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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Singapore and India signs Letter of Intent to Cooperate on Maritime Digitalisation and Decarbonisation

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 12:53PM by PIB Delhi

    Singapore and India have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to cooperate on maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation. The LOl was inked by Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Shri R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Ports. Shipping and Waterways ( (MOPSW) of India, and witnessed by Dri Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Transport Singapore, and Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways of India.

    Under the LOl, both sides will collaborate on maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation projects, including identifying relevant stakeholders who could contribute to the effort, and work towards formalising the partnership through a memorandum of understanding on a Singapore-India Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC).

    India is a leading player in information technology with the potential to become a major producer and exporter of green marine fuels. Singapore, as a key transshipment and bunkering hub, also supports a dynamic research and innovation ecosystem.

    The Singapore-India GDSC, when established, will enhance collaboration from both countries and help accelerate the development and uptake of zero or near-zero Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission technologies and the adoption of digital solutions.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN ANIMAL WELFARE

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 12:49PM by PIB Delhi

    One of the key functions of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), under Section 9(k) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, is to impart education on the humane treatment of animals and promote public awareness against the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals. This is achieved through various means, including lectures, books, posters, cinematographic exhibitions, and more. Various steps taken to enhance public awareness and participation in animal welfare initiatives, particularly among school children are placed at Annexure-1.

    AWBI is publishing various guidelines, regulations and booklets so as to sensitize the law enforcement authorities on the issues related to animal welfare laws. AWBI also organized the training programmes for the Law enforcement authorities to sensitize them on the issues related to animal welfare laws.

    During this financial year, a One-day training programme was conducted for the Police Officials on 19.10.2024 at Police Training School, Thanisandra, Bengaluru on Animal Welfare Laws. During this training, sessions on Importance on Animal Welfare, PCA Act, 1960, Regulations on Slaughter and Transportation of Animals, ABC Rules and Practical Training and case studies were covered. The subject experts in the field of animal welfare laws and rules delivered their lectures to sensitize the officials of the Police Department. The Superintendent of Police and Principal, Police Training School and his team coordinated in successful conducting of the training programme.

    AWBI has published four books to create awareness amongst the State Governments and UTs including Law enforcement authorities as per the details given below:

    1. Law Enforcement Handbook on Animal Welfare Laws
    2. Animal Law Handbook for Urban Local bodies
    3. Handbook for Veterinary Officers on Animal Welfare Laws
    4. Revised Animal Birth Control (ABC) module for Street Dogs Population management, rabies eradication and reducing man-dog conflict.

    AWBI, on receipt of complaints regarding cruelty to animals from various parts of the country, is taking up the matters with the concerned State Governments and District Collectors / Magistrates / District Superintendent of police sensitizing them about the existing animal welfare laws for conducting an enquiry to the cruelty matters. The State Authorities are empowered to initiate appropriate action against the offenders meting out cruelty to animals and to take action as per the law.

    The details of letters issued for awareness for Amroha, Uttar Pradesh are given in Annexure-2.

    As per Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, it shall be the duty of every person having the care or charge of any animal to take all reasonable measures to ensure the well-being of such animal and to prevent the infliction upon such animal of unnecessary pain or suffering.

    Also, as per Section 11(1)(i) of the PCA Act, 1960, If any person, without reasonable cause, abandons any animal in circumstances which render it likely that it will suffer pain by reason of starvation or thirst; he shall be punishable, in the case of a first offence, with fine which shall not be less than ten rupees but which may extend to fifty rupees and in the case of a second or subsequent offence committed within three years of the previous offence, with fine which shall not be less than twenty-five rupees but which may extend to one hundred rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with both

    As per the Article 246(3) of the Constitution of India in List II of Seventh Schedule the Preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice is under State list on which the State has exclusive power to make laws for such State or any part thereof with respect to any of the matters enumerated in List II in the Seventh Schedule. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of the local bodies to take care of the stray animals and to regularize the process of registration of the Pet Ownership in their respective municipal areas, which will help in monitoring the number of pet animals.

    Details of rules notified and advisories issued by the Central Government are placed at Annexure – 3.

    Annexure-1

    Steps taken to enhance public awareness and participation in animal welfare initiatives, particularly among school children

    1. AWBI has been consistently encouraging animal welfare organizations and individuals by nominating them as Honorary Animal Welfare Representative (HAWR) to extend educational programs to schools by organizing activities such as poster competitions, painting contests, and essay writing competitions. These programs aim to foster compassion towards animals and help shape better, more responsible citizens.
    2. To support these efforts, AWBI has developed educational modules for school children in two age groups: Class V-VIII and Class IX-XII. These modules cover various topics aimed at raising awareness and sensitizing students about animal welfare. For Classes V-VII, the subjects include Compassion for Animals, Animal Behavior, Animal Cruelty, Responsible Pet Ownership, and Animal Superstition. For Classes IX-XII, the modules cover more advanced topics like Veterinary Help for Pet and Street Animals, Conflict Mitigation, Achievements in Animal Welfare, Animal Welfare and Sustainability, Human Health, and Ahimsa (Culture and Heritage in India). These modules have been circulated to the Department of Education in all State Governments and UTs to ensure wide dissemination.
    3. AWBI has also initiated training programs in schools to ensure that its message reaches young children effectively. In addition, regular seminars, workshops, and awareness programs conducted by State Governments and animal welfare organizations play a crucial role in sensitizing the public, particularly animal lovers.
    4. The AWBI regularly issues advisories and circulars to raise public awareness about animal welfare. These advisories are issued during key events such as Animal Welfare Fortnight (January 14 to 30), World Animal Day, World Rabies Day, humane celebrations of Deepavali, and during the summer and winter seasons to emphasize animal welfare concerns.
    5. Moreover, AWBI conducts training programs for Honorary Animal Welfare Representatives and issues Colony Animal CareTaker authorization letters to compassionate individuals who care for community animals in their local areas. These efforts help in promoting the well-being of animals and fostering a compassionate society.

    Annexure-2

    Letters issued for awareness for Amroha, Uttar Pradesh

    S.No.

    Date of Complaint

    Subject of Complaint

    Letter to whom

    1

    31.05.2022

    Request to take necessary action to save life of stray animals in Amroha

    Letter dated 31.05.2022 was issued to the District Magistrate, Amroha, Uttar Pradesh

    2

    13.04.2024

    Requested to implementation the provisions of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and AWBI Module to control the population of the street dogs effectively in District Amroha

    Letter dated 24.04.2024 was issued to the Member Secretary, Uttar Pradesh State Animal Welfare Board & The Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Gokarnnath Rd, Badshah Bagh, Lucknow and The Municipal Commissioner Municipal Corporation of Amroha

    3

    07.02.2025

    Complaint against the owner of the Pit Bull for attacking and killing a Community Dog in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh

    Letter dated 04.03.2025 was issued to the Member Secretary, Uttar Pradesh State Animal Welfare Board & The Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Gokarnnath Rd, Badshah Bagh, Lucknow

    Annexure-3

    Details of rules notified and advisories issued by the Central Government

    1. The Central Government has also notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop) Rules, 2018 to regulate the illegal breeding of animals and to regulate the sale or trade in pet animals respectively. These Rules are being implemented by the respective State Governments and UTs.
    2. The AWBI had issued several advisories in relation to stray dogs and pet animals:
      1. Pet Dogs and Street Dogs Circular dated 26.02.2015.
      2. Circular to all DGPs of all States/UTs regarding harassment to Citizens showing compassion to animals dated 25-08-2015 and 28.10.2015.
      3. Advisory to initiate necessary action for rescue and rehabilitation of stray animals dated 12-07-2018.
      4. Advisory to identify sufficient number of feeding spots for stray dogs in every district and to properly implement the (AWBI Revised Guidelines on Pet dogs and street dogs) dated 03.03.2021.
      5. Request to properly implement and circulate the standard protocol for the adoption of community animals dated 17.05.2022.
      6. Guidelines for use of Muzzle on Dogs and care of community dogs dated 17.08.2022.
      7. Request to Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Animal Husbandry as well as to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of all Districts of all State/UTs to implement the provision of ABC Rules, 2023 dated 31.03.2023.
      8. Request to all District Magistrate of all Districts of all State/UTs to implement the provision of ABC Rules, 2023 dated 30.05.2023.

    This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 25th March, 2025.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MILK ADULTERATION

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 12:48PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government of India enacted Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act- 2006 to unify food related laws and establish the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The FSSAI sets science-based standards for food articles and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.  The implementation and enforcement of FSS Act are carried out by FSSAI through Food Safety Commissioners of State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. FSSAI, via its regional offices for centrally regulated food businesses and in collaboration with States/UTs, conducts regular monitoring activities such as inspections, audits, surveillance, and random sampling to ensure compliance with the Act and its regulations. In FY 2023-24, FSSAI introduced the “National Annual Surveillance Plan”. Additionally, States /UTs conduct independent surveillance and enforcement measures tailored to their local needs, food trends, consumption patterns, and issues like adulteration. FSSAI also conducts periodic Pan-India Surveillance, focussing on staple foods and other commodities susceptible to adulteration.

    According to FSSAI, Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (MFTL), also known as “Food Safety on wheels” (FSW), play a crucial role in expanding food testing, training, and awareness programs, particularly in villages, towns, and remote areas. At present, 285 FSWs are operational across 35 States and Union Territories. These Units are equipped with essential infrastructure, including “Milk-o-Screen” equipment, for on spot testing of key quality parameters viz., Fat, SNF, protein, and adulterants like added water, urea, sucrose, maltodextrin and ammonium sulphate. Additionally, FSWs are capable of performing basic adulteration tests for other food products as well.

    Under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Food Business Operators (FBOs) are primarily responsible for ensuring full traceability of food products, from raw material procurement to the delivery of finished goods to consumers. They must maintain proper records and documentation throughout the supply chain to uphold transparency, accountability, and safety. Compliance with these requirements is verified during inspections and audits, and appropriate regulatory action are taken in case of violations.

    Additionally, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying implements the national Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), which focuses on establishing and enhancing infrastructure for quality milk testing equipment and primary chilling facilities.  The NPDD also provides financial support to cooperatives and milk producer institutions for purchasing Automatic Milk Collection Units (AMCU) and Data Processing Milk Collection Units (DPMCU), ensuring transparency in milk collection at the village level.

    The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has established standards for milk and milk products under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011. These standards apply uniformly to all Food Business Operations (FBOs), including dairy cooperatives, across the country to ensure compliance. When developing new standards or amending existing ones, FSSAI releases draft notifications to solicit feedback and suggestions from the general public and stakeholders. The feedback received, including input from dairy cooperatives, is thoroughly reviewed and considered during the standard-setting process.

    This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 25th March, 2025.

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  • MIL-OSI Africa: Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) Maixent Raoul Ominga to Speak at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025

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

    PARIS, France, March 25, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris is pleased to announce Maixent Raoul Ominga, Director General of Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), as a speaker, with SNPC also serving as a Gold Sponsor of the event. Ominga will contribute to discussions on Monetizing Congo’s Gas Opportunities, offering insights into the country’s substantial natural gas potential and the strategies being implemented to unlock its value.

    Congo’s gas sector is set for expansion, with significant developments aimed at maximizing its full potential. Eni’s Congo LNG project stands as a key pillar – eyeing production expansion up to four billion cubic meters per year by 2025 – strengthening the country’s position in the global energy market. Wing Wah’s Banga Kayo gas monetization project further accelerates this growth by optimizing stranded gas resources and supplying the domestic market with essential refined products. Additionally, the implementation of a new gas code and the development of a comprehensive gas master plan, which SNPC is actively helping to shape, will provide a clear regulatory framework and long-term strategy to attract investment, drive infrastructure development and optimize gas resource utilization.

    IAE 2025 (https://apo-opa.co/4hNID0n) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    As Director General of SNPC, Ominga offers deep expertise in Congo’s energy sector, with a focus on gas exploration, infrastructure development and international partnerships. The Monetizing Congo’s Gas Opportunities session will highlight the country’s untapped gas resources, exploring how Congo can leverage its natural assets for economic growth and regional energy security. The forum will also address the critical roles of investment, innovation and collaboration among public and private stakeholders.

    Congo is currently pursuing a major investment drive to attract global capital to its oil and gas sector. SNPC’s participation at IAE 2025, along with its role as a Gold Sponsor, represents a key stop on the country’s roadshow to engage European and international investors, highlighting its promising hydrocarbon exploration and gas monetization prospects. With a strategic focus on driving project investments and maximizing investor returns, IAE 2025 offers the ideal platform to foster high-level discussions and connect Congo with potential partners and investors to support the sector’s growth and long-term success

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Impact on citizens of the Green Deal, the Clean Industrial Deal and a possible carbon levy – E-000911/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000911/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Auke Zijlstra (PfE), Sebastiaan Stöteler (PfE)

    Since the Green Deal was launched, the EU has been contending with accelerating deindustrialisation, rising production costs and declining competitiveness, while more and more firms are shifting production to third countries.

    • 1.Does the Commission acknowledge that the Green Deal has been a factor in this industrial downturn, or can it demonstrate that its policies are not the cause of the erosion of European industry?
    • 2.How will the Commission ensure that the Clean Industrial Deal bolsters European industry and what indicators will it use to assess the economic impact of this policy?
    • 3.Does the Commission intend to introduce a direct carbon levy for citizens – on top of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) – as an additional component of its climate policy, or is this just a proposed own resource forming part of the EU budget?

    Submitted: 4.3.2025

    Last updated: 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Survey confirms Europe’s citizens want the EU to protect them and act in unity

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament’s Winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey, released today, highlights historic levels of approval for EU membership linked to peace and security.

    European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Two thirds of Europeans want the EU to play a greater role in their protection. This is a clear call for action which we will answer. Europe needs to be stronger so that our citizens feel safer. The European Parliament will ensure that every proposal put forward is bold and ambitious enough to match the serious level of threat Europe faces. Europe must step up today, or it risks being stepped over tomorrow.”

    66% of EU citizens want the EU to take a more important role in protecting them against global crises and security risks. This view is particularly strong amongst younger respondents to the survey. At the national level, results for a stronger role of the EU range from 87% in Sweden to 47% in Romania and 44% in Poland.

    Almost three quarters of EU citizens (74%) believe their country has benefited from being a member of the EU. This is the highest result ever recorded in a Eurobarometer survey for this question since it was first asked in 1983. Fitting the current context, respondents mention the EU’s contribution to maintaining peace and strengthening security (35%) as the main reason why membership is considered beneficial.

    In addition, there is wide agreement among EU citizens that EU Member States should be more united to face current global challenges (89%) and that the European Union needs more means to deal with the challenges ahead (76%).

    Citizens expect the EU to strengthen security and defence and to enhance competitiveness

    In a rapidlychanging geopolitical environment, defence and security (36%) as well as competitiveness, economy and industry (32%) are identified as the areas on which the EU should focus most to reinforce its position in the world. These are also the topics that featured high on last week’s European Council with Parliament’s President calling for faster action and bolder ambition. While the results for defence and security have remained stable compared to February/March 2024, those for competitiveness, economy and industry have increased by five points. These two areas are followed by energy independence (27%), food security and agriculture (25%) and education and research (23%).

    Economic and security issues are also at the forefront when it comes to the topics citizens want the European Parliament to address as a priority. Four in ten Europeans mention inflation, rising prices and the cost of living (43%), followed by the EU’s defence and security (31%), the fight against poverty and social exclusion (31%) and support to the economy and the creation of new jobs (29%). Inflation, rising prices and the cost of living is a main priority across all age groups and with peak results recorded in Portugal (57%), France (56%), Slovakia (56%), Croatia (54%) and Estonia (54%).

    As shown by the EP’s previous survey, inflation and the cost of living had already played a major role as a driving force in the last European elections and the economic situation continues to be a main concern for many Europeans. A third (33%) expect their standard of living to decrease in the next five years, seven points more than in June-July 2024. This is the case for 53% of French respondents (+8 pp) and 47% of Germans (+15 pp).

    Peace and democracy remain EU core values

    Looking at the values Europeans would like the European Parliament to defend, peace (45%), democracy (32%) and the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide (22%) come first. The results for this question have remained stable, underlining citizens steadfast support for the EU’s founding values and principles.

    Two-thirds of citizens support a stronger role for the EP

    As historic trend lines show, in moments of crisis citizens look to the EU for decisive actions and solutions. When the EU is perceived as coming together and delivering results, support indicators are high – which is currently the case.  50% of respondents have a positive image of the EU. In the last decade, this positive perception was only higher once (at 52%), in spring 2022 in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The positive image of the EP is stable at a high level (41%). A few months into the legislative term, over six in ten (62%) citizens would like to see the European Parliament play a more important role, a six- percentage point increase compared to February-March 2024, a few months before the June 2024 European elections.

    Full results can be found here.

    Background   

    The European Parliament’s Winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey was carried out between 09 January and 04 February 2025 in all 27 EU Member States. The survey was conducted face-to-face, with video interviews used additionally in Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Malta, Netherlands, and Sweden. 26.354 interviews were conducted in total and EU results are weighted according to the size of the population in each country.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Road safety: deal for modern EU driving licence rules

    Source: European Parliament

    Parliament and Council negotiators agreed new driving licence rules, introducing a mobile licence, a probation period for new drivers, and “accompanied” driving.

    The agreement on an update of EU driving licence directive reached on early Tuesday morning is intended to improve road safety in Europe, with almost 20,000 lives lost on EU roads annually.

    Training on phone usage and driving in dangerous conditions

    MEPs managed to insert new requirements so that drivers are better prepared for real driving situations and develop sufficient risk awareness of pedestrians, children, cyclists and other vulnerable road users. To qualify for a licence, a driver will have to learn about safe phone usage while driving, blind spot risks, driver-assistance systems, the safe opening of doors, and driving in snow and slippery conditions.

    Mobile driving licence

    A digital driving licence, available on a smartphone with EU-wide digital wallet technology, will become the main format in the EU, under the new rules. Member states will have five years and six month following the entry into force of the new rules to implement this. However, MEPs made sure drivers will continue to have the right to request a physical driver’s licence.

    Two-year probation for new drivers, alcohol limit

    For the first time, EU rules will set a probationary period of at least two years for new drivers. Novice drivers will be subject to stricter rules and sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while not using safety belts or child-restraint systems. MEPs secured an encouragement in the text for EU countries to pursue a zero tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs, that would ban consumption for all drivers.

    Lowering the eligibility age for professional licences, introduction of accompanying drivers

    To mitigate a shortage of professional drivers, the minimum age whereby a driver can obtain a truck licence will be lowered from 21 to 18, and for a bus driving licence from 24 to 21, provided the applicant holds a certificate of professional competence. EU countries may allow 17-years-old to drive a truck or van on their territory only, if accompanied by an experienced driver. This system of accompanied drivers will apply more widely across the EU for car drivers.

    Validity and health checks

    Negotiators agreed that driving licences should be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars. EU countries may reduce this period to 10 years if the licence can be used as a national ID, while truck and bus licences will have to be renewed every five years. EU countries can shorten the validity of driving licences of older drivers (65 years and older).

    Before they are issued with first licence, a driver should pass a medical check, including of their eyesight and cardiovascular condition. However, for car drivers or motorcycle riders EU countries may opt to substitute the medical check by self-assessment forms or, in case of driving licence renewal, other alternative measures. At the initiative of MEPs, national authorities will be encouraged to enhance the public awareness of minimum standards of physical and mental fitness for driving.

    Quote

    EP rapporteur Jutta Paulus (Greens, DE) said: “The new driving license directive makes people’s lives easier – more digital, more flexible, and with less bureaucracy. At the same time, we are sending a clear signal for greater road safety in line with Vision Zero: fewer accidents, fewer injuries, and fewer fatalities on our roads.

    Additionally, we introduce uniform standards across Europe and make it easier for young people to enter the driving profession. On top, we strengthen our volunteer civil protection services and tackle the shortage of skilled workers in the transport sector. Finally, we ensure that no one’s right to drive is restricted due to long processing times.”

    Next steps

    The preliminary deal still needs to be approved by Council and Parliament. EU countries will have four years to transpose new provisions into national law and prepare for its implementation.

    Background

    Revised EU driving licence rules are part of a road safety package presented by the Commission in March 2023, which aims to improve safety for all road users and to move as close as possible to zero fatalities in EU road transport by 2050 (“Vision Zero“). The same package also contains driving disqualification rules on which Parliament and Council negotiators are working to find an agreement.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tree planting at Ireby Green Farm provides a boost for biodiversity, business and communities

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Tree planting at Ireby Green Farm provides a boost for biodiversity, business and communities

    Ireby Green Farm used their England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) funding to invest in trees for a more sustainable future.

    Ireby Green Farm facts:

    • site: Ireby Green Farm, Cowan Bridge, Carnforth, Lancashire
    • size: 7 hectares of new woodland
    • type: native broadleaf and non-native conifer
    • species: oak, birch, silver birch, alder, beech, Scots pine, Douglas fir and crab apple
    • date planted: 2022
    • grant: England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

    Main objectives:

    • reduce the farm’s reliance on their sheep enterprise
    • provide a reliable income during a time of uncertainty
    • grow their caravan park

    Trees planted on Ireby Green Farm. Copyright Ireby Green Farm

    Ireby Green Farm is a 35 hectare, family-run farm located in the upper Lune Valley. With access to both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, the farm runs a successful caravan campsite alongside their sheep enterprise of around 150 ewes.

    Despite great success in diversifying their farming operation, the landowner John Welbank was aware that the end of the Basic Payment Scheme would affect his family and business. They began to research other options for diversification and, after exploring funding for woodland creation and organic certification, John decided on tree planting as the next project for the farm.

    Funding a greener future

    In 2022, 7 hectares of native broadleaf woodland with a 20% conifer mix were planted with the help of EWCO. The grant funding included capital items, the cost of planting and supporting the early establishment of the trees, as well as additional contributions including nature recovery, water quality and riparian planting. These stackable payments provide extra support when the design of a new woodland delivers public benefits to nature and the environment. 

    Whilst initially hesitant about the complexity of the scheme, John was pleased to find that the grant was relatively easy to apply for. With the support of EWCO, Ireby Green Farm now proudly boasts 7 hectares of woodland, providing a boost for biodiversity, the business and the local community.

    The benefits of tree planting

    A year after planting, Ireby Green Farm was already seeing the benefits. Neighbours, visitors and the parish council are now making use of permissive footpaths and the environmental boost in the community. The farm has also seen benefits to:

    • biodiversity – kingfishers, hares and other native species are inhabiting the new woodland and surrounding area
    • business – increasing the woodland area has helped to reduce the costs of supporting their sheep enterprise, increasing their gross profit per hectare
    • soil structure – improved structure and nutrient content provided by the tree’s roots and leaf litter from fallen leaves, resulting in better grass coverage and growth, saving on feeding supplements for their sheep
    • flood mitigation – flood mitigation – the trees have helped to reduce nutrient run off, which has meant less inputs into the soil are required

    John is also hoping the planting will successfully offset their carbon, demonstrating the environmental and social credentials of the farm and campsite.

    The tree planting scheme has received additional contributions under EWCO for riparian planting and improving water quality. Copyright Ireby Green Farm

    Managing woodland for long-term success

    Ireby Green Farm has big plans for the woodland; they have planted with timber production in mind to provide another revenue stream for the future of the farm business. After 15-20 years, a portion of softwood can be extracted whilst maintaining the minimum canopy cover required under EWCO. 

    The new woodland also means that John has been able to proceed with plans to expand the caravan park, as the woodland minimises the visual impact from the road. This will increase business for their farm and the local area, providing more capacity for their often-sold-out holiday park.  

    Alongside these benefits, John is pleased that a legacy will be left in the woodland planted. He encourages others to investigate woodland creation as a potential opportunity for their farm.

    John Welbank, Landowner, Ireby Green Farm said:

    Local farmers have had mixed thoughts on planting woodland, but taking a more detailed view of finances and the opportunity trees can bring, is one to be enthusiastic about.

    Top tips

    1. Speak to your Woodland Officer early. Woodland creation can be a confusing process, but starting conversations can be the first step. Woodland Officers are local experts and can help you find useful resources and answer your questions.
    2. Plan a woodland scheme that fits your farm and your objectives. Take time to work out what will work for you as a woodland is a long-term investment.
    3. Invest in tree protection. Using proper tree protection throughout the process can massively reduce replacement and maintenance costs.
    4. Look after your crop. In the same way that you wouldn’t spend £36,000 on a traditional farm crop and then close the gate and walk away, woodland needs to be managed if you want to optimise your outcomes.

    Further information

    For guidance on woodland creation and information on grants and available support, visit: Tree planting and woodland creation: overview.

    Find out how other farmers and landowners are benefitting from woodland creation, visit: Tree planting and woodland creation case studies.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: East West Rail services planned to begin this year as Chiltern Railways named operator

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    East West Rail services planned to begin this year as Chiltern Railways named operator

    This milestone will unlock the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and provide greater connectivity across the region.

    • Chiltern Railways named as operator for first East West Rail services later this year   
    • passengers will benefit from better and faster connections between Oxford and Milton Keynes, unlocking job, education and business opportunities
    • forms a critical part of the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth by unleashing the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor

    In a significant step towards boosting connectivity and growth between Oxford and Cambridge, the Rail Minister has today (25 March 2025) named Chiltern Railways as the operator for the first stage of East West Rail. 

    This comes ahead of its planned launch later this year, which will support almost 100 new jobs at Chiltern, boost local economies along the route and see passengers benefit from slashed journey times and better access to jobs, education and business opportunities. 

    When delivered in full, East West Rail is set to generate £6.7 billion of growth per year in Oxford-Cambridge by 2050, bolstering the thriving life science cluster and supporting up to 28,000 jobs in Cambridge alone. 

    Serving 6 stations, the new line will initially link Oxford and Milton Keynes for the first time in nearly 60 years, accelerating the regeneration of town centres and helping build new homes across the full line as part of our Plan for Change. 

    Rail Minister Peter, Lord Hendy, said: 

    Appointing Chiltern Railways to run the first East West Rail services is one of the crucial last steps in getting the line up and running later this year and means local people in the area are closer to experiencing the benefits of this transformative project. 

    This milestone demonstrates that we are serious about unlocking the potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, providing greater connectivity across the region and delivering on our Plan for Change mission to drive economic growth.

    A brand-new station at Winslow will reconnect the town to the rail network for the first time since the 1960s, with trains also stopping at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village and a revamped Bletchley station along the new line. 

    Chiltern will manage the newly constructed station in Winslow, opening up better employment opportunities, easier access to public services and reduced reliance on road travel. 

    Richard Allan, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said:

    The first stage of East West Rail will provide fast, direct train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes and we are delighted that Chiltern has been announced as operator.  

    Chiltern has a proud track record of delivering new services and infrastructure, including our London to Oxford connections and introduction of new stations at Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village.  

    We are looking forward to carrying customers on this exciting new route which is set to make a critical contribution to the UK’s economic growth.

    David Hughes, CEO of East West Railway Co, said: 

    This is a huge milestone which will allow Chiltern Railways to deliver a much-needed rail service linking the dynamic cities of Oxford and Milton Keynes, providing new opportunities for commuters and leisure travellers alike. 

    This is the first part of East West Rail’s vision to extend services to Bedford and Cambridge, which will transform connectivity across the region and unlock new opportunities for economic growth.

    The announcement comes following a 10-week consultation period giving local people the chance to shape the second and third stages of East West Rail, which will see the line reaching Bedford from 2030 and Cambridge from the mid-2030s. 

    This outlined the government’s aim for trains to be powered on the route with greener traction and hybrid battery-electric trains, which would result in cleaner and faster journeys for passengers. 

    Gary Walsh, Route Director for West Coast South at Network Rail said: 

    We’re delighted by today’s announcement, which is fantastic news for passengers who will soon benefit from the new journey opportunities that East West Rail provides between Milton Keynes and Oxford.

    Following completion of major construction, which included installing 70km of new track, 17 brand new bridges and a modern signalling system, we’re working closely with our partners at Chiltern Railways and the DfT ahead of passenger services starting later this year.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 March 2025 Statement Types of data requested to inform May 2025 COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition deliberations

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The WHO Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) continues to closely monitor the genetic and antigenic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants, immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination, and the performance of COVID-19 vaccines against circulating variants. Based on these evaluations, WHO advises vaccine manufacturers and regulatory authorities on the implications for future updates to COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. The next decision-making meeting of the TAG-CO-VAC is scheduled for May 2025, after which a statement on COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition and an accompanying data annex will be published on the WHO website. These meetings are timed to balance the availability of the latest epidemiological, immunological, and virological data, with the kinetics of vaccine-induced protection and the lead time manufacturers need to update the antigen composition of authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

    The purpose of this statement is to guide the scientific community and vaccine manufacturers as to which data should be generated ahead of the May 2025 TAG-CO-VAC deliberations. It is an update to the previous statement on the types of data requested in October 2024.1

    To inform decisions on COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition,2-6 the TAG-CO-VAC reviews data (see Table) on the genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the antigenic characteristics of previously and currently circulating variants. This includes the analysis of animal antisera following primary infection or vaccination in one-way and two-way neutralization tests, as well as immunogenicity data that assess the breadth and durability of immune responses, including neutralizing antibody responses, using sera from sequentially immunized or infected animals and pre-and post-vaccination human sera. The TAG-CO-VAC also considers vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates of currently approved COVID-19 vaccines, particularly those that control for time since vaccination and that provide variant-specific estimates across different vaccine platforms for protection against any infection, symptomatic disease, and severe disease. Further examples of published data reviewed by TAG-CO-VAC and used to inform decisions on COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition can be found in the annexes accompanying each of the previous statements.2-6

    In addition, the TAG-CO-VAC reviews available data from vaccine manufacturers, including animal and human studies demonstrating the breadth and durability of immune responses elicited by currently authorized vaccines, as well as any vaccine candidates in development. For vaccine candidates in development, the TAG-CO-VAC highlights the utility of clinical immunogenicity data for decision-making on COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition. The TAG-CO-VAC also notes that comparable immunogenicity data (i.e. to the same variants) from previous vaccine compositions are especially useful. Vaccine manufacturers are also asked to provide observational epidemiological data that demonstrate the efficacy or effectiveness of their authorized COVID-19 vaccines, as well as any vaccine candidates in development.

    At this stage, the key antisera and antigens of interest for the May 2025 decision-making meeting for demonstrating breadth include antisera to: BA.2 (other historical reference viruses – e.g., index virus, Alpha, BA.1 – are also useful for determining antigenic relationships), XBB.1.5, JN.1, KP.2, XEC, LP.8.1, LF.7.2 and potentially emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. Antisera of interest are animal sera after single or sequential exposure and human sera after a boost with monovalent JN.1, KP.2 or XBB.1.5 vaccines. Both pre- and post-vaccination sera should be included and, for all antisera, neutralizing antibody titers should be analyzed against at least one variant that emerged after the vaccine antigen, where feasible. Analysis of these antisera against the same panel of virus antigens as well as other new emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants will provide insight into antigenic characteristics of previous and emerging variants. Emerging variants include the list of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Interest (VOI) and Variants Under Monitoring (VUM) maintained on the WHO website. Relative VE estimates should be calculated during periods of circulation of XBB, JN.1, KP.3.1.1, XEC or other emerging variant(s) in human populations across age groups, with separate VE estimates for each of the following vaccine antigen compositions: monovalent JN.1, monovalent KP.2 or monovalent XBB.1.5. Where available, the underlying rates of disease outcomes used to derive the relative VE estimates should also be provided.

    In preparation for the May 2025 meeting, the TAG-CO-VAC encourages the scientific community and vaccine manufacturers to prioritize generating and sharing the data outlined in the Table below to ensure evidence-informed deliberations on COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition; please contact the TAG-CO-VAC Secretariat: [tagcovac@who.int].

    Type of data Comments
    SARS-CoV-2 genetic evolution Key variants include the list of Variants of Interest (VOI) and Variants Under Monitoring (VUM). This list is maintained on the WHO website.+
    Antigenic characterization of previous and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants Animal sera following primary infection or vaccination against each of the following variants: BA.2, XBB.1.5, JN.1, KP.2, XEC, LP.8.1, LF.7.2 and potentially emerging variants* analyzed in one-way and two-way neutralization tests (pseudotype and live virus neutralization assays).
    Preliminary immunogenicity data on breadth and durability of immune responses following vaccination or infection with SARS-CoV-2 variant antigens. Neutralization of various representative viruses by non-naïve animal sera (e.g., sequentially immunized or infected), for each of the following antigens: BA.2, XBB.1.5, JN.1, KP.2, XEC, LP.8.1, LF.7.2  and emerging variants;*
    Neutralization of various representative viruses (BA.2, XBB.1.5, JN.1, KP.2, XEC, LP.8.1, LF.7.2 and potentially emerging variants*) by both pre- and post-vaccination human sera. Vaccinee sera should be analyzed in priority order: JN.1, KP.2, XBB.1.5;
    Neutralization of variants (BA.2, XBB.1.5, JN.1, KP.2, XEC, LP.8.1, LF.7.2 and potentially emerging variants*) by sera from cohorts that are representative of recent population immunity.
    Vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates of currently approved vaccines Relative VE estimates during periods of circulation of XBB, JN.1, KP.3.1.1, XEC or emerging variant(s) * in human populations. Studies need to estimate relative VE by time since vaccination or at least provide a measure of time since vaccination, such as the mean or median. They should also provide variant-specific estimates and distinct estimates for each of the following vaccine antigen compositions across different vaccine platforms: monovalent JN.1, monovalent KP.2, or monovalent XBB.1.5. Studies should also provide relative VE for a range of outcomes beyond severe disease, including any infection or symptomatic disease. Severe disease should not be defined using generic hospital admission data, but rather with specific criteria such as oxygen use, ventilation, or admission to intensive care due to respiratory symptoms. Where available, underlying rates of disease outcomes used to estimate the relative VE should also be provided.
    Data from vaccine manufacturers Animal and human data that demonstrate the breadth and durability in immune responses elicited by vaccines in current portfolio, as well as any vaccine candidates in development, against BA.2, XBB.1.5, JN.1, KP.2, XEC, LP.8.1, LF.7.2  and potentially emerging variants;*
    Observational epidemiological data that demonstrate the efficacy or effectiveness of any vaccines in current portfolio, as well as any vaccine candidates in development, against BA.2, XBB.1.5, JN.1, KP.2, XEC, LP.8.1, LF.7.2 and potentially emerging variants.*

    + WHO website: https://www.who.int/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants   

    * Key emerging variants that evolve and considered relevant for demonstrating breadth include the list of Variants of Interest (VOI) and Variants Under Monitoring (VUM). This list is maintained on the WHO website: https://www.who.int/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants   

    References

    1. World Health Organization. Types of data requested to inform December 2024 COVID-19 vaccine antigen composition deliberations. 7 October 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/07-10-2024-types-of-data-requested-to-inform-december-2024-covid-19-vaccine-antigen-composition-deliberations
    2. World Health Organization. Interim statement on the composition of current COVID-19 vaccines. 17 June 2022. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/17-06-2022-interim-statement-on–the-composition-of-current-COVID-19-vaccines.
    3. World Health Organization. Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines. 18 May 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/18-05-2023-statement-on-the-antigen-composition-of-covid-19-vaccines.
    4. World Health Organization. Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines. 13 December 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/13-12-2023-statement-on-the-antigen-composition-of-covid-19-vaccines.
    5. World Health Organization. Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines. 26 April 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/26-04-2024-statement-on-the-antigen-composition-of-covid-19-vaccines.
    6. World Health Organization. Statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines. 23 December 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/23-12-2024-statement-on-the-antigen-composition-of-covid-19-vaccines

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Northern Ireland Open Judo Open is back at the Foyle Arena

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Northern Ireland Open Judo Open is back at the Foyle Arena

    25 March 2025

    An international field of judoka from across the UK and Europe will join the cream of local players when the Northern Ireland Judo Open returns to the Foyle Arena next month on Saturday 12th and Sunday April 13th.  
    The tournament, which has a new sponsor for 2025 in the form of SmartPayNI, will see hundreds of judoka descend on the Waterside venue.
    SmartPayNI deliver payment solutions to businesses and have added the capability to pay by card for those attending this year’s tournament.
    Excitement is building for the Open already and Steve Setterfield, Area Leisure Manager for Derry City and Strabane District Council said they were delighted to again host the prestigious event.
    “The team at the Foyle Arena are delighted to welcome the SmartPayNI Northern Ireland Open back in April 2025,” he said.
    “The event has been a resounding success since the centre opened back in 2015 and it now forms an important part of our events calendar.
    “We would like to wish all the competitors the very best of luck.
    “We’ll see you next month!”
    Russell Brown, Chairman for Northern Ireland Judo added: “There’s always a buzz around the Open, the fact that competitors are looking to qualify for further events, the homegrown talent testing their mettle against those across the water and the high level of competition always draws excitement.
    “It’s fantastic to welcome SmartPayNI to the team this year, and we’d like to thank them for their input and support for the event.”
    Marc McLaughlin, Sales Director from SmartPayNI said:
    “SmartPayNI are proud to be sponsoring partners of the Northern Ireland Judo Open we are always keen on supporting the growth of local sport.”
    The SmartPayNI Open is ready for entries, and you can find out more about the event here – https://www.nijudo.com/events/calendar
    To learn more out more about services at the Foyle Arena visit derrystrabaneleisure.com/foyle-arena email [email protected] or call 028 71 376555 and to find your nearest Judo club, log on to www.nijudo.com.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bruised Orange: A Tribute to John Prine Live at The Alley Theatre

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Bruised Orange: A Tribute to John Prine Live at The Alley Theatre

    25 March 2025

    The music of John Prine will be brought to life at the Alley Theatre in Strabane this Saturday night (29th March).

    Bruised Orange, named after one of Prine’s iconic songs, is set to deliver an unforgettable evening celebrating the music of one of folk and Americana’s most beloved singer-songwriters.

    John Prine, known for his unique blend of wit, wisdom, and storytelling, has left an indelible mark on the world of music. Bruised Orange captures the essence of Prine’s work, bringing his songs to life with the same raw emotion and craftsmanship that defined his career. From ‘Angel from Montgomery’ to ‘Sam Stone’, Bruised Orange will perform a collection of Prine’s most cherished songs,

    Bruised Orange brings together a talented group of musicians from Co Meath who share a deep admiration for Prine’s music, and their live performances are known for their warmth, sincerity, and sense of community. Whether you’re a long-time fan of John Prine or discovering his music for the first time, Saturday night at the Alley promises to be full of unforgettable moments.

    Tickets are £20 available from the Alley Theatre website: www.alley-theatre.com or call the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 71 384444

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool residents invited to a day of wellbeing and community support

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Residents in a Liverpool community are coming together for an inspiring event designed to promote well-being, reduce social isolation and connect people with local services.

    The event will take place at Wavertree Aquatics Centre on Wednesday, 26th March 2025, from 10 – 3pm.

    With more than 16 organisations participating, including Age Concern, LCC Adult Services, Primary Care Network, House of Memories Bus, Love Wavertree, Riverside Housing, and many more, people who come along will have access to:

    • free blood pressure checks
    • housing advice
    • benefits support

    The meeting will also provide residents with connections to local services that tackle issues such as social isolation, dementia, and mental health challenges.

    These services aim to improve wellbeing, and ensure that everyone in the community has access to the support they need.

    Residents can also take part in interactive activities that will bring people closer, including shared reading sessions with The Reader, pickleball, and cardio tennis at Wavertree Tennis Centre.

    The event is a collaboration between the City Council and local organisations, all working together to strengthen community support networks and ensure residents have access to vital services.

    Cllr Laura Robertson-Collins, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene, said: “This event is more than just services. It’s about people, connection, and belonging.

    “We want to ensure that everyone in Wavertree feels supported and empowered, and we invite all residents to come along, meet new people, and find out what’s available to them.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The role of competition in promoting growth and innovation in the UK

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    The role of competition in promoting growth and innovation in the UK

    A speech by Jessica Lennard, CMA Chief Strategy & External Affairs Officer

    Good morning

    I’m Jessica Lennard and I’m the Chief Strategy Officer at the UK Competition and Markets Authority.

    Normally, I’d start with who we are… And I’ll come to that.

    But let me reframe things for a moment and start with who you are… And thanks to HSBC and Atomico for many of the insights I’m about to draw on.

    You are part of a European tech industry which contributes over 1.5 trillion Euros – or more than 8% – to European economic output.

    With a tenfold increase in venture capital… and a 24% compound annual growth rate in tech talent since 2015 – you are… quite simply… the growth champions of European industry.

    And for those of you based in the UK… You’re part of a tech sector that’s grown by 20% since 2023… and is now worth $1.2 trillion in enterprise value.

    You are the driving force behind the largest innovation economy in Europe… and the third globally… behind only the US and China.

    Maybe you’re even one of the 181 unicorns valued at over a billion dollars[1]…

    And if you’re in AI… you’re driving a wave of innovation worth up to 47 billion pounds in potential productivity gains for the UK, each year, over a decade. [2]

    You are of critical national importance to our future prosperity. And I know you’re nowhere near done yet…

    But… I can see some of you waiting for the ‘but’…

    Of course, I know there are major challenges ahead if this sector is going to become truly, globally competitive… in the way we aspire for it to be.

    I know success depends on multiple factors…. I’ve heard these many times, from start-ups, investors, industry bodies – including those on the CMA’s own Growth and Investment Council.  

    To name just a few, and these will all be familiar…

    We need to attract and retain world-leading talent… We need to tackle the growth stage funding gap with the US… We need critical infrastructure and utilities that can keep up with demand.

    And we need a regulatory environment that inspires business and investor confidence.

    Which brings me back to who we are… and more importantly… how we can help you fulfil your extraordinary potential.

    It brings me to the role of competition… and the CMA, as the UK’s primary competition and consumer protection authority.

    My own background is largely private sector… I’ve worked for, and advised… start-ups, scale-ups and some of the world’s largest firms across a range of sectors… from clean tech and telecoms… to digital payments, data and AI.

    And I can tell you honestly that what drew me to the CMA was the knowledge of what really brought out the best in these diverse businesses… what really made them hustle, innovate, stretch every sinew to succeed… was the power of competition.

    So… we can’t solve all of the problems I’ve just listed… And I know there are more besides.

    But there are a number of things we can do:

    We can make markets work better… through studies or investigations which lead to greater opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors… as well as improved price, choice and quality for consumers.

    We can keep markets open and competitive for all players… by investigating the small number of mergers each year that have the potential to lead to a substantial lessening of competition.

    We can protect the level-playing field and bring down barriers to entry through competition enforcement… giving you the confidence that your competitors can’t gain an unfair advantage by breaking the law.

    We can boost consumer confidence, spurring spending and adoption of new products and services across the economy… through robust enforcement of consumer protection.

    And, as of January this year, we can promote competition in digital markets… under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act… I’ll come on to this in more detail in a moment.

    Now, we talk about these powers… these ‘tools’ we have. But it’s the outcomes that matter… Lower prices… more choice, quality… diversity and security of supply… innovation, productivity… investment, economic dynamism.

    These are the foundations of growth.

    Not only that… but healthy competition also helps ensure the benefits of that growth are diffused across the whole UK economy, over both the short and long-term….

    That’s fundamental to achieving long-term prosperity for everyone in the UK… That’s our job.

    And, over the last decade… it’s delivered more than £20 billion of direct financial benefits for UK consumers.

    Which brings me something of a live debate here in the UK… Is driving economic growth really the job of regulators…? Shouldn’t a competition and consumer protection authority be focused on… well… competition and consumers?

    Our view is that of course it’s part of our role… The CMA can absolutely support an environment that’s strongly conducive to growth and investment… while upholding our fundamental responsibilities to promote competition and protect consumers.

     In fact… the link between competition and growth is well-established… and consumer confidence is, of course, the fuel that powers a thriving economy.   

    This’s not just a dry economic argument… As I say, we’re in the business of outcomes… So let me give you just a few examples particularly relevant to your sector.

    Our retail banking market investigation… paved the way for the UK’s Open Banking revolution, with startups and challenger fintechs… some of you, probably… powering a host of new services now used by over 70% of UK consumers… and worth over £4 billion to the UK economy annually.

    We recently investigated the conduct of a software company… supplying a critical management information system to schools…. We saw evidence of those schools being locked into longer-term contracts… when other cloud-based services offered by challengers and competitors were becoming particularly attractive. 

    As a result of our intervention… the company legally committed to give certain schools the choice to switch… And a considerable number of them now have. Many such cases, by the way… rely on us receiving intelligence from parties who see that the market’s not working as it should… and our door is always open.

    Some of you may remember the proposed merger of Experian and Clearscore which the CMA found could stifle product development and negatively impact consumers… The merger was abandoned and Clearscore returned to plan A… to grow as an independent, UK-based business.

    Since then, it hasn’t just grown… it’s doubled-down on innovation and new offerings… and now serves over 21 million users on four continents… Oh, and their CEO has joined the CMA Board.

    I don’t need to tell this audience… how critical… access to online platforms is for your businesses… In 2023, the CMA secured commitments from Amazon… to help third-party Marketplace sellers compete on a level-playing field… and from Meta… to prevent the misuse of data… through Facebook Marketplace, that could create unfair advantages.

    Millions of UK businesses now have a fair chance of being featured in the ‘Buy Box’… are subject to fewer tie-ins around logistics… and enjoy greater protections for their valuable user data.

    Lastly and most recently… for those of you in e-commerce… or on platforms relying on user-generated content…. Earlier this year, following a CMA investigation… Google committed to enhanced processes to tackle fake reviews… and to properly sanction reviewers and businesses who take part in this activity.

    With as much as £23 billion of UK consumer spending potentially influenced by online reviews each year… we simply can’t afford as a country for consumers and fair-dealing businesses… especially startups trying to build trustworthy brands…. to lose out to these unfair practices.

    And new powers under the DMCCA… mean we can also now take more direct action in this area.

    Before I move on… it’s worth noting for those of you less familiar with the CMA that although we’re part of government, our decisions are made independently.

    The fundamentals of what we do… promoting competition, protecting consumers… are core to our mandate from Parliament… And we also have a helpful frame from government, called a ‘strategic steer’… which guides our prioritisation as well as how we work.

    And… very much as I’ve just illustrated with these cases… the new draft steer from the incoming government…. highlights the importance of the CMA independently enforcing strong competition and consumer protection… whilst rooting our work squarely in the context of the contribution it can make to the government’s number one priority of economic growth.

    So, I’ve talked about you… I’ve talked about us… and some of the ways we can help…

    I want to spend some time in a moment talking about two areas I think will be of particular interest to this audience – mergers and digital markets.

    But before I do… I want to give you some important context about where we are as an organisation… and where we’re going.

    So far, I’ve talked about the ‘what’… What the CMA does, what value can we bring… But we know the ‘how’ is equally important.

    I think it’s fair to say that over the years the CMA gained a reputation for being something of an ivory tower… Not always easy to engage with… perhaps even somewhat daunting to deal with…. Some of you here may have direct experience of this.  

    But in this challenging economic environment, with companies experiencing this degree of uncertainty and volatility…

    … and with such a clear need to drive investment into our economy…

    … so we can rebuild critical services and infrastructure, so we can achieve that prosperity I talked about…

    … well, in that environment, it’s not just what we do that matters.

    How we go about things, even just perceptions of how we operate… that matters too. It matters to business and investor confidence… and to the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for capital… and a great place to start or grow a business.  

    That’s why we’ve spent a lot of time over the last 6 months talking directly to businesses and investors (…domestic and international), as well as leading trade bodies.

    We heard that four aspects of how we carry out our work really matter…

    Pace (so, streamlining our approach to reach sound outcomes as fast as possible);

    Predictability (so, being as clear as we can, to minimise uncertainty);

    Proportionality (meaning what we prioritise… how we address any concerns we find… and minimising burden on businesses throughout);

    And Process (which really means direct engagement with businesses)

    We’ve been working concertedly this year… to deliver carefully considered, meaningful changes based on these 4Ps.

    We started with merger control… where we had the most direct feedback from stakeholders… and we know this is particularly important to business and investor confidence.

    We’ve now launched a package of substantial reforms including:

    New KPIs for considerably shorter end-to-end merger reviews…

    A consultation on our approach to merger remedies… looking both at the efficiency and pace of our process… and how we strike the right balance between different types of remedies…

    New guidance… to clarify how we’ll apply the tests we use to decide whether we have jurisdiction to investigate a deal or not…

    UK law is actually unusually broad in this respect… and the government has now announced a consultation on refining those tests to give legislative backing to our evolving approach…

    A targeted outreach series to break down barriers to direct engagement… both in and outside of investigations… including more senior meetings early in the process… and deeper relationships with startups and investors…

    And finally… a Mergers Charter, which brings all of this together… and lays out really clearly what businesses should expect from a CMA merger review… and what we expect from them and their advisors in return ….

    Now, I mentioned the importance of perceptions.

    In reality, the vast majority of mergers raise no competition concerns… many can enhance investment, innovation and business dynamism…. That’s why… out of the 50,000 or so deals announced each year… the CMA usually prohibits 1 or 2.

    That number hasn’t changed much over recent years… even after Brexit… when we took on new powers for UK merger control from the European Commission…. We also recently raised de minimis thresholds from £15m to £30m… focusing on deals that truly require our attention.

    Our 2024 stats show that we formally investigated 38 mergers… 6 went to Phase 2… 1 was abandoned… 1 was prohibited.

    But that’s almost beside the point… if perceptions of our approach… and the real-life experiences of companies going through these processes… are undermining confidence.

    So, I want to be absolutely clear about three things:

    Firstly, that the CMA fully appreciates the importance of viable exit routes for startups, as well as routes to scaling organically…. And with half the enterprise value of the UK tech sector concentrated in pre-exit companies… we know how important this is for growth.

    Secondly, every deal that is capable of being cleared either unconditionally, or with effective remedies, should be… Only a truly problematic merger… where the harm to UK businesses and consumers can’t be effectively addressed through remedies… should not proceed.

    Thirdly, every business in a CMA merger process deserves to feel listened to by us… to understand what we are doing and why… and to recognise a sense of fairness and consistent treatment.

    I’m going to say this again… we will always uphold our duty to promote competition and protect UK consumers. That’s not going to change…. And if any of your advisors suggest now’s a good time to push through a bad merger, with weak remedies… I’m afraid you probably want to seek advice elsewhere.

    That said… I am confident that… implementing the changes I’ve outlined, we can uphold those responsibilities whilst also fostering a business environment that maximises growth, investment and business confidence.

    Beyond mergers… we’re making real progress on applying the 4Ps… pace, proportionality, predictability and process… to other areas of CMA work….

    Before I explain how we’re doing this in digital markets… some background may be helpful on the new digital markets competition regime… that came into force in January this year… and why we believe it’s going to unlock a new era of innovation and investment across the UK tech ecosystem.

    Procedurally, the regime enables the CMA to assess… over a 9-month investigation… whether a particular firm has strategic market status (‘SMS’) in respect of a particular digital activity…. It’s carefully designed to apply only to the very largest firms… with clear conditions related to turnover, market power, and strategic significance.

    And, rather than imposing blanket rules across all companies… if a firm is designated with SMS… the CMA can take a very tailored, very bespoke approach to identifying and addressing specific harms.

    In practice, this could mean… for UK businesses, more interoperability… greater access to data and functionality… and fair terms of access to platforms or marketplaces… so UK businesses aren’t overpaying, having to share valuable data… or restricted from making certain improvements to their offering.

    And for UK consumers… it could mean lower prices, more choice, easier switching… and protection from exploitation or misleading practices.  

    Far from tying up the sector in red tape, this is all designed to open up opportunities across the ecosystem… Opportunities for continued investment and innovation by the very largest firms…

    Opportunities to unlock a new wave of growth… by creating a level playing field for start-ups and scale-ups to succeed (many UK-based) …

    And opportunities to strengthen consumer confidence in these fast-evolving products and services.  

    So in January… we launched our first SMS investigations in relation to Google’s position in search… and search advertising services… and Apple’s and Google’s positions in their respective ‘mobile ecosystems’. Both of those conclude in October 2025.

    Coming back to the 4Ps… the potential for heavy-handed regulation to hamper innovation and growth is particularly high in fast-moving, technology-led sectors…. So once again, it’s not just the ‘what’ but also the ‘how’ which matters.

    And the design of the digital markets regime already reflects many aspects of the 4Ps.

    Tight statutory time limits… and a broad duty of expedition… bake in pace… and now we’re going further, by committing to streamline our approach to investigations… Still rigorous… but drilling down on potential concerns as fast as possible.

    Interventions are designed in an iterative, open way… providing all-important predictability… and now we’re going further, by committing to publish roadmaps of potential future interventions when we consult on a proposed designation decision.

    And the process itself is uniquely participative… based on deep, ongoing, constructive engagement with SMS firms and other stakeholders… We’re going further here too, with a pro-active ‘go to you’ approach to business engagement… including with startups and scaleups… and a commitment to taking this outside the tech sector to the UK businesses which rely on these markets.  

    Finally, proportionality… Unlike some other jurisdictions, there’s no automatic designation or regulatory requirements…. It’s highly tailored, highly flexible… We’re building on those foundations now… by laying out explicitly the prioritisation approach underpinning our choices about where and how to intervene.

    We’ve applied our own CMA prioritisation principles… impact… strategic significance… whether we’re best placed to act… as well as consideration of risk levels and resources… And we’ve reflected key parts of the government’s draft strategic steer… for example, taking into account the interplay with other regulators (domestically and internationally) when considering whether to act ourselves.

    I’ll close… by giving you a flavour of what’s to come from the CMA in the year ahead beyond everything I’ve talked about so far…. We’ll be publishing our Annual Plan very shortly… and I hope much of what we propose will be of interest and value to this audience.

    As you’d expect, the plan reflects our strong commitment to competition and consumer protection… along with a sharp focus on how we can use our powers – and evolve the way we work – to drive growth and investment, as well as business and consumer confidence.

    More specifically…

    We’ll look for opportunities through our markets work… to unlock investment in critical infrastructure… and to identify areas where key horizontal enablers (like access to data or technology adoption) can have a multiplier effect on growth.

    We’ll support the government’s industrial strategy… looking across the priority sectors to where effective competition could spur innovation or investment… or address anti-competitive practices which hold them back….

    Part of that… by the way… may be facilitating companies collaborating to advance nationally important goals (skills, for example)… as we’ve done previously around environmental sustainability and cutting-edge cancer therapies.

    We’ll deploy our deep anti-bid rigging expertise and AI capabilities… to help government identify and tackle bid rigging in public procurement, potentially opening up enormous opportunities for challengers… and saving taxpayers billions of pounds.

    We’ll support delivery of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan… looking for ways competition can spur the progress of a thriving UK AI ecosystem.

    We’ll continue working with the FCA, ICO, and Ofcom… as member of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum… to enhance the clarity and coherence of digital regulation… as well as providing streamlined access to regulatory advice and support… through initiatives like our AI and Digital Hub.

    And we’ll work closely with our new CMA Growth and Investment Council… That includes CEOs and Chairs of twelve leading representative bodies across the UK economy… including the likes of Tech UK… the Scale-Up Institute… and the Start-Up Coalition.

    If there’s one message I want to leave you with today – to take to your boardrooms and pipeline meetings… into your risk committees and advisor discussions… it’s this:

    Our north star is a regulatory environment which maximises growth and investment to the greatest extent possible… while staying true to our mandate to promote competition and protect consumers…. So the confidence you have in the UK competition regime and in the CMA matters.

    That’s why we’re listening and engaging more than ever before… and we’ll keep doing that… We’ll keep going with our 4Ps… And we’ll keep delivering those fundamentals… which underpin growth and long-term prosperity for the benefit of all UK businesses and consumers.

    [1] All stats from HSBC Innovation Banking and Dealroom

    [2] Uk Government AI Opportunities Action Plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-sets-out-blueprint-to-turbocharge-ai

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Beam Global Enters Middle Eastern Market Through Partnership with Solvana

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation and energy security, today announced its strategic partnership with Solvana, a subsidiary of Greentech LLC, to expand Beam Global’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This partnership supports the region’s growing need for specialized renewable energy, storage, and water treatment solutions, with a focus on electrifying transportation and enhancing energy security.

    Solvana and Beam Global are currently working together to deliver the first BeamWell™ products into Jordan where they are intended to provide lifesaving assistance in Gaza. The BeamWell™ product generates solar-powered electricity for cooking and refrigeration; provides clean drinking water through an integrated desalination plant; and comes equipped with four highly ruggedized Benzina Zero Duo electric mopeds which will provide e-mobility for the delivery of food, water and medical supplies to people in need in the region.

    Solvana was established to meet the urgent regional demand for sustainable solutions, especially in response to crisis situations. Solvana’s vision is to become a leader in the MENA region for specialized solar-powered systems, including EV charging, water treatment, and other critical infrastructure. In addition to providing crisis response solutions, Solvana targets growth markets such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Algeria with specialized solar-powered and EV charging products.

    Dr. Wissam Rabadi, former Minister of Jordan’s Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and Dr. Basim Saleh, CEO of Greentech LLC, lead Solvana. Their expertise and deep regional connections position Solvana as a pivotal partner for Beam Global’s entry into MENA markets.

    “We are honored to partner with Solvana and work alongside leaders like Dr. Wissam Rabadi and Dr. Basim Saleh,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “The MENA region is experiencing significant growth in electrification, and we see a profound opportunity to grow Beam Global’s business in this region both through our lifesaving product, BeamWell™, and through the deployment of our portfolio of renewably energized products and smart cities solutions.”

    The MENA region is set to attract one trillion dollars of renewable energy investments by 2030 according to ZAWYA by the London Stock Exchange Group. The electric vehicle market in the Middle East and Africa is set for substantial growth. The region’s EV sector is projected to reach approximately $52.24 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.7% from 2025 to 2030, driven by increasing government initiatives, sustainability goals, and rising consumer demand for clean transportation options.

    “Beam Global has a portfolio of products which are ideally suited to solve infrastructure challenges in our region,” said Dr. Basim Saleh, CEO of Solvana. “After almost 20 years of involvement in government and energy projects, our relationships span leadership across the region. We look forward to bringing Beam Global’s value to our existing and new relationships, and to providing robust and scalable solutions for the electrification of transportation, energy security, and smart cities solutions. Our first combined engagement, bringing BeamWell™ to the civilian population of Gaza, provides an excellent example of the profound change that these new technologies can deliver. We believe our timing is excellent, and we are delighted to sign this agreement with Beam Global.”

    Through this partnership, Beam Global and Solvana aim to take advantage of investment in off-grid infrastructure and the EV market across the MENA region. Beam Global’s solutions, proven successful in the U.S. and internationally, can be rapidly deployed to enhance energy security, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and meet the unique needs of communities throughout the region.

    This strategic collaboration marks a significant step in Beam Global’s mission to grow its global presence in markets that constitute significant opportunities for growth.

    About Beam Global
    Beam Global is a clean technology innovator which develops and manufactures sustainable infrastructure products and technologies. We operate at the nexus of clean energy and transportation with a focus on sustainable energy infrastructure, rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, safe energy storage and vital energy security. With operations in the U.S. and Europe, Beam Global develops, patents, designs, engineers and manufactures unique and advanced clean technology solutions that power transportation, provide secure sources of electricity, save time and money and protect the environment. Beam Global is headquartered in San Diego, CA with facilities in Chicago, IL and Belgrade and Kraljevo, Serbia. Beam Global is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol BEEM. For more information visit BeamForAll.com, LinkedIn, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).

    About Solvana
    Solvana is a subsidiary of Greentech LLC, which was established to focus on providing specialized energy and water solutions for the MENA region, with a focus on humanitarian and innovative solutions for emerging industries. Established in 2008, Greentech LLC is a leading water-energy-food-environment nexus project developer and service provider. Greentech focuses on identifying synergies between renewable energy solutions, efficient water use, smart agriculture, and the importance of mitigation and adaptation to the survival of our species.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This Beam Global Press Release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements in this Press Release other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as “estimate,” “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “plan,” “intend,” “seek,” “goal,” “will,” “should,” “may,” or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or results. These statements relate to future events or future results of operations. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause Beam Global’s actual results to be materially different from these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, Beam Global expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

    Media Contact
    Andy Lovsted
    +1-858-335-8465
    Press@BeamForAll.com

    Investor Relations
    Luke Higgins
    +1-858-799-4583
    IR@BeamForAll.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Quavo Fraud & Disputes Publishes Consumer Research Revealing How Fraud Resolution Shapes Customer Loyalty

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quavo Fraud & Disputes, a trusted advisor and technology partner in dispute management solutions, today unveiled original research results highlighting the critical link between fraud resolution and customer trust in banking.

    Quavo’s Q4 2024 Consumer Survey collected feedback from 1000 recent victims of credit card fraud to assess their experience and understand what factors had the greatest impact on trust and brand loyalty. Fraud is, undeniably, a negative experience for any customer. The findings reveal a startling truth: a financial institution’s (FI) response to fraud has a greater impact on customer trust and loyalty than the fraud event itself.

    A well-executed fraud and dispute resolution process serves as a loyalty litmus test, revealing the true strength of the customer relationship. Customers who feel valued, supported, and fairly treated are far more likely to remain loyal, even in the face of adversity. 

    Key Discoveries for FIs:  

    • Fraud resolution affects trust more than fraud itself: 62% of respondents said how their bank handles fraud has a greater impact on trust than the fraud incident itself.
    • Speed is critical to maintaining trust: 71% of customers would lose trust in their bank if fraud resolution takes too long, and 66% would consider switching banks due to a slow, frustrating process.
    • Fraud response is a loyalty driver: 73% of consumers say fraud resolution directly influences their loyalty, making it a competitive differentiator.
    • Transparency builds confidence: 74% of customers rated their bank positively for clearly explaining fraud investigations, reinforcing the importance of proactive communication.
    • Fraud resolution has a ripple effect on other services: 70% of respondents said their trust in other banking services is shaped by how fraud disputes are handled.

    “Trust is a bank’s most valuable asset, and fraud resolution is a defining moment in the customer relationship,” said Joseph McLean, Quavo’s CEO & Co-Founder. “Our research proves that a seamless, transparent, and timely fraud resolution process isn’t just about compliance; it’s about building trust that strengthens long-term customer relationships.”

    With consumer trust increasingly tied to fraud resolution, banks and credit unions that prioritize speed, transparency, and efficiency can transform fraud challenges into a business growth strategy.

    To explore the full report and learn how Quavo is helping financial institutions redefine trust in banking, visit www.quavo.com.

    About Quavo, Inc.

    Quavo is a leading technology partner and strategic advisor, helping financial institutions (FIs) build trust-driven customer relationships through faster, more transparent dispute resolutions. Our mission is to restore financial trust by simplifying fraud and disputes. Quavo’s award-winning technology automates the entire dispute lifecycle, from intake to resolution. FIs can pair this end-to-end solution with our expert-led back-office investigation team in one turnkey managed service. Scalable for institutions of all sizes, Quavo’s solutions reduce losses, ensure compliance, and enhance customer loyalty. Learn more at www.quavo.com.

    Media Contact:
    Julia Lum
    Marketing Communications Specialist
    Julia.Lum@quavo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Certiverse Secures Series A Funding to Expand Access to Certification Programs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Certiverse, the AI-powered certification platform transforming exam development and delivery, has raised an oversubscribed $11 million Series A round led by Cherryrock Capital, with increased participation from existing investors Chingona Ventures, Hyde Park Venture Partners, Angeles Ventures, Hunt Holdings and Zeal Capital Partners. The round saw strong insider demand, with key investors doubling down on Certiverse’s momentum and market traction. This investment will enable Certiverse to scale its innovative platform, making certification programs more accessible to organizations of any size and across all industries.

    While the workforce shifts toward skills-based hiring, the demand for alternative credentials has grown exponentially with professionals and employers seeking faster, more accessible certification pathways. As noted in a 2024 study by the IDC, 80% of Global 2000 organizations will mitigate technical skills shortages using certifications and IT training by 2027. Certiverse’s platform enables companies and industry leaders to create new exams in weeks at a fraction of the legacy cost, ensuring that both businesses and job seekers can keep pace with evolving industry needs. By providing an efficient, affordable, and scalable solution, the company empowers individuals who are upskilling, transitioning careers, or building a portfolio of competencies outside of the traditional four-year degree model.

    “Certification has the power to change lives, and we’re dedicated to removing the barriers that have historically made launching and earning credentials difficult,” said Ruben Arturo Garcia, CEO and co-founder of Certiverse. “With this funding, we will accelerate our growth and continue to support the increasing number of people seeking flexible, verifiable ways to demonstrate their skills and knowledge and advance their careers.”

    Garcia previously co-founded and successfully exited the mobile test delivery solution Innovative Exams. Under his leadership, Certiverse has pioneered an AI-enhanced, fully online, asynchronous exam development and delivery platform, significantly reducing time-to-market and cost for new certifications.

    A former Innovative Exams client, The Linux Foundation was one of the first visionary organizations to launch an exam with Certiverse.

    “It’s said that between better, faster, and cheaper, you can only pick two, but Certiverse enabled us to have it all,” said Clyde Seepersad, The Linux Foundation’s Senior Vice President & General Manager, Education.

    “Certiverse is solving a massive pain point in an industry that’s been slow to innovate,” said Cherryrock Capital Partner Adrianna Samaniego. “Their platform is proving that certification doesn’t have to take years or cost millions. We saw that top NASDAQ publicly traded companies and professional certification programs are already trusting Certiverse to scale credentialing faster than ever before. We’re excited to partner with Ruben and the team as they continue to revolutionize the certification model.”

    By streamlining and modernizing the certification process, Certiverse is positioned to meet the growing demand for skills-based assessments in IT, allied health, finance, AI, vocational trades, and beyond. This latest funding round marks a significant milestone in the company’s expansion, ensuring that organizations and learners alike can access the credentials they need to succeed in an evolving job market.

    For more information about Certiverse and its innovative certification platform, visit Certiverse.com.

    ABOUT CERTIVERSE
    Certiverse is a leading exam development and delivery platform that leverages advanced technology to transform the way exams are created and administered. With its powerful features and robust security measures, Certiverse enables organizations and educational institutions to streamline the exam process and deliver an exceptional experience to test creators and test-takers, empowering high-quality exams to go from concept to candidate in weeks, not months.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lower Thames Crossing development consent decision announced

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Lower Thames Crossing development consent decision announced

    The Lower Thames Crossing application has today been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport.

    Lower Thames Crossing

    The Lower Thames Crossing will be a new road crossing connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex. Approximately 14.5 miles (23km) in length, it will connect to the existing road network from the A2/M2 to the M25 with two tunnels (one southbound and one northbound) running beneath the River Thames.  

    The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by National Highways on 31 October 2022 and accepted for Examination on 28 November 2022.  

    Following an Examination during which the public, Statutory Consultees and Interested Parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 20 March 2024.   

    This is the 56th transport application out of 151 applications examined to date and was again completed by the Planning Inspectorate within the statutory timescale laid down in the Planning Act 2008.   

    Local communities continue to be given the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other Interested Parties were able to participate in this six-month Examination.   

    The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the Examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State.  

    The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State for Transport and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.  

    Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or email:   

    Press.office@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: With the support of Rosneft, an inclusive sports festival was held in Krasnoyarsk

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The multi-sport inclusive festival for children and teenagers with disabilities “Games on the Yenisei” was organized in Krasnoyarsk by the public organization “Open Hearts” with the financial support of NK Rosneft.

    The tournament program combined traditional and innovative digital disciplines adapted for different levels of training. More than one hundred athletes from seven regions of the country competed in four sports: sledge hockey (the Paralympic version of classic hockey), alpine skiing, eSports and phygital sports. In addition, the festival included a GTO platform, where each participant could try their hand at passing standards for endurance, coordination and agility.

    An important step in the development of adaptive disciplines was the presentation of a new VR application for training and training in sledge hockey. The application interface is adapted to the individual needs of sledge hockey players: with the help of VR glasses and specialized controllers, athletes with disabilities can improve their skills in a virtual environment, improving their preparation for real games.

    RN-Vankor actively supports the development of adaptive sports in the region. With the support of oil workers, the sledge hockey team “Red Lightning” trains, and its members are already demonstrating success.

    Sports development is one of the significant areas of Rosneft’s social policy. The company supports amateur sports and carries out large-scale work to popularize a healthy lifestyle among both its employees and the population in the regions where it operates. Rosneft also finances the construction of ice arenas, sports complexes, and multifunctional sports grounds in the regions where it operates.

    Reference:

    RN-Vankor LLC, a subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company, is the operator of the Vostok Oil project. It includes the Vankor cluster fields (Vankorskoye, Suzunskoye, Tagulskoye and Lodochnoye), as well as the Payakhsky cluster, located in the north of Krasnoyarsk Krai.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 25, 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: WOO Staking revamped to deliver real yield

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WOO X, a leading global crypto trading platform,  has introduced My WOO, a new system that offers fee discounts and perks based on total WOO token holdings, just by holding or staking the token. 

    Ben Yorke, VP of Ecosystem at WOO, announced the update, which includes a revamped WOO Staking model that replaces inflationary rewards with real yield from trading fees.

    Key changes:

    • No inflationary staking yields – Rewards come from trading fees on WOO X and WOOFi.
    • Hold or stake – Perks are based on total daily average WOO holdings across Spot, Vault, Yield Farming, and Staking.
    • No 7-day lockups – 0% fee for standard unstaking, with funds available in 24 hours.
    • Hassle-free staking: WOO X will manage the logistics of staking onchain and auto-compounding USDC yields into more WOO with daily automated buybacks.

    “With 86% of WOO’s supply already in circulation and all fundraising vesting completed, WOO is shifting focus to sustainable revenue growth,” Yorke said adding that in Q1, WOO Staking has generated $1,035,565 in USDC rewards, auto-compounded 6.4M WOO, and burned 5.3M WOO. 

    Yorke said staked WOO tokens are to reach 17% of the total supply this year. He also said that WOO will announce incentive campaigns for loyal users and a roadmap report in early April, outlining WOO’s AI-powered trading platform.

    To learn more about WOO X, download our app or visit our website at: woox.io 

    Contact: media@woo.network 

    About WOO X

    WOO X is a global centralized crypto futures and spot trading platform offering the best-in-class liquidity and price execution. WOO X has achieved a daily volume exceeding $1.6 billion and is home to hundreds of thousands of traders worldwide. WOO X traders benefit from radical transparency through our industry-first live Proof of Reserves & liabilities dashboard and the company’s mission to maintain the trust of its growing community of traders.

    Disclaimer

    The content above is neither a recommendation for investment and trading strategies nor does it constitute an investment offer, solicitation, or recommendation of any product or service. The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only, does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or professional advice of any kind, and does not bind WOO in any way.

    Cryptocurrencies and similar instruments, including any products linked to such instruments, including without limitation leveraged or derivatives products thereof (“Products”), involve significant risk and are NOT suitable for the majority of investors. The value of such Products can be extremely volatile, and you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite before participating in any staking or investment activities in connection with such Products. We strongly recommend that you seek independent advice from a qualified professional before making any investment or financial decisions related to the Products. We shall in NO case be liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this content.  By reading this content, you attest that you are fully aware that the trading of the Products may not be suitable for the general retail public and that you are an informed and qualified investor, and are also fully cognisant of all technological and financial risk(s) associated with trading such Products.

    We strongly recommend that you seek independent advice from a qualified professional before making any investment or financial decisions related to cryptocurrencies or staking. We shall in NO case be liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: New wave of violence in Ituri DRC further risks civilian lives

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    • People in Ituri province, northeastern DRC, are living amidst horrific violence, widespread displacement and a lack of aid.

    • Amid the violence, people in Ituri experience difficulties in accessing healthcare, but also our teams in providing it.

    • MSF calls on all state and non-state armed groups in Ituri to spare civilians, as well as healthcare facilities.

    KINSHASA – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has witnessed a renewed spike in atrocities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Ituri province, where our medical teams are providing care for civilians with horrific injuries. In a new report released today, Risking Their Lives to Survive, MSF underscores the extreme needs of many communities endangered by recent attacks, increased displacement, and reduced humanitarian aid.

    Risking their lives to survive pdf — 12.31 MB Download

    For decades, people in Ituri – in the northeast of DRC – have been both direct targets and treated as collateral damage in a complex conflict characterised by violence, ethnic divisions, and the participation of various armed groups. This conflict has also greatly hampered access to healthcare and the means for families to feed themselves, while the restricted provision of humanitarian aid has caused further suffering among a community that already gets little international attention.

    MSF calls on all state and non-state armed groups in Ituri to spare civilians, as well as healthcare facilities, which are sanctuaries essential to the survival of local communities.

    Violence in Ituri has displaced around 100,000 people since the beginning of the year, according to the UN. In January and February alone, it also reported an intensification of violence against civilians, with attacks leaving more than 200 people dead and dozens injured. In February, MSF’s medical teams treated children as young as four and pregnant women for machete and gunshot wounds, following militia attacks in Djugu territory.

    “These most recent attacks follow decades of violence and its devastating consequences for civilians, including women and children in Ituri,” said Alira Halidou, MSF head of mission in DRC. “The crisis here is characterised by repeated displacement, in which violence forces civilians to pick up and start their lives over, again and again. What is worse, is that the stories patients and communities tell us represent only the tip of the iceberg.” 

    Hindering access to healthcare

    Only a small proportion of people can access healthcare in Ituri, where health facilities also fall prey to attacks. In Djugu territory, the Fataki general hospital was obliged to suspend its activities and evacuate patients in mid-March following armed group threats. This closure affects thousands of people, left without access to medical care. 

    In Drodro health zone, also in Djugu, nearly 50 per cent of healthcare centres have been partially or fully destroyed and have had to be relocated. When violence escalated this time last year, a patient was killed in her bed in an armed attack on Drodro’s general hospital. 

    Not only do these attacks make patients reluctant to go to medical facilities, but they also put medical staff at risk. One doctor interviewed for the report recounted how, when a health centre was forced to shut down for two months, he still went in to perform caesarean sections.

    “It was dangerous, and I was risking my life, but we didn’t have a choice,” said the doctor. “We had to sneak there with the women, otherwise they would have died.” 

    Targeting the most vulnerable

    More than half of the 39 victims of violence MSF treated at Salama clinic, Bunia, up until mid-March 2025 were women and children. One mother, whose four-year-old child was injured, lost her 6-month-old baby and her husband during an attack wielded by machete. Two sisters aged four and 16 took machete blows to the head and arms, and their mother (eight months’ pregnant) was also severely injured by multiple machete wounds. We treated a nine-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, who had witnessed assailants attack and kill his mother and two siblings by machete.

    When civilians seek refuge in displacement camps, they are still not safe. In one instance in September 2024, our teams treated five civilians with bullet wounds following an attack on Plaine Savo camp, in Fataki health zone.

    When there is an upsurge in attacks against civilians, the number of victims of sexual violence coming to MSF facilities also increases. Women in particular face attack, as they go out in search of means to feed themselves and their families. In Drodro, in 2023 and 2024, around 84 per cent of the victims of sexual violence treated by MSF were attacked while working in fields, collecting firewood, or on the road.

    Exacerbating unmet needs

    Despite the efforts of the Ministry of Health, MSF, and other humanitarian organisations, people’s needs very much exceed the resources available. Food insecurity worsened sharply in Ituri in 2024 and is now chronic for 43 per cent of people. Poor hygiene conditions and dilapidated shelters in displacement camps mean that diarrhoeal and respiratory diseases spread easily, affecting children under five the most.

    People in Ituri must be guaranteed safe access to healthcare and must not be forced to risk their lives in search of food and other needs. 
     

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Hubei promotes development of humanoid robot industry

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

    China’s Hubei promotes development of humanoid robot industry

    Updated: March 25, 2025 17:01 Xinhua
    Humanoid robots show up at a conference on promoting the rise of China’s central region in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2025. In recent years, Hubei Province has strengthened the introduction and training of scientific and technological innovation subjects and promoted the development of humanoid robot industry. Relying on strong scientific research capacity and industrial foundation, Hubei Province has organized many universities, research institutes and enterprises in the province to carry out scientific research of humanoid robots and explore the application scenarios. At present, the humanoid robot industry in Hubei Province has gathered a number of key enterprises. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A humanoid robot demonstrates obstacle passing skills at a conference on promoting the rise of China’s central region in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 5, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A R&D team member debugs a humanoid robot at the Learning Algorithms & Soft Manipulation Lab of Wuhan University in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, March 19, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of the R&D team of Wuhan Glory Road Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. debug a humanoid robot at the company in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Members of the R&D team of Wuhan Glory Road Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. debug humanoid robots at the company in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A R&D team member debugs the motor nerve center system of a humanoid robot at HexaCercle, a science and technology company in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, March 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £3.4 million funding awarded to city council to improve energy efficiency of council homes

    Source: City of Winchester

    Winchester City Council has been awarded £3,458,753 to improve the energy ratings of its council homes following a successful bid for funding to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

    The grant, provisionally allocated to the council as part of the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, is the highest individual allocation to be received by a Hampshire local authority although some councils are part of larger consortium bids.

    With support from the newly announced funding, the council aims to bring improvements to 672 homes over the next three years by making use of energy-saving technology such as air source heat pumps, solar panels and solar batteries, as well as building fabric improvements such as cavity wall and loft insulation.

    The new funding will continue work delivered by the city council’s Energy Saving Homes Programme, which has been improving the energy efficiency of council homes, helping to save tenants money on their energy bills and reduce the homes’ carbon footprints.

    Works taking place to upgrade the roof of a Swedish cottage in Shedfield

    So far, the council has already delivered upgrades to 600 properties, raising their energy ratings as part of its Energy Saving Homes programme.

    Speaking about the new funding, Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Chris Westwood said:

    “Our Energy Saving Homes programme is already having a really significant impact, reducing costs for our tenants and bringing down the carbon footprint of our homes. I’m really pleased we’ve been able to successfully bid for further funding that will allow us to carry out even more energy efficiency improvements, meaning more of our tenants will benefit from cheaper bills and warmer homes as part of our efforts to become greener faster.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 March 2025 Departmental update Enhancing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) surveillance in Mongolia

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects cells along the human respiratory tract, from the nose to the lungs. Each year globally RSV causes over 3.6 million hospitalizations and about 100 000 deaths in children under 5 years of age. Since 2017, Mongolia has participated in a WHO RSV surveillance project. From 2024 onwards, this surveillance was enhanced, with the aim to understand the incidence and risk factors of severe RSV infections, with technical support from WHO and partners. This article describes six training sessions for sentinel site staff that were held in October 2024, on surveillance practices. 

    RSV is a common respiratory pathogen that causes a wide spectrum of disease, ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infections (in most cases) to lower respiratory tract infections, which can be life threatening. Young children, especially those under six months of age, are at the highest risk of severe RSV-associated hospitalizations and deaths. Most RSV-associated paediatric RSV deaths (97%) occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where there is limited access to supportive medical care. More information can be found in the WHO RSV factsheet.

    Between 2016 and 2018, WHO piloted Phase 1 of an RSV surveillance project based on the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) network in 14 countries. The project expanded to include another 11 countries in 2019. Mongolia participated in Phase 1, and the preliminary data revealed RSV was the main virus detected among hospitalized children aged under 5 years. An enhanced RSV surveillance aiming to estimate four levels of disease burden, including incidence of RSV-associated hospitaizations among children aged under 2 years in Mongolia, was planned in 2024 with technical support from WHO and partners.

     The first two sessions included over 40 participants, including deputy heads of clinical management, doctors, nurses and epidemiologists from the sentinel units. During these sessions, participants were introduced to the enhanced RSV surveillance projects, the objectives, data collection, sample collection and storage, and data analyses. Participants discussed the application of extended Severe Acute Respiratory Infections case definitions and data collection forms. During the trainings, participants also provided valuable feedback on surveillance protocol revision. The subsequent four sessions were held at the respective sentinel units, targeting health-care workers and specialists who had not attended the initial training sessions, ensuring broader participation and understanding of the surveillance practices.  

    This enhanced RSV surveillance project was launched in January 2025 and will continue throughout the year. The Mongolia National Center for Communicable Diseases has been conducting intensive monitoring and supervision to the four sites since launching of the surveillance to ensure adherence to practices outlined in the surveillance protocol. The estimations of RSV-associated disease burden are expected before 2027. Results from this surveillance will lay evidence for the introduction of RSV prophylaxis products in Mongolia. WHO will continue supporting this process.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 March 2025 Departmental update Influenza surveillance in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Myanmar’s public health surveillance system for influenza and other respiratory pathogens has been significantly disrupted due to the ongoing humanitarian emergency. Safeguarding public health has required innovative solutions. WHO Country Office in Myanmar, in collaboration with health partners and with support from the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC), has implemented an Early Warning Alert and Response System (EWARS) as a supplementary surveillance system in conflict-affected areas such as Kachin and Rakhine states. This system plays a vital role in strengthening pandemic preparedness within such a complex setting.

    Adapting surveillance to a challenging landscape

    Political instability has led to restricted access to health facilities, population displacement – including health-care workers – and a decline in disease reporting. Implemented through EWARS, sentinel surveillance for influenza-like Illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) is recognised as a crucial mechanism for enhancing the timely detection of influenza and other respiratory pathogens.  

    Respiratory syndromes are among the key health indicators monitored through the indicator-based and event-based components of this supplementary surveillance system. On average, in 2023 and 2024, more than 40 clusters of influenza-like illness were reported across the country through the system. However, no alerts of severe acute respiratory infection outbreaks were detected.

    Given the potential for seasonal influenza and other respiratory pathogens to evolve into large outbreaks, and the requirement to report non-seasonal influenza under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), the early identification of such events is crucial to inform outbreak response efforts.

    Despite restricted operational access and communication challenges, this surveillance approach has proven to be an adaptive and resilient solution in Myanmar’s evolving health crisis. In 2024, it provided real-time alerts and facilitated the mobilisation of response teams to mitigate the impact of outbreaks and epidemics of influenza and other respiratory pathogens. This practice demonstrated how early warning systems can function effectively, showcasing resilience in the face of adversity.

    The success of this initiative has been made possible through the contribution of the PIP PC, along with other financial and technical resources. It has strengthened Myanmar’s ILI and SARI surveillance capacity as part of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS), with the National Influenza Centre (NIC) leading efforts for virus sharing, genomic sequencing, and influenza data management.

    EWARS in Myanmar: a model for global health security

    This initiative offers valuable lessons for global health security and pandemic preparedness. The success of EWARS for infectious disease surveillance in Myanmar, particularly for influenza and other respiratory pathogens, demonstrates that even in conflict settings, a well-coordinated, multi-source surveillance system can provide a critical safety net for disease detection and response. The approach aligns with WHO’s initiatives such as the PIP Framework, Global Influenza Strategy 2019–2030, the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative, and the Mosaic Respiratory Surveillance Framework  for the surveillance of respiratory viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential.

    As the WHO Country Office in Myanmar and partners continue to refine and expand EWARS, this model serves as a proof of concept for global health actors seeking to implement adaptive surveillance strategies in other crisis-affected regions. By bridging surveillance gaps and ensuring early alerts for epidemic and pandemic threats, including influenza and other respiratory pathogens, the initiative contributes to protecting both national and regional health security as envisioned in the South-East Asia Regional Strategic Roadmap for Health Security and Health System Resilience for Emergencies 2023–2027.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 25 March 2025 Departmental update Despite global influenza vaccine production remaining steady, production and distribution challenges remain

    Source: World Health Organisation

    A recent WHO-led study published in Vaccine provides updated estimates on the global production capacity of influenza vaccines, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in pandemic preparedness. As an activity tracked in the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework Partnership Contribution High-Level Implementation Plan III (2024-2030) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, this analysis estimates that annual seasonal influenza vaccine production remains stable, however the lack of manufacturing facilities in the African region and in low- and middle-income countries could lead to unequal access and distribution in the event of a pandemic.

    The study found that since the last survey in 2019, annual seasonal influenza vaccine production capacity has remained relatively stable at 1.53 billion doses. This could support a pandemic vaccine capacity of 4.13 billion doses in a moderate-case scenario and 8.26 billion doses in a best-case scenario. This estimate does not reflect potential mRNA production capacity as no seasonal or pandemic influenza mRNA vaccines are licensed at this time.

    The analysis documents that over 80% of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines rely on egg-based production, with inactivated influenza virus vaccines comprising the majority of supply. Reliance on embryonated eggs presents supply chain vulnerabilities, and access to other critical supplies may limit rapid scale-up during a pandemic. Expanding cell-based vaccines, including recombinant protein vaccine technologies, and investment in next-generation vaccines, such as mRNA-based influenza vaccines, could improve production speed and increase vaccine supply.

    The study also found that while vaccine manufacturing facilities exist in most WHO regions, the African Region remains without local production. Production capacity is concentrated in high income and upper-middle income countries. The authors recommend strengthening local vaccine manufacturing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to ensure equitable access.

    Seasonal influenza vaccination is important to prevent influenza and make illness less severe. It is especially important for people at high risk of influenza complications and their carers. Promoting seasonal influenza vaccination also supports global manufacturing capacity and bolsters pandemic readiness. This is because, in the event of a pandemic, manufacturers of the seasonal influenza vaccine leverage existing production processes and manufacturing facilities to create pandemic vaccines.

    As the world prepares for future influenza pandemics, addressing these production and distribution challenges is critical. WHO continues to support efforts to expand access, innovate vaccine technologies, and strengthen global preparedness.

    For more details, the full study is available in Vaccine (2025).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Italian film director looks forward to innovative narratives from new generation of Chinese filmmakers

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    “I look forward to discovering the new generation of Chinese filmmakers and their ways to narrate a story at the Shanghai International Film Festival,” renowned Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore has said.

    Italian film director Giuseppe Tornatore has handwritten a congratulatory note to the upcoming 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

    In an interview with Xinhua at his office in Rome, Italy, Tornatore showed reporters the Chinese version poster of The Legend of 1900, a film that depicts the story of a piano prodigy who lives his entire life on a ship. The film has been released twice in Chinese theaters and received positive feedback.

    “I’m very happy that Chinese audiences like my films,” he said.

    Tornatore has been appointed jury president for the main competition section of the Golden Goblet Awards at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, which is scheduled to be held from June 13 to 22.

    “It was a big honor for me. I’m sure that in Shanghai I will see good movies,” he said.

    Tornatore noted that Chinese films have achieved notable success in international markets in recent years, and Films such as Ne Zha 2, The Wandering Earth 2 and Caught by the Tides have earned international acclaim.

    Renowned for his masterpieces including Oscar-winning Cinema Paradiso, Tornatore emphasized that the key to making films loved by global audiences is staying true to one’s own heart.

    “Cinema Paradiso is a great example. When I decided to make this film, I wasn’t thinking about how to win the approval of audiences in Europe, the U.S., or China. Instead, I wanted to tell a personal story. I tried to make sure the characters and everything in the film were believable so that the audiences could connect with them,” Tornatore said.

    The film director said he enjoys watching Chinese films. “I love this different point of view that other cinematographers bring, and I can also learn about the story of China and the culture of Chinese people.”

    Speaking of the influence of AI and other emerging technologies on the film industry, Tornatore said he is interested in AI and believes it offers new possibilities for both film production and the restoration of classic films.

    “My dream is to make a film entirely on my own without the help of anybody and to have my grandfather as the main character. AI can give me this opportunity,” Tornatore said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: A Chengdu meeting with top architecture award laureate Liu Jiakun

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    When asked about his favorite architectural form, Liu Jiakun, the newly crowned Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, did not mention soaring skyscrapers or grand monuments, but instead simply said, “Wells.”

    “In a well, time loops, parallel universes exist, and wherever you are, you are both inside and outside yourself. If the stage is dark, you cultivate your own light and if the sky isn’t vast, you dig deep,” he told Xinhua in an interview in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, where he was born.

    For over four decades, Liu has stayed rooted in his homeland, proving that a deeply local practice can grow into something towering and universal.

    HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL HONOR

    Earlier this month, the Pritzker Architecture Prize committee announced Liu as its 54th laureate.

    “Liu creates public areas in populated cities where the luxury of space is largely absent, forging a positive relationship between density and open space. By multiplying typologies within one project, he innovates the role of civic spaces to support the breadth of requisites for a diverse society,” the committee said.

    Liu is the second Chinese citizen to receive this prize — which is regarded internationally as architecture’s highest honor.

    However, unlike many past laureates, his career was not shaped by international education or global commissions. Instead, he has spent most of his life in Chengdu, crafting buildings that respond to the land, the people and the culture that raised him.

    One of his most emblematic works, known as West Village, is a five-story urban complex. Designed like a hotpot, where various ingredients come together in a bubbling and flavorful mix, it blurs the boundaries between public and private, formal and informal. At this complex, elderly men walk with their birds, influencers pose for photos, and children chase soccer balls — with all of them weaving seamlessly through the open and wall-free structure.

    In 2016, a model of West Village was displayed at the Venice Biennale, and today it stands as a defining reason for Liu’s Pritzker win. “Liu Jiakun takes present realities and handles them to the point of offering sometimes a whole new scenario of daily life,” the jury noted.

    BOTH FORM AND MEANING

    In the eyes of his friends, Liu is as much a man of letters as he is a man of bricks. He reads voraciously, drawing inspiration from literature, philosophy and history. These influences manifest in his work — not just in form, but also in meaning.

    In 2008, after a devastating earthquake hit Wenchuan in Sichuan, Liu rushed to the disaster zone to volunteer. “As a Sichuan resident, I felt the pain. As an architect, I had to do something I knew how to do.”

    Liu repurposed rubble from the quake into “recycled bricks,” which he used to rebuild homes and construct a memorial site. At the earthquake’s memorial site, these bricks form courtyards that bear silent witness to loss and resilience. “They are more than materials. They carry memories,” Liu explained.

    One of his smallest yet most poignant works is a memorial hall, dedicated to a 15-year-old girl who perished in the quake. A lover of literature, she had dreamed of becoming a writer. With her parents’ consent, Liu designed a delicate and pink-walled sanctuary nestled in a grove — with a circular skylight casting soft, shifting light.

    “It wasn’t a commission,” Liu said. “It was something I had to do, because I was there, and I was an architect.”

    EVOLUTION OF AN ARCHITECT

    Liu’s path to architecture was far from predetermined. Before college, he had never even heard of architecture. When filling out university applications, he listed majors like warehouse management and leather processing, simply seeking a path to securing a stable job.

    Notably, for over a decade after graduating, Liu abandoned architecture almost entirely, pouring his energy into writing.

    But in 1993, a solo exhibition by a former classmate in east China’s Shanghai changed everything. “I realized architecture could be captivating. Architects could have exhibitions. China’s architectural era was coming.”

    His return to architecture coincided with a boom in China’s construction industry — a time when architects finally had space to innovate. Yet, while many chased monumental and high-profile projects, Liu opted for less glamorous quests.

    To Liu, architecture is akin to the likes of literature and painting, disciplines of lifelong pursuit. “Both are endless labors, but their beauty is that they push you to keep growing,” he said.

    Each project, he added, is a love letter to his homeland. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Ethnic melodies cherished, echo globally

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Yang Xiangni, the founder of a Dong ethnic minority chorus in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, never imagined those melodies sung by her ancestors could link to a stunning show in a blockbuster Chinese animation.

    In a mesmerizing scene in “Ne Zha 2,” the fifth highest-grossing film globally, a Chinese lotus gradually blooms while a traditional melody swells in the background. The music breathes life into the visuals, filling Dong people, like Yang, with immense pride and love for their musical heritage.

    The grand song of the Dong ethnic group has echoed through the ages. Revered as a soulful art form, it draws inspiration from the natural flow of life, mimicking bird sounds, the pattering of rains and the gentle rush of rivers.

    In Guizhou, singing the grand song of the Dong is more than a performance for the Dong people; it also serves as a way for them to express their hopes, dreams, and feelings.

    After graduating from the Academy of Music of Guizhou University in 2020, Yang worked as an art training teacher for two years before returning to her hometown to promote ethnic minority culture.

    One year later, Yang established the chorus, finding a way to combine her hobbies of singing Dong songs with the opportunities brought by the Village Super League, a grassroots football carnival in Guizhou. She made cultural inheritance her life-long career and also answered the country’s calls to revitalize traditional culture.

    Yang started her touch with the Dong performance art at age six and learned the grand song in primary school. She gave an innovative performance of her ancestors’ music by joining hands with rock music during their shows at the opening ceremony of the Guizhou Village Super League.

    “Positive changes and innovations make the grand song of the Dong well-known. Thus, traditional Chinese music goes further and is alive,” said Yang.

    Mu Qian, who got his PhD in ethnomusicology from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, was one of the promoters of the grand song of the Dong, making it echo in ears outside China.

    In 2019, a music album titled “Wanp-Wanp Jangl Kap” in Dong ethnic dialect, namely “Everyone, Listen Close,” made a wave of Chinese ethnic minorities’ music on the world stage. It was selected by the Transglobal World Music Chart as the Best Asia & Pacific album of the 2019-2020 season and broadcast by more than 10 radio stations.

    The music album producer, Mu, got the golden chance to promote this art form globally, bringing the chorus of Dong touring to several U.S. cities and holding 10 concerts in September of the same year when the album was published.

    Welcoming a recent handshake between “Ne Zha 2” and the grand song of the Dong, Mu feels pleasure to see the mix of all art forms, thus raising the popularity of the grand song.

    “I expect more original works by Dong artists to appear in the music market. Seeing their trails and marks on world stages, I also anticipate a delicate balance between ethnic characteristics and market trends,” Mu added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Investing in roads and rail to build Australia’s future

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    The Albanese Labor Government is Building Australia’s future, investing in the transport infrastructure we need to support a growing nation.

    The Government is investing in nationally significant infrastructure that creates jobs and economic opportunity, improves productivity and drives efficiency.

    Our Budget investments will make Australia’s road and rail networks stronger, safer and more efficient – which means more convenient commutes, less congestion and faster freight delivery. 

    The 2025–26 Budget delivers $17.1 billion for new and existing road and rail infrastructure projects through the Infrastructure Investment Program, supporting critical planning, construction and delivery. This includes:

    • $7.2 billion for safety upgrades on the Bruce Highway in Queensland – the single largest investment ever into this nationally significant transport corridor.
    • Over $2.3 billion for critical infrastructure upgrades in the growing Western Sydney region, including $1 billion to preserve the corridor for the South West Sydney Rail Extension and $500 million to upgrade Fifteenth Avenue.
    • A further $465 million for New South Wales to plan for regional projects and fix notorious choke points, including $250 million to upgrade Mona Vale Road and $115 million to reduce travel times on Terrigal Drive.  
    • $2 billion to upgrade Sunshine Station in Victoria, a crucial project to deliver Melbourne Airport its first rail link.
    • $1.1 billion to support upgrades along the Western Freeway in Victoria.
    • $1 billion for the Road Blitz, a new package of works to increase capacity and improve efficiency in Melbourne’s suburbs and surrounds. 
    • $350 million for the Westport – Kwinana Freeway Upgrades in Western Australia.
    • $200 million to duplicate sections of the Stuart Highway from Darwin to Katherine in the Northern Territory.
    • $200 million to upgrade the Arthur Highway in Tasmania.
    • $125 million for the Curtis Road Level Crossing Removal in South Australia.
    • $50 million towards upgrading the Monaro Highway in the Australian Capital Territory.
    • A further $200 million to ensure the delivery of the Rockhampton Ring Road in Queensland.
    • A further $70 million to seal the remaining 11 kilometres of unsealed pavement on the Kennedy Developmental Road between The Lynd and Hughenden in Queensland.

    The Australian Government is committed to increasing road safety and productivity.

    Funding has also increased substantially so that the Roads to Recovery Program will progressively rise to $1 billion per year, and Black Spot Program funding will reach $150 million per year. At least $200 million is also available each year under the new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure program, to address current and emerging priorities in road infrastructure.

    We are investing $16.9 million to support skills and training in the maritime industry. This includes $14.4 million over four years to provide access to training berths at sea, and $2.5 million for the Transport and Logistics Jobs and Skills Council to address training barriers.

    As part of the Government’s priorities for transport, we are providing $32.7 million in 2025-26 to support ongoing safety and regulatory services provided by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

    Our Government is making Australia’s cities and regions even better places to live, building social infrastructure, connecting place and designing healthier, more liveable towns. 

    We’re getting on with the job of delivering a better future for all Australians – helping build economic opportunity and thriving communities.

    MIL OSI News –