NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rising energy bills: what you need to know

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    News story

    Rising energy bills: what you need to know

    A summary of why energy prices are rising and how clean power will protect households from unstable global fossil fuel markets.

    What is the price cap?  

    The price cap is the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge consumers on default tariffs for each unit of energy and standing charge.   

    The new price cap figure, quoted at £1,849 – represents the projected annual energy cost for a typical household, based on this maximum charge for each unit of energy and standing charges. This is 6.4% higher than the figure for the first 3 months of 2025.  

    In practice, this rise will mean an increase of around £9 per month for a typical household over the next 3 months. 

    People’s actual bills will still vary depending on their energy usage, region and payment type.   

    This projection is adjusted every 3 months. The next announcement will be in May 2025 for the July to September price cap level. The price cap level set in February 2025 will only apply to bills from 1 April to 30 June.   

    Why are energy bills rising?  

    International gas prices have risen, bringing British energy bills up with them.   

    That’s because the price we pay for energy in the UK is set by gas prices on the global market, over which we have no control. 

    As a result of recent events that have affected the market, which the whole of Europe is dealing with, wholesale gas prices covered by the period of this price cap are around 15% higher than they were in the period covered under the previous price cap. This is comparable to the rise in prices across Europe.  

    Around 80% of this increase to the price cap level between Q1 2025 and Q2 2025 is a consequence of the increase in the wholesale price of gas.  

    Why have international gas prices risen?  

    The UK’s gas network is interconnected with Europe and with the global market through liquefied natural gas imports, meaning that factors affecting European gas prices affect our prices too.   

    Across the Channel a perfect storm of factors drove a steep increase in the wholesale price of gas since the start of 2025.   

    The pipeline delivering Russian gas to European countries through Ukraine was switched off at the start of the year, a consequence of the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine.  

    How does the UK compare to other European countries?  

    Wholesale gas prices have risen consistently across Europe over the past few months.    

    However, Britain’s power system, inherited from the previous government, is more heavily reliant on gas than some other European countries, which is why the UK’s electricity prices are higher than those of some countries with less reliance on gas.   

    Norway, for example, gets much of its energy from hydropower, while France has historically invested more in nuclear power. As a result, these countries currently have lower electricity bills than the UK.    

    Other countries with lower bills, like Spain, have a warmer climate and lower heating requirements. Spain has also invested heavily in renewable energy sources, including solar and wind power.  

    Our plan for clean power by 2030 will reduce our reliance on gas, and moving to a system that that is primarily based on homegrown renewable power sources can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – Regional UN forum calls for targeted and evidence-based solutions to speed up sustainable development progress

    Source: United Nations – ESCAP

    Sustained economic growth in Asia and the Pacific has lifted millions out of poverty. Yet, the attainment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 remains well beyond the region’s grasp as less than a sixth of SDG targets will be met on current trends.

    At the opening of the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development today, government officials, civil society, youth and international organization representatives called for prioritized, targeted actions with strong multiplier effects across different sectors so that the region moves closer to as many targets as possible.

    “With the technology and finance that drive the world now largely coming from the region, the means to attain sustainable development lie within us. Our commitments must be translated into concrete actions,” urged Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

    “This region has immense potential to accelerate SDG progress – through action to harness the power of technology, accelerate the energy transition and transform food systems, driving progress across all the Goals,” said United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed in her video remarks. “Use your voice to ensure that the needs and priorities of this region shape action over the coming years.”

    Asia and the Pacific faces defining challenges, urgent actions needed

    With recent years being the warmest on record, the world is rapidly approaching the critical +1.5°C threshold. The consequences — ranging from disruptions in agriculture and health to the increasing frequency of disasters and challenges for human settlements — are set to reshape livelihoods and economies. Delegates at the opening further called for urgent action to mitigate climate change risks and build resilience. This includes an accelerated shift towards renewable energy and regional power systems, integrating cooling solutions into sectoral policies and investing in climate adaptation to safeguard communities.

    Additionally, they drew attention to the fundamental demographic shift taking place with increasingly ageing populations, especially in countries still developing. Delegates highlighted the need to invest in future generations: better education, health and youth employment as well as intergenerational collaboration to ensure everyone remain well-integrated into society.

    “It is time to move beyond conversations, trust young people with inclusive, innovative and science-based solutions and facilitate intergenerational linking and learning for a cohesive sustainable development agenda,” said Shayal Nand, who presented the Youth Call to Action at the session.

    Speaking on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism, Beena Pallical said, “We call on all states and UN agencies to commit to comprehensive redressal of systemic barriers, centering people and the planet over profits, in line with the principle of equity and inclusivity to realize development justice for a far better world for our tomorrow.”

    APFSD serves as a crucial regional platform to shape global development dialogue

    Suman Bery, Vice Chair of NITI Aayog of India was elected Chair of the session. He underscored the Forum’s importance as a key platform to review regional progress and discuss sustainable development priorities moving forward at a fast pace.

    Over the next four days, Forum participants will undertake an in-depth review of the region’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being); 5 (gender equality); 8 (decent work and economic growth); 14 (life below water) and 17 (partnership for the Goals). The outcome of the regional Forum will feed into the global High-Level Political Forum in July.

    Bob Rae, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council noted that of the 39 countries that will present their Voluntary National Reviews at the High-Level Political Forum in July in New York, 12 are ESCAP members. “This very strong number demonstrates the region’s commitment to evidence-based follow-up and shared learning which is so critical in pursuit of the SDGs,” he said.

    ESCAP, ADB and UNDP launch report on advancing a just transition

    At the Forum, ESCAP, the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme jointly launched the latest edition of the Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report 2025, which highlights the critical need for a just transition to green and blue economies. This is a necessary step to addressing climate change while ensuring sustainable development, but it must be fair and inclusive, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind.

    The report reveals that a just transition has the potential to generate millions of new jobs while addressing the risks of disruptions to employment and livelihoods, particularly for workers in carbon-intensive industries, the informal sector and those lacking social protection. It further highlights more than 50 examples of potential solutions and good practices implemented across the region, showcasing how a just transition can be pursued on many fronts as well as scalable and adaptable across diverse national contexts.

    Note:
    The Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development is hosted annually by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to assess regional progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and explore solutions to accelerate action. The forum provides a space for countries to identify regional trends, discuss best practices and lessons learned as well as strengthen regional collaboration to ensure no one is left behind.  

    For more information on the 12th APFSD: https://www.unescap.org/events/apfsd12
     
    Access the full Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report 2025: https://www.unescap.org/kp/2025/delivering-just-transition-advancing-decent-work-gender-equality-and-social-protection

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Yorkshire engineer jailed for breaching director ban and bankruptcy offence

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Yorkshire engineer jailed for breaching director ban and bankruptcy offence

    Father and son sentenced after multiple offences committed

    • Repeat offender Leslie Crossland again breached the rules of his director disqualification by managing two companies when he was not allowed to do so 
    • He also committed a bankruptcy offence in 2020 during the course of interviews with Insolvency Service officials 
    • Crossland was assisted in breaking his director ban by his son, Richard Crossland, who was given a suspended sentence at the same hearing 

    A Yorkshire electrical engineer who continued to manage his businesses while he was disqualified as a company director has been jailed. 

    Leslie Crossland, of Netherfield Croft, Shafton, Barnsley, was sentenced to 16 months in prison when he appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday 21 February. 

    The 75-year-old had previously admitted acting as a director of R&L Electrical Engineers Ltd (R&L) and R&L (BMS) Installations Ltd (BMS) when he was banned from doing so. 

    He also failed to inform Insolvency Service officials that he had withdrawn four of his pensions, disposing of £23,300 in assets in the months before he was declared bankrupt. 

    Crossland was already serving a 14-year director disqualification, which began in November 2008, at the time he was managing R&L and BMS. His 2008 disqualification was for failing to deliver accounting records to the liquidator and ignoring a previous 10-year director ban from September 2005. 

    He was also jailed in 2014 for breaching the 14-year disqualification. 

    Crossland was supported in breaching his most recent directorship ban by Richard Crossland, his son, who was also sentenced after failing to deliver records to the liquidator for R&L. 

    Richard Crossland, 45, and also of Netherfield Croft, Shafton, Barnsley, was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, at the same hearing. 

    He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work, five days of rehabilitation activity, and pay £2,000 in costs. 

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

    Leslie Crossland clearly breached the terms of his director disqualification, making all the executive decisions and using deceptive tactics such as impersonating those who were named as directors of his companies.  

    He is a repeat offender, with this not being the only time he has blatantly ignored director bans in the past. 

    Crossland was actively enabled to carry out these actions by his son, who allowed him to continue as a company director in all but name. 

    The public deserves to be protected from those who are unfit to direct or manage company affairs, putting them at risk of financial harm. 

    We will continue to work hard to ensure the UK remains a safe and fair place to do business.

    R&L was established in September 2016, continuing the business of RL Installations run by Leslie and Richard Crossland but as a limited company, not sole tradership as had been the case before. 

    BMS was incorporated in November 2018 when it became clear that R&L would be entering administration. 

    Leslie Crossland was serving his 14-year director ban at the time both companies were trading. 

    Richard Crossland was appointed as director of R&L in January 2018 and BMS when it was set up in November 2018. 

    In interviews with the Insolvency Service, Richard Crossland admitted that his father made the executive decisions for both companies, not him. 

    Statements from employees and financial records uncovered by investigators supported the claims that Leslie Crossland was responsible for the management of both companies despite his disqualification. 

    R&L entered liquidation in May 2019. Richard Crossland failed to provide accounting records to the liquidator on request, committing an offence under the Companies Act in the process. 

    Liquidators were appointed for BMS in August 2022. 

    Leslie Crossland was declared bankrupt in January 2020. Both him and his son had outstanding debts to a fellow electrical company of more than £40,000. 

    Two months after his bankruptcy, Leslie Crossland failed to inform the Official Receiver that he had drawn down on four of his pensions just months before his bankruptcy, with money transferred to his own account and £9,000 paid to his wife to buy a car. 

    He signed documents stating he had not transferred, sold or given away any of his personal possessions or business assets in the previous five years.  

    Similarly, he also declared that he did not have any personal pension arrangements.  

    These inaccurate declarations, referred to in this case as failing to inform the Official Receiver of the disposal of property, were found to be offences under the Insolvency Act 1986. 

    Leslie and Richard Crossland were each disqualified as company directors again in 2020, this time for the maximum 15 years and 11 years respectively. 

    Ashley Crossland, the wife of Richard Crossland, was handed a two-year conditional discharge for also assisting Leslie Crossland in breaching his director ban. The 35-year-old, of Marsala Walk, Darfield, Barnsley, was the director of R&L between September 2016 and January 2018. 

    Further information 

    • Leslie Crossland is of Netherfield Croft, Shafton, Barnsley. His date of birth is 12 October 1949 
    • Sentenced for: Acting as a director or in the management of a company whilst disqualified contrary to section 13 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986; and failing to disclose to the Official Receiver disposal of property contrary to section 353(1)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 
    • Richard Crossland is of Netherfield Croft, Shafton, Barnsley. His date of birth is 28 December 1979 
    • Sentenced for: Aiding and abetting Leslie Crossland to commit the offence of acting as a director or in the management of a company, whilst he was disqualified from doing so contrary to section 8 of the Accessories and Abettors Act 1861; and failing to keep adequate accounting records contrary to section 387 of the Companies Act 2006 
    • Ashley Crossland is of Marsala Walk, Darfield, Barnsley. Her date of birth is 6 May 1989 
    • Sentenced for: Aiding and abetting Leslie Crossland to commit the offence of acting as a director or in the management of a company, whilst he was disqualified from doing so contrary to section 8 of the Accessories and Abettors Act 1861 
    • R&L Electrical Engineers Ltd (company number 10363568) 
    • R&L (BMS) Installations Ltd (company number 11700997) 
    • Individuals subject to a disqualification order or undertaking are bound by a range of restrictions 
    • Further information about the work of the Insolvency Service, and how to complain about financial misconduct.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Homeless children need better information and independent advocacy to help understand their rights

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Homeless children need better information and independent advocacy to help understand their rights

    Ofsted has today published new research on how local authorities support homeless children aged 16 and 17.

    • Children and young people need more information about their options, including becoming a looked-after child, when they present as homeless.
    • Only 9% of homeless children and young people surveyed said they had been offered an advocate to help them understand their rights.
    • Pressures on resources mean some children are not getting admitted to care when they should be. 
    • Some local authorities are still using bed and breakfasts and hostels as temporary or emergency accommodation for homeless children.

    Ofsted has today published new research on how local authorities support homeless children aged 16 and 17. It follows data published by the Children’s Commissioner in November 2023, which showed that only 40% of homeless 16- and 17-year-olds are accommodated as looked-after children.  

    Read the report: Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless

    When a 16- or 17-year-old child presents as homeless there are three ways to accommodate them:

    • They can become a looked-after child under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. This means the local authority becomes the child’s corporate parent. Looked after children are automatically entitled to support, including funding for educational courses and priority access to certain types of accommodation, which must be regulated.
    • They can be accommodated as a child in need under section 17 of the Act.  Children in need are not entitled to any of this support.
    • They can be accommodated under the Housing Act 1996 (part 7).

    Statutory guidance is clear that in most cases a local authority should accommodate a child as a ‘looked-after child’. There are only 2 reasons not to do this:

    • The child is not ‘a child in need’.
    • Having been fully advised of the implications and having the capacity to reach a decision, the child has decided they do not want to be accommodated under section 20.

    Today’s report finds that, while some local authorities work effectively with homeless children and young people, many of those surveyed felt they lacked information about their options. Some children told Ofsted they were not given enough information to decide their next steps, including the option to become a looked-after child.

    Government guidance states that homeless young people should have access to an independent advocate to help them understand their rights, but less than one in 10 of those surveyed said they were offered an advocate. Researchers found that some local authorities contacted an advocate any time a child declined to become looked after, but this practice was not widespread. Ofsted also found little evidence that local authorities were routinely monitoring the uptake or impact of their advocacy services.

    Today’s report also finds that a lack of suitable placements, and shortfalls in budgets and staff, may be influencing local authorities’ decisions about whether children become looked after or not. Children’s advocates told Ofsted that they believe homeless children are sometimes ‘steered away’ from choosing to become a looked-after child by children’s services departments, who fail to properly explain the benefits and overemphasise the potential negatives. And some housing authority representatives said they felt it was an easier and cheaper option for local authorities to treat children as a child in need instead. However, local authorities told researchers that children themselves often prefer to be accommodated as a child in need, despite efforts to encourage them to enter care.

    Some local authorities are still using inappropriate bed and breakfasts and hostels as temporary or emergency accommodation for homeless children. While supported accommodation is the most common placement type for homeless 16- and 17-year-olds, the level of support on offer can vary widely, and does not always meet children’s needs.

    Ofsted’s National Director of Social Care, Yvette Stanley, said:

    Finding yourself homeless must be distressing at any age, but when you’re still a legally defined child, it’s vital that local authorities and their partners work hard to ensure these children are supported in the way that works best for them.

    It’s also important that all homeless children have access to independent advocates, who can help them understand their rights, including the benefits of being a child in care, and help them make the best decision about their next steps.

    To improve their provision and support for homeless 16- and 17-year-olds, Ofsted suggests some next steps for local authorities:

    • make sure children get the right information about their choices, and are properly supported to make the right decision for them

    • review the advocacy offer for homeless children, including how it is promoted to children and monitored for uptake and effectiveness

    • consider the benefits of working with homeless children to co-create important documents and policies that affect their experiences and options

    • take urgent action to address cases where bed-and-breakfast accommodation is being used as emergency accommodation

    • assess children’s safety and wellbeing on a continual basis to make sure their accommodation remains right for them

    • provide children with adequate follow-up support and aftercare – regardless of whether they are accommodated through section 17 or section 20

    For its part, Ofsted will:

    • consider how to get better data or insights from local authorities on inspection into whether homeless children are accommodated under section 17 or section 20
    • ask inspectors to routinely consider the take-up and impact of advocacy for homeless children when looking at those children’s experiences in local authority inspections
    • share learning resources and materials about homeless 16- and 17-year-olds with education and social care providers
    • consider how to share best practice in a way that makes it easier for local authorities and partners to see examples of good practice

    Press office

    8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday 0300 013 0415

    Notes

    1. The research underpinning today’s report was gathered from focus groups held between April and May 2023, involving local authority children’s services, housing authorities, advocates and His Majesty’s Inspectors. Ofsted also commissioned the youth homelessness charity, St Basils, to conduct a survey and focus group with homeless-experienced children and young people.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New chair appointed at the Office for Nuclear Regulation

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    New chair appointed at the Office for Nuclear Regulation

    The Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, has announced today that Dr Nicola Crauford will take up the role of chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) on 1 March 2025.

    • Dr Nicola Crauford has been appointed as the new Chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
    • As part of her role, she will ensure ONR continues to regulate the nuclear industry efficiently and effectively on behalf of the public

    ONR is the UK’s independent nuclear regulator for the 36 nuclear sites in Great Britain, including the existing fleet of operating reactors, fuel cycle facilities and waste management and decommissioning sites. It also regulates the design and construction of new nuclear facilities including the supply chain as well as the transport of civil nuclear and radioactive materials.

    ONR also plays a crucial role in delivering the government’s energy security and growth missions 

    This is done principally through their approach to regulation, being open to innovation and new, efficient cost-effective ways of working, being ready to regulate new projects and providing trusted, timely, independent advice and guidance to Government.

    Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, said:

    I am pleased to confirm Dr Nicola Crauford as the next chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation. She brings a wealth of experience to this challenging but rewarding role.

    I would also like to thank Dame Judith Hackitt for all she has done as interim chair and her valuable contribution to nuclear safety and security.

    Dr Nicola Crauford said:

    I am delighted to join ONR at a time when the nuclear sector embarks upon significant growth, diversification and change.

    As the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, ONR has a vital role in holding the industry to account on behalf of the public, but it also needs to continue to strive for the most effective ways of working and regulatory excellence in order to help the sector to succeed.

    Dr Crauford’s appointment comes as the government announces more nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales. 

    These reforms will clear a path for smaller, and easier to build, nuclear reactors – known as Small Modular Reactors – to be built for the first time ever in the UK. This will create thousands of new highly skilled jobs while delivering clean, secure and more affordable energy for working people.

    Additional Information

    • Dr Nicola Crauford takes up her five-year appointment as ONR Chair from 1 March 2025. The current Interim Chair, Dame Judith Hackitt stands down on 28 February 2025.
    • Dr Nicola Crauford has extensive governance and senior management experience in infrastructure and engineering. She has a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and a doctorate in applied science from the University of Southampton and has worked in the oil and gas, energy and banking sectors.
    • Dr Crauford’s governance portfolio has spanned utilities (particularly electricity and water), ports and logistics, science research and development, environmental protection, fire and emergency management, housing/urban development and regulation.
    • More on the government’s plans for nuclear power: Government rips up rules to fire-up nuclear power – GOV.UK

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NDA funds Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub with universities

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    NDA funds Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub with universities

    The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has announced it’s establishing a Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub with the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield.

    Nuclear fuel reprocessing plant product store

    The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced it’s establishing a Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub with the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield.

    It follows a commitment from NDA Group CEO, David Peattie, of a £5 million investment over the next five years in postgraduate research to contribute the NDA’s nationally important plutonium disposition strategy work.

    In January, the UK Government made a policy decision to immobilise the UK’s inventory of civil separated plutonium at Sellafield, putting the material beyond reach, further mitigating the long-term safety and security risks associated with it more efficiently.

    The Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub will fund around 20 PhD and 2 post-doctoral researchers engaging in cutting-edge research to identify the preferred technology for immobilisation, converting the material to an even safer and more stable form.

    Dr Rick Short, NDA Research Manager, said:

    The NDA group has invested in PhD students and post-doctoral researchers supporting many aspects of our mission for several years.

    It’s a key element of our strategy to develop the capability we need for the future with the skills and expertise we know will be critical to drive forward our nationally important mission.

    The Hub will be central to developing the technical expertise and subject matter experts we need to deliver the plutonium disposition strategy and continue to meet our commitment to safely, securely, and sustainably deal with the UK’s civil nuclear legacy.

    The inventory could be immobilised into a ceramic material which binds the plutonium in a stable form, suitable for disposal in a GDF, and puts it beyond use. This collaboration with academia will help improve our understanding of the materials and build the fundamental skills required to underpin and deliver a solution.

    Key Objectives of the Hub:

    • Innovative Research: Conduct ground-breaking research to develop key ceramic and manufacturing technologies for safe and effective plutonium disposition.
    • Academic Excellence: Foster a collaborative environment that promotes academic excellence and innovation.
    • Future Leaders: Train the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to address future challenges in nuclear decommissioning.

    Led by Dr Robert Harrison at the University of Manchester the Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub aligns with the goals of the Dalton Nuclear Institute, which aim to grow the scale and scope of the university’s world-class nuclear activities, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

    It also supports the Henry Royce Institute’s Nuclear Materials Research Area, which focuses on enhancing the UK’s strengths in nuclear energy and supporting net-zero ambitions through innovation in radioactive materials research.

    Dr Rob Harrison, Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub Lead at the University of Manchester, said:

    We are thrilled to be leading the £5m NDA Plutonium Academic Ceramics Hub at the University of Manchester in collaboration with the University of Sheffield.

    Our combined expertise and state-of-the-art facilities uniquely position us to successfully deliver the Hub and develop future subject matter experts in the field. This initiative will enable us to continue supporting the safe management of the UKs plutonium stockpile, addressing a critical challenge in the NDAs mission.

    Dr Lewis Blackburn, Plutonium Ceramics Academic Hub Co-Lead at the University of Sheffield, said:

    We are very pleased to play a pivotal role in the delivery of this exciting initiative for NDA. The safe and timely disposition of separated plutonium is a key aspect of NDA strategy. The Universities of Manchester and Sheffield are well placed to support this mission, allowing us to contribute to a national resilience in nuclear materials skills and expertise.

    While work continues on developing a suitable immobilisation solution to submit for Government approval to progress to the next phase, plutonium will continue to be stored in a suite of custom-built facilities at Sellafield that ensure its safety and security in line with regulatory requirements.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace Africa applauds the Court’s decision to secure final victory for the Black Johnson Beach campaign

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Dakar: 21-02-2025/The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone has delivered a landmark ruling in favor of the Save Black Johnson Beach campaign, marking a significant victory for environmental conservation. Launched in 2022 by a group of dedicated civilians, the campaign sought to prevent the construction of fishmeal factories and harbour that  would threaten the beach’s delicate ecosystems and overshadow the small-scale fishing on which communities rely. 

    Greenpeace Africa celebrates this historic decision, which not only safeguards Black Johnson Beach but also serves as an inspiring precedent for communities worldwide fighting against environmental injustice.

    Dr. Aliou Ba, Ocean Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa said: 

    “This ruling is a historic victory for the people of Black Johnson and for coastal communities across West Africa. It proves that governments cannot hand over our oceans and lands to destructive industries without consequences. The Supreme Court has spoken, private land and critical marine ecosystems are not for sale. We call on other communities facing environmental destruction to stand up, resist, and demand justice.”

    The fishmeal industry is driving ocean destruction across West Africa, threatening food security and livelihoods. 

    “This Supreme Court decision is a turning point, it shows that communities have the power to resist and win. Black Johnson Beach is now a symbol of resilience and environmental justice. We urge all communities facing similar threats to take action and fight for their rights.We celebrate this victory, but the fight is far from over. Across the region, the fishmeal industry continues to plunder our seas for profit. Greenpeace Africa stands in solidarity with all communities resisting this destruction. We call on those on the frontlines of environmental struggles to stay strong, organize, and push back, because together, we can protect our oceans, our fisheries, and our future.” Added Dr. Aliou. 

    Black Johnson Beach is home to five distinct ecosystems, including pristine beaches and coastal habitats, critical mangrove forests that protect against erosion, marine ecosystems with vital fish breeding grounds, diverse rainforests supporting wildlife, and freshwater rivers and wetlands essential for biodiversity.

    Contacts for  interview:

    Luchelle Feukeng, Communication and Storytelling Manager, [email protected], +237 656 46 35 45 

    Dr. Aliou Ba, Ocean Campaign Lead, [email protected] 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rough sleeping hub on the move

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    A progress report to be discussed by Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet has set out the current funding situation for rough sleepers in the city and unveiled the new plans. [Rough Sleeping funding update.pdf]

    The rough sleeping hub has operated out of a temporary space in Elm Grove for the last four years and the council is grateful for the support from businesses and residents in the area. Now the hub is set to move to 6 Queen Street, Portsea and is due to open on 1 April this year. The premise move will provide rough sleepers and the staff that work with them with a newly-renovated venue, whilst also creating the opportunity to provide help more quickly and in a more joined-up way.

    The rough sleeping hub is a free service that anyone who is sleeping rough can access. It provides people with breakfast, hot drinks, shower and laundry facilities, access to the internet, locker facilities for people to store their belongings, and help with clothing. Around 15 to 20 people access the service on a typical day.

    Staff help people to address their immediate needs, including help with benefits, registering with a GP, help with substance misuse problems, and help to find accommodation.

    People using the hub can also access activities including educational sessions to help people improve their literacy and numeracy skills, and life-skills workshops.

    The current hub was opened as a temporary solution during the Covid-19 pandemic and is based in a repurposed flat within a residential block and has limitations.

    The new hub will provide more facilities, laid out in a better way, and will include more showers and lockers, better meeting spaces, and an enclosed, off-street, smoking area. The council carried out a full feasibility study on available buildings within the budget for the project, carefully considering factors including ease of access for people who are rough sleeping, proximity to other support services, and potential community impact.

    Cllr Darren Sanders, Cabinet Member for Housing and Tackling Homelessness, said: “Not everyone who is homeless sleeps rough, but those who do are often experiencing a very difficult time in their lives. The council and our partners work very hard to make sure time spent sleeping rough is prevented, and where that is not possible, is for as short a period as possible. The new hub will help with this, providing people with much-needed privacy and dignity, as well as access to further help.

    “We work to provide the best possible service for people experiencing homelessness with the funds that we are given from government, but we are never given enough to help as much as we need to. That’s why we allocated £203,000 in the council’s budget last year to fund the setting up of this new hub.”

    The hub runs alongside the council’s rough sleeping pathway which provides over 100 beds across the city to prevent and shorten the incidences of rough sleeping. In the twelve-month period between July 2023 and June 2024, 301 people were provided with accommodation in the pathway as an alternative to rough sleeping. In the same twelve-month period, 155 people moved successfully from the pathway to suitable alternative housing. There were only 11 evictions from the pathway during those 12 months.

    It is anticipated that the relocation of the rough sleeping hub will reduce the number of people accessing support in Elm Grove, which is a busy area with a high concentration of shops, pubs, restaurants, and other local businesses. The council also provides accommodation in Elm Grove that will remain.

    The rough sleeping team has learnt a lot over the previous four years and the new premises have been designed to reduce issues and minimise disruption to the local area. The council will be working with local residents and businesses to ensure a smooth transition.

    The average number of people sleeping rough each month in Portsmouth has fallen slightly for 2024/25 to 53, whilst across the country numbers continue to rise. Government policies such as early prison release have put increased pressure on rough sleeping services.

    In December 2024 the government announced that one further year’s funding would be provided to local authorities for rough sleeping interventions. After March 2026 rough sleeping will be funded differently, and the government has said the council will be expected to “reduce demand for rough sleeping services, focus on those with most complex needs and least likely to access services, and establish a sustainable approach to community integration that prevents returns to rough sleeping and homelessness”. The council is working hard to understand how to further evolve and improve its services for rough sleepers, and has developed an action plan as part of its five year homelessness strategy. [Homelessness Strategy 2024]

    Find out more about the rough sleeping hub Sleeping rough – Portsmouth City Council]

    If you’re concerned about someone you think is sleeping rough, go to the StreetLink website and log the details. Local agencies can then try to connect the person with help available.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Communicating with neighbors and resolving issues: how the Electronic House platform helps Muscovites every day

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow is considered one of the smartest cities in the world. The capital uses information technology for the comfortable life of its citizens, allowing them to solve important issues in a couple of clicks.

    One example is the platform “Electronic House”. It has become a convenient tool for managing an apartment building, thanks to which residents can quickly contact management company And neighbors, to conduct general meeting of owners(OSS) and much more. The platform’s experts have identified the advantages of the “Electronic House” for residents of the capital.

    General meeting of owners

    At the general meeting of owners, residents discuss important issues – for example, they vote for the installation of a barrier and a video intercom, elect a house council and its chairman, decide to change the security. In 2024, about 11 thousand meetings were held in the “Electronic House”. If voting online is inconvenient, then owners can fill out paper ballots. All votes will be counted – the meeting administrator (at the first general meeting of owners, this role is performed by the initiator, and subsequently the owners elect him to this position) will collect ballots from the participants and enter them into the system.

    For convenience, the platform has been created special page, where you can learn about the benefits of holding meetings in the system. Here you can also find examples of a bulletin and minutes, recommendations and step-by-step instructions that will help you organize a meeting.

    Muscovites will be able to participate in the life of their home even during the New Year holidays with the Electronic Home platform“Electronic House” made general meetings of owners more transparent

    Troubleshooting

    In the “Applications” section of the “Electronic House” platform, residents can report the need to fix problems in the house and the surrounding area, including a damaged front door, a faulty lock, uncleaned territory, and others. The topic of the message can be entered in the search bar or selected from the catalog. Residents can also use the “Topical Topics” block, which displays the most popular requests over the past 30 days. Users have full control over the progress of the request – for example, they can see the status and performers in the card.

    In the “Applications” section, platform participants can leave a request for paid services, such as connecting household appliances to the power grid, a dishwasher to the water supply system, or replacing a faucet.

    Quick resolution of issues

    On the Electronic House platform, residents of apartment buildings communicate directly with specialists management organization. They get answers online to questions for which there is no topic in the “Applications” section – for example, how to replace a gas stove with an electric one or get access to a video recording in the entrance. You can even ask to install a squirrel feeder.

    To send a message, select the “Management Organization” section in the menu on the left side of the screen and click the “Create a request” button. Users of the application simply select the “My Home” section on the main page, click the “House Management” button and then “Requests to the Management Organization”.

    Major repairs

    Users of the Electronic House platform communicate directly with the Capital Repairs Fund (CRF) and quickly learn about planned and ongoing work in the building. You can send a question to the CRF from the main page of the website and the application of the Electronic House platform. To do this, click the “Capital Repairs Question” button in the “Popular” section and select a topic – for example, about the work schedule or the repair deadline. You can also leave a message in the “Capital Repairs” category of the “My Home” section. It should be noted that only users who have confirmed their ownership in their personal account will be able to send a question on the mos.ru portal, residents registered at the address, payers single payment document or residents with basic or advanced guest access.

    Comments from FKR specialists are sent to your personal account. They are available in the “Major Repairs” category of the “My Home” section. Communication takes place in a chat format, where all questions and answers are visible. In the event of inactivity, the chat is closed five days after the last answer is received.

    In addition, in the section “My home”the user can view the status of capital repairs (current, planned, completed). There he will also find the registry number of the contract for their implementation and information about the contractor.

    Digital Assistant: How the Electronic House Platform Makes Life Easier for Muscovites

    Only real neighbors: reliable common house chat on the platform

    The chat on the Electronic House platform is a closed group where neighbors discuss important aspects of life at home and exchange useful information. For example, they warn about noisy work, discuss the need to hold a general meeting of owners, or ask to borrow a stepladder for a couple of hours. There are no strangers in the chat, since only users of the platform with confirmed address on the mos.ru portal, as well as the owners enhanced guest access.

    Guests with access: new functions for apartment owners and residents have appeared on the Electronic House platform

    In addition to communicating in the common house chat, users have the opportunity to contact neighbors registered on the platform, knowing only their apartment number. To use this function, you need to log in to the website or in the Electronic House application using account any level on mos.ru. Then you need to check the availability of the required address (it must be confirmed) in the profile and select the “My neighbors” tab in the “Popular” section and the menu on the left on the site or on the main page – in the application. Then in the line that appearsYou must enter the number of the apartment you need.

    Platform “Electronic House”started work in November 2020. The project is being developed by the State Institution “New Management Technologies” together with Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/150510073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Renovation program: residents began inspecting apartments in a new building on Volnaya Street

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In February, an information center on resettlement issues opened for residents of house 20, block 1 on 5th Sokolinaya Gora Street. It is located in a neighboring new building on the same street – in house 21a. Residents were offered apartments in house 28, block 5 on Volnaya Street. Since the beginning of the month, more than 200 Muscovites have begun to inspect their new housing. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman.

    “The city offered equivalent apartments in building 28, block 5 on Volnaya Street to Muscovites who live in building 20, block 1 on 5th Sokolina Gora Street, at the end of December last year. In February, they began inspecting the housing. In building 21a, located next to their old five-story building, an information center for resettlement was opened for city residents. Its specialists are ready to answer any questions related to paperwork and moving,” said Maxim Gaman.

    A pedestrian path appeared near the house from Volnaya Street towards 10th Sokolina Gora Street.

    “The single-section building on Volnaya Street will have 168 apartments with finished, improved finishing. The entrances will have rooms for a concierge and a pram room. For the convenience of residents, four elevators with a lifting capacity of 400, 630 and 1,000 kilograms were installed. The adjacent territory was improved: comprehensive landscaping was carried out, areas for active recreation and sports were equipped, outdoor lighting was installed and CCTV cameras were installed. The Sokolinaya Gora station of the Moscow Central Circle and social and household infrastructure facilities are located next to the new building,” the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy, specified.

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    For the convenience of participants in the renovation program, a super service is available on the mos.ru portal “Moving under the renovation program”. It includes six services, a general and personalized moving guide that can be customized to suit your specific situation.

    Thus, Muscovites who have a full account on the mos.ru portal can choose a convenient time and date online to inspect the proposed housing, and after preparing a draft contract, a day to sign it. It is possible to make an appointment with a notary, if necessary, and also send personal and title documents to the Department of City Property by uploading them using the corresponding service.

    You can also apply for the elimination of construction defects through the super service. They make moving much easier. loader services. After submitting an application on the portal, they will help you move your things from your old apartment to your new one for free.

    As noted by the capital’s Department of Information Technology, preparation for the planned move will be helped by general instructions, available in the super service “Moving under the renovation program” on the mos.ru portal. With its help, you can find out how the move is organized, get information on the documents required to draw up a contract, and also use links to useful services. If you configure the parameters of the move, the super service will provide the opportunity to read the instructions for a specific life situation.

    The renovation program in the Sokolinaya Gora district in the east of the capital provides for the relocation of more than 12.2 thousand Muscovites from 68 old houses to modern residential complexes.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin told on the results of the renovation program implementation in 2024.

    All information about the renovation program is presented on the mos.ru portal. You can find out more about apartments and houses under the program by link.

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

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/150513073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE launches the 2025 UN Global Survey on digital and sustainable trade facilitation jointly with UN Regional Commissions and UNCTAD

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    UNECE has launched the Sixth UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation 2025, jointly with the other four United Nations Regional Commissions and United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

    The 2025 UN Global Survey consists of 62 measures, including new measures on ‘Trade Facilitation for E-Commerce’ and ‘Green Trade Facilitation’. Aside from measures supporting the implementation of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA), the survey also covers the implementation of cutting-edge paperless and cross-border trade facilitation measures, as well as measures supporting more inclusive and sustainable trade, thus moving forward towards a “WTO TFA+” implementation.  

    The preliminary results of the 2025 Survey are expected to be published in July at untfsurvey.org, followed by the production of a Global and Regional Reports. The Survey aims to provide insightful information to support countries and policy makers to harness trade as a key means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

    Furthermore, by presenting an overview of the progress on digital and sustainable trade facilitation, the Survey also supports countries in:  

    • Better inform the accession process for UNECE member States to the WTO. For instance, the UNECE Regional Report 2024 included a spotlight section which highlighted the progress of the trade facilitation implementation in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the context of their accession process to the WTO. 

    The UNECE Regional Report 2024, based on the results of the 2023 UN Global Survey, revealed that the performance on trade facilitation of the 48 UNECE member States, who participated in the survey, has improved by 5% compared to the 2021 Survey results, with the implementation rate of trade facilitation measures rising from 76% in 2021 to almost 81% in 2023.  

    Among all UN Regional Commissions, UNECE had an overall higher implementation rate compared to the average results globally, with measures on “Transparency” at the highest implementation rate of 96%, followed by “Formalities” at 87%. On the implementation rates for digital trade facilitation measures in the UNECE region, the average rate for “Paperless trade” reached 82%, with the rate for “Cross-border paperless trade” being relatively lower, at 56%. 

    The report findings also offer clear directions for the future, highlighting the importance of actively engaging UNECE member States and partner international organizations in fast-tracking the implementation of trade facilitation measures. In light of the current challenges facing international trade, increased cooperation between governments and international organizations is critical.  

    Governments, specialized agencies, intergovernmental organizations can contribute to developing UN/CEFACT additional standards and accelerating the implementation of trade facilitation measures, particularly those leveraging digital technologies that contribute to climate-smart trade while reducing trade costs and streaming trade-related procedures.  

    UNECE calls upon all relevant actors and donors to further contribute to the substantive work of the UN/CEFACT in the development and update of its policy instruments and tools, including recommendations, standards and guideline materials, as well as continue to provide additional support and funding resources related to the capacity building and technical assistance activities in its 17 programme countries for the implementation of those UN/CEFACT recommendations and enhancement of the progress on trade facilitation in the region. 

    The Survey is an initiative under the Joint UNRECs Approach to Trade Facilitation, agreed by the Executive Secretaries of the five UN Regional Commissions. The approach was designed to enable the Regional Commissions to present a joint view on key trade facilitation issues, particularly from the regional and interregional level, and to enhance the effectiveness of technical assistance and capacity building initiatives. 

    As the international focal point for trade facilitation recommendations and standards, UNECE develops instruments to reduce, harmonize and digitalize procedures in international trade. The Survey also provides an opportunity to monitor the uptake and impact of such solutions for economic cooperation and integration, both in the region and globally. 

    If you are an expert in trade facilitation for your country and would like to participate in the Survey, click here for the questionnaire and more details about the methodology of the Survey. For more information, please directly contact Ms. Jie Wei.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Universities Australia Solutions Summit

    Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements

    Thank you for the opportunity to speak here again tonight.

    It’s a real privilege.

    We are now on the cusp of a federal election.

    And so, I think it is probably appropriate to talk tonight about where we have come over the last few years, and what comes next.

    I think you know me now and what drives me.

    You know I think we have got a good education system, but it can be a lot better and a lot fairer.

    And I want to make it better and fairer.

    The first time I spoke here I told you my own story. How I was the first person in my family to finish high school or even finish year 10.

    How that wasn’t really an option for people like my mum and dad when they were growing up.

    How much we have changed since then.

    And how that change still hasn’t reached into every corner of this country or every home.

    I talked about the fact that almost one in two Australians in their 30s today have a uni degree, but not everywhere.

    Not where I grew up. Not amongst poor kids. Not in our outer suburbs or in the regions.

    And how I want to do something about this.

    I also made the point that fixing this doesn’t start and end at university.

    How we have got to reform our entire education system.

    There’s a pretty simple reason for that.

    It’s because the same people who aren’t at your universities are the same people who aren’t finishing high school.

    And they are the same people who are falling behind in primary school. And never catch up.

    A lot of those kids also start school behind.

    And a lot of them have never set foot in a child care centre or a pre-school at all.

    It is all connected.  

    If we are going to fix this, we have to fix all of this.

    Not just because of the individual lives this will change.

    But something bigger than that.

    A good education changes lives.

    A good education system changes countries. It’s changed ours.

    If you want the proof of that think about what’s happened in our own lifetimes.

    The big reforms of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating weren’t just Super, Medicare or floating the dollar.

    Under them the percentage of people who finished high school basically doubled.

    From 40 percent to almost 80 percent.

    One of the real privileges of being a Labor MP is I got to meet Bob and talk to him.

    And he used to talk to me about this, a lot.

    It was one of the things he was proudest of.

    Because he knew what it did. Not just the lives it changed.

    The businesses it helped create. The economy it helped build.

    It was real microeconomic reform.

    We’re a stronger and wealthier and a better country today than we were back when I was a kid, and education is one the reasons for that.

    It’s the fuel in the tank.

    What the Accord tells us is that the tank is only half full.

    That there is more that we have to do.

    That by the middle of this century we are going to need a workforce where 80 percent haven’t just finished school, but they’ve got a trade certificate or a diploma or a uni degree as well.

    That’s a big change.

    And that means reform.

    To build the education system Australia needs.

    Two and a half years ago, or so, when I got this job, this is what we were faced with.

    Child care costs had skyrocketed. Up 49 percent over 10 years. Double the OECD average.

    Child care workers were leaving in droves.

    So were school teachers.

    Billions had been ripped out of our public schools. And if you doubt me let me point you the 2014 Budget Overview, page 7. There it is in black and white.

    Nothing had been done to reform what was happening in our schools.

    The number of kids finishing high school was falling. Not everywhere. In particular in public schools.

    School teachers were being called duds and university students were being ignored.

    A lot has happened since then.

    In the last two years we have cut the cost of childcare for more than 1 million families nationwide.

    Now there are more kids in early education than ever before. 100,000 more.

    Child care workers are also getting a 15 percent pay rise. Getting the sort of wage they deserve.

    And guess what, applications are up and vacancies are down. People are coming back. Turns out when you pay people more, more people want to do the job.

    A couple of weeks ago something else really important happened.

    We passed laws through this place that will change the lives of some of the most disadvantaged children in Australia.

    The sort of children who need access to early education the most and are the least likely to get it.

    The sort of children who, because of no fault of their own, start school behind most of their classmates, because their parents don’t meet the requirements of something called the Activity Test, put in place by the last Liberal Government.

    The legislation we passed a few weeks ago gets rid of that test and replaces it with a three day guarantee.

    A guarantee of three days a week of government supported early education and care for every child who needs it.

    No one blinks when you say every child has a right to go to school and government has a responsibility to help fund it.

    The same has got to be true today for early education.  That doesn’t mean it should be compulsory. But it should be there for every parent who wants it and every child who needs it.

    To help make sure they start school ready to go. Ready to learn.

    That’s the sort of reform that changes lives. The sort of reform only Labor Governments do. And that our country needs.

    Next is schools. What our schools need.

    If we are going to hit that 80 percent target we need more people to finish school.

    For most of the last decade things have been going in the wrong direction.

    The number of students finishing school dropped. From 83 percent to 73 percent. That’s in public schools.

    Last year, for the first time in about 10 years, that percentage went up. A bit. That’s a good sign, but there is a long way to go.

    And that’s what the agreements I have struck with States and Territories across the country are all about.

    They set a target that by 2030 the proportion of students finishing high school will be the highest it has ever been.

    To do that we need to fix the funding of our public schools. But not just that. That funding needs to be tied to the sort of reforms that will help young people who fall behind to catch up and keep up and finish school.

    Things like evidenced-based teaching.

    Things like phonics checks and numeracy checks in Year 1 to identify kids who need additional help.

    And then making sure they get the help they need through individualised support, things like catch-up tutoring.

    I have signed agreements now with Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, with the ACT and the NT.

    And I want to do the same with Queensland and NSW.

    This is the biggest new investment by an Australian Government in public schools ever.

    And it’s the biggest reform to school education in decades.

    I am telling you this, because all of this is an indispensable part of making the Accord a reality.

    Here tonight is Professor Mary O’Kane and I want to pay tribute to you again Mary.

    You have provided us with a blueprint for how we can reform higher education.

    It’s big. Bigger than one government. 47 recommendations.

    But we have already bitten off a big chunk of it. 31, in part or in full.

    That includes things like Paid Prac for teachers and nurses, midwives and social work students. That starts on 1 July.

    A massive expansion of enabling courses. To help get people started. That’s already started.

    More than doubling the number of study hubs. In the bush and now the suburbs. All of these will be open this year.

    On the weekend, as part of our announcement to help more Australians see a GP for free, we also announced funding to train more GPs.

    Part of that is more Commonwealth Supported Places.

    It’s all part of the biggest GP training program in Australian history.

    We have also fixed the way student debt is indexed. That’s cut the debt of three million Australians by more than $3 billion in December last year.

    And if we win the election, we will cut everyone’s student debt by a further 20 percent.

    It means for someone with an average student debt today of 27 grand, we will cut their debt by another $5,500. That’s a lot.

    The first time I spoke at this dinner I talked about the fact that universities aren’t just places where people study or work. They are also places where people live.

    And I talked about sexual assault on campus and in student accommodation.

    For years organisations like End Rape on Campus have been asking for someone to listen. For someone to act.

    Asking for a dedicated Ombudsman.

    The Accord recommended it. And now it exists.

    Sarah Bendall, is the first National Student Ombudsman.

    Sarah’s powers are real. Like a Royal Commission. And the scope of what she covers is broad. Not just sexual violence. It covers antisemitism and all forms of racism. It covers the quality of the education and services students receive as well.

    And I hope you will see the work that Sarah and her team will do as an asset. Helping to make sure students are safe and get the education they are paying for.

    I also want to recognise in the room tonight the new Chief Commissioner of TEQSA, Professor Kerri-Lee Krause and congratulate her on her recent appointment, and acknowledge TEQSA’s CEO, Dr Mary Russell and thank you for the work that you are doing.

    Just one example of that is the roundtable we held earlier today with university leaders focussed on ongoing action to ensure universities are safe places for students and staff.

    There is also another big piece of work that has just kicked off on improving university governance.

    It was a recommendation of the Accord.

    I have set up an Expert Council that will look at everything from how universities pay staff, to the remuneration settings of senior university staff, and report to Education Ministers later this year.

    On international education, the Accord recommended a fund that universities would have to chip into based on the revenue they make.

    We opted not to do that.

    I proposed a cap. The Liberal Party opted not to do that.

    So instead, we have got rid of Ministerial Direction 107 and replaced it with something else.

    Something that is better and fairer.

    Something that makes sure it’s not just the big universities that get the benefit of international education.

    I get how contentious this is.

    How important this revenue is.

    But it is not the main game.

    What I am focused on, what I want all of us to focus on is how we build the sort of education system that Australia needs. That Australians need.

    I spoke a moment ago about how we are building an early education system based on need.

    And how we are fixing the funding of public schools so they are fully funded based on need.

    And we need to apply the same model to universities.

    That’s what the Accord recommended, and that’s what I announced in December last year.

    For the first time real demand driven needs-based funding for universities. Where the money follows the student.

    The evidence tells us that students in the bush and regions, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, are less likely to finish their uni degree than other students.

    This is designed to fix that.

    This, and the changes to the funding system that start next year, and all the other reforms we are funding already, add up to an extra $6.7 billion injection into higher education over the next decade.

    The Accord also recommended something else. Something to make sure that it doesn’t gather dust or a future government doesn’t just forget about it.

    It recommended an ATEC. An Australian Tertiary Education Commission. An independent body to help drive and steer reform over the long term. Help break down the barriers between TAFE and university. Help implement the funding model and provide advice on pricing and a lot more.

    If we win the election, I will introduce legislation in the second half of this year to formally establish the ATEC and I want it fully operational by this time next year.

    But I can announce tonight the team I have appointed to get it up and running on an interim basis from the 1st of July this year.

    The interim Chief Commissioner will be Professor Mary O’Kane, and she will be supported by Jobs and Skills Australia Commissioner, Barney Glover and Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt.

    I am getting the band back together.

    The people who wrote the Accord will help to make it real.

    I started tonight by saying that we are on the cusp of an election. 

    I want to end by saying thank you. 

    Nothing is certain or permanent. 

    None of us are in these jobs forever.

    But for the last two and a half years or so it has been a real privilege to work with you. 

    The UA campaign is right.

    Universities do matter. To all of us. 

    A few days ago, I met a young woman called Narges. 

    She is a refugee from Afghanistan. 

    She fled to Pakistan when Kabul fell a few years ago.

    About 18 months ago she made it here. 

    She now lives in Mt Druitt in western Sydney. 

    She speaks six languages. 

    The sixth is English. 

    She’s learnt it in the last year, at TAFE. 

    Last year she also completed a diploma in community service. 

    Next week she starts at Western Sydney University. She’s going to study social work. 

    Think about that. 

    After fleeing a country where girls can’t even go to school anymore. 

    Just imagine what this young woman is capable of, and what will happen next in her life, with your help. 

    The lives she will change. 

    Now imagine a million more stories just like that. 

    That’s what you do. 

    Change lives.  

    Change countries. 

    We are the best country in the world, but we can be even better. 

    And you are an indispensable part of making that a reality. 

    Turning the country of our imagination into something real. 

    That’s exciting. 

    That’s why I love this job. 

    And I really look forward to addressing this gala dinner again, this time next year.
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China calls on Security Council to play constructive role in promoting peace talks on Ukraine

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A Chinese envoy on Monday called on the UN Security Council to play a constructive role in forging consensus for peace and promoting peace talks, as the world marked the third anniversary of the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis.

    “At present, when the Ukraine issue is at a critical juncture for a negotiated settlement, we expect the international community to create a favorable atmosphere for promoting a political solution to the crisis,” Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

    China expects the United Nations and the Security Council to play a constructive role in forging consensus for peace among member states, and the actions of the council to further the call for peace by promoting peace talks, he said after voting on a draft resolution on Ukraine.

    “The ultimate resolution of any conflict lies at the negotiation table,” he said. “As we speak, the call for a negotiated settlement of the Ukraine issue is constantly on the rise, and the window for peace is opening.”

    Although the parties’ positions may not be aligned, dialogue is still better than confrontation, and talks are better than fights, the envoy said, adding that China supports all efforts dedicated to peace, and supports the U.S.-Russia agreement to start peace talks.

    “China expects all parties and stakeholders to participate in the peace talks at an appropriate time, so as to find a just and lasting solution that takes into account each other’s concerns and to reach a binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties concerned,” he said.

    Fu urged Europe to play its part for peace, to jointly address the root causes of the crisis, and to find a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework, so as to achieve long-term security and stability on the European continent.

    China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in the political settlement of the crisis at the request of the parties concerned, taking into consideration the concerns of the international community, especially those of the Global South, he said.

    The Security Council on Monday adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution appealing for a swift end to the conflict and urging a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. The resolution received 10 votes in favor, none against, and five abstentions from France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: One Month to Go Until the Congo Energy & Investment (CEIF) 2025

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

    BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo, February 25, 2025/APO Group/ —

    With just one month remaining until the inaugural Congo Energy & Investment (CEIF) 2025, set to take place from March 24-26 in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo will host a dynamic program of discussions, keynote speeches, technical presentations and industry updates. Under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société nationales des pétroles du Congo (SNPC), CEIF 2025 highlights Congo’s expanding influence in Africa’s energy landscape.

    The forum will bring together a diverse range of participants, including SNPC subsidiaries, International Oil Companies, Congolese and foreign banks, energy organizations and technology providers. CEIF 2025 reaffirms the country’s commitment to maximizing its energy potential and streamlining licensing and regulatory processes. As sub-Saharan Africa’s fourth-largest oil producer – with a daily output of 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) – Congo has recently attracted a new wave of independent explorers and investments, positioning itself as a competitive player alongside oil giants like Angola and Nigeria.

    The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société nationales des pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

    The three-day conference kicks off with a series of high-level technical sessions, focusing on the latest investment opportunities, regulatory reforms and key developments in oil, gas and power generation. These sessions will explore opportunities for monetizing stranded gas resources and developing infrastructure to meet growing demand, positioning Congo as a potential regional hub for gas production with lucrative opportunities for both local and international stakeholders.

    In addition to oil, Congo has made significant strides in the floating LNG (FLNG) sector, delivering its first LNG exports in February 2024 through the Tango FLNG facility, operated by Eni. The forum will feature a “Hallmark Celebration of FLNG” session, showcasing its transformative impact on Congo’s energy landscape by supporting energy security and contributing to industrial development. By enabling offshore gas liquefaction, FLNG units provide a flexible and efficient way to monetize natural gas resources, facilitate exports and generate revenues.

    Congo is also taking proactive steps to enhance the appeal of its energy sector to investors. Notably, the government plans to launch a 2025 licensing round at CEIF, targeting accelerated oil and gas exploration and production. Key gas monetization initiatives, such as the Congo LNG and Banga Kayo initiatives, will be highlighted during the “Energy & Investment Outlook” session, showcasing the country’s efforts to diversify its revenue streams and advance energy infrastructure.

    A “Gas as Fuel for Progress” session will focus on Congo’s plans to monetize associated gas, with significant progress made in the natural gas sector through collaborations with international companies like Eni and Wing Wah. Eni’s Congo LNG project marks the country’s first liquefaction initiative, paving the way for natural gas exports. Meanwhile, Wing Wah is leading the Banga Kayo project, which focuses on monetizing flared gas by converting it into LNG, butane and propane, contributing to both energy security and economic diversification. A new Gas Code will be unveiled at CEIF 2025 to establish a supportive legal and regulatory framework for gas exploration and production investments.

    As part of its strategy to boost energy investments and socioeconomic development, Congo aims to double its oil production to 500,000 bpd by 2027. At CEIF 2025, the government will also unveil its new Gas Master Plan, designed to consolidate the position of existing companies and attract new investments to the sector. CEIF 2025 is poised to play a crucial role in advancing Congo’s energy success and strategic investment opportunities.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Budget: Greens secured vital action for people and planet

    Source: Scottish Greens

    25 Feb 2025 Finance

    The Scottish Greens have secured investment in our climate and communities.

    More in Finance

    The Scottish Greens have secured cheaper bus travel, expanded free school meals and increased funding for schools, says the party’s finance spokesperson Ross Greer ahead of the final budget vote taking place today.

    Through budget negotiations the Scottish Greens secured record investment in climate action, more money for local services including schools, social care and bin collections, free ferry travel for young islanders and free bus travel for people seeking asylum.

    The party also secured the expansion of free school meals for thousands more S1-S3 pupils, more funding for nature restoration and a year-long trial where bus fares in one region of the country will be capped at £2. They also increased the tax paid when buying a second or holiday home, giving a boost to first-time home buyers and raising more money for public services.

    Mr Greer said:

    “More children will be fed and lifted out of poverty, buses will be cheaper and nature will be protected because of Scottish Green MSPs.

    “We want to build a fairer and greener Scotland where no child is hungry at school and where public transport is always affordable and accessible. This budget is an important step in that journey.

    “Scotland’s Green MSPs worked to deliver record funding for nature restoration, building on the huge progress we delivered when we were in government. That money will create more well-paid jobs across the country, especially in rural communities.”

    Mr Greer added:

    “There is a stark contrast between what Green MSPs have achieved and the antics of Scottish Labour, who asked for nothing and got nothing.

    “Other parties may have been happy to play silly games, but the Scottish Greens worked to support families in poverty, create jobs and protect the world around us.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Greens to bring vote on cutting the cost of rail

    Source: Scottish Greens

    25 Feb 2025 Transport

    A people’s railway has to be accessible and affordable for all.

    More in Transport

    The Scottish Greens will use debate time tomorrow to bring a vote on halting the above inflation rail fare hikes that are set for April and permanently removing peak rail fares.

    The debate, which will be led by the party’s transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP, will focus on making rail a cheaper and easily accessible option for workers, students and regular commuters.

    When in government the Scottish Greens secured a landmark scheme to remove peak rail fares for 12 months, with the SNP reintroducing them last year.

    Mr Ruskell said:

    “Train fares in Scotland are among the highest in Europe, with peak fares being particularly punishing.

    “If we want more people to leave their cars at home then rail has to be affordable and accessible for all.

    “Particularly at a time when so many people are struggling, it is wrong to be asking them to pay even more just to get to work or study.

    “When the Scottish Greens were in government we removed peak rail fares, only for the SNP to bring them back once we were out of the room. It is time to scrap them permanently.

    “It was right to take ScotRail into public ownership, but there is no point in having a people’s railway if nobody can afford to use it.”

    Mr Ruskell added:

    “The Scottish Parliament has the chance to stand with households, families and regular commuters who are being stretched to their limit.

    “I hope that MSPs from across our parliament will back my motion and join the call for cheaper, greener and more accessible rail across Scotland.”

    Wording of Mr Ruskell’s motion

    Mark Ruskell: Cheaper Rail Fares—That the Parliament believes that rail fares in Scotland must be cheaper; regrets the decision by the Scottish Government to end the off-peak all-day pilot in September 2024, despite an increase of passenger demand by 6.8% and an average 17% cost saving to passengers; understands that expensive and complex ticketing deters passengers from choosing to travel by train; acknowledges that, in order to fulfil the Scottish Government’s ambition of reducing car kilometres by 20% by 2030, rail services and public transport must be cheaper and more accessible, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to reverse the 3.8% increase to rail fares coming into effect from 1 April 2025, to permanently remove peak-time rail fares, and to simplify public transport fares, through the introduction of integrated ticketing, as soon as possible.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The AtomSkills-2025 qualifying championship was held at the Polytechnic University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Civil Engineering Institute hosted the AtomSkills-2025 qualifying divisional championship in the Engineering Design competency. The event was supported by Rosatom State Corporation and became a significant event for our university.

    The competition was held in two leagues: industry and student. Three teams from Rosatom State Corporation took part in the industry league: JSC FCNIVT SNPO Eleron, JSC KIS ISTOK and JSC KIS ISTOK-2. Five teams of 2nd, 3rd and 5th year students of the Civil Engineering Institute competed in the student league.

    The participants had to develop a project for a capital construction project with utility lines for subsequent construction. They had to use the initial data specified in the technical assignment and apply information modeling technologies.

    The experts of the championship were experienced teachers of the institute and specialists of leading companies, such as JSC VNIPIPT, JSC KIS ISTOK, JSC FCNIVT SNPO Eleron and CSoft Development.

    Following a tense competition week, the winners were determined.

    Student League:

    1st place: Dmitry Zharkov, Alina Doroshenko, Tatyana Slobodanyuk, Vitaly Naumovich — 5th-year students of the specialist program. 2nd place: Alexander Kolosov, Ilya Kazinsky, Daniil Milyutin, Lev Kharitonov — 2nd and 3rd-year students of the specialist program. 3rd place: Semyon Ivanov, Dmitry Laptev, Ivan Kelyin, Ilya Glazov — 2nd-year students of the specialist program.

    Industry League:

    1st place: team of JSC FCNIVT SNPO Eleron 2nd and 3rd places: two teams from JSC KIS ISTOK.

    Now the winners of the selection round are preparing for the next challenge – participation in the final of the industry championship AtomSkills-2025, which will be held in Yekaterinburg.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: Expanding Access to Housing in Uzbekistan through Market Reforms

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Through the Mortgage Market Sector Development Program, ADB is providing a $50-million policy-based loan to support mortgage market reforms that will economize the government’s housing subsidy and policy framework and create a conducive environment and infrastructure for market-based mortgage lending. It is also providing a $300-million financial intermediation loan to finance the country’s new mortgage refinancing company that enables domestic commercial banks to provide residential mortgage and housing improvement loans. A technical assistance grant of $800,000 supports the implementation of the program.

    Strengthening the policy, regulatory, and legal framework. Findings from a review of the policy, regulatory, and legal framework for the mortgage finance sector and housing market assessment formed the basis for the design of the program. The study recommended that subsidy arrangements be revised to ensure that higher subsidies are provided to lower income households and regressive subsidies are changed.

    Improving the housing strategy and subsidy framework. ADB provided the Ministry of Economy and Finance recommendations on revising the housing finance and subsidy approach as a result of which the government adopted series of changes to enable gradual transformation of state housing programs toward a market-based principles and improving the subsidy targeting.

    Establishing and operationalizing a wholesale mortgage refinance company. The government established the Uzbekistan Mortgage Refinancing Company with ADB support and equity investment from government and commercial banks. It provides banks with access to local currency long-term funding. The company prefinances and refinances eligible mortgage loans and housing improvement loans issued by participating banks at an interest rate close to market rates.

    To support operationalization of the company, the project tapped the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and its consulting team of experts, most of them active and retired CEOs and board chairpersons of international and national mortgage refinance corporations including from Armenia, France, Malaysia, and Pakistan. The team prepared the company’s business plan, human resources plan, legal framework, institutional arrangement, internal policies and procedures, list of products and services, and risk management plan. The government believed that the first CEO of the mortgage refinancing company was of utmost importance to building everyone’s confidence in this new institution and was directly involved in vetting and hiring the CEO.

    Expanding and improving data collection. The project supported work on improving housing statistics, introducing a housing price index in Uzbekistan, and developing a mortgage market database and website. International experts provided in-person and on-line training to ministries, banks, and other stakeholders. A new system was introduced to collect housing sector data (i.e., mortgage loans by type, terms, program and other categories) through updates to the annual statistical reporting forms for commercial banks. The collected data is also shared with the Ministry of Finance.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Winter in Moscow sites invite city residents and tourists to celebrate Maslenitsa

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Maslenitsa festivities within the framework of the project “Winter in Moscow” will last until March 2 inclusive. Thematic programs have been prepared by the capital’s parks, museums, galleries, cultural centers, libraries and the Moskino cinema park. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Culture Alexey Fursin.

    “Traditional folk games, performances by folk groups, theatrical performances and themed master classes await the townspeople. We have decided to abandon the traditional ritual of burning the Maslenitsa effigy this year for environmental and safety reasons,” said Alexey Fursin.

    Ditties, dances and old games

    On February 26 at 19:00, a concert of students of the Department of Folk Performing Arts and the Department of Folk Singing of the Moscow State Institute of Music named after A.G. Schnittke will take place in the Gogol House. Maslenitsa songs, folk melodies in modern arrangements, ditties and jokes will be performed, including “Along the Wide Street”, “Oh, Pancakes, My Pancakes”, “And We Seen Off Maslenitsa” and other compositions. Need pre-registration.

    On March 2 at 13:00, the Vnukovo Cultural Center will host the festive festivities “Wide Maslenitsa”. Russian folk games have been prepared for guests, including the stream and gorelki, as well as relay races and round dances. You can listen to Russian folk songs performed by the Sing Pro pop vocal studio and the Steppe vocal ensemble, watch choreographic numbers with the participation of the Zhemchuzhina ensemble. In addition, visitors will be offered to paint a Maslenitsa figurine, play board games, and make a doll-amulet. Admission is free.

    On February 27, the Rostokino Gallery will host a master class called “Maslenitsa Costume.” Participants will learn more about the tradition of creating straw dolls for the holiday and learn how they were decorated. An experienced craftsman will explain what the different colors in the doll’s costume mean, what signs and symbols our ancestors used. Everyone will be able to create a unique author’s image for the figurine. Admission is free, no registration required.

    On February 28 at 18:30, the cultural center “Creative Lyceum” will organize the program “Maslenitsa Culture”. Visitors will be presented with a concert program of the Russian music ethnostudio “Posolon”. Dance songs “Maslenka Shiroka”, “And we are waiting for Maslenitsa”, “Vesennaya Lyricheskaya” and “Solnyshko” will be performed to the accompaniment of folk instruments – gusli and balalaika. Admission is free, no registration required.

    Maslenitsa festivities in film scenery

    Maslenitsa festivities will also take place in the Moskino cinema park. Admission is free, but to participate you must buy a ticket to the territory of the cinema park.

    On March 1 from 13:00 to 16:45, the Gonzaga Theater will show the performances “Wide Maslenitsa” about the merry buffoons Marfusha, Mityusha and Vesnushka, which will introduce the audience to folklore traditions. And from 17:00 to 18:00, there will be a master class on crafts from Old Believer Artem Chernyshev.

    In the “Center of Moscow” set, guests will be treated to the relay races “Stove-Nurse” and “Cockfights”, and at the chromakey, the old Russian game of gorodki, which develops accuracy, coordination and strategic thinking.

    In the “Cowboy Town” decorations, from 11:00 to 17:10, an immersive quest “The Strange Case of the Missing Cows” will be held for children. And in the fairy tale park, guests will be treated to themed games – felt boot throwing and “Zakrutikha”.

    “Solar Wind” and festive processions in parks

    On March 1 at 13:00 a thematic program will begin in the Kuskovo forest park. Visitors will enjoy a performance by the children’s ensemble “Krutukha”, a mini-performance about Maslenitsa, an interactive lecture by the artist-painter Ilya Lysenkov, creative master classes led by the staff of the library No. 90 named after A.S. Neverov. And fans of active recreation will be invited to a running tour of the forest park. Admission is free.

    Free Maslenitsa performances will be shown on March 1 and 2 at 12:00 in the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve, and on March 2 at 12:00 — in the Izmailovo Estate. An interactive musical program, active games-competitions, master classes in baking pancakes, songs, ditties and Maslenitsa fun have been prepared for visitors. Admission is free.

    The big Maslenitsa program will be held on March 2 from 13:00 on the Palace Square and other sites of the natural and historical park “Tsaritsyno”. The symbol of the arrival of spring will be the art object “Solar Wind” with scarlet and gold pinwheels and canvases, created by Marina Zvyagintseva, one of the founders of public art in Russia. On the Palace Square, visitors will see a performance by the group “Skazki”, take part in the theatrical program of the youth ensemble “Veretenets”, a festive procession and a round dance. Entrance to the main entertainment events of the program is free.

    A holiday for the little ones

    On March 2, from 12:00 to 15:00, the children’s center of the Museum of Moscow will hold a festive program called “Frying Pan Miracle” in the museum courtyard. Children will learn about Maslenitsa traditions, create bright outfits, and dance. Musical accompaniment performed by DJ Elma will be played on the radio station “Shum”. In the “Dress-up” workshop, children will create festive images, and help with makeup in the “Rumyantsy” workshop. At 14:30, a pancake disco will begin – a Maslenitsa procession, the culmination of which will be a large spring round dance. Admission is free.

    Project “Winter in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which until February 28 brings together various events in the capital. Citizens and tourists are invited to remember traditions and history, warm up with tea and hot buns, go ice skating, watch ice shows, give gifts to people who find themselves in a difficult life situation, and show concern for those who need it.

    Muscovites and guests of the capital are offered a huge selection of events in the open air and in cultural and sports institutions. The atmosphere of winter traditions has engulfed the entire city – more than 1.9 thousand sites are open. The largest festivals of the capital “Moscow Estates”, “Moscow Tea Party”, “City of Light” and many others are organically woven into the project. All information about the project and winter season events can be found in a special section of mos.ru.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/150516073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Last year, 340 non-residential premises were sold on the first floors of new buildings under the renovation program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In 2024, 340 non-residential premises were sold on the first floors of new buildings under the renovation program. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the City Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    When constructing houses under the renovation program, the first floors are designed as non-residential. Social and household facilities are opened there, including shops, cafes, points of issue of goods, development and leisure centers for city residents, beauty salons. Since the beginning of the program, about 700 such enterprises have appeared.

    “Since the beginning of 2024, the city has sold 340 premises in new buildings under the renovation program. Small and medium-sized businesses will open on the first, non-residential floors. Most of the premises have been sold in the southeast of the capital – there are more than 80 of them, in the east – more than 50. In the North-Eastern and South-Western administrative districts, more than 40 premises have been sold in each,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    In total, about eight thousand non-residential premises will be set up on the first floors of residential complexes. More than 200 thousand people will be able to find employment at the enterprises opening there.

    Previously Mayor of Moscow noted, that 359 new buildings have been transferred for settlement under the renovation program, and the resettlement of over 200 thousand city residents has been completed or is underway.

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

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/150512073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China expands subsidy program for replacing old agricultural machinery

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China will expand the scope of subsidies for replacing old and worn-out agricultural machinery and raise subsidy levels in 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Tuesday.

    The existing nine types of agricultural machinery will be joined by six new categories in the subsidy program, namely, rice seedling-throwing machines, farmland monitoring terminals, plant protection drones, grain dryers (drying machines), color sorters and flour mills, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

    China will continue to increase the subsidy standards for certain agricultural machinery this year. For example, the maximum subsidy for replacing a cotton picker will be raised from 60,000 yuan (about 8,365 U.S. dollars) to 80,000 yuan per unit, according to the statement jointly issued by the ministry and three other central government authorities.

    The statement also emphasized that provinces must effectively utilize ultra-long special treasury bonds allocated to support the scrapping and updating of agricultural machinery, and be vigilant of fraudulent activities related to subsidy claims.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Private sector encouraged to invest in major energy projects

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    As the country’s energy sector is shifting toward greater market-driven dynamics, private companies will be further encouraged to invest in energy development, utilization and infrastructure construction, according to China’s top energy authority.

    The government will continue promoting private sector involvement in major energy projects this year, including nuclear power, energy storage and smart grids, to deliver a more efficient and smooth operation of the market, according to the National Energy Administration.

    The administration will continue encouraging private enterprises to participate in the nuclear power industry’s supply chain and to invest in nuclear power projects. Furthermore, the government will continue to support private companies in various forms of oil and gas exploration, power infrastructure construction and other projects, it said.

    There will be an emphasis on supporting private businesses to invest in and build new technologies such as new energy storage, smart microgrids and innovative business models.

    Private companies are expected to spur more technological innovation and increased efficiency within the energy sector, enhancing its overall competitiveness and sustainability, said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.

    The energy sector requires substantial long-term investment for expansion, especially in emerging fields such as new energy storage and smart grids, he said.

    China vows to further deepen its energy market reform this year, working to improve mechanisms where energy prices are mainly determined by the market, legally regulate the energy market order and strengthen the construction of a unified national market.

    Zhu Gongshan, chairman of GCL (Group) Holdings Co Ltd, China’s largest private power conglomerate, said a more market-driven energy sector could lead to increased efficiency in the allocation of resources.

    China’s solar power sector, from upstream silicon production to downstream photovoltaic power station construction, exemplifies the growing role of China’s private economy in energy transformation, he said.

    To deepen market-oriented price reforms of new energies, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration issued a notice recently to promote the integration of new energy sources like wind and solar power into the electricity market.

    This means that around 80 percent of China’s power consumption and generation will be transacted through competitive markets, significantly up from the 61 percent traded in 2024, according to Deng Simeng, a senior analyst for renewables and power research at global consultancy Rystad Energy.

    GCL Group said the company is very optimistic about the virtual power plant market in China, which, according to estimates by Huatai Securities, is projected to reach 10.2 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) this year and further grow to over 100 billion yuan by 2030.

    A virtual power plant is a network of decentralized energy resources that are controlled via software to function as a single, flexible power source. It allows these dispersed resources to operate in a way that mimics the behavior of a traditional power plant, providing electricity to the grid or responding to changes in demand.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China conducts 300-bln-yuan MLF operation to sustain banking liquidity

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Feb. 25 — China’s central bank on Tuesday conducted a 300-billion-yuan (about 41.83 billion U.S. dollars) medium-term lending facility (MLF) operation to maintain ample liquidity in the country’s banking system.

    The MLF operation features a one-year maturity period and an interest rate of 2 percent, unchanged from the rate of the previous operation conducted last month, according to a statement on the website of the People’s Bank of China.

    After the latest operation, the outstanding MLF balance stood at 4.09 trillion yuan.

    Tuesday’s operation was a scaled-down rollover, as a total of 500 billion yuan of MLF will mature this month.

    The central bank conducted 1.7 trillion yuan of outright reverse repos in January, which was equivalent to releasing a degree of medium-term liquidity in advance, said Wang Qing, chief macro analyst at Golden Credit Rating.

    At present, medium-term liquidity in the market is kept abundant to support banks in increasing credit supply, facilitate government bond issuance, and stabilize market expectations, the analyst noted.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: World-class research centers ensure rapid entry of technologies to the market

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers was held under the chairmanship of Dmitry Chernyshenko

    February 24, 2025

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers was held under the chairmanship of Dmitry Chernyshenko

    February 24, 2025

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers was held under the chairmanship of Dmitry Chernyshenko

    February 24, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers was held under the chairmanship of Dmitry Chernyshenko

    A meeting on the results of the activities of world-class scientific centers (WCSC) was held at the Government Coordination Center under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko. The meeting presented the results of the WCSC’s work over the five years of the program’s implementation – from 2020 to 2024.

    “World-class research centers were created in 2020 as part of the national project “Science and Universities”, the implementation of which was completed last year. On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, a new stage of the centers’ development will be implemented as part of the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”. Over time, they were reoriented from fundamental centers to applied tasks, while showing high results. NCMUs ensure the rapid entry of in-demand technologies into the market. Today, we see good indicators of their extra-budgetary financing – 34% of the budget part, which indicates their demand in the market,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    Last year, President Vladimir Putin clarified the strategic goal-setting in the field of science. Dmitry Chernyshenko noted that it is especially important to concentrate efforts on the tasks set by the head of state. In accordance with current challenges, the country’s strategic priorities in the field of science and technology have been updated. State support measures will be focused on them.

    The competition for support of world-class scientific centers will be announced this week.

    “This year’s competition will be aimed at creating centers of the same format as the existing ones, but with an eye on the development and implementation of the most important science-intensive technologies up to and including the sixth level of technological readiness. The Ministry of Education and Science has carried out work to take into account the areas of the humanitarian and social profile,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, paid special attention to attracting young specialists to world-class scientific centers. According to him, the NCMU creates opportunities for young researchers to manage scientific projects, thereby motivating talented young people to engage in science and increasing the prestige of the scientific profession. Thus, 38% of the research conducted by the centers was carried out under the supervision of young (under 39 years of age) promising researchers.

    The NCMU employees have been awarded the highest level of prizes and awards for the results they have created. In particular, Irek Mukhamatdinov, a senior researcher at the NCMU “Rational Development of Liquid Hydrocarbon Reserves of the Planet”, became a laureate of the Russian Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists for 2022.

    Representatives of world-class scientific centers also spoke about developments that have practical significance.

    Rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Andrey Rudskoy reported that the National Center for Advanced Digital Technologies has created a platform for the development and application of digital twins CML-Bench®. Compared to traditional approaches, the development of products and goods based on digital twin technology can reduce time, financial and other resource costs by 10 times or more. The prototype of the digital platform has been demonstrated and tested in operational conditions.

    In addition, technologies have been developed for producing metal-matrix composite materials using additive manufacturing. This is a reserve for the production of lithium-ion batteries with controlled three-dimensional micro- and macrostructure, improved energy capacity characteristics.

    Rector of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy Vladimir Trukhachev reported that the NCMU “Agrotechnologies of the Future” created 11 new varieties of peas using genetic technologies that accelerated the ripening process twice as much as traditional selection. Several large Russian producers have already begun to purchase peas of the new varieties.

    Vice-Rector of Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University Danis Nurgaliev noted that the National Center for Mining and Metallurgical Research “Rational Development of Liquid Hydrocarbon Reserves of the Planet” has implemented industrial scaling of in-situ oil refining technology using catalysts that can increase well flow rates by 20–100% and reduce the content of toxic metals in oil within the formation.

    A number of effective technologies of the NCMU are currently being replicated not only in Russian but also in foreign companies and act as import substitutes for products of such companies as Shell and Schlumberger.

    More than 20 low-tonnage chemical products developed by the center to improve the efficiency of oil field development are already being successfully used in practice.

    Efim Khazanov, chief researcher at the Gaponov-Grekhov Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reported that the Center for Photonics has developed a fractional rejuvenation device based on a powerful ytterbium fiber laser used in medical cosmetology for skin rejuvenation by laser exposure. In 2024, serial production of a cosmetology device based on a laser developed at the center was launched.

    Kirill Sypalo, Director General of the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute named after Professor N.E. Zhukovsky, said that the NCMU “Supersonic” has created a unique infrastructure to support work on the layout of a supersonic passenger aircraft. The use of such optimal layouts will reduce operating costs per flight by three to four times (in relation to first-generation supersonic passenger aircraft).

    Intelligent systems for monitoring and ensuring cybersecurity of onboard equipment and systems of supersonic passenger aircraft have also been developed.

    Leonid Gokhberg, First Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, noted that the Center for Interdisciplinary Research of Human Potential has created 40 unique databases on human potential development, half of which are international. The total number of users is more than 20 thousand people worldwide. The databases are used to evaluate family, demographic and economic policies and international research.

    In conclusion, Dmitry Chernyshenko instructed world-class scientific centers, together with the Ministry of Education and Science, federal authorities – curators and industrial partners, to present plans for the further use of the results obtained within the framework of the centers’ programs.

    The meeting was also attended by Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Stepan Kalmykov, representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Digital Development, the Ministry of Energy, the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use and others.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Minister Rishworth doorstop interview in Palm Cove, Queensland

    Source: Ministers for Social Services

    E&OE TRANSCRIPT

    MATT SMITH, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LEICHHARDT: Good morning, my name’s Matt Smith. I’m the ALP’s candidate for the Federal seat of Leichhardt. Today, I’ve got Minister Amanda Rishworth and Jen Rees from Surf Life Saving here for a really important announcement around accessibility to our beaches and national parks. One of my favourite memories with my children is taking them to the beach and listening to them squeal and run away from the waves, that interaction with the ocean that so many Australians and tourists take for granted. Unfortunately, the beach can be a tough place if you’re in a wheelchair. Sand is not particularly conducive to wheels, and this announcement gives the beach back to everybody, the national parks back to everybody. So, you can take your children down, you can listen to them enjoy themselves, you can have that experience that you had growing up and share that with the next generation. 

    It’s also fantastic for the tourist industry here in Queensland. Opening up our national parks and our beaches to everybody provides another string to our already well-heeled bow. Giving people the opportunity to experience all that Far North Queensland has to offer, regardless of their ability to move, is really important and gives us an opportunity to share our truly beautiful part of the world. I’ll hand over now to Minister Rishworth to go over some more of the details of what is a truly special announcement today.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: It’s so wonderful to be here with Matt Smith, Labor’s candidate for the Federal seat of Leichhardt, and of course Jen and the other surf lifesavers here at Palm Cove. Today we’re announcing a fund called Accessible Australia. This funding will be to partner with state governments and local councils and other organisations, such as Surf Life Saving clubs, to ensure that our beaches and other natural spaces are more accessible.

    We know that we have some of the best beaches, I might argue with Matt about where in Australia they’ll be, but according to Accessible Beaches Australia, a charity that does a lot of work in this area, only 2 per cent of our beaches are actually accessible for people with disabilities. So, that’s cutting up a whole lot of opportunities for so many people to just enjoy the beautiful sand and the water here in Australia.

    We want to change that, and we also want to make sure that people have access to our national parks, some beautiful national parks here in North Queensland, but also around Australia. And so, funding will be available, for example, for beach wheelchairs, all terrain wheelchairs, for matting, for grading, to allow more accessibility to our beaches and our parks.

    In addition, there will be funding to allow for the investment into what’s called Changing Places. These are important facilities that allow not only disability friendly toileting spaces but also showers and other really important facilities. We were willing to partner with state governments when it comes to these facilities to work with the community to make our natural environment much more attractive.

    I did want to take this opportunity to commend Surf Life Saving Queensland and the work they’ve been doing with the local councils and community members. Here in North Queensland – here at Palm Cove, Mission Beach – there is already, importantly, access to the beach because of the Mobi matting and the wheelchair accessibility. And just hearing Jen talk about the impact that that can have in terms of accessibility for nippers, for the wider community is really, really important.

    I’d really like to commend the work being done by Surf Life Saving Queensland along with their local councils to really focus on this accessibility. It really is to be commended, and we hope that this fund, Accessible Australia, will help accelerate the work that’s being done, and thank all of them for the work they do. Hearing Jen talk about the wraparound support that clubs get to support, whether it’s a participant in the Surf Life Saving club or perhaps a visitor at the beach, is so important so that everyone can enjoy our natural resources. So, I’d like to thank them. I’d like to thank particularly Palm Cove Surf Life Saving Club for hosting us here today and appreciate the work they’re doing. I’ll now hand over to Jen from Surf Life Saving Queensland.

    JEN REES, SURF LIVING SAVING NORTH QUEENSLAND: Here in tropical North Queensland we’re very proud that four out of our five Surf Life Saving clubs have got beach wheelchairs, and we’ve got two clubs with mats that roll out. So, part of Surf Life Saving Queensland’s inclusive action plan, we’re looking at how we communicate out to the community, and they can go on our website and they can find existing beaches, they can find out what facilities are available and what’s not available. Here in Palm Cove, at least, it’s like the council supporting us with a wheelchair that has access to the beach, and Port Douglas is supported by Douglas Shire Council with their wheelchair. And then Ellis Beach has had a fantastic donation from the Muslim community with another additional wheelchair, and down Mission Beach they’ve also had a donation. So, the community is banding together to see what [indistinct]. Surf Life Saving Queensland been taking a holistic approach.

    JOURNALIST: How do we select which clubs or which beaches receive this funding?

    JEN REES: So, that’s available through clubs and beaches throughout Queensland on the website, and you can look up accessible beaches and there will be information and photographs on what facilities are available.

    SPEAKER: And out of all of the Surf Life Saving clubs, obviously, like, a particular one is going to get change rooms. How is that selected?

    JEN REES: So, that’s listed under the club. So, we have a [indistinct]. So, for example, this club here, you’ve got accessibility to the supporters’ club, you’ve got an indoor accessible toilet, change room and shower, you’ve got an elevator up to any sort of function room. So, all of that’s actually listed on the website.

    SPEAKER: And in terms of the Mobi matting, is that just rolled out through the lifeguard hours, like, when the lifeguards are open?

    JEN REES: Yes. So, it’s important that there is a service on, the lifeguards and lifesavers have a service on. And then during that service, if you come up and you would like to use it, we’ll roll it out, we’ll get the chair out, and we’ll support getting everything ready. And then that person does need a carer with them to put them into the chair. We’ve also got adaptable sports programs and a lot of resources available to clubs who want to do adaptable sport. And our state program now – we have state sports events coming up which have adaptable events in them. So, members with a disability have got a modified sporting environment where they can compete and participate.

    JOURNALIST: So, if this funding [indistinct] Far North Queensland, what difference will that make?

    JEN REES: It’s fundamental to consultation. So, any parent with someone with a disability or any adult with a disability, they’re going to look and see, can I go to the toilet, can I shower, can I participate, is there a program that’s modified to suit my needs. So, the resources are available and the support’s available for any club who does have a new member come into their environment.

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: We will be partnering with state and territory governments, along with local councils and Surf Life Saving clubs to deliver this funding where the need is. Surf Life Saving Queensland is so far advanced in their planning, we certainly look forward to supporting them along with other organisations and state governments and local councils. So, we’ll be working with the Queensland Government, partnering with them, through them, with the Surf Life Saving clubs and the councils.

    In terms of your question about the impact this has, the impact that just simple things such as Mobi matting or beach wheelchairs changes the whole experience for someone with a disability. They are able to get into the water, they’re able to touch the water, feel the sand. It has such a huge impact. And just a few days ago in my own electorate in South Australia, we had an event, surfing for the disabled, and the smiles on these people’s faces where they haven’t been able to access the water, enjoy the waves, was really something special.

    JOURNALIST: The funding’s $17.1 million. How much of that is going to be spent here in regional Queensland?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Oh, look, we will have to work through that with state governments, but we expect over 350 sites to be able to access the funding.

    JOURNALIST: Can you give us a rough idea of how many sites in Far North Queensland?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, it will be about working through with the State Government. What I would say, though, is that the work that Surf Life Saving Queensland’s done and the readiness that they have to have the equipment available, to have the support for the Surf Life Saving clubs puts them in a very, very good position to access the funding.

    JOURNALIST: What’s the goal of the funding… [indistinct]?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: We want to work with state and territory governments. Obviously, they have the predominant responsibility for access to the built environment, but we can see the work being done on the ground. As Jen mentioned, community members are raising money. A lot of money comes from philanthropic organisations. So, I don’t necessarily have a goal, but I would like to see it a lot more accessible, working with state and territory governments. I’m hoping with the Commonwealth putting funding on the table, we can unleash and leverage funding also from state governments and local councils.

    JOURNALIST: Do we have a rough figure of how many mobile matting and wheelchairs will be added?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: We think approximately there’ll be 350 sites nationally that will have improvements. That will include not just the Mobi matting – but potentially the Changing Places. They vary in cost. So, look, we’re open to the flexibility because what we want to do is make sure we’re delivering. But we are hoping to open up not only the Mobi matting, not only the wheelchairs, but also the Changing Places and other equipment that makes our natural spaces more inclusive.

    JOURNALIST: Minister, we’re told that four out of five Surf Life Saving clubs up here already have those facilities in place that help that experience. Where will this funding be most needed in Australia?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, there is always more we can do. As we heard from Jen, for some places it’s about having the wheelchairs, for others it’s about the matting, for others it’s about the changing rooms and the changing spaces. So, look, we want to make sure that places across Australia are getting access to it. But it’s places like this, with the work that Surf Life Saving Queensland has already done, that puts it in a prime position to access this funding. Because of course, what we know is it’s not just about the equipment, it is the care and attention on the ground. As Jen mentioned, this is available when there’s a lifeguard service available, people have to be trained. So, the work that Queensland Surf Life Saving has done has put them in a prime position to look at how they can better improve the beaches here in North Queensland.

    JOURNALIST: For places like this that already have a wheelchair, a Mobi mat, and potentially great change rooms, how are they going to benefit from this funding?

    AMANDA RISHWORTH: Well, look, of course we always can do better and there will be organisations that will have certain requests, maybe they want another wheelchair, maybe they need more matting, maybe in some places the matting needs to be replaced. They’ve already got the skills and abilities. So, look, we’ll work through that in more detail, but as you can see here, the investment made by the local council is having a real difference for people and we want to see that more available across Australia for local residents, but also for tourists alike.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Johnson Demand National Archives Fulfill Request for Biden Records

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are renewing their request for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to provide records related to former-President Joe Biden’s mishandling of classified documents and use of pseudonyms and personal email addresses for official business during his time as Vice President. 

    “Since 2021, we have conducted oversight of Joe Biden’s use of multiple pseudonyms and personal email addresses for official government business when he served as Vice President. Despite our multiple requests for information, the Biden White House failed to respond,” the senators wrote. 

    “Although former President Biden is no longer in office, and he pardoned his son Hunter and other family members, we believe it is of importance to review these records so the American people have a full accounting of Joe Biden and his family’s activities while Joe Biden was in government,” they concluded. 

    Read the full letter HERE. 

    A timeline of Grassley and Johnson’s prior requests to NARA follows: 

    • August 2023: Letter to then-NARA Archivist Colleen Shogan regarding Biden’s use of pseudonyms and personal email addresses 
    • March 2023: Letter to then-NARA Acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall regarding Biden’s mishandling of classified documents 
    • February 2023: Letter to then-NARA Acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall regarding Biden’s mishandling of classified documents 
    • January 2023: Letter to then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle regarding Biden’s mishandling of classified documents 
    • January 2023: Letter to then-NARA Acting Archivist Debra Steidel Wall regarding Biden’s mishandling of classified documents 
    • January 2023: Letter to then-White House Counsel Richard Sauber regarding Biden’s mishandling of classified documents 
    • June 2022: Letter to then-White House Counsel Richard Sauber regarding Biden’s use of pseudonyms and personal email addresses 
    • July 2021: Letter to then-White House Counsel Dana Remus regarding Biden’s use of pseudonyms and personal email addresses 
    • June 2021: Letter to then-NARA Archivist David Ferriero regarding Biden’s foreign financial dealings 

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China urges global participation in IHL Initiative

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Trucks loaded with Chinese aid get ready to set off from the warehouse of Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization in Zarqa, Jordan, on Feb. 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China has called on the international community to actively engage in the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Initiative, co-launched by China, stressing the importance of joint efforts to uphold humanitarian principles and protect civilians in conflict zones.

    Chen Xu, China’s permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, attended a high-level event to galvanize political commitment to IHL. He introduced the IHL Initiative and outlined China’s position on humanitarian issues.

    Noting that the current global humanitarian crisis remains dire, Chen emphasized that promoting effective compliance with IHL is “a pressing challenge of our time” that must be addressed and it is also the concern that served as a driving force behind the initiative’s launch. He stated that the IHL Initiative aims to raise awareness of IHL among the international community, particularly among parties to armed conflicts.

    He stressed that the international community should foster the spirit of humanity, fraternity, and devotion while ensuring the universal and uniform application of IHL, resolutely rejecting double standards and selective application. He added that the fundamental principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence must be upheld to avoid the politicization of humanitarian issues, and that support for international humanitarian organizations is essential to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers.

    Chen invited all parties to participate in the IHL Initiative and actively contribute to its various workstreams based on their expertise. He also emphasized that traditional Chinese values – such as “a benevolent man loves others” and “do not impose on others what you do not want others to do to you” – embody a deeply rooted humanitarian spirit.

    He said China will remain an active supporter, participant, and contributor to the international humanitarian cause, upholding its vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.

    Chen stressed that China remains committed to peace talks, promoting peace and hope in conflict zones, continuing its assistance to Africa and other developing countries, supporting humanitarian organizations to the best of its ability, and alleviating the suffering of people in conflict zones.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville, Moran Bolster Rural Broadband, Prevent Taxation of Broadband Deployment Grants

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) in reintroducing legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code to make certain that federal broadband deployment funding will not be considered taxable income.

    Grants awarded to broadband providers for the purposes of broadband deployment are currently factored into a company’s income and taxed as income. This bipartisan legislation moves to exclude broadband deployment grants awarded through certain federal programs from an organization’s income, ensuring the entirety of federal dollars are awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband around the country can be used for that purpose, rather than making their way back to the government through taxes. 

    “Rural communities are the backbone of our nation, and we want to ensure that Americans living in these communities have access to high-speed internet,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Taxing broadband grants would undermine state efforts to prioritize rural broadband expansion. I am proud to support this legislation so that those living in rural America have internet needed to run their businesses, access health care, and pursue educational opportunities.”

    “Reliable, high-speed internet is more crucial than ever for Kansans to run their businesses, access telehealth or pursue and education,” said Sen. Moran. “This commonsense legislation would make certain federal grants provided for broadband deployment are not counted as taxable income to maximize the impact and success of these resources.”

    U.S. Sens. Tuberville and Moran are joined by U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in cosponsoring the legislation.

    Sen. Tuberville cosponsored this legislation in the 118th Congress. 

    Read full text of the legislation here.

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Some of Australia’s largest companies are failing to ‘know and show’ their respect for human rights

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Birchall, Senior Lecturer in Law, Macquarie University

    The skyline of Sydney’s central business district. Olga Kashubin/Shutterstock

    In our complex, interconnected world, there are risks of human rights violations throughout global supply chains. Examples include not only modern slavery and child labour, but also gender discrimination and violations of land, food and water rights.

    Many people care deeply about whether the companies they support are monitoring and addressing these issues. So, how do some of the biggest Australian companies measure up?

    To answer this question, we analysed the human rights commitments of 25 of the top companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), including some of our largest banks and mining companies.

    We found Australian companies have a long way to go in “knowing and showing” a commitment to respect human rights, suggesting an urgent need for reform.

    One response could be for Australia to follow the European Union’s lead and create a mandatory human rights due diligence regime.



    Read more:
    Many global corporations will soon have to police up and down their supply chains as EU human rights ‘due diligence’ law nears enactment

    International best practice

    Our analysis used the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Corporate Human Rights Benchmark Core UNGP Indicators.

    This benchmark uses 12 indicators that draw on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP), the authoritative international standard.

    There are human rights risks across many stages of global supply chains.
    JULY_P30/Shutterstock

    The indicators are grouped into three themes:

    1. policy commitments to respect human rights
    2. embedding respect through ongoing human rights due diligence
    3. enabling accessible remedies and grievance mechanisms for workers and external stakeholders.

    Companies score between zero and two points on each indicator, depending on how they satisfy its requirements. The maximum possible score is 24.

    It’s important to understand that the aim of our study was not to assess whether these companies have been violating human rights. Rather, it was to evaluate whether companies have disclosed their policies and processes to respect human rights.

    The UN Guiding Principles expect companies to have suitable due diligence processes in place and make these publicly available in an accessible form.

    Ideally, companies should clearly state that they respect all human rights. This includes rights such as nondiscrimination, the prohibition on forced or child labour, freedom to join trade unions, and the right to a clean environment.

    They should outline in detail the mechanisms in place to identify and address actual or potential abuses. On top of this, detail which officials in the company hold responsibility for managing these issues.

    The better companies would even disclose examples of human rights abuses that they discovered in their operations, such as modern slavery or a gender pay gap.

    Poor performance overall

    Our research covered the 25 largest Australian companies by market capitalisation that had not previously been assessed under this benchmark.

    This included some of the leading Australian companies from a range of sectors – mining, banks, energy, insurance, transportation, telecommunication, media, health care and pharmaceuticals.

    Scores were poor overall. The best-performing company scored eight out of a possible 24 points. The average score was 3.6.

    Many companies were found to be making vague or ambiguous human rights commitments or only focusing on a narrow set of modern slavery risks.

    No company disclosed all of the human rights due diligence processes needed to identify, prevent, mitigate and remediate human rights risks. Nor did any disclose how they consulted with relevant stakeholders such as workers or displaced communities to help them understand and identify relevant human rights risks in company operations.

    Only ten of the 25 companies provided a mechanism for external individuals and communities to raise human rights complaints or concerns.

    Companies scored particularly poorly on the second group of indicators: embedding respect through ongoing human rights due diligence. The average score here was 0.58 out of 12.

    Many companies only focused on identifying and addressing modern slavery in their operations, to the exclusion of other human rights risks such as sexual harassment or environmental pollution.

    It was also concerning that companies we assessed often passed the burden of compliance to suppliers. That is, they established higher expectations for suppliers’ conduct than they set for their own.

    Legal requirements made a difference

    Our research found that companies scored well in making human rights commitments where there was a legal obligation to do so.

    Every company, for example, scored the point available for hosting a grievance mechanism for workers to raise concerns about the company. This is because Australia’s Corporations Act requires companies to create a whistleblower mechanism.

    Similarly, most companies disclosed elements of their modern slavery due diligence process, because this is legally required under the Modern Slavery Act.

    Proactive steps

    It is clear from our research that many large Australian companies are not operating in line with international standards.

    That means they also aren’t ready to comply with the ripple effects of the mandatory human rights due diligence laws recently introduced in Europe.

    These laws will require large Australian companies that do significant business in Europe to conduct comprehensive human rights due diligence.

    The European Union has recently introduced mandatory human rights due diligence laws.
    VanderWolf Images/Shutterstock

    Australian companies must take proactive steps to comply with international standards. This means making a public commitment to respect all human rights, establishing and publicly disclosing their human rights due diligence process.

    It will also mean involving everyone who is affected by or has an interest in the company’s activities throughout the due diligence process. This includes making sure they have a way to raise concerns and seek remedies.

    The Australian government has a vital role in ensuring that companies take their human rights responsibilities seriously. The current reporting regime under the Modern Slavery Act has proven very weak, confirmed under a recent formal review.

    Our findings suggest the government should enact a stronger and broader mandatory human rights due diligence law covering all human rights.

    David Birchall is Deputy Director of the B&HR Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie Law School.

    Ebony Birchall is the Deputy Director of the B&HR Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie University. She has previously received research funding from the Australian Government, Macquarie University and the Freedom Fund.

    Surya Deva is Director of the B&HR Access to Justice Lab at Macquarie University. He is currently UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development. He has previously received funding from the GIZ, the UNDP, the Freedom Fund and the International Commission of Jurists. He is part of the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Expert Review Committee. The Lab received funding from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and the World Benchmarking Alliance to cover the costs of hosting an event to launch this report.

    – ref. Some of Australia’s largest companies are failing to ‘know and show’ their respect for human rights – https://theconversation.com/some-of-australias-largest-companies-are-failing-to-know-and-show-their-respect-for-human-rights-250055

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Ukraine on Third Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Senators Thom Tillis and Jeanne Shaheen, Co-Chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, alongside 14 of their Senate colleagues, introduced a bipartisan resolution acknowledging the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and expressing the U.S. Senate’s unwavering support for Ukraine. 

    “As we mark the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, it is critical that we maintain our support for the Ukrainian people and hold Putin accountable as the United States seeks to secure a lasting peace,” said Senator Tillis. “This resolution reinforces our bipartisan commitment to supporting Ukraine as a free and sovereign nation.”

    “As Vladimir Putin’s illegal and brutal full-scale invasion enters its fourth year, I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution that clearly states our unwavering support for and solidarity with the Ukrainian people and condemns Russia’s aggression,” said Senator Shaheen. “During my recent visit to Ukraine with Senators Tillis and Bennet, we witnessed the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ determined resistance and the government’s commitment to democracy, despite constant Russian attacks. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, supports Ukraine’s Euro Atlantic integration, and emphasizes the need for Ukraine to be at the negotiating table when determining its own future.” 

    Background: 

    The resolution expresses the U.S. Senate’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while condemning Russia’s illegal aggression and attempts to seize Ukrainian territory. It also commends NATO, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and the international community for their continued efforts to support Ukraine’s defense and the protection of human rights and emphasizes Ukraine’s right to be included in any discussions with Russia about its future. 

    In addition to Senators Tillis and Shaheen, the resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Curtis (R-UT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Steve Daines (R-MT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). 

    Full text of the resolution is available HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –