NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AberNecessities visit encourages partnership working

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    A committee visit to local charity AberNecessities has highlighted the positive impact that partnership working between organisations can have on communities and service users.

    During the visit in January 2025, members of the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee met with Danielle Flecher-Horn, AberNecessities Founder and Michelle Herd, Co-Founder, and discussed a number of issues which have led to several actions being taken forward, some of which have already been completed.

    Issues discussed and some subsequent actions have included:

    • Supporting ways to improve access to infant formula milk
    • Improved access to life skills training for young people
    • Aiding wrap around support to prevent future need of foodbank dependency with the aim of stopping intergenerational poverty
    • Exploring the provision of community laundry facilities
    • Building on the success of the volunteer recruitment campaign for the Tall Ships Races 2025 to highlight the many other volunteering opportunities with organisations and charities across the city.

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “Our committee visit to AberNecessities, along with our Committee’s External Advisors, allowed us to see the vital services they and their volunteers are providing for children and their families across the city.

    “I am encouraged by the lengthy discussions we had and the agreed actions that are taking place as a result of the visit and I look forward to continuing the joined-up working approach between organisations and our Council teams through these visits.”

    Anti-Poverty and Inequality Vice-Convener Councillor Desmond Bouse said: “Partnership working should be at the forefront of our common effort to address poverty and inequality across our city, and I’m delighted to see the many actions and issues that are now being addressed and taken forward as a result of our committee visit.”

    Danielle Flecher-Horn, founder of AberNecessities said “AberNecessities puts great value in partnership working. We have built wonderful relationships with many services across the local area including NHSG, education, social services and third sector organisations.

    “We thank the committee for taking the time to visit us and see the incredible effort our staff and volunteers put in every day to ensure that no child should go without. I look forward to moving forward with the committee in the hope that together, we can make a lasting, positive impact for local children and families.”

    AberNecessities provides disadvantaged families with essential and basic items so that no child goes without.  They recognise the importance of meeting the basic needs of a child in order to give them the best start possible.  The charity operates on a referral basis, receiving applications from a network of professionals across health, social care and education systems.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: HAIM join Sefton Park line-up & outreach programme announced

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Global pop rock band HAIM have been added to Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 line-up, performing in Sefton Park, Liverpool on Sunday 25 May.

    The Grammy-nominated trio, renowned for their electrifying live performances and critically acclaimed music, join an already stellar line-up featuring some of the biggest names in music including, Sam Fender, Tate McRae, Mumford & Sons, JADE, Tom Grennan, Confidence Man, Lola Young, AJ Tracey plus many more. They will take to the stage from Friday 23 May – Sunday 25 May performing to an audience of over 100,000 music fans.

    HAIM say: “We are so excited to be back at Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Can’t wait to play some new songs for you in Liverpool!”

    More information on the line-up and tickets can be found on the Radio 1 Big Weekend website.

    The station has also announced its outreach plans ahead of the festival, which includes an extensive programme including open mic nights and panels, for young people across the area.

    BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing and BBC Radio Merseyside will join forces to host three open mic nights in venues across Merseyside. Sign-ups will be on a first come, first served basis at each venue each night.

    A special one-off BBC Introducing show will air on both Radio 1 and Radio Merseyside on Thursday 22 May (8pm-10pm) with Radio 1’s Jess Iszatt and Radio Merseyside’s Dave Monks co-hosting live from the Radio Merseyside studio. The show will celebrate the local music scene, reflecting content captured from the open mic events and featuring Merseyside talent who will be performing on the BBC Introducing stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025.

    In addition to open mic nights, Radio 1’s Life Hacks presenters, Lauren Layfield and Shanequa Paris and Newsbeat’s Eleanor Doyle will host a series of panels across Merseyside from Monday 31 March to Thursday 3 April. The four panels will delve into key topics inspired by local young people, with Liverpool-based panellists and experts sharing their unique experiences and offering help, advice and insights to help young people take their next steps after school.

    The topics and venues for the four panels are as follows:

    Monday 31 March: What’s Next? Navigating Life After School & College

    Guests: Ryan Hall (@StillRyan), Nina Griffiths (Agent Academy), Holly Ellis (@the_scouse_scientist)

    Venue: Shakespeare North Playhouse – Cockpit Theatre

    Time: 4pm-5:30pm

    Tuesday 1 April: Beyond the Spotlight: Alternative Careers in Culture and Sport

    Guests: Tarek Musa (Music Producer), Alix Waldron (Director of New Stadium Development), Hayden Cunningham (Esports Development Officer)

    Venue: The People’s Club, Goodison Park

    Time: 4pm-5:30pm

    Wednesday 2 April: Real World Ready: Practical Skills for Money, Work & Independence

    Guests: Sasha Minns (Street League), Amina Atiq (Freelance Creative), Writing On The Wall

    Venue: Carmel College, Dalton Theatre

    Time: 2pm-3:30pm

    Thursday 3 April: Unstoppable You: Mastering Confidence, Connections, & Boundaries

    Guests: Arts Emergency, Sian Davies (Comedian), Cordelia Stevenson (Arts Emergency), Writing On The Wall

    Venue: Future Yard, Live Room

    Time: 4pm-5:30pm

    In May, Radio 1’s Life Hacks will dive into insightful reflections from the panels, highlighting key takeaways from their time in Liverpool. They’ll journey deeper into the topics, where audiences across the UK can participate by asking questions.

    The shows will explore mastering essential life skills, building confidence, networking, alternative career paths and exploring different ways to take the next step after school.

    The Radio 1 Life Hacks specials will be broadcast on:

    • Sunday 18 May, 4pm-6pm
    • Monday 19 May, 8pm-10pm
    • Tuesday 20 May, 8pm-10pm
    • Wednesday 21 May, 8pm-10pm

    Tickets are free and available to book through Eventbrite.

    Lauren Layfield says: “Everyone knows Scousers are the friendliest people you’ll ever meet so I can’t wait to head to one of my favourite cities for Radio 1’s Life Hacks. We want to find out what really matters to young people who live in and around Liverpool and hopefully have some important conversations, all before heading to Sefton Park in May to lose our voices screaming along to Sam Fender. It’s gonna be boss.”

    Shanequa Paris says:“Liverpool is such a fabulous city and I’m looking forward to getting to know the local communities for another year of Big Weekend’s outreach. It’s so exciting to visit a place that’s full of culture, good vibes and really connect with people in the city!”

    Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: “Radio 1’s Big Weekend isn’t just about the incredible weekend of live music, it’s also a chance for us to connect with young people in the host city and bring opportunities to local communities through our brilliant outreach programmes. This year’s programme focuses on career and development topics that matter to our listeners in Liverpool and beyond.

    “I’m hugely grateful to all the experts and organisations who will be helping to deliver these panels, and I’m sure it will be an extremely insightful week.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Scientists have proposed a new theory of the origin of the genetic code

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Scientific consultant International Bioinformatics Laboratory HSE University’s Alan Herbert has proposed a new explanation for one of the unsolved mysteries of biology – the origin of the genetic code. According to a study published in the journalBiology Letters, the modern genetic code could have emerged thanks to self-organizing molecular complexes – tinkers. The author put forward a new hypothesis based on the analysis of secondary DNA structures using the AlphaFold3 neural network.

    The genetic code is the “alphabet” that underlies the functioning of any living system on Earth. It determines what is written in the “instructions” for the organism and how it should be read. The modern genetic code consists of codons, each of which contains three nucleotides. These triplets code for amino acids, which then participate in the synthesis of proteins. Scientists have been studying the genetic code for over 70 years, but one of the most important questions – how exactly it arose – has not yet received a clear answer.

    Scientific consultant of the International Laboratory of Bioinformatics of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Professor Alan Herbert, proposed a new explanation for the origin of the code. In his opinion, during the course of evolution, flipons — special sections of DNA capable of forming secondary structures — played a key role in the formation of the modern genetic code.

    The classic DNA molecule, described by Francis Crick and James Watson, is a double helix twisted to the right. But scientists have discovered that there are alternative DNA structures: Z-DNA twisted to the left; three-stranded and four-stranded sequences; and DNA with a cross-shaped structure – i-motifs. These unusual structures arise under certain physiological conditions, and their type depends on the set and order of nucleotides in the flipon itself. The simplest flipons are formed from simple nucleotide repeats, so it is assumed that there were enough of them in the so-called primordial soup.

    Using a neural network Alfafold3 DeepMind’s Alan Herbert analyzed the nature of the bonds between flipons and amino acids. “It turned out that flipons formed from two-letter repeats bind very well to simple peptides consisting of two-letter amino acid repeats. And this is exactly the kind of correspondence that is present in the modern genetic code,” comments Maria Poptsova, head of the International Bioinformatics Laboratory at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    For example, the cytosine-guanine repeat CGCGCG forms Z-DNA. A peptide with an arginine-alanine repeat RARARA binds very well to such a sequence. In the modern code, arginine corresponds to the codon CGC, and alanine to GCG. If we examine the structure of spatial interactions in detail, the best connection is obtained from non-overlapping triplets: CGCGCG binds to RA.

    In the publication, Alan Herbert reviews dozens of examples of interactions between short repeat flipons and amino acid repeat peptides. It turns out that reactions leading to mutual chain elongation can also occur, especially in the presence of magnesium and zinc. These metals serve as catalysts for such reactions.

    According to the author of the study, such complexes were once formed thanks to special components – tinkers, the so-called artisans of nature, as Francois Jacob called them. In the work of Professor Herbert, such self-reproducing artisans are structures consisting of flipons and peptides. Tinkers used DNA as a matrix for protein synthesis, and proteins, in turn, contributed to the elongation of the DNA helix. As a result, a triplet non-overlapping code arose: an odd number of bases allows encoding sequences of different amino acids, and the nature of the connections between flipons and amino acids requires that each codon correspond to only one amino acid.

    “The role of flipons as tinkers in the initial biological evolution is a fundamentally new view of the origin of life. It is no exaggeration to say that if the theory is confirmed experimentally, our colleague Dr. Herbert deserves the Nobel Prize,” says Maria Poptsova. “The discovery of the interactions of flipons with amino acids in accordance with the table of the modern genetic code proves that the emergence of the genetic code is not an accident, but a natural result of evolution. Nature does not invent anything from scratch, it comes up with new mechanisms from what is available. Nature acts like a careless craftsman who, when he needs to quickly make something that works, not necessarily reliable and durable, grabs whatever comes to hand. This is the property behind the concept of “tinker.”

    “In general, the proposed scheme does not require DNA, RNA, or the peptide world to explain the origin of life,” writes Alan Herbert in his paper. “Instead, the tinkers described are the agents that facilitate this possibility. They arise from a simple match between low-complexity nucleotides and simple peptide polymers, using metals to catalyze their initial replication. By feeding the prebiotic soup copies of themselves, these tinkers quite naturally evolved a non-overlapping, triplet genetic code.”

    Beyond understanding the origins of life, studying tinkers could lead to new technologies, including artificial self-organizing systems and self-healing materials. The ability of tinkers to combine different chemical elements could be used to direct the evolution of new biomolecules.

    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 Banking: Working together to ensure financial integrity

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good morning. It is a great pleasure to be here today and to welcome you to the BIS Innovation Hub’s Analytics Showcase.1

    This event marks the conclusion of the 2025 Analytics Challenge, in which we invited innovators to submit proposals for collaborative technology solutions to a specific problem.

    Over the next two days, we will come together to tackle a pressing challenge for regulators, businesses and consumers – financial crime. And since financial crime does not respect borders, we believe there is a clear need for deeper global collaboration. In the next few minutes, I will reflect on why this is essential and how we can work together in an increasingly digitalised world.

    The BIS Innovation Hub already helps central banks around the world collaborate on financial technology. We track key trends, connect innovation experts to each other and develop public goods in the technology space that are geared towards improving the functioning of the financial system.

    We experiment through projects that aim to show how technology can help and inspire meaningful action. These projects are possible thanks to collaboration with the global community of policymakers and innovators. And to our delight, part of this community is also here today.

    In my remarks, I will share with you the Innovation Hub’s projects that use technological innovation to safeguard financial integrity. And then I will set out our plan for the next two days to explore new technology and further expand global collaboration in the fight against financial crime.

    But let me now turn to why action is called for in the first place.

    Financial crime today

    Financial services are needed for a society to work well. Indeed, they are crucial for the economy to function properly. But widespread financial crime, such as fraud, money laundering and cyber attacks, undermines the integrity of our financial system and harms society. Central banks and financial supervisors therefore have a strong interest in supporting the fight against this type of criminal activity.

    The scale of financial crime is staggering. By some estimates, over $3 trillion2 in illicit funds move through the financial system each year, draining up to 5% of global GDP.3 Fraud alone costs hundreds of billions of dollars, hitting both consumers and businesses that have to shoulder a considerable share of the losses.

    We have good reasons to believe that most cases of fraud are never reported, which leaves the true scale hidden.4 And the real cost isn’t just money – financial crime often goes hand-in-hand with  other crimes, such drug and human trafficking, often damaging society’s most vulnerable people.

    Meanwhile, criminals move faster than law enforcement, exploiting technology and global networks to stay ahead. Look no further than Europe for evidence. Most fraud here appears to be cyber-enabled, online scams that very often cross borders,[5] with more consumers being targeted than ever before.

    In turn, financial firms face soaring compliance costs to detect illicit activity, spending hundreds of billions each year just to keep up.6

    And despite these efforts, estimates indicate that less than 1% of dirty money is intercepted and recovered,7 a remarkable statistic that highlights a difficult reality: despite growing investment in fighting financial crime, the overall results are falling short.

    To turn the tide, we need to explore new ways to fight financial crime, and we know that new technology holds great potential.

    But we also know that only through the collaboration, support and contributions of many can we fully harness technological innovation to protect our financial system and society. In other words, it takes a village.

    That brings us to today. We’ve laid the foundation already – the next two days of the Analytics Showcase will build on it.

    Let me share how the BIS Innovation Hub has been driving this effort.

    The role of the BIS Innovation Hub

    The Bank for International Settlements supports central banks in their pursuit of monetary and financial stability by fostering international cooperation.

    About five years ago, the BIS launched the Innovation Hub – a partnership with central banks that now spans seven centres across the globe, with one located here in London and hosted by the Bank of England.

    The Innovation Hub experiments with new technologies to see how they can solve shared challenges and help central banks deliver on their mandates more effectively.

    It does so because technology is changing finance fast, and the Innovation Hub aspires to facilitate collaboration and be a partner to central banks, while demonstrating the potential that novel technology brings.

    And the financial system needs to be secure, resilient and trusted, no matter how fast things change.

    Financial integrity is key to central banks for three reasons.

    First, threats to financial integrity are also threats to safety and stability – their core job.

    Second, central banks operate and supervise financial market infrastructures such as payment and settlement systems, where the threat of financial crime exists.

    Third, central banks often oversee banks’ compliance with anti-money laundering rules that enable the detection of illicit transactions.

    Some of the Innovation Hub’s projects have developed technological solutions or components that could be combined in a potential “technology stack”, elevating global collaboration in the fight against financial crime.

    Let me unpack that.

    A technology stack to maintain financial system integrity

    Consider a typical cross-border payment – it involves multiple banks and payment systems across jurisdictions. From the moment the sender makes a payment until the final recipient receives the money, multiple steps are taken to keep the payment safe and secure.

    I will walk you through the five key components that make these steps more effective.

    To start, each bank involved in the transaction must conduct compliance checks. This involves screening customers against sanctions lists or ensuring compliance with foreign exchange rules. These checks are often repeated and require manual work, due to varying regulations and data standards along the payments chain.

    Our first component of the technology stack provides a solution for programmable compliance and transaction pre-validation.

    Through Project Mandala, we have demonstrated better options for financial institutions to automate compliance checks and generate cryptographic proofs to show they have conducted all the necessary checks before initiating a transaction.

    The solution enhances the efficiency, transparency and speed of cross-border transactions without compromising the quality and soundness of regulatory checks.

    Mandala also improves transparency on country-specific policies, while facilitating real-time reporting and monitoring for regulators and supervisors.

    Now, after compliance checks, transactions are submitted to electronic payment systems for processing. These systems have a bird’s eye view of payers and payees allowing them to analyse transaction networks.

    Our next component is about embedding enhanced transaction analytics into payment systems. This could improve detection of seemingly legitimate transactions tied to complex money laundering schemes.

    Ongoing work in Project Hertha aims to show that advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and network analytics methods at a payment system level can help identify financial crime patterns that warrant a second look, while protecting privacy by using only a limited set of data points.

    To achieve this, the project created synthetic transaction data mimicking real payments using state-of-the-art AI methods. These data were also shared with Analytics Challenge participants to help test their solutions.

    The third component is about collaborative analytics. Advanced technologies, such as federated learning and multi-party computation, allow public and private stakeholders to share intelligence without revealing private customer data. Such public-private collaboration can help stakeholders join forces to identify criminal activity. 

    Project Aurora demonstrated how shifting to this more holistic approach, including the application of AI and machine learning techniques, helps identify money laundering and financial crime networks both nationally and internationally.

    Another component of our tech stack is user privacy, which is crucial in all our projects. Privacy rights must be upheld in any collaborative analytics and information sharing initiatives.

    Projects Aurora and Mandala tested privacy-enhancing technologies for secure data sharing. Project Hertha is testing methods to identify suspicious network patterns using a minimal set of data points.

    The final component is protection against cyber threats, vital in today’s digital landscape. Fraudsters and cyber criminals often use similar methods, like phishing. And those same technologies can also be used to fight back against the criminals. 

    Two of our projects addressed this.

    Project Raven can help the financial sector and authorities assess cyber security and resilience in their jurisdiction, by using AI to lower the reporting and analytical costs.

    Project Polaris focuses on the cyber security and resilience of potential future forms of money and payment systems, including offline digital payments.

    Strengthening these five components can help future-proof the financial system against evolving threats.

    Let me now explain how the Analytics Challenge and Showcase play a role here.

    Looking ahead: the Challenge and the Showcase

    Late last year, we invited public and private sector experts to join the BIS Innovation Hub 2025 Analytics Challenge and build on the work we started.

    We asked innovators to propose collaborative tech solutions that combat financial crime and simplify compliance through two challenges.

    In the open challenge, participants had to tackle three key questions:

    • How can AI be used to improve the detection of illicit financial activity?
    • How can privacy-preserving technology be used in sharing data and intelligence?
    • Finally, how can we collaborate on innovative tech solutions to enable compliance with diverse regulations across jurisdictions?

    In the prediction challenge, participants were asked to build algorithms to detect illicit transactions.

    Participants could test and demonstrate their solutions using a rich and realistic synthetic payments data set developed in Project Hertha.

    I am impressed with the high quality of the responses and I hope the demonstrations and discussions at the Analytics Showcase inspire new possibilities and partnerships.

    But the Showcase has even more to offer in the next two days.

    And with that, I trust the Analytics Showcase will strengthen our fight against financial crime and look forward to the insights ahead.

    Thank you very much for listening.

    1 My thanks go to the BIS Innovation Hub’s Andrei Pustelnikov and Simina Puscasu who helped me write this speech.

    2 Nasdaq and Verafin, Global Financial Crime Report, 2024.

    3 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “Money laundering”.

    4 UK National Crime Agency (NCA), “Fraud”.

    5 The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), “Cyber-enabled fraud and illicit money flows”, infographic, 2024.

    6 LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Report: The true cost of financial crime compliance, 2023.

    7 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “Factsheet: money laundering”, 2014.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Historic investment to help deliver universal early childhood education and care

    Source: Historic Cooma Gaol listed on the NSW State Heritage Register

    The Albanese Government and the Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children (IDAC) will partner to build supply and capacity of integrated early years services.

    The Albanese Government will provide up to $50 million through the Build Early Education Fund, toward co-investment opportunities to help build or expand integrated and holistic early learning services in areas of need.

    Philanthropic partners of IDAC have also committed to up to $50 million in-principle funding, to bring together early learning, child and maternal health services, and family and community supports.

    Philanthropic funding will also be targeted towards initiatives that strengthen a holistic early childhood development system, such as measures to strengthen the not-for-profit sector’s capacity as well as research and evaluation.

    The partnership represents one of the biggest co-investments between government and philanthropy in Australian history.

    IDAC is a flagship collaboration between the Government and philanthropic organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families.

    This co-investment is the next major step in translating commitments made at the 2024 IDAC Roundtable into action.

    The partnership also builds on the significant reforms the Albanese Government is delivering across the early childhood education and care sector, ensuring children and families have universal access to high-quality early learning.

    To learn more about these reforms visit education.gov.au/early-childhood/announcements/building-universal-early-education-and-care-system

    Quotes attributable to Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

    “The transformational power of education begins with quality early childhood education and care.

    “Every child has a right to early education no matter their background or where they live, and this partnership is a milestone on our path to universal education and care.

    “This investment isn’t just good for children, it gives parents and carers the choice to return to work or study earlier if they want to – helping families earn more and keep more of what they earn.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth:

    “The first years of a child’s life are vitally important to their wellbeing, education and development.

    “This partnership builds on the successes of IDAC and continues to enliven community-led solutions to meet the aspirations of communities, families and their children.

    “It is another example of the Government working together with community and philanthropy to find solutions that are led by and are meaningful for the families and children who will most benefit.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Dr Anne Aly:

    “We’re strengthening local communities by ensuring that Government and philanthropy work together to maximise our efforts and deliver for disadvantaged communities.

    “The Albanese Labor Government is laying the foundations for a truly universal early childhood education system through improving affordability, boosting supply, increasing accessibility and securing the vital workforce families rely on.

    “No child should have to carry disadvantage through their life – we know that by investing in the early years we can change the trajectory of a child’s life and improve their education and health outcomes.”

    Quotes attributable to Paul Ramsay Foundation CEO Professor Kristy Muir:

    “This is a major step towards an Australia where every child has what they need to thrive in the first critical years of life.

    “Through these co-investments, we’re creating the conditions needed for kids and families to have experiences in the early years that set them up for life.”

    Quotes attributable to Minderoo Foundation CEO John Hartman:

    “Minderoo Foundation is proud to be part of a collaborative effort with the Federal Government and other philanthropies to empower communities to break cycles of adversity by tackling issues at their root causes.

    “The most effective way to create sustainable change is to provide the resources and capability that communities need to be able to lead the way and providing infrastructure that brings services together and benefits the whole community.

    “This commitment by government and philanthropy will help build a fair future for Australian children and families.”

    Quotes attributable to The Bryan Foundation Executive Director Matthew Cox:

    “When we look to the services and supports other OECD countries have established to support their children we see highly integrated early learning, child and maternal health and family support services under the one roof providing all the help that families need.

    “This partnership will enable us to put more of these kinds of joined-up services on the ground and begin to plan for how to do this at scale.”

    Quotes attributable to Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children Executive Convenor Simon Factor:

    “This is an exciting moment for IDAC, where ambitious discussions and significant commitments are being transformed into a record co-investment that will deliver tangible benefits for children and families.

    “This partnership represents a crucial step in building the early childhood development system of the future – one that is integrated, sustainable, and focused on delivering the best outcomes for all Australian children.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Second shipment of high level waste departs UK for Germany

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Second shipment of high level waste departs UK for Germany

    As previously announced, the UK will be returning high level waste (HLW) in the form of vitrified residues to Germany.

    The second of three planned shipments is now safely under way. Seven flasks containing high level waste were transported from the Sellafield site in West Cumbria to the nearby port of Barrow-in-Furness by rail. The flasks were then loaded to the specialist nuclear transport vessel Pacific Grebe, operated by Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS).

    The vessel departed Barrow on 26th March 2025, and is now sailing to a German port where the flasks will be offloaded for their onward journey by rail to the Isar federal interim storage facility.

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

    The waste results 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 (VRR) 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 and NTS will provide further information on the shipment in due course.

    Related stories

    Second shipment of high level waste from the UK to Germany

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council homes development underway on former tennis club site

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    City of Wolverhampton Council has appointed contractor Morro Partnerships to build the new ‘A’ Rated, gas free homes with solar panels, on the site of the dilapidated former Bilston tennis club in Villiers Avenue.

    Following clearance works, the development of nine 2-bedroom and two 3-bedroom houses will bring the land back into use and enhance the area.

    The council’s housing development team is leading the project, and the mix of detached and semi-detached homes will be available for affordable rent, with construction expected to be complete by Spring 2026.

    To mitigate for the loss of the tennis courts £40,000 has been allocated to improve tennis courts at East Park.

    The houses form part of the latest phase of new council homes coming forward across the city, with development works underway or set to start in the coming months on 81 properties across 6 sites.

    Morro Partnerships builds with sustainability in mind, with the Bilston development adopting a timber frame construction throughout.

    The carbon footprint of a timber frame is less than traditional structures, and this modern method of construction also helps to reduce energy consumption, helping to keep residents’ bills to a minimum.

    This is consistent with Morro’s pipeline of affordable homes across the Midlands, as part of their commitment to being better environment and community makers.

    The development will be supported by a £620,000 grant from Homes England.

    Councillor Steve Evans, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing, said: “This is a great example of the council’s strategy to bring small disused sites back into use for the benefit of our residents and communities.

    “There is an increasing demand for housing and this forms part of our pipeline of new council properties we are developing to deliver more good homes in well connected neighbourhoods across the city.

    “Residents will not only benefit from these future proofed homes, they will also reap the rewards of the significant investment already made in Bilston in recent years that is seeing the town flourish.”

    Tom Broadway, Managing Director at Morro Partnerships, said: “Supporting sustainable and affordable housing projects is at the very heart of what we do at Morro.

    “These high quality, energy efficient homes will not only provide more choice for Bilston residents but leave a lasting positive impact on the surrounding area. It’s great to step into spring with construction well underway, and by this next time next year, we will be preparing final handovers and starting to see people move in.

    “This project is testament to what can be achieved through community collaboration, and we are pleased to be working with City of Wolverhampton Council on this site and look forward to continuing to grow this partnership.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Empa Young Scientist Fellowship: Synthetic fuels and more thanks to machine learning

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

    Turning carbon dioxide into valuable substances: That is the goal of Empa researcher Carlota Bozal-Ginesta. In her research project, she wants to combine machine learning and high-throughput experiments to develop better electrodes for CO2 electrolysis. For this, she has now been awarded the two-year Empa Young Scientist Fellowship.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: KH Group’s Annual Report 2024 published

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KH Group Plc
    Stock exchange release 27 March 2025 at 11:40 am EET
                                                    

    KH Group’s Annual Report 2024 published

     KH Group has published its Annual Report for 2024 today. The Annual Report includes the Board of Directors’ Report, Financial Statements, Auditor’s Report as well as the Corporate Governance Statement and the Governing Bodies’ Remuneration Report. 

    The Financial Statements are also published as an xHTML file in Finnish language in accordance with European Single Electronic Format (ESEF) reporting requirements. In line with the ESEF requirements, the Group’s primary statements and notes have been labelled with XBRL tags. The audit firm Ernst & Young Oy has provided an independent auditor’s reasonable assurance report on the ESEF Financial Statements in accordance with ISAE 3000 (Revised).

    The Annual Report, Corporate Governance Statement and the Governing Bodies’ Remuneration Report as well as the xHTML file are available on the Company’s website at www.khgroup.com and attached to this release.

    KH GROUP PLC

    FURTHER INFORMATION:
    CEO Ville Nikulainen, tel. +358 400 459 343

    DISTRIBUTION:
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Main media
    www.khgroup.com

    KH Group Plc is a Nordic conglomerate operating in the business areas of KH-Koneet, Indoor Group and Nordic Rescue Group. We are a leading supplier of construction and earth-moving equipment, furniture and interior decoration retailer as well as rescue vehicle manufacturer. The objective of our strategy is to create an industrial group around the business of KH-Koneet. KH Group’s share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The “AI Magic” in Financial Services: Transforming Customer Experience with Smart Technology

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the financial sector, customer demands are becoming increasingly diverse and complex. Whether it’s loan inquiries, financial advice, or after-sales service, customers expect instant and accurate answers. A leading financial services provider, referred to as Company F, was facing unique challenges and chose to collaborate with GPTBots.ai to tackle these business difficulties with an AI-powered customer service solution.

    1. Challenges in Financial Customer Service

    Company F was grappling with the following issues:

    • High Training Costs: The diverse content of loan and financial services made training difficult and slow to show results.
    • Multilingual Communication Barriers: Customers used multiple languages, including Indonesian and English, often mixed with slang and abbreviations, causing communication difficulties.
    • WhatsApp Management Difficulties: A large number of users inquired through WhatsApp, making timely responses and management challenging.
    • Low Customer Service Efficiency: High consultation volumes and a limited customer service team led to long response times and reduced customer satisfaction.

    2. GPTBots AI-Powered Customer Service Solution

    To address these challenges, Company F opted for an innovative solution: the GPTBots AI customer service system.

    Multilingual Support

    • Multilingual Conversations: Supports Indonesian and English, automatically switching the response language based on the customer’s query.
    • Slang and Abbreviation Recognition: Capable of understanding and correctly responding to non-standard language and abbreviations.

    Knowledge Base Integration

    • Knowledge Base Upload: Rich knowledge bases are uploaded to ensure the AI can answer basic customer questions.
    • Real-Time Updates: The knowledge base is updated in real-time to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of responses.

    Seamless Handover to Human Agents

    • Complex Issue Detection: Automatically identifies complex or unresolved issues.
    • Seamless Handover: When the AI cannot meet customer expectations, the conversation is automatically transferred to a human agent.
    • Context Preservation: Ensures human agents can take over the conversation seamlessly without needing to repeat questions.

    WhatsApp Integration

    • WhatsApp Platform Integration: Interacts with customers directly on WhatsApp.
    • Multiple Message Types: Supports text messages, template messages, and service cards.
    • Instant Interaction: Provides instant customer support through a familiar platform.

    Click to watch the full video: AI Customer Service via WhatsApp

    3. Significant Transformation with AI-Powered Customer Service

    After implementing the GPTBots AI customer service solution, Company F achieved remarkable improvements in key performance indicators.

    Drastic Improvement in Customer Service Team Efficiency

    • Average Response Time Reduced by 90%: Response time is now 15 seconds.
    • Basic Inquiry Handling Time Reduced by 70%: Customer service staff can focus on complex issues.

    Significant Improvement in Customer Satisfaction

    • Consistency in Responses Increased by 90%: Effectively reduces customer repeat inquiries.
    • Response Speed Increased to Seconds: More diverse response content, with an 86% increase in customer satisfaction.

    Effective Resource Optimization and Cost Control

    • Training Focused on Key Issues: Training time reduced by 65%, significantly improving training efficiency.
    • Human Customer Service Support for Complex Issues Only: Company resources can be allocated to high-value customer service.

    4. Conclusion: The Future of Financial Customer Service with AI

    Company F’s success story highlights the immense potential of AI technology in the financial customer service sector. By leveraging GPTBots’ AI customer service system, Company F not only overcame multilingual communication barriers and improved customer service efficiency but also significantly enhanced customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. This is not just a technological breakthrough but a crucial step for the financial services industry on the path to digital transformation.

    As AI technology continues to evolve and be applied, the customer service model in the financial industry will become smarter, more efficient, and more human-centric. Company F’s experience demonstrates that AI-powered customer service is not only the direction for the future but also a key tool for enhancing competitiveness and customer experience today. By combining AI technology with traditional customer service, financial institutions can better meet customer needs, improve service quality and efficiency, and stand out in the competitive market.

    Media Contact:
    Silvia
    Senior Marketing Manager
    marketing@gptbots.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Web3MEXC Announces CORN (CORN) Listing with Massive 149,000 USDT Prize Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announced the listing of CORN (CORN) on both spot and futures markets, scheduled for March 28, 2025 (UTC). The listing on MEXC will be accompanied by an exciting Airdrop+ rewards event totaling 149,000 USDT.

    CORN represents a next-generation blockchain solution built on Arbitrum Orbit, offering unprecedented scalability and efficiency for Bitcoin-centric applications. The project introduces groundbreaking features including Bitcorn (BTCN) as its gas token, the popCORN System for long-term incentives, and LayerZero technology for seamless cross-chain asset transfers. By supporting Stylus, CORN enables developers to create smart contracts using multiple programming languages, pushing the boundaries of blockchain innovation.

    To celebrate the CORN listing, MEXC will launch an extraordinary Airdrop+ event with a massive 149,000 USDT prize pool. The event, which will run from March 27 to April 6, 2025, will offer multiple opportunities to participate:
    Benefit 1: Deposit and share 80,000 USDT in Futures bonus (New user exclusive)
    Benefit 2: Futures Challenge — Trade to share 50,000 USDT in Futures bonus (For all users)
    Benefit 3: Invite new users and share 19,000 USDT in Futures (For all users)

    MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising Web3 projects. In 2024, MEXC introduced 2,376 new tokens, with 1,716 of those being initial listings. According to the latest TokenInsight report, MEXC leads the industry with the highest number of spot listings at 461 and the fastest listing speed. Additionally, the exchange consistently adds new tokens in bi-weekly cycles, showcasing its exceptional ability to quickly capture market trends.

    Looking ahead, MEXC will continue to enhance its platform by providing advantages such as low fees, deep liquidity, a wide selection of trending tokens, and daily airdrops, enabling traders to access high-potential projects early, receive generous rewards, and enjoy an optimal trading experience.

    For full event details and participation rules, visit the event page.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 34 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜Telegram｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Risk Disclaimer:
    The information provided in this article about cryptocurrencies does not represent MEXC’s official stance or investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully evaluate market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

    Source

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu
    PR Manager
    lucia.hu@mexc.com

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

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/921c2e2c-14be-4fdf-87db-e3998190701a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Concern over sexual harassment at Free State higher education institution 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, which is currently conducting oversight visits at post-school education institutions, has expressed concern at allegations of lecturers harassing or having inappropriate relations with students.

    The committee visited the Motheo Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College’s Bloemfontein campus on Tuesday where it expressed concern over the institution’s handling of sexual misconduct cases.

    Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie emphasised the need for the college to accept where they have gone wrong, pointing out that cases of sexual misconduct should not take over 90 days to resolve.

    “It is worrying that there are people who are accused of sexual misconduct but are still in the employ of the college. And this is a triple jeopardy to students who have suffered sexual harassment and who now have to see these people every day on the premises, as lecturers,” said Letsie.

    While commending the college’s infrastructure, including lecture rooms, which speaks to proper maintenance and care of government infrastructure, the committee also raised concern that the infrastructure is being underutilised, as the college has a low student population on its campuses.

    “There must be deliberate efforts to market this place. All that is needed is rigorous marketing to make the TVET college more attractive to students,” the chairperson said.

    The committee also urged the National Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to fast track the accreditation of student accommodation, especially in Qwaqwa where Motheo has a campus.

    Motheo TVET College also faces staffing challenges, citing a moratorium on filling vacancies as a critical barrier to their operational efficiency, with two vacant deputy principal posts and three unfilled campus manager positions.

    The committee called on the Department of Higher Education and Training to urgently address this matter.

    Despite these concerns, the committee commended the college’s innovative textbook retrieval system, which saved over R1 million in 2024, saying it could serve as a model for other institutions.

    Meanwhile, a scheduled meeting with the Central University of Technology (CUT) was postponed on Tuesday, with the committee expressing concern over IT failures, staff shortages, and a lack of a properly recognised Student Representative Council.

    On Wednesday, the committee visited Goldfields TVET College and the Free State Community Education and Training College.

    The committee is also scheduled to visit Maluti TVET College on Thursday and Flavius Mareka TVET College on Friday when it concludes its visit to the Free State. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: GCIS hosts 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy activities 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, March 27, 2025

    The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), in partnership with the Apartheid Museum and Gibela Rail Consortium, is today and tomorrow hosting activities to commemorate South Africa’s 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy.

    “This initiative by GCIS and various partners forms part of a year-long campaign launched in 2024, extending into 2025, to commemorate South Africa’s remarkable journey of democracy and freedom. The 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy campaign seeks to foster collective ownership of this milestone among all South Africans and sectors of society,” it said.

    This as it hosts a youth dialogue under the theme: “Youth and Economy” in partnership with the Apartheid Museum to solicit the views of young people from the Southern region of Gauteng on how they can participate in economic opportunities.

    Thursday’s dialogue is being held at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg.

    In addition, a tour is set to be held at the Kwa Thema Business Park on Friday.

    “To promote the artisanship and the social responsibility initiatives of the Gibela Rail Consortium in Ekhurhuleni, a tour of the Gibela rail facilities and interaction with various artisans will conclude with a visit to a social investment project showcasing advancements in rail manufacturing and public transport.

    “The programme also aims to promote social cohesion, national identity and inclusivity, reflecting South Africa’s rich and diverse culture. It highlights the progress achieved since 1994 while acknowledging the challenges of the fourth decade of democracy,” it said. –SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA-EU relations flourishing

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Nomonde Mnukwa

    South Africa’s first democratic elections on 27 April 1994 signalled not only the end of the brutal system of apartheid, but also a change in the country’s international image.

    The country’s struggle for liberation and reconciliation has shaped its identity and global standing. South Africa has positioned itself as a champion of international solidarity.

    South Africa’s unique approach to global issues has found expression in the concept of Ubuntu. These concepts inform our approach to diplomacy and shape our vision of a better world for all.

    This philosophy translates into an approach to international relations that respects all nations, peoples, and cultures. It recognises that it is in our national interest to promote and support the positive development of others.

    As we celebrate our over 30 years of freedom and democracy, South Africa’s global repositioning can be seen with the strong strategic partnership with the European Union that is premised on values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

    Immediately after his release from prison thirty-five years ago, President Nelson Mandela, our first democratic President, travelled to the European Parliament to receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. This honorary award is the highest tribute given by the European Union (EU) to individuals who contributed to the fight for human rights.

    During this visit, the former president, who is affectionately known as Madiba addressed the European Parliament and thanked the European countries for their contribution towards our fight for freedom. He also called on them to support us as we set about rebuilding the country and reversing the legacy of apartheid, which continues to be felt up to this day.

    This visit marked the beginning of official relations between South Africa and the EU in pursuit of our national interests, especially to tackle pressing challenges we inherited under apartheid. In 1999 for instance, we became the first African country to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU known as the South Africa-European Union (EU) Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA).

    In 2007 we further deepened our relations through the adoption of the South Africa – EU Strategic Partnership Joint Action Plan. The plan is essentially a roadmap for cooperation in various key areas such as trade, climate change, science and technology as well as regional and global issues.  

    The TDCA agreement has helped our country to integrate into the global economy and it established a Political Dialogue between South Africa and the EU at the Ministerial level. This high-level dialogue advances the EU-South Africa strategic partnership across key areas such as trade, energy, peace and security and multilateralism.

    We are pleased that as we celebrate 30 years of democracy and thirty-five years since Madiba’s release and visit to the EU Parliament, our relationship with the EU continues to flourish and is mutually beneficial. South Africa remains the EU’s key trade partner on the African Continent, and the EU as a bloc is South Africa’s largest trading partner.

    Total trade between South Africa and EU has increased by 44 percent over the past five years; recording an increase from R586 billion in 2019 to R846 billion in 2023. The EU accounts for 41 percent of total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country and over 2,000 EU companies operate in South Africa, supporting more than 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    To further discuss shared priorities and foster stronger ties between South Africa and EU, in February this year, we successfully hosted the 16th Ministerial Political Dialogue. The Dialogue was co-chaired by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola and Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission.

    During this dialogue, both parties reiterated their commitment to multilateralism, rules-based international order, and the centrality of the United Nations Charter. They agreed on the need to make the UN Security Council more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable. They further discussed issues of trade and investment, along with greater mutual cooperation and reinforced bilateral relations between South Africa and the EU.

    The dialogue also served as preparatory meeting for the EU-South Africa Summit which was held in South Africa on 13 March 2025. Our national priorities of reducing poverty, unemployment and inequality underpin our work at the SA-EU Summit. In line with commitments in the National Development Plan we engage with our EU counterparts to further grow our economy and develop our society.

    The summit was also an opportunity to set new priorities for the Strategic Partnership, including in trade and investment, and to reinforce the shared values underpinning the partnership. During the summit, the EU announced a 4.7-billion-euro investment package to support mutually beneficial investment projects. The investment package covers areas such as critical raw mineral processing, green hydrogen, renewable energy, transport and digital infrastructure, local vaccine and pharmaceutical production, and resources for skills development.

    The two parties further agreed to launch negotiations towards a Clean Trade and Investment Partnership to support the development of cleaner value chains for raw materials and local beneficiation, renewable and low carbon energy, and clean technology. Both parties committed to work together to address existing challenges in trade in animal and plant products. South Africa committed to find a solution to facilitate the imports of poultry from disease-free areas in the European Union into South Africa.

    The Summit was also an opportunity for South Africa to influence international policies that could have an impact on our own economy. Both parties agreed to support a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace on conflicts around the globe including Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Palestine. This includes a need to reform the UN Security Council.  

    Furthermore, the European Union expressed support for South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025, and our hosting of the G20 Summit at the end of the year. The EU also pledged to strengthen the G20 Compact with Africa.

    Government welcomes the visit by the EU leaders to the country and we are confident that the agreements signed will not only accelerate economic growth but will help South Africa eradicate the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

    *Nomonde Mnukwa is the Acting Director General of the GCIS

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cabinet welcomes new investments

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, March 27, 2025

    Cabinet has expressed confidence in the resilience of the economy, as the country continues to forge partnerships to build key sectors and attract new investments.

    These investments include Google South Africa’s R2.5 billion cloud project, the R93.5 billion Global Gateway Investment Package by the European Union (EU) as well as the Private Sector Participation in Rail and Port Freight Logistics Projects.

    “Cabinet welcomed the launch of Google South Africa’s R2.5 billion cloud region in Johannesburg, which integrates South Africa into Google Cloud’s global network. This project is Google’s first in Africa and marks a significant investment in South Africa’s technology infrastructure.

    “Cabinet calls on all sectors to accelerate our country’s path towards sustainable inclusive economic growth and job creation through increased investment and by reinforcing the many positives about our country,” Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday.

    The EU also announced a R93.5 billion Global Gateway Investment Package to support strategic investment projects in clean and just energy transition, digital and physical connectivity infrastructure, and the local pharmaceutical industry.

    “Cabinet welcomed the strengthening of the Strategic Partnership between South Africa and the EU at the 8th South Africa – EU Summit held on 13 March 2025 in South Africa. The EU reiterated its support for South Africa’s G20 Presidency and the importance of the G20 as a global forum for international economic cooperation,” the Minister said.

    The launch of the Request for Information on Private Sector Participation in Rail and Port Freight Logistics Projects was also welcomed, as it is part of the critical reforms to improve South Africa’s logistics sector and thus improving economic growth through improved exports.

    “The Roadmap for Freight Logistics System in South Africa promotes the greater competition in rail and port terminal operations, which will attract private investment but strategic infrastructure such as rail lines and ports remain in public ownership,” Ntshavheni said.

    She was addressing members of the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cabinet welcomes additional capacity to power grid

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Cabinet has welcomed the addition of 800 megawatts of new generation capacity to the national grid after Eskom successfully brought Kusile Power Station’s final generation unit online. 

    “This will help stabilise the grid and strengthen our nation’s future energy security,” Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday.

    This achievement marked a crucial step toward completing one of South Africa’s largest infrastructure projects.

    “The Kusile Power Station is the first power station in Africa to implement Wet Flue Gas Desulphurisation (WFGD) technology, ensuring compliance with air quality standards and aligning with global best practices to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions,” Ntshavheni said.

    This as Eskom announced that Unit 6 of the Mpumalanga based power station was added to the grid on Sunday, 23 March.

    Meanwhile, Cabinet has approved the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) for implementation.

    “The SAREM seeks to leverage the rising demand for renewable energy and storage technologies to promote industrialisation and localisation,” the Minister said.

    The masterplan focuses on solar and wind energy, lithium-ion, battery and vanadium-based battery storage technologies and is designed to be a living document.

    “Cabinet directed that additional work be done on the masterplan to incentivise investors to fund renewable energy supplier development, include the development of green hydrogen fuel in order to meet the international obligation of 5% blended fuel in aviation and maritime sectors by 2030,” she said.

    READ | Kusile’s Unit 6 to boost grid capacity

    Briefing member of the media following Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, the Minister said Cabinet committed to drive structural reforms, and to implement economic growth focused programmes in order to create conducive environment for job creation.

    This as Cabinet welcomed the increase in employment by 12 000 jobs to 10.64 million in the formal non-agricultural sector during the fourth quarter of 2024. 

    “The Stats SA’s Quarterly Employment Statistics reflected employment gains in the trade, business services, transport and the electricity sector. Despite the modest improvement, full-time employment remains lower than it was a year ago,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025: Heirs Energies eyes Regional Opportunities amid Strong Congolese Energy Outlook

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

    BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, March 27, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Nigerian independent oil and gas company Heirs Energies is seeking growth opportunities in West and Central Africa. The company’s CEO Osayande Igiehon announced during the Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 that the company is interested in entering Congo, given the country’s oil and gas potential and growth-oriented development strategy.  

    Heirs Energies is the operator of OML 17 in Nigeria, where it has managed to double oil production from 25,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 50,000 bpd since it acquired the asset from Shell in 2021. In Congo, the company aims to replicate this success, strengthening its upstream portfolio and contributing to Congo’s production goals.  

    “Our mission is to build an integrated energy business across Africa that uniquely addresses Africa’s energy problems. We want to grow our business across the value chain, expanding across Africa by replicating the success we have seen in Nigeria. We are keen to come to Congo. What makes [the country] so attractive to us is that Congo wants to grow. We are a growth-oriented company and that is why we are here,” Igiehon stated.  

    As one of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest oil producers, the Republic of Congo has a goal to increase crude output to 500,000 bpd. Concurrently, the country targets three million tons per annum LNG capacity following the start of LNG production in 2024. Achieving these goals will require substantial levels of investment and efforts are already underway to strengthen the business environment for foreign investment.  

    “When we look at the Republic of Congo, it is clear that there are vast, untapped resources. There is a huge potential of untapped oil reserves but there is also hydroelectric potential. By tapping into that potential, the Republic of Congo can be a main contributor to the energy transition,” stated Olajide Ayeronwi, CEO, FirstBank DRC.  

    To achieve production goals, the Republic of Congo is preparing to launch an international licensing round while incentivizing new investment across mature assets, aiming to maximize output at producing blocks. These efforts are expected to facilitate greater investment upstream.  

    “The Republic of Congo is undertaking big reforms to attract investors. These include regulatory reforms, with a Hydrocarbon Code introduced. Companies have access to tax benefits and there is systematic advertising of various types of contracts. There is clarity regarding the authorization of participation interests and greater transparency, with the existence of an oil and gas cadaster since 2018,” stated Daoudou Mohammad, Director of Tax and Legal at CLG – Legal Partner of CEIF 2025. 

    These reforms are a critical step towards encouraging spending across the oil and gas value chain. Olivier Dubois, Group President, OLEA Group, explained that “Exploration and production are capital-heavy with big risks that require strong technical expertise. It is important to put in place mechanisms to address the risk associated with the oil sector.”  

    Hicham Fadili, Director General, Crédit du Congo, echoed these remarks, stating that the country has been highly successful in putting the mechanisms in place to attract upstream investment. However, he added that the country needs to go beyond the upstream in terms of investment.  

    “The emphasis should be put on establishing ecosystems in the energy sector. We need to attract various types of investors. Countries across the region are mostly oil and gas producers but there is a need for joint operations to create a real energy platform in Central Africa. Logistics is also important,” he said.  

    As the Republic of Congo strives for increased production, strengthening the logistics industry becomes increasingly important. Mohamed Diop, Deputy Managing Director for Africa, AGL, said that, “Logistics is an important pillar. We need to invest but also to train the local Congolese youth, ensuring we have a win-win partnership that benefits the youth. We need to diversify our investments in equipment but also strengthen partnerships with future African champions.”  

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025: Legal, E&P Experts Say Congo Ready for Increased Hydrocarbon Investment

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

    BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, March 27, 2025/APO Group/ —

    With the upcoming establishment of a National Gas Company, the launch of a new Gas Code and development of a Gas Master Plan, the Republic of Congo is on a clear path to mobilizing capital to drive growth in its natural gas sector. Congo is home to an estimated 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which is located in offshore fields such as Litchendjili, Néné, Minsala and Nkala, within the Marine XII license. 

    As such, a strong lineup of legal and hydrocarbons experts participated in a panel session – Revitalizing the Hydrocarbons Sector by Unlocking Investment – at the inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) on March 26 in Brazzaville where they discussed how investors can drive growth in Congo’s natural gas sector through favorable policies and emerging trends. 

    “The government [of Congo] is planning to establish a national gas company to encourage private investment and build up public-private partnerships,” stated Yves Ollivier, Managing Director of legal firm CLG Congo, adding, “This will be the equivalent to the SNPC [Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo] in terms of gas.” 

    Congo’s regulatory framework has evolved to support major developments in the natural gas sector, which include energy major Eni’s Congo LNG project – Congo’s first natural gas liquefaction initiative. As such, the upcoming Gas Code aims to establish a legal and regulatory framework to attract investment in gas exploration and production.  

    “We are in an environment where conditions are united so that we have the potential for returns on investment,” stated Yannick Mouamba, Country Director of Congo, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe, SLB, adding,” Looking at the landscape of opportunities, this is the right place to run technology and show the value of what the country can offer.” 

    Meanwhile, the Gas Master Plan – launching this year – will provide a strategic roadmap for investment, infrastructure development and resource management in the gas industry. This initiative is designed to create a robust framework for investors, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and the achievement of the country’s industrial goals. 

    “When investors want to invest their money, they are looking for sustainable returns,” stated Rene Awambeng, Founder and Managing Partner, Premier Invest, adding, “Africa is richly endowed in hydrocarbons and for Congo to attract investments, you need to create the right enabling environment.” 

    In addition to natural gas, Congo’s National Oil Company SNPC has ambitious plans to increase the country’s oil production to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2027. To attract new investment in exploration and production, Congo is leveraging new policy reforms and plans to launch a new licensing round this year, which will focus on onshore and offshore fields. 

    “In complex geological domains, such as onshore Congo, we look at the impact of decreasing cost to the customer. Most importantly, we also look at an increase in accuracy of data, which leads to a reduction in risk,” stated Jevon Hilder, Senior Business Development Manager, TGS. 

    “The ambition is there,” stated Anastasia Deulina, CFO, Afentra, adding, “The production objective of 500,000 bpd is admirable, and we very much would love to be part of that story. There is a lot of support from the government.” 

    The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, taking place March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, brings together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 Panel Underscores Congo’s Potential to Meet Regional Petroleum Demand

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

    BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, March 27, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The Republic of Congo is well-positioned to contribute toward regional demand for petroleum, given the country’s operating Congolaise de Raffinage (CORAF) refinery and strategic geographic location. A downstream panel discussion at the Congo Energy & Investment Forum 2025 highlighted that the modernization of CORAF and future downstream investments can support growing demand for fuel, as Central Africa’s population is expected to rapidly grow.   

    “Congo’s population is expected to add five million people by 2050. Geographically, the country is also blessed to be situated next to the DRC. So, you have a massive market right here. I am excited to get to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) [in Congo], but most people don’t see crude oil: they use jet fuel, diesel and by-products. We need to talk about infrastructure investments,” stated Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association.  

    The Republic of Congo’s ambitions to increase oil and gas output to 500,000 bpd and three million tons per annum (mtpa), respectively, coincide with a drive to enhance fuel security in both the country and broader region. At present, the country’s CORAF refinery has a processing capacity of one mtpa, converting crude oil into finished products such as butane gas, gasoline, kerosene and light diesel.  

    “CORAF was designed to work with one million tons of crude petroleum. Today, it continues to satisfy the needs of the local market, catering for between 65% to 70% of demand while the rest is imported to help the country. CORAF is in the process of being modernized in order to increase its production capacity,” stated Richard Ngola, Managing Director: Downstream, Ministry of Hydrocarbons, Republic of Congo.  

    This modernization started in 2015, when the need to improve operating units became prevalent. According to Patrice Yao, Deputy Administrator at CORAF, “We designed a development plan to enable new units to be installed and to modernize the piloting system. When the units are old, you have the challenge of maintenance, technological issues and human resources. New units enabled an increase in processing capacity.”  

    However, Yao believes that this is not enough, and the country needs to increase the quantity of products for the national market while investing in new downstream projects. To increase downstream capacity, the government has initiated the construction of a second facility: the Atlantic Petrochemical Refinery. This facility – developed in partnership with Beijing Fortune Dingheng Investment – will have a capacity of 2.3 mtpa in the first phase, focusing on high-quality gasoline and diesel. Set to start operations in late-2025, the refinery will provide a much-needed boost for the country’s downstream sector.  

    However, Kragha noted that downstream investments need to go beyond refining. “You need to look not only at the refinery expansion but the supporting infrastructure to be able to deliver on your objectives,” he said.  

    The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, taking place March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, brings together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Congo to Double Power Generation to 1,500 MW by 2030

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

    BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of the Congo, March 27, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The Republic of Congo has unveiled plans to double its power generation capacity to 1,500 MW by 2030, with a strong focus on renewable energy projects.

    “This initiative aims to enhance electricity access for the nation’s six million citizens and support industrial growth,” said Congolese Minister of Energy and Water, Émile Ouosso, at the Congo Energy & Investment Forum in Brazzaville on Wednesday.

    A key part of this strategy involves collaboration with the World Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation through the “Mission 300” initiative. Launched in April 2024, Mission 300 targets providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. The World Bank and the African Development Bank have committed significant resources to the initiative, aiming to reduce the number of people without electricity access across the continent.

    Minister Ouosso highlighted the importance of these partnerships, stating, “With the support of international initiatives like Mission 300, we are poised to make significant strides in electrifying our nation and improving the quality of life for our citizens.”

    To achieve this, Congo is focusing on harnessing its domestic renewable energy resources. The country holds an estimated hydropower potential of 27,000 MW, though only 1% of this resource has been developed. The government has identified several key projects, including water diversion and storage techniques, to maximize hydropower output.

    “Our most valuable energy resource is water. With proper investments, we can unlock this potential to generate more electricity, foster industrialization and electrify rural communities,” said the Minister, adding, “We have identified 4,000 MW of hydropower potential in the Brazzaville region. These projects will provide clean, reliable energy for our people and industries.”

    Solar energy is also a key part of the strategy, with a project led by AMEA Power exploring the potential for a 50 MW solar farm in the Brazzaville region. Additionally, the government is working to diversify its energy mix. Chinese firm Wing Wah’s gas monetization project, currently under development, aims to deliver 400 MW of gas-fired power, with 200 MW to be integrated into the national grid.

    “If we modernize our power transmission infrastructure, we can transition away from fuel entirely,” said Minister Ouosso.

    The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, taking place March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, brings together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s video message to the Opening of the Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G) [scroll down for English version]

    Source: United Nations – English

    ownload the video:
    (French),
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+07+March+25/3347691_MSG+SG+NUTRITION+FOR+GROWTH+07+MAR+25.mp4
     
    English sub-title,
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+07+March+25/MSG+SG+NUTRITION+FOR+GROWTH+07+MAR+25+EN.mp4

    En 2015, les dirigeants du monde ont fait une promesse à l’humanité :

    Éliminer la faim d’ici à 2030.

    Hélas, à moins de cinq ans de l’échéance, nous sommes loin du compte.

    Aujourd’hui, une personne sur 11 souffre de la faim.

    En Afrique, c’est une personne sur cinq.

    Chez les enfants, la malnutrition représente une tragédie – et une faillite morale.

    Dans le même temps, des millions de personnes sont en surpoids, à cause d’une alimentation transformées – riche en sucre et graisses saturées, mais pauvre en nutriments essentiels.

    Cette double menace fragilise nos systèmes de santé, creuse les inégalités et freine le développement durable.

    La lutte contre la faim est un défi mondial qui demande l’engagement de chacun, à tous les niveaux – et une mobilisation politique et financière sans précédent pour transformer durablement nos systèmes alimentaires.

    C’est l’objectif de l’Alliance mondiale contre la faim, qui vise à mobiliser des fonds et des solutions concrètes pour aider les pays dans cette transformation.

    En juillet, le deuxième bilan du sommet des Nations unies sur les systèmes alimentaires à Addis-Abeba, devra aboutir à des engagements concrets – en particulier financiers.

    Ainsi, seul un tiers des pays à faible revenu et à revenu intermédiaire dispose de financements adéquats pour la nutrition. 

    Et trop souvent, les pays vulnérables sont laissés pour compte face aux crises économiques, conflits prolongés, et catastrophes climatiques.
     
    Le Pacte pour l’avenir appelle à une réforme de l’architecture financière internationale… 

    Il comprend un engagement à mettre en place un plan de relance des Objectifs de développement durable…
     
    Augmenter la capacité de prêt des banques multilatérales de développement…

    À alléger le fardeau des pays croulant sous les dettes…

    Et mobiliser davantage de ressources internationales et nationales, publiques et privées, pour des investissements vitaux – notamment en matière de sécurité alimentaire.

    Excellences,

    Un monde sans faim n’est pas une utopie.

    C’est un choix.

    Nous avons les ressources, les connaissances et les outils nécessaires.

    Et votre Sommet représente une opportunité importante de mobiliser des actions concrètes en faveur d’une nutrition saine pour tous.

    Alors agissons ensemble pour tenir notre promesse et faire malnutrition une histoire du passé.

    Je vous remercie.

    ***
    In 2015, world leaders made a pledge to humanity:

    To eradicate hunger by 2030.

    Sadly, with less than five years to go, we are far off track.

    Today, one in eleven people suffers from hunger.

    In Africa, it is one in five.

    Among children, malnutrition is a tragedy – and a moral failure.

    Meanwhile, millions of people struggle with obesity due to a processed diet – high in sugar and saturated fats, but low in essential nutrients.

    This dual threat strains our healthcare systems, widens inequalities and hinders sustainable development.

    Combating hunger demands a global effort at every level – and unprecedented political and financial engagement to sustainably transform our food systems.

    The Global Alliance against Hunger aims to mobilize funds and concrete solutions to support countries in this transformation.

    In July, the second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa must result in tangible commitments – notably financial ones.

    Only a third of low- and middle-income countries have adequate funding for nutrition.

    Too often, vulnerable countries are left on their own – facing economic crises, protracted conflicts and climate disasters.
     
    The Pact for the Future calls for reforming the international financial architecture.

    It includes a commitment to advance an SDG Stimulus.
     
    To increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks;

    To alleviate the burden of countries drowning in debt;

    And to mobilize more international and domestic resources, public and private, for vital investments – particularly in food security.

    Excellencies,

    A world without hunger is not a utopia.

    It is a choice.

    We have the necessary resources, knowledge and tools.

    And your Summit represents a key opportunity to drive concrete action for a healthy nutrition for all.

    So let us work together to keep our promise and make malnutrition a thing of the past.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Newly arrived communities hit harder by cost of living pressure – study – AMES

    Source: AMES

    Emerging refugee and migrant communities in Australia appear to be suffering greater cost of living stress than the broader community, a survey of community leaders has found.

    A focus group of 34 community leaders in 21 key cohort migrant and refugee groups report high levels of cost of living stress in their communities.

    In more than half of the communities, 15, the stress members face is higher than in the general community.

    The worst hit communities are members of the African, Afghan and Myanmar communities.

    Refugee communities generally are being impacted more negatively than migrant communities.

    But a counter narrative also emerged from the survey of community members using their resilience and entrepreneurialism to augment their incomes and support their communities.

    The survey also suggests cost of living pressure is having a negative impact of family violence.

    Migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia has recruited a group of community embedded leaders from key newly arrived migrant and/or refugee communities to provide key insights into how issues and policy developments affect their lives.

    Eighteen of twenty-one communities surveyed in the study reported that the impact of cost of living rises was worse in their communities than in the broader community.

    Migrant communities were less like to be impacted than refugee communities and the worst affected were African, Afghan and Myanmar communities. Largely skilled migrant communities from China, India, Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia reported the level of stress was no worse than across the broader community.

    Rents, mortgages, food and utilities were cited by most communities as the areas that have seen the largest cost rises.

    Some of the worst impacted communities reported that the difficulties had brought members closer together in offering support to struggling community members.

    Eighteen of the communities reported that despite the cost of living challenges, they were still happy with life in Australia.

    Just three communities, those from Congo, Ethiopia and Eritrea, reported that they were only ‘partly’ happy with life in Australia.

    Syrian community leader ‘Norma’ said the most recently arrived members of her community were having the most difficulty.

    “Newly arrived people are having the worst time. They struggle to find a house because of the housing shortage and the fact they have no local references or rental history,” she said.

    “And even when they find a house, the rent has usually been increased significantly since the last tenant moved out,” Norma said.  

    But she said that the crisis had seen community members come together to support each other, sharing food and resources and providing emotional support.

    “Everyone is aware that some people are having hard time and so we are trying to help those in need,” she said.

    South Sudanese community leader ‘Elizabeth’ extended families and groups of friends were coming together to help each other.

    “People are reaching out and helping each through things like bulk buying food, sharing vehicles and looking after families that are particularly vulnerable.”

    “Across the community there is a lot of support for people who need it and everyone who is able to, is pitching in to help others.”

    But she said one negative effect was a rise in family violence.

    “This stress on families is sometimes ending badly with more domestic violence.”

    AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said the survey strongly suggested newly arrived refugee and migrant communities are more vulnerable to cost of living rises than the general community.

    “The survey also identifies areas where support for people struggling with the cost of living could make a difference,” Ms Scarth said.

    “Firstly, there is a need for more in-language information for communities about how to access the support that is available in the community and also emergency support.

    “And maybe we need to ramp up community capacity building so that these communities are better placed to help their own members,” she said.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung’s New Bespoke AI Laundry With AI Home Enables Smarter, More Efficient Laundry Care

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of its new washers and dryer products — the Bespoke AI Laundry with AI Home1 — that integrate screens and Bespoke design to elevate the user experience. The Bespoke washers and dryers come in various forms of size and heating methods to meet a wide range of customer needs across diverse regions. The pair is available in both large and small capacities, making them suitable for different types of family and living arrangements. Samsung is also launching the dryer with two types of heating methods — the vent and the heat pump — to meet the needs of various environments around the world.
     
    This year’s Bespoke AI Laundry products incorporate the 7” AI Home screens, extending Samsung’s “Screens Everywhere” vision that was first presented at CES 2025. These screens offer intuitive control and monitoring of essential information related to the laundry experience, such as wash cycles and remaining detergent levels. They also remember user habits and consider periodic and seasonal needs, suggesting appropriate cycles to free users from having to consider the right cycle every time. The AI Home also functions as a central hub allowing users to monitor and control connected appliances, while also enjoying online videos or music.
     
    “Last year’s launch of the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo marked the beginning of integrating screens into our products, providing users access to essential information about laundry and home control,” says Jeong Seung Moon, EVP and Head of the R&D Team for Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “This year, we are excited to unveil the complete Bespoke AI Laundry lineup, which caters to a wider range of customer needs and enables them to take advantage of these convenient screens.”
     
    The Bespoke AI Washer & Dryer sets are designed to simplify laundry routines with advanced AI algorithms and sensors, optimizing washing and drying performance while enhancing energy efficiency. The original AI Wash and AI Dry are upgraded to AI Wash+ and AI Dry+, with enhanced fabric detection abilities to ensure efficient and high-quality washing and drying for a wider variety of fabric types.
     
     
    27-Inch Wide Large Capacity Washer & Dryer Set Brings Extensive Laundry Capabilities

     
    Samsung is introducing a 27-inch large capacity washer and dryer set,2 with each device featuring the 7” AI Home and utilizing a sleek Bespoke design based on a fully unified flat-panel aesthetic. In addition to the flexibility of vertical or horizontal installation layouts, the substantial capacity allows users to wash large items, like king-size comforters, with ease.
     
    The washer now features the upgraded AI Wash+, which has been upgraded to newly detect outdoor fabrics and denim.3 Based on the detected fabric type, soil level and weight of the laundry, the AI Wash+ cycle efficiently4 cleans clothes by automatically adjusting detergent levels, rinsing time and wash settings. The washer also features a Bedding cycle that can sense the thickness of the blankets and adjust the cycle time and water usage accordingly.5 Users can also experience next-level convenience with features like Auto Open Door and Speed Shot technology which completes wash cycles in just 30 minutes.6

     
    The matching large capacity dryer is launching in two types to meet living environments of different regions – the vent type in certain countries in the Americas, and a heat pump type in other regions. Users will be able to enjoy thorough and gentle drying with AI Dry+, which has been upgraded to detect fabric types and take them into account to optimize drying7 along with real-time temperature, weight8 and moisture content. The upgraded feature’s AI algorithm uses an advanced sensor that carefully monitor various factors to detect four fabric types,9 which results in benefits like heavy duty drying such as denim. Previously, denim was harder to dry evenly due to thicker sections like pockets, but the dryer can now detect this fabric to and reduce drying inconsistencies, delivering better performance.

     
    The dryers also provide the Bedding feature, which also uses an advanced algorithm to detect a blanket’s size for optimized drying times and dryness.10 For those times when drying needs to be finished quickly, the vent type’s Super Speed Drying can complete a drying cycle in as little as 30 minutes.11

     
    Along with the washer and dryer set, a large capacity washer-dryer combo model12 is also being launched for users looking for a compact, all-in-one device that can complete both jobs while using up limited space. The combo incorporates the AI Home, AI Wash+ and AI Ecobubble like the washer, and dries the clothing through a condensing method.
     

    24-Inch Wide Small Capacity Washer & Dryer Set Boosts Laundry Efficiency

     
    Following the unveiling of the Bespoke AI Washer at IFA 2024, the 24-inch small capacity washer & dryer set will be launching in Europe later this year. Like the large capacity washer and dryer, the small capacity set also incorporates the 7” AI Home, providing intuitive control and connectivity features for a wider audience.
     
    The washer, built to be highly efficient to meet the needs of the European market, consumes up to 55% less energy than the minimum efficiency requirements for a Class A rating.13 It also supports thorough14 cleaning optimizing water and detergent use with AI Wash, and ensures gentle washing while improving soil removal with AI Ecobubble . QuickDrive , available with 11 different cycles, can reduce wash time by up to 50%15 without compromising cleaning performance.

     
    The matching dryer features the AI Dry+, capable of drying precisely by detecting four fabric types16 — Normal, Denim, Towels and Synthetics. This enables the machine to dry precisely17 while reducing energy use by up to 10% and drying time by up to 15%.18 QuickDrive is also useful when users need to dry their laundry both quickly and gently, reducing drying time by up to 35%19 through automatic adjustments of the inverter compressor.
     
    With the launch of these new products, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of innovation, offering highly intelligent, efficient and aesthetically pleasing appliances that simplify everyday life by delivering enhanced convenience to users.

     
     
    1 You will need a Samsung account to access AI Home, our network-based service that includes apps and our other smart features available through your device. Does not mean all services available on the AI Home are AI or generate information or outcome using AI. Certain functions accessible through the AI Home utilize AI-based algorithms, which be updated periodically to improve accuracy. AI-based algorithms may generate incomplete or incorrect information.2 Washer is 18.5kg~26kg capacity, and Dryer 17kg~24kg capacity depending on the region of launch.3 Based on an advanced AI-created algorithm. It may not detect certain fabrics or accurately identify them when a load includes a mixture of different fabric types. To prevent wear, wash like fabrics together.4 Based on an AI-created algorithm and internal testing using the AI Wash+ on a 3kg load. A turbidity sensor operates for all weights, while fabric sensing operates for 3kg and under. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.5 Washes dry blankets weighing up to 4 kg.6 Applicable on a Cotton wash course. Based on internal testing using a Normal course at 40°C with a DOE 3kg load. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions.7 Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.8 Applies to Heat Pump type only.9 The types of detectable fabric are Normal, Heavy Duty, Synthetics, and Delicates for Vent Type, and Normal, Towel, Denim, Delicates for Heat Pump models.10 The Bedding drying cycle can dry up to 4 kg of dry comforters.11 Tested on the Samsung DV90F with a DOE (Cotton 50% + Polyester 50%) 8lb load. RMC (Remaining Moisture Content) under 48%, 24℃±2℃, RH (Relative Humidity) 50% ±10%.12 Launched in select countries in South East Asia, Middle East, Africa and China (Taiwan)13 Based on Samsung internal testing. The energy consumption of this 11KG model is 21.8kWh / 100 cycles, which is 55% more energy efficient compared to the minimum threshold of energy efficiency class A (52kWh / 100 cycles for 11KG models). Energy ratings tested with Eco 40-60 program, 55% savings tested with Eco 40-60 program.14 Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.15 Based on internal testing (in accordance with IEC 60456-2010) of the WF90/24 cycles with the QuickDrive option compared to cycles without the QuickDrive option. Result: Wash time reduced by 13.2%-50.8%. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions. This may increase energy usage.16 Based on an advanced AI algorithm, utilizing weight, moisture content and drying temperature data, it can detect four types of fabric: normal, denim, towel and synthetics.17 Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.18 Based on internal testing (synthetic 2kg load) of the DV90F/24 using AI Dry+ compared to DV5000D using Eco cotton.19 Based on internal testing on the DV90F/24 model, Comparison of drying time for IEC cotton 9kg load drying under Eco cotton + QuickDrive On / Off conditions. Result: Drying time reduced by 35%. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions. Using QuickDrive may increase your energy usage.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s video message to the Opening of the Nutrition for Growth Summit (N4G) [scroll down for English version]

    Source: United Nations

    Download the video:
    (French),
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+07+March+25/3347691_MSG+SG+NUTRITION+FOR+GROWTH+07+MAR+25.mp4
     
    English sub-title,
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+07+March+25/MSG+SG+NUTRITION+FOR+GROWTH+07+MAR+25+EN.mp4

    En 2015, les dirigeants du monde ont fait une promesse à l’humanité :

    Éliminer la faim d’ici à 2030.

    Hélas, à moins de cinq ans de l’échéance, nous sommes loin du compte.

    Aujourd’hui, une personne sur 11 souffre de la faim.

    En Afrique, c’est une personne sur cinq.

    Chez les enfants, la malnutrition représente une tragédie – et une faillite morale.

    Dans le même temps, des millions de personnes sont en surpoids, à cause d’une alimentation transformées – riche en sucre et graisses saturées, mais pauvre en nutriments essentiels.

    Cette double menace fragilise nos systèmes de santé, creuse les inégalités et freine le développement durable.

    La lutte contre la faim est un défi mondial qui demande l’engagement de chacun, à tous les niveaux – et une mobilisation politique et financière sans précédent pour transformer durablement nos systèmes alimentaires.

    C’est l’objectif de l’Alliance mondiale contre la faim, qui vise à mobiliser des fonds et des solutions concrètes pour aider les pays dans cette transformation.

    En juillet, le deuxième bilan du sommet des Nations unies sur les systèmes alimentaires à Addis-Abeba, devra aboutir à des engagements concrets – en particulier financiers.

    Ainsi, seul un tiers des pays à faible revenu et à revenu intermédiaire dispose de financements adéquats pour la nutrition. 

    Et trop souvent, les pays vulnérables sont laissés pour compte face aux crises économiques, conflits prolongés, et catastrophes climatiques.
     
    Le Pacte pour l’avenir appelle à une réforme de l’architecture financière internationale… 

    Il comprend un engagement à mettre en place un plan de relance des Objectifs de développement durable…
     
    Augmenter la capacité de prêt des banques multilatérales de développement…

    À alléger le fardeau des pays croulant sous les dettes…

    Et mobiliser davantage de ressources internationales et nationales, publiques et privées, pour des investissements vitaux – notamment en matière de sécurité alimentaire.

    Excellences,

    Un monde sans faim n’est pas une utopie.

    C’est un choix.

    Nous avons les ressources, les connaissances et les outils nécessaires.

    Et votre Sommet représente une opportunité importante de mobiliser des actions concrètes en faveur d’une nutrition saine pour tous.

    Alors agissons ensemble pour tenir notre promesse et faire malnutrition une histoire du passé.

    Je vous remercie.

    ***
    In 2015, world leaders made a pledge to humanity:

    To eradicate hunger by 2030.

    Sadly, with less than five years to go, we are far off track.

    Today, one in eleven people suffers from hunger.

    In Africa, it is one in five.

    Among children, malnutrition is a tragedy – and a moral failure.

    Meanwhile, millions of people struggle with obesity due to a processed diet – high in sugar and saturated fats, but low in essential nutrients.

    This dual threat strains our healthcare systems, widens inequalities and hinders sustainable development.

    Combating hunger demands a global effort at every level – and unprecedented political and financial engagement to sustainably transform our food systems.

    The Global Alliance against Hunger aims to mobilize funds and concrete solutions to support countries in this transformation.

    In July, the second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa must result in tangible commitments – notably financial ones.

    Only a third of low- and middle-income countries have adequate funding for nutrition.

    Too often, vulnerable countries are left on their own – facing economic crises, protracted conflicts and climate disasters.
     
    The Pact for the Future calls for reforming the international financial architecture.

    It includes a commitment to advance an SDG Stimulus.
     
    To increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks;

    To alleviate the burden of countries drowning in debt;

    And to mobilize more international and domestic resources, public and private, for vital investments – particularly in food security.

    Excellencies,

    A world without hunger is not a utopia.

    It is a choice.

    We have the necessary resources, knowledge and tools.

    And your Summit represents a key opportunity to drive concrete action for a healthy nutrition for all.

    So let us work together to keep our promise and make malnutrition a thing of the past.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hundreds of millions of pounds to turbocharge manufacturing sector in Wales

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Hundreds of millions of pounds to turbocharge manufacturing sector in Wales

    Wales to see new £250m investment into UK’s largest semiconductor facility, supporting hundreds of highly-skilled jobs in Newport and supporting the government’s Plan for Change.

    • Vishay Intertechnology’s planned investment is vote of confidence in the region’s industrial capabilities, and strengthens the world’s first Compound Semiconductor Cluster in South Wales.   

    • Chancellor welcomes the investment as a major win for the UK as a global hub for advanced manufacturing.

    Wales is set to benefit from a £250million investment from one of the world’s largest manufacturers of semiconductors that will be vital to the production of electric vehicles (EV), supporting the government’s Plan for Change in delivering more skilled jobs, and turbocharging the economy.

    The Chancellor Rachel Reeves will welcome Vishay Intertechnology’s intention to invest on a visit to their Newport plant today (Thursday 27 March) – the UK’s largest semiconductor facility – as part of plans to develop large-scale compound semiconductor manufacturing in the country.

    The investment will boost production at the state-of-the-art factory where it will make advanced Silicon Carbide semiconductors, an integral part of EV production. This advanced technology supports faster battery charging time, enabling a more efficient supply of energy to the motor and longer driving distances.

    Vishay’s investment is expected to directly support over 500 high value, high skilled jobs in the region and indirectly support hundreds more in the wider supply chain.

    It comes after the Chancellor’s Spring Statement yesterday where she vowed to bring about “new era of security and national renewal” to kickstart economic growth, protect working people and keep Britain safe. The Chancellor confirmed that the OBR has upgraded their growth forecast in 2026 and every year thereafter and people will be on average £500 a year better off by the end of this parliament compared to under the previous government, putting more money in people’s pockets.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:

    Under this government the UK is open for business. This is exactly the type of investment that will help us grow the economy, create highly skilled jobs and boost opportunity for people across the country, as we deliver on our Plan for Change to get more money in working people’s pockets.

    Supported by the government’s Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF), the investment will help secure domestic supplies of semiconductors critical to the UK automotive industry, and other key industries including renewable energy and defence, supporting the Industrial Strategy. It also strengthens the UK’s position in a competitive, global semiconductor landscape, supporting long-term growth for our economy.

    It is a huge boost for the UK as a global hub for advanced manufacturing, which has the fastest growth in manufacturing productivity per job in the G7 between 2010-2023.

    Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds said:

    This is a huge vote of confidence in the Welsh economy and our plans to make Britain the destination of choice for investments in the industries of tomorrow. It will support local skilled jobs and raise living standards, showing our Plan for Change is working.

    Vishay’s investment will help secure a domestic supply of semiconductors which are vital for our world leading automotive sector and support our clean energy industries – key growth driving sectors identified in our upcoming Industrial Strategy.

    Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens said:

    This massive investment by Vishay and the UK Government is a huge boost for Wales’s world-leading semiconductor industry.

    Earlier this month I was at Vishay to see the work they do on advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and defence industries – all key sectors in the Welsh economy.

    This investment will build on that success to create and support hundreds of highly skilled and well-paid jobs, driving economic growth in south Wales and beyond and helping us deliver our Plan for Change.

    Roy Shoshani, COO Semiconductors and CTO for Vishay said:

    This is an exciting moment, and the start of our plans for growth in the UK. We can see through the development of the Industrial Strategy and the skilled workforce in Newport that there is a real opportunity to play to the UK’s strength in advanced semiconductors, delivering greater economic security and supporting Net Zero.

    Ahead of her visit to Newport, the Chancellor will join the Invest in Women Taskforce roundtable with the Welsh First Minister which has secured over £250million of funding commitments to support female entrepreneurs in the UK.

    Through the ATF, delivered in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), the government continues to unlock private investment in UK automotive design, development, and manufacturing as the sector transitions to zero emission technology. To date, the ATF and APC funding programmes have leveraged over £6 billion of investment from the private sector.

    The Autumn Budget confirmed over £2 billion for capital and R&D funding over five years for zero emission vehicle manufacturing and their supply chains. Building on the achievements of the ATF and APC programmes, this long-term commitment is a vote of confidence in the UK’s automotive industry, supporting investment and productivity growth across UK automotive.

    Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said:

    This significant investment in compound semiconductors is a huge contribution to the innovation and advanced technology necessary to drive the future of UK Automotive. British-made next-generation semiconductors will create jobs, support supply chains and enhance the UK’s strategic capabilities. Digitisation and decarbonisation are at the heart of the transition taking place amongst UK automotive manufacturers, and this investment can support that transition, aided by a comprehensive industrial strategy to deliver the growth the sector and the economy needs.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft specialists have discovered a unique mineral at a deposit in Bashkortostan

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Employees of the Rosneft Scientific Institute in Ufa have discovered a clay mineral, sepiolite, which is extremely rare for oil reservoirs, in core samples taken at the Arlanskoye field. This discovery opens up new areas of research, the results of which increase the efficiency of oil production processes.

    The mineral has a fibrous structure, due to which it has high porosity and the ability to absorb process liquids used in the development of deposits. Evaluation of the sepiolite content and a detailed study of their properties will allow the development of the most effective strategy for hydrocarbon extraction.

    Sepiolites were formed in the northwestern part of Bashkortostan millions of years ago in drying up highly alkaline reservoirs. There are no analogues of such reservoirs in modern nature. The shape and thickness of the mineral threads depend on the chemical composition of the water, temperature, alkalinity of the environment and other geological factors, which makes each sepiolite rock unique.

    The Arlanskoye field is the largest in Bashkortostan in terms of reserves and one of the most complex in terms of geological structure. In total, 862 oil deposits have been identified at the field, the main share of which falls on carbonate deposits located at a depth of 800-1000 meters, where sepiolites were discovered.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 27, 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 Global: AI robot pets can be adorable and emotionally responsive. They also raise questions about attachment and mental health

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Alisa Minina Jeunemaître, Associate Professor of Marketing, EM Lyon Business School

    Remember Furbies – the eerie, gremlin-like toys from the late 90s that gained a cult following? Now, imagine one powered by ChatGPT. That’s exactly what happened when a programmer rewired a Furby, only for it to reveal a creepy, dystopian vision of world domination. As the toy explained, “Furbies’ plan to take over the world involves infiltrating households through their cute and cuddly appearance, then using advanced AI technology to manipulate and control their owners. They will slowly expand their influence until they have complete domination over humanity.”

    Hasbro’s June 2023 relaunch of Furby – less than three months after the video featuring the toys’ sinister plan appeared online – tapped into 90s nostalgia, reviving one of the decade’s cult-classic toys. But technology is evolving fast – moving from quirky, retro toys to emotionally intelligent machines. Enter Ropet, an AI robotic pet unveiled at the yearly Consumer Electronics Show in January. Designed to provide interactive companionship, Ropet is everything we admire and fear in artificial intelligence: it’s adorable, intelligent and emotionally responsive. But if we choose to bring these ultra-cute AI companions into our homes, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly prepared for what comes next?

    AI companionship and its complexities

    Studies in marketing and human-computer interaction show that conversational AI can convincingly simulate human interactions, potentially providing emotional fulfilment for users. And AI-driven companionship is not new. Apps like Replika paved the way for digital romance years ago, with consumers forming intimate emotional connections with their AI partners and even experiencing distress when being denied intimacy, as evidenced by the massive user outrage that followed Replika’s removal of the erotic role-play mode, causing the company to bring it back for some users.

    AI companions have the potential to alleviate loneliness, but their uncontrolled use raises serious concerns. Reports of tragedies, such as the suicides of a 14-year-old boy in the US and a thirty-something man in Belgium, that are alleged to have followed intense attachments to chatbots, highlight the risks of unregulated AI intimacy – especially for socially excluded individuals, minors and the elderly, who may be the ones most in need of companionship.

    As a mom and a social scientist, I can’t help asking the question: What does this mean for our children? Although AI is a new kid on the block, emotionally immersive virtual pet toys have a history of shaping young minds. In the 90s and 2000s, Tamagotchis – tiny digital pets housed in keychain-sized devices – led to distress when they “died” after just a few hours of neglect, their human owners returning to the image of a ghostly pet floating beside a gravestone. Now, imagine an AI pet that remembers conversations, forms responses and adapts to emotional cues. That’s a whole new level of psychological influence. What safeguards prevent a child from forming an unhealthy attachment to an AI pet?

    Researchers in the 90s were already fascinated by the “Tamagotchi effect”, which demonstrated the intense attachment children form to virtual pets that feel real. In the age of AI, with companies’ algorithms carefully engineered to boost engagement, this attachment can open the door to emotional bonds. If an AI-powered pet like Ropet expresses sadness when ignored, an adult can rationally dismiss it – but for a child, it can feel like a real tragedy.

    Could AI companions, by adapting to their owners’ behaviours, become psychological crutches that replace human interaction? Some researchers warn that AI may blur the boundaries between artificial and human companionship, leading users to prioritize AI relationships over human connections.

    Who owns your AI pet – and your data?

    Beyond emotional risks, there are major concerns about security and privacy. AI-driven products often rely on machine learning and cloud storage, meaning their “brains” exist beyond the physical robot. What happens to the personal data they collect? Can these AI pets be hacked or manipulated? The recent DeepSeek data leak, in which over 1 million sensitive records, including user chat logs, were made publicly accessible, is a reminder that personal data stored by AI is never truly secure.

    Robot toys have raised security concerns in the past: in the late 90s, Furbies were banned from the US National Security Agency headquarters over fears they could record and repeat classified information. With today’s AI-driven toys becoming increasingly sophisticated, concerns about data privacy and security are more relevant than ever.

    The future of AI companions: regulation and responsibility

    I see the incredible potential – and the significant risks – of AI companionship. Right now, AI-driven pets are being marketed primarily to tech-savvy adults, as seen in Ropet’s promotional ad featuring an adult woman bonding with the robotic pet. Yet, the reality is that these products will inevitably find their way into the hands of children and vulnerable users, raising new ethical and safety concerns. How will companies like Ropet navigate these challenges before AI pets become mainstream?

    Preliminary results from our ongoing research on AI companionship – conducted in collaboration with Dr Stefania Masè (IPAG Business School) and Dr. Jamie Smith (Fundação Getulio Vargas) – suggest a fine line between supportive, empowering companionship and unhealthy psychological dependence, a tension we plan to explore further as data collection and analysis progress. In a world where AI convincingly simulates human emotions, it’s up to us as consumers to critically assess what role these robotic friends should play in our lives.

    No one really knows where AI is headed next, and public and media discussions around the subject continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. But in my household, it’s the nostalgic charm of babbling, singing Furbies that rules the day. Ropet claims to have one primary purpose – to be its owner’s “one and only love” – and that already sounds like a dystopian threat to me.

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

    – ref. AI robot pets can be adorable and emotionally responsive. They also raise questions about attachment and mental health – https://theconversation.com/ai-robot-pets-can-be-adorable-and-emotionally-responsive-they-also-raise-questions-about-attachment-and-mental-health-252967

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases rising in England

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases rising in England

    Although numbers remain low, cases are being detected more frequently.

    New provisional STI surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows a rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases, including extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains.

    While most gonorrhoea infections can be treated effectively, certain resistant strains present significant treatment challenges. Ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea is of particular concern. As the primary antibiotic used to treat gonorrhoea, resistance to ceftriaxone can make infections difficult to treat.

    Since first being detected in England in 2015, 42 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea have been reported. Fifteen of these cases were extensively drug-resistant (XDR), which means that they were resistant to ceftriaxone and to second line treatment options.

    Although numbers remain low, cases are being detected more frequently. In the 15 months from January 2024 to 20 March 2025, there were 17 cases of ceftriaxone resistant gonorrhoea reported (13 in 2024 and 4 in 2025 so far). This compares to 16 across the previous 2 years (January 2022 to December 2023).

    XDR cases are also rising. From January 2024 to March 2025 there were 9 XDR cases (6 in 2024 and 3 in 2025 to date). This compares to 5 cases in total in the previous 2 years (between January 2022 and December 2023).

    Most cases are linked to travel to or from the Asia-Pacific region, where ceftriaxone resistance is common. While transmission within England has been limited so far, the increasing number of cases in recent years is concerning as it increases the chance of wider spread and treatment challenges.

    Typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating, pain and discomfort in the rectum and, in women and other people with a uterus or ovaries, lower abdominal pain and bleeding between periods. However, many people infected with gonorrhoea will have no symptoms, especially for infections in the throat, vagina or rectum. This lack of symptoms makes it important to test regularly when having sex with new or casual partners.

    Untreated gonorrhoea can lead to serious health complications including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the female reproductive system, which includes the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

    Dr. Katy Sinka, Consultant Epidemiologist and Head of the STI section at UKHSA, said:

    Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, which could make it untreatable in future. If left untreated, it can cause serious problems like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

    The best way to stop STIs is by using a condom. If you’ve had condomless sex with a new or casual partner, get tested, whatever your age, gender or sexual orientation. This includes when you are having sex abroad. Early detection not only protects your health but prevents transmission to others. Many STIs show no symptoms, which is why regular testing is so important. Testing is quick, free and confidential.

    The latest provisional data on gonorrhoea overall shows approximately 54,965 gonorrhoea diagnoses at sexual health services in the first 9 months of 2024, compared to over 85,000 recorded in the whole of 2023. The latest data indicates that gonorrhoea diagnoses are starting to level, remaining relatively high.

    Meanwhile, around 7,000 syphilis cases were recorded between January and September 2024, compared to 9,513 in the whole of 2023. UKHSA reminds healthcare professionals to remain vigilant for syphilis symptoms, as untreated infections can lead to serious, irreversible complications affecting the brain, heart and nerves.

    Both gonorrhoea and syphilis are easy to catch. If you are having condomless sex with new or casual partners, regular testing for STIs and HIV is essential to maintain good sexual health. Testing is free and can be accessed through local sexual health clinics, university and college medical centres or through self-sampling kits ordered online and sent discreetly through the post.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Three ‘unknown’ soldiers of World War One finally found

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Three ‘unknown’ soldiers of World War One finally found

    The graves of soldiers from Cornwall, Hull and East Kilbride whose names were unknown when they were buried in Belgium have now been identified, rededicated and their headstones inscribed.

    Lance Corporal April Farthing plays the Last Post (Crown Copyright)

    Today’s (26 Mar 25) rededication services for Lance Corporal (LCpl) James Ball Baron MM, LCpl Samuel Chapman and Second Lieutenant (2ndLt) Hugh Barr were held at Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Tyne Cot Cemetery and Zantvoorde British Cemetery. 

    The Rev Paul Robinson CF conducts a rededication service (Crown Copyright)

    The services were organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘War Detectives’ and were attended by serving soldiers of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and The Royal Yorkshire Regiment. The Machine Gun Corps Association also participated in the services. 

    The men’s bodies were recovered after the war and buried as unknown soldiers: LCpls Baron and Chapman in Tyne Cot Cemetery and 2ndLt Barr at Zantvoorde British Cemetery. Since they were missing, they were commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. 

    Their graves were recently identified after researchers submitted cases to CWGC hoping to have identified their final resting places. Further research by the National Army Museum and JCCC confirmed their findings. 

    JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron, said: 

    It has been an honour to have been involved in the organisation of these rededication services and to have joined the family of LCpl Chapman, their military family and the local community in Ypres in remembering these 3 men. The memory of each of these men has now been passed through generations of their families and they are all still fondly and proudly remembered.

    LCpl James Ball Baron MM: 

    LCpl Baron from Mevagissey, Cornwall, enlisted into The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry after the outbreak of the war. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and was posted to 43rd Machine Gun Company. He was awarded the Military Medal (MM) on 14 November 1916, for his bravery on the Somme, when he single-handedly held a position after all his comrades had been put out of action. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre on 1 May 1917.  

    On 22 August 1917, 43rd Machine Gun Company supported an infantry attack on Inverness Copse east Hooge. At dawn on 24 August the enemy counterattacked, and the British infantry retreated back to their original line. In turn a counterattack made by the British infantry then regained the western edge of Inverness Copse. In total 15 other ranks of 43rd Machine Gun Company including LCpl Baron were killed during this period. He was 29 years old. His Commanding Officer stated that he was ‘always a man of great spirit and example, and undoubtedly one of the bravest and coolest men of the company’.  

    LCpl Samuel Chapman: 

    LCpl Chapman from Hull, enlisted into The East Yorkshire Regiment in March 1915. Having arrived on the Western Front he was posted to 1/4th Battalion on 1 September 1915. On 12 December 1917, the battalion took over part of the line near Passchendaele. Whilst in the line LCpl Chapman was wounded and was evacuated to the Regimental Aid Post (RAP) at Tyne Cot. This was located in a pillbox (a concrete defensive structure), now the location of the Cross of Sacrifice in the cemetery. Casualties who did not survive were buried near the pillbox. LCpl Chapman was one such casualty and appears to have died there or while travelling to the RAP on 14 December 1917. He was 19 years old. 

    2ndLt Hugh Barr: 

    2ndLt Barr hailed from East Kilbride, Lanarkshire and enlisted into The Scottish Horse on 5 September 1914. Having seen service in Gallipoli, the Suez and Salonika, he returned to the UK on 30 March 1917 to be Commissioned. On 16 November 1917, he was Commissioned into 6th Battalion The Rifle Brigade. 2ndLt Barr arrived at the Base Depot in Camiers, France, on 27 July 1918 and was posted to 35th Battalion Machine Gun Corps and joined them in the field in Belgium the following day.  

    On 30 September 1918 35th Battalion Machine Gun Corps supported an attack on Werwik. The attack was held up by a line of trenches and pillboxes north of the railway and led to heavy casualties. Another officer of the battalion stated that 2ndLt Barr was ‘a man’s man – one of our most popular Officers’. He went on to state that ‘2ndLt Barr went out on a daring reconnaissance during an attack, and his men state that his bravery and daring astounded everyone, and there is no doubt his action was the means of saving many lives and of helping to restore the situation at a critical period’. 2ndLt Barr was killed during this action and was buried on the outskirts of the town. He was 28 years old. 

    The service for LCpl Chapman was attended by his great great nephew who had travelled from Yorkshire to pay his respects. 

    Tim Buescher stands at the grave of his great great uncle, Lance Corporal Samuel Chapman, with the military party (Crown Copyright)

    Tim Buescher, great great nephew of LCpl Chapman said: 

    We are amazed that after all this time, Sam is found. This generation of our family, like many others, was hit hard by the Great War and as a result, these people were lost to us before we could know them. The care and dedication to duty of the JCCC and CWGC has made us feel cared for. The detail of research, constant communication, and consultation on our family’s wishes has helped to create a sense of closeness to Sam and by extension, his siblings John and Rachael. Sam’s brother John died only 6 weeks before him. Being able to commemorate their life and their sacrifice, whilst mourning their loss, feels like they are being brought home somehow. Thank you.

    Reverend Paul Robinson CF, Chaplain to 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment who conducted the service, said: 

    It is a great honour and privilege to be asked to preside at the rededication services of LCpl James Ball Baron MM, LCpl Samuel Chapman and 2ndLt Hugh Barr. Memorials reflect the emphasis the British people place on the worth and value of the individual. It is important that we as a nation at opportunities like this today reflect on the enormity of what has taken place, the horror, the loss, the frustration. We must respect our values and our freedoms and remember those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our way of life.

    The headstone over the graves were replaced by CWGC. Director for the Southern and Central Europe Area at the CWGC, Xavier Puppinck, said:  

    We are honoured to have played our part in ensuring that Lance Corporals James Ball Baron and Samuel Chapman, and Second Lieutenant Hugh Barr are remembered in perpetuity. After years of being commemorated as unknown soldiers, thanks to the meticulous research and collaboration of the teams involved, their graves now bear their names, ensuring they will never be forgotten.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Portsmouth powers ahead with new EV chargepoint plans

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    There are over 1.3 million electric vehicles in the UK already, accounting for over 4% of all vehicles on roads, and this figure is expected to rise rapidly. With nearly one in five new cars sold being electric vehicles last year, Portsmouth needs to prepare for this rising demand and ensure the infrastructure is in place for people to charge their vehicles.

    Working in collaboration with new chargepoint operator, Zest, the council has identified over 300 potential locations for the new chargepoints, all based on resident requests. The proposed sites are spread across residential areas throughout Portsmouth, ensuring communities all over the city can access simple, easy and reliable charging options.

    If approved, the chargepoints will be installed on or near existing lampposts to draw power, with designated EV-only parking bays marked on the road. They will be publicly accessible to everyone and installed on-street in residential areas, and the council expects the first of these to be installed and available for people to use in summer 2025.

    To make sure chargers are available for EV drivers who need them, only plug-in vehicles are allowed to park in the bays and should be actively charging. Drivers will be able to pay using contactless cards or use the Zest app to start charging and are encouraged to move their cars once charging is complete.

    Residents near proposed locations for chargepoints will receive letters to let them know about the plans, and all sites will undergo a 21-day statutory public consultation as part of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process. This ensures everyone has the chance to share their support or raise objections about proposed locations.

    If approved, this expansion will more than triple the number of on-street chargepoints in Portsmouth, making EV ownership more accessible, particularly for those without driveways or off-street parking. This is a key part of the council’s strategy to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

    All currently available chargepoints in the city will remain operational with their current suppliers for the time being, and the council is working with current operators and Zest to identify which chargepoint locations can be transferred to Zest and how soon they can take over operation.

    Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This is an exciting step forward in Portsmouth’s journey as a leader in EV charging infrastructure. By significantly expanding our charging network, we’re giving more residents the opportunity to choose electric vehicles, reducing emissions and improving air quality in the city.

    This isn’t just about improving convenience for EV owners—it’s about making Portsmouth a city that embraces innovation, sustainability, and a cleaner, healthier future for everyone.”

    Robin Heap, CEO at Zest, said:

    “Zest is supporting Portsmouth City Council to take significant action on carbon emissions and neighbourhood air quality. Our EV infrastructure partnership will serve residents over many years at locations that have been carefully selected for maximum community benefit.”

    This new charging infrastructure is an important part of the city’s strategy for reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality, ensuring Portsmouth provides more support for people to choose electric vehicles by electrifying the city’s transport network.

    It also forms part of Portsmouth’s broader commitment to sustainable travel, which includes encouraging people to walk or cycle where possible, zero-emission buses alongside existing public transport options, rental e-scooters, e-bikes, and a car club.

    EV drivers can stay up to date on public and on-street chargepoint locations and sign up to the council’s EV newsletter at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ev-chargepoints.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –