin materials.

    Our household recycling rates haven’t improved in 15 years.

    UK landfill sites absolutely astonishingly cover an area almost as big as Greater London. 

    We burn 12 million tonnes of waste collected by councils every year.

    We throw away £22 billion in edible food annually. Four and a half billion in clothes. 2 and a half billion in usable furniture.

    This is bad for the environment, bad for society and it’s bad for the economy.

    We are literally shovelling money down the drain.

    Under Michael Topham’s leadership at the Environmental Services Association, our biggest recycling companies are stepping up to the challenge.

    Our reforms are giving them the confidence to invest £10 billion pounds in the UK’s recycling infrastructure over the next decade, creating over 21 thousand jobs right across the country.

    I know parts of the industry have concerns around the impacts of some of these reforms.

    We are listening. And we’ll keep listening to make sure the changes work for businesses.

    Based on businesses’ feedback, we’ll appoint a producer-led organisation to lead our packaging reforms, building on the successful business-led board that steered them to this stage.

    We’ve published estimated base fees for year one of the scheme, rather than ranges, to give businesses more certainty.

    And we have stopped mandatory labelling requirements to avoid any trade friction or increased costs within the UK and with the EU.

    We’ve also worked with the Food Standards Agency to confirm they will take up the role of competent authority, carrying out the checks to verify the suitability of recycling processes producing food-grade recycled plastics for trade, so we can uphold the value of high-quality UK recycled plastics on export markets.

    Beyond our packaging changes, our ban on disposable plastic vapes comes into force in June.

    We are changing the law so online marketplaces and vape producers pay their fair share to recycle the electricals that they put on the market – encouraging them to consider other options like reuse.

    We’ve set aside £15 million to reduce food waste from farms and ensure it reaches families in need.

    And we’ve set strict conditions for new energy-from-waste plants so they work better for local communities and maximise the value of resources that can’t be re-used or recycled.

    I’m proud of where we’ve got to so far. But I know these reforms are still not enough.

    We need a bigger shift to an economic system that encourages repair, reuse and innovation, where resources are used again and again, and waste is designed out of the system right from the start.

    I worked in business for 16 years, with responsibility for driving up profit and driving down cost.  

    To make this bigger shift, I know we must help you unlock innovation and technologies that will open new revenue streams.

    Work with local government to ensure the right infrastructure is in place.

    And show the public that the circular economy is not some abstract concept, but something that will bring real benefits to them, their families, small businesses and communities right across the UK.

    A Circular Economy makes sense.

    In the Netherlands, financial organisations like InvestNL and innovations such as the Denim Deal for textiles are stimulating innovation in every corner of their economy.

    I want the UK to match this. And then go further.

    Moving from our current throwaway society is vital to grow the economy and deliver our Plan for Change, so we can give working people economic security, and give our country national security.

    Towns and cities in every region will benefit from new investment that keeps materials in use for longer, whether in manufacturing and product design, processing or recycling facilities, or in the rental, repair and resale sectors.

    This will provide thousands of high quality, skilled jobs right across the country, getting more people into work, wages into pockets, and driving the regional economic growth this Government was elected to deliver.

    If you want to put a figure on it, external analysis suggests circular economy policies have the potential to boost the economy by £18 billion a year, every year.

    A Circular Economy is also a more resilient economy.

    Recent disruptions to global supply chains from the Covid 19 pandemic to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine make it clear we can no longer rely on importing 80% of our raw materials from abroad.

    These include the materials and components essential to our phones, computers, electric vehicles, hospital equipment and clean energy infrastructure. And that’s to name just a few.

    To ensure our national security in an increasingly unstable world, we have no choice.

    We must embrace circular, local supply chains to reduce our exposure to global shocks and prevent us running out of critical resources.

    As the Chancellor has said, we need to remove barriers for British businesses, investors and entrepreneurs and grow the supply-side of our economy.

    It’s not just the economy though.

    Extracting resources and processing them is responsible for over half of global greenhouse gas emissions.

    Moving away from the linear make, use and throw model is vital to meeting our Net Zero and Environment Targets.

    It will mean less rubbish ending up in landfill. Fewer plastics under our feet and choking the seas, taking hundreds of years to break down.

    We can make better use of that land, whether for agriculture, housing, nature or green energy infrastructure.

    It will mean burning less waste. Less litter on our streets. Less fly tipping on the side of our roads.

    It will mean people can feel more pride in their communities.

    British businesses are already showing us what’s possible.

    From innovative tech startups turning waste into valuable materials, to social enterprises giving used goods a second life.

    Like SUEZ working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to give hundreds of tonnes of pre-loved items like furniture, bikes and toys a brand new lease of life.

    Reselling them to the local community at affordable prices or donating them to local charities.

    Too Good to Go, established in Copenhagen and spanning multiple global cities including here in London, which has over 100 million users and saved over 400 million meals.

    Low Carbon Materials in Durham, using alternative construction materials to decarbonise roads across the country.

    Or Ecobat Solutions’ in Darlaston recovering valuable materials from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries through their innovative recycling plant.

    I want to support businesses like these to succeed.

    By facilitating the transition you told me this sector wants to make.

    That’s why I set up the Circular Economy taskforce, bringing together experts from government, industry, academia and civil society to work with businesses on what they want to see so we create the best possible conditions for investment.

    I’m delighted to have so many members of the taskforce here with us in the room this morning.

    Under the leadership of Andrew Morlet and Professor Paul Ekins, the taskforce will work with businesses to develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England.

    We will publish the Strategy in the coming Autumn.

    It will include the long-term regulatory roadmaps that businesses asked for, showing the journey to circularity, sector by sector, so you have the certainty and direction to invest in the future.

    We will start with five sectors that have the greatest potential to grow the economy: chemicals and plastics; construction; textiles; transport; and agrifood.

    This includes exploring how we can protect our battery supply so we can electrify the UK’s vehicle fleet, working with the Chancellor to make sure levers including the Plastics Packaging Tax help support the stability and growth of our plastics reprocessing sector, or how we harness new technologies to stop burning materials like the plastic films on packs of strawberries or mushrooms, but instead give them a new life.

    We’re already seeing innovation in plastic films by the company Quantafuel based in Denmark, and Viridor who are here today, alongside others, want to develop chemical recycling plants following that model here in the UK.

    It includes how we build on the industry led coalition ‘Textiles 2030’ to transform our world-leading fashion and textiles industry, tackle food waste to improve food security and bring benefits for consumers, businesses and the environment, and lower construction costs and emissions as we build 1.5 million homes during the lifetime of the current Parliament.

    In these roadmaps, we’ll learn from international best practice, including from the European Union.

    Until now, countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany have led the way on circularity.

    Our Strategy will give British businesses the support they need so we can put the UK back in the race.

    It will provide the freedom for businesses to harness the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation that Britain has long been known for.

    Those of you here today are the champions for this change.

    You were the first off the start line. You’ve battled to do what’s right for the environment, the economy, and the future of our country.

    I want to thank you for that.

    Businesses will lead the transition to a Circular Economy.

    It’s up to us to work together to bring the wider business community and society with us.

    We need to show the country that the Circular Economy is not just a diagram on a page.

    It’s cleaner streets, greener parks, and less fly-tipping in communities we’re proud to call home.

    It’s new income for businesses, thousands of skilled jobs, and economic growth in every region of the country.

    It’s resilience in the face of global supply chain shocks, and it’s essential for our national security.

    The Circular Economy is our chance to improve lives up and down the country. To grow our economy.

    And protect our beautiful environment for generations to come.

    I’m genuinely excited about what we can achieve together.

    My ask from you is simple.

    Please tell the taskforce, and tell me, what you need from us.

    Then work with us so we can make it happen.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –