Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI: Diamond Equity Research Releases Update Note on ProPhase Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: PRPH)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamond Equity Research, a leading equity research firm with a focus on small capitalization public companies has released an Update Note on ProPhase Labs Inc. (NASDAQ: PRPH). The update note includes information on ProPhase’s business model, services offered, industry outlook, financial results, management commentary, and risks.

    The update note is available below. 

    ProPhase Labs February 2025 Update Note

     

    Highlights from the note include:   

    • ProPhase Labs Accelerates Potential Liquidity Generation with $50M+ COVID-19 Receivable Recovery and Strategic Genomics Asset Sale: In a concerted effort to strengthen its financial position and catalyze immediate liquidity generation, ProPhase Labs has advanced two major initiatives designed to strengthen its balance sheet and drive long-term value creation. The company is aggressively pursuing the recovery of uncollected COVID-19 testing receivables through its collaboration with Crown Medical Collections. This initiative targets over $150 million in outstanding claims from more than 1,100 insurance companies, leveraging the mandates of the Cares Act, which require insurers to honor valid COVID-19 claims regardless of network or plan status. Crown Medical Collections, with a robust track record of recovering over $3 billion in claims, estimates that ProPhase could net in excess of $50 million, a figure that is notably more than triple the company’s current market capitalization, with material cash flows potentially commencing as early as mid-2025. Concurrently, the company is exploring strategic alternatives that include the potential sale of its high-value genomics assets, such as Nebula Genomics and DNA Complete, to further unlock immediate cash. Nebula Genomics, a leading direct-to-consumer whole genome sequencing provider with an extensive customer base of over 65,000 sequenced individuals, has recently seen market validation in its sector, reinforcing the asset’s strategic importance. By aligning these initiatives, ProPhase Labs aims to generate critical working capital, streamline its operational focus on core growth areas, and enhance its competitive positioning in the biotechnology, genomics, and consumer products space.
    • ProPhase Labs Appoints Stu Hollenshead as Chief Operating Officer to Drive Consumer Health Strategy: ProPhase Labs has announced the appointment of Stu Hollenshead as Chief Operating Officer, a key hire that highlights the company’s focus on expanding its consumer-centered health and wellness product portfolio. In his new role, Hollenshead will lead the company’s efforts to accelerate direct-to-consumer growth by leveraging his extensive expertise in subscription models, digital marketing, audience monetization, and strategic business development. His proven track record from previous positions at Barstool Sports, where he played an instrumental role in driving record revenue and audience expansion, positions him well to scale ProPhase Labs’ consumer initiatives. This appointment comes at a pivotal time as the company prepares to update shareholders on significant progress in its accounts receivables, explores strategic alternatives for assets such as Nebula Genomics and DNA Complete, and implements further cost-cutting measures. In addition, following the successful sale of Pharmaloz Manufacturing, the former COO has transitioned to a consulting role focused on advancing the BE-Smart esophageal cancer test, with additional validation efforts underway in collaboration with The Mayo Clinic. Hollenshead’s dual role at ProPhase Labs and as CEO of 10PM Curfew, a rapidly growing digital platform reaching over 70 million women, further demonstrates his ability to build scalable, consumer-first initiatives. Overall, his leadership is expected to enhance operational efficiency, unlock new revenue streams, and strengthen the company’s position as a leader in science-backed health solutions in an increasingly competitive wellness landscape.
    • ProPhase Labs Explores Telehealth Partnerships and Strengthens DTC Infrastructure to Drive Growth: ProPhase Labs outlined a series of strategic moves designed to capitalize on its direct-to-consumer multi-media expertise while expanding into telehealth partnerships for prescription drugs. Following the appointment of its new Chief Operating Officer, the company is now engaging with potential telehealth partners that operate extensive physician networks and offer prescription drug services. ProPhase plans to leverage its established marketing infrastructure, originally built to support healthcare OTC dietary supplements and genomics testing, in collaboration with 10PM Curfew to create a significant impact on growth. Additionally, the company dispelled rumors of an investment bank-led capital raise, clarifying that it is pursuing a revolving line of credit as interim financing until either a sale of Nebula Genomics is completed or new litigation-driven accounts receivable begin to generate cash, an initiative that could potentially net over $50 million by mid-year. ProPhase also expressed confidence in maintaining its NASDAQ listing, with anticipated inflows in the latter half of 2025 opening multiple pathways for the common stock to surpass $1 per share without the need for a reverse split.

    About ProPhase Labs Inc.

    ProPhase Labs, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRPH) is a diversified diagnostic, genomics, and biotech company seeking to leverage its CLIA lab services to provide whole genome sequencing and research directly to consumers and build a genomics database to be used for further research. The company also offers the ProPhase Supplements line of dietary supplements, which are distributed in food, drug, and retailer stores.

    About Diamond Equity Research

    Diamond Equity Research is a leading equity research and corporate access firm focused on small capitalization companies. Diamond Equity Research is an approved sell-side provider on major institutional investor platforms.

    For more information, visit https://www.diamondequityresearch.com.

    Disclosures:

    Diamond Equity Research LLC is being compensated by Prophase Labs Inc. for producing research materials regarding Prophase Labs Inc. and its securities, which is meant to subsidize the high cost of creating the report and monitoring the security, however the views in the report reflect that of Diamond Equity Research. All payments are received upfront and are billed for research engagement. As of 02/25/25 the issuer had paid us $112,500 for our research services which commenced 03/21/23, and is billed annually upfront, consisting of $35,000 for the annual subscription in the first year and $35,000 in the second year (in two $17,500 installments for six month consecutive periods paid upfront) and $2,500 for additional one-time research work for the first year coverage and $20,000 for a research report on a subsidiary of Prophase Labs Inc. and $20,000 for another research report on a subsidiary of Prophase Labs Inc. Diamond Equity Research LLC may be compensated for non- research related services, including presenting at Diamond Equity Research investment conferences, press releases and other additional services. The non-research related service cost is dependent on the company, but usually do not exceed $5,000. The issuer has paid us for non-research-related services as of 02/25/25 consisting of $2,500 for attending a virtual conference. Issuers are not required to engage us for these services. Although Diamond Equity Research company sponsored reports are based on publicly available information and although no investment recommendations are made within our company sponsored research reports, given the small capitalization nature of the companies we cover we have adopted an internal trading procedure around the public companies by whom we are engaged, with investors able to find such policy on our website public disclosures page. This report and press release do not consider individual circumstances and does not take into consideration individual investor preferences. Statements within this report may constitute forward-looking statements, these statements involve many risk factors and general uncertainties around the business, industry, and macroeconomic environment. Investors need to be aware of the high degree of risk in small capitalization equities including the complete loss of their investment. Investors can find various risk factors in the initiation report and in the respective financial filings for ProPhase Labs Inc. Please review report attached for full disclosure page. 

    Contact:
    Diamond Equity Research
    research@diamondequityresearch.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: January 2025: ELFA CapEx Finance Index Shows Demand Pulled Forward from Jan. to Dec.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • FORECAST: Growth in new business volumes suggests durable goods orders will contract by 3.8% in January.
    • Total new business volume (NBV) rose by $9.3 billion seasonally adjusted, a decline of 17.8% from December to January among surveyed ELFA member companies.
    • NBV year-to-date contracted by 6.4% from 2023 to 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis, and the year-over-year change declined by 10.6% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.
    • Charge-offs (losses) dropped to 0.46%, the second decline in as many months.

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “The latest CFI release showed that equipment demand was pulled forward from January to December, which caused volumes to underperform last month. Much of the overall decline came from the banking sector, which had a stellar yearend and a soft start to 2025. I expect conditions to normalize going forward, but risks to the outlook linger,” said Leigh Lytle, President and CEO at ELFA. “Global economic and political uncertainty remains elevated, which could weigh on equipment demand later this year as businesses decide to pause investment until tensions subside. As both aging receivables and charge-offs showed, the industry is well prepared for an extended period of uncertainty, or whatever else may be thrown its way in 2025.”

    New business volume growth dropped. NBV growth experienced its largest one-month drop on record, falling by 17.8% from December to January. While the percentage decline was sharp, the dollar amount of new business was only at its lowest since March 2023. New activity at banks and captives both experienced a monthly drop of more than 30%, while financing at independents grew by almost 9%. The dollar amount of new business was still above its monthly average from January through November of 2024, while new activity at captives declined to its lowest level since January 2017.

    Headcounts continue to decline. Employment in the equipment finance industry contracted for the third straight month, with the 12-month change dropping 3.5%. Employment at banks and captives continued to decline, while job gains at independents slowed.

    Credit approvals jump. The average credit approval rate increased to 75.9% in January, up 1.6 percentage points, the largest increase since October 2023. The rates for banks, captives, and independents all rose.

    Financial conditions remain healthy. Charge-offs dropped for the second consecutive month to 0.46%. The January decline brings the rate to just above levels experienced in the ten months prior to the November increase. Aging receivables over 30 days ticked up to 2.2% but remained low.

    “Despite macro-economic and political uncertainty, we anticipate companies will still look for creative financing solutions,” said Mitch Rice, CEO of Commercial Capital Company. “They’re seeking greater flexibility and simplified, frictionless processes to address their evolving needs. Recognizing this demand, the industry is undergoing a widespread focus on technological enhancement to deliver more efficient and effective solutions and services. We’re embracing this shift when it comes to process automation and utilizing artificial intelligence.”

    Industry Confidence
    The Monthly Confidence Index from ELFA’s affiliate, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, eased to 66.9 in February, as respondents grew slightly more pessimistic about conditions over the next four months.

    About ELFA’s CFI
    The CapEx Finance Index (CFI), formerly the Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), is the only near-real-time index that reflects capex, or the volume of commercial equipment financed in the U.S. It is released monthly from Washington, D.C., one day before the U.S. Department of Commerce’s durable goods report. This financial indicator complements reports like the Institute for Supply Management Index, providing a comprehensive view of productive assets in the U.S. economy—equipment produced, acquired and financed. The CFI consists of two years of business activity data from 25 participating companies. For more details, including methodology and participants, visit www.elfaonline.org/CFI.

    About ELFA
    The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) represents financial services companies and manufacturers in the $1 trillion U.S. equipment finance sector. ELFA’s 575 member companies provide essential financing that helps businesses acquire the equipment they need to operate and grow. Learn how equipment finance contributes to businesses’ success, U.S. economic growth, manufacturing and jobs at www.elfaonline.org.

    Follow ELFA:
    X: @ELFAonline
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/115191 

    Media/Press Contact: Catherine Lockwood, PR Manager, ELFA, catherine@360livemedia.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2b1a6575-a70f-4708-933c-8bc9d27c716f

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Introducing SAMA7D65 Microprocessors Available in System-in-Package and System-on-Chip with Advanced Graphics and Connectivity Features

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHANDLER, Ariz., Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Embedded developers must address the challenge of designing systems that achieve a balance between compactness, energy efficiency and high performance. As applications grow more sophisticated with demands for advanced graphics and connectivity, offering multiple solutions ranging from SoCs to SiPs and SOMs simplifies and accelerates development timelines. Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announces its portfolio of SAMA7D65 MPUs based on the Arm® Cortex®-A7 core running up to 1 GHz and offered in a System-in-Package (SiP) with a 2 Gb DDR3L and System-on-Chip (SoC). The SAMA7D65 MPU series is designed to target Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and connectivity applications with its advanced graphic features.

    The graphic features of the SAMA7D65 MPUs include LVDS, MIPI DSI® interfaces and 2D GPU. These high-performance features enable the transmission and processing of more data for efficient graphic performance, making it an optimal solution for HMI applications in industrial, medical and transportation markets.

    Equipped with advanced audio and connectivity features, the SAMA7D65 MPUs include dual Gigabit Ethernet with Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) support, enabling precise synchronization and low-latency communication critical for real-time systems. These features target industrial and building automation HMI applications, where seamless data exchange and deterministic networking are essential for responsive and reliable user interfaces.

    The SAMA7D65D2G SiP features 2 Gb DDR3L memory for high-speed synchronous dynamic random-access operations, while its low-voltage design reduces power consumption and enhances energy efficiency. SiPs are designed to accelerate the design process and time to market by pre-solving high-speed memory interface design considerations and simplifying memory supply.

    “Raising the bar for HMI applications, the SAMA7D65 series combines advanced graphics capabilities, low latency and connectivity with optimized power consumption for an energy-efficient design,” said Rod Drake, corporate vice president of Microchip’s high-performance MCU and MPU business units. “Its integrated DDR3L SiP variant, the SAMA7D65D2G, streamlines R&D efforts and minimizes logistical supply challenges, providing our customers with a seamless and efficient pathway from design to production.”

    The SAMA7D65 series targets applications with interactive touchscreen displays and complements Microchip’s existing SAMA7G54 1 GHz Arm Cortex-A7 based MPU. Embedded developers using Microchip’s MPUs can take advantage of Microchip Graphics Suite, a platform for building sophisticated Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and other graphics applications within MPLAB® Harmony v3 and Linux® software platforms. This comprehensive solution for designing GUI interfaces and other graphics applications helps designers improve reusability across projects and simplifies design complexities.

    Microchip’s portfolio of 32- and 64-bit Arm- and RISC-V-based MPUs offers powerful, flexible solutions for applications ranging from consumer products to space missions. In addition to its single- and multi-core SOM and SiP MPUs, Microchip offers other essential components for these applications, including connectivity, security, power management, timing and memory. For more information about the SAMA7D65 MPUs, visit the web page.

    Development Tools

    The SAMA7D65 MPUs are supported by Microchip Graphics Suite (MGS), as well as other third party graphics tools. For customers developing RTOS or bare-metal systems, these MPUs are supported in MPLAB Harmony v3. Linux support is provided in Microchip’s mainline Linux distribution. Additionally, to evaluate the SAMA7D65 series, the SAMA7D65 Curiosity Development Board is available.

    Pricing and Availability

    The SAMA7D65 MPUs are now available for purchase in production quantities. For additional information and to purchase, contact a Microchip sales representative, authorized worldwide distributor or visit Microchip’s Purchasing and Client Services website, www.microchipdirect.com. The SAMA7D65D2GN8 System on Module (SOM) is available for Early Access, for more information visit the web page.

    Resources

    High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

    About Microchip Technology:
    Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control and processing solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company’s solutions serve over 100,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

    Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo and MPLAB are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Reviews Research Facilities at CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh, inspects Microbe Repository and takes update on ongoing projects

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Reviews Research Facilities at CSIR-IMTECH, Chandigarh, inspects Microbe Repository and takes update on ongoing projects

    Dr. Jitendra Singh launches New Tulip Garden & Agri-Startups at CSIR-IHBT, Palampur

    From 50 to 9,000 Startups: India Emerges as Global Biotech Innovation Hub- Dr. Jitendra Singh

    Floriculture Mission Expands to 1,000 Hectares, Generating ₹80 Crores for Farmers

    Science and Technology Minister Dr. Singh Inaugurates Key projects at CSIR-IHBT, Palampur

    Posted On: 26 FEB 2025 5:54PM by PIB Delhi

    CHANDIGARH, February 26: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inspected Microbe Repository and other facilities at the CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTECH) here and also took an update on the ongoing projects in the institute.

    During the review, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that microbial technology is a crucial pillar of biotechnology, emphasizing its growing significance in shaping the next generation industrial revolution.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the groundbreaking New BioE3 Policy, which places a renewed focus on biomanufacturing and bio foundries. He underscored India’s rapid progress in the biotech sector, stating, “India’s bioeconomy has witnessed an extraordinary surge from $10 billion in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024, with projections to reach $300 billion by 2030.”

    The Minister also recalled the recent launch of India’s first indigenous antibiotic, Nafithromycin, developed to combat resistant infections. He noted that the number of biotech startups in India has grown exponentially from just 50 in 2014 to nearly 9,000 today, solidifying India’s position as a global hub for biotech innovation. Furthermore, he informed that India now ranks third in the Asia-Pacific region and 12th globally in bio-manufacturing, underscoring the increasing importance of CSIR-IMTECH in driving pioneering research in microbial genetics, infectious diseases, fermentation technology, environmental microbiology, and bioinformatics.

    CSIR-IMTECH, a premier research institute in microbial biotechnology, hosts a repository of over 14,000 microbial strains through its Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank (MTCC). This national repository not only provides authenticated cultures to researchers and industries but also supports key regulatory authorities, including IPC, BIS, and NBA, in microbe-related concerns. The institute is at the forefront of harnessing microbial resources for scientific and industrial applications, addressing unmet needs in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and environmental sciences.

    Connecting virtually with CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Dr. Singh inaugurated several new facilities and participated in critical scientific discussions. He joined the EMBO Workshop on High Elevation Plant Adaptation in a Changing Climate (HEPACC) and the Industry, Farmer & Academia (IFA) Meet, emphasizing that such initiatives reflect the Government of India’s commitment to scientific advancement, economic empowerment, and sustainable agriculture.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh also virtually inaugurated a New Tulip Garden at Palampur in Himachal Pradesh, commending the CSIR-IHBT Palampur team for their scientific interventions that have enabled wider tulip cultivation even in other seasons, a model that can be replicated in other regions. Additionally, he launched products developed by agri-startups that have been supported by the institute, fostering innovation in the agricultural sector.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded CSIR-IHBT for leading multiple national missions, including: CSIR Floriculture Mission – Expanded floriculture to 1,000 hectares, benefiting 3,800 farmers across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh, generating an income of ₹80 crore. Aroma Mission. Millet Mission. Immunity Mission. Waste to Wealth Mission. Phenome India-CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase. CSIR Precision Agriculture Mission

    The Minister also inaugurated state-of-the-art facilities, including Autonomous Green House, Heeng Seed Production Centre, Heeng QPM Facility, Ornamental Bulb Processing Facility and Phyto-Analytical Facility.

    Additionally, he laid the foundation stone for the Phyto factory Facility and dedicated a Cement Concrete Road from Floriculture Junction to Chandpur R&D Farm.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that by integrating scientific research, industry collaboration, and government policies, the rich biodiversity of Himalayan states can be harnessed for economic prosperity, benefiting farmers and advancing India’s scientific ecosystem.

    ****

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2106459) Visitor Counter : 76

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston arrests illegal Jamaican national charged with assault, battery in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an illegally present Jamaican alien charged in Massachusetts with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a family member when officers arrested Jahmari Taffari Westcarth, 26, in Boston Jan. 25.

    “Jahmari Taffari Westcarth stands accused of assaulting and victimizing a family member in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He represents a significant threat to the residents of our community,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “We simply refuse to tolerate such dangers to the law-abiding residents of our New England neighborhoods. ICE Boston stands firm in our commitment to prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our neighborhoods.”

    The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Westcarth after he illegally entered the United States near San Ysidro, California, Dec. 30, 2022, and served him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

    The Dorchester District Court arraigned Westcarth Jan. 8 for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery on a family member.

    ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Westcarth with later that day with the Dorchester District Court but the court refused to honor the immigration detainer and released Westcarth from custody.

    Westcarth remains in ICE custody following his arrest.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 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 New England communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A House Like Mine: Council launches new resource for homeowners and landlords to improve energy efficiency of homes

    Source: City of Oxford

    A new resource has launched this week for homeowners and landlords who want to learn how to improve the energy efficiency of their home.  

    The ‘A House Like Mine’ project, is a new partnership between Oxford City Council, Low Carbon Hub, and Cosy Homes Oxfordshire that aims to showcase how home-owners and landlords can improve the energy efficiency of their home – helping to make it warmer, healthier, cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly – whatever their budget.  

    The project features 12 real-life homes from across Oxford which received a Whole House Plan detailing the steps they could take to improve the energy performance of their homes. The case studies includes how homeowners could prioritise work on their homes and the potential impact on their energy performance rating. 

    About the case studies 

    The 12 case studies feature eight homeowners and four landlords across a range of property types – from Victorian terraces to modern flats – which aim to show the different ways that people could improve the energy efficiency of their homes: 

    The guide covers a range of different property types, including:  

    1. Pre-1900s mid-terrace, Kingston Road, Oxford
    2. 1950s semi-detached, Marston, Oxford
    3. 1900s detached, Botley, Oxford
    4. 1950s steel-framed ‘Howard House’, Rose Hill, Oxford
    5. 1920s semi-detached, Rose Hill, Oxford
    6. 1930s semi-detached, Rose Hill, Oxford
    7. 1940s semi-detached, St. Clements, Oxford
    8. Pre-1900s mid-terrace, Osney Island, Oxford
    9. Pre-1900s end-terrace, Jericho, Oxford  
    10. 1950s end-terrace, Blackbird Leys, Oxford
    11. 1900s mid-terrace, Littlemore, Oxford 
    12. 1990s top-floor flat, Temple Cowley, Oxford  

    How to use the resources 

    The case studies take a ‘fabric first’ approach, prioritising improvements to the house to reduce heat loss. This means starting with upgrades like insulation – whether that’s cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, or internal wall insulation – to create a solid foundation for further improvements. 

    The project emphasises that homeowners are not required to install all the measures at once. Instead, they are encouraged to take a step-by-step approach – starting with smaller measures or room by room. 

    A House Like Mine was funded by the MCS Foundation, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, and Lucy Group, and delivered with support from the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership (ZCOP).  

    Housing emissions in Oxford 

    The Zero Carbon Oxford Roadmap found around 60% of Oxford’s carbon emissions come from buildings, with residential buildings accounting for 29% of total emissions. 

    Oxford has the goal of becoming a net zero carbon city by 2040 and decarbonising buildings is key to this.  

    Comment 

    “A House Like Mine aims to help everyone in Oxford get access to the information and support they need to live in a healthy and energy efficient home. This project highlights how many ways there are to make your home more energy efficient, whatever your house type, personal circumstance, or budget.” 

    Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Zero Carbon Oxford, Oxford City Council

    “A House Like Mine is centred around encouraging people to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. By creating case studies with real people and real houses, we are showing what energy improvements could be possible in a range of house types across Oxford. We want people to see these stories, recognise ‘a house like mine’ and be inspired to act.” 

    Barbara Hammond, CEO, Low Carbon Hub

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BP renewables cuts will have devastating impact on people and planet

    Source: Scottish Greens

    BP is damaging our climate and communities.

    Fossil fuel giant BP’s reported decision to slash renewables investment and double down on fossil fuels shows that the industry cannot be trusted to self-regulate and that governments need to act now for our planet, say the Scottish Greens.

    The party’s Co-Leader Lorna Slater has slammed the oil giant, calling for a stronger windfall tax without the perverse incentives that encourage domestic drilling.

    Ms Slater said:

    “After years of greenwashing and spin, it seems that BP has stopped even pretending to care about our climate.

    “This is a conscious act of climate vandalism and environmental negligence that can only have a devastating impact on people and planet.

    “Companies like BP have spent years raking in obscene profits at the expense of the world around us while making false promises that they would use it to diversify away from fossil fuels. Some of us will remember their cynical Beyond Petroleum campaign.

    “The reality is that the climate emergency is only getting worse, and some of the worst polluters are doing even less to stop it.

    “Time and again the oil and gas industry has shown that it simply cannot be trusted to make the transition to green energy without robust regulations in place to force them to do so.”

    Ms Slater added:

    “Our best defence against global oil and gas prices is to make the investment that is needed in clean, green renewable energy so that we can have proper energy security while lowering bills.

    “It is time for Labour to live up to its rhetoric on renewable energy and make the kind of bold investment programme that is needed to realise our renewables potential.

    “It must finally close the loopholes in the windfall tax and ensure that these climate wreckers are paying their fair share so that we can fund the transition to a greener future.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CCC report must sound alarm bells for Labour Government

    Source: Scottish Greens

    Labour must work for people and planet.

    The UK’s independent climate change advisor, known as the Climate Change Committee (CCC), has published their Seventh Carbon Budget. The report lays out how the UK Government must take urgent action to meet their legal carbon reduction targets.

    Scottish Greens Co-Leader Patrick Harvie said:

    “Tackling the climate crisis is the greatest national priority that all governments must be working towards. But for too long, we’ve seen successive Prime Ministers fail to turn their warm words on climate into real action.

    “Inaction has cost us already. 2024 was the warmest year on record, and we’ve seen natural disasters around the world and in the UK at an increasing rate. For the UK government to consider approving new oil and gas drilling or expanding airports would be simply climate vandalism.

    “The advice sets out the huge benefits which will come from climate action, greatly cutting the cost of living for households, and that these benefits can be won at lower cost than previous estimates – a fraction of what Keir Starmer committed to military spending yesterday.

    “The CCC is clear that these benefits will only come if action is taken now to reduce carbon emissions in all sectors, including heat, agriculture and especially in transport, which remains one of the biggest polluters in the UK. 

    “Rail travel in the UK is amongst the most expensive in Europe, and our infrastructure is still damaged from the brutal Beeching cuts in the 60s. It doesn’t have to be like this.

    “With real investment in public transport, we can make it cheaper and accessible to all whilst protecting out planet. With new rail routes, reliable buses and integrated ticketing, we could end the reliance on private cars. This investment in public transport infrastructure would benefit us for decades to come.

    “The SNP must also take heed. Specific advice for the Scottish Government will come next, but it’s already clear that their energy strategy, their Heat in Buildings Bill, and their plan for cutting road traffic are all missing in action.

    “It’s time for both Labour and the SNP to stand up and take real action to tackle the climate crisis, stop new oil and gas, reject absurd proposals for airport expansions and invest in our future.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sarbananda Sonowal unveils ₹4,800 crore plan to transform Assam’s Inland Waterways at Advantage Assam 2.0

    Source: Government of India

    Sarbananda Sonowal unveils ₹4,800 crore plan to transform Assam’s Inland Waterways at Advantage Assam 2.0

    “₹1,500 crore for Green Vessel Transition in Assam by 2030 under ‘Harit Nauka Scheme’”: Sarbananda Sonowal

    “World Class Water Metro Service in Guwahati and Dhubri with an investment of ₹315 crore”: Sarbananda Sonowal

    “Centre earmarks ₹120 crore for Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh”: Sarbananda Sonowal

    “Centre to develop riverine lighthouses along Brahmaputra with ₹100 crore investment:” Sarbananda Sonowal

    Posted On: 26 FEB 2025 4:46PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced an investment of more than ₹4,800 crore to transform the inland waterways sector of Assam at the Advantage Assam 2.0 in Guwahati, today. The investment is to enable the immense potential that the complex and dynamic waterways system of the state has to offer to propel the growth and development of the region towards realising the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat, Shri Sonowal asserted at the session on Assam’s Roads, Railway and Riverine Tourism on the second day of the investment summit.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the country is cruising ahead towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat. Assam along with the Northeast plays an integral part in propelling this journey to realise the vision of Modi ji. Inland Waterways plays a crucial role in this scheme of things as the visionary Modi ji planned its revival since 2014 from near obscurity and neglect of the past. With its rich inter web of riverine system in the region, especially in Assam with Brahmaputra (NW2) and Barak (NW16), the inland waterways aims at rejuvenating its ageless role as the main conduit of trade and commerce. Globally considered as futuristic, the inland waterways provides an opportunity to opt for a more economic, efficient and environment friendly mode of transporting cargo and passengers. With the launch of schemes like ‘Jalvahak’, the Modi government has been incentivising the businesses to switch to inland waterways, thereby, improving the economies of scale, decongesting the railways and roadways and enabling a conducive ecosystem that is vital for pivotal role Assam is set to play towards India’s ascendency to become world’s biggest and an Atmanirbhar economy by 2047.”

    At the summit, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced allocation of ₹1,500 crore for a planned transition into Green Vessels by 2030 under the ‘Harit Nauka’ scheme. An amount of more than ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked to facilitate cruise tourism and enhance cargo handling capacity by 2027-28 in NW2 and NW16. This includes construction of jetties with on shore facilities at Silghat, Bishwanath ghat, Neamati Ghat and Guijan along with construction of a new building for Regional Office, MSDC, Guest house and office space for ITAT at Fancy Bazar in Guwahati. An amount of ₹375 crore is pegged for development of Phase II of Ship Repair Facility at Pandu. In order to maintain fairway, the government has entrusted Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) to ensure assured draft of 2.5 meters from Bangladesh Border to Pandu in NW-2 till 2026-27. An amount of ₹191 crore has been earmarked for this, Shri Sonowal stated.

     

    Adding further, he said, “Advantage Assam has always served as a catalyst for the region’s economic revival, providing businesses with a strategic platform to expand their trade and investment opportunities. With the immense support that Assam has received from our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we remain firmly committed to the holistic development of the economy of Assam and the Northeast. Among the various ongoing projects to enable inland waterways of Assam, we are also planning to transform the conventional vessels into Green Vessels under Harit Nauka scheme. This affirms the commitment of our government towards sustainable development, a milestone set by our dynamic leader Narendra Modi ji. Given the immense potential of riverine tourism in the state, we are developing an ecosystem including infrastructure and fairway for smooth, regular and viable operations. You may be happy to know that the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), with its rich experience of dredging at the sea, has been entrusted with dredging the NW2, for the first time on any river in India.”

    The Union Minister also announced the development of Water Metro Service in Guwahati and Dhubri for an estimated investment of ₹315 crore. Based on the success of Kochi Metro Service, the feasibility study is being conducted for this. Shri Sarbananda Sonowal also announced deployment of two Electric Catamarans being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). A world class cruise terminal will also be built in Guwahati with an estimated investment of ₹100 crore. 

    In Dibrugarh, an estimated ₹120 crore has been earmarked for development of Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE). Adding further to the capital development along the NW2, Riverine Lighthouses will be built at FIVE places — Bogibeel, Biswanath, Nimati, Pandu and Silghat — at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore. In addition, a sum of ₹150 crore has been earmarked for fairway development with LAD of 2.5 meters between Pandu and Bogibeel. TWO Cutter Section Dredger units will also be purchased for Brahmaputra (NW2).

     

    The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for the riverine transportation including national waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), is implementing projects worth ₹1,010 crore along river Brahmaputra (NW2) and river Barak (NW16) in Assam. Among the major projects, the ship repair facility is being built at Panda with an investment of ₹208 crore while an alternate road from Pandu to NH27 is being built at an investment of ₹180 crore. New Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) at Bogibeel as well as at Jogighopa —- with more than ₹66 crore and ₹82 crore of investment —- are being developed on Brahmaputra to ‘enable possibilities meet opportunities’, Shri Sonowal added.

    An investment of more than ₹646 crore has been earmarked to construct riverine infrastructure across Brahmaputra under the Sagarmala Scheme, the flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. For Barak River, the Union Minister announced procurement of Survey Vessel, procurement of THREE Amphibian Dredgers, construction of Crane Pontoon and Gangway for proving Floating Terminal facilities in Karimganj, construction of Steel Pontoon and Gangway for providing Floating Terminal facilities at Badarpur among other projects.

    At this session, the Union Minister was joined by the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma; Minister of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary, Fishery and PWRD, Govt of Assam, Krishnendu Paul; Chairman of IWAI, Vijay Kumar; High Commissioner of Singapore, His Excellency Simon Wong among other officials and corporate leaders from infra, railways and marine sector.

     

    ***

    G.D.Hallikeri / Henry

    (Release ID: 2106438) Visitor Counter : 32

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hospital Authority welcomes 2025-26 Budget

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hospital Authority welcomes 2025-26 Budget
    Hospital Authority welcomes 2025-26 Budget
    ******************************************

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:     The Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, welcomed the 2025-26 Budget announced by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Legislative Council today (February 26). The 2025-26 annual subvention for the HA will be $100.2 billion (including $99 billion recurrent), having increased by 3 per cent compared to the 2024-25 revised provision.      Mr Fan is especially grateful that in the face of pressure on public finances, the Government continues to increase the subvention to the HA. The HA co-operates with the Government on the deepening reform of the healthcare system, and remains committed to augmenting and strengthening public healthcare services to benefit the well-being of the community. The HA strives to optimise utilisation, enhance efficiency, minimise wastage and execute targeted allocation of public resources to ensure its purposeful deployment. The structure and levels of subsidisation will be reviewed for the sustainable development of public healthcare. The HA will strive to improve its service comprehensively with a spirit of innovation and change, and active promotion of reform.      Mr Fan said, “With the staunch support of the country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the HA will remain dedicated to strengthening its service and provide suitable treatment and care for patients. Measures include launching the first breast milk bank in Hong Kong, executing full-scale preparation on the first stroke centre and the second chest pain centre in Hong Kong in accordance with national accreditation standards, and devotedly expanding the talent hub by attracting healthcare professionals to work in Hong Kong through Mainland and global healthcare talent visiting programmes in order to provide high-quality healthcare services to the public.”      The HA Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko, thanked the HKSAR Government for supporting the service upgrade in public hospitals. “The HA will actively carry out hospital redevelopment and expansion projects, including Queen Mary Hospital, New Acute Hospital at Kai Tak Development Area, phase 2 of the redevelopment of Kwong Wah Hospital, and the Community Health Centres in various locations, in order to elevate the service capacity of public healthcare to meet community needs,” said Dr Ko.      The HA will continue to execute various measures to promote sustainable development of public healthcare and to be in line with primary healthcare policy. Smart hospital initiatives with advanced technology will be expanded in the clusters so that patients’ experiences and operational processes will be enhanced. In the coming financial year, around 330 additional public hospital beds will be opened and capacity for operating theatre services, endoscopic services and cataract surgeries will be enhanced. Meanwhile, quotas of general outpatient clinics will be increased; triage and referral arrangements for specialist out-patient clinics will also be optimised to strengthen the treatment and care for major chronic diseases, and services of nurse clinics, ensuring comprehensive fulfilment of patients’ healthcare requirements. The HA will implement measures to boost capacity of accident and emergency, radiotherapy and chemotherapy services, as well as improve pharmacy services.      Mr Fan and Dr Ko once again thanked the HKSAR Government for its support of public healthcare services. The HA will utilise the subvention appropriately and strive to implement relevant policies and measures for the benefit of patients.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025Issued at HKT 19:04

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESS RELEASE – SVSG Village Representatives Launch First Activity to Celebrate 20th Anniversary

    Source: Government of Western Samoa

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    The Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) is marking an important milestone this year—20 years of dedicated service to the people of Samoa. Since its inception, SVSG has been at the forefront of advocating for the protection and well-being of vulnerable individuals, particularly women and children affected by violence.

    To commemorate this momentous occasion, the SVSG Village Representative Executive launched their first activity, setting the tone for a year of celebration, reflection, and continued commitment to their mission.

    On February 10th, they visited the children residing at the Campus of Hope, a safe haven for children who have endured various forms of abuse and hardship. The representatives arrived with an abundance of food groceries, ensuring that the children and their caregivers had the necessary provisions to sustain their daily needs.

    Their visit was not just about donations—it was a gesture of solidarity, demonstrating the unwavering support of SVSG’s leadership. During their time at the campus, the village representatives and children engaged in heartfelt prayers, seeking divine blessings for the continued success of SVSG’s work.

    The representatives reaffirmed their commitment to ending violence in Samoa, calling upon every village chief and leader to take an active role in protecting their communities from harm. They emphasized that true leadership is about standing up for the vulnerable and ensuring that no one suffers in silence.

    SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the village representatives for their dedication and willingness to serve. She acknowledged their tireless efforts in being the first point of contact for victims seeking help, often sacrificing their own time and resources to support those in need. “This 20th anniversary is not just a celebration of SVSG’s journey but a recognition of every individual who has contributed with the continued support of its village representatives, partners, and the wider Samoan community.

    END OF RELEASE.

    SOURCE – Samoa Victim Support Group

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Govt to optimise fiscal resources

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Financial Secretary Paul Chan today announced that the Government will adjust two transport subsidy schemes, including the $2 Scheme, in order to reduce government expenditure by about $6.2 billion in the next five years.

    This measure is part of the Government’s efforts to enhance the fiscal consolidation programme that was put forward in last year’s Budget.

    Unveiling the enhancements to the programme in his 2025-26 Budget this morning, Mr Chan said the Government will focus on strictly controlling its expenditure, supplemented by increasing revenue. The impact to the general public should be minimised.  

    The Government will lead by example to demonstrate its commitment to cutting expenditure while ensuring the delivery of high-standard public services. It will also continue to press ahead with infrastructure works projects in the Northern Metropolis and those related to the economy and people’s livelihood.

    Furthermore, it will maintain the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s simple and low tax regime, avoid a considerable increase in tax rates or introducing new taxes, and uphold the “user pays” and the “affordable users pay” principles as far as practicable while increasing revenue.

    Expenditure growth

    To strictly contain expenditure growth, the Government will step up the Productivity Enhancement Programme by increasing the rate of reduction in recurrent government expenditure from the original 1% to 2% in 2025‑26, and extending this arrangement for two more years to 2027‑28.

    Compared to 2023-24, recurrent government expenditure will decrease by around $3.9 billion in 2025-26, $19.5 billion in 2026-27, and $27.3 billion in 2027-28.

    Meanwhile, Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, Social Security Allowance and statutory expenditure will not be affected.

    The civil service establishment will be reduced by 2% each in 2026-27 and 2027-28.  By April 1, 2027, about 10,000 posts are expected to be deleted within the current-term Government.

    The Government will provide a total of $68.1 billion in funding to the University Grants Committee-funded universities in the coming three years. This funding has reflected a 2% reduction target each year, in line with the magnitude of the Government’s recurrent expenditure cut.

    The finance chief emphasised that such a funding level is still higher than the $63.2 billion in the last triennium.

    Transport subsidies

    After a review, the Government proposed adjustments to the two transport subsidy schemes that incur relatively high expenditure with a rapid growth rate.

    On the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly & Eligible Persons with Disabilities or the $2 Scheme, the concessionary fare will be changed to “$2 flat rate and 80% discount”, while the targeted beneficiaries remain unchanged.

    Under the new arrangement, the beneficiaries will continue to pay $2 for trips with a fare below or equal to $10. For trips with a fare above $10, they will have to pay the full fare amount after the 80% discount. The number of concessionary trips will also be limited to 240 per month. 

    Mr Chan noted that this fine-tuned proposal preserves the Government’s policy intent while striking a balance between enhancing the scheme’s sustainability and minimising the impacts to the beneficiaries. 

    As for the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme, from June 2025 onwards, the threshold of monthly public transport expenses incurred for receiving the subsidy under the scheme will be raised from $400 to $500. 

    The Government will continue to provide a subsidy amounting to one-third of the expenses in excess of $500, and the prevailing subsidy cap will stay at $400 per month.

    Upon implementation of the refined arrangements, the Government is expected to save $6.2 billion in the coming five years.

    Pay freeze

    In addition, the Government put forward that for 2025-26, the executive authorities, the legislature, the Judiciary and District Council members take a pay freeze. 

    This involves the Chief Executive and politically appointed officials; Executive Council non-official members; civil service members; Legislative Council (LegCo) President, members and secretariat; Court of Final Appeal Chief Justice, judges of the courts at all levels, and other Judiciary members; and District Council members.

    Capital works

    The Development Bureau’s Project Strategy & Governance Office will support various departments in enhancing governance of public works projects on all fronts. 

    The office is also formulating policies for the procurement of construction materials and products, through direct procurement by relevant works departments and centralised procurement by a single department. 

    It has reviewed over 540 public works projects, achieving savings in construction costs by over 15%.      

    The Government is also reviewing the scale and mode of delivery of district cooling systems in new development areas, such as Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen and the San Tin Technopole.

    The preliminary estimate of works expenditure savings is at least $40 billion. The Environment & Ecology Bureau will report the review results in the second quarter.

    Mr Chan has also requested the Audit Commission to organise workshops for the management of government department and public bodies to foster their understanding and adoption of principles and best practices in fiscal prudence and optimal use of public money.

    He also asked the relevant bureaus to review the expenditure on social welfare, healthcare and education. They should, having regard to the city’s demographic changes, optimise resources and review the sustainability of the use of resources.

    Increasing revenue

    The rate of air passenger departure tax will be increased from $120 to $200 per passenger starting the third quarter of 2025-26. Government revenue is expected to increase by about $1.6 billion per year.

    An application fee of $600 will be charged under various talent and capital investor admission schemes with immediate effect. The visa fees, to be charged based on the duration of limit of stay, will be raised to $600 or $1,300. It is estimated that government revenue will increase by about $620 million per year.

    The Transport & Logistics Bureau will review the tolls of relevant government tunnels and trunk roads, the annual licence fee for electric private cars, parking meter charges as well as the fixed penalties for traffic offences, for better traffic management. The various adjustments could generate about $2 billion additional revenue per year.

    The Government will explore introducing a boundary facilities fee on private cars departing via land boundary control points. Coaches, goods vehicles and the like will not be affected. Taking a fee of $200 per private car as an example, the measure will bring in revenue of about $1 billion per year.

    In January 2025, the Government submitted a bill to LegCo on the implementation of the global minimum tax proposal drawn up by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development to address base erosion and profit shifting. 

    It aims to apply the global minimum tax rate of 15% on large multinational enterprise groups with an annual consolidated group revenue of at least 750 million euros and impose the Hong Kong minimum top up tax.

    Subject to the passage of the bill, the proposal will bring in a tax revenue of about $15 billion for the Government annually starting 2027-28.

    Financial resources

    To consolidate and optimise the use of its financial resources, the Government reviewed the utilisation of the Anti‑epidemic Fund. Taking into account the expenditure requirements, the fund has a remaining balance of about $15 billion, which will be brought back to the Government’s accounts next month. This sum has been reflected in the revised estimate for 2024-25.

    It also reviewed the funds set up outside the Government’s accounts by bureaus and departments for specific purposes from time to time. Some of these funds are seed capital funds that only use investment returns to meet their expenditure.

    The Government proposes bringing back the first six seed capital funds with relatively large unspent balance, totalling about $62 billion, to its accounts in 2025-26, after setting aside resources to meet the necessary expenditure of these funds for the next five years so as not to affect their sustainable operation. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Names Stephen Koerner as Acting Director of Johnson Space Center

    Source: NASA

    NASA has selected Stephen Koerner as acting director of Johnson Space Center. Koerner previously served as Johnson’s deputy director.
    “It is an honor to accept my new role as acting director for Johnson,” Koerner said. “Our employees are key to our nation’s human spaceflight goals. I am continually impressed with what our workforce accomplishes and am proud to be named the leader of such an incredible team dedicated to mission excellence.”
    Koerner previously served as deputy director of NASA Johnson beginning in July 2021, overseeing strategic workforce planning, serving as Designated Agency Safety Health Officer (DASHO), and supporting the Johnson Center Director in mission reviews. Before his appointment to deputy director, Koerner served as director of the Flight Operations Directorate (FOD) for two years. In that role, he was responsible for selecting and protecting astronauts, and for the planning, training, and execution of human space flight and aviation missions. He managed an annual budget of $367 million, 600 civil servants and military personnel, and 2300 contractor personnel.  He oversaw the Astronaut Office, the Flight Director Office, the Mission Control Center, human spaceflight training facilities, and Johnson’s Aviation Operations Division. During this tenure he was also responsible for FOD’s flight readiness of the first commercial human spaceflight mission, ushering in a new era of domestic launch capability and the return of American astronauts launching from American soil. 
    Prior to assuming his position as director of Flight Operations, Koerner served in several senior executive roles, including:

    Johnson Space Center Associate Director from 2018 to 2019
    Johnson Space Center Chief Financial Officer (CFO) from 2017 to 2018
    Deputy Director of Flight Operations from 2014 to 2017
    Deputy Director Mission Operations from 2007 to 2014

    Koerner joined Johnson full-time in 1992. He has extensive operations experience including serving as an environmental systems space shuttle flight controller, where he supported 41 space shuttle flights in Mission Control. Since that time, he has served in a series of progressively more responsible positions, including lead for two International Space Station flight control groups, chief of the space station’s Data Systems Flight Control Branch, chief of the Mission Operations Directorate’s Management Integration Office, and as the Mission Operation Directorate’s manager for International Space Station operations.
    Additional special assignments throughout his career include:

    Project manager for Johnson’s Crew Exploration Vehicle Avionics Integration Lab (June 2007 –June 2008)
    Member of NASA’s Human Exploration Framework Team (April 2010 –October 2010)
    Member of NASA’s Standing Review Board that provided an independent assessment at life cycle review milestones for the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program, the Space Launch System Program and the Ground Systems Development and Operations Program (October 2011 – August 2014)
    Lead of NASA’s Mission Operations Capability Team (October 2015 –April 2017)

    “Steve has an accomplished career serving human spaceflight. His vision and dedication to the Johnson workforce makes him the perfect person to lead the Johnson team forward as acting director,” said Vanessa Wyche, NASA acting associate administrator. “Steve is an asset to the center and the agency—as both a proven technical expert and a leader.”
    Throughout his career, Koerner has been recognized for outstanding technical achievements and leadership, receiving two Superior Accomplishment Awards, the Outstanding Leadership Medal, the Johnson Space Center Director’s Commendation Award, two group achievement awards, the Exceptional Service Medal, and the Presidential Rank Award.
    Koerner is a native of Stow, Ohio. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Akron in Ohio, and a master’s degree in business administration from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s EZIE Launching to Study Magnetic Fingerprints of Earth’s Aurora

    Source: NASA

    High above Earth’s poles, intense electrical currents called electrojets flow through the upper atmosphere when auroras glow in the sky. These auroral electrojets push about a million amps of electrical charge around the poles every second. They can create some of the largest magnetic disturbances on the ground, and rapid changes in the currents can lead to effects such as power outages. In March, NASA plans to launch its EZIE (Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer) mission to learn more about these powerful currents, in the hopes of ultimately mitigating the effects of such space weather for humans on Earth.
    Results from EZIE will help NASA better understand the dynamics of the Earth-Sun connection and help improve predictions of hazardous space weather that can harm astronauts, interfere with satellites, and trigger power outages.
    The EZIE mission includes three CubeSats, each about the size of a carry-on suitcase. These small satellites will fly in a pearls-on-a-string formation, following each other as they orbit Earth from pole to pole about 350 miles (550 kilometers) overhead. The spacecraft will look down toward the electrojets, which flow about 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the ground in an electrified layer of Earth’s atmosphere called the ionosphere.
    During every orbit, each EZIE spacecraft will map the electrojets to uncover their structure and evolution. The spacecraft will fly over the same region 2 to 10 minutes apart from one another, revealing how the electrojets change.

    Previous ground-based experiments and spacecraft have observed auroral electrojets, which are a small part of a vast electric circuit that extends 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) from Earth to space. But for decades, scientists have debated what the overall system looks like and how it evolves. The mission team expects EZIE to resolve that debate. 
    “What EZIE does is unique,” said Larry Kepko, EZIE mission scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “EZIE is the first mission dedicated exclusively to studying the electrojets, and it does so with a completely new measurement technique.”

    EZIE is the first mission dedicated exclusively to studying the electrojets.

    Larry Kepko
    EZIE mission scientist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

    This technique involves looking at microwave emission from oxygen molecules about 10 miles (16 kilometers) below the electrojets. Normally, oxygen molecules emit microwaves at a frequency of 118 Gigahertz. However, the electrojets create a magnetic field that can split apart that 118 Gigahertz emission line in a process called Zeeman splitting. The stronger the magnetic field, the farther apart the line is split.
    Each of the three EZIE spacecraft will carry an instrument called the Microwave Electrojet Magnetogram to observe the Zeeman effect and measure the strength and direction of the electrojets’ magnetic fields. Built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, each of these instruments will use four antennas pointed at different angles to survey the magnetic fields along four different tracks as EZIE orbits.
    The technology used in the Microwave Electrojet Magnetograms was originally developed to study Earth’s atmosphere and weather systems. Engineers at JPL had reduced the size of the radio detectors so they could fit on small satellites, including NASA’s TEMPEST-D and CubeRRT missions, and improved the components that separate light into specific wavelengths.

    The electrojets flow through a region that is difficult to study directly, as it’s too high for scientific balloons to reach but too low for satellites to dwell.
    “The utilization of the Zeeman technique to remotely map current-induced magnetic fields is really a game-changing approach to get these measurements at an altitude that is notoriously difficult to measure,” said Sam Yee, EZIE’s principal investigator at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland.
    The mission is also including citizen scientists to enhance its research, distributing dozens of EZIE-Mag magnetometer kits to students in the U.S. and volunteers around the world to compare EZIE’s observations to those from Earth. “EZIE scientists will be collecting magnetic field data from above, and the students will be collecting magnetic field data from the ground,” said Nelli Mosavi-Hoyer, EZIE project manager at APL.

    EZIE scientists will be collecting magnetic field data from above, and the students will be collecting magnetic field data from the ground.

    Nelli Mosavi-Hoyer
    EZIE project manager, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

    The EZIE spacecraft will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as part of the Transporter-13 rideshare mission with SpaceX via launch integrator Maverick Space Systems.
    The mission will launch during what’s known as solar maximum — a phase during the 11-year solar cycle when the Sun’s activity is stronger and more frequent. This is an advantage for EZIE’s science.
    “It’s better to launch during solar max,” Kepko said. “The electrojets respond directly to solar activity.”
    The EZIE mission will also work alongside other NASA heliophysics missions, including PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere), launching in late February to study how material in the Sun’s outer atmosphere becomes the solar wind.
    According to Yee, EZIE’s CubeSat mission not only allows scientists to address compelling questions that have not been able to answer for decades but also demonstrates that great science can be achieved cost-effectively.
    “We’re leveraging the new capability of CubeSats,” Kepko added. “This is a mission that couldn’t have flown a decade ago. It’s pushing the envelope of what is possible, all on a small satellite. It’s exciting to think about what we will discover.”
    The EZIE mission is funded by the Heliophysics Division within NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA Goddard. APL leads the mission for NASA. Blue Canyon Technologies in Boulder, Colorado, built the CubeSats.
    by Vanessa ThomasNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
    Header Image:An artist’s concept shows the three EZIE satellites orbiting Earth.Credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom issues statement on federal investments in Sites Reservoir

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 25, 2025

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom today issued a statement in response to the Trump administration’s announcement that it had released more than $315 million of obligated money to create new water storage at the future Sites Reservoir and at the existing San Luis Reservoir. 

    SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Newsom celebrated the release of funding by the Trump Administration for the state’s Sites Reservoir Project and the existing San Luis Reservoir

    “We are grateful for this shared priority with the Trump Administration as we move forward together to build critical infrastructure to improve water storage.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    The Sites Reservoir will capture water during wet seasons and store it for use during drier seasons – holding up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water, enough to supply over 4.5 million homes for a year. It has received a total of $46.75 million in early funding from the state. In all, Sites is eligible for $875.4 million of Proposition 1 funding. The total project cost is estimated at $4 billion. Governor Newsom streamlined the project late last year, defeating a CEQA legal challenge and preserving that victory on appeal. Today’s funding was awarded during the Biden administration and released by President Trump today. More information about the project can be found at build.ca.gov.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Akamai Arrival

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Declaration Form

    ALOHA AND WELCOME TO HAWAI‘I!

    Many plants and animals from elsewhere in the world can be harmful to our unique environment, agriculture, and communities. Please help to protect Hawai‘i by not bringing harmful pests into our state.

    YOU ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO FILL OUT THIS AGRICULTURAL DECLARATION FORM FOR ALL INBOUND FLIGHTS FROM THE CONTINENTAL U.S. TO HAWAIʻI.

    Any person who defaces this declaration form, gives false information, or fails to declare, prohibited or restricted articles in their possession, including baggage, or fails to declare these items on cargo manifests is in violation of Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and may be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable, in certain instances, by a maximum penalty of $25,000 and/or up to one year imprisonment. Intentionally smuggling a snake or other prohibited or restricted article into Hawaiʻi is, in certain circumstances, a Class C felony punishable by a maximum penalty of $200,000 and/or up to five years imprisonment.

    One adult member of a family may complete this declaration for other family members.

    The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (“HDOA”) is committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination, retaliation, or harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or any other class as protected under federal or state law, with respect to any program or activity. For more information, including language accessibility and filing a complaint, please contact the HDOA Non-Discrimination Coordinator at (808) 973-9560, or visit HDOA’s website at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/non-discrimination-notice/#english

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Los Angeles wildfire hazardous debris cleanup reaches substantial completion in record time

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 25, 2025

    What you need to know: More than 9,000 properties were cleared of hazardous materials in less than 30 days – marking the fastest-ever hazardous debris removal effort in the nation.

    LOS ANGELES – In less than 30 days, federal and state crews have substantially completed wildfire hazardous debris cleanup for the Eaton and Palisades fires, as part of broader efforts to help Los Angeles firestorm survivors recover and rebuild at a record pace. 

    U.S. EPA crews, working alongside state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) personnel and the U.S. Department of Defense, have reached 99% completion, with around 100 harder-to-access properties remaining. Crews have assessed and cleaned up thousands of residential parcels – clearing more than 9,000 properties of hazardous materials. 

    Phase 1 prioritizes the removal of household hazardous waste, which was necessary to begin Phase 2 clearing of structural debris. Governor Gavin Newsom joined federal, state and local leaders to launch that important second phase of work and mark the swift progress of cleanup efforts.   

    Thanks to the hard work and dedication of hundreds of federal and state crews, the first phase of debris cleanup is coming to a close and we can turn our focus fully to structural debris removal. Under the leadership of EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, crews cleaned hazardous waste from thousands of properties in less than 30 days, a record pace never seen before at this scale.

    We’re working hand-in-hand with President Trump and his administration to clear debris as fast as possible to get Angelenos back to their properties to start rebuilding.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    By the numbers

    Historic recovery and rebuilding efforts — faster than ever before

    • Cutting red tape to help rebuild Los Angeles faster and stronger. Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Governor also issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor’s executive orders. Additionally, he signed an executive order to cut more red tape and continue streamlining rebuilding, recovery, and relief for survivors. The Governor also issued an executive order removing bureaucratic barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly.
    • Providing tax and mortgage relief to those impacted by the fires. California postponed the individual tax filing deadline to October 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers. Additionally, the state extended the January 31, 2025, sales and use tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County taxpayers until April 30 — providing critical tax relief for businesses. Governor Newsom suspended penalties and interest on late property tax payments for a year, effectively extending the state property tax deadline. The Governor also worked with state– and federally-chartered banks that have committed to providing mortgage relief for survivors in certain zip codes. For additional relief, Governor Newsom is sponsoring new legislation to allow homeowners who receive insurance payments for lost or damaged property to receive the interest accrued rather than lenders. The Governor is also proposing to create an over $125 million mortgage relief program to assist homeowners whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged by recent natural disasters, placing them at risk of foreclosure.  
    • Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants. To help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms, the Governor issued an executive order to make it easier to streamline construction of accessory dwelling units, allow for more temporary trailers and other housing, and suspend fees for mobile home parks. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order that prohibits landlords in Los Angeles County from evicting tenants for sharing their rental with survivors displaced by the Los Angeles-area firestorms.
    • Mobilizing debris removal and cleanup. With an eye toward recovery, the Governor directed fast action on debris removal work and mitigating the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. He also signed an executive order to allow expert federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties as a key step in getting people back to their properties safely. The Governor also issued an executive order to help mitigate risk of mudslides and flooding and protect communities by hastening efforts to remove debris, bolster flood defenses, and stabilize hillsides in affected areas. Governor Newsom joined federal and local partners to begin work on structural debris removal — just 35 days after the start of the fires, a record-breaking pace for cleanup. 
    • Safeguarding survivors from price gouging. Governor Newsom expanded restrictions to protect survivors from illegal price hikes on rent, hotel and motel costs, and building materials or construction. Report violations to the Office of the Attorney General here.
    • Directing immediate state relief. The Governor signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion to immediately support ongoing emergency response efforts and to jumpstart recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California quickly launched CA.gov/LAfires as a single hub of information and resources to support those impacted and bolsters in-person Disaster Recovery Centers. That website features a dashboard tracking recovery efforts and a recovery services finder to help connect survivors with help. The Governor also launched LA Rises, a unified recovery initiative that brings together private sector leaders to support rebuilding efforts. Governor Newsom announced that individuals and families directly impacted by the recent fires living in certain zip codes may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits.
    • Getting kids back in the classroom and supporting childcare providers. Governor Newsom signed an executive order to quickly assist displaced students in the Los Angeles area and bolster schools affected by the firestorms. Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to ensure that childcare providers are aware of their potential eligibility for Disaster Unemployment Assistance and have the support needed to apply.
    • Protecting victims from real estate speculators. The Governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm victims from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers to purchase their property.

    Helping businesses and workers get back on their feet. The Governor issued an executive order to support small businesses and workers, by providing relief to help businesses recover quickly by deferring annual licensing fees and waiving other requirements that may impose barriers to recovery.

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    News 23 new sites now available for development What you need to know: Governor Newsom is expanding access to the state’s program to create new housing on underutilized state property by streamlining the effort. Today the Governor launched a revamped Excess Sites…

    News Releases $920 million in additional homelessness funding   What you need to know: Governor Newsom today announced stronger accountability measures to hold local governments accountable if they fail to make progress in addressing homelessness. The Governor also…

    News Pilot program to help LA recover and rebuild together What you need to know: Governor Newsom will debut a first-in-the-nation deliberative democracy program to help community members directly influence and inform the ongoing Los Angeles firestorm rebuilding and…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHA Acting Assistant Director, AD-HCA visits NAMRU San Antonio

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON – (Feb. 25, 2025) – Rear Adm. Matthew Case, the Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) acting assistant director, Health Administration (AD-HCA) visited with leadership and staff of Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio.

    The purpose of the visit was to better understand NAMRU San Antonio ‘s mission, capabilities, and impact to Navy Medicine.

    Case, who additional serves as the director of the Navy Medical Service Corps, toured NAMRU San Antonio facilities at the Battlefield Health and Trauma (BHT) Research Institute and Tri-Service Research Laboratory.

    While touring BHT, Case was briefed research on bacterial reduction efficacy of a portable ozone sterilizer, tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) treatments in extreme cold, bone fracture fixation technology for craniomaxillofacial (CMF) fractures, development of a novel antivenom against specific snakebites, and an in-house design of an amalgam separator for dental chairs.

    Case is the fifth Navy Corps director to visit NAMRU San Antonio within the past two years. Rear Admirals Guido Valdes (Medical Corps), Walter Brafford (Dental Corps), Robert Hawkins (Nurse Corps), and Force Master Chief PatrickPaul C. Mangaran (Hospital Corps) have visited the unit since January 2023.

    NAMRU San Antonio is one of eight research laboratories within Navy Medicine Research and Development.

    Its mission is to conduct gap driven combat casualty care, craniofacial, and directed energy research to improve survival, operational readiness, and safety of Department of Defense personnel engaged in routine and expeditionary operations.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [ALLIANCE PHARMA PLC – 25 02 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
    N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
    ALLIANCE PHARMA PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
    25 FEBRUARY 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 1p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 12,174,711 2.2522    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 12,174,711 2.2522    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    1p ORDINARY SALE 13,850 60.8p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD
    Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
    Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.
    Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option
    Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion
    Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 26 FEBRUARY 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC – 25 02 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
    N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
    LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
    25 FEBRUARY 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
    N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 0.375p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 9,008,168 1.1367    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 9,008,168 1.1367    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    0.375p ORDINARY SALE 3,100 99.15p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD
    Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
    Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.
    Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option
    Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion
    Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 26 FEBRUARY 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: DT Midstream Reports Record 2024 Results; Raises Dividend and 2025 Adjusted EBITDA Guidance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Full year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA of $969 million
    • Increased dividend by 12%
    • Increased 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance
    • Announced new agreements to serve utility-scale power generation projects

    DETROIT, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DT Midstream, Inc. (NYSE: DTM) today announced fourth quarter 2024 reported net income of $73 million, or $0.73 per diluted share. For the fourth quarter of 2024, Operating Earnings were $94 million, or $0.94 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $235 million.

    Full year 2024 reported net income was $354 million, or $3.60 per diluted share. For full year 2024, Operating Earnings were $375 million, or $3.81 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the year was $969 million.

    Reconciliations of Operating Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP measures) to reported net income are included at the end of this news release.

    “As a result of a great team effort, we delivered record results in 2024, exceeding our increased guidance. I want to thank each employee for their contribution,” said David Slater, President and CEO. “We successfully closed on the largest acquisition in our history last year and completed key organic growth projects ahead of schedule and on budget. We are very well positioned to serve growing demand across our footprint and continue our track record of premium, high-quality growth.”

    Slater noted the following significant business updates:

    • Increased 2025 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range to $1.095 to $1.155 billion, an 18% increase over 2024 original guidance
    • Increased dividend by 12% from fourth quarter 2024 to $0.82 per share, to be paid on April 15, 2025 to stockholders of record on March 17, 2025
    • Executed agreements for two new projects that will serve utility-scale power generation
    • Provided 2026 Adjusted EBITDA early outlook range of $1.155 to $1.225 billion, representing 6% annual growth from 2025

    “Our strong financial results for 2024, along with our increased organic project backlog, expanded asset footprint, and flexible balance sheet give us high confidence in meeting our goals for this year and beyond,” said Jeff Jewell, Executive Vice President and CFO.

    The company has scheduled a conference call to discuss results for 9:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. CT) today. Investors, the news media and the public may listen to a live internet broadcast of the call at this link. The participant toll-free telephone dial-in number in the U.S. and Canada is 888.596.4144, and the toll number is 646.968.2525; the passcode is 9645886. International access numbers are available here. The webcast will be archived on the DT Midstream website at investor.dtmidstream.com.

    About DT Midstream

    DT Midstream (NYSE: DTM) is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment and surface facilities. The company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a plan of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction by 2030. For more information, please visit the DT Midstream website at www.dtmidstream.com.

    Why DT Midstream Uses Operating Earnings, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow

    Use of Operating Earnings Information – Operating Earnings exclude non-recurring items, certain mark-to-market adjustments and discontinued operations. DT Midstream management believes that Operating Earnings provide a more meaningful representation of the company’s earnings from ongoing operations and uses Operating Earnings as the primary performance measurement for external communications with analysts and investors. Internally, DT Midstream uses Operating Earnings to measure performance against budget and to report to the Board of Directors.

    Adjusted EBITDA is defined as GAAP net income attributable to DT Midstream before expenses for interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and loss from financing activities, further adjusted to include the proportional share of net income from equity method investees (excluding interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), and to exclude certain items the company considers non-routine. DT Midstream believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to the company and external users of DT Midstream’s financial statements in understanding operating results and the ongoing performance of the underlying business because it allows management and investors to have a better understanding of actual operating performance unaffected by the impact of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-routine charges noted in the table below. We believe the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is meaningful to investors because it is frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in the midstream industry to evaluate a company’s operating performance without regard to items excluded from the calculation of such measure, which can vary substantially from company to company depending on accounting methods, book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired, among other factors. DT Midstream uses Adjusted EBITDA to assess the company’s performance by reportable segment and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting.

    Distributable Cash Flow (DCF) is calculated by deducting earnings from equity method investees, depreciation and amortization attributable to noncontrolling interests, cash interest expense, maintenance capital investment (as defined below), and cash taxes from, and adding interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, certain items we consider non-routine and dividends and distributions from equity method investees to, Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream. Maintenance capital investment is defined as the total capital expenditures used to maintain or preserve assets or fulfill contractual obligations that do not generate incremental earnings. We believe DCF is a meaningful performance measurement because it is useful to us and external users of our financial statements in estimating the ability of our assets to generate cash earnings after servicing our debt, paying cash taxes and making maintenance capital investments, which could be used for discretionary purposes such as common stock dividends, retirement of debt or expansion capital expenditures.

    In this release, DT Midstream provides 2025 and 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance. The reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA as projected for full-year 2025 and 2026 is not provided. DT Midstream does not forecast net income as it cannot, without unreasonable efforts, estimate or predict with certainty the components of net income. These components, net of tax, may include, but are not limited to, impairments of assets and other charges, divestiture costs, acquisition costs, or changes in accounting principles. All of these components could significantly impact such financial measures. At this time, DT Midstream is not able to estimate the aggregate impact, if any, of these items on future period reported earnings. Accordingly, DT Midstream is not able to provide a corresponding GAAP equivalent for Adjusted EBITDA.

    Forward-looking Statements

    This release contains statements which, to the extent they are not statements of historical or present fact, constitute “forward-looking statements” under the securities laws. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide management’s current expectations or plans for our future operating and financial performance, business prospects, outcomes of regulatory proceedings, market conditions, and other matters, based on what we believe to be reasonable assumptions and on information currently available to us.

    Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “expectations,” “plans,” “strategy,” “prospects,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “anticipate,” “will,” “should,” “see,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “confident” and other words of similar meaning. The absence of such words, expressions or statements, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. In particular, express or implied statements relating to future earnings, cash flow, results of operations, uses of cash, tax rates and other measures of financial performance, future actions, conditions or events, potential future plans, strategies or transactions of DT Midstream, and other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements.

    Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions, but rather are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual future results to be materially different from those contemplated, projected, estimated, or budgeted. Many factors may impact forward-looking statements of DT Midstream including, but not limited to, the following: changes in general economic conditions, including increases in interest rates and associated Federal Reserve policies, a potential economic recession, and the impact of inflation on our business; industry changes, including the impact of consolidations, alternative energy sources, technological advances, infrastructure constraints and changes in competition; changes in global trade policies and tariffs; global supply chain disruptions; actions taken by third-party operators, producers, processors, transporters and gatherers; changes in expected production from Expand Energy and other third parties in our areas of operation; demand for natural gas gathering, transmission, storage, transportation and water services; the availability and price of natural gas to the consumer compared to the price of alternative and competing fuels; our ability to successfully and timely implement our business plan; our ability to complete organic growth projects on time and on budget; our ability to finance, complete, or successfully integrate acquisitions; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Midwest Pipeline Acquisition and our ability to manage the risks of the Midwest Pipeline Acquisition; the price and availability of debt and equity financing; restrictions in our existing and any future credit facilities and indentures; the effectiveness of our information technology and operational technology systems and practices to detect and defend against evolving cyber attacks on United States critical infrastructure; changing laws regarding cybersecurity and data privacy, and any cybersecurity threat or event; operating hazards, environmental risks, and other risks incidental to gathering, storing and transporting natural gas; geologic and reservoir risks and considerations; natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, casualty losses and other matters beyond our control; the impact of outbreaks of illnesses, epidemics and pandemics, and any related economic effects; the impacts of geopolitical events, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; labor relations and markets, including the ability to attract, hire and retain key employee and contract personnel; large customer defaults; changes in tax status, as well as changes in tax rates and regulations; the effects and associated cost of compliance with existing and future laws and governmental regulations, such as the Inflation Reduction Act; changes in environmental laws, regulations or enforcement policies, including laws and regulations relating to pipeline safety, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions; changes in laws and regulations or enforcement policies, including those relating to construction and operation of new interstate gas pipelines, ratemaking to which our pipelines may be subject, or other non-environmental laws and regulations; ability to develop low carbon business opportunities and deploy greenhouse gas reducing technologies; changes in insurance markets impacting costs and the level and types of coverage available; the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices; the success of our risk management strategies; the suspension, reduction or termination of our customers’ obligations under our commercial agreements; disruptions due to equipment interruption or failure at our facilities, or third-party facilities on which our business is dependent; the effects of future litigation; and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and our reports and registration statements filed from time to time with the SEC.

    The above list of factors is not exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time. We cannot predict what factors may arise or how such factors may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements, see the discussion under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on Form 10-K and any other reports filed with the SEC. Given the uncertainties and risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

    Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. We are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

                                       
    DT Midstream, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Reported to Operating Earnings (non-GAAP, unaudited)
          Three Months Ended
          December 31,   September 30,
            2024     2024
          Reported Earnings   Pre-tax Adjustments   Income Taxes (1)   Operating Earnings   Reported Earnings   Pre-tax Adjustments   Income Taxes (1)   Operating Earnings
          (millions)
      Midwest Pipeline Acquisition Tax Impact     $   $ 22   A         $   $    
      Louisiana Tax Impact           (4 ) B                  
      Bridge Facility       4 C   (1 )                    
      Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream $ 73   $ 4   $ 17     $ 94   $ 88   $   $   $ 88
                                       
          Year Ended
          December 31,   December 31,
            2024     2023
          Reported Earnings   Pre-tax Adjustments   Income Taxes (1)   Operating Earnings   Reported Earnings   Pre-tax Adjustments   Income Taxes (1)   Operating Earnings
          (millions)
      Midwest Pipeline Acquisition Tax Impact     $   $ 22   A         $   $    
      Louisiana Tax Impact           (2 ) B                  
      Bridge Facility       4 C   (1 )                    
      Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream $ 354   $ 4   $ 17     $ 375   $ 384   $   $   $ 384
                                       
    (1) Excluding tax related adjustments, the amount of income taxes was calculated based on a combined federal and state income tax rate, considering the applicable jurisdictions of the respective segments and deductibility of specific operating adjustments
    Adjustments Key                              
    A State tax rate increase impact to deferred income tax expense due to Midwest Pipeline Acquisition
    B State tax rate reduction impact to deferred income tax expense due to enacted tax legislation
    C Bridge Facility interest expense related to funding Midwest Pipeline Acquisition
                                       
                                       
     
    DT Midstream, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Reported to Operating Earnings per diluted share (1)(non-GAAP, unaudited)
                                       
          Three Months Ended
          December 31,   September 30,
            2024     2024
          Reported Earnings   Pre-tax Adjustments   Income Taxes (2)   Operating Earnings   Reported Earnings   Pre-tax Adjustments   Income Taxes (2)   Operating Earnings
          (per share)
      Midwest Pipeline Acquisition Tax Impact     $   $ 0.22   A         $   $    
      Louisiana Tax Impact           (0.04 ) B                  
      Bridge Facility       0.04 C   (0.01 )                    
      Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream $ 0.73   $ 0.04   $ 0.17     $ 0.94   $ 0.90   $   $   $ 0.90
                                       
                                       
          Year Ended
          December 31,   December 31,
            2024     2023
          Reported Earnings   Pre-tax Adjustments   Income Taxes (2)   Operating Earnings   Reported Earnings   Pre-tax Adjustments   Income Taxes (2)   Operating Earnings
          (per share)
      Midwest Pipeline Acquisition Tax Impact     $   $ 0.22   A         $   $    
      Louisiana Tax Impact             B                  
      Bridge Facility       0.04 C   (0.01 )                    
      Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream $ 3.60   $ 0.04   $ 0.17     $ 3.81   $ 3.94   $   $   $ 3.94
                                       
    (1) Per share amounts are divided by Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding — Diluted, as noted on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (2) Excluding tax related adjustments, the amount of income taxes was calculated based on a combined federal and state income tax rate, considering the applicable jurisdictions of the respective segments and deductibility of specific operating adjustments
    Adjustments Key
                                 
    A State tax rate increase impact to deferred income tax expense due to Midwest Pipeline Acquisition
    B State tax rate reduction impact to deferred income tax expense due to enacted tax legislation
    C Bridge Facility interest expense related to funding Midwest Pipeline Acquisition
                                       
                                       
     
    DT Midstream, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP, unaudited)
                     
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   September 30,   December 31,   December 31,
          2024       2024       2024       2023  
    Consolidated (millions)
    Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream $ 73     $ 88     $ 354     $ 384  
    Plus: Interest expense   36       38       153       150  
    Plus: Income tax expense   43       30       137       104  
    Plus: Depreciation and amortization   53       53       209       182  
    Plus: Loss from financing activities   1       4       5        
    Plus: EBITDA from equity method investees (1)   72       70       284       286  
    Less: Interest income   (5 )     (1 )     (7 )     (1 )
    Less: Earnings from equity method investees   (37 )     (40 )     (162 )     (177 )
    Less: Depreciation and amortization attributable to noncontrolling interests   (1 )     (1 )     (4 )     (4 )
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 235     $ 241     $ 969     $ 924  
                     
    (1) Includes share of our equity method investees’ earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which we refer to as “EBITDA.” A reconciliation of earnings from equity method investees to EBITDA from equity method investees follows:
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   September 30,   December 31,   December 31,
          2024       2024       2024       2023  
        (millions)
      Earnings from equity method investees $ 37     $ 40     $ 162     $ 177  
      Plus: Depreciation and amortization attributable to equity method investees   21       20       82       82  
      Plus: Interest expense attributable to equity method investees   14       10       40       27  
      EBITDA from equity method investees $ 72     $ 70     $ 284     $ 286  
                     
                     
                     
     
    DT Midstream, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream to Adjusted EBITDA
    Pipeline Segment (non-GAAP, unaudited)
                     
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   September 30,   December 31,   December 31,
          2024       2024       2024       2023  
    Pipeline (millions)
    Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream $ 60     $ 71     $ 276     $ 278  
    Plus: Interest expense   10       12       47       55  
    Plus: Income tax expense   35       24       107       75  
    Plus: Depreciation and amortization   19       18       74       69  
    Plus: Loss from financing activities   1       2       3        
    Plus: EBITDA from equity method investees (1)   72       70       284       286  
    Less: Interest income   (3 )           (4 )     (1 )
    Less: Earnings from equity method investees   (37 )     (40 )     (162 )     (177 )
    Less: Depreciation and amortization attributable to noncontrolling interests   (1 )     (1 )     (4 )     (4 )
    Adjusted EBITDA $ 156     $ 156     $ 621     $ 581  
                     
    (1) Includes share of our equity method investees’ earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which we refer to as “EBITDA.” A reconciliation of earnings from equity method investees to EBITDA from equity method investees follows:
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   September 30,   December 31,   December 31,
          2024       2024       2024       2023  
        (millions)
      Earnings from equity method investees $ 37     $ 40     $ 162     $ 177  
      Plus: Depreciation and amortization attributable to equity method investees   21       20       82       82  
      Plus: Interest expense attributable to equity method investees   14     $ 10       40       27  
      EBITDA from equity method investees $ 72     $ 70     $ 284     $ 286  
                     
                     
     
    DT Midstream, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream to Adjusted EBITDA
    Gathering Segment (non-GAAP, unaudited)
                     
        Three Months Ended   Year Ended
        December 31,   September 30,   December 31,   December 31,
          2024       2024       2024       2023
      Gathering (millions)
      Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream $ 13     $ 17     $ 78     $ 106
      Plus: Interest expense   26       26       106       95
      Plus: Income tax expense   8       6       30       29
      Plus: Depreciation and amortization   34       35       135       113
      Plus: Loss from financing activities         2       2      
      Less: Interest income   (2 )     (1 )     (3 )    
      Adjusted EBITDA $ 79     $ 85     $ 348     $ 343
                     
                     
                     
    DT Midstream, Inc.
    Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream to Distributable Cash Flow (non-GAAP, unaudited)
                       
          Three Months Ended   Year Ended
          December 31,   September 30,   December 31,   December 31,
            2024       2024       2024       2023  
      Consolidated (millions)
      Net Income Attributable to DT Midstream $ 73     $ 88     $ 354     $ 384  
      Plus: Interest expense   36       38       153       150  
      Plus: Income tax expense   43       30       137       104  
      Plus: Depreciation and amortization   53       53       209       182  
      Plus: Loss from financing activities   1       4       5        
      Plus: Adjustments for non-routine items (1)         (416 )     (416 )     (371 )
      Less: Earnings from equity method investees   (37 )     (40 )     (162 )     (177 )
      Less: Depreciation and amortization attributable to noncontrolling interests   (1 )     (1 )     (4 )     (4 )
      Plus: Dividends and distributions from equity method investees   43       465       633       623  
      Less: Cash interest expense   (60 )     (6 )     (140 )     (140 )
      Less: Cash taxes   (5 )     (4 )     (12 )     (22 )
      Less: Maintenance capital investment (2)   (13 )     (4 )     (30 )     (29 )
      Distributable Cash Flow $ 133     $ 207     $ 727     $ 700  
                       
    (1) Distributable Cash Flow calculation excludes certain items we consider non-routine. For the year ended December 31, 2024, adjustments for non-routine items included the $416 million Millennium financing distribution. For the year ended December 31, 2023, adjustments for non-routine items included the $371 million NEXUS financing distribution.
    (2) Maintenance capital investment is defined as the total capital expenditures used to maintain or preserve assets or fulfill contractual obligations that do not generate incremental earnings.
                       
                       

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: NOIA Releases Offshore Energy Innovation & Workforce Excellence Report

    Source: National Ocean Industries Association – NOIA

    Headline: NOIA Releases Offshore Energy Innovation & Workforce Excellence Report

    .49083011583″>NOIA .org
    NOIA Releases Offshore Energy Innovation & Workforce Excellence Report
    Washington, D.C. – The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) today released the report, “The Offshore Energy Industry’s Innovation & Workforce Excellence Report.” This comprehensive publication showcases the remarkable advancements and commitments of the offshore energy sector in innovation, environmental stewardship, and workforce development, featuring 16 case studies from NOIA member companies and other partner organizations.
    NOIA President Erik Milito said, “This report not only reflects our industry’s dynamic progress but also our commitment to smart, efficient, and responsible energy production. American offshore energy production is where innovation meets environmental responsibility, and this report, with its 16 comprehensive case studies, is a testament to that achievement. We’re not just meeting expectations—we’re surpassing them, pushing technology forward, and empowering our world-class workforce. That drive runs through every level of our industry, from the Gulf of America to the Atlantic coast and beyond, reflecting a shared commitment to excellence.”
    Case studies include:

    American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
    Danos
    Equinor
    Exmar Offshore
    Fugro
    Kosmos
    Noble
    Ørsted
    SEACOR Marine
    Seadrill
    SLB
    Talos
    TechnipFMC
    TGS
    Valaris
    The NEED Project
    Key Highlights of the Report:
    Innovation at the Forefront: With sections like “The Future of Offshore Innovation,” the report delves into cutting-edge projects such as the 20k Projects in the Gulf of America, highlighting how the industry is pushing boundaries in ultra-deep water exploration.
    Commitment to Sustainability: The document underscores the sector’s dedication to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, offering insights into carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS), and sustainable offshore transport and operations.
    Workforce Excellence: Emphasizing diversity, inclusion, and safety, the report features case studies and initiatives from industry leaders, showcasing how companies are nurturing the next generation of energy professionals.
    Fostering Education Initiatives: NOIA’s dedication to ESG extends to educational initiatives through our long-standing partnership with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project. For over 25 years, this collaboration has aimed at enhancing energy education, including in the realm of offshore energy.
    Policy and Regulatory Insights: It provides an analysis of the current regulatory landscape affecting ESG reporting and investment, which is crucial for stakeholders navigating this space.
    Awards and Recognition: The report celebrates the achievements of companies like TechnipFMC, SEACOR Marine, LLOG, and SLB, who have been recognized for their exemplary practices in ESG and safety.
    NOIA encourages all stakeholders, from policymakers to industry professionals, to explore the detailed insights and case studies that highlight the sector’s leadership in innovation and workforce excellence.
    Download the full report here! 

    ##
    About NOIA The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) represents and advances a dynamic and growing offshore energy industry, providing solutions that support communities and protect our workers, the public and our environment.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon infuses AI in the network, accelerates Open RAN innovation with multi-vendor RAN Intelligent Controller deployment

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon infuses AI in the network, accelerates Open RAN innovation with multi-vendor RAN Intelligent Controller deployment

    NEW YORK – Verizon, in collaboration with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., has successfully deployed multi-vendor RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) functionality in its commercial network. This deployment marks a significant advancement in Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) technology and demonstrates yet another way Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in Verizon’s network to drive operational efficiency and ensure Verizon customers are always connected to the very best network experience. In this first multi-vendor deployment, Verizon integrated Samsung’s AI-powered Energy Saving Manager (AI-ESM) with Qualcomm DragonwingTM RAN Automation Suite’s RIC to integrate energy efficiency into its network. 

    “Verizon has been driving innovation in and adoption of O-RAN throughout the industry because we believe an open and standardized network drives more competition, more innovation, and increased supplier diversity,” said Adam Koeppe, Senior Vice President of Network Technology, Strategy, and Planning at Verizon. “Expanding on our industry-leading success with deploying O-RAN compliant radios and distributed units throughout our network, the introduction of the RAN Intelligent Controller will allow for greater flexibility and control over network operations.”

    What is a RAN Intelligent Controller enabled by O-RAN

    The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is a software-based component within a mobile network’s Radio Access Network (RAN) that uses artificial intelligence and automation to optimize network performance by making decisions based on network conditions. It’s a key part of the Open RAN architecture, enabling the integration of third-party applications to enhance network capabilities.

    “As the world moves toward a more interconnected future with 5G and beyond, the expectation for us is to deliver seamless, high-quality network experiences while managing the complexities of modern mobile networks,” continued Koeppe. “RAN Intelligent Control is emerging as a key enabler of efficient, adaptive, and scalable network operations and fits within our growing portfolio of automation and orchestration capabilities on the network.”

    The RIC controls applications that manage numerous functions on the network called rApps that leverage data and insights from the RAN to improve various aspects of mobile communication, such as coverage, capacity, efficiency and service quality. Historically, automation platforms have been developed and run by the same vendors providing proprietary hardware and software in a closed ecosystem. However, with the evolution of the RAN Intelligent Controller, they are now being developed independently of specific vendors and deployed on virtualized, open platforms. Verizon can now efficiently manage intelligent solutions and applications like rApps utilizing open interfaces and standardized protocols from standards bodies such as 3GPP and the O-RAN Alliance, allowing for more flexible and scalable network deployment and management.

    Enhancing Network Performance with AI-Powered Solutions

    In this first multi-vendor deployment, Verizon integrated Samsung’s AI-powered Energy Saving Manager (AI-ESM) with Qualcomm® Dragonwing RAN Intelligent Controller to integrate energy efficiency in its commercial network. The joint work demonstrated the operation of a multi-vendor ecosystem and resulted in energy savings.

    • Samsung’s AI-ESM enables Verizon to maximize network energy efficiency and facilitates a more sustainable approach without compromising network performance and user experience. It identifies various site environments, learns traffic patterns by location and time of day, and evaluates the extent of impact on network performance—helping to find the optimal threshold value.

      This solution automatically switches off cell or transmission paths within a cell site during periods of low traffic (when traffic load is below threshold value) to conserve power, and turns them back on when data traffic increases again (when traffic load reaches threshold value). By applying this, Verizon was able to achieve an energy savings gain of 15% on average, with a maximum of 35% per sector during low traffic periods in a variety of field tests.

    • The Qualcomm Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite builds programmability to enable a vendor-neutral rApp marketplace. The RAN Automation Suite DML (Data Management Layer) provides applications with RAN AI Services, including HNN (Hybrid Neural Network) and DNN (Deep Neural Network) technology, for AI-Driven RAN Management.

    “We believe that virtualization is the key to realizing the true benefits of AI. Samsung’s software-based vRAN provides the most optimal foundation to apply and utilize AI technology,” said Magnus Ojert, Senior Vice President & Head of US Networks Business, Samsung Electronics America. “Leveraging the large-scale vRAN network that Verizon and Samsung have built together, we will continue to maintain our competitive edge in the AI era, advancing AI-powered solutions to create a positive impact on the environment around the world.”

    “We are thrilled to extend our longstanding relationship with Verizon through this groundbreaking multi-vendor RAN Intelligent Controller deployment, leveraging the Qualcomm Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite,” said Ofir Zemer, VP, Product Management, Qualcomm Israel Ltd. “By enabling a vendor-neutral rApp marketplace, empowered by a set of RAN AI services, we are jointly fostering a diverse ecosystem and supporting a path of democratizing RAN AI.”

    Qualcomm and Qualcomm Edgewise are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ15: Stepping up monitoring of underground water mains

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ15: Stepping up monitoring of underground water mains
    LCQ15: Stepping up monitoring of underground water mains
    ********************************************************

         Following is a question by the Hon Leung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (February 26): Question:      It is learnt that there has been a rising trend in the number of road subsidence incidents on public roads occurred between 2021 and 2023. In addition, a few major road subsidence incidents also occurred in 2024, and in one such incident which took place at Lai Chi Kok Road in Cheung Sha Wan, a taxi fell into a pit and almost caused casualties. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the total number of road subsidence incidents recorded in the whole year of 2024, as well as the location, cause and number of persons affected in each incident; (2) given that two serious road subsidence incidents occurred in Sham Shui Po District between May and September 2024, whether the authorities have assessed if the district is a high-risk area for road subsidence; whether the authorities conducted inspections and repairs for the underground water mains at the locations of the road subsidence incidents 12 months prior to the occurrence of the two incidents; (3) given that the Water Supplies Department completed the Risk-based Improvement Programme of Water Mains in 2015 to replace and rehabilitate aged water mains of about 3 000 kilometres, and has implemented the risk-based asset management programme for water mains since 2015 to replace or rehabilitate specific sections of water mains assessed to be of higher risk, whether the underground water mains at the locations of the two road subsidence incidents mentioned in (2) have been included in the latter programme; if not, whether the authorities will include the underground water mains concerned in the latter programme in the future for replacement and rehabilitation; and (4) given the frequent occurrence of extreme weather in recent years, whether the authorities have stepped up the monitoring of underground water mains facilities in the past year? Reply: President,      Generally speaking, the main causes of road subsidence include damage to underground pipes (e.g. water mains and drainage pipes), resulting in soil surrounding the pipes being washed away or soil and water flowing into the pipes through cracks and being carried away respectively; and improper handling of foundation works in sites adjoining roads (in particular those sites involving deep excavation and lowering of groundwater level), resulting in soil and water of the road base flowing into the excavation area of the works, creating voids. If the filled materials are not properly backfilled and compacted after road excavation works, the road surface may subside as a result of settlement of the underlying soil after being driven over by vehicles.      In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the relevant departments, the reply to various parts of the question raised by the Hon Leung is as follows: (1) In 2024, the Highways Department (HyD) received a total of 19 cases of road subsidence on public roads, a decrease compared to 2023. Details of the cases are shown in the Annex. In response to road subsidence incidents affecting road traffic, the relevant departments had promptly arranged temporary traffic measures and repaired the damaged road surfaces so as to resume the traffic to normal as soon as possible, minimising the impact of the incidents on the public. (2) Regarding the road subsidence cases that occurred in Sham Shui Po District last year, as shown in the Annex, they were caused by individual factors leading to the subsidence. Therefore, it does not necessarily indicate the presence of the same road subsidence risk in the underground environment of that district.       The Water Supplies Department (WSD) would inspect the underground water mains under its maintenance approximately every 18 months. Based on the inspection results, maintenance works would be carried out in a timely manner to reduce the risk of water mains burst or leak.           Two road subsidence incidents occurred in Sham Shui Po District on May 31 and September 29, 2024 at Hai Tan Street and Lai Chi Kok Road respectively. As there was no underground water mains managed by the WSD and in service at the road subsidence location at Hai Tan Street, the WSD did not conduct inspection or maintenance works for any water mains there in the preceding 12 months before the incident. As for the road subsidence location at Lai Chi Kok Road in Sham Shui Po, the WSD inspected the underground water mains in April 2024 and no irregularities were identified during the inspection. (3) From 2000 to 2015, the WSD carried out a territory-wide replacement and rehabilitation of water mains programme to replace and rehabilitate about 3 000 kilometres long aged water mains (including fresh and salt water mains), raising the operational effectiveness of water supply networks.      Since 2015, the WSD has implemented multi-pronged measures, including implementation of risk-based asset management programme for water mains by assessing the risk of water mains based on a number of factors such as period of usage, material, past burst or leak records, surrounding environment and consequence resulting from burst or leak, to replace or rehabilitate individual pipe sections with higher risk progressively, continue to enhance the overall healthiness of the water supply networks, and reduce the risk of water main bursts or leaks. As at December 2024, a total of approximately 540km long water mains have been included in the programme in which approximately 235km long water mains have been replaced or rehabilitated.      As mentioned in item (2) above, there was no underground water main managed by the WSD and in service at the location of road subsidence at Hai Tan Street. Regarding the road subsidence incident at Lai Chi Kok Road, the subject water main was a 300mm diameter cast iron pipe laid at a depth of about 1.5 metres below the ground in the 1960s. There have been no record of burst and leak in the past, and the inspection conducted by the WSD in April 2024 did not reflect any abnormalities. Therefore, this water main has not been included in the programme and accorded with a higher priority for replacement in the past.      The WSD has reviewed the mechanism of the programme to assess the weighting of the factors contributing to the risk of water main burst or leak. Specifically, we will increase the weighting assigned to factors involving the aged pipe materials (including cast iron pipes and pipes used more than 60 years), and the severity of the consequences for incidents occurring in water mains located at the major road sections, and reassess the risk of all water main bursts or leaks. This reassessment aims to prioritise the replacement or rehabilitation of the water mains at risk of bursting or leaking, expediting the replacement or rehabilitation of the above-mentioned cast iron water pipes commonly used in older designs. This proactive approach aims to avoid serious impact on traffic in the event of pipe burst.           In addition, to speed up the implementation of the works, the WSD set up an inter-departmental task force under the chairmanship of the Director of Water Supplies at the end of last year. The task force includes representatives from various relevant departments such as the Development Bureau, the WSD, the Transport Department, the HyD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Environmental Protection Department, and the Home Affairs Department. They collaborate to discuss and formulate temporary traffic arrangement schemes and implementation programme, etc, related to the replacement of water mains, and formulate contingency plans earliest to minimise the potential impact of the projects on traffic and the public. (4) In general, if the road surface and road base are in normal condition, heavy rain itself will not cause road subsidence or interference with underground water mains. Nevertheless, the WSD is establishing approximately 2 400 Water Intelligent Network (WIN) district metering areas (DMAs) within the fresh water distribution networks in the territory (covering appropriately 80 per cent of the fresh water distribution networks) which facilitate detection of leakage of water mains and adjustment of the water pressure of the water mains to reduce the risks of water main burst or leak. As of end December 2024, the WSD has completed the establishment of about 2 360 DMAs and the remaining works are anticipated to be completed by the first quarter of 2025.      The WSD has commenced the enhancement of WIN, focusing on the following two aspects:(i) The WSD will expand the monitoring area of WIN to include fresh water trunk mains and the remaining part of the fresh water distribution mains (covering appropriately 20 per cent of the fresh water distribution networks) that are currently not covered by WIN by adding sensors to monitor water flow and pressure at strategic locations to provide more comprehensive coverage of the fresh water supply network.(ii) On the other hand, the WSD has started upgrading the functions of the existing WIN, which includes upgrading the sensors used for monitoring the water flow and pressure in phases to collect real-time data with a view to speeding up detection of any abnormal conditions in the pipe network.     The above expansion and upgrading work are expected to be completed in phases starting from the second quarter of 2025, with the entire project scheduled for completion by 2027.     The WSD would also study the use of advanced technologies, such as acoustic detection and optical fiber, to monitor underground water mains to facilitate early detection of leakage situations.           In addition, the WSD has strengthened emergency management of water supply incidents. The WSD has strengthened its communication mechanisms with various stakeholders through setting up instant messaging platforms to enhance communication with relevant departments and local parties including District Offices, District Council members and Care Teams. In the event of significant water supply incidents, timely updates on the latest information regarding the incident, temporary water supply locations, as well as the locations of water tanks and water wagons, can be rapidly disseminated. The WSD has also developed clear internal guidelines that outline specific factors to be considered for emergency repair of water mains and associated time required, ensuring more accurate communication of anticipated water resumption time and allowing local residents to make appropriate preparations.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025Issued at HKT 18:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members speaks on Budget

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members speaks on Budget
    Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members speaks on Budget
    ******************************************************

    ​The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:                Following are the remarks by the Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo), Mrs Regina Ip, at a media session on the 2025-26 Budget in the Legislative Council Complex this afternoon (February 26):Reporter: Does the Executive Council believe that the cuts in measure in this current budget have been enough? Would it be able to lift Hong Kong out of the current deficit that we are encountering now? And the second question, does the city itself need to consider alternate revenue streams to help better balance the books in the long term, as stated by some observers? Will it consider things like sales tax or other forms of revenue increase for the Government? Thank you. Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members: The Financial Secretary made it quite clear that by the year 2027-28, I think, cumulatively, there will be 7 per cent cuts in Government expenditure. And, the Government will delete 10 000 Government positions and will ask the Director of Audit to discuss with Heads of Departments and Bureaux Directors how to achieve further savings. I think the Government is working very hard to cut back unnecessary Government expenditure. As for sources of revenue, I think it is entirely correct to stick to the “user pays” principle. The Government said that it would consider restoring tunnel fees and will consider charging cross-border private vehicles at land control points $200 per private vehicle, which is not a new proposal. It was first proposed by then Financial Secretary Anthony Leung back in 2003. And as the Government said, as the Government implements global minimum tax in accordance with the requirement of G20 nations, in the next five years, there will be $15 billion additional revenue, plus possible revenue after Government has studied the possibility of instituting basketball betting, that sort of thing, to counter illegal online betting. I think the Government is looking at different sources of revenue and also instituting cutbacks of government expenditure, which we fully welcome. Reporter: In this year’s financial budget, civil servants’ pay will be frozen and there is an adjustment on the $2 transport subsidy. What’s your opinion on such adjustment?Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members: I think freezing public servants’ pay, including our pay, legislators’ pay, is the best option forward in the present circumstances. Cutbacks will have ripple effects on the private sector, and it will affect the labour sector as well. As for the $2 transport concession, which has been the focus of much public attention, I think the Government measures introduced to make it sustainable are fairly moderate. No impact on the qualifying age of those benefiting from this concession, but would help to resolve the problem of paying very little fare for very long journeys. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025Issued at HKT 18:25

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ8:Promoting cooperation with the Belt and Road countries

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ8:Promoting cooperation with the Belt and Road countries
    LCQ8:Promoting cooperation with the Belt and Road countries
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         Following is a question by the Hon Tang Fei and a written reply by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, in the Legislative Council today (February 26): Question:      It has been reported that in recent years, the Government has been actively promoting Hong Kong’s advantages as an international financial, trade and investment hub to the Belt and Road (B&R) countries, in particular the Middle East countries, and has signed a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Middle East countries. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the number of MOUs signed between Hong Kong and the Middle East countries participating in the B&R Initiative (such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt) in the past three years, and set out the names of the countries, regions and relevant organizations which have signed the MOUs; (2) of the following information on the MOUs mentioned in (1): (i) the specific areas of cooperation covered, (ii) the current implementation situation, (iii) the specific assistance expected to be brought to Hong Kong’s economic development, and (iv) how to specifically implement the contents of such MOUs and ensure their effective implementation, so as to leverage their benefits to the fullest extent; and (3) whether it has plans to sign more MOUs or deepen the existing cooperation with the B&R countries, so as to attract more foreign direct investment, thereby enabling local enterprises to “go global” and consolidating Hong Kong’s role as a “super-connector”? Reply: President,      Hong Kong is an active participant, contributor and beneficiary of the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI). We have been fully participating and contributing to the B&RI, utilising the role as a functional platform for the Belt and Road (B&R) and serving our role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”. The Middle East region is a key area in the B&RI. The Government is committed to deepening the co-operation with B&R countries in the region through various measures.       In consultation with relevant bureaux, the consolidated reply to the Hon Tang Fei’s question is as follows: (1) and (2) The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) and B&R countries in the Middle East region have signed Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) for co-operation to help drive all round, multi field collaboration for mutual benefit to Hong Kong and the Middle East region, thereby laying a solid foundation for long-term exchange and co-operation. In the past three years, the HKSARG signed 11 MOUs with governments and related organisations in various B&R countries in the Middle East region (tabulated at Annex), with scope covering finance, investment promotion, legal, anti-corruption co-operation and customs co-operation. Relevant bureaux and departments of the HKSARG have been implementing and taking forward the related co-operation, and continue to maintain close contact with relevant governments and related organisations in B&R countries in the Middle East region, with a view to boosting the benefits of these co-operation.      In addition, the business sector and relevant organisations in Hong Kong have been actively engaging in co-operation and signing MOUs with various B&R countries in the Middle East region. These non-governmental MOUs are not covered at Annex. (3) The Government will continue to deepen the co-operation with B&R countries in the Middle East region through a range of measures, including: (a) Expanding economic and trade networks      The Government will continue to expand our economic and trade networks, with a view to facilitating Hong Kong enterprises and investors in expanding into the Middle East region markets and promoting the long-term economic development of Hong Kong. The Government established the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (ETO) in Dubai in October 2021 to strengthen Hong Kong’s economic and trade relations with trading partners in the region. The Government is following up on the establishment of an ETO in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) set up a consultant office in Cairo, Egypt in July 2024 and commenced operation of its consultant office in Izmir, Türkiye’s third largest city, in January this year to explore emerging markets in the region; (b) Negotiating and signing bilateral agreements      Hong Kong has signed 24 Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (IPPAs) with 33 overseas economies (including B&R economies), including Bahrain, Kuwait, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Government is negotiating an IPPA with Saudi Arabia with a view to concluding the negotiations as soon as possible. We also plan to commence negotiations with Egypt. In addition, Hong Kong has signed Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements with 49 overseas jurisdictions (including B&R jurisdictions), including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Türkiye; (c) Organising outbound visits      In February 2023, the Chief Executive led an over 30-strong high-level business delegation, comprising representatives of the Government and the business sectors as well as professionals, to visit the Middle East region, promoting the unique advantages of Hong Kong to local government and business sectors in Saudi Arabia and the UAE;       In May 2024, the Secretary for Justice led a delegation comprising representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, InvestHK and related sectors to visit Saudi Arabia and the UAE to promote Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services and enhance co-operation and exchanges between Hong Kong and the Middle East region;      In October 2024, the Financial Secretary led a business delegation of over 100 members, including representatives from the finance as well as innovation and technology (I&T) sectors, on a visit to Saudi Arabia. This visit aimed to strengthen and deepen connections between Hong Kong and the Middle East in trade, finance, and I&T, and included participation in the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII) Conference. The visit yielded fruitful results, facilitated a number of joint projects, including the listing of two exchange-traded funds tracking Hong Kong stocks in the local market, investment pitches by over 20 Hong Kong startups during the FII Conference, and 11 co-operation agreements signed between Hong Kong institutions and companies and their Saudi counterparts. These co-operation agreements include an MOU signed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to jointly establish a US$1 billion investment fund focused on investing in companies connected to Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area engaged in sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energy, fintech and healthcare, to expand in Saudi Arabia. This initiative will provide a platform for these companies to expand their international business. Additionally, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation signed a co-operation agreement with the FII Institute to enhance collaboration, exchange, and knowledge sharing;      The Government will continue to organise a number of outbound missions to markets in the Middle East region to assist Hong Kong enterprises and professional services to further expand business opportunities and build long-lasting collaborative relationships with relevant local enterprises and organisations; and (d) Organising major events      The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau will continue to actively organise various major events to promote Hong Kong’s advantages and facilitate business matching and project participation between Hong Kong and the Middle East region. In April 2024, the Belt and Road Office (BRO) partnered with NEOM of Saudi Arabia to organise the “Discover NEOM Hong Kong” roadshow, which attracted around 1 100 participants, including enterprises, investors and professional representatives from the Mainland and Hong Kong. During the roadshow, the BRO organised two business matching sessions, facilitating potential collaborations between 40 Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises and NEOM. Hong Kong has been organising the Belt and Road Summit (Summit) annually since 2016, and the Summit has been recognised by our country as a case of significance for the implementation of the B&RI in building a global community of shared future. The ninth Summit was held on September 11 and 12, 2024, and attracted around 6 000 government officials and business leaders from over 70 B&R countries and regions (including the Middle East region), as well as more than 100 delegations. The BRO has also organised 10 exchange sessions since November 2023, inviting Consul Generals from B&R countries (including relevant countries in the Middle East region) in Hong Kong as well as representatives of professional bodies and enterprises to share the opportunities and relevant experience in B&R countries.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025Issued at HKT 18:18

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Budget: Accelerating Development through Reform and Innovation

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Budget: Accelerating Development through Reform and Innovation
    Budget: Accelerating Development through Reform and Innovation
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         The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, unveiled today (February 26) his 2025-26 Budget. He noted that while geopolitical situation might bring risks, technology reform and artificial intelligence (AI) development are remoulding the global landscape, leading to the emergence of new industries, new forms of business, new products and new services. He stressed that Hong Kong must seize the opportunity to make the most out of this critical window to speed up development, establishing the new before abolishing the old. He also emphasised that transformation and innovation will lead the way into the future, and the Government is poised to fast-track the high-quality development of Hong Kong’s economy.      The Budget presents a series of measures aimed at accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces. On innovation and technology (I&T), the Government will promote Hong Kong into an international exchange and co-operation hub for the AI industry. Through frontier research and real-world application, the Government will endeavour to develop AI as a core industry and empower traditional industries in their upgrading and transformation. To spearhead and support Hong Kong’s innovative research and development as well as industrial application of AI, the Government will establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute and launch the Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme (Manufacturing+). On finance, the Government will continue to take forward reforms to the listing regime, host the Hong Kong Global Financial and Industry Summit, and formulate a plan this year on promoting gold market development.      To seize the opportunities brought about by the rapid advancement of innovation and technology, the Budget highlights the need to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, which is an investment in Hong Kong’s future. The Government will continue to accord priority to providing resources for this initiative, which primarily includes providing large tracts of I&T land at the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, together with San Tin Technopole; adopting an innovative mindset in piloting “large-scale land disposal”; developing a data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge; as well as identifying suitable sites in the Northern Metropolis for the construction of conference and exhibition facilities.     On the promotion of tourism, funding will be allocated to pursue the concept of “tourism is everywhere” and implement the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0. A study will be conducted on the development of the waterfront and former sites to the south of the Hung Hom Station into a new harbourfront landmark, including a yacht club.     Regarding land supply, Mr Chan announced that the Government will not roll out any commercial site for sale in the coming year in view of the high vacancy rates of offices in recent years to allow the market to absorb the existing supply. The Government will also consider rezoning some of the commercial sites into residential use and allowing greater flexibility of land use. To tie in with the relevant work, the deadline for completing in-situ land exchange for commercial sites in the town centre of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area will be extended.     Mr Chan proposed a reinforced version of the fiscal consolidation programme to focus on strictly controlling government expenditure, supplemented by increasing revenue, to restore fiscal balance in the Operating Account, in a planned and progressive manner, within the current term of the Government. For 2025-26, the executive authorities, the legislature, the judiciary and members of the District Councils, including members of the civil service, take a pay freeze. The Government will step up the Productivity Enhancement Programme; compared with 2023-24, the recurrent expenditure in 2027-28 will record a cumulative reduction by 7 per cent and deliver a saving of $27.3 billion. By April 2027, about 10 000 posts of the civil service establishment are expected to be deleted within this term of Government. The Government will also deliver more efficient public services to citizens through leveraging technology, streamlining processes and driving the digital transformation of public services. In the Budget, it is proposed to adjust two transport subsidy schemes, namely putting forward the “$2 flat rate cum 80 per cent discount” in the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities ($2 Scheme), and raising the threshold for receiving the subsidy under the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme from $400 to $500, with the prevailing subsidy cap at $400 per month remaining unchanged. He will uphold the “user pays” and the “affordable users pay” principles as far as practicable while increasing revenue, including increasing the air passenger departure tax, and reviewing the tolls of government tunnels and trunk roads. The Government will suitably expand the size of bond issuance on the premise of maintaining healthy public finances and use the funds raised on infrastructure works in a proper and flexible manner to invest in Hong Kong’s future and create value for society.     Mr Chan concluded that he has full confidence in and high expectations for the future of Hong Kong, because Hong Kong people are intelligent, creative and tireless in contributing to the economic development. More importantly, he is confident due to the staunch and unwavering support received from the country and Hong Kong people’s profound insight into the major development trends of the future, as well as the city’s enviable and advantageous position.     For more details on the 2025-26 Budget, click here.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025Issued at HKT 17:30

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Modular Integrated Construction method

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ5: Modular Integrated Construction method
    LCQ5: Modular Integrated Construction method
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         Following is a question by the Hon Eunice Yung and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (February 26): Question:      ​There are views pointing out that in recent years, the Government has been actively promoting the construction of buildings by adopting the Modular Integrated Construction method (MiC), but the buildings constructed by adopting MiC vary in quality (e.g. more serious water leakage or seepage), and there are more design constraints (e.g. thicker walls and standardised flat layouts). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the following information on buildings constructed by adopting MiC: (i) the number of buildings (set out by types of buildings); (ii) the respective numbers of buildings and units provided under transitional housing, public rental housing, Home Ownership Scheme and private developments constructed by adopting MiC in each of the past five years; and (iii) the number of complaints about building quality problems received by the Government in the past five years and, among them, the respective numbers of cases which were successfully handled and could not be handled, with a breakdown by the contents of the complaints (including (a) water leakage, (b) ‍water seepage and (c) others); (2) of the following information on buildings constructed by adopting MiC and involved alteration of layouts in the past five years: (i) the number of applications for change of layout plans received by the Government, as well as the number of applications approved and the reasons for unsuccessful applications; and (ii) the number of cases in which the Government found that the buildings concerned involved unauthorised alterations to the layouts, and the details of the follow-up actions taken; (3) as there are views that more buildings problems have occurred in buildings constructed by adopting MiC, whether the Government has conducted studies in this regard and whether it has plans to further enhance regulation so as to improve the quality of such buildings; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (4) whether the Government has plans to further promote the adoption of MiC; if so, how the Government will ameliorate the problems related to building quality and design arising from the adoption of MiC, and how it will encourage the industry to adopt MiC; if not, of the reasons for that? Reply: President,      ​Hong Kong construction industry has been facing challenges, including declining productivity, relatively high construction costs, and site safety issues. In recent years, the industry has been encouraged to adopt innovative construction technologies, new construction materials, and new construction methodologies to address these challenges comprehensively. Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) is one of the key initiatives  promoted by the Development Bureau (DEVB) since 2017. MiC is based on the “factory assembly followed by on-site installation” concept, which transfers the traditional on-site construction processes to factories. Freestanding MiC modules, including structure, interior fitting-outs and mechanical and electrical installations, are pre-fabricated off-site in factories and then transported to the site for assembly into buildings.      My reply in response to various parts of the question raised by the Hon Eunice Yung is as follows: (1) Completed MiC Projects in the past five years (2020-2024) (excluding emergency anti-epidemic facilities established in past years): 

    MiC Project
    Completed Projects (MiC Units)

    A. Public Works Programme

    4 (approx. 120)

    Elderly Care Homes

    1 (approx. 290)

    5 (approx. 4 300)

    Government Offices

    1 (approx. 20)

    B. Public Housing

    Transitional Housing

    32 (approx. 15 900)

    Elderly Housing

    1 (approx. 60)

    Subsidised Sale Housing

    1 (approx. 300)

    C. Private Housing
    1 (approx. 200)

    D. Others (Single-unit building)
    5 (approx. 5)

              Among the above completed MiC projects, according to records maintained by the relevant management parties, approximately one per cent of the units experienced cases of water leakage or water seepage. This percentage is lower than that of traditional construction methods, and there is no evidence to suggest that the water leakage or water seepage was related to the use of MiC. Most of these cases have been resolved, with only a few remaining under processing. (2) For MiC projects that are planned, under construction, or already completed as aforementioned, government departments have not received any applications for modifications to MiC partitions. (3) In terms of quality, MiC modules are assembled in factories using advanced automation and process management technologies. This allows manufacturers and supervisors to accurately and effectively monitor every detail of the assembly process, including material quality and deployment, assembly procedures, and product testing, ensuring that all completed MiC modules meet quality requirements.  Taking product testing as an example, each MiC module undergoes a series of tests related to structure, finishes, and electrical and mechanical installations before leaving the factory, including comprehensive water leakage and water seepage tests. If any quality issues arise, the causes can be easily and accurately identified and rectified. Additionally, each MiC module is equipped with an identification code to facilitate future maintenance. In terms of design, MiC is suitable for various layouts and building types, including housing, hostels, elderly care homes, schools, office buildings, data centres, and medical buildings. Large rooms such as classrooms and medical wards can be formed by combining multiple MiC modules. Currently, MiC construction technologies can minimise wall thickness and avoid double partition between modules, thereby enhancing the usability of indoor space. Besides its high quality and versatility, MiC also helps reduce on-site labour demand and shorten construction time, improving construction efficiency, reducing material waste, and enhancing site safety.      The University of Hong Kong conducted research on MiC pilot projects and found that the construction time for MiC is shortened by approximately 30 per cent to 50 per cent compared to traditional construction methods, on-site productivity increased by 100 per cent to 400 per cent, and construction costs are reduced by at least 10 per cent. In addition, the research confirmed that MiC outperforms traditional construction methods in terms of quality, environmental protection, and safety.      To enhance industry confidence in MiC quality, the DEVB has commissioned the Building Technology Research Institute (BTRi) to implement the MiC Manufacturer Accreditation Scheme, which started accepting applications in November last year. This scheme ensures that certified MiC manufacturers meet project requirements in management, production, and transportation, while also complying with relevant laws and regulations. (4) The Government leads by example through pilot projects and public works projects that adopt MiC, gaining experience and sharing it with the industry to promote wider use of MiC. To improve project design, the DEVB has established a MiC Dedicated Section that provides advice, technical support, and shares past project experiences during the MiC project design phase to optimise MiC design and fully leverage its advantages.      To encourage wider use of MiC by developers, the Government has introduced several measures, including a 10 per cent concession on MiC gross floor area and site coverage, a four per cent storey height concession for MiC floors, subsidies under the Construction Innovation and Technology Fund, and enhanced communication and collaboration with relevant departments to facilitate project approvals.      Additionally, the Hong Kong Construction Industry Council, Hong Kong Institute of Construction, and related associations are collaborating to enhance MiC site personnel training, including workers, supervisors, technicians, and project managers. They are also encouraging construction professionals to engage in more technological innovation and high-quality design to promote the development of the MiC industry.      In March of last year, the DEVB and the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province signed the Letter of Intent on Strengthening Guangdong-Hong Kong Cooperation in Construction and Related Engineering Sectors, deepening co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong in construction and engineering sectors. This includes developing MiC as a quality productive force to contribute to the high-quality national development. The goal is to make the Greater Bay Area a centre of MiC technology centre, turning MiC into a strategic industry that facilitates the exploration of overseas markets.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025Issued at HKT 17:02

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Commemorative activities for 80th anniversary of victory in War of Resistance

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ6: Commemorative activities for 80th anniversary of victory in War of Resistance
    LCQ6: Commemorative activities for 80th anniversary of victory in War of Resistance
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         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yung and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, in the Legislative Council today (February 26): Question:      This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, and it is learnt that the Government will host a series of commemorative activities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) whether it will set up a “Preparatory Committee for commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of Hong Kong’s victory in the War ‍of Resistance” led by the Working Group on Patriotic Education, and extensively invite the participation of representatives of community organisations to co-ordinate the relevant activities; if so, of the expected time to commence such work; (2) of the key activities to be hosted to commemorate the 80th ‍anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, so as to strengthen the sense of patriotism among the public while disseminating the message of peace; (3) how it will take the opportunity to make good use of the rich resources of the history of the War of Resistance in Hong Kong to promote the development of red tourism; and (4) how it will collaborate with the relevant Central authorities and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in jointly commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance? Reply: President,      Having consulted the relevant bureaux, a consolidated reply in response to the questions raised by the Hon Chan Yung is as follows:           This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance. The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will host commemorative activities to strengthen the sense of patriotism. In terms of implementation, the Working Group on Patriotic Education led by the Chief Secretary for Administration will co-ordinate relevant bureaux and departments in launching a series of commemorative activities, including: (a) The HKSAR Government will host a solemn official ceremony at the Hong Kong City Hall Memorial Garden on September 3, the Victory Day of the War of Resistance, to honour the occasion. The commemoration will feature a rendition of the national anthem, ceremonial flag raising, a Rifle Volley by the Police Rifle Squad, an observation of silence, and bowing in tribute. The attendance at the ceremony will include the Chief Executive and senior government officials, representatives of the organs of the Central People’s Government in Hong Kong, former Chief Executives, members of the Executive Council, members of the Legislative Council, representatives of war veterans’ groups, HKSAR deputies to the National People’s Congress, HKSAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, representatives of District Councils, representatives of Heung Yee Kuk, representatives of district organisations, members of uniformed groups and youth groups, etc; (b) With the funding and support from the Home Affairs Department, three major associations, namely the Hong Kong Island Federation, the Kowloon Federation of Associations and the New Territories Association of Societies, will organise activities on September 3 to commemorate the victory of the War of Resistance. Examples of these activities include a talk by veterans to recount their experiences during the War and a film show about the War, with a view to deepening the understanding among members of the public about the historical events of the War of Resistance on the Mainland and in Hong Kong and fostering their sense of patriotism; (c) The Hong Kong Museum of History (HKMH) under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is currently liaising closely with the National Museum of China on co-organising a large-scale thematic exhibition scheduled to launch in early September for a period of about three months. The exhibition will mainly feature our country’s unyielding spirit of resistance during the War, as well as contents on Hong Kong people’s support for the Mainland compatriots, and the three years and eight months of Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, with a view to giving Hong Kong citizens (particularly the younger generation) a better understanding of the War of Resistance; (d) The Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence (MWRCD) is planning to collaborate with the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History to jointly organise a thematic exhibition on the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance. The exhibition will focus on an overview of the anti war activities of the Chinese Communist Party in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong during the War of Resistance. Through the display of valuable exhibits, historical photographs and multi-media programmes, the exhibition aims to enlighten the public about the history of the War, thereby promoting and inheriting the spirit of patriotic education; (e) The LCSD museums will also organise a diverse array of public and educational programmes, including thematic talks, workshops, field trips, and film screenings to raise public awareness of the history of the War of Resistance; (f) The LCSD will, from August to December, organise a thematic talk “Reapproaching the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong from interactive map, 1941-1945” and a book display “Days of War” at the Hong Kong Central Library, as well as book displays, photo exhibitions and thematic talks at public libraries in different districts to introduce relevant collections and information, so as to enable citizens to learn about the history of the War of Resistance as well as the unity and resilience of the Chinese people in the fight for peace. These include the thematic talk cum roving exhibition “War of Resistance in Hong Kong: Sai Kung” to be held in Sai Kung District, guided tours of the Hong Kong Sha Tau Kok Anti-war Memorial Hall to be held in North District, and thematic talk series “Wartime Sham Shui Po” to be held in Sham Shui Po District, etc; (g) In terms of teachers and students, the Education Bureau (EDB) has always attached great emphasis on the education about the history of the War of Resistance, and continuously organises relevant activities for teachers and students to help them understand the history of the War and the heroic deeds of the martyrs, experience the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation, learn to cherish peace through remembering history, as well as cultivate their sense of identity, belonging, responsibility and patriotic spirit. On teacher training activities, the EDB plans to organise an academic seminar on the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, lecture on the contributions of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Independent Brigade of the East River Column, visits to places such as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center at Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks, the Hong Kong Sha Tau Kok Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall, and the Wu Kau Tang Martyrs Memorial Garden, as well as a study tour for teachers in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area themed on the footprints in relation to the War of Resistance. On student activities, the EDB plans to roll out the “Visual Narrative of the War of Resistance: Territory-wide Creative Competition”, the History e-Reading Award Scheme themed on the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, the second “Learn from Museums – Novice Curator Training Programme” co-organised with the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence, as well as field study activities related to the history of the War of Resistance in both the local region and the Mainland; and (h) The Information Services Department is actively planning to collaborate with relevant government organisations on programme production under the theme of “Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the War of Resistance”, so as to promote patriotic education through storytelling in a vivid manner.      To make good use of the abundant resources relating to the history of the War of Resistance in Hong Kong to promoting characteristic tourism, the Tourism Commission, in collaboration with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), has been taking forward the Enhancement of Hiking Trails (the Project) since 2018 to enhance the tourism supporting facilities of 20 hiking trails in country parks which are popular and with tourism potential. The Project covers hiking trails relating to war history, namely Lion Rock Historic Walk, Shing Mun War Relics Trail and Luk Keng War Relics Trail. The AFCD completed the enhancement works at Lion Rock Historic Walk in December 2023, whereas those at Shing Mun War Relics Trail and Luk Keng War Relics Trail are expected to be completed progressively in 2026. In addition, the AFCD installed at the Robin’s Nest Country Park interpretation panels about its war relics and the deeds of nearby villagers at the War of Resistance, and produced a video for broadcasting on social media platforms, thereby showcasing the history of the War of Resistance at the Robin’s Nest Country Park. The HKSAR Government will continue to encourage the trade to make better use of the abundant resources relating to the history of the War of Resistance to develop more unique tourism products covering different themes of in-depth tours.           Besides, to preserve the history of the War of Resistance in Hong Kong, the MWRCD has commenced relevant historical research with a view to providing related historical information for the War of Resistance heritage trails to be set up by responsible government departments in the future. The information will offer the public an insight into the history of the War of Resistance, and enrich their travel experience.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025Issued at HKT 15:30

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ4: Tobacco control and combating trading activities of duty-not-paid cigarettes

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Lai Tung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (February 26):Question:     At present, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health is mainly responsible for matters relating to tobacco control and taking enforcement action under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371). From time to time, TACO conducts plainclothes inspections or test purchases, and conducts investigations in the form of joint operations with other law enforcement departments, while the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) combats smuggling and trading activities of illicit cigarettes on different fronts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:(1) of the number of inspections conducted and fixed penalty notices issued by TACO in each of the past three years, together with a breakdown by smoking offences;(2) of the respective establishment and strength of frontline law enforcement officers of different ranks in TACO in each of the past three years;(3) of the details and results of C&ED’s efforts to combat smuggling and trading activities of illicit cigarettes in the past three years;(4) on import cases, of the following information in each of the past three years: the number of referrals received by TACO from C&ED and the number of summonses issued, the number of cases convicted in the court, and other details of the relevant cases;(5) on in-town enforcement, of the number and results of various investigation actions (including plainclothes inspections, test purchases, and joint operations) conducted by TACO in each of the past three years; and(6) how the authorities plan to enhance interdepartmental collaboration in the future to combat the sale of duty-not-paid cigarettes and alternative smoking products?Reply:President,     Having consulted the Department of Health (DH) and the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED), the consolidated reply to the various parts of the Hon Lai Tung-kwok’s question is as follows:     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the DH is the principal enforcement agency for the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) and the Fixed Penalty (Smoking Offences) Ordinance (Cap. 600) (with the number of full-time enforcement staff in the approved establishment provided at Annex I). The TACO mainly enforces (i) offences relating to illegal smoking in statutory no-smoking area (including aiding and abetting smoking offences and obstruction of inspectors’ duties); (ii) offences relating to tobacco advertisement and sale; and (iii) offences relating to alternative smoking products (ASPs). The C&ED is the principal enforcement agency responsible for the suppression of smuggling activities, including collecting and protecting revenue from dutiable commodities stipulated in the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109). At present, combating illicit cigarettes is mainly the responsibility of the C&ED. The numbers of inspections conducted, fixed penalty notices (FPNs)/summonses issued by the TACO between 2022 and 2024 for smoking and other related offences are at Annex II.     As regards illegal smoking offences, under the prevailing legislation, any person who commits the act of smoking in a designated no smoking area is liable to a fixed penalty of $1,500. To effectively mitigate the impact of secondhand smoking on the public and enhance the deterrent effect against illegal smoking, the TACO has flexibly deployed resources and adopted new enforcement strategies since 2023, which included extending the time of surveillance and inspections in no smoking areas, deploying plain-clothes officers to take proactive enforcement actions, and would issue FPNs to smoking offenders without warning.     The number of prosecutions against illegal smoking has surged due to the aforementioned new enforcement strategies. The number of FPNs issued increased from 6 296 in 2022 to 10 261 in 2023 and 13 488 in 2024. Besides, to step up efforts in targeting venues (e.g. bars and restaurants) that offer waterpipe tobacco to customers, the TACO, on its own and in conjunction with the Police, has taken over 400 enforcement actions in the past three years. In addition to prosecution against illegal smoking, the TACO has also initiated prosecutions against persons suspected of inciting, aiding and abetting smoking offenders (including bar operators who have committed aiding and abetting smoking offences).     As regards smoking product advertisements, under the prevailing legislation, no person shall display or distribute smoking product advertisements (including leaflets) or place smoking product advertisements on the Internet. Offenders are liable to a fine of $50,000. The TACO has been actively conducting market surveillance, and in order to further curb the situation of illicit cigarette leaflets, the TACO has been strengthening joint operations since 2023, including joint operations with the Police, the Housing Department (HD) and the C&ED against complaints of distributing illicit cigarette leaflets. A total of over 250 joint operations were conducted in the past three years. Since 2021, the TACO has successfully prosecuted 17 offenders for distributing smoking product leaflets. The highest penalty for these convicted cases was a fine of $8,000. For online advertisement, apart from conducting investigations and prosecutions upon receipt of complaints or referrals, the TACO also actively carries out online surveillance. Upon identification of smoking product advertisements, the TACO will ask the relevant internet service providers and social media platforms to remove such contents as soon as possible. The TACO has removed over 3 200 webpages and social media accounts or posts involving smoking product advertisements in aggregate in the past three years.     As regards the ASP ban, with effect from April 30, 2022, no person may import, promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes ASPs, in accordance with the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371) and the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60). The C&ED is responsible for intercepting illegally-imported ASPs at import level with intercepted cases referred to the TACO for follow-up and prosecution, the TACO is also responsible for market surveillance and instituting prosecution.     For cases involving import of ASPs, as at December 31, 2024, the TACO issued 1 272 summonses to offenders of importing cases, of which offenders in 694 cases were convicted by court and were fined $300 to $42,000. During the same period, the C&ED detected 52 cases involving offences under the C&ED’s enforcement and illegal import of ASPs concurrently, of which 26 were convicted and the highest fine and sentence imposed were $5,000 and four months’ imprisonment respectively. Besides, the TACO also monitors the sale of ASP on the Internet, and conducts test buy for follow-up investigation, as well as liaises with relevant organisation to assist in removing the illegal online content. For cases of suspected sale or possession for commercial purposes of ASPs, the TACO issued 24 summonses to offenders, of which 20 cases were convicted by court and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment at most.     The relevant ban on ASPs has been in force for nearly three years. At present, there are no legal channels to import or purchase ASPs, and ASPs purchased for personal use before the ban came into effect should have been largely consumed after a certain period of time. Prevailing legislation does not prohibit the possession of ASPs for non-commercial use. To suppress the continued circulation of ASPs, which are hazardous novel tobacco products, in Hong Kong and to tackle the problem of using e-cigarette devices to abuse drugs at its root, the Health Bureau will further strengthen the regulation of ASPs, including banning the possession of relevant products. Details will be announced later.     On the other hand, as an important pillar under the tobacco control strategy, the Government will spare no efforts in combating illicit cigarettes. At present, combating illicit cigarettes is mainly the responsibility of the C&ED. The C&ED will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach and take stringent enforcement actions at all levels to combat the sale of illicit cigarettes. The C&ED exchanges intelligence with the Police from time to time and conducts joint operations in a timely manner, including combating cases of cigarette smuggling and illicit cigarette storage in downtown. In addition, the C&ED has been maintaining close intelligence exchange and co-operation with the Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat cross-boundary cigarette smuggling activities.     The enforcement figures against illicit cigarettes (including smuggling, storage and distribution as well as sale) in the past three years are set out at Annex III. The increase in the number of seizures of illicit cigarettes reflects the effectiveness of the C&ED’s stepped-up actions against illicit cigarettes and the success of its enforcement strategy does not denote an expanding scale of illicit cigarettes activities. The Government announced the “10 measures for tobacco control” in June last year. Stepping up actions against illicit cigarettes was accorded the highest priority among the 10 measures, including:(i) introducing a duty stamp system to distinguish duty-paid cigarettes from non-duty-paid cigarettes;(ii) requiring tobacco products being sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty need to be proved duty-paid;(iii) increasing the maximum penalty for handling, possessing, selling or buying duty-not-paid cigarettes; and (iv) listing the relevant offences under the Schedule of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO) (Cap. 455), so as to enable the C&ED to freeze and confiscate illicit proceeds and assets associated with illicit cigarette activities by virtue of the OSCO.     On duty stamp system, taking into account factors such as enforcement effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, the Government proposes to require the affixing of duty-paid labels on the retail packages of cigarettes at this stage. Through the application of anti-forgery features and related digital technologies, frontline officers of the C&ED would be able to distinguish duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones in a more effective manner, thereby enhancing enforcement efficiency. The C&ED expects that a pilot scheme on the duty stamp system will be rolled out in the middle of this year to work out the practical operating requirement of the relevant scheme, which will then be launched next year at the earliest. The Government expects that the above measures will increase the deterrent effect and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement departments in combating illicit cigarettes.      The relevant Government departments, including the TACO, the C&ED, the Police and the HD will continue to work together to enhance intelligence exchange and deepen the co-operation mechanism, as well as to make adjustments to their enforcement strategies having regard to the actual situation, and to take joint enforcement actions and refer suspected illegal cases, with a view to taking forward the work of tobacco control and enforcing the relevant legislation.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News