NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    RSH publishes regulatory judgements for seven landlords

    The Regulator of Social Housing has today published regulatory judgements for seven housing associations.

    Following programmed inspections, Cross Keys Homes, LiveWest Homes, Midland Heart, and Thirteen Housing Group all received C1/G1/V1 gradings. Places for People Group received C1/G1/V2 gradings.

    As well as its G1/V2 gradings, Together Housing Group received a C2, meaning that there are some weaknesses in its delivery of the outcomes of the consumer standards and improvement is needed, specifically in relation to the outcomes in our Safety and Quality Standard.  

    Together Housing Group needs to demonstrate progress in the delivery of the remainder of its programme of physical inspections to fill remaining gaps in understanding the condition of its homes including on decent homes standard compliance.   

    RSH’s inspection also identified improvement needed in reporting arrangements for landlord health & safety in relation to the level of detail provided on remedial actions.  

    Cross Keys Homes was regraded from a V2 to V1 and RSH was assured that financial plans are consistent with, and support, its financial strategy. It retained its G1 grading. 

    Cross Keys also evidenced that it has an adequately funded business plan, sufficient security in place to support its financial plans, and forecasts that it will continue to meet its financial covenants under a wide range of adverse scenarios. 

    Following a two-year period of intensive engagement, RSH has now given Rochdale Boroughwide Housing a G2 grading for governance and removed a previous regulatory notice.  

    Through this engagement RSH has sought assurance that Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s new leadership team has strengthened the way the organisation is run, to address the failings which led to Awaab Ishak’s tragic death and improve its service to tenants. 

    A G2 grading means Rochdale Boroughwide Housing meets RSH’s governance requirements overall but needs to make improvements to ensure progress continues. RSH will continue to actively engage with the provider and monitor its ongoing improvement plan.   

    RSH also removed regulatory notices for Babergh District Council and Mid-Suffolk District Council. 

    The other providers – LiveWest Homes, Midland Heart, Places for People Group and Thirteen Housing Group – retained their previous governance and financial viability gradings. 

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

    “Even landlords which receive the highest gradings still have room for improvement. As we enter the second year of our inspection programme, we are looking for evidence of a proactive approach to meeting the outcomes of our standards. 

    “All landlords should aim for G1. Strong governance is fundamental to delivering more and better homes, improving services to tenants while having robust finances.” 

    Notes to Editors 

    1. On 1 April 2024 RSH introduced new consumer standards for social housing landlords, designed to drive long-term improvements in the sector. It also began a programme of inspections for all large social landlords (those with over 1,000 homes) over a four-year cycle. The changes are a result of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 and include stronger powers to hold landlords to account. More information about RSH’s approach is available in its document Reshaping Consumer Regulation. 

    2. More information about RSH’s responsive engagement, programmed inspections and consumer gradings is also available on its website. 

    3. RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.

    4. For general enquiries email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk. For media enquiries please see our Media Enquiries page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK House Price Index for January 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK House Price Index for January 2025

    The UK HPI shows house price changes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    The January data shows:

    • on average, house prices have risen by 0.2% since December 2024
    • there has been an annual price rise of 4.9% which makes the average property in the UK valued at £269,000

    England

    In England the January data shows, on average, house prices rose by 0.2% since December 2024. The annual price rise of 4.8% takes the average property value to £291,000.

    The regional data for England indicates that:

    • London experienced the most significant monthly increase with a movement of 2.3%
    • Yorkshire and the Humber saw the greatest monthly price fall, with a fall of -0.6%
    • the North East experienced the greatest annual price rise, up by 9.1%
    • London saw the lowest annual price growth, with a rise of 2.3%

    Price change by region for England

    Region Average price January 2025 Annual change % since January 2024 Monthly change % since December 2024
    East Midlands £241,000 6.2 -0.4
    East of England £339,000 3 -0.2
    London £564,000 2.3 2.3
    North East £161,000 9.1 -0.1
    North West £210,000 6.8 -0.1
    South East £386,000 4.5 0.5
    South West £307,000 2.7 0.1
    West Midlands £245,000 5.3 0
    Yorkshire and the Humber £203,000 5.9 -0.6

    Repossession sales by volume for England

    The lowest numbers of repossession sales in November 2024 were in the East Midlands and East of England.

    The highest number of repossession sales in November 2024 was in London.

    Repossession sales November 2024
    East Midlands 1
    East of England 1
    London 13
    North East 12
    North West 12
    South East 6
    South West 2
    West Midlands 7
    Yorkshire and the Humber 4
    England 61

    Average price by property type for England

    Property type January 2025 January 2024 Difference %
    Detached £473,000 £453,000 4.4
    Semi-detached £286,000 £270,000 5.9
    Terraced £242,000 £228,000 5.8
    Flat/maisonette £225,000 £221,000 2
    All £291,000 £278,000 4.8

    Funding and buyer status for England

    Transaction type Average price January 2025 Annual price change % since January 2024 Monthly price change % since December 2024
    Cash £278,000 4.1 0.2
    Mortgage £297,000 5.1 0.2
    First-time buyer £245,000 5.3 0.1
    Former owner occupier £354,000 4.2 0.4

    Building status for England

    Building status* Average price November 2024 Annual price change % since November 2023 Monthly price change % since October 2024
    New build £438,000 22.7 9.5
    Existing resold property £284,000 2.3 -0.7

    *Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

    London

    London shows, on average, house prices decreased by 2.3% since December 2024. House prices have shown an annual price increase of 2.3%, meaning the average price of a property is £564,000.

    Average price by property type for London

    Property type January 2025 January 2024 Difference %
    Detached £1,147,000 £1,115,000 2.9
    Semi-detached £714,000 £684,000 4.4
    Terraced £638,000 £613,000 4
    Flat/maisonette £449,000 £446,000 0.7
    All £564,000 £551,000 2.3

    Funding and buyer status for London

    Transaction type Average price January 2025 Annual price change % since January 2024 Monthly price change % since December 2024
    Cash £602,000 0.3 3.3
    Mortgage £556,000 2.9 2
    First-time buyer £484,000 2.4 1.9
    Former owner occupier £699,000 2.2 2.8

    Building status for London

    Building status* Average price November 2024 Annual price change % since November 2023 Monthly price change % since October 2024
    New build £590,000 18.7 8.6
    Existing resold property £550,000 0 -1.7

    *Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

    Wales

    Wales shows, on average, house prices rose by 0.9% since December 2024. An annual price increase of 6% takes the average property value to £210,000

    There were 4 repossession sales for Wales in October 2024.

    Average price by property type for Wales

    Property type January 2025 January 2024 Difference %
    Detached £331,000 £314,000 5.2
    Semi-detached £208,000 £195,000 6.5
    Terraced £166,000 £156,000 6.2
    Flat/maisonette £131,000 £125,000 5.1
    All £210,000 £198,000 6

    Funding and buyer status for Wales

    Transaction type Average price January 2025 Annual price change % since January 2024 Monthly price change % since December 2024
    Cash £210,000 5.6 1.5
    Mortgage £209,000 6.1 0.5
    First-time buyer £180,000 6.4 0.6
    Former owner occupier £251,000 5.5 1.1

    Building status for Wales

    Building status* Average price November 2024 Annual price change % since November 2023 Monthly price change % since October 2024
    New build £375,000 23.3 9.4
    Existing resold property £206,000 3 0.6

    *Figures for the 2 most recent months are not being published because there are not enough new build transactions to give a meaningful result.

    UK house prices

    UK house prices rose by 4.9% in the year to January 2025, up from the revised estimate of 4.6% in the 12 months to December 2024. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, average house prices in the UK increased by 0.2% between December 2024 and January 2025, compared with a decrease of 0.1% from the same period 12 months ago (December 2023 and January 2024).

    The UK Property Transactions Statistics showed that in January 2025, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the estimated number of transactions of residential properties with a value of £40,000 or greater was 95,000. This is 14.4% higher than a year ago (January 2024). Between December 2024 and January 2025, UK transactions decreased by 1% on a seasonally adjusted basis.

    House price monthly increase was highest in London where prices increased by 2.3% in the year to January 2025. The highest annual growth was in the the North East, where prices increased by 9.1% in the year to January 2025.

    See the economic statement.

    The UK HPI is based on completed housing transactions. Typically, a house purchase can take 6 to 8 weeks to reach completion. As with other indicators in the housing market, which typically fluctuate from month to month, it is important not to put too much weight on one month’s set of house price data.

    Access the full UK HPI

    Background

    1. We publish the UK House Price Index (HPI) on the second or third Wednesday of each month with Northern Ireland figures updated quarterly. We will publish the February 2025 UK HPI at 9:30am on Wednesday 16 April 2025. See calendar of release dates.
    2. We have made some changes to improve the accuracy of the UK HPI. We are not publishing average price and percentage change for new builds and existing resold property as done previously because there are not currently enough new build transactions to provide a reliable result. This means that in this month’s UK HPI reports, new builds and existing resold property are reported in line with the sales volumes currently available.
    3. The UK HPI revision period has been extended to 13 months, following a review of the revision policy (see calculating the UK HPI section 4.4). This ensures the data used is more comprehensive.
    4. Sales volume data is available by property status (new build and existing property) and funding status (cash and mortgage) in our downloadable data tables. Transactions that require us to create a new register, such as new builds, are more complex and require more time to process. Read revisions to the UK HPI data.
    5. Revision tables are available for England and Wales within the downloadable data in CSV format. See about the UK HPI for more information.
    6. HM Land Registry, Registers of Scotland, Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Valuation Office Agency supply data for the UK HPI.
    7. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Land & Property Services/Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency calculate the UK HPI. It applies a hedonic regression model that uses the various sources of data on property price, including HM Land Registry’s Price Paid Dataset, and attributes to produce estimates of the change in house prices each month. Find out more about the methodology used from the ONS and Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency.
    8. We take the UK Property Transaction statistics  from the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) monthly estimates of the number of residential and non-residential property transactions in the UK and its constituent countries. The number of property transactions in the UK is highly seasonal, with more activity in the summer months and less in the winter. This regular annual pattern can sometimes mask the underlying movements and trends in the data series. HMRC presents the UK aggregate transaction figures on a seasonally adjusted basis. We make adjustments for both the time of year and the construction of the calendar, including corrections for the position of Easter and the number of trading days in a particular month.
    9. UK HPI seasonally adjusted series are calculated at regional and national levels only. See data tables.
    10. The first estimate for new build average price (April 2016 report) was based on a small sample which can cause volatility. A three-month moving average has been applied to the latest estimate to remove some of this volatility.
    11. The UK HPI reflects the final transaction price for sales of residential property. Using the geometric mean, it covers purchases at market value for owner-occupation and buy-to-let, excluding those purchases not at market value (such as re-mortgages), where the ‘price’ represents a valuation.
    12. HM Land Registry provides information on residential property transactions for England and Wales, collected as part of the official registration process for properties that are sold for full market value.
    13. The HM Land Registry dataset contains the sale price of the property, the date when the sale was completed, full address details, the type of property (detached, semi-detached, terraced or flat), if it is a newly built property or an established residential building and a variable to indicate if the property has been purchased as a financed transaction (using a mortgage) or as a non-financed transaction (cash purchase).
    14. Repossession sales data is based on the number of transactions lodged with HM Land Registry by lenders exercising their power of sale.
    15. For England, we show repossession sales volume recorded by government office region. For Wales, we provide repossession sales volume for the number of repossession sales.
    16. Repossession sales data is available from April 2016 in CSV format. Find out more information about repossession sales.
    17. We publish CSV files of the raw and cleansed aggregated data every month for England, Scotland and Wales. We publish Northern Ireland data on a quarterly basis. They are available for free use and re-use under the Open Government Licence.
    18. HM Land Registry is a government department created in 1862. Its vision is: “A world-leading property market as part of a thriving economy and a sustainable future.”
    19. HM Land Registry’s purpose is: “We protect your land ownership and provide services and data that underpin an efficient and informed property market.”
    20. HM Land Registry safeguards land and property ownership valued at £8 trillion, enabling over £1 trillion worth of personal and commercial lending to be secured against property across England and Wales. The Land Register contains more than 26.5 million titles showing evidence of ownership for more than 89% of the land mass of England and Wales.
    21. For further information about HM Land Registry visit www.gov.uk/land-registry.
    22. Follow us on @HMLandRegistry, our blog, LinkedIn and Facebook.

    Contact

    Press Office

    Trafalgar House
    1 Bedford Park
    Croydon
    CR0 2AQ

    Email HMLRPressOffice@landregistry.gov.uk

    Phone (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm) 0300 006 3365

    Mobile (5:30pm to 8:30am weekdays, all weekend and public holidays) 07864 689 344

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Independent research shows high parent support for Ofsted’s report card proposals

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Independent research shows high parent support for Ofsted’s report card proposals

    YouGov surveyed parents on new inspection report cards and found a majority support Ofsted’s proposals. In a speech to Parentkind, Sir Martyn Oliver said the new approach will drive ever higher standards for children.

    • Two thirds (67%) of parents surveyed by YouGov said they prefer Ofsted’s proposed new report cards to current inspection reports
    • 86% of parents said it is easy to understand the information on the report cards and 84% found the use of colour coding useful
    • Two thirds of parents (66%) said they support Ofsted continuing to grade schools on a scale

    In tandem with the current consultation on improving education inspection, Ofsted recently commissioned YouGov to independently survey parents’ views of the proposals for report cards. In a speech to Parentkind today (26 March 2025), Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, will describe the headline results.

    The online poll of 1,090 parents found that 79% of those surveyed said they already trust what Ofsted says about a school in inspection reports, and 66% support Ofsted continuing to grade schools on a scale (10% said they were opposed).

    On the proposals currently out for consultation, 78% of parents surveyed agreed the information in report cards would be useful to them, and the same proportion said the new cards would make it easy to compare schools. Meanwhile, 86% said report cards were easy to understand and 84% found the use of colour coding helpful. Overall, two thirds of participants (67%) said they prefer the new report cards over current inspection reports, while just 15% said they preferred the current reports.

    When asked which of the 11 proposed evaluation areas for schools they considered to be the most useful, approximately half of parents ranked behaviour and attitudes highest (51%), followed closely by personal development and well-being (48%), then safeguarding (41%) and achievement (35%).

    In his speech to Parentkind today, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, is expected to say:

    The changes we’re proposing will do things differently. We will report on a much wider range of areas. Things that matter to parents. Things like behaviour, achievement, attendance, teaching and the curriculum, leadership and governance, and inclusion – really looking in detail at how schools make sure their pupils all have a sense of belonging, especially those who are disadvantaged, vulnerable, or have special educational needs. For each area, parents will be able to see a clear grade, and a description of what we found when we inspected the school. 

    Report cards will help give a more balanced picture of schools. Because the best schools aren’t perfect and have areas where they could do better, and the schools which might be seen as ‘weaker’ will have aspects of their work that they do really well. In that way a school’s report card will be much closer to a child’s school report. Going back to my art teacher days, the one-word grade paints a monochrome picture of a school, we want to paint it in colour.

    Sir Martyn will conclude:

    Above all, we hope this approach will drive ever higher standards for children. It will give schools an independent and expert assessment of what they’re doing well and where they could improve. It will validate, assure, and celebrate their hard work, and shine a light on how they can do even better. 

    And it will help parents meaningfully engage with the school on the issues that need attention. Sometimes, it may validate your concerns, other times it may reassure you that an individual experience is not the norm.

    Of course, what I’ve set out today are our proposals, they are not set in stone. I’m sure there are things that could be better. Things we could refine. But we are encouraged that parents seem to support the broad approach that we have set out.

    The full results of the YouGov research will be published alongside Ofsted’s response to the consultation in early summer.

    Press office

    8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday 0300 013 0415

    Notes to editors

    1. Parentkind is one of the UK’s largest federated charities. It has supported parents and schools to build strong and supportive school communities for almost 70 years and has a network of more than 23,500 schools, parent teacher associations (PTAs) and parent councils.

    2. The total sample size for the survey was 1,090 parents. Fieldwork was undertaken between 5 to 11 March 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted by age, marital status, social grade, gender and region. It’s representative of all parents in England (aged 18+ and excluding parents in education).

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: An autonomous Europe in times of geopolitical tension: the role of the financial system | Guest contribution in the Handelsblatt

    Source: Deutsche Bundesbank in English

    The world has been turned on its head and Germany’s economy is stagnating. But in times of geopolitical tensions, a strong German economy is critically important for an autonomous Europe. Public investment will rise sharply now that the special funds have been adopted. While this will unleash positive growth effects, it won’t be enough to significantly expand the economy over a medium to long-term horizon. The German economy itself needs to get match fit to compete internationally – by becoming more agile, more digitalised and more innovative. To achieve this, it is also going to require a great deal more private investment, and that means mobilising vast swathes of private capital. A strong European financial ecosystem is critically important for an autonomous Europe that can be relied on in turbulent geopolitical times.
    In this context, “autonomous” means a European real economy capable of obtaining funding via the European financial ecosystem and reducing its dependencies on non-European sources of capital. Bearing this in mind, a strong financial centre in Germany and Europe is crucially important, as is a more robust capital market culture.
    Germany’s potential growth – a measure of the country’s trend rate of growth – is languishing at a multi-year low. Compared with an average of 1.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) between 2011 and 2019, it is a mere 0.4% today.
    At the same time, Germany is Europe’s number one location for patent applications, and also ranks among the leading countries worldwide on this score – fifth, to be precise. However, much of Germany’s innovation is playing out in sectors characterised by lower growth potential, one of which is the automotive sector.
    What is more, China has emerged as more than just a strong rival in these middle technology sectors, as they are known. Overcapacities in the Chinese economy, including in the car industry, are also rippling out to the European market, exacerbating the competition and price wars further still.
    Why the United States is a high tech leader
    When it comes to high tech sectors boasting strong potential growth, there’s no getting around the United States. Much of this success is down to the fact that capital (including venture capital, which is all important for funding innovation) is far easier to mobilise in US markets. While 0.8% of GDP gets invested in venture capital in the United States, it is only 0.19% in Germany. Incentives would make sense here. In Italy, pension funds benefit from tax relief if they invest 5% or 10% in venture capital funds. Generally speaking, it is important to make it easier for firms to access financing via capital markets. Fingers crossed, then, that measures like the ones envisaged in Germany under the second Future Financing Act (Zukunftsfinanzierungsgesetz II) will be taken up again. These include, for example, making it easier for firms to go public and improving the general tax rules for investment in growth and innovation capital. 
    There are a great many growth markets offering a wealth of opportunities for German firms, like cleantech, pharmaceuticals, bioscience or artificial intelligence. In this respect, it is very welcome to see businesses, associations and government team up as part of the WIN Initiative (Growth and Innovation Capital for Germany) to channel up to €12 billion into the venture capital ecosystem. 
    Sweden: four times more IPOs than Germany
    But what Germany needs besides more venture capital activity is funded pensions. Sweden is a great example of how important this can be for capital markets. That Nordic country, with a population of roughly ten million, has seen 474 IPOs in total since 2015. Germany, with its much larger population, has had just 115. Sweden ranks first in the EU in the number of SME IPOs.
    This striking capital market culture is due, in part, to the country’s funded pension scheme, introduced back in the 1990s. Since its launch, Sweden’s AP7 pension fund has generated an average return of more than 10%. The Netherlands also has an adequate pension system, which is mainly built around capital-funded occupational pensions.
    There are many more countries I could mention that have taken similarly successful measures. A common feature is that two effects come about. First, as society ages, these models take the pressure off government budgets.
    Second, a country’s economy benefits from the capital market activities of its own population, which smooths the domestic funding of innovation and growth.
    German households were holding €9 trillion in capital at the end of last September – that’s a huge amount of potential investment. At present, though, only 17% of the population aged 14 and over hold shares, equity funds or ETFs.
    A strong capital market would benefit the domestic economy, the general public and government alike. It would enable the economy to be funded by the region, for the region, and add substantially to Europe’s autonomy. The general public would get better provision for their old age, one that is furthermore placed on a broader footing. Also, the pressure on government budgets would be reduced, which will be significant in view of the rising expenditure burden.
    In times of distinct geopolitical uncertainty, it is important for Germany and Europe to be autonomous. The capital market has a key role to play in this regard.

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Atos selected by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as its future end user services provider

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Atos selected by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as its future end user services provider

    Five-year contract worth £150m to deliver transformational end user services to Defra’s 34,000 colleagues across the UK

    London, United Kingdom, March 26, 2025 – Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, today announces that it has been selected by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to transform service desk and end user services into a single coherent, agile service.

    The five-year contract, worth £150m, will improve quality and efficiency of DEFRA’s service desk, which manages 34,000 users, through continuous innovation of modern technologies including AI, ML, analytics and automation.

    The Atos solution will also make DEFRA’s service the most environmentally friendly and sustainable UK government digital workplace solution available today. Working with partners, Atos will repair, refurbish, remanufacture and re-issue hardware first, ensure minimal packaging and shipments for delivery and donate disused devices to charities and third-party social enterprises.

    Michael Herron, Head of UK&I, Atos Group, “We are delighted to be working with DEFRA on their end user services enabling their team to concentrate on the important work they deliver.”

    “We have a track-record of success in this area providing best-in-class services supported by cutting-edge technology platforms that focus on people, planet and productivity.”

    Atos provides end-to-end employee experience solutions through digital collaboration and productivity tools, as well as intelligent customer care services. Atos’ sustainable digital workplace suite includes more than 20 “Tech for Good” services and solutions, encompassing social value and accessibility criteria as well as data analytics and user interfaces.

    In March 2024, Gartner positioned Atos as a Leader in its 2024 Magic Quadrant for Outsourced Digital Workplace Services (ODWS) for the eighth consecutive year.

    ***

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with circa 78,000 employees and annual revenue of circa €10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 68 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Press contacts

    Global – Isabelle Grangé | isabelle.grange@atos.net | +33 (0) 6 64 56 74 88

    UK&I – Tessa David | tessa.david.external@atos.net | +44 (0)7947 755 911

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Information on changes to the Pubs Code Adjudicator’s website

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Information on changes to the Pubs Code Adjudicator’s website

    This information is from the PCA on upcoming changes to the website.

    In the coming weeks, the PCA will be making improvements to how we share news, updates, and important information. Subscribers may receive automated email notifications from gov.uk about these updates.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: WFP calls for urgent investment to prevent child wasting as leaders convene at Nutrition for Growth Summit

    Source: World Food Programme

    Photo: WFP/Mohammad Hasib Hazinyar. A mother with her daughter come to the Bagrami clinic which is under WFP support on malnutrition activities. she has brought her malnourished daughter to the clinic to get WFP’s support and malnutrition supplementary. Kabul, Afghanistan.

    ROME – As global leaders and experts convene in Paris for the fourth Nutrition for Growth Summit, the UN World Food Programme is calling for greater focus and action to prevent wasting – the deadliest form of malnutrition – before its life-threatening impacts are felt in children. Action before malnutrition takes hold is crucial.

    Malnutrition does irreparable damage to a child’s physical and cognitive development, weakening immune systems, stunting growth and limiting brain development. Malnutrition often begins during pregnancy which is why prevention programmes that target at risk mothers and children are essential. Acting early and fast is the only way to avoid the lifelong impact of wasting on a child’s health.

    “We must prevent child malnutrition before it ever takes hold,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. “If we fail to act, we are condemning millions of children to a lifetime of suffering. WFP has the knowledge and tools to stop malnutrition in its tracks—what we need is investment and political will.”

    WFP needs $1.4 billion to deliver malnutrition prevention and treatment programmes for more than 30 million mothers and children in 56 countries in 2025. In 2024, WFP prevented wasting in 13.8 million mothers and children through the provision of fortified foods, nutrient-dense supplements, cash or vouchers for nutritious meals and nutritionally adequate food baskets. Additionally, the agency helped 14 million more individuals through its emergency malnutrition treatment programmes. 

    Malnutrition is rising worldwide due to a relentless wave of global crises including conflict, economic instability, and climate-related emergencies: in the 15 countries most affected by malnutrition, 33 million children suffer from wasting.

    “The Nutrition for Growth Summit is a pivotal opportunity to secure a better future for millions of children,” said Executive Director McCain. “Governments, donors and partners must step up and invest in nutrition now—a healthy child today means a stronger, more resilient world tomorrow. WFP is being forced to make tough choices, prioritizing treatment over prevention, meaning we can only help children when they’re already sick. With flexible and predictable funding, we can act early, break this cycle, and save more lives.” 

    Without urgent funding, WFP will be forced to suspend prevention programmes in countries with some of the largest burdens of child malnutrition. In Afghanistan, for example, prevention programmes will cease from May, while in Syria and DRC such programmes will be reduced from June unless additional funds are received. In Yemen, where up to one-third of children under five are wasted, WFP has only been able to implement one prevention programme in one district in the last 12 months – and this will end in May without additional funding. 

    Malnutrition is responsible for half of all deaths among children under five years old. For those who survive, malnutrition reduces their ability to learn, earn and thrive as adults, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and poor health. 

    Investing in malnutrition prevention during the first 1,000 days improves individual health and strengthens economies: low- and middle-income countries lose an average of 10% of GDP due to malnutrition through increased healthcare costs and lowered human capital. Prevention programmes also reduce the burden on treatment programmes, ensuring resources are available for those already suffering from malnutrition.

    Notes to editors:

    Broadcast quality B-roll is available here: https://multimedia.wfp.org/Share/3ic88u7kg7880rr4g3w4s48daf70bar7

    High resolution photo package is available here: https://multimedia.wfp.org/Share/265j71n30o6mw8ac3kxan04f1ypgr26o

    #                 #                  #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: RCEP emerges as anchor for free trade amid rising protectionism

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has emerged as an important anchor for global free trade, injecting momentum into the world economy amid rising protectionism and geopolitical uncertainties, according to sources from the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) conference.

    The RCEP has become a major driving force and institutional pathway for economic globalization, further opening up the regional market and advancing regional liberalization, said Kuang Xianming, deputy head of the China Institute for Reform and Development.

    Three years after its implementation, the trade pact has delivered initial benefits, with the total trade value within the region expanding 3 percent year on year in 2024, a significant figure given the headwinds facing global trade, Kuang said.

    Under the agreement, the RCEP region has become the most dynamic hub for cross-border capital flows, according to Kuang. In 2023, the RCEP region attracted 35 percent of global foreign direct investment and contributed 30 percent of global outbound investment, he added.

    The RCEP, the world’s largest free trade deal to date, covers 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its five free trade agreement partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

    The RCEP, as a major achievement of Asian economic integration, has injected new vitality into the member economies, bringing certainty into the uncertain global economy and trade landscape, according to a report released at the BFA.

    The trade pact has integrated the free trade agreement arrangements within the region, optimized the configuration of economic resources, and demonstrated the determination of Asian economies to promote open cooperation, the report said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China makes progress in gov’t budget disclosure

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China has made significant progress in government budget disclosure and fiscal transparency, providing support for the establishment of a modern budget system, according to the Ministry of Finance.

    Central government departments released their 2025 budgets on Wednesday. This is the 16th consecutive year of such disclosures since the practice began in 2010.

    Budget disclosure is a crucial component of government transparency and a key measure to enhance budget management, an official with the Ministry of Finance stated in an online statement.

    In recent years, the ministry has made efforts to timely disclose the central government budget, and has established a dedicated platform for central budget and final account disclosures, facilitating public oversight of government spending, the official said.

    Disclosing performance targets plays a pivotal role in improving public access to information and strengthening fiscal transparency, the official noted.

    In 2017, central government departments released project performance targets for the first time. Since then, the scope of disclosure has seen a significant expansion, with the number of published performance targets increasing from 10 in 2017 to 796 in 2024.

    The ministry pledges to continue expanding performance target disclosures to further improve their quality, the official added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 2025 in Manila

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 2025 in Manila

    The UK Government recently hosted UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week in Manila, driving innovation, collaboration and investment.

    His Majesty’s Ambassador Laure Beaufils (second from right) and His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner Martin Kent (rightmost) sign a Strategic Partnership with Fintech Alliance Philippines, represented by Martha Borja and Lito Villanueva, to enhance UK-Philippines cooperation in the fintech sector, driving financial inclusion and technological advancement.

    Under the theme “Bridging Boundaries, Building a Resilient, Innovative, and Inclusive Tech Ecosystem,” the event held from 24 to 25 March 2025 showcased British cutting-edge technology and expertise while fostering partnerships to strengthen the region’s tech landscape.

    His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, Martin Kent led the delegation of 12 pioneering British artificial intelligence (AI) and data companies, exploring opportunities for collaboration with Philippine partners in the tech ecosystem. He stated:

    The UK is a global leader in science and technology, with our tech ecosystem worth US$1.2 trillion – the 3rd largest in the world after the US and China.

    I am delighted to lead this delegation of cutting-edge companies to Manila for UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week to represent the UK’s tech prowess. The UK is committed to building opportunities for mutual prosperity with the Philippines, and I look forward to the innovation and new partnerships that will unfold from this week.

    Companies including NCC Group, iProov and Revolut took centre stage during the UK Tech Showcase, demonstrating their latest innovations in cybersecurity, biometric authentication, and digital banking.

    Panel discussions on AI and cybersecurity were conducted, providing insights on latest trends, emerging threats and best practices. The discussions also underscored the need for collaboration to address common challenges.

    Furthering the UK and Philippine tech partnership, His Majesty’s Ambassador Laure Beaufils signed a Strategic Partnership with Fintech Alliance Philippines to enhance cooperation in the fintech sector, driving financial inclusion and technological advancement across the industry. She shared:

    The UK is proud to be a long-standing partner in the Philippines’ digital journey, supporting initiatives that foster innovation, improve cybersecurity resilience and develop a skilled tech workforce.

    British Embassy Manila and Kickstart Ventures, the Philippines’ largest corporate venture capital firm, also launched the UK Tech Growth Programme. This new collaboration is designed to match UK startups to receive potential investment from Kickstart Ventures through The Ayala Corporation Technology Innovation Venture Fund (ACTIVE Fund), the largest venture capital fund to come out of the Philippines.

    Kickstart Ventures Managing Partner and Co-Founder Minette Navarrete said:

    We recognise the vital role of forging partnerships beyond borders in fuelling innovation that benefits all– a commitment we take to heart at Kickstart. Our collaboration with the British Embassy is integral to this commitment, allowing us to lead transformative investments with UK startups and bring in tech-driven solutions that ensure mutual growth.

    Ambassador Beaufils added:

    Technology is not just about infrastructure—it’s about partnerships, trust, and shared progress. The UK is working hand in hand with the Philippines on this, supporting it to expand its tech ecosystem.

    UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 2025 reaffirms the UK’s commitment to driving innovation, strengthening partnerships, and shaping a resilient and inclusive tech ecosystem across the region.

    The delegation includes British Companies Content Guru, CyberQ Group, Encompass, Intelligent AI Solutions, Kraken IM, Newcastle University, Open Data Institute, Smart Pension, Summatic, Sumsub, Synectics and Veracity Trust Network APAC.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK, Philippines hold 5th Climate Change and Environment Dialogue

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    World news story

    UK, Philippines hold 5th Climate Change and Environment Dialogue

    Bilateral cooperation on climate and environment is being strengthened through discussions on science, innovation, localisation, resilience, and finance.

    His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Laure Beaufils, and Environment Secretary and Official Representative of the President to the Climate Change Commission, Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga recently led the 5th UK-PH Climate Change and Environment (CCE) Dialogue to set the direction for the year, building on the successes of 2024.

    These saw UK support for the operationalisation of the Philippines’ National Adaptation Plan, mobilisation of institutional capital into renewable energy in the country through the Philippines Stock Exchange, funding to civil society across projects on biodiversity and coastal livelihoods and launching of key multi-stakeholder platforms tacking plastic pollution and blue carbon.

    Both countries agreed to establish a UK-led development partners coordination group for the localisation of climate analytics in provinces identified with high exposure to climate risks in the National Adaptation Plan, and the government’s Risk Resiliency Programme. Using the findings from pilot site of Negros Occidental, an investment platform will be developed to mobilise private capital for adaptation and resilience with a focus on climate-smart agriculture, innovative water management solutions and agroforestry projects.

    The Dialogue also agreed to ramp up support for the blue economy through the UK’s Blue Planet Fund. The new COAST (Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition) programme will be rolled out in the Philippines this year, which seeks to deliver interventions that will strengthen marine protected areas, operationalise sustainable fisheries management, and promote blue carbon initiatives.

    Representatives reached an agreement to form a UK-DENR partnership mechanism to promote biodiversity and nature grants to local governments and communities that would not only support biodiversity conservation but also build resilience and provide long-term economic benefits for resource-dependent communities.

    Representatives also agreed to ramp up collaboration on climate and nature finance. Discussions covered expanding access to sustainable financing, catalysing private capital for climate change adaptation, and aligning financial strategies with climate risk assessments to develop more investment-ready portfolio for large-scale, long-term sustainability efforts.

    Ambassador Beaufils said:

    I am very proud of the progress we have made together. But we won’t rest on our laurels. We are ambitious for the future, and we will continue to deliver tangible results across adaptation, climate finance, science and research, and investments into renewable energy.

    Meanwhile, Secretary Loyzaga highlighted:

    Our Enhanced Partnership with the UK is a testament to our commitment as like-minded countries and large ocean nations to a future that is secured under a rules-based international order. The bi-annual reviews of our climate change joint work plan will allow us to align, calibrate, and adapt when we respond to geo strategic uncertainties that we actually face.

    The dialogue concluded with both countries signing a renewed partnership statement on climate and nature. The UK remains committed to supporting these efforts through expertise, financing, and advocacy for climate-vulnerable nations.

    The Dialogue was attended by high-level representatives from key agencies, including the DENR, Climate Change Commission, Department of Agriculture, Department of Finance, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Energy, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, National Economic and Development Authority, the Public-Private Partnership Center and the Department of Trade and Industry.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Events in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory will be held throughout Moscow — Sergei Sobyanin

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The organization of large city festivals and cultural events that transform the capital into a single concert and theater venue is an important area of work for the Moscow Government. In its telegram channel Sergei Sobyanin spoke about the results of the 2024 cultural program and shared plans for 2025.

    “The main theme of this year is the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The central location will traditionally be Poklonnaya Gora,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

    Thematic events will be held at 12 district venues, in 26 parks of culture and recreation, as well as in theaters, cultural centers, libraries, museums and exhibition halls. There will be concerts of popular performers, performances by theater groups, a broadcast of the military parade on Red Square and recordings of the 1945 Victory Parade. About 10 million people are expected to attend these events.

    Today, you can get acquainted with music, theatre, circus and contemporary art or media art not only in cultural institutions, but also in parks, on streets and boulevards.

    The Theatre Boulevard festival will return to the streets of the capital in the summer. The number of venues and events will increase. Its main goal is to attract a new audience to Moscow’s theatres and concert halls. Festival guests will be able to learn about certain theatres and better study their repertoire.

    Moscow Fashion Week is one of the largest events in the cultural life of the capital. It is held in autumn and spring. In March of this year, the fourth Moscow Fashion Week ended, which was visited by over 65 thousand people. Its participants were not only Russian and foreign fashion industry professionals, but also about 140 students from creative universities of the country. Collections were presented by 186 brands from 27 regions of Russia and nine other countries.

    The city festivals “Summer in Moscow”, “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030”, “Winter in Moscow”, as well as the first-ever “Theater Boulevard” festival were the highlights of last year – over 1,600 actors from more than 75 theater companies took to the streets.

    “In August 2024, the first

    Moscow International Film Week. 47 countries participated: representatives of film companies, producers, scriptwriters and government officials. Events were held all over Moscow – from film screenings to excursions to the filming locations of famous films,” added Sergei Sobyanin

    In December 2024, the Moscow International Creative Industries Week was held, which was attended by representatives from Brazil, Egypt, India, China, Thailand, Turkey and other countries. Moscow entrepreneurs signed a number of agreements and export contracts with their foreign colleagues in the field of cinema, animation, video games, and interior design. The total amount under these agreements exceeded 700 million rubles.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12546050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin instructed to continue key city projects in the field of culture

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Presidium of the Moscow Government reviewed the report of the Deputy Mayor of Moscow Natalia Sergunina on the development of the cultural sphere in 2024 and plans for 2025. Sergei Sobyanin instructed to continue implementing current city projects in this area.

    “Many programs and events have generated incredible interest and demonstrated demand among city residents. Moscow remains the main cultural center of Russia! Last year alone, cultural institutions were visited 235 million times,” the Mayor of Moscow wrote in his

    telegram channel.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

    There were 177 million visits to parks and recreation areas, 15.4 million to cinemas, over 10 million to theatres, about two million to concert venues, over 17 million to museums and exhibition halls, 2.6 million to cultural centres, and 11 million to libraries.

    Thanks to large festivals and other similar events, the entire city essentially turns into a single open-air theatre and concert venue.

    By implementing the large-scale project “Moscow – City of Cinema”, the Moscow Government continues to strengthen the capital’s position as a leader in the domestic film industry and a world-class film production center. In 2024, about 120 projects were filmed on the sites of the Moscow film cluster – this is 2.5 times more than the year before.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/1254505/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Sampo plc: Notice of the Annual General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Sampo plc, stock exchange release, 26 March 2024 at 10:25 am EET

    Sampo plc: Notice of the Annual General Meeting

    Notice is given to the shareholders of Sampo plc of the Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday, 23 April 2025 at 2.00 pm (EEST) at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre’s Congress Wing, address Rautatieläisenkatu 3, FI-00520 Helsinki, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the meeting and serving of coffee prior to the meeting will start at 12.30 pm (EEST).

    Shareholders have the opportunity to exercise their voting rights also by voting in advance on certain matters on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting. In addition, shareholders may follow the meeting through a live webcast. The webcast begins on 23 April 2025 at 2.00 pm (EEST). Following the meeting through the webcast is not considered as participation in the Annual General Meeting or the exercising of shareholder rights. It is not possible to ask questions, make counterproposals, address the meeting otherwise or vote through the webcast. Shareholders who wish to follow the webcast can exercise their voting rights by voting in advance. To receive the link for the webcast, shareholders are required to register through the registration system. The instructions regarding the advance voting and registering for the webcast are presented in Section C.6-7 herein.

    A. Items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting

    The information and proposals of agenda items 1 to 5 concerning the formal organisational matters of the Annual General Meeting are included in a separate organisational document published on Sampo’s website at www.sampo.com/agm, which document also constitutes a part of this notice. The document may be supplemented at the meeting with any information that is not available before the Annual General Meeting.

    At the Annual General Meeting, the following items will be considered:

    1. Opening of the meeting

    2. Calling the meeting to order

    3. Election of persons to scrutinise the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes

    4. Recording the legality of the meeting

    5. Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes

    6. Presentation of the Financial Statements, Report of the Board of Directors, the Auditor’s Report and the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Report for the financial year 2024

    • Review by the Group CEO
    • Auditor’s Report and Sustainability Reporting Assurance Report presented by the Auditor and Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider

    7. Adoption of the Financial Statements

    8. Resolution on the use of the profit shown on the balance sheet and the payment of dividend

    The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that a total dividend of EUR 0.34 per share be paid to all shares except for the shares held by Sampo plc on the dividend record date of 25 April 2025. The dividend will be paid to the shareholders registered in the Company’s shareholders’ register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy as at the record date of 25 April 2025. The Board proposes that the dividends be paid on 6 May 2025.

    The issuer of the Swedish depository receipts shall ensure that the dividend is paid to the depository receipt holders registered in the securities depository and settlement register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB as at the record date of 25 April 2025, which payment shall be made in Swedish Krona. The dividend payment for shares registered in the form of share entitlements book-entered in VP Securities A/S in Denmark as at the record date of 25 April 2025 will be administered by VP Securities A/S subsequent to receipt of the dividend from Euroclear Finland.

    9. Resolution on the discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability for the financial year 2024

    10. Consideration of the Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies

    The Board of Directors proposes that the Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies for the financial year 2024 be adopted by the Annual General Meeting through an advisory resolution.

    The Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies is available on Sampo plc’s website at www.sampo.com/agm.

    11. Resolution on the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors

    The Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the following annual fees be paid to the members of the Board of Directors until the close of the next Annual General Meeting:

    • EUR 243,000 for the Chair of the Board (prev. EUR 235,000);
    • EUR 140,000 for the Vice Chair of the Board (prev. EUR 135,000);
    • EUR 108,000 for each member of the Board (prev. EUR 104,000);
    • EUR 30,000 for the Chair of the Audit Committee as an additional annual fee (prev. EUR 29,000); and
    • EUR 6,800 for each member of the Audit Committee as an additional annual fee (prev. EUR 6,600).

    A Board member must acquire Sampo plc A shares at the price paid in public trading with 50 per cent of his/her annual fee after the deduction of taxes, payments and potential statutory social and pension costs. Notwithstanding this, a Board member is not required to purchase any additional Sampo plc A shares if the Board member owns such amount of said shares that their value is equivalent to twice the respective Board member’s gross annual fee. The Company will pay any possible transfer tax related to the acquisition of the shares.

    12. Resolution on the number of members of the Board of Directors

    The Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the number of Board members is decreased by one and that eight members be elected to the Board.

    13. Election of the members of the Board of Directors

    The Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors proposes that the current members of the Board Christian Clausen, Steve Langan, Risto Murto, Antti Mäkinen, Markus Rauramo, Astrid Stange and Annica Witschard be re-elected for a term continuing until the close of the next Annual General Meeting. Of the current members, Georg Ehrnrooth and Jannica Fagerholm are not available for re-election. The Committee proposes that Sara Mella be elected as a new member to the Board.

    All the proposed Board members have been determined to be independent of the Company and its major shareholders under the rules of the Finnish Corporate Governance Code 2025.

    The CVs of all persons proposed as Board members are available at www.sampo.com/agm.

    14. Resolution on the remuneration of the Auditor and the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider

    The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that compensation be paid to the Company’s Auditor and to the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider against invoices approved by the Company.

    15. Election of the Auditor and the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider

    The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the Authorised Public Accountant Firm Deloitte Ltd be re-elected as the Company’s Auditor for the financial year 2025. If Deloitte Ltd is elected as Sampo plc’s Auditor, the firm has announced that APA ASA Jukka Vattulainen will continue as the auditor with principal responsibility.

    The Audit Committee also proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Authorised Sustainability Audit Firm Deloitte Ltd be re-elected as the Company’s Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider for the financial year 2025. If Deloitte Ltd is elected as Sampo plc’s Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider, the firm has announced that APA ASA Jukka Vattulainen will continue as the principal authorised sustainability auditor.

    16. Authorising the Board of Directors to decide on the repurchase of the Company’s own shares

    The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the Annual General Meeting authorise the Board to resolve to repurchase, on one or several occasions, a maximum of 250,000,000 Sampo plc A shares. The maximum number of shares represents approximately 9.29 per cent of all outstanding A shares of the Company as of number of shares on the date of the Board’s proposal. The repurchased shares will be cancelled.

    The shares may be repurchased either through an offer to all shareholders on equal terms or through other means and otherwise than in proportion to the existing shareholdings of the Company’s shareholders (directed repurchase) if the Board of Directors deems that there are weighty financial reasons for such directed repurchase. Directed repurchases may be carried out, among others, through open market purchases, participation in accelerated book-building processes or through arranging reversed accelerated book-building processes.

    The purchase price per share shall be no more than:

    (i) the highest price paid for the Company’s shares in public trading on the day of the repurchase or the offer to repurchase the Company’s own shares, or alternatively,

    (ii) the average of the share prices (volume weighted average price on the regulated markets where the Company’s share is admitted to trading) during the five trading days preceding the repurchase or the offer to repurchase the Company’s own shares.

    The lowest purchase price per share shall be the price that is 20 per cent lower than the lowest price paid for the Company’s shares in public trading during the validity of this authorisation until the repurchase or the offer to repurchase the Company’s own shares.

    It is proposed that the authorisation be valid until the close of the next Annual General Meeting, however no longer than 18 months from the Annual General Meeting’s decision.

    17. Closing of the meeting  

    B. Documents of the Annual General Meeting

    The proposals for decisions on the items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting and this notice are available on Sampo plc’s website at www.sampo.com/agm. The Financial Statements, the Report of the Board of Directors, the Auditor’s Report, the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Report and the Remuneration Report for Governing Bodies for the financial year 2024 are available on Sampo plc’s website at www.sampo.com/year2024. The proposals for decisions and the other above-mentioned documents are also available at the meeting. Copies of these documents and of this notice will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the meeting will be available at www.sampo.com/agm on 7 May 2025 at the latest.

    C. Instructions for the participants in the Annual General Meeting

    The registration for the Annual General Meeting and the advance voting will commence on 26 March 2025 at 3:00 pm (EET) and end on 14 April 2025 at 4.00 pm (EEST). For holders of Swedish depositary receipts, the registration for the Annual General Meeting will commence on 26 March 2025 at 3.00 pm (EET) and end on 14 April 2025 at 9.00 am (EEST). For Danish shareholders, the registration for the Annual General Meeting and the advance voting will commence on 26 March 2025 at 2:00 pm (CET) and end on 11 April 2025 at 3:00 pm (CEST), Instructions on the registration for the Annual General Meeting for shareholders wishing to participate in the meeting at the meeting venue are set out in Subsections 1, 2 and 3 below. Instructions for holders of nominee-registered shares are set out below under Subsection 4. Information on proxy documents and Suomi.fi authorisations are set out in Subsection 5 below. The instructions for advance voting are set out in Subsection 6 below. Instructions regarding the registration for the live webcast are set out in Subsection 7 below.

    In connection with the registration and advance voting, at least the following information is requested: the shareholder’s name, date of birth (except for shareholders with shares registered with VP Securities A/S in Denmark) or business ID, email address, telephone number and information on a possible authorised representative. Strong electronic identification is required for the registration on the Company’s website of shareholders, their authorised representatives and proxy representatives who are private persons by using Finnish, Swedish or Danish online banking IDs or mobile certificates. For shareholders that are Finnish legal persons, electronic registration requires providing the entity’s business ID and that the relevant authorised person uses strong electronic identification for the registration. For shareholders that are legal persons with shares registered with VP Securities A/S in Denmark, registration requires providing the entity’s business ID, name of the shareholder, name and birthdate of the authorised representative, and an email address, the entity’s address and telephone number as contact information.

    The personal data provided by the shareholders to the Company is only used in connection with the Annual General Meeting and the processing of related registrations.

    More information on registration for the meeting and advance voting is available until 14 April 2025 by phone from Innovatics Ltd at +358 10 2818 909 from Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon and between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm (EET/EEST).

    1. Shareholders registered with Euroclear Finland Oy in Finland

    Each shareholder who is on 9 April 2025 registered in the shareholders’ register of Sampo plc held by Euroclear Finland Oy has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting. A shareholder whose shares are registered on their personal Finnish book-entry account is registered in the shareholders’ register of the Company.

    A shareholder who is registered in the Company’s shareholders’ register and who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting shall notify the Company thereof according to the instructions set out below.

    Notification of participation shall be made no later than by 4.00 pm (EEST) on Monday 14 April 2025

    a) On the Company’s website at www.sampo.com/agm

    b) By email to agm@innovatics.fi or regular mail to Innovatics Oy, Yhtiökokous / Sampo Oyj, Ratamestarinkatu 13 A, FI-00520 Helsinki, Finland.

    c) By telephone to Innovatics Ltd at +358 10 2818 909 from Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon and between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm (EET/EEST). When registering by phone, a shareholder cannot vote in advance.

    Registration must be received by 4.00 pm (EEST) on Monday 14 April 2025 irrespective of the registration method.

    2. Shareholders registered with VP Securities A/S in Denmark

    Each shareholder who is on 9 April 2025 registered in the shareholders’ register of Sampo plc held by VP Securities A/S (Euronext Securities Copenhagen) has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting. Such shareholders who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting shall notify Euronext thereof according to the instructions set out below.

    Notification of participation shall be made no later than by 3.00 pm (CEST) on Friday 11 April 2025

    a) On the Company’s website at www.sampo.com/agm

    b) By email to CPH-investor@euronext.com

    c) By telephone to Euronext at +45 4358 8866 from Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm (CET/CEST). When registering by phone, a shareholder cannot vote in advance.

    Registration must be received by 3.00 pm (CEST) on Friday 11 April 2025 irrespective of the registration method.

    If you represent a legal entity/person, you must present proof of identification and rights of representation. Such identification may consist of a document that proves your authorisation to sign on behalf of the entity or a document that process you are part of the management of the entity.

    Shareholders whose shares are held in trust in Denmark and who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting are advised to request their trustee for the necessary instructions regarding the registration and advance voting. The trustee shall register the shareholder according to the instructions above to Euronext Securities Copenhagen no later than 11 April 2025 at 3.00 pm (CEST).

    3. Holders of Swedish depository receipts

    Holders of Swedish depository receipts (SDRs) have the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting by virtue of shares represented by the SDRs based on which they would be entitled to be registered in the shareholders’ register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Oy on 9 April 2025. In addition, the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting requires that the holder of SDRs has been registered, on the basis of such shares represented by the SDRs, into the temporary shareholders’ register held by Euroclear Finland Oy at the latest by 10.00 am (EEST) on 16 April 2025, and the request regarding such registration must be delivered to the issuer of the SDRs and all necessary actions taken at the latest by 9.00 am (EEST) on 14 April 2025. As regards holders of SDRs, this constitutes a due registration for the Annual General Meeting.

    A holder of SDRs is advised to request without delay necessary instructions regarding the registration in the temporary shareholders’ register of the Company, the issuing of proxy documents and voting instructions from their custodian bank which the holder of the SDRs has appointed to hold the SDRs on their account. Said custodian bank shall take necessary actions to the effect that a holder of SDRs who wants to participate in the Annual General Meeting is registered into the temporary shareholders’ register of the Company at the latest by 10.00 am (EEST) on 16 April 2025 and, if necessary, arrange for advance voting on behalf of the holders of SDRs before the end of the registration period.

    Further information on these matters can also be found on the Company’s website www.sampo.com/agm.

    4. Holders of nominee-registered shares

    Holders of nominee-registered shares have the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting by virtue of shares based on which they would be entitled to be registered in the shareholders’ register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Oy on 9 April 2025. In addition, the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting requires that the shareholder has been registered on the basis of such shares into the temporary shareholders’ register held by Euroclear Finland Oy at the latest by 10.00 am (EEST) on 16 April 2025. As regards nominee-registered shares, this constitutes a due registration for the Annual General Meeting.

    A holder of nominee-registered shares is advised to request without delay necessary instructions regarding the registration in the temporary shareholders’ register of the Company, the issuing of proxy documents, voting instructions and registration and advance voting for the Annual General Meeting from their custodian bank. The custodian bank shall register a holder of nominee-registered shares who wants to participate in the Annual General Meeting into the temporary shareholders’ register of the Company at the latest by the date stated above and, if necessary, arrange for advance voting on behalf of the holder of nominee-registered shares before the end of the registration period for holders of nominee-registered shares.

    Further information on these matters can also be found on the Company’s website www.sampo.com/agm.

    5. Proxy representative and powers of attorney

    A shareholder may participate in the Annual General Meeting and exercise their rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative may also vote in advance in accordance with the instructions provided herein. The proxy representative shall authenticate in the electronic registration service and advance voting (if applicable) personally with strong authentication, after which they will be able to register and vote in advance on behalf of the shareholder whom they represent.

    A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate their right to represent the shareholder at the Annual General Meeting. Providing the right to represent can be done by using the suomi.fi e-authorizations service available in the electronic registration service.

    When a shareholder participates in the Annual General Meeting by means of several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares on different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration for the Annual General Meeting.

    Possible proxy documents shall be delivered primarily as an attachment as part of the electronic registration, or alternatively, through email to agm@innovatics.fi or as originals to the address Innovatics Oy, Yhtiökokous / Sampo Oyj, Ratamestarinkatu 13 A, FI-00520 Helsinki, Finland before the end of the registration period.

    Delivering of a proxy prior to the end of the registration period is considered as registration for the meeting if all required information for registration described above is given.

    Shareholders may also use the electronic Suomi.fi authorisation service instead of a traditional authorisation. In such case, the shareholder authorises a representative in the Suomi.fi service at www.suomi.fi/e-authorizations by using the category “Representation at a general meeting”. The representative shall in connection with the registration to Innovatics’ general meeting service identify oneself through strong electronic identification. After that, the electronic authorisation will be proofed automatically. Online banking credentials or a mobile certificate may be used for strong electronic identification. More information is available at www.suomi.fi/e-authorizations and Sampo plc’s website at www.sampo.com/agm.

    6. Advance voting

    Shareholders may vote in advance on certain items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting.

    a. Shareholders with shares registered with Euroclear Finland Oy in Finland

    Each shareholder who is registered in the shareholders’ register of the Company maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy as described in Subsection 1 above may vote in advance on certain items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting between 26 March 2025 at 3.00 pm (EET) and 14 April 2025 at 4.00 pm (EEST):

    a) On the Company’s website at www.sampo.com/agm

    b) By email by submitting the advance voting form available on the Company’s website or equivalent information to agm@innovatics.fi or regular mail to Innovatics Oy, Yhtiökokous / Sampo Oyj, Ratamestarinkatu 13 A, FI-00520 Helsinki, Finland.

    b. Shareholders with shares registered with VP Securities A/S in Denmark

    Each shareholder who is registered in the shareholders’ register of Sampo plc held by VP Securities A/S (Euronext Securities Copenhagen) as described in Subsection 2 above may vote in advance on certain items on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting between 26 March 2025 at 2.00 pm (EET) and 11 April 2025 at 3.00 pm (CEST):

    a) On the Company’s website at www.sampo.com/agm

    b) By email to CPH-investor@euronext.com

    Shareholders whose shares are held in trust in Denmark and who wish to vote in advance are advised to instruct the trustee to vote in advance on behalf of such shareholders by 3.00 pm (CEST) on 11 April 2025 at the latest according to the instructions set out in this notice.

    The advance votes must be received by the end of the advance voting period. The submission of votes by email or by regular mail before the end of the registration and advance voting period shall be regarded as registration for the General Meeting, provided that it contains the above information required for the registration.

    A shareholder who has voted in advance may request information under the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act, request a vote at the Annual General Meeting or vote on a possible counterproposal if they are present or represented at the Annual General Meeting at the meeting venue.

    The agenda items subject to advance voting are deemed to be presented unchanged at the Annual General Meeting. Therefore, under agenda item 13, if any of the members proposed to be elected to the Board of Directors are unavailable for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting for any reason, the number of the proposed members unavailable for election will be automatically decreased from the number of the members of the Board of Directors to be elected, and the remaining candidates available for election will be elected in accordance with the proposal of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

    Instructions regarding the advance voting, and the terms related to the electronic advance voting are also available on the Company’s website at www.sampo.com/agm.

    7. Webcast

    A shareholder who is entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting may also follow the meeting via live webcast. Following the meeting through the webcast is not considered as participation in the Annual General Meeting or the exercising of shareholder rights. It is not possible to ask questions, make counterproposals, address the meeting otherwise or vote through the webcast. Webcast access to the Annual General Meeting will be provided through Inderes Oyj’s virtual general meeting service on the Videosync platform, which includes video and audio access to the General Meeting. Following the webcast does not require any paid software or downloads. In addition to an internet connection, following the webcast requires a computer, smartphone or tablet with speakers or headphones for sound. One of the following browsers is recommended: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, or Opera. It is advisable to log in to the meeting system well in advance of the meeting.

    The link and password for following the meeting via the webcast will be sent by e-mail and/or SMS to the e-mail address and/or mobile phone number provided at the time of registration to all those who have registered for the General Meeting no later than the day before the General Meeting.

    For more information on the general meeting service, additional instructions for proxies representing more than one shareholder, contact details of the service provider and instructions in case of possible disruptions can be found here: https://vagm.fi/support. A link to test the compatibility of your computer, smartphone or tablet with the network connection can be found here: https://demo.videosync.fi/agm-compatibility?language=en. It is recommended that you read the detailed instructions before the meeting. More information and instructions can also be found on the Company’s website at www.sampo.com/agm.

    8. Other instructions and information

    Pursuant to Chapter 5, Section 25 of the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the Annual General Meeting has the right to request information with respect to the items to be considered at the meeting.

    Any changes in the ownership of shares that have occurred after the record date of the Annual General Meeting do not affect the right to participate in nor the number of votes of the shareholder at the Annual General Meeting.

    On the date of this Notice of the Annual General Meeting the total number of shares in Sampo plc is 2,690,238,860 A shares, representing 2,690,238,860 votes, and 1,000,000 B shares, representing 5,000,000 votes, i.e. a total of 2,691,238,860 shares and 2,695,238,860 votes. At the Annual General Meeting, each A share carries one vote and each B share carries five votes.

    All of Sampo plc’s B shares are owned by a shareholder independent from the Company. Based on Sampo plc’s articles of association, each B share can be converted into an A share at the request of the holder of the B share. Subject to the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act, the general meeting may resolve upon a directed acquisition of own shares, decide on the amendment of the articles of association to the effect that share classes are combined or otherwise reduce share class rights only provided such a proposal is supported by at least two thirds of the votes and shares, per share class, represented at the meeting. Thus, the authority to decide on the combination of Sampo plc’s share classes does not rest with the Company.

    Helsinki, 26 March 2025

    SAMPO PLC
    Board of Directors

    For further information, please contact:

    Sami Taipalus
    Head of Investor Relations
    tel. +358 10 516 0030

    Maria Silander
    Communications Manager, Media Relations
    tel. +358 10 516 0031

    Distribution:
    Nasdaq Helsinki
    Nasdaq Stockholm
    Nasdaq Copenhagen
    London Stock Exchange
    FIN-FSA
    The principal media
    www.sampo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC): UK statement

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC): UK statement

    David Riley, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, gave this UK statement on the 50th anniversary of the BTWC’s entry into force.

    David Riley, UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

    Today marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) – the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. As a founder of the convention, and for 50 years since, the UK has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure its effectiveness and collective action to eliminate the threat from biological weapons. 

    The BTWC’s role in preventing biological agents and toxins from being developed, produced, or used as weapons has been a critical element in our collective security over the last 50 years.   

    The BTWC’s call to action is that “no effort should be spared to minimise this risk.” This is as important now as it was 50 years ago. Threats posed by biological weapons have evolved and diversified. Rapid advances in science and technology offer potential benefits for societies but may also increase the threats posed by those intending to misuse the life sciences for hostile purposes. 

    The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the devastating impacts that an infectious disease outbreak can have on our societies and economies. It revealed significant gaps in global preparedness and response. It is in every country’s interest that the BTWC is effective and that its prohibitions continue to be upheld. 

    This requires collective action through the Convention. We need to strengthen international cooperation and review science and technology, as well as agree on stronger verification mechanisms to address potential risks. The current Working Group on the strengthening of the Convention provides an important way to achieve this. The UK fully supports the Brazilian Chair of the Working Group, Ambassador Frederico Meyer.

    The UK remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthen the BTWC and its implementation for the next 50 years and beyond. We call on all governments that have not yet joined the convention to do so without delay. Through collective action, we can prevent the use of these abhorrent weapons that violate every principle of humanity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Proposals of the Board of Directors of Sampo plc and its Audit Committee to the Annual General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Sampo plc, stock exchange release, 26 March 2025 at 10:20 am EET

    Proposals of the Board of Directors of Sampo plc and its Audit Committee to the Annual General Meeting

    The Board of Directors of Sampo plc and its Audit Committee have made proposals for the election and remuneration of the Auditor and the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider as well as a proposal for repurchase of own shares to Sampo’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on 23 April 2025.

    The Audit Committee proposes to the AGM that the Authorised Public Accountant Firm Deloitte Ltd be re-elected as the Company’s Auditor and Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider for the financial year 2025. Furthermore, the Audit Committee proposes that compensation be paid to the Company’s Auditor and to the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider against invoices approved by the Company.

    The Board of Directors proposes that the AGM authorise the Board to resolve to repurchase, on one or several occasions, a maximum of 250,000,000 Sampo plc A shares. The maximum number of shares represents approximately 9.29 per cent of all outstanding A shares of the company. The repurchased shares will be cancelled. It is proposed that the authorisation be valid until the close of the next AGM, however no longer than 18 months from the AGM’s decision.

    The proposals of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee to Sampo AGM were published on 9 December 2024. In addition, the Board proposal for distribution of profit was published on 6 February 2025. These proposals,as well as the proposals of the Audit Committee, are available at www.sampo.com/agm. The proposals of the Audit Committee are also attached in full to this release.

    SAMPO PLC
    Board of Directors

    For further information, please contact:

    Sami Taipalus
    Head of Investor Relations
    tel. +358 10 516 0030

    Maria Silander
    Communications Manager, Media Relations
    tel. +358 10 516 0031

    Distribution:
    Nasdaq Helsinki
    Nasdaq Stockholm
    Nasdaq Copenhagen
    London Stock Exchange
    FIN-FSA
    The principal media
    www.sampo.com

    APPENDIX 1

    Proposal for the remuneration of the Auditor and the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider

    The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that compensation be paid to the Company’s Auditor and to the sustainability reporting assurance provider against invoices approved by the Company.

    As background to the proposal, the Audit Committee states that the Authorised Public Accountant Firm Deloitte Ltd has acted as Sampo plc’s Auditor since 2021 and as Sampo plc’s sustainability reporting assurance provider since 2024.

    Sampo plc’s fees to Deloitte Ltd for statutory audit services in 2024 totaled to approximately EUR 450,000 and approximately EUR 137,000 for sustainability reporting assurance. In addition, Sampo plc’s fees to Deloitte Ltd for non-audit services totalled to approximately EUR 204,000.

    Sampo Group’s fees to audit firm Deloitte for statutory audit services in 2024 totaled to approximately EUR 4,322,000. In addition, Sampo Group’s fees for non-audit services to audit firm Deloitte totalled to approximately EUR 712,000, which is at most approximately 16.5 per cent of Sampo Group’s fees to audit firm Deloitte for statutory audit services.

    The Auditor’s fees for services provided to Sampo Group have been presented in note 6 of the consolidated financial statements.

    26 March 2025

    SAMPO PLC
    Audit Committee

    APPENDIX 2

    Proposal for the election of the Auditor and the Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider

    The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that the Authorised Public Accountant Firm Deloitte Ltd be re-elected as the Company’s Auditor for the financial year 2025. If Deloitte Ltd is elected as Sampo plc’s Auditor, the firm has announced that APA ASA Jukka Vattulainen will continue as the auditor with principal responsibility. Jukka Vattulainen has acted as the Company’s principally responsible auditor since 2021.

    The Audit Committee also proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Authorised Sustainability Audit Firm Deloitte Ltd be re-elected as the Company’s Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider for the financial year 2025. If Deloitte Ltd is elected as Sampo plc’s Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider, the firm has announced that APA ASA Jukka Vattulainen will continue as the principal Authorised Sustainability Auditor. Jukka Vattulainen has acted as the Company’s principal Authorised Sustainability Auditor since 2024.

    The Audit Committee notes that its proposal is free from influence by a third party, and the Audit Committee is not subject to compliance with any such clauses referred to in Article 16(6) of the Audit Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on specific requirements regarding statutory audit of public-interest entities and repealing Commission Decision 2005/909/EC) that restrict the choice as regards the election of a statutory auditor or audit firm.

    The election of Deloitte Ltd as the Company’s Sustainability Reporting Assurance Provider is conditional on Deloitte Ltd being elected as the Company’s Auditor.

    26 March 2025

    SAMPO PLC
    Audit Committee

    APPENDIX 3

    Proposal for authorisation to decide on the repurchase of the company’s own shares

    The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorise the Board to resolve to repurchase, on one or several occasions, a maximum of 250,000,000 Sampo plc A shares. The maximum number of shares represents approximately 9.29 per cent of all outstanding A shares of the company. The repurchased shares will be cancelled.

    The shares may be repurchased either through an offer to all shareholders on equal terms or through other means and otherwise than in proportion to the existing shareholdings of the company’s shareholders (directed repurchase) if the Board of Directors deems that there are weighty financial reasons for such directed repurchase. Directed repurchases may be carried out, among others, through open market purchases, participation in accelerated book-building processes or through arranging reversed accelerated book-building processes.

    The purchase price per share shall be no more than

    (i) the highest price paid for the company’s shares in public trading on the day of the repurchase or the offer to repurchase the company’s own shares, or alternatively,

    (ii) the average of the share prices (volume weighted average price on the regulated markets where the company’s share is admitted to trading) during the five trading days preceding the repurchase or the offer to repurchase the company’s own shares.

    The lowest purchase price per share shall be the price that is 20 per cent lower than the lowest price paid for the company’s shares in public trading during the validity of this authorisation until the repurchase or the offer to repurchase the company’s own shares.

    The repurchases under the authorisation are proposed to be carried out by using funds in the unrestricted shareholders’ equity, which means that the repurchases will reduce funds available for distribution of profit.

    The Board of Directors shall be authorised to decide on all other terms relating to the repurchase of the company’s own shares. It is proposed that the authorisation be valid until the close of the next Annual General Meeting, however no longer than 18 months from the Annual General Meeting’s decision. The holder of all of Sampo plc’s B shares has given its consent to a buy-back of A shares.

    26 March 2025

    SAMPO PLC
    Board of Directors

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Economy – KOF Economic Forecast, spring 2025: Swiss economy caught in the tension between trade conflict and fiscal stimulus

    Source: KOF Economic Institute

    Uncertainty is currently unusually high owing to the geopolitical strategy of the new US administration. Assuming that the international trade conflict does not escalate any further, KOF is forecasting that real sport-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by 1.4 per cent in 2025. Although this international trade conflict is a burden, the fiscal stimulus expected in individual European Union (EU) countries is boosting economic activity. This is improving the outlook for the Swiss economy. KOF is predicting GDP growth of 1.9 per cent for 2026. The labour market will turn the corner and inflation will remain low. However, this forecast is subject to considerable downside risks.

    The economic outlook is largely being determined by the latest economic policy events. In particular, the geopolitical strategy adopted by the new US administration has far-reaching consequences for global economic developments. While the current trade conflict is acting as a drag on the international economy, EU countries’ additional fiscal packages should provide increasing impetus from the end of this year and improve the economic outlook in Switzerland’s key European markets.

    Growing trade policy uncertainty is weighing on the investment plans of Swiss firms and households. Adjusted for one-off effects, the investment situation remains subdued for the time being. If the fiscal programmes of European trading partners take effect, this should reduce economic policy uncertainty in Europe, provide positive stimulus and boost the economy. This will primarily benefit manufacturing – especially suppliers to the defence sector – and industry-related services. Through the transmission mechanism of foreign trade this should stimulate investment in equipment and, indirectly, private consumption. Major infrastructure projects and fiscal stimulus from Europe should also directly or indirectly support construction investment during the forecast period.

    Swiss labour market stabilising, real wages rising

    Private consumption will be underpinned by the stabilising labour market. Employment and the number of people in work are likely to increase in line with GDP growth over the next few years, while the unemployment rate as defined by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) will rise only slowly and will soon peak at 3 per cent. KOF expects real wages – according to the Swiss wage index (SLI) – to rise by 0.9 per cent this year and 0.6 per cent next year.

    Low inflationary pressures: KOF does not expect any further interest-rate cuts by the SNB during the forecast period

    Inflation – as measured by the national consumer price index (CPI) – fell to 0.3 per cent in February compared with the same month last year and has thus been below 1 per cent for six months now. KOF is forecasting inflation rates of 0.5 per cent for this year and 0.6 per cent for next year. Following the recent reduction in the Swiss National Bank’s (SNB) key interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.25 per cent, KOF does not expect to see any further interest-rate cuts during the forecast period.

    High uncertainty during the trade conflict; downside risks predominant

    As it is still unclear which of the trade policy measures threatened by the Trump administration to date will ultimately be implemented and what further measures might follow, the latest forecast is subject to greater uncertainty than usual, with downside risks predominating. In order to factor in this uncertainty, KOF has used its new trade model to carry out additional calculations, which analyse in detail the possible trade policy measures and their potential impact on both international trade and the Swiss economy. This analysis shows that if the trade conflict spread, this could entail considerable downside risks for the Swiss economy.

    The main downside risk is that the US government imposes further tariffs on other countries and products, including any retaliatory tariffs implemented in response. In addition, the fiscal stimulus introduced in Europe may be ineffective or only materialise with a delay. And, finally, geopolitical conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East could escalate, impacting commodity prices and global trade.

    There is an upside risk that the US government’s threatened tariffs will only be used as a bargaining chip and will either not be introduced or will be withdrawn after just a short period of time. And, last but not least, a swift end to the war in Ukraine and a solution to the Middle East conflict could have a positive impact on energy prices and global trade.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kenya’s decision to make maths optional in high school is a bad idea – what should happen instead

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Moses Ngware, Senior Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center

    Kenya’s education ministry announced in March 2025 that mathematics would be an optional subject in senior secondary school, which begins in grade 10. Most students in this grade are aged 15 years. The education minister said the mathematics taught from grade 4 to grade 9 was sufficient for foundational “numeracy literacy”.

    The change, in January 2026, is part of a shift to a new education system styled as the competence based curriculum. The decision is not to scrap maths altogether but rather to make it optional. However, given the poor performance in this subject, it is expected there will be few takers.

    Maths is a compulsory subject in the first 12 years of basic education in many African countries. This is the case in Mauritius, Nigeria and South Africa, which opted for a choice between maths and mathematical literacy for grades 10-12.

    The older education system, known as 8-4-4, featured eight years of primary school and four each at high school and university. Under this, core maths, dubbed Alternative A, is compulsory for all schoolgoing children until the second year of high school (form 2). Most students in this grade are aged 16 years. In the final two years of high school, one has the option of switching to Alternative B, a simplified version of Alternative A introduced in 2009. Alternative B is similar to South Africa’s mathematical literacy subject.

    The decision has triggered heated debates in the country, in favour and against.

    As a researcher who has taught high school maths and researched maths teaching for over 20 years, I have the view that making maths optional is not a good idea. This is because both individuals and society need maths, regardless of the career path they might choose.

    It’s been argued that the change applies to the last two senior years of high school, which was the case in the old system too. For the new curriculum, however, this should not have been a problem as it is competence-based. This implies that what matters is the specific skills and knowledge mastered by a student, and not the examination scores.

    The Kenyan education department should establish the root causes of the low performance in maths, and fix them. Research shows that chief among these are resource allocation; weak teacher preparation and support for foundational numeracy instruction; a learning disability known as dyscalculia; and the behavioural performance of maths teachers.

    Kenya’s maths problem

    In the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, graded between A (highest) and E (lowest), over half of the 881,416 candidates’ maths scores fell in the lowest two grades, D and E. This improved only marginally in 2023. To put the performance in context, the pass rate in high school certificate maths examinations in Mauritius improved from 81.4% to 91.8% between 2019 and 2022.

    There are a number of reasons for this dismal performance in Kenya:

    Resource allocation: The better-resourced national schools can only admit a small number of students, leaving out over 70% who join low-resourced day schools. Resources for learning maths range from teachers to interactive teaching and learning materials inside the classroom. With the support of partners such as the Global Partnership for Education, the government aims to achieve a 1:1 textbook-per-student ratio goal. However, the flow of capitation grants to secondary schools has been wanting, jeopardising access to resources at the school level.

    Teacher preparation: Teachers aren’t well prepared to support learners in foundational numeracy (maths in early grades). Foundational numeracy skills are critical in creating strong building blocks for future learning and success in later grades.

    Teacher behaviour: Classroom observation studies reveal that maths teachers favour boys. Furthermore, above average learners sit in the front closer to the chalkboard, and learners are denied positive reinforcement that would motivate them to learn maths. There are also negative attitudes about maths as a difficult subject, reinforcing the stereotype that it is only suitable for boys and “bright” children.

    Dyscalculia: Worldwide, 3%-7% of the general population are affected by a disability known as dyscalculia. In Kenya, 6.4% among primary and secondary school children have the disability. It is a condition that affects a person’s ability to understand numerical concepts. By implication, the number of the 962,512 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education candidates of 2024 with this disability works out to between 28,000 and 68,000 candidates. But Kenya’s education system doesn’t support teachers in diagnosing learners with dyscalculia, or managing their disability.

    Policy options

    There are alternatives to making maths an optional subject in senior secondary school.

    The system needs to focus on the root causes of low performance, and then on how to fix them.

    I suggest the following solutions.

    • Avoid unnecessarily using achievement in maths to determine access to academic and training programmes. This way, one’s career will not solely be determined by performance in maths.

    • Keep a simpler maths alternative, or maths literacy, for senior secondary instead of making maths optional.

    • Teachers should continue to develop their competence in maths, focusing on content knowledge as well as knowledge of how to teach numeracy.

    • The general public should communicate effectively to eliminate negative stereotypes and unhelpful attitudes in society. The aim is to shift mindsets so that maths is perceived as part of life – making it necessary to support all children to succeed in maths.

    • Help learners to overcome dyscalculia, using multisensory teaching approaches – a way of teaching that engages more than one sense at a time: sight, hearing, movement and touch.

    Moses Ngware receives funding from the African Population and Health Research Center. He is affiliated with the African Population and Health Research Center.

    – ref. Kenya’s decision to make maths optional in high school is a bad idea – what should happen instead – https://theconversation.com/kenyas-decision-to-make-maths-optional-in-high-school-is-a-bad-idea-what-should-happen-instead-252965

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU citizens most concerned with security and unity, survey shows

    Source: European Union 2

    The European Parliament’s Winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey, released today, highlights historic levels of approval for EU membership linked to peace and security.

    European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Two thirds of Europeans want the EU to play a greater role in their protection. This is a clear call for action which we will answer. Europe needs to be stronger so that our citizens feel safer. The European Parliament will ensure that every proposal put forward is bold and ambitious enough to match the serious level of threat Europe faces. Europe must step up today, or it risks being stepped over tomorrow.”

    66% of EU citizens want the EU to take a more important role in protecting them against global crises and security risks. This view is particularly strong amongst younger respondents to the survey. At the national level, results for a stronger role of the EU range from 87% in Sweden to 47% in Romania and 44% in Poland.

    Almost three quarters of EU citizens (74%) believe their country has benefited from being a member of the EU. This is the highest result ever recorded in a Eurobarometer survey for this question since it was first asked in 1983. Fitting the current context, respondents mention the EU’s contribution to maintaining peace and strengthening security (35%) as the main reason why membership is considered beneficial.

    In addition, there is wide agreement among EU citizens that EU Member States should be more united to face current global challenges (89%) and that the European Union needs more means to deal with the challenges ahead (76%).

    Citizens expect the EU to strengthen security and defence and to enhance competitiveness

    In a rapidlychanging geopolitical environment, defence and security (36%) as well as competitiveness, economy and industry (32%) are identified as the areas on which the EU should focus most to reinforce its position in the world. These are also the topics that featured high on last week’s European Council with Parliament’s President calling for faster action and bolder ambition. While the results for defence and security have remained stable compared to February/March 2024, those for competitiveness, economy and industry have increased by five points. These two areas are followed by energy independence (27%), food security and agriculture (25%) and education and research (23%).

    Economic and security issues are also at the forefront when it comes to the topics citizens want the European Parliament to address as a priority. Four in ten Europeans mention inflation, rising prices and the cost of living (43%), followed by the EU’s defence and security (31%), the fight against poverty and social exclusion (31%) and support to the economy and the creation of new jobs (29%). Inflation, rising prices and the cost of living is a main priority across all age groups and with peak results recorded in Portugal (57%), France (56%), Slovakia (56%), Croatia (54%) and Estonia (54%).

    As shown by the EP’s previous survey, inflation and the cost of living had already played a major role as a driving force in the last European elections and the economic situation continues to be a main concern for many Europeans. A third (33%) expect their standard of living to decrease in the next five years, seven points more than in June-July 2024. This is the case for 53% of French respondents (+8 pp) and 47% of Germans (+15 pp).

    Peace and democracy remain EU core values

    Looking at the values Europeans would like the European Parliament to defend, peace (45%), democracy (32%) and the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide (22%) come first. The results for this question have remained stable, underlining citizens steadfast support for the EU’s founding values and principles.

    Two-thirds of citizens support a stronger role for the EP

    As historic trend lines show, in moments of crisis citizens look to the EU for decisive actions and solutions. When the EU is perceived as coming together and delivering results, support indicators are high – which is currently the case.  50% of respondents have a positive image of the EU. In the last decade, this positive perception was only higher once (at 52%), in spring 2022 in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The positive image of the EP is stable at a high level (41%). A few months into the legislative term, over six in ten (62%) citizens would like to see the European Parliament play a more important role, a six- percentage point increase compared to February-March 2024, a few months before the June 2024 European elections.

    Full results can be found here.

    Background   

    The European Parliament’s Winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey was carried out between 09 January and 04 February 2025 in all 27 EU Member States. The survey was conducted face-to-face, with video interviews used additionally in Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Malta, Netherlands, and Sweden. 26.354 interviews were conducted in total and EU results are weighted according to the size of the population in each country.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Comedy, family films and fantasy: city residents chose their favorite film genres for thematic weekend at Moskino

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Active Citizen project has ended vote, in which Muscovites chose their favorite film genres and directions to create a repertoire for thematic weekends of the cinema chain “Moschino”More than 209 thousand people shared their opinions.

    Participants were offered to choose up to five genres from those presented in the vote or to suggest their own option. The top five included comedies (23 percent), family films (21 percent), science fiction (10 percent), detectives (10 percent), and documentaries (nine percent). The voting results will help the Moskino network to create a program that will best meet the needs of viewers. The voting became a kind of continuation of the tradition established 60 years ago, when the Cosmos cinema began accepting requests from visitors and taking them into account in the playbill.

    State budgetary cultural institution “Moscow Cinema” (Moskino) is an organization within the structure of the capital Department of Culture, which oversees the development of the capital’s cinemas, filming and other citywide projects in the field of cinema. Today, the Moskino cinema chain unites 15 venues. Here, viewers are offered the latest releases from world cinema, art-house films and retrospectives. In addition, Moskino invites you to preview screenings of films, meetings with directors and actors, as well as discussions of films at meetings of film clubs.

    Muscovites to choose the best short film of the project “From idea to premiere”

    Project “Active Citizen” has been operating since 2014. During this time, over seven million people have joined it, participating in more than seven thousand votes. Every month, 30-40 decisions made by Muscovites are implemented in the city. The project is being developed by the capital Department of Information Technology and the State Institution “New Management Technologies”.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, correspond to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 1.7 thousand square meters of real estate were transferred to social institutions in the South-East Administrative District

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Since the beginning of the renovation program, the city has selected and transferred 10 new premises for work to socially significant organizations that were located in demolished buildings in the southeast of the capital. This was reported by Maxim Gaman, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department of City Property.

    “During the entire period of implementation of the renovation program, the city transferred 10 real estate properties in the South-Eastern Administrative District with a total area of over 1.7 thousand square meters to the operational management of socially significant organizations that occupied premises in old buildings. The relocation affected public utility enterprises and administrative institutions. The city allocated real estate in five districts: Lyublino, Nizhegorodsky, Yuzhnoportovy, Lefortovo and Tekstilshchiki,” he said.

    Maxim Gaman.

    The city allocated seven premises with a total area of over 1.3 thousand square meters to housing and communal organizations. Another three facilities with an area of almost 400 square meters were received by administrative institutions.

    “The first floors of new buildings under the renovation program are designed and built as non-residential. Social and household facilities are opened on them. Today, more than 80 premises are used to accommodate such facilities in the South-Eastern Administrative District. They house shops, pick-up points, beauty salons and other businesses,” clarified the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    For socially significant organizations located in buildings included in the renovation program, the city selects new premises without waiting for the start of resettlement. This applies to healthcare, sports, culture and leisure institutions, as well as utilities. When selecting facilities for placement, the infrastructure formed in the districts is taken into account. Therefore, not only areas in new buildings are used for relocation, but also premises in existing buildings.

    Earlier, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin told on the use of prefab technologies in the construction of houses under the renovation program.

    The renovation program was approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin instructed to double the pace of implementation of the renovation program.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction volumes. High rates of housing construction correspond to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major £1.6 billion equipment contract to support British Defence jobs and boost Army readiness

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Major £1.6 billion equipment contract to support British Defence jobs and boost Army readiness

    British Army equipment, including tanks and armoured vehicles, will receive world-class maintenance and spare parts under a contract which supports 1,600 UK jobs. 

    • Significant contract update to provide kit maintenance and increased vehicle availability.   

    • Directly supports 1,600 defence jobs across the country, supporting a 6,000-strong business supply chain.   

    • Investment in British firm Babcock boosts defence as an engine for UK economic growth.    

    British Army equipment, including tanks and armoured vehicles, will receive world-class maintenance and spare parts under a contract which supports 1,600 UK jobs.    

    The five-year £1.6 billion contract extension with British defence firm Babcock will cover vital military assets including Challenger 2 tanks, 105mm artillery guns and Trojan armoured vehicles, ensuring they remain combat-ready to meet emerging threats.   

    The Service Provision and Transformation Contract will sustain 1,600 highly skilled jobs in locations across the UK, including over 400 in Telford and over 250 in Dorset. The investment follows the Prime Minister’s historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty.   

    Maintenance services will cover preventative maintenance, emergency repairs and spare parts management. It will also include digital transformation to improve fleet management efficiency, keeping more vehicles and equipment primed for soldiers to use – boosting national security and renewing Britain’s economy as we deliver on our Plan for Change.  

    The move to boost the readiness of British Army combat vehicles comes as the UK continues to lead planning efforts for a Coalition of Willing nations to help secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Following the planning meeting attended by approximately 30 nations last week, further operational planning meetings will be led by UK Commander Joint Operations, General Nick Perry.   

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:  

    Tanks, armoured vehicles and kit are the backbone of the British Army. We are taking action to ensure the outstanding service men and women of our Armed Forces are properly equipped and ready to respond to ever-changing global threats.    

    Supported by largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, this substantial investment with Babcock demonstrates how defence is an engine for growth: supporting businesses of all sizes and sustaining more than 1,600 good, well-paid jobs across Britain.

    National security is the bedrock of a successful economy and our Government’s Plan for Change.

    Babcock’s Chief Executive Officer, David Lockwood said: 

    In a period of increased global instability, more is being expected of our armed forces. This contract extension ensures that Babcock continues to provide the British Army with the tools to do its job, when and wherever they are needed. Our know-how, application of technology and extensive experience in the land domain help ensure that the British Army is ready to fight and win wars.

    While the Land Integrated Operating Services programme places future contracts, this deal will also support approximately 6,000 UK businesses throughout the wider supply chain, as well as 200 apprentices. These apprenticeships will offer valuable training and development opportunities in fields such as HGV maintenance and automotive refinishing, providing career paths in the defence sector for the next generation of skilled workers.   

    MOD Director Land Environment, Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies CBE said:    

    It has taken a lot of hard work to collaboratively deliver this SPTC Reframe contract amendment. I am delighted to renew our relationship with Babcock. With this amended contract, DE&S, the Army, and Babcock will now provide even better support to the in-Service platforms of our Armed forces; ensuring that the vehicles the Army will fight from are repaired, maintained, and ready whenever the Army need them.

    The work comes ahead of the Defence Industrial Strategy, which will bolster UK industry and provide more opportunities for defence to be an engine for economic growth. It follows a recent commitment to launch a new hub to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with better access to the defence supply chain, and a commitment to set direct SME spending targets for the Ministry of Defence by June this year.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Outcome of the meetings of EU leaders on 20 March 2025 – 26-03-2025

    Source: European Parliament 2

    With the geopolitical situation evolving rapidly in the first months of 2025, EU leaders had already convened three times in advance of their regular March meeting. Next to competitiveness – originally due to be the central focus point – the spring European Council meeting covered issues including Ukraine, the Middle East and European defence. On competitiveness, the EU-27 outlined precise directions to accelerate the EU’s economic agenda, focusing on three priorities: cutting red tape, ensuring affordable energy and turning savings into investments. Following Hungary’s renewed refusal to agree to conclusions on Ukraine, a separate statement, ‘firmly supported by 26 Heads of State or Government’, was published, emphasising the EU’s commitment to provide further comprehensive support to Ukraine and to contribute to security guarantees. As European Council President António Costa intended, the meeting concluded in one day. It started with the customary speech by Parliament’s President, Roberta Metsola, who told EU leaders that Europe had ‘thrived on soft power’ for decades, but with the global order now changing, ‘Europe must position itself as a force to be reckoned with’. This requires ‘getting serious about our security, our readiness and our competitiveness’. There was a working lunch with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and an exchange of views with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the afternoon, a Euro Summit in inclusive format took place in the presence of European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe. Over dinner, EU leaders held a first discussion on the next long-term EU budget and own resources.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Applications are now being accepted for the children’s competition “Create a new Muscovite card”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The capital has begun accepting applications for the children’s drawing competition “Create a New Muscovite Card.” This was reported byDepartment of Information Technology. Participants will have to draw the heroes of famous Russian fairy tales and epics on the streets of Moscow. The author of the best work will go toStroganov Children’s Academy of Design, and his drawing will appear on Muscovite cards.

    Moscow schoolchildren aged seven to 14 years can take part in the competition. Applications are accepted until April 13 on a special page.

    “The last time the design of the Muscovite card changed was in 2018. Today, young city residents can create their own card design with their favorite fairy-tale characters. There is nothing more sincere than children’s drawings. We invite Moscow schoolchildren to show their creative talents and compete for the main prizes of the competition, and all voters to look at their hometown through the eyes of children,” said Ivan Buturlin, General Director of the State Unitary Enterprise “Moscow Social Register”.

    A parent or legal representative can apply for a child to participate in the competition. To do this, you need to log in to the competition page via Mos ID and fill out the form. You can send up to three drawings.

    The selection of competition entries will take place in several stages. First, the expert jury will select 30 drawings for the shortlist in each of two age groups: from seven to 10 years old and from 11 to 14 years old. Then, on the competition page and in the Active Citizen project, Muscovites will select 15 works in each age category that will make it to the final. Young Muscovites will also be able to vote for their favorites in the Active Citizen for Children project.

    The final stage will be voting, which will determine one Grand Prix winner, as well as winners of first, second and third places in each age group. Voting will take place in the Active Citizen project and on the Active Citizen for Children platform.

    The winners of the competition will have the opportunity to attend a tour and master classes inRussian State University of Art and Industry named after S.G. Stroganov, as well as memorable gifts from the art supply store. The winner of the Grand Prix will be able to study at the Stroganov Children’s Academy of Design, and a limited edition Muscovite card will be designed based on his/her competition illustration.

    The announcement of the results and the awarding of the winners will take place on June 1 in the Smart City pavilion at VDNKh. An exhibition of the finalists’ drawings will also open there. All the winners’ works will be published on the competition website and the Active Citizen project services.

    The Muscovite card with a unique design selected based on the results of the competition will be issued during the 2025/2026 academic year. It will be available for registration from August 1 on the mos.ru portal. It will be available to children up to and including 14 years of age who are receiving the card for the first time or are participants in the competition.

    The competition is being held by the Department of Information Technology with the support of the capital Department of Culture and the State Institution “New Management Technologies”.

    Muscovite card — one of the main social projects of the capital. It is issued to residents of Moscow and provides them with personal access to the city infrastructure. It can be obtained students schools and colleges, students, pensioners, people with disabilities, children and parents from large families andother categories of citizens.

    You can find out more about the map at telegram channel project, as well as from the mini-series “Moscow in digital”.

    How to get a Muscovite card

    You can apply for a Muscovite card on the mos.ru portal. This requires a standard or full account. Children over 14 can do this on their own, but for children under 14, a parent or other legal guardian must apply for the service.

    You can check the status of the card production in your personal account on the mos.ru portal in the “Applications and notifications” section, using the service “Checking the manufacturing status of the Muscovite card”, as well as by calling the hotline: 7 495 539⁠-55⁠-55 and in official groups on social networks “VKontakte” And“Classmates”.

    The card will be ready within 30 days from the date of application. Notification about the possibility of receiving it will be sent to your personal account on the mos.ru portal and by e-mail. Preschoolers over seven years old, school and college students can pick up the ready card at the educational institution. Those who are studying in private schools or outside Moscow, as well as other preferential categories of citizens – at the selected center of state services “My Documents”.

    Receipt of a Muscovite card for a student must be confirmed in the personal account on mos.ru within 90 days. In other cases, this is not required.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: A new pedestrian crossing will appear near the Tyutchevskaya metro station

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An overground pedestrian crossing will be built near the Tyutchevskaya station of the Troitskaya metro line. The corresponding territory planning project (PPT) was approved by the capital Committee on Architecture and Urban Development (Moskomarkhitektura), said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    The facility will be built within the framework of the Targeted Investment Program.

    “The land use planning project was approved for a site with an area of over 20 hectares. As part of the PPT, an off-street pedestrian crossing with ramps and tactile signs will be connected to the exit from the Tyutchevskaya metro station. An access road and two parking spaces for 100 spaces each are planned to be equipped nearby. The latter will be intended, among other things, for people with limited mobility. The implementation of the project will create safer conditions for the movement of people in the active transport logistics zone,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    Tyutchevskaya station is located in the Kommunarka district of the Novomoskovsky administrative district, along the 42nd kilometer of the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD).

    “Currently, when exiting a metro station, the journey to the opposite side of the Moscow Ring Road takes 12 minutes. After the new facility appears, people will have a safer route to General Tyuleneva Street, and the time spent crossing will be reduced to three minutes,” she added.

    Juliana Knyazhevskaya, Chairman of the capital’s Committee for Architecture and Urban Development.

    Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin announced the opening of the longest overpass on the Moscow Ring Road.

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  • MIL-OSI China: Lai Ching-te’s 17 strategies expose true nature of terror, dictatorship

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te’s 17 strategies lay bare his vile character, which is against peace, dialogue, democracy and humanity, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.
    Lai’s words and actions are aimed at inciting opposition to and confrontation with the mainland, and obstructing exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.
    “He just wants to wield political terror and impose dictatorship on the island,” Chen told reporters at a press conference in Beijing.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: More broadcasts from the Moscow Zoo are now available on mos.ru

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    From March 26, during the zoo’s opening hours, users of the mos.ru portal will be able to see online what the Himalayan bears are doing on their walks, what the red panda is fed, and how the raccoons are having fun. Cameras are installed in the outdoor enclosures, and you can watch the video broadcasts daily.

    “With the launch of new broadcasts, more and more animals will become closer and more accessible to visitors of the mos.ru portal. You can watch our inhabitants during the zoo’s opening hours. Viewers can witness unique moments of feeding, games, training and social interaction between animals. This is not just an opportunity to watch rare and endangered species, but also a chance to immerse yourself in their world, understand the behavior and habits of animals,” said Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo.

    The broadcasts will allow you to observe for two Himalayan bears, female Fanya and male Vasya, living in the old territory of the zoo. They were taken from dealers at the end of 2022. The animals were in an extremely emaciated state, they were kept in cramped cages. Zoologists surrounded the clubfooted bears with round-the-clock care and developed an optimal diet for them. Gradually, the bears began to gain weight and recover. Now each of them lives in their own spacious enclosure. This year, Fanya went into hibernation for the first time in two years. Vasya needs more time to rebuild his biological rhythms; he did not sleep this winter.

    Nowadays, Himalayan bears are active during the daytime. In extreme cold or heat, the animals may go indoors.

    Thanks to the installed cameras it will be possible to observe andfor the red panda Ryzhik. The animal leads a predominantly crepuscular lifestyle. Ryzhik arrived in Moscow in the fall of 2015 from Poland. The male comes out of the house several times a day, mostly in the morning or early evening hours.

    Red pandas, also called fire foxes for their bright fur, are excellent tree climbers. However, they feed mainly on the ground. Although these animals are representatives of the order of predators, 95 percent of their diet consists of young leaves and bamboo shoots. The remaining five percent consists of various fruits, berries, mushrooms, bird eggs and even small rodents.

    Other inhabitants of the zoo, which can now be watched online on mos.ru, are: family of raccoons. This is Titi, a mother of many children, and her three children: Akim, Grusha, and the youngest, Shonya.

    There is a stream in the enclosure, in which the raccoons splash with visible pleasure, confirming their name. The animals are especially interested in the trees growing in the enclosure – the raccoons do not just climb them, they sleep high in the trees, curled up in a ball and from a distance resembling bird nests. There are many objects in their enclosure: ladders suspended between the trees, which the animals climb with pleasure, hollows in which they find many delicacies placed there by the zoo staff. In this way, the animals can use their abilities and demonstrate natural behavior when getting food.

    The Department of Information Technology added that video broadcasts are available to residents of the entire country. At the same time, users can not only watch their pets, but also learn more about the peculiarities of their life in their natural habitat.

    “Each animal on zoo.mos.ru has its own page, where you can not only watch a live broadcast from the enclosure, but also read interesting facts and get to know the animal better. Now the majority of visits are to the pages of everyone’s favorites – the little panda Katyusha and her parents Dindin and Zhui, the manul Timofey and the capybaras. You can watch the animals in real time from any device – a smartphone, tablet or computer,” said Boris Frolov, Deputy Head of the Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.

    Broadcasts from the Moscow Zoo enclosures have been launched on the mos.ru portal in the fall of 2024. Every day, visitors can observe the lives of the Pallas’s cat, giant pandas, lynxes, elephants, pygmy hippopotamuses, meerkats, honey badgers, capybaras and camelids, as well as gorillas and orangutans.

    Indian stingless bees appear at Moscow ZooSobyanin: Moscow Zoo takes first place in the world in species diversity

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  • MIL-OSI China: Death toll rises to 18 as deadly wildfires rage in S. Korea’s southeastern region

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The death toll rose to 18, with 19 others injured, as deadly wildfires continued to rage in South Korea’s southeastern region, government compilation showed Wednesday.

    Since last Friday, medium and large wildfires have broken out in six regions, especially in Gyeongsang province, affecting at least 17,534 hectares of land, according to the central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters.

    Firefighters struggled to contain the rapidly spreading blazes, fueled by strong and dry winds.

    Of the wounded, six people suffered serious injuries.

    The number of affected buildings and structures, such as houses, factories and cultural assets, climbed to 209, while more than 26,000 people remained evacuated.

    The country’s forest service raised the wildfire crisis alert to the highest level while thousands of firefighters as well as helicopters and vehicles were mobilized to combat the wildfires.

    The military also deployed service members and helicopters to help fight the blazes. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US National Security Advisor claims responsibility for leaked chat of Yemen military plan

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has assumed “full responsibility” for a leaked group chat discussing an upcoming strike in Yemen.

    “I take full responsibility. I built the group,” Waltz said in an interview with Fox News Channel on Tuesday.

    “It’s embarrassing. We’re going to get to the bottom of it,” he said on the channel’s “The Ingraham Angle.”

    Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, wrote on Monday that he was invited on March 11 to join a group chat named “Houthi PC Small Group” on Signal, a popular encrypted messaging app used by journalists and government officials.

    Upon joining, he discovered that several high-ranking officials, including Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, were discussing plans for a forthcoming strike on the Houthis in Yemen.

    “According to the lengthy Hegseth text, the first detonations in Yemen would be felt two hours hence, at 1:45 p.m. eastern time,” Goldberg recalled in his article. “So I waited in my car in a supermarket parking lot. If this Signal chat was real, I reasoned, Houthi targets would soon be bombed. At about 1:55, I checked X and searched Yemen. Explosions were then being heard across Sanaa, the capital city.”

    The incident is widely considered a major national security breach, prompting Democratic lawmakers to demand answers from the White House in multiple letters.

    U.S. President Donald Trump defended Waltz in front of reporters at the White House on Monday. “I don’t think he should apologize,” he said. “I think he’s doing his best. It’s equipment and technology that’s not perfect.”

    According to Fox News, Trump has no plan to fire Waltz over the incident.

    During an interview with NBC News on Tuesday, Trump said that a staffer from Waltz’s office inadvertently included Goldberg in the group chat. He also claimed that this had “no impact at all” on the airstrikes in Yemen. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Buyers at the Moscow-on-the-Wave markets purchased canned goods for SVO participants

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    At the fish markets “Moscow is on the wave” The charity event in support of the participants of the special military operation (SVO) has ended. It began on Defender of the Fatherland Day and lasted for a month.

    Visitors had the opportunity to purchase canned goods for the SVO fighters and leave them in a special basket. As a result of the campaign, about a thousand canned goods were collected: from tulka, sprat, mackerel, herring, cod liver and roe, as well as from other types of fish. This product is especially convenient in field conditions – canned goods are easy to transport and store, and they do not require containers.

    All products were transferred to project headquarters “Moscow Helps”. Here, volunteers prepare collected goods for further transportation to new and border territories of Russia.

    “City residents and city organizations bring various things to the headquarters. Including long-life food products, such as canned fish, as they did this time. Now it is very important to show that we can all unite in this support,” noted Alexandra Iskhakova, a volunteer at the Moscow Helps headquarters.

    The Moscow-on-the-Wave fish markets also offer a permanent ten percent discount for participants in the special military operation and their family members.

    Charity events aimed at collecting food aid are held regularly in Moscow. Thus, before the New Year holidays, city residents traditionally take part in the “Hanging Mandarin” campaign. In August last year, two “Give an Apple!” campaigns took place, during which buyers at Moscow fairs donated fresh fruit to charitable foundations.

    The Moscow-on-the-Wave fish market opened in the Kosino-Ukhtomsky district in November 2023, and in Mitino in September 2024. As Sergei Sobyanin reported earlier, they were visited last year more than one and a half million people, over a thousand tons of products were sold.

    The markets offer a wide range of fish and seafood from three oceans and 13 seas washing Russia. Residents and guests of the capital can buy fresh carp, chilled Murmansk salmon, red mullet on skewers, northern omul and whitefish in fresh-frozen and smoked form, lightly salted tugunok, Olyutor herring and much more.

    More information about the activities of the capital’s Department of Trade and Services is available in the official telegram channel.

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