NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derby named best area for bus satisfaction

    Source: City of Derby

    Bus passengers across England have said they are more satisfied with their journeys – with satisfaction up to 83 per cent in the second year of the Your Bus Journey survey, independent watchdog Transport Focus confirms.

    The results from the 2024 survey showed passenger satisfaction improving overall from its first-year level of 80 per cent – but there were still some wide differences across local authorities.

    Passengers in Derby City were the most satisfied with their journey at 92 per cent. Passengers in West Yorkshire were for the second year the least satisfied with 77 per cent. East Sussex and Warrington were two of the most improved areas in the survey, both up eight percentage points after some hard work following passenger feedback, and with East Sussex moving from 26th to 12th place in the survey.

    As the definitive, independent bus passenger satisfaction survey in England, Scotland and Wales, Your Bus Journey gives detailed passenger feedback on 48,000 journeys. It provides a benchmark of passenger satisfaction including on board the bus, punctuality of the service, value for money and journey times.

    Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at Derby City Council said:

    I’m delighted with the results of the 2024 Your Bus Journey survey, putting Derby on the map as an accessible place to live, work and visit. The results of the survey show what we already know, which is that Derby has a thriving and expanding transport offer which is tailored to the needs of our residents.

    We’re more passionate than ever about transforming Derby into a sustainable city, championing public transport as a way to contribute to decarbonisation, air quality, and health improvements. Recently we have been investing significantly into our public transport and I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to achieve by working in collaboration with partners by putting passenger’s needs at the heart of what we do.

    Louise Collins, director at the independent watchdog Transport Focus said:

    The positive changes seen across bus services in England have boosted overall passenger satisfaction. The changes show how government funding, hard work from local authorities and operators, and listening to what passengers want can improve journeys.

    Buses play a vital role connecting communities across the country to work, education, leisure activities and vital appointments. The wide variation in scores at a local level in the survey shows that some passengers still aren’t getting the bus service they should. Government, bus operators and local authorities must continue to work together to deliver the promised improvement to bus service reliability and frequency.

    The results from areas like Derby City, Derbyshire, East Sussex and Warrington show what can be done when everyone is focussed on delivering for passengers. We’ll be using the results from the survey with local transport authorities and bus operators up and down the country to drive improvements and help make bus the first choice for more people.

    Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said:  

    I’d like to extend a big congratulations to Derby City Council for ranking highest for passenger satisfaction in this survey, which shows that councils are putting bus service funding to good use.

    Our Bus Services Bill will hand control back for local leaders to operate services, and it’s great to see areas like Nottingham where councils operate their own services, scoring higher than average satisfaction rates.

    Alongside nearly £1 billion to enhance service frequencies, improve bus stop infrastructure and boost the comfort and accessibility of services, we’re backing our buses like never before, and I’m excited to see how this will continue to grow customer satisfaction and make our bus services even more attractive. Roll on the 2025 survey.

    Graham Vidler, Chief Executive of Confederation of Passenger Transport said:

    It’s fantastic to see bus passenger satisfaction on the rise – a testament to the excellent partnerships between bus operators and local authorities in many parts of the country and the dedication of everyone working in the industry.

    We want every passenger to be satisfied with their journey and with significant changes ahead for the bus industry, including the Bus Services (No.2) Bill and the impact of government spending decisions, we urge policymakers to prioritise passengers, ensuring even greater satisfaction and better services in the year ahead.

    Key survey results:

    • Passenger satisfaction with value for money has seen significant improvement up six percentage points to 73 per cent. Passengers in Nottinghamshire were the most satisfied at 91 per cent, while 60 per cent of West of England and North Somerset passengers were satisfied with the value for money of their journey.
    • The top-ranked operator was High Peak in Derby City and Derbyshire, which had a passenger satisfaction score of 99 per cent. Arriva in West Yorkshire was the lowest rated bus operator with 69 per cent of passengers satisfied with their journeys.
    • Increased satisfaction with value for money reflects overall improvements to bus services and not just the impacts of the £2 bus fare cap that was in place throughout 2024.
    • Perception of punctuality is up five percentage points to 75 per cent. Passengers in Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole were the most satisfied at 80 per cent and least satisfied in Greater Manchester at 67 per cent.
    • Journey time satisfaction overall is 83 per cent. Derby City is the highest performing area for journey time, with 92 per cent of passengers satisfied. Stoke on Trent is the lowest rated area by passengers at 79 per cent.
    • Across England, passengers with disabilities were satisfied with 82 per cent of bus journeys, up from 79 per cent in 2023 reflecting the overall increase in bus satisfaction nationally. This remains lower than for non-disabled passengers at 85 per cent.
    • Passengers in rural and semi-rural areas reported increased satisfaction with the value for money of their service. Improvements in performance, punctuality and on-board environment and facilities have contributed to passengers’ perceptions of better value for money.
    • Urban areas have seen improvements to punctuality in particular with journey experience upgrades to bus stops and vehicles also being noticed. Metropolitan areas have also seen improved levels of satisfaction, but at a slower pace.

    Significant Government investment as part of Bus Service Improvement Plan funding in many areas and £2 bus fare cap, appears to be having an impact.

    More information can be found on the Transport Focus website, along with the full report from the 2024 survey. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Building a better and fairer education system to support a stronger economy

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    The Albanese Labor Government is building a stronger and fairer education system from early education to school education and in higher education.
     
    The Government knows that every stage of education is vital, because we need to give the next generation of Australians the best start in life, and the strongest foundation for success. The Budget continues the Government’s significant education reform agenda which includes:

    • Cutting the cost of early education and care for around 1 million families and building a universal early childhood education and care system.
    • Delivering full and fair funding for public schools attended by around 2.6 million students.
    • Cutting student debt by a further 20 per cent for 3 million Australians and making the repayment system fairer.

    The Budget builds on the Government’s significant education reform agenda by making important investments to help families and support students and teachers.
     
    Fully Funding Australian Public Schools
     
    The Albanese Labor Government is putting all public schools in Australia on a path to full and fair funding.
     
    The 10-year Better and Fairer Schools Agreement will see the Commonwealth increase its contribution to the Schooling Resource Standard to put every public school on a path to receive full funding.
     
    The Government will provide $407.5 million over four years from 2025–26 (and $7.2 billion from 2029–30 to 2035–36) to jurisdictions that have already signed updated Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (Full and Fair Funding 2025 – 2034) bilateral agreements.
     
    The Government is finalising bilateral agreements with other jurisdictions.
     
    This isn’t a blank cheque. This funding is tied to reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school, including:

    • Small group tutoring.
    • Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks.
    • More individualised support for students.
    • More mental health support.
    • More support to attract and retain teachers.

     Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred – Additional Supports for Families and Providers
     
    The Government has activated $2.5 million in additional support for families and early childhood education and child care providers affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
     
    A $10,000 Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred Support Payment will be available for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) approved early childhood education and care services who:

    • Are located where a CCS period of emergency has been declared.
    • Were closed, or partially closed, for eight days or more due to the cyclone.
    • Waived gap fees for families during the closure.

    Families who need extra help with the cost of child care may be eligible for Additional Child Care Subsidy (Temporary Financial Hardship) which usually covers the full cost of child care for up to 100 hours of care per fortnight, for up to 13 weeks.

    Boosting STEM Programs

    The Government will invest $7.01 million to expand successful science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) initiatives, including:

    • $1.15 million for the CSIRO STEM Professionals in Schools Program.
    • $1.46 million for Let’s Count, an early education maths program.
    • $0.65 million for Little Scientists, a training program for early learning educators.
    • $0.7 million for Curious Minds Program, a STEM summer camp and mentoring program for female students.
    • $0.9 million for the National Lending Library, which provides digital technology equipment and lesson plans for schools.
    • $2.15 million for three Australian Academy of Science programs (Primary Connections; Science by Doing; and reSolve).

     Closing the Gap Programs for First Nations Students

    The Government is continuing to invest in programs that support First Nations students, with a further $35.1 million for two key initiatives:

    • $33.6 million for the Clontarf Foundation to support up to 12,500 First Nations boys and young men at school.
    • $1.5 million for the MultiLit phonics-based program in 42 regional and remote primary schools until the end of 2026.

     More Medical School Places and Support for First Nations Medical Students
     
    The Government is investing $48.2 million over four years to deliver medical training opportunities including:

    • 100 new medical places each year from 2026, increasing to 150 CSPs from 2028, with a focus on primary care.
    • Demand-driven medical places for First Nations students from 2026.

    This Budget builds on the Albanese Labor Government’s significant education reform agenda which includes:

    • Cheaper Child Care that has cut out-of-pocket costs for families – with the average family using child care $4,400 better off.
    • A 15 per cent pay rise for early educators, with eligible providers limiting fee growth for families.
    • A $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to build early childhood education and care centres where they’re needed most.
    • A Three Day Guarantee, ensuring at least three days of subsidies for early childhood education and care for every family.
    • Agreements to fully fund all public schools in Australia.
    • $3 billion in student debt wiped by fixing how indexation is calculated and a re-elected Labor Government will cut a further 20 per cent off all student loan debt and make the repayment system fairer, subject to the passage of legislation.
    • A Commonwealth Prac Payment for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students.
    • Doubling the number of University Study Hubs – in the regions and for the first time established them in our outer suburbs to bring university closer to where people live. 
    • A new funding system for universities that will deliver more university places and guarantees a place at university for everyone from a disadvantaged background who gets the marks to get in. 
    • An independent National Student Ombudsman to investigate student complaints about issues such as sexual assault, racism, homophobia, course administration and teaching provision. 
    • Establishing the Australian Tertiary Education Commission to guide tertiary education reform over the long-term, subject to the passage of legislation.

    A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will continue to protect and invest in education.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New cost of living tax cuts under Labor

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    The Albanese Government will deliver two more tax cuts to every Australian taxpayer in 2026 and 2027, adding to the first round that Labor delivered in July last year.

    Every Australian taxpayer gets another tax cut from next year – all 14 million, not just some.

    This will give a top up to every taxpayer, right up and down the income scale.

    Labor’s new tax cuts are modest but they will make a difference.

    Combined with Labor’s first round of tax cuts, the average tax cut is expected to be around $43 per week or more than $2,200 in 2026–27, and around $50 per week or more than $2,500 in 2027–28.

    It’s a bit of extra help for every taxpayer and it tops up our tax cuts that started flowing on 1 July 2024.

    Labor’s new tax cuts will be phased in over two years, ensuring our fiscal settings are consistent with inflation remaining sustainably in the target band.

    Last year, we cut two rates and lifted two thresholds to deliver tax cuts for all Australian taxpayers, including around three million people who would have missed out completely under Scott Morrison’s policy from before the election.

    The Albanese Labor Government will cut income taxes further over two years:

    • From 1 July 2026, we will reduce the 16 per cent tax rate to 15 per cent (for income between $18,201 and $45,000).
    • From 1 July 2027, this tax rate will be reduced further to 14 per cent.

    As a result of these changes:

    • All 14 million Australian taxpayers will receive a tax cut, on top of our tax relief that’s already rolling out.
    • Every Australian taxpayer earning above $45,000 (around 80 per cent of taxpayers) will get an extra tax cut of $268 in 2026–27 and $536 from 2027–28, compared to 2024–25 settings.
    • A worker on average earnings ($79,000) will get an extra tax cut of $268 in 2026–27 and $536 per year from 2027–28.
    • Every Australian taxpayer earning between $18,201 and $45,000 will get an extra tax cut of up to $268 in 2026–27 and up to $536 from 2027–28, compared to 2024–25 settings.
    • A person earning $40,000 will get an extra tax cut of $218 in 2026–27 and $436 every year from 2027–28.

    Combined with Labor’s first round of tax cuts:

    • The average tax cut is expected to be around $43 per week or more than $2,200 in 2026–27, and around $50 per week or more than $2,500 in 2027–28, compared with 2023–24 settings.
    • An average earner will receive total tax relief of $1,922 in 2026–27 and $2,190 per year from 2027–28, compared to 2023–24 tax settings.
    • The average income earner will pay around $30,000 less in tax to 2035–36, compared to 2023–24 settings.

    The Government’s personal income tax reforms lower the first tax rate from 19 to 14 per cent, the second tax rate from 32.5 to 30 per cent, and lift two thresholds.

    Our changes to the bottom tax rate under the new tax cuts will bring this rate to its lowest level in over 50 years.

    In addition, the Government will increase the Medicare levy low‑income thresholds from 2024–25.

    This will benefit more than a million Australians, ensuring people on lower incomes continue to pay a reduced levy rate or are exempt from the Medicare levy.

    Labor’s tax cuts return bracket creep, increase the financial rewards from work and boost labour supply.

    Whether you’re a truckie, a teacher or a tradie, whether you’re in manufacturing, mining or the care economy, you will earn more and keep more of what you earn.

    Our new tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer come on top of our substantial and responsible cost of living relief including:

    • Cost of Living Tax Cuts from 1 July 2024;
    • Energy bill relief for every household and for small businesses;
    • Strengthening Medicare with more bulk billing;
    • Cheaper medicines, with a script to cost Australians no more than $25 under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
    • Cheaper child care;
    • Cutting student debt and repayments;
    • Free TAFE;
    • Increased rent assistance and working age payments;
    • Building more homes;
    • Higher wages.

    The changes to the personal income tax system will cost $17.1 billion over the forward estimates.

    The increase to the Medicare levy low‑income thresholds will cost $648 million over the forward estimates.

    The Albanese Government’s responsible economic and fiscal management has allowed us to fund important priorities like this tax relief for every Australian taxpayer.

    Our economic plan is all about helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn and that’s what these tax cuts will help to achieve.

    To find out how much the Government’s tax cuts will benefit you, use the calculator on the Budget website.

    Table 1: New personal tax rates and thresholds
    Tax thresholds ($) Tax rates (%)
    2023–24 2024–25 and 2025–26 2026–27 2027–28
    0 – 18,200 Tax free Tax free Tax free Tax free
    18,201 – 45,000 19 16 15 14
    45,001 – 120,000 32.5 30 30 30
    120,001 – 135,000 37 30 30 30
    135,001 – 180,000 37 37 37 37
    180,001 – 190,000 45 37 37 37
    190,001 and above 45 45 45 45
    Table 2: Summary of tax benefits
    Taxable Income Current tax cut from 1 July 2024 compared to 2023–24 tax settings 2026–27 First new tax cut (from 16 to 15 per cent) compared to 2024–25 tax settings Total benefit from Labor’s tax cuts compared to 2023–24 tax settings 2027–28 onwards Second new tax cut (from 15 to 14 per cent) compared to 2026–27 tax settings Total new tax cut compared to 2024–25 tax settings Total benefit from Labor’s tax cuts compared to 2023–24 tax settings
    $40,000 $654 $218 $872 $218 $436 $1,090
    $47,627^ $870 $268 $1,138 $268 $536 $1,406
    $50,000 $929 $268 $1,197 $268 $536 $1,465
    $79,000* $1,654 $268 $1,922 $268 $536 $2,190
    $100,000 $2,179 $268 $2,447 $268 $536 $2,715
    $103,000** $2,254 $268 $2,522 $268 $536 $2,790
    $150,000 $3,729 $268 $3,997 $268 $536 $4,265
    $200,000 $4,529 $268 $4,797 $268 $536 $5,065

    ^ The national minimum wage is $47,627, set by the Fair Work Commission under the Fair Work Act as of 1 July 2024.
    * Annualised average weekly earnings is around $79,000, based on $1,510.90 per week in November 2024 (ABS data release), which captures average gross wages across all employees, including full‑ time and part‑time workers.
    ** Average ordinary full‑time earnings is $103,000, based on $1,975.80 per week in November 2024 (ABS data release), which captures average gross wage income across full‑time employees only, and excludes any income earned from overtime.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cracking down on non-compete clauses to boost wages and productivity

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    The Albanese Government is taking action to stop unfair non‑compete clauses that are holding back Australian workers from switching to better, higher‑paying jobs.

    We will ban non‑compete clauses for most workers that have no justification and drag down wages.

    This Budget is backing workers, boosting wages and building a stronger economy.

    Reforming non‑compete clauses is about encouraging aspiration, unlocking opportunity, lifting wages, and making Australia’s economy more dynamic and competitive.

    Workers should not be handcuffed to their current job when there are better opportunities available for them.

    Right now, more than three million Australian workers are covered by these clauses, including childcare workers, construction workers, and hairdressers.

    Treasury’s Competition Review heard troubling accounts about the misuse of non‑compete clauses, including minimum wage workers being sued by former employers and workers being threatened with legal action if they switched jobs.

    Australians shouldn’t need a lawyer to go to a higher paying job.

    Even where non‑compete clauses are legally unenforceable, they can lower worker mobility.

    Our changes will make it easier for workers to switch to a better job will boost wages.

    Research suggests the reforms could lift the wages of affected workers by up to four per cent, or about $2,500 per year for a worker on median wages.

    Productivity Commission modelling suggests the changes could improve productivity and add $5 billion or 0.2 per cent to GDP annually, as well as reduce inflation.

    These changes will spur new business entry and competition.

    Non‑compete clauses are a handbrake on business creation and a speed bump on aspiration.

    The restrictions prevent workers from setting up their own shop and pursuing entrepreneurial ambition.

    The ban on non‑compete clauses will apply to workers earning less than the high‑income threshold in the Fair Work Act (currently $175,000).

    We will also close loopholes in competition law that currently allow businesses to:

    • Fix wages by making anti‑competitive arrangements that cap workers’ pay and conditions, without the knowledge and agreement of affected workers.
    • Use ‘no‑poach’ agreements to block staff from being hired by competitors.

    Reforming such anti‑competitive business agreements will bring Australia into line with many other advanced nations and ensure a fairer, more competitive job market.

    The Government will consult on policy details, including exemptions, penalties, and transition arrangements.

    We will also consider and consult further on non‑solicitation clauses for clients and co‑workers, and non‑compete clauses for high‑income workers.

    Following consultation and passage of legislation, the reforms will take effect from 2027, operating prospectively to give businesses and workers time to adjust.

    Banning non‑competes for most workers is part of a broader package of reforms in this Budget to strengthen competition and back workers.

    As part of our competition reforms, we are progressing a national licensing scheme for electrical trades people.

    National licensing will enable people in electrical trades to work seamlessly across state and territory borders without reapplying for a separate licence or paying additional fees.

    Both changes form part of a second tranche of reforms under the Government’s revitalised National Competition Policy.

    They reflect the expert advice of the Competition Review Expert Advisory Panel, which includes Dr Kerry Schott AO, Mr David Gonski AC, Professor John Asker, Ms Sharon Henrick, Dr John Fingleton CBE, Ms Danielle Wood, and Mr Rod Sims AO.

    They are part of the Albanese Government’s economic plan which is focused on helping workers earn more and keep more of what they earn, and building a stronger and more productive economy.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Responsible economic and fiscal management

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    The Albanese Government is building a stronger economy and stronger Budget, with smaller deficits and much lower debt than we inherited.

    Responsible economic management is a defining feature of this Government and this Budget.

    While the global economy is uncertain and Australians are still under pressure, we have made substantial progress in turning the economy and the Budget position around.

    Inflation is down, unemployment is low, wages are up, interest rates have started to come down, growth has rebounded solidly.

    At the same time, the Government has delivered the biggest Budget turnaround in a Parliamentary term – improving the Budget by $207 billion – while delivering responsible cost of living relief to millions of Australians to ease pressures on households.

    We’ve turned two big Liberal deficits into two Labor surpluses and the deficit in our third year, of $27.6 billion, is almost half of what we inherited from the Coalition.

    This Budget improves the bottom line by $1.6 billion over the forward estimates compared to MYEFO, and the deficit in 2025–26 is forecast to be $42.1 billion – lower than MYEFO and lower than what we inherited.

    We’ve done this by limiting real spending growth, finding savings and banking the majority of revenue upgrades over the past three years.

    Fiscal policy worked with monetary policy to return inflation to the target band in the second half of last year, while keeping unemployment near historic lows and the economy growing.

    Our fiscal settings are consistent with inflation sustainably returning to the RBA’s target band, which Treasury now expects to occur six months earlier than anticipated.

    Since the Government has come to office:

    • The Budget position has improved by $207 billion over the seven years to 2028–29 and is better in every year over the forward estimates.
    • Debt is $177 billion lower this year, which will help us avoid around $60 billion in interest repayments over the decade.
    • Real payments growth is estimated to average 1.7 per cent per year over the seven years to 2028–29, which is around half the average under our predecessors.
    • We have identified $94.1 billion in savings and reprioritisations.
    • We have returned 69 per cent of upwards revisions to tax receipts compared to our predecessors who averaged around 40 per cent.

    There is heightened uncertainty in the global economy including from escalating trade tensions, a slowdown in China and the ongoing war in Europe.

    Australia has not been immune to challenging global conditions but we are one of the best placed economies to navigate them.

    When we came to government, we inherited a trillion dollars of debt and large deficits.

    In less than a term, we’ve got the debt down, we’ve delivered two surpluses when our predecessors delivered none, and we’re on track to deliver lower deficits.

    We’ll continue to do what we can to ease pressure on Australians with tax cuts, energy rebates, higher wages, strengthening Medicare and cheaper medicines at the same time as we repair the budget and Build Australia’s Future.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Message of the Holy Father to participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

    Source: The Holy See

    Message of the Holy Father to participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, 25.03.2025
    The following is the Message sent by the Holy Father to the participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (24 to 28 March 2025):

    Message of the Holy Father
    Dear brothers and sisters,
    I warmly send you my greetings and some directions for your valuable service. Indeed, it is like “oxygen” for local Churches and religious communities, because wherever a child or vulnerable person is safe, there you serve and honour Christ. In the daily pattern of your work – especially in the most disadvantaged areas – a prophetic truth becomes reality: abuse prevention is not a blanket to be spread over emergencies, but one of the foundations on which to build communities faithful to the Gospel. For this, I express my gratitude.
    Your work cannot be reduced to protocols to be applied, but promotes safeguards: a formation that educates, checks that prevent, listening that restores dignity. When you establish prevention policies, even in the remotest communities, you are writing a promise: that every child, every vulnerable person, will find a safe environment in the ecclesial community. This is the motor of what should be for us an integral conversion.
    Today, I ask you for three commitments:
    1.   To develop joint work with the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia.
    2.   To offer hospitality and care for the wounds of the soul to victims and survivors, in the style of the good Samaritan. To listen with the ear of the heart, so that every testimony finds not registers to be compiled, but the depths of mercy from which to be reborn.
    3.   To build alliances with entities outside the Church – civil authorities, experts, associations – so that protection may become a universal language.
    In these ten years, you have enabled a safety network to grow within the Church. Keep going! Continue to be sentinels that keep watch while the world sleeps. May the Holy Spirit, teacher of living memory, preserve us from the temptation to file away grief instead of healing it.
    Thank you for your remembrance in prayer. I too accompany you and I ask the Lord and the Blessed Virgin to sustain you, so that you may continue on your journey with dedication and hope.
    Rome, “A. Gemelli” Hospital, 20 March 2025.
    FRANCIS

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 36th Annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference and First Chaplain Africa Forum held in Brussels

    Source: United States AFRICOM

    The U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and Belgian Ministry of Defence, in partnership with U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and U.S. Indo Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Chaplain Directorates, hosted the world’s largest annual meeting of senior military religious leaders at the 36th Annual NATO & Partner International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference (IMCCC) in Brussels, Belgium, January 27-31, 2025.

    Over 200 military chaplains, academic experts, and special guests participated, representing 43 nations and more than 30 religious denominations. This year’s gathering included a special Africa Summit hosted by AFRICOM, highlighting the role of chaplains in fostering regional stability through spiritual and ethical leadership. Delegates divided into working groups to share information, identify training needs and areas cooperation, and update their future engagement plans.

    “This conference has not only strengthened our bonds across nations but has also underscored the indispensable role of chaplains in modern military operations, particularly in fostering resilience and ethical leadership in Africa and beyond.” said Major General Kenneth Ekman, DOD West Africa Coordination Lead, AFRICOM.

     AFRICOM’s Command Chaplain, U.S. Army Chaplain Colonel Karen Meeker said, “Our engagement at the IMCCC and the Africa Forum is crucial for developing a comprehensive approach to chaplaincy that resonates with the unique cultural and spiritual landscapes of Africa, ensuring our chaplains are well-prepared to support our service members and their families.”

    Experts from the United Nations, European Union, NATO, Belgium Armed Forces and other organizations briefed attendees on topics such as conflict resolution, interoperability and the importance of interworld view dialogue for achieving peace. Delegates collaborated to identify areas of cooperation and update their future engagement plans.

    EUCOM Command Chaplain, Colonel Christopher LaPack, shared, “First, I want to sincerely thank EUCOM’s co-hosts for this year’s IMCCC. The Belgian Planning Team, led by Chief Chaplain Hans De Cuester, provided a world-class forum for what turned out to be the biggest-ever IMCCC. I have no doubt that the engagements that took place this week will improve future interoperability amongst our chaplaincies. The change in security environment and NATO’s military posture in response to Russian aggression in the region means that our nations’ warfighters are more integrated than ever before. Military chaplains must be properly trained and ready to respond to the religious and spiritual needs of military personnel serving in multinational formations.”

    The Africa Forum agenda also highlighted the role of chaplains in the DoD State Partnership Program (SPP), which partners National Guard forces from the United States with militaries around the world. Chaplain General Henry Matifeyo, Zambian Ministry of Defence said, “The discussions here, especially the tri-lateral meetings, have opened new avenues for cooperation. We are keen on building a network that not only strengthens our chaplaincy but also addresses critical issues like PTSD and moral injury through a multi-disciplinary lens.”

    The IMCCC began in 1990 when the USEUCOM chaplain’s office convened twelve senior NATO military chaplains in order to provide a forum for dialogue to enhance interoperability among NATO chaplaincies, facilitate mutual support, and ensure professional pastoral care is available to all Allied Forces during combat or crisis circumstances. Over time, its scope has expanded to enhance religious affairs interoperability, strengthen international relations, support warfighter and family resilience, improve spiritual advisement for commanders, and promote religious freedom. The IMCCC 2025 has grown into a forum that includes not just European military religious leaders but also leaders from Africa, Asia and North America to share ideas and practices that support the collective security mission on a global scale. This year’s focus on Africa was a step forward in recognizing and addressing the unique needs of this diverse continent.

    List of national chaplaincies that participated in the 2025 conference: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Malawi, , Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Serbia, , Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, , Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, and Zambia.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: PANASONIC TOUGHBOOK Introduces Mobile-IT As-A-Service

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Siemens Mobility UK&I chooses TOUGHBOOK MaaS to revolutionise how it manages mobile IT.

    Wiesbaden, DE. 25th March 2025 – Panasonic is set to revolutionise the way organisations manage their mobile IT with the introduction of its innovative TOUGHBOOK Mobile-IT As-A-Service (MaaS). This comprehensive solution offers businesses a customisable, end-to-end package that includes robust hardware, essential software and dedicated support – with no upfront costs and a highly flexible monthly subscription fee. It ensures today’s mobile workforces always have access to the latest technology and support to continuously enhance efficiency and productivity for field operatives.

    With the subscription-based, as-a-service economy set to grow at 18% a year and be worth €2.8 trillion by 20281, Panasonic’s TOUGHBOOK MaaS provides a seamless, reliable mobile solution that can adapt to specific business requirements. It ensures mobile workers have the most up-to-date equipment and service delivery without the burden of managing it. Removing risk with a predictable monthly OPEX cost, TOUGHBOOK MaaS provides flexibility and control, enabling customers to swiftly adapt solutions as needs change.

    At the end of the subscription period, customers can choose to seamlessly transition to new Panasonic TOUGHBOOK solutions and extend or tweak existing software and support services, based on their requirements. For all end-of-life equipment, TOUGHBOOK MaaS supports the circular economy by extending the lifecycle of devices through refurbishment and reuse.

    Recognising that no two businesses are alike, this service offers tailor-made packages encompassing:

    • Services: Comprehensive support tailored for hyper-mobile workers, ensuring uninterrupted productivity through monitoring of assets in the field, through to maintenance and integration services.
    • Software: Essential applications designed to empower mobile workers, enabling them to perform their tasks more effectively.
    • Hardware: Access to Panasonic’s TOUGHBOOK devices, known for their durability and reliability in challenging environments.
    • Device Ecosystem & Accessories: A range of supplementary tools and accessories that enhance the mobile working experience, from additional batteries to specialist devices and docking units.

    Leading technology company, Siemens Mobility UK&I, has chosen to adopt TOUGHBOOK MaaS at its UK Bogie and Wheelset Service Centre. Its engineers will use Panasonic TOUGHBOOK devices for component management, condition assessment recording, digital twin inspections, maintenance, work instructions, employee communication, and health and safety compliance.

    Rick Evans, Head of Site IT, at Siemens Mobility UK&I said: “This is another great example of our commitment to delivering the safest, most accessible rail network for Britain. With technology and business requirements changing at a faster pace than ever, TOUGHBOOK MaaS ensures our engineers always have access to the latest hardware, applications and support to deliver the very best transport solutions for Britain.”

    Timo Unger, Head of Business Planning for Panasonic TOUGHBOOK, added: “TOUGHBOOK Mobile-IT As-A-Service delivers business certainty in an uncertain world. With this comprehensive service, we remove the complexities associated with managing mobile IT infrastructure, allowing businesses to concentrate on delivering high-performance, reliable services whenever and wherever needed.”

    The subscription-based model offers businesses the flexibility to select the level of support that aligns with operational needs. With a standard 60-month contract period, pricing starts from just €33 per user, per month. Additional services, such as proactive maintenance plans and swift deployment options, including vehicle integration for devices, are available for a nominal uplift, ensuring that businesses can scale their solutions as their needs evolve.

    For more information about Panasonic TOUGHBOOK’s Mobile-IT As-A-Service, please visit: https://eu.connect.panasonic.com/gb/en/toughbook/Mobile-IT-As-A-Service

    Panasonic Press Contact
    Lisbeth Lashmana
    Head of Marketing Europe at Panasonic TOUGHBOOK
    lisbeth.lashmana@eu.panasonic.com 

    Panasonic Press Contact
    Jim Pople
    C8 Consulting
    jim@c8consulting.co.uk

    About the Panasonic Group
    Founded in 1918, and today a global leader in developing innovative technologies and solutions for wide-ranging applications in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, industry, communications, and energy sectors worldwide, the Panasonic Group switched to an operating company system on April 1, 2022, with Panasonic Holdings Corporation serving as a holding company and eight companies positioned under its umbrella. The Group reported consolidated net sales of Euro 54.12 billion (8,496.4 billion yen) for the year ended March 31, 2024. To learn more about the Panasonic Group, please visit: https://holdings.panasonic/global/

    About Panasonic Connect Europe GmbH
    Panasonic Connect Europe began operations on October 1st, 2021, creating a new Business-to-Business focused and agile organisation. With more than 400 employees and led by CEO Shusuke Aoki, the business aims to contribute to the success of its customers with innovative products and integrated systems and services – all designed to deliver its vision to Change Work, Advance Society and Connect to Tomorrow.

    Panasonic Connect Europe is headquartered in Wiesbaden and consist of the following business units: 

    • The Mobile Solutions Business Division helping mobile workers improve productivity with its range of Toughbook rugged notebooks, business tablets and handhelds.
    • The Media Entertainment Business Division incorporating Visual System Solutions offering a range of high brightness and reliable projectors as well as high quality displays; and Broadcast & ProAV offering Smart Live Production solutions from an end-to-end portfolio consisting of PTZ and system cameras, camcorders, the Kairos IT/IP platform, switchers and robotic solutions that are widely used for live event capture, sports production, television, and xR studios.
    • Business and Industry Solutions delivering tailored technology solutions focused on Retail, Logistics and Manufacturing. Designed to increase operational efficiency and enhance customer experience, helping businesses to perform at their best, every day.
    • Panasonic Factory Solutions Europe selling a wide range of smart factory solutions including electronics manufacturing solutions, robot and welding systems and software solutions engineering.

    For more information please visit: https://eu.connect.panasonic.com

    Please visit Panasonic Connect Europe’s LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/panasonic-connect-europe/

    1 The Business Research Company

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues a USD 50 million tap under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    25 March 2025 at 11:00 am (EET)

    Municipality Finance issues a USD 50 million tap under its MTN programme

    On 26 March 2025 Municipality Finance Plc issues a new tranche in an amount of USD 50 million to an existing benchmark issued on 22 January 2025. With the new tranche, the aggregate nominal amount of the benchmark is USD 400 million. The maturity date of the benchmark is 2 February 2029. The benchmark bears interest at a floating rate equal to Compounded SOFR plus 100 bps per annum.

    The new tranche is issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and the final terms of the benchmark are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

    MuniFin has applied for the benchmark to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 26 March 2025. The existing notes in the series are admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

    Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Limited act as the Dealer for the issue of the new tranche.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The owners of the company include Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the State of Finland. The Group’s balance sheet is over EUR 53 billion.

    MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, joint county authorities, corporate entities under the control of the above-mentioned organisations, and affordable social housing. Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic, but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How Guest from the Future Was Filmed. On the 40th Anniversary of the Premiere of the Sci-Fi Film

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On March 25, 1985, the five-part children’s science fiction television film “Guest from the Future” by Pavel Arsenov, filmed at the Gorky Film Studio, was released on Soviet screens.

    The director based this mini-series on the story “One Hundred Years Ago” – one of the parts of the series that Kir Bulychev began writing back in 1965 for his daughter Alisa. Pavel Arsenov considered the fantasy genre to be very promising, he was inspired by Richard Viktorov’s works “Through Thorns to the Stars” and “Moscow – Cassiopeia”. And the idea to film this particular book by Kir Bulychev came to the director during a creative meeting with children. When asked which work they would advise him to make a film based on, most named “One Hundred Years Ago”. The writer co-authored the script for “Guest from the Future”, filming began in 1983 and ended in August 1984.

    According to the plot, Moscow schoolchildren find a time machine in the basement of an old house. Sixth-grader Kolya Gerasimov, who just went to the store for kefir, accidentally ends up in 2084. The robot Werther, whom he meets, allows him to walk around Moscow for a while and look at the future. Kolya meets Alisa Selezneva, the daughter of a professor and director of the space zoo “CosmoZoo”. The girl has a myelophone – a unique device designed to read thoughts, with the help of which she studies the behavior of animals. However, the myelophone is also of interest to space pirates – Rat and Veselchak U, who want to become the rulers of the Universe. Kolya and Alisa are in for an exciting adventure.

    Casting and filming

    More than a hundred young actresses applied for the role of Alisa Selezneva, including Natalya Shanaeva, who played Lena Dombazova in the film. In the end, the role went to Natalya Guseva and brought her enormous popularity – letters from fans came from outside the Soviet Union. At the time of the start of filming, she was 11 years old. However, Natalya did not dream of a professional acting career – after finishing school, she entered the Moscow State Institute of Fine Chemical Technology, became a biotechnologist and worked at the N.F. Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology.

    According to the recollections of actor Semyon Buzgan (Kolya Sadovsky), almost all the boys who starred in the film read an excerpt from the role of Fima Korolev at the first audition – based on the results of this “exam”, Pavel Arsenov determined whether the candidate had the ability to act. Sixth-grader Alyosha Fomkin, who already had acting experience in several stories of the film magazine “Yeralash”, was chosen for the role of Kolya Gerasimov.

    For adult roles, Pavel Arsenov invited many talented actors: Vyacheslav Nevinny and Mikhail Kononov became space pirates, Evgeny Gerasimov played the robot Werther, Yuri Grigoriev played Professor Seleznev, Igor Yasulovich played the employee of “CosmoZoo” Electron Ivanovich. Georgy Burkov, Valentina Talyzina, Lyudmila Arinina, Natalya Varley and other famous actors also starred in the film. Several episodic roles were played by one of the film’s cameramen, Alexander Lysykh, and his characters were voiced by Mikhail Kokshenov.

    The budget allocated for the creation of the impressive film was quite modest, so Pavel Arsenov, production designer Olga Kravchena, costume designer Valentina Olonovskaya and the special effects team had to use their imagination and ingenuity to achieve realism of what was happening on the screen. For example, the Moscow Institute of Time is just a model suspended at a height of more than 50 meters. For the flying flips, miniature copies with tiny figures inside were used – they were suspended from a rotating crane with a boom and filmed in the background, as if the actors were flying high in the sky. And the famous myelophone is actually a glass prism for a camera.

    Filming, in addition to the Gorky Film Studio, took place, of course, in various places in Moscow. For example, the building of the Institute of Time and “CosmoZoo” were filmed in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences named after N.V. Tsitsin, school scenes – in the building of school No. 20 (now No. 1239) on Vspolny Lane, since the characters study there. Also in the film you can see Prechistenka, Gogolevsky Boulevard, Kalinina Avenue (now Novy Arbat), the area around Samotechnaya Street, where Kolya Gerasimov discovered a time machine, Cosmonauts Alley and many other familiar places.

    The music for the film was written by composer Yevgeny Krylatov, whose song “Beautiful Far Away” with lyrics by Yuri Entin became a hit after the film’s release. The first screening took place at the Gorky Film Studio in October 1984. The television premiere of “Guest from the Future” took place from March 25 to 29, 1985, during the spring school holidays, and was a huge success. Later, the magazine “World of Fantasy” included “Guest from the Future” in the list of the best screen adaptations and called the film a cult film, despite some limitations of the film crew in technical means.

    Two years later, in 1987, Pavel Arsenov made the film “The Purple Ball” based on the story of the same name by Kir Bulychev, telling about the new adventures of Alisa Selezneva.

    Gorky Film Studio is one of the largest in Russia, the oldest film studio in Moscow. More than a thousand films have been released here, including “Seventeen Moments of Spring”, “Officers”, “Morozko”, “…The Dawns Here Are Quiet”, “Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka”, “Carnival”, “You Never Dreamed…”, “Three Plus Two” and many others. The film studio is one of the main sites of a large-scale Moscow film cluster, which unites infrastructure facilities, services and services for filmmakers. Its development is carried out by the Moscow Government as part of Sergei Sobyanin’s project “Moscow – City of Cinema”. The structure of the film cluster also includes the Moskino cinema chain, a film factory, a film park, a film commission and the Moskino film platform.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151745073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Scientists have denied the existence of a crisis of trust in science

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    An international group of researchers, including specialists from the National Research University Higher School of Economics, conducted a large-scale survey in 68 countries on the topic of trust in science. In most countries, people continue to highly value the work of scientists and want to see them become more active participants in public life. The results are published in Nature Human Behavior.

    Howresearch showsAccording to Arthur Lupia and David Allison, the last five years have seen a decline in trust in science and scientists in particular. The crisis of trust has become especially noticeable during the COVID-19 pandemic. To study this problem in more detail, the international multidisciplinary consortium TISP (Trust in Science and Science-Related Populism) conducted a survey to provide reliable data on attitudes towards science.

    More than 71,000 people answered questions about their trust in scientists and rated their competence, honesty, and concern for the common good. The survey design also included assessments of respondents’ education, income, and political views.

    The survey involved 68 countries, including those from the Global South, which are often overlooked in such studies. This allowed us to identify not only global trends in attitudes towards science, but also regional specifics.

    The survey found that 78% of respondents worldwide believe that scientists are competent, 57% believe that they are honest, and 56% believe that they care about the well-being of people. Respondents also believe that research aimed at improving public health, solving energy problems, reducing poverty, and combating climate change should be given high priority.

    Many people would like to see scientists involved in decision-making: 83% of respondents support open science, and 52% support researchers’ participation in public policy. However, less than half (42%) are confident that scientists themselves take public opinion into account.

    The study shows that the credibility of science remains high in most countries, but trust in scientists varies widely across countries and among different social groups within a country. In places where people were more reliant on scientific data, crises such as the pandemic were easier to deal with, and citizens were more likely to follow recommendations for vaccination and safety measures. Tackling mistrust of scientific findings is especially important because societies that trust scientists more are better able to deal with climate and health challenges.

    Among the main reasons for the weakening authority of science, researchers highlight misinformation, conspiracy theories, a crisis in the reproducibility of scientific data, and scientific populist sentiments, in which popular opinion is opposed to expert knowledge. These factors were especially evident during the pandemic, when, for example, opinion leaders called for the use of traditional medicine instead of vaccination.

    “Our results show that most people in most countries have a relatively high level of trust in scientists and want them to play an active role in society and politics,” says Albina Galliamova, a junior research fellow Center for Sociocultural Research HSE University. — One of the reasons for the decline in trust is insufficiently active educational activities in the public space. It is obvious that in order to overcome current problems, it is necessary to actively and clearly tell the audience about the results of your research.”

    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: XploraDEX Token Explained: Why It Could Become One of the Most Valuable Assets on XRP—Join $XPL Presale

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As decentralized finance continues to evolve, one thing is clear: tokens that offer real utility and ecosystem integration are the ones that rise to the top. That’s exactly why $XPL, the native token of XploraDEX, is gaining so much attention.

    Built as the driving force behind the first and only AI-powered DEX on the XRP Ledger, $XPL Token is more than just a transactional token, it’s a multi-functional asset designed to unlock deep trading intelligence, reward long-term holders, and shape the future of decentralized trading on XRPL.

    With the $XPL Presale currently live, now is the time to understand why early access to this token might be one of the smartest moves an investor can make in 2025.

    GET $XPL TOKENS NOW!

    What is $XPL?

    $XPL is the utility, governance, and rewards token powering XploraDEX, a platform that combines AI-driven trading automation with the speed and efficiency of the XRP Ledger. Every feature on XploraDEX is either powered by or optimized with $XPL.

    Key Utilities of $XPL:

    1. Access to Premium AI Tools

    $XPL holders unlock advanced trading dashboards, real-time predictive analytics, and AI-driven trade execution tools. These features give traders a measurable edge in the market.

    2. Reduced Trading Fees

    By holding and using $XPL, traders enjoy significant discounts on trading fees, ideal for high-volume users and frequent liquidity providers.

    3. Staking Rewards & Passive Income

    $XPL holders can stake their tokens to earn platform-generated revenue, enabling a sustainable income stream based on trading activity and ecosystem growth.

    4. Liquidity Mining Boosts

    $XPL incentivizes liquidity provision with yield multipliers for early adopters and active participants in farming pools.

    5. Governance & Voting Rights

    As a decentralized platform, XploraDEX is governed by its community. $XPL holders can vote on protocol upgrades, AI algorithm updates, and future ecosystem changes.

    PARTICIPATE IN XPLORADEX PRESALE

    Why $XPL Stands Out on the XRP Ledger

    The XRP Ledger is fast, scalable, and ideal for financial-grade applications—but until now, it lacked a next-gen token tied to AI automation and DeFi intelligence. $XPL fills that gap.

    Unique Advantages:

    • First AI-powered DeFi token on XRPL
    • Deeply integrated utility across the XploraDEX ecosystem
    • Deflationary mechanics to promote scarcity and long-term value
    • Backed by an active presale and growing community support

    Unlike many tokens with speculative use, $XPL Tokens is built into the very mechanics of trade execution, liquidity automation, and decision-making on XploraDEX. This gives it intrinsic utility and long-term demand.

    The $XPL Presale – Why Early Access Matters

    The current presale phase offers a unique window to acquire $XPL at the lowest possible price before the public listing. Early participants enjoy.

    With XRPL’s infrastructure gaining mainstream traction, tokens like $XPL designed for true adoption are poised for exponential upside.

    Buy $XPL token at discounted early-stage pricing: https://sale.xploradex.io

    Final Thoughts: The Token That Powers the Future of Trading

    $XPL tokens isn’t just another altcoin. It’s a multi-layered asset designed for a next-generation DEX experience, built on one of the most efficient ledgers in the industry. Its real-world utility, AI-powered architecture, and first-mover advantage on XRPL make it a serious contender for one of the most valuable assets in the ecosystem.

    Secure your $XPL Tokens now while the presale is live: https://sale.xploradex.io

    Stay connected and Join the XploraDEX AI Revolution

    Website | $XPL Token Presale | X | Telegram

    Contact:
    Oliver Muller
    oliver@xploradex.io
    contact@xploradex.io

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the XploraDEX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.

    Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14969289-53d1-47be-96cb-8aa4948032c7

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Albanese government bids for votes with ‘top-up’ tax cuts for all

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Tax cuts are the centrepiece of the Albanese government’s cost-of-living budget bid for re-election in May. The surprise tax measures mean taxpayers will receive an extra tax cut of up to A$268 from July 1 next year and up to $536 every year from July 1 2027.

    Delivering his fourth budget on Tuesday night, Treasurer Jim Chalmers described the tax relief as “modest”. It will cost the budget $3 billion in 2026-27, $6.7 billion in 2027-28 and just over $17 billion over the forward estimates.

    From July 1 2026 the 16% tax rate – which applies to taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000 – will be reduced to 15%. From July 1 2027, this will be further reduced to 14%.

    While cost of living is at the heart of the budget, apart from the tax changes, almost all the other measures have been announced. These include about $8.5 billion to strengthen Medicare (mostly to boost bulk billing) and $150 per household to extend energy relief until the end of the year. The government has also previously announced measures on cheaper medicines and improved access to childcare.

    The opposition has so far refused to say what a Coalition government would do on tax. It will now be under pressure to quickly produce a counter tax policy for the election, which is likely to be called this weekend.

    Chalmers presented a cautiously optimistic picture on the economy, while stressing the uncertain international times ahead.

    “Our economy is turning the corner,” he said. “This budget is our plan for a new generation of prosperity in a new world of uncertainty.”

    “It’s a plan to help finish the fight against inflation [and] rebuild living standards.”



    Read more:
    A ‘modest’ tax bribe, delivered against dark clouds of Trump-induced uncertainty

    After delivering two budget surpluses, this budget has deficits for the foreseeable future.

    This financial year’s deficit is estimated at $27.6 billion, rising to $42.1 billion in 2025-26 (in the December 2024 update it was expected to be $46.9 billion). The cumulative deficits across the forward estimates reach $179.5 billion.

    The budget predicts 335,000 in net migration in 2024-25, which is a fall of 100,000 from the previous year. It projects 260,000 for 2025-26.

    Chalmers described the global economy as “volatile and unpredictable” with “storm clouds” gathering. “Trade disruptions are rising China’s growth is slowing, war is still raging in Europe and a ceasefire in the Middle East is breaking down,” he told parliament.

    “Treasury expects the global economy to grow 3.25% for the next three years, its slowest since the 1990s. It’s already forecasting the two biggest economies in the world will slow next year – with risks weighing more heavily on both,” he said.

    Chalmers said Australia was “neither uniquely impacted nor immune” from the international pressures. “But we are among the best placed to navigate them.”

    Australia’s economic growth is forecast to increase from 1.5% this financial year to 2.5% in 2026-27, with the private sector “resuming its rightful place as the main driver of this growth.”



    Read more:
    The 2025 budget has few savings and surprises but it also ignores climate change

    Unemployment is projected to peak at 4.25%, lower than previously anticipated. Employment and real wage growth will be stronger and inflation was coming down faster, Chalmers said.

    “Treasury now expects inflation to be sustainably back in the [2%-3%] target band six months earlier than anticipated,” he said. “The worst is now behind us and the economy is heading in the right direction.”

    Chalmers told his Tuesday afternoon conference the budget is a “story of Australian exceptionalism”.

    He called the tax cuts “top up tax cuts” that built on the recalibrated stage 3 tax cuts. He claimed the average household with two earners would save $15,000 over four years through a combination of all these tax cuts and energy bill relief.



    Read more:
    Tax cuts are coming, but not soon, in a cautious budget

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

    – ref. Albanese government bids for votes with ‘top-up’ tax cuts for all – https://theconversation.com/albanese-government-bids-for-votes-with-top-up-tax-cuts-for-all-253021

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytech and Legion signed a strategic partnership agreement

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 24, a strategic partnership agreement was signed between Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and the Legion company. The signatures were put by SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy and Legion CEO Radik Shayakhmetov. The document envisages the development of cooperation in scientific, educational, industrial, socio-economic and innovative spheres.

    The agreement is aimed at cooperation between the Polytechnic University and Legion in various areas, such as professional training of personnel, conducting scientific research, including using innovations, creating organizational, scientific and innovative potential, developing and implementing joint projects and programs, etc.

    The company specializes in the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles, including for the Navy. The meeting participants discussed the possibility of using the enterprise’s production facilities to implement the university’s developments. The event was also attended by Oleg Ipatov, Director of the Center for Scientific and Technological Partnership and Targeted Training. Radik Shayakhmetov noted that the company is in the process of relocating its production facilities from Ufa to St. Petersburg, and therefore there is interest in cooperation in the educational sphere to address the company’s personnel needs.

    At the university, Legion representatives met with Vice-Rector for Research Yuri Fomin, visited the Center for Technological Projects, and held a working meeting with its director Alexei Maistro.

    Photo archive

    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 Asia-Pac: Public healthcare charging revamped

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Public accident and emergency (A&E) departments will charge patients a fee of $400 per visit starting from January 1, 2026, as part of reforms to fees aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability of the city’s public healthcare system.

    Currently, public A&E departments charge a flat rate of $180.

    Under the fee revamp, patients in critical and emergency cases will be treated for free at public A&E departments.

    At a press conference today, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said the reform was intended to offer more help to the underprivileged and patients with critical or severe illnesses.

    He stressed that the extra revenue will go back into public hospital services.

    The authorities will also introduce a “co-payment model” to charge patients between HK$50 and HK$500 for complicated pathology and non-urgent imaging tests.

    Moreover, they propose to cap charges at $10,000 a year for each patient, and to make it easier for those eligible to apply for a fee waiver.

    At today’s press conference, Permanent Secretary for Health Thomas Chan elaborated on the various measures.

    “I think the first one, on improving the waiver mechanism, we have relaxed the income and asset limits significantly for (patients) to qualify for medical waivers,” he said. “This is targeting the low-income families.

    “We expect that low-income families would mostly be able to be covered by the medical waiver mechanism, since we have already raised the eligibility level to (100% of) median monthly domestic household income for families of two and more.

    “And for families of one, actually we would be relaxing the income limit to 150% of the median monthly domestic household income. And also for the asset limit, we have significantly raised it to match the level for applying for public rental housing.

    “We expect that the number of low-income families or people that potentially qualify to apply for medical waivers would increase from 300,000 to 1.4 million. This is already in addition to the 600,000 CSSA (Comprehensive Social Security Assistance) recipients and also the Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above.

    “In addition to the medical waivers, we introduced an annual spending cap.

    “If the amount of (medical) fees that you need to pay exceeds $10,000 for the whole year, anything in excess of $10,000 will be waived. This is to provide another protection for all Hong Kong citizens who may or may not be eligible to apply for medical waivers.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: African Heritage Conservation in the Age of Development: A Regional Approach to Impact Assessments

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    In an era of rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, and tourism growth, World Heritage properties across Africa face unprecedented challenges in protecting and managing their outstanding values. The inherent demand for socio-economic transformation often places immense pressure on these heritage properties, highlighting the urgent need harmonize economic growth and heritage protection for sustainable development.

    In response to these pressing challenges, the Strategy for World Heritage in Africa, aligned with UNESCO’s Global Priority Africa is designed to empower African States Parties to adopt best conservation practices as a catalyst for sustainable development. To advance this goal, and with the support of the Kingdom of Netherlands and the Government of Norway, UNESCO, in collaboration with its Advisory Bodies ICCROM and IUCN, and in close coordination with the State Party of Malawi, organized a training on Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA), from 10 to 21 February 2025, at the Lake Malawi National Park World Heritage site, a property renowned for its rich biodiversity and historical significance. The training aimed to enhance the technical expertise of national and regional stakeholders in international standards for undertaking heritage impact assessments amid pressing development demands.

    © Aaron Khombe/Malawi Department of National Museums and Monuments

    The training brought together 32 participants from across southern Africa, including heritage professionals, government officials, environmental specialists, planning agencies, and local councils alongside regional authorities responsible for water, roads, tourism, and environmental assessments from  Malawi and other member states including, Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Okavango Delta, Botswana, and Maloti-Drakensberg Park, Lesotho and South Africa, and the United Republic of Tanzania. It was structured around a dynamic blend of lectures, interactive discussions, field visits, and group exercises, providing participants with a hands-on learning experience, focusing on international best practices, assessment methodologies, and case studies.

    © UNESCO/Esnath Mwaka

    Beyond capacity building, the training fostered a transformative shift in perspective, reinforcing the urgent need for policy reforms that institutionalize heritage into national impact assessment systems. The training also served as a platform for collaboration, establishing a network of empowered heritage professionals dedicated to championing sustainable conservation policies and practices across the region, ensuring that Africa’s World Heritage properties can continue to thrive for generations to come.

    © UNESCO

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Builders Program Accelerates Global Expansion, Hosted Over 60 Events Across 29 Countries

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, and Web3 company, announced the global expansion of Bitget Builders through a series of offline engagements, educational programs, and strategic community upgrades. The Bitget Builders Program is a pivotal component of the Blockchain4Youth charity project, inviting crypto enthusiasts from various backgrounds to co-build the Bitget ecosystem while unlocking insights, event access, and growth opportunities.

    Since its inception in June 2023, Bitget Builders Global Tour has already made significant strides, hosting over 60 events across 29 countries to strengthen brand visibility and foster meaningful connections within the blockchain ecosystem. Recent successful events include the Bitget Academy meetups in European countries, which blended education, networking, and entertainment to empower participants with actionable insights into blockchain technologies. The global meetup also keeps expanding to North America, APAC, and other regions, equipping the young generation worldwide with tools to navigate the evolving Web3 landscape.

    The Bitget Builders Program provides opportunities for builders to engage in a variety of roles that align with their skills and interests, such as crypto trading support, branding and content creation, and community management. “Build Bitget with Vugar” events serve as a dialogue platform between Bitget’s leadership and its global community, where Bitget COO Vugar Usi Zade engages directly with global communities. These gatherings offer exclusive insights into Bitget’s vision, core values, and roadmap, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to transparency and user-centric growth.

    In a strategic move to bolster community engagement, Bitget has elevated community managers to official Bitget Builders, granting them insights, advanced resources and networking opportunities, to amplify their impact in local markets. Looking ahead, Bitget will launch a “Builder Training Camp,” providing specialized training and tools to equip Builders with the skills needed to thrive in the crypto industry.

    “Our offline initiatives and community-driven approach reflect Bitget’s dedication to fostering innovation and inclusivity,” said Vugar Usi Zade, COO of Bitget. “By empowering students, traders, and builders worldwide, we’re not only expanding our footprint in various regions, but also cultivating a global movement centered on blockchain education and collaboration.”

    As part of a broader effort under Bitget’s Blockchain4Youth initiative, the Bitget Builders program focuses on empowering young talents and driving mass adoption as well as technological advancement. By facilitating offline meetups and a global tour, Bitget has increased the sense of community and empowered builders to contribute actively to the program’s growth and innovation on a global scale.

    For more details on the Bitget Builders Program, users can visit here.

    About Bitget
    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, users can visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, users can contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    Contact

    Simran Alphonso
    media@bitget.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank Group to expand investment in Lesotho to $331 million

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

    MASERU, Lesotho, March 25, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) plans to invest $331 million in key strategic sectors in Lesotho as part of its proposed Country Strategy Paper for 2025-2030 to boost economic growth and industrial competitiveness. 

    During an official visit to Lesotho — the first by an African Development Bank President — Dr. Akinwumi Adesina met with His Majesty King Letsie III to discuss strengthening development partnerships and expanding the Bank’s investments in the country. 

    His Majesty expressed delight at the Bank President’s visit, viewing the mission as a reflection of the Bank and Adesina’s appreciation for Lesotho’s progress in improving people’s lives. 

    “With haste, we will ensure that the policies and incentives to accommodate the needs of and attract the private sector are in place, especially in healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing,” the King remarked. 

    King Letsie said he was confident that Adesina, whom he described as a ‘man of action,’ would help catalyze progress on the Bank’s strategic projects in Lesotho. 

    Adesina thanked King Letsie for his strong leadership role as the African Union Nutrition Champion since 2014, his advocacy for improved nutrition and food security on the continent — especially for women, adolescents, and children — and his passion for youth development. 

    The African Development Bank president commended His Majesty for his leadership on the  King Letsie III Just Energy Transition Fund, which aims to generate approximately 200 megawatts of power through private sector investments. 

    He also briefed King Letsie about the Bank’s new 2025-2030 Country strategy paper and planned investments of $331 million to support quality infrastructure, capacity building, energy, integration and interconnectivity, debt management and standards, and strengthening the office of the Prime Minister.  

    Referencing dwindling donor commitments globally, Dr. Adesina said, “Africa must prepare to engage more proactively with the private sector. Every challenge is an investor’s dream. Ultimately, capital, like water, will always find a receptive place to go.” 

    According to Adesina, the Bank has implemented 87 projects totaling $429 million since Lesotho joined the Bank in 1973.  

    “We have eight ongoing projects worth $60 million, and we look forward to significantly expanding our commitments,” Adesina said. 

    The Bank’s investment strategy for Lesotho will focus on several priority areas: 

    • Energy infrastructure, including electricity transmission lines connecting Lesotho to South Africa 
    • Agricultural development to enhance food security and rural livelihoods 
    • Climate resilience initiatives to address environmental challenges 
    • Digital transformation, including broadband expansion for digital financial inclusion and government service digitalization 
    • Water resource management, building on the success of the Lesotho Lowland Rural Water Supply Project 
    • Public financial management and debt management support 
    • Trade competitiveness enhancements through improved grades and standards for exports 

    The African Development Bank-led Lesotho Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project has delivered remarkable results: 190 kilometers of pipeline to distribution networks, water storage tanks with a total capacity of 3.48 million liters, and 166 public water points serving approximately 28,266 people across eight zones in Maseru and Berea districts. 

    Responding to King Letsie’s request, Dr. Adesina said the Bank will prioritize investments in primary healthcare centers across Lesotho.  

    “We will work on an integrated project that includes components of energy, a potential multi-partner $2.3 billion water transfer project from Lesotho through South Africa to Botswana, agro-value chains, and trade facilitation in Lesotho,” Adesina said after the meeting with King Letsie III. 

    The Bank is expected to support Lesotho in mobilizing approximately $260 million for the integrated water transfer project, which will supply 308 million cubic meters of water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use through a 700 km pipe system. The project has the potential to generate up to 22 MW of hydropower. 

    Speaking earlier, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Retselisitsoe Matlanyane indicated that as Lesotho’s energy supply will exceed domestic demand by the end of 2026, the country intends to build a substation to export excess power production to South Africa. She reiterated Lesotho’s commitment to private sector-friendly policies and engagement. 

    The minister highlighted the importance of primary healthcare and nutrition investments to help combat extreme stunting in several parts of the country.  

    King Letsie is the African Union-appointed African Leaders for Nutrition champion.  The initiative, spearheaded by the African Development Bank and championed by African leaders, works to galvanize political will and significant investments to end malnutrition on the continent. 

    Dr. Adesina also met with Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane; and the ministers of Foreign Affairs; Agriculture, Food Security & Nutrition; Natural Resources; Health; Communication, Science & Technology; and Education & Training. 

    The Bank’s delegation to Lesotho included its Executive Director for Lesotho, Dr. Nomfundo X. Ngwenya; Deputy Director General for Southern Africa, Moono Mupotola; and Senior Advisor to the President for Communication and Stakeholder Engagement, Dr. Victor Oladokun. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ethiopian Airlines Group and African Development Bank sign Letter of Intent for financing of world-class Abusera International Airport

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

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, March 25, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and Ethiopian Airlines Group have signed a Letter of Intent for the development of the East African nation’s planned Abusera International Airport Project. The $7.8 billion project aims to address increasing passenger and cargo demands, reinforce Ethiopia’s position as a leading aviation hub, and stimulate regional economic growth.  

    Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group Mesfin Tasew Bekele signed the Letter of Intent with African Development Bank Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo, at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan on Friday, 14 March. 

    Bekele was part of the Ethiopian delegation led by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide. Other members were Adamu Tadele, CFO for Ethiopian Airlines Group; Tiguist Fisseha, Senior Advisor to the Finance Minister; Abraham Tesfaye, Infrastructure Director for Ethiopian Airlines Group; and Berhanu Anbessa, Head of IFIs at the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance. 

    The new world-class international airport will be situated in Bishoftu, about 40 km from the current Addis-Ababa Bole International Airport.  

    Multinational transportation is key to improving interconnectedness and free movement between countries and contributes to regional integration, one of the Bank’s High Five priorities. The new Abusera International Airport will complement Ethiopia’s recently expanded Bole International Airport, which is expected to reach its annual 25 million passenger capacity limit soon. The new infrastructure will enhance Ethiopian Airlines’ role in improving intra-Africa connectivity by enabling a more extensive and efficient network, and strengthening connectivity between Africa and the rest of the world. 

    At a meeting with the delegation,  the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said, “I’m a great friend of Ethiopia, and of course, Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s pride, a symbol of excellence and resilience. The African Development Bank is fully committed to supporting this transformative flagship project, which will strengthen the continent’s aviation leadership and economic integration.”  

     “Today’s signing of the Letter of Intent for the new mega airport development project is yet another testament to AfDB’s commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s ambitious flagship air transport project that will not only reinforce Ethiopian Airlines’ competitive edge in passenger and cargo services, but also enhance Africa’s global air connectivity and integration, solidifying the continent’s aviation hub status,” said Finance Minister Shide. 

    Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest and most successful airline, is advancing its ambitious 2035 growth strategy, which emphasizes network expansion, infrastructure development, and human capital investment to enhance its global competitiveness. 

    In the last fiscal year, ending on 30 June 2024, the airline reported record revenues of $7.02 billion (over 402 billion Ethiopian Birr), reflecting a 14% year-on-year increase. It transported 17.1 million passengers, with 13.4 million on international routes and 3.7 million domestically.  

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Lists Particle Network (PARTI) with 150,000 USDT Prize Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announced the listing of Particle Network (PARTI) on both spot and futures markets, scheduled for March 25, 2025 (UTC). The launch on MEXC will be accompanied by an exciting Airdrop+ rewards program totaling 150,000 USDT.

    Particle Network is the Layer 1 blockchain that powers chain abstraction, seamlessly unifying users and liquidity across Web3. By introducing Universal Accounts, the project provides a single account and unified balance across all chains, coordinated and secured by Particle Chain, ensuring a frictionless experience in the entire Web3 ecosystem.

    MEXC has prepared an exclusive Airdrop+ event to mark the Particle Network (PARTI) listing, offering substantial rewards for both new and existing users, from March 24, 2025, 12:00 – April 05, 2025, 10:00 (UTC):
    Benefit 1: Deposit and share 60,000 USDT (New user exclusive)
    Benefit 2: Spot Challenge — Trade to share 20,000 USDT (For all users)
    Benefit 3: Futures Challenge — Trade to share 50,000 USDT in Futures bonus (For all users)
    Benefit 4: Invite new users and share 20,000 USDT (For all users)

    MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising web3 projects. In 2024, MEXC introduced 2,376 new tokens, with 1,716 of those being initial listings. According to the latest TokenInsight report, MEXC leads the industry with the highest number of spot listings at 461 and the fastest listing speed. Additionally, the exchange consistently adds new tokens in bi-weekly cycles, showcasing its exceptional ability to quickly capture market trends.

    Looking ahead, MEXC will continue to enhance its platform, offering advantages such as low fees, deep liquidity, a wide selection of trending tokens, and daily airdrops. This reaffirms MEXC’s user-centric approach, providing traders with early access to high-potential projects, generous rewards, and an optimal trading experience.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bcd5d255-ef2e-4eae-b8b5-d35ebce3134f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The 2025 budget has few savings and surprises but it also ignores climate change

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Bartos, Professor of Economics, University of Canberra

    By the standards of pre-election budgets, this one is surprisingly modest. There are only a handful of new revenue and spending initiatives. The Budget Paper 2 book, which contains new measures, is a slim document.

    In part, this is because many of the most significant new spending proposals have been announced already – support for more bulk billing, the Future Made in Australia program, funding for schools and pre-schools and the Housing Australia Future Fund.

    It can be hard to discern the new initiatives from the old. For example, the budget commits the government to support wage growth by “funding wage increases for aged care workers and early childhood educators” and “advocating for increases to award wages”. It will also ban non-compete clauses (contract provisions that hinder workers from moving between employers) for low- and middle-income workers.

    These should in theory significantly shift wages upwards. Yet the economic forecast for the wage price index barely moves – from 4.1% in 2023-24 to 3% in 2024-25 and 3.25% in 2025-26. That is because the forecasts had already built in assumptions on the impact of things like aged care and childcare wage rises – they aren’t new.

    The non-compete reform is a new initiative and over the longer term has the potential to improve wages as people move jobs. More importantly, it will improve flexibility in the labour market and improve productivity.

    Overall, the deficits are forecast to continue for the foreseeable future.

    Some more tax cuts on the way

    The one surprising element of the budget is tax cuts. In essence, they return some bracket creep to low- and middle-income earners for a couple of years, after which revenue estimates return to trend. Bracket creep refers to increases in tax revenues as taxpayers move into higher tax brackets.

    It is one of the reasons why governments have resisted calls to index the income tax brackets to inflation. Giving back bracket creep from time to time in the form of a tax cut, especially when an election looms, is more politically attractive.

    There were few savings initiatives. The main one was the old chestnut of more funding to the Australian Taxation Office for compliance.

    The Taxation Office receives an additional A$999 million over four years to combat tax avoidance including non-compliance, under reporting of income and illicit tobacco. This is expected to recoup $3.2 billion over five years, while increasing payments by $1.4 billion – some of the additional tax collected will go to GST payments to the states. So in net terms therefore this is also a modest saving.

    One thing to look for in every budget is the provision for “decisions taken but not yet announced”. This refers to money put aside in the budget for future announcements – such as election promises.

    It is not clear what the government might have planned. Revenue drops in 2025-26, but it climbs back up again in the following two years. Spending decisions include $323 million next year, which is relatively small change in the overall budget.

    For transparency, we should not have any undisclosed decisions but at least the ones in this budget are far from extravagant.

    Public service numbers

    On staffing in the public service, there has been a large increase since the government took office. There will be some 33,000 more public servants – the majority outside Canberra – in 2025-26 than in 2022-23. However, the rate of increase is slowing. Not all agencies have had staff increases in this budget.

    Nevertheless, the government has devoted ten pages to arguments for investing in the public service, and why the public service is a valuable resource. This is probably to emphasise one of the few points of difference between it and the opposition.

    The defence budget saw almost no change. The treasurer was asked in his budget lockup press conference why this was, given the uncertain geopolitical environment documented in the budget papers.

    Chalmers agreed “the world is a dangerous place right now” but pointed to increases in defence spending in previous budgets and argued these had positioned Australia to respond.

    One missing element of the budget is new spending to combat climate change. The threat of climate change to the budget estimates has grown significantly. This is acknowledged briefly with a half page in the budget’s “statement of risks” – “climate change is expected to have a significant impact on the budget”.

    However, that impact is not quantified – possibly because of “significant uncertainty”. Yes, there is uncertainty.

    But the same applies to other parts of the budget, including the international economy, which is discussed in much more depth. The climate change department is one of a handful that lose staff in this budget. It may take more severe disasters before it regains prominence in the budget papers.

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

    – ref. The 2025 budget has few savings and surprises but it also ignores climate change – https://theconversation.com/the-2025-budget-has-few-savings-and-surprises-but-it-also-ignores-climate-change-253026

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: At a glance: the 2025 federal budget

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Digital Storytelling Team, The Conversation, The Conversation

    What’s the theme?

    Many budget measures are aimed at easing cost of living. The headline announcement is tax cuts: everyone will get one, but not until July 1 2026. Other major spends are on Medicare, medicines and energy bill rebates. If this seems familiar, it’s because the government has already announced most of these measures before budget day.

    Your tax cut calculator

    Key announcements:

    Read the full analysis from our experts:

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

    – ref. At a glance: the 2025 federal budget – https://theconversation.com/at-a-glance-the-2025-federal-budget-252637

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: ALE launches Private 5G solution powered by Celona to expand IoT connectivity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New solution expands high quality connectivity in complex enterprise environments, large outdoor areas through seamless integration with ALE networking portfolio

    COLOMBES, France, and CAMPBELL, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, a leader in secure Enterprise networking and communication solutions is proud to announce the launch of its innovative Private 5G solution powered by Celona. This new turnkey solution seamlessly integrates with ALE’s OmniVista, OmniSwitch and OmniAccess Stellar networking portfolio, enabling secure and high quality connectivity across complex enterprise environments including large outdoor spaces.

    This strategic partnership with Celona represents a significant leap in enterprise-grade connectivity, designed to empower critical operations with unparalleled reliability, performance and security in challenging environments worldwide.

    Transforming IoT Connectivity in Demanding Environments

    The cutting-edge technology in ALE’s Private 5G solution is engineered for ultra-reliable connectivity in complex industrial settings such as manufacturing, refineries, logistics warehouses, and ports including airport apron/ramp areas. The Private 5G solution offers large-area wireless coverage, secure and reliable high-speed mobility, supporting real-time, critical industrial applications, leading to enhanced IoT and Industry 4.0 integration.

    This technology enables connecting next-generation IoT devices and applications that demand ultra-low latency and deterministic performance in enterprises pioneering the use of state-of-the-art devices and technologies, including autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), robotics, HD video analytics, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) applications, all of which will benefit from robust wireless connectivity.

    Unmatched Enterprise Connectivity with ALE’s End-to-End Solution

    ALE is integrating Private 5G with its existing solutions, such as OmniVista Cirrus, OmniSwitch LAN, and OmniAccess Stellar WLAN, to deliver reliable augmented coverage across industrial sites, offices and campuses. This approach ensures end-to-end secure Zero Touch Network Access and high-performance connectivity for seamless operations and advanced applications.

    Private 5G powered by Celona delivers on the promise of strong security with robust SIM authentication and Celona’s patented MicroSlicing™ and Aerloc technologies, which ensure reliable service and application-level SLAs, policy enforcement, and zero trust security for business-critical applications.

    Stephan Robineau, EVP Network Business Division, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, comments:

    “This exciting partnership with Celona offers the best Private 5G wireless solution purpose-built for enterprise environments. The integration into our end-to-end portfolio further enhances our ability to provide enterprise-wide connectivity with unmatched reliability and performance.

    Furthermore, the advanced Private 5G technology aligns perfectly with our security-first approach and our vertical strategy, enabling us to meet the unique demands of industries like energy and utilities, transportation and the manufacturing industry.”

    Rajeev Shah, co-founder and CEO, Celona, said:

    “Our partnership with Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is pivotal, and a testament to what can happen when two technology leaders come together. ALE has a rich history of innovation that resulted in world-class solutions. At Celona, after years of research and development with a focus on designing for the enterprise, our private 5G solution is best-in-class, highly secure, and easy to deploy and manage. It addresses wireless connectivity challenges in complex environments where some businesses still rely on pen and paper. To say this is a gamechanger is truly an understatement.”

    About Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise

    Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise provides secure networking and communication solutions which enable organizations and industries to accelerate their operational efficiencies and competitiveness. In the Cloud. On Premises. Hybrid.  

    All solutions have built-in security, limited environmental impact and are fully compliant with data protection requirements of organizations and individuals at a national sovereignty and international industry level.   

    Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise focus on providing sustainable technology solutions for the good of the environment, people, and business. 

    Over 100 years of innovation have made the company a trusted advisor to more than a million customers across the world. With headquarters in France and 3,400 business partners worldwide, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise achieves an effective global reach with a local focus. 

    al-enterprise.com | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

    About Celona

    Based in Silicon Valley, Celona is a pioneer and leading innovator of enterprise private wireless solutions. The company developed the industry’s first 5G LAN system, a turnkey private 5G solution that enables enterprises to address their growing needs for secure and reliable wireless connectivity for critical business applications. Celona 5G LAN has been deployed by a wide range of global customers across industries. To date, the company has raised over $135 million in venture funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, NTT Ventures, Cervin Ventures, DigitalBridge and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information, please visit celona.io.

    Media Contacts

    Carine Bowen, Global press Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise
    press@al-enterprise.com

    Janet Brumfield, IdealPR+ for Celona
    janet@idealprplus.com
    +1 614-582-9636

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/75ea0569-8ee5-404e-bf1b-d1d1e75744d2

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues SEK 500 million tap under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    25 March 2025 at 10:00 am (EET)

    Municipality Finance issues SEK 500 million tap under its MTN programme

    On 26 March 2025 Municipality Finance Plc issues a new tranche in an amount of SEK 500 million to an existing series of notes issued on 21 February 2025. With the new tranche, the aggregate nominal amount of the notes is SEK 1.5 billion. The maturity date of the benchmark is 21 February 2028. The notes bear interest at a floating rate equal to 3-month Stibor plus 150 bps per annum.

    The notes are issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and the final terms of the notes are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

    MuniFin has applied for the notes to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 26 March 2025. The existing notes in the series are admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

    Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) act as the Dealer for the issue of the notes.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The owners of the company include Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the State of Finland. The Group’s balance sheet is over EUR 53 billion.

    MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, joint county authorities, corporate entities under the control of the above-mentioned organisations, and affordable social housing. Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic, but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Vect-Horus appoints Carole Imbert as Chief Financial Officer to further reinforce its executive management team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                                                            PRESS RELEASE

    • Brings extensive experience in investor relations and financial research and analysis
    • Will drive financial strategy to support internal pipeline and partnerships

    Marseille, France, March 25, 2025 – Vect-Horus, a privately held biotechnology company that designs and develops molecular vectors facilitating the targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules and imaging agents, today announced the appointment of Carole Imbert as Chief Financial Officer and to the Executive Committee. 

    Carole Imbert brings a wealth of experience in financial management and structuring. Most recently at Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, she served as Head of Financial and ESG Research for Arkea Investment Services, overseeing the asset management divisions of Schelcher Prince Gestion and Federal Finance Gestion. She has also held senior positions as a Financial Analyst at Natexis, CPR, and Exane and as Head of Investor Relations and Financial Communication at both BIC and Eurazeo. She holds degrees from the Institut Supérieur de Gestion and the Société Française des Analystes Financiers.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Carole to our management team. Her extensive background in financial strategy and investor relations will be complementary to our existing skilled team, and an invaluable asset to drive our growth and secure a strong financial position to underpin development of our vectors that facilitate targeting and delivery of therapeutics,” said Alexandre Tokay, co-founder and CEO of Vect-Horus. “Carole’s leadership will be crucial in driving our financial strategy forward, based on our proprietary VECTrans® technology both to develop an internal pipeline of products and through partnerships.”

    This is a further reinforcement of the experienced Vect-Horus leadership and will drive forward the company’s financial strategy. It follows the recent appointments of two new Board members: Jerome Berger, with vast expertise in strategy, finance, and venture capital in the technology and life sciences sectors, and Jean-Christophe Dantonel, who has more than two decades of profound expertise in biological sciences, project management, and clinical research.

    Carole Imbert said: “I am excited to join Vect-Horus to collaborate with a very skilled team at this pivotal moment in the company’s journey, with an impressive technology and pipeline and a dozen collaborations, including three strategic licensing agreements with major pharmaceutical companies. I am looking forward to strengthen the financial strategy of the Company to ensure smooth continuity and support Vect-Horus’ mission to enhance transport of therapeutics across biological barriers.”

    About Vect-Horus

    Vect-Horus designs and develops vectors that facilitate targeting and delivery of therapeutic or imaging agents to organs, including the brain, and to tumors. Founded in 2005, Vect-Horus is a spin-off of the Institute for Neurophysiopathology (INP, UMR7051, CNRS and Aix Marseille University), formerly headed by Dr Michel Khrestchatisky, co-founder of the company. Vect-Horus has 42 employees (most in R&D).

    To learn more about Vect-Horus, visit www.vect-horus.com.

    Contacts

        For more information, please contact Vect-Horus

        Emmanuelle Bettendorf, BD & Alliance Management,

        Vect-Horus contact@vect-horus.com

        Media Relations

        Sophie Baumont, Cohesion Bureau – sophie.baumont@cohesionbureau.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Financial cyberthreats in 2024

    Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

    Headline: Financial cyberthreats in 2024

    As more and more financial transactions are conducted in digital form each year, financial threats comprise a large piece of the global cyberthreat landscape. That’s why Kaspersky researchers analyze the trends related to these threats and share an annual report highlighting the main dangers to corporate and consumer finances. This report contains key trends and statistics on financial phishing, mobile and PC banking malware, as well as offers actionable recommendations to bolster security measures and effectively mitigate emerging threats

    Methodology

    In this report, we present an analysis of financial cyberthreats in 2024, focusing on banking Trojans and phishing pages that target online banking, shopping accounts, cryptocurrency wallets and other financial assets. To gain an understanding of the financial threat landscape, we analyzed anonymized data on malicious activities detected on the devices of Kaspersky security product users and consensually provided to us through the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN). Note that for mobile banking malware, we retrospectively revised the 2023 numbers to provide more accurate statistics. We also changed the methodology for PC banking malware by removing obsolete families that no longer use Trojan banker functionality, hence the sharp drop in numbers against 2023.

    Key findings

    Phishing

    • Banks were the most popular lure in 2024, accounting for 42.58% of financial phishing attempts.
    • Amazon Online Shopping was mimicked by 33.19% of all phishing and scam pages targeting online store users in 2024.
    • Cryptocurrency phishing saw an 83.37% year-over-year increase in 2024, with 10.7 million detections compared to 5.84 million in 2023.

    PC malware

    • The number of users affected by financial malware for PCs dropped from 312,000 in 2023 to 199,000 in 2024.
    • ClipBanker, Grandoreiro and CliptoShuffler were the prevalent malware families, together targeting over 89% of affected users.
    • Consumers remained the primary target of financial cyberthreats, accounting for 73.69% of attacks.

    Mobile malware

    • Nearly 248,000 users encountered mobile banking malware in 2024 – almost 3.6 times more than in 2023 when 69,000 users were affected.
    • Mamont was the most active Android malware family, accounting for 36.7% of all mobile banker attacks.
    • Users in Turkey were the most targeted.

    Financial phishing

    In 2024, online fraudsters continued to lure users to phishing and scam pages that mimicked the websites of popular brands and financial organizations. The attackers employed social engineering techniques to trick victims into sharing their financial data or making a payment on a fake page.

    We analyzed phishing detections separately for users of our home and business products. Pages mimicking web services accounted for the largest slice of the business pie at 26.56%. The percentage was lower for home users (10.34%), but home users were more likely to be targeted by pages using banks and global internet portals, social media and IMs, payment systems, and online games as a lure. Delivery company scams accounted for 15.17% of attacks targeting businesses, but did not register in the top ten for home users.

    TOP 10 organizations mimicked by phishing and scam pages that were blocked on business users’ devices, 2024 (download)

    TOP 10 organizations mimicked by phishing and scam pages that were blocked on home users’ devices, 2024 (download)

    Overall, among the three major financial phishing categories, bank users were targeted most in 2024 (42.58%), rising a little over 4 p.p. on the previous year. Online stores were of relatively less interest to the fraudsters at 38.15% dropping from 41.65% in 2023. Payment systems accounted for the remaining 19.27%.

    Distribution of financial phishing pages by category, 2024 (download)

    Online shopping scams

    The most popular online brand target for fraudsters was Amazon (33.19%). This should not come as a surprise given Amazon is one of the world’s largest online retailers. With 2.41 billion average monthly visitors and $447.5 billion in annual web sales, up 8.6% in 2024, there is every chance Amazon will retain its dubious honor into 2025.

    Apple’s share of attacks dropped nearly 3 p.p. from last year’s figure to 15.68%, while Netflix scams grew slightly to 15.99%. Meanwhile, fraudsters’ interest in Alibaba increased, its share going up from 3.17% in 2023 to 7.95% in 2024.

    Examples of phishing sites that mimic Amazon, Netflix, Apple and Alibaba

    Last year, Louis Vuitton accounted for a whopping 5.52% of all attacks. However, the luxury brand completely slipped out of the top ten in 2024, along with Italian eyewear company Luxottica. Instead, sportswear giant Adidas and Russian e-commerce platform Ozon entered the list with 1.39% and 2.75% respectively. eBay (4.35%), Shopify (3.82%), Spotify (2.84%) and Mercado Libre (1.86%) all stayed in the top ten, with marginal differences from the previous year.

    TOP 10 online shopping brands mimicked by phishing and scam pages, 2024 (download)

    When looking at fake website content, free prizes and offers that were a little too good to be true once again proved a popular tactic used by scammers. However tempting they may be, most likely, the victim will be the one who pays. Often scammers require “commissions” to get the prize or ask user to pay for delivery. After receiving the money, they disappear.

    Examples of scam pages offering free prizes

    In other cases, precious gifts are used by phishers to trick the user into giving out their credentials. The scheme below offers the victim an Amazon gift card to obtain which they should enter an OTP code on a phishing website. Although such codes are temporary, the scammers may use them to log in to victim’s account or perform a fraudulent transaction as soon as it is entered into the fake form.

    A phishing scheme aimed at getting OTP codes

    Fraudsters often trick users into “verifying” their accounts by sending fake security alerts or urgent messages claiming suspicious activity. Victims are directed to a counterfeit page resembling platforms like eBay, where entering data (for example, credentials, payment data or documents) hands them over to scammers.

    An example of a phishing site that mimics eBay

    Another common tactic involves creating fake storefronts or seller profiles on marketplaces, listing numerous products at seemingly irresistible prices. Shoppers drawn in by the deals unknowingly provide payment details, only to receive nothing in return.

    An example of a scam site that mimics an online marketplace

    While many pages mimicking online stores target shoppers, there are others that are designed to collect business account credentials. For example, below you can see a phishing page targeting users registered on the Amazon Brand Registry platform, which provides businesses with a range of brand-building and intellectual property protection tools.

    An example of a phishing page targeting Amazon brand accounts

    Payment system phishing

    Payment systems were mimicked in 19.27% of financial phishing attacks detected and blocked by Kaspersky products in 2024 – almost the same percentage as in 2023. Once again, PayPal was the most targeted, but its share of attacks fell from 54.73% to 37.53%. Attacks targeting Mastercard went in the opposite direction, nearly doubling from 16.58% in 2023 to 30.54%. American Express, Qiwi and Cielo are all new entrants into the top five, replacing Visa, Interac and PayPay.

    TOP 5 payment systems mimicked by phishing and scam pages, 2024 (download)

    Cryptocurrency scams

    In 2024, the number of phishing and scam attacks relating to cryptocurrencies continued to grow. Kaspersky anti-phishing technologies prevented 10,706,340 attempts to follow a cryptocurrency-themed phishing link, which was approximately 83.37% higher than the 2023 figure of 5,838,499 (which itself was 16% bigger than the previous year’s). As cryptocurrencies continue to grow, this number is only ever going to get larger.

    Financial PC malware

    In 2024, the decline in users affected by financial PC malware continued. On the one hand, people continue to rely on mobile devices to manage their finances. On the other hand, some of the most prominent malware families that were initially designed as bankers had not used this functionality for years, so we excluded them from these statistics. As a result, the number of affected users dropped significantly from 312,453 in 2023 to 199,204 in 2024.

    Changes in the number of unique users attacked by banking malware in 2024 (download)

    Key financial malware actors

    The notable strains of banking Trojans in 2024 included ClipBanker (62.9%), Grandoreiro (17.1%), CliptoShuffler (9.5%) and BitStealer (1.3%). Most of these Trojans specifically target crypto assets. However, Grandoreiro is a full-fledged banking Trojan that targeted 1700 banks and 276 crypto wallets in 45 countries and territories around the globe in 2024.

    Name %*
    ClipBanker 62.9
    Grandoreiro 17.1
    CliptoShuffler 9.5
    BitStealer 1.3

    * Unique users who encountered this malware family as a percentage of all users attacked by financial malware

    Geography of PC banking malware attacks

    To highlight the countries where financial malware was most prevalent in 2024, we calculated the share of users who encountered banking Trojans in the total number attacked by any type of malware in the country. The following statistics indicate where users are most likely to encounter financial malware.

    As in 2023, the highest share of banking Trojans was registered in Afghanistan, where it rose from 6% to 9% in 2024. Turkmenistan was next (as in 2023), where the figure rose from 5.2% to 8.8%, and Tajikistan was in third place (again), where the figure rose from 3.7% to 6.2%.

    TOP 20 countries by share of attacked users

    Country* %**
    Afghanistan 9.2
    Turkmenistan 8.8
    Tajikistan 6.2
    Syria 2.9
    Yemen 2.6
    Kazakhstan 2.5
    Switzerland 2.3
    Kyrgyzstan 2.2
    Uzbekistan 2.1
    Mexico 1.6
    Angola 1.5
    Mauritania 1.5
    Nicaragua 1.5
    Guatemala 1.3
    Argentina 1.1
    Paraguay 1.1
    Burundi 1.1
    Bolivia 1
    Uruguay 1
    Belarus 0.9

    * Excluded are countries and territories with relatively few (under 10,000) Kaspersky users.
    ** Unique users whose computers were targeted by financial malware as a percentage of all Kaspersky users who encountered malware in the country.

    Types of attacked users

    Attacks on consumers accounted for 73.69% of all financial malware attacks in 2024, up from 61.2% in 2023.

    Financial malware attack distribution by type (corporate vs consumer), 2022–2023 (download)

    Mobile banking malware

    The statistics for 2023 provided in this section were retrospectively revised and may not coincide with the data from the previous year’s report.

    In 2024, the number of users who encountered mobile banking Trojans grew 3.6 times compared to 2023: from 69,200 to 247,949. As can be seen in the graph below, the malicious activity increased dramatically in the second half of the year.

    Number of Android users attacked by banking malware by month, 2022–2023 (download)

    The most active Trojan-Banker family in 2024 was Mamont (36.70%). This malware first appeared at the end of 2023 and is distributed mostly in Russia and the CIS. Its distribution schemes are ranging from ages-old “Is that you in the picture?” scams to complex social engineering plots with fake stores and delivery tracking apps.

    Verdict %* 2023 %* 2024 Difference in p.p. Change in ranking
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Mamont.bc 0.00 36.70 +36.70
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Agent.rj 0.00 11.14 +11.14
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Mamont.da 0.00 4.36 +4.36
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Coper.a 0.51 3.58 +3.07 +30
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.UdangaSteal.b 0.00 3.17 +3.17
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Agent.eq 21.79 3.10 -18.69 -4
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Mamont.cb 0.00 3.05 +3.05
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Bian.h 23.13 3.02 -20.11 -7
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Faketoken.z 0.68 2.96 +2.29 +18
    Trojan-Banker.AndroidOS.Coper.c 0.00 2.84 +2.84

    * Share of unique users who encountered this malware as a percentage of all users of Kaspersky mobile security solutions who encountered banking threats

    The Bian.h variant (3.02%) that prevailed in 2023 dropped to eighth place, losing over 20 p.p., and several more new samples entered the ranking: Agent.rj (11.14%) at the second place, UdangaSteal.b (3.17%) and Coper.c (2.84%).

    Geography of the attacked mobile users

    Same as 2023, Turkey was the number one country targeted by mobile banking malware. The share of users encountering financial threats there grew by 2.7 p.p., reaching 5.68%. Malicious activity also increased in Indonesia (2.71%), India (2.42%), Azerbaijan (0.88%), Uzbekistan (0.63%) and Malaysia (0.29%). In Spain (0.73%), Saudi Arabia (0.63%), South Korea (0.30%) and Italy (0.24%), it decreased.

    Country* %**
    Turkey 5.68
    Indonesia 2.71
    India 2.42
    Azerbaijan 0.88
    Spain 0.73
    Saudi Arabia 0.63
    Uzbekistan 0.63
    South Korea 0.30
    Malaysia 0.29
    Italy 0.24

    * Countries and territories with relatively few (under 25,000) Kaspersky mobile security users have been excluded from the rankings.
    ** Unique users attacked by mobile banking Trojans as a percentage of all Kaspersky mobile security users in the country.

    Conclusion

    In 2024, financial cyberthreats continued to evolve, with cybercriminals deploying phishing, malware and social engineering techniques to exploit individuals and businesses alike. The rise in cryptocurrency-related scams and mobile financial malware highlights the need for continuous vigilance and proactive cybersecurity measures, including multi-factor authentication, user awareness training and advanced threat detection solutions. As the digital finance landscape expands, staying ahead of emerging threats remains critical.

    To protect your devices and finance-related accounts:

    • Use multifactor authentication, strong unique passwords and other secure authentication tools.
    • Do not follow links in suspicious messages, and double-check web pages before entering your secrets, be it credentials or banking card details.
    • Download apps only form trusted sources, such as official app marketplaces.
    • Use reliable security solutions capable of detecting and stopping both malware and phishing attacks.

    To protect your business:

    • Update your software in a timely manner. Pay particular attention to security patches.
    • Improve your employees’ security awareness on a regular basis, and encourage safe practices, such as proper account protection.
    • Implement robust monitoring and endpoint security.
    • Implement strict security policies for users with access to financial assets, such as default deny policies and network segmentation.
    • Use threat intelligence services from trusted sources to stay aware of the latest threats and cybercrime trends.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Oxfam: Humanitarian operations in Gaza severely hampered; famine risks increasing

    Source: Oxfam –

    Restoring ceasefire deal vital as death toll hits 50,000 and continues to rise amid Israeli airstrikes, aid and power blockades and renewed mass forced displacements 

    Oxfam and partners’ operations have been severely hampered as Israel’s renewed military assault and ground offensive on Gaza continues into its 7th day. 

    Oxfam is calling for a renewed ceasefire and for Israel to lift its 23-day siege which is again blocking aid supplies and increasing famine risks for desperate civilians. Israel imposed a complete blockade 23 days ago and cut off electricity to Gaza a few days later. 

    Israeli authorities are denying entry to trucks loaded with 63,000 metric tons of food for 1.1 million people. Operations have been forced to stop in vital areas such as food security and livelihood, as well as hygiene promotion, and essential repair work to damaged water infrastructure. 

    “For the past 535 days, Israel has been systematically weaponizing life-saving aid, inflicting collective punishment upon the population of Gaza. The denial of food, water, fuel and electricity is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Many within the international community are enabling this by their silence, inaction and complicity.” 

    Bushra Khalidi, Policy Lead

    Oxfam Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel

    Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s OPT Policy Lead, said: 

    “During the 42-day ceasefire families in Gaza could finally fall asleep knowing their loved ones would still be beside them when they woke up. Even though aid that entered was not enough—far from enough—it was something. The price of food stabilized. Supermarkets reopened. Bakeries began running again. Many people even went to their homes or what was left of it, and tried to repair and rebuild, however little they could.” 

    Humanitarian agencies were able to mount operations that saw an average of more than 4,000 trucks per week entering Gaza despite Israeli authorities initially only partially opening the crossings and denying much of the urgently needed reconstruction materials. Oxfam reached almost 200,000 people with essential relief. 

    Israel’s renewed bombardment of residential areas, including Jabalia and Khan Younis, has killed almost 700 people, including at least 200 children since March 18. Israeli authorities have issued new mass forced displacement orders, forcing around 120,000 Palestinians to flee across at least 37% of Gaza. These orders are causing panic and chaos in the absence of anywhere safe in Gaza.  

    Oxfam says humanitarian operations have been gravely hindered by the absence of guarantees of safety for aid workers moving around Gaza. 

    Oxfam and its partners say their storage facilities containing food parcels are severely depleted. Israeli authorities have denied access to Oxfam shipments of six desalination units and seven trucks of water and sanitation infrastructure, up to 85% of which has been destroyed by Israel’s bombing campaign. 

    “Oxfam, through its partners has been able to initiate emergency water trucking across the Gaza Strip, and are maintaining some other aid programs, such as multi-purpose cash transfers, despite the severe challenges that all humanitarian workers now face around lack of protection,” said Khalidi. 

    “For the past 535 days, Israel has been systematically weaponizing life-saving aid, inflicting collective punishment upon the population of Gaza. The denial of food, water, fuel and electricity is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Many within the international community are enabling this by their silence, inaction and complicity.” 

    Oxfam’s health partner in Gaza, Juzoor for Health and Social Development, had its center in Jabalia destroyed in an airstrike on March 18. It had been serving over 1,000 patients daily. Dr Umaiyeh Khammash, Director of Juzoor, said: “Every airstrike that hits, threatens the lives and safety of our dedicated staff and the patients they serve. This center is not just a building; it’s the heartbeat of healthcare for countless families here. Without it, many will lose access to crucial medical care.”  

    In another attack yesterday (March 23), three sewage operators from the Abasan Al Kabira municipality working with Oxfam’s partner Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) were killed while performing their duties when their clearly- marked truck was destroyed in an attack by Israeli military. 

    A renewed ceasefire must be permanent and accompanied by the safe return of Israeli hostages and illegally detained Palestinian prisoners. Israel must provide unfettered aid at scale. Oxfam said governments must stop transferring arms, while the international community must enforce international law. We reiterate our call for justice and accountability for all those affected.   

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Survey finds adult social care workers have pride in their role

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    That’s according to the latest Social Work and Wider Workforce Health Checks, annual surveys which assess the health and wellbeing of social workers and other frontline practitioners within Adult Social Care.

    They found that practitioners feel supported by learning and development opportunities and by good quality, regular supervision which helps them to ensure they are providing the right support to adults in the city, while also being able to discuss their own wellbeing.

    A report due to go to Adult Scrutiny Panel today (Tuesday 25 March, 2025) also shows that, once again, the majority of staff across the service have a strong sense of pride in the job that they do – and would recommend the council as an employer to their friends and family.

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “I would like to extend my thanks for the fantastic work all of our staff in Adult Social Care do for people in our city.

    “Wolverhampton continues to be a place where social care practitioners and social workers can make a real difference to the lives of adults with care and support needs, and carers.

    “We have actions already in place to further support our social workers and wider workforce this coming year. However, we will continue to offer regular opportunities for staff to give their feedback on what is working well and also where we can improve as this is an ongoing open dialogue that does not have to wait for the next annual survey.”

    For more information about social work jobs available with the City of Wolverhampton Council, please visit Wolverhampton Social Work Jobs.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Join community sessions to shine spotlight on local issues

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The Love Your Community sessions give residents the chance to meet with representatives from Wolverhampton Police, the City of Wolverhampton Council, Wolverhampton’s Anti Social Behaviour team and more, and to share information about issues and activities in their neighbourhoods.

    Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Digital and Community, said: “These sessions are an important forum for residents to meet with organisations and discuss the priorities for their neighbourhoods – and how we can all work together to deliver on these.

    “Please come along to find out what’s happening in your area, tell us what’s important for your neighbourhood, help improve your local spaces, connect with your neighbours and businesses, and speak with police, councillors and community services.”

    Chief Superintendent Richard Fisher of Wolverhampton Police added: “The Love Your Community events are an integral part of the work of the neighbourhood police teams, community safety partners and local people to address concerns and issues in the community.

    “These sessions provide an opportunity to outline clear shared ownership for local priorities and help to increase collective care for what happens in our communities.”

    Love Your Community drop ins are held for each ward on a regular basis. The next are as follows:

    • Ettingshall South and Spring Vale, Monday 31 March, 4pm to 6pm, Lanesfield Methodist Church WV4 6PG
    • Oxley, Tuesday 1 April, 6pm to 8pm, Rakegate Methodist Church, Renton Grove WV10 6XG
    • Wednesfield South, Thursday 3 April, 4pm to 6pm, Wednesfield Community Centre WV11 1XT
    • Blakenhall, Tuesday 8 April, 4pm to 6pm, Lakshmi’s, Dudley Road WV2 3DT
    • Tettenhall, Thursday 10 April, 6pm to 8pm, Wolverhampton Cricket Club, Danescourt Road WV6 9BJ
    • St Peter’s and Park, Tuesday 15 April, 6pm to 8pm, Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street WV1 4AN
    • Low Hill, Fallings Park and Bushbury, Thursday 17 April, 6pm to 8pm, Low Hill Community Centre, Kempthorne Park WV10 9JJ
    • East Park, Wednesday 23 April, 4pm to 6pm, Eastfield Community Centre WV1 2QY
    • Heath Town, Tuesday 29 April, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, Hope Centre, Ling House WV10 0HH
    • Wednesfield North, Wednesday 30 April, 4pm to 6pm, The Hub at Ashmore Park WV11 2LH
    • Merry Hill, Wednesday 30 April, 6pm to 8pm, Swanmore Centre, Swanmore Close WV4 7JY
    • Bilston South, Thursday 1 May, 4pm to 6pm, St Martin’s Church, Bradley WV14 8PF
    • Graiseley, Thursday 1 May, 6pm to 8pm, St Chad’s Community Centre, Owen Road WV3 0HT
    • Ettingshall North, Tuesday 6 May, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, The Saplings, Parkfield Road WV4 6EL
    • Penn, Thursday 8 May, 4pm to 6pm, Penn Library, Coalway Avenue WV3 7LT
    • Bilston North, Monday 12 May, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, Bilston College, Wellington Road WV14 6BT

    For more details, please visit eventbrite or email safer@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Personalized Cancer Vaccines Clinical Trials Market Opportunity Technology Platform Insight

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Delhi, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Personalized Cancer Vaccine Market Opportunity & Clinical Trials Outlook 2025 Report Highlights & Findings:

    • Commercially Approved Personalized Cancer Vaccine: Provenge
    • Provenge Patent , Price & Dosage Insight
    • Global Clinical Research Trends By Region & Indication
    • Insight On More Than 18 Personalized Cancer Vaccines In Clinical Trials
    • Personalized Cancer Vaccines Clinical Insight By Developer, Indication & Phase
    • Insight On Key Personalized Cancer Vaccines Proprietary Development Platforms
    • Competitive Landscape

    Download Report:  https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-personalized-cancer-vaccine-clinical-trials

    Personalized cancer vaccines represent a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment, leveraging the body’s immune system to fight cancer more precisely. Unlike traditional therapies that target general aspects of cancer cells, these vaccines are designed to recognize and destroy tumors that are unique to each patient. This groundbreaking shift in oncology focuses on exploiting the genetic makeup of a patient’s specific cancer to craft a tailored treatment.

    At the heart of personalized cancer vaccines lies the concept of neoantigens mutated proteins found in cancer cells that are not present in normal tissues. The process begins with a tumor biopsy and genetic sequencing to identify mutations driving the cancer. Sophisticated algorithms then predict which neoantigens will trigger a strong immune response. A vaccine is created, often using mRNA or peptides, and administered to stimulate T-cells that recognize and attack cancer cells. This approach primes the immune system to fight cancer more effectively and creates long-term immunity, offering a proactive treatment strategy.

    This personalized approach to cancer treatment is particularly promising for cancers with high mutation rates, such as melanoma and lung cancer. Results from the Phase 2b KEYNOTE-942 study demonstrated the potential of combining mRNA-4157 (V940), an mRNA-based cancer vaccine with the checkpoint inhibitors Keytruda in enhancing the immune response in melanoma patients. The 2.5 year recurrence free survival rate for the combination was 74.8%, compared to 55.6% for Keytruda alone, showing significant benefits across various subgroups. These findings demonstrate the power of personalized cancer vaccines to not only treat but potentially prevent recurrence by enabling the immune system to recognize and eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

    Despite their potential, there are challenges that need to be addressed in the development of personalized cancer vaccines. The production of these vaccines is time-consuming, and the precision required to predict the right neoantigens is not yet perfect. Not all mutations are immunogenic meaning they may not always provoke the desired immune response—which can limit the effectiveness of the vaccine. Furthermore, the process of sequencing and producing a personalized vaccine for each patient can be resource-intensive, making it a less accessible option for some.

    Ongoing research is addressing these challenges, with clinical trials and new technologies driving progress in the field. For example, intratumoral injections, where the vaccine is directly injected into the tumor, and nanoparticle carriers, which deliver the vaccine more efficiently, are showing promise in enhancing the vaccine’s effectiveness. As of early 2025, numerous candidates are in Phase I and II clinical trials, suggesting that personalized cancer vaccines are steadily advancing toward becoming a mainstream treatment.

    The future of personalized cancer vaccines also lies in their combination with other therapies, such as existing immunotherapies. Combining these vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors and other treatments could amplify the immune response, offering even greater potential for tumor control and long-term remission. Early-stage cancers or cases with minimal residual disease may particularly benefit from this approach, as the immune system is most effective at preventing recurrence when the cancer burden is low.

    In conclusion, personalized vaccines are poised to redefine cancer therapy landscape, offering a tailored, biology driven solution to cancer treatment. While challenges remain, the progress made so far both in terms of clinical trials and technology suggests that this innovative approach could soon become a standard part of cancer care, transforming the way we fight this complex and often devastating disease.

    The MIL Network –