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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Securing the future of aviation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Speech

    Securing the future of aviation

    Secretary of State for Transport outlines next steps for modernising the aviation sector at the AirportsUK annual dinner.

    Good evening, everyone, and thank you Karen for inviting me tonight (18 March 2025). 

    I know better than to stand between people and their dinner, so rest assured I will keep my remarks brief.

    And despite this being my second aviation speech in less than a month, you’ll be glad to know I haven’t run out of things to say. I haven’t even exhausted my best material about feedstocks and revenue certainty mechanisms – so brace yourselves.

    But, seriously, it really is a pleasure to be here. I hope you feel, as I do, that these are exciting times for your sector, with much to focus on in 2025 and beyond.

    But let me start with the remarkable year you’ve just had. Bristol exceeding 10 million annual passengers for the first time. Or the busiest year on record for Manchester and Stansted. All told, passenger levels at UK airports were 7% higher in 2024 than the previous year.

    I know none of this happens by accident. Much is down to the changes you’ve made to the passenger experience. The technology you’re implementing. And the investments you’re making to increase capacity.

    Looking longer term, it’s clear this is a trend, not an unusual year. In fact, everything points to a record-breaking 2025 – and it’s easy to see why.

    The world has never been more interconnected. The desire for travel never stronger. Global forecasts show a near doubling of passengers and cargo in the next 20 years  

    So the demand is there. It’s growing. And if we don’t seize it, we not only risk being outpaced by European competitors, but we will be on the wrong side of public aspirations.

    Obviously, I’m preaching to the converted here. But it is brilliant that, right across our airports, we’re seeing palpable optimism for the future.  

    Heathrow’s £2.3 billion investment to overhaul its infrastructure. The best ever financial results for Newcastle, ahead of a £17 million investment to resurface its runway and taxiway. And European Cargo’s decision to choose Cardiff as its second UK base – with regular flights to China.

    But these impacts aren’t just felt within the industry, but outside too. Take Leeds Bradford. Where plans to upgrade its terminal will see a £940 million boost to the local economy, creating thousands of new jobs.

    These investments reveal airports not only as hubs for travel, but hubs for growth – driving jobs, creating opportunity and facilitating the trade which underpins our way of life.

    Now more than ever, you need a government that recognises this. That’s why we see airports as a crucial pillar of our Plan for Change. And it’s why we’ve  acted, and acted quickly, across 3 areas – starting with expansion. 

    It’s no secret that long ignored capacity issues in the south-east, has meant some of our major airports are now bursting at the seams.

    And yet – when it came to expansion – too many people stuck their heads in the sand. It left the industry in a perpetual holding pattern, with decisions circling around Whitehall for years, waiting for a clear signal. 

    Earlier this year, the Chancellor gave that signal – taking the brakes off growth by welcoming plans for a third runway at Heathrow. Britain’s first full-length runway in nearly 25 years. 

    Now, my job has to be balancing the economic benefits of expansion with our social and environmental commitments.

    That underpinned my announcement a few weeks ago on Gatwick, where I set a clear path for expansion if certain conditions are met.

    And, of course, I’ll be making an announcement on Luton very shortly.

    But while I cannot go into any more details tonight – let me say this. I will never accept the false trade off that pits growing aviation against protecting our environment. I honestly believe we can, and must, do both. And how we do that is already being answered – by many in this room.

    Firstly, we cannot hope for quieter, cleaner and greener flights if our most critical piece of infrastructure is stuck in the past.

    Modernising our airspace will create more efficient flight paths, ensure quicker climbs and smoother descents, and help meet our commitments to noise and emission reduction.  

    So, I was grateful for the views you shared on the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) – the body that will drive this work. And you’ll have heard that the Chancellor has now given the green light. Not just for a new UKADS but also to reviewing key processes behind modernising our airspace, and to an Airspace Design Support Fund to deliver faster progress.

    We are now working with NATS on the shared goal that UKADS will be up and running this year. 

    Of course, to make progress on this critical reform agenda, we will rely heavily on your support and collaboration. Without that, we cannot maintain the pace we need. So I’m pleased that so many of you are already working constructively with airlines and local communities on your proposals.

    Alongside this, we must ramp up work on reducing emissions. Green flight isn’t only essential for the industry, it’s existential.

    Of course, sustainable aviation fuels will play a major role. It’s why we’ve signed the SAF Mandate into law.

    It’s why we’ve now launched a consultation into a price guarantee for UK SAF producers and investors. And it’s why we’ve backed homegrown SAF projects to the tune of £63 million via the Advanced Fuel Fund.  

    But SAF isn’t the only piece to this puzzle. Lighter wings and more efficient engines will play their part. As will new forms of zero-emission aircraft and supporting infrastructure.

    Many of you have also set net zero targets for your airport operations in advance of 2040. And I’m thrilled to see you following through with solar panels helping power Birmingham and Newcastle airports. And hydrogen power being trialled on the ground at Exeter and Bristol. 

    All this matters. Expansion. Modernisation. Decarbonisation. These 3 areas will secure this industry’s future. 

    It’s why the government has wasted little time in:

    • consulting on reforms
    • getting legislation on the books
    • making the crucial decisions on expansion and growth

    And doing in 8 months, what previously has taken years.

    Of course, challenges remain – I’m not blind to that. But throughout, I promise I will be working with you to remove the barriers holding you back.  

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Push Back On Proposed Cuts To Disaster Recovery Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    March 18, 2025
    In a new letter, the lawmakers pushed back against U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to critical disaster recovery programs
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with 40 of their Senate colleagues, in pushing back on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to crucial disaster recovery programs that are under the umbrella of HUD.
    The cuts would reduce employees at HUD’s office of Community Planning and Development, which administers the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program, a crucial pot of funding that helps impacted communities with disaster recovery following extreme weather events including tornadoes and severe flooding. Under this program, Illinois is scheduled to receive more than $856.3 million for disaster recovery, which would likely be in jeopardy due to the cuts.
    This disaster relief work includes rebuilding houses and small businesses, repairing roads and bridges, restoring water services, and investing in workforce development for Illinoisans who’ve lost jobs.
    “Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024… Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms,” the Senators wrote to Secretary Turner. “CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters.  In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible.”
      
    “Specifically, you [Secretary Turner] stated that ‘one of [your] top priorities’ as HUD Secretary would ‘be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly’ and ‘into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.’  Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment,” the Senators continued.
    “We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff,” the lawmakers concluded.
    A copy of the letter is available here and below:
    March 17, 2025
    Dear Secretary Turner:
    We write today regarding our concerns that recent actions taken by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are hampering our states’ ability to access (CDBG-DR) funds. The CDBG-DR program is critical to our states’ ability to recover from natural disasters, and it is essential that HUD distributes funding as quickly and efficiently as possible. We request additional information on your plans to ensure that communities continue to receive the resources they need to rebuild.
    Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. States across the South—including Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia—were devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, while Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms.  States in the Northeast—including, Vermont, and Massachusetts —faced life-threatening floods, while states in the West – including California, Washington State, and Hawaii – saw catastrophic wildfires in Maui. 
    CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters.  In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible. Specifically, you stated that “one of [your] top priorities” as HUD Secretary would “be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly” and “into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.”  Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment.
    For years, the HUD Office of Inspector General listed disaster recovery oversight as a top management challenge at HUD, noting the need for systems and staff to keep pace with increases in CDBG-DR funding, as well as the need to build the capacity of CDBG-DR grantees.  The latest Top Management Challenges report highlighted multiple ways in which HUD has made “meaningful progress,” largely due to the investment Congress has made over the years to support staff, systems, and capacity building. Over the last week, however more than one thousand HUD employees (13% of HUD’s workforce) were fired or accepted the Administration’s deferred resignation offer – including staff supporting the CDBG-DR program. Furthermore, according to recent reports, HUD “plans to discharge 50% of its overall workforce”, and the Office of Community Planning and Development, which is responsible for supporting disaster recovery efforts, is targeted for a staggering 84% cut.  Should such cuts move forward, it is unclear how the Department will continue to ensure the efficient delivery of CDBG-DR funds so our states and communities can continue to rebuild after devastating disasters. 
    HUD has also postponed previously scheduled trainings designed to help grantees understand CDBG-DR program requirements, and it is not clear when those trainings will resume.  Moreover, continued uncertainty on whether and the extent to which HUD may change the current Universal Notice governing the latest allocations from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Public Law 118-158) could cause additional delays. At least one grantee has already started accepting public comments on their draft action plan. Any major deviations from current requirements could be a huge setback forcommunities, adding months to recovery efforts. 
    We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff.
    To help us better understand the current status of the CDBG-DR program and your plans to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of CDBG-DR funds for our states and others across the country, we request information to the following questions no later than Monday, March 24, 2025:
    All grantees who received allocations from Public Law 118-158 have been using the CDBG-DR Universal Notice to develop their action plans.
    Do you intend to make changes to the Universal Notice?
    If so, how will HUD do that in a way that is minimally disruptive to the grantees whose actions plans are underway and to avoid delaying assistance?
    What is HUD’s timeline for reissuing the second allocation notice for Public Law 118-158 funding that was posted to the Federal Register for public inspection on January 21, 2025 but withdrawn on January 22, 2025?

    How many HUD employees were responsible for supporting the implementation of the CDBG-DR program, including the delivery of recently appropriated supplemental funding, on January 20, 2025? Please delineate by field versus headquarters and employee status (e.g., career, conditional, term, etc.).
    How many HUD employees are responsible for supporting the implementation of the CDBG-DR program, including the delivery of recently appropriated supplemental funding, on[March 17, 2025]? Please delineate by field versus headquarters and employee status (e.g., career, conditional, term, etc.).
    What additional plans, if any, does the Department have to further reduce the number of HUD employees responsible for implementing the CDBG-DR program?
    What analyses, if any, has HUD conducted to assess the impact of any proposed or implemented workforce reductions on the Department’s ability to implement CDBG-DR funding? Please provide copies of any written communications, analyses, and other documentation on how workforce reductions could impact the CDBG-DR program produced between January 21, 2025, and [March 17, 2025].
    What services, such as trainings and the provision of technical assistance, was HUD providing to CDBG-DR grantees on January 20, 2025?
    What services, if any, is HUD currently providing to CDBG-DR grantees? What changes, if any, have occurred to the services provided to CDBG-DR grantees since January 20, 2025?
    What additional plans, if any, does the Department have to alter the available services provided to CDBG-DR grantees? 
    Have any contracts related to the CDBG-DR program been terminated since January 20, 2025, as a result of the ongoing review of the ongoing reviews of HUD programs?  If so, please detail which contracts, the reason for termination, and the plan for addressing the contracted work, if applicable.
    Sincerely,
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Halo Service Solutions Appoints Jack Parsons as Official Ambassador

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Halo Service Solutions is excited to announce the appointment of Jack Parsons as Halo’s Official Ambassador.

    This strategic role is designed to amplify Halo’s engagement with younger demographics and reinforce its position as a leader in innovative service solutions.

    Jack Parsons is an energetic, ambitious, and kind-hearted entrepreneur, renowned for his leadership and his knack for making things happen. As CEO of Youth Group, Jack has grown the organisation into a vibrant community that includes 1.8 million young people and 100,000 businesses, significantly impacting the UK’s youth employment landscape. Under his leadership, Youth Group has helped over 105,000 young individuals find jobs and mentorship, earning a place as #25 in the UK’s Top 100 Startups.

    His accolades include being named the UK’s Kindest Leader by the Financial Times, Most Connected Young Entrepreneur, and Digital Leader of the Year. A LinkedIn Top Voice in the UK, Jack is a prominent figure in discussions about work, money, and health. With roots in Essex and a passion born from his own challenges with social mobility and career support, Jack is driven to help others succeed in their career paths.

    In his role as Youth Ambassador, Jack Parsons will leverage his expertise and influence to promote Halo’s initiatives and drive greater involvement with youth-centric programs. His activities will include leading dynamic workshops, delivering inspirational keynote speeches, and utilizing his substantial social media following to enhance Halo’s visibility and impact within the youth community.

    Paul Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Halo Service Solutions, said: “Jack’s energetic approach and proven leadership make him the ideal choice to help us inspire and connect with the next generation. His deep understanding of youth culture and his ability to turn bold ideas into reality will be invaluable as we expand our reach and impact.”

    Jack Parsons, responding to his new role, stated: “I am thrilled to represent Halo and Paul and look forward to contributing to their visionary work. Together, we will create new opportunities and build a vibrant community of young innovators.”

    This appointment marks the beginning of a series of initiatives planned over the next year to strengthen Halo’s community connections and drive meaningful engagement.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8a0434f1-0138-46a1-bc54-52c3623a64db

    The MIL Network –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bringing History to Life: Conservation of the Alexander Frieze Underway at The Harris

    Source: City of Preston

    A new chapter begins for the Alexander Frieze at The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library, thanks to awards totalling £25,000 gifted generously from the Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris to support conservation and redisplay of the Alexander Frieze.

    Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said:

    “The Alexander Frieze is a significant part of The Harris, and this conservation work ensures that it remains an important feature for visitors to enjoy for years to come.

    We are grateful to the Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris for their support in helping to preserve this remarkable piece of history as we continue to transform the Harris through the Harris Your Place project.”

    Standing as one of the most striking features of The Harris, the Alexander Frieze is a large-scale sculptural work by Bertel Thorvaldsen, depicting Alexander the Great entering Babylon in 331 BC.

    The sheer size and intricate detail of the piece present a significant conservation challenge, requiring expert care to ensure its long-term preservation. Now, with the support of the funders, conservation specialists Mareva Conservation have begun the process of assessing, stabilising, and restoring this historic masterpiece.

    This work forms part of Harris Your Place, a major project designed to protect and enhance The Harris for future generations.

    Follow the Restoration Journey

    Throughout the conservation process, The Harris will share behind-the-scenes updates, progress images, and video footage, offering a closer look at the delicate work required to preserve the frieze. Visitors and supporters will be able to watch as experts examine the surface, carefully clean, and secure areas at risk of deterioration.

    The Harris will provide regular updates on the progress of the conservation project through its website and social media channels.

    For more information on the Alexander Frieze conservation project and the Harris Your Place project, visit The Harris – Harris Your Place.

    Follow The Harris on: Facebook – The Harris, Instagram – The Harris, X – The Harris.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The numbers add up for our economy and air quality

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Council Leader Jane Meagher reflects on the latest edition of Edinburgh by Numbers.

    As those of us who live in the city know, it’s fair to say ‘Auld Reekie’ is no more thanks to our fantastic parks and air quality.

    Edinburgh has almost halved (a 40.9% reduction) greenhouse gas emissions over the last decade or so and people are 1.5x more likely to take up cycling or running in Edinburgh than other parts of Scotland.

    The city benefits from high wages and employment. Plus, we boast some of the highest satisfaction rates in the UK for public transport – testament to the value of keeping services like Lothian Buses publicly owned.

    That’s according to data collated for our latest Edinburgh by Numbers report, an annual snapshot of statistics gathered by the Council’s data team which tells us how our city is performing.

    I’m pleased that this year’s findings paint a picture of a green and thriving city. Most of us (74%) can enjoy local green space within a five-minute walk from home, and in my own ward of Portobello / Craigmillar I’m grateful to see the first signs of spring starting to appear in our fantastic parks.

    Perhaps it is this love for our parks which leads us to be one of the most climate conscious cities in the UK? According to the data, the percentage of people who believe that climate change is an urgent problem continues to increase and has reached nearly 88% in Edinburgh, the highest in Scotland.

    This has been evident during the council’s recent work with young residents to plan for the revitalisation and regeneration of Princes Street, Princes Street Gardens and the area around Waverley Station, with over 100 primary and secondary school pupils sharing their hopes as part of our public consultation on the Waverley Valley. The plans have ignited much debate, with architects choosing to share their own vision for the future of our most famous high street.

    I recognise that Princes Street is a vital and iconic part of our city’s economy and while it experiences the same challenges all high streets face, it is performing better than most with a low vacancy rate. I’m confident that recent changes to non-domestic rates relief on vacant buildings will also encourage landlords to bring long-term empty properties back into operation.

    It’s welcome news that it continues to attract significant investment, with news last week of a Zedwell Hotel replacing the former Debenhams. Cranes along the skyline signal work underway on the former Forsyth’s/Topshop, Next/Zara and Jenners stores, which are also set to become hotels. Eateries Blank Street, Ben & Jerry’s and Popeyes plus retailers MINISO, UNIQLO, and Panerai have all opened in the past year, or have announced plans to do so.

    Plus, as the new St James Quarter fills up, we expect to see demand spill onto Princes Street. Meanwhile, a new approach has been adopted to staging a year-round programme of events at the Ross Bandstand and Princes Street Gardens.

    I have no doubt that this investor confidence is thanks to the resilience of our local economy and our healthy business community. The numbers tell us that Edinburgh has retained its position as the UK’s most economically productive city outside of London, while tourism continues to recover from the pandemic.

    Hotel occupancy rates are at their highest in 6 years (81.4%), 5 million visitors are staying overnight in Edinburgh and it has been a remarkable year for air and rail travel with Edinburgh Airport posting its highest ever passenger numbers in 2024. Edinburgh is well and truly welcoming the world to visit.

    While there is much to celebrate, these findings also speak to the challenges Edinburgh faces. Drawn by good jobs and a good quality of life, migration means our population is growing three times faster than other Scottish cities. We’re living longer, but the birth rate has dropped.

    We know these challenges are on the horizon and that’s why the council budget we set in February prioritises vital services for residents. More affordable housing and infrastructure to help our growing population to move around the city will be key, particularly as we continue to grapple with our housing emergency and work with the Scottish Government to secure the additional resources we need. The ground-breaking visitor levy will also present a unique opportunity, which will invest tens of millions of pounds in preserving and enhancing the features that make our city such a fantastic place to be.

    The latest edition of Edinburgh by Numbers is available to view now.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Solar panel scheme to help more residents save money and protect the planet

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   Solar panel scheme to help more residents save money and protect the planet

    More households in the Canterbury district will have the chance to save money and protect the planet through renewable energy as part of the latest round of Solar Together Kent.

    The group-buying scheme will reopen on Monday 31 March and offers residents cut-price high-quality solar panels and installation from trusted, qualified installers.

    Retrofitting battery storage will also be available as part of the scheme for those who have already invested in solar panels and are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate.

    To date, Solar Together has installed over 38,900 solar panels in Kent, reducing carbon emissions by 87,100 tonnes over 25 years – equivalent to more than 47,370 cars off the road in that time!

    Cllr Mel Dawkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “This new round of Solar Together comes just at the right time as energy prices are set to rise once again.

    “Investing in renewable energy now will not only protect you from future energy price increases caused by volatile global markets but can also help put money back in people’s pockets through selling electricity back to the grid.

    “On top of that, using solar panels to power your home will reduce your carbon dioxide or CO2 emissions and help you contribute to building a sustainable future.

    “Uptake for the scheme in our patch has been brilliant so far, with 245 low-carbon systems being installed to date, and I hope to see that continue in this latest round.”

    People can register their interest for free on the Solar Together website from 21 March until June this year. There is no obligation at this stage to take up the scheme and they can change their mind.

    Soon after, pre-approved solar panel installers will bid for the work in a reverse auction – the best price wins.

    Everyone who registered will be contacted with the best panels for their particular roof, including the cost and specification, by summer 2025.

    If they choose to accept the recommendation, the details of their installation will be confirmed with a technical survey and a date will be set for install.

    Telephone and email help desks will also be on hand throughout the process to help households make the right decision for them.

    More than 8,000 households will receive a letter from the council about the Solar Together scheme between April and May.

    Published: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Resurfacing work marks final stage of Abbey Gate revamp

    Source: City of Leicester

    A REVAMP of a busy Leicester road is nearly complete, with the final phase of resurfacing work due to begin next week.

    Leicester City Council has been carrying out an extensive programme of improvements to Abbey Gate, in the Fosse area of the city, to improve the road for walkers, wheelers and cyclists.

    A new two-way cycle track has been created and footpaths improved along the length of the road.

    Now work to resurface the main carriageway is due to be carried out as the final phase of the £1.3million highway improvement scheme.

    The road will be closed to all traffic on Sunday 23 March, between 9am and 4pm, while the road surface is prepared for new tarmac.

    Resurfacing work will then be carried out over four nights from Monday 24 March. The road will be closed to traffic between 7pm and 5am. Overnight working has been arranged to help minimise disruption. Full vehicle access will be maintained during the day and businesses will remain open as normal during the works.

    A short, well signposted diversion will be in place during the roadworks,

    Abbey Gate is expected to reopen to all traffic from 5am on Friday 28 March.

    The Abbey Gate improvement scheme will improve the important route for all road users. It will provide a safe and attractive direct route linking new cycleways on the A50, within the Waterside housing development area, to Route 6 of the National Cycle Network at Abbey Park.

    Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “This important scheme will help provide a much-improved link to existing infrastructure for people on foot, on bikes or using wheelchairs or other mobility aids, extending the network of people-friendly routes in and around the thriving Waterside neighbourhood”.

    “It’s a further example of our commitment to deliver schemes that help make walking, wheeling and cycling the preferred choice for everyday trips for most people and to extend safe and attractive routes into our local neighbourhoods.”

    The Abbey Gate is being funded through a mix of Enterprise Zone funding and the Transforming Cities Fund following the city council’s successful bid for £32million of second tranche funding to support improvements to public transport and provide more safer routes for walkers, wheelers and cyclists in the city centre and local neighbourhoods.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: NVIDIA and xAI join AI Infrastructure Partnership to drive investment in datacenters

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: NVIDIA and xAI join AI Infrastructure Partnership to drive investment in datacenters

    NEW YORK & REDMOND, Wash. & ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates & SANTA CLARA, Calif. & SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, Microsoft, and MGX today announced that NVIDIA and xAI will join the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership, now named the AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), further strengthening the partnership’s technology leadership as the platform seeks to invest in new and expanded AI infrastructure. NVIDIA will also continue in its role as a technical advisor to AIP, leveraging its expertise in accelerated computing and AI factories to inform the deployment of next-generation AI data center infrastructure.

    Additionally, GE Vernova and NextEra Energy have agreed to collaborate with AIP to accelerate the scaling of critical and diverse energy solutions for AI data centers. GE Vernova will also work with AIP and its partners on supply chain planning and in delivering innovative and high efficiency energy solutions.

    AIP has attracted significant capital and partner interest since its inception in September 2024, highlighting the growing demand for AI-ready data centers and power solutions. The partnership will initially seek to unlock $30 billion in capital from investors, asset owners, and corporations, which in turn will mobilize up to $100 billion in total investment potential when including debt financing.

    By investing in next-generation AI data centers and energy infrastructure, AIP is not just expanding capacity—it is shaping the future of AI-driven economic growth. The addition of both NVIDIA and xAI, each a global AI technology leader, reinforces AIP’s commitment to scaling an open-architecture platform and fostering a broad ecosystem that supports a diverse range of partners on a non-exclusive basis. AIP’s investments will primarily focus on the U.S. as well as OECD and U.S. partner countries, driving AI innovation, economic expansion, and the advancement of critical digital and energy infrastructure.

    His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of MGX, said, “Artificial Intelligence is not just an industry of the future, it underpins the future. As we welcome new partners to the AI Infrastructure Partnership, we will accelerate innovation and technological breakthroughs to achieve transformational productivity gains across the global economy. Our singular focus is accelerating AI’s responsible and inclusive development for the benefit of humanity.”

    Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, said, “The global buildout of AI infrastructure will benefit every company and country that wants to achieve economic growth and unlock solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. AI factories built on NVIDIA’s full-stack AI infrastructure will convert data into intelligence that will accelerate every industry and help society achieve unimaginable breakthroughs.”

    “AI infrastructure will play an increasingly critical role in driving economic growth across every industry and every region of the world,” said Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft. “We’re thrilled to welcome these new companies to the AI Infrastructure Partnership as we invest together to build the infrastructure of the future.”

    Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, said, “AI has the potential to transform the global economy if we can build the necessary infrastructure to support it. We believe this unparalleled partnership of leading global companies across the AI ecosystem brings technology expertise together with private capital to meet this demand and creates unique investment opportunities for our clients. This partnership also demonstrates the powerful combination of BlackRock’s global relationships with GIP’s infrastructure capabilities.”

    “Since we launched this partnership in September, the momentum we have achieved reinforces the need for significant private capital to fund investments in essential infrastructure, particularly to support the continued development of AI,” said Bayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners. “With today’s announcement, we are proud to welcome our new partners to AIP. Together, we look forward to focusing on our joint ambition to enhance AI innovation and economic growth.”

    John Ketchum, Chairman and CEO of NextEra Energy, said, “In order to realize the full potential of Artificial Intelligence we must develop and support the energy infrastructure and data centers that will fuel this technology. Doing this will require an all forms of energy solution that leverages ready-now renewables and battery storage coupled with gas-fired and nuclear generation in the future. Our collaboration with GE Vernova and AIP is intended to get as many electrons onto the grid as quickly and most cost effectively as possible.”

    “The jobs and economies of tomorrow will be built on the infrastructure we develop today to support the rapid growth of AI,” said GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik. “Our company is focused on an all-of-the-above approach with our customers to meet this unprecedented demand, utilizing gas, nuclear, wind and more, while continuing to drive innovation to reduce emissions. We look forward to working with AIP and its partners, a group that brings substantial capability and efficiency to this critical work.”

    About MGX

    MGX is a technology investment company focused on accelerating the development and adoption of AI and advanced technologies through world-leading partnerships in the United Arab Emirates and globally. MGX invests in sectors where AI can deliver value and economic impact at scale, including semiconductors, infrastructure, software, tech-enabled services, life sciences, and automation. For more information, visit www.mgx.ae.

    About BlackRock

    BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.

    About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a Part of BlackRock

    Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is a leading infrastructure investor that specializes in investing in, owning and operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, transport, digital infrastructure and water and waste management sectors. On October 1, 2024, BlackRock closed its acquisition of GIP. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com.

    About Microsoft

    Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release, and other statements that the parties may make, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to the parties’ or AIP’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations, including the anticipated timing, consummation and expected benefits of AIP. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” and similar expressions.

    The parties caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time and may contain information that is not purely historical in nature. Such information may include, among other things, projections and forecasts. There is no guarantee that any projections or forecasts made will come to pass. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the parties assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.

    Certain of the parties have previously disclosed risk factors in their respective United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reports. These risk factors and those identified elsewhere in this release, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance. Such parties’ Annual Reports on Form 10–K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on the applicable party’s website, discuss certain of these factors in more detail and identify additional factors that can affect forward–looking statements. The information contained on each party’s website is not a part of this press release, and therefore, is not incorporated herein by reference.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sanjay Malhotra: Transforming grievance redress – the AI advantage

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    I am delighted to participate in this year’s Annual Conference of the RBI Ombudsmen. The Reserve Bank has been organising this conference on or around the World Consumer Rights Day, that is, 15th March. World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year with the aim of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs. We organise this conference to reflect on our achievements with regard to consumer services and to deliberate on how to improve services and reduce grievances. We need to improve consumer services, not only because it is our duty to do so, but because it is in our selfish interest to do so. In this age of competition, we would not survive long if we do not provide quality service to our consumers.

    We have made tremendous strides in improving consumer services over the years. We have enabled internet banking and mobile banking. Most of the banking services, be it opening a deposit account, or taking a small loan have been digitised, adding to the convenience and speed. We are making record number of digital transactions through UPI and other means of digital payments. Many among the younger generation may have never visited a bank branch. We have even enabled opening of accounts using video KYC.

    While we have enhanced customer experience over the years, the high number of customer grievances continues to be a matter of serious concern. I am told that last year (2023-24), the 95 Scheduled Commercial Banks alone received over 10 million complaints from their customers. If we take into account the complaints received at other RBI-regulated entities (REs), the number would be even higher. One may argue that this amounts to only four complaints per thousand accounts per year as there are about 2.5 billion bank accounts. But, for us, even one complaint is a cause of concern. We have 10 million complaints and with the rapidly growing customer base and expanding suite of products, this may grow, if we do not get our act together.

    Customer satisfaction – a cornerstone for banking and other financial services

    Excellent customer service, in fact excellent customer experience is a sine qua non in any service industry. Our effort should be to enhance the total customer experience. The experience should be such that there is no cause for a grievance that requires a redress. Let me state a fundamental truth: every complaint is a test of trust. When a consumer files a grievance – whether for a disputed transaction, a lapse in service, inappropriate pricing or charges or an unfair practice – it is a signal that our system has fallen short. Left unresolved, such issues can erode consumer confidence and tarnish the entire ecosystem.

    I am reminded of a real story about customer service. Some of you, especially the management graduates, may have heard it but it is so appropriate for today’s theme that it is worth being retold. In the winter of 1975, in a town in Alaska, a man walked into a store and complained to the salesman present that the snow tyres that he bought some time ago were not holding. The salesman was a little puzzled. He said that he could not replace them but will check what he could do and went to the back of the store. Those of you, who have visited departmental stores in the USA, would know that refunds are processed at the back of the store. The salesman came back after some time and handed over some cash as refund and the customer left satisfied. Can anyone guess why this was unique, as no questions asked policy for refunds is fairly common in the USA? It is because the company in question is Nordstrom which does not even sell tyres. It sells apparel and shoes. But, for Nordstrom, customer comes first. Trusting him and winning his trust is more important than anything else.

    Some say that this is not a true story. How is this possible? How could a company offer refund for a product which it never sold? Nordstrom, however, insists that this incident did take place. Nordstrom had acquired three stores from another company that sold miscellaneous articles including tyres. The customer did not realise that the store had changed and walked in with his complaint. The key message is that Nordstrom saw itself being in the business of customer service, and not just selling goods. We too need to realise that we are in the business of providing unalloyed customer service and not just selling banking and other financial services.

    Top management to accord priority to customer service

    I am sure you will all agree that we are indeed in the business of customer service. However, I suspect that we are not spending enough time on customer service and grievance redressal as a result of which not only are there a large number of complaints being received by banks and NBFCs but in the absence of satisfactory resolution, a large number of them are getting escalated to RBI Ombudsmen.

    Let me give you some perspective. The number of complaints received under RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme increased at a compounded average growth rate of almost 50 per cent per year over last two years to 9.34 lakh in 2023-24. The number of complaints processed at the Office of RBI Ombudsman increased by 25 per cent from about 2,35,000 in 2022-23 to almost 2,94,000 in 2023-24. Not only are large number of complaints getting escalated, a large proportion of them – nearly 57 per cent of the maintainable complaints last year – required mediation or formal intervention by the RBI Ombudsmen. You would all agree that this is a highly unsatisfactory situation and needs our urgent attention.

    I would, therefore, strongly urge all the MD&CEOs, Zonal and Regional Managers and the Branch Managers to spend some time every week, if not every day on grievance redressal. This is a must. All great CEOs find time to do it. We too must keep some time in our diary for improving customer service and grievance redressal.

    Improving customer service systems

    Customer complaints aren’t a nuisance – they are in fact opportunities to improve, innovate, and build trust. Handling them well can define your success. Each unresolved grievance is a missed opportunity for regulated entities to reaffirm customer trust and loyalty. It is also a warning signal as repeat complaints are often signs of systemic flaws. Today, complaints often surface on social media even before reaching official channels, highlighting the need for proactive measures.

    The effort thus should be to not only resolve the complaints but also to ensure that the same type of complaint does not arise again. Many of the complaints like digital transaction disputes, unauthorized charges, or miscommunication frequently recur. These are clearcut symptoms of underlying issues in the overall customer service framework of the regulated entities. A thorough root cause analysis should be performed for each complaint so as to enable remedial action and avoid repetition of same type of complaint.

    In fact, I would go a step further. Best service is not one in which there is no occasion for grievance redressal but one in which there is no occasion for the customer service department to step in. Systems should work seamlessly and conveniently so that customers do not have to call the branch or the customer service centre or talk to anyone in the Bank or NBFC. Systems have to be so user-friendly that customers can rely on self-service rather than being dependent on anyone else.

    Improving internal grievance redressal systems

    While improving systems to reduce grievances is important, setting up a robust grievance redressal system is equally important for all regulated entities. I would urge you all to review the same. While the regulations do not make any prescription for the organisational structure for grievance redressal, my experience suggests that there should be at least two levels for grievance redressal in large REs, with unresolved grievances getting escalated from the lower to the higher level. The highest level should be at a fairly high rank. This to ensure that requests do not get rejected without having been examined by a senior functionary who is empowered to take decisions in consumer interest. This will help reduce grievances getting escalated to the Ombudsman. It must also be ensured that there are sufficient number of grievance redress officers at all levels including in the Internal Ombudsman office.

    I would also like to draw your attention to the misclassification of complaints as requests, queries, and disputes by the regulated entities. This results in the complainants’ grievances remaining unaddressed. Moreover, this is also a gross regulatory violation.

    Major areas of service improvement

    Let me now briefly allude to some of the major areas where we need to improve. These relate to KYC, digital frauds, mis-selling, and aggressive recovery practices.

    As for KYC, we need to ensure that once a customer has submitted documents to a financial institution, we do not insist on obtaining the same documents again. Once the customer has updated his details, for example, his residential address, with one regulated entity of any financial sector regulator, it gets updated in CKYCR and other REs are notified of the updation. PML Rules made by the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance and RBI’s Master Directions on KYC mandate regulated entities to check the CKYCR system before seeking KYC documents for opening an account. However, most banks and NBFCs have not enabled the same in their branches/business outlets, causing avoidable inconvenience to customers. This may be facilitated early. This will be in the interest of all.

    Another important issue connected to customer protection is rising digital frauds. It is a matter of great concern that innocent customers continue to fall prey to scamsters. While this could be attributed to rise in digital transactions and innovative methods adopted by fraudsters, lack of customer awareness is also a major reason for the same. To mitigate this menace, REs not only need to put in place robust internal controls but also enhance digital financial literacy.

    The issues of mis-selling and aggressive recovery practices have been highlighted earlier too. In this context too, I would request you to keep consumer interest supreme.

    Embracing technology – the AI way

    Let me now come to the theme of this year’s conference: AI’s potential to revolutionize grievance redressal. We are entering an exciting era where technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), can drive remarkable improvements in speed, accuracy, and fairness of complaint resolution.

    AI can help categorize incoming complaints by urgency, complexity, or subject area, ensuring minimal delay in reaching the right people or the right team. AI can also help in optimising complaint routing. Further, it can assist in decision-making and reducing processing time.

    Secondly, AI can be used to pinpoint systemic gaps by analysing both structured and unstructured data such as emails, chat logs, and call transcripts. This will aid in identifying training needs and guiding necessary process reforms. Using data from millions of consumer branch visits, call centre logs, mobile apps, and social media, a unified, AI-driven view of all these interactions can help identify common pain points more efficiently. Leveraging data analytics, sentiment analysis, and predictive models, AI can be used to analyse large volumes of data to detect spikes in issues – such as ATM failures or erroneous charges – and alert REs pre-emptively.

    Lastly, in a linguistically diverse country like India, AI-driven chatbots and voice recognition tools can eliminate language barriers by operating in local languages. Moreover, the implementation of conversational AI in chatbots, voicebots, and advanced IVR systems can handle routine queries round the clock, thereby freeing people to focus on cases that require empathy and complex problem-solving.

    In short, integrating AI at every stage – from complaint lodging to closure – can result in a seamless, efficient, and data-driven grievance redressal system. Such a framework not only reduces processing times and addresses repetitive complaints but also fosters equitable outcomes by mitigating human biases. It is time that the banking industry explores and pioneers the integration of technology – including AI – to strengthen the grievance resolution mechanisms and make it best in class across the globe.

    Challenges and guardrails in AI driven grievance redressal system

    While AI presents unparalleled opportunities, we need to be cognizant of the challenges and risks that its adoption poses. There are concerns on data privacy, algorithmic bias and complexity in AI-driven models. As we embrace AI in grievance redressal or any other process, we must also remain mindful of ethical considerations. Human oversight, bias mitigation and data privacy must be integrated into the AI Systems to ensure transparent and consistent outcomes.

    Investing in human resources

    While technology in all its forms is a powerful enabler, I would like to emphasise that it is no substitute for integrity, empathy, and human judgment. In a world increasingly driven by data, algorithms, and automation, it is all too easy to lose sight of the human element. Every transaction represents not just a number in a ledger, but the hard-earned savings of a family, the dreams of a small entrepreneur, or the lifelong savings of a senior citizen. It is, therefore, critical that REs continue to invest in human resources dedicated for customer service and grievance redressal. It is essential to invest in training of staff, especially in behavioural aspects of customer service. Moreover, the staff needs to be empowered to take decisions based on their judgement to redress consumer grievances, enhance customer satisfaction and win consumer trust.

    RBI as a facilitator

    In the end, I would like to assure you that, while we exhort you to provide services efficiently to customers, we in the Reserve Bank shall also provide various services, approvals, clarifications, etc. to the regulated entities in a timely manner. We already have a citizen’s charter. We are in the process of reviewing the charter. We will make the charter comprehensive to include all services that we offer either to the REs or directly to citizens. Moreover, we are reviewing the timelines for each service. It will be our endeavour to provide all approvals, etc. within the timelines. We are also making mandatory the use of PRAVAAH, which is RBI’s secure and centralised web-based portal for any individual or entity to seek authorisation, license or regulatory approval on any reference made to the Reserve Bank in a timely manner. This will help us in expediting the disposal of applications received by the Reserve Bank.

    Conclusion

    We stand at a pivotal juncture as India looks to realise its dream of a more resilient and inclusive Viksit Bharat. With the financial sector touching the lives of almost the entire population, we have a critical role. To succeed in this role, we must continue to enhance customer service and customer protection.

    Thank you !

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Luke Forau: Launch of the new $1 coin

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Minister of Finance & Treasury Hon Manase D Sogavare, Ministry of Finance and Treasury
    CBSI Board of Directors
    Heads and Representatives of the Financial Institutions
    Members of the Press – both radio and print
    Our business partner from Royal Australia Mint (Not present here today)
    CBSI Executives, managers and staff
    CBSI Currency Taskforce
    Good people of Solomon Islands
    Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen

    Gud Fala Morning Lo Iufala Evriwan who are here today, including those who are turning in today from SIBC.

    It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all this morning, a special welcome to the Minister of Finance and Treasury, to witness yet another milestone in the Central Bank’s history – the launch of the New SI $1 circulation coin with the new effigy of His Majesty, “King Charles III” which the Minister is going to declare it later on, and will be released into circulation as of today, 13th March 2025.

    Let me briefly take you back to our currency history that we journey before SI Independence in July 1978.

    Before Solomon Islands gained Independence on 7th July 1978, the British Solomon Islands Protectorate has had its own currency notes and coins, which were first issued on 24th October 1977, using Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Effigy. I suppose this is one of the prerequisites for a nationhood. And FYI, the Central Bank was established in 1976, then it was called Solomon Islands Monetary Authority (SIMA).

     In November 2011, for strategic reasons CBSI ceased all its currency coins agreement with the British Royal Mint and signed a new Agreement with the Royal Australia Mint Ltd (RAM) for the minting of all SI Circulation Coins & Numismatic Programs

    In June 2012, the Central Bank issued its first Circulation coins minted by the Royal Australian Mint Ltd, totalling SBD$25.7m.

    Today, this currency development continues as we come to witness yet another new circulation bank coin that marks a new reign in the line of Thrown replacing the obverse of the coin which features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to a new Effigy of His Majesty King Charles III 2025.

    Let me turn to the new effigy of His Majesty King Charles III on the $1 SI circulation coin

    As you may have already probably aware, the CBSI had recently pre-launched and unveiled the new King Charles effigy on the $1 coin to international media at the Royal Australia Mint Ltd in Canberra, in October 2024, via a Bank Industry News Media Release.

    The coin, now set to be launched today (13th March 2025), represents a historic milestone in the journey of Solomon Islands’ modern currency development and a continuation of our ongoing relationship between Great Britain and Solomon Islands and between CBSI and its supplier, the Royal Australian Mint Ltd

    The new $1 coin will retain the same dimension (size and shape) with the beloved Nguzu Nguzu motif on its reverse, symbolizing good luck and protection, while the obverse will feature the new effigy of King Charles III designed by Daniel Thorne (DT). The inclusion of the effigy marks the first Solomon Islands coin to commemorate His Majesty’s reign, combining traditional elements with this fresh design to celebrate the nation’s heritage and monarchy.

    The new coin is more than a currency; it is a symbol of the Solomon Islands’ history, culture, and its ties to the Commonwealth. This design honors both our traditions and a shared value that the nations of the Commonwealth uphold in recognition of the monarchy.

    The coin will be officially launched and will become available through the commercial banks and its branches as of this afternoon and the coming days. CBSI will also conduct special promotional events and educational campaign to familiarize the public with the new effigy. It is important to differentiate the significance of the New King’s Effigy as compared to the Queen Effigy. The New King Charles’ III Effigy when looking at the coin obverse, will be facing to the Left while the Queen’s Effigy will be facing to your Right

    This latest collaboration with the Royal Australian Mint continues our long-standing partnership between the Solomon Islands and Australia, showcasing the shared values and excellent business relationship of both nations.

    What to look for on the new bank coin:

    Front Design:

    As alluded earlier, this new $1 coin will retain the same dimension (size, shape and aluminum bronze color) with the obverse featuring the new effigy of King Charles III designed by Daniel Thorne (DT).

    On the Back Design:

    The new $1 coin also retain the same design with the famous Nguzu Nguzu motif on its reverse, that symbolizes good luck and protection, so there is no change to the reverse side of the coin at all.

     As a market currency, this bank coin will be highly used in daily transactions because of its fitting face value for smaller payments for all retailers both in rural and urban areas.

    The new and colourful bank coin will join more than $46.8 million worth of coins already in circulation as at end of December, 2024.

    Cost of Printing Banknotes

    Allow me to now remind all our good people of Solomon Islands that the Central Bank spends a lot of money each time it prints or mints new currencies.  It costs the Central Bank around SBD3.4 million to get the new $1 coin with the new effigy from our supplier. The average life of the $1 coin is estimated at over 20 to 25 years before they become worn out to be used anymore.

    So, I believe the current $1 coins circulating in your pockets and wallets right now is around 13 years old and are still in very good or good conditions.  Our current stock of the new $1 coins should last more than 3 years.

    Statistics however show that the frequency of coins being issued to public through our commercial banks are excessively high due to coins being seen on a very high ONE-WAY Traffic for reasons that are not quite clear to us at the Central Bank. But we believe individuals and business houses could be keeping those coins in their small piggy banks and were not allowed to circulate.

    The more you hold to the coin and not circulating it through transactions, it reduces the multiplier effect that should have occurred. This causes shortage in coins, triggering CBSI to reorder coins more frequently from the supplier to ensure we have sufficient supply of quality coins to meet business and public demand. This further depletes our foreign reserves just to procure new currency notes or coins. We obviously do not want that to happen but it is happening.

    Hence, I appeal to the people of Solomon Islands that you USE your new coins with extra care and pride but we would also advice you all to ensure that you do circulate the coins once it comes around your way to facilitate small changes in the trades of goods and services.

    Again, our advice is: Do not store them away in containers, piggy banks or hide them under mattresses.

    Finally, I would like to thank the technical team from the Royal Australia Mint Ltd, for assisting CBSI in the design, formalities and production of our bank coins. Our partnership relationship with RAM, Australia had been now well around 13 years so this is indeed a unique occasion for both CBSI and RAM.

    We would also like to thank the CBSI Board of directors, Minister of Finance and Solomon Island Government and other stakeholders in ensuring the legislative procedures and arrangements are fully in compliance and to the success of this project milestone. Thank you too to all the Heads of Financial Institutions witnessing the launch for this morning as the main channel of our currency distributions.

    Final acknowledgement goes to my team the Currency Launch Taskforce, Currency & Banking Services Department and the CBSI Management team for their coordinated job well done in  making this a success.

    Official Launch

    Now, ladies and gentlemen, I now have the pleasure to invite the Hon Minister of Finance and Treasury (Hon Manasseh D Sogavare) to unveil the new $1 coin with the new effigy of His Majesty King Charles III 2025.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Denny H Kalyalya: Think before you follow, safeguard your money  

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Permanent Secretary, Southern Province, Dr Namani Monze
    The District Commissioner, Mazabuka District, Mr Oliver C. Mulomba
    All Senior Governmental officials
    Chief Executive Officers of Financial Sector Regulators – PIA and SEC
    All Chief Executive Officers of Financial Services Providers
    All Cooperating partners
    Invited Guests
    Ladies and Gentlemen

    Good morning

    I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to all of you joining us for the launch of this year’s public awareness campaign for the Financial Literacy Week. This launch event was pre-ceded by the broadcasted message from the Minister of Finance and National Planning, on 16 March 2025. The FLW activities will take place from March 17 to 23, 2025, in all the 10 provinces of the Republic of Zambia. For the first time since we started to commemorate Financial Literacy Week, the event is being launched away from Lusaka, in Mazabuka, Southern Province. I commend the organizers for this change and I hope that future launch events will be held in different provinces every year.

    The theme for this year, “Think before you follow, safeguard your money,” aligns with the official theme of the 2025 Global Money Week and has been adopted for the Financial Literacy Week in Zambia.

    This year’s theme underscores the importance of adopting an informed, responsible, security-conscious approach to managing personal finances. Therefore, individuals are encouraged to be mindful of potential risks in the financial sector and take steps to protect their hard-earned money. These risks include financial scams, fraud, theft, pyramid schemes, cyber-attacks, and other threats related to data privacy. In line with this year’s theme, I urge consumers of financial services and products to actively safeguard their money by engaging only with licensed financial service providers. I also encourage you to be cautious about sharing financial information as well as diligently protect your personal data. Avoid sharing sensitive financial information, such as account numbers or passwords, with unknown individuals or over unsecured platforms. Additionally, be vigilant for phishing schemes, and be sceptical of unsolicited emails, messages, or phone calls requesting personal or financial information.

    Finally, I encourage you to report any suspicious financial requests or digital invitations to the authorities, such as financial service providers (FSPs), ZICTA, or the Police.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, financial literacy initiatives continue to focus on young people in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions as well as adults, with the aim of equipping future generations with the essential knowledge needed to make informed financial decisions for their financial well-being.

    In this regard, financial education has been incorporated in the national school curriculum and financial literacy initiatives continue to be undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

    Esteemed Guests, we firmly believe that the development and execution of national strategies concerning financial education and inclusion have established a robust framework that facilitates effective engagement among various stakeholders, including the Government, financial sector regulators, financial service providers, and the general public. This collaborative effort has led to heightened awareness campaigns among the public regarding the availability and safe usage of financial products and services nationwide. Strengthening financial literacy among consumers would enable them to identify financial scams, fraudulent activities and avoid biased advice, thus helping them to make better financial decisions to safeguard their future well-being. In this regard with the conclusion of the National Strategy on Financial Education II (2019-2024), the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, along with the Bank and other financial sector regulators, have begun the process of conducting a comprehensive review of the strategy. The review will assess the progress, successes, and challenges of NSFE II, and guide the development of phase III of the N S F E.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, in order to measure the strides that have been made in advancing financial education and financial inclusion in the country, I would like to inform you that a multisectoral project team has been established to conduct the 2025 FinScope Survey and disseminate topline findings by the end of this year.

    FinScope surveys are invaluable tools for understanding the financial landscape of a country and developing targeted financial education and financial inclusion strategies. The survey provides information on access and usage of financial services (formal/informal), barriers encountered, financial literacy and overall financial inclusion. Enumerators will conduct interviews across all ten provinces, so we appeal to you, the public, to provide them with the necessary support.

    Distinguished Guests, before I conclude, let me take this opportunity to remind you that the Bank of Zambia announced the introduction of a new family of Zambian Currency on Monday, 10 February 2025 (pursuant to section 17(1) of the Bank of Zambia Act, 2022).

    The initiative reflects the Bank’s commitment to providing currency that is secure, efficient, user friendly and well suited for everyday transactions. The new notes also offer advanced security features to protect against counterfeiting and other threats to the integrity of the currency. A nationwide awareness campaign is currently being conducted to sensitize the public about the new currency. Further, the Minister of Finance and National Planning will soon issue an SI to provide details for the process of exchanging the old currency for the new series, scheduled to commence on 31 March 2025.

    As we carry out the 2025 Financial Literacy Week provincial activities, I encourage the campaign teams and financial service providers to continue to educate the public about the new family of Zambian Currency to prevent people being defrauded by unscrupulous people who may take advantage of this change. The Bank of Zambia team will also be available to provide information and distribute awareness materials that highlight the key features of the new currency.

    Dear Invited Guests, in conclusion, it is important to acknowledge that as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Financial Education, Financial Literacy Awards are held annually in October. These awards aim to recognize the efforts of individuals and institutions in conducting financial literacy awareness initiatives. Therefore, I urge you to submit your financial literacy activities and initiatives to the Financial Literacy Working Group for consideration in this year’s awards.

    Once again, I extend my gratitude to the Working Group under the National Strategy on Financial Education Phase II for organizing the Financial Literacy Week activities. I particularly commend the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Financial Education Team, along with other financial sector regulators such as the Pensions and Insurance Authority and the Securities and Exchange Commission. I also wish to applaud the Bankers Association of Zambia, and our collaborating partners DSIK (the German Sparkassenstiftung) Zambia, as well as all other stakeholders who have consistently supported the Financial Literacy Week commemorations each year.

    The Bank of Zambia remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting this national event, and we encourage all financial institutions and stakeholders to actively participate in the Financial Literacy Week activities nationwide.

    THANK YOU FOR LISTENING MAY GOD BLESS US ALL.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: X5 Group and HSE Graduate School of Economics Launch Updated Master’s Program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    X5 Group and the Higher School of Business of the National Research University Higher School of Economics are relaunching a joint master’s program. The name “Retail Management” was changed to “B2C Business Management: Technologies and Innovations”, completely revising the program’s content. Now students will focus on studying customer experience, new technologies and innovations in management – those competencies that are most in demand in modern business.

    B2C Business Management: Technologies and Innovations” will be the first specialized master’s program that trains leaders in retail and e-commerce. The training, taking into account all the latest trends, will be built around three main blocks – customer experience, new technologies, organizational and operational innovations. Among the disciplines offered to students: Data Science, Business Analytics, Digital Platforms, Digital Marketing, Customer Experience Management in an Omnichannel Environment.

    The program is built on the “experience first” principle. This approach combines academic depth and practical experience: the courses are taught by teachers from the Higher School of Business of the Higher School of Economics, as well as invited teachers-practitioners who hold senior positions in the retail sector. X5 Group top managers actively participate in the program, conducting special courses, lectures, master classes and organizing practice, which allows you to gain knowledge first-hand.

    The Master’s program is focused on solving real cases and business problems – during the training, students will master specific methods of working with the consumer sector, omnichannel business and modern retail, develop strategic thinking and leadership skills. Graduates are in demand in leading companies in the field of retail and e-commerce, in the financial services sector and FMCG companies, occupying leadership positions. The program is also suitable for those who run their own business, or have been working in retail for a long time, but want to master innovative approaches and grow in their career.

    “Modern retail is speed, adaptability, technology and innovative solutions. Russia has long been not just following trends here, we set them, creating unique digital services and the best customer experience in the world. Young professionals are increasingly choosing retail – last year, the number of employees aged 18 to 24 at X5 increased by 12% and amounted to more than 43 thousand people. Because here there is an opportunity to grow and develop your skills in many areas – from the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence tools to managing complex operational processes and systems. In a joint program with the HSE, we have combined all our experience, expertise and accumulated knowledge. Thus, students can adopt what the most advanced retailers, including, of course, X5 as a leader in this field, have been developing for years in different areas. And we, in turn, are very interested in young specialists, so we invest in their development from the very beginning,” said Vladimir Salakhutdinov, Chairman of the Academic Council of the program, First Deputy General Director of X5 Group.

    Starkov Andrey Gennadievich

    Academic Director of the Master’s Program, Associate Professor of Practice at the Higher School of Business, National Research University Higher School of Economics

    “We have updated the curriculum structure of the joint Master’s program with X5 Group, placing an emphasis on project-based learning. Consulting projects, group assignments, and internships will help students form an impressive portfolio in two years for successful career development or launching their own project. Modern teaching methods, elective courses, and extracurricular activities will help develop the necessary management competencies and skills. X5 Group’s participation in the program not only guarantees the relevance of the knowledge gained, but also the integration of students into the professional community through guest lectures, excursions, and round tables.”

    Reception of documents for applicants to the program in 2025 will be held from June 19 to August 15: this year, 63 places are open for students from Russia and one for students from foreign countries. X5 will provide grants for the best students to study.

    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 –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to help skilled newcomers fill labour gaps in key sectors

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, Chris Bittle, will be in Toronto to announce funding to improve foreign credential recognition processes and help internationally trained professionals across the country secure employment in the healthcare and construction sectors.  

    The announcement is being made on behalf of the Minister of Jobs and Families, Steven MacKinnon.

    A photo opportunity and media availability will follow the announcement.

    Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

    Date:        Thursday, March 20, 2025

    Time:           9:30 a.m. EDT

    Place:          Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto
                     355 Church Street, Suite 201
                     Toronto, Ontario

    To register, contact media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca with your name and media outlet.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s war on Gaza is deliberately targeting children – new UN report

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Rosen, Associate Professor of Childhood, UCL

    A fresh round of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza which has killed more than 400 Palestinians has destroyed any hope that the ceasefire negotiated in January would hold. A statement from the child rights group Defence for Children Palestine claimed that 174 children had been killed in the bombing, claiming: “Today is one of the deadliest days for Palestinian Children in history.”

    The renewed bombing follows repeated violations of the ceasefire terms by Israel and comes days after a report commissioned by the United Nations said Israel is “deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians as a group”. The March 13 report from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory examines what it calls Israel’s “systematic use of
    sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence
    since 7 October 2023”.

    The report alleges deliberate acts have been aimed against mothers and children, including the destruction of Gaza’s main fertility clinic, Basma IVF clinic, which it said amounted to “a genocidal act under the Rome Statute and Genocide Convention”. It concluded that “this was done with the intent to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza as a group, in whole or in part, and that this is the only inference that could reasonably be drawn from the acts in question”.

    The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has yet to rule on a case brought by South Africa in December 2023 accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. In January 2024 it issued a ruling saying that Palestinians in Gaza had “plausible rights to protection from genocide” and set out provisional measures that Israel should follow to prevent genocide. There is no evidence that Israel has heeded this advice.

    Addressing the UN human rights committee in October 2024, special rapporteur Francesca Albanese said she believed it is important to “call a genocide as a genocide”. While noting the legal position according to the ICJ, we agree with her on the grounds that a post-hoc judgement of genocide does nothing to prevent it from occurring.

    Francesca Albanese addresses the United Nations, October 2024.

    The commission’s report is not the first time that international organisations and lawmakers have called attention to Israel’s violence against Palestinian mothers and children. In March 2024, Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN agency Unrwa, wrote on X: “This is a war on children. It is a war on their childhood and their future.” The numbers are “staggering” he said. More children had been killed in Gaza in four months than in all global conflicts in the previous four years.

    This has continued throughout Israel’s assault on Gaza. Between October 7 2023 and January 15 2025, children made up at least 18,000 of the 46,707 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to data collected by the Gaza health ministry. Both figures are likely to be underestimates, as so many bodies remain buried under the rubble.

    Most children have been killed by direct military strikes. Israel has dropped an estimated 85,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza, killing Palestinians through direct hits, biolding collapses, fires and inhalation of toxic substances. Doctors have also reported evidence of children being killed in drone attacks and by snipers, including by shots to the head and chest.

    On March 2 Israel blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, using starvation and dehydration as military strategy. On March 15 a Unicef report claimed that 31% of children under two years of age in the north of the Strip were acutely malnourished. There has also been a “dramatic increase in child deaths due to acute malnutrition”.

    Israel’s destruction of medical and other infrastructure in the strip has resulted in “indirect deaths” by communicable illness and noncommunicable conditions. In April 2024, a report published in science journal Frontiers found that more than 90% of children in Gaza were affected by infectious diseases. There have also been multiple infant deaths from hypothermia as displaced families attempt to survive winter conditions.

    Killing the future

    The abnormally high child death rate is partly down to demographics. About 47% of Gaza’s population was under 18 years of age at the end of 2022. Children are generally more “susceptible to dehydration, diarrhoea, disease, and malnutrition” according to Unicef which says the nutritional needs for infants under 23 months “are greater per kilogram of bodyweight than at any other time of life”.

    But the problem with these arguments is that they make child mortality rates in Gaza appear as a simple reflection of natural factors. They are not. They are a direct consequence of Israel’s military aggression in Gaza.

    Israel has systematically used powerful explosives in densely populated areas and, through AI tracking systems such as “Where’s Daddy?”, deliberately targeted Palestinians in their family homes. Given the deep evidence base about childhood health, the logical outcome of using starvation as a method of war, actively denying aid, and destroying infrastructures that enable life is that children will die disproportionately.

    Palestinian children are being killed by design. This has been explicitly articulated by the Israeli state.

    Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was this week reappointed to the Netanyahu government as police minister, has publicly defended the army’s “open-fire” directive declaring: “We cannot have women and children getting close to the border … anyone who gets near must get a bullet in the head.” In January, MP and deputy speaker of the Knesset, Nissim Vaturi, said every child born in Gaza is “already a terrorist, from the moment of his birth”.

    But children represent their community’s dreams for their futures. Killing large number of children in Gaza is not simply forcible depopulation. It is an effort to destabilise communities and crush their hopes for liberation and the right of return as mandated by the UN.

    Palestinian children in Gaza have been telling their stories to a global audience. The killing, injury and starvation they are testifying to has proved a powerful counternarrative to the idea that Israel is simply “defending itself”. International humanitarian law states that: “Children affected by armed conflict are entitled to special respect and protection.”

    But in Gaza, children are being killed in their thousands.

    Rachel Rosen receives funding from Independent Social Research Foundation. She is affiliated with BDS @ UCL.

    Mai Abu Moghli is a policy member at Al- Shabaka: the Palestinian Policy Network.

    – ref. Israel’s war on Gaza is deliberately targeting children – new UN report – https://theconversation.com/israels-war-on-gaza-is-deliberately-targeting-children-new-un-report-252398

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests fugitive wanted in Brazil for manslaughter

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WALTHAM, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present 29-year-old Brazilian alien convicted in his native country for manslaughter while driving a motor vehicle Jan. 25 in Waltham.

    The Brazilian fugitive failed to appear for his prison sentence following the manslaughter conviction.

    “This Brazilian fugitive attempted to flee justice in his home country by hiding out in Massachusetts,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He presented a threat to the residents of our communities that we will not tolerate. ICE will not allow our New England communities to become a safe haven for the world’s bad actors. We will continue to arrest and remove them from our streets.”

    A Brazilian court convicted the fugitive Dec. 11, 2018, for manslaughter while driving a motor vehicle and sentenced him to serve a prison term of four years, eight months, and 21 days

    The U.S. Border Patrol arrested the Brazilian fugitive Nov. 22, 2018, after he illegally entered the United States near Hildalgo, Texas. Immigration Officials issued the fugitive an order of expedited removal and released him on his own recognizance.

    The Brazilian alien remains in ICE custody following his arrest.

    Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Alaska Berry Booklet Features Salmonberries

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Breadcrumb

    1. News

    New Alaska Berry Booklet Features Salmonberries

    Discover how climate change is affecting salmonberry harvests in the newest addition to the ‘Berry Booklet’ series from the Alaska CASC, featuring local traditions and community adaptation strategies. 

    As warmer temperatures and droughts reshape traditional berry seasons in Alaska, subsistence harvesters are witnessing less-predictable fruiting and harvesting times. The new salmonberry “berry booklet” from the Alaska CASC sheds light on how climate change is impacting harvests and challenging communities that rely on salmonberries for food security and cultural tradition.  

    Salmonberries are so important to the Metlakatla community that their Climate Adaptation Plan prioritizes berry health when making decisions about invasive species control, herbicide use, and even road maintenance. Roadsides are prime gathering locations, offering easy walkable access to berries for families and elders. One of the biggest threats to the availability of salmonberry is changing precipitation, with June water availability (an important period before the plant produces fruit) expected to decrease another 10% over the next 75 years.  

    The booklet also highlights adaptation strategies communities are using, such as identifying resilient patches, pruning plants to increase berry production, sharing seeds, planting food forests, and protecting snowpacks.  

    This newest salmonberry booklet completes a series on Alaska’s five most popular berries – cloudberries, bog blueberries, lowbush cranberries, and crowberries. Each booklet explores how climate change affects harvest timing, plant health, and long-term berry availability while identifying knowledge gaps to guide future research. Developed as part of the “Berry Futures” project funded by the Alaska CASC, the series was shaped by extensive community input from listening sessions with berry harvesters from over 40 Alaskan communities. By combining local observations with scientific studies, the project centers Indigenous Knowledge and lived experiences in understanding and responding to climate impacts.  

    This work is supported by the Alaska CASC Project, “Alaska’s Berry Future: Planning for Changing Resources in an Altered Climate.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Continued Progress Driving Down Gun Violence

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced that gun violence in communities participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative declined during the first two months of the year after reaching its lowest level on record in 2024. Shooting incidents with injury decreased 18 percent in January and February, compared to those two months in 2024, and 18 fewer individuals were harmed by gunfire. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 26 Executive Budget Proposal continues record-level funding to further improve public safety and invests $370 million to support local and state law enforcement initiatives, youth employment programs and community-based organizations that increase opportunity for individuals and families and strengthen neighborhoods.

    “Reducing gun violence and implementing programs to make our streets safer is critical to ensuring that all New Yorkers feel safe and are protected from harm,” Governor Hochul said. “The initiatives we’ve implemented to eliminate gun crimes are working, and we will continue to invest in law enforcement and community based programs until each and every New Yorker is free from gun violence.”

    The 18 percent decline reflects 61 shooting incidents with injury reported in January and February 2025, compared to 74 during those two months last year, and the number of shooting victims decreased by 21 percent (68 vs. 86). The 28 police departments participating in GIVE report roughly 90 percent of violent crimes involving firearms and 85 percent of violent crime reported outside New York City.

    The Rochester and Buffalo police departments each reported 10 fewer individuals injured by gun violence, the most significant decreases reported. Shooting incidents with injury, shooting victims and shooting homicide data for each of the 28 GIVE agencies are available on the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website. In addition to the collective decrease in gun violence in GIVE communities, the New York City Police Department reported a 27 percent (111 vs. 151) decrease in shooting incidents through March 16, 2025.

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Governor Hochul’s commitment to our law enforcement and community partners is unmatched. She has provided record-level funding for GIVE, our SNUG Street Outreach program, alternatives to incarceration programs and re-entry services, among others, allowing our local partners to address not only the consequences of crime, but its causes. I thank the Governor for her ongoing support and our partners across the State for their tireless efforts to improve public safety and strengthen communities.”

    New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “I appreciate Governor Hochul’s leadership on this issue and for providing the necessary resources to reduce gun violence and build safer communities. By working together, addressing the causes, providing education and support services, we are taking action to avert the senseless tragedies that result from gun violence. We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners on this integral mission to keep New York State safe.”

    Preliminary index crime reported by police departments and sheriffs’ offices outside of New York City showed an 8 percent decrease from January through September 2024 vs. 2023, the most current data available. There are seven index crime categories that are used to gauge overall crime trends: four violent (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and three property (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft). Violent crime declined by three percent and property, eight percent. In the five boroughs, data reported by the NYPD showed a 2 percent reduction in 2024 compared to 2023.

    To date, State Police have seized 318 guns in 2025. In 2024 and 2023 respectively, State Police seized 1,706 and 1,463 guns.

    Governor Hochul’s $370 million investment to reduce and prevent gun violence and strengthen communities disproportionately impacted by crime includes, but is not limited to, the following programs and initiatives administered by DCJS:

    • $50 million through the Law Enforcement Technology grant program, which provides funding so police departments and sheriffs’ offices can purchase new equipment and technology to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crime.
    • $36 million for GIVE, which funds the 28 police departments and district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices in 21 counties outside of New York City.
    • $21 million for the SNUG Street Outreach Program, which operates in 14 communities across the State: Albany, the Bronx, Buffalo, Hempstead, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Syracuse, Troy, Utica, Wyandanch and Yonkers. The program uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission and treating individuals, families and communities affected by the violence.
    • $18 million in continued support for the State’s unique, nationally recognized Crime Analysis Center Network, and $13 million in new funding to establish the New York State Crime Analysis and Joint Special Operations Command Headquarters, a strategic information, technical assistance and training hub for 11 Centers in the State’s network, and enhance existing partnerships and expand information sharing with the New York State Intelligence Center operated by the State Police, the locally run Nassau County Lead Development Center, and the State’s Joint Security Operations Center, which focuses on protecting the State from cyber threats.
    • $20 million for Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower) in 10 communities to support mentoring, mental health services, restorative practices, trust building, employment and education support and youth development activities, among other programs and services that address trauma resulting from long-term exposure to violence, build resilience and strengthen youth, families and neighborhoods.

    The New York State Police, the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the State Office of Victim Services also will receive funding through that $370 million allocation.

    In the Fiscal Year 26 Executive Budget Proposal, Governor Hochul allocated an additional $35 million for the next round of the Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes grants to increase safety and security of organizations at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs, or mission; nearly $41 million to improve the public safety response to intimate partner violence and improve services for victims and survivors; and doubling funding for rape crisis centers to $12.8 million.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Attorney Sentenced to 102 Months for an Attempted Bombing Near the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

               WASHINGTON – Christopher Rodriguez, 45, of Panama City, Fla., was sentenced today to 102 months in federal prison for the September 2023 attempted bombing near the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C., and for the November 2022 bombing of a satirical sculpture depicting communist leaders Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong in San Antonio, Texas.

               The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division. 

               Rodriguez, a licensed Florida attorney and a U.S. Army veteran, pleaded guilty August 2, 2024, to damaging property occupied by a foreign government, explosive materials—malicious damage to federal property, and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm (destructive device). 

               In addition to the 102-month prison term, U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Rodriguez to serve three years of supervised release.

               According to court documents, on September 23-24, 2023, Rodriguez drove from his home in Panama City, Fla., to Northern Virginia with a rifle and 15 pounds of explosive material. On the way, he stopped in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, Va., to buy a black backpack, nitrile gloves, and a burner cell phone. On September 24, he parked his car in Arlington, Va., and used the burner phone to arrange for a taxi to drive him to within a few blocks of the Chinese Embassy. Between midnight and 3 a.m. near the back wall of the Embassy in Northwest Washington, Rodriguez placed the explosives-filled backpack next to a streetlight. Rodriguez then attempted to detonate the explosives by shooting at the backpack with a rifle. Rodriguez missed his target, and the device failed to detonate. Law enforcement officers later recovered the backpack containing explosive material, three shell casings, and bullet fragments from the ground along the outer perimeter wall of the Chinese Embassy. Impact marks were found on the Embassy wall near the bullet fragments behind the backpack.

               According to court documents, DNA obtained from the black backpack was found to be consistent with DNA evidence obtained from a previous arrest of Rodriguez in June 2021 in California. During the California incident, Rodriguez possessed three firearms and apparent explosive material consistent with the explosives used during the Chinese Embassy attack. DNA evidence obtained from Rodriguez pursuant to a buccal swab warrant later confirmed this DNA match.

             Between November 5 and 7, 2022, according to court documents, Rodriguez rented a vehicle in Pensacola, Fla., and drove to San Antonio, Texas. At about 2:25 a.m. on November 7, Rodriguez scaled an eight-foot fence to enter a courtyard on the 300 block of West Commerce Street, San Antonio. Inside the courtyard, he placed two canisters of explosive materials at the base of a satirical steel sculpture titled “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head.” At 2:30 a.m., Rodriguez used a rifle to shoot at the canisters at the base of the statue, causing an explosion that caused damages of at least $325,000 to the Miss Mao sculpture.

    Law enforcement arrested Rodriguez on November 4, 2023, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has been held since that date. 

               This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Washington Field Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Florida, the Western District of Louisiana, and the Western District of Texas; the ATF’s Tampa, New Orleans, and Houston Field Divisions; the FBI’s Washington and San Antonio Field Offices; the San Antonio Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division and Foreign Missions Detective Unit; the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; and the Metropolitan Police Department. 

                The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jolie F. Zimmerman and Stuart D. Allen. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeghan Mikorski and Kelly Stephenson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McCarthy.

    23cr392

    MIL Security OSI –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Submariner’s Day

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 19, 1906, by decree of Emperor Nicholas II, a new class of ships was included in the classification of the navy of the Russian Empire – submarines. Previously, for reasons of secrecy, they were considered to be destroyers. Since then, this day has been considered a professional holiday for submariners in Russia. In honor of this, we have prepared cards with interesting facts about military submarines.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/19/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Haitian media struggle to survive in face of attacks, revenue collapse

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    By Conor Lennon

    19 March 2025 Peace and Security

    An increase in attacks on media outlets in Haiti by armed gangs which control most of the capital Port-au-Prince are intended to intimidate journalists and instill chaos according to the UN agency for culture, UNESCO.

    The Caribbean island nation is facing humanitarian, economic and political crises in addition to the break-down of law and order.

    In the last week, three media houses were targeted, in what appears to be a change in gang tactics in order to isolate the population.

    UN News asked Frantz Duval, the editor of Le Nouvelliste newspaper, Hervé LeRouge, the CEO of Le National newspaper and Télévision-Radio Pacific, and the head of the UNESCO Haiti office, Eric Voli Bi, what effect the attacks are having on journalists’ ability to continue providing accurate information to Haitians about the crisis there.

    UNOCHA

    Most of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by gangs.

    An attempt to silence the free press

    Frantz Duval: The Haitian press has been under attack for a long time already. It’s already been a year since our offices were totally vandalized. There have -also been attacks on Radio Télévision Caraïbes, Radio Mélodie, and Télé Pluriel. It’s all part of the total takeover of the Haitian capital by armed gangs, which has affected all institutions as well as private individuals.

    Eric Voli Bi: The situation is very alarming. We are seeing repeated against civilians, students and journalists. The attacks against the media are intended to intimidate them and end their essential mission of informing the public. UNESCO is calling for immediate measures to ensure the safety of journalists, protect their media facilities and create a secure environment for the free exercise of the press.

    Frantz Duval: Le Nouvelliste is 127 years old, and under the same ownership for four generations. It is the first time we have suffered a crisis of this magnitude. There have been difficult political situations in the past which disrupted publication, but only for a week or two. Even when we were hit by the 2010 earthquake, we resumed publishing just a few months later.

    It is very difficult to travel in Port-au-Prince. Those who continue to work are restricted to ever smaller areas. This means that are fewer news images and reports from places where there are violent clashes, because journalists no longer venture into these areas.

    Decades of archives and essential equipment destroyed

    Frantz Duval: When our historic premises were vandalized in March 2024, the editorial staff were unharmed because they had already left, but we couldn’t take the printing presses or our archives. Because downtown Port-au-Prince became a no-go area due to the presence of gangs, it was 10 months before we could get to the building. There was almost nothing left. This means that now we are an online-only news organisation.

    © UNOCHA/Giles Clarke

    A 63-year-old woman lies wounded on the floor of a hospital in Port-au-Prince after warring gangs swept through her neighborhood.

    Hervé LeRouge: So far, neither I nor my media companies have been attacked. However, I own several construction companies, providing concrete and asphalt, and two weeks ago, we were attacked by the gangs. Our premises were reduced to ruins and one of my employees was killed. He had been with me for fifteen years. It was a big loss.

    Non-existent revenue

    Frantz Duval: There are no subsidies or public funds for the Haitian press. Everything is financed by advertising, which has been slashed because hardly any businesses are doing well enough to be able to advertise.

    Hervé LeRouge: 51 people work for my TV station and newspaper, and the revenue doesn’t even cover payroll. My other companies allow me to pay their salaries, and I don’t want to let them go because there is no work for them anywhere else right now. Also, I consider this career to be a social service to the community.

    Eric Voli Bi: For the press to survive this difficult period, it goes without saying that we will still need a minimum of security in this country, and that is the responsibility of the government.

    UNESCO is working with the Ministry of Communications to restructure the state broadcaster (Radio Télévision Nationale d’Haïti), by providing training and new equipment. We are also using social media to help get verified information to the people, but also radio, which remains the must trusted channel of communication, especially in the countryside.

    Reliable information ‘a matter of life and death’

    Eric Voli Bi: Access to reliable information can be a matter of life and death. It can help people to identify safe zones, avoid danger and make the right decisions to protect themselves and their families.

    © UNICEF/Ralph Tedy Erol

    People flee the neighbourhood of Solino in Port-au-Prince following gang attacks there in May 2024.

    Hervé LeRouge: These journalists are used to difficult situations because, every day, they are reporting and presenting live shows from the streets, just as they have always done, showing the population what is happening, so that they know where it is safe to go. That is the service we provide to the people.

    Eric Voli Bi: The armed groups are trying to isolate the population and create chaos in the in the country by attacking the media. Press freedom is essential to guarantee the right to information and ensure transparency in the society. It’s also a platform for diverse voices a key to ensuring transparency. In this country, which has been scarred by violence and instability, knowing the truth can be incredibly healing.

    Hervé LeRouge: I will not leave the country I love. This is my country, and I will defend it even at the risk of my life.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Labour says benefit reforms are a ‘moral mission’ – it looks more like moral panic

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By James Morrison, Associate Professor in Journalism Studies, University of Stirling

    House of Commons/Flickr, CC BY-ND

    After weeks of speculation, Liz Kendall, work and pensions secretary, has unveiled her plans to reform welfare and cut the country’s ballooning benefits bill. The proposals include:

    • stricter eligibility requirements for Personal Independence Payments (Pip), the main disability benefit
    • scrapping the work capability assessment for universal credit
    • freezing or cutting the incapacity benefit “top-up” to universal credit for new claimants
    • reducing incapacity benefits for under-22s
    • increasing the standard rate of universal credit for claimants seeking work
    • introducing a “right to try”, so that people can try work without automatically losing benefits or being reassessed.

    Kendall, along with her fellow Labour ministers, has tried to sell the proposals as a “moral mission”. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has repeatedly framed the cuts as a “moral duty”.

    Cabinet office minister Ellie Reeves argues it is the party’s “moral obligation” to prevent “a lost generation” of young people being consigned to long-term worklessness.

    I research the impact of how the media and politicians talk about welfare (and people who claim it) on public attitudes and benefit recipients themselves. In recent weeks, I’ve asked myself: what exactly is “moral” about welfare reform? Do ministers see it as morally wrong to leave working-aged people “on the scrap heap”? Or are they more concerned with demonstrating their moral duty to taxpayers – by cutting benefits for people they claim could be working?

    The proposals do contain measures that back up ministers’ claims to genuinely want to help people, rather than simply cut costs. The “right to try” guarantee should allow those outside the labour market to give work a go without losing benefits if this doesn’t work out.

    But if ministers are being driven by morality, I would argue they have approached the problem the wrong way round. The first priority should be not to cut the benefit bill, but to introduce proper support. This, of course, will likely push costs up in the short term. Savings will follow, but only if help translates into meaningful, dignified work.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    Starmer has pledged to stop a “wasted generation” of school leavers not in education, employment or training (Neets) missing out on the “the dignity of work”.

    But by hammering home this message with the uncompromising pro-worker slogan “this is the Labour party”, he aligns himself with a specific moral orthodoxy. This affirms the moral superiority of his government’s defining shibboleth, “working people”, by defending hardworking taxpayers who feel it is “unsustainable, indefensible and unfair” to keep footing a “spiralling bill” for welfare.

    The moral crusade to promote the virtues of honest toil is doubtless fuelled by surveys suggesting tough talk on benefits remains popular with socially conservative voters the party fears losing to Reform UK.

    However, many polls are nuanced. A new Ipsos survey identifies a “benefits paradox”, wherein 37% of Britons agree that “ensuring everyone who needs health-related benefits” should be “prioritised, even if it means some who could work do not”. The same survey had just 23% favouring tougher eligibility requirements.

    Moral mission or moral panic?

    As my own research shows, when “welfare reform” agendas are couched in the language of “moral missions”, what is really happening is moral panic. We are witnessing escalating alarm at a perceived threat to the moral order that is disproportionate to the true scale of the problem.

    True, the number of people inactive due to sickness or disability is higher than before the pandemic, but suggestions that overall inactivity has reached record levels are wrong. Although a higher percentage of 16- to 64-year-olds was inactive during 2024 than in Germany or Ireland, this was lower than the previous year’s rate (down from 22% to 21.5%), and fell further in early 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics.

    Britain’s 2024 inactivity rate was also beneath those of 15 other European countries (including France and Spain), the US and the EU average. The true high point of UK inactivity came in 1983, when more than a quarter of working-aged adults were inactive.

    Kendall has distanced herself from the language of “scroungers” I analysed in my book on welfare discourse under the 2010-15 coalition government. But connotations can be just as stigmatising as overt labels.

    In endlessly employing the mantra “those who can work should work,” ministers channel timeworn tropes distinguishing between the deserving and undeserving poor.



    Read more:
    Getting Britain to work without blaming ‘scroungers’ – can Starmer change the narrative?

    The new proposals include a ‘right to try’ work without fear of losing benefits.
    SeventyFour/Shutterstock

    There is a moral case for offering tailored, sensitive support to disabled people who want to work but face significant barriers – including inflexible employers and the pressure of caring for others.

    But this should not come at the cost of impoverishing people unable to work – as some unlikely critics of the government’s proposals point out.

    Tony Blair’s onetime Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell told Radio 4 it would be “immoral” to damage people with severe disabilities “who don’t have any option but to be on benefits”. And Blairite former work and pensions secretary Lord Hutton warned that sweeping benefit cuts would “drive millions and millions of people into penury”.

    The government says its reforms are a moral mission, but they are already having immoral effects. Just how moral is it to terrify people already struggling to afford basic essentials with the prospect of being driven into deeper poverty? Or to encourage young people into work that is likely to be low-paid and insecure?

    If there’s one message we can take from the unseemly spectacle of leaks and briefings leading to this week’s announcement, it may be this: we’ve been watching a government on the brink of losing its moral compass.

    James Morrison receives funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for a project entitled Voices from the Periphery: (De)Constructing and Contesting Public Narratives about Post-Industrial Marginalisation (VOICES).

    – ref. Labour says benefit reforms are a ‘moral mission’ – it looks more like moral panic – https://theconversation.com/labour-says-benefit-reforms-are-a-moral-mission-it-looks-more-like-moral-panic-252404

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: How a lack of period product regulation harms our health and the planet

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Poppy Taylor, PhD Candidate, Women’s Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol

    JLco Julia Amaral/Shutterstock

    Did you know that in the UK period products are regulated under the same consumer legislation as candles? For 15 million people who menstruate each month, these items are used internally or next to one of the most sensitive parts of the body for extended times.

    Consumers should be entitled to know what is in their period products before choosing which ones to buy. Yet, because of the current lack of adequate regulation and transparency, manufacturers are not required to disclose all materials. And only basic information is available on brand websites. Campaigners are now calling for better regulation.

    Independent material testing shows that single-use period pads can contain up to 90% plastic. An estimated 4.6 million pads, tampons and panty liners are flushed away daily in the UK. These contribute to blocked sewers and fatbergs. They also pollute rivers and oceans.

    Meanwhile, reusable period products are promoted by aid charities as a way to tackle period poverty and reduce waste. But independent tests by organisations such as Which? have found harmful chemicals inside both single-use and reusable period products.

    These include synthetic chemicals that disrupt hormones – known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals – and forever chemicals or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that don’t degrade. These chemicals have been associated with a range of health harms from cancers to reproductive disorders and infertility. They have no place in period products.

    I work as a women’s health researcher at the University of Bristol’s Digital Footprints Lab alongside a team of data scientists. We harness digital data, such as shopping records, to study public health issues. My research looks at how things like education affect which menstrual products people choose.

    In collaboration with the charity Women’s Environmental Network, I am exploring intersections between gender, health, equity and environmental justice – especially among marginalised women and communities. But social stigma prevents open discussions about menstruation and how best to improve period product regulation.

    Menstrual stigma influences everything from the information and support people who menstruate receive to the types of products we use and how we dispose of them. In a study of menstrual education experiences in English schools, my colleague and I found evidence of teacher attitudes perpetuating menstrual stigma.

    Lessons typically lacked content about the health or environmental consequences of period products. Our study showed that just 2.4% of 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed were taught about sustainable alternatives to single-use tampons and menstrual pads.

    An environmenstrual workshop hosted bythe charity, Women’s Environmental Network.
    Women’s Environmental Network / Sarah Larby, CC BY-NC-ND

    For decades, period product adverts portrayed menstrual blood as a blue liquid. The social taboos around periods, largely created and reinforced by period brands over decades of fear-based marketing, has left its mark.

    For example, in response to customer’s anxieties about supposed menstrual odour, manufacturers are increasingly using potentially environmentally harmful antimicrobials like silver and anti-odour additives in period products. This is despite there being no evidence that period products such as menstrual pants or pads transmit harmful bacteria that need sanitising. The silver also washes out after a couple of washes.

    The role of regulation

    In New York state, the Menstrual Products Right To Know Act means that a period product cannot be sold unless the labelling includes a list of materials. In Scotland, a government initiative provides free period products to anyone who needs them.

    Catalonia in Spain has introduced a groundbreaking law that ensures access to safe and sustainable period products, while also working to reduce menstrual stigma and taboos through education.

    A new European “eco label” is a step forward, but companies don’t have to use it. This voluntary label, which shows a product is good for the environment, doesn’t cover period underwear.

    Now, campaigners at the Women’s Environmental Network are calling for the UK government to adopt a Menstrual Health, Dignity and Sustainability Act, backed by many charities, academics and environmentalists. This will enable equal access to sustainable period products, improved menstrual education, independent testing, transparent product labelling and stronger regulations.

    The regulation of period products is currently being considered as part of the product regulation and metrology bill and the use of antimicrobials in period products is being included in the consumer products (control of biocides) bill introduced by Baroness Natalie Bennett. By tackling both health implications and environmental harms, period products can be produced in a safer way, for both people and planet.

    Poppy Taylor’s PhD is funded by the University of Bristol and the Health Foundation.
    Poppy Taylor is a member of the Women’s Environmental Network.

    – ref. How a lack of period product regulation harms our health and the planet – https://theconversation.com/how-a-lack-of-period-product-regulation-harms-our-health-and-the-planet-248941

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Only 15 countries have met the latest Paris agreement deadline. Is any nation serious about tackling climate change?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Doug Specht, Reader in Cultural Geography and Communication, University of Westminster

    Svet Foto/Shutterstock

    The latest deadline for countries to submit plans for slashing the greenhouse gas emissions fuelling climate change has passed. Only 15 countries met it – less than 8% of the 194 parties currently signed up to the Paris agreement, which obliges countries to submit new proposals for eliminating emissions every five years.

    Known as nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, these plans outline how each country intends to help limit average global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, or at most 2°C. This might include cutting emissions by generating more energy from wind and solar, or adapting to a heating world by restoring wetlands as protection against more severe floods and wildfires.

    Each new NDC should outline more stringent emissions cuts than the last. It should also show how each country seeks to mitigate climate change over the following ten years. This system is designed to progressively strengthen (or “ratchet up”) global efforts to combat climate change.

    The February 2025 deadline for submitting NDCs was set nine months before the next UN climate change conference, Cop30 in Belém, Brazil.

    Without a comprehensive set of NDCs for countries to compare themselves against, there will be less pressure on negotiators to raise national ambitions. Assessing how much money certain countries need to decarbonise and adapt to climate change, and how much is available, will also be more difficult.

    While countries can (and some will) continue to submit NDCs, the poor compliance rate so far suggests a lack of urgency that bodes ill for avoiding the worst climate outcomes this century.

    Who submitted?

    The 15 countries that submitted NDCs on time include the United Arab Emirates, the UK, Switzerland, Ecuador and a number of small states, such as Andorra and the Marshall Islands.

    Cop30 host Brazil submitted a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 59-67% by 2035, compared to 2005 levels. This is up from its previous commitment, a 37% reduction by 2025 and 43% by 2030. Unfortunately, Brazil is not on track to meet its 2025 target and has set a more recent emissions baseline that will make any reductions more modest than they’d otherwise be.

    Japan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% in 2035 and 73% in 2040, compared to 2013 levels. Japan’s previous target was for a 46% reduction by 2030. This demonstrates how the ratchet system is supposed to work.

    The UK’s NDC, which pledges to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels, was described by independent scientists as “compatible” with limiting global heating to 1.5°C.

    The US submitted a plan to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 61-66% below 2005 levels by 2035. However, this was before Donald Trump pulled the US out of the Paris agreement (for the second time), so the commitment of one of the world’s largest polluters is in doubt.

    Who didn’t submit?

    Some of the world’s largest emitters failed to submit new NDCs, including China, India and Russia.

    India pledged to reduce its emissions by 35% below 2005 levels by 2030 at the signing of the Paris agreement. All of the country’s subsequent NDCs have been rated as “insufficient” by independent scientists. India’s recent national budget announcement offered scant additional funding for climate mitigation and adaptation measures.

    China also made big promises in 2015 with its aim to lower its CO₂ emissions by 65% by 2030, from a 2005 baseline. However, China has been responsible for over 90% of global CO₂ emissions growth since the Paris agreement was signed. China and the US also suspended formal discussions on climate change in 2022. Increased economic competition between these two nations has resulted in export control restrictions and tariffs which have made green technologies like electric vehicles more expensive, which is certain to slow down the shift from fossil fuels.

    Russia joined the Paris agreement in 2019. Its first NDC was labelled “critically insufficient” by scientists, and its follow-up in 2020 did not include increased targets. Russia is maximising the extraction of resources such as oil, gas and minerals and its 2035 strategy for the Arctic included plans to sink several oil wells on the continental shelf.

    With the USA’s 2025 NDC in limbo, President Trump is eyeing mineral reserves in Ukraine and Greenland, further ramping up oil production and cutting international climate research funding.

    The European Union could have positioned itself as a leader of global climate action, in lieu of US involvement. But the EU, which submits NDCs as a bloc alongside individual country submissions, also failed to submit on time.

    Global shifts

    The failure of most nations to submit new emission plans suggests that the era of cooperation on climate change is over. The largest and most powerful of these nations are growing their military and diplomatic presence around the world, particularly in countries with large reserves of critical minerals for electric vehicles and other technology relevant to decarbonisation. The lack of NDCs from these nations may be less a matter of middling green ambitions, more an attempt to disguise their planned exploitation of other countries’ resources.

    If countries keep failing to submit enhanced NDCs, or even withdraw from their commitments entirely, scientists warn that global heating could reach a catastrophic 4.4°C by 2100. This scenario assumes the continued, unabated use of fossil fuels, with little regard for the climate.

    In a more optimistic scenario, countries could limit warming to around 1.8°C by 2100. This will require global cooperation and significant investment in green technology, and entail a transition to net zero emissions by mid-century. This is a process that must include everyone. Simply having the most powerful nations decarbonise by exploiting and hoarding resources will imperil this critical target.

    The actual outcome will probably fall somewhere between these two scenarios, depending on forthcoming NDCs and how quickly and thoroughly they are implemented. All of the scenarios envisaged by climate scientists will involve warming continuing for decades.

    The effects of this warming will vary, however, based on the path we choose today.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Doug Specht 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. Only 15 countries have met the latest Paris agreement deadline. Is any nation serious about tackling climate change? – https://theconversation.com/only-15-countries-have-met-the-latest-paris-agreement-deadline-is-any-nation-serious-about-tackling-climate-change-250847

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces a black samurai – that’s not as unprecedented as critics claim

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fynn Holm, Junior Professor of Japanese Studies, University of Tübingen

    Fans of the video game franchise Assasin’s Creed have been pining for a game set in feudal Japan for decades. In theory, it looked like a match made in heaven.

    The series (which started in 2007 and has sold over 200 million copies) uses historical settings, such as ancient Greece, the Italian Renaissance or the American Revolution, to tell its fictional epic story of a battle between the Order of Assassins and the Knights Templar. What better scenario, then, than the Japanese civil war (1477-1600), where samurai and ninjas (known as shinobi) were fighting each other?

    Yet when the premiere trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows dropped on May 15 last year, it unleashed a torrent of criticism from fans around the world. By June, a Japanese-language petition had gathered over 100,000 signatures, claiming the game “insults Japanese culture and history” and “could be tied to anti-Asian racism”.

    The publisher of the franchise Ubisoft issued a public apology, delaying the game’s release multiple times. With other Ubisoft titles under-performing, Shadows rescheduled release on March 20 has become a high-stakes endeavour.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    So what exactly had fans so enraged? Online, amateur historians highlighted what they saw as copious historical inaccuracies in the promotional material.

    However, none was deemed as damaging as the fact that one of the two playable characters in the game was based on the historical figure of Yasuke. Yasuke was a formerly enslaved black man from Mozambique who became a retainer of the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582).

    While the historical existence of Yasuke stands without question, some gamers took offence at the notion that Yasuke was being portrayed as a “black samurai”. That’s because the historical sources are not clear on whether Yasuke was considered a “samurai” by his contemporaries.

    The trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

    Some gamers argue that focusing on Yasuke, rather than a more typical Japanese-born warrior, represents a misguided attempt at diversity, equity and inclusion. Especially since the second playable character is a fictional female ninja named Naoe.

    To critics, highlighting these two characters allegedly overwrites the history of male Japanese samurai, injecting a “foreignness” they believe distorts the setting.

    White samurai in popular media

    Despite the uproar over Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, it’s not the first piece of media to depict a non-Japanese samurai.

    In James Clavell’s 1975 novel Shōgun, English navigator John Blackthorne (based on the real-life William Adams) becomes a samurai in the rank of hatamoto of the warlord Toranaga (based on Tokugawa Ieyasu).

    Historians also debate whether the real Adams was a true samurai, yet his “white samurai” image endures in adaptations like the 2024 FX series Shōgun, which garnered praise from critics across the ideological spectrum.

    Another famous instance is Nathan Algren (played by Tom Cruise) who in the movie The Last Samurai (2003) joins the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877 led by the charismatic Katsumoto (played by Ken Watanabe and based on Saigō Takamori).

    Katsumoto represents in the movie the “true” samurai spirit of male honour, duty, loyalty and principles. In the end, he dies in a final showdown against modern weaponry, but Tom Cruise’s character survives and reminds the emperor that Japan needs to honour its past despite the modernisation.

    The movie follows the formula of films like Dances with Wolves (1990), and later the first James Cameron Avatar movie (2009), in which a white character joins a minority population to “save” said people from their doom. This is also known as the “white savior complex”.

    Accuracy v authenticity

    Why, then, is Yasuke’s portrayal as a black samurai so contentious when white foreigners in similar roles have been widely accepted?

    Racism is one answer, but audience expectations about historical authenticity also play a key role. It’s critics claim that Shadows teems with historical inaccuracies, yet other celebrated titles, such as Ghost of Tsushima (2020) are just as historically inaccurate.

    Ghost of Tsushima is set during the 13th-century Mongol invasion. Yet the game developers decided to base their protagonists on the heavily idealised and romanticised samurai of 1950s Akira Kurosawa movies, which have little in common with their historical 13th-century counterparts.

    However, since these samurai conform to audience expectations of Japanese warriors with two swords that follow the largely fictional honour code of bushido, the game feels authentic even though it is historically inaccurate. By contrast, Yasuke’s presence in Shadows challenges a deeply ingrained notion of a xenophobic or sealed-off Japan – an anachronistic concept that overlooks evidence of foreign influence in the 16th century.

    While Ubisoft has taken creative liberties and introduced historical inaccuracies, this is consistent with what has been done in other Assassin’s Creed titles and historically inspired games in general. Yet while predominantly white (and even Japanese) cultures seem quick to forgive depictions of white samurai figures, the same leniency does not seem to extend to a black character.

    Fynn Holm receives funding from the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).

    – ref. Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces a black samurai – that’s not as unprecedented as critics claim – https://theconversation.com/assassins-creed-shadows-introduces-a-black-samurai-thats-not-as-unprecedented-as-critics-claim-251293

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Fossil face discovery highlights challenges faced by Europe’s earliest settlers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Suzy White, Post-Doctoral Research Assistant, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Reading

    Piecing together the story of Europe’s earliest settlers is a challenge, largely
    because relevant human fossils are scarce. On March 12, researchers announced the
    discovery of a new fossil from the excavation site of Sime del Elefante, near Burgos in Spain.

    Known as ATE7-1, the new fossil consists of a partial face belonging to an ancient hominin, a biological classification that includes living humans and our closest extinct relatives, such as Neanderthals and Homo erectus. Nicknamed “Rosa” after one of her discoverers, the fossil includes part of the upper jaw, cheek and eye from an adult, and dates to between 1.1 and 1.4 million years ago. As such, she represents the oldest known partial face of a hominin from western Europe.

    Rosa is also a crucial piece of the puzzle explaining how and when humans first entered western Europe – and which species of hominin made those pioneering journeys.

    Hominins evolved in Africa. The first species to occupy multiple continents was Homo erectus, and the first fossil evidence we have of them beyond Africa comes from Dmanisi in Georgia. These fossils are around 1.8 million years old. However, stone tools from Grăunceanu (Romania) indicate that hominins had expanded further north even earlier than the Dmanisi finds – 1.95 million years ago.

    However, fossils from western Europe remain conspicuously absent until 1.4 million
    years ago. By contrast, we have more evidence of hominins moving into Asia during
    this time. They had reached Indonesia by 1.6 million years and descendants of these populations seem to have survived there until relatively recently. Early fossils from Asia are also more numerous and more complete, while their European counterparts are limited to an isolated tooth, a fragment of jaw and a partial skull cap.

    Despite being just a small part of the face, Rosa provides key insights into these
    elusive early European populations. The researchers compared Rosa’s facial
    features to Homo erectus fossils from Africa, Indonesia and Dmanisi. They also
    examined Rosa’s similarities to Homo antecessor, a later European species from Gran
    Dolina, a site close to Sima del Elefante.

    The evidence of settlement at Gran Dolina has been dated to about 860,000 years ago. While Rosa shares her delicate build with Homo antecessor, overall she has more affinities with the Homo erectus fossils – although not enough to confidently place her within this group.

    Rosa may therefore provide support for a hypothesis that the occupation of Europe
    by hominins was discontinuous, at least for the first million or so years. This means that hominins settled there, then went locally extinct and were replaced by other groups of hominins later on.

    Our closest relatives were not able to survive in Europe over long periods of time until much later. But why might that be? What made Europe harder to successfully inhabit than Asia? To begin to answer such questions, we have to combine the evidence from Rosa with what we already know about early human forays beyond their ancestral home continent of Africa.

    Smaller brains, longer legs

    The Dmanisi hominins are notable for their relatively small brains and basic tools.
    This challenged the idea that advanced tools and large brains were necessary for
    expansion beyond Africa. The tools from Grăunceanu are also relatively basic,
    despite the temperate and seasonal climate their makers would have experienced.

    The Dmanisi hominins also have relatively long legs, which would have allowed them
    to move more efficiently over long distances. Perhaps, then, efficient movement,
    rather than brain size or technology, was the driving factor allowing the initial
    expansion. But did the basic stone technology used by early Europeans prevent their long term occupation of the continent?

    It is likely that we will, in time, find even earlier fossils from western Europe. Further fossils from Sima del Elefante could reveal how variable Rosa’s group was, and enable us to either place her within an existing species, or create a new one.

    But, given the sparse information we have for now, the differences between Rosa, the Dmanisi hominins, and Homo antecessor fit within a model of short-term expansions into western Europe. These expansions were probably followed by a retreat of hominin populations into so-called refugia (locations where the environment and climate were more stable), as well as extinctions of local populations. This would have been driven by changing climatic conditions. For now, which and how many species ventured west into Europe is still unknown.

    Much else also remains unknown. Did early western Europeans survive long enough
    to give rise to later species such as Homo antecessor? And how was Homo
    antecessor     related to later European species? The European fossil record becomes
    more continuous from around 600,000 years ago, first with the appearance of
    a hominin species called Homo heidelbergensis, and then with the appearance of early Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis). In fact, these two species appear to have coexisted in Europe for some time.

    Later Europeans were also able to venture further north, with evidence of footprints of a mystery hominin at Happisburgh in the UK by 900,000 years ago. Nevertheless, as with Rosa’s species and Homo antecessor, the Neanderthals and Homo heidelbergensis eventually went extinct – along with all other species of humans globally, except our own.

    The changing climate and northern latitudes of western Europe presented a clear challenge for earlier hominins. As Europe’s climate continues to change, will Homo sapiens be the first hominin capable of long term survival here?

    Suzy White receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust, and has previously received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

    – ref. Fossil face discovery highlights challenges faced by Europe’s earliest settlers – https://theconversation.com/fossil-face-discovery-highlights-challenges-faced-by-europes-earliest-settlers-252413

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Announces Winners of Fifteenth Annual State of the Union Essay Contest for Vermont Students

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

    BURLINGTON, Vt., March 19 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Wednesday announced the winners of his fifteenth annual State of the Union Essay Contest, which gives Vermont high school students the opportunity to describe a major issue facing our country and propose what they would do to solve it. This year, 475 students from 25 Vermont high schools submitted essays. A panel of nine Vermont educators served as volunteer judges, ranking the essays and selecting 12 finalists and three winners.

    Since Sanders started the contest, over 6,600 students throughout Vermont – representing almost every high school in the state – have written essays about critically important issues, including climate change, access to mental health care, immigration reform, the housing crisis, political polarization, and the cost of higher education.

    “In difficult times, what makes me most hopeful is seeing young people engaged, thinking critically about the challenges we face as a country,” said Sanders. “Thank you to all the students who participated in this year’s contest. I look forward to hearing from the finalists and discussing their ideas about how to move forward on some very important issues.”

    Sanders has invited the 15 winners and finalists to join him for a roundtable discussion, which will be held at the Vermont State House on March 29. Sanders has also entered the finalists’ essays into the Congressional Record, the official archive of the U.S. Congress. The contest is timed to coincide with the President’s annual address to a joint session of Congress, which took place on Tuesday, March 4.

    Justason Lahue, from Burr and Burton Academy, won first-place with an essay on the effects of social media on adolescents’ mental health: “A 2023 Gallup survey found that teenagers spend an average of 4.8 hours on social media daily. Alarmingly, a longitudinal study involving 6,595 adolescents revealed that spending over 3 hours daily on social media doubled the risk of poor mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and depression…I propose a bill called the Youth Mental Health Protection Act. This act would target a root cause of social media-related youth mental health issues by changing the legal age of ‘internet adulthood’ (i.e., when one can sign up for most online platforms, consent to terms of service, and share personal data). This act would make 16 the legally required age to access social media.”

    Ari Glasser, the second-place winner from Essex High School, wrote about the influence of billionaires in our political system: “Today, America is in a sort of Second Gilded Age-complete with drastic wealth inequality and a dangerous level of influence by the ultra-wealthy that is becoming ever nearer to oligarchy. Just 735 billionaires hold more wealth than the bottom half of all American households. In order to reduce the concerning level of billionaire influence, many reforms must be enacted, but perhaps most important is a wealth tax. This could raise trillions of dollars for the government while also reducing the wealth and influence of billionaires over time… In addition to reducing the economic power of billionaires, their political influence must be reduced through the use of campaign finance reform-most importantly, overturning the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC.”

    Ely White, the third-place winner from Leland and Gray Union Middle High School, wrote about political polarization: “Political polarization has grown in the past decade in the United States, transforming healthy debates of ideas into an endless battle of ‘us’ against ‘them’… This deepening division threatens the ideals of our democracy, making it nearly impossible to address the critical issues that face our country today…Ranked-choice voting (RCV) is a system that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, the votes for the lowest-ranking candidate then redistributed to voters’ next choice until a majority is achieved. RCV would encourage candidates to appeal to broader ranges of voters rather than just their base, incentivizing politicians to take moderate stances rather than extreme party-driven positions…. Integrating civic education and media literacy into our schools and communities could also work as a grassroots solution in helping individuals evaluate information and recognize bias in misinformation and ideological chambers.”

    The winners of this year’s contest:

    • First place: Justason Lahue, Burr and Burton Academy, Junior
    • Second place: Ari Glasser, Essex High School, Junior
    • Third place: Ely White, Leland and Gray Union Middle High School, Senior

    The finalists of this year’s contest (in alphabetical order by last name):

    • Leo Beebe, Winooski High School, Senior
    • Emilee Brownell, Essex High School, Junior
    • Sofia Bush, Mount Mansfield Union High School, Junior
    • Aleksandra Cirovic, Woodstock Union High School, Junior
    • Allie Hamilton, Mount Mansfield Union High School, Junior
    • Mia Konefal, South Burlington High School, Freshman
    • Hazel O’Brien, Twinfield Union School, Senior
    • Mackenzie Russell, Harwood Union High School, Junior
    • Hannah Smiley, Milton High School, Senior
    • Winslow Solomon, Vermont Commons School, Senior
    • Owen Stygles, Bellows Free Academy Fairfax, Senior
    • Amy Vaughan, Oxbow High School, Junior

    Read the essays of the winners and finalists here.

    Learn more about opportunities for Vermont students through Sanders’ office by visiting https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/students/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Providence Man Admits to Trafficking Fentanyl-Laced Counterfeit Pills

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    PROVIDENCE – A Providence man admitted to a federal judge today that he trafficked more than 2,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    Michael Sellers, 64, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    In pleading guilty, Sellers admitted that on at least two occasions in November 2023, he sold more than 1,000 counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills to an individual while under surveillance by FBI agents.

    On November 16, 2023, Sellers provided an individual with 1,027 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills in exchange for $2,500 in cash. On November 24, 2023, he provided the same individual with 1,024  fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills in exchange for $2,500. In each instance, the pills were quickly seized by law enforcement.

    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Stacey A. Erickson.

    The matter was investigated by the FBI.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Real Estate CEO Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Manipulating WeWork Stock with Fraudulent Tender Offer Scheme

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JONATHAN MOYNAHAN LARMORE was sentenced today to five years in prison for manipulating the stock price of WeWork, Inc. (“WeWork”) with a fake tender offer designed to fraudulently inflate the value of LARMORE’s own WeWork securities. LARMORE’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who also presided over a one-week trial after which LARMORE was convicted of one count of tender offer fraud and one count of securities fraud.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Jonathan Larmore treated the stock market like a game he could rig to obtain instant riches at the expense of innocent investors. As today’s sentence shows, this Office will continue to advocate for significant penalties against those who manipulate our markets and defraud investors.”

    According to the evidence presented in court during the trial:

    LARMORE is the former CEO of Arciterra Companies LLC, a real estate investment and management firm. In the fall of 2023, LARMORE perpetrated a scheme to use a false and fraudulent tender offer to manipulate the stock price of WeWork, a co-working space company that was publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

    To execute his scheme, LARMORE created a sham real estate investment firm called Cole Capital Funds LLC (“Cole Capital”). LARMORE then spent more than $775,000 buying tens of thousands of cheap, short-dated, out-of-the-money WeWork call options and hundreds of thousands of shares of WeWork common stock. On November 3, 2023, LARMORE published a fake press release announcing that Cole Capital proposed to acquire 51% of all outstanding shares owned by minority shareholders of WeWork at a more-than-700% premium in an all-cash offer worth more than $77 million. At the time, WeWork was on the verge of bankruptcy. The press release itself contained a number of false and misleading claims about LARMORE and Cole Capital, and their ability to carry through with the purported tender offer.

    In fact, neither LARMORE nor Cole Capital had the intent or ability to execute the announced tender offer. Instead, LARMORE intended for news of the tender offer to fraudulently inflate WeWork’s share price and, thereby, to increase the value of LARMORE’s newly acquired WeWork call options and shares.

    Approximately one minute after LARMORE’s press release about his fraudulent tender offer was published, WeWork’s share price quickly increased during after-hours trading by more than 70% and continued to rise to a high of more than 150% over the stock price prior to the publication of the press release. The WeWork call options LARMORE purchased could have made him tens of millions of dollars with a big enough spike to WeWork’s stock price, but the vast majority of the options expired before LARMORE could publish his manipulative press release. The following Monday, November 6, 2023, WeWork filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. LARMORE never followed through on his fraudulent tender offer.

    *               *                *

    In addition to the prison term, LARMORE, 51, of Syracuse, Indiana, was sentenced to three years of supervised release during which the defendant must perform 500 hours of community service.

    Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Podolsky also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which filed a civil action against LARMORE, for its assistance and cooperation in the investigation.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam S. Hobson, Sarah Mortazavi, and Justin V. Rodriguez are in charge of the prosecution. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: The Terrorist Screening Center Changes Name to the Threat Screening Center

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    The FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) has been renamed the Threat Screening Center to reflect an expanded mission. For more than 20 years, the Terrorist Screening Center has been the U.S. government’s lead terrorist watchlisting entity. As national security threats continue to evolve, the TSC has expanded beyond terrorism watchlisting and screening to address other national security threats, like transnational organized crime (TOC).

    With the recent designation of eight drug cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), the TSC is well positioned to significantly increase its available identity information on transnational organized crime actors. To reflect this broader mission and increased focus on watchlisting FTO-designated TOC members, the TSC has changed its name to the Threat Screening Center.

    “Border security is essential to protecting our country and providing safer communities for our citizens,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We’re expanding the watchlist to include cartel and gang members from newly designated foreign terrorist organizations. This change will assist our law enforcement and Intelligence Community partners as we all work together toward the goal of crushing violent crime within our borders.”

    “With expanding and growing threats, we are reflecting that in our name,” added TSC Director Michael Glasheen. “Transnational organized crime watchlisting plays an important role in U.S. security interests while we continue to prevent terrorist attacks. The name change is a signal to the American people that the TSC is a powerful tool that can be used to fight all national security threats.”

    MIL Security OSI –

    March 20, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Next Layer Capital Joins Bitcoin for Corporations Amid Growing Institutional Adoption

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, March 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Next Layer Capital has officially become a member of Bitcoin for Corporations (BFC), an initiative led by BTC Inc to accelerate corporate Bitcoin adoption. This strategic move aligns the firm with a corporate network of teams integrating and advancing Bitcoin initiatives. 

    Next Layer Capital’s Role in the Digital Asset Ecosystem 
    Headquartered in Miami and New York City, Next Layer Capital brings together a team of Digital Asset and traditional finance experts in one entity.

    Their diversified expertise enables the firm to offer comprehensive services that assist both corporations and family offices with their Digital Asset goals. Their proficiency has led them to the development of turn-key digital asset allocation strategies. Additionally, Next Layer Capital provides institutional-grade financing solutions, crafting alternative capital structures that incorporate Bitcoin, thereby enhancing financial flexibility. The firm also optimizes deal structuring using ai-agent workflows in its backend to ensure efficient transaction processes. This multifaceted approach positions Next Layer Capital as a pivotal player in facilitating corporate, and ultra-high net worth, Bitcoin adoption.

    Bitcoin for Corporations: An Organization Dedicated to Advancing Institutional Adoption
    Bitcoin for Corporations serves as a key organization for businesses seeking to incorporate Bitcoin into their balance sheets and treasury strategies. The initiative connects corporate leaders with industry experts, offering education, financial models, and execution frameworks to facilitate large-scale adoption. By joining BFC, Next Layer Capital strengthens its role in expanding the Bitcoin ecosystem, offering advisory services that support corporate adoption.

    Strategy’s Aggressive Bitcoin Accumulation
    The announcement of Next Layer Capital’s membership in BFC coincides with significant developments in the institutional Bitcoin landscape. Notably, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has continued its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy. As of Mar 18, 2025, Strategy holds approximately 499,096 bitcoins, acquired at an average price of $66,473 per bitcoin, totaling nearly $27.95 billion in investment. To further bolster its Bitcoin holdings, Strategy unveiled plans to raise up to $21 billion through a stock-sale initiative, underscoring the company’s commitment to Bitcoin as a primary treasury reserve asset.

    Other Public Companies Embracing Bitcoin
    The following public companies are actively incorporating Bitcoin into their corporate treasury strategies:

    • MicroStrategy: The largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, with 499,096 BTC, valued at approximately $40.96 billion as of March 2025.
    • Metaplanet: A Japan-based hotel business that has integrated Bitcoin into its corporate treasury, holding 3,200 BTC, valued at approximately $262.84 million as of March 2025.
    • Semler Scientific: A medical technology company that develops healthcare diagnostic solutions, holding 3,192 BTC, valued at approximately $261.98 million as of March 2025.

    Notable companies with Bitcoin on their balance sheet:

    • Tesla, Inc: The electric vehicle manufacturer currently holds 11,509 BTC, valued at approximately $944.59 million as of March 2025.
    • Marathon Digital Holdings Inc.: One of the world’s largest Bitcoin mining companies, holding approximately 40,435 BTC, valued at $3.32 billion as of March 2025.
    • Coinbase Global Inc.: A leading cryptocurrency exchange and custodian, holding 9,000 BTC, valued at approximately $738.67 million as of March 2025.

    These developments indicate a broader acceptance of Bitcoin as a legitimate corporate asset class.

    Advancing the Institutional Bitcoin Narrative
    “Digital assets, like Bitcoin and Stablecoins more specifically, are reshaping financial strategies at both the corporate and sovereign levels,” said Brandon Turp, Co-Founder at Next Layer Capital. “Joining Bitcoin for Corporations is a step toward providing the expertise necessary for corporations and family offices to integrate Bitcoin effectively.”

    As macroeconomic pressures drive increased demand for non-sovereign financial assets, Next Layer Capital’s participation in Bitcoin for Corporations marks a significant milestone in the evolution of corporate Bitcoin adoption. Corporations and family offices interested in exploring Digital Asset Strategies, like Bitcoin and Stablecoin integration, are encouraged to consider Next Layer Capital’s advisory services. 

    This development highlights the growing institutional acceptance of Bitcoin and reflects a broader shift toward digital asset integration in corporate finance.

    About Next Layer
    Next Layer Capital is a digital asset advisory firm that provides institutional-grade capital markets solutions to corporations, family offices, and nation-states looking to gain exposure to the digital asset ecosystem. Founded in 2024, the firm is dedicated to accelerating the global adoption of Bitcoin and digital assets. 

    Contact

    Co-Founder
    Brandon Turp
    Next Layer Capital
    turp@nextlayer.capital

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6918b242-b1ae-440c-95c3-dc8dbadd5ce1

    The MIL Network –

    March 20, 2025
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