Category: Russian Federation

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft Preserves Rare Languages of Indigenous Peoples of the North

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    RN-Purneftegaz (part of the Rosneft oil and gas production complex) summed up the results of a grant competition for scientific, educational and research projects aimed at solving social issues of the indigenous peoples of the North living in the Purovsky District of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The winner of the competition was a project to develop teaching aids for children in the language of the Forest Nenets, presented by the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    The project includes the development of a teaching aid and a simulator for online learning, as well as the publication of a book for reading and a workbook for completing practical assignments for elementary grades.

    The language of the Forest Nenets is characterized by a complex system of rules for constructing and changing words. With the participation of linguists, it is planned to develop a methodological base, test questions and answers, on the basis of which teachers will be able to form tasks of varying degrees of complexity. An online trainer will help children complete homework, as well as practice declension and conjugation forms for correct word formation.

    Currently, the language of the Forest Nenets is endangered and is spoken by about a thousand people. The language of the Forest Nenets differs significantly from the language of the Tundra Nenets, which is spoken by most of the indigenous people of Yamal. The grant project of RN-Purneftegaz is aimed at preserving the unique language and national identity of the Forest Nenets.

    With the support of RN-Purneftegaz, a project to develop the practice of preparing children for school directly in the places where families live – in nomadic kindergartens – has already been successfully implemented. Based on the results of a scientific study conducted by the Yakut branch of the Federal Institute of Native Languages, a collection of methodological materials “Trends in nomadic education” was compiled. It included development programs in the Nenets language, unique practices and lesson plans for pre-school preparation of pupils of nomadic groups of northern peoples. Training was also conducted for educators working in nomadic kindergartens of the district. The project made it possible to select new methods and forms of organizing pre-school education for children from nomadic families.

    Preservation of the national culture of the indigenous peoples of the North and their traditional way of life is one of the significant areas of Rosneft’s social policy. The Company’s enterprises implement many social projects in the regions of their operations, develop the infrastructure of northern villages, help reindeer herder families, improve the material and technical base of educational institutions, social and medical facilities in the areas of original residence of indigenous peoples.

    Reference:

    RN-Purneftegaz is one of the main oil and gas production centers of Rosneft in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, carrying out production activities in 16 license areas. The company’s cumulative production exceeds 280 million tons of oil.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 11, 2025

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: More than 172 thousand people have moved from dilapidated housing in the Urals Federal District

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

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    Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, the city of Uray

    Active work is underway in the regions to resettle people from dilapidated housing. In particular, in the Urals Federal District, more than 2.7 million square meters of dilapidated housing have been resettled since 2019, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported.

    “Comfortable living conditions are one of the basic needs of a person. In Russia, on the instructions of the President, a state program was launched, thanks to which people living in dilapidated houses can move to new ones. This program is being implemented in 84 regions in all federal districts. Including in the Urals Federal District, 172.9 thousand people have moved from dilapidated housing since 2019. I would like to note the activity of the regions in resolving the issue of resettling dilapidated housing. Of the total number of resettled people, 82.2 thousand citizens improved their housing conditions under programs that are implemented at the expense of budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    He noted that the top three regions in terms of the volume of resettled dilapidated housing were the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra (901.8 thousand sq. m), the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (805.4 thousand sq. m) and the Sverdlovsk Region (429.1 thousand sq. m).

    The Ministry of Construction is the curator of the program for resettling citizens from dilapidated housing, and the operator is the PPK “Territorial Development Fund”.

    “Of the six regions of the Ural Federal District, three have already completed the resettlement of emergency housing, recognized as such before January 1, 2017, and have begun resettling citizens from houses recognized as unfit for habitation in the period from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2022. These are the Khanty-Mansiysk and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrugs, as well as the Chelyabinsk Region, where 8.7 thousand people have been resettled from such housing with a total area of 145.6 thousand square meters,” said Ilshat Shagiakhmetov, General Director of the Territorial Development Fund.

    It should be noted that since 2019, the resettlement of emergency housing in the regions has been carried out within the framework of the national project “Housing and Urban Environment”. Now large-scale work continues under the new national project “Infrastructure for Life” launched this year.

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    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Estonian defense industry delegation

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan 3

    Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Estonian defense industry delegation

    Date:2025-02-05
    Data Source:Department of European Affairs

    No. 032 
    February 5, 2025 

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a welcome luncheon on February 4 for an Estonian defense industry delegation led by Chair of the Estonia-Taiwan Support Group of the Parliament of Estonia Kristo Enn Vaga. The delegation included senior parliamentarian Kalle Laanet—who previously served as minister of defense, minister of the interior, and minister of justice—as well as representatives of the defense industry. During the event, the two sides exchanged views on cooperation in defense industry innovation, whole-of-society resilience, the Russia-Ukraine war, and other issues. 
     
    Minister Lin noted that Taiwan and Estonia had both experienced authoritarian rule and therefore greatly cherished their hard-won freedoms and democracy. Commenting on authoritarian expansionism in recent years, he pointed out that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, China’s recurrent military exercises in the waters around Taiwan, and frequent incidents of sabotage of underwater cables in the Baltic Sea and the waters off Taiwan underscored the importance of enhancing collaboration among democratic nations. Minister Lin also spoke about having led a delegation of the Taiwanese drone industry to Lithuania last November to demonstrate Taiwan’s determination to build democratic supply chains together with like-minded nations. He welcomed this visit by the Estonian defense industry delegation, which, he said, would open up additional areas for cooperation. 
     
    Chair Vaga stated that the democratic community had realized that if like-minded partners did not work together to establish supply chains, national security could become susceptible to potential threats. Observing that Taiwan and Estonia were both the targets of massive daily disinformation attacks and that underwater cables serving each had recently been damaged, Chair Vaga urged the democratic community to become more united against all manner of threats and challenges. He also pledged to steadily promote relations between Taiwan and Estonia.
     
    At the luncheon, Minister Lin thanked the representatives of Motex Healthcare and Taiwan Comfort Champ Manufacturing for their joint donation of 1.11 million masks to Ukraine and Estonia during the Estonian delegation’s visit to Taiwan, adding that it highlighted the Taiwanese spirit of humanitarian assistance. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu witnessed the donation ceremony on behalf of Minister Lin. 
     
    Deputy Minister Wu said that, since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, Taiwan had worked proactively with like-minded countries to support Ukraine. He stated that the Taipei Mission in the Republic of Latvia and the Estonian Centre for International Development had signed a partnership agreement last June, under which Taiwan would donate €1.1 million to support the construction of homes for orphans in Ukraine. Deputy Minister Wu expressed pleasure that Taiwanese companies had shown a commitment to corporate social responsibility and demonstrated that Taiwan could help and that Taiwan was helping. His views were echoed by Chairman of Motex Healthcare Y. C. Cheng and Chairman of Taiwan Comfort Champ Manufacturing Andy Chen, both of whom expressed a willingness to work with the government to assist Ukraine. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: Overpass over SZKh near Novozavodskaya Street to be completed in 2026

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The construction of the overpass across the main route of the North-West Chord (NWCH) towards Rublevskoye Highway is planned to be completed in 2026. This was reported by Sergei Sobyanin in his telegram channel.

    The 155-meter-long overpass is being built as part of the Targeted Investment Program. It will provide an exit from the residential and public areas of the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain to the main route of the North-West Chord.

    “Thanks to the overpass and the new bridge across the Moskva River in line with Novozavodskaya Street, we will be able to create an additional exit to the SZH and a new route to the Filevsky Park area, to the National Space Center and the Khrunichev site of the Technopolis Moscow SEZ,” wrote Sergei Sobyanin.

    According to the architects’ idea, the artificial structure will harmoniously fit into the surrounding floodplain development: the same lighting masts as in the neighboring blocks will be installed on the overpass. The V-shaped supports with smooth rounding were developed individually for each span, while maintaining a uniform style.

    Currently, the construction readiness of the overpass is 70 percent.

    Development of the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain area

    Today Mnevnikovskaya floodplain— one of the largest development centers of the city. It is planned to build about three million square meters of real estate here. The construction of a modern urban area with residential areas, educational facilities, sports centers, a surf park and numerous green recreation areas is underway.

    One of the largest sports clusters in Moscow, with an area of about 500 thousand square meters, is being created on the territory of the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain. It will include an ice palace, the Alexander Ovechkin International Hockey Academy, a training center for the Russian national football team, a multifunctional building with a curling arena, as well as the CSKA basketball club and a rowing base with the necessary infrastructure.

    Currently, over 200 thousand square meters of various real estate have been put into operation, including residential buildings, an educational complex for 925 students, an ice palace and other facilities.

    Large-scale work continues creation of a modern transport infrastructure. In 2021, two stations of the Big Circle Line of the metro were opened in the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain: Mnevniki and Terekhovo. The reconstruction of Nizhnie Mnevniki Street (North-West Chord) was carried out with the construction of bridges across the Moskva River and locks. In December 2024, a bridge was opened across the Moskva River in line with Myasishchev Street, which connected the Filevskaya and Mnevnikovskaya floodplains, as well as an underground pedestrian crossing in the area of the junction with Myasishchev Street.

    A project to develop the local street and road network is currently being implemented, within the framework of which streets will appear to provide access to residential areas under construction, sports facilities and metro stations. They are also building a road bridge across the Moskva River in line with Novozavodskaya Street, an overpass across the main route of the SZH towards Rublevskoye Highway, two bicycle and pedestrian bridges across the Moskva River to Ostrovnaya Street (Krylatskoye district) and towards Fili Park. In addition, they will make two pedestrian crossings, including one overground (across the SZH in the area of the Moskvoretsky Arboretum) and one underground (in the area of the Moskvoretsky Natural and Historical Park). The plans include the reconstruction of the embankments of the Moskva River with a total length of about seven kilometers.

    In total, they plan to build 17 kilometers of roads on the territory of the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain.

    Four pedestrian bridges will be built in Moscow by the end of 2027The new bridge in the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain will have spectacular arches — Sergei SobyaninSergei Sobyanin opened a unique ice palace in the Mnevnikovskaya floodplainConstruction of the International Hockey Academy continues in the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12371050/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Christine Lagarde: European Parliament plenary debate on the European Central Bank Annual Report

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    It is a great pleasure to take part in this plenary session and discuss your draft resolution on the ECB’s Annual Report.

    At the ECB, we are deeply committed to transparency and accountability, particularly in how we communicate with the public and their elected representatives in the European Parliament. In fact, in the last parliamentary term we interacted with this Parliament even more frequently than in previous terms.1

    At the same time, we greatly value the opportunity to hear the Parliament’s views. Your resolution and debate are an important pillar of the ECB’s accountability framework and a key channel for you to share your views with us – and we listen. For instance, next week will mark ten years since the ECB started publishing the accounts of the Governing Council’s monetary policy meetings2, a major step in enhancing our monetary policy communication and one that this Parliament had called for.

    This year’s draft resolution covers key issues that are central to the ECB’s mandate and the future of the euro area, including our response to inflation, the digital euro and the ECB’s role in supporting the EU’s broader economic policies. It also reflects the dynamic challenges we face in Europe today, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all of these issues and having a constructive dialogue with you.

    But let me first start by outlining our view on the current economic situation in the euro area and our monetary policy stance. I will then address the broader economic challenges we are facing and their implications for monetary policy.

    The euro area economy and the ECB’s monetary policy

    The euro area economy grew modestly in 2024. While output stagnated in the fourth quarter, it was still 0.9% higher than at the end of 2023. Surveys indicate that manufacturing continues to contract while services activity is expanding. Consumer confidence is fragile and, despite rising real incomes, households are hesitant to spend more.

    Nevertheless, the conditions for a recovery remain in place. A solid job market and higher incomes should strengthen consumer confidence and allow spending to rise. More affordable credit should boost consumption and investment over time. Exports should also support the recovery as global demand rises, although this is conditional on developments in international trade policies.

    Inflation stood at 2.5% in January and has recently developed broadly in line with staff projections. Core inflation has remained at 2.7% in recent months, reflecting a sideways movement in both services and goods inflation. Wage growth is moderating as expected, although it remains elevated, while profits are partially buffering the impact of wage increases on inflation.

    Inflation is set to return to our 2% medium-term target in the course of this year, with risks on both the upside and the downside. Greater friction in global trade would make the euro area inflation outlook more uncertain.

    In total, the ECB has lowered interest rates by 125 basis points since last June, and the deposit facility rate – the rate through which we steer the monetary policy stance – now stands at 2.75%. At our last meeting in January, we decided to lower our key interest rates by 25 basis points, based on an updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission. In particular, the disinflation process in the euro area is well on track. Most measures of underlying inflation suggest that inflation will settle at around our target on a sustained basis. And while financing conditions continue to be tight, our recent interest rate cuts are gradually making borrowing less expensive.

    We are determined to ensure that inflation stabilises sustainably at our 2% medium-term target. We will follow a data-dependent and meeting-by-meeting approach to determining the appropriate monetary policy stance. We are not pre-committing to a particular rate path.

    A challenging economic environment for monetary policy

    Let me now turn to the broader economic environment and its implications for monetary policy.

    Europe has faced a series of unprecedented challenges in recent years, each with its own far-reaching impact. From the COVID-19 pandemic to surging energy prices and the geopolitical upheaval caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we have navigated our way through a storm of supply shocks. As we look ahead, the frequency of these shocks is likely to remain high.

    While we have weathered these crises, the past few years have also revealed missed opportunities and underinvestment in areas such as the digital transformation and the green transition – and the uncertainty surrounding trade and economic policy continues to weigh on consumption and investment.3 As a result, and as highlighted in reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi, Europe finds itself lagging behind international competitors in productivity and growth.

    In a world driven by shifting global dynamics and rapid technological change, Europe must strike a delicate balance between achieving strategic autonomy and preserving its openness to the global economy. As President Ursula von der Leyen and I highlighted in a recent article, Europe’s response to these challenges must be bold and strategic. While the outlook may seem daunting, the prospects are more promising than they might appear.4

    One of Europe’s first priorities should be to deepen the Internal Market. By removing remaining barriers within the Single Market – barriers that effectively function like tariffs – we can unlock economies of scale, encourage innovation and reduce costs for consumers and producers alike. We are already home to a wealth of ideas and innovators. Our challenge is to transform these ideas into technologies that fuel economic growth. To do so, we need to reduce administrative burdens and foster an innovation-friendly environment.

    Another critical area is enhancing Europe’s autonomy in payments, which form the backbone of our economy and our single currency. At present, a few foreign providers dominate Europe’s payments landscape, leaving us vulnerable to external pressures. As we face an increasingly digital future, we must prepare the ground for a digital euro. This will ensure the resilience and public good nature of our payment systems. It will also provide a platform for private innovation in digital payments.

    With substantial savings at its disposal, Europe must channel more resources into private investment and scale up financing to support its innovators. A genuine capital markets union designed for citizens and businesses alike will be instrumental here.

    More broadly, investment must be the cornerstone of Europe’s economic transformation. The focus must be on investing in physical and digital infrastructure, research and development, and green technologies. These are not optional but essential investments required to drive productivity and guarantee Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage. Moreover, they will address our energy dependence and help us meet our climate goals – both pressing imperatives.

    In this regard, we welcome the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass as a concrete roadmap for action, which will also support the ECB in maintaining price stability by reducing Europe’s susceptibility to supply shocks.

    That said, the ECB is not standing idle. We are committed to learning from the experiences of recent years. As part of the ongoing assessment of our monetary policy strategy, we are preparing for the risk of an increasingly volatile future. We are taking stock of a changed inflation environment and economic context. We are also focusing on the implications for monetary policy, our experiences with our evolving policy toolkit, our reaction function and how to better deal with risk and uncertainty in policy setting and communications. While the ECB continuously evaluates and adapts its economic models – a topic raised in your resolution – assessing new analytical needs will be one component of this assessment.

    Conclusion

    Let me conclude.

    The challenges facing Europe are immense, but solutions are within our reach. Our opportunity lies in more Europe.

    As Konrad Adenauer said 70 years ago, “European unity was the dream of a few. It became the hope for many. Today it is a necessity for all of us.” This sentiment rings true today more than ever.

    To jointly tackle Europe’s challenges, I am counting on the Parliament’s commitment. Within its mandate, the ECB will play its part. Ever since the introduction of the euro, the ECB has continuously adapted to changing economic environments to fulfil its mandate. We remain fully committed to delivering on this mandate. We are equally committed to maintaining our active and meaningful dialogue with the Parliament.

    Thank you for your attention. 

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The number of self-employed in Moscow has exceeded 1.9 million

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the capital, the number of payers of the professional income tax at the beginning of 2025 exceeded 1.9 million people. This was reported by Maria Bagreeva, Deputy Mayor of Moscow, Head of the Department of Economic Policy and City Development.

    “Moscow’s large consumer market and the support measures provided by the city allow entrepreneurs to develop their businesses in the directions and formats that are attractive to them. In 2024, the number of self-employed people working in the capital increased by almost 350 thousand and exceeded 1.9 million people. 16 percent of Russian registered professional income taxpayers work in Moscow. Over the entire period of this tax regime, which has been in effect in the capital since January 1, 2019, they have earned almost 1.5 trillion rubles, including 536 billion rubles in 2024,” noted Maria Bagreeva.

    Last year, the self-employed transferred 15.1 billion rubles to the Moscow budget – 46 percent more than in 2023. Over the entire period of the special tax regime, more than 39 billion rubles in professional income tax have already been received by the capital’s budget.

    In 2024, 181 million checks were issued to clients — twice as many as the year before. This indicates an increase in business activity among the self-employed in Moscow. At the same time, the average check size at the end of 2024 was 3,152 rubles.

    The advantages of this tax regime are the ease of registration and the automated mode of transferring information about the income received. In addition, the self-employed person is not required to submit tax reports or use cash registers.

    According to the Federal Tax Service, in 2024, the most popular types of activity among the capital’s self-employed, which they indicated during registration, were passenger and freight transportation, delivery, apartment rental, construction, advertising and marketing.

    Moscow has a developed modern infrastructure for professional self-realization, including those who choose the entrepreneurial scenario. On Shchepkina Street (house 38, building 1) there is a center for innovative personnel services “Professions of the Future”Here you can master one of 75 in-demand specialties in various sectors of the economy, get help in finding a job or start your own business. All this will take a maximum of 3.5 months.

    At the flagship center “My work” (Shabolovka Street, Building 48) a unique full-cycle ecosystem, “Self-Employment in Hands,” has been created. Here you can get advice on starting your own business, take part in career guidance classes and develop entrepreneurial skills.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow entrepreneurs used the service of targeted selection of financial support measures more than five thousand times in 2024

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In 2024, using the service “Targeted selection of financial support measures”, accessible on the portal State Budgetary Institution “Small Business of Moscow” (MBM), entrepreneurs attracted over two billion rubles from the federal budget to develop their projects. This was reported inDepartment of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development the city of Moscow.

    MBM specialists help entrepreneurs find suitable financial support measures at the federal level, and also explain in detail the procedure for obtaining them. In 2024, more than five thousand requests for the service were received from current entrepreneurs and aspiring businessmen.

    The most popular were preferential lending programs, which accounted for 59 percent of the total amount of attracted financing. Another 32 percent were guarantees and sureties, the remaining nine percent were subsidies, grants and investments. The main recipients of support were manufacturing companies (53 percent) and enterprises in the innovation sector (10 percent).

    State Budgetary Institution “Small Business of Moscow”, subordinate to the capital’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development, helps residents open and develop their own businesses in the city. In business service centers, everyone can learn about financial and non-financial measures of state support. Entrepreneurs can attend free seminars, forums and trainings that will improve their professional skills and establish business contacts.

    More detailed information can be found on the portal MBM.Mos.ru or by phone: 7 495 225-14-14.

    Support for entrepreneurs in the capital is provided within the framework of the federal project “Small and medium entrepreneurship and support for individual entrepreneurial initiative”, which is part of the national project “Efficient and competitive economy”.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 1.65 million tons of recyclable materials were collected in the capital in 2024

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    As part of the separate waste collection program, more than 1.65 million tons of recyclable materials were collected in the capital last year, said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.

    The city has had a separate waste collection program in place for five years now. It is in demand among Muscovites and has proven its effectiveness. Thus, the amount of collected recyclable materials is growing. In 2024 alone, over 1.65 million tons of recyclable materials were sorted and sent for recycling, while before the program began in 2019, it was only 450 thousand tons.

    To make the process of separate waste collection as convenient as possible, a simple two-container system was chosen.

    “Branded containers with blue and grey markings have been installed in courtyards and near social facilities. Waste paper, glass, plastic and metals can be thrown into the former, and other waste can be thrown into the latter. Waste collection and removal is carried out by about one thousand garbage trucks with the appropriate colour indication,” said Pyotr Biryukov.

    The contents of the bins are taken to sorting plants. Here, using automatic separators and under the supervision of specialists, the recyclables are separated into dozens of components – various types of plastic and waste paper, glass of different colors, ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Then all of this is sent for recycling.

    The waste separation program will continue, and participation in it remains voluntary.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: A modern multifunctional space will be created in Kommunarka under the KRT program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In Kommunarka, a 3.13-hectare site will be reorganized under the integrated territorial development program (ITD). A draft of the corresponding decision already published on the mos.ru portal. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “A modern multifunctional space will be created on the territory between Edvarda Griga and Lipovy Park streets. The project involves the construction of a sports cluster and other public and business facilities here. Investments in the development of the site will amount to 7.6 billion rubles, and the annual budget effect will be 169.14 million rubles. As a result, the city will receive over 270 jobs,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The reorganized territory has high transport accessibility – the Potapovo metro station and the Solntsevo-Butovo-Varshavskoye Shosse highway are nearby.

    “The development area of the site in Kommunarka will be 40.6 thousand square meters. It is planned to create a sports cluster here, which will include, among other things, an extreme sports center and an open sports ground. A medical center and a parking lot for 550 cars will also appear on the territory. The implementation of the project will provide local residents with the necessary infrastructure,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    According to the program of integrated development of territories, multifunctional city blocks are created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 KRT projects with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of development and implementation in Moscow. This work is carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Schools and kindergartens: what social facilities will appear on the territory of the former Tushino airfield

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Educational facilities with an area of over 150 thousand square meters will appear on the site of the former Tushino airfield in the Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo area. The development project for the territory also provides for the construction of over 300 thousand square meters of commercial and public-business infrastructure facilities. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The territory of the former Tushino airfield is actively developing: residential buildings are being built, social and public-business infrastructure is being created. In total, it is planned to build more than 450 thousand square meters of commercial, public-business and social infrastructure there. By now, two schools, five kindergartens and a number of sports facilities have already appeared on the territory. Four educational institutions are currently under construction, and plans include the construction of five more,” Vladimir Efimov noted.

    The area now has the Lukoil Arena stadium, a training base with six open football fields, the Chkalov Arena sports complex, which includes an ice rink, a multi-purpose sports hall, dance halls and other venues.

    “Currently, two schools with a total of 1.7 thousand places and a total area of over 45 thousand square meters and the same number of kindergartens with a total area of over 10 thousand square meters are being built on the territory of the Tushino airfield. In addition, it is planned to build a shopping and entertainment center with an area of over 17 thousand square meters,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy of the City of Moscow

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    Previously Sergei Sobyanin said on the completion of construction of a school on Volokolamsk Highway.

    In 2024, 44 schools and kindergartens were built in the capital

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: About 4.7 thousand city residents received apartments under the renovation program in the Nizhny Novgorod district of the capital

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Nizhny Novgorod district of the capital, about 4.7 thousand residents of old houses included in the renovation program received apartments in modern new buildings. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman.

    “The first five-story building under the renovation program in the Nizhegorodsky District began to be resettled in February 2019. More than 170 residents of the third building of house 104 on Nizhegorodskaya Street received letters offering equivalent apartments. At the end of the following year, Muscovites from three old buildings joined them, in 2022 – from six more, and in 2023 – from 15. Now, out of 92 buildings in the district included in the current renovation program, resettlement has already affected 30. About 4.7 thousand city residents have become owners of modern housing here,” said Maxim Gaman.

    Thus, residents of almost a third of the houses being resettled under the renovation program have completed paperwork for apartments in new buildings.

    “In the Nizhny Novgorod district, the city transferred five new buildings for resettlement of residents from 30 old houses under the renovation program. As of today, 26 buildings have been completely resettled. About 1.5 thousand residents have already moved into new apartments. The areas near the new buildings have been improved: comprehensive landscaping was carried out there, children’s and sports playgrounds were equipped, as well as recreation areas for city residents,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    Participants in the renovation program who have a full account on the mos.ru portal can use the super service “Moving under the renovation program” and choose a convenient time and date for viewing the proposed housing, and after the draft contract is ready – the day for signing it. If necessary, an appointment with a notary is available – this is necessary if there are minors, persons with partial or complete incapacity among the owners. In addition, with the help of the service, you can call movers for free to move from an old apartment to a new one.

    The super service also offers help in preparing for the move general instructions, noted in the capital’s Department of Information Technology. From it you can find out how the relocation is organized, get information about the necessary documents for drawing up a contract, and also use links to useful services. If you configure the parameters of the move, you will be able to read the instructions for a specific life situation.

    Previously Sergei Sobyanin congratulated The 200,000th resident who has begun resettlement under the renovation program.

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

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

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

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149938073/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Mayor Congratulates Schoolchildren of the Capital on Victory in Russian Chess Championship

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow schoolchildren won the Russian chess championship and became the competition leaders. This was reported by Sergei Sobyanin in on your telegram channel.

    “Our guys won 12 gold, seven silver and six bronze medals. One of the best results was achieved by the students of the M.M. Botvinnik Children’s and Youth Sports School of the Moscow Palace of Pioneers, who became champions in their age categories,” the Mayor of Moscow wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin 

    14-year-old Nikolai Vasilkov won eight games in a row in classical chess. He beat 57 opponents and became the winner even before the final.

    12-year-old Vadim Starikov won the gold medal in the classical chess category one round before the finish.

    Diana Preobrazhenskaya became the best in rapid chess and blitz among schoolchildren under 15 years old.

    Alisa Henrietta Junker from the Anatoly Karpov Chess School won classical chess and blitz at the age of 11.

    The students of the Anatoly Karpov Chess School, the Intellect chess club, the Youth of Moscow physical education and sports association, the Bibirevo Children’s and Youth Creativity Center, and the students of grandmaster Andrei Selivanov also demonstrated high levels of skill.

    “Well done, we are proud! Congratulations on your well-deserved awards and I wish you new successes,” he wrote Sergei Sobyanin.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12370050/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: “A Lesson in Courage”: Moscow to Host a Series of Patriotic Events for Young People

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    This year, Moscow will hold a series of patriotic classes for young people, “A Lesson of Courage.” It will include meetings with active military personnel and veterans, quests, quizzes, and sports training. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

    Citizens aged 18 to 35 are invited to join. You can choose an event and register on the portal “Youth of Moscow”.

    “More than 50 events dedicated to the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland have been prepared for the capital’s youth. The children will learn about the history of our country and talk to heroes, gain useful skills in master classes and go on excursions,” noted Natalia Sergunina.

    The cycle was opened by a meeting held by participants of the special military operation (SVO) Ivan Chenin, Andrey Landin, Georgy Wilhelm and Hero of the Russian Federation Maxim Bakharev. They talked about what courage is and answered questions from the audience.

    In addition, a sports lesson has already taken place with titled guests: three-time World Cup champion in kickboxing Roman Pitko, world champion in kickboxing and European boxing Svetlana Andreeva, as well as lieutenant colonel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and special forces trainer Sergei Gromakov.

    In the near future, the children will meet veterans of the Great Patriotic War and take part in a historical quest, “Memory for Centuries,” dedicated to the events and heroes of 1941–1945. In addition, everyone is invited to a conversation with a participant of the SVO, training with famous athletes, and a master class on first aid.

    The program “Lesson of Courage” was prepared by the youth community “STOlitsa”.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149943073/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 60 lanterns were installed near new buildings under the renovation program in the Koptevo district

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    More than 60 lanterns have been installed near three residential complexes under the renovation program in the north of the capital in the Koptevo district. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    Creating a high-quality urban environment is one of the main tasks of the renovation program. The area around new buildings is being improved: comprehensive landscaping is being carried out, playgrounds and sports grounds, recreation areas are being equipped, and CCTV cameras and lights are being installed.

    “Three new buildings were erected and handed over for occupancy in the Koptevo district under the renovation program. For the comfort and safety of residents, 62 outdoor lighting fixtures were installed there. The largest number of them is in the residential complex in Cherepanov Drive – 37. In 3rd Novomikhalkovsky Drive – 17, and another eight are in Sobolevsky Drive,” Vladislav Ovchinsky specified.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin congratulated The 200,000th resident who has begun resettlement under the renovation program.

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

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

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

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149940073/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    We recently celebrated Russian Science Day and three days later we are returning to this topic again, but with a different holiday – International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

    The United Nations is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the day this year and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration affirming the full realization of the human rights of women and girls as an integral, indivisible part of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. The theme for this year’s day is “Opening Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM): Her Voice in Science.”

    Women scientists have been known for quite a long time: the ancient Egyptian physician Peseshet, the ancient Greek female astronomer Aglaonica, Hypatia of Alexandria – a philosopher, mathematician and mechanic. During the Age of Enlightenment, the role of the fair half of humanity in science expanded significantly, but this was not considered the norm at all. In the 19th century, most of the most prominent female scientists were Russian women. The most famous of them was Sofia Kovalevskaya – the world’s first female doctor of mathematical sciences and university professor. But let’s also remember Nadezhda Suslova – the first in the world to receive a doctorate in medicine, Yulia Lermontova – the first doctor of chemistry, Maria Sechenova with two doctorates, in medicine and physiology. Of course, everyone knows the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize – Maria Sklodowska-Curie. Moreover, she also became the first person in the world to receive two Nobel Prizes. After her, only four scientists managed to do the same. Incidentally, Marie’s daughter, Irene Joliot-Curie, became the first Nobel Prize laureate, being the child of previous laureates.

    The last century has finally equalized the rights of men and women. Nevertheless, according to the UN, only 30% of scientists worldwide are women. Girls still make up only 28% of engineering graduates. But in the field of computer science and information technology, their number is already 40%. Therefore, it is quite possible that the day is not far off when absolute gender balance will be achieved in science.

    The State University of Management congratulates its wonderful women and girls-scientists on the holiday. We wish you rapid advancement in the research areas you have chosen, victories in scientific competitions, capitalization of your intellect, as well as professional and personal happiness. Let each of you always remember that for someone you are a real sun – a vital necessity, and all together you are a whole constellation for the State University of Management – bright, attractive and mysterious.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/11/2025

    отметили День российской науки и спустя три дня вновь возвращаемся к этой теме, но уже с другим праздником – Международным днём женщин и девочек в науке….” data-yashareImage=”https://guu.ru/wp-content/uploads/День-женщин-в-науке.jpg” data-yashareLink=”https://guu.ru/%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%b7%d0%b4%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%bb%d1%8f%d0%b5%d0%bc-%d1%81-%d0%bc%d0%b5%d0%b6%d0%b4%d1%83%d0%bd%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8b%d0%bc-%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%91%d0%bc-%d0%b6%d0%b5%d0%bd/”>

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dialogue between science and government

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A working meeting of representatives of regional executive authorities with a delegation of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) was held in the Government of St. Petersburg. The event was dedicated to discussing issues of developing intellectual property, innovation and support for high-tech projects in the regions.

    Key government and business representatives addressed the participants with welcoming remarks. Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Industrial Policy, Innovation and Trade of St. Petersburg Dmitry Prozherin emphasized the importance of developing innovative infrastructure and protecting intellectual property for the region’s economic growth. Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Chairman of the specialized commission on investments and the city branch of “Business Russia” Dmitry Panov noted the need to create favorable conditions for investment and the introduction of new technologies.

    Head of the Center for Strategic Communications of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Federal Institute of Industrial Property” Daria Shipitsyna spoke about measures of state support in the field of intellectual property.

    Head of the regional direction of AIRR Dmitry Mitroshin gave a report on the development of the intellectual property system at the regional and federal levels. He emphasized the importance of integrating efforts to create a unified strategy in this area. Representatives of various regions of Russia shared their experience in intellectual property management, as well as successful cases of implementing innovative solutions.

    Of particular interest was the speech by the director of the SPbPU Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Ismail Kadiev. He proposed creating a regional center for intellectual property and technology transfer, which would become a platform for interaction between science, business and government. The initiative was supported and enshrined in the final document of the meeting.

    Natalia Petrova, Chairperson of the Board of the Intellectual Property Development Fund and CEO of the Patent and Legal Firm NEVA-PATENT LLC, spoke about the implementation of effective mechanisms for regulating intellectual property in the country’s regions. She noted that competent management of intellectual assets helps to increase the competitiveness of regions and attract investment.

    The delegation visited the innovation infrastructure facilities of St. Petersburg, including JSC Technopark of St. Petersburg. The participants familiarized themselves with the work of the Prototyping Center, the regional engineering center for electronic instrumentation, the laboratory of the regional engineering center for active pharmaceutical substances (RIC APS), and the demonstration site of Russian vendors.

    The event was an important step in strengthening cooperation between regions and federal structures in the field of intellectual property and innovation. Participants expressed confidence that such initiatives will contribute to the development of high-tech industries and increase the competitiveness of the Russian economy.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU hosted the first YADRO Winter School “Programming for RISC-V”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The winter school began long before the in-person stage — with a course of lectures on RISC-V architecture. Throughout January, students who passed the selection listened to lectures from professionals in an online format. After the lecture stage, testing was conducted, in which more than 300 people from all over the country took part. Based on its results, participants were selected for the project stage, which took place in person from February 3 to 8. All of them showed a very high level of preparation.

    — We are formulating the following goals for the Winter School: on the one hand, we certainly wanted the students to have more knowledge, skills and abilities in the field of RISC-V as a promising technology and as a technology that is interesting to YADRO as a company. On the other hand, we believe that within the framework of the Winter School, students have the opportunity to acquire skills in a fairly short period of time that will be useful to them when they are selected for the summer internship “Impulse”, which will take place this year. In a broad sense, the goal is to provide technologies and prepare for selection for an internship in the company, — noted Mikhail Salamatov, Head of the Department for Development of Educational Programs at YADRO.

    At the in-person stage, NSU gathered not only students from our university, but also guests from the Siberian State University of Telecommunications and Informatics and universities of St. Petersburg. There were 15 participants in total. NSU was represented by guys from Faculty of Information Technology And Faculty of Mechanics and MathematicsNext year, there are plans to attract students from other specialized faculties of NSU.

    — Throughout the preparation stage and during the Winter School, many technical problems related to the distributed format of the Winter School were solved: the school was held simultaneously in several clusters across the country. The participants were able to offer original solutions to complex project tasks, got acquainted with the new, previously unfamiliar RISC-V architecture and gained tremendous experience in working in a team. I believe that we, as organizers, also gained a lot of experience in holding such events. I really hope that next year we will hold the Winter School at NSU with even more active participation of students from other regions, — said Alexander Vlasov, PhD in Engineering, Associate Professor, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology for Master’s Degree, Head of the YADRO Laboratory at NSU, Director of the RISC-V Winter School.

    Over the course of 6 days, teams worked on a research project under the guidance of their mentors and then presented the results of their work. The project topics were known in advance. Participants had to choose one of the topics when registering for the Winter School. Selection for project work consisted of passing an online test, where the participant had to demonstrate that they had the knowledge necessary to complete the project they had chosen.

    NSU projects that the participants worked on:

    -Watermark Risk-B;

    -Butstrap risk-B;

    – Benchmark for a processor based on the RISC-V architecture.

    — Our team implemented the project “Watermark RISC-V” — creation of a steganography method for detecting sources of leakage of private software written in RISC-V.

    Participation in the Winter School broadened my horizons and deepened my understanding of the principles of hardware operation. I gained experience working with microcomputers based on a processor with a young and promising RISC-V architecture, which I had not encountered before.

    It is nice that the university holds events on such interesting topics. This will help students decide what they are interested in, as well as start taking the first steps in their career. The project part of the Winter School was held in a friendly, pleasant atmosphere, working on the tasks was quite exciting. I think each student gained valuable experience that will be useful in the future, – shared his impressions Zhora Babayan, a participant of the Winter School, a 4th-year student of the Faculty of Information Technology of NSU.

    — Our team’s goal was to study a miniature operating system written for x86 processors and port it to the open RISC-V architecture. There were many difficulties during the project. Among other things, we had to learn how to run at least some code on RISC-V, which took us a lot of time, and also read a couple dozen lines of code written in assembler and figure them out. There were many tasks, but little time. We managed to do some things, and had to abandon others. But I’m happy with the results!

    Apart from me, everyone on the team was from NSU. All the guys were very strong, so we easily split into groups and worked in parallel. We were also very lucky with the project curator – NSU lecturer Dmitry Valentinovich Irtegov – a man with a huge store of knowledge, who could answer any question posed.

    Participation in the Winter School was a very interesting experience for me, including because of the new location for me. Compared to St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk (or rather, Akademgorodok) has much more snow, and it is much cleaner, which was a pleasant surprise for me. There are also many more trees and much less noise and city bustle, – Alexander Sergeev, a 3rd-year student of the ITMO Faculty of Information Technology and Programming, a member of the Bootstrap RISC-V team, said about his experience of participating in the YADRO Winter School.

    All students who defended their projects were given the opportunity to continue working on them within the YADRO laboratory at NSU.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – EP TODAY, Tuesday, 11 February

    Source: European Parliament 3

    EU response to tariff threats from the Trump administration

    From 9.00, plenary will debate with Commissioner Šefčovič and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka the current state of EU-US trade relations, multilateralism and the EU’s potential responses if the US imposes tariffs on European products.

    Eszter ZALÁN

    (+32) 477 99 20 73

    EP Trade

    Three years of Russia’s war in Ukraine

    Starting around 10.00, MEPs will assess the impact of Russia’s three-year long war against Ukraine and the EU’s unwavering support for the country, in a debate with Commissioner Kos and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Adam Szłapka. They will vote on a resolution during the March plenary session. Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, will address MEPs in a formal sitting at noon.

    Viktor ALMQVIST

    (+32) 470 88 29 42

    EP_ForeignAff

    Snjezana KOBESCAK SMODIS

    (+32) 470 96 08 19

    EP_ForeignAff

    EU’s strategy for the Middle East

    At around 15.00, MEPs will discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and a future EU strategy for the region, in a debate with Commissioner Šuica and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka.

    Snjezana KOBESCAK SMODIS

    (+32) 470 96 08 19

    EP_ForeignAff

    Viktor ALMQVIST

    (+32) 470 88 29 42

    EP_ForeignAff

    Digital Services Act/Media seminar

    Starting at 14.00, Parliament’s Press Service will organise a press seminar on “Defending Europe’s Digital Integrity: Addressing Social Media Challenges and Foreign Interference” with the participation of leading MEPs on the issue. You can follow the seminar live.

    Yasmina YAKIMOVA

    (+32) 470 88 10 60

    EP_SingleMarket

    In brief

    US restriction of chips exports to EU countries. Plenary will quiz Commission Vice-President Virkkunen on how to address the US decision to restrict the export of chips used for artificial intelligence models to certain EU member states, from around 20.00.

    Violence escalation in Congo. Parliament will assess the conflict and humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the Council and Commission, in a debate starting around 16.00. A resolution will be put to a vote on Thursday.

    Protecting the system of international justice. In the evening, starting around 21.00, plenary will discuss defending the system of international justice and its institutions, in particular the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice., with Commissioner McGrath and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka.

    Health care sector. The challenges posed by a shortage of healthcare professionals across the EU, as well as the quality of jobs in the sector, will be the focus of a debate with Commission Vice-President Mînzatu in the early afternoon, immediately after the voting session.

    Anti-government unrest in Serbia. From around 17.00, MEPs will analyse with Commissioner Kos and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Szłapka the situation in Serbia, where a deadly railway station canopy collapse has sparked an anti-corruption movement and student-led protest against the government.

    Votes

    Plenary will vote at 12.00 among others on:

    • an updated fisheries agreement with Cabo Verde, and
    • Parliament’s assessment of ECB’s activities in 2024.

    Live coverage of the plenary session can be found on Parliament’s webstreaming and on EbS+.

    For detailed information on the session, please also see our newsletter.

    Find more information regarding plenary.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev visited industrial enterprises of Komsomolsk-on-Amur

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

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    Yuri Trutnev visited industrial enterprises of Komsomolsk-on-Amur

    As part of his working visit to Khabarovsk Krai, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev visited the enterprises of PJSC UAC in Komsomolsk-on-Amur – the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant named after Yuri Gagarin (KnAAZ) and the production center of PJSC Yakovlev, where the Superjet-100 is assembled, and also visited the investment site for the production of the Baikal aircraft and got acquainted with the work of the Amur Shipbuilding Plant of USC. The Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied on his trip by the Governor of Khabarovsk Krai Dmitry Demeshin.

    At KnAAZ, Yuri Trutnev inspected a new titanium alloy processing shop, an assembly line, including a final assembly shop for Su-35S and Su-57 aircraft, and the construction of new flight test station facilities. The implementation of the project to build facilities and new industrial capacities at KnAAZ are necessary to increase the serial production of fifth-generation aircraft. The Deputy Prime Minister was shown areas where work is being carried out within the framework of cooperation: on the import-substituting Superjet-100 and MS-21.

    In the technocomplex of the production center of PAO Yakovlev, Yuri Trutnev was shown the first line in Russia for the production of doors for the import-substituted version of the Superjet – previously, these units were manufactured abroad. Doors manufactured on the new line meet the most modern aviation safety standards. A specialization center for the production of doors for other Russian civil aircraft is being created on the basis of the technocomplex.

    In the final assembly shop, the director of the production center Andrey Soynov spoke about the current work and prospects of the enterprise. The center, which employs more than 1 thousand people, is preparing for the serial production of fully import-substituted Superjet-100 aircraft. The production modernization program provides for the expansion of the final assembly shop to organize a straight-through conveyor and the construction of a new hangar for the flight test station. The production capacity of the updated enterprise will be at least 20 Superjet-100 aircraft per year.

    “The supply of domestic aircraft for air transportation in the Far East is our priority task. We, like no one else, understand the need to connect the cities of our region. The Yakovlev company has already concluded an agreement on the supply of Superjets to the Aurora airline, and we will make every effort to fulfill this order,” Andrey Soynov emphasized.

    As part of his trip to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Yuri Trutnev visited an investment site being created for a comprehensive center for the development of regional and unmanned aviation production and the production of the Baikal light multipurpose aircraft. The construction of a production building for the assembly of the Baikal aircraft with the necessary engineering infrastructure is being carried out on the advanced development area in close proximity to the Dzyomgi airfield and the facilities of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). Work on the site is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025. Construction of facilities for the production of the Baikal light aircraft began in January 2024. The project is being implemented on the instructions of President of the country Vladimir Putin and as part of the long-term development plan for Komsomolsk-on-Amur, the activities of which are included in the city’s master plan. Currently, the zero cycle work on the formation of the land plot is being completed, and the pouring of foundations continues. The total area of buildings and structures will be almost 10.4 thousand square meters. m. The complex will produce up to 20 aircraft per year. 80 jobs will be created.

    The developer of the Baikal aircraft is the Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UZGA). The aircraft will be manufactured by UZGA subsidiary Spetsaviatekhnika LLC, a resident of the Khabarovsk priority development area. It is planned that Baikal will be equipped with a domestic VK-800 engine. This aircraft is being created to improve the transport accessibility of remote regions of Russia and to develop local air routes. The key parameters of the aircraft were determined in accordance with the requirements of regional airlines: 2 tons of payload, flight range of 1.5 thousand km, cruising speed of 300 km/h.

    Yuri Trutnev also got acquainted with the work of the Amur Shipyard of USC, one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises in the Far East. During the inspection, the Deputy Prime Minister visited the slipway shop. The management of the enterprise reported on the orders under construction and prospective orders. The Deputy Prime Minister got acquainted with the progress of construction of the new dock-pontoon “Amurets” of project 65911, which is being built for the plant’s own needs as part of the USC dock program.

    The dock-pontoon was laid down in June 2023. Its main purpose is to ensure the removal of factory orders from the workshop and their transfer to the outfitting pier. The company has completed a large amount of work on the construction. On the dock-pontoon, the hull of which is currently being assembled on an open slipway, the assembly joints of the first three blocks have been thoroughly welded and presented to the register, and all assembly work on the fourth has been completed. In March, when the average daily temperature rises to normal, welding work on the dock-pontoon will resume, and the docking of the order hull will continue.

    The plant’s production program includes the construction of a floating transport dock for the transfer of plant orders to the outfitting base in Vladivostok and the reconstruction of the dockside unit of the plant’s outfitting complex. This will allow the enterprise to build a promising line of ships and vessels of greater width and tonnage than is currently possible, and to transport orders to the delivery base in Primorye using its own resources.

    Yuri Trutnev discussed with the General Director of the Amur Shipyard of USC Mikhail Borovsky the issues of the enterprise’s workload in terms of placing orders on the Amur Shipyard’s slipways for the development and maintenance of the oil and gas shelf – supply vessels and ice-class rescue vessels. The plant already has experience in building such orders: in 2018 and 2020, the plant built and handed over to the customer (OOO Gazprom Flot) two supply vessels for work with semi-submersible floating units. The built vessels belong to the highest class of automation and are capable of performing a wide range of tasks – from transporting goods and people to eliminating the consequences of natural disasters and extinguishing fires.

    At the commissioning base of the Amur Shipyard of USC, work is underway to prepare for testing the multifunctional emergency rescue vessel with a capacity of 7 MW, the Kerch Strait, which is being built to operate in high latitudes and has a sufficient margin of safety for sailing in freezing non-Arctic seas.

    “I always come to Komsomolsk-on-Amur with pleasure, because it is a working city. This is a city that protects our country. In this city, wonderful fighters are created, ships are built. We see how the work of the Amur Shipyard has changed. Previously, the enterprise had unresolved issues. And now, when the CEO reports that the enterprise is fully paying off its debts, that it is fully loaded with orders, this is, of course, great. This is good for Khabarovsk Krai, and for Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and for our entire country. The aircraft plant is fully loaded. Much remains to be done for small and large aviation. Work is going well on the Superjet-100 and fighters. We do not forget that we have debts to people for the construction of social facilities in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. And work in this direction will be accelerated. Now I have given a number of instructions and expect that the pace of work will be increased. The administration made a number of mistakes, including in the selection of contractors, but these miscalculations are of no interest to anyone. The main thing is that people get what they expect. We are trying to do this,” Yuri Trutnev summed up the results of his trip to Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Teachers and students of the NSU SUNC assessed the advantages of the new school buildings

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    It was completed last summer construction of first stage facilities, including an educational building and a leisure center Specialized educational and scientific center of NSU, better known to Novosibirsk residents as the Physics and Mathematics School or FMSh.

    Even at the construction stage, both the university management and representatives of the Novosibirsk Region government repeatedly emphasized that this was not just about new buildings, but about creating a new type of school using the most advanced technologies, both educational and engineering.

    — No school in the country has such equipment for conducting experimental classes, and only a few schools in the world can boast of this. This allows us to conduct training at the most advanced level, which, in turn, brings victories to the students of the physics and mathematics school at world Olympiads in various subjects. This focus on the best, which is the basis of the campus project, allows us to evaluate it as a world-class facility, — emphasized Vice-Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova during her latest visit to the construction site.

    Six months have passed, and teachers and students have been able to verify from their own experience how the school passage itself has changed after the move and whether the generous predictions about the new type of school have come true.

    — Work in the old and new buildings are as different as heaven and earth. In the old building, we organized training based on the principle of “it doesn’t matter where we gather, the main thing is that we are together and united by a common goal.” Now, we have at our disposal a multitude of tools, opportunities, and enough space to achieve maximum results in our work, — noted Roman Bredikhin, Associate Professor of the Chemistry Department of the NSU SUNC.

    Large spaces become the foundation for students’ creativity. They allow changing the configuration of study places in the classroom to suit the tasks of a specific lesson: separate tables for tests or exams, team tables for group work, and so on.

    Another advantage was the engineering infrastructure of the academic building.

    — For example, in chemical laboratories, individual equipment of workplaces is provided, right down to personal exhaust hoods and gas distribution to workplaces. This allows us to conduct experiments in an inert environment with protection from oxygen and moisture contained in the air, to carry out those syntheses and implement such projects that were unthinkable in the old building, — said Roman Bredikhin.

    As a result, the school staff faced a certain challenge: the new buildings make it possible to significantly expand the scope of projects carried out by schoolchildren.

    — In fact, we often suggest now: guys, let’s bring your idea to life and it will be a demonstration experiment that you will leave as a keepsake at school. And this approach finds a response, — concluded Roman Bredikhin.

    The students themselves agreed with his assessment of the changes in school life after the move.

    — Of course, the old building had its own atmosphere, which was formed by generations of previous graduates. But I like this building more — there is an emphasis on everything new, new classrooms, recreation areas, areas for a variety of leisure activities, and most importantly — there is enough space here to be able to be creative from the heart, both in terms of studying and in creativity outside of class, — shared his opinion Kirill Volodin, a student of class 11-4.

    — The area here is large and the buildings are impressive in their technological advancement. But at the same time, they are planned in such a way that everyone can find a place to immerse themselves in their project or study material, and nothing will disturb you. Of course, I, like many others, have certain pleasant memories associated with the old building, but I do not regret moving at all. I like studying in the new buildings much more, — added Polina Brezhneva, a student in class 11-5.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Adjusting Imports of Steel into The United States

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
     
    A PROCLAMATION

    1. On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to me a report on the Secretary’s investigation into the effect of imports of steel mill articles (steel articles) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862) (section 232).  The Secretary found and advised me of his opinion that steel articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.
    2. In Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), I concurred in the Secretary’s finding that steel articles, as defined in clause 1 of Proclamation 9705 (as amended by clause 8 of Proclamation 9711 of March 22, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States)), are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States, and decided to adjust the imports of steel articles by imposing a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on such articles imported from most countries.  Proclamation 9705 further stated that any country with which the United States has a security relationship is welcome to discuss alternative ways to address the threatened impairment of the national security caused by imports from that country, and noted that, should the United States and that country arrive at a satisfactory alternative means to address the threat to the national security such that the President determines that imports from that country no longer threaten to impair the national security, I may remove or modify the restriction on steel articles imports from that country and, if necessary, adjust the tariff as it applies to other countries, as the national security interests of the United States require.
    3. In Proclamation 9705, I also directed the Secretary to monitor imports of steel articles and inform me of any circumstances that in the Secretarys opinion might indicate the need for further action under Section 232, as amended, with respect to such imports.  Pursuant to Proclamation 9705, the Secretary was authorized to provide relief from the additional duties, based on a request from a directly affected party located in the United States, for any steel article determined not to be produced in the United States in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or of a satisfactory quality, or based upon specific national security considerations.

    In subsequent proclamations, I noted the conclusion of discussions or the agreement on certain measures with the Argentine Republic (Argentina), Proclamation 9759 of May 31, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), Proclamation 9759; the Federative Republic of Brazil (Brazil), Proclamation 9759; Proclamation 10064 of August 28, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Canada, Proclamation 9894 of May 19, 2019 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States; the United Mexican States (Mexico), Proclamation 9894; and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Proclamation 9740 of April 30, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States).  President Biden noted the conclusion of discussions or the agreement on certain measures with the European Union (EU) on behalf of its member countries, Proclamation 10328 of December 27, 2021 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Proclamation 10691 of December 28, 2023 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Japan, Proclamation 10356 of March 31, 2022 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); and the United Kingdom (UK), Proclamation 10406 of May 31, 2022 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), on alternative ways to address the threat to the national security.  In addition, then-President Biden acknowledged the close relationship with Ukraine and exempted steel articles from Ukraine from the tariff. Proclamation 10403 of May 27, 2022 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Proclamation 10588 of May 31, 2023 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States); Proclamation 10771 of May 31, 2024 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States).  In Proclamation 10783 of July 10, 2024 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), President Biden noted that imports of steel articles from Mexico had increased significantly as compared to their levels at the time of Proclamation 9894.  Accordingly, he implemented a melt and pour requirement for imports of steel articles that are products of Mexico and increased the section 232 duty rate for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles that are products of Mexico that are melted and poured in a country other than Mexico, Canada, or the United States.

    • The Secretary has informed me that the initial 25 percent ad valorem tariff imposed by Proclamation 9705 has been an effective means of reducing imports, encouraging investment and expansion of production by domestic steel producers, and mitigating the threatened impairment of U.S. national security.  Following the initial imposition of 25 percent ad valorem tariffs, the U.S. steel capacity utilization rate increased to above 80 percent.
    • The Secretary has also informed me that, notwithstanding the impact of the tariff imposed by Proclamation 9705, imports of steel articles from certain countries exempted from the tariff or subject to alternative agreements have increased significantly, while excess capacity in the global steel industry has begun to increase again in recent years.  For example, imports from Canada increased 18 percent since Canada was excluded from the section 232 tariffs.  According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), global steel excess capacity is projected to reach approximately 630 million metric tons by 2026, more than total steel production in all OECD countries.  At the same time, exports of steel from the People’s Republic of China (China) have recently surged, exceeding 114 million metric tons through November 2024 while displacing production in other countries and forcing them to export greater volumes of steel articles and derivative steel articles to the United States. 
    • Total steel imports as a share of U.S. consumption increased significantly in 2024, reaching nearly 30 percent, similar to the import share of U.S. consumption at the time the Secretary issued his January 11, 2018, report.  Imports from countries with which the United States has reached alternative agreements have increased significantly as a share of total imports, from 74 percent in 2018 to 82 percent in 2024, while imports from countries subject to quantitative restrictions remain elevated regardless of changing U.S. demand conditions and the substantial investments made to expand the capabilities of the domestic industry.  Increasing and persistently high import volumes from countries exempted from the duties or subject to other alternative agreements like quotas and tariff-rate quotas have captured the benefit of U.S. demand at the domestic industry’s expense and transmitted harmful effects onto the domestic industry.  As steel import market share has increased, the domestic industry’s performance has been depressed, resulting in capacity utilization rates persistently lower than the 80 percent target level highlighted in the Secretary’s report. 
    • The Secretary has informed me that imports of steel articles from Canada and Mexico have increased significantly to levels that once again threaten to impair U.S. national security.  Volumes from both Canada and Mexico increased overall, from 7.77 million metric tons in 2020 to 9.14 million metric tons in 2024.  Imports have also surged in excess of historical norms of trade across numerous key product lines, such as long reinforcing bars, which have experienced import increases of 1,678 percent from Mexico and 564 percent from Canada.  These surges have occurred while authorities in those countries have supported otherwise uncompetitive producers with subsidies and other interventions that have exacerbated the global excess capacity crisis.  In addition, increasing import volumes and including Mexico’s imports from China, support a conclusion that there is transshipment or further processing of steel mill articles from countries that remain subject to the additional ad valorem tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705, or from countries seeking to evade quantitative restrictions.
    • The Secretary has also informed me that alternative agreements with trading partners including Australia, the members of the EU, Japan, and the United Kingdom have been less effective in eliminating the threatened impairment of U.S. national security than the additional ad valorem tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705.  As a result, imports of steel articles from these countries have increased as a share of total U.S. steel imports from 18.6 percent in 2020 to 20.7 percent in 2024.  In addition, from 2022 to 2024, imports from countries subject to quotas (Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea) increased by approximately 1.5 million metric tons, even as U.S. demand declined by more than 6.1 million tons during the period.  Argentina has continued to export steel to the United States at unsustainable quantities, especially a recent surge of semifinished products. Furthermore, Argentina’s lack of data transparency has continued to be of concern for the United States.  From official trade statistics released by Argentina, it is difficult to assess the levels of steel being imported from places like China and Russia, and other potential sources of excess capacity. Brazilian imports from countries with meaningful levels of overcapacity, specifically China have grown tremendously in recent years, more than tripling since the institution of this quota arrangement. 
    • At the same time, these alternative agreements have not resulted in sufficient action by these trading partners to address non-market excess capacity caused primarily by China, or sufficient cooperation by these trading partners on issues like trade remedies and customs matters or monitoring bilateral steel trade.  Some countries have also welcomed steel industry investments from non-market producers in countries like China seeking to exploit the agreements to obtain preferential access to the U.S. market.  The agreements have therefore been detrimental to U.S. steel production and national security.
    • The Secretary has informed me of similar problems with respect to the temporary exemption for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine.  Rather than supporting the Ukrainian steel industry and alleviating the economic harm caused by the ongoing conflict, the benefits of this temporary exemption have accrued primarily to producers in EU member countries, which have significantly increased duty-free exports to the U.S. market of steel articles processed from Ukrainian semi-finished steel.  Since 2021, imports from Ukraine have remained steady at 0.5 percent of total U.S. imports, while imports from the European Union have increased 11.2 percent to 14.8 percent.  As a result of the temporary exemption, these imports enter the U.S. market subject to neither the ad valorem tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705, nor the tariff-rate-quota system applicable to other imports of steel articles from EU producers as proclaimed in Proclamation 10328.  This has facilitated evasion of both the section 232 measures and of antidumping duties that would be paid if the finished products were imported directly from Ukraine.
    • The Secretary has informed me that producers in countries that remain subject to the program have continued to evade the measures by processing covered steel articles into additional downstream steel derivative products that were not included in the additional ad valorem tariffs proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980 of January 24, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles and Derivative Steel Articles Into the United States).  Imports of products such as fabricated structural steel, prestressed concrete strand, and others, have increased significantly since the issuance of Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980, eroding the domestic industry’s customer base and resulting in depressed demand for steel articles produced in the United States.
    • The Secretary has also informed me of certain ongoing challenges with the product exclusion process authorized by Proclamation 9705, Proclamation 9777 of August 29, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), and Proclamation 9980 and implemented by subsequent regulations.  This process has resulted in exclusions for a significant volume of imports, in a manner that undermines the purpose of the section 232 measures and threatens to impair national security.  Certain general approved exclusions remain in effect for entire tariff lines of steel articles, notwithstanding the domestic industry’s potential to produce many excluded products. 
    • I determine that these developments and modifications to the tariffs announced in Proclamation 9705 have undermined the program’s national security objectives by preventing the domestic steel industry from achieving sustained production capacity utilization of at least 80 percent, as determined necessary in the Secretary’s report of January 11, 2018.  I also determine that they have failed to achieve their articulated objectives.  As a result, I determine that they have resulted in significantly increasing imports of steel articles that threaten to impair the national security.    
    • In light of the Secretary’s findings regarding the alternative agreements with South Korea proclaimed in Proclamation 9740; Argentina, Australia, and Brazil proclaimed in Proclamation 9759; Canada and Mexico proclaimed in Proclamation 9894; EU countries proclaimed in Proclamation 10328; Japan proclaimed in Proclamation 10356; and the United Kingdom proclaimed in Proclamation 10406, I have revisited the determinations in these proclamations.  In my judgment, the arrangements with these countries have failed to provide effective, long-term alternative means to address these countries’ contribution to the threatened impairment to the national security by restraining steel articles exports to the United States from each of them, limiting transshipment and surges and distorted pricing, and discouraging excess steel capacity and excess steel production. Thus, I have determined that steel articles imports from these countries threaten to impair the national security, and I have decided that it is necessary to terminate these arrangements as of March 12, 2025.  As of that date, all imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, EU countries, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom shall be subject to the additional ad valorem tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 with respect to steel articles and Proclamation 9980 with respect to derivative steel articles.  In my judgment, these modifications are necessary to address the significantly increasing share of imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from these sources, which threaten to impair U.S. national security.  Replacing the alternative agreements with the additional ad valorem tariffs will be a more robust and effective means of ensuring that the objectives articulated in the Secretary’s January 11, 2018, report and subsequent proclamations are achieved.
    • For the same reasons, I have also revisited the determinations in Proclamation 10403, Proclamation 10558, and Proclamation 10771.  In my judgment, the arrangement with Ukraine has failed to provide effective, long-term alternative means to address Ukraine’s contribution to the threatened impairment to our national security by restraining steel articles exports to the United States from Ukraine, limiting transshipment and surges, and discouraging excess steel capacity and excess steel production. Thus, I have determined that steel articles imports from Ukraine threaten to impair the national security and have determined that it is necessary to terminate the temporary exemption for imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine as proclaimed in Proclamation 10403, Proclamation 10558, and Proclamation 10771.  In my judgment, terminating this exemption will prevent abuses that have resulted in significantly increasing imports from sources other than Ukraine, will prevent evasion of antidumping duties, and will support the domestic steel industry without harming Ukraine’s economic recovery. 
    • In light of the information provided by the Secretary that significantly increasing imports of certain derivative steel articles have depressed demand for steel articles produced by domestic steel producers, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate in light of U.S. national security interests to adjust the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980 to apply to additional derivative steel articles.  As of March 12, 2025, the additional derivative steel articles covered by this proclamation, as set out in Annex I to this proclamation, shall be subject to the ad valorem duties proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980, except for derivative steel articles processed in another country from steel articles that were melted and poured in the United States.  For any derivative steel article identified in Annex I that is not in Chapter 73 of the HTSUS, the additional ad valorem duty shall apply only to the steel content of the derivative steel article.  The Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register to this effect, including Annex I to this proclamation. 
    • The Secretary has informed me that his findings with regard to the product exclusion process present circumstances that in the Secretary’s opinion indicate the need for further action by the President under section 232.  Accordingly, as of the date of this proclamation the Secretary is no longer authorized to provide relief from the additional duties set forth in clause 2 of Proclamation 9705 for any steel article determined not to be produced in the United States in a sufficient and reasonably available amount or a satisfactory quality or based on specific national security determinations, and the product exclusion process as authorized in clause 3 of Proclamation 9705, clause 1 of Proclamation 9777, and clause 2 of Proclamation 9980 is terminated, effective immediately.  I have determined that terminating product exclusions is necessary to ensure that overly broad exclusions do not allow high volumes of imports to undermine the objectives articulated in the Secretary’s January 11, 2018, report and relevant subsequent proclamations.  This change will also relieve the administrative burden that the process has created.  Following this proclamation, and subject to any restrictions set forth in or pursuant to other provisions of applicable law, imports of any steel article or derivative steel article from any source and in any quantity will be available to U.S. importers, provided that the additional ad valorem tariffs are paid upon entry or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption.
    • Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, authorizes the President to take action to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives if the President concurs with the Secretary’s finding that the article is being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security. 
    • Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the president to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.

    20.  The United States will monitor the implementation and effectiveness of these actions in addressing our national security needs, and I may revisit this determination, as appropriate.

         NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, and section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows: 

    • The provisions of Proclamation 9740 with respect to imports of steel articles from South Korea; Proclamation 9759 with respect to imports of steel articles from Argentina, Australia, and Brazil; Proclamation 10064 with respect to imports of steel articles from Brazil; Proclamation 9894 with respect to imports of steel articles from Canada and Mexico; Proclamation 10783 with respect to imports of steel articles from Mexico; Proclamation 10328 and Proclamation 10691 with respect to imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from the EU; Proclamation 10356 with respect to imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Japan; Proclamation 10406 with respect to imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from the United Kingdom; and Proclamation 10403, Proclamation 10558, and Proclamation 10771 with respect to steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine shall be ineffective as of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025.  The provisions of clause 1 of Proclamation 9740 as applicable to imports of steel articles or derivative steel articles from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and EU member countries shall be ineffective as of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025.  The provisions of clause 1 of Proclamation 9980 as applicable to imports of derivative steel articles from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea shall be ineffective as of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025.  As of 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025, all imports of steel articles and derivative steel articles from these countries shall be subject to the additional ad valorem tariffs proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 and Proclamation 9980.
    • Clause 2 of Proclamation 9705, as amended, is revised to read as follows:

    (2)(a)  In order to establish certain modifications to the duty rate on imports of steel articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in the forthcoming annex to this proclamation set out in a subsequent Federal Register notice and any subsequent proclamations regarding such steel articles.

         (b)  Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, or in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, all steel articles imports covered by heading 9903.80.01, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows: (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 23, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and the member countries of the European Union; (ii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and South Korea; (iii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on August 13, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey; (iv) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on May 20, 2019, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey; (v) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on May 21, 2019, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea; (vi) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on January 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive; (vii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on April 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.80, inclusive; (viii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan and the United Kingdom (UK), for steel articles covered by subheadings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.78 and heading 9903.81.80, and from the member countries of the European Union, for steel articles covered by heading 9903.81.81; (ix) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2024, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan and the UK, for steel articles covered by subheadings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.78 and heading 9903.81.80, and from the member countries of the European Union, for steel articles covered by heading 9903.81.81, and from the member countries of the European Union where the steel used in the manufacture of the steel article is melted and poured in Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2024, (x) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on January 1, 2024, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except for Ukraine in accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended, and except the member countries of the European Union in accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan and the UK , in accordance the relevant proclamation as amended, for steel articles covered by subheadings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.78 and heading 9903.81.80, and from the member countries of the European Union in accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended, for steel articles covered by heading 9903.81.81, and from the member countries of the European Union where the steel used in the manufacture of the steel article is melted and poured in Ukraine in accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended, and (xi) from all countries on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 12, 2025, unless suspended. Further, except as otherwise provided in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, all steel articles imports from Turkey covered by heading 9903.80.02, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to a 50 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on August 13, 2018, and prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern time on May 21, 2019.  These rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported steel articles, shall apply to imports of steel articles from each country as specified in the preceding three sentences.

    • The first two sentences of clause 1 of Proclamation 9980 are revised to read as follows:

    In order to establish increases in the duty rate on imports of certain derivative articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in Annex I and Annex II to this proclamation.  Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of derivative aluminum articles specified in Annex I to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 10 percent ad valorem rate of duty, and all imports of derivative steel articles specified in Annex II to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty, with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows: (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on February 8, 2020, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), Canada, and the United Mexican States (Mexico), and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea; (ii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on January 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, and South Korea; (iii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on April 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea; (iv) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, and the UK, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK, and except from Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023; (v) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on March 10, 2023, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, the UK, and Russia, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK, and except from Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023; (vi) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern time on June 1, 2023, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, the UK, and Russia, and to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK, and except from Ukraine om accordance with the relevant proclamation as amended; and (vii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 12, 2025, unless suspended, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex II to this proclamation from all countries.”

    • Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of derivative steel articles specified in Annex I to this proclamation or in any subsequent annex to this proclamation, as set out in a subsequent notice in the Federal Register, shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty, with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on the Commerce certification date in clause 8. These rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, taxes, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative steel articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries, but shall not apply to derivative steel articles processed in another country from steel articles that were melted and poured in the United States. The Secretary shall continue to monitor imports of the derivative articles described in Annex I to this proclamation, and shall, from time to time, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, review the status of such imports with respect to the national security of the United States.
    • For purposes of implementing the requirements in this proclamation, importers of steel derivative articles shall provide to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol within the Department of Homeland Security (CBP) any information necessary to identify the steel content used in the manufacture of steel derivative articles imports, covered by this Proclamation. CBP shall implement the information requirements as soon as practicable.
    • Within 90 days after the date of this proclamation, the Secretary shall establish a process for including additional derivative steel articles within the scope of the ad valorem duties proclaimed in Proclamation 9705, Proclamation 9980, and clause 4 of this proclamation.  In addition to inclusions made by the Secretary, this process shall provide for including additional derivative steel articles at the request of a producer of a steel article or derivative steel article, or an industry association representing one or more such producers, where the request establishes that imports of a derivative steel article have increased in a manner that threatens to impair the national security or otherwise undermine the objectives set forth in the Secretary’s January 11, 2018, report or any Proclamation issued pursuant thereto.  When the Secretary receives such a request from a domestic producer or industry association, the Secretary shall issue a determination regarding whether or not to include the derivative steel article or articles within 60 days of receiving the request. 
    • The provisions of clause 3 of Proclamation 9705, clause 1 of Proclamation 9777, clause 2 of Proclamation 9980, or any other provisions authorizing the Secretary to grant relief for certain products from the additional ad valorem duties or quantitative restrictions set forth in prior proclamations are hereby revoked.  As of 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the date of this proclamation, the Secretary shall not consider any product exclusion requests or renew any product exclusion requests in effect as of that date.  The Secretary shall take all necessary action to rescind the product exclusion process, including publication in the Federal Register.  Granted product exclusions shall remain effective until their expiration date or until excluded product volume is imported, whichever occurs first.  The Secretary shall terminate all existing general approved exclusions as of March 12, 2025.   
    • The modifications made by this proclamation in clause 4 shall be effective upon public notification by the Secretary of Commerce, that adequate systems are in place to fully, efficiently, and expediently process and collect tariff revenue for covered articles.
    • Any steel article or derivative article, except those eligible for admission under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, that is subject to the duty imposed by this proclamation and that is admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 12, 2025, must be admitted as “privileged foreign status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, and will be subject upon entry for consumption to any ad valorem rates of duty related to the classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading.  Any steel article or derivative steel article, except those eligible for admission under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, that is subject to the duty imposed by this proclamation, and that was admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 12, 2025 , will likewise be subject upon entry for consumption to any ad valorem rates of duty related to the classification under the applicable HTSUS subheading added by this proclamation.  Pursuant to clause 8, the duties on steel derivatives established by clause 4 of this Proclamation shall be suspended until public notification by the Secretary of Commerce that adequate systems are in place to fully, efficiently, and expediently process and collect tariff revenue applicable to covered articles.
    • Any product listed in Annex Ito this proclamation or any subsequent annex published in the Federal Register pursuant to this Proclamation, that is subject to the additional duties imposed by this proclamation, and that is admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone, except any product that is eligible for admission under “domestic status” as defined in 19 CFR 146.43, may only be admitted as “privileged foreign status,” as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, effective as of the date that the additional duties are imposed.
    • The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of CBP, Security, and the heads of other relevant executive departments and agencies, shall revise the HTSUS so that it conforms to the amendments and effective dates directed in this proclamation within ten days of March 12, 2025.  The Secretary is authorized and directed to publish any such modification and future modifications to the HTSUS in the Federal Register.
    • CBP shall prioritize reviews of the classification of imported steel articles and derivative steel articles and, in the event that it discovers misclassification resulting in non-payment of the ad valorem duties proclaimed herein, it shall assess monetary penalties in the maximum amount permitted by law and shall not consider any evidence of mitigating factors in its determination.  In addition, CBP shall promptly notify the Secretary regarding evidence of any efforts to evade payment of the ad valorem duties proclaimed herein through processing or alteration of steel articles or derivative steel articles prior to importation.  In such circumstances, the Secretary shall consider the processed or altered steel articles or derivative steel articles for inclusion as derivative steel articles pursuant to clause 5 of this proclamation.
    • No drawback shall be available with respect to the duties imposed pursuant to this proclamation.

    (14)  The Secretary may issue regulations and guidance consistent with this proclamation, including to address operational necessity.

    (15) Any provision of a previous proclamation or Executive Order that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

    tenth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – New book tells the stories of second generation migrants – AMES

    Source: AMES

    A compelling new book tells the stories of second-generation migrant Australians, who share their families’ settlement journeys and their own search for identity.

    Titled ‘At the Heart of Identity’, the book reveals the both inspirational and heart-wrenching stories of migrant families as well as the sense of hope and opportunity that characterises Australia’s migration history.

    Contributors include South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, whose family hails from Lithuania, and former Socceroo Archie Thompson, who has a New Zealand-born father and mother from Papua New Guinea.

    Also sharing their stories are federal MP Cassandra Fernando, whose parents are from Sri Lanka, and Victorian state MP Lee Tarlamis, who has Greek heritage.

    Artist Saidin Salkic, whose father was victim of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia, is also a contributor, along with others from Africa, Kurdistan, Vietnam, Malta, Yugoslavia, Burma, Italy and Ukraine.

    Published today as part of migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia’s annual ‘Heartlands’ cultural project, the book is a reflection of Australia’s long and diverse history as a nation of migrants.

    AMES CEO Cath Scarth said the book was timely at a point in history when polarisation and divisiveness are on the rise across the globe.

    “Stories of settlement in Australia, no matter where you have come from, are things that unite us,” Ms Scarth said.

    “These stories are reflection of how migrants have helped to build Australia and helped to create the successful brand of multiculturalism we enjoy along with the high levels of social cohesion that we have built,” she said.

    One of the contributors is Carmen Capp-Calleya, who came to Australia from Malta with her parents in 1958 – surviving a shipwreck along the way.

    “The tragic incident, the first major shipping disaster since the end of WW11, had an enduring impact on me and my family. It left us with an indelible sense that we were indeed migrants who had crossed the seas to make a new life,” she says in the book.

    Former Socceroo Archie Thompson tells of his trouble childhood.

    “I grew up in country town in NSW and I was pretty much the only dark-skinned kid in town. That made things difficult at times, but I was able to find a community through football,” he says.

    SA Premier Peter Malinauskas’ family came to Australia in 1949 escaping war-torn Europe.

    “When my grandparents got married, they bought a block of land on Trimmer Parade, Seaton, where they built their home and, for many years, operated a fish and chip shop. I distinctly remember as a young boy standing at that fish and chip shop my grandfather built with his own bare hands as he told me about the importance of taking opportunities,” he says.

    Federal MP Cassandra Fernando tells of growing up in a vibrant multicultural community.

    “I loved the diversity in South-East Melbourne, a cultural melting pot of Greeks, Italians, Vietnamese, and more. Here, I learned the true meaning of community as people from

    different backgrounds came together,” she says.

    Victorian MP Lee Tarlamis tells of reconnecting with his heritage.

    “I became determined to reconnect with Greek culture. Embracing both the Greek community and my wife’s Vietnamese culture helped me value diversity and the importance of preserving it,” he says in the book.

    Park Ranger James Brincat, whose parts came from Malta in the 1950s, says racism was part of his childhood.

    “Growing up in a migrant family was challenging due to racism and being unsure of my identity because of the media’s mixed messages. These experiences strengthened me and now guide my work with refugee communities,” he says.

    Architect and artist Maru Jarockyj’s parents fled Ukraine after WWII and settled in the UK. She came to Australia as a young woman.

    “Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent devastating war has sparked some deep latent emotions in me and reignited a sense of patriotism. Ukrainian culture

    has always been important to me, and I’ve been involved in folk music and art throughout my life,” she says.

    ‘At the Heart of Identity’ will go on sale early next year.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News

  • MIL-Evening Report: What are physician assistants? Can they fix the doctor shortage?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Nissen, HERA Program Director – Health Workforce Optimisation Centre for the Business & Economics of Health, The University of Queensland

    Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

    If you’ve tried to get an appointment to see a GP or specialist recently, you will likely have felt the impact of Australia’s doctor shortages.

    To alleviate workforce shortages, the Queensland government is considering introducing health workers called physician assistants more widely to the state’s health system.

    But the medical body representing physicians, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, has warned thorough consultation with medical experts is needed first.

    So what exactly are physician assistants? And are they the solution to our workforce issues we’ve been looking for? Let’s look at what the evidence says – and the lessons from abroad.

    What is a physician assistant?

    Physician assistants, also known as physician associates, are trained health professionals who work under the supervision of a doctor. They undertake a variety of tasks including:

    • examining patients
    • ordering and interpreting blood tests
    • assisting in surgery
    • prescribing medicines.

    In general practice, physician assistants may also provide preventative health care such as giving vaccinations and providing health advice.

    Physician assistants commonly complete postgraduate-level university education and a hands-on training program. They may also need to have completed a health-based undergraduate degree.

    In most countries, physician assistants work under a “delegation” model. This means the treating doctor and physician assistant together determine the tasks the physician assistant can undertake, depending on their competence. As their skills and knowledge increase, the level of supervision changes accordingly.

    When were they first used?

    Similar roles have been used throughout history, including in the military. As early as the 1800s, trained assistants known as feldshers (or feldschers) provided basic medical care during times of war, for example in Russia, Bulgaria and Poland.

    The contemporary physician assistant role evolved in the 1960s in the United States. It was initially designed to use the skills of medically trained military servicemen.

    The first physician assistants were military servicemen.
    Andy Gin/Shutterstock

    Since then, it has become an accepted and well established part of the health care team in the US, where the medical profession supports the physician assistant role and contributes to its regulation.

    There are currently more than 178,000 physician assistants practising in the US, across a wide range of settings. Around one-quarter work in family/general medicine and one-fifth in rural and medically under-served areas.

    Physician assistants can be found in many countries, including Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.

    Australia previously trialled physician assistant in two states, Queensland and South Australia. Like other countries, the role was found to be effective and acceptable.

    What does the research say about their use?

    Most research about physician assistants originates from the US. Studies spanning several decades show physician assistants provide safe and appropriate care. They can competently undertake consultations, perform complex procedures, provide preventative health care, treat non-complex patients in the emergency department and provide a wide range of services in rural areas.

    Most studies have reported patient satisfaction with the physician assistant role.

    Research has found it’s cost-effective to use physician assistants, including for complex patients.

    Physician assistants can improve the continuity of patient care in hospitals, as they remain with their supervising doctor rather than moving between hospital areas as trainee doctors do. This enables them to maintain consistent contact with patients, their families and other members of the health-care team.

    Using physician assistants in emergency departments enables doctors to review more complex patients.

    In surgery, physician assistants can reduce the workload on resident doctors. They can prepare patients for surgery, review them afterwards and perform some surgical procedures. They can also reduce the time patients stay in hospital.

    Physician assistants can also provide care in rural and remote areas and have worked with Aboriginal health workers in remote areas of Australia.

    What do Australian policymakers need to consider?

    Like many other countries, the Australian health workforce is under pressure. Recent reviews have highlighted the need to examine how the health system and workforce can more effectively meet the needs of the community. This includes making better use of all current health professions by enabling them to perform the tasks they have been trained to do.

    Health professionals must ensure their care keeps patients safe and aligns with public expectations. This relies on appropriate education and training, funding and payment policies, governance and regulation. Effective regulation ensures health professionals are held accountable for their practice, according to defined professional practice expectations.

    Despite physician assistants being trialled in Queensland and SA, the role did not gain the support of the medical profession. As a result, only a small number of physician assistants are currently practising. And Australia no longer provides education programs for physician assistants.

    Several factors affected the acceptance of the physician assistant role.

    Their skills and competence weren’t widely understood or recognised. This meant their scope of practice was poorly defined, which may have been confusing for both patients and health professionals.

    The profession was also unable to access Medicare rebates or Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidies for patient consultations or scripts. This limited their full involvement in some health services such as general practice.

    What could we do better?

    Australia needs to learn from the available evidence when considering a possible role for physician assistants.

    In the US and Canada, for example, a close relationship between the medical and physician assistant professions has provided guidance and support for the role, and ensured physician assistants are accountable for their practice, through the development of “expected standards” of practice.

    As demand for health services increases, it makes sense to explore the addition of physician assistants to Australia’s health-care workforce, if safety and quality can be assured, and health care teams function optimally.

    Lisa Nissen receives funding from the Commonwealth Department and Aging and jurisdictional health departments for research related to Health Workforce Optimization and team based care.

    Lynda Cardiff 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. What are physician assistants? Can they fix the doctor shortage? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-physician-assistants-can-they-fix-the-doctor-shortage-247560

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia-US ties ‘on verge of rupture’

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Russian national flag waves at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Relations between Russia and the United States are “on the verge of rupture,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday.

    Moscow has repeatedly warned that bilateral relations were on the brink of rupture, Ryabkov said, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House could lead to a change in U.S. foreign policy.

    At a press briefing, the diplomat also said there were currently no plans for contact between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump.

    “However, the topic does exist, and as the situation becomes clearer, I believe there will be agreements on this matter and they will be announced … at the appropriate time,” Ryabkov said.

    At the same time, Ryabkov said that the new U.S. administration has expressed interest in resuming dialogue with Moscow.

    “Trump’s team, despite the conflicting statements made by him and his people, has at least shown interest in resuming dialogue with Russia, which was interrupted by the Democrats,” Ryabkov said.

    He reiterated that Moscow remains ready for dialogue, including discussions on a potential settlement of the Ukraine crisis, however, such dialogue would only be possible based on equality and mutually acceptable terms.

    “A small window of opportunity” has emerged under the Trump administration for normalizing bilateral ties, he said, adding that Washington must decide whether to take advantage of this.

    The use of ultimatums, provocative remarks, or attempts to pressure Moscow into accepting unreasonable demands will not be effective for Russia-U.S. relations or dialogue between the two countries, he added.

    The New York Post reported late Saturday that Trump said he had discussed the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by phone with Putin.

    However, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday he could “neither confirm nor deny” that Putin and Trump had been in touch when asked by reporters if the two leaders had spoken by phone.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Global: As Trump abandons the old world order, NZ must find its place in a new ‘Pax Autocratica’

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Chris Ogden, Associate Professor in Global Studies, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Donald Trump is moving rapidly to change the contours of contemporary international affairs, with the old US-dominated world order breaking down into a multipolar one with many centres of power.

    The shift already includes the US leaving the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords, questioning the value of the United Nations, and radical cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

    Such a new geopolitical age also involves an assertion of raw power, with Trump using the threat of tariffs to assert global authority and negotiating positions.

    While the US is not significantly less powerful, this new era may see it wield that power in more openly self-interested and isolationist ways. As new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio put it in January, “the post-war global order is not just obsolete – it is now a weapon being used against us”.

    With global democracy in retreat, the emerging international order looks to be moving in an authoritarian direction. As it does, the position of New Zealand’s vibrant democracy will come under mounting pressure.

    But world orders have come and gone for millennia, reflecting the ebb and flow of global economic, political and military power. Looking back to previous eras, and how countries and cultures responded to shifting geopolitical realities, can help us understand what is happening more clearly.

    An evolving world order

    Previous orders have often focused on specific centres – or “poles” – of power. These include the Concert of Europe from 1814 to 1914, the bipolar world of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, and the unipolar world of American dominance after the end of the Cold War and since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

    Periods of single-power dominance (or hegemony) are referred to as a “pax”, from the Latin for “peace”. We have seen the Pax Romana of the Roman Empire (27 BCE to 180 AD), multiple Pax Sinicas around China (most recently the Qing Dynasty 1644 to 1912), Pax Mongolica (the Mongol Empire from 1271 to 1368) and Pax Britannica (the British Empire from 1815 to 1924).

    It is the Pax Americana of the US, from 1945 to the present, that Trump seems bent on dismantling. We now live in an international order that is visibly in flux. With autocracy on the rise and the US at its vanguard, a “Pax Autocratica” is emerging.

    This is accentuated by the rapid rise of Asia as the main sphere of economic and military growth, particularly China and India. The world’s two most populous countries had the world’s largest and third largest economies respectively in 2023, and the second and fourth highest levels of military spending.

    The simultaneous rise of multiple power centres was already challenging the Pax Americana. Now, a new international order appears to be a certainty, with Trump openly adapting to multipolarity. Several major powers now compete for global influence, rather than any one country dominating.

    China’s preference for a multipolar international order is shared by India and Russia. Without one dominant entity, it will be the political and social basis of this order, as determined by its major actors, that matters most – not who leads it.

    Pax Democratica

    The current (now waning) international order has been underpinned by specific social, political and economic values stemming from the national identity and historical experience of the US.

    According to US political expert G. John Ikenberry, former president Woodrow Wilson’s agenda for peace after the first world war sought to “reflect distinctive American ideas and ideals”.

    Woodrow imagined an order based on collective security and shared sovereignty, liberal principles of democracy and universal human rights, free trade and international law.

    As its dominance and military strength increased in the 20th century, the US also provided security to other countries. Such power enabled Washington to create open global trade markets, as well as build core global institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, United Nations and NATO.

    For Ikenberry, this Pax Americana (we might call it a Pax Democratica) rested on consent to the US’s “provision of security, wealth creation, and social advancement”. This was aided by the its more than 800 military bases in over 80 countries.

    The democratic deficit

    Trump undercuts the central tenets of this liberal world order and accelerates a slide towards authoritarianism. Like Russia, India and China, the US is also actively constraining human rights, attacking minorities and weakening its electoral system.

    This democratic retreat leaves a country such as New Zealand in a global minority. If Trump targets the region or country with economic tariffs, that precariousness might increase.

    On the other hand, previous world orders have not been truly hegemonic. Pax Britannica did not encompass the entire world. Nor did Pax Americana, which didn’t include China, India, the former Soviet bloc, much of the Islamic world and many developing countries.

    This suggests pockets of democracy can survive within a Pax Autocratica, especially in a multipolar world which is more tolerant of political independence.

    The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 Democracy Index ranked New Zealand, the Nordic countries, Switzerland, Iceland and Ireland highest because their citizens

    choose their political leaders in free and fair elections, enjoy civil liberties, prefer democracy over other political systems, can and do participate in politics, and have a functioning government that acts on their behalf.

    It is these countries that can be at the vanguard of democratic resilience.

    Chris Ogden is a Senior Research Fellow with The Foreign Policy Centre, London.

    ref. As Trump abandons the old world order, NZ must find its place in a new ‘Pax Autocratica’ – https://theconversation.com/as-trump-abandons-the-old-world-order-nz-must-find-its-place-in-a-new-pax-autocratica-249358

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-Evening Report: As Trump abandons the old world order, NZ must find its place in a new ‘Pax Autocratica’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Ogden, Associate Professor in Global Studies, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    Donald Trump is moving rapidly to change the contours of contemporary international affairs, with the old US-dominated world order breaking down into a multipolar one with many centres of power.

    The shift already includes the US leaving the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords, questioning the value of the United Nations, and radical cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

    Such a new geopolitical age also involves an assertion of raw power, with Trump using the threat of tariffs to assert global authority and negotiating positions.

    While the US is not significantly less powerful, this new era may see it wield that power in more openly self-interested and isolationist ways. As new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio put it in January, “the post-war global order is not just obsolete – it is now a weapon being used against us”.

    With global democracy in retreat, the emerging international order looks to be moving in an authoritarian direction. As it does, the position of New Zealand’s vibrant democracy will come under mounting pressure.

    But world orders have come and gone for millennia, reflecting the ebb and flow of global economic, political and military power. Looking back to previous eras, and how countries and cultures responded to shifting geopolitical realities, can help us understand what is happening more clearly.

    An evolving world order

    Previous orders have often focused on specific centres – or “poles” – of power. These include the Concert of Europe from 1814 to 1914, the bipolar world of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union, and the unipolar world of American dominance after the end of the Cold War and since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

    Periods of single-power dominance (or hegemony) are referred to as a “pax”, from the Latin for “peace”. We have seen the Pax Romana of the Roman Empire (27 BCE to 180 AD), multiple Pax Sinicas around China (most recently the Qing Dynasty 1644 to 1912), Pax Mongolica (the Mongol Empire from 1271 to 1368) and Pax Britannica (the British Empire from 1815 to 1924).

    It is the Pax Americana of the US, from 1945 to the present, that Trump seems bent on dismantling. We now live in an international order that is visibly in flux. With autocracy on the rise and the US at is vanguard, a “Pax Autocratica” is emerging.

    This is accentuated by the rapid rise of Asia as the main sphere of economic and military growth, particularly China and India. The world’s two most populous countries had the world’s largest and third largest economies respectively in 2023, and the second and fourth highest levels of military spending.

    The simultaneous rise of multiple power centres was already challenging the Pax Americana. Now, a new international order appears to be a certainty, with Trump openly adapting to multipolarity. Several major powers now compete for global influence, rather than any one country dominating.

    China’s preference for a multipolar international order is shared by India and Russia. Without one dominant entity, it will be the political and social basis of this order, as determined by its major actors, that matters most – not who leads it.

    Pax Democratica

    The current (now waning) international order has been underpinned by specific social, political and economic values stemming from the national identity and historical experience of the US.

    According to US political expert G. John Ikenberry, former president Woodrow Wilson’s agenda for peace after the first world war sought to “reflect distinctive American ideas and ideals”.

    Woodrow imagined an order based on collective security and shared sovereignty, liberal principles of democracy and universal human rights, free trade and international law.

    As its dominance and military strength increased in the 20th century, the US also provided security to other countries. Such power enabled Washington to create open global trade markets, as well as build core global institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, United Nations and NATO.

    For Ikenberry, this Pax Americana (we might call it a Pax Democratica) rested on consent to the US’s “provision of security, wealth creation, and social advancement”. This was aided by the its more than 800 military bases in over 80 countries.

    The democratic deficit

    Trump undercuts the central tenets of this liberal world order and accelerates a slide towards authoritarianism. Like Russia, India and China, the US is also actively constraining human rights, attacking minorities and weakening its electoral system.

    This democratic retreat leaves a country such as New Zealand in a global minority. If Trump targets the region or country with economic tariffs, that precariousness might increase.

    On the other hand, previous world orders have not been truly hegemonic. Pax Britannica did not encompass the entire world. Nor did Pax Americana, which didn’t include China, India, the former Soviet bloc, much of the Islamic world and many developing countries.

    This suggests pockets of democracy can survive within a Pax Autocratica, especially in a multipolar world which is more tolerant of political independence.

    The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2023 Democracy Index ranked New Zealand, the Nordic countries, Switzerland, Iceland and Ireland highest because their citizens

    choose their political leaders in free and fair elections, enjoy civil liberties, prefer democracy over other political systems, can and do participate in politics, and have a functioning government that acts on their behalf.

    It is these countries that can be at the vanguard of democratic resilience.

    Chris Ogden is a Senior Research Fellow with The Foreign Policy Centre, London.

    ref. As Trump abandons the old world order, NZ must find its place in a new ‘Pax Autocratica’ – https://theconversation.com/as-trump-abandons-the-old-world-order-nz-must-find-its-place-in-a-new-pax-autocratica-249358

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Russia: MIL Analysis – Five best articles in Russian for 10.02.2025

    MIL Analysis: Here are the top five Russian language articles published today. The analysis consists of five articles that are prioritized at the moment.

    Today’s analysis provides us with economic performance and engagement with different communities. There is also a trend towards respect for human rights. The economy in China is growing and prospering.

    Education is increasing computerization skills and introducing artificial intelligence.

    “Samaraneftegaz” shows the innovative activities of Rosneft. Oil reserves have grown. In addition, science is developing day by day, so NSU scientists have developed a technique for measuring ultra-low concentrations of radioactive substances.

    Below you can read one of the articles.

    1. Financial news: Rules for managing conflicts of interest for NPFs.

    Non-state pension funds (NPFs) will be required to identify and manage conflicts of interest. Funds will be able to allow conflicts to arise only if they have notified their clients and their rights are not violated. The Ministry of Justice of Russia has registered the corresponding decree of the Bank of Russia.

    2. Cultural Code of the Celestial Empire: How to Do Business in China.

    Higher School of Economics

    By 2035, China will overtake the US in terms of GDP and become the world’s largest economy. Today, there are over 108 million entrepreneurs and 50 million industrial enterprises in this country. Last year, the economy grew by 4.8%. This opens up unique opportunities for Russian companies. Vysshka experts tell us how to enter one of the most promising markets.

    3. Vyshka launches advanced training course on AI in education.

    The Computer Science Department of the National Research University Higher School of Economics is launching an advanced training course on artificial intelligence in education. The program is designed for educators, teachers, methodologists planning to integrate AI technologies into the educational process, as well as for management teams of educational institutions interested in improving educational processes through the introduction of AI.

    4. “Samaraneftegaz replenished oil reserves by 180%.

    “Samaraneftegaz (part of Rosneft’s oil production complex) added 19 million tons of commercial oil reserves by the end of 2024, which made it possible to replenish oil production 1.8 times.

    5. NSU scientists have developed a methodology for determining ultra-low concentrations of radioactive substances.

    Scientists of the Physics Department of Novosibirsk State University have developed a technique for measuring ultra-small concentrations of radioactive substances whose decay is accompanied by gamma radiation. Data collection is carried out using a detector made of ultrapure germanium, which is part of the equipment of the NSU Interdepartmental Laboratory of Atomic Physics and Spectrometry; a special hardware and software system has been created for data processing. The first project implemented with the use of this technique is research work to determine the level of radioactive substances (radon) in the soil of mines and coal mines in the Kemerovo region.

    Learn more about MIL’s content and data services by visiting milnz.co.nz.

    Regards MIL!

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: Astera Labs Announces Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Record quarterly revenue of $141.1 million, up 25% QoQ and up 179% YoY
    • Fiscal 2024 record revenue of $396.3 million, up 242% versus the prior year
    • Ramping across diverse set of customers and platforms with four product families in fiscal 2025

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Astera Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALAB), a global leader in semiconductor-based connectivity solutions for cloud and AI infrastructure, today announced preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2024, ended December 31, 2024.

    “Astera Labs delivered strong Q4 results, with revenue growing 25% versus the previous quarter, and capped off a stellar 2024 with 242% revenue growth year-over-year,” said Jitendra Mohan, Astera Labs’ Chief Executive Officer. “The revenue growth in 2024 was largely driven by Aries PCIe Retimer products, with Taurus Smart Cable Modules for Ethernet coming in strongly in Q4. We expect 2025 to be a breakout year as we enter a new phase of growth driven by revenue from all four of our product families to support a diverse set of customers and platforms. This includes our flagship Scorpio Fabric products for head-node PCIe connectivity and backend AI accelerator scale-up clustering.”

    Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2024 Financial Highlights

    GAAP Financial Results:  

    • Revenue of $141.1 million, up 25% sequentially and up 179% year-over-year
    • GAAP gross margin of 74.0%
    • GAAP operating income of $0.1 million
    • GAAP operating margin of 0.1%
    • GAAP net income of $24.7 million
    • GAAP diluted net earnings per share of $0.14

    Non-GAAP Financial Results (excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense and the income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments):

    • Non-GAAP gross margin of 74.1%
    • Non-GAAP operating income of $48.4 million
    • Non-GAAP operating margin of 34.3%
    • Non-GAAP net income of $66.5 million
    • Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.37

    Full Year Fiscal 2024 Financial Highlights

    GAAP Financial Results:  

    • Revenue of $396.3 million, up 242% year-over-year
    • GAAP gross margin of 76.4%
    • GAAP operating loss of $116.1 million
    • GAAP operating margin of (29.3%)
    • GAAP net loss of $83.4 million
    • GAAP diluted net loss per share of $0.64

    Non-GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Results (excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense and the income tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments):

    • Non-GAAP gross margin of 76.6%
    • Non-GAAP operating income of $119.6 million
    • Non-GAAP operating margin of 30.2%
    • Non-GAAP net income of $143.3 million
    • Pro forma non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.84

    Full Year Fiscal 2024 Business Highlights

    • Introduced new portfolio of Scorpio Smart Fabric Switches purpose-built for AI infrastructure at cloud-scale. The Scorpio Smart Fabric Switch family features two application-specific product lines with a multi-generational roadmap, including the P-Series for GPU-to-CPU/NIC/SSD PCIe Gen 6 connectivity and the X-Series for platform-specific, back-end AI accelerator clustering. Scorpio is currently shipping in pre-production quantities.
    • Joined the Ultra Accelerator Link Consortium as a promoting member on the Board of Directors. UALink technology will be used to enable efficient high-speed scale-up connectivity between AI accelerators within large and growing cluster sizes for AI workloads. Astera Labs is well positioned to quickly contribute to this new and compelling industry initiative to develop and advance UALink technology.
    • Demonstrated the industry’s first end-to-end PCIe optical connectivity link to provide extended reach for larger, disaggregated GPU clusters. PCIe over optics expands Astera Labs’ widely deployed and field-tested Aries family of Smart DSP retimers and Smart Cable Modules (SCMs) to deliver robust PCIe and CXL connectivity in chip-to-chip, box-to-box, and rack-to-rack topologies throughout the data center.
    • Expanded the widely deployed and field-tested Aries PCIe/CXL Smart DSP Retimer portfolio with the introduction and initial shipment of Aries 6 Retimers, the industry’s lowest power PCIe 6.x/CXL 3.x Retimer solution, to achieve higher bandwidth and extended reach across complex AI and compute topologies.
    • Shipped Aries PCIe/CXL Smart Cable Modules for Active Electrical Cable applications to enable multi-rack GPU clustering and low-latency memory fabric connectivity within AI infrastructure. The solution drives seven meters of reach over flexible copper cables to seamlessly and affordably interconnect clusters of GPUs across rack enclosures.
    • Showcased the first public demonstration of end-to-end interoperability between a PCIe 6.x Switch and a PCIe 6.x SSD at DesignCon 2025. The PCIe 6.x link-up was between an Astera Labs Scorpio P-Series Fabric Switch and Micron’s PCIe 6.x SSDs and showcased remarkable sequential read speeds exceeding 26GB/s.

    First Quarter of Fiscal 2025 Financial Outlook

    Based on current business trends and conditions, Astera Labs estimates the following:

    GAAP Financial Outlook:

    • Revenue within a range of $151 million to $155 million
    • GAAP gross margin of approximately 74%
    • GAAP operating expenses within a range of approximately $113 million to $114 million
    • GAAP tax expense of approximately $3 million
    • GAAP diluted earnings per share within a range of approximately $0.03 to $0.04 on weighted-average diluted shares outstanding of approximately 180 million

    Non-GAAP Financial Outlook (excluding the impact of approximately $47 million of stock-based compensation and including approximately $3 million of additional income taxes):

    • Non-GAAP gross margin of approximately 74%
    • Non-GAAP operating expenses within a range of approximately $66 million to $67 million
    • Non-GAAP tax rate of approximately 10%
    • Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share within a range of approximately $0.28 to $0.29 on non-GAAP weighted-average diluted shares outstanding of approximately 180 million

    Earnings Webcast and Conference Call
    Astera Labs will host a conference call to review its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2024 and to discuss our financial outlook today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Interested parties may join the conference call by dialing 1-800-715-9871 and using conference ID 5908687. The call will also be webcast and can be accessed at the Astera Labs website at https://ir.asteralabs.com/. The webcast will be recorded and available for replay on the company’s website for the next six months.

    Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    We use certain non-GAAP financial measures to supplement the performance measures in our consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the closest GAAP measure can be found later in this release. These non-GAAP financial measures include non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP tax rate, non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share, and non-GAAP weighted-average share count. We use these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to assist us in evaluating period-to-period comparisons. By excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our recurring core operating results, we believe that, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP tax rate, non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP pro forma diluted earnings (loss) per share, and non-GAAP pro forma weighted-average share count provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance. Accordingly, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors and others because they allow for additional information with respect to financial measures used by management in its financial and operational decision-making and they may be used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the health of our business. However, there are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP financial measures, and these non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or in isolation from, our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently or not at all, which reduces their usefulness as comparative measures.

    No reconciliation is provided with respect to the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures included in our non-GAAP financial outlook, as the GAAP measures are not accessible on a forward-looking basis. As a result, we cannot reliably predict all necessary components or their impact to reconcile such financial measures without unreasonable effort. The events necessitating a non-GAAP adjustment are inherently unpredictable and may have a significant impact on our future GAAP financial results.

    We adjust the following items from one or more of our non-GAAP financial measures:

    Stock-based compensation expense
    We exclude stock-based compensation expense, which is a non-cash expense, from certain of our non-GAAP financial measures because we believe that excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding operational performance. In particular, companies calculate non-cash stock-based compensation expense using a variety of valuation methodologies and subjective assumptions. Moreover, stock-based compensation expense is a non-cash charge that can vary significantly from period to period for reasons that are unrelated to our core operating performance, and therefore excluding this item provides investors and other users of our financial information with information that allows meaningful comparisons of our business performance across periods.

    Employer payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation resulting from our IPO
    We exclude employer payroll taxes related to the time-based vesting and net settlement of restricted stock units in connection with our initial public offering (the “IPO”), because this does not correlate to the operation of our business. We believe that excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding operational performance given the amount of employer payroll tax-related items on employee stock transactions was immaterial prior to our IPO.

    Income tax effect
    This represents the impact of the non-GAAP adjustments on an after-tax basis and one-off discrete tax adjustments that are unrelated to our core operating performance in connection with the presentation of non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share. This approach is designed to enhance investors’ ability to understand the impact of our non-GAAP tax expense on our current operations, provide improved modeling accuracy, and substantially reduce fluctuations caused by GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments.

    Non-GAAP pro forma weighted-average shares to compute non-GAAP pro forma net income (loss) per share
    We present non-GAAP pro forma weighted-average shares, assuming our redeemable convertible preferred stock is converted from the beginning of each respective periods presented, to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding EPS trend on a consistent basis. All of our outstanding redeemable preferred stock converted into the equivalent number of shares of common stock in connection with our IPO.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements based on Astera Labs’ current expectations. The words “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “project”, “will”, and similar phrases as they relate to Astera Labs are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views and assumptions of Astera Labs and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, statements regarding our future operating results, financial position and guidance, including for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, our business strategy and plans, our objectives for future operations, our development or delivery of new or enhanced products and anticipated results of those products for our customers, our competitive positioning, including to meet the connectivity market opportunity in the future and initiative to advance UALink technology, technological capabilities and plans, our plans to add R&D talent and strategic IP blocks, and macroeconomic trends in cloud and AI infrastructure. A variety of risks and factors that are beyond our control could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation: the competitive and cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry; the concentration of our customer base; the changes in demand for AI; the macroeconomic environment; risks that demand and the supply chain may be adversely affected, including by the imposition of tariffs by the United States and any corresponding retaliatory tariffs, changes in political policies, military conflict (such as between Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Hamas), terrorism, sanctions or other geopolitical events globally (including conflict between Taiwan and China); quarterly fluctuations in revenues and operating results; difficulties developing new products that achieve market acceptance; risks associated with managing international activities (including trade barriers, particularly with respect to China); absence of long-term commitments from customers; risks that Astera Labs may not be able to manage strains associated with its growth; credit risks associated with its accounts receivable; stock price volatility; information technology risks, including cyber-attacks against Astera Labs’ products and its networks; and other risks and uncertainties that are detailed under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on 10-K that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and the other SEC filings and reports Astera Labs may make from time to time.  Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks may emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor(s) may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Accordingly, you should not rely on any of the forward-looking statements. Astera Labs disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    About Astera Labs
    Our PCIe, CXL and Ethernet semiconductor-based connectivity solutions are purpose-built to unleash the full potential of accelerated computing at cloud-scale. Inspired by trusted partnerships with hyperscalers and the data center ecosystem, we are an innovation leader of products that are customizable, interoperable, and reliable. Discover how we are transforming AI and modern data-driven applications at www.asteralabs.com.

     
    ASTERA LABS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)
     
        December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
    Assets        
    Current assets        
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 79,551     $ 45,098  
    Marketable securities     834,750       104,215  
    Accounts receivable, net     38,811       8,335  
    Inventory     43,215       24,095  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     16,652       4,064  
    Total current assets     1,012,979       185,807  
    Property and equipment, net     35,651       4,712  
    Other assets     5,878       5,773  
    Total assets   $ 1,054,508     $ 196,292  
             
    Liabilities, Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
    Current liabilities        
    Accounts payable   $ 26,918     $ 6,337  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     59,624       28,742  
    Total current liabilities     86,542       35,079  
    Other liabilities     3,167       3,787  
    Total liabilities     89,709       38,866  
    Commitments and contingencies        
    Redeemable convertible preferred stock           255,127  
    Stockholders’ equity (deficit)        
    Common stock     16       4  
    Additional paid-in capital     1,173,153       27,411  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income     426       259  
    Accumulated deficit     (208,796 )     (125,375 )
    Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)     964,799       (97,701 )
    Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity (deficit)   $ 1,054,508     $ 196,292  
     
    ASTERA LABS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
     
        Three Months Ended   Years Ended
        December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
    Revenue   $ 141,096     $ 113,086     $ 50,514     $ 396,290     $ 115,794  
    Cost of revenue     36,648       25,209       11,489       93,591       35,967  
    Gross profit     104,448       87,877       39,025       302,699       79,827  
                         
    Operating expenses                    
    Research and development     56,524       50,659       19,654       200,830       73,407  
    Sales and marketing     22,818       23,248       4,995       123,652       19,992  
    General and administrative     24,962       22,866       5,356       94,283       15,925  
    Total operating expenses     104,304       96,773       30,005       418,765       109,324  
    Operating income (loss)     144       (8,896 )     9,020       (116,066 )     (29,497 )
    Interest income     10,558       10,912       1,674       34,288       6,549  
    Income (loss) before income taxes     10,702       2,016       10,694       (81,778 )     (22,948 )
    Income tax (benefit) provision     (14,011 )     9,609       (3,631 )     1,643       3,309  
    Net income (loss)   $ 24,713     $ (7,593 )   $ 14,325     $ (83,421 )   $ (26,257 )
                         
    Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:        
    Basic   $ 0.15     $ (0.05 )   $     $ (0.64 )   $ (0.71 )
    Diluted   $ 0.14     $ (0.05 )   $     $ (0.64 )   $ (0.71 )
    Weighted-average shares used in calculating net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:                    
    Basic     159,895       156,831       38,627       131,262       37,131  
    Diluted     177,559       156,831       47,636       131,262       37,131  
     
    ASTERA LABS, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)
     
        Years Ended December 31,
          2024       2023  
    Cash flows from operating activities        
    Net loss   $ (83,421 )   $ (26,257 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities        
    Stock-based compensation     234,588       10,679  
    Depreciation     3,154       1,781  
    Non-cash operating lease expense     2,428       1,232  
    Warrants contra revenue     1,395       805  
    Inventory write-downs     168       10,343  
    Accretion of discounts on marketable securities     (8,341 )     (1,624 )
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
    Accounts receivable, net     (30,480 )     2,386  
    Inventory     (19,287 )     (5,564 )
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     (13,031 )     (720 )
    Accounts payable     20,887       (4,264 )
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities     31,018       (167 )
    Operating lease liability     (2,402 )     (1,346 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     136,676       (12,716 )
             
    Cash flows from investing activities        
    Purchases of property and equipment     (34,245 )     (2,761 )
    Purchases of marketable securities     (930,575 )     (126,225 )
    Sales and maturities of marketable securities     208,665       111,214  
    Other investing activities     (1,413 )      
    Net cash used in investing activities     (757,568 )     (17,772 )
             
    Cash flows from financing activities        
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with initial public offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions     672,198        
    Payment of deferred offering costs     (4,801 )     (1,407 )
    Proceeds from exercises of stock options     5,458       1,115  
    Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan     4,160        
    Tax withholding related to net share settlements of restricted stock units     (20,111 )      
    Repurchase of common stock upon termination     (1,066 )     (210 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     655,838       (502 )
    Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash     34,946       (30,990 )
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash        
    Beginning of the period     45,098       76,088  
    End of the period   $ 80,044     $ 45,098  
     
    ASTERA LABS, INC.RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)
    (In thousands, except percentages and per share amounts)
     
        Three Months Ended   Years Ended
        December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
    GAAP gross profit   $ 104,448     $ 87,877     $ 39,025     $ 302,699     $ 79,827  
    Stock-based compensation expense upon IPO (1)                       516        
    Stock-based compensation expense     131       102       8       329       24  
    Non-GAAP gross profit   $ 104,579     $ 87,979     $ 39,033     $ 303,544     $ 79,851  
                         
    GAAP gross margin     74.0 %     77.7 %     77.3 %     76.4 %     68.9 %
    Stock-based compensation expense upon IPO (1)                       0.1        
    Stock-based compensation expense     0.1       0.1             0.1       0.1  
    Non-GAAP gross margin     74.1 %     77.8 %     77.3 %     76.6 %     69.0 %
                         
    GAAP operating income (loss)   $ 144     $ (8,896 )   $ 9,020     $ (116,066 )   $ (29,497 )
    Stock-based compensation expense upon IPO (1)                       88,873        
    Stock-based compensation expense     48,218       45,535       3,299       145,715       10,679  
    Employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation from IPO (2)                       1,072        
    Non-GAAP operating income (loss)   $ 48,362     $ 36,639     $ 12,319     $ 119,594     $ (18,818 )
                         
    GAAP operating margin     0.1 %   (7.9)%     17.9 %   (29.3)%   (25.5)%
    Stock-based compensation expense upon IPO (1)                       22.4        
    Stock-based compensation expense     34.2       40.3       6.5       36.8       9.2  
    Employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation from IPO (2)                       0.3        
    Non-GAAP operating margin     34.3 %     32.4 %     24.4 %     30.2 %   (16.3)%
                         
    GAAP net income (loss)   $ 24,713     $ (7,593 )   $ 14,325     $ (83,421 )   $ (26,257 )
    Stock-based compensation expense upon IPO (1)                       88,873        
    Stock-based compensation expense     48,218       45,535       3,299       145,715       10,679  
    Employer payroll tax related to stock-based compensation from IPO (2)                       1,072        
    Income tax effect (3)     (6,439 )     2,340             (8,910 )      
    Non-GAAP net income (loss)   $ 66,492     $ 40,282     $ 17,624     $ 143,329     $ (15,578 )
                         
    Net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:        
    GAAP – basic   $ 0.15     $ (0.05 )   $     $ (0.64 )   $ (0.71 )
    GAAP – diluted   $ 0.14     $ (0.05 )   $     $ (0.64 )   $ (0.71 )
    Non-GAAP pro forma – diluted   $ 0.37     $ 0.23     $ 0.12     $ 0.84     $ (0.12 )
                         
    Weighted average shares used to compute net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders:        
    GAAP – basic     159,895       156,831       38,627       131,262       37,131  
    GAAP – diluted     177,559       156,831       47,636       131,262       37,131  
    Non-GAAP pro forma – diluted (4)     177,559       173,832       138,527       168,913       128,022  

    ____________________

    (1) Stock-based compensation expense recognized in connection with the time-based vesting and settlement of RSUs that had previously met the time-based vesting condition and for which the liquidity event vesting condition was satisfied in connection with our IPO.

    (2) Employer payroll taxes related to the time-based vesting and settlement of RSUs, that had previously met the time-based vesting condition and for which the liquidity event vesting condition was satisfied in connection with our IPO.

    (3) Income tax effect is calculated based on the tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate and is calculated to exclude the impact of stock-based compensation expense and one-off discrete tax adjustments that are unrelated to our core operating performance. For the three months ended December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, the non-GAAP tax benefit rate was 13% and tax expense rate of 15%, respectively. The adjustments for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were not material. For the years ended December 31, 2024, the non-GAAP tax expense rate was 7% compared to a tax benefit rate of 27% for the year ended December 31, 2023.

    (4) We present the non-GAAP pro forma weighted average shares to provide meaningful supplemental information of comparable shares for each periods presented. The non-GAAP pro forma weighted average shares is calculated as follows:

        Three Months Ended   Years Ended
        December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
    Shares used to compute GAAP net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders – diluted   177,559   156,831   47,636   131,262   37,131
    Weighted average effect of the assumed conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock from the beginning of the periods       90,891   19,165   90,891
    Effect of dilutive equivalent shares     17,001     18,486  
    Shares used to compute non-GAAP pro forma net income (loss) per share- diluted   177,559   173,832   138,527   168,913   128,022

      

     
    ASTERA LABS, INC.SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATIONSTOCK-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE (Unaudited)
    (In thousands)
     
      Three Months Ended   Years Ended
      December 31,
    2024
      September 30,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
      December 31,
    2024
      December 31,
    2023
    Cost of revenue $ 131   $ 102   $ 8   $ 845   $ 24
    Research and development   18,808     14,641     2,303     76,427     7,360
    Sales and marketing   14,671     16,200     681     95,887     2,067
    General and administrative   14,608     14,592     307     61,429     1,228
    Total stock-based compensation expense (1) $ 48,218   $ 45,535   $ 3,299   $ 234,588   $ 10,679

    ____________________

    (1) Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the year ended December 31, 2024 included $88.9 million of cumulative stock-based compensation expense related to the time-based vesting and settlement of RSUs that had previously met the time-based vesting condition and for which the liquidity event vesting condition was satisfied in connection with our IPO.


    IR CONTACT:
    Leslie Green
    leslie.green@asteralabs.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Noting Terrorist Groups’ Resilience, UN Counter-Terrorism Chief Tells Security Council Lasting Global Collaboration Key to Address Conditions Conducive to Lawlessness

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Speakers Discuss Risk ISIL/Da’esh, Their Affiliates Pose in Syria, Afghanistan, Across Africa

    The resilience of terrorist groups underscores the need for sustained international collaboration and comprehensive, long-term responses that address the conditions conducive to terrorism, the Security Council heard today during a briefing on the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

    Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, discussing the Secretary-General’s twentieth biannual strategic-level report on the topic, highlighted the volatile situation in Syria, and “the risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists”.  An estimated 42,500 individuals, some with alleged links to Da’esh, remain in detention camps in the north-east.  Member States must “facilitate the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of their nationals still stranded in those camps and facilities”, he said. 

    Providing details on the global terrorism landscape during the past six months, he said that, in Afghanistan, ISIL-Khorasan continued to pose a significant threat noting that its supporters plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States.  In West Africa and the Sahel, Da’esh affiliates and other terrorist groups intensified attacks, including against schools in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, while in Somalia, the organization successfully recruited foreign terrorist fighters. 

    Sub-Saharan Africa has become the epicenter of global terrorism, he said, noting that the United Nations has prioritized capacity-building support to the continent.  His office increased its delivery of technical assistance by 16 per cent, relying notably on the work of its Rabat Office.  Highlighting the Fusion Cells programme which delivered specialized training to 124 analysts from 21 African Member States, he stressed the need to further strengthen border security to counter movements of terrorists.  His office partnered with the Governments of Kuwait and Tajikistan to organize a conference on this.

    The Countering Terrorist Travel programme, he said, continued to expand with 63 beneficiary Member States who are increasingly relying on the goTRAVEL software to collect and process passenger data to detect and prevent terrorist movements.  Noting that the Pact for the Future renewed the international community’s commitment to a future free from terrorism, he urged Member States to translate these commitments into action, prioritizing inclusive, networked and sustainable responses.

    Approach Centered on Prevention, Respect for Human Rights Key to Countering Terrorist Threat

    Also briefing the Council was Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, who voiced concern over the humanitarian and security crisis in north-eastern Syria, with over 40,000 individuals confined in camps and detention facilities, under conditions marked by overcrowding, inadequate shelter and limited access to clean water and sanitation.  Beyond the Middle East, Da’esh remains agile, taking advantage of ongoing conflicts and regions experiencing growing instability, she continued.  The group now poses a threat to security and sustainable development across the African continent.

    Armed terrorist groups, such as Islamic State West Africa Province, are exploiting fragile conditions to recruit children, commit abductions and attack schools and hospitals.  In the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, Da’esh’s centralized operations continue to proliferate as regional cooperation declines, she said, adding that the role of the regional financial hubs used by the group and its affiliates has also expanded.

    “Addressing these threats requires an approach centered on prevention, grounded in respect for human rights, and with regional cooperation as the linchpin,” she stressed, noting the Committee’s visits to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania and the United Republic of Tanzania.  Assessments revealed gaps in border security and the need for stronger regional collaboration to counter the transnational nature of Da’esh’s activities.  For its part, the Executive Directorate has recently adopted the non-binding guiding principles on preventing, detecting and disrupting the use of new and emerging financial technologies for terrorist purposes — the so-called “Algeria Guiding Principles”, she said.

    Council Members Concerned Over Terrorists’ Adeptness at Expanding Operations, Attractomg New Recruits

    In the ensuing discussion, Council members expressed concern that, despite decades of counter-terrorism efforts, the phenomenon has transformed adeptly, taking advantage of new technology and financial innovations.  Sierra Leone’s delegate said that ISIL/Da’esh and their affiliates “continue to demonstrate resilience and adapt their modus operandi with extensive propaganda, as well as increased finances, fighters’ expertise and technology”.  14,000 fatalities were recorded on the African continent alone in 2024, he said, noting the impact on women and girls.  A security-centered approach alone is insufficient, he stressed.

    Along similar lines, Algeria’s delegate said that terrorist groups use the lack of development and marginalization to recruit and expand — therefore, security arrangements and development initiatives are equally necessary to combat this.  Highlighting the Sahel, he said that well-equipped armed groups are adopting advancing military strategies as well as using organized crime, narcotic trafficking, kidnapping and new technologies to finance such operations.

    France’s speaker noted that Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates are misappropriating new technology — such as drones — to carry out more targeted and lethal attacks. “These groups thrive on the soil where basic human rights are being violated, where women are marginalized,” she stated, adding that their use of sexual violence as a means of sowing terror has been documented.

    “Our work is far from complete,” said Somalia’s representative, spotlighting “patterns of expansion” across regions, with groups establishing networks that transcend national borders.  For its part, his Government has successfully conducted military operations with international partners to neutralize foreign Da’esh affiliates and implement joint security initiatives.

    The representative of the United States highlighted her Government’s “precision air strikes” against ISIS in Somalia on 1 February.  Her country “stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies,” she said.  She also urged Council members to list more ISIL and Al-Qaida affiliates in the 1267 Sanctions Committee list so that they will be subject to its worldwide assets travel ban and arms embargo.  While the Sahel has become “the global epicenter for fatalities from terrorist attacks”, ISIS-Khorasan is increasing its capabilities to conduct attacks and recruit in Afghanistan and Pakistan, she said.

    Counter-terrorism Policies Must Oppose Double Standards and Selectivity 

    Pakistan’s delegate drew attention to the need to address white supremacy and far-right extremism, as well.  Counter-terrorism policies have so far singled out only one religion — Islam — but they must address the negative impact of stigmatizing Muslims and fanning the flames of Islamophobia, he said.  His country is at the forefront of counter-terrorism efforts, fighting not only Da’esh, but also TTP [Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan] and Majid Brigade.  Further, “the international community has failed to address State terrorism, including the use of State power to suppress legitimate struggles for self-determination or to continue foreign occupation”, he said.

    It was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) invasion into Libya and the invasion of Iraq which spawned ISIL, the Russian Federation’s delegate said.  Further, the United Nations’ counter-terrorism officials must “study the facts” on assistance to terrorists provided by Western countries, he said, adding that Ukraine, for instance, has become a logistic hub from which weapons disseminate across the world.  NATO troops who hastily left Afghanistan also abandoned vast quantities of weapons which fell into the hands of ISIL and affiliates, he said.

    The Council should oppose double standards and selectivity in counter-terrorism efforts, China’s representative, Council President for the month, speaking in his national capacity, underscored.  He also voiced concern over the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, and called on Damascus to fulfil its counter-terrorism obligations and prevent any terrorist forces from using the Syrian territory to threaten the security of other countries.

    Calls to Ensure Terrorist Groups Do Not Take Advantage of Instability in Syria 

    Several speakers, including the delegates of Denmark and Slovenia, stressed the need to ensure that terrorist groups do not take advantage of the instability in Syria.  Greece’s delegate underlined the need for a political road map in that country that includes constitutional reform, free and fair elections and inclusive governance. “This is the only way towards the eradication not only of Da’esh, but terrorism in general,” he added.  The United Kingdom’s delegate spotlighted the Global Coalition’s efforts to reduce the risk Da’esh poses as Syria embarks on its historical political transition.  However, “we cannot fight terrorism with force alone”, he emphasized, calling for a whole-of-society approach — with the meaningful participation of women — to address the long-term drivers of terrorism.

    Terrorists’ Increased Use of Information and Communications Technology Draws Concern

    Delegates also considered how to tackle terrorist groups’ increased use of information and communications technology (ICT), with Guyana’s representative noting that gaming and social media platforms bolster resources and recruitment.  The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has reported extensively on the increased risk of online radicalization and recruitment targeting youth and minors and the increasing use of cryptocurrencies by Da’esh, she said.

    Also noting Da’esh’s use of cryptocurrencies, Panama’s delegate said:  “Terrorism thrives on secrecy and underground flows of money.”  His country is the only Latin American nation to participate in the Global Coalition against Da’esh and is committed to preventing terrorists from using the Panamanian banking system for their financing.

    The Republic of Korea’s speaker stressed that the international community must respond by leveraging artificial-intelligence-driven analytics to improve threat detection, disrupt terrorist narratives and bolster information integrity.  Seoul’s new “AI and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” project, designed in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, seeks to map out how terrorists exploit AI and build States’ capacity to counter these tactics by incorporating AI solutions, he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA-Led Study Pinpoints Areas Sinking, Rising Along California Coast

    Source: NASA

    The elevation changes may seem small — amounting to fractions of inches per year — but they can increase or decrease local flood risk, wave exposure, and saltwater intrusion.
    Tracking and predicting sea level rise involves more than measuring the height of our oceans: Land along coastlines also inches up and down in elevation. Using California as a case study, a NASA-led team has shown how seemingly modest vertical land motion could significantly impact local sea levels in coming decades.
    By 2050, sea levels in California are expected to increase between 6 and 14.5 feet (15 and 37 centimeters) higher than year 2000 levels. Melting glaciers and ice sheets, as well as warming ocean water, are primarily driving the rise. As coastal communities develop adaptation strategies, they can also benefit from a better understanding of the land’s role, the team said. The findings are being used in updated guidance for the state.
    “In many parts of the world, like the reclaimed ground beneath San Francisco, the land is moving down faster than the sea itself is going up,” said lead author Marin Govorcin, a remote sensing scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. 
    The new study illustrates how vertical land motion can be unpredictable in scale and speed; it results from both human-caused factors such as groundwater pumping and wastewater injection, as well as from natural ones like tectonic activity. The researchers showed how direct satellite observations can improve estimates of vertical land motion and relative sea level rise. Current models, which are based on tide gauge measurements, cannot cover every location and all the dynamic land motion at work within a given region.
    Local Changes
    Researchers from JPL and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used satellite radar to track more than a thousand miles of California coast rising and sinking in new detail. They pinpointed hot spots — including cities, beaches, and aquifers — at greater exposure to rising seas now and in coming decades.
    To capture localized motion inch by inch from space, the team analyzed radar measurements made by ESA’s (the European Space Agency’s) Sentinel-1 satellites, as well as motion velocity data from ground-based receiving stations in the Global Navigation Satellite System. Researchers compared multiple observations of the same locations made between 2015 to 2023 using a processing technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR).

    Homing in on the San Francisco Bay Area — specifically, San Rafael, Corte Madera, Foster City, and Bay Farm Island — the team found the land subsiding at a steady rate of more than 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) per year due largely to sediment compaction. Accounting for this subsidence in the lowest-lying parts of these areas, local sea levels could rise more than 17 inches (45 centimeters) by 2050. That’s more than double the regional estimate of 7.4 inches (19 centimeters) based solely on tide gauge projections.
    Not all coastal locations in California are sinking. The researchers mapped uplift hot spots of several millimeters per year in the Santa Barbara groundwater basin, which has been steadily replenishing since 2018. They also observed uplift in Long Beach, where fluid extraction and injection occur with oil and gas production.
    The scientists further calculated how human-induced drivers of local land motion increase uncertainties in the sea level projections by up to 15 inches (40 centimeters) in parts of Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Reliable projections in these areas are challenging because the unpredictable nature of human activities, such as hydrocarbon production and groundwater extraction, necessitating ongoing monitoring of land motion.  
    Fluctuating Aquifers, Slow-Moving Landslides
    In the middle of California, in the fast-sinking parts of the Central Valley (subsiding as much as 8 inches, or 20 centimeters, per year), land motion is influenced by groundwater withdrawal. Periods of drought and precipitation can alternately draw down or inflate underground aquifers. Such fluctuations were also observed over aquifers in Santa Clara in the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Ana in Orange County, and Chula Vista in San Diego County.
    Along rugged coastal terrain like the Big Sur mountains below San Francisco and Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles, the team pinpointed local zones of downward motion associated with slow-moving landslides. In Northern California they also found sinking trends at marshlands and lagoons around San Francisco and Monterey bays, and in Sonoma County’s Russian River estuary. Erosion in these areas likely played a key factor.
    Scientists, decision-makers, and the public can monitor these and other changes occurring via the JPL-led OPERA (Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis) project. The OPERA project details land surface elevational changes across North America, shedding light on dynamic processes including subsidence, tectonics, and landslides.
    The OPERA project will leverage additional state-of-the-art InSAR data from the upcoming NISAR (NASA-Indian Space Research Organization Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, expected to launch within the coming months.
    News Media Contacts
    Jane J. Lee / Andrew WangJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
    Written by Sally Younger
    2025-015

    MIL OSI USA News