Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New life to be breathed into a much-used corner of Morecambe A rejuvenation project will get underway this week to breathe new life into a much-used corner ..

    Source: City of Lancaster

    A rejuvenation project will get underway this week to breathe new life into a much-used corner of Morecambe. 

    Work will begin at the Greenway near the Morecambe railway line, which serves as a junction for pedestrians and cyclists, offering access to the coast, shops and the Way of the Roses cycle route, thanks to a £15k cash injection from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

    Repairs will be made to the path, benches will be over-hauled, trees and bushes will be thinned and trimmed, a litter bin installed and a well-used crossing area forming part of the ‘Way of the Roses’ cycle route will be revamped with a unique, People’s Jury and artist co-designed crossing. 

    Residents can get involved too with a public workshop to make bird and bat boxes and join in on litter picks, as part of the project to improve the environment, enhance safety and accessibility. 

    The project is a collaboration between, the Lancaster District People’s Jury on Climate Change, Lancaster City Council and artists from the Good Things Collective. 

    The project builds on the recommendations of The People’s Jury, which was formed after the council declared a climate emergency to guide its efforts towards achieving net-zero carbon by 2030. 

    The Jury’s 2020 report provided key recommendations, and this project was inspired through its on-going collaboration work on the Local Climate Engagement Programme (LCEP) with which it produced additional recommendations, particularly focusing on travel and transport. 

    On Saturday, volunteers from The People’s Jury joined council staff to litter pick at the site ahead of work starting in the coming days.

    Residents see action on the site for the next couple of weeks, with the project expected to be completed by the end of March. 

    Councillor Gina Dowding, Lancaster City Council cabinet member with responsibility for climate action, said:  “We are thrilled to receive the UKSPF funding for this important project, which aims to enhance this well-used public space and improve safety and accessibility for all. Whether it’s local commuters connecting to the cycle track, tourists embarking on the Way of the Roses, or residents walking to nearby shops, this initiative will benefit everyone. 

    “This is truly a community effort, and we encourage residents to get involved – from litter picks to making bird boxes – as we work together to improve our local area and also improve sustainable travel through our cycleways.” 

    Last updated: 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BUDGET: Scottish Greens secure action on climate, transport costs and child poverty

    Source: Scottish Greens

    Scottish Green MSPs agree to support budget

    The Scottish Greens will support the forthcoming budget, following confirmation that the Scottish Government have agreed to the party’s proposals on record climate funding, the expansion of free school meals and trialling a £2 cap on bus fares.

    As a result of proposals tabled by Scottish Green negotiators, the Government’s budget will now be changed to include the roll-out of free school meals to thousands more young people and a year-long regional trial of a £2 cap on bus fares.

    Other Green proposals accepted include increasing funding for nature restoration to a record £26m, more free ferry travel for young island residents, free bus travel for asylum seekers and help for first time home buyers by increasing tax on the purchase of second/holiday homes.

    Scottish Greens finance spokesperson Ross Greer MSP said:

    “The Scottish Greens put climate action, tackling child poverty, cheaper buses and ferries and funding for schools at the heart of our budget negotiations. We have delivered progress on all of these fronts, so our MSPs will be voting for the budget.

    “No young person should be sitting in school hungry. As a result of our work, thousands more pupils in S1-S3 will now receive a free school meal. This will build on the success of expanding free school meals in primary schools, a policy delivered by the Scottish Greens a few years ago.

    “Our Green MSPs have also secured a year-long regional trial where bus fares will be capped at £2, because we know the cost of public transport needs to come down. This also builds on the success of free bus travel for young people, another Scottish Green policy we made a reality.

    “With climate chaos all around us, we have worked to deliver record funding for nature restoration and our environment. These Green projects are creating well-paid jobs in communities across the country, particularly in rural areas.

    “From schools to libraries to social care to bin collections, our councils deliver the services we all depend on. We have worked with Scottish Green councillors to ensure that this year’s budget delivers a fair deal for local councils, including an end to the Council tax freeze.

    “These changes secured by Scottish Green MSPs will lift more children out of poverty, reduce the cost of public transport, create good quality jobs, tackle the climate crisis and protect local services. That’s in stark contrast to Labour, who agreed to let the SNP’s budget pass without making any attempt to improve it. If you want action to help people and planet, voting Scottish Greens is the best way to deliver it.”

    As a result of Scottish Green negotiations, this budget includes:

    • Making public transport cheaper: A year long regional trial of capping bus fares at £2 starting 1st January 2026, free bus travel for people seeking asylum and free inter-island ferry travel for young island residents
    • Action to tackle child poverty: The expansion of free school meals to thousands of S1-S3 pupils who receive the Scottish Child Payment, starting with eight councils areas in August 2025.
    • Record climate action: A record £4.9bn of funding for climate action and nature restoration.
    • Progressive taxation to support public services: Increased tax on the purchase of second or holiday homes and moving forward with proposals for a Cruise Ship Levy, the consultation for which will launch in February
    • Protecting local services: A real-term funding increase for local councils, and progress on giving councils more direct power through a consultation on devolving Parking Charge Notices (parking fines)

    Letter from Shona Robinson MSP confirming Green budget requests.

    Letter from Ross Greer MSP confirming Green support.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three more residential buildings were built on the territory of the former Oktyabrskoye Pole industrial zone under the KRT program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the northwest of Moscow, as part of the redevelopment of the former industrial zone Oktyabrskoye Pole, a residential complex was built. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The investor has completed the construction of three buildings with a total area of over 73.1 thousand square meters, with almost 46 thousand square meters of residential space. The facilities were built on the site of the former Oktyabrskoye Pole industrial zone as part of the first comprehensive territorial development agreement in the capital,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The agreement for the former Oktyabrskoye Pole industrial zone, with an area of 5.9 hectares, was concluded in 2020. Its terms provide for the construction of almost 200 thousand square meters of real estate, including modern housing, public, business, educational and other facilities.

    “The multi-apartment residential complex is located on Berzarina Street. The building of variable height consists of three buildings and is designed for more than a thousand apartments. On the underground level there is a parking lot and storage rooms for residents. On the first floor it is planned to place commercial premises – shops, cafes and public spaces will be able to open there. The territory has also been improved,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    All stages of the work were supervised Committee for State Construction Supervision of the City of MoscowAccording to the head of the department Anton Slobodchikova, a total of 13 on-site inspections were organized. Specialists from the subordinate Center for Expertise, Research and Testing in Construction took part in them. Based on the results of the final inspection, a conclusion was drawn up on the conformity of the buildings with the approved design documentation.

    The first technology park under the integrated territorial development program was built in the Shchukino districtConstruction of a residential complex and kindergarten on part of the former Oktyabrskoye Pole industrial zone will be completed by the end of the yearAccording to the KRT program, parks, alleys, and boulevards will appear on 155 hectares in the city

    According to the program of integrated development of territories in the capital, multifunctional city quarters are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 KRT projects with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of implementation in Moscow. Their development is carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/149415073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: It is important to integrate VOIR activities into educational programs of schools, colleges and universities

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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    Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the public organization “All-Russian Society of Inventors and Innovators”

    A meeting of the board of trustees of the public organization “All-Russian Society of Inventors and Rationalizers” (VOIR) was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister noted that VOIR, as one of the oldest public organizations with more than 90 years of history, should make a significant contribution to achieving the national goal of technological leadership.

    “In order for VOIR to continue to be a platform for exchanging experience, generating new ideas and supporting inventors, it is necessary to build systemic work in all regions of the country. But the creation of new regional organizations is only the first step. It is necessary to cover all regions and establish close interaction between them so that the best solutions can be scaled up and used everywhere. It is also important to integrate VOIR events into the educational programs of schools, colleges and universities,” emphasized Dmitry Chernyshenko, Chairman of the VOIR Board of Trustees.

    In addition, it is necessary to create a mentoring system where experienced inventors and engineers can pass on their knowledge and skills to the younger generation. This will help maintain continuity and create conditions for the formation of new professional communities within the VOIR structure.

    Chairman of the Central Council of VOIR, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Vladimir Kononov spoke about the results of the society’s work, projects being implemented and plans for the coming years.

    Today, VOIR is represented in 77 regions, and over 100 thousand inventors and innovators are members of the organization. The VOIR festival “Science and Inventions for Life” is held annually. Over two years, its events were held in 35 regions, with over 650 thousand people taking part. In 2025, the focus will be on thematic events dedicated to the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland and the 80th anniversary of Victory, as well as on expanding international cooperation with friendly countries. The All-Russian competition “Inventor of the Year” is held annually. Together with Rospatent, VOIR holds the competition “Capital of Invention”: in 2025, this status was awarded to the Novgorod Region.

    The meeting also discussed the objectives of VOIR for 2025. These include the popularization of technical creativity and inventive activity and the involvement of young people in it, in particular through promoting the development of student design bureaus at universities and cooperation with schools. In addition, the objectives include the creation of a center for the development of invention methods and the implementation of educational programs for inventors, the development and implementation of new digital services, the launch of a comprehensive program to support inventors, and the rating of the activities of regional organizations.

    “Ultimately, all of our proposals are aimed at increasing the number of citizens involved in the inventive and rationalization movement, and therefore increasing the number of new developments and technologies that will be implemented at our enterprises and ensure the technological leadership of our country,” said Vladimir Kononov.

    Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov noted that the Ministry of Education is open to cooperation with the All-Russian Society of Inventors and Innovators in implementing joint projects for the younger generation.

    “As part of our cooperation, we are ready to offer, firstly, to hold a class called “Conversations about the Important”, where schoolchildren will be told about the All-Russian Society of Inventors and Innovators and the opportunities it creates for young people. Secondly, we can include the topic of inventions in the career guidance course “Russia – My Horizons”. In addition, we are holding new Olympiads for schoolchildren – on unmanned aerial systems and robotics. And we can make the society our partner in holding them. These are relevant areas that are in great demand today,” added Sergey Kravtsov.

    The head of the Ministry of Education emphasized that the participation of society in the activities of the centers “Kvantorium”, “Tochka Rosta” and “IT-Kube” could become an opportunity for cooperation. Sergey Kravtsov also proposed considering cooperation in the area of secondary vocational education, in the system of which there are a large number of technical specialties.

    Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Konstantin Mogilevsky outlined possible areas of cooperation between VOIR and universities, including the work of student design bureaus, youth laboratories, student scientific societies, and student technological entrepreneurship.

    “All schools in Mordovia have “Growth Points”, quantum centers are open – the technical base is huge, our talented youth have something to work with. I am sure that the public and state status of VOIR will help us solve the most serious problems of technological sovereignty,” said the head of the Republic of Mordovia, Artem Zdunov.

    The meeting of the board of trustees was also attended by representatives of the Presidential Administration of Russia for Public Projects, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the State Duma, Rospatent, the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, other government agencies, companies, educational institutions, and regions.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Leads Q4 2024 Meme Trading Wave: 140% QoQ Volume Growth & 240 New Projects Added

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, the world-leading digital asset trading platform, saw significant growth in memecoin trading during Q4 2024. Data shows that the overall trading volume of memecoins on the platform, including Spot and Futures, surged by 140% quarter-over-quarter. The proportion of daily active users trading memecoins climbed to 35.8%, while the proportion of daily average trading volume more than doubled to 18.8%.

    MEXC took strategic steps to enhance its memecoin trading services by launching the Meme+ zone on December 24, 2024. The dedicated zone proved highly successful, with approximately 124 popular memecoins listed within its first month of operation. This initiative generated significant momentum, leading to continued growth in memecoin trading activity on MEXC in January 2025. User engagement reached new heights, with the percentage of daily trading users increasing to 37.1%, while memecoins came to represent 25.9% of the platform’s average daily trading volume.

    MEXC demonstrated strong market leadership in Q4 2024 by strategically focusing on the memecoin sector, successfully introducing more than 240 high-quality meme projects to its platform. The exchange’s careful project selection proved highly successful, with the top 5 newly listed memecoins in 2024 achieving remarkable results – their prices recorded an average peak gain of over 8,700%, while standout performers KEKIUS and FWOG surpassed 10,000% gains. Market capitalization metrics were equally impressive, with the top 5 memecoins averaging peak gains of over 3,500%, notably led by PNUT which achieved an exceptional maximum gain of more than 7,000%.

    To enhance its asset offerings, MEXC recently introduced a new feature allowing users to search for trading pairs using contract addresses. This aims to help users identify target trading pairs more quickly and accurately, providing a more efficient trading experience and enhancing their overall journey.

    In a move to enhance platform functionality, MEXC has introduced a new contract address search feature for trading pairs, enabling users to locate specific trading pairs with greater precision and speed. This enhancement streamlines the trading process, making it more efficient for users to find and access their desired trading pairs. The feature allows users to input token contract addresses into MEXC’s global search or Spot trading search bar to accurately locate tokens. This is particularly valuable in the active memecoin market, where similar token names can cause confusion and bring investment risk. By utilizing contract addresses—the unique identifier for tokens on the blockchain—this search mechanism ensures precision and provides users with enhanced security.

    About MEXC

    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto”. Serving over 30 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, frequent airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official WebsiteXTelegramHow to Sign Up on MEXC

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

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by MEXC. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/41b61707-d16e-4558-81e7-3fcb6f1ee432

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1ad05ee-72ca-4d42-8c5e-e5c0b906ca4e

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a8cc556-be4d-4be2-afba-59f2c832ce2d

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/be981b72-e7d5-473a-969d-3cfde42d4159

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e07c632a-ff90-4ff9-9437-174c4e8e53f6

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Provident Financial Holdings Reports Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Net Income of $872,000 in the December 2024 Quarter, Down 54% from the Sequential Quarter and 59% from the Comparable Quarter Last Year

    Net Interest Margin of 2.91% in the December 2024 Quarter, Up Seven Basis Points from the Sequential Quarter and 13 Basis Points from the Comparable Quarter Last Year

    Loans Held for Investment of $1.05 Billion at December 31, 2024, Unchanged from June 30, 2024

    Total Deposits of $867.5 Million at December 31, 2024, Down 2% from June 30, 2024

    Non-Performing Assets to Total Assets Ratio of 0.20% at December 31, 2024, Unchanged from June 30, 2024

    Non-Interest Expenses Remain Well Controlled

    RIVERSIDE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Company”), NASDAQ GS: PROV, the holding company for Provident Savings Bank, F.S.B. (“Bank”), today announced earnings for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

    The Company reported net income of $872,000, or $0.13 per diluted share (on 6.79 million average diluted shares outstanding), for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, down 59 percent from net income of $2.14 million, or $0.31 per diluted share (on 6.98 million average diluted shares outstanding), in the comparable period a year ago. The decrease in earnings was due primarily to a $586,000 provision for credit losses, in contrast to a $720,000 recovery of credit losses in the comparable period a year ago, and a $450,000 increase in non-interest expenses (primarily attributable to higher salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses).

    “I am pleased with the progress we have made in our fundamental operating results. Net interest income increased by approximately two percent from the prior sequential quarter and was largely the result of an expanding net interest margin. Growth in the loans held for investment portfolio, which increased from the September 30, 2024 balance, also contributed to this improvement. Credit quality remains strong; however, the increase in mortgage interest rates has resulted in a longer estimated average life of our loan portfolio and a corresponding provision for credit losses. Additionally, we remain active in our stock repurchase plan with our Board of Directors recently approving a new plan, demonstrating our commitment to sound capital management practices,” stated Donavon P. Ternes, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “As I described last quarter, our business model performs better in a flat or upward-sloping yield curve environment. Now that the Federal Open Market Committee has implemented looser monetary policy and the inverted yield curve has reversed course, we are transitioning back to less restrictive operating strategies,” concluded Ternes.

    Return on average assets was 0.28 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, compared to 0.61 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and 0.66 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Return on average stockholders’ equity for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was 2.66 percent, compared to 5.78 percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and 6.56 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2024.

    On a sequential quarter basis, the $872,000 net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 reflects a 54 percent decrease from $1.90 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $586,000 provision for credit losses, in contrast to a $697,000 recovery of credit losses, and a $271,000 increase in non-interest expense (primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits), partly offset by a $143,000 increase in net interest income (primarily due to a higher net interest margin). The increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was primarily attributable to higher employee compensation. Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 were $0.13 per share, down 54 percent from $0.28 per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2025.

    For the six months ended December 31, 2024, net income decreased $1.13 million, or 29 percent, to $2.77 million from $3.90 million in the comparable period in fiscal 2024. Diluted earnings per share for the six months ended December 31, 2024 decreased 27 percent to $0.41 per share (on 6.83 million average diluted shares outstanding) from $0.56 per share (on 7.00 million average diluted shares outstanding) for the comparable six-month period last year. The decrease in earnings was primarily attributable to a $1.12 million increase in non-interest expense (primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses) and a $538,000 decrease in net interest income, partly offset by a $118,000 increase in non-interest income.

    In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, net interest income decreased slightly to $8.76 million from $8.77 million for the same quarter last year. The slight decrease in net interest income was due to a lower average balance of interest-earning assets, partly offset by a higher net interest margin. The average balance of interest-earning assets decreased five percent to $1.20 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $1.26 billion in the same quarter last year, primarily due to decreases in the average balance of loans receivable, investment securities and interest-earning deposits. The net interest margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 13 basis points to 2.91 percent from 2.78 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in net interest margin was due to increased yields on interest-earning assets outpacing increased funding costs. The average yield on interest-earning assets increased 33 basis points to 4.66 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from 4.33 percent in the same quarter last year. In contrast, our average funding costs increased by 23 basis points to 1.92 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from 1.69 percent in the same quarter last year.

    Interest income on loans receivable increased $541,000, or four percent, to $13.05 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $12.51 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase was due to a higher average loan yield, partly offset by a lower average loan balance. The average yield on loans receivable increased 33 basis points to 4.99 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from 4.66 percent in the same quarter last year. Adjustable-rate loans of approximately $100.7 million repriced upward in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 by approximately 15 basis points from a weighted average rate of 7.83 percent to 7.98 percent. The average balance of loans receivable decreased $27.8 million, or three percent, to $1.05 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $1.07 billion in the same quarter last year. Total loans originated for investment in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 were $36.4 million, up 80 percent from $20.2 million in the same quarter last year, while loan principal payments received in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 were $34.3 million, up 93 percent from $17.8 million in the same quarter last year.

    Interest income from investment securities decreased $53,000, or 10 percent, to $471,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $524,000 for the same quarter of fiscal 2024. This decrease was attributable to a lower average balance, partly offset by a higher average yield. The average balance of investment securities decreased $23.4 million, or 16 percent, to $123.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $147.2 million in the same quarter last year. The decrease in the average balance was due to scheduled principal payments and prepayments of investment securities. The average yield on investment securities increased 10 basis points to 1.52 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from 1.42 percent for the same quarter last year. The increase in the average yield was primarily attributable to a lower premium amortization during the current quarter in comparison to the same quarter last year ($97,000 vs. $137,000) due to lower total principal repayments ($5.3 million vs. $5.9 million) and, to a lesser extent, the upward repricing of adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities.

    In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the Bank received $213,000 in cash dividends from the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) – San Francisco stock and other equity investments, up eight percent from $197,000 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an average yield of 8.38 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to 8.29 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was $10.2 million, up from $9.5 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2024.

    Interest income from interest-earning deposits, primarily cash deposited at the Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) of San Francisco, was $287,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, down $148,000 or 34 percent from $435,000 in the same quarter of fiscal 2024. The decrease was due to a lower average balance and, to a lesser extent, a lower average yield. The average balance of the Company’s interest-earning deposits decreased $7.8 million, or 25 percent, to $23.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $31.5 million in the same quarter last year. The average yield earned on interest-earning deposits in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was 4.74 percent, down 67 basis points from 5.41 percent in the same quarter last year. The decrease in the average yield was due to a lower average interest rate on the FRB’s reserve balances resulting from decreases in the targeted federal funds rate during the comparable periods.

    Interest expense on deposits for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was $2.67 million, an increase of $401,000 or 18 percent from $2.27 million for the same period last year. The increase was attributable to higher rates paid on deposits, partly offset by a lower average balance. The average cost of deposits was 1.23 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, up 24 basis points from 0.99 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in the average cost of deposits was primarily attributable to an increase in higher cost time deposits, particularly brokered certificates of deposit. The average balance of deposits decreased $51.5 million, or six percent, to $863.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $914.6 million in the same quarter last year.

    Transaction account balances, or “core deposits,” decreased $21.6 million, or four percent, to $592.9 million at December 31, 2024 from $614.5 million at June 30, 2024, while time deposits increased slightly to $274.6 million at December 31, 2024 from $273.9 million at June 30, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, brokered certificates of deposit totaled $143.8 million, up $12.0 million or nine percent from $131.8 million at June 30, 2024. The weighted average cost of brokered certificates of deposit was 4.56 percent and 5.18 percent (including broker fees) at December 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, respectively.

    Interest expense on borrowings, consisting of FHLB advances, for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 decreased $30,000, or one percent, to $2.59 million from $2.62 million for the same period last year. The decrease in interest expense on borrowings was primarily the result of a lower average balance, partly offset by a higher average cost. The average balance of borrowings decreased $3.8 million, or two percent, to $226.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $230.5 million in the same quarter last year. The average cost of borrowings increased two basis points to 4.53 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from 4.51 percent in the same quarter last year.

    At December 31, 2024, the Bank had approximately $246.2 million of remaining borrowing capacity at the FHLB. Additionally, the Bank has an unused secured borrowing facility of approximately $198.5 million with the FRB of San Francisco and an unused unsecured federal funds borrowing facility of $50.0 million with its correspondent bank. The total available borrowing capacity across all sources totaled approximately $494.7 million at December 31, 2024.

    The Bank continues to work with both the FHLB and FRB of San Francisco to ensure that its borrowing capacity is continuously reviewed and updated in order to be accessed seamlessly should the need arise.

    During the second quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $586,000 (which included a $41,000 recovery of unfunded commitment reserves), in contrast to a $720,000 recovery of credit losses recorded during the same period last year and a $697,000 recovery of credit losses recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 (sequential quarter). The provision for credit losses recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was primarily attributable to a longer estimated life of the loan portfolio resulting from lower loan prepayment estimates (attributable to higher interest rates) and a slight increase in the outstanding balance of loans held for investment at December 31, 2024 from September 30, 2024.

    Non-performing assets, comprised solely of non-accrual loans with underlying collateral located in California, decreased $66,000 or three percent to $2.5 million, which represented 0.20 percent of total assets at December 31, 2024, compared to $2.6 million, which represented 0.20 percent of total assets at June 30, 2024. At both December 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, non-performing loans were comprised of 10 single-family loans. At both December 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024, there was no real estate owned and no loans past due by 90 days or more that were accruing interest. For the quarters ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, there were no loan charge-offs.

    The recent wildfires in Los Angeles, California did not have a material impact on the Company’s operations or the Bank’s customers. The Bank’s branches and facilities remained operational throughout the wildfire events, and there were no significant disruptions to customer services or business activities observed. Additionally, the Bank has not identified any significant credit exposure or financial impact attributable to the wildfires at this time.

    Classified assets were $5.8 million at December 31, 2024, consisting of $631,000 of loans in the special mention category and $5.1 million of loans in the substandard category. Classified assets at June 30, 2024 were $5.8 million, consisting of $1.1 million of loans in the special mention category and $4.7 million of loans in the substandard category.

    The allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment was $7.0 million, or 0.66 percent of gross loans held for investment, at December 31, 2024, down from $7.1 million, or 0.67 percent of gross loans held for investment, at June 30, 2024. The decrease in the allowance for credit losses was due primarily to a shorter estimated life of the loan portfolio, partly offset by a slightly higher balance of loans held for investment. Management believes that, based on currently available information, the allowance for credit losses is sufficient to absorb expected losses inherent in loans held for investment at December 31, 2024.

    Non-interest income decreased by $30,000, or three percent, to $845,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $875,000 in the same period last year, due primarily to decreases in loan servicing and other fess, deposit fees and card and processing fees, partly offset by an increase in other fees. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income decreased $54,000, or six percent, primarily due to decreases in loan servicing and other fess, deposit fees and card and processing fees, partly offset by an increase in other fees.

    Non-interest expense increased $450,000, or six percent, to $7.79 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 from $7.34 million for the same quarter last year, primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits expenses and other operating expenses. The higher salaries and employee benefits expenses was primarily due to higher compensation expenses, retirement plan benefit expenses and executive search agency costs, partly offset by a lower accrual adjustment for the supplemental executive retirement plans expense. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expense increased $271,000, or four percent as compared to $7.52 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, due primarily to higher salaries and employee benefits expenses. The higher salaries and employee benefits expenses was primarily due to higher compensation expenses, a higher accrual adjustment for the supplemental executive retirement plans expense and executive search agency costs.

    The Company’s efficiency ratio, defined as non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income, in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was 81.15 percent, an increase from 76.11 percent in the same quarter last year and 79.06 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 (sequential quarter). The increase in the efficiency ratio during the current quarter in comparison to the comparable quarter last year was due to higher non-interest expense and, to a lesser extent, a lower net interest income and non-interest income.

    The Company’s provision for income taxes was $352,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, down 60 percent from $884,000 in the same quarter last year and down 55 percent from $789,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 (sequential quarter). The decrease during the current quarter compared to both the sequential quarter and same quarter last year was due to a decrease in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 was 28.8 percent as compared to 29.2 percent in the same quarter last year and 29.3 percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 (sequential quarter).

    The Company repurchased 63,556 shares of its common stock pursuant to its current stock repurchase program at an average cost of $16.04 per share during the quarter ended December 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2024, a total of 31,919 shares remained available for future purchase under the Company’s current repurchase program, which expires on September 26, 2025.

    The Bank currently operates 13 retail/business banking offices in Riverside County and San Bernardino County (Inland Empire).

    The Company will host a conference call for institutional investors and bank analysts on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-715-9871 and referencing Conference ID number 7361828. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Tuesday, February 4, 2025 by dialing 1-800-770-2030 and referencing Conference ID number 7361828.

    For more financial information about the Company please visit the website at www.myprovident.com and click on the “Investor Relations” section.

    Safe-Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements that the Company believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. You should not place undue reliance on these statements as they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements the Company may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to the Company.

    There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: adverse economic conditions in our local market areas or other markets where we have lending relationships; effects of employment levels, labor shortages, inflation, a recession or slowed economic growth; changes in the interest rate environment, including the increases and decreases in the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board (the “Federal Reserve”) benchmark rate and the duration of such levels, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses, the value of assets and obligations, and the availability and cost of capital and liquidity; the impact of inflation and the Federal Reserve monetary policy; the effects of any Federal government shutdown; credit risks of lending activities, including loan delinquencies, write-offs, changes in our ACL, and provision for credit losses; increased competitive pressures, including repricing and competitors’ pricing initiatives, and their impact on our market position, loan, and deposit products; quality and composition of our securities portfolio and the impact of adverse changes in the securities markets; fluctuations in deposits; secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to sell loans in the secondary market; liquidity issues, including our ability to borrow funds or raise additional capital, if necessary; expectations regarding key growth initiatives and strategic priorities; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; results of examinations of us by regulatory authorities, which may the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, institute a formal or informal enforcement action against us or our bank subsidiary which could require us to increase our ACL, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits or impose additional requirements or restrictions on us, any of which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities and tax law, in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; use of estimates in determining the fair value of assets, which may prove incorrect; disruptions or security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in or attacks on our information technology systems or on our third-party vendors; the potential imposition of new tariffs or changes to existing trade policies that could affect economic activity or specific industry sectors; staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or corporate implementation strategies; our ability to pay dividends on our common stock; environmental, social and governance goals; effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest and other external events; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are available on our website at www.myprovident.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2025 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us and could negatively affect our operating and stock price performance.

             
    Contacts:   Donavon P. Ternes   TamHao B. Nguyen
        President and   Senior Vice President and
        Chief Executive Officer   Chief Financial Officer
             
     
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
    (Unaudited –In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information)
     
         December 31,    September 30,    June 30,   March 31,   December 31,
          2024     2024   2024   2024   2023
    Assets                              
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 45,539     $ 48,193     $ 51,376     $ 51,731     $ 46,878  
    Investment securities – held to maturity, at cost with no allowance for credit losses     118,888       124,268       130,051       135,971       141,692  
    Investment securities – available for sale, at fair value     1,750       1,809       1,849       1,935       1,996  
    Loans held for investment, net of allowance for credit losses of $6,956, $6,329, $7,065, $7,108 and $7,000, respectively; includes $1,016, $1,082, $1,047, $1,054 and $1,092 of loans held at fair value, respectively     1,053,603       1,048,633       1,052,979       1,065,761       1,075,765  
    Accrued interest receivable     4,167       4,287       4,287       4,249       4,076  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments, includes $650, $565, $540, $0 and $0 of other equity investments at fair value, respectively     10,218       10,133       10,108       9,505       9,505  
    Premises and equipment, net     9,474       9,615       9,313       9,637       9,598  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     11,327       10,442       12,237       11,258       11,583  
    Total assets   $ 1,254,966     $ 1,257,380     $ 1,272,200     $ 1,290,047     $ 1,301,093  
                                   
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                              
    Liabilities:                              
    Noninterest-bearing deposits   $ 85,399     $ 86,458     $ 95,627     $ 91,708     $ 94,030  
    Interest-bearing deposits     782,116       777,406       792,721       816,414       817,950  
    Total deposits     867,515       863,864       888,348       908,122       911,980  
                                   
    Borrowings     245,500       249,500       238,500       235,000       242,500  
    Accounts payable, accrued interest and other liabilities     13,321       14,410       15,411       17,419       16,952  
    Total liabilities     1,126,336       1,127,774       1,142,259       1,160,541       1,171,432  
                                   
    Stockholders’ equity:                              
    Preferred stock, $.01 par value (2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding)                              
    Common stock, $.01 par value; (40,000,000 shares authorized; 18,229,615, 18,229,615, 18,229,615, 18,229,615 and 18,229,615 shares issued respectively; 6,705,691, 6,769,247, 6,847,821, 6,896,297 and 6,946,348 shares outstanding, respectively)     183       183       183       183       183  
    Additional paid-in capital     98,747       98,711       98,532       99,591       99,565  
    Retained earnings     210,779       210,853       209,914       208,923       208,396  
    Treasury stock at cost (11,523,924, 11,460,368, 11,381,794, 11,333,318, and 11,283,267 shares, respectively)     (181,094 )     (180,155 )     (178,685 )     (179,183 )     (178,476 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax     15       14       (3 )     (8 )     (7 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     128,630       129,606       129,941       129,506       129,661  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,254,966     $ 1,257,380     $ 1,272,200     $ 1,290,047     $ 1,301,093  
     
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
    (Unaudited – In Thousands, Except Per Share Information)
                               
        For the Quarter Ended   Six Months Ended
           December 31,   December 31,
        2024   2023   2024 2023
    Interest income:                          
    Loans receivable, net   $ 13,050     $ 12,509     $ 26,073     $ 24,685  
    Investment securities     471       524       953       1,048  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments     213       197       423       376  
    Interest-earning deposits     287       435       647       898  
    Total interest income     14,021       13,665       28,096       27,007  
                               
    Interest expense:                          
    Checking and money market deposits     51       72       104       129  
    Savings deposits     117       73       229       111  
    Time deposits     2,506       2,128       5,165       3,918  
    Borrowings     2,588       2,618       5,223       4,936  
    Total interest expense     5,262       4,891       10,721       9,094  
                               
    Net interest income     8,759       8,774       17,375       17,913  
    Provision for (recovery of) credit losses     586       (720 )     (111 )     (175 )
    Net interest income, after provision for (recovery of) credit losses     8,173       9,494       17,486       18,088  
                               
    Non-interest income:                          
    Loan servicing and other fees     60       124       164       103  
    Deposit account fees     282       299       580       587  
    Card and processing fees     300       333       620       686  
    Other     203       119       380       250  
    Total non-interest income     845       875       1,744       1,626  
                               
    Non-interest expense:                          
    Salaries and employee benefits     4,826       4,569       9,459       8,683  
    Premises and occupancy     917       903       1,868       1,806  
    Equipment     379       346       722       633  
    Professional     412       410       838       882  
    Sales and marketing     187       181       360       349  
    Deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments     190       209       373       406  
    Other     883       726       1,697       1,441  
    Total non-interest expense     7,794       7,344       15,317       14,200  
    Income before income taxes     1,224       3,025       3,913       5,514  
    Provision for income taxes     352       884       1,141       1,611  
    Net income   $ 872     $ 2,141     $ 2,772     $ 3,903  
                               
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.13     $ 0.31     $ 0.41     $ 0.56  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.13     $ 0.31     $ 0.41     $ 0.56  
    Cash dividends per share   $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 0.28     $ 0.28  
     
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – Sequential Quarters
    (Unaudited – In Thousands, Except Per Share Information)
                                       
        For the Quarter Ended
        December 31,   September 30,   June 30,   March 31,   December 31,
        2024   2024   2024   2024   2023
    Interest income:                                  
    Loans receivable, net   $ 13,050     $ 13,023     $ 12,826     $ 12,683     $ 12,509  
    Investment securities     471       482       504       517       524  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments     213       210       207       210       197  
    Interest-earning deposits     287       360       379       397       435  
    Total interest income     14,021       14,075       13,916       13,807       13,665  
                                       
    Interest expense:                                  
    Checking and money market deposits     51       53       71       90       72  
    Savings deposits     117       112       105       97       73  
    Time deposits     2,506       2,659       2,657       2,488       2,128  
    Borrowings     2,588       2,635       2,632       2,573       2,618  
    Total interest expense     5,262       5,459       5,465       5,248       4,891  
                                       
    Net interest income     8,759       8,616       8,451       8,559       8,774  
    Provision for (recovery of) credit losses     586       (697 )     (12 )     124       (720 )
    Net interest income, after provision for (recovery of) credit losses     8,173       9,313       8,463       8,435       9,494  
                                       
    Non-interest income:                                  
    Loan servicing and other fees     60       104       142       92       124  
    Deposit account fees     282       298       278       289       299  
    Card and processing fees     300       320       381       317       333  
    Other     203       177       666       150       119  
    Total non-interest income     845       899       1,467       848       875  
                                       
    Non-interest expense:                                  
    Salaries and employee benefits     4,826       4,633       4,419       4,540       4,569  
    Premises and occupancy     917       951       945       835       903  
    Equipment     379       343       347       329       346  
    Professional     412       426       327       321       410  
    Sales and marketing     187       173       193       167       181  
    Deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments     190       183       184       190       209  
    Other     883       814       757       786       726  
    Total non-interest expense     7,794       7,523       7,172       7,168       7,344  
    Income before income taxes     1,224       2,689       2,758       2,115       3,025  
    Provision for income taxes     352       789       805       620       884  
    Net income   $ 872     $ 1,900     $ 1,953     $ 1,495     $ 2,141  
                                       
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.13     $ 0.28     $ 0.28     $ 0.22     $ 0.31  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.13     $ 0.28     $ 0.28     $ 0.22     $ 0.31  
    Cash dividends per share   $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 0.14     $ 0.14  
                                       
     
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information)
                                     
        As of and For the  
        Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended  
        December 31,     December 31,  
           2024       2023        2024       2023  
    SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS:                                
    Return on average assets     0.28 %     0.66 %     0.45 %     0.60 %
    Return on average stockholders’ equity     2.66 %     6.56 %     4.22 %     5.98 %
    Stockholders’ equity to total assets     10.25 %     9.97 %     10.25 %     9.97 %
    Net interest spread     2.74 %     2.64 %     2.70 %     2.70 %
    Net interest margin     2.91 %     2.78 %     2.87 %     2.83 %
    Efficiency ratio     81.15 %     76.11 %     80.11 %     72.68 %
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities     110.52 %     110.27 %     110.43 %     110.22 %
                                     
    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:                                
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.13     $ 0.31     $ 0.41     $ 0.56  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.13     $ 0.31     $ 0.41     $ 0.56  
    Book value per share   $ 19.18     $ 18.67     $ 19.18     $ 18.67  
    Shares used for basic EPS computation     6,744,653       6,968,460       6,788,889       6,992,565  
    Shares used for diluted EPS computation     6,792,759       6,980,856       6,827,921       7,004,042  
    Total shares issued and outstanding     6,705,691       6,946,348       6,705,691       6,946,348  
                                     
    LOANS ORIGINATED FOR INVESTMENT:                                
    Mortgage loans:                                
    Single-family   $ 29,583     $ 8,660     $ 52,032     $ 21,112  
    Multi-family     6,495       6,608       11,685       11,721  
    Commercial real estate     365       4,936       1,625       5,875  
    Commercial business loans                 50        
    Total loans originated for investment   $ 36,443     $ 20,204     $ 65,392     $ 38,708  
     
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information)
                                             
        As of and For the  
        Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter     Quarter  
        Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
           12/31/24        09/30/24        06/30/24        03/31/24        12/31/23  
    SELECTED FINANCIAL RATIOS:                                        
    Return on average assets     0.28 %     0.61 %     0.62 %     0.47 %     0.66 %
    Return on average stockholders’ equity     2.66 %     5.78 %     5.96 %     4.57 %     6.56 %
    Stockholders’ equity to total assets     10.25 %     10.31 %     10.21 %     10.04 %     9.97 %
    Net interest spread     2.74 %     2.66 %     2.54 %     2.55 %     2.64 %
    Net interest margin     2.91 %     2.84 %     2.74 %     2.74 %     2.78 %
    Efficiency ratio     81.15 %     79.06 %     72.31 %     76.20 %     76.11 %
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities     110.52 %     110.34 %     110.40 %     110.28 %     110.27 %
                                             
    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA:                                        
    Basic earnings per share   $ 0.13     $ 0.28     $ 0.28     $ 0.22     $ 0.31  
    Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.13     $ 0.28     $ 0.28     $ 0.22     $ 0.31  
    Book value per share   $ 19.18     $ 19.15     $ 18.98     $ 18.78     $ 18.67  
    Average shares used for basic EPS     6,744,653       6,833,125       6,867,521       6,919,397       6,968,460  
    Average shares used for diluted EPS     6,792,759       6,863,083       6,893,813       6,935,053       6,980,856  
    Total shares issued and outstanding     6,705,691       6,769,247       6,847,821       6,896,297       6,946,348  
                                             
    LOANS ORIGINATED FOR INVESTMENT:                                        
    Mortgage loans:                                        
    Single-family   $ 29,583     $ 22,449     $ 10,862     $ 8,946     $ 8,660  
    Multi-family     6,495       5,190       4,526       5,865       6,608  
    Commercial real estate     365       1,260       1,710       2,172       4,936  
    Construction                 1,480              
    Commercial business loans           50             1,250        
    Total loans originated for investment   $ 36,443     $ 28,949     $ 18,578     $ 18,233     $ 20,204  
     
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands)
                                             
           As of        As of        As of        As of        As of  
        12/31/24     09/30/24     06/30/24     03/31/24     12/31/23  
    ASSET QUALITY RATIOS AND DELINQUENT LOANS:                                        
    Recourse reserve for loans sold   $ 23     $ 23     $ 26     $ 31     $ 31  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans held for investment   $ 6,956     $ 6,329     $ 7,065     $ 7,108     $ 7,000  
    Non-performing loans to loans held for investment, net     0.24 %     0.20 %     0.25 %     0.21 %     0.16 %
    Non-performing assets to total assets     0.20 %     0.17 %     0.20 %     0.17 %     0.13 %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to gross loans held for investment     0.66 %     0.61 %     0.67 %     0.67 %     0.65 %
    Net loan charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans receivable (annualized)     %     %     %     %     %
    Non-performing loans   $ 2,530     $ 2,106     $ 2,596     $ 2,246     $ 1,750  
    Loans 30 to 89 days delinquent   $ 3     $ 2     $ 1     $ 388     $ 340  
                                       
           Quarter      Quarter      Quarter      Quarter      Quarter
        Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended
        12/31/24   09/30/24   06/30/24   03/31/24   12/31/23
    (Recovery) recourse provision for loans sold   $     $ (3 )   $ (5 )   $     $ (2 )
    Provision for (recovery of) credit losses   $ 586     $ (697 )   $ (12 )   $ 124     $ (720 )
    Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)   $     $     $     $     $  
                                           
           As of          As of          As of          As of          As of  
        12/31/2024       09/30/2024       06/30/2024       03/31/2024       12/31/2023  
    REGULATORY CAPITAL RATIOS (BANK):                                           
    Tier 1 leverage ratio   9.81 %       9.63 %       10.02 %       9.70 %       9.48 %
    Common equity tier 1 capital ratio   18.60 %       18.36 %       19.29 %       18.77 %       18.20 %
    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio   18.60 %       18.36 %       19.29 %       18.77 %       18.20 %
    Total risk-based capital ratio   19.67 %       19.35 %       20.38 %       19.85 %       19.24 %
                                     
        As of December 31,  
           2024        2023  
           Balance        Rate(1)        Balance        Rate(1)  
    INVESTMENT SECURITIES:                                
    Held to maturity (at cost):                                
    U.S. SBA securities   $ 385       5.35 %   $ 630       5.85 %
    U.S. government sponsored enterprise MBS     114,817       1.59       137,205       1.50  
    U.S. government sponsored enterprise CMO     3,686       2.14       3,857       2.17  
    Total investment securities held to maturity   $ 118,888       1.62 %   $ 141,692       1.54 %
                                     
    Available for sale (at fair value):                                
    U.S. government agency MBS   $ 1,152       4.46 %   $ 1,314       3.47 %
    U.S. government sponsored enterprise MBS     518       6.90       584       5.61  
    Private issue CMO     80       6.09       98       4.67  
    Total investment securities available for sale   $ 1,750       5.26 %   $ 1,996       4.16 %
    Total investment securities   $ 120,638       1.67 %   $ 143,688       1.57 %

         (1)  Weighted-average yield earned on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.

     
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands)
                                 
        As of December 31,  
           2024        2023  
           Balance        Rate(1)        Balance        Rate(1)  
    LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT:                            
    Mortgage loans:                            
    Single-family (1 to 4 units)   $ 533,140       4.60 %   $ 521,944       4.32 %
    Multi-family (5 or more units)     433,724       5.48       458,502       5.00  
    Commercial real estate     77,984       6.72       88,640       6.20  
    Construction     1,480       11.00       2,534       8.88  
    Other     90       5.25       102       5.25  
    Commercial business loans     4,371       9.67       1,616       10.50  
    Consumer loans     59       17.75       68       18.50  
    Total loans held for investment     1,050,848       5.15 %     1,073,406       4.79 %
                                 
    Advance payments of escrows     321               106          
    Deferred loan costs, net     9,390               9,253          
    Allowance for credit losses on loans     (6,956 )             (7,000 )        
    Total loans held for investment, net   $ 1,053,603             $ 1,075,765          
    Purchased loans serviced by others included above   $ 1,749       5.72 %   $ 10,239       5.59 %

         (1)  Weighted-average yield earned on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.

                                     
        As of December 31,  
           2024        2023  
           Balance        Rate(1)        Balance        Rate(1)  
    DEPOSITS:                                
    Checking accounts – noninterest-bearing   $ 85,399       %   $ 94,030       %
    Checking accounts – interest-bearing     251,024       0.04       275,396       0.04  
    Savings accounts     232,917       0.20       256,578       0.14  
    Money market accounts     23,527       0.29       31,637       0.82  
    Time deposits     274,648       3.61       254,339       3.76  
    Total deposits(2)(3)   $ 867,515       1.22 %   $ 911,980       1.13 %
                                     
    Brokered CDs included in time deposits above   $ 143,775       4.56 %   $ 122,700       5.26 %
                                     
    BORROWINGS:                                
    Overnight   $ 15,000       4.66 %   $       %
    Three months or less     40,000       3.98       67,500       4.35  
    Over three to six months     22,500       4.17       32,500       5.00  
    Over six months to one year     59,000       5.05       40,000       5.21  
    Over one year to two years     94,000       4.46       67,500       4.14  
    Over two years to three years                 20,000       4.72  
    Over three years to four years     15,000       4.41              
    Over four years to five years                 15,000       4.41  
    Over five years                        
    Total borrowings(4)   $ 245,500       4.51 %   $ 242,500       4.55 %

         (1)  Weighted-average rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
         (2)  Includes uninsured deposits of approximately $134.7 million and $140.3 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
         (3)  The average balance of deposit accounts was approximately $35 thousand and $34 thousand at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
         (4)  The Bank had approximately $246.2 million and $266.5 million of remaining borrowing capacity at the FHLB – San Francisco, approximately $198.5 million and $183.0 million of borrowing capacity at the FRB of San Francisco and $50.0 million and $50.0 million of borrowing capacity with its correspondent bank at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

     
    PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
    Financial Highlights
    (Unaudited – Dollars in Thousands)
                                     
        For the Quarter Ended     For the Quarter Ended  
        December 31, 2024     December 31, 2023  
           Balance      Rate(1)        Balance        Rate(1)  
    SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS:                                
                                     
    Loans receivable, net   $ 1,046,797       4.99 %   $ 1,074,592       4.66 %
    Investment securities     123,826       1.52       147,166       1.42  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments     10,172       8.38       9,505       8.29  
    Interest-earning deposits     23,700       4.74       31,473       5.41  
    Total interest-earning assets   $ 1,204,495       4.66 %   $ 1,262,736       4.33 %
    Total assets   $ 1,234,768             $ 1,293,471          
                                     
    Deposits(2)   $ 863,106       1.23 %   $ 914,629       0.99 %
    Borrowings     226,707       4.53       230,546       4.51  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities(2)   $ 1,089,813       1.92 %   $ 1,145,175       1.69 %
    Total stockholders’ equity   $ 131,135             $ 130,614          

         (1)  Weighted-average yield earned or rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
         (2)  Includes the average balance of noninterest-bearing checking accounts of $86.2 million and $99.4 million during the quarters ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively; and the average balance of uninsured deposits (adjusted lower by collateralized deposits) of $130.2 million and $139.3 million in the quarters ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

                                     
        Six Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
           December 31, 2024        December 31, 2023  
           Balance      Rate(1)        Balance        Rate(1)  
    SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS:                                
                                     
    Loans receivable, net   $ 1,047,964       4.98 %   $ 1,073,600       4.60 %
    Investment securities     126,698       1.50       150,439       1.39  
    FHLB – San Francisco stock and other equity investments     10,146       8.34       9,505       7.91  
    Interest-earning deposits     25,015       5.06       32,758       5.36  
    Total interest-earning assets   $ 1,209,823       4.64 %   $ 1,266,302       4.27 %
    Total assets   $ 1,239,950             $ 1,296,811          
                                     
    Deposits(2)   $ 871,844       1.25 %   $ 927,406       0.89 %
    Borrowings     223,723       4.63       221,501       4.42  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities(2)   $ 1,095,567       1.94 %   $ 1,148,907       1.57 %
    Total stockholders’ equity   $ 131,317             $ 130,578          

         (1)  Weighted-average yield earned or rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
         (2)  Includes the average balance of noninterest-bearing checking accounts of $88.4 million and $102.8 million during the six months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively; and the average balance of uninsured deposits (adjusted lower by collateralized deposits) of $125.7 million and $139.1 million in the six months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

    ASSET QUALITY:

                                             
           As of      As of      As of      As of      As of
        12/31/24   09/30/24   06/30/24   03/31/24   12/31/23
    Loans on non-accrual status                                        
    Mortgage loans:                                        
    Single-family   $ 2,530     $ 2,106     $ 2,596     $ 2,246     $ 1,750  
    Total     2,530       2,106       2,596       2,246       1,750  
                                             
    Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:                              
    Total                              
                                             
    Total non-performing loans (1)     2,530       2,106       2,596       2,246       1,750  
                                             
    Real estate owned, net                              
    Total non-performing assets   $ 2,530     $ 2,106     $ 2,596     $ 2,246     $ 1,750  

         (1)  The non-performing loan balances are net of individually evaluated or collectively evaluated allowances, specifically attached to the individual loans.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: RecycLiCo Battery Materials Engages Carmot Strategic Group and Penney Capital for Grants and Cooperative Funding Consultation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SURREY, British Columbia, Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. (“RecycLiCo” or the “Company”), (TSX.V: AMY | OTCQB: AMYZF| FSE: ID4), a pioneer in the field of lithium-ion battery recycling technology, is pleased to announce that it has engaged Penney Capital and Carmot Strategic Group, Inc. to assist in the company’s efforts to identify, and qualify for, government funding opportunities that could be used to further RecycLiCo’s critical mineral recovery activities in the U.S. and Canada, including research to enhance and find new applications for its current intellectual property and know-how and the continued exploitation of its upcycling technology.

    Carmot Strategic and Penney Capital advisory companies have won multiple federal grants to develop domestic sources of Critical Minerals, from mining and processing to advanced materials manufacturing, as well as developing innovative financial instruments to integrate these materials into U.S. supply chains.

    “We are very pleased to have Carmot Strategic and Penney Capital working with us,” said Richard Sadowsky, RecycLiCo’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. “Critical mineral recovery and reuse are becoming increasingly important, especially in terms of national security. The RecycLiCo Board has mandated that we explore new ways to exploit our recovery expertise and, at the same time, continue to offer high-quality upcycling of battery materials. We hope, with Carmot and Penney’s assistance, to establish relationships with government agencies that will support increases in the pace of both R&D and deployment.”

    About RecycLiCo

    RecycLiCo Battery Materials Inc. is a battery materials company specializing in sustainable lithium-ion battery upcycling and materials production. RecycLiCo has developed advanced technologies that efficiently recover battery-grade materials from lithium-ion batteries, addressing the global demand for environmentally friendly solutions in energy storage. With minimal processing steps and up to 99% extraction of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. RecycLiCo’s hydrometallurgical process turns lithium-ion battery waste into battery-grade cathode precursor, lithium hydroxide, and lithium carbonate for direct integration into the re- manufacturing of new lithium-ion batteries.

    About Penney Capital

    Founded in 2017 by President & CEO Clark Penney, Penney Capital excels at navigating, connecting, and expanding new development opportunities and large-investment infrastructure projects.

    Prior to founding Penney Capital, Clark Penney began his career working on energy and defense committees with the U.S. Senate in Washington D.C. and with the president pro tempore. Later, he branched into the finance industry for over 10 years: co-founding Cypress Wealth Management, a private wealth management firm now with over $1 billion in assets under management and offices in Alaska and California, where he remains a partner.

    Today, Penney Capital’s resume includes leading economic development with The State of Alaska, new development projects worth over $2 billion, and other areas of expertise including resource development, financial technology firms, cryptocurrency, campaigns, wireless technology, and manufacturing.

    About Carmot Strategic Group

    Established in 2008 by Daniel McGroarty, Carmot Strategic Group, Inc. is an issues management firm focused on Critical Mineral development, based in the Washington, D.C. area.

    A recognized subject matter expert on Critical Minerals, Daniel McGroarty serves on the advisory boards of several companies developing U.S.-based Critical Mineral projects. He has testified on Critical Mineral issues before both U.S. Senate and House committees on energy and natural resources and served a term as Independent Advisory Board Member of the Critical Materials Institute, the Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation Hub. Prior to establishing his consulting practice, he served in senior positions in the U.S. Government, as special assistant at the White House and Presidential appointee at the Department of Defense.

    For more information, please contact:
    Teresa Piorun
    Senior Corporate Secretary
    Telephone: 778-574-4444
    Email: InvestorServices@RecycLiCo.com

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain “forward-looking statements”, which are statements about the future based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward–looking statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate or true. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Global: Deepseek: China’s gamechanging AI system has big implications for UK tech development

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Feng Li, Chair of Information Management, Associate Dean for Research & Innovation, Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London

    Koshiro K

    DeepSeek sent ripples through the global tech landscape this week as it soared above ChatGPT in Apple’s app store. The meteoric rise has shifted the dynamics of US-China tech competition, shocked global tech stock valuations, and reshaped the future direction of artificial intelligence (AI) development.

    Among the industry buzz created by DeepSeek’s rise to prominence, one question looms large: what does this mean for the strategy of the third leading global nation for AI development – the United Kingdom?

    The generative AI era was kickstarted by the release of ChatGPT on November 30 2022, when large language models (LLMs) entered mainstream consciousness and began reshaping industries and workflows, while everyday users explored new ways to write, brainstorm, search and code. We are now witnessing the “DeepSeek moment” – a pivotal shift that demonstrates the viability of a more efficient and cost-effective approach for AI development.

    DeepSeek isn’t just another AI tool. Unlike ChatGPT and other major LLMs developed by tech giants and AI startups in the USA and Europe, DeepSeek represents a significant evolution in the way AI models are developed and trained.

    Most existing approaches rely on large-scale computing power and datasets (used to “train” or improve the AI systems), limiting development to very few extremely wealthy market players. DeepSeek not only demonstrates a significantly cheaper and more efficient way of training AI models, its open-source “MIT” licence (after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where it was developed) allows users to deploy and develop the tool.

    This helps democratise AI, taking up the mantle from US company OpenAI – whose initial mission was “to build artificial general intelligence (AGI) that is safe and benefits all of humanity” – enabling smaller players to enter the space and innovate.

    By making cutting-edge AI development accessible and affordable to all, DeepSeek has reshaped the competitive landscape, allowing innovation to flourish beyond the confines of large, resource-rich organisations and countries.

    It has also set a new benchmark for efficiency in its approach, by training its model at a fraction of the cost, and matching – even surpassing – the performance of most existing LLMs. By employing innovative algorithms and architectures, it is delivering superior results with significantly lower computational demands and environmental impact.

    Why DeepSeek matters

    DeepSeek was conceived by a group of quantitative trading experts in China. This
    unconventional origin holds lessons for the UK and US.

    While the UK – particularly London – has long attracted scientific and technological excellence, many of the highest achieving young graduates have tended to disproportionately opt for careers in finance, something that has come the expense of innovation in other critical sectors such as AI. Diversifying the pathways for Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) professionals could yield transformative outcomes.

    The UK government’s recent and much-publicised 50-point action plan on AI offers glimpses of progressive intent, but also displayed a lack of boldness to drive real change. Incremental steps are not sufficient in such a fast-moving environment. The UK needs a new plan – one that leverages its unique strengths while addressing systemic weaknesses.

    Firstly, it’s important to recognise that the UK’s comparative advantage lies in its leading interdisciplinary expertise. World-class universities, thriving fintech and dynamic professional services and creative sectors offer fertile ground for AI applications that extend beyond traditional tech silos. The intersection of AI with finance, law, creative industries and medicine presents opportunities to lead in some niche but high-impact areas.

    The UK’s funding and regulatory frameworks are due an overhaul. DeepSeek’s development underscores the importance of agile, well-funded ecosystems that can support big, ambitious “moonshot” projects. Current UK funding mechanisms are bureaucratic and fragmented, favouring incremental innovations over radical breakthroughs, at times stifling innovation rather than nurturing it. Simplifying grant applications and offering targeted tax incentives for AI startups would represent a healthy start.

    Finally, it will be critical for the UK to keep its talent in the country. The UK’s AI sector faces a brain drain as top talent gravitates toward better-funded opportunities in the US and China. Initiatives such as public-private partnerships for AI research development can help anchor talent at home.

    DeepSeek’s rise is an excellent example of strategic foresight and execution. It doesn’t merely aim to improve existing models, but redefines the very boundaries of how AI could be developed and deployed – while demonstrating efficient, cost-effective approaches that can yield astounding results. The UK should adopt a similarly ambitious mindset, focusing on areas where it can set global standards rather than playing catch-up.

    AI’s geopolitics cannot be ignored either. As the US and China compete with one another, the UK has a critical role to play as the trusted intermediary and ethical leader in AI governance. By championing transparent AI standards and fostering international collaboration, the UK can punch above its weight on the global stage.

    DeepSeek’s success should serve as a wake-up call. Britain has the talent, institutions and entrepreneurial spirit to be a significant leading player in AI – but it must act decisively, and now.

    It is time to remove token gestures and embrace bold strategies that move the needle and position the UK as a leader in an AI-driven future. This moment calls for action, not just more conversation.

    DeepSeek has raised the bar. It is now up to the UK to meet it.

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

    ref. Deepseek: China’s gamechanging AI system has big implications for UK tech development – https://theconversation.com/deepseek-chinas-gamechanging-ai-system-has-big-implications-for-uk-tech-development-248387

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry City Council Unveils its Green Skills Roadmap

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry Council has launched its Green Skills Roadmap.

    The roadmap is a comprehensive guide designed to support educators, employers and investors in identifying, accessing, and embedding sustainable net-zero skills into their operations.

    It provides a clear Action Plan which Coventry will address in partnership with a range of public, private and third sector partners.

    Coventry is committed to building a robust green skills ecosystem, helping businesses transition to sustainable practices, and offering future generations the tools they need to succeed in green careers. This roadmap is a vital step towards achieving a sustainable, net-zero future for Coventry.

    With the government’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, green careers, defined as roles that directly contribute to reducing emissions or addressing climate change through mitigation or adaptation, are set to play a critical role in the UK’s future economy.

    Green skills encompass the technical knowledge and behaviours necessary to tackle environmental challenges, which are becoming essential across all industries to help businesses manage their environmental impact, promote sustainability and contribute to a greener economy. Green jobs include positions focused on environmental restoration, transitioning industries to sustainable practices, and adapting business models to reduce.

    Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: “Coventry is at the forefront of the transition to green employment and investment, seamlessly integrating sustainability skills into education while fostering a green workforce through reskilling and technological innovation. 

    “The Green Skills Roadmap provides valuable guidance to educators and businesses, inspiring a new generation to pursue green careers and equipping them with the skills necessary to build a more sustainable future. 

    “Driving growth in green employment requires a united effort from public agencies, businesses, and investors. This roadmap will not only attract green industry investment to the region but also establish a strong green skills ecosystem, creating meaningful job opportunities and paving the way for future developments in the city.”

    The Green Skills Roadmap includes detailed Actions on the below:

    • Details On Improving Green Skills in Education: supporting teacher and careers advisors to aid student in finding green jobs, diversifying green skill pipeline subjects and partnering with adult education services to promote sustainability awareness programmes.
    • Implementation of Green Skills for Businesses: equipping business support advisors with green skills knowledge and collaborating with employers to align with green Apprenticeship Standards.
    • A Just Transition: for fossil fuel-dependent trades to reskill workforces with green skills, offering work experience and training programs.
    • Future Skills and skills for Investment: skills funding to support Greenpower park and electric vehicle development, encourage green skill training and apprenticeships and ensure the skills adapt to Coventry’s ‘Energy Plan’.

    The Green Skills Roadmap has been developed in partnership with key contributions and support from: Business in Community (BiTC), Coventry College, Coventry University, CW Chamber of Commerce, Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), E.ON, The University of Warwick, Warwick manufacturing group (WMG) and others.

    Access the full Green Skills Roadmap.

    To keep up to date with the latest news, sign up for our Your Coventry email newsletter or follow the Council on FacebookX (formerly Twitter), YouTubeInstagramLinkedIn and TikTok.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the award ceremony of the Russian Government Prize in Tourism for 2024, which is being held as part of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”. The list of winners was approved by order of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024

    The winners of the award were the authors of 10 successful projects that contributed to the development of the Russian hospitality industry. Among them are initiatives to create new tourist facilities, innovative digital solutions, training programs, popularization of event tourism, as well as the development of tourism products accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

    The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the laureates for their significant contribution to the tourism and hospitality industry. According to him, this award recognizes the best industry practices and a highly professional approach to work. The laureates’ projects are not only effective from a business perspective, they change people’s lives for the better.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has named the development of domestic tourism as one of his priorities. According to his instructions, the tourism industry’s share in GDP should increase to 5% by 2030, and the number of annual trips around the country should grow to 140 million.

    “We see that more and more of our citizens are traveling around Russia, discovering its beauty, exploring new destinations and routes. By the end of 2024, Russians had made more than 92 million domestic trips – this is good growth. It is important that the laureates’ projects are aimed at creating hotel rooms for families with children in holiday destinations, as instructed by President Vladimir Putin, as well as a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities. We will continue to provide comfortable and accessible conditions for tourists. We will build hotels, seaside and ski resorts, amusement parks and other infrastructure. This will not only develop domestic tourism, but also increase the number of foreign guests,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.

    He added that by decree of the head of state, 2025 has been declared the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland. It is important to build tourist routes to places of (military) glory of the Great Patriotic War in order to preserve the memory of the heroes and their exploits.

    “Russian tourism is developing rapidly today. We see a growing interest in traveling around the country every year, both from Russians and our foreign guests. The hospitality industry has seen a large increase in investment in recent years, both private and public. But in addition to financial resources, tourism now needs new ideas that will allow it to create world-class tourism products and services. Therefore, the federal tourism award every year encourages authors of interesting projects that offer unconventional approaches to the development of the industry,” said Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov.

    The award winners were also congratulated by Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council Inna Svyatenko and Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Tourism and Development of Tourism Infrastructure Sangadzhi Tarbaev.

    The winners receive a cash prize 1 million rubles. In 2024, 88 projects were submitted for consideration by the award council.

    Applications are currently being accepted for the 2025 Government Tourism Prize. Projects nominated for the prize must have been implemented in practice at least one year before the start of the application process. Works will be accepted until March 1, 2025. More details are inannouncement of the start of the collection of applications for the Russian Government Awards in the field of tourism in 2025.

    Projects that received the Russian Government Prize in 2024

    1. The Attraction project is a complex development in Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk Region, with social, sports and cultural facilities. The project area is a venue for mass festivals. From 2019 to 2024, the volume of investments in the project exceeded 15 billion rubles. (Awardee – R.V. Novitsky)

    2. The project “Ecopark “Yasnopole”. Living Village” is an association of several farms on a territory of 500 hectares in the Yasnogorsk district of the Tula region, which are engaged in agricultural and agrotourism activities, creating all the conditions for the development of surrounding villages and settlements. The ecopark uses energy-efficient technologies in construction and alternative energy sources, as well as advanced eco-technologies in agriculture – organic farming, a nursery of soil-forming microorganisms and others. The ecopark is visited by more than 20 thousand people per year. (Awardee – D.A. Cherepkov)

    3. The Green Path of the Krasnaya Polyana Resort Project, during which 29 events were held with the participation of over 2.5 thousand people. Within the framework of the project, several popular science books were published, the accessibility of the Krasnaya Polyana resort territory for people with limited mobility was increased, and projects to support children’s adaptive sports and physical education were implemented. Seven of the nine hotels of the resort passed independent environmental certification. (Awardees – L.M. Shagarov, A.A. Molochkova)

    4. TV channel “My Planet”, which has been covering the sphere of Russian tourism for 15 years. The TV channel ranks third in the rating of cited popular science TV channels. The audience of the TV channel is 55 million viewers per year. (Awardees – G.V.Kovbasyuk, N.A.Kuznetsova, A.B.Pankratov)

    5. The Hospitality Classes project in Crimea is aimed at creating conditions for successful socialization and professional self-determination of teenagers. The project program consists of nine modules, each of which is dedicated to a separate area in the hospitality industry and professions in this area. (Awardees – N.A. Vistunova, D.S. Kolesnikova, A.S. Petrova, E.V. Ponomareva)

    6. The project “System for the Development of Domestic and Inbound Tourism Based on the Synergy of the Tourism Business and the Government” – includes analytical and expert work on studying the preferences of Russians in recreation, assessment and analysis of the tourism potential of the regions, a set of training events for the regional tourism business. Based on this data, a tourism product is formed, a strategy for its promotion and implementation is developed. (Awardees – S.I. Gonetskaya, O.N. Ivanova, A.L. Malinina, G.Sh. Musalova, A.E. Fokeeva)

    7. The project of the active recreation park “Malskaya Dolina” is a modern complex for active recreation with developed infrastructure. It is located in the village of Rogovo in the Pskov region, a historical place on the territory of the Izborsko-Malskaya Valley – a natural monument of regional significance. The territory of the park is 194 hectares. (Awardee – V.A. Seliverstov)

    8. “Glamping Ecosystem “Green Trail”” is one of the first glampings in Russia, which contributed to the development of the corresponding recreation format. On its territory there are tents and guest houses, as well as a clearing for accommodating tent tourists and caravanners. Every year the hotel receives about 7 thousand people. (Awardee – I.I. Mamai)

    9. The project “Inclusive tourism as a comprehensive system of habilitation and rehabilitation of children with autism spectrum disorders”, during the existence of which more than 200 children with disabilities took part in trips. (Awardee – A.V. Senik)

    10. Research project “Rating of the event potential of Russian regions” is the first analytical tool for assessing the level of development of infrastructure for event and business tourism in the regions. Since 2014, the rating has annually assessed the potential of Russian regions in the sphere of organizing events on their territory that contribute to the development of business and event tourism, the growth of the investment attractiveness of the region, as well as support for the socio-economic and cultural life of the region. (Awardee – D.A. Ostrovskaya)

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hear the experts give the real facts on California water

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jan 27, 2025

    LOS ANGELES — Scientists, water managers, state leaders, and experts throughout the state are calling out the federal administration’s ongoing misinformation campaign on water management in California. Here is a snapshot of what water leaders and media are saying in California and nationally:

    State water officials and water districts weigh in 

    Association of California Water Agencies: “Water supply has not hindered firefighting efforts. Reservoirs in California are at or above average storage levels for this time of year, thanks in part to years of proactive water management.” 

    Deven Upadhyay, Metropolitan Water District: “The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has enough water in storage to meet roughly three years of water demand. We can deliver what our agencies need.”

    Marty Adams, former general manager and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power or DWP: “ There’s way more water in local storage than you could ever fight a fire with.”

    Jennifer Pierre, general manager, State Water Contractors: “The policies currently in place overseeing the movement of California water maximize supply in compliance with the law and based on best available science.”

    Leading state researchers and university professors 

    Tom Holyke, Fresno State University political science and water policy professor: “There is no ‘valve…’”

    Letitia Grenier, director of the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center: “The transfer of water from Northern California to Southern California is not related to water availability to fight the fires in the Los Angeles area. Currently, reservoirs in the Los Angeles area are mostly full.”

    Stephanie Pincetl, director of the California Center for Sustainable Communications at UCLA: “We’re finger pointing away from the problem.  We have really no lack of water. What we have is an infrastructure that is not made to fight cataclysmic fires, biblical-size fires.” 

     Community voices push back on misinformation

     Peter Gleick, hydro-climatologist and co-founder of the Pacific Institute: “[Trump’s order on California water policy] is what you get when you mix bluster, ignorance, and disinformation. There are no ‘enormous amounts of water’ that can be redirected legally, economically, or environmentally to different users in California ….” 

    John Buse, general counsel for the Center for Biological Diversity: “It’s difficult to explain what he’s talking about because nobody knows what he’s talking about. The idea of a valve and water will just flow is preposterous.”

    Mark Gold, water scarcity director for the Natural Resources Defense Council and a board member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: “Tying Bay-Delta management into devastating wildfires that have cost people’s lives and homes is nothing short of irresponsible, and it’s happening at a time when the Metropolitan Water District has the most water stored in its system in the history of the agency. It’s not a matter of having enough water coming from Northern California to put out a fire….”

    “Los Angeles has access to more than enough water to fight the fires. I can say with great authority, we have as much water stored as any time in the history of our agency.”

    LA Water Keeper: “There is no need to increase water deliveries from the Bay-Delta or any other source from which LA imports water for the region to be able to fight the current fires.”   

    Miles Johnson, Columbia Riverkeeper: “That idea [of a valve] is completely far-fetched and detached from reality.”   

    Jason Wise @jasonjourneyman, water and environment influencer: “LA has plenty of water, reservoirs are near full because of the last two years of heavy rain. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to score political points off a tragedy.”

    State and national elected leaders defend California water, rebuke false claims

    Senator Alex Padilla: “Trump is fixated on false claims about California’s water supply. And he’s using it to withhold disaster aid from wildfire victims…Let’s get one easy thing out of the way. There’s no ‘valve’ that needs to be turned.”

    California State Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan: “I hope while Trump is in California he takes us to the giant faucet that he says releases all the water. I chair the state Natural Resource Committee and I’d love to see it. It’s got to be huge. We could turn it on together.”

    Fact checks in the media

    ✅ POLITIFACT: “Experts said that statewide, there are no major reservoirs that have been dry for more than 15 years, and most of California’s reservoirs are above their historic average storage.”

    New York Times: In California Fires, Trump Blames Newsom for Withholding Water. Experts Say He’s Wrong

    ✅ Wall Street Journal: The LA Fires have sparked waves of criticism and misinformation. Here’s what really happened with the fire hydrants and California’s water system.

    ✅ Washington Post: Trump says a ‘valve’ can fix California’s water. It’s not that easy 

    ✅ Los Angeles Times: Trump wants to alter California water policy. Experts say it could do harm

    ✅ The Guardian: ‘Chaos agent’ Trump revives California water wars as experts warn of turmoil

    ✅ Calmatters: Fact check: Donald Trump’s claims about LA fires and water

    ✅ USA Today: Of fish and men: Trump’s California water order takes aim at Newsom and troubled smelt

    ✅ Capital Public Radio: Conspiracies are rife about water and the LA fires. Here’s what experts say

    ✅ KQED: Trump again wades into California water use fight, drawing skepticism from experts

    ✅ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Fact check: Trump’s blame claims about wildfire response

    Associated Press: Trump targets California water policy as he prepares to tour LA fire damage

    Get the facts 

    FACT: California pumps as much water now as it could under prior Trump-era policies.   

    FACT: Water reservoirs in Southern California are at record levels. There is no shortage of water in Southern California.

    FACT: Most of Southern California’s water does not come from Northern California. In fact, Southern California gets roughly a third of its water from Northern California, a third from the Colorado River, and a third from local sources.

    FACT: State water operations have nothing to do with the local fire response in Los Angeles. The federal administration’s statements have been repeatedly fact-checked and debunked

    FACT: There is no spigot to magically make water appear at a wildfire, despite the administration’s false claims. 

    Recent news

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Bret Ladine, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of the Financial Information System for California (FI$Cal). Ladine has been General Counsel at the California State…

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom welcomed President Trump to Los Angeles and pledged to work together to support survivors and secure federal assistance.  LOS ANGELES – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom met with President Trump on the tarmac at Los Angeles…

    News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom today met with firefighters who have been on the frontlines battling ongoing flames from the initial Los Angeles firestorm. Los Angeles, California – Taking a moment to reflect on the profound response effort to…

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: DCCA NEWS RELEASE: SAFETY AROUND ELECTRIC UTILITY POLES AND POWER LINES

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DCCA NEWS RELEASE: SAFETY AROUND ELECTRIC UTILITY POLES AND POWER LINES

    Posted on Jan 27, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

    KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA

    DIVISION OF CONSUMER ADVOCACY

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    NADINE Y. ANDO

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

    MICHAEL ANGELO

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    SAFETY AROUND ELECTRIC UTILITY POLES AND POWER LINES

    Public Urged to Report Safety Hazards Around Electric Utility Poles and Power Lines

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    January 27, 2025

    HONOLULU — The state of Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Division of Consumer Advocacy (DCA), urges residents take appropriate action in case of emergencies involving downed power lines or sparking near electric utility poles. Residents are also encouraged to report non-emergency concerns, such as vegetation overgrowth near power lines, which can pose safety hazards.

    Residents should call 911 immediately if they observe downed power lines or sparking near a utility pole. The electric utility will then be notified by 911 dispatchers and a troubleshooter will be dispatched.

    For non-emergency concerns, such as vegetation overgrowth on power lines or damage, residents should contact their local electric utility directly.

    Emergency Concerns:

    • Downed Power Lines or Sparking Near a Utility Pole: If you witness downed power lines or sparking, call 911 immediately. Never touch a downed power line or attempt to move it, and always assume it is energized. Once 911 is called, dispatchers will notify the electric utility, and a troubleshooter will be sent. For after-hours emergencies, always contact 911 first, then report it to your electric utility’s trouble line.

    Emergency Contact Information:

    • Hawaiian Electric
      • O‘ahu: 1-855-304-1212
      • Maui: 808-871-7777
      • Moloka‘i, Lānaʻi: 1-877-871-8461
      • Hawai‘i Island: 808-969-6666
    • KIUC
      • Kaua‘i: 808-246-4300

    Non-Emergency Safety Concerns:

    • Vegetation Concerns or Equipment Issues Near/On Electric Utility Poles or Power Lines: If you see overgrown vegetation near power lines or have safety concerns related to electric utility equipment on utility poles (power lines, transformers, etc.), please report them to the relevant electric utility company. This document can assist with identifying electric utility equipment.
    • Contacting Electric Utility Providers: Once the electric utility company has been notified, a troubleshooter will assess the risk and, if necessary, remove the potential hazard. Response times vary based on the amount of volume being managed at that time.

    Non-Emergency Contact Information:

    • Hawaiian Electric
      • For vegetation concerns or questions regarding tree trimming and inspection, please contact:
    • KIUC
      • Members are encouraged to take photos and email a report to [email protected] with as much information on the location of the problem as possible. You can also send a message through Facebook Messenger with photos and location information. Reports can be made by phone to 808-246-4300, but specific information on the location and a description of the problem will be necessary.

    Safety Reminders:

    • Never touch a downed power line or attempt to move it.
    • Always assume a downed line is energized.
    • Never plant vegetation below or close to power lines.
    • Keep vegetation trimmed away from your home to prevent contact with power lines.
    • If you see sparking or smoke near a utility pole, call 911 and report it immediately to your local electric utility company.

     

    The Division of Consumer Advocacy is a state agency that plays a vital role in safeguarding the interests of consumers of regulated public utility services. Representing a broad spectrum of customers across various utility and transportation sectors, DCA advocates before the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission. DCA comprises a diverse team of professionals committed to ensuring the safe, reliable, and equitable delivery of utility services at affordable rates, while aligning with the state’s policy objectives.

    ###

    Media Contact:

    Communications Office

    Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

    Phone: 808-586-2760

    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor — News Release — Governor Green to Travel to Washington, D.C.

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Office of the Governor — News Release — Governor Green to Travel to Washington, D.C.

    Posted on Jan 27, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI 
    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI 

     
    JOSH GREEN, M.D. 
    GOVERNOR
    KE KIAʻĀINA 

     

    GOVERNOR GREEN TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    January 27, 2025

    HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green, M.D., will travel to Washington, D.C., this week at the request of U.S. Senators and national health organizations to provide input regarding the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

    Governor Green has expressed concerns about the potential impact of Kennedy’s confirmation on Hawai‘i and the nation, emphasizing the importance of a science-driven approach to public health.

    “Our people deserve a Health and Human Services Secretary who champions science, supports vaccines, and is committed to lowering costs while safeguarding health care access,” said Governor Green. “Mr. Kennedy’s lack of experience raises serious concerns about the future of critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which are lifelines for the people of Hawai‘i.”

    Drawing on his extensive background as an emergency room physician, longtime Legislator, Lieutenant Governor and Governor, Dr. Green will highlight the potential risks of this nomination, which has drawn criticism from leading public health experts. In 2019 as Hawai‘i’s Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Green played a pivotal role in addressing a severe measles epidemic in Samoa. His hands-on efforts, including vaccinating tens of thousands of individuals, demonstrated the lifesaving importance of science-based public health initiatives.

    The Governor will depart Hawai‘i on Monday evening, January 27, 2025, and return on Thursday afternoon, January 30, 2025. During his absence, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke will serve as Acting Governor.

    # # # 

    Media Contacts:   
    Erika Engle
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
    Phone: 808-586-0120
    Email: [email protected]

    Makana McClellan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
    Cell: 808-265-0083
    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: DRC: warring parties must prioritise civilian protection and humanitarian access amid ‘devastating violence’ in Goma

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s regional and international partners must put pressure on all parties to the conflict in the east of the country — including the Rwandan-backed M23 fighters, the Rwandan and Congolese armies, and their allies — to prioritise the protection of civilians in the aftermath of the recent fighting in Goma, Amnesty International said today.

    Responding to the escalation of violence in the region, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said: 

    “Thousands of Congolese civilians are once again fleeing for their lives, in desperate need of safety and humanitarian aid.

    “Civilians face a grave risk of human rights violations amid this latest escalation. Over the past year, both sides have ramped up their use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas, with devastating consequences for civilians.

    “The M23, backed by Rwanda, must comply with international humanitarian law. They must ensure the safety of civilians, including human rights defenders and journalists, and those critical of Rwanda and the M23.

    “Amnesty International calls on all parties to the conflict to prioritise the protection of civilians amid this devastating violence.  With thousands in and around Goma seeking shelter, food, water, sanitation and healthcare, the parties to the conflict must allow the passage of safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to all those in need.”

    Devastating violence

    On Monday (27 January), the M23 declared that it had seized control of Goma, the DRC’s third-largest city and home to nearly two million people. This development occurred despite the UN Secretary General’s call for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from the DRC and cease its support for the M23 fighters. Reports from the city described ongoing gunfire and explosions, alongside unverified reports on social media and by journalists of looting, indiscriminate shooting, and shelling in the city. The DRC government has not officially acknowledged losing control of Goma.

    Humanitarian organisations, including Medecins Sans Frontieres, report that over 400,000 people were displaced in January due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Many sought refuge in and around Goma, a city that was already sheltering over 600,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs).

    Reports from Rwandan media indicated that Rwanda has received several civilians seeking refuge, while others fled Goma to Bukavu, provincial capital of South Kivu, via Lake Kivu. Following the capture of Goma, the M23 ordered the suspension of all activities on the lake, which could hinder the movement of people fleeing the fighting in Goma. Certain areas of the city are without access to water and electricity, as the conflict has damaged critical infrastructure.

    Military operation

    On 18 January, the M23, backed by Rwandan forces, launched a military operation to expand its territory, violating a ceasefire agreement between Rwanda and the DRC established through the Luanda Peace Process. On 21 January, the M23 claimed to have captured several cities, including the strategically important supply city of Minova in South Kivu province, located about 20 kilometres from Goma across Lake Kivu.

    On 24 January, heavy fighting was reported near Sake, more than 20 kilometres north-west of Goma, where the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC), supported by the Southern African Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIRDRC), UN forces (MONUSCO), and a coalition of militia groups, were seeking to halt the M23’s advance toward Goma. The same day, a spokesperson for the M23, as well as Rwandan media, said the military governor of North Kivu, General Peter Cirimwami, was shot while visiting troops on the frontlines near Sake. His death was later confirmed by Congolese officials.

    According to a statement issued on 25 January by the South African National Defence Force, nine South African soldiers deployed under SAMIRDRC and UN forces were killed in the fighting. Malawi authorities also reported the deaths of three of their soldiers serving in the SAMIRDRC.

     

    The UN Security Council met on 26 January to assess the situation in North-Kivu. The next day, M23 rebels said they had taken control of Goma. In its statement, the Security Council condemned M23’s advances in North-Kivu and called on the armed group to stop its offensive as it gave rise to a major humanitarian crisis and called for the protection of civilians. The Security Council also called for the withdrawal of the external forces from DRC and re-affirmed the sovereignty of the DRC. The Security Council’s decisions should be respected and implemented by all parties.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Global: DeepSeek: how a small Chinese AI company is shaking up US tech heavyweights

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Tongliang Liu, Associate Professor of Machine Learning and Director of the Sydney AI Centre, University of Sydney

    Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepSeek has sent shockwaves through the tech community, with the release of extremely efficient AI models that can compete with cutting-edge products from US companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

    Founded in 2023, DeepSeek has achieved its results with a fraction of the cash and computing power of its competitors.

    DeepSeek’s “reasoning” R1 model, released last week, provoked excitement among researchers, shock among investors, and responses from AI heavyweights. The company followed up on January 28 with a model that can work with images as well as text.

    So what has DeepSeek done, and how did it do it?

    What DeepSeek did

    In December, DeepSeek released its V3 model. This is a very powerful “standard” large language model that performs at a similar level to OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Anthropic’s Claude 3.5.

    While these models are prone to errors and sometimes make up their own facts, they can carry out tasks such as answering questions, writing essays and generating computer code. On some tests of problem-solving and mathematical reasoning, they score better than the average human.

    V3 was trained at a reported cost of about US$5.58 million. This is dramatically cheaper than GPT-4, for example, which cost more than US$100 million to develop.

    DeepSeek also claims to have trained V3 using around 2,000 specialised computer chips, specifically H800 GPUs made by NVIDIA. This is again much fewer than other companies, which may have used up to 16,000 of the more powerful H100 chips.

    On January 20, DeepSeek released another model, called R1. This is a so-called “reasoning” model, which tries to work through complex problems step by step. These models seem to be better at many tasks that require context and have multiple interrelated parts, such as reading comprehension and strategic planning.

    The R1 model is a tweaked version of V3, modified with a technique called reinforcement learning. R1 appears to work at a similar level to OpenAI’s o1, released last year.

    DeepSeek also used the same technique to make “reasoning” versions of small open-source models that can run on home computers.

    This release has sparked a huge surge of interest in DeepSeek, driving up the popularity of its V3-powered chatbot app and triggering a massive price crash in tech stocks as investors re-evaluate the AI industry. At the time of writing, chipmaker NVIDIA has lost around US$600 billion in value.

    How DeepSeek did it

    DeepSeek’s breakthroughs have been in achieving greater efficiency: getting good results with fewer resources. In particular, DeepSeek’s developers have pioneered two techniques that may be adopted by AI researchers more broadly.

    The first has to do with a mathematical idea called “sparsity”. AI models have a lot of parameters that determine their responses to inputs (V3 has around 671 billion), but only a small fraction of these parameters is used for any given input.

    However, predicting which parameters will be needed isn’t easy. DeepSeek used a new technique to do this, and then trained only those parameters. As a result, its models needed far less training than a conventional approach.

    The other trick has to do with how V3 stores information in computer memory. DeepSeek has found a clever way to compress the relevant data, so it is easier to store and access quickly.

    What it means

    DeepSeek’s models and techniques have been released under the free MIT License, which means anyone can download and modify them.

    While this may be bad news for some AI companies – whose profits might be eroded by the existence of freely available, powerful models – it is great news for the broader AI research community.

    At present, a lot of AI research requires access to enormous amounts of computing resources. Researchers like myself who are based at universities (or anywhere except large tech companies) have had limited ability to carry out tests and experiments.

    More efficient models and techniques change the situation. Experimentation and development may now be significantly easier for us.

    For consumers, access to AI may also become cheaper. More AI models may be run on users’ own devices, such as laptops or phones, rather than running “in the cloud” for a subscription fee.

    For researchers who already have a lot of resources, more efficiency may have less of an effect. It is unclear whether DeepSeek’s approach will help to make models with better performance overall, or simply models that are more efficient.

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

    ref. DeepSeek: how a small Chinese AI company is shaking up US tech heavyweights – https://theconversation.com/deepseek-how-a-small-chinese-ai-company-is-shaking-up-us-tech-heavyweights-248434

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Video: Victims of the Holocaust, Sudan & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    – Victims of the Holocaust
    – Sudan
    – US Foreign Assistance
    – Deputy Secretary-General
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Lebanon
    – Syria
    – Secretary-General/Democratic Republic of Congo
    – Democratic Republic of Congo/Humanitarian
    – Senior Personnel Appintment
    – Briefings Tomorrow
    – Honour Roll

    VICTIMS OF HOLOCAUST
    This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly on the Observance of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.
    The Secretary-General said the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas offers hope, as well as much needed relief. He added that the United Nations will do its utmost to ensure it leads to the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
    The Secretary-General also said that today we mourn the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, as they sought to destroy an entire people.
    We grieve the Roma and Sinti also targeted for genocide, the people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people, and all those enslaved, persecuted, tortured, and killed.
    And we renew our resolve never to forget the atrocities that so “outraged the conscience” of humankind.
    The Secretary-General also underscored that remembrance is not only a moral act. Remembrance is a call to action. He added that it is our duty to speak up against hate, to stand up for the human rights for all, and to make all those rights a reality.

    SUDAN
    In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the attack that hit the Saudi Teaching Hospital in El Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur state on 24 January, in which at least 70 patients and their relatives were reportedly killed, with dozens more wounded.
    This appalling attack which affected the only functioning hospital in Darfur’s largest city comes after more than 21 months of war have left much of Sudan’s health care system in tatters.
    The Secretary-General reiterated that, under international humanitarian law, the wounded and the sick, as well as medical personnel and medical facilities, must be respected and protected at all times. He further recalled that perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable, and that the deliberate targeting of health care facilities may constitute a war crime.
    The Secretary-General renewed his appeal to the parties to immediately cease the fighting and take steps towards the lasting peace that the people of Sudan demand.
    And on Friday night, another statement was issued on the recent escalation of fighting in Sudan, in particular around the al-Jili oil refinery north of Khartoum, as well as in El Fasher.
    The Secretary-General renewed his call for urgent and genuine dialogue between the parties to the conflict, reiterating that a sustainable resolution to the conflict can only be achieved through an inclusive political process. He added that his Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, continues to engage the parties and all relevant stakeholders to de-escalate the conflict and promote a Sudanese-led inclusive dialogue that will bring a sustained end to the war.

    US FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
    In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General noted with concern the announcement of a pause in U.S. foreign assistance. He called for additional exemptions to be considered to ensure the continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities for the most vulnerable communities around the world, whose lives and livelihoods depend on this support.
    The Secretary-General said that he looks forward to engaging with the new United States administration on the provision of much needed development support to people grappling with the most difficult challenges confronting the developing world. The United States is one of the largest aid providers and it is vital that we work constructively to jointly shape a strategic path forward.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=27%20January%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGdTq2LU_To

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Take survey and help improve your adult social care services

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    NHS England sends the survey to a random selection of people who receive care and support services either in their own home or residential home, or in the local community. Their feedback, whether it is positive or negative, will be used to help improve adult social care services.

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: “Our recent budget consultation found that adult social care services are the top priority for the people of Wolverhampton, and we are determined to ensure that they are the best they can possibly be.

    “It’s really important we capture the views of people who use our services and so we want your feedback – whether you are pleased, or whether you think there are things that could be done differently. So, if you receive the national Adult Social Care User Survey, please take a few moments to fill it in – your views really matter.”

    The survey asks questions about people’s quality of life and the impact that the services they use have on this, and all responses are confidential. Those randomly selected for the survey will be sent a questionnaire by post, including a freepost return envelope.

    The anonymised results will be used by the council, the Care Quality Commission, the Department of Health and Social Care and by NHS Digital to better understand the impact of the adult social care services and help identify what areas need improving or developing.

    Anyone who does not receive the national 2024 to 2025 Adult Social Care User Survey but wishes to share their views on adult social care services provided by the City of Wolverhampton Council is invited to do so at Adult Social Care compliments, suggestions and complaints.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates the ‘Utkarsh Odisha’ – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 in Bhubaneswar

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates the ‘Utkarsh Odisha’ – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 in Bhubaneswar

    The programme showcases the state’s immense potential as a thriving hub for investment and business opportunities: PM

    Eastern India is a growth engine in the development of the country, Odisha plays a key role in this: PM

    Today, India is moving on a path of development driven by the aspirations of crores of people: PM

    Odisha is truly Outstanding, Odisha symbolises the Optimism and Originality of New India, Odisha is a land of Opportunities, and the people here have always shown a passion to Outperform: PM

    India is focusing on green future and green tech: PM

    For 21st century India, this era is all about connected infrastructure and multi-modal connectivity: PM

    Odisha holds immense potential for tourism: PM

    With a vast pool of young talent and a massive audience for concerts, India has great possibilities for a thriving concert economy: PM

    Posted On: 28 JAN 2025 1:33PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 and  Make in Odisha Exhibition in Bhubaneswar, Odisha today. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said this was his second visit to Odisha in the month of January 2025, recalling his visit to inaugurate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2025 event. Noting that this was the biggest business Summit in Odisha till date, Shri Modi said that there were around 5-6 times more investors participating in Make in Odisha Conclave 2025. He also congratulated the people and the Government of Odisha for organising the grand event.

    “Eastern India is a growth engine in the development of the country and Odisha plays a key role in this”, exclaimed the Prime Minister. He added that historic data also reveals that the contributions of Eastern India were remarkable when India played a major role in global growth. Shri Modi noted that there were huge industrial hubs, ports, trade hubs in Eastern India and Odisha’s participation in this was remarkable. “Odisha used to be an important center in South Eastern Asian trade and the ports were a gateway to India”, said the Prime Minister. He added that Bali Yatra is celebrated even today in Odisha. Recalling the recent visit of the President of Indonesia to India, the Prime Minister said that the President’s words that there were probably traces of Odisha in his DNA.  

    The Prime Minister remarked that Odisha celebrates a legacy which connects it with South East Asia. He added that Odisha had now begun to revive the glorious heritage in the 21st century. He noted that the President of Singapore recently visited Odisha and Singapore was very enthusiastic about its relationship with Odisha. He highlighted that ASEAN countries have also shown interest in strengthening trade and traditional connections with Odisha. The Prime Minister emphasized that numerous opportunities were opening up in this region, more than ever before since independence. He called upon all the investors present, stating that now is the right time to invest in Odisha’s development journey and assured that their investment would lead to new heights of success.

    “India is on a path of development driven by the aspirations of crores of people”, remarked Shri Modi and emphasized that AI stands for both Artificial Intelligence and Aspiration of India, which is the country’s strength. He said that aspirations grow when people’s needs are met, and the past decade has empowered crores of citizens, benefiting the nation. The Prime Minister highlighted that Odisha represents this aspiration. He described Odisha as outstanding, symbolizing the optimism and originality of New India. He added that Odisha had numerous opportunities, and its people have always shown a passion for outperforming. Sharing his personal experience of witnessing the skills, hard work, and honesty of people from Odisha in Gujarat, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that with new opportunities emerging in Odisha, the state will soon reach unprecedented heights of development. He praised Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Manjhi and his team for their efforts in accelerating Odisha’s development. The Prime Minister noted that Odisha is becoming one of India’s leading states in various industries, including food processing, petrochemicals, port-led development, fisheries, IT, edutech, textiles, tourism, mining, and green energy.

    Underscoring that India was rapidly progressing towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, the Prime Minister said that the milestone of a five trillion-dollar economy was not far away. He added that over the past decade, India’s strength in manufacturing had also become evident. The Prime Minister highlighted that the expansion of India’s economy rests on two major pillars: the innovative service sector and quality products. He emphasized that the country’s rapid progress cannot rely solely on the export of raw materials and therefore, the entire ecosystem was being transformed with a new vision. The Prime Minister mentioned that India was changing the trend of extracting minerals and sending them abroad for product manufacturing and value addition, only to have those products return to India. Similarly, he added that the trend of exporting seafood for processing in other countries was also being changed. Shri Modi stated that the Government was working to ensure that industries related to the resources in Odisha are established within the state. He highlighted that Utkarsh Odisha Conclave 2025 was a means to realize this vision.

    Remarking that the world was increasingly focusing on sustainable lifestyles and moving towards a green future, Shri Modi noted that the potential for green jobs is also growing significantly. He emphasized the need to adapt to the demands and requirements of the times. He highlighted that India was focusing on green technology and a green future, including solar, wind, hydro, and green hydrogen, which will power the energy security of a developed India. The Prime Minister mentioned that Odisha had immense potential in this regard and stated that the country had launched national-level Green Hydrogen and Solar Power Missions. Shri Modi noted that significant policy decisions were being made to promote renewable energy industries in Odisha, and several steps were being taken for hydrogen energy production.

    Prime Minister remarked that alongside green energy, initiatives were being taken to expand the petro and petrochemical sector in Odisha. He highlighted that dedicated industrial parks and investment regions were being developed in Paradip and Gopalpur, indicating significant investment potential in this sector. Shri Modi congratulated the Odisha government for making swift decisions and developing a new ecosystem, considering the potential of different regions in the state.

    “21st century is an era of connected infrastructure and multi-modal connectivity for India”, said Shri Modi and highlighted that the scale and speed at which specialized infrastructure was being developed in India was making the country an excellent investment destination. He noted that dedicated freight corridors were connecting the east and west coastlines, providing faster access to the sea for previously land-locked regions. He mentioned that dozens of industrial cities with plug-and-play facilities were being constructed across the country. Shri Modi emphasized that similar opportunities were being enhanced in Odisha and thousands of crores worth of projects related to railway and highway networks are underway in the state. He added that to reduce logistics costs for industries in Odisha, the Government was connecting ports with industrial clusters and mentioned that both the expansion of existing ports and the construction of new ports are taking place. He stressed that Odisha was set to become one of the top states in the country in terms of the blue economy.

    Urging everyone to recognize the challenges of the global supply chain in a rapidly changing world, the Prime Minister emphasized that India cannot rely on fragmented and import-based supply chains. Instead, a robust supply and value chain must be built within India to minimize the impact of global fluctuations, he added. He highlighted that this responsibility lies with both the government and the industry. Shri Modi called on industries to support MSMEs and young startups, stressing the importance of research and innovation for growth. He added that theGovernment was creating a vibrant research ecosystem in the country, with a special fund and a package for internships and skill development. He encouraged industries to actively participate and collaborate with the Government. Emphasising that a strong research ecosystem and a skilled young workforce will directly benefit the industry, Shri Modi urged industry partners and the Odisha government to work together to build a modern ecosystem aligned with Odisha’s aspirations, providing new opportunities for the youth. This, he said, will create more job opportunities within Odisha, leading to prosperity, strength, and progress for the state.

    The Prime Minister remarked that people around the world were eager to understand and learn about India. He highlighted that Odisha was an excellent destination to understand India, with its thousands of years of heritage and history. He added that the state offers a unique blend of faith, spirituality, forests, mountains, and the sea, all in one place. Shri Modi described Odisha as a model of development and heritage and mentioned that G-20 cultural events were held in Odisha, and the Konark Sun Temple’s wheel was made a part of the main event. He emphasized the need to explore Odisha’s tourism potential, with its 500-kilometer coastline, over 33% forest cover, and endless possibilities for eco-tourism and adventure tourism. Prime Minister noted that India’s focus was on “Wed in India” and “Heal in India,” and Odisha’s natural beauty and environment were very supportive of these initiatives.

    Highlighting that India had significant potential for conference tourism, the Prime Minister said that venues like Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi in Delhi were becoming major centers for this sector. He also mentioned the emerging sector of the concert economy. He noted that India, with its rich heritage of music, dance, and storytelling, and a large pool of young concert-goers, has immense possibilities for the concert economy. He added that over the past decade, the trend and demand for live events have increased. Pointing out the recent Coldplay concerts in Mumbai and Ahmedabad as evidence of the scope for live concerts in India, Shri Modi emphasized that major global artists were attracted to India, and the concert economy boosts tourism and creates numerous jobs. He urged states and the private sector to focus on the necessary infrastructure and skills for the concert economy. This includes event management, artist grooming, security, and other arrangements, where new opportunities are emerging.

    Shri Modi remarked that next month, India will host the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) for the first time. He highlighted that this significant event will showcase India’s creative power to the world. He emphasized that such events generate revenue and shape perceptions, contributing to the economy’s growth. He noted that Odisha has immense potential for hosting such events.

    “Odisha plays a significant role in building a developed India”, emphasized the Prime Minister. He highlighted that the people of Odisha have resolved to build a prosperous state, and the Union government was providing all possible support to achieve this goal. He expressed his affection for Odisha, noting that he had visited the state nearly 30 times as Prime Minister and has been to most of its districts. He emphasized his trust in Odisha’s potential and its people. Concluding his address, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the investments made by all partners will elevate both their businesses and Odisha’s progress to new heights. He extended his best wishes to everyone involved. 

    The Governor of Odisha, Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Manjhi, Union Ministers Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw were present among other dignitaries at the event.

    Background

    Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 is a flagship Global Investment Summit, being hosted by the Government of Odisha, which aims to position the state as the anchor of the Purvodaya vision as well as a leading investment destination and industrial hub in India.

    Prime Minister also inaugurated the Make in Odisha Exhibition that highlights achievements of the state in developing a vibrant industrial ecosystem. The two day conclave will be held from 28th to 29th January. It will serve as a platform for industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to converge and discuss the opportunities Odisha offers as a preferred investment destination. The conclave will host CEOs and Leaders’ Roundtables, Sectoral Sessions, B2B meetings, and Policy Discussions, ensuring targeted engagement with investors across the globe.

    ***

    MJPS/SR/SKS

    (Release ID: 2096929) Visitor Counter : 24

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WAVES is a Dynamic Platform that Aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of Showcasing and Economically Empowering India’s Creative Talents: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

    Source: Government of India

    WAVES is a Dynamic Platform that Aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of Showcasing and Economically Empowering India’s Creative Talents: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

    Ministry of I&B Announces Top Awards for Content Creators

    Tourism & Cultural Heritage Promotion Content Challenge also Announced

    Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Launch WAVES Bazaar

    Posted On: 27 JAN 2025 8:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting today marked a significant milestone in the lead-up to the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) with the launch of major initiatives at the National Media Centre, New Delhi by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Railways and Electronics & Information Technology and Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture & Tourism. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, described India as a vibrant crucible of storytellers, musicians, content creators, and religious diversity. “Our cultural heritage is not just a testament to our past but the backbone of our future on the global stage,” Shri Shekhawat stated. To leverage this rich cultural tapestry, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has launched WAVES, a dynamic platform that aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of showcasing and economically empowering India’s creative talents.

    As India progresses in various sectors—economic, social, and technological—our cultural prowess remains our greatest asset. While expressing gratitude to the Ministry of I&B, he said that through WAVES India’s cultural diversity will gain the global recognition it deserves, positioning the cultural creative economy as an integral part of the world’s formal economy. This initiative underscores the pivotal role that WAVES will play in showcasing and enhancing India’s cultural strength, providing a foundation for our creators to earn respect and recognition worldwide.

    Echoing the Prime Minister’s vision, of establishing the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) as a summit of global repute, akin to the Davos Economic Forum, the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, mentioned that this effort is part of a broader strategy to highlight India’s creative economy, which is rich with tradition, storytelling, and cultural significance—elements of what is globally recognized as the ‘Orange Economy.

    “Our rich culture, which once resonated in the halls of the Chicago World’s Fair through Swami Vivekananda, is today being carried forward by our Prime Minister on the global stage, through initiatives like yoga, culture, creativity, and Ayurveda,” stated Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw. “WAVES is an extension of this effort, aiming to make India the global capital of the creator economy.”, he added.

    The Union Ministers launched WAVES Bazaar, 3 Create in India Challenges, WAVES Awards and also announced one more Challenge. The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting also announced a new challenge aimed at promoting films that explore India’s rich tourism and cultural heritage. This initiative challenges filmmakers to delve deep into the nation’s vibrant cultural tapestry, showcasing it to both national and international audiences. These challenges aim to foster creativity, innovation, and global participation. Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Ministry of Culture. Indian Filmmaker Shri Shekhar Kapur and Sh. Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO Prasar Bharati were also present at the launch.

    For more details click- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096792

    ***

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    (Release ID: 2096895) Visitor Counter : 12

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: A Steppe Forward: How to Revive Mongolia’s Grasslands and Fight Climate Change

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Mongolia’s rangelands occupy 70% of the country’s territory and are vital for climate mitigation through carbon storage. Research highlights the importance of sustainable grazing practices and collective herder management to restore degraded rangelands and maintain their ecological functions.

    Spanning more than 110 million hectares across 70% of Mongolia’s land territory, and renowned as one of the last remaining natural steppe ecosystems, Mongolian rangelands have a crucial role to play in the country’s climate mitigation efforts.

    If well managed,  rangelands can serve as more stable carbon stores than forests, as they are more resilient to environmental stresses such as drought and fire.

    Effective management practices can boost soil carbon stocks by increasing organic matter input or reducing carbon losses. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. As grasses grow, their dry and dead leaves and stems fall to the ground and decompose.

    Roots, which often have more biomass below ground than above, also grow, and some die and decompose each year. Soil microorganisms aid in decomposing organic matter, and carbon from these sources is incorporated into soil carbon stocks.

    Current carbon estimates for rangelands often focus on the topsoil, but a substantial amount of grassland soil carbon is found in deeper subsoil layers.

    When rangelands degrade, soil carbon is released into the atmosphere. Therefore, scientists advise that climate mitigation efforts should focus on protecting this irreplaceable soil carbon as its restoration is difficult once lost.

    In rangeland management science, this is known as a tipping point where changes in vegetation and soil become impossible to reverse.

    Are Mongolian rangelands close to a tipping point? In the past thirty years, the livestock population in Mongolia has tripled, surpassing the rangelands’ carrying capacity by three times. This has resulted in degradation of 65% of rangelands.

    However, due to traditional rotational grazing practices, most of the degraded rangelands have retained their ability to recover.  Research findings confirm that 85% of degraded rangelands maintain their natural regeneration capacity if the level of degradation has not passed the threshold of no recovery.

    Managed carefully in accordance with the seasonal carrying capacity, rangelands can recover and maintain their carbon sequestration and storage capacity for the benefit of the people, the country, and the world’s climate.

    Mongolia’s first rangeland health report in May 2015 found 65% of rangelands were degraded, but 94% could still recover. By 2018, a second report showed the degraded rangelands had decreased to 57%. According to the third report released in 2022, the percentage of heavily degraded rangelands has declined from 10.2% to 6.6%. 

    Researchers attributed this positive trend to a high capacity for recovery of Mongolian rangelands, reduced grazing pressure, and herders’ commitment to improving rotational grazing practices.

    This suggests the key to maintaining rangeland recovery capacity is resting rangelands during critical vegetation growth periods and adjusting livestock numbers based on seasonal productivity.

    Mongolia’s agencies monitor rangelands at thousands of sites nationwide. Collaborating with international researchers, Mongolian scientists have developed tools like Ecological Site Descriptions and State and Transition Models to assess rangeland health. They’ve identified 22 ecological groups based on vegetation, soil, productivity, landscape, and climate, which guide site-specific grazing and stocking plans.

    In cooperation with herder households, the Mongolian National Federation of Pasture User Groups has carried out several pilot projects testing the length of time different rangelands take to reach new recovery classes. Even rangelands that reached a heavy level of degradation are still able to recover if there is more than 10 years of frugal management. 

    The agriculture sector produces 53% of all greenhouse gas emissions, with land use and land management accounting for 34%, according to the latest Biannual Transparency Report.  As the dominant ecosystem in Mongolia, rangelands have a huge role to play in the nation’s emission reduction targets.

    Research trials conducted to rehabilitate heavily degraded rangelands with a range of modern technologies revealed that this is both difficult and costly. The best method is to revitalize traditional rotational grazing and resting practices. This has to be regulated through the collective control of herder households and supported by a legal framework.

    These findings have led to the formation of pasture user groups among herder households that share customary access to the same seasonal rangelands. Group members define the boundaries of their seasonal rotational grazing areas and regulate their use.

    These plans form the basis for establishing rangeland use agreements between the groups and local government, which are the means to enforce and monitor rotational grazing and rangeland-resting plans.

    When rangelands show signs of degradation, herder households move to the next rangeland to let it regenerate. These are known among herders as the “4 Golden Rules”, followed to manage their grazing areas sustainably: do not exceed the carrying capacity of rangelands; do not deplete the regeneration capacity of plants; give plants time to recover; and practice pre-planned and regulated rotational grazing.

    This nature-based solution offers ample opportunities to restore rangelands. Managed carefully in accordance with the seasonal carrying capacity, rangelands can recover and maintain their carbon sequestration and storage capacity for the benefit of the people, the country, and the world’s climate.

    Across the globe, the rangeland ecosystem services are often undervalued, and much larger efforts are required to create awareness. Not only is it a source of livestock feed but also crucial in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and provision of generic ecosystem services such as absorbing excess rainfall and releasing water gradually during dry periods, stabilizing soil quality to prevent erosion and desertification.

    By integrating these actions into nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans, and long-term emission strategies, we can strengthen community and ecosystem resilience and build a future ready to face a changing climate.
     

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leeds inventor’s 70s superbike conquers the cobbles at Leeds museum

    Source: City of Leeds

    A pedal-powered prototype designed by a Leeds inventor to take on the toughest terrain has been put through its paces at a Leeds museum.

    The hulking Fen Easy Rider bicycle was made in the late 1970s to tackle the rugged roads bordering parts of the British countryside, and gives a remarkable insight into the fascinating story of Leeds pioneer Henry Brown, who recently died at the age of 102.

    This past week, his tenacious two-wheeler took on what may have been its biggest challenge yet, when it was road tested on the Victorian cobbles outside Leeds Industrial Museum.

    Fitted with a heavy-duty aluminium frame, and with a robust suspension mechanism front and back along with a sprung saddle, brass bell and mud guards, the bike made for a formidable sight in its heyday.

    John McGoldrick, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of industrial history, took the vintage velocipede for a spin as it officially became part of the museum’s collection in a fitting tribute to Mr Brown’s life and legacy.

    He said: “It’s been a real joy to take this remarkable piece of engineering for a bit of a spin and to get a feel for how much thought and ingenuity went into what is a truly bespoke design.

    “The cobbles at Leeds Industrial Museum certainly pushed the bike to its limits, but it’s a testament to the quality and robustness of its structure that it has very much stood the test of time.

    “The Fen Easy Rider was just one of the unique inventions created by Henry Brown, a Leeds engineer with the ability to apply his extraordinary skill and unique mind to solving all manner of practical problems. It’s a privilege to have one of his inventions in our collection and to be preserving the story of his life and work.”

    Born in Leeds in 1923, Henry Brown joined the RAF at 17, learning navigation, morse code and engineering.

    After the Second World War, he founded the Leeds Cycle and Engineering Company, setting up a workshop in an old rhubarb shed in Rodley.

    As well as designing the Fen Easy Rider, Mr Brown also created the extraordinary two seater vehicle that became known as the Scootacar, and which went into production in 1957.

    The eye-catching microcars were reputedly inspired by the wife of a local company director, who said she wanted a vehicle that was easier to park than her bulkier Jaguar.

    The Scootacar’s distinctive shape was said to be sparked by a particularly tall factory employee, who sat on a box against a wall before a chalk outline was drawn around him.

    An original Mark One version of the Scootacar in bright blue is also on display at Leeds Industrial Museum.

    Mr Brown also produced inventions and designs for a wide range of applications including health care, spiral staircases and agricultural silos. He sadly passed away on December 20, 2024.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “The story of Leeds is filled with individuals whose creativity and spirit of invention have left their mark on the world.

    “Our museums play a hugely important role in keeping their legacy alive and ensuring their accomplishments are a source of fascination and inspiration for future generations.”

    For more information on visiting Leeds Industrial Museum, please visit: Visit Leeds Industrial Museum | Leeds Museums and Galleries | Days out and exhibitions

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Europe: A current flowing to the future

    Source: European Investment Bank

    Just 25 kilometres northwest of Mostar, another man is on a mission to save his local river. Boro Đolo grew up along the banks of the Lištica River. “Here, people learn to swim before they learn to walk,” he says.

    A soft-spoken grandfather, Đolo spends his free time working with a local organisation to restore the area’s native fish population. Professionally, Đolo has devoted 35 years to the water sector, working for the city of Široki Brijeg. There he leads a project aimed at improving wastewater services to protect the Lištica. The city has already built and rehabilitated 25 kilometres of sewer lines and four kilometres of storm drains and is currently constructing a treatment plant to serve its 15 000 residents.

    Flowing from a nearby spring, the Lištica River, carves through local landscapes before joining the Neretva near Mostar. “That’s why it’s crucial to keep the Lištica clean. We all live downstream,” Đolo says. “If someone upstream pollutes a river, that pollution affects everyone living downstream.”

    The projects in Mostar and Široki Brijeg are part of a larger effort, financed by the European Investment Bank, to improve water and sanitation across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The €60 million invested in these initiatives is part of the Bank’s broader €240 million commitments to water infrastructure and flood protection in the country.

    “The project covers 19 municipalities and has significantly improved the quality of life for residents,” says Sukavata Bejdić, project lead at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry. Speaking in her crowded office, surrounded by stacks of paperwork, Bejdić maintains an optimistic attitude and an infectious smile. “Over the last 15 years, this project has brought clean drinking water and a better sewerage system to more than 500 000 people.” 

    Bejdić knows she’s making a difference. “It’s been a long process and a lot of hard work,” Bejdić says, “but I talk to people on the ground every day, and I’m happy I can do something for them.”

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Otley Bridge: Oak tree to be removed from this Friday (31 January)

    Source: City of Leeds

    Leeds City Council is proposing to remove the two trees near to Otley Bridge from this Friday (31 January) so work can begin to replace the deteriorating pedestrian footway.

    The council must fell the mature oak tree and tulip tree before bird nesting season begins at the end of February to be able to remove the existing footway and install a temporary footway. Up to now the council has been unable to safely remove the two trees despite several site visits.

    If this were to continue beyond the end-of-February deadline, the only viable alternative to allow pedestrians to cross the River Wharfe would be to reduce Otley Bridge to single lane traffic with three-way temporary traffic signals for the duration of the works, which are expected to last until late Autumn.

    Recently the council installed temporary signals on Otley Bridge, reducing it to a single lane, to allow further in-depth inspections of the footway and traffic monitoring. This led to a significant amount of disruption in the local area and the council has received a large amount of correspondence from key partners including bus operators, ward members and residents raising concerns about the potential impacts if this were to continue over a longer period.

    This includes lengthy vehicle queuing, ‘gridlock’ and congestion, with some short journeys taking as long as 45 minutes, and delays for public transport and for students attending the nearby schools. Other correspondence also refers to ‘fewer visitors and lost income’ to businesses, and ‘major concerns’ about emergency services journeys including to the hospital.

    Today the council has taken the additional step of publishing a delegated decision notification which approves the felling of the two trees and proposes that this takes place from this Friday.

    The notification recognises the impact of the temporary signals and the correspondence received, and records the decision to proceed with officers’ recommendations that that the installation of a temporary footbridge, which would require the felling of the two trees, is the most appropriate solution to ensure pedestrians can continue to cross the river.

    Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said: “We recognise the strength of feeling around protecting the two trees, and admire the passion and dedication of the groups involved.

    “However, the disruption seen since introducing the temporary signals reaffirms our position that the temporary footway is the best solution for the town compared to the only other viable alternative of reducing Otley Bridge to single-lane traffic for around six months. This is supported by the vast majority of correspondence I have received in recent weeks, with many residents and businesses expressing their concerns about long-term traffic management measures.

    “We intend to fell the two trees from this Friday so that we able to progress the essential work to install the temporary footbridge, so pedestrians and vehicles can safely cross the River Wharfe.”

    In accordance with the council’s guidance, the trees would be replaced by a minimum of 13 semi mature trees across the Otley area, including in Tittybottle Park, subject to community consultation.

    Should works commence to install the temporary footway in March, these would take around 12 weeks and it would be expected to be open in late spring 2025.

    The existing footway would then be removed from spring 2025 on completion of the temporary footway, with work lasting 20 weeks.

    The replacement permanent footway would be expected to be open in autumn 2025.

    All dates are dependent on weather and river conditions, and subject to the condition of the Otley Bridge once the existing footway has been removed.

    More information about the Otley Bridge project, including frequently asked questions and details of all the options explored by the council, can be found at: Have Your Say Today – Otley Bridge – Commonplace 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees robust increase in EV charging facilities

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 8, 2024 shows new energy vehicles charging at a charging station in Changsha County, central China’s Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

    China saw a significant surge in electric vehicle charging facilities in 2024, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

    By the end of last year, the total number of electric vehicle charging poles in the country had reached 12.82 million, marking a 49.1 percent year-on-year increase.

    Of these, public charging poles accounted for approximately 3.58 million, while private charging poles neared 9.24 million.

    In 2024, China added more than 4.22 million electric vehicle charging poles.

    The expansion of charging facilities comes amid surging demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, with both production and sales surpassing 12 million units in 2024.

    China has maintained its position as the world’s leading NEV market for 10 consecutive years.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Arrest made in Wimbledon Prep School fatal collision investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating the fatal collision at the Study Prep School in Wimbledon in July 2023 have arrested the driver as part of their ongoing investigation, as they appeal for further potential witnesses to come forward.

    The 48-year-old female driver was arrested today, Tuesday 28 January, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is currently in custody. This is the second time she has been arrested for this offence, the first time being at the scene of the collision on 6 July 2023.

    Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau – both eight years old – died when a car crashed through a fence and collided with a building at the school.

    An initial investigation by the Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) resulted in a direction from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in June 2024 that the driver should face no further action.

    After concerns were raised by the families of Nuria and Selena regarding this outcome, it was agreed the Specialist Crime Review Group (SCRG) would carry out a review of the investigation. That review identified lines of enquiry which required further examination.

    In October the investigation was moved to the Specialist Crime Command, under Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford. He leads a team who have since been pursuing new lines of enquiry identified by the review.

    Detective Superintendent Basford said: “I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to any witnesses or individuals with information who are yet to speak to police to please come forward.

    “Were you attending the local golf course or driving in or around the area of the Study Prep School in Wimbledon at the time of the collision? Did you see the vehicle – a distinctive gold Land Rover Defender – in the lead up to the collision? We believe there were people in the local area who have not been spoken to by police and remain unidentified. I would ask those individuals to please contact us.

    “Our main priority is to ensure the lines of enquiry identified by the review are progressed. This is a live investigation and in order to maintain its integrity I can’t go into further detail at this stage. I would urge people to avoid speculation.”

    + To provide information you can contact the major incident room on 0207 175 0793, call 101 quoting CAD 6528/27Jan, or message @MetCC on X providing the CAD reference. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Threat detection systems on Royal Navy warships upgraded

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    More than 200 UK jobs will be supported through a new contract to boost the Royal Navy’s warship combat systems and increase their ability to track, analyse and respond to threats in combat.

    More than 200 UK jobs will be supported through a new contract to boost the Royal Navy’s warship combat systems and increase their ability to track, analyse and respond to threats in combat.  

    The contract, worth £285 million, has been awarded to BAE Systems, to maintain and modernise vital combat management systems (CMS) on Royal Navy vessels, including Type 23 frigates, Type 45 destroyers, Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers and Type 26 frigates.

    Such systems provide warship crews with all the information they need to track, analyse and respond to threats in combat. The contract will support hundreds of jobs across the UK delivering on the government’s Plan for Change. 

    Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle MP said:

    This significant investment in our industry is another example of how our Government is making defence an engine for growth.  

    We are strengthening the UK’s defences while supporting growth, with hundreds of high-skilled jobs, to help deliver on our Plan for Change.   

    By working with British industry we’re ensuring our Royal Navy has the advanced technology it needs while strengthening our domestic defence industrial base.

    The project, dubbed RECODE (Real-time Combat System Open Data Enablers), will sustain more than 200 highly skilled UK jobs at BAE Systems in Filton, Dorchester, New Malden, Frimley and Portsmouth. It will also create additional investment in Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and high-tech suppliers across the UK.  

    The CMS is the primary method for Royal Navy operators to interact with weapons and sensors. The system supports operators in their Decide and Enable functions by providing a range of tools including:  

    • Situation awareness.
    • Tactical picture compilation.
    • Threat evaluation and weapon assignment.
    • Navigation and blind pilotage.
    • Weapon direction and control.

    The upgrades announcement comes just a week after the Royal Navy was tracking a Russian spy ship, Yantar, in British waters. The Royal Navy was able to follow its every move before the Russian ship left for the Mediterranean waters.  Crucial upgrades such as RECODE will further improve the Royal Navy’s crucial deterrence capabilities.  

    This builds on the strategic aims of the Government’s upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, aligning national security with a high-growth economy to support the Plan for Change.   

    The combat management systems provide Royal Navy crews with essential situational awareness and operational capabilities. The new contract builds on 25 years of BAE Systems’ combat management expertise supporting the Royal Navy.  

    The Government is developing a full Defence Industrial Strategy, which the Defence Secretary launched in December, to ensure Defence is an engine for UK growth.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report 02/2025: Derailment of a passenger train at Grange-over-Sands

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    RAIB has today released its report into a derailment of a passenger train at Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, 22 March 2024.

    The rear of the train following the derailment.

    R022025_250128_Grange-over-Sands

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@raib.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Summary

    At around 06:05 on 22 March 2024, a passenger train travelling at 56 mph (90 km/h) derailed on the approach to Grange-over-Sands station. The derailment occurred because a void had opened in the embankment on which the train was travelling, leading to the rails under the train losing support. The train was carrying four train crew and four passengers when it derailed. Nobody was injured, but significant damage was caused to both the train and the railway infrastructure.

    RAIB’s investigation found that the void had been created because water had dislodged embankment material and carried it away. The water came from a pipe partially buried beneath the railway, which had been damaged during routine maintenance around 2 days before the derailment.

    The damage to the pipe had been reported immediately to the railway control room by the maintenance staff involved. However, as a result of ineffective communications, no action was taken to stop the consequent leak. The pipe had been installed by Network Rail in 2016 as a temporary measure to assist in managing flood water in the surrounding areas, but on-call engineering staff were unaware that it was in use and carrying water at the time it was damaged.

    Underlying factors to the accident were that those responsible for managing flood water at this location had not done so effectively, leading to the prolonged need to rely on temporary pumping arrangements. RAIB also identified that staffing levels at Network Rail’s Carnforth maintenance delivery unit did not provide sufficient resilience and had allowed non-compliance with the standards relating to the management of tamping to become normalised. In addition, Network Rail had allowed a temporary pumping arrangement to become permanent without applying the relevant asset management procedures.

    Recommendations

    As a result of its investigation, RAIB has made five recommendations. The first three recommendations are made to Network Rail. The first of these aims to reduce the risk associated with temporary drainage solutions which remain in place for longer than anticipated. The second asks Network Rail to review how it can improve the ability of tamper operators to detect buried services. The third aims to reduce the likelihood that buried services are struck during maintenance by ensuring staffing levels are adequate to comply with Network Rail’s own procedures. The fourth recommendation is made to the Environment Agency, and other local stakeholders, and aims to encourage timely decision-making in relation to the future of this area so that the management of flood water does not manifest in another risk to the railway. The final recommendation is addressed to Eversholt Rail Leasing Limited, the owner of the train involved, and aims to reduce the risk of a derailed train being struck by a train on the adjacent line due to a failure of communications and warning systems.

    Additionally, RAIB has identified three learning points. The first of these reminds track workers of the importance of completing required site visits ahead of planned work to mark up obstructions. The second reminds staff of the importance of being readily contactable when on call, and the final learning point encourages railway controllers to escalate issues where the first line on-call staff are not available.

    Andrew Hall, Chief Inspector of Rail Accidents said:

    Derailments of passenger trains are thankfully rare. The elements that came together and led to the derailment at Grange-over-Sands include some factors that have been seen in previous RAIB investigations. In this case Victorian infrastructure, increasing rainfall, a known flood water management problem which multiple parties had not fully resolved over years, ineffective communication and a short-term fix effectively becoming the permanent solution, all played a part. As the railway’s infrastructure will continue to age, and given the challenges of climate change, the importance of avoiding the other factors is ever more vital if such derailments are to remain a rarity.

    Notes to editors

    1. The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety. RAIB does not establish blame, liability or carry out prosecutions.

    2. RAIB operates, as far as possible, in an open and transparent manner. While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry, we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway, we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible, and certainly long before publication of our final report.

    3. For media enquiries, please call 01932 440015.

    Newsdate: 28 January 2025

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Expert advisory group appointed by independent water commission

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The independent water commission announces members of the new advisory group

    Expert advisory group appointed by independent water commission

    Senior advisory group supporting Sir Jon Cunliffe on major water reset

    Leading voices from areas including the environment, public health and investment have been announced today (28 January) as the new advisory group to the independent water commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe.  

    Sir Chris Whitty (Chief Medical Officer), Richard Benwell (CEO, Wildlife & Countryside Link),  Professor Isabelle Durance (Professor of Integrated Water Sciences at Cardiff University) and Peter Harrison (former CEO, Schroders) are among the nine members advising the commission in its major review of the water system. 

    A Call for Evidence will be published in February 2024 to bring in views from all interested parties on possible areas of reform. 

    The members are: 

    • Richard Benwell (environment expert), Chief Executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of environmental charities. Previously policy adviser to the Defra Secretary of State and worked in policy and advocacy roles for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and RSPB.   

    • Chris Whitty (public health expert), Chief Medical Officer for England and Chief Medical Adviser to the UK Government. 

    • Professor Isabelle Durance (environmental science and Welsh water system expert), Founder and Director of the Water Research Institute at Cardiff University, and Professor of Integrated Water Sciences 

    • Peter Harrison (investment expert), Former Group CEO at Schroders plc. Member of the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce (CMIT), Chair of the charity Business in the Community, and chair-designate of Morgan Sindall plc.   

    • Dame Yve Buckland (consumers advocate), Founding Chair of the Consumer Council for Water (2005 –2015). Chair of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust since 2023.    

    • Jonathan Haskel (economics expert) Professor of Economics at Imperial College Business School. Previously board member at the UK Statistics Authority and a member of the Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England. 

    • Philip Graham (infrastructure), Executive Director of Good Growth at Greater London Authority. Previously Chief Executive of the National Infrastructure Commission.  

    • Jon Loveday (project delivery and commercial expert), Director of Infrastructure, Enterprise and Growth at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA). Shareholder Non-Executive Director of Crossrail International and Sizewell C. Former Executive Director within the water, telecoms and energy sectors. 

    • Stephen Peacock (planning and place-making expert), CEO of West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Former CEO and Executive Director of growth and regeneration at Bristol City Council 

    The independent water commission was announced by the UK and Welsh governments in October 2024 to help deliver a reset of the water sector, chaired by Former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Sir Jon Cunliffe.

    The upcoming Call for Evidence will look at the management of the overall water system, regulatory reform, and the role of water companies, owners and investors.   

    A set of recommendations will be delivered later this year to the Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed and Huw Irranca Davies, Wales’ Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.  

    Sir Jon Cunliffe, Chair of the independent water commission, said: 

    Since taking up this role I have seen the many complex challenges faced by the water sector in England and Wales. All sides know that change is clearly needed.  

    The calibre of expertise we have bought together in this group reflects the significance of the task ahead.  

    I know their insight and experience will be invaluable in recommending meaningful and long-term reforms to rebuild the trust that has been lost and deliver a thriving and sustainable water sector for the future. I look forward to our work together in the coming months.

    As set out in the Terms of Reference, the Commission is operating independently of the UK and Welsh Ministers. The Chair and advisory group are supported by a Defra Secretariat.  

    Full biographies of all advisory group members are listed below.   

    Name Details
    Richard Benwell (environment) Richard Benwell is CEO of Wildlife & Countryside Link, a coalition of environmental charities. He is a Board member of UK Youth for Nature and the Broadway Initiative, and Chair of Oxfordshire’s Local Nature Partnership. Previously, he was Policy Adviser to the Secretary of State at DEFRA, and has worked in policy and advocacy roles for WWT and RSPB.
    Sir Chris Whitty (public health) Professor Sir Chris Whitty FRS is Chief Medical Officer for England (CMO) and head of the public health profession. He is an epidemiologist and NHS infectious disease consultant physician. Chris has worked with the Royal Academy of Engineering and others on solutions for the safe management of sewage.
    Dame Yve Buckland (consumers) Yve Buckland was the founding Chair of the Consumer Council for Water, holding the role between 2005 and 2015.  She has also held a number of roles in public health, including Chair of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement at Warwick University (2005 – 2010), Pro-Chancellor of Aston University (2019 – 2023), and in 2022 Dame Yve was appointed Chair of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. 
    Jonathan Haskel (economics) Jonathan Haskel is Professor of Economics at Imperial College Business School, Imperial College London, where he has been since 2008.  He has previously taught at Queen Mary, University of London; Dartmouth College, USA and New York University, USA.  His research interests are productivity and growth.   In addition to his academic activities, he has been an External Member of the Reporting Panel of the Competition and Markets Authority (2001-2009); a non-Executive Director of the UK Statistics Authority (2016-2022) and an External Member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (2018-2024).
    Philip Graham  (infrastructure) Philip Graham was the founding Chief Executive of the National Infrastructure Commission from 2015-20, during which time he led its establishment as an independent arms-length body and delivered the UK’s first ever cross-cutting National Infrastructure Assessment. He is currently Executive Director for Good Growth at the Greater London Authority, where he leads the Mayor’s policies and programmes in relation to London’s environment, economy, infrastructure, and spatial development. He worked across areas in the Department for Transport, including leading the Airports Commission’s review of aviation capacity for Sir Howard Davies.
    Jon Loveday (project management and delivery) Jon Loveday is the Director of Infrastructure, Enterprise and Growth at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), the government’s centre of expertise for infrastructure and major projects. He leads the expert delivery team advising on the set up of delivery bodies, commercial models and project delivery across the £800bn Government’s Major Projects Portfolio. Jon has held Executive roles for regulated utility companies and major construction and infrastructure contractors and has extensive experience of delivering major utility projects throughout the UK.
    Peter Harrison (investors) Peter Harrison was formally Group Chief Executive of Schroders plc, with over 35 years’ experience in the asset management industry. He is currently a member of the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce (CMIT), chair of the charity Business in the Community, and chair-designate of Morgan Sindall plc.
    Professor Isabelle Durance (science and Welsh water system) Isabelle Durance is Professor of Integrated Water Science and Director of the Water Research Institute at Cardiff University, recognised for its interdisciplinarity and extensive stakeholder reach that includes water companies, government and regulators. With multi-million-pound support, her personal research in the UK and overseas examines interactions between landscape change, biodiversity and ecosystem services.  Outside her academic role, she is involved extensively in various advisory capacities to government bodies, research councils, charities, industry and regulators – especially in the water sector.
    Stephen Peacock (planning and place-making) Stephen Peacock is Chief Executive of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, responsible for £1 billion of investment to drive sustainable and inclusive growth across the most productive and fast-growing UK city region outside London. He has a commercial background in international energy and technology along with a track record of public sector leadership.  A former partner with a major professional services firm, Stephen was Chief Executive of Bristol City Council where his achievements include the creation of the award-winning City Leap public-private partnership.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 January 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Strategic Investments: How Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Deals are Transforming Angola’s Oil & Gas Industry

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

    LUANDA, Angola, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Since its inception in 2019, Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) has evolved from an industry dialogue platform into the country’s premier forum for deal-signing and partnerships. Now recognized as Angola’s largest oil and gas gathering, the event has facilitated investments across the energy value chain while fostering public-private partnerships and cross-border collaboration.

    The upcoming 2025 edition of AOG, set to be launched at a reception event in Luanda on January 28, aims to continue this trajectory of growth. With an intensified focus on deal-making, the event seeks to connect capital to projects, drive collaboration and catalyze a new era of industry expansion in Angola. Below is an overview of previous deals signed at the last five editions of the AOG conference: 

    AOG 2024: Coordinating Cross-Border Development

    The latest edition of the AOG conference – held in Luanda in 2024 – featured five deals, signed by a suite of private companies and regional governments. Angola’s Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas signed new terms for the development of Block 14 with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Ministry of Hydrocarbons; the respective finance ministries of Angola and the DRC signed a cooperation agreement; while Angola’s upstream regulator the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) and its Mozambican counterpart the National Petroleum Institute signed a deal for the development of joint projects. Sonangol, Conjuncta, CWP and Gauff signed a green hydrogen deal, while Famar and Angobetumes signed an MoU for fuel storage management.

    AOG 2023: Advancing Industry Cooperation

    A record seven deals were signed during AOG 2023, improving collaboration across the upstream, downstream and knowledge sharing segments. Azule Energy and Sonangol signed a deal to collaborate on decarbonizing the oil and gas sector; Ambipar and Kini Energias signed a partnership agreement for the installation of an industrial unit for the assembly and testing of waste suction equipment; Etu Energias signed a Technical Services Agreement with SLB for works related to Block 2/5; and an MoU was signed between Protteja Seguros and Petromar, outlining a business partnership. Additionally, the ANPG signed agreements with three Angolan universities – Universidade Agostinho Neto, the Catholic University of Angola and Instituto Superior Pliténico de Tecnologias e Ciências – to establish a cooperation program to provide technical support for energy development in Angola. 

    AOG 2022: Boosting Regional Ties

    Three deals were signed during the 2022 edition of AOG, all of which centered on strengthening regional collaboration in the oil and gas industry. Angola’s Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas signed an MoU with Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy to enhance bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector; an agreement was signed between Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons and the DRC’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons to strengthen existing synergies across the energy value chain; while the ANPG signed a deal with Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate to establish a shared commitment to promoting and intensifying collaboration across the oil and gas industry. These agreements highlight AOG’s role as a platform for regional actors to bolster cooperation and cross-border ties.

    AOG 2021: Attracting Investment in Exploration

    Angola’s upstream regulator the ANPG launched the country’s 2021 Bid Round during the AOG event, incentivizing exploration in deepwater Angola. This followed the closing of the 2020 tender for onshore blocks in the Lower Congo and Kwanza basins. The launch also coincided with the announcement of a new open-door mechanism to deal with prospective investors. This system allows for direct negotiation between oil and gas operators and the ANPG, enabling investment outside of the confines of a traditional licensing structure.

    AOG 2019: Supporting Infrastructure Development

    Five deals were signed during the inaugural AOG conference in 2019, underscoring the event’s role as a platform for collaboration. United Shine and Sonangol signed a partnership agreement for the construction of the Cabinda Refinery; an MoU was signed between NFE International, Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas and Ministry of Finance for the development of an LNG import and regasification terminal; a Commitment Agreement was signed between the ANPG and ExxonMobil for Block 15; while a Heads of Agreement was signed between Sonangol and Eni. Additionally, Sonangol E.P announced Kinetics Technology as the winner of a contract covering the construction of the Gasoline Production Unit for the Luanda Refinery.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: A hot and troubled world of work: how South Africa’s bold new climate act and labour law can align to drive a just transition

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Debbie Collier, Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Transformative Regulation of Work, University of the Western Cape

    Increased average temperatures, climate variability, and extreme weather events are taking a toll on the environment and disproportionately affecting the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable communities. This is intensifying challenges in the world of work.

    Working on a warmer planet increases health and safety risks and affects workers’ well-being and productivity. These risks are a challenge for employment, labour standards, and the creation of decent work.

    Temperatures in South Africa are rising faster than the global average. And finding ways to adapt to climate change and navigate its challenges is becoming increasingly urgent. These challenges are compounded by the disruptions of an energy transition. South Africa also has high levels of inequality and unemployment.

    South Africa, one of the largest (CO₂) emitters in Africa, has committed to reducing its emissions with the aim of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. But how does the country balance the need to cut carbon emissions while protecting an already vulnerable working population during the energy transition?

    Enabling a just transition is a focus for the constituencies of the National Economic Development and Labour Council. The council is South Africa’s national social dialogue institution. It consists of representatives from the state, organised labour, organised business, and community organisations. The council’s Labour Market Chamber has been working on how best to integrate principles of labour and environmental justice. And how labour laws can be used to support a just energy transition.

    The University of the Western Cape’s Centre for Transformative Regulation of Work, of which I am the director, has supported the council and its social partners in labour law reform processes. The aim is to ensure that labour laws and policy are responsive to the changing world of work, and are “fit for purpose” in the just transition era.

    Two priorities are to implement the Climate Change Act as envisaged. And to use and develop labour law to support a just transition.

    The Climate Change Act

    The Climate Change Act 22 of 2024 incorporates the goal of decent work within a commitment to a just transition. The act, which will take effect on a date yet to be determined, defines a just transition as

    a shift towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy and society and ecologically sustainable economies and societies which contribute toward the creation of decent work for all, social inclusion, and the eradication of poverty.

    The act is ambitious in its scope and leaves no part of society untouched. It aims to restructure the economy from one dependent on fossil fuels to a low carbon economy, at the same time contributing to decent work and an inclusive society.

    New institutional arrangements are envisaged and existing institutions are expected to adapt. Relevant state actors must “review and if necessary revise, amend, coordinate and harmonise their policies, laws, measures, programmes and decisions” to “give effect to the principles and objects” of the act.

    The act provides impetus for change and an opportunity to revisit the country’s labour law and industrial relations landscape.

    Labour law in a just transition era

    South Africa’s labour law promotes both collective bargaining and employee consultation processes — the “dual channels” for engagement. However, industrial relations are typically characterised by adversarial bargaining over wages and economic distribution. This approach falls short of the nuanced and collaborative processes needed to navigate a just transition. The first step requires a shift from familiar, adversarial patterns of engagement.

    The energy transition and adaptation to climate change may have significant implications for job security and employment. These include

    • the adoption of new technologies, resulting in workplace restructuring

    • changes in the organisation of work or work methods

    • the discontinuation of operations, either wholly or in part.

    The framework for constructive engagement on such developments includes institutions and mechanisms at workplace, sector and national levels. At the workplace, workplace forums were intended for this purpose.

    Workplace forums are voluntary institutions introduced in the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1994 to ensure that workers are consulted and have a voice in decisions that affect them. Unfortunately, the uptake of workplace forums has been limited.

    Industry and sector institutions include bargaining councils and the Sector Education and Training Authorities. These should be developed into spaces for consultation on measures to support a just transition and coordination of skills development and industrial policy.

    Nationally, Nedlac is the apex social dialogue institution. There’s also the Presidential Climate Commission which was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to oversee and facilitate a just transition. The commission is regulated by the Climate Change Act. It plays a critical role in steering just transition policy processes and building consensus on regulatory developments.

    What are the gaps?

    Labour law has limited scope to address environmental degradation or the concerns of communities. To plug this gap, programmes that integrate rights, policies and services for workers and communities affected by the energy transition should be considered. For example the framework for Social and Labour Plans in the mining sector could be augmented to support a just transition.

    Labour law functions and mechanisms that support a just transition may need to be strengthened. Key areas for improvement include:

    • the framework and ecosystem for skills development to prepare workers for job transitions

    • occupational health and safety and labour standards for the protection of workers in conditions of increased heat and extreme weather events

    • the scope, application and objectives of social security schemes and social protection for workers affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy.

    Other steps towards a just transition include:

    Environmentally sustainable practices must be a priority in all workplaces. Consultation and coordinated responses should not be limited to workplaces, sectors and industries that are directly affected, such as the coal mining sector.

    Adaptation to climate change should be at the forefront of the collective efforts of all South Africans. Perhaps even more so in higher education institutions, where the responsibility to educate, innovate, and lead by example is paramount.

    South Africa’s climate change law envisages a pathway to social inclusion and decent work. Its labour laws provide critical tools for the transition.

    Debbie Collier, Shane Godfrey, Vincent Oniga and Abigail Osiki co-authored the Nedlac report, Optimising labour law for a just transition (2024).

    – A hot and troubled world of work: how South Africa’s bold new climate act and labour law can align to drive a just transition
    – https://theconversation.com/a-hot-and-troubled-world-of-work-how-south-africas-bold-new-climate-act-and-labour-law-can-align-to-drive-a-just-transition-243406

    MIL OSI Africa