NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wetlands and coastal protection

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Wetlands and coastal protection

    Wetlands can act as natural buffers to reduce wave energy.

    Steart Marshes, Steart, Somerset. Image credit Environment Agency

    Natural coastal protection and risk reduction by intertidal wetlands

    Iris Möller1 and Tom Spencer2

    1 Department of Geography, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

    2 Cambridge Coastal Research Unit, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

    Natural flood management (NFM) protects, restores or emulates the natural functions of rivers, floodplains, catchments and the coast to reduce flooding and coastal erosion. It can take the form of wetland restoration. Wetlands can be very beneficial for reducing flood risks while also providing wider environmental benefits.

    Research from the Cambridge Coastal Research Unit (CCRU) demonstrated the critical role that coastal wetlands play as natural buffers against storm impacts. This work not only transformed understanding and attitudes toward coastal ecosystems, but has influenced policy and practice.

    Impact

    The findings from CCRU helped to shift the narrative on coastal management. The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA2) highlighted flooding and coastal change as the highest climate risk for the UK, and identified an urgent need for effective, sustainable solutions. With rising sea levels projected to impact approximately 1,000km (20%) of England’s coastal defences by 2100, reliance solely on hard engineering is becoming increasingly untenable (Environment Agency, 2024).

    The CCRU’s extensive research provided compelling evidence that coastal wetlands, such as salt marshes, significantly dissipated wave energy during storms, and by doing so helped to protect coastal communities and infrastructure. By acting as natural barriers, these ecosystems reduce the wave heights that reach man-made structures, either decreasing the need for hard engineering solutions or the cost of their construction and maintenance where they are needed.

    The CCRU’s work was pivotal in advocating for the policy of ‘managed realignment.’ This strategy promotes restoring natural habitats by allowing the coastline to adjust in a way that benefits both the environment and human communities. By creating new habitat areas and reducing maintenance costs associated with artificial defences, managed realignment represents an approach to coastal management that aligns with both ecological and economic goals.

    Through field campaigns and experimental research, the CCRU quantified the extent to which wave energy is mitigated by coastal wetlands. Studies conducted in Essex estuaries and Morecambe Bay found that salt marshes can reduce wave heights by 15-20% during extreme storms, enhancing the stability of adjacent infrastructure. This research considered various factors, including water depth, wave height, vegetation type, and sediment characteristics, providing a nuanced understanding of how these ecosystems offer coastal protection.

    Experiments conducted in the world’s longest wave flume illustrated that even a 40 metre wide band of salt marsh can effectively lower storm wave heights, with a notable percentage of this reduction attributed to the plants and the stable sediment they create. This evidence was important for informing coastal management practices and illustrating the benefits of preserving and restoring natural habitats.

    In 2017 the Environment Agency published the ‘Working with natural processes evidence directory for flood and coastal risk management’ and it was updated in 2024. These publications referenced field and laboratory work from this research which demonstrated that saltmarshes can reduce wave heights under extreme wave and water level conditions.

    Principal Scientist, Flood & Coastal Risk Management Research, Environment Agency (2017) said:

    This evidence [from the CCRU] has been very important in helping [the Environment Agency] develop and publish our Natural Flood Management evidence base…to mainstream more natural approaches to flood and coastal erosion risk management.

    In addition to influencing policy, the CCRU has developed models and visualisation tools to help coastal managers understand and implement natural coastal protection strategies. By integrating scientific research with practical applications, these tools empower decision-makers to incorporate wetlands into coastal defence plans.

    Head of People Conservation Science, RSPB (2020) said:

    I can confidently say that research by the Cambridge Coastal Research Unit (CCRU) has provided the critical scientific underpinning for RSPB positions on natural coastal protection and coastal habitat restoration, allowing us to advocate for and secure improvements to government coastal management policies. This helps in advocacy of the benefits of our managed realignment coastal habitat work at sites such as Titchwell, Wallasea Island and Medmerry.

    The work of the CCRU has thus emphasised the importance of viewing coastal wetlands not merely as natural environments but as essential components of flooding and erosion management strategies.

    Resources 

    Christie, E.K., Spencer, T., Owen, D., McIvor, A.L., Möller, I., and Viavattene, C. (2018). Regional coastal flood risk assessment for a tidally dominant, natural coastal setting: North Norfolk, southern North Sea. Coastal Engineering, 134, 177-190. Available at: 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2017.05.003 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2024). National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024. Available at: National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Kiesel J., Schuerch M., Christie E.K., Möller I., Spencer T., and Vafeidis A.T. (2020). Effective design of managed realignment schemes can reduce coastal flood risks. Estuarine, Coastal Shelf Science 242, 106844 Available at: doi: 10.1016/j.ecss.2020.106844 (Accessed 24 March 2025).

    Möller I., and Spencer T. (2002). Wave dissipation over macro-tidal saltmarshes: Effects of marsh edge typology and vegetation change. Journal of Coastal Res., SI 36, 506-521. Available at: doi: 10.2112/1551-5036-36.sp1.506 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Möller, I. (2006). Quantifying saltmarsh vegetation and its effect on wave height dissipation: results from a UK East coast saltmarsh. Journal of Estuarine, Coastal, and Shelf Sciences, 69, 337-351. Available at: doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2006.05.003 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Möller I., Kudella M., Rupprecht F., Spencer T., Paul M., van Wesenbeeck B.K., Wolters G., Jensen K., Bouma T.J., Miranda-Lange M., and Schimmels S. (2014). Wave attenuation over coastal salt marshes under storm surge conditions. Nature Geoscience, 7, 727–731 Available at: doi: 10.1038/ngeo2251 https://www.nature.com/articles/ngeo2251 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Möller, I. (2018). The storm is over. Available at: Salt Marshes under Extreme Waves – An EU Hydralab+ project (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Rupprecht, F., Möller I., Paul, M., Kudella, M., Spencer, T., van Wesenbeeck, B.K., Wolters, G., Jensen, K., Bouma, T.J., Miranda-Lange, M., and Schimmels, S. (2017). Vegetation-wave interactions in salt marshes under storm surge conditions. Ecological Engineering, 100, 301-315. Available at: doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.12.030 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UNISDR Scientific and Technical Advisory Group Case Studies. (2014). Recognising Natural Coastal Protection and Risk Reduction by Intertidal Wetlands. Available at: Prevention Web – Spencer Coastal Protection (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder 

    1993 to 1996: PhD Studentship to IM: Natural Environment Research Council with Environment Agency (NERC Studentship No. GT4/93/7/P), UK, and Magdalene College Cambridge Scholarship.

    2000 to 2004: Effect of salt marsh edge morphology and vegetation cover on wave attenuation EA R&D Project W5B-022.

    2004 to 2005: Relationships between vegetation characteristics and sea defence value of saltmarshes RGS/EPSRC Geographical Research Grant

    2011 to 2013: Wave dissipation and transformation over coastal vegetation under extreme hydrodynamic loading (EU HYDRALAB IV, flume project with Universities of Hamburg and Hannover (Germany), NIOZ and Deltares (NL)). EU FP7 Integrating Activity HYDRALAB IV, Contract No. 261529

    2013 to 2014: Coastal ecosystems as a form of coastal defence, Newton Trust, Cambridge.

    2014 to 2018: Foreshore Assessment using Space Technology (FAST) EU 7th Framework Prog. SP1-Cooper., FP7-SPACE-2013-1 (collaborator), Grant no. 607131, (£451K)

    2018: Hydralab+ RESIST: EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (654110, HYDRALAB+).

    2016 to 2020: Physical and biological dynamic coastal processes and their role in coastal recovery (BLUE-coast); NERC (Directed Research Programme; Grant NE/N015878/1) (collaboration with 9 other organisations)

    2016 to 2020: Valuing the contribution which COASTal habitats make to human health and WEllBeing, with a focus on the alleviation of natural hazards (CoastWEB) NERC (Directed Research Programme; Grant NE/N013573/1 (collaboration with 7 other organisations)

    2018 to 2021: Response of Ecologically-mediated Shallow Intertidal Shores and their Transitions to extreme hydrodynamic forcing in UK settings (RESIST-UK), NERC Standard Research Grant (collaborators: British Geological Survey, Queen Mary University London) Grant no: NE/R01082X/1

    2023 to 2028: REWilding and Restoration of InterTidal sediment Ecosystems for carbon sequestration, climate adaptation and biodiversity support (REWRITE). Lead: Nantes University. EU HORIZON-CL5-2022-D1-02 funding call.

    2023 to 2028: Nature-based solutions for climate-resilient, nature-positive, and socially just communities in diverse landscapes (NATURESCAPES). Lead: Utrecht University. EU HORIZON-CL6-2022-COMMUNITIES-01.

    Research period  

    • 2000 – ongoing

    Impact period  

    • 2013 – ongoing

    Impact country  

    • UK

    • USA

    • Europe

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 5 – Asset management

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Changes to social care inspections aimed at improving stability for vulnerable children

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Changes to social care inspections aimed at improving stability for vulnerable children

    From today (Friday 4 April), Ofsted is making some important changes to the way children’s social care providers are inspected, aimed at improving support for children with complex needs.

    The changes to the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) are mainly for the benefit of children’s homes and fostering agencies. They are intended to encourage more homes and agencies to look after children with high or multiple needs, with added reassurance that this will not negatively affect their Ofsted rating.

    Ofsted research published last year found that 91% of local authorities struggle to find suitable homes for children with complex needs. Some children wait months, or even years, for a stable placement. The research also found that concerns about Ofsted ratings were cited by local authorities as a frequent reason for homes rejecting referrals of children with complex needs. Local authorities felt that good and outstanding-rated homes in particular were hesitant to look after these children, due to fears of being downgraded at their next inspection.

    As a result, children with complex needs are too often living far from family or friends, experiencing multiple moves, or are accommodated in unsuitable and unregistered homes.

    The small number of changes to the SCCIF guidance, including the criteria which inspectors use to evaluate practice, will put a sharper focus on:

    • how providers promote and sustain stability for children, including those with high needs
    • a provider’s placement decisions, including how they balance the needs of a child requiring a placement with those of children already living in the home
    • the timeliness of a provider’s work to prepare children for their next move
    • how accurately placement decisions reflect a provider’s statement of purpose

    The effectiveness of providers’ work with partners to achieve greater stability for children, especially for those at most risk of instability and uncertainty in their lives, will be central to inspections.

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

    Every child deserves a stable, supportive home environment where they can thrive. We know that finding the right placement for a child can be challenging, but homes and fostering agencies should feel confident in their ability to provide long-term, sustainable care for vulnerable children who need it most. We want providers to be risk-aware, not risk-averse.

    I hope these changes send a clear message that we will recognise providers who step up to support our children with complex needs, and who stick with them though the most difficult times.

    The updated framework reflects Ofsted’s commitment to putting children’s needs at the heart of the inspection process. The changes have been made following continued engagement with social care stakeholders, including people with lived experience of the care system.

    Inspectors will be trained on the changes to inspection guidance, as part of the added reassurance that providers will not be unfairly penalised for taking in children with complex needs.

    We previously published a blog about these changes.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Investing millions in safety and infrastructure on our roads for the year ahead

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Councillors have agreed to take forward an ambitious suite of infrastructure and road safety works in the coming year, worth over £30m.

    The Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2025/26 spreads the capital budget of £25.686m across six different work streams.

    Carriageways and footways will receive £18.161m and focus on repairing roads and pavements. Street lighting and traffic signals have £1.220m, which will be used to maintain and improve this network. Road structures take £1.545m and focusses on our road bridges, foot bridges, underpasses, tunnels and gantries. Our road operations will get £2.460m and encompasses drainage repairs, bus stop maintenance and surface enhancement. Other asset management and miscellaneous spending amounts to £2.3m.

    The additional £12.5m of funding agreed in February’s budget has been integrated into the programme to improve paths, pavements and road conditions. An extra £12.5m of funding was also agreed last year, with a record 460,000m2 of carriageways and 52,000m2 of footways receiving treatment in that period. The Council’s Road Condition Indicator (RCI), which signifies the percentage of roads that should be considered for investment, also saw a significant improvement in 2024/25.

    We’ll look to build on these results in the coming year by undertaking a combination of carriageway strengthening, carriageway resurfacing, carriageway surface treatment, footway asphalt, footway flags and footway slurry sealing.

    The report also outlines our Street Lighting Programme and looks further ahead to our Setted Street Priorities in the next six financial years with Frederick Street, Victoria Street and the Shore all featuring for refurbishment.

    Our Road Safety Delivery Plan 2025/26 allocates over £6m across the service. As part of this, the Road Safety team will address concerns around the Dalmahoy Junction and prioritise infrastructure improvements for safe school travel, including additional pedestrian crossings.

    There will also be provision for Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP), speed reduction measures and new 30mph and 20mph speed limit reductions over this and the forthcoming year. A full breakdown can be found in Appendix 2 of the report. Road safety progress will be reported to Committee in October, following elected member workshops to drive forward existing priority projects.

    These allocations are driven by our main priorities in the year ahead to promote road safety, study road accidents, review our vacant school crossing sites, take preventative measures and offer information, advice and practical training to road users.

    Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said:

    I’m really pleased that these two ambitious and wide-reaching reports have been agreed.

    Our residents have made it abundantly clear that they want and expect continued investment in our roads network. Road safety also goes hand in hand with road condition and investment, with roads that are better maintained equalling safer roads for our children and young people. This is what I’m committed to delivering.

    From carriageway strengthening in Corstorphine and surface treatment in Seafield, to street lighting in Leith and road safety education in Ratho, we’re focussed on fulfilling our commitments and getting to work for the people of Edinburgh.

    A list of definitions for treatment specifications mentioned above in the Roads and Infrastructure Investment – Capital Delivery Priorities for 2025/26 report are below.

    Carriageway Strengthening: A substantial treatment with a minimum depth of 100mm. This includes removal of the surfacing and base course of the carriageway. Deeper excavations may be required depending on existing condition. Deeper excavations are required a bus stops.

    Carriageway Resurfacing: This treatment removes the surface course only. The depth of treatment is generally 40-50mm.

    Carriageway Surface Treatment: A preventative maintenance treatment. A thin treatment that is designed to slow deterioration of the carriageway. It is used primarily on carriageways that are starting to deteriorate. CEC uses two surface treatments: Surface Dressing and Micro Asphalt.

    Footway Asphalt: Break out of the existing asphalt footway. Depth will be dependent on existing condition. Kerbs are generally lifted and re-set as part of this treatment.

    Footway Flags: Break out of the existing footway with flags (slabs) being installed. Generally, pre-cast concrete flags are used, however, the following material is specified in the World Heritage Site: Old Town: Caithness Stone Flags New Town: Yorkstone Flags

    Footway Surface Treatment: A preventative maintenance treatment. A thin treatment that is designed to slow deterioration of the footway.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young drivers told to belt up in the back

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Young people – predominantly males – are being urged to ‘belt up in the back’, as new data highlights the staggering number killed in car crashes not wearing their seatbelts.

    Recent analysis by The AA Charitable Trust shows almost half (43%) of young passengers (17-29) who die in car crashes are not belted up.

    Young, male car passengers are twice as likely to die in a car crash than their female peers due to being unbelted.
    The research, based on five years of car crash data where seatbelt wearing status was known, shows 68% of young passengers who die unbelted are male.

    These crashes are also more likely to happen at night, with 74% of young, unbelted, passenger fatalities happening after dark.

    Provisional figures show that in 2024 across Merseyside there were 14 casualties killed or seriously injured who were not wearing their seatbelt at the time of the collision.

    Six of those were vehicle drivers (43%) and eight were vehicle passengers (57%). Also six of the casualties were 17–29-year-olds (43) and eight were 30+ year old (57%).

    Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of death by around 50%, meaning up to around one quarter of all young car passenger deaths could be avoided if all young passengers put their belts on.

    Every week, four young people aged 17 to 29 were either killed or seriously injured on our roads when not wearing a seat belt. (Data on latest year of full data – 2023).

    In 2024, Merseyside Police issued 3,066 tickets for drivers and or passengers not wearing their seat belt.

    THE FACTS:

    • In a crash, you’re twice as likely to killed or seriously injured if you don’t wear a seat belt.
    • Younger drivers and passengers have the lowest seat belt-wearing rates, combined with the highest accident rate.
    • People are less likely to use seat belts on short or familiar journeys – putting them at serious risk of injury in a crash.

    THE LAW:

    • Drivers and passengers who fail to wear seat belts in the front and back of vehicles are breaking the law.
    • For those aged 14 and over, failure to wear a seat belt could result in an on-the-spot fine of £100. If prosecuted, the maximum fine is £500.

    Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool City Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said: “It is an utter tragedy that young people are dying as passengers and drivers because they have failed to put their seatbelt on. It’s such a quick and easy thing to do – and it could save your own life or the lives of the people around you.”

    Inspector Gavin Dixon of Merseyside Police, Roads Policing Department, said: “Merseyside Police work really hard to try and encourage everyone to wear their seatbelts in all forms of transport.

    “The figures speak for themselves; you are more likely to die in a collision if you don’t wear a seatbelt. As with mobile phone enforcement, we are constantly using new and innovative ways to catch people who choose not to wear their seatbelt and risk their own and their passengers’ lives.”  

    The analysis by The AA Charitable Trust  can be viewed here https://www.theaa.com/about-us/newsroom/aa-charitable-trust-launches-seatbelt-campaign

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cycling Conference to Wheel into Dundee

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Scotland’s national cycling charity is bringing its conference to Dundee later this year. 

    A senior councillor is welcoming the news, stressing Dundee is delivering improvements for more people to travel by bike across the city. 

    Cycling Scotland will be hosting its annual conference in the city on September 10, which will be attended by organisations which are supporting more people to cycle for everyday journeys. 

    Speakers include transport secretary Fiona Hyslop, Dundee City Council leader Mark Flynn and Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure convener Cllr Steven Rome. 

    Cllr Rome said: “The latest Walking and Cycling Index for Dundee from Sustrans shows us that the majority of people in the city support more segregated cycle paths, more 20-minute and low-traffic neighbourhoods, increasing space for socialising on the streets, and shifting investment away from roadbuilding and towards more sustainable transport. 

    “I realise that there is much to do. However, we have delivered major projects across the city including the provision of secure cycle storage and infrastructure like the Broughty ferry to Monifieth Active Travel corridor and the Bell Street Green Transport Hub to encourage more cycling. 

    “I am looking forward to showcasing Dundee’s cycling strength to an influential audience at the conference.”  

    Denise Hamilton, Head of Communications at Cycling Scotland said: “We’re looking forward to being in Dundee this September for the Cycling Scotland Conference. Each year, we bring experts and decision-makers from across Scotland together, to share learning and acknowledge the progress being made to enable more people to cycle for everyday journeys.  

    “With Dundee hosting this national conference for the first time since 2018, it’s an opportunity to highlight the city’s support for active travel, including the roll-out of on-street cycle storage in residential neighbourhoods and how more young people are being given the chance to gain essential life skills with on-road Bikeability cycle training being delivered at every primary school in Dundee.  

    “Attendees will also look forward to learning more about Dundee’s ambitious plans to develop a network of dedicated cycle routes to connect communities across the city and support more journeys by bike.” 

    Catherine Wykes, Chair of Dundee Cycling Forum, said: “This is a real vote of confidence from Scotland’s national cycling charity and recognizes the progress Dundee City Council are making towards transforming our city into a place where people can choose to cycle for everyday journeys. Cycling is a cheap, healthy way to get about, and giving people that option will contribute towards making Dundee a great place to live, work and visit. 

    “We may still have some way to go, but with the conference bringing experts from across the country to Dundee for the day, this will be an ideal opportunity to showcase what’s been achieved so far and inspire Dundee City Council to keep going until we can claim to be a genuinely cycle friendly city.” 

    You can find out more about the conference on the Cycling Scotland website here  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TUV hits out on Central Station controversy

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Commenting on the ongoing controversy over Sinn Féin’s  imposition of Irish signage on Grand Central Station, TUV leader Jim Allister has attacked the Infrastructure minister’s stance and deplored how the DUP has weakened the position going forward on signage on public buildings by agreeing to an Irish Language Commissioner.

    “Among the many flaws in Minister Kimmins’ argument are the following:-

    • She relies on Translink-made decisions to have bi-lingual signage at Newry and on some glider services as justifying her imposition at Grand Central. Herein she shoots herself in the foot, because it is for Translink, not the minister, to make such operational decisions, as is evident from the Partnership Agreement governing the DFI/Translink relationship.
    • Whereas the Communities minister may have statutory responsibilities in respect of language, she has none. Hence her meddling inevitably makes it a cross-cutting issue.
    • It is not the quantum of the spend upon which the significance of the decision turns, rather its societal impact, which is evident from the controversy generated.
    • In contending that her remit involves “overseeing the delivery of public transport services”, she effectively concedes her overreach, because determining the signage on a station is clearly neither overseeing the delivery of public transport nor compatible with the arrangements affording such functions to the arms length body. Translink isn’t being allowed to operate as an arms length body if the minister is involving herself in the minutia of operational decisions.

    “It is therefore right and necessary that Sinn Fein and its greening agenda should be challenged in the courts on this important issue and I commend Mr Bryson on his initiative in this regard. DUP ministers will need to do a lot more than seek clarification from their partner in government.

    “Sadly, the DUP has weakened its own hand by, at this very time, seeking to appoint an Irish Language Commissioner “to protect and enhance the development of the use of the Irish language by public authorities.” This is the reality against which the deputy First Minister’s public bluster must be measured!”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mental health costs of flooding

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Mental health costs of flooding

    Including the impact of floods on people’s mental health for the first time.

    Family moving items after a flood. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    A method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding 

    Christophe Viavattene 1, Sally Priest 1, Jacqui Cotton 2 and Carolann Simmonds 2

    1 Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, United Kingdom

    2 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    The Environment Agency and risk management authorities routinely include the mental health impacts of flooding in investment decisions following research published in 2021 A method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding.

    Prior to this research, investment decisions focussed on the economic damages to homes, businesses and infrastructure. Although authorities knew that those affected by floods suffered with mental health conditions, there was insufficient robust data available to develop a new method. However, in 2017, Public Health England published the results of a national study on the impacts of flooding on mental health and well-being.

    This study showed that people whose homes had been flooded suffered high levels of probable depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. The study provided the figures needed to look at the economic damages for the first time. Subsequent studies showed these impacts could last for at least 2 years after the flood.

    Impact

    The Environment Agency project took this new data and used it to calculate the costs of the mental health impacts. These costs include treatment and medication, and loss of employment or earnings due to time off work. The project worked out the value to be £1,878 per adult per flood for shallow floods (less than 30cm of water in a home) to up to £4,136 per adult per flood for deeper, more severe floods (when water is over 1 metre deep). Deeper floods result in more possessions being lost and people being away from their homes for longer during repairs. This increases the impact on those affected, and thus increases the cost.

    Alongside the research project, Environment Agency economists created clear guidance on how to use the economic cost information for those developing business cases for flood risk projects. The guidance was published in Mental health costs of flooding and erosion.

    Resources 

    Environment Agency. (2020). A method for monetising the mental health costs of flooding. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/a-method-for-monetising-the-mental-health-costs-of-flooding (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Guidance: Mental health costs of flooding and erosion. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-costs-of-flooding-and-erosion/mental-health-costs-of-flooding-and-erosion (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UK Health Security Agency. (2023). Guidance: How to recover from flooding. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flooding-and-health-advice-for-frontline-responders/how-to-recover-from-flooding – assessment-and-management-of-mental-health (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UK Health Security Agency. (2023). Health effects of climate change in the UK 2023 report. Chapter 3 Climate change, flooding, coastal change and public health. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/657086ad746930000d488919/HECC-report-2023-chapter-3-flooding.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder 

    The research project was funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.  

    Collaborators  

    • Flood Hazard Research Centre, Middlesex University
    • Environment Agency 
    • Natural Resources Wales  
    • Public Health England

    Research period  

    • 2017 to 2020

    Impact period  

    • 2020 onward

    Impact country  

    • England

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 3 – Funding and investment

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Working together to adapt to a changing climate

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Working together to adapt to a changing climate

    Research supported authorities to work with communities when planning to reduce flood and coastal erosion risks.

    Workshop participants discussing engagement challenges. Image credit: Icarus

    Working together to adapt to a changing climate – flood and coast

    Rhys Kelly1, Ute Kelly1, Helen Bovey2, Karen Saunders2, Steve Smith2, Kate Kipling3 and Cath Brooks3

    1 University of Bradford, United Kingdom

    2 Icarus, United Kingdom

    3 Environment Agency, United Kingdom

    The Environment Agency led on the Working together to adapt to a changing climate initiative from 2018 to 2022. Through this research, there was a change in understanding how to work collaboratively with partners and communities on climate adaptation.

    The team articulated 6 challenges that exist when engaging with partners and the public about climate adaptation. Then, they co-created tools with 2 communities – Caterham Hill and Old Coulsdon and Hemsby – to address these challenges. The new knowledge and tools led to better community engagement and more effective partnerships. One of these tools underpinned the successful start to a £200 million flooding and coastal resilience programme.

    Impact

    The Environment Agency used one of the tools, the readiness assessment tool, for 25 projects under the £200 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. The tool identified risks, ensured partners had the same level of understanding and aspirations, improved partnership working and enabled more partners to be involved, and earlier. This underpinned the successful start of the innovation programme.

    A Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme survey respondent (2021) said:

    Without the readiness assessment [tool] the project would probably have slipped by 6 months but [we were] able to identify this issue and change project structure.

    The Environment Agency used the readiness assessment tool on 14 projects as part of the £5.2 billion Flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) investment programme. 94% of participants said that readiness assessment helped their project do things in a new, more efficient, or better way.

    The new national guidance on creating local Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) strategies led by the Environment Agency also used the readiness assessment tool. The intent was for the tool to be part of the assurance process for anyone developing a new FCERM strategy at the local level.

    A Flood Risk Engagement Advisor from the Environment Agency (2021) said:   

    …the Readiness Assessment Tool helps the Environment Agency go a step further and gather insight into how ready some of our communities are to engage around climate change. Having this information helps us to tailor our approach and meet the community [using] the right technique and with their views and challenges in mind.

    The research project also created tools for collaborative community engagement on climate change adaptation including a community readiness assessment survey, simulation and scenario development exercise. Projects in the Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme used the community survey to baseline community views and knowledge and inform engagement planning. The Making Space for Sand project in Cornwall adapted the surface water simulation to fit the coastal context.

    Measure 3.1.3 in England’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England was related to the research and ensured that findings were put into practice. This included using learning in the Environment Agency’s national engagement skills development programme. The research was integral to the content of training courses such as ‘engaging in changeable and uncertain times’, which was provided to staff from the Environment Agency and other risk management authorities. It is also being used in the Environment Agency’s Working With Others training for engagement professionals.

    An engagement professional from the Environment Agency participating in the training (2025) said:

    The ‘Working together to adapt to a changing climate’ report really chimes with the ‘bottom-up’ community engagement pilot project we’re developing. Considering the 6 engagement challenges is vital if we are to work more efficiently, effectively and equitably. This report helped me to better articulate the work we’re doing and align with the business objectives of the Environment Agency.

    In 2024, the project was selected as a UK case study for the G20 in Brazil. It was presented at a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting. The G20 report recognised that “the project successfully engaged a broader cross-section of the community, ensuring that previously underrepresented voices could contribute meaningfully to planning efforts” (G20, 2024).

    Resources

    Environment Agency. (2020). National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f6b6da6e90e076c182d508d/023_15482_Environment_agency_digitalAW_Strategy.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2021). Flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) investment programme. Available at: https://environment.data.gov.uk/asset-management/downloads/capital-programme.pdf (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2023). Working together to adapt to a changing climate – flood and coast. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-research-reports/working-together-to-adapt-to-a-changing-climate-flood-and-coast (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2025). Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme. Available at: https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/ctap (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2025). Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. Available at: https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/innovation-programme (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    G20. (2024). G20 Compendium of Community Based Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction. Available at: https://g20drrwg.preventionweb.net/2024/media/102073/download.html (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Kelly, R. and Kelly, U. (2023). Readiness assessment in flood risk management and climate adaptation: A mechanism for social innovation? Journal of Flood Risk Management. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12915 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Making Space for Sand. (2025). Making Space for Sand. Available at: https://www.makingspaceforsand.co.uk (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder

    The research project was funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.

    Collaborators

    • Environment Agency

    • Natural Resources Wales 

    • Surrey County Council 

    • Coastal Partnership East 

    • Icarus (as consultant) 

    • University of Bradford 

    Research period

    • 2018 to 2022

    Impact period 

    • 2021 – ongoing

    Impact country

    • England

    Contributing to the areas of research interest

    • 2 – Resilience and adaptation to flooding and coastal change

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The interconnected risks of flooding

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    The interconnected risks of flooding

    This research was applied to give the government, flood risk management authorities and the insurance industry a better understanding of risk.

    Image credit: Environment Agency

    Transforming flood assessment at multiple scales through better statistical understanding of risk

    Rob Lamb 1, Jonathan Tawn 2, Caroline Keef 3, Ross Towe 2, Sarah Warren 3

    1 JBA Trust and Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, United Kingdom

    2 Lancaster University, United Kingdom

    3 JBA Consulting, United Kingdom

    Research led by Lancaster University, JBA and the JBA Trust – conducted over a decade – has supported the government, flood management authorities and the insurance industry to have a better understanding of flood risk from local to national scales.

    Historically, flood risk was often assessed in isolated terms. This meant the focus was on single locations or individual flood events, rather than accounting for how extreme weather patterns can co-occur across large areas. As a result, assessments could underestimate the broader, interconnected risks of flooding.

    The research team addressed this gap by developing methods that model flood events as multivariate extremes. This allowed for a more realistic estimation of the likelihood of concurrent flooding across multiple locations. The approach enabled flood risk to be assessed at a national scale, informing decisions in the UK’s National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA) and aiding global reinsurance companies in risk evaluations.

    Multivariate Extreme Value theory

    The research breakthroughs were founded on multivariate extreme value theory. The theory addressed the probability of multiple extreme events occurring simultaneously. Prior to this research, methods were limited in scope, handling only a few variables or locations. While they were mathematically convenient, they didn’t align with real-world flood data, often leading to inaccurate risk estimates.

    To overcome this, Lancaster University researchers developed a conditional probability model that could handle a large number of variables with varied dependencies. This model demonstrated that, contrary to traditional beliefs, the probability of seeing a 1 in 100-year flood somewhere in England and Wales annually is as high as 88%.This finding underscored the need to shift from isolated risk descriptions to a more holistic framework, and recognised that a seemingly rare event locally could be much more probable when considered across a broader scale.

    Impact

    The new approach proved influential during the UK’s 2016 National Flood Resilience Review (NFRR), which was prompted by severe flooding in 2013 to 2014 and 2015 to 2016.

    UK Chief Scientific Adviser (2016) said:

    There was pressure on Government to better understand the risks involved. … Your contribution to the review was very important. Ministers were determined to base the review’s conclusions and recommendations on sound evidence and analysis… Our advice had significant influence on both the evidence and the way in which it was communicated.

    The government’s conclusions were heavily based on the research insights, which reshaped the understanding of flood risk. It also highlighted the urgency of comprehensive preparedness.

    A direct outcome of the NFRR was the government’s £12.5 million investment in new mobile flood defences, quadrupling the number of units from 2015 levels. Furthermore, a commitment to an ongoing £2.3 billion capital investment plan was secured, aiming to protect 300,000 homes. This strategic shift—grounded in more realistic risk assessments—increased the resilience of both urban and rural communities against future floods.

    Beyond the UK, these advancements have been influential globally, especially for the insurance and reinsurance sectors.

    Working with Lancaster University and the Environment Agency, JBA further refined the methods to improve their scalability and efficiency, leading to the development of the Multivariate Event Modeller tool. This open-source tool allows for joint probability analysis, making it accessible for environmental scientists and risk managers who need to analyse complex, interconnected flood events.

    The research has extended into ocean wave analysis, contributing to a better understanding of coastal extremes that compound flood risks, especially in coastal regions.

    These tools and insights have led to more accurate, data-driven assessments that can guide infrastructure planning, inform policy, and support sustainable urban development.

    Resources

    BBC News Article. (2016). Hundreds of key sites in England at Risk of Floods, dated 8th September 2016 corroborating £12.5 million investment means four times as many temporary flood barriers than in 2015. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37306094 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Environment Agency. (2017). Planning for the risk of widespread flooding: Project Summary SC140002/S. Available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Grainger, J., Sykulski, A., Jonathan, P., & Ewans, K. (2021). Estimating the parameters of ocean wave spectra. Ocean Engineering, 229, Article 108934. Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.108934 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Grainger, J., Sykulski, A., Ewans, K., Hansen, H. F., Jonathan, P. (2023). A multivariate pseudo-likelihood approach to estimating directional ocean wave models, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series C: Applied Statistics, Volume 72, Issue 3. Available at: doi.org/10.1093/jrsssc/qlad006 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Heffernan, J. E. and Tawn, J. A. (2004). A conditional approach to modelling multivariate extreme values (with discussion), J. Roy. Statist. Soc., B, 66, 497-547. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9868.2004.02050.x (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    HM Government. (2016). National Flood Resilience Review (NFRR). Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    JBA Trust. (2022). Improving statistical models of large scale flood events. Available at: https://www.jbatrust.org/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Keef, C., Tawn, J. A. and Lamb, R. (2013). Estimating the probability of widespread flood events. Environmetrics, 24, 13-21. Available at: doi.org/10.1002/env.2190 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Lamb, R., Keef, C., Tawn, J. A., Laeger, S., Meadowcroft, I., Surendran, S., Dunning, P. and Batstone, C. (2010). A new method to assess the risk of local and widespread flooding on rivers and coasts. Journal of Flood Risk Management, 3, 323-336. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-318X.2010.01081.x (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Multivariate Event Modeller – Github. Available at: https://github.com/jbaconsulting/Multivariate-Event-Modeller (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    REF 2021 Impact Case Study: A step-change in the understanding and quantification of risk to improve resilience to flooding, Lancaster University, Unit of Assessment: 10, Mathematical Sciences. Available at: https://results2021.ref.ac.uk/impact/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    REF 2021 Impact Case Study: Transforming Government assessments of flood risk and resilience through improved understanding of uncertainties in flood risk modelling Lancaster University, Unit of Assessment: 7, Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Available at: https://results2021.ref.ac.uk/impact/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Tawn, J. A., Shooter, R., Towe, R. and Lamb, R. (2018). Modelling spatial extreme events with environmental applications. Spatial Statistics, 28, 39-58. Available at: doi.org/10.1016/j.spasta.2018.04.007 (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Towe, R., Tawn, J. A. and Lamb, R. (2018). Why extreme floods are more common than you might think? Royal Statistical Society Journal, Significance, Vol. 15, No. 6, 16-21. Available at: doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-9713.2018.01209.x (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    UK Parliament Statement. Written Statement UIN HLWS139 on the National Flood Resilience Review made by Lord Gardiner, 8th September 2016. Corroborates £12.5 million of spending on new temporary flood defences and a £2.3 billion investment to better protect 300,000 homes.

    Funder 

    • JBA Trust
    • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
    • Environment Agency

    Collaborators  

    • Lancaster University
    • JBA Trust
    • JBA Consulting
    • Environment Agency
    • Shell Research

    Research period  

    • 2004 to 2023

    Impact period  

    • 2008 to 2017

    Impact country  

    • UK

    • Globally

    Contributing towards the areas of research interest

    • 1 – Understanding future flood and coastal erosion risk

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Levee Safety Partnership

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    The Levee Safety Partnership

    The Levee Safety Partnership brings together experts from 3 countries to focus on emerging challenges and opportunities in flood defence infrastructure assets.

    Levee safety Partnership, York 2023. Image credit: Environment Agency.

    Levee Safety Partnership

    Environment Agency (United Kingdom), Rijkswaterstaat (the Netherlands) and the United States Army Corp of Engineers (United States of America)

    The Levee Safety Partnership (LSP) is a collaboration uniting engineers and researchers from the Netherlands, the USA, and the UK. It was established after Hurricane Katrina in 2004, when the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) sought expertise from Rijkswaterstaat in the Netherlands to enhance levee safety risk management. In 2014, the Environment Agency joined the partnership.

    The Environment Agency has Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in place with both organisations, underpinned by mutual agreement. The purpose of the MoUs is the sharing of common technical interests, and to cooperate in the development of joint activities in the field of Integrated Water Resources Management. To support this, participants exchange scientific and technical information, participate in visits and staff exchanges, run a community of practice, seminars and workshops and share best practices and lessons learned.

    Impact

    In 2024 and 2025, the research focused on surface protection specifically improving resilience and biodiversity in both vegetation and soils. This led to a collated evidence base to support improvements in seed mix, where further trials are intended before adapting current practice.

    Across 2023 and 2024 workshops helped to improve understanding on backwards erosion piping. Engagement with the International Handbook on Emergency Management for Flood Defences has led to further research to improve the evidence base behind options for emergency response to asset failure.

    The Levee Safety Partnership has raised awareness about levee safety topics, techniques, and technologies. This includes the development of the International Levee Handbook (ILH). Launched in 2013, the handbook offers international good practice on levees, based on knowledge and experience from 6 countries. It provides a guide to the evaluation, design, implementation, maintenance and management of levees and is relevant to the types of flood embankment managed by the Environment Agency, private owners and other operating authorities in the UK.

    Alongside research and development, the partnership has also supported exchanging best practice. For example, in 2017 at a meeting in St. Louis, the members evaluated a levee using methodologies from the Environment Agency, Rijkswaterstaat and the USACE. This cross-comparison evaluation led to valuable lessons and the adoption of an “American Style” assessment approach in the Netherlands.

    Staff exchanges led by the partnership have helped build capacity and develop the skills and knowledge of professionals. In 2024, a USACE member relocated to England for several months, supporting a review of asset resilience and assessment of risk. This person presented the Levee Safety Tool (LST2.0) to the Environment Agency, demonstrating how it can enhance the Environment Agency’s RAFT+ tool. Later in 2024, a member of the Environment Agency relocated to the USA for a year to focus on potential improvements to Environment Agency standards and share best practice.

    The partnership also runs an early career network. The network supports the development of younger engineers and scientists that are members of the partnership, typically within the first 5 to 10 years of their careers. It has created useful resources including country placemats describing context, governance and assessment methodology.

    The impact extends beyond the partnership. The Levee Safety Partnership regularly updates and participates in the annual International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) which is formed of over 100 countries and has a subcommittee on levees. Various spin-off groups have also emerged from the LSP, focusing on themes such as coastal zone management and incident management. The levee incident group is a parallel group that exists under the same Memorandum of Understanding, focused  on levee safety incident response.

    Impacts have also included a Tolerable Risk Workshop (2008 and 2020) and a ‘one levee, three methods’ assessment review, where each nation applied the other nations approach to their levee and a SWOT analysis led to considered outcomes. A similar review on the approach to climate change (resilience), as well as country governance, strategies and methodologies has helped nations to consider options. The success of the group has led to further groups of a similar nature in coastal zone management, storm surge barriers, and incident management.

    Resources

    CIRIA. (2013). The International Levee Handbook. Available at: The International Levee Handbook (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Rijkswaterstaat. (2024). International Handbook on Emergency Management Flood Defences. Available at: International Handbook on Emergency Management for Flood Defences (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Rijkswaterstaat. (2025). International Partnerships. Available at: https://www.rijkswaterstaat.nl/en/collaboration/international-partnerships/ (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    United States Army Corp of Engineers. Levee Safety Program. Available at: Levee Safety Program (Accessed: 24 March 2025).

    Funder

    The Environment Agency research components of the LSP are  funded by the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) research and development programme.

    Collaborators

    • Environment Agency

    • United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE)

    • Rijkswaterstaat

    Research period 

    • Ongoing

    Impact period 

    • Ongoing

    Impact country 

    • United Kingdom

    • United States of America

    • Netherlands

    Contributing to areas of research interest

    • 5 – Asset management

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 4 April 2025 Fatima: crossing deserts to protect mothers and newborns in Pakistan

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Maloka’s story highlights how the Government of Pakistan, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), has transformed the prevention of maternal neonatal tetanus (MNT) across the country. Around 80% of Pakistan’s population (190 million people) now live in areas where the spread of neonatal tetanus is under controlled limits – less than 1 case of tetanus per 1000 live births. Islamabad Capital Territory and Pakistan-administered Kashmir achieved elimination in March 2025, Sindh in December 2024 and Punjab in 2016.

    Fatima administers a vaccine to a pregnant woman. Photo: WHO / Pakistan

    Fatima, Maloka’s “angel”, is one of 17 000 Lady Health Workers deployed in the province of Sindh, and 30 000 across the country. For mothers like Maloka, Lady Health Workers are heroes, but they do not work alone. More than 140 000 Lady Health Visitors, Lady Health Supervisors, Lady Health Workers and midwives work across Pakistan, covering even the most remote areas, keeping mothers and newborns safe.  

    Maloka lost her first child, a baby girl, to neonatal tetanus. The pain of that loss fueled her determination to protect any future children. When Maloka became pregnant again, Fatima was there, a steady source of support and guidance. She ensured Maloka received the necessary tetanus vaccinations, advised her on safe delivery practices and provided antenatal care. Today, Maloka cradles her healthy 1-year-old son, a symbol of hope and resilience.

    Maloka’s story underscores the crucial role of frontline health workers like Fatima who provide advice from mother to mother. Fatima acts as a bridge between communities and the health care system, building trust and empowering women to take control of their health.

    Fatima prepares to administer tetanus-diphtheria vaccine to Maloka in a remote area of Sindh. Photo: WHO Pakistan  

    Despite progress, Pakistan remains among 10 countries worldwide that have yet to eliminate MNT. In 2024, a total of 322 cases and 6 deaths were reported across the country, though WHO experts estimate that only 30% of cases are notified to the authorities. 

    WHO will continue to partner with Pakistan and its frontline health workers as they work to eliminate MNT from the country and protect future generations from this preventable disease.

    As the sun sets over the Thar desert, casting long shadows across the sand dunes, health workers like Fatima are bringing hope for a healthier future to the most remote settlements. “Initially, it was an uphill battle,” Fatima recalls. “Many were hesitant, bound by traditional beliefs and misconceptions about vaccines. Now, the smiles of healthy babies and the relief in mothers’ eyes are the greatest reward. It is a reminder that, even in the most challenging circumstances, we can make a difference, one vaccine at a time.”

    “,”datePublished”:”2025-04-04T06:00:00.0000000+00:00″,”image”:”https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default-source/headquarters/teams/uhc—life-course-(uhl)/maternal-newborn-child-adolescent-health-ageing-(mca)/maternal-health-(mah)/administering-a-tetanus-diptheria-vaccine.jpg?sfvrsn=e76a6a66_3″,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”World Health Organization: WHO”,”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg”,”width”:250,”height”:60}},”dateModified”:”2025-04-04T06:00:00.0000000+00:00″,”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/fatima–crossing-deserts-to-protect-mothers-and-newborns-in-pakistan”,”@context”:”http://schema.org”,”@type”:”Article”};
    ]]>

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: S. Korean President Yoon ousted as court upholds impeachment

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    This photo shows a scene during a session for the ruling on the impeachment against President Yoon Suk-yeol at South Korea’s constitutional court in Seoul, South Korea, April 4, 2025. (James Lee/Pool via Xinhua)

    South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was ousted from office Friday as the constitutional court upheld a motion by the parliament to impeach Yoon over his short-lived martial law imposition last December.

    Moon Hyung-bae, acting chief of the court, read a ruling on Yoon’s impeachment, which was broadcast live nationwide, saying it was a unanimous decision of eight justices.

    Moon said Yoon broke his duty of protecting the constitution as he damaged the constitutional institutions, such as the National Assembly, and violated the basic rights of people by mobilizing the military and the police.

    Moon stressed that the benefit of protecting the constitution through Yoon’s dismissal will overwhelmingly exceed the national loss from his dismissal.

    Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3 last year, but it was revoked by the opposition-led National Assembly hours later.

    Throughout the midnight hours of the botched martial law attempt, military helicopters landed at the National Assembly and hundreds of armed special forces troops broke into the parliamentary building.

    By law, the ruling comes into force immediately after the reading, and a snap presidential election is required to be held within 60 days. The election is expected to fall in late May or early June.

    The conservative leader officially lost all presidential power, becoming the country’s second sitting president to be forcibly removed from power following former conservative President Park Geun-hye’s ouster through impeachment in 2017.

    Yoon also became the third leader to be impeached by the National Assembly in the country’s constitutional history. Late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun was reinstated in the presidency after impeachment in 2004.

    Since the passage of Yoon’s impeachment motion on Dec. 14 last year, a total of 11 hearings have been held in the constitutional court until Feb. 25.

    It took 111 days before the court’s final verdict, compared to 92 days for Park’s impeachment and 64 days for Roh’s impeachment.

    Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on Jan. 15 and was indicted under detention on Jan. 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection, becoming the country’s first sitting president to be arrested and prosecuted.

    If convicted of the insurrection ringleader, Yoon could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

    He was released on March 8 as the prosecution decided not to appeal against a court’s release approval.

    Yoon will be stripped of most privileges granted to a former president, including a monthly pension, one chauffeur and three secretaries. Free medicine and the cost of a personal office will not be given to him.

    For the forcibly ousted president, the period during which the presidential security service provides guards will be reduced from 10 years to five years. After the five-year period, police officers will guard Yoon and his wife.

    Kwon young-se, interim chief of the ruling People Power Party, apologized to people over the constitutional court’s decision, saying his party will take it seriously and humbly accept it.

    He emphasized that there should never be violence or extreme action in any case, calling on supporters to overcome the current crisis in peace and order.

    Lee Jae-myung, chief of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, expressed his sincere respect for and gratitude to ordinary people who stood against soldiers and armored vehicles at the time of martial law imposition.

    The most-favored presidential hopeful added that the unarmed people dramatically revived democracy by peacefully confronting the armed forces, vowing to do his best to prevent the repeated tragedy of the constitution’s destruction.

    Following the impeachment verdict, anti-Yoon demonstrators were seen crying tears of joy, hugging each other and cheering in celebration near the constitutional court, with some holding signs that read “Immediately dismiss Yoon, the ringleader of insurrection.”

    Yoon’s supporters, who rallied just hundreds of meters away on the street, reacted furiously. A man wearing a helmet and a gas mask was caught red-handed after breaking the window of a police bus, parked for a police line along the court, with a club.

    Hemmed in by police officers, other supporters burst into tears, rocked barricades and even swore at riot policemen.

    A recent Gallup Korea survey showed that almost six out of 10 South Koreans consented to Yoon’s ouster while 37 percent objected to his impeachment.

    It was based on a poll of 1,001 voters conducted from Tuesday to Thursday. It had a plus and minus 3.1 percentage points in margin of error with a 95 percent confidence level.

    Security was ramped up nationwide. The police issued the highest level of emergency order to deploy about 20,000 riot policemen across the country for expected protests and crowd control.

    Of the total, some 14,000 riot policemen were deployed in Seoul to prevent possible conflicts near the constitutional court, the presidential residence and the parliament.

    Police commandos, as well as paramedics and ambulances, were on standby around the court to respond to possible emergencies. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Science Week PhysMech

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    From March 31 to April 4, 2025, the All-Russian conference “PhysMech Science Week” was held at the Physics and Mechanical Institute of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    “PhysMech Science Week” is a national scientific conference for students, postgraduates and young researchers, organized by the Institute of Physics and Mechanics of SPbPU. The scientific areas include experimental and computational physics, theoretical and applied mechanics, biomechanics, applied mathematics, supercomputer computing, engineering of materials and structures.

    The conference program included nine sections, three of which were held at the Higher School of Applied Mathematics and Computational Physics: “Biomechanics,” “Applied Mathematics,” and “Hydroaerodynamics, Combustion, and Heat Transfer.”

    “The PhysMech Science Week continues the long-standing tradition of the university-wide Science Week. For the fourth year now, at the conference organized by the Physics and Mechanics Institute, students and postgraduates present reports on the results of their research to their classmates and teachers. Guests from other universities and scientific organizations — the university’s partners — also participate in the sessions. I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the sections, the volunteers who provide oral and poster sessions, and especially to the scientific editor of the conference materials indexed in the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI), Professor Evgeny Smirnov,” said Nikolay Ivanov, Acting Director of the PhysMech Institute. “The PhysMech system laid down by A. F. Ioffe implies the active participation of senior students in scientific research. The high level of scientific work performed by students and postgraduates was confirmed by the 2025 conference. I would like to especially note those who took part in the Science Week for the first time. Without a doubt, PhysMech graduates will present reports at scientific conferences of the highest level in the future, but the first student presentation will be remembered most of all – here, within the walls of their native university.”

    The meeting of the section “Hydroaerodynamics, combustion and heat transfer” was held in the conference hall of the Resource Center for International Activities of SPbPU. At the oral session, 5 reports selected by the program committee were presented. At the poster session, 19 posters prepared by students and 23 posters from graduate students and young scientists were presented within the framework of two parallel poster subsections. At the oral subsection, Professor Evgeny Smirnov made a report “The Department of Hydroaerodynamics of the Polytechnic University is 90 years old!”, in which he spoke about the history of the department and the key stages of development.

    More than 130 people took part in the work of the section, of which over 30 employees represented SPbPU, Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, JSC UEC-Klimov, JSC Engineering Center Kronstadt, Soft-Impact LLC, LS-Technologies LLC. More than 100 students and postgraduates represented SPbPU, SPbGMTU, Mining University, BSTU Voenmekh. The section meeting ended with the awarding of diplomas and memorable gifts to all authors of oral reports, the best poster reports based on the results of the expert commission, as well as all students, teachers and guests present at the meeting based on the results of secret voting.

    The program of the section “Applied Mathematics”, which took place in the House of Scientists in Lesnoy, included 8 oral and 18 poster presentations by students, postgraduates and young scientists from SPbPU. The reports were prepared based on the materials of the works carried out under the supervision of teachers and researchers of the section “Applied Mathematics” of the Higher School of Psychology and Mathematics. The topics are very broad – research in the field of bioinformatics, development and application of numerical methods and algorithms, machine learning algorithms and models, solving optimization problems, etc.

    The Biomechanics section heard 11 oral reports on experimental and numerical studies of problems in the field of biohydrodynamics. They were presented by students of the Higher School of Theoretical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics (training program in Applied Mathematics and Physics), the Higher School of Theoretical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics, and the Advanced Engineering School Digital Engineering. Following the meeting, all speakers were awarded certificates of participation.

    The work of all three sections, organized by the staff of the Higher School of Psychology and Mathematics, aroused great interest and attracted representatives of other universities and scientific organizations. The reports were accompanied by numerous questions, meaningful discussions and debates.

    It should be noted that the number of participants and the quality of reports presented at the sections of the conference “PhysMech Science Week” are growing year after year. This contributes to a wider involvement of students in research work as part of scientific groups while still in their undergraduate studies, as well as to an increase in publication activity, and an increase in the authority of PhysMech among applicants, students, researchers and teaching staff.

    Authors of papers accepted for presentation at the conference must submit extended abstracts (in the form of a short article of 2-3 pages) to those responsible for the sections by April 14, which will be published and posted in the Russian Science Citation Index.

    Program and collection of abstracts of reports of the All-Russian conference “Week of Science PhysMech” published here.

    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: Caro Holdings Secures Strategic Partnership to Launch Marketplace Focused on Black-Owned Businesses

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom, April 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Caro Holdings Inc. (OTC: CAHO), a growth enablement company leveraging operational expertise, funding, and AI-driven tools to scale emerging brands, announces a strategic partnership with Kisqueya to expand its existing digital platform to become a fully-fledged global marketplace. The initiative will support Black-owned businesses and independent brands, with a focus on global visibility and scalable ecommerce growth.

    Designed as both a two-sided marketplace – similar to Etsy, Temu or Alibaba – and a listing directory – like yelp.com – it will connect sellers with international buyers while boosting discoverability for service-based businesses. Caro Holdings will host the core digital infrastructure, ecommerce framework, and AI-powered tools that support personalised discovery, predictive analytics, and automated vendor onboarding.

    The platform will launch nationally before scaling into a global hub. Kisqueya will lead vendor outreach and market development, led by founder Marie-Michelle Legrand, a Haitian entrepreneur with a background in social law. Through Kisqueya, she combines ethical commerce with community impact, supporting young women through charitable initiatives.

    “This partnership supports our goal to build inclusive, AI-driven platforms for underserved markets,” said Meriesha Rennalls, Director at Caro Holdings. “With Kisqueya, we’re creating a space where Black-owned businesses can grow with the tools and visibility they need.”

    The platform will offer:

    • AI Analytics – Real-time insights on customer behaviour and performance
    • Personalisation Tools – Tailored shopping experiences
    • Automated Communication – using AI voice for streamlined engagement

    In 2023, global e-commerce sales hit $5.8 trillion and are projected to exceed $8 trillion by 2027. Marketplaces drive over 60% of those sales, yet many small and minority-owned businesses still face barriers to entry.

    “This platform is about access and opportunity,” said Marie-Michelle Legrand, Founder of Kisqueya. “We’re opening pathways for Black-owned businesses to grow and scale.”

    The company anticipates continued expansion through regional partnerships and additional sector-specific deployments.

    About Caro Holdings Inc.
    Caro Holdings is dedicated to accelerating the growth of brands through digital innovation and AI-powered solutions. Its comprehensive suite of services includes e-commerce strategy, digital marketing, AI voice technology, and growth capital. Discover more at www.caroholdings.com.

    About Kisqueya
    ​Kisqueya is a French boutique inspired by Haiti, offering handcrafted jewellery, accessories, and home décor. The brand blends cultural craftsmanship with social purpose, supporting young women through community-led programs. Discover more at www.kisqueya.fr.

    Caro Holdings Inc.
    +1 786-755-3210
    ir@caroholdings.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: US consumers face higher prices, inconsistent dining out experiences amid blanket tariffs, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    US consumers face higher prices, inconsistent dining out experiences amid blanket tariffs, says GlobalData

    Posted in Consumer

    Following the news that the US National Restaurant Association has joined a host of industry bodies calling for tariff exemptions as costs will doubtlessly be passed on to consumers in the wake of possible Trump administration’s blanket tariffs on all countries;

    Hannah Cleland, Senior Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, offers her view:

    “Foodservice operators are facing pressure both from tariffs and rising labor costs to a point where costs can no longer be absorbed, and cutbacks will have to be made. The knock-on effects of diminished staffing levels and erratic ingredient pricing and availability will result in a less consistent experience and standard of dining out for consumers. Customer footfall out-of-home is in a precarious position as these developments come against the backdrop of already weakened sales and fierce price wars in 2024 and 2025.

    “Operators in the US are likely to feel a pronounced effect as state level wage increases for foodservice workers have rippled through the country, while many specialist format outlets are reliant on importing food and beverages of specific origins. By the end of 2024, the number of US consumers reporting to have cut back on eating and drinking out on social occasions was two percentage points below the global average at 27%*.  Operators will be focused on preventing that figure from growing further due to rising costs and potentially falling service and quality standards.

    “These new challenges point to a wider need for operational overhauls in foodservice to improve overall efficiency and minimize cost-pressures long-term. Blanket tariffs will affect prices of all goods and potentially create shortages as rising prices create delays at ports and weaken demand and supply of goods. However, a more diversified supply chain both in terms of suppliers and ingredients can cushion the impact. Additionally, there has been a marked increase in automation technology investment in the US to cope with increased labor costs.

    “That said, these changes while necessary are not short-term fixes for foodservice. Rising prices for less value will be a hard pill for consumers to swallow when dining out. Operators will have to be transparent about the reasons behind price increases and changes to service to soften the blow to customer wallets.”

    *GlobalData 2024 Q4 global consumer survey, 22,000 respondents across 42 countries.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos highlights unmet need for mpox prevention in HIV patients, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos highlights unmet need for mpox prevention in HIV patients, says GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    A recent study reveals that a single dose of Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos vaccine demonstrated 58% overall effectiveness in preventing mpox infection. Among the participants without HIV, effectiveness rose to 84%, while those with HIV showed only 35% effectiveness. These findings underscore the critical need for enhanced mpox prevention strategies for vulnerable, high-risk populations, particularly those with HIV, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    The study, which was carried out at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, marks the first comparison of effectiveness between individuals with and without HIV.

    Stephanie Kurdach, Infectious Disease Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Mpox is a viral illness, spread through close contact with another infected individual, contaminated objects, or infected animals. Symptoms can include a blistering rash, fever, muscle aches, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. While mpox symptoms are often mild, immunocompromised patients, such as those with uncontrolled HIV, are at a greater risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death from this infection.”

    According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the ongoing clade II 2022 mpox outbreak has been responsible for over 100,000 infections among 122 countries to date across North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Clade II mpox has a >99% survival rate. Conversely, clade I is more likely to cause severe illness and death, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. A clade I outbreak has been ongoing in Central and Eastern Africa since 2024 and has been responsible for over 21,000 infections to date.

    Jynneos, also marketed under the name Imvanex, is approved in the US and Canada as a 2-dose vaccine for the prevention of mpox and smallpox in high-risk individuals 18 years of age and older, and in Europe for high-risk individuals 12 years of age and older. The reduced effectiveness of Jynneos in HIV-positive patients is likely attributable to a reduced T-cell response following vaccination in comparison to HIV-negative individuals, according to the study researchers. Ensuring patients receive the full 2-dose vaccination regimen is therefore particularly important for those with HIV.

    Kurdach continues: “According to GlobalData, there are currently only two other vaccines approved for the prevention of mpox, KM Biologics’ mpox LC16m8 vaccine, and Emergent BioSolutions’ ACAM2000. Of these, the LC16m8 vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in people with well-controlled HIV.”

    In the Jynneos study, over 3,600 participants received two doses of the mpox vaccine to analyze vaccine safety. Local reactions occurred in 70% of individuals after the first dose and 57% of individuals after the second dose. Systemic reactions occurred in 22% of individuals after the first dose and 18% of individuals after the second dose. Severe local and systemic reactions were rare.

    Kurdach concludes: “The recent safety and effectiveness data regarding mpox vaccination by Jynneos is important and timely given the ongoing, global outbreak. Unfortunately, there are still clear unmet needs for more research on mpox in patients with HIV and increased, effective vaccination options for this at-risk population.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Second shipment of vitrified waste from UK to Germany completed

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Second shipment of vitrified waste from UK to Germany completed

    The second of three planned shipments of high level waste in the form of vitrified residues has been safely delivered to Germany.

    Seven flasks containing high level waste were transported from the Sellafield site, West Cumbria to the port of Barrow-in-Furness by rail.

    The flasks were then loaded on to the specialist nuclear transport vessel Pacific Grebe, operated by Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) for transfer to the German port. The waste was then transported by rail in Germany to the ISAR federal storage facility arriving on 03 April 2025.

    This shipment was carried out in full compliance with all appropriate national and international regulations.

    The waste returned resulted from the reprocessing and recycling of spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield which had previously been used to produce electricity by utilities in Germany.

    Vitrified Residue Returns are a key component of the UK’s strategy to repatriate high level waste from the Sellafield site, fulfil overseas contracts and deliver on government policy.

    Sellafield Ltd’s programme manager Jonathan Clingan said:

    Thanks to the excellent work of various teams at Sellafield Ltd, NTS and other partners in the UK and overseas, we have safely delivered the second Vitrified Residue Return to Germany, delivering a key milestone in the UK Government’s commitment to returning waste to overseas customers.

    Updates to this page

    Published 4 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 80 years since the capture of Bratislava

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On April 4, 1945, during the Bratislava-Brno operation, Soviet troops liberated Bratislava from the German invaders.

    The offensive operation was carried out by the forces of the 2nd Ukrainian Front under the command of Marshal Rodion Malinovsky. They were confronted by the 200,000-strong Army Group “South” in convenient natural and well-fortified defensive positions.

    The 1st Guards Cavalry-Mechanized Group under the command of Lieutenant General Issa Pliev especially distinguished itself in the battles on the approaches to the city. Its sudden and stunning raids on the enemy’s rear terrified the Germans and did not allow them to organize a defense on the borders of the Nitra, Vah, and Morava rivers.

    By April 1, the Red Army had reached the city limits. The enemy had carefully prepared for defense, creating numerous reinforced concrete firing points, anti-tank ditches, and minefields. Barricades, anti-personnel and anti-tank obstacles were erected on the streets of Bratislava. The eastern outskirts were especially strongly fortified, since the northern part of the city was protected by the Little Carpathians, and the southern part by the Little Danube and the Danube. In order to avoid protracted battles and the destruction of the city, the command decided to attack with simultaneous strikes from the northeast and southeast. The Danube Flotilla was involved in the assault, its ships made a 75-kilometer dash from Komárno to Bratislava along a mined fairway, and the sailors took direct part in the city battles.

    On April 2, Soviet troops broke through the enemy’s outer fortifications and stormed into the city. Fierce fighting for every house lasted for two days, assault groups systematically moved from street to street and by midday on April 4 they reached the center of Bratislava. The remnants of the German garrison fled toward Vienna.

    During the Bratislava-Brno operation, the troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Front advanced 200 kilometers, occupied the Bratislava and Brno industrial districts, completed the liberation of Slovakia, and created conditions for a rapid advance on Prague. In honor of the capture of Bratislava, a ceremonial salute was given in Moscow – 24 volleys from 324 guns. For the heroism and military valor displayed during the liberation of Brno and Bratislava, 99 formations and units were awarded orders, and 15 received the honorary title of “Bratislava”.

    On the territory of modern Slovakia there are about 160 graves of Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of this country from fascism. More than 60 thousand Soviet soldiers are buried in military cemeteries. In memory of them, about 100 different monuments and memorial signs have been erected. Eternal memory to the heroic liberators!

    The State University of Management congratulates on this memorable date and recalls our scientific regiment-employees who fought as part of the 2nd Ukrainian Front on the territory of Czechoslovakia:
    -Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gureev, artillery colonel, vice-rector and deputy director of the MIE-Miu-Gau-Guu for administrative work (1972-2008);
    -Anatoly Petrov, head of the radio station of the 1st Guards Airborne Brigade, foreman, doctor of economic sciences, head of the planning department of the national economy of the MIEI MIU;
    -Boris Rodionov, Major Engineer, graduate of MIE, Doctor of Economics, Head of the Department of Organization and Planning of Mechanical Engineering MIE-Miu.

    #Scientific regiment

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04.04.2025

    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: “Let’s Revive the Apple Orchard”: a Caring Campaign by GUU Students

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On April 2, a charity event of care, “Let’s Revive the Apple Orchard,” was held at the GUU campus.

    Teachers and third-year students of the Institute of Marketing, under the leadership of Director Gennady Azoev, gathered in the central square of the State University of Management to tidy up the apple trees growing on the campus.

    “Spring pruning and care are extremely important for the formation of the correct tree crown, as they allow the branches not to interfere with each other and let in more sunlight. In addition, removing unnecessary and frozen branches over the winter will allow the apple trees not to waste energy on their restoration and to properly distribute the nutritious juices,” said Gennady Lazarevich.

    Now the trunks of the apple trees in the university garden are whitewashed, the cuts are treated with garden pitch, and the students have learned the secrets of caring for the trees.

    In continuation of the “Let’s Revive the Apple Orchard” campaign, representatives of the Institute of Pear and Plum Trees are planning to plant them in the near future.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04.04.2025

    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: Groupama Group 2024 annual results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Premium income (insurance premiums and other income) of €18.5 billion, up +8.9%

    • Growth in activity in all business lines: property and casualty insurance (+5.2%), health & protection (+15.2%) and savings & pensions (+8.1%)
    • Sustained growth in France (+8.9%) and in international subsidiaries (+8.3%)
    • Insurance revenue (IFRS 17) of €16.3 billion

    Net income of €961 million

    • Economic operating income of €954 million, up €52 million
    • Moderate weather loss experience
    • Combined ratio of 95.1%

    Solvency ratio of 185% without transitional measure

    • Solvency ratio of 241% without transitional measure on underwriting reserves
    • Group’s IFRS equity of €10.5 billion, up +€0.6 billion
    • Contractual service margin of €3.8 billion

    “Groupama is showing very satisfactory results, both in terms of revenue growth and profitability. Despite a turbulent economic and geopolitical environment, the group demonstrates the solidity and strength of its mutual model, which forms the foundation of an ambitious development strategy as well as investments for the future. I would like to thank our elected representatives and our employees for their commitment.”, stated Laurent Poupart, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles.

    “The group’s results are very positive, with net income supported by a robust operating income from our insurance activities. These results stem from all our operations, including property and casualty as well as life and health insurance, both in France and internationally. They enable us to navigate the complex and uncertain economic environment on solid foundations and to generate investment capacity for our development.”, added Thierry Martel, CEO of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles.

    The Board of Directors of Groupama Assurances Mutuelles met on 3 April 2025, under the chairmanship of Laurent Poupart, and approved the Group’s combined financial statements for fiscal year 2024.

    Activity (insurance premiums and other income)

    At 31 December 2024, Groupama’s combined premium income stood at €18.5 billion, +8.9% increase from 31 December 2023. The increase stemmed from the development of property and casualty insurance (+5.2%), sustained growth in health & protection insurance (+15.2%) and the return to growth in the savings & pensions business (+8.1%).

    Groupama premium income at 31 December 2024

    in millions of euros 31/12/2024 Like-for-like change
    Property and casualty insurance 9,241 +5.2%
    Health & Protection 5,900 +15.2%
    Savings & Pensions 3,115 +8.1%
    Financial businesses 246 +15.6%
    GROUP TOTAL 18,503 +8.9%

      

    In France

    Insurance premium income in France at 31 December 2024 amounted to €15.2 billion, up +8.9% compared with 31 December 2023.

    In property and casualty insurance, premium income amounted to €7.0 billion at 31 December 2024, up +4.3%, driven by strong growth in business and local authority insurance (+8.1%), home insurance (+5.1%) and, to a lesser extent, by the increase in motor insurance (+2.8%) and agricultural insurance (+2.9%).

    The health & protection business saw strong growth (+14.8%) to €5.5 billion as at 31 December 2024, underpinned by increases in both group health (+23.5%) and individual health (+7.2%).

    In savings & pensions, premium income rebounded with a growth of 9.7%, reaching €2.7 billion as of December 31, 2024. This growth was driven by an increase in individual savings & pensions (+12.6%), particularly in unit-linked savings & pensions (+22.5%), which benefited from the success of Telluma.

    International

    At the end of 2024, business reached €3.1 billion, up +8.3% at constant scope and exchange rates compared with 31 December 2023, benefiting from strong business growth in Hungary (+19.1%) and sustained growth in Romania (+7.4%) and Italy (+5.9%).

    Property and casualty insurance premium income totalled €2.3 billion as at 31 December 2024, up +8.2% from the previous period. This growth was driven by property and casualty insurance for businesses and local authorities (+15.6%), mainly in Romania, by motor insurance (+6.7%), which grew significantly in Hungary, Bulgaria and Italy, as well as by strong performances in home insurance (+11.7%), particularly in Greece and Bulgaria.

    Premium income in savings & pensions was virtually stable (-0.6%) at €0.5 billion, with growth in individual savings & pensions in unit-linked products (+25.5%) being offset by the decline in the group savings& pensions business (-41.8%).

    In health and protection, business grew significantly (+21.8%) to €0.4 billion, benefiting from growth in group insurance (+40.0%), mainly in Romania and Bulgaria, and from the increase in individual protection (+14.1%).

    Financial businesses

    The Group’s premium income was €246 million, including €238 million from Groupama Asset Management and €8 million from Groupama Epargne Salariale.

    Results

    Economic operating income increased to €954 million at 31 December 2024, up 52% compared with 31 December 2023.

    It came from property and casualty insurance for €429 million (€316 million as at 31 December 2023) and health and protection insurance for €299 million (€233 million as at 31 December 2023). The Group’s non-life combined ratio was 95.1% at 31 December 2024, an improvement of -1.7 points compared with 31 December 2023. This change is linked to the decrease in claims related to natural disasters, for which the cost net of reinsurance amounted to €637 million in 2024 compared with €968 million in 2023, as well as the improvement in the attritional loss experience and the increase in prior year reserve bonuses. Conversely, the discount effect is less than in 2023. The operating costs ratio was virtually stable at 28.1% as at 31 December 2024.

    Economic operating income from savings & pensions was €327 million at 31 December 2024 (€156 million at 31 December 2023). It benefited in particular from the result of the switch of the share reinsured by Groupama Gan Vie to CNP Retraite in the PREFON Retraite reinsurance treaty, effective 1 January 2024.

    Economic operating income from financial activities amounted to +€44 million and that of the Group’s holding company activity was -€146 million at 31 December 2024.

    The transition from economic operating income to net income includes non-recurring items, in particular the realisation of capital gains or losses, the change in the fair value of financial assets, and financing expenses. The Group’s overall net income totalled €961 million at 31 December 2024, compared with €510 million at 31 December 2023.

    Balance sheet

    Group’s IFRS equity totalled €10.5 billion at 31 December 2024 compared with €9.9 billion as at 31 December 2023. This change is mainly due to the positive contribution of income for the financial year and the perpetual subordinated debt issue in early July 2024 for €600 million, mitigated by the redemption in May 2024 of the perpetual subordinated notes issued in 2014 for €871 million.

    The Group’s contractual service margin, which represents the deferred future profits of outstanding contracts in savings and pensions and long-term protection, amounted to €3.8 billion at 31 December 2024, up +€162 million compared with 31 December 2023.

    Insurance investments totalled €67.2 billion, down -€3.2 billion, mainly due to the disposal of assets from the Prefon portfolio and changes in the financial markets (rise in government bond yields).

    At 31 December 2024, the Solvency 2 ratio, without transitional measure on underwriting reserves, was 185%. The 12-point decrease in the rate compared with end-2023 was mainly due to unfavourable market effects reflecting the widening of government bond spreads as well as the redemption in May 2024 of perpetual subordinated bonds issued in 2014 for €871 million, partially offset by the net income for the fiscal year and by the issue of perpetual subordinated debt in July 2024 for €600 million. The ratio with transitional measure on underwriting reserves, authorised by the ACPR, was 241%.

    The Group’s financial strength was highlighted by Fitch Ratings, which affirmed Groupama’s rating at ‘A+’ with a ‘Stable’ outlook on 9 December 2024.

    Group Communications Department

    For the financial statements as at 31/12/2024, the Group’s financial information consists of:

    • this press release, which is available on the website groupama.com,
    • the universal registration document of Groupama, which will be filed with the AMF on 28 April 2025 and posted on the www.groupama.com website on the same day.

    Appendix: Groupama key figures

    Premium income (insurance premiums and other income)

    € million 31/12/2023
    pro forma*    		 31/12/2024 Change **
    as %
    > France 13,919 15,154 +8.9%
    Property and Casualty 6,686 6,974 +4.3%
    Health & Protection 4,804 5,515 +14.8%
    Savings & Pensions 2,429 2,665 +9.7%
    > International & Overseas territories 2,866 3,103 +8.3%
    Property and Casualty 2,096 2,268 +8.2%
    Health & Protection 316 385 +21.8%
    Savings & Pensions 453 450 -0.6%
    TOTAL INSURANCE 16,785 18,257 +8.8%
    Financial businesses 213 246 +15.6%
    Groupama premium income 16,997 18,503 +8.9%

    * Based on comparable data
    ** Change on a like-for-like exchange rate and consolidation basis

    Economic operating income

    € million 31/12/2023 31/12/2024
    Insurance – France 544 856
    Insurance – International 161 200
    Financial businesses 35 44
    Holding companies -113 -146
    Economic operating income* 627 954

    * Economic operating income: net income restated for realised capital gains and losses, allocations to and reversals of provisions for long-term impairment and unrealised gains and losses on financial assets recognised at fair value from property and casualty, health/personal protection, financial and holding company activities (these items being net of corporate income tax). Non-recurring transactions net of tax, impairment of goodwill (net of tax) and external financing expenses are also restated.

    Net income

    € million 31/12/2023 31/12/2024
    Insurance – France
    Insurance – International    		 572
    141    		 906
    161
    Financial businesses 35 44
    Holding companies -128 -151
    Disposal of activities in Turkey -110 –
    Net income 510 961

    Balance sheet

    € million 31/12/2023 31/12/2024
    Group’s IFRS equity 9,862 10,487
    Subordinated debts 3,009 2,741
    – classified as Group’s IFRS equity  871 600
    – classified as “Financing debt” 2,138 2,141
    Contractual service margin 3,649 3,810
    Total balance sheet 91,949 89,396

    Main ratios

      31/12/2023 31/12/2024
    Combined non-life ratio 96.8% 95.1%
    Debt ratio 21.8% 18.7%
    Solvency 2 ratio (with transitional measure*) 267% 241%
    Solvency 2 ratio (without transitional measure*) 197% 185%

    * transitional measure on underwriting reserves

    Financial strength rating – Fitch Ratings

      Rating * Outlook
    Groupama Assurances Mutuelles and its subsidiaries A+ Stable

    * Insurer Financial Strength (IFS)

    About Groupama Group

    For more than 100 years, Groupama Group has based its actions on timeless, humanist values to enable as many people as possible to build their lives in confidence. It relies on humane, caring, optimistic and responsible communities. The Groupama Group, one of the leading mutual insurers in France, carries out its insurance and service business activities in ten countries. The Group has 12 million members and customers and 32,000 employees throughout the world, with premium income of €18.5 billion.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: 43 individuals face punishment for fatal coal mine accident in Heilongjiang

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A total of 43 individuals should be punished for their roles in a deadly coal mine accident and subsequent cover-up in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, an investigation report revealed Thursday.
    The accident occurred on Dec. 20, 2023, in the Kunyuan coal mine in the city of Jixi, leaving 12 dead and 13 others injured.
    The accident resulted from illegal mining using improper equipment with damaged wires, which snapped under overload conditions while workers illegally rode cargo trains, according to the report released by the investigation team organized by the provincial government.
    Following the accident, the mine operator deliberately concealed it, hid the victims’ bodies, and destroyed evidence instead of reporting promptly. Emergency response was also mishandled, it added.
    The report revealed that judicial authorities as well as discipline inspection and supervision bodies have taken action against 14 individuals, while 29 others face recommended Party disciplinary or administrative penalties.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Secure mobile phone recycling system taking shape in China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Data security has always been a challenge during electronic waste processing and recycling in China, but the issue is being addressed through a new initiative.
    China Resources Recycling Group Co., Ltd. (CRRGC), a centrally administered state-owned enterprise, announced the nationwide expansion of its secure mobile phone recycling and disposal demonstration program to provincial capital cities.
    This marks the official launch of a nationwide network for confidential electronic carrier disposal, integrating recycling, disassembly and smelting into a unified system, according to the company.
    As a national leader in the circular economy, CRRGC has focused on constructing a secure electronic waste disposal system since its establishment in October 2024. Following trial operations in the cities of Tianjin and Shantou starting Jan. 18, the project is now expanding nationwide.
    Industry data estimates that China has several billion idle mobile phones, with over 400 million devices becoming idle each year.
    Liu Yu, chairman of CRRGC, emphasized the untapped potential of these “drawer phones,” noting that their data security and privacy risks necessitate specialized handling during recycling.
    Starting Thursday, users in provincial capitals in China can access the “worry-free chip destruction” WeChat mini-program to schedule either on-site phone destruction or confidential mail-in recycling.
    Devices processed at CRRGC’s Shantou facility undergo professional disassembly, mechanical crushing, and smelting under real-time monitoring and full-process traceability, according to CRRGC. Advanced physical shredding and pyrometallurgical technologies enable the safe extraction of precious metals while ensuring personal data security and material reuse.
    Liu said that this system creates a replicable, scalable commercial model for nationwide confidential electronic carrier disposal and resource recovery.
    In addition, through a partnership with China Post, CRRGC has built a closed-loop industrial chain that includes front-end collection, secure mid-process destruction, and high-value terminal processing.
    Plans are underway to expand this model to include computers, hard drives, and other electronics, with the goal of establishing national platforms for end-stage e-waste recycling and secondary trading, according to the company. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Eviden receives ANSSI standard qualification for its network security solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, France – April 4, 2025 – Eviden, the Atos Group business leading in digital, cloud, big data and security today announces that it has obtained a standard-level qualification from the French National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI) for its Trustway IP Protect product. This milestone attests to the reliability, robustness and effectiveness of this virtual private network (VPN) in protecting sensitive communications and data.

    Guaranteeing secure communications for businesses of all sizes, Trustway IP Protect ensures protected connectivity across networks, safeguards sensitive information against potential threats and hacking, and guarantees the confidentiality and integrity of IP flows. Based on a cryptographic module developed in France, the Trustway IP Protect range meets IPSec standards and will soon support post-quantum algorithms, as part of its strategic partnership with CryptoNext Security.

    The ANSSI qualification process consists of a rigorous assessment demonstrating the security level of the cybersecurity solutions, their compliance with ANSSI requirements, and the supplier’s credibility. The qualification also establishes compliance with the IPsec DR standard, enabling Trustway IP Protect to be implemented in systems, subject to restricted distribution approval.

    This milestone follows obtaining Trustway’s EAL4+ Common Criteria certification in December 2024, further consolidating Trustway IP Protect’s position as a trusted, benchmark solution for securing critical infrastructures.

    With a standard-level qualification, regulated organizations can deploy Trustway IP Protect with complete confidence, meeting the requirements set by Instruction II No. 901.

    Antoine Schweitzer-Chaput, Director of the Trustway range, Eviden, Atos Group said “Achieving this qualification not only demonstrates our commitment to high-quality security solutions, but also affirms our ability to meet the complex needs of our customers. This achievement is the result of several years’ hard work by our teams, and today enables us to offer a sovereign French solution to all infrastructures constrained by the strictest regulations.”

    ***

    About Eviden1

    Eviden is a next-gen technology leader in data-driven, trusted and sustainable digital transformation with a strong portfolio of patented technologies. With worldwide leading positions in advanced computing, security, AI, cloud and digital platforms, it provides deep expertise for all industries in more than 47 countries. Bringing together 41,000 world-class talents, Eviden expands the possibilities of data and technology across the digital continuum, now and for generations to come. Eviden is an Atos Group company with an annual revenue of c. € 5 billion.

    About Atos

    Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with c. 78,000 employees and annual revenue of c. € 10 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 68 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea) and listed on Euronext Paris.

    The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

    Press contact: globalprteam@atos.net

    1 Eviden business is operated through the following brands: AppCentrica, ATHEA, Cloudamize, Cloudreach, Cryptovision, DataSentics, Edifixio, Engage ESM, Evidian, Forensik, IDEAL GRP, In Fidem, Ipsotek, Maven Wave, Profit4SF, SEC Consult, Visual BI, X-Perion.

    Eviden is a registered trademark. © Eviden SAS, 2025.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Launches Galaxy Tab S10FE Series in India, Starting at INR 42999

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced the launch of Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, offering new entry points to the Galaxy ecosystem on a premium tablet design. Equipped with the largest screen yet on the Galaxy Tab S10 FE series and slimmer bezels that expand its display, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ provides a fun, immersive viewing experience for everything from entertainment to studying and day-to-day tasks. Samsung’s intelligent features empower users to get more done with ease, while a slimmer design helps users to achieve their creativity and productivity on the go.
     
    “At Samsung, we are committed to bringing world-class innovation to everyone, and the launch of the new Galaxy Tab S10FE series is a testament to that vision. With Galaxy AI capabilities making their debut on our FE tablets, we are making cutting-edge technology more accessible than ever. The Galaxy S10 FE series will empower Galaxy users to maximize their creativity and productivity, and help us consolidate our market leadership in India’s tablet segment,” said Aditya Babbar, Vice President, MX Business, Samsung India.
     
    Stunning Display
    Combining the Galaxy Tab S series’ heritage design with slim bezels, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+’s 13.1-inch display offers immersive entertainment on a screen that’s almost 12% larger than its predecessor. Smooth visuals enabled by a 90Hz refresh rate and new levels of visibility that goes up to 800 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM) ensure an optimal viewing experience when watching videos and gaming on the Galaxy Tab S10 FE series. The Vision Booster’s automatic adjustments enhance brightness and visibility even in ever-changing outdoor environments while blue-light emissions are safely reduced to minimize eye strain, meeting every unique viewing need.
     
    Robust Performance and Versatile Design
    The Galaxy Tab S10 FE series boosts productivity when working or studying, and delivers fast, smooth gameplay without interruption. The performance upgrades enable the Galaxy Tab S10 FE series users to switch effortlessly between multiple apps, allowing for improved multitasking. And when capturing everyday moments in the classroom or in workspaces, a newly upgraded 13MP rear camera produces clear and vivid photos.
     
    These versatile experiences, from powerful work to seamless play, accompany users everywhere they go. Now more than 4% lighter than its predecessor, Galaxy Tab S10 FE is even easier to carry around. The Galaxy S10 Tab FE series offers hassle-free storage and mobility at home, on campus, in the workplace and elsewhere with its slim design. Engineered for resilience and durability to withstand the elements, the FE series comes with IP68 rating.
     
    Advances Features
    Building on Samsung’s legacy of delivering premium experiences across the Galaxy ecosystem, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ and Galaxy Tab S10 FE are the first models in the FE series to come equipped with cutting-edge AI capabilities right out of the box, fueling user productivity.
     
    Fan-favourite Circle to Search with Google allows you to search what you see on your tablet without switching apps. Quickly get the info you need, translate text on screen or get homework help with step-by-step explanations – all on one large screen.
    Samsung Notes features like Solve Math for quick calculations of handwriting and text, and Handwriting Help to tidy up notes easily, make notetaking easier than ever so users can stay focused in the moment.
    AI assistants are instantly launched with a single tap of the Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboard. Plus, AI assistants can be customized based on users’ preferences for a more personalized experience.
    An upgraded Object Eraser lets users effortlessly remove unwanted objects from photos, with automatic suggestions for quick and easy edits.
    Newly introduced Best Face ensures perfect group photos by selecting and combining the best expressions and features.
    Auto Trim brings cherished moments to life by sifting through multiple videos to seamlessly compile highlight reels.
    The Galaxy Tab S10 FE series also serves as the perfect canvas for creativity with pre-loaded apps and tools including LumaFusion, Goodnotes, Clip Studio Paint and more, alongside other spotlight apps like Noteshelf 3, Sketchbook and Picsart.
     
    For an even more intuitive AI experience, the FE series seamlessly integrates with other Samsung Galaxy devices. Similar to the Galaxy Tab S10 series, users can access a comprehensive overview of their home status with the Home Insight widget dashboard and 3D Map View feature. Summarized status updates of SmartThings-enabled devices give users peace of mind when out and about.
     
    Knox Security
    As with any Galaxy device, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE series is fortified by Samsung Knox, Samsung’s defense-grade, multi-layer security platform built to safeguard critical information and protect against vulnerabilities with end-to-end hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection.
     
    Price and Offers
    Product
    Variant
    Price
    Bundle Offers
    Other Offers
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Galaxy Tab S10FE
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    WiFi (8GB+128GB)
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    INR 42999
     
     
     
     
    ·         Galaxy Tab S10 FE: Keyboard Cover worth INR 15999 at just INR 7999
     
    OR
     
    ·         Galaxy Buds3 worth INR 14999 at Just INR 6999
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ·         Galaxy Tab S10FE +: Keyboard Cover worth INR 18999 at just INR 10999
    OR
     
    ·         Galaxy Buds3 worth INR 14999 at Just INR 6999
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ·         Bank cashback of INR 4000 on the purchase of Galaxy Tab S10FE
     
     
     
     
    WiFi (12GB+256GB)
    INR 53999
     
    LTE (8GB+128GB)
    INR 50999
     
    LTE (12GB+256GB)
    INR 70999
     
     
     
     
    Galaxy Tab S10 FE +
    WiFi (8GB+128GB)
    INR 64999
     
    WiFi (12GB+256GB)
    INR 75999
    ·         Bank cashback of INR 3000 on the purchase of Galaxy Tab S10 FE+
     
    ·         Upto INR 3000 upgrade bonus on the purchase of Galaxy Tab S10FE or Galaxy Tab S10FE +
     
    ·              Up to 12 months No Cost EMI
     
    LTE (8GB+128GB)
    INR 75999
     
    LTE (12GB+256GB)
    INR 86999
     
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Smartphones shed light on depression detection

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Smartphones have the potential to aid depression detection through digital phenotyping and feature extraction by utilizing the massive data they collect, according to Chinese scientists at Lanzhou University.

    This has particular significance and potential for modern people suffering from high stress as smartphones can timely sense people’s mental and physical conditions, according to their study newly published in the journal Proceedings of the IEEE.

    The large amount of data generated by smartphones can continuously track users’ mental state, with multiple advantages such as universality and objectivity, according to Yang Minqiang, associate professor of the School of Information Science and Engineering of Lanzhou University.

    “Smartphones can help realize the timely identification of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety,” added Yang.

    Smartphones contain a wealth of sensors, such as GPS, gyroscope, microphone, ambient light sensor and more. These sensors can help record people’s movement, social interactions, sleep, rhythm and other behavioral states, and can be used to identify and track psychological disorders.

    Notably, smartphones have been widely used as portable data collectors for wearable and healthcare sensors that can passively collect data streams related to the environment, health status and behavior.

    Recent research shows that the collected data can be used to monitor not only the physical states but also the mental health of individuals. However, extracting the features of digital phenotypes that characterize major depressive disorder (MDD) is technically challenging and may raise significant privacy concerns.

    This study carried out a comprehensive analysis of several key issues related to ubiquitous sensing for use in detecting MDD, according to Yang.

    Researchers specifically analyzed existing methodologies and feature extraction algorithms used to detect MDD through digital phenotyping from smartphone data.

    They summarized and explained five types of features of smartphone data, namely, location, movement, rhythm, sleep, and social and device usage.

    These data record the patterns of an individual’s daily activities, including social interactions and mobile phone usage. Despite its limitations, this study opens the door for further research and engineering exploration of smartphone data, according to Yang.

    “Early identification could help early intervention on depression. We anticipate that smartphone manufacturers could realize smartphone-based mental health diagnosis and treatment, all while protecting user privacy,” Yang said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: National Aquatics Center marks 15th annual ‘Light It Blue’ autism awareness event

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The National Aquatics Center in Beijing illuminates its iconic blue lights on April 2, 2025, to mark World Autism Awareness Day. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
    The National Aquatics Center in Beijing, a venue that has hosted two Olympics, illuminated its facade in blue on Wednesday to mark World Autism Awareness Day for the 15th consecutive year. The event seeks to raise public awareness and promote inclusivity for people with autism.
    This year’s event underscored the values of fairness, unity and perseverance — core principles of sportsmanship — while spreading the message “Respect differences, light up hope.”
    Since its inception in 2011, the venue has been a hub for autism awareness initiatives. Over the past decade, it has hosted public art exhibitions featuring over 5,000 paintings created by children with autism and youth volunteers. Additionally, it has organized more than 10 sports events for disabled individuals, drawing over 6,000 in-person attendees and generating over 450,000 online interactions.
    In 2025, the “Light It Blue” campaign expanded nationwide, with many landmark buildings across China joining in to illuminate their facades in blue. Notable participants included the National Speed Skating Oval, Shanghai Jinmao Tower and Shanghai Pudong Library, all of which displayed their exteriors in blue and broadcast autism awareness messages.

    Children with autism and their families try out curling at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, April 2, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
    Activities at the National Aquatics Center included a range of diverse events. The “family day” featured an interactive curling experience at the Center’s underground ice sports arena, encouraging family bonding through friendly competition. An art exhibition showcased 200 artworks created by young artists with autism, volunteers and musicians, promoting creative expression and communication.

    Artworks by individuals with autism on display at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, April 2, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
    Additionally, a social welfare workshop incorporated art therapy activities such as tactile clay painting and traditional Chinese velvet flower crafts. These activities aimed to enhance sensory development and improve fine motor skills for children with autism.

    Children with autism and their parents engage in a handcraft workshop at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, April 2, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
    A notable highlight was a forum examining the role of technology in creating a more inclusive society for individuals with autism. Speakers from special education, rehabilitation and psychology discussed innovative ways to utilize artificial intelligence to improve inclusive education and support services for individuals with autism. Participants underscored their commitment to ensuring equal opportunities in education, health care, employment and community involvement.
    The “Light It Blue” campaign’s impact extended beyond Beijing, with parallel events held nationwide. In Nanjing, Jiangsu province, families and volunteers participated in a charity market, selling handmade crafts and artwork to fund autism support programs. Additionally, experts and parents gave public lectures to share insights on autism care.
    In Shanghai, hundreds of paintings by autistic youth were exhibited at the Shanghai Jinmao Tower observatory and a cultural and art development center in the Pudong New Area.
    In Zhuhai, Guangdong province, autism families, social workers and non-profits from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area gathered for a screening of China’s first autism-themed documentary, “Uniquely You.” An accompanying art exhibition highlighted the experiences and aspirations of autistic children, advocating for greater societal acceptance and support.
    As the “Light It Blue” campaign expands, the National Aquatics Center remains dedicated to its social responsibility of promoting inclusivity for individuals with autism.
    Looking ahead, the venue will continue to champion autism awareness and explore innovative ways to promote a more inclusive environment for all.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why was South Africa’s ambassador to the US expelled? A view of the Ebrahim Rasool affair

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Peter Vale, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria., University of Pretoria

    In a rare move, the Trump administration expelled Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, in mid-March 2025. In a post on X, US secretary of state Marco Rubio accused Rasool of hating the US and President Donald Trump, and said the ambassador was “no longer welcome in our great country”. The expulsion came after comments Rasool had made during a webinar organised by a South African think-tank, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Studies. Rasool had said he thought that Trump was “mobilising a supremacism” and trying to “project white victimhood as a dog whistle” as the white population faced becoming a minority in the US.

    Relations between the two countries had reached a new low in the first weeks of the Trump administration. Trump had lashed out at South Africa for taking Israel to the International Court of Justice on accusations of genocide in Gaza; frozen all funding to South Africa; and offered asylum to white Afrikaners from South Africa, emboldening fringe far-right groups in the country. Peter Vale, regarded as an authority on South Africa’s place in the world, answers questions about the ambassador’s expulsion.

    What was your initial reaction to the Rasool appointment?

    I know and respect Ebrahim Rasool – we worked together at the University of the Western Cape 30 years ago – and I also thought he had done a fine job as ambassador to the US during the Obama years.

    Remember, his appointment under the Trump administration was announced a week after the November poll. Preparations for this would have been months in the making. So, one question was, did the South African government think Joe Biden would win? If so, they were not following the polls very closely. South Africa’s relations with the US under Biden, although at times testy, were managable and Rasool was familiar with the individuals responsible for their making.

    More importantly, both Rasool and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation seemed to ignore the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus’ warning:

    Never step into the same river twice, for it is not the same river, and he is not the same man.

    Politics in the US has changed in paradigmatic proportions since Obama.

    Then there was the fact that Rasool’s politics are rooted at the sharpest edge of the African National Congress: the United Democratic Front faction. Speaking plainly in the language of the country’s streets was the gift the United Democratic Front gave national politics. It was the most important internal anti-apartheid movement in the 1980s, bringing together youth, student and civic organisations.

    Nevertheless, this, the language of the heart (as we might call it), has been eclipsed by the rise of techno-speak of the 2020s – a language that consists of buzzwords, esoteric language, or technical jargon and has become a kind of diplo-speak: diplomatic language in which the careful use of euphemism and noncontroversial language obscures points that might cause contention. Both bedevil South Africa’s domestic politics and mute the country’s foreign policy because racial justice, gender equality and compensation for colonialism seemingly have no place in everyday political discourse.

    What happened at the Mapungubwe seminar?

    The fracas arose during a virtual seminar organised by a leading South African think-tank which discussed the deepening tension in the relations between Pretoria and Washington.

    The late South African politician Frederik van Zyl Slabbert, who was brilliant with words, used to distinguish between (what he called) a conspiracy and a cock-up. Sometimes, however, it can be a mix of both.

    I think that Rasool was confounded by the audience to which he spoke – was it local or was it local and foreign?

    If there was deceit in the gathering itself, this was not to Rasool’s account. This points instead to a journalist looking to trip up any position South Africa took in the matter seemingly to advance his career. This is said to be the Breitbart journalist Joel Pollack, who made no secret of his desire to be the US ambassador in South Africa. He was registered as “Anonymous” on the webinar call. He did not disclose his name, or profession, when he asked Rasool a question.

    In my opinion, disclosure is a professional responsibility.

    Interestingly, there is no indication that the meeting was operating under the well-known Chatham House Rule by which

    participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor any other participant, may be revealed.

    Although not without its critics, myself included, this rule binds participants to non-disclosure by creating a safe space for candid and honest discussion.

    Where does the responsibility of an ambassador lie?

    The consensus among observers and commentators that’s emerged since the expulsion is that it was Rasool’s responsibility to hold his tongue – a kind of golden rule in diplomacy.

    There is another way of thinking about this.

    There have been many cases where the professional responsibility of diplomatic representation should follow a higher standard than that set by the incumbent government.

    This choice faced diplomats in the country during apartheid. So, for instance, in 1986, the apartheid government expelled the Swedish ambassador following that country’s strong opposition to apartheid. There were other expulsions, too. These moves were part of the broader international pressure surrounding apartheid, where responsibility of the diplomats shifted from the minority incumbent government to the country’s people.

    However, most famously, this understanding emerged in the writing of Thomas Paine, the American pamphleteer, that Benjamin Franklin (then the ambassador of the fledgling United States to Paris) was “not the diplomat of a Court, but (that the Ambassador) represented MAN (KIND)”.

    This intervention is regarded as the first recognition that human – as opposed to state – rights enjoyed currency in international relations.

    The age of turbulence through which we live has further muddied this water.

    What do you make of the reaction to Rasool’s explusion?

    A cacophony of voices, both within and without the country, have debated the pros and cons of the American decision.

    Much has been predictable in content and source. Some garbled. Former South African president Thabo Mbeki was schoolmasterish during a lecture he gave following Rasool’s expulsion, but he reminded the country of the tremendous power that ambassadors had at hand.

    Of concern to those with an ethical interest in international relations was that the trope “the national interest” appeared again and again and that, as it did so, the form it took was economic. So, it is in the national interest that South Africa “grow the economy”, “create jobs” and “fight HIV” with American money.

    Nevertheless, le affaire Rasool has reminded South Africans that the country also has other “national interests” like fighting climate change and defending human rights worldwide.

    Peter Vale 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. Why was South Africa’s ambassador to the US expelled? A view of the Ebrahim Rasool affair – https://theconversation.com/why-was-south-africas-ambassador-to-the-us-expelled-a-view-of-the-ebrahim-rasool-affair-253640

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: AI boom paves way for smarter future in Xiong’an

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Dressed in a black bow tie and apron, an AI-powered robotic barista at Migu Cafe in Xiong’an New Area, north China’s Hebei Province, skillfully crafts exquisite coffees, completing each order in just five minutes.
    “It precisely replicates the techniques of world-class masters, having undergone visual training with millions of data samples and 30,000 hours of dual-arm testing,” said Wang Ying, operations manager of the cafe, adding that with sufficient raw materials, it can work tirelessly.
    Since its introduction in 2023, the robot has become a local sensation, drawing in curious customers eager to enjoy its work. “I came here specially for the robot-made coffee, and it tastes pretty good,” a customer commented online.
    In Xiong’an, AI-powered applications have steadily expanded as part of the city’s push to develop future-oriented industries and build a smart, livable city that is innovative, green and free from “urban ills.”
    Official data shows that Xiong’an has attracted over 50 AI-related companies to date.
    One such high-tech business is Pulong Technology Co., Ltd., which settled in Xiong’an in 2019, and it has since become a manufacturer of AI inspection robots.
    Equipped with sensors, high-precision cameras, and cutting-edge computing chips, these robot monitors can identify on-site information and provide real-time alerts and warnings. “They can replace manual inspections in dangerous environments with more accuracy and efficiency, thus reducing potential safety risks,” said Zhao Yan, Pulong Technology’s marketing director.
    Currently, the company’s products are widely used in Xiong’an’s electricity sector, especially in power distribution rooms. The achievement, Zhao noted, wouldn’t have been possible without governmental backing. “We have enjoyed customized working facilities and expanded market opportunities in the city,” Zhao said.
    In addition to policy support, the construction of digital infrastructure, represented by the Xiong’an Urban Computing Center, has laid a solid foundation for the R&D and application of AI in the city.
    As the “smart brain” of the city, the center has used AI and other advanced technologies to achieve real-time, refined, and intelligent urban management. It has also recently integrated the DeepSeek large model to enhance its services for residents.
    From digital roads that calculate traffic flow and improve traffic efficiency to the AI-powered platforms helping community workers spot and resolve urban management issues promptly, these innovations have enabled residents to enjoy a higher-quality life in a smarter city, said Li Nan, a supervisor at Xiong’an Cloud Network Technology Co., Ltd.
    As a resident, Wang is confident about the future of AI in Xiong’an. “With more use cases and talents, I believe the city will become a global exemplar of AI integration in urban governance,” she said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China steps up hospice care to enable peaceful, dignified end-of-life journeys

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Whenever Chen Yun misses her father, she gazes at a photo from his 94th birthday celebration in the hospice ward of Jiangsu Province Hospital in east China. In the picture, her father, wearing a birthday hat, smiles as he enjoys longevity noodles, surrounded by dishes like ribs and tofu, and a birthday cake.
    In April 2024, Chen’s father was urgently hospitalized due to cancer-related pleural effusion. He was struggling to breathe and unable to lie down.
    The hospice team, including geriatrics, oncology and nutrition specialists, swiftly intervened with a thoracic puncture to drain the pleural effusion, restoring his ability to rest and sleep. They adjusted his chemotherapy dosage to suit his age and tolerance, focusing on symptom control and comfort rather than eliminating cancer cells. Paired with pain relief, this strategy stabilized his condition and eased the breathing difficulties.
    In hospital, nurses monitored his condition daily, offering comfort and guidance whenever he felt fearful or anxious, thus improving the health of the patient both emotionally and physically. He regained strength and began walking around the ward, while his appetite returned.
    After nine months, Chen’s father passed away peacefully in the ward. “We thought he had only days left after the diagnosis, but the hospice team gave us another precious nine months,” Chen said. “My father passed away painlessly in his sleep, leaving us with no regrets.”
    Hospice care, which provides comprehensive support for the terminally ill and elderly, aims to manage pain, improve quality of life, and ensure a decent, peaceful passing through multidisciplinary care.
    Driven by rising quality of life and education levels, more patients and families in China are seeking hospice services, with decisions by patients to forgo treatment being respected when their quality of life can no longer be guaranteed, according to Duan Yu, director of the geriatric medicine department at the hospital.
    To bolster its hospice care team, the hospital has gathered over 300 medical professionals from geriatrics, oncology, pain management and other fields to form an interdisciplinary clinical team. They also promote hospice care concepts across the hospital through consultations and referrals.
    Beyond clinical duties, Duan and her colleagues are committed to educating medical students on hospice care, thereby disseminating hospice concepts and knowledge to future medical workers.
    Yet, China’s aging society still faces a significant gap in terms of hospice care access, with less than 7 percent of patients having received such services by late 2023, noted Wang Yan, president of Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital Xiamen University in east China.
    Since 2019, Jiangsu Province Hospital has partnered with more than 20 hospitals and community health centers to establish a two-way referral system, linking hospitals with communities and families.
    Through training, community medical teams can provide basic symptom control, such as pain relief, sedation and bronchodilation, as well as care services like feeding and cleaning. If patients opt for community or home care, doctors can refer them for transfer to nearby qualified facilities.
    A cancer patient, diagnosed at the provincial hospital, wished to spend his final days at home. The hospital collaborated with a community facility to develop a follow-up plan for the patient, including regular check-ups and medication adjustments. With a pain-relief pump in place, the patient returned home, celebrated his birthday with family, and later passed away peacefully.
    Since 2017, China’s National Health Commission has launched hospice care pilot programs in 185 cities and districts. Many local governments are prioritizing hospice infrastructure. The city of Nanning, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, aims to have at least one hospice area per county or development zone by 2025, while Beijing plans to provide 1,800 hospice beds by the end of this year.
    The Third People’s Hospital of Zhenjiang in Jiangsu Province is set to open a new building with about 140 hospice beds this year. This beige structure will feature a brick walkway leading to a serene garden and lake with ducks swimming in it.
    Ge Chunhua, head nurse of this hospital’s hospice department, looks forward to the opening of the new building, because patients there will be able to immerse themselves in natural surroundings to gain comfort.
    “Patients often feel lonely and helpless at life’s end. Even a simple touch or conversation can bring them strength,” said Ge. “My job is really meaningful, as it can support patients through their final passage in peace and dignity.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Tomb-sweeping Day blends tech, eco-tributes

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    As China marks Qingming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival on Friday, a day for honoring one’s ancestors, new digital tools and eco-friendly practices are reshaping how millions observe the ancient tradition.

    A person pays tribute to martyrs at a martyrs’ cemetery in Jurong, east China’s Jiangsu Province, April 3, 2025. People across the country attended various activities to pay tribute to martyrs ahead of the Qingming Festival, which falls on April 4 this year. (Photo by Zhong Xueman/Xinhua)
    An hour’s drive to the north of downtown Beijing lies the town of Shisanling, which gets its name from 13 imperial mausoleums of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Today, its green valleys are home to public cemeteries where common people are buried.
    For the convenience of those who could not come to site to pay tribute to their ancestors, authorities of the town have launched a “cloud memorial” mini-program on the social media platform WeChat, enabling them to offer online tributes.
    Users can upload photos and videos of their loved ones, create personalized digital memorial albums, and even generate AI-powered avatars to preserve memories of their ancestors.
    “As Qingming arrives once again, I present this bunch of virtual flowers to you. Though free from any sweet scent, they carry with them my grief and longing,” read one message posted on the mini-program.
    Chinese people hold a deep and enduring reverence for ancestral traditions. In 2008, the government designated Qingming Festival as a public holiday — a decision that carried both cultural and practical significance.
    As waves of urbanization drew millions away from their hometowns to study or work, the holiday provided not only a moment to honor ancestors at family grave sites, but also an opportunity to return home and reunite with loved ones.
    However, not everyone can make the long journey home. At Shisanling, an innovative solution has been offered.
    The digital memorial program also supports “digital tombstones” – virtual profiles tied to physical graves via unique QR codes – providing convenient access to memorial services.
    More than 100,000 people have used the platform, with over 20,000 digital tombstones created.
    Many mourners have expressed their appreciation for the service, as they can now commemorate their ancestors without the need to undertake arduous journeys, said one cemetery worker.
    While the centuries-old Qingming custom of burning joss paper persists in China, an eco-conscious movement is reshaping ancestral remembrance.
    The Fushouyuan cemetery in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, offers water-soluble stationery for mourners to write messages to the departed, reducing the environmental impact of such rituals.
    Funerals are of great importance in China, and the extravagance of one’s funeral and tomb was once used to judge the filial piety of one’s descendants. However, the concept of green burials, aiming at curbing extravagance and advocating eco-friendly burials, is gaining in popularity.
    Fushouyuan conducted a ceremony to bury six biodegradable urns beneath ceremonial lawns ahead of this year’s Qingming. Since 2010, over 6,300 deceased individuals across Ningxia have opted for various forms of green burials.
    Shenyang, the capital city of Liaoning, China’s northernmost coastal province, will cover the cost of up to 5,300 sea burials this year. Municipal authorities will also extend monetary incentives for tree pod burials, lawn interments and floral burials, offering more options for eco-friendly funerary solutions.
    “From incense smoke rising at grave sites to digital offerings in cloud memorials, China’s ancestral rites are embracing the advancement of society and technology,” said Qi Xin, a researcher with the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. “While the expressions of remembrance vary, what never fades is that timeless human thread — cherishing the memories of our loved ones.”

    MIL OSI China News –