NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia-Pacific Business Forum opens with bold commitments to private sector-led sustainability action

    Source: United Nations – ESCAP

    The Asia-Pacific Business Forum (APBF) 2025 opened today in Kuala Lumpur with a strong call for the private sector to lead the region’s transition towards a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.

    Hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in collaboration with the ESCAP Sustainable Business Network and KSI Strategic Institute for Asia-Pacific, the Forum convenes over 250 senior business executives, policymakers and sustainability champions from across the region to accelerate climate action, boost innovation and scale up green financing.

    Delegates at this year’s forum urged businesses, governments and other stakeholders to move beyond just adapting to climate emergencies to actively leveraging sustainability as a source of innovation, resilience and long-term value creation.

    “There are tangible opportunities to expand the scope of economic cooperation and intraregional connectivity by expanding business prospects, building integrated supply chains and realizing the global 1.5-degree goal,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

    She added, “The blue-green transition is not just about environmental stewardship, but an economic opportunity that can reshape how societies align business profitability, economic growth and social development.”

    “The introduction of key policy documents such as the National Energy Policy 2022-2040 and the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap further underscores Malaysia’s ambition to emerge as a regional leader in clean energy innovation and deployment,” said Fadillah Haji Yusof, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia in his keynote remarks.

    Participants further reaffirmed the Asia-Pacific Green Deal for Business as a critical action plan for aligning business models with environmental and social imperatives.

    “The Asia Pacific Business Forum 2025 will be a key platform to promote the Asia Pacific Green Deal, advancing sustainability and accelerating the region’s energy transition,” said Michael Yeoh, President of KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, Malaysia.

    He added, “Through collaboration and innovation, we aim to drive green growth and build a low-carbon, resilient future.”

    Recognizing the urgent need for policy coherence and regulatory alignment, this year’s Forum features a new series of high-level dialogues between private sector leaders and government policymakers. These aim to tackle barriers to climate innovation, enhance access to sustainable financing, and promote inclusive growth—especially through gender-diverse leadership and support for women-led enterprises.

    Shinta Widjaja Kamdani, Chief Executive Officer of Sintesa Group, Indonesia, was elected as the new Chair of the ESCAP Sustainable Business Network. “The role of governments, businesses, financial institutions, and civil society cannot be overstated. Our investments in green technologies, renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and climate-resilient agriculture will be the key drivers of economic growth, job creation, and inclusive prosperity. These investments are not just a means to close the financing gap—they are an opportunity to redefine the way we think about growth,” shared Kamdani.

    The Forum is expected to culminate with the endorsement of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration, a forward-looking blueprint aimed at strengthening regional partnerships and outlining actionable commitments for businesses to drive sustainability across five core pillars: energy transition, infrastructure development, sustainable financing, digital innovation and circular economy practices.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Screening for researchers wising to handle sensitive knowledge

    Source: Government of the Netherlands

    News item | 07-04-2025 | 17:00

    Researchers and Master’s students who want to work on or with sensitive knowledge in the Netherlands will soon be required to undergo government screening, as outlined in the new Knowledge Security Screening Bill, which will be made available online for public consultation today. The bill was announced in the government programme.

    The bill has been submitted by Minister of Education, Culture and Science Eppo Bruins, jointly on behalf of Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel, and in accordance with Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Beljaarts.

    Bruins: “Knowledge is power, and safeguarding our knowledge is therefore essential. By conducting screening of individuals who seek access to knowledge that is critical for our country, we prevent the unwanted transfer of our knowledge assets. I intend to undertake this carefully, in collaboration with knowledge institutions. This approach is designed to enable us to advance our security efforts while preserving the openness and international scope of our science. That is crucial.”

    Targeted screening to preserve openness of science

    The new bill identifies the knowledge and technology areas where the risks to our national security are greatest. They include AI, nuclear, quantum, biotechnology, microchips, as well as other technology with potential military applications. The law requires research universities, universities of applied sciences and other research institutes, such as TNO, to examine their operations and activities to pinpoint areas where research takes place with  sensitive knowledge or technology. This involves a customised approach, which recognises that differences occur between the usage of such technologies between institutions. While many knowledge institutions may not engage with such technology, others may use it in specific projects or labs. In future, knowledge institutions will determine this themselves, eliminating unnecessary screening. It is essential to maintain ample space for international collaboration between researchers.

    When the law comes commences, any new researcher or Master’s student, regardless of their background, who wishes to work in environments with sensitive knowledge or technology will need to undergo screening. This screening is a form of tailored risk evaluation. The government has asked screening authority Justis to conduct the screenings.  To facilitate this, Justis is performing an implementation test to determine the feasibility and requirements for the new screening process. Ensuring the law can be effectively enforced is a priority for the government. Initial estimates suggest approximately eight thousand screenings will be conducted per year.

    Screening is necessary

    In recent years, universities and knowledge institutions have implemented numerous measures to safeguard their knowledge. For example, they are more cautious about certain international collaborations and have increased their security measures. Increased security awareness amongst scientific researchers helps on a daily basis in curbing the unwanted transfer of critical knowledge assets from the Netherlands. However, scientific researchers cannot do this on their own. Following the example of neighbouring countries and others worldwide, the Netherlands is now taking the next step: screening researchers. This measure is necessary. Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel is one of the ministers submitting the bill.
     

    Van Weel: “Foreign powers are intensifying their efforts to acquire Dutch knowledge and technology. Their aim is to utilise our technological expertise to enhance their weaponry, or use it as a strategic means of power. They seek to achieve this by sending researchers and students here or by pressuring them to share information. Therefore, it is essential that we carefully scrutinise who is granted access to the most sensitive knowledge and technology here in the Netherlands. By doing so, we enhance the resilience of our knowledge institutions against external threats, which is crucial in these turbulent times.“

    Law to come into force as soon as possible

    The bill is available online for public consultation as of today. This gives everyone the opportunity to voice their opinion, including those who will be involved in the screening process. This input will facilitate further improvement of the bill. Following this, the law will be submitted to the Council of State for advice and then to parliament for debate. The objective is for the law to commence as soon as possible, with mid-2027 as the target, assuming it can be enforced.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Security support for local election candidates during campaign

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Security support for local election candidates during campaign

    The Security Minister encourages candidates to use support available, including dedicated police officers, during the local election campaign to keep them safe.

    Image: Getty Images

    Safety advice and security support is available to all elected officials and candidates during the local election campaign period, the Security Minister has said as the pre-election period gets underway. He also warned that in the lead up to polling day on 1 May, harassment and intimidation will not be tolerated.

    Abuse of candidates and their teams has increased in recent years, notably at last year’s General Election. This has prompted the Security Minister to point to the enhanced measures now in place to keep the risk at this year’s local elections low.

    For the first time, dedicated police officers are in place in all forces across the country, offering a specialised network of expertise and support to local election candidates. Under Operation Ford, metropolitan mayors, local councillors, police and crime commissioners, and those standing for election in those roles will have access to Force Elected-Official Advisers (FEOAs) within their local police force who will provide briefings on personal safety throughout the campaign period. FEOAs are responsible for both Operation Bridger (MPs and parliamentary candidates) and Operation Ford.

    Now that nominations for candidacy have closed, these advisers are making contact with the returning officers in their region, to encourage them to share contact details of the candidates with FEOAs.

    Candidates can also access a range of security advice and guidance online, recently updated ahead of this year’s local election campaign period. Expertise has been provided across the security community from the police, the National Protective Security Authority, National Cyber Security Centre and others, to help candidates implement personal protective security measures.

    Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:

    Our elections remain safe, secure, free and fair – a fact we should be proud of, but can never take for granted. This government has put protecting our national security at the forefront of our Plan for Change and protecting our democratic freedoms is part of this. The harassment and intimidation of candidates and campaigners is completely unacceptable.  

    To those campaigning now, support is available to maximise your safety whilst you go about campaigning and talking to voters.

    My message to those who cross the line from free speech to harassment is simple – it will not be tolerated.

    Minister for Democracy Rushanara Ali said:

    I know from experience candidates can be subject to terrible harassment and intimidation. This is completely unacceptable, and we will not tolerate our democracy being undermined.

    We are working with the Electoral Commission, the police and other partners to take concrete action to tackle this behaviour in order to keep candidates safe.

    FEOAs are not a route to reporting a crime, and where candidates experience harassment or intimidation and believe there is an immediate threat to their safety, they should call 999. Where the threat is less immediate, they should contact 101 or visit police.uk. The Home Office will remain in contact with FEOAs to ensure they are appropriately supported.

    Anyone harassing or intimidating those taking part in our democratic process may be arrested and prosecuted if their activity breaks the law. As chair of the government’s Defending Democracy Taskforce, the Security Minister has written to chief constables across the country to remind them of the wide range of powers they have and urged them not to hesitate using them to maintain order and the safety of candidates.

    National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Policing Elections Deputy Commissioner Nik Adams said:

    As with every election, the police’s role is to prevent and detect crime, and enable the democratic process to take place. We take that role very seriously because intimidation of candidates and their supporters has serious implications for individuals and wider democracy.

    We want every candidate, and everyone involved in securing the democratic process, to know that we are here to help them and keep them safe.

    All candidates will receive security advice and guidance from their local force.  We would encourage candidates to read this guidance and attend security briefings. They should also take the time to introduce themselves to their local force, and ensure they know who their point of contact is. It is also important to take practical steps when campaigning to ensure safety.

    There have also been briefings from partners in related fields, such as around personal security, risks that come from social media, and general cyber safety advice. We would encourage candidates to be as proactive when engaging with our partners as much as they would be with the police.

    It is also vital that elections are not undermined by criminal practice of other types, such as corruption and fraud, and a national network of trained officers has been established to ensure that forces, working with Action Fraud, are able to respond to such reports robustly and effectively.

    National security is the first duty of government and a foundation of the government’s Plan for Change. This includes protecting our democracy from those who wish to undermine it by maintaining the safety and security of our electoral and political processes and those taking part.

    The government is determined to crack down on the harassment and intimidation of those participating in our democracy – whether they are an elected representative, candidate, or campaigner; and whether this takes place during or outside of an election campaign. Upon taking office, the Prime Minister gave the Defending Democracy Taskforce a new mandate to coordinate and drive forward government’s response to the full range of threats to our democracy.

    As part of this, the Defending Democracy Taskforce is undertaking a review, working across government with the police, parliamentary authorities, and the Electoral Commission to understand the levers to tackle harassment and intimidation and identify any gaps and vulnerabilities in the current processes. It will bring forward recommendations to ministers in due course, to suggest how to further strengthen the security of elected representatives and candidates.

    Last week, the Security Minister and Minister for Homelessness and Democracy Rushanara Ali both gave evidence to the Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections. As part of the government’s drive to improve security and reduce the threat, the recommendations made by the conference will be considered thoroughly.

    Vijay Rangarajan, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, said:

    Many candidates are standing in the local elections and campaigning – an essential part of our democracy. Thank you to all those standing. We all want to see a robust and vibrant debate, but far too many are experiencing abuse and intimidation.

    The Commission and police have developed guidance to ensure candidates understand the actions and behaviours that cross the line and may constitute a criminal offence – please tell the police if you think that is the case.

    Will Fletcher, CEO of the Jo Cox Foundation, said:

    Through the Jo Cox Civility Commission, we have highlighted how abuse and intimidation of politicians and candidates negatively affects democracy in the UK. We welcome the progress the government, parliament and other key bodies are making to implement the Commission’s recommendations and create a safer, more respectful politics.

    In particular, we welcome the increased support that is now available for local election candidates, and would encourage all candidates to read the updated guidance and engage with their local FEOAs in order to understand how they can stay safe while campaigning.

    We all have a responsibility for changing the perception that elected representatives are acceptable targets of abuse and intimidation. We urge all candidates to sign our Civility Pledge in collaboration with Compassion in Politics, as a commitment to running a respectful campaign.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Animals in Science Committee: new chair appointed

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Animals in Science Committee: new chair appointed

    Dr Sally Robinson has been appointed as chair of the Animals in Science Committee (ASC).

    Image of Dr Sally Robinson

    Lord Hanson, Minister of State (Lords Minister) for the Home Office, today announced that Dr Sally Robinson has been appointed as chair of the Animals in Science Committee (ASC) following a robust competition conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

    Dr Robinson will take up the appointment with the ASC on 1 June 2025, succeeding Professor David Main who has served as ASC chair for 6 years.

    Home Office Minister Lord Hanson said:

    I am pleased to welcome Dr Robinson as the new chair of the ASC. Her extensive knowledge and experience will be an asset to the Committee.

    I would also like to extend my thanks to Professor Main for his leadership, expertise, and dedication during his tenure as chair.

    This government is fully committed to reducing the need for animals in scientific research and assuring protections to animals where no alternatives are available.

    Under Dr Robinson’s leadership, the ASC will continue to provide clear, independent, and transparent advice to the government on these important issues.

    Dr Sally Robinson spent the majority of her career at AstraZeneca as a toxicologist, then Senior Director of Animal Sciences and Technology.

    She has a breadth of experience in relation to animal research through roles predominantly within the pharmaceutical industry but more recently in academia. She has over 20 years of experience of implementation of the 3Rs at local and international level, and promotion of a Culture of Care and governance through Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERB) with over 30 publications on these topics. Dr Robinson has experience of chairing a wide range of committees or expert working groups, including the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) Research and Animal Welfare group, UK NC3Rs expert working groups and panels and AWERBs.

    Incoming chair of the ASC Dr Sally Robinson said:

    The use of animals in research is of scientific, ethical, and societal interest fostering a diverse and polarised range of views. I believe the Animals in Science Committee provides an important role in considering all these views when formulating its advice.

    I look forward to taking up the role of chair of the Animals in Science Committee and to working with Committee members using evidence and expert opinion to develop independent, objective, and balanced advice.

    I would like to thank and recognise my predecessor Professor Main who has led the ASC since 2019. I hope to continue to build on the achievements of the ASC to date.

    The ASC is an independent public body sponsored by the Home Office. It provides independent advice about issues relating to the use of animals in scientific procedures within the context of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hiroshima tree of hope finds new home in Gate Lodge Gardens

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Hiroshima tree of hope finds new home in Gate Lodge Gardens

    10 April 2025

    Horticulture students from Greenmount College shared a message of hope this week at the newly opened Gate Lodge Gardens in Derry’s St Columb’s Park, with the planting of a special tree cultivated from Ginkgo Biloba seeds from Hiroshima. 

    Eighty years since the devastating atomic bomb that destroyed the Japanese city, the seeds of the Hibaku-jumoku – Japanese for survivor trees – now have a new purpose, representing resilience and rebirth.  

    Students at the College of Agriculture, Farming, and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) at Greenmount have been entrusted with sharing their important legacy though the Green Legacy Hiroshima Project, working with partners throughout the world to reinforce the message of peace. St Columbs Park has been selected as one of a number of special sites to locate a tree, which has been grown from seedlings cultivated by the students. 

    The group met with the Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, to plant the tree at the recently completed Gate Lodge which is part of the Acorn Farm project.  

    It’s a particularly fitting symbol of hope and peace to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2. Members of Foyle Obon representing the local Japanese Community also joined the Mayor and the students for the planting. 

    The Mayor heard more about the Green Legacy Hiroshima Project, and plans for the college to work closely with the Acorn Farm project, Derry’s first urban farm. Acorn Farm is an exciting and innovative project currently transforming a disused military site into a vibrant urban food growing space. 

    Speaking afterwards Mayor Barr said: “I want to thank Greenmount College for gifting the tree to Council and dedicating it to St Columb’s Park as the home for one of the Hiroshima Trees. It sends a wonderful message of peace and solidarity at a time when sadly there is much conflict and upheaval in the world.  

    “In a city where peace and reconciliation has led to such a positive transformation, I think our example can be one of hope for other places embroiled in war. We stand in solidarity with all the innocent victims of violence and conflict. 80 years since the end of the Second World War, it’s a timely opportunity to reflect and reinforce our message that peace is the only way forward and no one should be oppressed because of their race, politics or religion.” 

    The Acorn Farm project has partnered with Greenmount College and will offer student placements as part of their education offering hands on practical experience as part of the project’s Green Academy programme of community education and engagement around sustainable food production.  

    The £6.2million capital project is being led by Derry City and Strabane District Council, funded by the UK, and is delivered by a partnership team consisting of Council, The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, The Conservation Volunteers, Developing Healthy Communities and Community Garden Support. 

    David Dowd from CAFRE said the students were looking forward to learning and contributing to the project. “We are delighted to be here today and to pass on this sapling which has been carefully nurtured by the students at Greenmount. It will be well looked after here, and become part of the wonderful shared community space that is being created.  

    “I know the students are really looking forward to continuing to engage with the learning academy that is being developed at Acorn Farm, and to playing an active role in developing new approaches to growing food in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SIA grants funds to preventing violence against women and girls

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    SIA grants funds to preventing violence against women and girls

    The SIA has awarded its grant for good causes to 3 organisations preventing violence against women and girls.

    Today (10 April 2025) the Security Industry Authority (SIA) announced the award of its 2024 to 2025 grant for good causes.

    The SIA’s grant for good causes is funded from proceeds of crime confiscated from individuals convicted of criminal offences within the private security industry. Grants are used to benefit the private security industry and improve public protection.

    The beneficiaries of this year’s grants have distinct roles but share a common goal: preventing violence against women and girls. This includes working with victims and survivors of sexual violence, child sexual abuse, and domestic abuse.

    Paul Cartlidge, Chair of the grants panel, and Investigations and Enforcement Head of Operational Support at the SIA, said:

    We believe that crime should not pay, so it’s fitting that illegally acquired money should be taken from criminals and used for the benefit of society and especially for the protection of the public. The organisations we have awarded to this year are actively preventing violence against women and girls, and their applications resonated with the panel and stood out from many other worthy applicants.

    The grants for 2024 to 2025 have been awarded to:

    • Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse in Essex (CARA): £10,000
    • The Haven Refuge Wolverhampton: £2,661.50
    • Rising Sun: £3,283.50

    The SIA is proud to support organisations in their vital work in creating safer, more supportive communities.

    Organisations are eligible to apply if they are a registered charity or a not-for-profit organisation and are able to clearly demonstrate the positive impact of the grant to public protection.

    More information about the fund is on the SIA grant for good causes pages on GOV.UK.

    Background

    About the Proceeds of Crime Act

    The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) enables the SIA to investigate the financial activity of people who have committed a criminal offence and confiscate the proceeds of crime through a court-issued confiscation order. The SIA has been a designated body under POCA since 2015.

    The SIA receives a portion of the money it recovers through confiscation orders under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS). This money can only be used to fund its financial investigation capability or distributed to good causes.

    Confiscating ill-gotten cash helps to deter others from committing crime, makes sure that people do not financially benefit from criminal acts, and makes it harder for convicted criminals to come back into the private security industry.

    About the SIA grant for good causes fund

    Since 2019, the SIA has awarded £273,086.09 through the grants for good causes fund. Information about funding awarded in previous years is on GOV.UK.

    For information about when the fund is next open for applications, sign up to the SIA mailing list.

    About the SIA

    The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the home secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). 

    For media enquiries only, please contact  media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Ka mate te Pire- Ka ora te mana o Te Tiriti o Waitangi me te iwi Māori

    Source: Te Pati Maori

    Today, Te Pāti Māori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading.

    “From the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi.

    “Our response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting the very institution that tried to rewrite our founding covenant.

    “But today, we celebrate. Today belongs to Aotearoa.

    “This movement was not led by politicians. It was led by the people.

     

    “270,000 written submissions, 13,600 oral submissions, 300,000 signatures on a petition. 100,000 people marching to Parliament.”

    “We met with the Speaker to ensure Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Toa could lay this kaupapa to rest on their terms,” said Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

    “This wasn’t just politics. This was tikanga. This was whakapapa. This was a clear example of what true partnership looks like- in the name of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

    “Tangata whenua, Tangata Moana, Tangata Tiriti- thank you. Thank you for showing up for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Thank you for making mokopuna decisions.

    “You stood in your mana. You lifted the wairua of our tīpuna. Together, we beat this ngangara.

    “The same power you used to stop this Bill is the power that can shape the next government.

    “Get on the Māori roll. Prepare now. Your vote, just like your submission, will change everything.

    “We buried the Bill. Now we build the future,” said Ngarewa-Packer.

    Ka mate te pire. Ka ora te mana o Te Tiriti.
    Ka ora te iwi Māori. Ka ora te iwi katoa.
    Ka ora tātou āke, ake, ake.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Gate Q1 2025 Transparency Report: Sustained Leadership in Crypto Markets with Multiple Metrics Hitting New Highs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PANAMA CITY, April 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading global digital asset platform Gate has released its Q1 2025 Transparency Report, showcasing comprehensive breakthroughs across multiple business segments. Core metrics reached historic highs, security infrastructure underwent full-scale upgrades, product offerings expanded significantly, and global strategies accelerated, all reflecting its robust growth momentum and a solidified market foundation.

    Trading Business Surge: Futures Trading Volume Up 31% QoQ
    In Q1 2025, Gate maintained its industry leadership with remarkable user growth and trading volume breakthroughs. The platform’s expanding user base underscored its strong market appeal and sustained growth momentum.

    Futures Trading saw explosive growth, with the number of traders and overall trading volume surging. Futures trading volume increased by approximately 31% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ).

    In Spot Trading, the platform listed over 200 new tokens, reinforcing Gate’s leading edge in asset selection and listing efficiency, providing users with a broader and higher-quality range of investment options.

    Gate newly launched the “Refer to Earn” program which integrated social media and interactive campaigns to drive user acquisition and trading activity, fostering sustainable community growth.

    Strong Tokenomics: GT Price Hits Historic High of $25.96
    This quarter, Gate’s native token GT delivered stellar performance in Q1 2025, reaching an all-time high of $25.96 on January 25, a 70% increase year-to-date. As the native utility and gas token of GateChain, GT underpins the blockchain’s fundamental transaction infrastructure. GT holders also enjoy exclusive benefits such as LaunchPool airdrops, mining rewards, and staking incentives.

    Since GateChain’s 2019 launch, GT has maintained a deflationary burn mechanism, reducing total supply by around 60% from its initial 300 million. This underscores Gate’s long-term commitment to deflationary tokenomics and reinforces GT’s value proposition for long-term holders. So far, a total of 177,089,412.23 GT has been burned, with a total burn value of approximately $408,270,578.

    Security First: Total Reserves Exceed $10.328 Billion
    Gate remains steadfast in safeguarding user assets and information security, further enhancing reserve transparency and platform security. As of January 17, 2025, Gate.io’s total reserves reached $10.328 billion, ranking Top 4 globally among crypto platforms. The reserve ratio stood at 128.58%, exceeding the 100% industry benchmark. Excess reserves totaled $2.296 billion, providing robust protection for user funds.

    Gate attached great importance to advancing its global compliance framework, including the acquisition of Coin Master, a licensed exchange in Japan, through one of its entities, further expanding its localized business in the Japanese market.

    Launchpool Upgrade: 140+ Projects Launched with $14M+ Rewards
    In Q1 2025, Gate Launchpool (formerly Startup Mining) became a premier platform for new token launches. It hosted over 140 projects, including more than 90 free airdrops with a total value exceeding $5.2 million. And the platform launched over 70 mining projects distributing more than $9.2 million in rewards.

    The platform introduced a project search function and intelligent strategy filter, enabling users to match optimal mining plans within three minutes. The HODLer Airdrop program lowered its entry threshold to 1 GT, delivering an average annualized return of 43.94%. Demonstrating its agility in responding to market trends, on the listing day of the trending token TRUMP, mining was activated immediately, and stake volume surpassed $25 million within 24 hours, attracting significant user participation and fostering a win-win environment between the platform and project.

    Gate Pilot Listed Over 1,000 Tokens, Capturing Multiple High-Yield Memes
    Leveraging its first-mover advantage and continuous innovation in the Meme sector, Gate Pilot has further solidified its leading position in the field. This quarter, Gate Pilot successfully integrated more than 10 major public blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, and Base. Nearly 400 tokens were listed this quarter, bringing the total number of listed tokens to over 1,000. Gate Pilot maintains a leading position in the industry and offers users a richer and more diverse range of investment options. Meanwhile, innovative tools such as “Logo Mode” and Meme Gem Index were launched, significantly enhancing users’ ability to identify tokens and market trends while lowering the barriers to Meme trading.

    With its fast listing mechanism, Gate Pilot helped users capture multiple high-yield projects ahead of the market, including quality Meme tokens like Kekius (55x), Trump (45x), YZY (46x), and Mubarak (28x). In addition, the platform partnered with projects such as MemeCity and MemeCore, actively participating in offline industry events to strengthen its leading position in the Meme sector.

    Strong Institutional Business Performance and Continuous Infrastructure Upgrades
    Gate’s institutional business achieved significant breakthroughs in both trading volume and ecosystem development. Institutional clients’ futures and brokerage business trading volumes both saw marked growth. By optimizing trading infrastructure and market depth, latency was reduced by more than 2-fold, significantly improving users’ trading efficiency. Furthermore, futures liquidity improved, and the number of spot and futures market makers increased.

    Additionally, Gate introduced the new Fireblocks Off-Exchange solution, offering institutional clients more flexible fund management options. Through joint marketing campaigns with over 20 partners, Gate further expanded its professional client base and strengthened the building of its premium user community, further consolidating Gate’s leading position in the global cryptocurrency field.

    Significant Growth in Quantitative Investment, Copy Trading Volume Soared 780%
    This quarter, Gate achieved remarkable growth in copy trading, bot strategies, and ETF products. In terms of copy trading, the launch of the Prometheus automatic risk control system created a safer trading environment for users; spot copy trading volume surged by 780%, and the highest yield from a leading user reached 890x, offering users opportunities for excess returns.

    Robot products, through continuous optimization of the Ultra AI strategy and intelligent algorithms, have generated over $500 million in cumulative trading revenue for users. The newly launched BotsLive streaming column and weekly strategy recommendations significantly boosted user engagement; the number of new strategies created increased by 404% quarter-on-quarter, and the number of users creating new strategies grew by 193%.

    The ETF business also performed strongly, with the platform supporting over 200 ETF leveraged tokens, maintaining a leading position in the industry. By the end of the quarter, ETF trading volume had increased by 40% quarter-on-quarter, and the number of participating users had grown by 197%.

    Partnering with Top Players to Build Global Blockchain Influence
    In the first quarter of 2025, Gate made simultaneous advances in global brand expansion and blockchain investment. Gate.io announced its official sponsorship of the Oracle Red Bull Racing team in F1, initiating a multi-year strategic partnership. This collaboration is not only a powerful alliance between two industry leaders but also marks the expansion of blockchain technology from the race track to the global stage, promoting Web3 and digital finance concepts to a broader audience through a world-class sports platform.

    Meanwhile, Gate Ventures joined the newly established Morph Venture Capital Collective alliance, further expanding its blockchain investment landscape. In addition, Gate Ventures invested $20 million in the BNB Incubation Alliance (BIA), jointly initiated by BNB Chain and Binance Labs, demonstrating its firm commitment to advancing the Web3 ecosystem and nurturing the next generation of blockchain innovation projects. By empowering projects with capital, resources, and networks, Gate is taking concrete actions to help bring blockchain technology into the mainstream.

    https://www.gate.io/announcements/article/44362

    Media Contact:
    Elaine Wang at elaine.w@gate.io

    Disclaimer: This content does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation. You should always seek independent professional advice before making investment decisions. Gate.io may restrict or prohibit certain services in specific jurisdictions. For more details, please read the User Agreement: https://www.gate.io/zh/user-agreement.

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Gate.io. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

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    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e37e7ed3-7349-408e-a248-35e95e83d389

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Courts and tribunals opening times over Easter 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Courts and tribunals opening times over Easter 2025

    Opening times for courts and tribunals over the Easter period.

    Our courts and tribunals will temporarily close over the Easter period, from Friday 18 April to Monday 21 April 2025. They will reopen on Tuesday 22 April 2025.

    Some magistrates’ courts will be open on Saturday 19 April and Monday 21 April 2025, but for remand hearings only. We’ve listed these courts below.

    Always check with the court before you travel. You can find contact details on our Find a court or tribunal service.

    North East

    • Newcastle Magistrates’ Court
    • Teesside Magistrates’ Court
    • Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court
    • York Magistrates’ Court
    • Leeds Magistrates’ Court
    • Sheffield Magistrates’ Court
    • Doncaster Magistrates’ Court
    • Hull Magistrates’ Court
    • Grimsby Magistrates’ Court

    North West

    • Warrington Magistrates’ Court (Saturday 19 April only)
    • Chester Magistrates’ Court (Monday 21 April only)
    • Liverpool Magistrates’ Court
    • Manchester Magistrates’ Court
    • Tameside Magistrates Court
    • Barrow Magistrates’ Court
    • Carlisle Magistrates’ Court
    • Preston Combined Court

    Midlands

    • Nottingham Magistrates’ Court
    • Leicester Magistrates’ Court
    • Northampton Magistrates’ Court
    • Lincoln Magistrates’ Court
    • Birmingham Magistrates’ Court
    • Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court
    • Coventry Magistrates’ Court
    • Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates’ Court
    • Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court

    South West

    • Southampton Magistrates’ Court
    • Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court
    • Swindon Magistrates’ Court
    • Bristol Magistrates’ Court
    • Taunton Magistrates’ Court
    • Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court
    • Poole Magistrates’ Court
    • Exeter Magistrates’ Court
    • Bodmin Magistrates’ Court
    • Plymouth Magistrates’ Court

    South East

    • Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court
    • Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court
    • Luton Magistrates’ Court
    • Hatfield Magistrates’ Court
    • East Kent Magistrates’ Court (Folkestone)
    • Medway (Chatham) Magistrates’ Court
    • Norwich Magistrates’ Court
    • Ipswich Magistrates’ Court
    • Brighton Magistrates’ Court
    • Guildford Magistrates’ Court
    • Reading Magistrates’ Court
    • Oxford Magistrates’ Court
    • High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court

    London

    • Bromley Magistrates’ Court
    • Croydon Magistrates’ Court
    • Highbury Magistrates’ Court
    • Thames Magistrates’ Court
    • Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court
    • Westminster Magistrates’ Court
    • Willesden Magistrates’ Court
    • Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court

    Wales

    • Cardiff Magistrates’ Court
    • Swansea Magistrates’ Court
    • Newport Magistrates’ Court
    • Mold Magistrates’ Court

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Two track workers struck by a wagon at Port Glasgow

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Two track workers struck by a wagon at Port Glasgow

    Investigation into two track workers being struck by a wagon at Port Glasgow, 15 March 2025.

    The wagon in contact with the track panel, on the morning after the accident (courtesy of British Transport Police).

    At around 20:55 on 15 March 2025 a wagon which was being propelled by a rail-mounted crane within an engineering possession struck two track workers near to Port Glasgow station. One track worker became trapped between the wagon and a track panel which had previously been set down on the railway by a second crane. Both cranes were being used as part of the renewal of a section of track within the possession.

    The track worker who was trapped had to be freed by the emergency services and was subsequently treated in hospital for their injuries.

    Our investigation will seek to identify the sequence of events that led to the accident. It will also consider:

    • the actions of the staff involved in the accident and anything which may have influenced them
    • how crane movements were being controlled
    • the planning and co-ordination arrangements for the work activities being undertaken
    • the management of the staff involved, including their training and competence
    • the arrangements in place to manage and control the risks associated with movements of cranes, staff and rail vehicles.

    Our investigation is independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the industry’s regulator, the Office of Rail and Road.

    We will publish our findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of our investigation. This report will be available on our website.

    You can subscribe to automated emails notifying you when we publish our reports.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Alarmist nonsense’: Labor and Coalition dismissed security risks over the Port of Darwin for years. What’s changed?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Laurenceson, Director and Professor, Australia-China Relations Institute (UTS:ACRI), University of Technology Sydney

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have both committed to stripping a Chinese company, Landbridge, of the lease to operate Darwin Port. Landbridge paid A$506 million for the 99-year lease from the Northern Territory government in October 2015.

    In Australia’s political system, democratically elected representatives like Albanese and Dutton have the power to make such decisions. Still, Australians would hope and expect these decisions were driven by the best available advice, not domestic political sparring ahead of a federal election.

    This is particularly so when such a move would likely elevate fears among foreign investors around sovereign risk.

    Defence Minister Richard Marles has refused to say if security agencies are recommending Australia retake control of the port, nor has the Coalition provided a reason for its new stance.

    Media reports often cite “defence experts” who claim Chinese ownership of the lease involves unacceptable risks.

    However, it has been the long-standing and consistent advice of Australia’s most senior national security officials that this is not the case.

    Earlier concerns batted away

    Landbridge did not need Canberra’s approval when it secured the port lease in 2015. Nonetheless, the company notified the Foreign Investment Review Board of its interest in submitting a competitive bid for the lease four months before the deal was sealed.

    The Department of Defence and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) “examined it thoroughly”. The then-secretary of the Department of Defence, Dennis Richardson, said:

    We are at one in agreeing that this was not an investment that should be opposed on defence or security grounds.

    Richardson told Senate Estimates in 2015 he was “not aware of any concerns” among the senior leadership in the Australian Defence Forces (ADF), either.

    The chief of the ADF, Mark Binskin, said in the same hearing:

    If [ship] movements are the issue, I can sit at the fish and chip shop on the wharf […] and watch ships come and go, regardless of who owns it.

    Some analysts raised concerns after the sale, but these were borderline ridiculed by officials with access to the most highly classified national security information.

    Analysts at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, for example, warned that a Chinese company holding the lease “could facilitate intelligence collection” of ADF operations and US Marine deployments.

    Richardson said it was “amateur hour” to suggest Chinese spies could use the port for this purpose. He added: “It’s as though people have never heard of overhead imagery” from spy satellites.

    Analysts also suggested China could acquire valuable knowledge of the types of signals an Australian or US warship would “emit through a variety of sensors and systems”. Richardson dismissed this as “absurd”.

    Even more ludicrous were claims the port deal would provide the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) with “facilitated access to Australia”.

    Richardson labelled this as “alarmist nonsense”. Any visits by foreign naval vessels cannot be approved by a commercial port operator, he said. They must be signed off on by the Department of Defence.

    Analysts also contended that Landbridge’s chairman, Ye Cheng, was a “senior Communist Party official” and the company was a “commercial front intimately tied to state-owned operations, the party and the PLA”.

    This was debunked by a Chinese law and corporate governance expert.

    Tellingly, when Landbridge found itself in financial difficulty in 2017, it was forced to borrow in high-interest rate debt markets. This is common for privately owned Chinese firms, but not those with close state and party connections. They would be able to access subsidised loans from state-owned banks.

    Successive reviews have reaffirmed the decision

    When Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was asked in 2018 whether she had any lingering security fears about the Darwin Port lease, she replied the Department of Defence “had no concerns […] and that is still the case”.

    As the China-Australia relationship deteriorated in the ensuing years, the Morrison government reviewed the deal in 2021. It found there were still no national security grounds sufficient to overturn the lease.

    Yet another review by the Albanese government just 18 months ago also deemed it “not necessary to vary or cancel the lease”. It concluded:

    there is a robust regulatory system in place to manage risks to critical infrastructure, including the Port of Darwin.

    In announcing his pledge to reacquire the Darwin Port last weekend, Dutton alluded to “advice of the intelligence agencies”, pointing to a deterioration in Australia’s strategic circumstances.

    However, the Coalition had apparently not yet received an intelligence briefing on any security risks specifically connected to the Port of Darwin when Dutton made this pledge. Opposition leaders only made a request for the national security advice underpinning Albanese’s promise to reacquire the port in a letter to the government on Monday.

    The reality is that if Albanese and Dutton now suddenly and genuinely believed that Darwin might need to serve as a staging post for military conflict with China, forcing the sale of a few commercial wharves currently operated by a Chinese company would be a woefully inadequate response.

    They would instead be committing to a massive infrastructure upgrade, most likely in the form of an entirely new port facility. Planning for such a facility was already being mooted in 2019.

    The fact that they aren’t says a lot.

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

    – ref. ‘Alarmist nonsense’: Labor and Coalition dismissed security risks over the Port of Darwin for years. What’s changed? – https://theconversation.com/alarmist-nonsense-labor-and-coalition-dismissed-security-risks-over-the-port-of-darwin-for-years-whats-changed-253941

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nuclear Taskforce lead appointed to speed up nuclear renaissance

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Nuclear Taskforce lead appointed to speed up nuclear renaissance

    Nuclear Taskforce lead appointed to accelerate UK’s nuclear renaissance.

    • John Fingleton CBE appointed as head of government’s nuclear taskforce 
    • Taskforce will accelerate reforms of regulation needed to build new nuclear plants as part of clean energy superpower mission   
    • part of Plan for Change to get Britain building with clean, homegrown power

    John Fingleton CBE has been appointed as the lead for the Prime Minister’s Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce to speed up new nuclear plants and deliver a ‘nuclear renaissance’ as part of the government’s Plan for Change. 

    The appointment is the latest step in the Prime Minister’s ambitious plan to call time on a planning system that has held back new nuclear for too long, unleashing nuclear from cumbersome planning burdens to build new plants, driving energy security and economic growth. 

    As former boss of the Office of Fair Trading and the Board of UK Research and Innovation, John Fingleton CBE brings significant experience from outside the nuclear industry. He will lead a panel of nuclear experts to help unlock economic growth and accelerate towards net zero. 

    The independent taskforce will identify how nuclear regulation can better incentivise investment to deliver new projects more quickly and cost efficiently, simplify processes, and reduce duplication, all whilst upholding high safety and security standards.   

    This follows the reform package laid out by the Prime Minister in January, which included plans to scrap the set list of 8-sites which means nuclear sites could be built anywhere across England and Wales; and removing the expiry date on nuclear planning rules – so projects don’t get timed out and industry can plan for the long term. 

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    “Our Plan for Change and clean energy mission means it is time to build, build, build – it is time for a nuclear renaissance in this country, and that can only happen if we move further and faster to break down the barriers.

    “John is equipped with the right experience to drive this review with the urgency required to deliver on our nuclear ambitions.” 

    Nuclear Regulation Taskforce lead John Fingleton CBE said: 

    “I am very pleased to lead this important work to improve how the UK delivers new nuclear capacity. 

    “I will work closely with business, regulators and other interested individuals and groups to identify how regulation can better enable and incentivise investment in this area. 

    “New nuclear power is essential to deliver greater productivity growth for the UK economy and greater prosperity for workers and consumers across the UK.  The taskforce will work hard to ensure that we can achieve those goals.” 

    Britain is currently considered one of the world’s most expensive countries in which to build nuclear power. The taskforce will look at how to speed up the approval of new reactor designs and streamline how developers engage with regulators.  

    The recommendations from the taskforce into nuclear regulation will cover both civil and defence nuclear to support both energy security and national security, and help unlock economic growth.   

    The taskforce will help reinforce the importance of our Defence Nuclear Enterprise, which supports delivery of the government’s triple-lock commitment to the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

    It will also explore better international alignment so reactor designs approved abroad could be green lit more quickly, minimising expensive changes. 

    This is part of the government push to drive growth – building on the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier this year to overhaul the legal challenges to major infrastructure projects including nuclear – with Sizewell C having suffered increased legal costs and uncertainty as a result of local activists taking them to court.   

    Since July, the government has committed to driving forward new nuclear – including a further £2.7 billion committed to Sizewell C last month. 

    Great British Nuclear also continues to progress the small modular reactor competition, with contract negotiations currently underway.   

    Notes to editors 

    The panel of nuclear experts will be appointed in due course.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government publishes second transformation consultation response

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Government publishes second transformation consultation response

    Changes will bring greater consistency and simplicity for trade mark and design customers.

    The IPO’s digital transformation has reached another key milestone with the government response to its second transformation consultation being published today. This consultation ran between August and October 2023.

    From the outset, the IPO’s transformation programme has promised to deliver not only technical improvements, but a fundamental reimagining of its business. The consultation proposed changes to the law and IPO policy to help propel the IPO’s services into the digital age and put powerful tools at the fingertips of innovators and creators.

    The consultation primarily focused on changes to the IPO’s trade mark, design and tribunal services. The changes will bring greater consistency across IP rights and make it simpler for customers to interact with the IPO.

    The IPO is already gearing up for the launch of its new digital patents service in autumn 2025, with a small number of customers already actively using the service as part of its pilot.

    Development of the new trade marks, designs and tribunal services is expected to begin in the autumn, slightly later than anticipated.

    Main outcomes of the consultation

    1. Publishing trade mark and design documents online for the first time, alongside changes to the rules governing confidentiality requests and inspection of designs documents. 

    2. Simplifying trade mark applications by discontinuing the series marks service for new applicants in the future.  

    3. Trialling mediation meetings for disputes at the IPO Tribunal, in cases where neither party has legal representation. 

    4. Extending fee payment periods for Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) to increase consistency across IP rights.  

    5. Reducing the patent inventor address details collected and published.

    Making trade marks and designs documents available online

    The IPO will be replacing its existing trade mark and design search services. In future, the public will be able to search for patents, trade marks and designs in one place, via the new One IPO Search tool. When this happens, trade mark and design documents will be available online for public inspection for the first time, as is already the case for patents. This could include examination reports, for example.

    In addition, the government will seek to change the rules on confidentiality requests and the inspection of design documents. This will allow anyone to request, at any time, that their information is kept confidential, and also means that designs documents can be made publicly available without delay.

    These changes will make trade mark and design documents quicker and easier to access, while allowing customers to request that their information is kept confidential as needed.

    Simplifying trade mark applications by discontinuing the series marks service

    The IPO currently offers customers the option to apply for up to six trade marks as a series at a reduced cost. The trade marks in the series must be very similar – for example the same logo in different colours.

    Many customers find series marks confusing and 65% of series mark applications are filed by applicants who don’t have a representative. In 2022, 39% of these were objected to for not meeting the requirements for registering a series of trade marks. This could result in customers paying for additional trade mark applications unnecessarily. Series marks also offer limited additional legal protection and so don’t represent value for money for the customer.

    As a result, the Government is discontinuing the series marks service, to simplify the trade mark application process and offer better value for money. This change will come into effect when our new digital trade marks service launches.

    Existing series marks will remain valid and will not be impacted by this change. The series marks service will only be discontinued for new applications when the new digital trade marks service is launched.

    Trialling mediation meetings for IP disputes

    The Government is trialling new mediation meetings for certain disputes at the IPO Tribunal – starting summer 2025. It will give parties who do not have legal representation an opportunity  to explore the benefits of mediation, which may resolve their dispute quicker and cheaper than formal legal proceedings.

    Aligning payment periods

    The Government will further align payment periods across its IP rights services to simplify them for customers. Specifically, the Government will extend the fee payment periods for supplementary protection certificates, to bring greater consistency with other payment periods. This change is expected to come into effect when our new digital trade marks, designs and IPO Tribunal services launch.

    Reducing the patent inventor address details collected and published

    The Government will reduce the patent inventor address details collected and published.  This is to take a more proportional approach and safeguard personal information of inventors. This change is expected to come into effect when our new digital trade marks, designs and IPO Tribunal services launch.

    The IPO’s CEO Adam Williams said:

    We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed their valuable insights to our transformation consultation.

    Our digital transformation journey is not just about implementing new technology—it’s a reimagining of our entire approach to delivering a better service; to do that we need to challenge ourselves to see what could be done differently, even if that means changes to existing legislation.

    This is a really important step on our pathway towards delivering significantly improved, modern digital services that will better meet the needs of our customers – both now and in the future.

    Kelly Saliger, President of CITMA said:

    Whilst change isn’t always comfortable, it is a necessary step in recognising evolving customer and business needs. CITMA are grateful for the collaborative approach taken in respect of consultation with the UK IPO and look forward to continuing that work when arranging implementation.  

    As a professional membership organisation CITMA welcomes change where it offers clarity or provides efficiencies for IP specialists and will continue to offer guidance and input to the UK IPO on the next stage of consultation for the Trade Mark and Designs sections of the One IPO Transformation programme.

    Notes to editors

    • The consultation ran for 10 weeks between 22 August 2023 and 31 October 2023.

    • The government response includes a summary of the submissions for each question in the consultation. All views submitted are those of respondents and should not be taken as the views of the IPO.

    • The IPO also held a number of round-table events with various stakeholder groups, including organisations that represent IP attorneys, business and the wider legal profession.

    • This consultation followed the government’s first transformation consultation, which primarily focused on the new digital patents service. 

    • The IPO currently collects and publishes full address details for patent inventors. In future, we will seek to collect and publish less specific information, avoiding publication of the full street address.

    • In January 2025, the IPO launched its new ‘One IPO Search’ tool.  This offers a new and improved way for the public to search patents data. Over 10,000 searches have now been made using this new service.  In future, trade mark and design searches will be added to the search service, offering enhanced features and functionality compared to the existing trade mark and design search tools.

    • The pilot of the IPO’s new ‘One IPO Patents’ service, which includes customer accounts and patent applications, has continued to ramp up, with 65 external users from a range of firms signed up to use the service.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Calypso 2 report published

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Calypso 2 report published

    Fatal accident and subsequent loss of a small commercial vessel near West End, Anguilla.

    Image courtesy of Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service

    Today, we have published our accident investigation report into the double fatality and subsequent loss of the small commercial vessel Calypso 2 on 11 March 2023, near West End on the north-west coast of Anguilla.

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

    This investigation was carried out by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) on behalf of the Governor of Anguilla in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the MAIB and the Red Ensign Group Category 2 registry, The Anguilla Maritime Administration.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Business schools are facing challenges to their diversity commitments. They must reinforce them to train leaders effectively

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Alessandro Ghio, Research professor in Accounting, ESCP Business School

    In March 2025, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a leading accreditation body, revised its guiding principles. This included removing the phrase “diversity and inclusion” from its accreditation standards and replacing it with the more neutral “community and connectedness”. The decision emerged amid a shifting legal and political climate in the United States, following a wave of executive orders and legislative efforts aimed at dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across public institutions.

    For years, diversity and inclusion have been central to how business schools engage with and signal social responsibility, shaping policies on faculty hiring, student recruitment and curricula. The AACSB change is more than a semantic adjustment – it reflects growing pressure on institutions to retreat from politically sensitive terrain.

    Now, business schools – many of which once celebrated DEI as a strategic and ethical imperative – are being forced to re-evaluate. Will they continue to invest in inclusion, or quietly abandon it under mounting institutional and political scrutiny? The answer will have global consequences, not just for higher education, but for the kind of leadership business schools claim to cultivate.

    Accreditation bodies: shaping business schools’ strategies

    The AACSB’s shift could have a significant impact on how business schools engage with diversity. As higher education institutions have embraced neoliberal, market-driven models, fuelled by students’ consumer-like expectations, external validation from accreditation bodies has become essential. Only 136 institutions (about 1% of all business schools) worldwide hold “triple accreditation” – accreditation by the AACSB, EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), and Association of MBAs (AMBA). This status allows business schools to signal their elite standing and adherence to high international standards – and to charge higher tuition.

    Accreditation offers tangible benefits, including use of prestigious logos, membership in exclusive networks, mutual recognition of academic credits, student exchange opportunities, and access to shared resources and best practices. These benefits shape strategic decisions, as business schools prioritise accreditation to maintain their reputation and competitiveness to attract high-paying students.

    Many institutions even have associate or deputy deans dedicated to fulfilling accreditation requirements. Among these requirements has been the long-standing “diversity checkbox”, which required schools to demonstrate their commitment to diversity. AACSB was not alone in this focus: AMBA, another leading accreditation body that specialises in MBA programmes, annually recognises schools for their diversity efforts and initiatives promoting inclusion.

    Accreditation pressures are compounded by the influence of business school rankings, another powerful driver of institutional priorities. Rankings such as the Financial Times’ business school list include diversity-related indicators, such as gender balance in classrooms, representation of women among faculty, and international faculty diversity. Bloomberg Businessweek’s Best Schools Diversity Index placed US universities George Washington, Howard and Morgan State at the very top in 2024. While these institutions don’t typically rank highly in overall MBA rankings, the diversity index offered them visibility and a competitive edge to attract prospective students.

    With accreditation bodies and business school rankings shaping institutional identities, a key question emerges: will business schools continue to prioritise diversity if structural incentives erode, or will it quietly disappear from the agenda?

    Diversity at a crossroads

    While the language of diversity has become commonplace in business school messaging – “we place inclusion and diversity at the heart of everything we do”; we “engage with DE&I strategically, practically – and of course via forefront research”; we [“want] to encourage and contribute to the conversation on diversity for and with all the students” – many institutions have gone beyond rhetoric, implementing concrete policies to promote diversity across student bodies, faculty recruitment and course content.

    In France, the grandes écoles – often criticised for perpetuating social elitism, as highlighted by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu – have introduced targeted admission pathways for students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. In the UK, business schools have begun auditing faculty diversity, particularly in terms of race and ethnicity. In Germany, where women professors remain underrepresented, ongoing efforts seek to address persistent gender imbalances in academic positions.

    These initiatives were not developed in a vacuum. Accreditation standards and external recognition gave institutions the legitimacy and incentive to act. Diversity became part of the strategic fabric – an ethical development, yes, but also a business case aligned with the values that accreditation and rankings rewarded.

    Now, with a major accreditation body stepping back and public discourse increasingly polarised, that alignment is beginning to fracture. In the US, federal support for diversity-related research is shrinking. Facing pressure from the Department of Education to end diversity initiatives or risk losing funding, some universities have already taken action by alternately moving to close DEI offices; removing references to DEI from websites, policies and official materials; or even cancelling a planned celebration of International Women’s Day.
    At least two US schools have either severed or planned to sever links with the PhD Project, a programme founded in 1994 that is devoted to “increasing the number of brilliant educators from all communities”. In Europe, some institutions may quietly reduce their commitments, no longer seeing DEI as worth the political or institutional risk.

    The dilemma is no longer about how to advance diversity – but whether to defend it at all. Business schools must decide: is diversity still central to their mission, or just another line item to be dropped when the pressure mounts?

    If business schools are serious about their social mission, they must continue investing in diversity – not as a symbolic gesture, but as a structural commitment. Diversity, equity and inclusion are not peripheral concerns; they are embedded in frameworks like the Principle of Responsible Management Education and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities) – benchmarks that many institutions cite as central to their values. More than 30 Nordic business schools, all members of AACSB, recently issued a joint statement that diversity remains a core value for them.

    Diversity and knowledge

    Beyond institutional mandates, diversity is foundational to the production of credible knowledge. In Why Trust Science? (2019), historian Naomi Oreskes argues that while “diversity does not heal all epistemic ills”, it plays a crucial role in identifying blind spots and challenging groupthink. Drawing on feminist theorists Sandra Harding and Helen Longino, she shows how epistemic communities that are diverse – and critically engaged – are better positioned to identify and correct biases. In more homogeneous groups, dominant assumptions often go unchallenged, leading to structural oversights that undermine both knowledge and legitimacy.

    At a time when trust in academic institutions is eroding, ensuring diverse perspectives is not just desirable – it is necessary. For business schools, which train future leaders and decision-makers, the stakes are especially high.

    This is a moment not to retreat from diversity, but to reclaim it. Rather than treating it as a politicized liability, schools can reassert it as a core academic and democratic value – a way of remaining relevant, rigorous and responsible. And in a climate where “woke” has become a catch-all insult, schools also have an opportunity to reclaim the term – not as provocation, but as a return to its original meaning: a principled alertness to social realities and structural injustice. The LGBTQI+ community’s reclamation of “queer” as a term of empowerment and resistance against societal norms can point the way.

    By reinforcing their commitment to diversity, business schools can help deepen critical inquiry, rebuild public trust in science and ultimately equip their students for leadership in this fractured world – which they will need to understand in all its complexity.

    Alessandro Ghio ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Business schools are facing challenges to their diversity commitments. They must reinforce them to train leaders effectively – https://theconversation.com/business-schools-are-facing-challenges-to-their-diversity-commitments-they-must-reinforce-them-to-train-leaders-effectively-252988

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Gabon elections: why a landmark vote won’t bring real change

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Douglas Yates, Professor of Political Science , American Graduate School in Paris (AGS)

    The upcoming elections in Gabon will test whether the country is on a firm democratic footing, or whether it will be business as usual with military men in control, but under the guise of democratic choice.

    Brice Oligui Nguema, now the transitional president, staged a coup against Ali Bongo in August 2023. Oligui Nguema and his military junta promised to return power to civilians at the end of a two year military transition.

    But Oligui Nguema wrong-footed opposition figures on two fronts. First, he announced the elections six months earlier than the transition arrangement allowed for. And second, in early March he resigned his office as general and presented himself as a civilian and therefore eligible to run as a candidate. He is contesting against seven other candidates, one of whom is the former prime minister of Gabon, Claude Bilie-By-Nze.

    As a political scientist specialising in African politics, I have researched and published works on Gabon’s politics.

    Since most of the other candidates have no national following and lack sufficient campaign finance or party machinery throughout the densely forested national territory, I argue that the presidential race has been reduced to a run-off between two men: Oligui Nguema and Bilie-By-Nze.

    Both men were part of the previous regime. Although the two men agreed to stand against one another, they never contradict each other.

    Whoever wins the 12 April election, Gabon’s people will see a new government run by members of the former one. So, for the people of Gabon, perhaps the only thing that will change will be the end of the 56-year Bongo family dynasty.

    The contenders

    Originally, 23 applications for candidacy were sent to the National Commission for the Organization and Coordination of Elections and Referendum. On 27 March Gabon’s Constitutional Court validated eight candidates.

    They are Thierry Yvon Michel Ngoma, Axel Stophène Ibinga Ibinga, Alain Simplice Boungoueres, Zenaba Gninga Changing, Stéphane Germain Iloko, Joseph Lapensée Essigone, Bilie-By-Nze and Oligui Nguema.

    Ever since the late President Omar Bongo (1967-2009) introduced one-party rule, the Gabonese Democratic Party has won every presidential and legislative election.



    Read more:
    Gabon: post-coup dialogue has mapped out path to democracy – now military leaders must act

    At first the military junta threatened to exclude the former ruling party from participating in the 2025 multiparty elections. But after a year of close consultations with former ministers, deputies and local party “big men”, Oligui Nguema decided to allow the Gabonese Democratic Party to present candidates.

    In return, the party agreed to call on all its activists and supporters to vote for Oligui Nguema.

    Where Oligui Nguema has resurrected the former ruling party, which ruled Gabon from 1967 to 2023, its politicians and its national machinery, Bilie-By-Nze has positioned himself as the “candidate of rupture”. Beyond the public posturing, there doesn’t seem to much difference between the two.



    Read more:
    Gabon coup has been years in the making: 3 key factors that ended the Bongo dynasty

    Electoral code, high-tech procedures

    The election, which will follow a new code put in place in January 2025, involves several key steps to ensure transparency and fairness.

    • Citizens register to vote, providing identification and proof of residency. As a referendum on a new constitution was held in November 2024, electoral lists are largely complete.

    • The election has to be organised on the basis of “permanent biometric electoral lists”. This means a biometric register of voters would be used for verification. Information and communications technologies must be used to ensure the transparency, efficiency and reliability of the ballots.

    • Candidates and their parties campaign, presenting their platforms and policies. This campaign period is regulated to ensure fair play, with restrictions on campaign financing and media coverage.

    • Polling stations are set up across the country, equipped with the necessary high-tech materials. Election officers are trained to assist voters and manage the process. Voters receive ballots listing all candidates and parties. They mark their choices in private booths to ensure confidentiality.

    • After the polls close, votes will be counted under strict supervision to prevent tampering. Counting is conducted transparently, with representatives from political parties and observers present to monitor the process, as per Article 90 of the electoral code.

    • The official results are announced by the electoral commission, with observers present to validate the process. Despite having high-technology biometric counting systems, it can take as long as two weeks to announce the official results, especially if the results are close.

    Any disputes or complaints are addressed through legal channels to ensure a fair outcome, in accordance with Article 105 of the electoral code.

    Doubts persist

    Despite these systems being in place, opposition figures (including former interior minister Jean-Remy Yama) have expressed doubts that the process will be fair.

    Firstly, candidates endorsed by the Gabonese Democratic Party have always won. Since Oligui Nguema has been endorsed by the Gabonese Democratic Party, he is, in a statistical sense, the most probable winner.

    Secondly, prominent figures from the former regime who are now leading opposition actors criticised Oligui Nguema’s premature announcement of the poll. According to his transition timeline, the election was to take place in August 2025. It is an old trick: calling quick elections to prevent the opposition from uniting behind a common candidate who can challenge the president.



    Read more:
    Gabon: how the Bongo family’s 56-year rule has hurt the country and divided the opposition

    Oversight

    Drawing from its past experience as election observer in Gabon, the Gabonese Red Cross plans to mobilise a team of 200 volunteers, in addition to its staff. This team will supplement the limited human resources available during the 2023 operation to help the public authorities.

    International observers from organisations such as the African Union and the United Nations are expected to monitor the elections to ensure they are free and fair, providing an additional layer of oversight.

    Security measures are also heightened during the election period to maintain peace and order, enabling citizens to exercise their democratic rights without fear or intimidation.

    If the referendum held in November 2024 is any indicator of what is to come, then foreign observers should expect a peaceful presidential election with a clear victory for the winner.

    It promises to be a peaceful transition from military rule to civilian rule. This is especially so as the new government will be run by members of the former one.

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

    – ref. Gabon elections: why a landmark vote won’t bring real change – https://theconversation.com/gabon-elections-why-a-landmark-vote-wont-bring-real-change-253902

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China strives to expand weight management services

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

    BEIJING, April 10 — China is encouraging qualified hospitals nationwide to establish weight management clinics to achieve near-complete coverage of such services by June 2025, health authorities said in a statement on Thursday.

    The statement, jointly released by China’s National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, noted that the initiative will cover all general hospitals, children’s hospitals and traditional Chinese medicine hospitals under these two authorities, as well as those under provincial-level governments in China.

    Major hospitals are encouraged to set up obesity prevention and control centers to provide in-patient weight management services, while healthcare institutions at the primary level should provide education, follow-up and health management services, and optimize referral processes, the statement said.

    Hospitals are also encouraged to adopt internet technologies, artificial intelligence and wearable devices to improve their services, the statement added.

    These weight management clinics will adhere to classified management and offer personalized services to the elderly, children, pregnant women and patients with chronic diseases, among other key groups, according to the statement.

    China’s push for nationwide weight management clinics is an active response to the public health challenge posed by people that are either overweight or obese — conditions which have significantly increased the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disorders among Chinese people.

    A 2020 NHC report revealed that overweight and obesity rates of Chinese adults had exceeded 50 percent, while nearly 20 percent of Chinese children and adolescents aged six to 17 were obese.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Students and local scouts join exercise to test cyber resilience

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Students and local scouts join exercise to test cyber resilience

    Local students and scouts participate in a specially designed escape room aiming to enhance their skills in cyber resilience and support the local community.

    West Nottinghamshire College students with Hannah Thomas, Mining Remediation Authority, and Steve Weller, CGI

    Students from West Nottinghamshire College and scouts from Black Diamond Explorer Scouts recently took part in an engaging cyber escape room at the Mining Remediation Authority, aimed at both enhancing their skills in cyber resilience and supporting the Mining Remediation Authority’s commitment to delivering social value while working closely with local communities.

    The event, which saw the students and scouts participate in a specially designed escape room, was part of a broader initiative to equip the next generation of professionals with the tools and knowledge required to manage and respond to cyber threats.

    Black Diamond Explorer Scouts who completed the cyber escape room

    The immersive exercise, brought to the Mining Remediation Authority in collaboration with CGI, one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services companies in the world, allowed students to experience first-hand the challenges of responding to a cyber-attack in a safe, controlled environment. By solving puzzles and tackling simulated security breaches, students gained valuable insights into business continuity and the importance of effective crisis management in the digital age.

    As a Category 2 Responder under the UK’s Civil Contingencies Act, the Mining Remediation Authority plays a key role in protecting people and the environment from hazards caused by historical mining. Through partnerships like this with the local college and the scouts group, the Mining Remediation Authority not only helps build strong relationships but also invests in the local community, helping young people build practical skills and raise awareness of the importance of cybersecurity.

    Hannah Thomas, resilience manager at the Mining Remediation Authority said:

    By providing these learning opportunities, we are helping to bridge the gap between education and the real-world needs of the communities we serve.

    We believe that by working with local students, we can inspire the next generation to understand the critical role of cybersecurity in business resilience.

    Steve Weller, director consulting services, prosecution and environment at CGI in the UK said:

    We were pleased to share our Cyber Escape experience with the Mining Remediation Authority and host local students and scouts. Cyber security is vitally important for individuals, companies, educational establishments, and our communities alike.

    We all spend much of our personal and professional lives online, and it is imperative that everyone knows how to practice safe cyber techniques and can continue honing their existing skills.

    West Nottinghamshire College students who completed the cyber escape room

    Scott Smith, digital teacher at West Nottinghamshire College, also added:

    We had a fantastic time and our students had a practical first-hand experience dealing with cyber security threats in a real-life scenario that was fun and engaging.

    Students also gained valuable insights into the digital transformation of paper-based assets and an understanding of the diverse needs of end-users and stakeholders as part of the records tour. This opportunity was hugely valuable in preparing our students for the world of work and it also gave them the opportunity to learn about their local area’s mining heritage.

    The collaboration between CGI, West Nottinghamshire College and Black Diamond Explorer Scouts is just one example of the Mining Remediation Authority’s dedication to social value, with the organisation continually seeking innovative ways to support communities in coalfield areas.

    For media enquiries contact the community response team

    Email communityresponse@miningremediation.gov.uk

    Telephone 0800 288 4211

    For emergency media enquiries (out of hours) call: 0800 288 4242.
    Only urgent media calls will be attended to.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RSH warns of risks with lease-based provision of specialised supported housing

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    RSH warns of risks with lease-based provision of specialised supported housing

    The Regulator of Social Housing has today published a report on the fundamental issues with some leased-based provision of specialised supported housing.

    This is where social landlords lease properties on a long-term basis, to provide much-needed specialised housing for people with complex support needs. The ongoing level of support should be similar to that provided in a care home, while enabling people to live independently in the community. 

    Over a number of years, RSH has found significant and ongoing issues with some landlords in this part of the sector. Many have not been well run and have become financially distressed or insolvent when financial risks have crystalised.  

    RSH continues to tackle the issues that fall within its remit. It has taken action to improve the governance and decision making of some landlords. RSH has also made landlords address severe conflicts of interest, which had resulted in some taking on unfavourable lease terms and unsuitable homes from freeholders.  

    Yet very few lease-based landlords are delivering specialised supported housing in a way that consistently delivers the outcomes in RSH’s standards. There are still significant issues, including: 

    • The imbalance of risk and reward between the social landlord that leases the property and the freeholder that owns it. Social landlords generally pay inflation-linked leases for at least 10 years (and often longer), which absorb a large part of their rental income despite carrying substantial responsibility.  

    • Limited capacity to manage risks, ongoing repairs and maintenance, and void periods when the property is empty and no rent is paid. 

    • Weak governance, with some boards not understanding the scale of their lease liabilities and not challenging these arrangements at the outset.  

    • Some landlords taking on a large number of homes without understanding the needs of tenants or the homes they live in. This can lead to poor outcomes for tenants and landlords incorrectly claiming rent exemptions to meet their lease payments. 

    RSH has concluded that there is generally not enough flexibility in current lease terms for landlords to manage risks effectively. For the model to be sustainable and to protect tenants’ homes, landlords are going to have to address the issues raised in this report and this may need further negotiations with the freeholders. 

    Jonathan Walters, Deputy Chief Executive of RSH, said:  

    “Some landlords that provide specialised supported housing are exposed to a significant number of risks as a result of long-term and inflexible lease structures. The burden of risk often lies with the social landlord rather than the freeholder, and this can lead to viability issues and poor outcomes for tenants.     

    “We will continue to engage actively with the landlords who are failing to deliver the outcomes in our standards, and we will keep a range of regulatory interventions under review.  

    RSH published a report in 2019 about the issues in this sector and has continued to work intensively to tackle the issues that fall within its remit.  

    Notes to editors  

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 10 April 2025 News release WHO launches first-ever guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has today published its first-ever global guidelines for meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care, aiming to speed up detection, ensure timely treatment, and improve long-term care for those affected. By bringing together the latest evidence-based recommendations, the guidelines provide a critical tool for reducing deaths and disability caused by the disease.

    Despite effective treatments and vaccines against some forms of meningitis, the disease remains a significant global health threat. Bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous form and can become fatal within 24 hours. Many pathogens can cause meningitis with an estimated 2.5 million cases reported globally in 2019. This includes 1.6 million cases of bacterial meningitis which resulted in approximately 240 000 deaths.

    Around 20% of people who contract bacterial meningitis develop long-term complications, including disabilities that impact quality of life. The disease also carries heavy financial and social costs for individuals, families, and communities.

    “Bacterial meningitis kills one in six of the people it strikes, and leaves many others with lasting health challenges,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Implementing these new guidelines will help save lives, improve long-term care for those affected by meningitis, and strengthen health systems.”

    Meningitis can affect anyone anywhere, and at any age, however the disease burden remains particularly high in low- and middle-income countries and in settings experiencing large-scale epidemics.  The highest burden of disease is seen in a region of sub-Saharan Africa, often referred to as the ‘meningitis belt’, which is at high risk of recurrent epidemics of meningococcal meningitis.

    Recommendations for the clinical management of meningitis in children and adults

    Improving clinical management of meningitis is essential to reducing mortality and morbidity, minimizing long-term complications and disability, and improving quality of life for affected individuals and communities.

    The new guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the clinical management of children over one month of age, adolescents, and adults with acute community-acquired meningitis.

    They address all aspects of clinical care, including diagnosis, antibiotic therapy, adjunctive treatment, supportive care, and management of long-term effects.  Given the similarities in clinical presentation, diagnosis and management approaches across different forms of acute community-acquired meningitis, the guidelines address both bacterial and viral causes.

    The guidelines provide recommendations for both non-epidemic and epidemic settings, the latter superseding previous 2014 WHO guidelines, which covered  meningitis outbreak response.

    As resource-limited settings bear the highest burden of meningitis, these guidelines have been specifically developed to provide technical guidance suitable for implementation in low- and middle-income countries.

    The guidelines are intended for use by health-care professionals in first- and second-level facilities, including emergency, inpatient, and outpatient services. Policymakers, health planners, academic institutions, and civil society organizations can also use them to inform capacity-building, education, and research efforts.

    Defeating meningitis by 2030

    The guidelines contribute to the broader Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap, adopted by WHO Member States in 2020, which aims to: eliminate bacterial meningitis epidemics, reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50% and deaths by 70%, and reduce disability and improve quality of life after meningitis.

    Achieving these goals requires coordinated action across five key areas:

    1. Diagnosis and treatment: Faster detection and optimal clinical management.
    2. Prevention and epidemic control: Developing new affordable vaccines, achieving high immunization and coverage, and improving outbreak preparedness and response.
    3. Disease surveillance: Strengthening monitoring systems to guide prevention and control.
    4. Care and support for those affected by meningitis: Ensuring early recognition and improved access to care and support for after-effects from meningitis. 
    5. Advocacy and engagement: Increasing political commitment and inclusion in country plans, better public understanding of meningitis, and increased awareness of right to prevention, care and after-care services.

    With these guidelines, WHO provides countries with a critical tool to close gaps in meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care, ensuring that more people receive timely treatment and long-term support.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New British Army robotic mine plough aims to better shield soldiers from danger

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New British Army robotic mine plough aims to better shield soldiers from danger

    British soldiers are to be better shielded from danger as a new high-tech, remote-controlled mine plough system is put through its paces.

    Mine plough on a vehicle moving through a field

    • New remote-controlled mine plough device for safer minefield clearing. 
    • The system can be adapted to all suitable military vehicles.  
    • Trials will inform future British Army mine clearing capabilities.  

    By cutting through minefields, the device clears explosives and pushes them aside, opening a safe path for troops to move faster and more securely towards critical enemy positions or key objectives, outpacing current methods in speed and safety.  

    The device, called WEEVIL, was developed collaboratively by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Pearson Engineering Ltd – a British company based in the north-east – using the latest tech. WEEVIL can clear minefields quicker and safer than present capabilities, reducing risk to soldiers on the front line. Current mine-clearing methods include the TROJAN Armoured Vehicle, which requires a three-person crew to operate directly within hazardous areas.  

    The system prototype currently uses the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle, fitted with a full-width mine plough, advanced remote-control system, and vehicle-mounted cameras. This allows it to be operated by a single person from several miles away from danger and is expected to be able to adapt to work with any suitable vehicle platform 

    The ground-breaking trials are set to continue with the British Army, who will push the robotic system to its limits, providing vital insight to inform future mine-clearing capabilities. The prevalence of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines in modern warfare to slow troop movements has been highlighted in by the conflict in Ukraine. 

    In the Spring Statement, the Chancellor announced an additional £2.2 billion for defence in 2025/26. This comes on top of the announcement of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, as the government will hit 2.5% of GDP spend by April 2027 and has a commitment to hit 3% in the next Parliament. 

    Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard said: 

    It won’t be a moment too soon when we no longer have to send our people directly into harm’s way to clear minefields. 

    This kit could tackle the deadly threat of mines in the most challenging environments, while being remotely operated by our soldiers several miles away.  

    It demonstrates British innovation, by British organisations, to protect British troops.

    Delivering on the Plan for Change by driving defence as an engine for economic growth, the government is also significantly increasing the proportion of MOD’s equipment procurement spend on novel technologies like dual-use tech, uncrewed and autonomous systems and AI-enabled capabilities, spending at least 10% from 2025-26.  

    Dstl Military Advisor Major Andrew Maggs, who pioneered WEEVIL, said: 

    WEEVIL is the perfect combination of tried and tested technology and modern advancements.   

    By enhancing existing vehicles with new capabilities, we’re able to maximise their potential and give our troops a much-needed advantage, particularly in missions where time and safety are critical.

    Dstl and Pearson Engineering have successfully tested this prototype in Newcastle on a surrogate minefield. The concept is now being passed for further development to the British Army who are seeking to optimise and modernise in-service capabilities as well as develop new solutions for future challenges. 

    Chief Executive Officer at Pearson Engineering Ian Bell said: 

    We are proud to contribute to such game-changing capability. It brings together decades of development by Pearson Engineering, delivering the very best of minefield breaching technology proven around the world, and contemporary developments in teleoperation.  

    Work with UK MOD is an incredibly important part of our business, ensuring our troops get the latest in combat engineering capability and that we can effectively defend our nation and allies.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nikhil Rathi reappointed as Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Nikhil Rathi reappointed as Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority

    The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the reappointment of Nikhil Rathi as Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for a second five-year term until September 2030.

    • Nikhil Rathi’s reappointment for a second five-year term ensures continuity of leadership.

    • Reappointment is critical for delivering key reforms to the regulatory environment to help boost growth and deliver the Plan for Change.

    • The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has worked constructively with the government on growth mission, with refreshed ideas such as simplifying mortgage lending rules which will make it easier for first time buyers to get on the housing ladder.

    Nikhil Rathi will lead the FCA as it continues to drive reform to make the UK the best place to do business by removing unnecessary, outdated and duplicate regulations – whilst ensuring consumers are protected from detriment and can be confident in markets. 

    Last December, the Prime Minister and Chancellor set the FCA the challenge of coming up with ideas to boost economic growth.  Since then, the FCA, under the leadership of Nikhil Rathi, has stepped up to this challenge to come up with a series of policy changes to boost growth, which will have benefits in the real economy. This includes making it easier for people to get on the housing ladder through changes to the rules on mortgages and extra support to help financial services firms start and grow in the UK. 

    The Chancellor has since doubled down on the agenda to reform regulation with the radical Regulatory Action Plan. This cuts red tape by pledging to reduce the administrative cost of regulation on business by a quarter, to make Britain the best place in the world to do business.   

    The government started this programme of regulatory reforms by merging the Payment System Regulator primarily into the FCA to allow a more coordinated and streamlined approach, with a payments sector that promotes innovation and competition.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    Nikhil Rathi has been crucial in this government’s efforts to reform regulation so it supports growth and boosts investment – I am delighted he will be continuing his leadership of the FCA. We want the FCA to go further and faster to deliver this government’s Plan for Change and we look forward to continuing to work together to achieve this.

    Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, Nikhil Rathi, said:

    I am honoured to be reappointed by the Chancellor. The FCA does vital work to enable a fair and thriving financial services sector for the good of consumers and the economy. I am proud of the reforms we have delivered to support growth, bolster operational effectiveness, set higher standards and to keep our markets clean and open. While we must go further and faster in this age of volatility, the UK is well placed as a major international financial centre.

    Chair of the Financial Conduct Authority, Ashley Alder, said:

    I am delighted Nikhil has been reappointed. He’s the right leader in testing times. His exemplary first term as chief executive has ensured the FCA is an organisation transformed. We’ve set a new standard for consumer protection, made it easier for businesses to access capital and quicker for firms to get authorised. That provides the solid foundation to deliver our ambitious new strategy – to deepen trust, rebalance risk, support growth and improve lives.

    The government will continue to work closely with regulators to ensure they are regulating for growth, not just risk.   

    The FCA will publish its second report on how it has embedded its growth and competitiveness strategy later this summer.      

    In the meantime, the FCA is continuing to examine the financial services regulatory landscape and working to eliminate any unnecessary rules that hold back growth.

    More information

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: African Development Bank Group President Appoints UK Parliamentarian Andrew Mitchell as Senior Advisor on a Pro Bono Basis

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has appointed the Right Honourable Andrew Mitchell as his Senior Advisor for resource mobilization and policy issues on a pro bono basis.

    Rt. Hon. Mitchell, whose appointment is effective 7 April 2025, will provide strategic advice on emerging global and regional development issues and high-level political stakeholder engagement.

    Returning to a previously held role where he provided pro bono advice to the Bank, Rt. Hon. Mitchell is passionate about Africa’s development and has extensive knowledge and experience in managing the complexities of global resource mobilization.

    Commenting on his appointment, Rt. Hon. Mitchell said, “It is a great pleasure to return to provide pro bono support to the African Development Bank Group’s brilliant team in this advisory role. Under Dr. Adesina’s leadership as President, the Bank has gone from strength to strength, delivering real change and development for people across Africa.”

    The President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Adesina, said, “The Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell, former Minister of State for Development and Africa of the United Kingdom, has been a great supporter of Africa and the African Development Bank’s work. He will advise and support me on a pro bono basis in our efforts to navigate the complex global dynamics of mobilizing more resources for Africa globally”.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: This chart explains why Trump backflipped on tariffs. The economic damage would have been huge

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Giesecke, Professor, Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, Victoria University

    The Trump administration has announced a 90-day pause on its plan to impose so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly all US imports. But the pause does not extend to China, where import duties will rise to around 125%.

    The move signals a partial retreat from what had been shaping up as a broad and aggressive trade war. For most countries, the US will now apply a 10% baseline tariff for the next three months. But the White House made clear that its tariffs on Chinese imports will remain in place.

    So why did President Trump back away from the broader tariff push? The answer is simple: the economic cost to the US was too high.

    Our economic model shows the fallout, even after the ‘pause’

    Using a global economic model, we have been estimating the macroeconomic consequences of the Trump administration’s tariff plans as they have developed.

    The following table shows two versions of the economic effects of the tariff plan:

    • “pre-pause” – as the plan stood immediately before Wednesday’s 90-day pause, under a scenario in which all countries retaliate except Australia, Japan and South Korea (which said they would not retaliate)
    • “post-pause” after reciprocal tariffs were withdrawn.

    As is clear, the US would have faced steep and immediate losses in employment, investment, growth, and most importantly, real consumption, the best measure of household living standards.

    Heavy costs of the tariff war

    Under the pre-pause scenario, the US would have seen real consumption fall by 2.4% in 2025 alone. Real gross domestic product (GDP) would have declined by 2.6%, while employment falls by 2.7% and real investment (after inflation) plunges 6.6%.

    These are not trivial adjustments. They represent significant contractions that would be felt in everyday life, from job losses to price increases to reduced household purchasing power. Since the current US unemployment rate is 4.2%, these results suggest that for every three currently unemployed Americans, two more would join their ranks.

    Our modelling shows the damage would not just be short-term. Across the 2025–2040 projection period, US real consumption losses would have averaged 1.2%, with persistent investment weakness and a long-term decline in real GDP.

    It is likely that internal economic advice reflected this kind of outlook. The decision to pause most of the tariff increases may well be an acknowledgement that the policy was economically unsustainable and would result in a permanent reduction in US global economic power. Financial markets were also rattled.

    The scaled-back plan: still aggressive on China

    The new arrangement announced on April 9 scales the higher tariff regime back to a flat 10% for about 70 countries, but keeps the full weight of tariffs on Chinese goods at around 125%. Rates on Canadian and Mexican imports remain at 25%.

    In response, China has announced an 84% tariff on US goods.

    The table’s “post-pause” column summarises the results of the scaled-back plan if the pause becomes permanent. For consistency, we assume all countries except Australia, Japan and Korea retaliate with tariffs equal to those imposed by the US.

    As is clear from the “post-pause” results, lower US tariffs, together with lower retaliatory tariffs, equal less damage for the US economy.

    Tariffs applied uniformly are less distortionary, and significant retaliation from just one major partner (China) is easier to absorb than a broad global response.

    However, the costs will still be high. The US is projected to experience a 1.9% drop in real consumption in 2025, driven by lower employment and reduced efficiency in production. Real investment is projected to fall by 4.8%, and employment by 2.1%.

    Perhaps we should not be surprised that the costs are still so high. In 2022, China, Canada and Mexico accounted for almost 45% of all US goods imports, and many countries were already facing 10% reciprocal tariffs in the “pre-pause” scenario. Trump’s tariff pause has not changed duty rates for these countries.

    US President Donald Trump discusses the 90-day pause.

    What does this mean for Australia?

    Much of the domestic commentary in Australia has focused on the risk of collateral damage from a US-China trade war. Given Australia’s economic ties to both countries, it is a reasonable concern.

    But our modelling suggests that Australia may actually benefit modestly. Under both scenarios, Australia’s real consumption rises slightly, driven by stronger investment, improved terms of trade (a measure of our export prices relative to import prices), and redirection of trade flows.

    One mechanism is what economists call trade diversion: if Chinese or European exporters find the US market less attractive, they may redirect goods to Australia and other open markets.

    At the same time, reduced global demand for capital, especially in the US and China, means lower interest rates globally. That stimulates investment elsewhere, including in Australia. In our model, Australian real investment rises under both scenarios, leading to small but sustained gains in GDP and household consumption.

    These results suggest that, at least under current policy settings, Australia is unlikely to suffer significant direct effects from the tariff increases.

    However, rising investor uncertainty is a risk for both the global and Australian economies, and this is not factored into our modelling. In the space of a single week, the Trump administration has whipsawed global investor confidence through three major tariff announcements.

    A temporary reprieve

    Tariffs appear to be central to the administration’s economic program. So Trump’s decision to pause his broader tariff agenda may not signal a shift in philosophy: just a tactical retreat.

    The updated strategy, high tariffs on China and lower ones elsewhere, might reflect an attempt to refocus on where the administration sees its main strategic concern, while avoiding unnecessary blowback from allies and neutral partners.

    Whether this narrower approach proves durable remains to be seen. The sharpest economic pain has been deferred. Whether it returns depends on how the next 90 days play out.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. This chart explains why Trump backflipped on tariffs. The economic damage would have been huge – https://theconversation.com/this-chart-explains-why-trump-backflipped-on-tariffs-the-economic-damage-would-have-been-huge-253632

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi sends congratulations to 9th CELAC summit

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese President Xi Jinping sent congratulations to the 9th summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which opened Wednesday in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.

    In a congratulatory message, Xi said that the world today is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century and that the Global South, including China as well as Latin American and Caribbean countries, is growing with a strong momentum.

    CELAC has remained committed to independence, self-reliance and strength through unity, playing an important role in safeguarding regional peace and stability, promoting development and cooperation, and advancing regional integration, he said.

    The Chinese president sincerely wished the countries and people of Latin America and the Caribbean greater achievements on the path to development and revitalization so as to make greater contributions to the solidarity and cooperation of the Global South.

    China-Latin America relations, Xi said, have withstood the test of international turbulence and entered a new stage marked by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and tangible benefits for the people.

    The two sides have deepened political trust, expanded practical cooperation and enhanced people-to-people exchanges, delivering benefits to both peoples and setting an example for South-South cooperation, he said, voicing China’s readiness to work with countries in the region to push for new progress in building a China-Latin America community with a shared future.

    This year, China will host the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, Xi noted.

    All CELAC member states are welcome to join China in a concerted effort to facilitate development and cooperation and contribute wisdom and strength to addressing global challenges, driving reform in global governance and safeguarding world peace and stability, Xi said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN participates in the virtual Special ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting

    Source: ASEAN

    At the invitation of H.E. Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia and Chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting this year, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, participated in the Special ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting held today via Video Conference, chaired by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, H.E. Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz. The Meeting discussed the latest geopolitical developments, including the U.S. reciprocal tariffs announced on 2 April 2025 with its impact on ASEAN Member States and ASEAN’s collective response going forward.

    Download the full Joint Statement here.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN participates in the virtual Special ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Ka mate te Pire, ka ora Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty Principles Bill dead, Te Tiriti o Waitangi movement lives on

    Source: Green Party

    The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nation’s founding agreement.

    “The Treaty Principles Bill is dead. Our movement for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice lives on,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. 

    “Instead of dividing and conquering, this Bill has backfired and united communities across the motu in solidarity for our founding agreement and what it represents. 

    “Te Tiriti o Waitangi offers us a blueprint for a future where everyone thrives and nobody is left behind, including Papatūānuku. This is the sentiment we saw in the tens of thousands who flooded the streets, we heard it in the drove of submissions to Parliament, and we can feel it in this new generation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice.

    “Hapū, iwi, te Tiriti o Waitangi experts, reo Māori experts, legal experts, historians, community organisers – tangata whenua mai, tagata moana mai, tangata tiriti mai, tauiwi mai – submitted and stood in opposition to this Bill. Ninety per cent of submitters rejected this attempt to re-write our history and erase Māori from it. 

    “This Government is clearly out of touch with the very essence of Aotearoa. History will judge Christopher Luxon for his lack of leadership and accountability to our founding agreement. His absence today speaks volumes.

    “The vast majority of us in Aotearoa know that we are here by the mana of te Tiriti o Waitangi, and will work to protect that mana in every way we can.

    “Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua. Whatungarongaro te kāwanatanga, toitū te Tiriti o Waitangi. People will disappear, while the land remains. While governments come and go, te Tiriti o Waitangi is forever,” said Marama Davidson. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Chris Hipkins speech: Treaty Principles Bill second reading

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    This is a grubby little bill, born of a grubby little deal.

    It has had a colossal impact on the fabric of our nation, and this bill will forever be a stain on our country. What I do take pride in is the way New Zealanders have come together over the last six months to say, loud and clear, “This is not us; this is not Aotearoa New Zealand.”

    For 185 years, Māori and non-Māori have worked together to make progress. We honour those who have come before. We stand on their shoulders today.

    When I say “we”, I mean those on this side of the House: Labour, Te Pāti Māori, the Green Party – united in our determination, throughout this debate, to defeat this bill, to end the division that it has created, and to bring this country together.

    Today, National and New Zealand First join the opposition to this bill, but they can claim no victory, no virtue, and no principle.

    They get no credit for finally starting to fight the fire they helped to ignite.

    Today, their votes will fall on the right side of the ledger, but they will forever be on the wrong side of history when it comes to this bill. Not one National MP should walk out of this debating chamber today with their head held high, because when it comes to this debate, they led nothing, they stopped nothing, and they stood for nothing.

    Unlike the 300,000 New Zealanders who stood up to be counted when it comes to this bill. All those who marched in the streets together: Māori, non-Māori, ethnic communities, young and old, saying, “This is not New Zealand, and this will not define who we are as a country.”

    This is a bill based on a mythology. A mythology that is far too easily turned into outright lies – the myth of Māori special privilege.

    • Life expectancy seven years lower than for other New Zealanders is not special privilege.
    • Being twice as likely to die from cancer as others is not special privilege.
    • A higher rate of childhood hospitalisation,  
    • And 40 percent of Māori living in the highest areas of deprivation compared to just 10 percent of Europeans – these are not signs of privilege.

    But too often these statistics are twisted to suggest that Māori are wanting the Crown to save them. I’ve been up and down the country in recent years speaking to Māori all over New Zealand, and that could not be further from the truth.

    How ignorant, how blind, and how wrong those statements are.

    Māori have been very clear: what they’re asking for is partnership, for the Crown to walk alongside them and to embrace by-Māori, for-Māori solutions. Māori want to do the mahi themselves, and they want the Crown to stop acting as an impediment to that. I say it’s time we listened and it’s time we acted on that.

    When it comes to Māori politics and politicians, I have found that there are two approaches in common, and I spoke about these before the last election: Playing the race card, spreading the myth of Māori special privilege, talking about one law for all, and playing on people’s fears; but on the other side is the middle ground, keeping quiet and, too often, watering down policy so as not to be seen as too pro-Māori.

    I said before the election, and I’ll say it again today: I reject both of those approaches, because when Māori thrive in New Zealand, all of us benefit, all of us will thrive, and non-Māori have nothing to fear from Māori getting ahead here in New Zealand.

    Once again, I say to the members opposite in the National Party, where are the voices like Christopher Finlayson, Doug Graham, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, John Key, Bill English, who were proud of the Treaty partnership, who embraced concepts like co-governance, and they didn’t call it divisive.

    Our work in Government, which has been the subject of much debate on that side of the House, actually built on the foundations that were set by successive Governments – both Labour and National.

    It is that history of progress that today’s National Party have turned their backs against.

    In my lifetime, we have changed as a nation for the better—from one that punished kids for speaking te reo Māori to one that embraces te reo Māori in all of our classrooms.

    From one that ignored our history, to one that teaches all of our kids in all of our schools Aotearoa New Zealand’s history.

    From one that turned a blind eye to the wrongs of the past to one that makes amends and commits not to repeating the same mistakes again. Until today, that is.

    Christopher Luxon called Te Tiriti o Waitangi “a little experiment”. Winston Peters claims that Māori are not indigenous to Aotearoa. In fact, as I was re-reading my notes from before the election, I was reminded of a quote by a New Zealand First candidate in this most recent election campaign, which I’m going to quote directly from: “Cry if you want to, we don’t care. You pushed it too far. We are the party with the cultural mandate and the courage to cut out your disease and bury you permanently.” That was a New Zealand First candidate speaking about Māori in New Zealand.

    It made me sick to my stomach then, and it still does now, because te Tiriti is not “a little experiment”; it is a bold promise and a bold vision.

    It is not a source of division, it is what binds us together.

    Yes, it is a partnership, a structure, something to work towards, a promise to uphold, because when Māori thrive, all of Aotearoa New Zealand thrives.

    Over 185 years, we’ve worked together to fulfil the promise of te Tiriti—the good and the bad—and there has been far too much bad in that work. We have discussed, debated, and argued about the meaning of te Tiriti. We’ve argued about what the visionary rangatira who signed it had intended. That 185 years of history, of debate, of discussion, of argument, of progress, informs how we interpret te Tiriti today, and no member of this House simply gets to wipe all of that 185 years of history away to suit their own purposes.

    The Treaty of Waitangi is not just history, it’s not just ink on paper, it’s a living promise.

    Today, on this side of the House, we honour that promise. We commit to continuing to strive to do better, to bring people together, to move our nation forward.

    We must work together for the wellbeing of all, work together in partnership.

    Coming together does not mean being the same. It does not mean thinking the same. It does not mean acting the same. It means embracing our differences but working together to find common ground so that we can all move forward together.

    So let’s finally consign this grubby little bill to the scrapheap of history, where it can take its place alongside the other darker acts of this House that have also been consigned to our history.

    Let’s instead move forward together. Let’s find a positive, lighter path, where we can bring the country together, where we cannot play on prejudice but seek to reconcile our differences, where we can celebrate our history—the positives of it—and recognise the ugly parts for what they were and commit to doing better.

    This debate has not been helpful for the fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is well and truly time for it to be over.

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    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Blasts Intelligence Witness Over Signal Chat Security Breach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an open hearing of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSCI), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) grilled Joseph Kent, nominee to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, about whether it was appropriate to share highly detailed information about an imminent military strike in an unsecure Signal chain made up of top national security intelligence officials — and, inadvertently, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg.

    The hearing comes after The Atlantic published a story revealing that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz accidently added Golberg to the chat, and after Tulsi Gabbard appeared in front of the Intelligence Committee claiming no sensitive or classified information was shared in the Signal chat. During the exchange, Kent continually dodged Senator King’s questions, claiming current litigation prevents him from discussing the security breach.

    “You mentioned several times there was no classified information in that telephone call, in that signal chat, so you don’t consider the timing of an attack, the weapons being used, and when those weapons are going to be deployed, as sensitive, otherwise classified. I realize it wasn’t formally classified, but if you had done that as a junior staffer at the National Security Council, wouldn’t you have been fired to hand out that kind of information on an insecure public platform,” asked Senator King.

    “There was no classified information in that Signal chat,” replied Kent.

    Senator King further questioned, “So, telling an adversary when the attack is going to happen, that’s not classified? I mean, you’re saying it’s not classified, you’re just giving it a bit of semantics. But any person in this room would tell us that attack plans involving timing, and weapons would be of immense value if it had been the Houthis instead of Jeff Goldberg. We would have lost pilots in that strike. Would we not?”

    “There is no classified information, and it’s currently under litigation. So, I really can’t say much more about the Signal chain,” responded Kent.

    “And you can’t even tell us what telephone you were using. What possible litigation excuse is there for not telling us what telephone you were using,” asked Senator King.

    “The details of the signal chat are currently under investigation so there’s not much more…,” said Kent.

    “What’s the litigation,” Senator King asked again.

    “There’s litigation against multiple members that were in the chat group right now,” replied Kent.

    “Well, you say it’s not classified, if it walks like a duck and looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s classified,” said Senator King.

    Senator King has been consistently sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump’s existential threat to the Constitution, as well as the reckless actions taken by the President and his Administration. He previously gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing ‘exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared.” Senator King also previously declared that the proposal to halt all federal grant and loan disbursement was illegal and a direct assault on the Constitution. He also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials. Recently, he sounded the alarm on the Senate floor on the “thoughtless and dangerous” firings and freezes being implemented by Elon Musks’ DOGE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Congressional Biotech Commission Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster U.S. Biotechnology Innovation and Economy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Congressional Biotech Commission Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster U.S. Biotechnology Innovation and Economy

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a Commissioner of the bipartisan National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), and the other three Congressional Commissioners introduced legislation to promote federal coordination on emerging biotechnology and streamline the regulatory structures currently inhibiting biotechnology innovation. Padilla joined Commission Chair Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Representatives Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.-05) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral National Biotechnology Initiative Act, which would implement key recommendations from the Commission’s new report, released yesterday.
    The National Biotechnology Initiative Act of 2025 would set in motion a whole-of-government approach to advancing biotechnology for U.S. national security, economic productivity, and competitiveness. The bill would establish a National Biotechnology Coordination Office within the Executive Office of the President to lead and coordinate federal biotechnology efforts.
    “American innovation in biotechnology will unlock new economic and national security possibilities across a wide array of key sectors, from battlefield innovation and industrial manufacturing to health care and agriculture,” said Senator Padilla. “Keeping all federal agencies aligned and working on domestic biotech priorities is critical, but our Commission has found that communication is still fragmented. By creating the National Biotechnology Coordination Office, our bipartisan legislation would ensure lasting, organized collaboration between federal agencies to build a long-term biotech strategy and secure American leadership in its development.”
    “The United States has long been a leader in biotechnology, but we now risk losing our edge to China. In this era of global competition, we need to promote American biotech innovation and manufacturing. Our legislation will provide a long-term strategy to make federal agencies work together — with greater efficiency — to support American biotechnology,” said Senator Young.
    “We must streamline regulation and allow private industry to lead our country forward in this new era. America must maintain our competitive advantage, have the capabilities to safeguard our nation, and stay ahead of China in biotechnology,” said Representative Bice.
    “It’s more than a biotechnology strategy—it’s a national security strategy for the age of technology and biology. Without a coordinated approach, we will fall behind China and won’t be able to recover our lead,” said Representative Khanna.
    Specifically, the legislation promotes federal coordination on biotechnology by establishing:
    A National Biotechnology Coordination Office (NBCO) within the Executive Office of the President to lead and coordinate federal biotechnology efforts by streamlining biotechnology regulation. The Office would make these improvements by easing regulatory burdens for well-understood products, negotiating interagency agreements to describe clear regulatory pathways, and working with the Office of Management and Budget in cases of disagreement. The NBCO would publish a national biotechnology strategy every five years.
    A Principal Advisor to the President for Biotechnology, who would also serve as Director of the Coordination Office.
    An Interagency Committee to coordinate across federal departments and agencies.
    Clear roles and responsibilities for all federal departments and agencies engaged in biotechnology.
    The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology is a time-limited, high-impact legislative branch advisory entity whose purpose is to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies for U.S. national security and to prepare the United States for the biorevolution. The bipartisan NSCEB is composed of Congressionally-appointed Commissioners with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as experts from industry, academia, and government working together to advance and secure biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and associated technologies to protect U.S. national security.
    Yesterday, the Commission delivered their major report and action plan, urging Congressional action to bring the full weight of American innovation to improve and maintain U.S. global leadership in biotechnology. For more information about the Commission and to view the report, visit biotech.senate.gov. 
    Senator Padilla was appointed to serve as a Congressional Commissioner after Congress formed the Commission in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. Last year, Padilla and Young introduced a bipartisan package of bills focused on protecting America’s food security and agricultural supply chains, which are critical to U.S. national security. Padilla also announced the Commission’s first round of findings and recommendations for policymakers in an interim report outlining the promise of biotechnology for U.S. national security and economic competitiveness and growth.
    Full text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –