NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Green Party announces new CEO in “pivotal year for Green politics”

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    The Green Party of England and Wales has today announced the appointment of Harriet Lamb as the party’s new CEO. Harriet joins from the global environmental action NGO ‘WRAP’ where she currently serves as their CEO.  

    The announcement comes just weeks before “pivotal” local elections where the party hopes to build on its record-breaking number of councillors and maintain momentum after last year’s record-breaking result in the General Election.  

    From June, as CEO, Harriet will head up the party’s staff team and its day-to-day operations. 

    Welcoming Harriet to the role, Green Party Co-Leader, Adrian Ramsay MP, said,  

    “I am delighted to welcome Harriet to the Green Party. She brings a wealth of experience leading and scaling up organisations centred on bringing about environmental and social justice. She evidently has the experience and passion to play a central role in growing our party and our impact towards our core mission.   

    He continued, “The Green Party is on a roll. In the last few years we have quadrupled our number of councillors, entering administration on over 40 councils, and last year we saw a record General Election vote. With two party politics having broken down and people looking for alternatives, the Green Party’s positive vision for a fair, liveable future is needed more than ever. I look forward to working closely with Harriet in driving the party’s growth and impact to the next level.”  

    Commenting, Harriet Lamb said, 

    “I am super excited to be joining the Green Party and I am really looking forward to helping deliver the Party’s ambitious plans. I have spent my life working for charities driving social and environmental change – to end low pay, support refugees, nurturing peace in conflict-ridden countries, create the circular economy and most notably building the Fairtrade movement in the UK and globally – all values and issues dear to the Green Party and its agenda for positive change.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Middle East: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Oral statement to Parliament

    Middle East: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 March 2025

    The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has provided an update to the House of Commons on the conflict in Gaza.

    With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement about the conflict in Gaza.

    In January, I outlined to the House the deal agreed between Israel and Hamas. It was a moment of huge hope and relief.

    In the weeks that followed, hostages cruelly detained by Hamas were reunited with their families and aid blocked by Israel finally flooded into Gaza. A path out of this horrendous conflict appeared open.

    It is therefore a matter of deep regret to have to update the House today on a breakdown of that ceasefire and yet more bloodshed in Gaza.

    On the night of 18 March, Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza. A number of Hamas figures were reportedly killed.

    But it has been reported that over 400 Palestinians were killed in missile strikes and artillery barrages, the majority of them women and children.

    This appears to have been the deadliest single day for Palestinians since the war began. This is an appalling loss of life and we mourn the loss of every civilian.

    Yesterday morning, a UN compound in Gaza was hit. I can confirm to the House that a British National was amongst the wounded. Our priority is supporting them and their family at this time.

    Gaza has been the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid worker.

    I share the outrage of UN Secretary-General Guterres at this incident. The Government calls for a transparent investigation and for those responsible to be held to account.

    The UK is now working closely with partners such as France and Germany, to send a clear message.

    We strongly oppose Israel’s resumption of hostilities. We urgently want to see a return to a ceasefire. More bloodshed is in no-one’s interest. Hamas must release all the hostages and negotiations must resume.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, diplomacy is the only way to achieve security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

    The House will know that the ceasefire in Gaza had lasted for almost two months, the result of dogged efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.

    The deal reached in January saw the nightmare of captivity end for 30 hostages and the bodies of 8 further victims of Hamas returned to their loved ones.

    We all remember the joy of seeing Emily Damari reunited with her mother and family, and the desperately-needed aid had begun to flow back into Gaza – food, medicines, fuel and tents.

    Children in Gaza had respite from relentless fear. The severely injured could cross the border again for treatment. Palestinians had begun to return to their homes and consider how to rebuild their lives.

    In the first days of the ceasefire, the UK moved swiftly to invest in the peace.

    We released £17m in additional emergency humanitarian funding for the promised surge in aid, bringing our total support this year for Palestinians across the region to £129m.

    We accelerated work on the pathway to reconstruction, supporting our Arab partners’ very welcome recent initiative.

    We worked at every level to support negotiations for a permanent ceasefire and the return of every single hostage and backed an extension to phase one of the current deal.

    But negotiations have been gridlocked for several weeks.

    Hamas has been resisting calls for the release of further hostages in return for a longer truce and Israeli forces did not begin to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor as agreed.

    On 2 March, the Israeli government announced it was blocking all further aid deliveries until Hamas agreed to its terms.

    For weeks now, supplies of basic goods and electricity have been blocked, leaving over half a million civilians once again cut off from clean drinking water and sparking a 200% surge in the price of some basic foodstuffs – a boon to those criminals who use violence to control supplies.

    As I told the House on Monday, this is appalling and unacceptable.

    Ultimately, of course, these are matters for the courts, not governments, to determine but it’s difficult to see how denying humanitarian assistance to a civilian population can be compatible with international humanitarian law.

    Though it’s important to say I could have been a little clearer in the House on Monday, our position remains that Israel’s actions in Gaza are at clear risk of breaching international humanitarian law.

    The consequences of the ceasefire’s breakdown, Madam Deputy Speaker, are catastrophic.

    For the family and friends of the remaining 59 hostages, including Avinatan Or, the agony goes on.

    Hamas’ kidnapping of these people, their treatment of them in captivity, the cruel theatre of their release, depriving them of food and basic rights, these are acts of despicable cruelty.

    Hamas must release them all now.

    And Palestinian civilians, who have already endured so much, now must fear a rerun and a return to days of death, deprivation and destruction. 

    Civilians have once again been issued with evacuation orders by Israel.

    Only 4% of the UN Flash Appeal is funded – not even enough to get through to the end of this month.

    Health centres have had to close, even as the devastated Gazan health service has to treat another surge of those wounded in strikes.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, Hamas can have no role in Gaza’s future.

    A collapsed ceasefire will not bring the hostages home to their families.

    An endless conflict will not bring long term security to Israel. 

    And a deepening war will only set back the cause of regional normalisation and risk further instability – shortly after the Houthis resumed their unacceptable threats to shipping in the Red Sea.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, since the renewed outbreak of hostilities, I have spoken to Secretary Rubio, to EU High Representative Kallas, to UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher. And I will shortly speak to my Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar and Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa.

    We and our partners need to persuade the parties that this conflict cannot be resolved by military means.

    We want Israel and Hamas to re-engage with negotiations.

    We continue to condemn Hamas, of course, for their actions on October 7th, their refusal to release the hostages, and their ongoing threat to Israel.

    But we are also resolute in calling on Israel to abide by international law and to lift the unacceptable restrictions on aid and demand the protection of civilians.

    Many months ago, only weeks into office, I concluded that there was a clear risk of Israel breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza.

    It was this risk that I first set out to this House in September which meant that the Government suspended relevant export licences for items for use by the IDF in military operations in Gaza.

    The actions of the last three weeks only reinforce that conclusion.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, in the days and weeks ahead, we will redouble our efforts to restore a ceasefire.

    But we will also continue to work with our partners on the security, governance and reconstruction arrangements. Those issues are not going away.

    There remains no military solution to this conflict. A two-state solution remains the only path to a just and lasting peace.

    At this dispatch box in January, I called the ceasefire deal a glimmer of light in the darkness. It feels like the darkness has returned.

    Former British hostage Emily Damari said the resumption of fighting left her heart “broken, crushed and disappointed”. I am sure she speaks for the whole House.

    But we must preserve hope. For the sake of the remaining hostages and their loved ones, for the people of Gaza, for the future of two peoples that have suffered so much for so long, we will keep striving for a return to the path of peace.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s PBS means consumers pay less for expensive medicines. Here’s how this system works

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bonny Parkinson, Associate Professor, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University

    The United States pharmaceutical lobby has complained to US President Donald Trump that Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is damaging their profits and has urged Trump to put tariffs on pharmaceutical imports from Australia.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the scheme, saying Australia’s pharmaceutical subsidy scheme was “not up for negotiation”. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he would also protect the PBS, which was the “envy of the world”.

    But what exactly is the PBS, and why does it matter?

    How did the PBS start?

    In the early 1900s, Australians had to pay for medicines out-of-pocket. Some could get free or cheap medicines at public hospitals or through Friendly Society Dispensaries, but otherwise access was restricted to those who could afford to pay.

    At the time, few effective medicines were available. But the development of insulin and penicillin in the 1920s made access to medicines much more important.

    The Constitution gave the federal government limited powers in the provision of health and welfare, which were largely the responsibility of the states. After World War II, the federal government wanted to expand these powers but it encountered several constitutional roadblocks.

    A rare successful referendum in 1946 changed that, enabling the National Health Act 1953 to pass. This established the PBS as we know it today.

    How does the PBS work in practice?

    The PBS covers the cost of medicines prescribed by doctors. Most are dispensed at community pharmacies (such as treatments for heart disease, the pill and antibiotics), but some more expensive ones are available at public hospitals or specialist treatment centres (such as chemotherapies and IVF medicines).

    In 2023–24 there were 930 different medicines and 5,164 brands listed on the PBS, costing the government $17.7 billion.

    The government negotiates the price of each medicine with the pharmaceutical company. Pharmacies then buy these medicines from wholesalers or companies.

    When a patient fills a prescription at a pharmacy, they pay a co-payment. The government pays the difference between the agreed price and the co-payment to the pharmacy – costs that may amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    There are two co-payments: one for concession card holders ($7.70) and one for the general consumer ($31.60). When a patient hits the annual spending limit (safety net threshold), the co-payment falls to $0 for concession patients and $7.70 for the general consumer.

    Overall, patients contribute 8.4% to the total cost of the PBS, while the government pays the rest.

    How are medicine prices set?

    The PBS is split into two categories:

    – F1: new, patent-protected medicines with no competition

    – F2: medicines with multiple brands, including generics.

    F1 medicines

    To be listed on the PBS, a new medicine goes through the following process:

    1. It’s evaluated for safety, efficacy and quality.

    2. A panel of experts (including doctors, pharmacists, epidemiologists, health economists, health consumer advocates and a pharmaceutical industry representative) recommends which medicines should be listed on the PBS, based on effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness and the total cost on the budget of the medicine versus alternative treatments.

    3. If the panel recommends a medicine, the price and details of the listing may be further negotiated with the government. (If the panel rejects a medicine, companies may revise their application and re-submit.)

    4. Finally, the health minister, and subsequently the Cabinet, formally approves or rejects the panel’s recommendation. If approved, the medicine is listed on the PBS.

    F2 medicines

    Generic medicine companies may apply to list another brand on the PBS after a medicine loses patent protection. When this happens, the medicine moves from F1 to F2. Immediately, it incurs a mandatory price discount.

    Generic medicine companies may offer pharmacists discounts on the PBS list price (for example, ten for the price of nine). Pharmacists then encourage patients to switch to the cheaper medicine.

    Companies must disclose these discounts to the government, resulting in further price reductions.

    Is the PBS system unique?

    Australia is not special. Many countries use similar assessments to determine whether governments should subsidise new medicines, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom, Canada’s Drug Agency, and Pharmac in New Zealand.

    Small differences exist, including whether the list of medicines is a positive (and they’re subsidised) or negative (meaning they’re not subsidised), whether the lists are established at the central level (such as the PBS in Australia) or local level (such as by province in Canada) or a mixture, and how co-payments are set.

    Generic medicine companies in Australia may offer pharmacists discounts on their products.
    National Cancer Institute/Unsplash

    The biggest outlier is the US. Similar to its health system, the medicines system is a complex and decentralised mix of public and private organisations, including government agencies, independent organisations, health-care providers and payers such as health insurers.

    What are the benefits of the PBS?

    The PBS ensures all Australian patients have access to highly effective medicines. This contributes to a high life expectancy, while keeping health-care costs low relative to other developed countries.

    This has been achieved by keeping prices down for both F1 and F2 medicines. By doing so, it creates room in the government budget to fund other new medicines.

    Without the PBS, either taxes or co-payments would have to increase, or fewer medicines funded.

    Other benefits include having a level playing field for all medicines, while maintaining flexibility to fund highly effective medicines for patients with unmet needs.

    What are the drawbacks of the PBS system?

    No system is without its drawbacks and risks. The PBS’s drawbacks include:

    • limited patient involvement in the process
    • the high frequency of re-submissions and delays to PBS listing
    • companies being unwilling to submit off-patent medicines for PBS listing due to high costs and low rewards
    • the ongoing lack of high-quality clinical evidence about medicines to treat rare diseases and certain patient populations, such as children.

    Another issue is medicine shortages. When PBS-listed brands aren’t available due to supply chain issues, other non-PBS listed brands may be available at full cost to the patient. Increased medicine costs can discourage patients from filling necessary prescriptions, which can have longer-term impacts on health and health expenditure.

    Finally, companies have argued Australia’s small market size plus low PBS prices can make it financially unviable to bring new medicines to Australia.

    The PBS is a crucial part of Australia’s health system, making essential medicines affordable, while keeping costs down. Like any system, it has its challenges and there is ongoing debate about whether and how the system should change.



    Read more:
    Will the US trade war push up the price of medicines in Australia? Will there be drug shortages?

    Bonny Parkinson receives funding from the Australian government to conduct evaluations of medicines to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. She also supervises students funded by PhD scholarships (received by the student, not Bonny Parkinson), including the Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship and Macquarie University Australian Pharmaceutical Scholarship, with support from six pharmaceutical companies: Amgen Australia, Janssen Australia, MSD Australia, Pfizer Australia, Roche Australia, and Abbvie Australia.

    – ref. Australia’s PBS means consumers pay less for expensive medicines. Here’s how this system works – https://theconversation.com/australias-pbs-means-consumers-pay-less-for-expensive-medicines-heres-how-this-system-works-252736

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Cardinal Tagle consecrates Bishops Sangalli and Sarrió Cucarella: Like Saint Joseph, be ‘silent’ heralds of the Word of God

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 19 March 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Bishops are called to be “silent” heralds of the Word of God. They do their work well when, without being protagonists, they become humble “guardians of the active presence of God in his Church”. And if their projects do not progress, it is better to “sleep” like Saint Joseph and “dream the dreams of God,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle in an address to Samuele Sangalli and Diego Ramón Sarrió Cucarella during the liturgy of their episcopal ordination in the Vatican Basilica on the afternoon of March 19, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.Samuele Sangalli, Adjunct Secretary and Head of the Administration of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches), was appointed Archbishop and Titular Bishop of Zella by Pope Francis on February 6 (see Fides, 6/2/2025). Diego Ramn Sarrió Cucarella, former President of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), of the Missionaries of Africa, was appointed by the Pope as the new Bishop of Laghouat, Algeria, on January 25.More than 30 bishops and Cardinals participated in the solemn ordination liturgy at the main Altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Missions and Principal Consecrator, had as co-consecrators Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio of Lombardy and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Department for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches).On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph and exactly 12 years after the solemn inauguration of Pope Francis’s Petrine Ministry (“for whose complete recovery we pray”), Cardinal Tagle turned his attention to the Spouse of Mary in his homily to offer the two new bishops valuable inspiration for their new journey as Successors of the Apostles. According to the Second Vatican Council, they are called “to care for the flock of which they are shepherds in God’s place, as teachers of doctrine, priests of worship, and ministers of the government of the Church”, and “to be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with the blood of his own Son,” as Saint Paul says. “Beautiful teachings,” remarked the Filipino Cardinal, “which make even bishops tremble. How can a bishop live up to such a great responsibility? Surely only by the grace of God.””Saint Joseph too,” Cardinal Tagle emphasized, “accepted God’s call in faith.” Faith “is the source of Joseph’s courage and creativity, who always subordinates his project to God’s, even when it is incomprehensible and uncomfortable.” Similarly, the ordained ministry of priests and bishops must be “rooted in a response of faith in God and exercised as a response of faith.” Often, Cardinal Tagle noted, “we plan and expect God to carry out our plans.” In reality, however, “we are not the planners, and God is not the executor of our plans.” And “if your vision and your plans do not seem to be moving forward,” he added, addressing the new Bishops, “sleep like Saint Joseph.” For “when we sleep, we are vulnerable, have less control, and are therefore more receptive and open. Sleep and dream the dreams of God. Wake up to realize the dreams of God with obedience and zeal.”Saint Joseph, according to the Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery, is also considered a “silent saint.” Not a single word of his is recorded in the Gospels. Nevertheless, “he accompanies, nurtures, and preserves the Word of God, made flesh in Mary’s womb, the most important Word.” And “every thought, every heartbeat, and every action of Joseph speaks of one Word: Jesus. It is the only thing that matters. His own words pale before the greatest Word. He can remain silent.” Following in the footsteps of Saint Joseph, “deacons, priests, and bishops must also remain ‘silent’ when proclaiming the Word of God.” For “it is not our word that counts and must be preserved for posterity, but the Word of God.” And “if our thoughts, plans, decisions, and actions do not speak of Jesus, we could be “like resounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”Furthermore, Saint Joseph is “a reliable guardian of Jesus.” And while carrying out his mission to guard the Son of God, “Joseph knows that Jesus belongs to his Father’s house. Joseph’s house in Nazareth has value only if it remains a shadow of the Father’s house, from which he must draw light.” Along these same lines, Cardinal Tagle noted: “Deacons, priests, and bishops are also called to be guardians of God’s active presence in his Church.” Because “bishops are not substitutes for the eternally living God nor competitors of the Redeemer.” And like Saint Joseph, they are called to be “authentic signs of God’s presence in the Church” with a “discreet visibility of the shadow that depends on the light.”Precisely, imitating the “sober and essential style of Saint Joseph,” at the end of the solemn liturgy, Archbishop Sangalli read a few simple “words of thanks.” They were addressed primarily to the “Providence of God, which has granted this afternoon full of grace” and to Pope Francis, “who has called us to be bishops and to whom we renew our affection and our prayers for a complete recovery as Head of the Church.”The new bishop’s thanks were also directed to the three consecrators, “who truly express the universality of the Church, and to all the other concelebrating cardinals and bishops, for whose service we were admitted to the College of Bishops through the gift of the ‘Spiritus principalis,’ the Spirit who governs and guides the Church.” This Spirit, Archbishop Sangalli added, “I received from the Church” and “from the good example of my dear parents, who today are already in eternal Life.” Finally, the new Archbishop’s thanks also went to the “brothers and family members who have accompanied, supported, and encouraged my journey,” as well as to the clergy and “the Ambrosian people of Lecco and the Seminary of Milan, with my former companions.”Archbishop Sangalli also thanked “the communities and associations I served, not least the Sinderesi Foundation,” as well as the academic communities of the Pontifical Gregorian University and the various universities where Sangalli was a student and professor.The gratitude of the new Archbishop was also expressed towards the Dicastery of Bishops, where Sangalli served for 20 years and lived “in contact with the vibrant heartbeat of the building of the local Churches and the election of their pastors.” The new Archbishop’s final words of thanks went to “the great family of the Dicastery for Evangelization, which opens the whole world to the richness of different traditions and cultures, each capable of sharing and transmitting the Gospel in its own singular way.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 19/3/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Feb inflation up 1.4%

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Overall consumer prices rose 1.4% year-on-year in February, a smaller rate of increase than the 2% seen in January, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

    Netting out the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, underlying inflation was 1.1%, also smaller than that seen in January.

    Compared with a year before, price increases were recorded in February in the following categories: alcoholic drinks and tobacco; electricity, gas and water; transport; housing; miscellaneous goods; meals out and takeaway food; and miscellaneous services.

    Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were logged in basic food, clothing and footwear, and durable goods.

    The Government commented that the underlying consumer price inflation stayed modest in early 2025.

    Taking January and February together to remove the effect caused by the different timing of the Lunar New Year, the underlying composite consumer price index increased by 1.3% over a year earlier, same as the increase in December 2024. Price pressures on various major components stayed largely contained.

    The Government also said overall inflation should remain moderate in the near term.

    While domestic costs pressures might increase as the economy continues to grow, external price pressures should remain broadly in check, it added, noting that uncertainties stemming from geopolitical tensions and trade conflicts warrant attention.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Alm. Brand A/S – Chairman Jørgen Hesselbjerg Mikkelsen will not be standing for re-election at upcoming annual general meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alm. Brand A/S Jørgen Hesselbjerg Mikkelsen will not be standing for re-election at the upcoming general meeting. The Board of Directors nominates Jais Valeur as new chairman.

    Jais Valeur has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2023, and he has many years of experience with complex corporate structures, business development, transformation and M&A. Jais Valeur also has extensive board experience, including as deputy chairman of Royal Unibrew A/S. With Jais Valeur as chairman of the Board of Directors, Alm. Brand A/S will be ensured both continuity and sustained growth.

    “I am extremely honoured to be nominated as chairman of Alm. Brand A/S. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jørgen Hesselbjerg Mikkelsen for his many years of dedication to Alm. Brand Group and for his efforts in spearheading the extensive transformation of the group, including the acquisition of Codan. Together with the other members of the Board of Directors and in close dialogue with management, I will ensure that Alm. Brand Group continues on a strong trajectory in the upcoming strategy period,” says Jais Valeur.

    Jørgen Hesselbjerg Mikkelsen has made comprehensive changes in Alm. Brand Group over the past couple of years. Alm. Brand Group has transitioned from being a financial supermarket spanning banking, insurance and pension services to being a fully-focused, major Danish non-life insurance company.

    “I want to thank Alm. Brand’s shareholders and the Board of Directors for their confidence during the transformation of the group and not least management and the many dedicated employees for delivering on the long-term goals we have set for Alm. Brand Group. Together, we have changed and strengthened the group, and in particular with the acquisition of Codan and the divestment of the Energy & Marine business, we have created a strong launch pad for the future. I am therefore pleased to pass the baton to Jais Valeur, who is every bit as dedicated to continuing the strong trajectory,” says Jørgen Hesselbjerg Mikkelsen.

    A list of candidates for the Board of Directors is included as part of the agenda for the 2025 annual general meeting, which is available on the company’s website under “Investors”.

    The elected members of the Board of Directors will appoint the new chairman immediately after the annual general meeting.

    The CV for Jais Valeur is included as an attachment to this announcement.

    Contact

    Please direct any questions regarding this announcement to:

    Investors and equity analysts:

    Head of IR, Rating & ESG Reporting
    Mads Thinggaard
    Mobile no. +45 2025 5469

    Press:

    Head of Communications and Media Relations
    Mikkel Luplau Schmidt
    Mobile no. +45 2052 3883

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the General Debate Under Agenda Item 4

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement for the General Debate Under Agenda Item 4

    UK Statement for the General Debate Under Agenda Item 4. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

    Thank you, Mr Vice President,

    Just yesterday, we heard in this hall the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine conclude, for the first time, that enforced disappearances committed by Russia amount to a crime against humanity. And that Russian authorities arbitrarily detain civilians, torture and execute prisoners of war and civilians, steal and indoctrinate Ukrainian children. There must be accountability and a just and lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.

    China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs, Tibetans, activists, lawyers and journalists like Sophia Huang. In Hong Kong, the sentencing of 45 activists and former politicians under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law, and the ongoing prosecution of Jimmy Lai, underline how rights continue to be eroded. Once again, we call for their release. 

    In Iran, women, girls and minorities face sustained repression. Freedom of expression is curtailed, journalists silenced. Executions have reached appalling levels. 

    Finally, we urge all parties to return to the Gaza ceasefire talks. All hostages must be released. Aid must restart. The recent civilian casualties are appalling. Our thoughts are also with the victims and families of those killed and injured in the UN compound yesterday. The Israeli and Palestinian people deserve a peaceful and secure future based on a two-state solution.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TRA initiates transition review into glass fibre from Egypt

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    TRA initiates transition review into glass fibre from Egypt

    The TRA has initiated a transition review of a countervailing measure on imports of Continuous Glass Fibre from Egypt.

    The TRA has initiated a transition review of a countervailing measure on imports of Continuous Glass Fibre from Egypt.

    The TRA will be reviewing the measure transitioned from the EU to determine whether it is still suitable for the UK’s needs. This measure is due to expire on 26 June 2025.

    Glass fibres are used in the creation of wind turbine blades and in such industries as transport (automotive, marine, aerospace), building and construction and electric/electronics, as well as the manufacturing of various consumer goods.

    Last year, the UK imported around 27 million kg of continuous glass fibre, with products from Egypt accounting for around 10% of that volume.

    Businesses that may be affected by this measure can register their interest through our public file by 2 April 2025. Interested parties that register after this date may not be able to participate fully in the review.

    Notes to editors

    • The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
    • Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were transitioned into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA has been reviewing these to assess whether they are suitable for UK needs.
    • The goods to be reviewed are described as:
      • chopped glass fibre strands, of a length of not more than 50mm, or
      • glass fibre rovings, excluding glass fibre rovings which are impregnated and coated and have a loss on ignition of more than 3% (as determined by the ISO Standard 1887).

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester tech companies shut down for suspected monthly direct debit scam

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Manchester tech companies shut down for suspected monthly direct debit scam

    Consumers appeared to be signed up for monthly payments without their consent

    • Concerns were raised that tech companies Affinity Technology Solutions Limited and RCSR Tech Limited were operating a direct debit scam 

    • Monthly payments of around £30 were made without customers’ knowledge or permission, complainants said 

    • Both companies have now been shut down in court following investigations by the Insolvency Service 

    Two connected tech companies which claimed to protect people online and enhance their social media image have been shut down following concerns they were running a direct debit scam.  

    Manchester-based companies Affinity Technology Solutions Limited and RCSR Tech Limited were both wound-up at the High Court in Manchester on Tuesday 18 March. 

    Affinity claimed to offer a service called IDSafeGuard which protected their customers’ online identity.  

    RCSR claimed to provide a service called ReportCurve which it said boosted a person’s online and social media footprint, making them more attractive to would-be employers and improving their eligibility for financial products. 

    However, individuals reported that they had monthly subscription fees of around £29.99 removed from their bank accounts for services they had never subscribed to. 

    The unwanted subscription services appeared to have been set up as part of an online loan application through an affiliated marketing company’s website. 

    Complaints were also made that the two companies would not cancel the unwanted subscriptions or offer refunds to customers. 

    David Usher, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Numerous complaints were made that Affinity and RCSR were tricking consumers into monthly subscriptions for products they did not want or were entirely unaware of. 

    Indeed, from our investigations, it is not clear that either company provided any of the services to their unwitting customers. 

    Both Affinity and RSCR completely failed to co-operate with our investigations, leaving us with no option but to take this robust action to stop the companies from trading in the future and protect the public from further financial harm.

    Affinity and RCSR were incorporated within two days of each other in February 2020. Both were described on Companies House as providing business and domestic software development. 

    Insolvency Service investigations concluded that the companies were linked through the same controlling force who was not listed as the official director. The registered office for both companies was also the same address on Wilmslow Road in south Manchester. 

    Investigators contacted the official directors of both Affinity and RSCR as well as the individual believed to be in actual control of the companies. All of them failed to comply with the investigation. 

    Both companies also failed to file accounts at Companies House as they were required to do. 

    The Official Receiver has been appointed as liquidator of Affinity Technology Solutions Limited and RCSR Tech Limited. 

    All enquiries concerning the affairs of both companies should be made to the Official Receiver of the Public Interest Unit: 16th Floor, 1 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London, E20 1HZ. Email: piu.or@insolvency.gov.uk. 

    Affinity is not linked to a number of companies with similar names. 

    Further information 

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Energy Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection Conference

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    World news story

    Energy Security & Critical Infrastructure Protection Conference

    Experts from Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the UK met in Athens to discuss energy security and how to best protect critical national Infrastructure.

    Last month, British Embassy Athens, British Embassy Sofia and British High Commission Nicosia, in collaboration with the Office of the Greek National Security Advisor, organized a two-day conference (February 24-25, 2025) that focused on energy security and the protection of critical national infrastructure, held at the Security Studies Centre of the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

    Εxperts from ministries, other state authorities and the energy sector from Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the UK exchanged views, as well as best practices, related to legal and operational challenges, criticality assessments, critical maritime and subsea infrastructure, resilience policy, incident response, interoperability models, defence strategies and international cooperation.  A cross-government UK delegation from the Cabinet Office, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ministry of Defence and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office shared lessons learned, both domestically and internationally.

    In her address, British Deputy Head of Mission Susan Geary referred to the constantly changing security environment and welcomed regional efforts to transform the Eastern Mediterranean into an energy hub that contributes to EU and NATO resilience by diversifying energy supply routes:

    Protecting Critical National Infrastructure is a complex endeavour that requires cross-government coordination. Both the public and private sectors have a role to play in assessing the criticality of infrastructure, identifying cross-sector dependencies, and developing best practices for managing vulnerabilities to common risks. Having the right structures, protocols and capabilities in place is vital.

    In his address, National Security Advisor Dr. Thanos Dokos noted, among other things:

    Dealing with hybrid threats and protecting our critical infrastructure have become tasks of rapidly increasing importance for our security. And resilience and preparedness are now part of the daily vocabulary of security professionals. As countries in the Eastern Mediterranean start preparing for the protection of underwater and other critical infrastructure, it is important to cooperate with other EU and NATO countries and learn from each other’s experience and expertise.

    Enhancing energy security, mitigating risks and preventing disruptions are key priorities for all involved. Delegates agreed to explore ways to further collaborate going forward.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Islamic State in Somalia: the terrorist group’s origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stig Jarle Hansen, Professor of International Relations, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

    The Islamic State in Somalia is an affiliate of the transnational jihadist group Islamic State, known in short as ISIS. Based in the semi-autonomous northern Somalia territory of Puntland, the terrorist group was the target of the first foreign combat operation of the Trump administration in February 2025. Previously, the group has been linked to planned terror attacks on the Vatican and on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm. Stig Jarle Hansen, a researcher and author of several books on jihadism in Africa, examines its origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats in the mountains of Puntland.

    1. The rise of the Islamic State

    Before the establishment of the Islamic State in Somalia in 2015, the Somali jihadist group al-Shabaab had established itself in the north. The small group had extensive connections to smuggling networks. It later split into two and the future leader of the Islamic State in Somalia, Sheikh Abdulqader Muumin, emerged from one of the splinter groups.

    In Somalia, clans define the relationship between people and all actors in the society. The connections of the new group to the Ali Suleiban sub-clan enabled it to profit from the clan’s links to smuggling and maritime piracy groups.

    Puntland is the hub of communication and maritime trade between Somalia and Yemen, as well as the wider Middle East. Smuggling has gone on in the region for centuries. The rugged terrain is ideal for piracy, illegal smuggling and insurgents.

    Puntland has been more or less autonomous from the rest of Somalia for more than three decades, and the Somali government has little influence there today.

    2. The jihadist behind the Islamic State in Somalia

    Muumin lived in Sweden through the 1990s and early 2000s and later moved to the UK. Back in Somalia, he joined al-Shabaab and became a prominent figure in the group’s jihadist videos. Such videos aim to maintain morals, attract new recruits and create sympathy for the group.

    In 2015, Muumin defected to lead the Islamic State in Somalia. His second-in-command was another Ali Suleiban clansman, Mahad Moalim. In 2016, the first video of the group was circulated through Islamic State media outlets.

    A milestone for the group followed its 2017 suicide bombing of the Juba Hotel in Bosaso, Puntland’s commercial capital and sea port. This enabled the Islamic State in Somalia to pressure Bossaso-based businesses to pay it protection money, the single most important source of income. In 2017-2018, the group is believed to have been behind as many as 50 assassinations in central Somalia. The killings were a forceful tool to generate protection money.

    On 27 July 2018, the Somali group was officially designated as a full province by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. The Maktab al-Karrar regional office was based in the small Puntland chapter, giving it global responsibilities.

    The Somali group was made responsible for the central African and the Mozambique provinces of the Islamic State. Money flowed to the group from the Islamic State, as did extortion money from Bossaso, other northern Puntland cities and more infrequently from Mogadishu.

    In the first half of 2022, the US Treasury claimed that the organisation generated US$2.3 million from extortion payments, related imports, livestock and agriculture. The regional office and Muumin emerged as key financial players in east Africa, and even outside it, from their base in Buur Dexhtaal in Bari Puntland. Indeed, unnamed US officials claimed in 2023 that Muumim had been made the transnational leader of the Islamic State.

    3. An overblown reputation

    The Islamic State’s reputation in Somalia is often overstated. The group has never captured or held large territories. Its numbers in 2024 were estimated to be between 600 and 1,600. That pales in comparison to al-Shabaab in the south of Somalia.

    Its links to a planned attack on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm 2024 were probably weak and failed to hold up in court. And the jihadist linked to a planned attack in the Vatican 2018 seems to have left Islamic State prior to the planning.

    It is also doubtful that Muumin is the global leader of the Islamic State as claimed by some. That’s for two main reasons. First, an Islamic State leader has to be drawn from a tribe related to the prophet (Qureshi). Muumin is not. Second, the Islamic State in Somalia is the smallest of the Islamic State provinces in Africa. It is likely that a leader of a stronger province would have ranked higher.

    Although the income-gathering capacities of the Puntland-based group give it prominence in the Islamic State media, the Islamic State in Somalia does not rank higher than the Islamic State in the Sahara and Mozambique.

    4. Down but not out

    The Puntland authorities launched a relatively successful counter-offensive against the Islamic State in January 2025. This was combined with air support by the US and the United Arab Emirates.

    Puntland won important battles in January and February, including an attack in which it killed 70 Islamic State fighters.

    By late February, the morale of the Islamic State fighters seemed to break. With the fall of Buur Dexhtaal, the main base, in March, all the larger known bases had fallen. Many of the fleeing foreign fighters were captured.

    But the Islamic State is not defeated. The terrain enabled some of the fighters to hide. Neither Muumin, who is in his 70s, nor his second-in-command Abdirahman Fahiye have been reported killed. There are at least several hundred fighters left.

    If the Islamic State is still able to extort money from the northern business community, it could recruit from the large numbers of Oromo Ethiopian refugees in and around Bosaso, as well as locals who need jobs.

    – Islamic State in Somalia: the terrorist group’s origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats
    – https://theconversation.com/islamic-state-in-somalia-the-terrorist-groups-origins-rise-and-recent-battlefield-defeats-252303

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Chris Miller, Former Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Appointed by President Trump, Joins the Draganfly Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tampa, Florida, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Draganfly Inc, (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8A) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, is proud to announce that Christopher C. Miller, former Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump, has joined the Company’s Board of Directors.

    Miller, a seasoned national security expert with decades of experience in defense and intelligence, will help guide Draganfly’s strategic initiatives in the government, defense, and aerospace sectors. His extensive leadership in military operations and national security policy aligns with Draganfly’s commitment to providing cutting-edge, American-made drone technology for critical applications.

    “Chris Miller’s experience at the highest levels of defense and national security will be invaluable to Draganfly as we continue to expand our role in government and security operations. His insights and expertise will help continue to position Draganfly as a leader in North American-made drone solutions for defense, law enforcement, and public safety,” said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly.

    Miller served as the Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense, overseeing the Department of Defense during a critical transition period. Prior to that, he held senior positions at the National Security Council and Special Operations Command, where he played a key role in shaping U.S. counterterrorism strategies.

    “Draganfly is at the forefront of innovation in drone technology, and I’m honored to join the Board at such a pivotal time,” said Chris Miller. “As the demand for secure, American-made drone solutions grows, Draganfly’s commitment to innovation, safety, and strategic partnerships will be essential in supporting national security and defense initiatives. I look forward to contributing to the Company’s success.”

    Miller’s appointment strengthens Draganfly’s leadership team as the Company continues to expand its work with government and defense partners. His deep understanding of security, policy, and military operations will help Draganfly further solidify its position as a key player in the rapidly evolving drone and aerospace industries.

    For more information about Draganfly and its leadership team, visit draganfly.com.

    About Draganfly

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8) is a global leader in drone technology, AI, and autonomous systems, providing innovative solutions for public safety, defense, agriculture, and industrial applications. With over 25 years of experience, Draganfly is recognized for its groundbreaking contributions to the UAV industry and commitment to delivering cutting-edge, North American-made technology.

    CSE Listing
    NASDAQ Listing
    Frankfurt Listing

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This release contains certain “forward looking statements” and certain “forward-looking ‎‎‎‎information” as ‎‎‎‎defined under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information can ‎‎‎‎generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‎‎‎‎‎“may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, ‎‎‎‎‎“estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar ‎‎‎‎terminology. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎and information are based on forecasts of future ‎‎‎‎results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and ‎‎‎‎assumptions that, while believed by ‎‎‎‎management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant ‎‎‎‎business, economic and ‎‎‎‎competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements ‎‎‎‎include, but are not ‎‎‎‎limited to, statements with respect to Chris Miller’s future contributions to Draganfly; that Draganfly will continue to position as a leader in North American-made drone solutions for defense, law enforcement, and public safety; that’s Draganfly’s commitment to innovation, safety, and strategic partnerships will be essential in supporting national security and defense initiatives. Forward-‎‎‎‎looking statements and information are subject to various ‎known ‎‎and unknown risks and ‎‎‎‎‎uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to ‎control or ‎‎predict, that ‎‎‎‎may cause ‎the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be ‎materially ‎‎different ‎‎‎‎from those ‎expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions ‎about ‎‎such ‎‎‎‎risks, uncertainties ‎and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: the potential ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎impact of epidemics, ‎pandemics or other public health crises, including the ‎COVID-19 pandemic, on the Company’s business, operations and financial ‎‎‎‎condition; the ‎‎‎successful integration of ‎technology; the inherent risks involved in the general ‎‎‎‎securities markets; ‎‎‎uncertainties relating to the ‎availability and costs of financing needed in the ‎‎‎‎future; the inherent ‎‎‎uncertainty of cost estimates; the ‎potential for unexpected costs and ‎‎‎‎expenses, currency ‎‎‎fluctuations; regulatory restrictions; and liability, ‎competition, loss of key ‎‎‎‎employees and other related risks ‎‎‎and uncertainties disclosed under the ‎heading “Risk Factors“ ‎‎‎‎in the Company’s most recent filings filed ‎‎‎with securities regulators in Canada on ‎the SEDAR ‎‎‎‎website at www.sedar.com and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on EDGAR through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes ‎‎‎no obligation to update forward-‎looking ‎‎‎‎information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-‎‎‎looking information represents ‎‎‎‎‎managements’ best judgment based on information currently available. ‎‎‎No forward-looking ‎‎‎‎statement ‎can be and actual future results may vary materially. ‎‎‎Accordingly, readers ‎‎‎‎are advised not to ‎place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or ‎‎‎information.‎

    Media Contact
    Erika Racicot
    Email: media@draganfly.com

    Company Contact
    Email: info@draganfly.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Islamic State in Somalia: the terrorist group’s origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stig Jarle Hansen, Professor of International Relations, Norwegian University of Life Sciences

    The Islamic State in Somalia is an affiliate of the transnational jihadist group Islamic State, known in short as ISIS. Based in the semi-autonomous northern Somalia territory of Puntland, the terrorist group was the target of the first foreign combat operation of the Trump administration in February 2025. Previously, the group has been linked to planned terror attacks on the Vatican and on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm. Stig Jarle Hansen, a researcher and author of several books on jihadism in Africa, examines its origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats in the mountains of Puntland.

    1. The rise of the Islamic State

    Before the establishment of the Islamic State in Somalia in 2015, the Somali jihadist group al-Shabaab had established itself in the north. The small group had extensive connections to smuggling networks. It later split into two and the future leader of the Islamic State in Somalia, Sheikh Abdulqader Muumin, emerged from one of the splinter groups.

    In Somalia, clans define the relationship between people and all actors in the society. The connections of the new group to the Ali Suleiban sub-clan enabled it to profit from the clan’s links to smuggling and maritime piracy groups.

    Puntland is the hub of communication and maritime trade between Somalia and Yemen, as well as the wider Middle East. Smuggling has gone on in the region for centuries. The rugged terrain is ideal for piracy, illegal smuggling and insurgents.

    Puntland has been more or less autonomous from the rest of Somalia for more than three decades, and the Somali government has little influence there today.

    2. The jihadist behind the Islamic State in Somalia

    Muumin lived in Sweden through the 1990s and early 2000s and later moved to the UK. Back in Somalia, he joined al-Shabaab and became a prominent figure in the group’s jihadist videos. Such videos aim to maintain morals, attract new recruits and create sympathy for the group.

    In 2015, Muumin defected to lead the Islamic State in Somalia. His second-in-command was another Ali Suleiban clansman, Mahad Moalim. In 2016, the first video of the group was circulated through Islamic State media outlets.

    A milestone for the group followed its 2017 suicide bombing of the Juba Hotel in Bosaso, Puntland’s commercial capital and sea port. This enabled the Islamic State in Somalia to pressure Bossaso-based businesses to pay it protection money, the single most important source of income. In 2017-2018, the group is believed to have been behind as many as 50 assassinations in central Somalia. The killings were a forceful tool to generate protection money.

    On 27 July 2018, the Somali group was officially designated as a full province by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. The Maktab al-Karrar regional office was based in the small Puntland chapter, giving it global responsibilities.

    The Somali group was made responsible for the central African and the Mozambique provinces of the Islamic State. Money flowed to the group from the Islamic State, as did extortion money from Bossaso, other northern Puntland cities and more infrequently from Mogadishu.

    In the first half of 2022, the US Treasury claimed that the organisation generated US$2.3 million from extortion payments, related imports, livestock and agriculture. The regional office and Muumin emerged as key financial players in east Africa, and even outside it, from their base in Buur Dexhtaal in Bari Puntland. Indeed, unnamed US officials claimed in 2023 that Muumim had been made the transnational leader of the Islamic State.

    3. An overblown reputation

    The Islamic State’s reputation in Somalia is often overstated. The group has never captured or held large territories. Its numbers in 2024 were estimated to be between 600 and 1,600. That pales in comparison to al-Shabaab in the south of Somalia.

    Its links to a planned attack on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm 2024 were probably weak and failed to hold up in court. And the jihadist linked to a planned attack in the Vatican 2018 seems to have left Islamic State prior to the planning.

    It is also doubtful that Muumin is the global leader of the Islamic State as claimed by some. That’s for two main reasons. First, an Islamic State leader has to be drawn from a tribe related to the prophet (Qureshi). Muumin is not. Second, the Islamic State in Somalia is the smallest of the Islamic State provinces in Africa. It is likely that a leader of a stronger province would have ranked higher.

    Although the income-gathering capacities of the Puntland-based group give it prominence in the Islamic State media, the Islamic State in Somalia does not rank higher than the Islamic State in the Sahara and Mozambique.

    4. Down but not out

    The Puntland authorities launched a relatively successful counter-offensive against the Islamic State in January 2025. This was combined with air support by the US and the United Arab Emirates.

    Puntland won important battles in January and February, including an attack in which it killed 70 Islamic State fighters.

    By late February, the morale of the Islamic State fighters seemed to break. With the fall of Buur Dexhtaal, the main base, in March, all the larger known bases had fallen. Many of the fleeing foreign fighters were captured.

    But the Islamic State is not defeated. The terrain enabled some of the fighters to hide. Neither Muumin, who is in his 70s, nor his second-in-command Abdirahman Fahiye have been reported killed. There are at least several hundred fighters left.

    If the Islamic State is still able to extort money from the northern business community, it could recruit from the large numbers of Oromo Ethiopian refugees in and around Bosaso, as well as locals who need jobs.

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

    – ref. Islamic State in Somalia: the terrorist group’s origins, rise and recent battlefield defeats – https://theconversation.com/islamic-state-in-somalia-the-terrorist-groups-origins-rise-and-recent-battlefield-defeats-252303

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Low-altitude pilot projects launch

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government today launched a first batch of 38 low-altitude economy (LAE) Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects.

    The Working Group on Developing LAE approved the 38 projects after reviewing 72 project proposals. They cover a wide range of fields and application scenarios, including emergency and rescue, logistics and distribution, inspections and safety maintenance, surveillance, and low-altitude infrastructure.

    The projects are being implemented by enterprises, research institutes, public utilities and government departments.

    Officiating at today’s launch event, Chief Executive John Lee said: “The LAE is one of our nation’s strategic emerging industries, as well as the example in exploring new quality productive forces.”

    He outlined that the LAE not only gives rise to various emerging industries, but also opens up a wide range of application scenarios with great potential.

    “It is set to strengthen city management and business efficiency, and create a whole new experience of smart living for the public, making it an important growth engine for the economy.

    “The Government will unleash the potential of the LAE by bringing together research and development outcomes and corporate efforts, taking forward the LAE in a safe and healthy manner to make Hong Kong a pioneer in the emerging new quality productive forces industry of the LAE, creating a new era of a ‘smart sky’.”

    Also speaking at the launch, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan said the sandbox projects will help to accumulate experience and data, thereby allowing the Government to devise comprehensive infrastructure support for the execution of LAE activities.

    “With the launch of the various sandbox projects from April, and in the coming months ahead, we really hope that the society, and members of the public, will visualise the projects and they can even touch these projects.

    “And we would like to hope that with all these projects launching, we would incorporate the innovation and technology into our daily lives”

    She added that the Government plans to amend existing regulations with regard to low-altitude drones. Weight limits will be increased, allowing heavier and more sophisticated drones to be used.

    The Government also plans to introduce a special provision enabling the Director-General of Civil Aviation to allow trials of more sophisticated and heavier low-altitude equipment, including models which can carry passengers.

    A number of organisations conducting pilot projects had booths at the event to showcase their application scenarios and other features. A logo specifically designed for the LAE Regulatory Sandbox was also unveiled.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: RYVYL Secures Major Payments-as-a-Service Contracts, Set to Onboard Nearly One Million New Accounts in the next 12 Months

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    First contract has onboarded over 1,000 accounts with 50,000+ more accounts expected in 2025

    Second contract to onboard over 900,000 accounts over a 12-month period beginning Q2 2025

    These new contracts reinforce 2025 revenue outlook of $80 million to $90 million

    SAN DIEGO, CA, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RYVYL Inc. (NASDAQ: RVYL) (“RYVYL” or the “Company”), a leading provider of cutting-edge payment solutions, announced that its subsidiary RYVYL EU has secured two Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS) contracts, which are expected to onboard nearly one million new accounts over the next 12 months. These agreements significantly expand RYVYL’s footprint in Europe and strengthen its long-term growth trajectory.

    Fredi Nisan, CEO of RYVYL, said: “Following the successful launch of our first digital Payments-as-a-Service (PaaS) contract, we have now secured a second, larger partnership with a fully digital bank serving tens of millions of customers across 180 countries. With over 80% of its transactions involving cross-border payments, this partner chose RYVYL PaaS for our extensive presence in Europe and North America, robust security infrastructure, and seamless multi-currency settlement capabilities.”

    “These agreements further validate our ability to serve high-growth financial platforms and support their global expansion. Our advanced payment solutions provide seamless onboarding, compliance expertise, and the operational scale required to power modern digital banking ecosystems.”

    • The first contract, with a leading international money service provider, offers both virtual and physical payment cards managed through RYVYL’s payments platform and mobile app. RYVYL has already successfully onboarded 1,000 client accounts, with over 50,000 more accounts expected in 2025.
    • The second contract, with one of the world’s largest fully digital banking platforms, is projected to onboard 900,000 new customer accounts over a 12-month period, starting in Q2 2025. API integrations and testing have already started, and initial onboarding is set to begin in the coming months.

    “These contracts reinforce our 2025 revenue guidance of $80 million to $90 million and are also expected to contribute operational efficiencies and increasing gross margin that will drive positive annual adjusted EBITDA and positive operating cash flow in the second half of 2025,” added Nisan.

    The foregoing guidance is based on the Company’s continuation of the business, as currently conducted. On January 24, 2025, the Company entered into an agreement with a financing source that was structured as a pre-funded asset sale with a 90-day closing period, which ends on April 23, 2025 and may be extended an additional 30 days to May 23, 2025, if the Company pays $500,000 for such extension. Shares in the Company’s RYVYL EU subsidiary were placed in escrow during the closing period. Although there are no guarantees, the Company intends to terminate the asset sale within the closing period by paying $16.5 million in consideration of such termination. The Company’s financial guidance for 2025 is based on fully retaining its RYVYL EU subsidiary.

    About RYVYL

    RYVYL Inc. (NASDAQ: RVYL) was born from a passion for empowering a new way to conduct business-to-business, consumer-to-business, and peer-to-peer payment transactions around the globe. By leveraging electronic payment technology for diverse international markets, RYVYL is a leading innovator of payment transaction solutions reinventing the future of financial transactions. Since its founding as GreenBox POS in 2017 in San Diego, RYVYL has developed applications enabling an end-to-end suite of turnkey financial products with enhanced security and data privacy, world-class identity theft protection, and rapid speed to settlement. As a result, the platform can log immense volumes of immutable transactional records at the speed of the internet for first-tier partners, merchants, and consumers around the globe. www.ryvyl.com

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes information that constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs, assumptions, and expectations regarding future events, which in turn are based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding timely payment of the second tranche, the benefit to stockholders from the repayment of the Note and repurchase of the Preferred Stock, and the timing and expectation of revenues from the license described herein and are charactered by future or conditional words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate” and “continue” or similar words. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss future expectations and plans, which contain projections of future results of operations or financial condition or state other forward-looking information. By their nature, forward-looking statements address matters that are subject to risks and uncertainties. A variety of factors could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those expressed in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including the risk that the licensee understands and complies with various banking laws and regulations that may impact the licensee’s ability to process transactions. For example, federal money laundering statutes and Bank Secrecy Act regulations discourage financial institutions from working with operators of certain industries – particularly industries with heightened cash reporting obligations and restrictions – as a result of which, banks may refuse to process certain payments and/or require onerous reporting obligations by payment processors to avoid compliance risk. These statements are also subject to any damages the Company could suffer as the result of previously announced litigation or actions of any governmental agencies. These and other risk factors affecting the Company are discussed in detail in the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether because of the latest information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable laws.

    Disclaimer Regarding Financial Information

    The financial information presented in this press release, for the year ended December 31, 2024, is based on preliminary financial statements prepared by management, for the year ended December 31, 2024. Accordingly, such financial information may be subject to change. All such information contained in this press release will be qualified with reference to the audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024, which the Company intends to release on or before March 27, 2025, and in any event by March 31, 2025, and will be posted on www.sec.gov. While the Company does not expect there to be any material changes to the financial information provided in this press release, any variation between the Company’s actual results and the preliminary financial information set forth herein may be material.

    IR Contact:
    David Barnard, Alliance Advisors Investor Relations, 415-433-3777, ryvylinvestor@allianceadvisors.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Intermap’s Insurance Business Starts 2025 With Strong Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Year-to-date insurance awards surpass $1.1 million

    Two new strategic partnerships with major insurance customers

    DENVER, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) (“Intermap” or the “Company”), a global leader in 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, today announced that its global insurance business is off to a strong start in 2025 with awards surpassing $1.1 million from new client subscriptions and multiple renewals.

    Intermap is pleased to announce a new, large multiyear subscription with a major bank-insurance group operating in five European countries. Serving retail, private banking, SME and mid-cap clients, the group has adopted the latest generation of Intermap’s Aquarius RMA solution for natural hazards and climate change risk quantification. Using AI-powered modeling and continually updated 3D terrain data, the solution delivers precise risk assessments throughout the policy lifecycle—from underwriting to claims adjustment—empowering the group to deploy innovative, data-driven strategies for climate and sustainability challenges.

    Intermap also recently secured a major partnership with PREMIUM Insurance Company Limited, which adopted Intermap’s next-generation Aquarius RMA natural hazard solution. This collaboration marks a significant step forward for flood risk management in Europe, ensuring that homeowners and businesses in these markets benefit from more informed and reliable insurance decisions.

    “Providing property insurance in the Czech Republic and Slovakia without high-quality flood maps and robust risk assessment would be increasingly time and labor-intensive,” said Marek Benko, Member of the Board of Directors at PREMIUM Insurance. “By integrating Intermap’s advanced mapping solutions, we are enhancing our underwriting precision, building greater trust with our reinsurers, and ensuring our clients receive the most sustainable coverage possible.”

    “We are seeing increased demand for our applications and solutions in our insurance vertical, driving record revenue early in the year,” said Patrick A. Blott, Intermap Chairman and CEO. “Our data products are one of a kind, making our subscriber base sticky with de-minimis churn.” Mr. Blott continued, “Insurance companies are increasingly leveraging 3D geospatial data to enhance risk assessment and evaluate property vulnerabilities such as flood or wildfire exposure with greater precision. Building upon our 3D foundation data, Intermap incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques into our NEXTMap solution to create globally available digital elevation models at resolutions as fine as a single meter, offering our insurance clients and other verticals the ability to make unparalleled, data-driven decisions. We look forward to updating the market as we build upon these new wins and execute against our current pipeline of insurance industry opportunities.”

    Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results and Conference call

    As a reminder, Intermap will report its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 5:00 pm ET. The Company’s CEO Patrick Blott, CFO Jennifer Bakken and COO Jack Schneider will host a live webinar to review the results, provide Company updates and answer investor questions following the presentation.

    CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

    Date Thursday, March 27, 2025
    Time 5:00 pm ET
    Link Register
       

    Learn more about Intermap’s global insurance solutions at intermap.com/insurance.

    Intermap Reader Advisory 
    Certain information provided in this news release, including reference to revenue growth, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate”, “expect”, “project”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “will be”, “will consider”, “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap’s forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap’s Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

    About Intermap Technologies 
    Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermap’s 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the world’s largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Company’s collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermap’s products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation. 

    For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact:
    Jennifer Bakken
    Executive Vice President and CFO
    CFO@intermap.com
    +1 (303) 708-0955

    Sean Peasgood
    Investor Relations
    Sean@SophicCapital.com
    +1 (647) 260-9266

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Introduces Bedrock (BR) Listing with Spot & Futures Trading, Offering 150,000 USDT to Power Next-Gen DeFi Restaking

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announced the listing of Bedrock (BR) on both spot and futures markets, scheduled for March 20, 2025, 12:05 (UTC), subject to sufficient liquidity. To celebrate the launch, MEXC is introducing an Airdrop+ rewards pool totaling 150,000 USDT, strengthening its support for innovative multi-asset liquid restaking solutions in the DeFi ecosystem.

    Revolutionizing DeFi: MEXC Lists Bedrock (BR) to Drive Multi-Asset Restaking Adoption

    Bedrock (BR) is an innovative blockchain project offering a multi-asset liquid restaking protocol, enabling users to earn enhanced yields on Ethereum, Bitcoin, and DePIN rewards while retaining liquidity. By integrating with DeFi ecosystems such as EigenLayer, Babylon, and the Bedrock Diamonds rewards system, Bedrock helps users maximize asset efficiency and compound returns. With 278,627 token holders, $441.77M total restaked, and 4,628.28 BTC in reserves, it delivers a robust suite of solutions that seamlessly integrate staking and restaking functionalities. The BR token serves as a key utility and governance component, driving growth and adoption across multiple blockchain networks. Learn more about Bedrock (BR) here.

    By listing Bedrock (BR), MEXC underscores its dedication to championing transformative DeFi protocols. Leveraging its robust trading environment, deep liquidity, and expansive global reach, MEXC provides Bedrock with a powerful launchpad to scale the adoption of its multi-asset liquid restaking technology. Through strategic marketing initiatives, trading events, and ecosystem collaborations, MEXC amplifies Bedrock’s visibility, showcasing its pioneering contributions to yield optimization, governance, and cross-chain synergy. This approach allows MEXC to bridge cutting-edge innovations with global markets, empowering participants across the DeFi spectrum.

    Celebrate the BR Listing with a 150,000 USDT Prize Pool

    MEXC continues its mission to support innovative blockchain projects by listing Bedrock (BR) in the Innovation Zone on March 20, 2025(UTC). The BR/USDT spot market will be available first, followed by the BR USDT perpetual futures launch , offering up to 50x leverage in both cross and isolated margin modes.

    To mark the occasion, a 150,000 USDT prize pool will be available through a series of exclusive events from March 18, 2025, at 11:00 (UTC) to April 1, 2025, at 11:00 (UTC).

    Event 1: Airdrop+ Rewards

    • Deposit and share 90,000 USDT (New user exclusive).
    • Futures Challenge — Trade to share 50,000 USDT in futures bonuses (Open to all users).
    • Invite friends and share 10,000 USDT (Open to all users).

    Your Easiest Way to Trending Tokens

    MEXC aims to become the go-to platform offering the widest range of valuable crypto assets. The platform has grown its user base to 34 million by offering a diverse selection of tokens, high-frequency airdrops, competitive fees, and comprehensive liquidity. In 2024, MEXC launched a total of 2,376 new tokens, including 1,716 initial listings and 605 memecoins, with total airdrop rewards exceeding $136 million.

    About MEXC

    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto”. Serving over 34 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, frequent airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.

    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu
    PR Manager
    lucia.hu@mexc.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by MEXC. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/12e5bc85-cc42-49ed-8284-6cd27fb0f6c6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Draft Transformation Fund Concept document out for public comment

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has published the Draft Transformation Fund concept document for a 30-day public commentary period.

    Members of the public and interested parties are invited to make inputs and comments on the Draft Concept from 20 March until 7 May.

    The aim of the fund is to aggregate Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) funds in support of the participation, transformation and sustainability of black-owned enterprises in the economy.

    “This provides an opportunity for the seventh administration, working with the private sector, to increase the effective economic participation of black-owned and managed enterprises, including small, medium and micro enterprises and co-operatives, and enhance their access to financial and non-financial support in line with the requirement of the B-BBEE Act,” Tau said.

    It is expected that an amount of R100 billion will be aggregated over the term of the current administration through a joint effort by government, in partnership with the private sector. 

    “We firmly are in pursuit to transform the economy, as guided by the Vision 2030 of the National Development Plan, which is to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality. Our Constitutional imperative places a collective burden on all of us to advocate for equality and redress,” Tau said.

    The objectives of the fund are as follows:

    • Promote economic transformation in order to enable meaningful participation of black people in the economy.
    • Improve access to funding for black-owned and controlled enterprises.
    • Empower and support black-owned and controlled enterprises participation in value chains across key sectors of the economy.
    • Mobilise financial resources from the private and public sector using B-BBEE legislation.
    • The Minister would like to affirm that the requirements of the Fund are no additional requirements for entities over and above what currently exists in the B-BBEE policy. 

    The B-BBEE policy, through the Codes of Good Practice, requires that entities must contribute through ESD in the 3% of Net Profit After Tax (NPAT) to the development of black suppliers, black industrialists and SMMEs to broaden the industrial and services base of the country.

    “Through the Transformation Fund, we maintain this principle of establishing a partnership between established businesses and emerging businesses, as well as diversification of suppliers within the value chains, as contained in the B-BBEE Codes. 

    “However, we would like to see much more impact and spending on relevant ESD activities that must lead to growth and sustainability of black-owned enterprises and SMMEs by having a coordinated effort,” Tau said.

    Particular attention will be given to businesses owned by women, youth and people living with disabilities, especially those based in rural and township areas. 

    These groups have historically faced significant barriers to economic participation, and the challenges of unequal access to resources and opportunities remain deeply entrenched in South African society.

    “Their meaningful participation in key sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing, agriculture and tourism, is vital for stimulation of economic activities across all regions of our country with their unique potential.

    “We will be putting in place governance structures that will ensure that there is accountability to both government and the private sector, transparency and efficiency in managing the fund. 

    “We will be establishing a Special Purpose Vehicle that will have accountability to an Oversight Committee and a board with the required skills and capacity. 

    “During the 30-day commentary period, we will be having sessions with stakeholder to create awareness, while soliciting more inputs,” Tau said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The PKK says it will lay down its arms. What are the chances of lasting peace between Turkey and the Kurds? Podcast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    For over 40 years, the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, has waged an armed insurgency against Turkey, fighting for Kurdish rights and autonomy.

    But in late February, Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK’s imprisoned founder, called for the group to lay down its arms and dissolve itself. Days later, the PKK, which is labelled as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, Europe and the US, declared a ceasefire with Turkey.

    In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to political scientist Pinar Dinc about what’s led to this moment and whether it could be the beginning of a lasting peace between Turkey and the Kurds.

    Despite being imprisoned in solitary confinement since his capture in 1999, Öcalan has remained a central figure in the Kurdish movement, both in Turkey and across the region.

    His call for the PKK to abandon its armed struggle came months after the leader of a Turkish ultra-nationalist political party launched an initiative to bring an end to the conflict.

    Over the past few decades, previous rounds of peace talks between the PKK and Turkey, most notably in 2009 and 2013-15, have collapsed.

    But Pinar Dinc, an associate professor of political science at Lund University in Sweden, says that since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel and the war in Gaza, the situation in the Middle East has rapidly changed. “It’s mutually beneficial to put an end to this war,” she says. “Both groups recognise the necessity of addressing regional tensions.”

    Dinc says international support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in north-eastern Syria, and its Rojava revolution, means that Turkey has been forced to recognise a new “Syrian Kurdish reality”. At the same time, she says, the Kurdish movement has also reached a limit in what it can achieve in an era of modern warfare.

     Turkey has a huge army. It’s one of the biggest armies of Nato. Now we see increased use of drones surveillance and advanced weaponry, and I think the PKK guerrillas in the Qandil mountains, what they refer to as the medya defence zones, they’re also realising that this is getting more and more difficult.

    Limited discussions began in March between the Turkish government and Kurdish political parties on a way forward in peace negotiations. Dinc says this is a real opportunity for a broader reconciliation process, but there will be real challenges in the detail of what it means for Turkey’s Kurdish population.

     The PKK is an outcome of structural problems arising from the longstanding oppression and marginalisation of Kurds in Turkey, and addressing these root causes is essential for achieving lasting peace.

    Listen to the conversation with Dinc on The Conversation Weekly podcast.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Mend Mariwany. Sound design was by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer.

    Newsclips in this episode from AP Archive, AFP News Agency, Sky News, Med TV, Gazete Duvar, DW News, Al Jazeera English and France 24 English.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Pinar Dinc is the principal investigator of the ECO-Syria project, which receives funding from the Strategic Research Area: The Middle East in the Contemporary World (MECW) at the Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, Sweden.

    – ref. The PKK says it will lay down its arms. What are the chances of lasting peace between Turkey and the Kurds? Podcast – https://theconversation.com/the-pkk-says-it-will-lay-down-its-arms-what-are-the-chances-of-lasting-peace-between-turkey-and-the-kurds-podcast-252646

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: EThekwini Municipality commits to building houses for flood victims

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    EThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba says the city remains committed to ensuring that permanent houses are built for the families affected by the recent floods.

    Speaking at during an Executive Council (Exco) meeting held this week, Xaba reported that between 19 February and 15 March 2025, the recurring floods have claimed the lives of 15 people and caused extensive damage to infrastructure.

    Xaba said the report received from the Joint Operations Centre indicated that 1 452 houses and 5 939 people were affected. The worst affected areas include Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu, Pinetown, KwaDabeka and Lamontville.

    Xaba conveyed the council’s heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, saying that the city is working with the bereaved families to ensure that their loved ones receive a dignified burial. 

    “Together with the Premier [Thamsanqa Ntuli] and the Chairperson of Trading Services, Mduduzi Nkosi, we visited the affected families in Inanda and Lamontville, including those who have been relocated to family-friendly accommodation in the inner-city. As… [the three spheres of] government, we are committed to ensuring that permanent houses are built for these families,” Xaba said.

    However, Xaba noted the challenges encountered in building permanent houses in identified sites.

    He said the existing community members are not cooperating, either because they themselves are flood victims who have not been allocated houses, or they do not want low-cost houses in their neighbourhood.

    “As the rains persist, we will continue to face the shortage of land to resettle flood victims, considering that the city has 603 informal settlements and some of them are located in flood-prone areas. Working together, we must intensify public awareness campaigns urging people not to settle in flood plains because the frequency and intensity of floods, due to climate change, poses a huge risk to human lives and infrastructure,” Xaba said.

    Since 2017, the city has been experiencing recurring floods, and this has put a huge strain on the city’s water drainage system.

    In eThekwini, stormwater systems are designed to handle a “1-in-10-year” storm event, Xaba said.

    “Our large canals and river protection works are built to withstand 1-in-50 or 1-in-100-year storm events. In the last two months, we have been experiencing heavy downpours that we would ordinarily receive in every 20 – 40 years.

    “It is in this context that we must continue to urge members of the community to dispose of waste in designated places so that during heavy rains, the same waste does not clog our drainage system and flood our homes,” Xaba said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Human Rights Festival celebrates liberation heroes

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Constitution Hill will this weekend host one of Gauteng’s key events – the 2025 Human Rights Festival from 20 to 23 March 2025.

    “Celebrating it’s 7th year, the event invites the public to commemorate South Africa’s Human Rights Day and celebrate the memory of those liberation heroes who took a stand for human rights in the Sharpeville 1960 massacre.

    “The festival aims to build greater awareness and knowledge around human rights and to promote the importance of an active citizenry,” said Constitution Hill in a statement.

    This as South Africa marks Human Rights Day on 21 March 2025. Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, deliver the keynote address at the commemoration event scheduled to take place at the Derrick Ferreira Stadium, in Kariega.

    The 2025 Human Rights Festival serves as both a global inspiration and a display of the strength of South Africa’s ubuntu culture in working towards a just and inclusive society. 

    Civil society organisations have worked with Constitution Hill to shape a unique programme for the event. 

    Hosted on the apron of the Constitutional Court and using venues in the Old Fort and Women’s Jail, the festival will bring together a public audience; community-based organisations; social movements; government and non-governmental organisations, and international organisations. 

    The four-day event is free to all and gates open at 10h00 on all three days. 

    On Thursday, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Lebogang Maile will deliver a powerful public lecture at Constitution Hill’s Women’s Jail Museum to honour the life and legacy of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. 

    The opening of Qhakaza: Pain Undefined Curated by Gift Kgosierileng, explores how Mama Winnie Mandela used fashion as a form of resistance and empowerment. 

    “Through carefully selected pieces, photographs, and multimedia installations, the exhibition highlights how her iconic style became a tool for reclaiming agency and asserting dignity in the face of systemic oppression,” said the statement.

    There will also be non-governmental organisation (NGO) capacity building sessions; learners programs and public dialogue sessions. The day will end with an NGO and film makers networking session. 

    On Friday, the official opening ceremony will include the 1000 Drums for Solidarity. Drumming serves as a powerful tool to amplify marginalised voices and foster solidarity within community groups. 

    There will be multiple interactive sessions including workshops and dialogues; family fun at the children’s village; a local authors book fair and book readings; film festival showcasing local and global talent; live poetry segments and a curated maker’s market.

    A live show will take place from 17h00 – 21h00, headlined by renowned jazz artist Mandisi Dyantyis.

    On Sunday, Constitution Hill invites the public to the last day of the event to take a stand and join together for Human Rights in the 8km WeThePeopleWalk Walk through the city with a fun filled program kicking off from 7am.

    The walk will return back to the site for various activities and a local makers market. 

    The festival takes place at Constitution Hill, formerly a site of prisons, where many great liberation leaders were incarcerated. 

    Today Constitution Hill has been transformed into a beacon of light for democracy and social justice. A living museum that executes multiple education, creative development, human rights and constitutional public programs throughout the year. 

    For more information visits www.humanrightsfestival.co.za. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nelson Mandela Bay sails to cruise industry growth

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The strong working relationship between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and local tour guides and operators, has proven to be the key driving force for the booming cruise tourism industry within the city.

    According to the Tourist Guide Association of Mandela Bay (TGAMB), which represents the tour guides and operators within Nelson Mandela Bay, the industry has seen drastic growth post-COVID-19, due to the ongoing good working relationship with the municipality. 

    Luxolo Kanti confirmed that huge strides have been made within the tourism industry, with the “cruise industry as the catalyst and gateway” to the region’s broader tourism growth.

    Kanti noted that the association, working with the municipality to rebuild the cruise industry, has seen more diversity and inclusiveness.

    “A lot of emerging tour guides and operators have managed to get into the industry and thrive. Through a number of training programmes and workshops we have received on areas like Digital Marketing, Tourism Best Practice and Packaging of Cruise Tourism in South Africa, we have managed to acquire skills to market both the city and our businesses to attract more people to venture into the cruise tourism experience across the world,” he said.

    Kanti also commended the municipality’s openness to the industry’s advice and contributions in policy development.
    “In as much as we have made strides, there are still areas we need to improve on, both as the industry and the municipality, so that we can be competitive against other major cities.”

    Successes 

    Highlighting the success of the current cruise season, NMBM mayor, Babalwa Lobishe said  Nelson Mandela Bay has already received 34 cruise vessels which docked at the city’s ports, from the 45 scheduled for the season which started in November last year.

    “In March alone, there has been seven cruise vessel dock-ins and five overnight stays, with three vessels still expected for this month. During the current cruise season, there will be 15 cruise vessels that will stay for more than one day. The cruise vessels for this season are expected to spend a combined total of 61 days,” Lobishe said.

    The mayor also announced that the current cruise season is expected to generate significant economic benefits for the region, with a forecasted R100 million in economic spin-offs, an increase from R85 million during the 2023/24 season.

    “This forecast is based on the anticipated 50 000 passengers who will be spending on tours, dining, shopping, and other cultural and heritage experiences across Nelson Mandela Bay. This influx of visitors will not only boost our local economy but also showcase the rich diversity and vibrant culture of our city,” the mayor said.

    Appeal

    In line with the city’s Tourism Master Plan, several initiatives are being pursued to enhance the region’s tourism appeal. These include the development of new cultural and heritage routes, the promotion of township tourism through community forums, and the expansion of events strategies aimed at attracting international visitors.

    Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture, Bassie Kamana, emphasised the municipality’s commitment to ensuring that the city remains a top destination for tourists and a thriving community for the residents.

    According to Kamana, part of the work that the NMBM Tourism Sub-Directorate is doing is to create a conducive environment for the cruise industry to optimise on regional economic opportunities.

    “Working with the vast tourism industry stakeholders, the metro encourages passengers to explore the full breadth of the region, including private game reserves, cultural and heritage sites, and local businesses.

    “This is done to make sure that passengers do not just sleep over in the metro, but spend funds, explore and experience the region’s tourist attractions and create unforgettable memories,” Kamana said.

    The MMC added that working with its development entity Mandela Bay Development Agency, Transnet, Eastern Cape Tourism, and other stakeholders, it has made strategic infrastructure investments to improve port facilities, tourism products and heritage sites. This is so as to ensure a seamless and welcoming experience for cruise tourists.

    The NMBM has also paid special attention to tourist safety and hospitality by training and recruiting youth with a tourism background to work as tourism ambassadors. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Lords marks 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    Find out more and see who’s taking part https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2025/march/75th-anniversary-of-the-european-convention-on-human-rights-in-the-spotlight/

    Catch-up on House of Lords business:

    Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
    Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/

    Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:

    • X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/houseoflords.parliament.uk
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UKHouseofLords/
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ukhouseoflords/albums
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-house-of-lords
    • Threads: https://www.threads.net/@UKHouseOfLords

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCgqK5H3Hvw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: What are Bonds?

    Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)

    In the highly complex, interconnected financial world, bonds play a crucial role. Watch our latest Back to Basics video to discover how bonds work, why they matter to both individual investors and governments, and the essential role they play in the global economy.

    Read about bonds here: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2025/03/back-to-basics-bonds-and-yields-s-ali-abbas

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBH-Vgwnekw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Berge Mawson report published

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Berge Mawson report published

    Fatal accident on board a bulk carrier at Bunyu Island anchorage, Indonesia.

    Image courtesy of Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi

    Today, we have published our accident investigation report into the deaths of three stevedores in a cargo hold access space on board Berge Mawson on 27 June 2022 at Bunyu Island anchorage, Indonesia.

    Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said:

    Cargo operations on board bulk carriers require stevedores and other shore workers to carry out tasks on board, often working separately from the crew. In this accident, it is evident that the stevedores did not have sufficient understanding of the hazards posed by coal cargoes nor, more worryingly, had they received training about the dangers associated with entering enclosed spaces.

    Although Berge Mawson’s crew were well-trained in their emergency response to enclosed space accidents, their drill scenarios did not involve shore workers who could be on board at the time. In the crew’s rush to collect rescue equipment they left the entry point to an enclosed space containing a noxious atmosphere unguarded, and this oversight tragically led to the second and third stevedores dying in a well-intentioned but misguided attempt to rescue their colleague.

    Despite international and industry guidance on the training stevedores should receive before working on bulk carriers, InterManager data shows that, of the 257 enclosed space fatalities reported between 1999 and 2023, 67 (26%) were stevedores or shore workers. To help prevent further loss of life it is essential that bulk carrier and terminal operating procedures, practices and training equip shore workers to operate safely on board the vessels they attend.

    The report, available via this link, contains details of what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations.

    This investigation was carried out by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) on behalf of the Isle of Man Administration in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the MAIB and the Red Ensign Group Category 1 registries of Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Gibraltar.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bluefin tuna fishery applications set to open

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Bluefin tuna fishery applications set to open

    Fishers with commercial licences who want to apply for an authorisation to fish commercially for bluefin tuna in English waters in 2025 can start the process from 20 March 2025.

    Marine Management Organisation (MMO), in support of Defra, has published guidance to support fishers through the application process and explain how the fishery will operate this year.

    The UK has a quota allocation of 66 tonnes of bluefin tuna in 2025. From this, 45 tonnes will be used for the commercial fishery.

    MMO aim to issue licence authorisations for 15 commercial vessels with three tonnes of quota per vessel. The fishery will be open from 1 July to 31 December 2025. 

    In summary, to be eligible to apply you must:

    • Hold a commercial fishing licence and be registered in either England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
    • Apply for a vessel of 12 metres and under in overall length.
    • Agree to limit each fishing trip targeting bluefin tuna to no more than 24 hours.
    • Agree to use rod and reel fishing gears only. No chumming will be permitted. 
    • Agree to record all catches of bluefin tuna and submit an Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Document (eBCD) record for all landings.

    The application period will close on 21 April 2025. Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline will not be considered. For further information and to apply please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluefin-tuna-bft-commercial-fishery-within-uk-waters. 

    Information on the English catch and release recreational bluefin tuna fishery will be available in due course. Information when available will be published on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluefin-tuna-bft-fisheries-in-2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Statement to the Eighth Review Meeting of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UK Statement to the Eighth Review Meeting of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management

    Delivered at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 19 March 2025

    President,

    The United Kingdom remains gravely concerned about the nuclear safety risks associated with Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, including its continued control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is preventing the competent authorities of Ukraine from upholding their commitments and responsibilities as a Contracting Party to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

    We reject the Russian Federation’s claims of ownership of ZNPP and its reporting of Ukrainian civil nuclear facilities in its national report and presentation to the Joint Convention Review Meeting. We endorse the consistent position of the International Atomic Energy Agency that the ZNPP is a Ukrainian power plant.

    Only Ukraine’s competent authorities are entitled to report on ZNPP. The Russian Federation’s inclusion of nuclear and radiation facilities that form part of the territory of Ukraine should be rejected outright by the 8th Review meeting and as President to the Review Meeting, we ask that you ensure this is achieved.

    We commend Ukraine for its continued commitment to participate in the 8th Review Meeting and meet the obligations of the Joint Convention for the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste management in what are exceptionally difficult circumstances.

    Russia’s actions have demonstrated a blatant disregard for international nuclear safety and the objectives of the Joint Convention. Russia’s reckless activity in the vicinity of all of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities has created unacceptable risks. It is clear that Russia, in the context of the Joint Convention, is acting counter to the principles of Article 1 on maintaining levels of safety, effective defences against potential hazards and the prevention of accidents.

    We express our full support to the IAEA for its work with Ukraine to help decrease the risk of a nuclear accident and ensure the safety of nuclear material and facilities in Ukraine. We are grateful to IAEA personnel who continue to operate under the most challenging of circumstances.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government Workforce Statistics December 2024

    Source: Scottish Government

    An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

    The latest quarterly Scottish Government Workforce Information statistics have been published today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. These statistics cover the numbers of workers, staff sickness rates, and the diversity of staff up to the most recent quarter ending December 2024.

    The statistics show that:

    • At the end of December 2024 there were 8,975 full time equivalent (FTE) directly employed staff, an increase on last year’s figure of 8,824 (1.7%) at the end of December 2023.
    • At the end of December 2024 99.5% of full time equivalent (FTE) directly employed staff were permanent and 0.5% were temporary. This compares to last year (December 2023: 99.2%, 0.8%).
    • There was a 24% decrease in the number (headcount) of contingent (non-directly employed) workers from the end of December 2023 (1,436) to the end of December 2024 (1,096), a decrease of 340 workers.
    • The staff sickness level was 8.6 average working days lost (AWDL) per staff year in the 12 month period ending December 2024, compared with 8.2 AWDL for the 12 month period ending December 2023. This equates to a loss of 3.8% of working days in the 12 month period ending December 2024.
    • Just over half (56.5%) of the workforce were female, compared to 43.5% male. The proportion of female staff is slightly higher than that in the same period last year (56.4% December 2023).
    • At the end of December 2024 the majority of staff were aged between 30 and 59, broken down as follows: 30-39 (28.6%), 40-49 (27.8%), 50-59 (22.6%), 13.9% were aged 16-29, and 7.2% were aged 60 or over.

    Background

    The figures released today were produced in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

    The full statistics are available at:

    https://beta.gov.scot/publications/workforce-information/

    The statistics contain quarterly data from March 2012 to December 2024 and present:

    • full time equivalent numbers and headcounts in each directly employed staff category
    • headcounts of contingent workers engaged in work for the Scottish Government
    • sickness absence levels of directly employed staff, headcounts of directly employed staff by age, disability status, ethnicity, sex, marital/civil partnership status, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.

    The Scottish Government uses the data internally for monitoring the performance of its workforce. Other expected users of the data in this publication are likely to include the general public and media for information about the Scottish Government, and other government departments for comparative purposes.

    Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff. More information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at:

    Statistics and research – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Charitable Bonds housing investment reaches half a billion

    Source: Scottish Government

    Thousands of new homes delivered through scheme.

    Additional investment of £24 million through an innovative programme to deliver affordable homes across Scotland will see total funding in the scheme reach half a billion pounds.

    Started in 2014, the Charitable Bonds scheme provides loans to housing associations to build properties for social rent, while also generating additional funds for the Scottish Government’s affordable housing budget.

    So far, the programme has supported the delivery of more than 4,000 new homes through direct loans to Registered Social Landlords. This has generated a further £146 million to support the delivery of 1,300 social rented homes.

    On a visit to an affordable housing development in Rosewell, Midlothian which has benefitted from the scheme, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville confirmed that additional investment will support the issuing of new bonds to three housing associations.

    Link Group, Kingdom Housing Association and Wheatley Group will be provided with loan finance to build around 175 homes while generating additional funds for future projects.

    Ms Somerville said:

    “We need to use all the tools available to deliver more new affordable homes and help tackle the housing emergency.  The Charitable Bonds programme has successfully supplemented investment in our affordable housing budget while also allowing social landlords to access additional borrowing to build much needed new homes.

    “Taking our investment to more than £500 million demonstrates our commitment to continue that success and see more affordable homes built – building on the 4,000 already delivered through this scheme.

    “We will also continue to support the delivery of social homes through the £768 million investment in affordable housing over the next financial year which will enable the delivery of at least 8,000 more homes, as set out in the Scottish Government’s Budget – an increase of more than £200 million.

    “The Scottish Government is committed to tackling the housing emergency – and while there is more to do, there is real progress being delivered.”

    Scottish Federation of Housing Associations CEO Sally Thomas said:

    “It’s never been more crucial that we deliver many more secure, warm and affordable homes. The Charitable Bonds scheme is an important part of doing so, and it’s great to see SFHA members receiving these funds to deliver the homes we desperately need.

    “Social homes make lives and places better. As we move forward, working our way out of the housing emergency, continuing, consistent and multi-year government investment in our social homes will be essential – not only to provide the homes we need but also to tackle poverty and help us create a fairer Scotland.”

    Allia C&C Director and Head of Scottish Office Peter Freer said:

    “Allia issued its first charitable bonds in 1999, raising just under £1 million to support local housing and community projects in Sheffield. From these small beginnings, we’re proud to now celebrate over £500 million of Scottish Government investment in our bonds since 2014. Through this highly successful partnership, we have provided simple finance and grants to housing associations of all sizes all across Scotland, funding the creation of thousands of new affordable homes.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four suspected drug dealers arrested as part of crime crackdown in Whitechapel

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met officers have arrested four suspected drug dealers as part of work to tackle serious and organised crime in Whitechapel.

    They were arrested on Wednesday, 19 March as part of an investigation into drug supply around Altab Ali Park. They remain in custody. Officers also recovered Class A drugs.

    The arrests were part of Clear, Hold, Build which is designed to reclaim and rebuild neighbourhoods affected by crime by focusing on what matters most to locals.

    Detective Superintendent Vicky Tunstall, the Met’s neighbourhood policing lead for Tower Hamlets, said:

    “Tackling drug supply is a priority for us as we know it’s often linked to other offences such as robbery and violent crime. By taking targeted action, we aim to reduce offending and improve the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors.

    “The operation followed months of planning by local officers, who have been listening to people in Whitechapel to understand what matters most to them.

    “Across the Met, we are focused on tackling the crimes that matter most to communities to reduce offending and improve neighbourhoods.”

    Altab Ali Park has a rich history and cultural significance within Tower Hamlets and the aim is to return it to a location which residents, businesses and visitors by reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.

    The work with Tower Hamlets Council is helping to clear the area of gangs using a range of tactics, such as police and council enforcement officer patrols, as well as engagement with community members and local businesses.

    Also on Wednesday, the Met and the council held a joint event at Altab Ali Park to update the community on the work taking place as part of Clear, Hold, Build.

    Targeted action has led to a significant reduction in violent crime and drug offences. Working together we have achieved the following results since last November in Altab Ali Park and the surrounding area:

    – Seven drugs lines shut down

    – 38 arrests

    – Less knife crime and other violent

    – Fewer neighbourhood crimes

    – Class A drugs and illicit cash removed from the streets

    Cllr Abu Talha Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said:

    “We know that crime and anti-social behaviour is the top concern for our residents, and a major priority for the council and the mayor. This is why we are committed to working in partnership with the police to address these issues.

    “The ‘Clear Hold Build’ project aims not only to reduce crime, drug dealing, and anti-social behaviour around Altab Ali Park but also to rejuvenate and regenerate the area, making it a space that residents can enjoy and take pride in.

    “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Met, council-funded police officers, and Tower Hamlets Enforcement officers, we are already beginning to see positive results.”

    Share your thoughts and experiences about crime and safety in Altab Ali Park and help shape our work by taking part in a quick anonymous survey. Complete the survey here.

    Clear, Hold, Build (CHB) is a three-phase framework developed by the Home Office that uses a problem solving and data-driven approach to improve the local response in tackling Serious and Organised Crime threats in a specific location.

    ‘Clear’ means targeted activity and crime disruption, working with partners; ‘Hold’ means stabilising the area to stop criminals moving in to fill the void; and ‘Build’ means community-driven action to address the causes of criminality and prevent it from happening again. CHB also tackles vulnerabilities (drivers of crime) within communities and those being exploited.

    Improved neighbourhood policing was one of the reasons the Met was removed from special measures. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services also praised improvements to call handling, child exploitation, and public protection.

    Arrest details

    Two 19-year-old men, an 18-year-old man, and a 17-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin. They remain in custody.

    MIL Security OSI –