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  • MIL-OSI: Orezone Gold Reports Record Revenue and Net Income for 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE, OTCQX: ORZCF) (“Orezone” or “Company”) is pleased to report its operational and financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024, and its 2025 guidance.   All dollar amounts are in USD unless otherwise indicated and abbreviation “M” means million.

    Highlights

    • Q4-2024 gold production of 36,502 oz, a 37% increase from the previous quarter.  
    • 2024 gold production of 118,746 oz, exceeding the mid-point of guidance.
    • AISC per oz sold of $1,273 for Q4-2024 and $1,447 for 2024.
    • Record revenue of $283.5M from the sale of 118,697 gold oz at an average realized price of $2,384 per oz in 2024. Gold sales remain unhedged to rising gold prices.
    • 2024 Adjusted EBITDA of $117.2M, Net Income attributable to Orezone shareholders of $55.7M and Earnings per Share attributable to Orezone shareholders of $0.14 and $0.13 on a basic and diluted basis, respectively.
    • Liquidity of $103.2M at year-end with cash of $74.0M and undrawn debt of $29.2M available to finance 2025 growth plans.
    • Stage 1 of hard rock expansion progress continues with first gold on track for Q4-2025.
    • Advancing work towards a secondary listing on the Australian Securities Exchange in mid-2025.

    Patrick Downey, President and CEO, commented “Strong Q4-2024 gold production of 36,502 oz helped deliver another record year for revenue of $283.5 million and net income of $64.1 million while meeting annual production guidance for a second consecutive year. Importantly, Orezone commenced construction of its hard rock expansion in the second half of 2024, a main step towards sustained production growth and setting the foundation for a transformational 2025 where we expect to pour first gold on this brownfield expansion in Q4-2025. First stage of the hard rock expansion is expected to increase the Company’s annual gold production to 170,000 – 185,000 oz in 2026.

    With continued strong gold prices and the closing of recent financings, the Company is well-placed to make further strategic investments in its Bomboré Mine by undertaking additional discovery-focused exploration on high potential targets and evaluating an accelerated start to the second stage of the hard rock expansion which would further increase annual gold production to 220,000 – 250,000 oz.

    The accomplishments achieved in 2024 is a testament to the strength of our team underpinned by the support of our community and government partners, and new and existing shareholders. We remain steadfast in our goal of creating lasting value for all stakeholders.”

    Highlights for Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2024 and Significant Subsequent Events

    (All mine site figures on a 100% basis)   Q4-2024 Q4-2023 FY2024 FY2023
    Operating Performance          
    Gold production oz 36,502 33,916 118,746 141,425
    Gold sales oz 34,833 33,782 118,697 139,696
    Average realized gold price $/oz 2,632 1,986 2,384 1,940
    Cash costs per gold ounce sold1 $/oz 1,077 1,083 1,233 972
    All-in sustaining costs1 (“AISC”) per gold ounce sold $/oz 1,273 1,246 1,447 1,127
    Financial Performance          
    Revenue $000s 91,837 67,580 283,517 271,491
    Earnings from mine operations $000s 45,321 16,108 117,710 97,150
    Net income attributable to shareholders of Orezone1 $000s 30,091 4,012 55,711 43,146
    Net income per common share attributable to shareholders of Orezone          
    Basic $ 0.06 0.01 0.14 0.12
    Diluted $ 0.06 0.01 0.13 0.12
    EBITDA1 $000s 48,139 15,308 128,307 108,418
    Adjusted EBITDA1 $000s 45,058 26,702 117,233 120,036
    Adjusted earnings attributable to shareholders of Orezone1 $000s 27,550 14,267 45,977 53,665
    Adjusted earnings per share attributable to shareholders of Orezone1 $ 0.06 0.04 0.11 0.15
    Cash and Cash Flow Data          
    Operating cash flow before changes in working capital $000s 52,520 28,167 98,444 123,029
    Operating cash flow $000s 28,020 13,891 57,697 79,950
    Free cash flow1 $000s 12,543 682 11,725 36,172
    Cash, end of period $000s 74,021 19,483 74,021 19,483

    1 Cash costs, AISC, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted earnings, Adjusted earnings per share, and Free cash flow are non-IFRS measures. See “Non-IFRS Measures” section below for additional information.

    Full Year 2024 Highlights

    • Outstanding Safety Performance: 5.4M hours worked without a lost-time injury and a low total recordable injury frequency rate of 0.75.
    • Strong Liquidity: Available liquidity of $103.2M at year-end with $74.0M in cash and XOF 17.5 billion ($29.2M) available to be drawn on the Phase II debt facility with Coris Bank International (“Coris Bank”). The Company is well-funded to carry out its 2025 growth plans including the completion of stage 1 of the Phase II hard rock expansion and a minimum 20,000 m diamond drilling exploration program.    
    • Gold Production Guidance Achieved: Gold production of 118,746 oz which exceeded the mid-point of guidance, marking the second consecutive year that the Bomboré Mine has met production guidance since the start up of operations.
    • AISC Per Oz Within Updated Guidance: AISC per oz of $1,447 was within the updated guidance range with operating costs impacted by higher-than-anticipated government royalties and power costs. Relative to original guidance, government royalties were $31 per oz higher due to a better realized gold price and power costs were $57 per oz higher from lower-than-normal grid availability due to regional power issues in the H1-2024. These two cost overrun contributors were both out of the Company’s control and if their cost impacts were removed, original AISC guidance of $1,300 per oz to $1,375 per oz would have been met.
    • Record Annual Revenue: Revenue of $283.5M from the sale of 118,697 gold oz at a realized gold price of $2,384 per oz. The Company’s gold sales remain unhedged to rising gold prices.
    • Record EBITDA, Net Income, and Earnings Per Share: Reported record EBITDA of $128.3M and net income attributable to Orezone shareholders of $55.7M, primarily driven by a 23% increase in the realized gold price from the prior year. Net income per share attributable to Orezone shareholders was a record $0.14 per share on a basic basis and $0.13 per share on a diluted basis.
    • Continued Free Cash Flow Generation: Generated free cash flow of $11.7M with cash flow from operating activities totalling $98.4M after deducting taxes paid of $26.2M but before changes in non-cash working capital. Non-cash working capital increased by $40.7M primarily from the build-up of VAT receivables and long-term ore stockpiles. Cash flow used in investing activities totalled $46.0M as capital expenditures remained elevated as the Company executes on its growth initiatives including the Phase II hard rock expansion.
    • Phase II Hard Rock Expansion on Track for First Gold in 2025: The Company’s Board approved a positive construction decision on stage 1 of the Phase II hard rock expansion on July 10, 2024 after the Company had secured $105M in binding debt and equity commitments described below for the construction. Under stage 1, a 2.5M tonnes per annum (“tpa”) process plant will be built to recover gold from hard rock mineral reserves which is expected to increase future production levels by 50% to over 170,000 oz per annum. First gold for stage 1 of the Phase II expansion remains on track for Q4-2025 with commercial production expected shortly thereafter in early 2026.
    • Phase I Debt Reduced, Bridge Loan Repaid, and Phase II Expansion Financing Secured: Principal repayments totalling XOF 24.0 billion ($39.3M) were made on the Company’s senior borrowings with Coris Bank, including the extinguishment of the XOF 12.0 billion ($19.8M) bridge loan. On August 8, 2024, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement for net proceeds of C$64.8M ($47.3M) with a new cornerstone investor, Nioko Resources Corporation (“Nioko”), a leading West African investment group. On December 19, 2024, the Company successfully upsized its senior debt facility with Coris Bank through a new term loan for XOF 35.0 billion ($58.3M) (“Phase II Term Loan”) to be drawn in multiple tranches as construction progresses. The Company made its first drawdown of XOF 17.5 billion ($27.9M) on the Phase II Term Loan in December 2024.
    • Multi-year Exploration Drill Program Initiated: In August 2024, the Company initiated a multi-year discovery focused drill program with an initial 30,000 m of drilling designed to test the broader size and scale of the Bomboré mineralized system. Initial results from drilling at the North Zone intercepted mineralization 240 m below the current reserve pit limit, including 1.67 g/t gold over 46.00 m, demonstrating the continuity and robustness of the mineralized system at depth, both in terms of grade and overall width (see October 10, 2024 news release).

    Q4-2024 Highlights

    • Gold Production: Quarterly gold production of 36,502 oz increased 37% from Q3-2024 as a result of record plant throughput and improved head grades. Mining extended to Siga East and Siga South pits for a full quarter which contributed a greater blend of soft oxide ore at higher grades to the mill feed.
    • AISC Per Oz: AISC per oz sold was $1,273 per oz, a 23% decrease from Q3-2024, driven mainly by improved gold production as a result of higher grades and better plant throughput.
    • EBITDA, Net Income, and Earnings Per Share: Reported EBITDA of $48.1M and net income attributable to Orezone shareholders of $30.1M. Net income per share attributable to Orezone shareholders was $0.06 per share on both a basic and diluted basis.
    • Free Cash Flow: Generated free cash flow of $12.5M with cash flow from operating activities totalling $52.5M after deducting taxes paid of $6.3M but before changes in non-cash working capital. Cash flow used in investing activities totalled $15.5M as expenditures for the Phase II hard rock expansion began to ramp up.

    Events Subsequent to 2024 Year-End

    • Bought Deal Offering: On March 13, 2025, the Company closed on a public offering of common shares on a bought deal basis with Canaccord Genuity Corp. (“Canaccord”) pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell 42,683,000 common shares at a price of C$0.82 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$35,000,060. Net proceeds from the offering will be used to conduct early works for stage 2 of the Phase II hard rock expansion and for additional exploration. Under stage 2, processing capacity of the hard rock plant will double from the 2.5Mtpa design in stage 1 to 5.0Mtpa after completion of stage 2.
    • Over-allotment Exercise: Canaccord has exercised its over-allotment in full on the bought deal offering and has agreed to purchase an additional 6,402,450 common shares at a price of C$0.82 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$5,250,009. The purchase of shares from the over-allotment closed on March 19, 2025.
    • Private Placement with Nioko: The Company has announced that Nioko intends to acquire, on a non-brokered private placement basis, for 10,719,659 additional common shares at a price of C$0.82 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$8,790,121 to maintain its 19.9% share ownership (before the over-allotment exercise). Closing of this private placement is subject to approval of the TSX and is anticipated to occur in late March 2025.
    • Intention to List on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”): The Company intends to pursue a secondary listing on the ASX by mid-2025, subject to market conditions and the satisfaction of ASX listing requirements as announced in its February 23, 2025 press release. The Company believes a dual listing on the ASX will increase trading liquidity and allow it to access a deeper pool of investors, including specialist mining focused funds.

    2024 Performance and 2025 Guidance

    2024 Performance Compared Against Guidance

    Bomboré Mine (100% basis) Unit Original
    FY2024 Guidance    		 Revised
    FY2024 Guidance4    		 FY2024
    Actuals
    Gold production Au oz 110,000 – 125,000 Unchanged  118,746
    All-In Sustaining Costs123 $/oz Au sold $1,300 – $1,375 $1,400 – $1,475 $1,447
    Sustaining capital12 $M $14 – $15 Unchanged $16.0
    Growth capital – non Phase II Expansion12 $M $16 – $17 Unchanged $17.6
    Growth capital – Phase II Expansion early works12 $M No guidance provided $3.6 $3.6
    Growth capital – Phase II Expansion12 $M No guidance provided $15.0 – $18.0 $15.3
    1. Non-IFRS measures. See “Non-IFRS Measures” section below for additional information.
    2. Foreign exchange rates used to forecast cost metrics include XOF/USD of 600 and CAD/USD of 1.30.
    3. Government royalties of $160/oz included in original AISC guidance based on an assumed gold price of $2,000 per oz. Government royalties of $200/oz were estimated in the revised AISC guidance from a better gold price realized.
    4. Revised guidance details presented in Q3-2024 MD&A.

    2025 Guidance

    Bomboré Mine (100% basis) Unit FY2025 Guidance
    Gold production Au oz 115,000 – 130,000
    All-In Sustaining Costs123 $/oz Au sold $1,400 – $1,500
    Sustaining capital12 $M $9 – $10
    Growth capital (excluding Phase II Expansion)12 $M $44 – $51
    Growth capital – Stage 1 of Phase II Expansion12 $M $75 – $80
    1. Non-IFRS measure. See “Non-IFRS Measures” section below for additional information.
    2. Foreign exchange rates used to forecast cost metrics include XOF/USD of 600 and CAD/USD of 1.35.
    3. Government royalties included in AISC guidance based on an assumed gold price of $2,600 per oz.

    Gold production in 2025 is forecasted to range between 115,000 to 130,000 oz, with the highest production expected in the fourth quarter from the scheduled start-up of the Phase II hard rock plant. Projected gold production from hard rock reserves is between 5,000 to 10,000 oz with actual production dependent on the timing and ramp-up of the new hard rock circuit. Gold production from the existing Phase I oxide plant is guided between 110,000 to 120,000 oz, similar to that achieved in 2024.

    Mining will be concentrated within three main pits delivering most of the direct feed ore with the H pit in the North Zone, and the Siga East and Siga South pits in the South Zone. The 2025 mine plan calls for 22.4M tonnes to be mined by the mining contractor at a strip ratio of approximately 1.8.   The mining contractor placed new excavators, dump trucks, and support equipment into service in November 2024 and is organizing to mobilize additional equipment to site later this year in preparation for the start-up of hard rock mining.

    AISC in 2025 is expected to range between $1,400 to $1,500 per oz sold. AISC per oz is expected to be comparable to 2024 with a small decrease in head grades, an increased strip ratio, and greater government royalties from a higher assumed gold price offset by lower sustaining capital, higher grid utilization, and higher plant throughput from fewer power interruptions and enhanced maintenance practices.

    Sustaining capital is budgeted to fall within the range of $9M to $10M with expenditures directed towards the completion of tailings storage facility (“TSF”) stage 4 lift, extension of the main haul road and perimeter fencing at the southern end of the mining permit, and other capital improvements to the process plant, camp, and mine support equipment and facilities.

    Growth capital is expected to range between $119M to $131M on four major growth projects:

    No. Growth Capital Description Unit FY2025 Guidance
    I. Phase II Hard Rock Expansion – Stage 1 $M $75 – $80
    II. Permanent Back-up Diesel Power Plant $M $22 – $24
    III. TSF Footprint Expansion – Cell 2 $M $11 – $13
    IV. Resettlement Action Plan (“RAP”) $M $11 – $14
      Growth Capital Total $M $119 – $131
           
      Phase II Hard Rock Expansion – Stage 2 $M No guidance provided

    The Company has reserved guidance on 2025 expenditures for stage 2 of the Phase II hard rock expansion until the Company’s Board of Directors has issued a final investment decision to proceed with stage 2 expected later this year. Stage 2 would increase annual gold production to 220,000 – 250,000 oz.  

    I.      Phase II Hard Rock Expansion – Stage 1

    A new 2.5Mtpa hard rock plant to process fresh and lower transition ore is currently under construction and once completed, will operate in tandem with the existing Phase I oxide plant. The current flowsheet for stage 1 of this brownfield expansion consists of a primary jaw crusher, an 18-hour crushed ore stockpile, a single stage 9MW SAG mill, hydrocyclones, and a carbon-in-leach (“CIL”) circuit consisting of five 15.8 m diameter leach tanks. Loaded carbon will be treated in the shared gold recovery circuit, producing gold doré bars from the existing gold room. Tailings from the CIL circuit will be pumped into the expanded tailings facility.

    The Company completed a comprehensive review of the construction progress and costing as part of its annual budgeting exercise for 2025. From this review, schedule to first gold remains in Q4-2025 with a project budget of $90M – $95M with $75M – $80M forecasted in 2025.

    II.      Permanent Back-Up Diesel Power Plant

    A new diesel power plant will be installed to provide continuous power to both the Phase I oxide plant and Phase II hard rock plant when the national grid is unavailable or unable to provide stable power.

    Following a competitive tender, the Company awarded the engineering, supply, installation, and commissioning of this new power plant to Africa Power Services (“APS”). APS will supply 18 Caterpillar diesel gensets with 1.8MW rated capacity each that will function as back-up units to the grid to meet the 18MW to 20MW load demand of both processing circuits. This new power plant is scheduled for final commissioning in October 2025 and will replace the APS genset rentals that are currently providing power on a back-up basis.

    III.      TSF Footprint Expansion – Cell 2

    The TSF starter dam over the Cell 1 footprint was completed prior to the start of processing operations in 2022. Lifts of the Cell 1 embankment walls have been completed each year to add storage to hold the volume of tailings expected to be generated by the mine for the upcoming year. The stage 4 lift is currently in progress and is slated for completion in June 2025 with costs captured under sustaining capital.

    To optimize costs of future tailings lifts and to meet the higher annual storage requirements from the Phase II hard rock expansion, work to expand the TSF footprint southwards into Cell 2 will begin in 2025 and continue into 2026, and include the HDPE lining of the Cell 2 basin and installation of underdrainage to improve water recovery and dam stability. Cell 2 will cover the ultimate TSF footprint and is designed to ensure that future annual lifts will provide sufficient storage of tailings generated each year by the combined oxide and expanded stage 2 (5Mtpa) hard rock operations.

    IV.      Resettlement Action Plan – Phases II, III, and IV

    RAP Phases II and III commenced in 2023 and will see the construction of three new resettlement communities (MV3, MV2, and BV2) to help relocate households occupying areas within the southern half of the Bomboré mining permit. Both MV3 and MV2 were successfully completed in 2024 followed by the start of BV2 construction in late 2024.

    RAP Phase IV was presented as part of the Environment Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) submitted by the Company in 2024 to expand the current mining permit by an additional 5.56 km2.

    Construction costs of $8.0M to $10.0M are forecasted in 2025 to complete the remaining construction of BV2 by October 2025 and for the anticipated start of RAP Phase IV construction in Q4-2025. RAP costs of $3.0M to $4.0M are estimated for compensation, consultants, relocation allowances, and livelihood restoration programs.

    Revenue Protection Program for 2025

    The Company has implemented a low-cost revenue protection program for approximately half of its forecasted gold production in 2025 by purchasing 60,000 oz of put options with a strike price of $2,300 per oz at a cost of $0.8M. These options were acquired in November 2024 from a leading Canadian chartered bank and are structured as a monthly program of 5,000 oz options with option expiries at each month-end.

    The purchase of put options allows the Company to secure margin on its gold sales should gold prices fall significantly while retaining full upside to rising gold prices. The Company invested in these put options due to the large capital programs planned for 2025.

    Bomboré Gold Mine, Burkina Faso (100% Basis)

    Operating Highlights   Q4-2024   Q4-2023   FY2024 FY2023  
    Safety          
    Lost-time injuries frequency rate per 1M hrs 0.00   0.00   0.00 0.00  
    Personnel-hours worked 000s hours 1,326   1,301   5,366 4,394  
    Mining Physicals          
    Ore tonnes mined tonnes 2,063,262   2,883,006   7,889,973 9,247,175  
    Waste tonnes mined tonnes 2,655,783   3,048,669   11,921,398 11,237,079  
    Total tonnes mined tonnes 4,719,045   5,931,675   19,811,370 20,484,254  
    Strip ratio waste:ore 1.29   1.06   1.51 1.22  
    Processing Physicals          
    Ore tonnes milled tonnes 1,652,844   1,449,769   5,928,599 5,749,163  
    Head grade milled Au g/t 0.77   0.82   0.71 0.85  
    Recovery rate % 89.1   88.9   88.2 90.4  
    Gold produced Au oz 36,502   33,916   118,746 141,425  
    Unit Cash Cost          
    Mining cost per tonne $/tonne 3.50   3.05   3.49 3.01  
    Mining cost per ore tonne processed $/tonne 7.37   6.31   8.44 6.77  
    Processing cost $/tonne 7.00   10.84   8.27 10.14  
    Site general and admin (“G&A”) cost $/tonne 4.07   4.85   3.90 3.95  
    Cash cost per ore1tonne processed $/tonne 18.44   22.00   20.61 20.86  
    Cash Costs and AISC Details          
    Mining cost (net of stockpile movements) $000s 12,174   9,146   50,008 38,932  
    Processing cost $000s 11,563   15,719   49,049 58,285  
    Site G&A cost $000s 6,719   7,036   23,124 22,707  
    Refining and transport cost $000s 193   141   497 519  
    Government royalty cost $000s 7,512   5,163   22,739 17,508  
    Gold inventory movements $000s (647 ) (606 ) 892 (2,190 )
    Cash costs on a sales basis $000s 37,514   36,599   146,309 135,761  
    Sustaining capital $000s 4,245   3,558   15,997 14,002  
    Sustaining leases $000s 73   73   292 301  
    Corporate G&A cost $000s 2,511   1,874   9,154 7,325  
    All-In Sustaining Costs1on a sales basis $000s 44,343   42,104   171,752 157,389  
    Gold sold Au oz 34,833   33,782   118,697 139,696  
    Cash costs per gold ounce sold1 $/oz 1,077   1,083   1,233 972  
    All-In Sustaining Costs per gold ounce sold1 $/oz 1,273   1,246   1,447 1,127  

    1 Non-IFRS measure. See “Non-IFRS Measures” section below for additional details.

    Bomboré Production Results

    Q4-2024 vs Q4-2023

    Gold production in Q4-2024 was 36,502 oz, an increase of 8% from the 33,916 oz produced in Q4-2023. The higher gold production is attributable to a 14% increase in plant throughput offset by a 6% decrease in head grades.

    The better head grades in Q4-2023 were from the sequencing of higher-grade pits in earlier periods of the mine plan and greater ore release from more tonnes mined allowing for the stockpiling of lower-grade ore. More tonnes were mined in Q4-2023 as a second mining contractor was utilized to assist with mining volumes.

    Plant throughput of 1.65M tonnes in Q4-2024 hit a new quarterly record as processing operations benefitted from higher hourly throughput, greater blend of soft oxide ore, and less maintenance. Improvements to hourly plant throughput were successfully instituted in July 2024 by increasing the mill power and reducing residence time in the CIL circuit with only a minor effect to recovery rates. Mining at the new Siga East and Siga South pits for a full quarter in Q4-2024 resulted in the release of more tonnes of softer oxide ore while completion of all scheduled major plant maintenance in earlier quarters of the year combined with high grid availability resulted in less plant downtime.

    2024 vs 2023

    Gold production in 2024 was 118,746 oz, a decline of 16% from the 141,425 oz produced in 2023. The lower gold production is attributable to a 16% decrease in head grades and a 2% decrease in plant recoveries, partially offset by a 3% increase in plant throughput.

    Head grades in 2023 were higher from the sequencing of higher-grade pits in earlier periods of the mine plan and the processing of high-grade stockpiles accumulated during the Phase I construction, with such stockpiles being fully depleted by June 2023.

    Plant recoveries were lower in 2024 as a direct result of lower head grades, a greater blend of transition ore, and less residence in the CIL circuit.

    Plant throughput was higher in 2024 from the operating procedures followed in the H2-2024 to maximize hourly plant throughput.

    Bomboré Operating Costs

    Q4-2024 vs Q4-2023

    AISC per gold oz sold in Q4-2024 was $1,273, a 2% increase from $1,246 per oz sold in Q4-2023. The higher AISC is the result of: (a) lower head grades; (b) greater per oz royalty costs from a 33% increase in the realized gold price ($2,632/oz vs $1,986/oz) coupled with higher royalty rates that took effect in October 2023; and (c) increased mining costs attributable to deeper pits, drill-and-blast associated with harder transition ore, and higher strip ratio. This cost increase was partially offset by a reduction in power costs from the switch to lower-cost grid power in February 2024 (92% grid utilization in Q4-2024) and from a 14% jump in plant throughput resulting in economies for fixed costs.

    Cash cost per ore tonne processed in Q4-2024 was $18.44 per tonne, a decrease of 16% from $22.00 per tonne in Q4-2023, as a result of the use of lower-cost grid power and a 14% increase in plant throughput positively impacting unit cost for processing ($7.00/tonne vs $10.84/tonne) and site G&A ($4.07/tonne vs $4.85/tonne), partially offset by a 17% increase in mining costs per ore tonne processed ($7.37/tonne vs $6.31/tonne) attributable to higher strip ratio and unit mining cost.

    Mining cost per tonne has increased in Q4-2024 when compared to Q4-2023 ($3.50/tonne vs $3.05/tonne) as lower benches in the pits in the Northern Zone are mined resulting in longer hauls and more transition material that requires some drill-and-blast prior to excavation and greater rehandle prior to feeding into the dump pocket on the ROM pad combined with more grade control drilling for the new Siga pits.

    Processing costs per ore tonne decreased in Q4-2024 when compared to Q4-2023 ($7.00/tonne vs $10.84/tonne) mainly from the continuing cost benefit of utilizing grid power which has lowered power cost from $5.57/tonne in Q4-2023 to $2.39/tonne in Q4-2024, a drop of $3.18/tonne. Grid performance remained reliable and steady in Q4-2024 with 92% utilization, consistent with utilization in Q3-2024, and a significant improvement from Q2-2024 when grid utilization was 34% as issues with the supply system in Ghana and Côte D’Ivoire temporarily reduced power export into Burkina Faso.

    2024 vs 2023

    AISC per gold oz sold in 2024 was $1,447, a 28% increase from $1,127 per oz sold in 2023. The higher AISC is primarily the result of a 16% decline in head grades, higher government royalties from a better realized gold price and higher royalty rates, higher strip ratio and unit cost for mining, and moderate increases in sustaining capital and corporate G&A, partially offset by a reduction in processing costs from the switch to grid power as the primary power source in February 2024.

    Bomboré Growth Capital Projects

    Grid Power Connection

    The powerline to connect Bomboré to Burkina Faso’s national energy grid was successfully energized in February 2024. As of December 31, 2024, the Company has incurred costs of $19.9M, of which $0.2M was incurred in Q4-2024 and $1.6M in 2024. The Company plans to make minor upgrades to the grid connection in 2025 by installing equipment and software that will reduce the quantity of reactive power and hence, surcharges imposed by SONABEL, the state-owned electricity company of Burkina Faso.

    RAP Phases II and III

    Construction of MV3 and MV2 resettlement sites and the relocation of families to their new homes at these sites were completed in 2024. Construction on the BV2 resettlement site commenced in Q4-2024. Compensation payments to affected residents for loss of land, crops, trees, and private structures were also made in the year.

    As of December 31, 2024, the Company has incurred project-to-date costs of $26.5M for RAP Phases II and III, of which $4.3M was incurred in Q4-2024 and $16.0M in 2024.

    Phase II Hard Rock Expansion

    First gold remains on schedule and costs are trending in line with the most recent control budget. The concentrated scope of this expansion when compared to a greenfield project significantly reduces schedule and budget risks with start-up to benefit from the well-established mining, processing, and maintenance teams already on site.

    Construction of stage 1 of Phase II hard rock expansion was officially approved by the Company’s Board in early July 2024. To maintain first gold by Q4-2025, the Company undertook early work activities in H1-2024 which included front-end engineering and design, geotechnical investigations, additional office and camp accommodations, 18MW SAG mill order placement (subsequently cancelled), and bulk earthworks on the new plant layout.

    Lycopodium Minerals Canada (“Lycopodium”) was awarded the engineering and procurement contract and was chosen for their successful track record of designing and constructing numerous gold plants in West Africa, including the Company’s oxide plant that is currently in operations and exceeding nameplate design.

    Progress and milestones achieved on the expansion in 2024 include:

    • Engineering and drafting progress stood at 52% and ahead of plan. All bulk quantities, including concrete, structural steel, and platework, remain in line with budget.
    • Procurement was at 82% of total supply value with all long lead equipment ordered, including a 9MW SAG mill.
    • Early mobilization of concrete contractor with first concrete pour completed in November, three months ahead of schedule.
    • Tender of the structural, mechanical, and piping (“SMP”) contract with contract awarded shortly after year-end.

    All major site installation contracts (concrete, SMP, electrical and instrumentation, and mill installation) have been awarded to the same contractors that successfully delivered on the Phase I oxide construction.

    As of December 31, 2024, the Company has incurred $15.3M in costs for the Phase II hard rock expansion exclusive of the $3.6M spent on early work activities in 2024.

    NON-IFRS MEASURES

    The Company has included certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that is not defined under IFRS, including “cash costs”, “AISC”, “EBITDA”, “adjusted EBITDA”, “adjusted earnings”, “adjusted earnings per share”, and “free cash flow”. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company uses such measures to provide additional information and they should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. For a complete description of how the Company calculates such measures and reconciliation of certain measures to IFRS terms, refer to “Non-IFRS Measures” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024 which is incorporated by reference herein.

    CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

    The consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis are available at www.orezone.com and on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Orezone will host a conference call and audio webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results on March 20, 2025:

    Webcast
    Date:    Thursday, March 20, 2025
    Time:    8:00 am Pacific time (11:00 am Eastern time)
    Please register for the webcast here:  Orezone 2024 Year-End Results and 2025 Guidance

    Conference Call 
    Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: 1-800-715-9871
    International callers: +646-307-1963
    Event ID: 9731374

    QUALIFIED PERSONS

    The scientific and technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Rob Henderson, P. Eng, Vice-President of Technical Services and Mr. Dale Tweed, P. Eng., Vice-President of Engineering, both of whom are Qualified Persons as defined under NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

    ABOUT OREZONE GOLD CORPORATION

    Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE OTCQX: ORZCF) is a West African gold producer engaged in mining, developing, and exploring its 90%-owned flagship Bomboré Gold Mine in Burkina Faso. The Company completed construction of its oxide only process plant in August 2022 and achieved commercial production on its oxide operations on December 1, 2022. The Company is expanding operations and gold production by constructing stage 1 of a Phase II hard rock plant that is expected to materially increase annual and life-of-mine gold production from the processing of hard rock mineral reserves.   Orezone is led by an experienced team focused on social responsibility and sustainability with a proven track record in project construction and operations, financings, capital markets, and M&A.   

    The technical report entitled Bomboré Phase II Expansion, Definitive Feasibility Study is available on SEDAR+ and the Company’s website.

    Patrick Downey
    President and Chief Executive Officer

    Kevin MacKenzie
    Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

    Tel: 1 778 945 8977
    info@orezone.com / www.orezone.com

    For further information please contact Orezone at +1 (778) 945-8977 or visit the Company’s website at www.orezone.com.

    The Toronto Stock Exchange neither approves nor disapproves the information contained in this news release.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain information that constitutes “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian Securities laws and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws (together, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “potential”, “possible” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may”, “will”, “could”, or “should” occur, and include, amongst other statements, the Phase II hard rock expansion will increase annual gold production and is expected to pour first gold in Q4-2025.

    All forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, terrorist or other violent attacks, the failure of parties to contracts to honour contractual commitments, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, accidents and equipment breakdowns, political risk, unanticipated changes in key management personnel, the spread of diseases, epidemics and pandemics diseases, market or business conditions, the failure of exploration programs, including drilling programs, to deliver anticipated results and the failure of ongoing and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, and other factors described in the Company’s most recent annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis filed on SEDAR+ on www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

    Forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. These assumptions and factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions and factors related to the Company’s ability to carry on current and future operations, including: development and exploration activities; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Company’s ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the price and market for outputs, including gold; foreign exchange rates; taxation levels; the timely receipt of necessary approvals or permits; the ability to meet current and future obligations; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions; and other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry.

    Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Road safety improvements underway in Wednesfield ahead of transformation scheme starting

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The works, expected to be completed around the turn of the month, are underway at Wood End Road roundabout and along Linthouse Lane and will see the introduction of chicanes, improved road signs and road marking to assist in controlling traffic speeds.

    It follows 13 recorded injury collisions in the previous 3 years along this section of road.

    During construction the chicanes will be temporarily formed using cones and signs to protect the works but also to allow motorists to adjust to the new road layout.

    Meanwhile, technical plans are being finalised and a contractor appointed as part of a £3.3million programme to improve the High Street.

    The scheme will deliver environmental enhancements to the public realm and markets to encourage increased footfall, linked trips and dwell time to support businesses and boost the local economy.

    The designs follow extensive consultation and engagement with the public and traders, with the scheme on track to be delivered by the government’s March 2026 deadline.

    City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Green City, Councillor Qaiser Azeem, said: “The next year will be exciting for Wednesfield as we transform the High Street through this major investment.

    “As well as bringing vibrancy to the centre it is important that we make linked journeys as safe and enjoyable as possible for residents and visitors.

    “The current improvement works at Wood End Road roundabout and along Linthouse Lane will make the area safer for pedestrians and road users.

    “We would also urge motorists using these roads to be extra vigilant and pay attention to their speed.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the whole year of 2024

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the whole year of 2024 
    GDP figures by economic activity show the value of production in respect of individual economic activities. The value of production is measured by value added or net output, which is calculated by deducting intermediate input consumed in the process of production from the gross value of output. Volume measures of GDP by economic activity, expressed in terms of chain volume measures net of the effect of price changes, enable analysis of the output growth profiles of individual economic sectors in real terms.
     
    According to the preliminary figures, overall GDP increased by 2.4% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, compared with the 1.9% increase in the third quarter of 2024. For 2024 as a whole, GDP increased by 2.5% in real terms over 2023.
     
    Analysed by constituent services sector and on a year-on-year comparison, value added in respect of all the services activities taken together increased by 1.9% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, similar to the growth of 1.8% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added increased by 2.2% in real terms over 2023 for all the services sectors taken together.
     
    Value added in the import and export, wholesale and retail trades sector decreased by 0.6% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 from a year earlier, as against the increase of 0.3% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector recorded a marginal increase of 0.1% in real terms.
     
    Value added in the accommodation and food services sector increased by 1.4% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, as against the decline of 5.1% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector decreased by 2.1% in real terms.
     
    Value added in the transportation, storage, postal and courier services sector increased by 6.2% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 6.8% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector recorded an increase of 10.4% in real terms.
     
    Value added in the information and communications sector increased by 1.3% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, compared with the rise of 2.8% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector rose by 2.1% in real terms.
     
    Value added in the financing and insurance sector increased by 2.0% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.3% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector increased by 0.8% in real terms.
     
    Value added in the real estate, professional and business services sector registered an increase of 1.2% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, as against the decline of 0.2% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector increased by 1.3% in real terms.
     
    Value added in the public administration, social and personal services sector rose by 2.4% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, virtually the same as that in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector rose by 2.7% in real terms.
     
    As for sectors other than the services sectors, value added in the local manufacturing sector increased by 1.0% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, as against the marginal decrease of 0.1% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector rose by 0.8% in real terms.
     
    Value added in the electricity, gas and water supply, and waste management sector increased by 3.3% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 over a year earlier, after the increase of 3.1% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector registered an increase of 2.9% in real terms.
     
    Value added in the construction sector decreased by 5.6% in real terms in the fourth quarter of 2024 from a year earlier, as against the increase of 1.8% in the third quarter. For 2024 as a whole, value added in this sector increased by 4.1% in real terms.
     
    Further information
     
    The year-on-year percentage changes of GDP by economic activity in real terms from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the fourth quarter of 2024 are shown in Table 1. More detailed statistics are given in the report “Gross Domestic Product by Economic Activity”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1030004&scode=250 
    Figures of chain volume measures of GDP by economic activity for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the whole year of 2024 are only preliminary at this stage. When more data become available, the preliminary figures will be revised accordingly and can be found at the C&SD website (    www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode250.htmlIssued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS’ WELFARE (DOPPW) SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTS PENSIONERS’ AWARENESS PROGRAM & 8th BANKERS’ AWARENESS PROGRAM AT JAIPUR ON 18th MARCH, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS’ WELFARE (DOPPW) SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTS PENSIONERS’ AWARENESS PROGRAM & 8th BANKERS’ AWARENESS PROGRAM AT JAIPUR ON 18th MARCH, 2025

    CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS SENSITIZED ON GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES FOR IMPROVING PENSIONERS WELFARE

    PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK OFFICIALS FROM CENTRAL PENSION PROCESSING CENTRES PARTICIPATED IN THE 8th BANKERS’ AWARENESS PROGRAM WITH FOCUS ON TIMELY REDRESSAL OF PENSIONER GRIEVANCES

    Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 11:41AM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) conducted the Pensioners’ Awareness Program at Jaipur on 18th March, 2025. The program was held in collaboration with Central Government Pensioners Welfare Association, Jaipur during which pensioners were sensitized on government initiatives for improving pensioners welfare. The areas discussed included, Bhavishya, Integrated Pensioners Portal, CPENGRAMS, Pension Adalat, DPPW Call Center operations 1-800-11-1960, Anubhav, Anubhav Awardees Speak webinar series, Digital Life Certificate Campaign, Face Authentication, CGHS related issues, health care for pensioners and Pension Policy Related issues. The focus was on quality redressal of pensioner grievances and digital empowerment of pensioners. The objective of the program is to spread awareness of the various rules and procedures regarding pension entitlements and processes to Central Government pensioners and bankers as well as to update them about the changes that take place from time to time through various amendments in the policy and procedures.

    Along with the Pensioner Awareness Program, the 8th Banker’s Awareness Program was also held at Jaipur on 18th March, 2025 in which officers Punjab National Bank’s CPPCs handling pension related work participated. Senior officials of the Department interacted with the Bankers on improved coordination for redressal of Pensioner Grievances, conduct of the Digital Life Certificate Campaign and the use of Face authentication technology. This Workshop was the eighth in a series of Awareness Programs for Central Pension Processing Centers and field functionaries handling pension related work in various Banks.

    Senior officials from the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare Punjab National Bank, and office bearers of the Central Government Pensioner Welfare Association participated in the deliberations.

    *****

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2113153) Visitor Counter : 48

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE meets Secretary of CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CE meets Secretary of CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee (with photo) 
    Mr Lee welcomed Mr Xu and his delegation to Hong Kong for the Heilongjiang-Hong Kong Investment Cooperation Conference. Mr Lee said he is pleased to meet Mr Xu again since they last met during his visit to Harbin in February. Noting that Hong Kong and Heilongjiang maintain close economic and trade relations, Mr Lee said Hong Kong has been the largest source of external investment in Heilongjiang, with total investments exceeding US$ 34 billion as of last year. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its advantage as a bridge between the Mainland and the world under the “one country, two systems” principle to serve Mainland enterprises in going global while attracting more foreign investment to the country.
     
    Mr Lee highlighted that Heilongjiang’s successful hosting of the 9th Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025 sets an excellent example for the 15th National Games to be jointly held by Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macao in November this year. Heilongjiang’s integration of winter sports with cultural tourism development, along with its full promotion of the ice and snow economy, provides inspiration for Hong Kong’s cultural tourism development.
     
    Noting that the Individual Visit Scheme has been extended to include Harbin in Heilongjiang Province, while direct flights between Harbin and Hong Kong have been launched, Mr Lee said that these developments will further foster economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between Heilongjiang and Hong Kong. He welcomed more enterprises and talent from Heilongjiang to organise and participate in various activities in Hong Kong, and he also encouraged more tourists from Heilongjiang to visit Hong Kong to experience its unique charm as a metropolis where East meets West.
     
    Mr Lee said that the Beijing Office and Liaoning Liaison Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to serve as a bridge to promote deeper co-operation between Hong Kong and Heilongjiang in various areas such as sports, economic and trade investment, tourism, education, and youth exchanges, jointly making new and greater contributions to the country’s high-quality development.
    Issued at HKT 14:15

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Corporate Affairs Hosts Second Candidate Open House for PM Internship Scheme

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Corporate Affairs Hosts Second Candidate Open House for PM Internship Scheme

    Initiative a part of the ministry’s commitment to address candidate queries throughout the application phase

    Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 10:42AM by PIB Delhi

    In a continued effort to engage and support eligible candidates for the PM Internship Scheme, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) hosted its second Candidate Open House on 19th March 2025. This initiative is part of the ministry’s commitment to addressing candidate queries and concerns throughout the application phase. The MCA plans to hold these Open Houses every week, providing candidates with real-time answers to their questions.

    To ensure effective and focused discussions, candidates were encouraged to submit their queries in advance through a dedicated link shared via email. This allows the moderators to address the most common concerns while also ensuring that live questions posted during the session are answered. For the second Open House, 340 responses were collected in advance, building on the 423 received for the inaugural session on 10th March.

    Senior MCA officials, Deputy Director Nitin Phartyal, representatives from BISAG, the technical partner for the MCA on this project, member of the project management team were among the panellist in the session. A wide range of queries were answered, with the most frequent queries revolving around the selection process, eligibility criteria, and sector-specific opportunities within the scheme.

    The Ministry of Corporate Affairs remains committed to reaching out to candidates across the country, ensuring transparency, open communication, and a smooth experience for all involved in the PM Internship Scheme.

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    NB/AD

    (Release ID: 2113142) Visitor Counter : 87

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Keynote speech by SCST at Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2025 (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the keynote speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at Hong Kong Tourism Overview 2025 today (March 20): 

    Dr YK Pang (Chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Pang Yiu-kai), Dr Peter Lam (Chairman-Designate of the Hong Kong Tourism Board), distinguished guests, friends from the travel industry, ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Good morning. It is with enormous pleasure and a lot of emotion that I join you all at today’s Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Tourism Overview. I was a regular attendee from 2011 to 2016, but this is my very first time joining this important event as the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism. Really happy to see so many old friends of the tourism industry in the audience, and for new friends in this room, a very warm “hello” to all of you.   
     
    Strong rebound of tourism performance
     
    Tourism has been a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s economy all along. It may not be a major source of foreign investment, but travel and related sectors gallantly provide employment for some 150 000 people of our workforce. In 2024, we welcomed close to 45 million visitors, marking a more than 30 per cent increase year on year. Among them, Mainland and non-Mainland visitors exceeded 34 million and 10 million respectively, with year-on-year increases at 27 per cent and 44 per cent respectively, injecting momentum into the local economy, and showcasing the collaborative efforts of the Government and the industry. As we entered 2025, we continue to see handsome growth, and achieved in January alone the highest monthly record of 4.74 million visitor arrivals since the pandemic.
     
    And for these remarkable achievements, I would like to take the opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Dr YK Pang for leading the Hong Kong Tourism Board with dedication and passion over the past six extraordinary years, particularly through the difficult times during the pandemic. As the Chairman, you have guided the Board with exemplary leadership in successfully overcoming various challenges and then driving the recovery of Hong Kong tourism. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to the Board and to Hong Kong’s tourism development. 
     
    To sustain the momentum of the recovery, it is essential for all of us in the Government and the industry to recognise that the global tourism landscape has indeed changed substantially after the pandemic, and is continually evolving. With the advancement in digital technology and changing traveller preferences, we must embrace innovation, adapt our traditional offerings and craft new ones to maintain our competitive edge.
     
    Tourism Blueprint 2.0
     
    With this in mind, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau promulgated on December 30, 2024, the Tourism Blueprint 2.0, setting out the vision and mission for the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry for the five-year period from 2025 to 2030. 
    I am sure most of you have already read the Blueprint 2.0, maybe serval times, so I am not going to bore you with the details yet again. But I think it is useful for me to elaborate the three key messages, which form the bases of the Blueprint 2.0, to you in person, which will shape the direction of the tourism industry in the coming years.
     
    Opportunities to capitalise – Mainland’s support measures
     
    The first message is Hong Kong’s uniqueness as an international tourist city with the advantage of being backed by the motherland, the Mainland of China. This is our core strength and fundamental asset, and it is getting even more important at this day and age as we are under the cloud of geopolitical tension. It is paramount that we make the most out of the wide range of supportive measures that the Central People’s Government has so generously endowed Hong Kong, through the rolling out of the resumption and expansion of multiple-entry permits for Shenzhen residents and the gifting of two precious giant pandas “An An” and “Ke Ke”, to name just a few. These measures have injected fresh impetus into our travel, retail, catering and hospitality industries. The entire tourism industry must strategically utilise these initiatives to maximise the benefits for Hong Kong as a whole.
     
    Traditional and new tourism offerings
     
    This naturally brings me to my second message. Hong Kong boasts significant traditional tourism advantages, including world-class tourist attractions, like the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary later this year; Ocean Park, especially with “An An”, “Ke Ke” and the two cute panda cubs “家姐”,”細佬”; our diverse cuisine, from corner delis “chaa chaan teng” to Michelin-star restaurants; efficient urban management and transportation systems. One thing that we in Hong Kong take for granted and tourists from abroad may not be aware, Hong Kong is in fact one of the safest cities in the world for business and leisure travel. It is essential that we continue to fortify these traditional assets and optimise and strengthen our infrastructure. But it is also crystal clear that amidst fierce competition from nearby cities, there is no room for complacency at all, and we surely cannot just rely on our traditional tourism mode and attractions anymore. 
     
    In the Blueprint 2.0, we promote the four “+ tourism” directions, covering culture, sports, ecology and mega events, in which Hong Kong possesses world-class resources that have yet to be fully presented to global visitors. This is where you, my friends in the travel and tourism trade, must and can all work together and rack your brains to develop innovative and interesting tourism products that speak to the desire of new-generation travellers’ aspiration for in-depth exploration of Hong Kong’s rich, diversified, and unique characteristics. Island tourism, for example, is one of the areas that we are actively working on. Hong Kong’s countryside and outlying islands are our hidden gems. Within an hour, we can travel after attending a formal business meeting in the bustling city centre to our countryside and explore the amazing wonders of nature, just like I did just this past Sunday when I hiked for five hours from Shek Pik Reservoir to Tai O in Lantau in the day, and then dressed up to the nines for a wedding banquet in the evening. We should develop more island tourism and eco-tourism itineraries for our global visitors who now have an increase in preference in this area. Our stunning Victoria Harbour is also one of the most beautiful and must-go photo points among the world’s top visit places. We must make better use of our harbour and the surrounding water body by developing more innovative products like yacht tourism to attract tourists. Horse racing is another world-class tourist attraction that Hong Kong excels and has lots of potential, and I’m glad that CTS (China Travel Service) has recently signed an MOU with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to promote horse-racing tourism, and I believe more will come in this direction. And these days I cannot attend any public speaking engagement without mentioning the Kai Tak Sports Park, our new and proud landmark with a 50 000-sized stadium, with which we are now in a position to bring truly mega sports and entertainment events befitting Hong Kong’s role as an international metropolis. It is only by infusing the city with fresh energy through new tourism offerings can we enhance the ambiance of our vibrant city and attract visitors from around the globe. On this, I look forward to the support and efforts from all of you in unleashing our creativity and developing products that will captivate the hearts of visitors. 
     
    Everyone is tourism ambassador
     
    My third message, which I have been repeating at every opportunity since appointment as the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, is that everyone in the community has a role to play in the development of tourism in Hong Kong, in particular in welcoming our visitors from around the world. This is surely most important for all of us present today, who is always the first point of contact with our tourists. Positive and warm hospitality is the key to prosperous tourism development. Hospitality is not just about providing accommodation and dining services but also about offering attentive and caring services, making visitors feel like home and willing to consume, if I am honest. Therefore, we advocate the concept of “Everyone is a tourism ambassador”, and I would encourage everyone in the tourism trade, as well as members of the public, to welcome every visitor with a warm and friendly smile. Every sunny smile by a member of the public will add to the happy vibe that we could bring to our community, and will more likely bring about quality service provided by hospitality professions. We launched the Hospitality Campaign in 2024 with various government departments, the tourism and related sectors, the education sector and district representatives, encouraging the trade and the entire community to go an extra mile in promoting the spirit of hospitality. We will continue to encourage quality services to welcome every visitor. One of our development strategies in the Blueprint 2.0 is to expand and diversify our visitor source markets. These include the Muslims, silver-haired, family, study-tour, and youth visitors. In order to attract these different segments of visitors, in addition to providing attractive tourism offerings, we must understand their needs and show our respect to make them feel welcomed and valued. This is hospitality and I am confident that our tourism industry will excel in it, giving the warmest welcome to our visitors. 
     
    Conclusion
     
    My dear friends, we have come a long way recovering from the pandemic, and it is now time for us to work together to bring Hong Kong tourism to new heights. Hong Kong is a city full of energy and endless adventures. The Government, along with the tourism industry, the business sector and the community, and indeed everyone in Hong Kong, need to act together to shape Hong Kong’s attractive tourism brand vividly. I always call myself a tourism veteran, and you have my assurance that I am all ears when you have a new idea to tell me, and I shall be in action when I know that there are things that my bureau could do to facilitate your business. Equally, I hope I have your assurance that you are walking with me to rejuvenate our travel and tourism industries, and that I can count on your diligence and creativity on this journey. I also look forward to working closely once again with the new Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board, Dr Peter Lam, to bring Hong Kong tourism to the new and next level of excellence.
     
    Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH calls on public to maintain oral health in support of World Oral Health Day and launches Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents to promote lifelong tooth protection

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    DH calls on public to maintain oral health in support of World Oral Health Day and launches Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents to promote lifelong tooth protection 
    The World Dental Federation has designated March 20 of each year as World Oral Health Day, with this year’s theme being “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Mind. Spread Happiness Everywhere.” The DH’s Oral Health Promotion Division (OHPD) has launched a new promotional video on its YouTube channel 
         “There is an intimate relationship between oral health and general health. Tooth decay and periodontal disease share many common risk factors as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. For example, smokers are more likely to develop cardiovascular and periodontal disease. To maintain good personal oral and general health, members of the public are encouraged to start with daily habits, such as toothbrushing and interdental cleaning thoroughly every day, having regular oral check-ups, maintaining a healthy eating habit, and refraining from smoking or drinking alcohol to minimise the risk of related diseases,” said the Consultant in-charge, Dental Services of the DH, Dr Kitty Hse.
     
         “The DH has carefully chosen this meaningful day to launch the PDCC today. Through the co-payment arrangement, the PDCC subsidises adolescents to seek dental check-ups at private dental clinics, thereby fostering their partnership with dentists to maintain a good habit of regular dental check-ups and prevent dental diseases,” she added.
     
    Eligible adolescents can receive subsidised services once every calendar year. While the Government provides a subsidy of $200 each time, participants have to pay a co-payment fee as determined by the dentists they select. The co-payment for the subsidised services recommended by the Government is $200 each time. Currently, there are around 270 registered dentists participating in the PDCC to provide services in over 370 service locations, where 67 per cent of the co-payment amount has been set at $200 or less and the minimum co-payment amount has been set at $50 (as at March 19). ​The scope of subsidised services of the PDCC includes:
     
    i. Dental check-up;
    ii. Oral health risk assessment;
    iii. Dental scaling;
    iv. Personalised self-care advice on oral care;
    v. Fluoride application as risk-based follow-up; and
    vi. Check-up report.
     
    To enhance the transparency of dental service fees other than the co-payment fee, the DH required dentists to disclose the fees for X-ray examinations, tooth fillings and tooth extractions as charged under the PDCC. All clinics participating in the PDCC will display the designated logo (see annex) outside their clinics or in visible areas for easy identification.
     
    Adolescents aged between 13 and 17 (or will turn 13 in the calendar year when applying to join the PDCC) who hold a valid Hong Kong identity card and have registered for the     Electronic Health Record Sharing System 
    Adolescents participating in the PDCC and their parents can check their relevant records, including the date of the consultation and the co-payment amount, through the eHealth mobile application (eHealth App). Later this year, they will also be able to access their electronic oral health records and oral care advice from the dentists through the eHealth App to better understand and monitor their own dental health.
     
    Dr Hse emphasised that receiving preventive dental services is more effective in safeguarding oral health and more cost-effective than paying for curative dental services later. For more information about oral health and the PDCC, please visit the     OHPD’s websiteIssued at HKT 12:40

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme expands to cover blood lipid testing and District Health Centres enhance allied health services

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme expands to cover blood lipid testing and District Health Centres enhance allied health services 
    Expansion of CDCC Pilot Scheme screening service scope to blood lipid testing
     
         The Government launched the CDCC Pilot Scheme in November 2023 to subsidise eligible participants through pairing with a family doctor of their choice to undergo diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) screening, as well as attending doctor consultation and receiving laboratory services in the private healthcare sector on a co-payment basis, with a view to achieving “early prevention, early identification and early treatment”. Starting from March 28, the scope of screening under the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be expanded to include blood lipid testing in addition to DM and HT screening to achieve full coverage of the “three highs”, with a view to implementing the policy initiative as set out in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”, allowing more citizens to comprehensively assess and manage their cardiovascular disease risk factors through the Scheme.
     
         The eligibility criteria for the CDCC Pilot Scheme will remain unchanged (i.e. Hong Kong residents aged 45 or above with no known medical history of DM or HT). The Government subsidies for consultation visits, and the co-payment amount to be paid by the participants will remain at the current level. If participants are diagnosed with hyperlipidaemia, they are entitled to a maximum of four subsidised consultation visits in the first year, and a maximum of two subsidised consultation visits annually from the second year onwards. If they are also diagnosed with prediabetes or suffering from DM or HT, they are entitled to a maximum of four or six subsidised consultation visits per year respectively. The arrangements for subsidised consultation visits will be similar to the current arrangement. Healthcare professionals will also arrange for the participants to receive dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under the district health network according to their clinical conditions and needs.
     
         The basic-tier drug list of the CDCC Pilot Scheme covers basic drugs for treating chronic diseases (including anti-diabetic drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs and lipid-regulating drugs) as well as episodic illnesses. Participants prescribed with drugs on the list will not be required to pay for such medication. Participants who are confirmed with no sign of DM, HT or hyperlipidaemia upon screening can receive follow-up and assistance in setting health management goals from the DHC/DHCEs, and will be arranged to participate in activities to promote healthy lifestyles according to their health needs to maintain good health.
     
         The Government has announced earlier 
         In addition, starting from April 15, podiatry services of the dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services under the CDCC Pilot Scheme will be enhanced. Podiatrists will conduct foot assessments for participants with DM and/or HT and provide treatment plans on problems such as foot ulcers, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy or foot deformities.
     
    Expansion of dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services to DHC/DHCE members
     
         Following the     provision of dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services for participants in the CDCC Pilot Scheme 
         The dedicated nurse clinics will provide initial assessments on osteoarthritis of knee and back pain, basic self-management and dietary advice and counselling, muscle and joint function assessments, as well as checking of common women’s health issues to members in need. Occupational therapists will provide assessment of capabilities in daily life and personalised functional therapy activities for patients with knee osteoarthritis, back pain and stroke, as well as advising patients and their carers on assistive devices and home environment improvements to reduce fall risks and enhance their self-management and self-care ability in daily life. Chinese medicine practitioners will provide acupuncture and acupressure treatment for patients. Physiotherapists will provide clinical consultations and appropriate intervention treatments including pain relief modality, electrotherapy and manual therapy for complex cases (such as individuals suffering from both overweight and joint pain). Speech therapists will provide assessment and training to patients with difficulties in swallowing, speaking or communication due to stroke, and provide advice on feeding and dietary improvement to the patients suffering from stroke or their carers. Dietitians will design personalised meal plans and provide targeted nutritional guidance to participants. The addresses and service hours of relevant service points will be uploaded to the DHC website (    www.dhc.gov.hk/en/healthcare_service_providers.html  
         The co-payment model will be adopted for DHC/DHCE members receiving dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services. Eligible individuals will receive partial subsidies from the Government and pay a designated co-payment fee for services. The co-payment fee for DHC/DHCE members and CDCC Pilot Scheme participants receiving dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services are set out in the Annex.
     
         The CDCC Pilot Scheme has received a positive response since its launch, and over 100 000 participants have joined the programme to date. As at March 12 this year (provisional figures), about 62 700 participants have completed screenings, of which around 24 200 (nearly 40 per cent) have been diagnosed with prediabetes, DM or HT and have entered the treatment phase. The Government will continue to promote the CDCC Pilot Scheme to encourage citizens to prevent and manage chronic diseases proactively, thereby enhancing the overall health of the general public.
    Issued at HKT 12:22

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs arrests director of wedding rings design company

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs arrests director of wedding rings design company???
    Under the TDO, any trader commits an offence if, at the time of acceptance of payment, the trader intends not to supply the product or intends to supply a materially different product, or there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the trader will be able to supply the product within a specified or reasonable period. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment of five years.
     
    Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and refrain from engaging in unfair trade practices when supplying goods.
     
    Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 11:57

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong maintains third place globally with higher rating in Global Financial Centres Index

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong maintains third place globally with higher rating in Global Financial Centres Index 
         A Government spokesman said, “The report fully recognises Hong Kong’s leading status and strengths as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s rankings in the areas of ‘human capital’, ‘infrastructure’, and ‘financial sector development’ rose to second in the world, while rankings in ‘business environment’ and ‘reputational and general’ rose to third globally.”
     
         Hong Kong also ranked among the top in various financial industry sectors. Among these, Hong Kong ranked first globally in “investment management”, “insurance” and “finance”, and ranked third globally in “banking”. In addition, the report assessed the financial centres’ fintech offering, and Hong Kong’s ranking leapt further by five places to fourth in the world.
     
         The spokesman added, “With the staunch support of our country, Hong Kong will continue to leverage the advantages under ‘one country, two systems’, actively integrate into national development, and deepen international exchanges and co-operation, with a view to fulfilling our roles as a ‘super connector’ and a ‘super value-adder’. Finance is an important tool to support the development of the real economy. A series of policy initiatives have been announced in the 2025-26 Budget, pressing ahead with the high-quality development of Hong Kong’s international financial market to create more new growth areas.
     
         “On the stock market, various institutional reforms, including enhancing the timeframe for the listing application process and listing requirements for specialist technology companies, coupled with the Government’s active efforts to attract new capital from the Mainland and overseas and expand new markets, have injected new impetus into the Hong Kong market and improved its liquidity. We also endeavour to deepen financial mutual access between the Mainland and Hong Kong and have implemented a number of measures to enrich and support offshore Renminbi (RMB) business, such as enhancing the settlement arrangements of Bond Connect and launching offshore RMB bond repurchase business using Northbound Bond Connect bonds as collateral, further strengthening Hong Kong’s role in connecting the Mainland and international capital markets.
     
         “On asset and wealth management business, the Government has implemented measures to continuously promote its development over the past year, including enhancements to the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Exchange-traded Fund Connect, and the Mainland-Hong Kong Mutual Recognition of Funds arrangement. On green finance, we launched in December last year a roadmap on sustainability disclosure in Hong Kong, which provides a well-defined pathway for large publicly accountable entities to fully adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) no later than 2028, leading Hong Kong to be among the first jurisdictions to align its local requirements with the ISSB Standards. On fintech, we will soon promulgate a second policy statement on the development of virtual assets to explore the integration of traditional finance and virtual assets. We will also continue to explore new growth areas, including promoting gold market development and creating a commodity trading ecosystem in Hong Kong.”
     
         The GFCI Report has been released every March and September since 2007. In GFCI 37, 119 financial centres were assessed, and Hong Kong ranked third globally with an overall rating of 760.
    Issued at HKT 17:30

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Maximum amount of ex gratia payment on severance payment from Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund to be raised

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Maximum amount of ex gratia payment on severance payment from Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund to be raised 
    Through a resolution of the Legislative Council under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance today (March 20), the maximum amount of ex gratia payment on severance payment under the Fund will be increased from $100,000 plus 50 per cent of any excess entitlement to $200,000 plus 50 per cent of any excess entitlement. 
     
    The adjusted maximum amount will take effect on Friday (March 21) upon gazettal of the resolution and apply to severance payment where the liability for payment arises on or after that date.
     
    The review on the coverage of ex gratia payment on severance payment under the Fund is one of the policy initiatives in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” to strengthen labour support. This legislative amendment will further strengthen the protection for employees’ entitlements to severance payment upon business closures.
     
    The Fund was set up in 1985 to provide timely financial relief in the form of ex gratia payment to employees of insolvent employers. 
    Issued at HKT 10:35

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – European Parliament Press Kit for the European Council of 20 March 2025

    Source: European Parliament

    European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will represent the European Parliament at the summit, where she will address the heads of state or government at 11.00 and hold a press conference after her speech.

    When: Press conference at around 11.45 on 20 March

    Where: European Council press room and via Parliament’s webstreaming or EbS.

    At their meeting in Brussels, the heads of state or government will focus on ways to bolster the EU’s competitiveness. They will also discuss how the EU can continue supporting Kyiv against Russia’s aggression – with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, how to strengthen the EU’s defence capabilities, and the EU’s response to the situation in the Middle East. Leaders will also have a first exchange of views on the EU’s next long-term budget (multiannual financial framework – MFF) and discuss migration.

    Competitiveness

    On 12 March, MEPs adopted two resolutions outlining their priorities for the next cycle of economic and social coordination between member states.

    On economic policy coordination, MEPs focus on the need to increase public and private investment, to address the investment gap, improve competitiveness and entrepreneurship, and continue fiscal consolidation. They say the EU should pursue these objectives while ensuring social cohesion and a high standard of living. MEPs are worried about slow growth and that more turbulent economic times are on the horizon. They call on member states to reduce excessive government deficits. They also warn about rising house prices.

    In the resolution on the EU’s employment and social priorities, MEPs emphasise the importance of reducing the administrative burden for companies, whilst safeguarding labour and social standards. They believe better support for small and medium-sized enterprises can foster innovation and better-quality jobs, and that stronger social economy enterprises can promote quality employment opportunities and the circular economy. The resolution states that fiscal policies under the European Semester must ensure investments align with sustainable growth and the European Pillar of Social Rights, in particular on affordable housing, healthcare, and education.

    During the 10-13 March plenary session, MEPs held debates on three recent Commission proposals on the clean industrial deal, the action plan for affordable energy and the automotive industry action plan.

    The clean industrial deal, announced by the Commission on 26 February 2025, is about enhancing EU competitiveness and decarbonisation by addressing high energy costs and fostering global cooperation. It includes measures to boost demand for clean products, mobilise funding for clean manufacturing, secure critical raw materials, and strengthen global partnerships. It also focuses on developing skills for a low-carbon economy, creating quality jobs, cutting red tape, and improving EU policy coordination. You can watch the debate here.

    The recently proposed automotive industry action plan, announced on 5 March 2025, is intended to support the European automotive sector as it deals with high manufacturing costs, the low-carbon transition, and increased competition from China. A resolution will be put to a vote during the April plenary session. You can watch the debate here.

    The action plan for affordable energy, which addresses high energy costs experienced by EU citizens and businesses, seeks to make electricity bills more affordable by reducing network charges and taxes, promoting energy efficiency, and improving the functioning of gas markets. You can watch the debate here.

    On 10 March, MEPs reviewed the Commission’s recent proposals to cut red tape and simplify legislation for EU businesses and citizens. The Commission is proposing to ease the administrative burden for all EU businesses, in particular for small and medium-sized companies. The main focus of compliance with EU rules will shift to the EU’s largest companies – those more likely to have a disproportionate impact on the climate and environment – while all businesses will continue to have access to sustainable finance for their clean transition. Areas covered under these ‘omnibus’ proposals include sustainability reporting, due diligence rules, the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), and InvestEU. You can watch the debate here.

    Further reading

    MEPs call for a more competitive EU that respects social and labour standards

    Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

    In a resolution adopted on 12 March, Parliament says the EU is now Ukraine’s primary strategic ally and must help the country uphold its right to self-defence.

    Following an “apparent shift” in the US position on Russia’s war of aggression, “which has included openly blaming Ukraine for the ongoing war”, the EU and its member states are now Ukraine’s primary strategic allies and must maintain their role as its largest donor, according to MEPs. To uphold Ukraine’s right to self-defence, the EU and its member states must ramp up their much-needed assistance to the country.

    The resolution also states there can be no negotiations on European security without the presence of the EU, and MEPs welcome the launch of a ‘coalition of the willing’ for the potential Europe-led enforcement of an eventual peace agreement. MEPs are dismayed by the US administration’s appeasement of Russia and targeting of its allies.

    On 24 February 2025, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission issued a joint statement, saying “Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war and the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian population. We continue to call for accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed. We welcome the recent steps made towards the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.”

    The three presidents stressed that “Ukraine is part of our European family” and that “the future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union.” They emphasised “the need to ensure the international community’s continued focus on supporting Ukraine in achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Ukrainian peace formula. We stand firm with Ukraine, reaffirming that peace, security, and justice will prevail.”

    Further reading

    The EU must contribute to robust security guarantees for Ukraine

    Joint statement on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

    EP Conference of Presidents’ statement on EU support for Ukraine

    How the EU is supporting Ukraine

    EU stands with Ukraine

    European defence and security

    In a resolution adopted on 12 March, Parliament calls on the EU to act urgently and ensure its own security. This will mean, MEPs say, strengthening relationships with like-minded partners, and strongly diminishing reliance on non-EU countries.

    The EU needs “truly ground-breaking efforts” and actions “close to those of wartime”, say MEPs, also welcoming the recently tabled ReArm plan.

    To achieve peace and stability in Europe, the EU must support Ukraine and become more resilient itself, MEPs argue. The resolution states, “Europe is today facing the most profound military threat to its territorial integrity since the end of the Cold War”. It calls on member states, international partners, and NATO allies to lift all restrictions on the use of Western weapons systems delivered to Ukraine against military targets on Russian territory.

    The text says the EU must enable its administration to “move much faster through the procedures”, in the event of war or other large-scale security crises. While stressing the importance of EU-NATO cooperation, MEPs also call for the development of a fully capable European pillar in NATO that is able to act autonomously whenever necessary.

    At the special European Council meeting on 6 March, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola reassured leaders that the EP can move quickly and efficiently to meet today’s unprecedented security challenges. She called on the EU to invest more in defence: “Our ambition must match the unprecedented threat, the boldness of our proposals, and the speed at which they are put into action.” She reassured leaders that the European Parliament can adjust to demanding circumstances by moving quickly, efficiently and effectively. President Metsola highlighted that “our ambition must match the unprecedented threat, the boldness of our proposals, and the speed at which they are put into action.”

    During the 31 March to 3 April plenary session, MEPs will discuss with High Representative Kaja Kallas the EU’s common foreign, defence, and security policy objectives for 2025. MEPs are set to urge the EU to invest more in its defence sector, including an increase of military and political support for Ukraine. They are also expected to call on the EU to expand its presence in the Middle East, foster closer ties with like-minded partners, and support enlargement countries in their efforts to advance towards EU membership. The draft texts on the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and on EU Common Security and Defence Policy will be voted on by MEPs on 2 April.

    Further reading

    MEPs urge the EU to ensure its own security

    “We cannot afford to depend on others to keep us safe”, Metsola tells EU leaders

    “Europe must be responsible for its own security”, Metsola tells EU leaders

    MEPs call on Europe to strengthen its defence capacity

    Rutte to MEPs: “We are safe now, we might not be safe in five years”

    The EU’s long-term budget and new own resources

    Parliament is working on a draft report outlining its priorities for the next long-term EU budget post-2027, also known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The Committee on Budgets is expected to vote on this draft report at a meeting on 23-24 April, and plenary is set to vote on it during the 5-8 May plenary session.

    Parliament’s consent is needed (with an absolute majority) for the adoption of the MFF. MEPs may approve or reject the Council’s position (which is adopted by unanimity) but they may not make amendments to it. Parliament’s two co-rapporteurs, Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, Romania) and Carla Tavares (S&D, Portugal), expect MEPs to be involved from the start of the process, that during the negotiations, in its adoption, and in the implementation phase of the long-term EU budget.

    So-called EU own resources are the main sources of revenue for the EU budget. During the previous long-term budget negotiations, EU institutions agreed on a legally binding roadmap for the introduction of new sources of EU revenue. In 2023, the Commission proposed three new sources, linked to greenhouse gas emissions, company profits, and money generated by the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism. However, their adoption has stalled due to the reluctance of EU governments – right when new revenue streams are more important than ever, as debts accrued through the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument will have to be repaid by 2058. The total costs for capital and interest repayments of the NGEU are projected to reach around €20-30 billion a year from 2028. The co-rapporteurs have argued that their repayment should come at the expense of existing EU policies.

    The own resources decision also requires a unanimous decision in Council, an opinion of Parliament, and ratification by every member state before it enters into force.

    Further reading

    Parliament’s draft report on the long-term EU budget

    Recording of the presentation of the draft report in the Budgets Committee (19.02.2025.)

    Recording of a press conference by the MFF co-rapporteurs (18.12.2024.)

    EPRS Briefing: Future of EU long-term financing (February 2025)

    Press release: “Own Resources”: Parliament’s position on new EU revenue

    Migration

    On 11 March, MEPs and the Commission debated changes to EU rules on the return of people who have no legal right to remain in Europe. The proposal for a new legal framework on “returns”, announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in July 2024, was formally unveiled by the European Commission on 11 March.

    During the plenary debate, MEPs scrutinised the proposal, which is intended to increase the return rate of third-country nationals not entitled to stay in the EU. Parliament emphasised the importance of cooperation with third countries, including on the readmission of their own nationals, as well innovative measures such as the establishment of return hubs in third countries. You can watch the debate here.

    Middle East

    In a resolution adopted on 12 March, Parliament urges the EU and members states to support Syria’s transitional forces and calls on Damascus to end historical alliances with Tehran and Moscow. Concerned about stability in Syria and in the Middle East, MEPs want the EU to “seize this historic opportunity to support a Syrian-led political transition in order to unite and rebuild the country”. They call on the EU and member states to help Syria’s authorities in the country’s reconstruction. MEPs also want the EU to explore the use of frozen assets of the Assad regime to fund reconstruction, rehabilitation, and the compensation of victims.

    MEPs want Syria’s new authorities in Damascus “to break free from its notorious long-standing alliances with Tehran and Moscow, which “have brought suffering to the Syrian people and destabilisation to the Middle East and beyond”. They appeal to the Syrian authorities to revoke Russia’s military presence in Syria and condemn Moscow for hosting Bashar al-Assad and his family, shielding them from justice.

    Further reading

    The EU must support the political transition and reconstruction of Syria

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RSH publishes latest fire safety remediation report

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    RSH publishes latest fire safety remediation report

    All social landlords in England are required to submit quarterly data to RSH and MHCLG

    Today (20 March 2025) the Regulator of Social Housing published the findings from its latest quarterly survey on the fire safety of 11 metre plus buildings in the social housing sector. 

    All social landlords are required to submit quarterly data to RSH and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the fire safety remediation of relevant buildings for which they are responsible. 

    Of the 17,299 relevant buildings reported, 99.9% had fire risk assessments undertaken and 11.1% (1,920) were reported as currently having a life critical fire safety defect relating to the external wall system. 

    73.6% of relevant buildings with a LCFS EWS defect are expected to be remediated within five years. Landlords have said that remediation timelines can slip due to factors such as navigating complex legal arrangements, difficulties sourcing contractors and supply chain delays.  

    Landlords are expected to keep accurate data and rigorous systems in place to make sure all tenants are safe. This includes any necessary mitigating measures to protect residents while works are completed. 

    Since 14 June 2017 a total of 2,545 buildings have been identified as having an EWS-related LCFS defect, with 625 (24.6%) of these buildings having been remediated historically and a further 123 (4.8%) buildings having work completed but awaiting a new building works assessment. 

    RSH will continue to monitor the performance of landlords in remediating 11 metre plus buildings and the progress they are making against their plans. 

    Will Perry, Director of Strategy at RSH, said: 

    “Tenants’ health and safety is non-negotiable and we have a number of tools at our disposal – including these surveys, as well as proactive inspections and responsive engagement – to make sure landlords are making the necessary progress on fire safety remediation.  

    “Boards and councillors have a duty to seek assurance that landlords are meeting legal obligations for building safety, and that risks are being well managed and promptly remedied. 

    “This includes any risks to tenants while work has not been completed.” 

    Notes to editors 

    1. The data referred to in this publication were reported in the Q3 2024/2025 survey, which ran from 13 December 2024 to 22 January 2025, with data being reported as at 31 December 2024. 

    2. Remediation work has started (but not yet completed) on 18.5% (355) of affected buildings 

    3. 29% (434) of landlords reported being responsible for at least one relevant building in this quarter. The majority of these were large landlords (those with 1,000 or more units).   

    4. Landlords reported that work had already started or is complete on 24.9% (478) of affected buildings. 21.1% (406) of affected buildings have a completion date that is beyond ten years or is unclear from the survey response. 

    5. LCFS are defined as defects, shrinkages, faults or other failings in a building that give rise to fire safety risks identified by a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Wall construction or a fire risk assessment (or equivalent) undertaken to industry standards. 

    6. We advise caution in interpreting data changes over time as they may be influenced, at least in part, by a change in the number of reported buildings and their assessment status at each quarter end.

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Health and safety remains top concern for directors and officers worldwide, according to Willis

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 80% of directors and officers consider health and safety risks to be very important or extremely important to their organisation, according to the latest Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Survey by Willis, a WTW business, (NASDAQ:WTW), in collaboration with Clyde & Co. Physical workplace risks were deemed the most important by 43% of respondents, followed by employee mental health and wellbeing consequences stemming from work (28%) and from personal matters (12%).

    For the first time since 2018 civil litigation and third party claims were included among the top seven concerns, with 63% of directors and officers surveyed considering these significant risks to their Directors and Officers. Smaller organisations (<$50 million in revenue) and those with revenues between $1 and $5 billion mentioned litigation more often. The largest organisations surveyed (>$5 billion in revenue) included diversity, equity and inclusion as well as bribery and corruption as top risks, while excluding the financial distress, bankruptcy and insolvency concerns of smaller organisations.

    Climate change is no longer considered a top seven risk in several regions, including Asia, North America and the Middle East. In contrast, diversity, equity and inclusion, a risk that was included in the survey for the first time this year, has made its way into the top seven for Great Britain, North America and Africa. Social risks as a whole feature prominently in the list of concerns and, when looked at over a five-year period, the increase in concern is notable. For example, breach of human rights within or by business operations has risen from 23% of responders considering it a very or extremely important concern in 2021 to 62% in 2025. Similarly, concern about supplier business practices has risen from 27% in 2021 to 59% in 2025.

    In general, there is a strong alignment between perceived material risks and board expertise and priorities. However, there is a notable exception when it comes to cybersecurity and data privacy, with many boards indicating more time is needed. Data loss and cyber-attacks, including extortion, are considered to be very important or extremely important for 77% of those surveyed. Artificial intelligence lags behind (only 51% of respondents consider it to be very or extremely important and considered by the fewest number of respondents to be material to the business while also being the lowest ranked issue on which respondents considered the board to have the relevant expertise), but this perception may change in the future as new use cases and regulations develop.

    Angus Duncan, global D&O coverage specialist at Willis, said: “The latest survey results underscore the diverse challenges directors and officers face today, highlighting how fraught the landscape has become. Despite increasing concerns over litigation risks, cost remains the dominant driver for D&O insurance purchasing decisions. This trend persists even as regulatory scrutiny and shareholder activism increase global liability exposures. By taking a proactive approach, companies can optimise their D&O coverage while mitigating financial and reputational risk. Our data helps clients anticipate emerging risks before they become serious exposures.”

    James Cooper, Partner and Head of Financial Institutions and D&O, Clyde & Co said: “The risk landscape for directors and officers is fast evolving and complex, driven by a multitude of factors from geopolitics to tech advancements and a challenging economic climate. Identifying the most critical risks and understanding where pressure points may appear is crucial in successfully navigating existing and emerging challenges. So too is ensuring that protections such as D&O insurance reflect this changing environment and can adequately cover areas where leaders may feel more exposed such as cyberattacks or data loss.”

    The report can be downloaded here.

    About the survey:

    Respondents include 765 global senior decision makers working in services, finance and insurance, healthcare, industry, energy and utilities and transportation and retail. Company size includes revenues of $5 billion or more (10%), $1 to 5 billion (15%), $50 million to $1 billion (33%) and less than $50 million (33%).

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

    Learn more at wtwco.com.

    About Clyde & Co

    Clyde & Co is a leading global law firm, helping organisations navigate risk and maximise opportunity in the sectors that underpin global trade and commercial activity, namely: insurance, aviation, marine, construction, energy, trade and natural resources. Globally integrated, the firm has 490 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people overall in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. For more information please visit www.clydeco.com

    Media contact

    Sarah Booker:
    Sarah.Booker@wtwco.com / +44 7917 722040

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Dutton says he could handle Donald Trump, but can any Australian PM?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    In the Trump age, how the next government, whether Labor or Coalition, will handle foreign affairs, defence and trade is shaping as crucially important.

    It’s a weird time when your friends become almost as problematic as your potential enemies, but that’s the situation we face.

    As many have observed, Donald Trump’s long shadow hangs over our election, at a time of multiple other uncertainties. Australia, like other countries, has already felt the brunt of the president’s tariffs policy, and the government is bracing for what may be worse to come with the next round of Trump announcements in early April.

    So what face would a Peter Dutton government present to the world? And how would he handle Trump?

    On Thursday at the Lowy Institute, the opposition leader brought his international policies together. He presented a mix of bipartisanship and differences with the government. Some of the latter weren’t so much fundamental disagreements as claims Labor had failed and the Coalition would be more competent or effective.

    The most frustrating part of Dutton’s speech and answers to questions was the same old problem. For crucial details, particularly on defence spending but also on the future of foreign aid under the Coalition, we were told we’d have to wait for announcements that always seem over the horizon.

    Dutton says as prime minister he wouldn’t resile from taking on the United States when necessary. With fears about US drug companies spearheading a war on Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, he declared, “I will stand up and defend the PBS […] against any attempt to undermine its integrity, including by major pharmaceutical companies”.

    In arguing that, in general, he’d be able to deal with Trump, Dutton invoked the previous Coalition government’s success with Trump Mark 1 (though Mark 2 is very different), and the power of AUKUS to anchor relations. His early priority would be to visit Washington.

    The question Australians should ask themselves is this: “Who is better placed to manage the US relationship and engage with President Trump?” I believe that […] I will be able to work with the Trump administration Mark 2 to get better outcomes for Australia. I will talk to [Trump] about how our national interests are mutual interests.

    But, as he acknowledged, “Australia’s national interests do not always align perfectly with the interests of partners – even of our closest allies”. The way Trump is operating at the moment, it may be that a PM of either stripe will find him impossible on certain issues.

    Dutton was once an uncomplicated hawk on China. Now, he is a mix of hawkish and dovish. It’s true things have changed greatly in Australia-China relations in recent times, but another reason for Dutton’s more nuanced position is highlighted by the line in his speech that “Australia has a remarkable Chinese diaspora”. The opposition leader has an eye to the vote of Chinese-Australians.

    Dutton now walks a line that is critical of China militarily, but anxious to promote and expand the now-restored trading relationship.

    Currently, there are two major, hot conflicts in the world: the Ukraine war and the violence in the Middle East.

    On Ukraine, the Coalition and Labor are at one in their backing for President Volodymyr Zelensky, although Dutton criticises aspects of the government’s delivery of support. But they are at odds over Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s willingness to contribute to a peacekeeping force.

    “Australia can’t afford the multibillion-dollar sustainment price tag for having troops based in an ill-defined and endless European presence,” Dutton said.

    The “multibillion-dollar” price tag was overegged, but many would agree there are sound arguments for not deploying Australian forces on such a venture. On the other hand, if an Albanese government did so, you can bet the commitment would be relatively token.

    The big gulf between Labor and Coalition is over the Middle East. This has grown from a marginally different reaction after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israelis to a major disagreement now.

    Dutton claims Labor “has viewed our relationship with Israel through a domestic policy lens and with a view to its political imperatives” – that is, the Muslim vote.

    Based on what Dutton says, a change of government would bring a substantial recalibration of Australia’s Middle East policy. One of Dutton’s “first orders of business” would be to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “help rebuild the relationship Labor has trashed”. He added:

    Israel will be able to count on our support again in the United Nations. And given UNRWA [the Palestinian relief agency] has employed terrorists from Hamas who participated in the 7 October attacks, the organisation will no longer receive funding from a government I lead.

    The Coalition repeatedly says Australia needs to spend more on defence. It has announced $3 billion to reinstate the fourth squadron of F-35 joint strike fighters, but not said the size of the defence envelope it believes is required. Dutton said:

    We need to do nothing short of re-thinking defence, re-tooling the ADF, and re-energising our domestic defence industry, and that’s exactly what our government will do.

    That sounds like a massive task, and so it’s more than time we saw the plan and cost of it. Would the Coalition be willing to go to around 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence spending, as the Trump administration wants? That would require a lot of sacrifice in other policy areas.

    The Australian Financial Review this week reported Coalition sources saying it is weighing up boosting defence spending to at least 2.5% by 2029.

    When the Coalition talks up its record in defence, one should also remember the failures, chief among them the delays and chopping and changing in its submarine program. A sub-optimal performance has been bipartisan.

    Dutton was questioned on his position on aid to Pacific countries. Should Australia step up given the void left by the US shutting down aid? If a Dutton government did that, would it mean an overall aid increase, or cuts in the aid budget elsewhere?

    This was left as another black hole, although he did say the Australian government should make representations to the US for the reinstatement of particular aid programs the US had cut.

    I don’t agree with some of the funding that they’ve withdrawn, and I think it is detrimental to the collective interests in the region, and I hope that there can be a discussion between our governments about a sensible pathway forward in that regard.

    Good luck with that.

    It is hard to avoid the conclusion the overall aid program would be an easy target for the Coalition in the search for savings.

    When leaders talk, what they don’t say can be as important as what they do.

    Michelle Grattan 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. Grattan on Friday: Dutton says he could handle Donald Trump, but can any Australian PM? – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-dutton-says-he-could-handle-donald-trump-but-can-any-australian-pm-252511

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Department for Business and Trade welcomes Ghanaian Healthcare Delegation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Department for Business and Trade welcomes Ghanaian Healthcare Delegation

    Fifteen organisations from Ghana’s healthcare sector will be participating in a UK roadshow from 17-21 March 2025.

    The UK’s Department for Business and Trade has today welcomed a delegation of 15 organisations from Ghana’s healthcare sector for a four-city roadshow aimed at strengthening trade partnerships and development opportunities.

    The delegation, visiting the UK from 17-21 March 2025, includes representatives from the Ghanaian government, private health facilities, pharmaceutical and medical equipment distributors, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

    The visit will strengthen the existing healthcare collaboration between the UK and Ghana, which already spans research and training, knowledge and expertise transfer, investment, and healthcare systems strengthening.

    His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa, John Humphrey, who is leading the UK delegation, said:

    The UK is committed to strengthening its economic ties with Africa, and Ghana is a key partner in this effort as we partner together to unlock growth, jobs, trade, investment, and opportunities in our economies.

    The UK is committed to strengthening its economic ties with Africa, and Ghana is a key partner in this effort as we partner together to unlock growth, jobs, trade, investment, and opportunities in our economies.

    The roadshow begins in London before continuing to Birmingham, Leeds, and Cardiff. Throughout the tour, Ghanaian delegates will meet with UK companies offering solutions and expertise that match Ghana’s healthcare needs. This initiative aligns with the UK’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with African nations and building capacity to address issues around supply chain disruption over the past years. By working together – we can get ahead of global shocks, mitigate their impact, and unlock new opportunities for growth between our two countries.

    British High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Harriet Thompson said:

    The UK and Ghana have enjoyed a long and consistent partnership on healthcare, enhancing the health services available to citizens as well as supporting opportunities for both British and Ghanaian businesses. This roadshow is an opportunity to deepen that partnership, harnessing our nations’ collective expertise, innovation, experience and dynamism. I am confident that the visit will foster productive connections, paving the way for growth and prosperity between Ghana and the UK.

    This visit presents a valuable opportunity for UK businesses to explore Ghana’s growing healthcare market, while enabling Ghana to access the UK’s expertise, products, and services in the sector.

    The Department for Business and Trade looks forward to productive engagement between the delegations, leading to increased trade and collaboration in healthcare.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Edinburgh Greens bring vote on Council rejecting Trump

    Source: Scottish Greens

    20 Mar 2025 External Affairs

    Donald Trump is not welcome in Scotland.

    More in External Affairs

    Edinburgh City Council has been urged to reject Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit, with a motion from the city’s Green councillors calling for members and officers to boycott any visit and ensure that no council budgets are used in hosting it.

    The motion, which will be debated today, condemns the US President’s “emerging fascist state” and calls for the Council to ensure that none of its resources are used to support a Trump visit in any way.

    Scottish Green councillor Alex Staniforth said:

    “Edinburgh is a welcoming and diverse city that stands with the communities being attacked by Donald Trump and the far right government that he leads.

    “Donald Trump has shown a total contempt for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Our Council does not have the power to stop him from visiting Edinburgh, but we can ensure that he is not given the warm welcome he craves.

    “There are millions of people across the US and beyond who are frightened for their friends and family who are having their rights eroded or removed by this White House. Those are the people we are standing with.

    “We hope that all parties will join us in condemning the planned state visit and rejecting Donald Trump and the politics he represents.”

    Scottish Green Co-Leader Lorna Slater said:

    “Donald Trump is no friend of Edinburgh. He is a racist, misogynist with a contempt for human rights and democracy.

    “I hope that the Council will unite around this call by Edinburgh’s Green councillors and send a loud and clear message that Donald Trump is not welcome here.”

    Motion By Councillor Alex Staniforth – Edinburgh Does Not Welcome Donald Trump

    “Council:

    1. Notes that Donald Trump attempted to overturn the democratic result of the US election on 6th January 2021.
    2. Notes that since returning to the presidency Trump has used the power of the executive to prosecute crimes to influence Eric Adams, the mayor of New York; sacked federal workers simply for not being cis white men; pardoned those involved in the attempted Jan 6th coup; removed protections for trans people; cut USAID despite not having approval from Congress; held talks over Ukraine with Putin without inviting a representative from Ukraine; raised tariffs on Mexico and Canada and threatened the sovereignty of Canada and Greenland.
    3. Notes that there is every sign that Trump’s administration is an emerging fascist state with his special advisor Elon Musk performing Nazi salutes at his inauguration.
    4. Therefore resolves that Edinburgh Council – its officers and members – will not, in any official capacity, be involved in a Donald Trump or JD Vance visit to Edinburgh and will not use its resources to support such a visit in any way.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Penalty issued against subsidiary of major law firm for breaches of sanctions linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Penalty issued against subsidiary of major law firm for breaches of sanctions linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

    The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has imposed a monetary penalty against Herbert Smith Freehills CIS LLP (“HSF Moscow”).

    The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has imposed a monetary penalty against Herbert Smith Freehills CIS LLP (“HSF Moscow”) for breaches of UK financial sanctions imposed on Russia, linked to its illegal invasion of Ukraine. 

    HSF Moscow was the subsidiary office to the UK registered Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (“HSF London”) until its closure by HSF London on 31 May 2022 as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.    

    The monetary penalty relates to six payments made by HSF Moscow with a collective value of £3,932,392.10 to designated persons subject to an asset freeze. The designated persons were JSC, PJSC Sovcombank, and PJSC Sberbank. In committing the breaches, the firm made funds directly available to sanctioned entities. The payments, which took place over a period of seven days as the firm wound down its Russian offices, demonstrated a pattern of failings.   

    As a result of these breaches, OFSI has imposed a penalty of £465,000 on HSF Moscow.

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds said: 

    Our commitment to robust enforcement of UK financial sanctions is steadfast.   

    A just and lasting peace in Ukraine must be our priority, and UK financial sanctions continue to be essential to disrupting Russia’s war machine and putting Ukraine on the strongest footing possible.

    HSF London, on behalf of HSF Moscow, voluntarily disclosed the breaches to OFSI, and therefore a 50% reduction has been applied to the final penalty amount.   

    This penalty demonstrates OFSI’s firm commitment to pursuing financial sanctions breaches wherever they occur. From the largest institutions to the smallest, everyone has an obligation to comply with the UK’s financial sanctions regime. OFSI is prepared to utilise the full extent of its statutory powers to pursue those who commit serious breaches of financial sanctions.  

    Financial sanctions are essential to the UK’s efforts to hold Russia accountable and place Ukraine on the strongest footing possible. As part of the UK’s commitment to robust enforcement of financial sanctions, OFSI has made transformative improvements in its tools, processes, and intelligence. The results are coming to fruition, with this case and the monetary penalty imposed on Integral Concierge Services Limited (ICSL) in August 2024 marking the first of several in OFSI’s pipeline linked to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The UK will continue to prioritise sanctions enforcement, including through public actions, such as monetary penalties, and actions which are not made public, such as warning letters and referrals to regulators.

    Notes to editors: 

    • OFSI stressed in its public penalty notice that it was issuing the monetary penalty against HSF Moscow, and that it had found no fault with the actions of the parent company, HSF London.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Dominates Token Listings with Highest Success Rate and Speed – TokenInsight Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a global cryptocurrency exchange, has reaffirmed its leadership in token listings, surpassing competitors in speed, volume, and market positioning, according to the latest TokenInsight Crypto Exchange report. Covering the period from November 1, 2024, to February 15, 2025, the report provides key insights into how centralized exchanges (CEXs) adapt to shifting market narratives during the latest bull run and how these changes influence their listing strategies.

    Key Takeaways

    • MEXC ranked first in spot listings, with 461 new tokens added.
    • The report recognized MEXC as a “Trend Capturer,” citing the strong performance of its early-listed tokens.
    • MEXC led in the conversion success rate (82.46%) for memecoin listings.
    • The exchange listed TRUMP just 2 hours and 20 minutes after its initial on-chain liquidity injection—far ahead of competitors.
    • MEXC was among the first exchanges to list major trend-driven tokens, including PNUT, CHILLGUY, AIXBT, BIO, RIFSOL, TRUMP, and VINE.

    MEXC Leads in Token Listings and Market Agility

    Over the past three months, MEXC has listed 461 new spot trading pairs—1.5 times more than Gate.io and 4.5 times more than Bitget—demonstrating its superior ability to capture market momentum. The exchange has maintained a consistent two-week listing cycle, ensuring that traders gain early access to promising assets before they reach mainstream markets.

    This agility is particularly evident in key industry trends, as MEXC has emerged as the first major exchange to list tokens tied to the four dominant narratives of the current market: Meme, DeSci, AI Agent, and Celebrity Tokens.

    A Leader in Early Listings

    The TokenInsight report recognizes MEXC as a “Trend Capturer” for positioning its traders ahead of major market moves. By listing tokens early in their lifecycle, the exchange enables traders to capitalize on rapid growth opportunities.

    For example, CHILLGUY was listed when its market cap was below $150 million and surged to $600 million within just ten days. MEXC’s reputation for early-market foresight has been reinforced by its rapid listing of high-performing tokens, including PNUT, CHILLGUY, AIXBT, BIO, RIFSOL, TRUMP, and VINE. Many of these tokens experienced significant price surges post-listing.

    A standout case is TRUMP, which MEXC listed on January 18 at 03:20 UTC, just 2 hours and 20 minutes after its initial on-chain liquidity injection—well ahead of other exchanges, which didn’t follow until after 10:00 UTC. This ultra-fast turnaround underscores MEXC’s sharp market responsiveness, allowing traders to access high-momentum tokens before broader adoption.

    Quality in On-Chain Listings

    Unlike platforms that focus solely on token volume, MEXC takes a selective approach, prioritizing high-potential on-chain assets. TokenInsight’s data reveals that MEXC’s 82.46% conversion rate from on-chain listings to its primary spot market far surpasses Gate.io’s 11.76%, highlighting its ability to identify sustainable projects.

    Largest Market Share and Top 5 CEX Ranking

    With its ability to identify and list emerging trends faster than competitors, MEXC continues to solidify its position among top-tier exchanges. Beyond leading in new listings, CoinDesk data confirms that MEXC captured the largest market share among centralized exchanges in February 2025 and secured a top-five ranking based on overall market share.

    The full report is available on TokenInsight’s official website.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is dedicated to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Known for its extensive selection of trending tokens, airdrop opportunities, and low fees, MEXC serves over 34 million users across 170+ countries. With a focus on accessibility and efficiency, our advanced trading platform appeals to both new traders and seasoned investors alike. MEXC provides a seamless, secure, and rewarding gateway to the world of digital assets.

    For more information, visit: MEXC Website | X | Telegram | How to Sign Up on MEXC
    For media inquiries, please contact MEXC PR Manager Lucia Hu: lucia.hu@mexc.com

    About TokenInsight

    TokenInsight is a leading research and data analytics firm focused on the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry. Through detailed market reports and data-driven insights, TokenInsight provides actionable intelligence to investors, exchanges, and industry participants.

    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/7fc75310-f85c-45f9-b803-96869eb2c148

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Hunger skyrockets by nearly 80 percent in Eastern and Southern Africa over past five years amidst worsening water crisis

    Source: Oxfam –

    • Nearly 116 million people in eight African countries, hardest hit by severe water crises, lack access to drinking water.
    • Globally, flash floods have become 20 times more frequent between 2000 and 2022

    The climate crisis has dramatically worsened water scarcity in Eastern and Southern Africa over the past few decades, leaving nearly 116 million people –or 40 percent of the population – without safe drinking water, according to a new Oxfam report.  

    Climate change is supercharging extreme weather events like droughts, cyclones and flash floods, and has led to the disappearance of more than 90 percent of Africa’s tropical glaciers and the depletion of groundwater. This has had knock-on effects on Africa’s small-scale farmers, pastoralists and fisherpersons leaving millions without basic food, drinking water or income. 

    Oxfam’s report –Water-Driven Hunger: How the Climate Crisis Fuels Africa’s Food Emergency – published ahead of World Water Day, looked at the links between water scarcity and hunger in eight of the world’s worst water crises: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It found that the number of people experiencing extreme hunger in those countries has surged by nearly 80 percent over the past five years – reaching over 55 million in 2024, up from nearly 31 million in 2019. That is two in every ten persons.  

    The report warns that La Niña weather pattern, which will last through this month, will worsen floods in swaths of Southern Africa and South Sudan while causing severe drought in East Africa further threatening people’s food availability and income. 

    Globally, flash floods have become 20 times more frequent between 2000 and 2022 and the duration of droughts has risen by 29% since 2000, impacting the most vulnerable communities.  

    Existing poverty, deep inequality and chronic under-investment along with poor governance in water systems have compounded this climate-fuelled water crisis. African governments are currently meeting less than half the US$50 billion annual investment target required to achieve water security in Africa by 2030.  

    “The climate crisis is not a mere statistic—it has a human face. It affects real people whose livelihoods are being destroyed, while the main contributors to this crisis—big polluters and super-rich—continue to profit. Meanwhile, national governments neglect to support the very communities they should protect.” 

    Fati N’Zi Hassane,

    Director, Oxfam in Africa

    Fati N’Zi-Hassane, Oxfam in Africa Director said: 

    “The climate crisis is not a mere statistic—it has a human face. It affects real people whose livelihoods are being destroyed, while the main contributors to this crisis—big polluters and super-rich—continue to profit. Meanwhile, national governments neglect to support the very communities they should protect.” 

    The Oxfam report also found that: 

    • In the eight countries studied, 91 percent of small-scale farmers depend almost entirely on rainwater for drinking and farming. 
    • In Ethiopia, food insecurity has soared by 175 percent over the past five years, with 22 million people struggling to find their next meal. 
    • In Kenya, over 136,000 square kilometers of land have become drier between 1980 and 2020, which has decimated crops and livestock. 
    • In Somalia, one failed rainy season is pushing one million more people into crisis-level hunger, raising the total to 4.4 million—24% of the population. 

    A farmer from Baidoa, Somalia explains: “In the past, we knew when to farm and when to harvest but that has all changed. The rains now come late or not at all.  Last year, I lost all my crops and animals. I have now planted, but the rains have still not come. If this continues, I will not be able to feed my family.”  

    Deep inequalities mean that disadvantaged people like women and girls are too often the first and most severely punished by this water crisis. In Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, women and girls walk up to 10 kilometers in search of water, facing violence and extreme exhaustion. Many women and girls in rural households spend hours each day collecting water—time that could otherwise be spent on education or income generation.  

    “At the heart of this climate crisis lies a justice crisis. Sub-Saharan Africa receives only 3-4 percent of global climate finance, despite being heavily affected by climate change. Rich polluting nations must pay their fair share. It’s not about charity, it’s about justice. 

    “African governments must also double down on their investment in water infrastructures and social protection to effectively manage natural resources, and help the most vulnerable communities cope with climatic shocks,” added N’Zi-Hassane. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Jury delivers verdict finding Greenpeace entities liable for more than US$660 million in Energy Transfer SLAPP trial

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Free speech and right to protest on the line in the United States 

    Mandan, North Dakota — A Morton County jury of nine reached a verdict in Energy Transfer’s meritless lawsuit against Greenpeace entities in the US (Greenpeace Inc, Greenpeace Fund), and Greenpeace International, finding the entities liable for more than US$660 million, today. Big Oil Bullies around the world will continue to try to silence free speech and peaceful protest, but the fight against Energy Transfer’s meritless SLAPP lawsuit is not over. 

    “We are witnessing a disastrous return to the reckless behaviour that fuelled the climate crisis, deepened environmental racism, and put fossil fuel profits over public health and a liveable planet. The previous Trump administration spent four years dismantling protections for clean air, water, and Indigenous sovereignty, and now along with its allies wants to finish the job by silencing protest. We will not back down. We will not be silenced,” said Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International Executive Director.  

    “This case should alarm everyone, no matter their political inclinations,” said Sushma Raman, Interim Executive Director Greenpeace Inc, Greenpeace Fund. “It’s part of a renewed push by corporations to weaponise our courts to silence dissent. We should all be concerned about the future of the First Amendment, and lawsuits like this aimed at destroying our rights to peaceful protest and free speech. These rights are critical for any work toward ensuring justice – and that’s why we will continue fighting back together, in solidarity. While Big Oil bullies can try to stop a single group, they can’t stop a movement.”

    Energy Transfer’s lawsuits are clear-cut examples of SLAPPs — lawsuits attempting to bury nonprofits and activists in legal fees, push them towards bankruptcy and ultimately silence dissent.[1] Big Oil companies Shell, Total, and ENI have also filed SLAPPs against Greenpeace entities in recent years.[2] A couple of these cases have been successfully stopped in their tracks. This includes Greenpeace France successfully defeating TotalEnergies’ SLAPP on 28 March 2024, and Greenpeace UK and Greenpeace International forcing Shell to back down from its SLAPP on 10 December 2024.

    “Energy Transfer hasn’t heard the last of us in this fight. We’re just getting started with our anti-SLAPP lawsuit against Energy Transfer’s attacks on free speech and peaceful protest. We will see Energy Transfer in court this July in the Netherlands. We will not back down. We will not be silenced,” said Greenpeace International General Counsel Kristin Casper.

    In February 2024, GPI initiated the first test of the European Union’s anti-SLAPP Directive by filing a lawsuit in Dutch court against ET.[3] GPI seeks to recover all damages and costs it has suffered as a result of ET’s back-to-back, meritless lawsuits demanding hundreds of millions of dollars against GPI and the Greenpeace organisations in the US. 

    — ENDS —

    Photos and Videos can be accessed from the Greenpeace Media Library.

    Notes:

    1. ET’s first lawsuit was filed in federal court under the RICO Act – the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a US federal statute designed to prosecute mob activity. The case was dismissed, with the judge stating the evidence fell “far short” of what was needed to establish a RICO enterprise. The federal court did not decide on the state law so ET promptly filed a new case in a North Dakota state court with these and other state law claims.
    2. A report by the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) documented 1049 SLAPP suits in Europe in the period 2010-2023, with 166 lawsuits initiated in 2023.
    3. Greenpeace International files lawsuit against Energy Transfer in first use of EU anti-SLAPP Directive

    Contacts:

    Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

    Join the Greenpeace SLAPP Trial WhatsApp Group for our latest updates

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: “A blatant injustice”: Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s response to Energy Transfer lawsuit

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    In response to the verdict in Energy Transfer’s suit against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace US entities, the following lines can be attributed to Greenpeace Australia Pacific General Counsel Katrina Bullock:

    “The $660 million North Dakota case against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace US entities is a blatant Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) brought by a fossil fuel giant. SLAPPs are a corporate weapon designed to strangle public debate. They’re not about justice — they’re about silencing dissent, draining environmental defenders of time, money, and energy until they have no choice but to stop fighting. It’s an abuse of the legal system to shield powerful polluters from accountability. 

    “It’s no wonder eminent US lawyer Marty Garbus has labelled it the most unfair trial he has witnessed in his six decades of legal practice. Distinguished legal experts who acted as Independent Trial Monitors collectively noted that ‘the jury verdict against Greenpeace in North Dakota reflects a deeply flawed trial with multiple due process violations that denied Greenpeace the ability to present anything close to a full defence’. 

    “A jury with close ties to the fossil fuel industry, a judge permitting defamatory and prejudicial attacks on Greenpeace, and a blatant refusal for court transparency — this trial was a blatant injustice.”

    In a domestic context, Ms Bullock added:

    “In Australia, opposition leader Peter Dutton has announced that a coalition government would introduce legislation based on these same racketeering laws that have been used against peaceful environmental groups in the US. Dutton’s proposal to introduce US-style RICO laws raises serious concerns. While his office claims it’s aimed at tackling organised crime in the construction sector, we’ve seen in the US how these laws have been weaponised to target charities and grassroots groups who engage in peaceful protest activities. We must be extremely wary of laws that could criminalise our ability to protect our environment and our communities.”

    Greenpeace unequivocally disagrees with the verdict and refuses to be silenced. Greenpeace US entities will appeal.

    “Greenpeace is not scared of SLAPPs, and where big oil companies might think we will back down, we won’t. Greenpeace rises in the face of injustice.

    “Greenpeace Australia Pacific is an autonomous legal entity and is not a party to the lawsuit. While this verdict won’t have any programmatic or financial impacts for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, it is united in solidarity with Greenpeace US and Greenpeace International against this intimidation lawsuit and in the need for anti-SLAPP legislation.”

    — ENDS —

    Greenpeace International’s press release can be found here.

    Photos and Videos can be accessed from the Greenpeace Media Library and photos of Katrina and from the Australia-Pacific region can be found here.

    Contacts:

    Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications: Kimberley Bernard on +61 407 581 404 or [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: ‘Dump the bill, not the Skate’: Albanese goes all out for wildlife extinction

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, 20 MARCH 2025 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has slammed the Albanese Government for seeking to weaken Australia’s national nature laws in order to prop up polluting and environmentally harmful industries, and urged the Albanese government to dump a proposed bill scheduled for debate next week. 

    The EPBC Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill is scheduled for debate in the House of Representatives next Tuesday and in the Senate on Wednesday. Media reports indicate the proposed legislation aims to curtail the ability of third parties to request lawful reconsideration of the scope of environmental impacts of major projects.

    “The move has been designed to shield the Tasmanian salmon industry from environmental scrutiny over its impact on the critically endangered Maugean skate but could have far-reaching consequences beyond this,” said Glenn Walker, Head of Nature at Greenpeace Australia Pacific

    “With this Bill, the Albanese Government appears to have turned its back on its promise to end species extinctions.

    “Australia has one of the worst rates of wildlife extinction in the world. Animals like the Maugean skate are hurtling towards extinction due to government inaction and free passes for polluting and harmful industries. Even the koala is listed as endangered in Queensland and New South Wales; that’s how severe the problem is.”

    “The Albanese Government promised to end extinctions and protect Australia’s wildlife through law reform. Instead, they are signing the extinction warrant for the Maugean skate.

    “Australia urgently needs strong, new nature laws that will end the extinction crisis and an independent watchdog to enforce them. We urge the Albanese Government to dump the Bill, not the skate, and get on with delivering this. It’s critical that the government give an ironclad guarantee that this will be delivered within the first 12 months of government if reelected this year.”

    —ENDS—

    For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Vai Shah at 0452 290 082 / [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Jury delivers verdict finding Greenpeace entities liable for more than $660 million in Energy Transfer SLAPP trial

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Free speech and right to protest on the line in the United States

    Mandan, North Dakota — A Morton County jury of nine reached a verdict in Energy Transfer’s meritless lawsuit against Greenpeace entities in the US (Greenpeace Inc, Greenpeace Fund), and Greenpeace International, finding the entities liable for more than US$660 million, today. Big Oil Bullies around the world will continue to try to silence free speech and peaceful protest, but the fight against Energy Transfer’s meritless SLAPP lawsuit is not over. 

    “This case should alarm everyone, no matter their political inclinations,” said Sushma Raman, Interim Executive Director Greenpeace Inc, Greenpeace Fund. “It’s part of a renewed push by corporations to weaponize our courts to silence dissent. We should all be concerned about the future of the First Amendment, and lawsuits like this aimed at destroying our rights to peaceful protest and free speech. These rights are critical for any work toward ensuring justice – and that’s why we will continue fighting back together, in solidarity. While Big Oil bullies can try to stop a single group, they can’t stop a movement.”

    “We are witnessing a disastrous return to the reckless behaviour that fuelled the climate crisis, deepened environmental racism, and put fossil fuel profits over public health and a liveable planet. The previous Trump administration spent four years dismantling protections for clean air, water, and Indigenous sovereignty, and now along with its allies wants to finish the job by silencing protest. We will not back down. We will not be silenced,” said Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International Executive Director. 

    In this case, Energy Transfer has maintained their entirely false claims that Greenpeace organized the #NoDAPL resistance at Standing Rock, an allegation rooted in racism in its erasure of the Indigenous leadership in North Dakota.

    “What we saw over these three weeks was Energy Transfer’s blatant disregard for the voices of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe,” said Deepa Padmanabha, Senior Legal Advisor, Greenpeace USA. “And while they also tried to distort the truth about Greenpeace’s role in the protests, we instead reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to non-violence in every action we take. To be clear, Greenpeace’s story is not the story of Standing Rock. Our story is how an organization like Greenpeace USA can support critical fights to protect communities most impacted by the climate crisis, as well as continued attacks on Indigenous sovereignty.”

    This lawsuit is one of the largest Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) cases ever filed. These are meritless lawsuits meant to silence or bankrupt opponents – which is why most U.S. states and several countries have put legal protections in place to protect advocates. But in North Dakota – and 15 other states – no anti-SLAPP statutes exist.

    Greenpeace entities will continue fighting back against this case, including by appealing to the North Dakota Supreme Court. 

    In February 2024, Greenpeace International initiated the first test of the European Union’s anti-SLAPP Directive by filing a lawsuit in Dutch court against ET. GPI seeks to recover damages and costs it has suffered as a result of ET’s back-to-back, meritless lawsuits demanding hundreds of millions of dollars against GPI and the Greenpeace organisations in the US.“Energy Transfer hasn’t heard the last of us in this fight. We’re just getting started with our anti-SLAPP lawsuit against Energy Transfer’s attacks on free speech and peaceful protest,” said Kristin Casper, Greenpeace International General Counsel. “We will see Energy Transfer in court this July in the Netherlands.”

    CONTACT: Madison Carter, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE discusses revisions to the standard on seed potatoes to support trade

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The quality of seed potatoes is an important factor in determining crop yield, health and productivity.  Good quality seed potatoes allow for more production with less land, thus contributing to enhanced food security with reduced environmental impact.

    During the 52nd session of UNECE’s Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes (18–20 March 2025) in Geneva, delegates agreed on revisions to the UNECE Standard for Seed Potatoes (S-1), following a three-year review process. Initially adopted in 1961, the standard helps improve seed potato quality and safety worldwide, ensure fair competition and facilitate trade.

    The review was led by the delegation of Finland and included the delegations of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority, Euroseeds, and Potato Certification Service South Africa. Their collaboration has ensured that the standard reflects the latest industry needs and best practices.

    The revised standard will be presented for adoption by the UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards at its 80th session on 17-19 November 2025.

    Why this update matters

    The UNECE Standard S-1 sets a common terminology and minimum quality requirements for certifying high-quality seed potatoes for international trade.

    It is used by government authorities, farmers, exporters, and buyers to ensure seed potatoes meet global standards. Clear, harmonized certification rules help buyers and sellers understand seed potato quality, reducing technical barriers. At present, this standard is the only international framework covering all key aspects of seed potato certification:

    • Varietal identity and purity
    • Traceability and disease control
    • Pest prevention and quality checks
    • Labelling and record-keeping

    “This revised standard is a crucial tool for the global seed potato industry. By ensuring clear and consistent certification rules, we are helping producers, certifying agencies and traders ensure quality seed potatoes. In today’s trade environment, having a reliable framework like this is more valuable than ever,” noted Hanna Kortemaa, Chair of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes and Director of the Plant Production Department at the Finnish Food Authority.

    Key updates in the standard

    The revised UNECE Standard S-1 includes:

    • Improved certification process – a more transparent system to ensure that certified seed potatoes meet strict quality standards.
    • Stronger disease and pest control measures through updated inspection rules to prevent the spread of diseases.
    • Better traceability and labelling through clearer labelling and record-keeping requirements to help track seed potatoes across the supply chain.
    • Alignment with global trade rules, including European and North American trade standards.

    The future of seed potato trade

    With global seed potato exports amounting to 1.1 billion USD or 1.7 million tons in 2023, UNECE plans to continue its work by focusing on helping countries apply the revised standard in their national systems.

    For more details on UNECE guidance on seed potato certification and inspection, see the UNECE website.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Declare your city genocide free’ – lessons from NZ’s nuclear-free movement

    COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle

    Today I attended a demonstration outside both Aotearoa New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Israeli Embassy in Wellington.

    The day before, the Israelis had blown apart 174 children in Gaza in a surprise attack that announced the next phase of the genocide.

    About 174 Wellingtonians turned up to a quickly-called protest: they are the best of us — the best of Wellington.

    In 2023, the City made me an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian for service across a number of fronts (water infrastructure, conservation, coastal resilience, community organising) but nothing I have done compares with the importance of standing up for the victims of US-Israeli violence.

    What more can we do?  And then it crossed my mind: “Declare Wellington Genocide Free”.  And if Wellington could, why not other cities?

    Wellington started nuclear-free drive
     The nuclear-free campaign, led by Wellington back in the 1980s, is a template worth reviving.

    Wellington became the first city in New Zealand — and the first capital in the world — to declare itself nuclear free in 1982.  It followed the excellent example of Missoula, Montana, USA, the first city in the world to do so, in 1978.

    These were tumultuous times. I vividly remember heading into Wellington harbour on a small yacht, part of a peace flotilla made up of kayakers, yachties and wind surfers that tried to stop the USS Texas from berthing. It won that battle that day but we won the war.

    This was the decade which saw the French government’s terrorist bomb attack on a Greenpeace ship in Auckland harbour to intimidate the anti-nuclear movement.

    Also, 2025 is the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and the death of Fernando Pereira. Little Island Press will be reissuing a new edition of my friend David Robie’s book Eyes of Fire later this year. It tells the incredible story of the final voyage of the Rainbow Warrior.

    “Eyes of Fire: the Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior” . . . a new book on nuclear-free activism on its way. Image: Little Island Press

    Standing up to bullies
     Labour under David Lange successfully campaigned and won the 1984 elections on a nuclear-free platform which promised to ban nuclear ships from our waters.

    This was a time when we had a government that had the backbone to act independently of the US. Yes, we had a grumpy relationship with the Yanks for a while and we were booted out of ANZUS — surely a cause for celebration in contrast to today when our government is little more than a finger puppet for Team Genocide.

    In response to bullying from Australia and the US, David Lange said at the time:  “It is the price we are prepared to pay.”

    With Wellington in the lead, nuclear-free had moved over the course of a decade from a fringe peace movement to the mainstream and eventually to become government policy.

    The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 was passed and remains a cornerstone of our foreign policy.

    New Zealand took a stand that showed strong opposition to out-of-control militarism, the risks of nuclear war, and strong support for the international movement to step back from nuclear weapons.

    It was a powerful statement of our independence as a nation and a rejection of foreign dominance. It also reduced the risk of contamination in case of a nuclear accident aboard a vessel (remember this was the same decade as the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine).

    The nuclear-free campaign and Palestine
     Each of those points have similarities with the Palestinian cause today and should act as inspiration for cities to mobilise and build national solidarity with the Palestinians.

    To my knowledge, no city has ever successfully expelled an Israeli Embassy but Wellington could take a powerful first step by doing this, and declare the capital genocide-free.  We need to wake our country — and the Western world — out of the moral torpor it finds itself in; yawning its way through the monstrous crimes being perpetrated by our “friends and allies”.

    Shun Israel until it stops genocide
     No city should suffer the moral stain of hosting an embassy representing the racist, genocidal state of Israel.

    Wellington should lead the country to support South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), end all trade with Israel, and end all intelligence and military cooperation with Israel for the duration of its genocidal onslaught.  Other cities should follow suit.

    Declare your city Nuclear and Genocide Free.

    Eugene Doyle is a writer based in Wellington. He has written extensively on the Middle East, as well as peace and security issues in the Asia Pacific region. He hosts the public policy platform solidarity.co.nz and is a frequent contributor to Asia Pacific Report.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions with British Sign Language (BSL) – 19March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glJrUv00d4Y

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – 19 March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/glJrUv00d4Y

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5sf61Lp1rw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Report reveals young people nearly fives time more likely to be put out of work

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New Report reveals young people nearly fives time more likely to be put out of work

    New Keep Britain Working Review report reveals an increase of 1.2 million young people with work limiting health conditions 

    • Nearly 1 in 4 people out of work due to ill health are under 35 – underlining the need for government’s employment and welfare reforms 
    • Government to consider independent recommendations on partnering with employers to keep young people in work  
    • Follows sweeping package of welfare to reforms to unlock work and boost living standards as part of the government’s Plan for Change 

    Young people with mental health conditions are nearly five times more likely to be economically inactive compared to others in their age group, according to new analysis published today [Thursday 20 March] by the Keep Britain Working Review.    

    Statistics in the report also show around a quarter of those who are economically inactive due to ill-health are under the age of 35 – illustrating how early barriers are impacting many of those who may be beginning their work journey or developing. 

    The findings are part of the review’s Discovery Phase report, as former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield examines the factors behind spiralling levels of inactivity, and how government and businesses can work together to tackle the issue.  

    The Keep Britain Working Review was announced as part of the Get Britain Working White Paper which set out the biggest employment reforms for a generation to get Britain working and unlock growth as part of the plan for change. It also includes plans for overhauling job centres, empowering mayors and local areas to tackle inactivity, and delivering a Youth Guarantee so all young people are either earning or learning  

    Today’s report sets out the economic inactivity challenges facing the UK and how this compares to other countries. It finds that:  

    • There are 8.7 million people in the UK with a work-limiting health condition, up by 2.5 million (41 per cent) over the last decade, including 1.2 million 16 to 34-year-olds and 900,000 50 to 64-year-olds   

    • These figures show young people (16 to 34-year-olds) with mental health conditions are 4.7 times more likely to be economically inactive than their cohort   

    • Those who are out of work for less than a year are five times more likely to return to work compared to those who are out of work longer  

    The report also highlights the potential economic benefit of better prevention, retention and rapid rehabilitation: it finds that tackling sickness absence and ill-health related economic inactivity through these measures could be worth £150 billion a year to the economy.  

    Chair of the independent review, Sir Charlie Mayfield, said:       

    Our initial report published today confirms the scale of rising economic inactivity and what’s driving it. It underlines the urgency that we tackle this challenge by improving prevention and retention of those in work and by creating better pathways back into work for those who are economically inactive.   

    It’s a problem that can and must be addressed by government and employers together. Even at this initial stage of the review, we have found inspiring examples of employers making a difference that’s literally life changing for some people. We need more of these on a greater scale and, in the next stages of the review, we will be engaging with many organisations to establish how that can be achieved.  

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, said:   

    We must do far more to help people stay in work and get back quickly if they fall out. That’s why, as part of the reforms in our Pathways to Work Green Paper and our Plan for Change, we are making a decisive shift towards prevention and early intervention.  

    We want to help more employers to offer opportunities for disabled people, including through measures such as reasonable adjustments, and we are consulting on reforming Access to Work so it is fit for the future.  

    I want to thank Sir Charlie for this report. It shows the potential for what government and employers can do together to create healthier, more inclusive workplaces, so we build on the great work some businesses are already doing. 

    Separate research also suggests that if the UK could reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training by a third, to match Germany’s rate, UK GDP could increase by 1.8% in the long-term (equivalent to £38 billion) – underpinning why health and disability reform to get Britain working is central to unlocking growth and delivering on the Plan for Change.  

    The government has already hit the ground running on prevention to address the mental health challenges young people are facing and ensure they get the treatment they need. This includes investing £26 billion in the NHS, including in mental health services and recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult services to reduce delays and provide faster treatment. 

    We have already helped almost 70,000 people with mental health issues back into employment last year as part of the expansion of the Talking Therapies programme, up more than 60% on the year before and we are continuing to expand the programmes so more people can benefit from treatment.  

    The report sets out the main areas for the next stage of engagement – where in the coming months written submissions and face-to-face engagements with businesses and stakeholders will gather evidence to develop recommendations to come in Autumn.  

    The government has also put in place measures to make work pay and more secure, to help keep more people in work and support employers with retention. 

    This includes through the Employment Rights Bill which will strengthen workers’ rights protections, including expanding Statutory Sick Pay to 1.3 million of the lowest earners who previously received nothing, ensuring employees have the right to payments from the first day they are ill – so no one has to choose between their health or staying in work.  

    We are also increasing the National Living Wage from April, benefiting 3 million of the lowest paid full-time workers by up to £2,500 and introducing a Youth Guarantee to ensure every young person is either learning or earning.  

    This Discovery report comes as the Work and Pensions Secretary set out the largest welfare reforms for a generation this week to help those sick and disabled people who can work into jobs – backed by £1 billion investment.  

    This includes consulting on delaying access to the health top up in Universal Credit until someone is aged 22, with savings reinvested into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee.  

    These range of measures also include scrapping the controversial Work Capability Assessment that drives people into dependency and introducing the biggest package of new employment support including an early support conversation to stop an inactivity spiral.    

    The new measures are designed to ensure a welfare system that is fit for purpose and available for future generations – opening up employment opportunities, boosting economic growth and tackling the spiralling benefits bill, while also ensuring those who cannot work get the support, they need as part of the government’s Plan for Change.  

    This will end years of inaction, which has led to one in eight young people not currently in work, education or training and 2.8 million people economically inactive due to long term sickness – one of the highest rates in the G7.   

    All this has driven the spiralling benefits bill, forecast to reach £70 billion a year of spending on health and disability benefits for working age people by the end of the decade, or more than £1 billion a week.     

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –