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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Video: Elected GA President: Annalena Baerbock in UN’s 80th Year | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Germany’s Annalena Baerbock was today (2 Jun) elected President of the General Assembly at its 80th session by secret ballot.

    In accordance with the established regional rotation, the President of the eightieth session of the General Assembly is to be elected from the Western European and Other States Group.

    Baerbock obtained 167 votes.

    The President of the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly, Philemon Yang said, “it is fitting that in this milestone 80th year of the General Assembly, leadership should fall to someone whose career has been defined by an unwavering commitment to multilateralism.”

    Baerbock, Yang said, was the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany “during one of the most turbulent periods in recent memory.” He said, “her experience at the helm of diplomacy amidst global uncertainty will serve this Assembly well.”

    The President Elect, on her first address to the Assembly, said, “today we live in challenging times. We are walking on a tightrope of uncertainty. But the birth of the United Nations, 80 years ago, reminds us we have lived through difficult times before, and it’s up to us to take on these challenges.”

    Baerbock said, “while we need to be bold, ambitious, and ready to take difficult decisions, the UN80 initiative should not be a mere cost cutting exercise. Our common goal is a strong, focused, nimble and fit for purpose organization, one that is capable of realizing its core objectives. We need a United Nations that delivers on peace, development and justice.”

    Secretary-General António Guterres for his part said, “this is a moment for us to unite, to forge common solutions and to take action to confront these challenges. President elect Baerbock ‘s vision, Better Together, is an inspiring rallying cry for today’s world and the global problem-solving system embodied by the United Nations to address these challenges.”

    Following the election, Baerbock spoke at a media stakeout outside the General Assembly Hall and said, “as only the fifth woman in this position within 80 years, I’m aware that peace and development can only be sustained when half of the population – which is in every country, women – have an equal seat at the table.”

    She said, “peace and security is not an isolated pillar of the United Nations, but peace and security, development and human rights are interconnected, and we know from the last 80 years that sustainable peace is depending on sustainable development.”

    In May, the Assembly had convened an informal interactive dialogue with candidates to present their vision statements, and to conduct informal interactive dialogues with Member States, thus contributing to the transparency and inclusivity of the process.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKfGWtPLi2s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Yemen, Secretary-General/ General Assembly & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

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

    Highlights:
    Yemen
    Secretary-General/General Assembly
    Deputy Secretary-General
    Gaza
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    UNSCOL
    Antisemitic Attacks
    Ukraine
    Sudan
    Nigeria
    Financial Contribution
    Briefings Tomorrow

    YEMEN
    This June we mark a grim milestone. It’s been one year since the arbitrary detention of dozens of personnel from the United Nations, national and international NGOs, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions, these detentions by the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen. The Secretary-General renews his call for their immediate and unconditional release, including those held since 2021 and 2023, and most recently, detentions in January.
    He also reiterates his strongest condemnation of the death in detention of a World Food Programme colleague that took place earlier this year. The Houthi de facto authorities have yet to provide an explanation for this deplorable tragedy, and he renews his call for an immediate, transparent and thorough investigation and accountability. Mr. Guterres says he stands in solidarity with all detained colleagues in Yemen and their families and pays tribute to their essential work and their families’ perseverance.
    We and our humanitarian partners should never be targeted, never be arrested and never be detained while carrying out our mandates for the benefit of the people we serve. The continued arbitrary detention of our colleagues is a profound injustice against those who dedicate their lives to providing life-saving assistance and support to the people of Yemen. It has placed additional constraints on our ability to operate effectively and undermined mediation processes to secure a path toward peace.
    The Secretary-General urges the Houthis, yet again, to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained. Particularly on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, this is a time to show compassion. It is a time to end the ordeal of families who face celebrating yet another holiday without their loved ones. To our detained colleagues, the Secretary-General wants them to know that they are not forgotten.
    We will continue to work through all possible channels to secure their safe and immediate release, and he calls upon Member States to continue expressing their solidarity with those detained and intensify advocacy for their release.
    Finally, we welcome the collective support of international partners, NGOs and all those working to support the people of Yemen in these efforts.

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/ GENERAL ASSEMBLY
    This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly, where he congratulated Annalena Baerbock of Germany on her election as the President of the General Assembly for the 80th Session.
    He said that President-elect Baerbock’s vision, “Better Together”, is an inspiring rallying cry for today’s world and the global problem-solving system embodied by the United Nations to address the challenges we face.
    He told President-elect Baerbock that she can count on his full support as she takes on this important responsibility.
    The Secretary-General also thanked the current President of the General Assembly, Philemon Yang, for his leadership during the 79th session – which still has some ways to go.
    As we look ahead to the end of the 79th session, and prepare for the start of the 80th, the Secretary-General said, let us strive to live up to the values of solidarity and collaboration that have defined this organization from its very start.

    DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
    The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is currently in Marrakech, in Morocco, where she is attending the 2025 Ibrahim Governance Weekend, which is as you may know a high-level gathering of African political and business leaders, civil society, multilateral organizations, and international partners focused on financing for Africa’s development.
    While in Marrakech, the Deputy Secretary-General is also meeting with senior Moroccan government officials and key stakeholders to discuss Africa’s development priorities, the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), challenges to Middle Income Countries, and the implementation of the Pact for the Future.
    Tomorrow, she will travel to Geneva to participate in the 8th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025).
    It is the main global forum for reviewing progress and sharing good practices in reducing disaster risk and building resilience.

    Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=02%20June%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Q5K9D-qtE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Europe’s industrial and mobile heritage – E-001309/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The CO2 emission performance standards regulation only concerns new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles . Heritage vehicles are therefore not affected by this regulation.

    The European Climate Law[1] concerns the overall EU greenhouse gas emissions. Since mobile heritage only represent an extremely small part of the existing stock, the economy-wide emissions reduction objectives are unlikely to affect those.

    The Commission is committed to provide support to European industries, which are currently faced with high energy costs and fierce global competition.

    The Clean Industrial Deal Communication[2] outlines concrete actions to turn decarbonisation into a driver of competitiveness.  Specifically for the European automotive sector, the Commission has recently adopted an industrial plan[3], aimed to tackle the challenges caused by rapid technological changes and increasing competition.

    The automotive industry is a core engine of European prosperity and an essential part of Europe’s identity. The EU is committed to safeguarding and enhancing Europe’s industrial and mobile heritage through a number of policies and programmes.

    • [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1119/oj.
    • [2] COM(2025)85 final.
    • [3] COM(2025)95 final.
    Last updated: 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Energy taxation rules – E-001180/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The green taxation reform is a key element of Cyprus’ recovery and resilience plan[1]. It aims to internalise environmental externalities, encouraging more efficient use of resources and incentivising the adoption of renewable energy.

    This is crucial in Cyprus where carbon prices and municipal waste recycling lag behind the rest of Europe, and water scarcity is a challenge.

    The green taxation reform includes a carbon tax, which constitutes a transition towards the Emissions Trading System applicable from 2027 to buildings and road transport, a levy on water and a charge on landfill waste, both of which will be incrementally increased.

    As regards the taxation of motor and heating fuels, and of electricity, in the recent Action Plan for Affordable Energy and Clean Industrial Deal[2], the Commission has reiterated its call on Member States to complete the revision[3] of the current Energy Taxation Directive.

    This is a recognition of the crucial role that the revision can play in promoting affordable energy and clean industry. As communicated in the action plan for Affordable Energy, the Commission will issue a recommendation to Member States by the end of 2025.

    This will be taken forward in line with the present Directive[4], which allows decreasing taxes for electricity consumed by households and energy intensive industries.

    In addition to structural and cohesion funds, the Social Climate Fund aims to support a fair transition towards climate neutrality. It will provide Member States with dedicated funding so that the most affected vulnerable groups can be directly supported.

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/country-pages/cyprus-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en.
    • [2] COM(2025) 79 final and COM(2025) 85 final of 26.02.2025.
    • [3] COM(2021) 563 final of 14.07.2021.
    • [4] Council Directive 2003/96/EC of 27 October 2003.
    Last updated: 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Supporting the local industry workers and economic sectors affected by pollution caused by the ILVA steelworks – E-001216/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is aware of the situation regarding the Acciaierie d’Italia steelworks and its impact on local industry workers and economic sectors.

    The Commission acknowledges the challenges posed by the need to decarbonise the plant, while ensuring the health and safety of workers and the surrounding environment.

    The Commission has put forward a Clean Industrial Deal[1] which was closely followed by the Steel and Metals Action Plan[2], which aims to support the transition of the steel industry towards environmental sustainability.

    The action plan sets out measures to support the steel industry in its effort to reduce carbon emissions, while maintaining its competitiveness and protecting the health and safety of workers.

    Regarding the support for Acciaierie d’Italia workers, the Commission notes that the National Programme Just Transition Fund Italy, co-funded by the EU with EUR 1.029 billion, provides support for workers at risk of losing their jobs.

    In the Taranto area, it will support skilling action for the unemployed and for those at risk of losing their jobs. The Apulia Region also plans to launch relevant training courses, financed by the EU Cohesion Funds.

    The Commission is monitoring the implementation of measures adopted to bring the Acciaierie d’Italia plant into compliance with Directive 2010/75/EU[3], as part of an ongoing infringement procedure[4].

    The Commission is aware that national funds worth EUR 400 million, which were initially supposed to finance projects to clean up contaminated aquifers and sites in the area, have since been reallocated to the Taranto steelworks so that they can keep production going. These funds and their reallocation is a matter for the Italian Republic.

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en.
    • [2] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/publications/european-steel-and-metals-action-plan_en.
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2010/75/oj/eng.
    • [4] INFR(2013)2177 — https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_25_982.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Flexibility measures to reduce CO2 emissions among heavy-duty vehicles and the impact on freight transport companies – E-002075/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002075/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Anna Maria Cisint (PfE), Silvia Sardone (PfE), Isabella Tovaglieri (PfE)

    The main freight transport company organisations have great concern over heavy-duty vehicles being excluded from the amendment of the criteria for calculating penalties for failing to meet the CO2 reduction targets. The costs associated with the green transition required by the European Commission are becoming increasingly burdensome and difficult to sustain, made worse by possible further restrictions on the composition of company fleets.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Will the Commission propose introducing more flexibility in calculating heavy-duty vehicles’ compliance with the CO2 thresholds, as has been done for light vehicles?
    • 2.Will it launch a structured dialogue with the freight transport and logistics sector to explore shared solutions that avoid harming the competitiveness of EU companies vis-à-vis non-EU companies?
    • 3.Will it reconsider the ban on the registration of new endothermic-engined vehicles from 2035, while also looking into the possibility of suspending or reviewing the penalty system applied to date?

    Submitted: 22.5.2025

    Last updated: 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Replacing the warning triangle with safer devices across the EU – E-002082/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002082/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Elena Nevado del Campo (PPE)

    In 2023, 3 698 pedestrians were hit by vehicles on EU roads and died, accounting for 18 % of all road fatalities. When a driver has an accident or breaks down on a motorway or dual carriageway, they must get out of their vehicle and set up a warning triangle at a distance of 50 metres from the vehicle, which exposes them to traffic unnecessarily.

    The V-16 – a warning light with network connectivity – is an alternative that marks the position of a vehicle effectively without the driver needing to get out, meaning that even people with reduced mobility can use it easily. This significantly reduces the risk of people being run over or involved in other accidents because they were exposed to traffic.

    As a result, Spain has made the V-16 emergency light mandatory in accordance with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, which allows the use of alternative warning devices if they are as effective as the traditional triangle. In addition, the triangle is no longer mandatory in other countries such as the United Kingdom and Luxembourg due to the risks involved.

    In light of the above:

    Is the Commission considering harmonising regulation at EU level to replace the warning triangle with safer, technological alternatives, such as the one already in use in Spain?

    Submitted: 22.5.2025

    Last updated: 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: European Commission and EIB to further support decarbonisation projects from the Innovation Fund

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The agreement allows EIB Advisory to further increase its impact on supporting innovative decarbonisation projects in line with the Clean Industrial Deal.
    • Companies can now apply for project development assistance via the EIB Innovation Fund Project Development Assistance website.
    • The renewed agreement for the Innovation Fund Project Development Assistance (PDA) is building on the success of the first Innovation Fund PDA programme.

    The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed an agreement renewing Project Development Assistance (PDA) under the Innovation Fund to increase technical and financial advisory support for innovative decarbonisation projects that are either not selected via the Fund or are preparing to apply. The renewed PDA agreement aligns with the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, which aims to increase the deployment of net-zero technologies and boost the competitiveness of industries across the EU.

    Under the renewed agreement, EIB Advisory will provide PDA to up to 250 projects between 2025 to 2028, offering broader sectoral coverage and a smooth application process. This builds on the initial Innovation Fund PDA programme, which supported 62 innovative projects – 16 of which have already secured Innovation Fund grants, seven more have received funding from national sources or other programmes; and one has been designated an EU project of common interest.

    With the expanded scope for broader coverage, the Commission has increased the budget available for EIB Advisory and its new PDA phase from €24 million to €90 million. This will further accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge decarbonisation technologies across Europe:

    • New sectors such as net-zero and low-carbon mobility including maritime, rail and road transport, and buildings have been added to the mandate following the changes to the Emission Trading System (EU ETS) which included these sectors in the Innovation Fund project scope.
    • New Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been added to help achieve geographical and sectoral balance and to promote small–scale projects as well as support immature projects.

    The PDA contributes directly to the EIB’s strategic goals in climate action and innovation, reinforcing the shared commitment to support the development of high-impact projects that will help the EU meet its climate neutrality target and foster the growth of a sustainable and clean industrial base.

    EIB Advisory services will be more easily accessible as projects can receive PDA through direct requests (‘open PDA’), in addition to the standard support mechanisms linked to Innovation Fund calls. This flexibility enhances the accessibility of the programme and allows for faster and more tailored support to promising innovative clean tech and industrial decarbonisation projects.

    Under the open PDA, promoters will be able to contact the EIB advisory services directly to receive advice. EIB Advisory will carry out an assessment to identify the eligible projects’ needs and the potential of the PDA to address these, substantially increase the maturity of the project and with it the chances of success in relevant Innovation Fund calls. PDA will be awarded on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis following this assessment.

    For more information

    EIB Innovation Fund Project Development Assistance website

    Commissioner Hoekstra said:

    “Through the Project Development Assistance from the Innovation Fund the EIB is providing further technical and financial help for promising decarbonisation projects. We lay the foundations of the innovative and competitive industrial base of tomorrow. This proves the EU’s long-term commitment to industrial decarbonisation and innovation. We are confident that the EIB with this renewed agreement will continue delivering a successful tailor-made support to Innovation Fund projects.”

    Christoph Kuhn, EIB Deputy Director General Projects Department said:  
    “With the renewed PDA agreement, EIB Advisory is not only building on past success. It’s setting a new standard for how Europe can support its most innovative and transformative clean technologies.”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DASA launches Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of fast paced Themed Competition

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    DASA launches Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of fast paced Themed Competition

    DASA launches Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of Innovation in Support of Operations – we’re seeking fast paced scalable proposals across five challenge areas

    • DASA has launched Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of Innovation in Support of Operations
    • Funded by the Ministry of Defence
    • Cycle 5 closes on 5 August 2025 at 12:00 Midday (BST)

    The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to launch Phase 2 (Cycle 5) of our fast paced Themed Competition Innovation in Support of Operations. Run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, this competition is looking for innovative proposals that are cost competitive, designed for manufacture, and can be scaled in an approximate twelve-month timeframe.

    Competition key information

    Phase Two – expected to consist of three cycles:

      Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Cycle 6
    Competition Launch Closed 3 June 19 August
    Open For 7 Weeks 9 Weeks 8 Weeks
    Comp Closes 20 May 12:00 5 August 12:00 14 October 12:00

    All above time BST

    Background: Why we need innovation in this area

    The UK Government continuously evaluates insights from global events, to rapidly implement solutions that strengthen military and economic advantage.

    This competition aims to identify and accelerate innovative solutions and techniques, ensuring they can be scaled and deployed faster than our adversaries.

    If you think you have an innovation that could be deployed at pace, please read the full Competition Document and submit a proposal

    Competition challenges

    This competition has five challenge areas:

    1. UAS Propulsion

    In this challenge area we are looking for:

    • Novel means of propulsion for small to medium UAS.
    • Novel means of manufacture/design of traditional UAS engines for small to medium UAS to increase scale of manufacture at a market leading price.

    We are not looking for the UAS platforms themselves, but you will need to demonstrate your solution on a representative platform or in another appropriate form of demonstration.

    2. 155mm Artillery Barrel Repair/Recondition

    We are looking for innovative solutions to repair or recondition 155mm artillery barrels in order to extend barrel life under these conditions.

    3. Autonomous navigation systems

    In this challenge we are seeking autonomous navigation systems for air vehicles and/or maritime surface vessels.

    4. Seekers

    We are looking for novel systems directed against:

    1. RF transmitters at frequencies ranging from 200 MHz to 40 GHz
    2. Class I(d), Class II and Class III UAS
    3. Medium to large maritime surface targets.

    5.UAS defeat

    This challenge relates to the ability to:

    1. Detect UAS. We are seeking solutions to detect (and potentially defeat) UAS, including those that are not reliant on RF links.

    2. Destroy UAS.  We are looking for novel solutions to destroy UAVs around the Class 1(d) size, once detected.

    Proposals could address either Detect or Destroy or both.

    These challenges are designed to identify innovations that could be deployed, at an appropriate scale, in operational areas within 12 months.

    For full details of the competition Challenge Areas, please read the Competition Document

    Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)

    For this competition we are seeking technology output and demonstration to reach at least technology readiness level (TRL) 6 by the end of the project.

    If you think your innovation could meet one of the Challenges, why not read the full Competition Document and submit a proposal?

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: From Cities to Heartlands: Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Sparks Innovation in Bihar and Jharkhand

    Source: Samsung

     
    As Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Season 4 sweeps across the nation, its message is clear – innovation is not confined to metro cities; it belongs to every young dreamer with a problem to solve. After energizing campuses in the North, South, and North-East, the programme has now reached the states of Bihar and Jharkhand, drawing hundreds of students into the fold of purposeful innovation.
     
    At the heart of this new chapter were three prestigious institutions in Ranchi Gossner College, St. Xavier’s College, and Marwari College where design thinking open houses transformed classrooms into idea labs. Meanwhile, students from IIT Patna joined virtually, proving that geography is no barrier when it comes to shaping India’s future.
     
    For Suraj, a student from Marwari College, the workshop was an eye-opener. “It was the first time I saw how structured thinking could turn the problems around me into actual projects. I’ve always been aware of local issues — lack of sanitation, waste management — but now I feel equipped to do something about them,” he said, his notebook filled with early sketches of a waste-segregation solution designed for small towns.
     
    At Gossner College, the energy was electric as students engaged in empathy mapping and rapid prototyping. Neha, who is pursuing her graduation, couldn’t stop smiling as she shared her idea to build a low-cost, solar-powered attendance system for rural schools. “This workshop showed me how ideas can grow when you collaborate and think beyond the obvious,” she said. “It gave me the courage to believe my solution can work — not just in Ranchi but in every village with a chalkboard.”
     
    Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a nationwide contest designed to inspire students to create innovative solutions to address some of society’s most pressing challenges by leveraging technology.
     
    Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2025’ will provide INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams to support the incubation of their projects, along with hands-on prototyping, investor connects, and expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty.
     
    Prashant, who joined the online session from IIT Patna, was deeply moved by the larger purpose behind Solve for Tomorrow. “It’s not just about tech or startups. It’s about building the India we want to live in. I want to create a platform that helps farmers access real-time data about soil health and crop cycles — something my own family has struggled with,” he shared.
     
    In every city Solve for Tomorrow has touched, it has brought with it not just tools and techniques, but also belief. In St. Xavier’s College, Adnan, a computer science undergraduate, found his mission. “There’s so much talk about AI and automation — but very little about using it for people at the margins. I’m working on a chatbot that can assist elderly people in accessing government healthcare schemes. This programme made me realise that innovation is not just a Silicon Valley word. It belongs to us too.”
     
    A Movement for Nation Building
     
    Since its launch on April 29, Solve for Tomorrow has rapidly grown from a competition to a nation-building movement. With students from metros, towns, and heartland cities like Ranchi and Patna now thinking critically, ideating boldly, and designing empathetically, the next generation of changemakers is rising — from every corner of the country.
     
    Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is not just nurturing ideas — it’s nurturing a mindset. A belief that young Indians, no matter where they come from, have what it takes to solve for India and the world.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: As of today: free online chatting on all Lufthansa long-haul flights

    Source: Lufthansa Group

    Lufthansa is now also offering unlimited free chatting on its intercontinental flights. Passengers can send and receive any number of messages from their own smartphone or tablet via the familiar apps, regardless of their travel class during the flight, including photos.

    Many passengers would like this free service to be introduced because they want to stay in touch with family and friends via text messages even on long flights.

    The new free service is offered with the support of Mastercard. To use it, passengers have to log in to FlyNet with a Miles & More service card number or an email address registered with Lufthansa Group Travel ID. They can also sign up or register during their flight.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MHRA approves aumolertinib to treat non-small cell lung cancer

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    MHRA approves aumolertinib to treat non-small cell lung cancer

    As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today, 3 June 2025, approved aumolertinib (Aumseqa) for adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

    Aumolertinib can be used in patients who have tested positive for a mutation in a gene called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and who have not yet received treatment for their cancer which has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic cancer). In certain circumstances it can be used even if the metastatic cancer has been treated before.

    This medicine is administered in tablet form, to be taken orally.

    Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said: 

    “Patient safety is our top priority, and I’m pleased to confirm that aumolertinib has met the MHRA’s standards for safety, quality and effectiveness.

     “This approval offers a new treatment option for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have tested positive for EGFR mutations – a group for whom targeted therapies can be particularly important.

     “As with all products, we will keep aumolertinib’s safety under close review.”

    Aumolertinib works by blocking EGFR and may help to slow or stop the lung cancer from growing. It may also help reduce the size tumour.

    In a Phase 3 clinical trial, aumolertinib was found to reduce the risk of disease progression or death by 54% in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC who had specific EGFR mutations, when compared to an already-approved cancer treatment called gefitinib.

    Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects in some people. A full list of side effects can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), available on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval.  

    Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine should talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Cardv scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.    

    Notes to editors    

    • The new marketing authorisation was granted on 3 June 2025 to SFL Pharmaceuticals Deutschland GmbH.

    • This product was submitted and approved via a national procedure.  

    • More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.  

    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.  

    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.  

    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Joint anti-scam operation a success

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hong Kong Police Force, in collaboration with its counterparts in Macau, Malaysia, the Maldives, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, conducted the first joint operation of FRONTIER+, a cross-boundary anti-scam platform.

    During the month-long operation that began on April 28, 1,858 individuals were arrested, involving 9,268 cases of online shopping scams, telephone deceptions, investment scams, rental scams and employment scams, with a total loss amounting to US$225 million.

    Moreover, 32,607 bank accounts were frozen and approximately US$20 million in fraudulent funds were intercepted, effectively disrupting criminal cash flows.

    At a press conference this afternoon, Hong Kong Police Force Commercial Crime Bureau Chief Superintendent Wong Chun-yue said investigations revealed that scams across different jurisdictions showed notable similarities.

    For instance, the impersonation of customer service representatives emerged as a widespread scam tactic in Hong Kong in 2024, and became less prevalent in 2025 after police intervention. Also in 2025, similar fraudulent schemes employing identical scripts and excuses began to appear in Singapore and Macau.

    This observation underscores the critical need for cross-jurisdictional collaboration and intelligence sharing to combat scam syndicates effectively, Mr Wong pointed out.

    Established by various anti-scam centres in October 2024, FRONTIER+ now comprises 10 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Indonesia, the Macao SAR, Malaysia, the Maldives, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

    By strengthening intelligence exchange and co-ordinated actions, the platform aims to combat scams, cyber-related crimes and money laundering. It will continue to conduct real-time intelligence analysis and sharing, carry out cross-boundary joint operations, and expand its network by inviting more countries and regions to join, in order to enhance enforcement efficiency.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Viper Energy, Inc., a Subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc., to Acquire Sitio Royalties Corp. in All-Equity Transaction; Increases Base Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIDLAND, Texas, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) (“Viper” or the “Company”), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FANG) (“Diamondback”), and Sitio Royalties Corp. (NYSE:STR) (“Sitio”) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Viper will acquire Sitio in an all-equity transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion, including Sitio’s net debt of approximately $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. The consideration will consist of 0.4855 shares of Class A common stock of a new holding company (“pro forma Viper”) for each share of Sitio Class A common stock, and 0.4855 units of Viper’s operating subsidiary, Viper Energy Partners LLC, for each unit of Sitio’s operating subsidiary (along with a corresponding amount of Class B common stock of pro forma Viper for each share of Sitio Class C common stock), representing an implied value to each Sitio stockholder of $19.41 per share based on the closing price of Viper common stock on June 2, 2025. The transaction was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of each company and has been approved by the written consent of Diamondback as Viper’s majority stockholder. Stockholders holding an aggregate of approximately 48% of Sitio’s outstanding voting power, including Kimmeridge, its largest stockholder, have agreed to vote in favor of the transaction. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.

    The Company today also announced that the Board of Directors of Viper approved a 10% increase to its base dividend to $1.32 per share annually ($0.33 per share quarterly).

    STRATEGIC RATIONALE

    • Size and Scale: Adds substantial scale and inventory depth that will support pro forma Viper’s durable production profile and free cash flow growth over the next decade
    • Meaningful Financial Accretion and Higher Cash Returns: Expected to be approximately 8 – 10% accretive to cash available for distribution per Class A share immediately upon closing
    • Lower Breakeven: Lowers pro forma Viper’s base dividend breakeven by approximately $2 per barrel to <$20 WTI; increased base dividend of $1.32/share represents approximately 45% of cash available for distribution at $50 WTI
    • Significant Synergies: Estimated to be in excess of $50 million annually, primarily attributable to general and administrative and cost of capital savings
    • Access to Capital: Pro forma Viper is expected to maintain its Investment Grade status; pro forma leverage expected to be approximately 1.2x at closing at strip pricing and decreasing thereafter; near-term net debt target of $1.5 billion which equates to less than 1.0x leverage at $60 WTI
    • Diamondback Relationship: Diamondback is expected to own approximately 41% of pro forma Viper’s outstanding common stock after closing and will continue to drive meaningful long-term oil production growth from the Company’s acreage

    SITIO HIGHLIGHTS

    • Approximately 25,300 net royalty acres in the Permian Basin, plus an additional ~9,000 net royalty acres in other major basins (DJ, Eagle Ford, Williston); total acreage of approximately 34,300 net royalty acres
    • Roughly 50% overlap with existing Viper gross producing horizontal wells in the Permian Basin
    • Q1 2025 average production of 18.9 mbo/d (42.1 mboe/d); Q1 2025 average Permian production of 14.5 mbo/d (31.9 mboe/d)
    • Approximately 16.1 existing net DUCs and permits with an average lateral length of ~9,500 feet

    PRO FORMA HIGHLIGHTS

    • Approximately 85,700 net royalty acres in the Permian Basin; ~43% operated by Diamondback
    • Pro forma Viper owns an average 1.8% NRI in approximately 33,300 gross producing horizontal wells (~608 net wells)
    • Approximately 75.4 existing net DUCs and permits with an average lateral length of ~10,800 feet; Diamondback is the largest operator of these net locations with 41.1 DUCs and permits with an average lateral length of ~12,400 feet
    • Estimated Q4 2025 average production of 64 – 68 mbo/d (122 – 130 mboe/d); expect full year 2026 average production to increase by a mid-single digit percentage from these levels assuming current commodity prices, line of sight trajectory, and industry activity levels

    “The combination of Viper and Sitio signifies an important moment for mineral and royalty interests,” stated Kaes Van’t Hof, Chief Executive Officer of Viper. “This combination creates a leader in size, scale, float, liquidity and access to investment grade capital in the highly fragmented minerals industry. Pro forma Viper is now clearly a must-own public mineral and royalty company in North America, with attractive size and scale in the Permian Basin. This transaction positions Viper to compete for capital with mid and large cap North American E&Ps; except with higher margins, minimal operating costs, and the lowest dividend breakeven in the space.”

    Mr. Van’t Hof continued, “While this transaction will reduce Diamondback’s ownership in pro forma Viper to 41%, it does not reduce the significance of the relationship between Diamondback and Viper. The Diamondback drillbit remains Viper’s biggest competitive advantage and the most visible source of long-term production growth at Viper. Mineral interests offer the highest form of security and upside in the oil field, and any and all benefits an operator manages to unlock accrues directly to the mineral holder without any capital risk, forever.”

    “We are excited to announce the combination of two leading minerals companies with a shared strategic vision of integrating the highest quality assets to create a truly differentiated investment opportunity for shareholders,” said Sitio CEO Chris Conoscenti. “This transaction provides Sitio’s shareholders with exposure to an entity with significantly greater size, future development visibility, and all of the benefits of the economies of scale unique to the minerals business – higher margins, lower cost of capital, strong positioning for future M&A opportunities, and the ability to return more capital to shareholders. I want to thank all of the Sitio team members, whose innovation and relentless pursuit of continuous improvement made building Sitio such an amazing and rewarding experience.”

    “This transaction is the next logical step in Sitio’s evolution,” stated Noam Lockshin, Chairman of the Sitio Board of Directors. “By adding Sitio’s coverage of the Delaware Basin to Viper’s position in the Midland Basin, the combined company will be well positioned in the Permian for years to come.”

    Advisors

    Moelis & Company LLC is serving as financial advisor to Viper and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as its legal advisor.

    J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Sitio and Vinson & Elkins LLP is serving as its legal advisor.

    Conference Call

    Viper will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss this transaction on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. CT. Access to the webcast, and replay which will be available following the call, may be found here. The live webcast of the conference call will also be available via Viper’s website at www.viperenergy.com under the “Investor Relations” section of the site.

    About Viper Energy, Inc.

    Viper is a corporation formed by Diamondback to own, acquire and exploit oil and natural gas properties in North America, with a focus on owning and acquiring mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian Basin. For more information, please visit www.viperenergy.com.

    About Diamondback Energy, Inc.

    Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.diamondbackenergy.com.

    About Sitio Royalties Corp.

    Sitio is a shareholder returns-driven company focused on large-scale consolidation of high-quality oil & gas mineral and royalty interests across premium basins, with a diversified set of top-tier operators. With a clear objective of generating cash flow from operations that can be returned to stockholders and reinvested, Sitio has accumulated approximately 34,300 net royalty acres through the consummation of over 200 acquisitions, as of March 31, 2025. More information about Sitio is available at www.sitio.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This communication relates to a proposed business combination transaction (the “Mergers”) between Viper and Sitio and the information included herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the results to differ materially from such statements. All statements, other than historical facts, that address activities that Viper or Sitio assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future, or statements regarding the proposed Mergers, the likelihood that the conditions to the consummation of the Mergers will be satisfied on a timely basis or at all, Viper’s and Sitio’s ability to consummate the Mergers at any time or at all, the benefits of the Mergers and the post-combination company’s future financial performance following the Mergers, the post-combination company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. When used herein, the words “may,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” and similar expressions and the negative of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. The forward-looking statements are based on Viper’s and Sitio’s management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events.

    Factors that could cause the outcomes to differ materially include (but are not limited to) the following: the risk associated with Sitio’s ability to obtain the approvals of its stockholders required to consummate the Mergers; risks related to the timing of the closing of the Mergers, including the risk that the conditions to the Mergers are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all or the failure of the Mergers to close for any other reason or to close on the anticipated terms, including the anticipated tax treatment; the risk that any regulatory approval, consent or authorization that may be required for the Mergers is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the post-combination company’s ability to successfully integrate Sitio’s and Viper’s businesses and technologies; the risk that the expected benefits and synergies of the Mergers may not be fully achieved in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that Sitio or Viper will not, or that following the Mergers, the post-combination company will not, be able to retain and hire key personnel; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the Mergers, the response of business partners and retention as a result of the announcement and pendency of the Mergers; Viper’s ability to finance the combined company on acceptable terms or at all; uncertainty as to the long-term value of the post-combination company’s common stock; the diversion of Sitio’s and Viper’s management’s time on transaction-related matters; and those risks described in Viper’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including in Item 1A of Viper’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2025, subsequent Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings Viper makes with the SEC, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and Viper’s website at www.viperenergy.com/investors/overview, and in Sitio’s periodic filings with the SEC, including in Item 1A of Sitio’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2025, subsequent Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings Sitio makes with the SEC, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and Sitio’s website at investors.sitio.com.

    In light of these factors, the events anticipated by Viper’s and Sitio’s forward-looking statements may not occur at the time anticipated or at all. Moreover, Viper and Sitio conduct their businesses in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment and new risks emerge from time to time. Viper and Sitio cannot predict all risks, nor can they assess the impact of all factors on their businesses or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by any forward-looking statements they may make. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication or, if earlier, as of the date they were made. Viper and Sitio do not intend to, and disclaim any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements unless required by applicable law.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the Merger, New Cobra Pubco, Inc. (“New Parent”) will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, which will include a proxy statement of Sitio, an information statement of Viper and a prospectus of New Parent. The Mergers will be submitted to Sitio’s stockholders for their consideration. Viper, Sitio and New Parent may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the Mergers. After the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, a definitive joint information statement/proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the stockholders of Viper and Sitio. This communication is not a substitute for the registration statement and joint information statement/proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed with the SEC or any other documents that Viper, Sitio or New Parent may file with the SEC or send to stockholders of Viper or Sitio in connection with the Mergers. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF SITIO AND VIPER ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT INFORMATION STATEMENT/PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGERS AND RELATED MATTERS.

    Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and the joint information statement/proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and all other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Viper, Sitio or New Parent, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    Viper, Sitio, New Parent and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Sitio stockholders in connection with the Mergers.

    Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Viper, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Viper’s definitive proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including under the headings “Proposal 1: Election of Directors”, “Executive Officers”, “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, “Compensation Tables”, “Stock Ownership” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” which was filed with the SEC on April 10, 2025 and is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1602065/000119312525077960/d884560ddef14a.htm, To the extent holdings of Viper’s securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in Viper’s definitive proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4, or Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 5 filed with the SEC, which are available at EDGAR Search Results https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0001602065&type=&dateb=&owner=only&count=40&search_text=.

    Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Sitio, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth (i) in Sitio’s definitive proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including under the headings “Proposal 1 – Election of Directors”, “Executive Officers”, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”, “Certain Relationships and Interested Transactions”, “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, “Summary Compensation Table” and “2024 Director Compensation”, which was filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025 and is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1949543/000162828025015343/str-20250328.htm. To the extent holdings of Sitio’s securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in Sitio’s definitive proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4, or Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 5 filed with the SEC, which are available at EDGAR Search Results https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=1949543&type=&dateb=&owner=only&count=40&search_text=.

    Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint information statement/proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. You may obtain free copies of these documents through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, pursuant to the Mergers or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. Viper defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) attributable to Viper Energy, Inc. plus net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest (“net income (loss)”) before interest expense, net, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, depletion expense, non-cash (gain) loss on derivative instruments, and instruments, (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, if any, other non-cash operating expenses, other non-recurring expenses and provision for (benefit from) income taxes, if any. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful because it allows it to more effectively evaluate Viper’s operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, royalty income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented as determined in accordance with GAAP. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDA. Viper defines cash available for distribution generally as an amount equal to its Adjusted EBITDA for the applicable quarter less cash needed for income taxes payable, debt service, contractual obligations and fixed charges and reserves for future operating or capital needs that the Board may deem appropriate, lease bonus income, net of tax, dividend equivalent rights payments and preferred dividends, if any. Management believes cash available for distribution is useful because it allows them to more effectively evaluate Viper’s operating performance excluding the impact of non-cash financial items and short-term changes in working capital. Viper defines free cash flow margin as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures divided by total barrels of oil equivalents. Viper defines cash margins as unhedged realized price per Boe less production and ad valorem taxes, cash G&A, and interest expense divided by unhedged realized price. Viper defines pre-tax income attributable to Viper as income (loss) before income taxes less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest. Viper believes this measure is useful to investors given it provides the basis for income taxes payable by Viper, which is an adjustment to reconcile Adjusted EBITDA to cash available for distribution to Viper’s shareholders. Viper defines net debt as debt (excluding debt issuance costs, discounts and premiums) less cash and cash equivalents. Net debt should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Management uses net debt to determine Viper’s outstanding debt obligations that would not be readily satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. Viper believes this metric is useful to analysts and investors in determining Viper’s leverage position because Viper has the ability to, and may decide to, use a portion of its cash and cash equivalents to reduce debt. Viper’s computations of Adjusted EBITDA, cash available for distribution, pre-tax income attributable to Viper, free cash flow margins, cash margins, and net debt may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies or to such measure in its credit facility or any of its other contracts. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, cash available for distribution and net debt to the most comparable GAAP measures, please refer to the materials furnished by Viper to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Furthermore, this communication includes or references certain forward‐looking, non‐GAAP financial measures, such as estimated free cash flow for 2025, distributable cash flow per Class A shareholder for 2025 and certain related estimates regarding future performance, results and financial position. Because Viper provides these measures on a forward‐looking basis, it cannot reliably or reasonably predict certain of the necessary components of the most directly comparable forward‐looking GAAP measures, such as any future impairments and future changes in working capital. Accordingly, Viper is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of such forward‐looking, non‐GAAP financial measures to the respective most directly comparable forward‐looking GAAP financial measures. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on our ultimate results. However, Viper believes these forward‐looking, non‐GAAP measures may be a useful tool for the investment community in comparing Viper’s forecasted financial performance to the forecasted financial performance of other companies in the industry.

    Oil and Gas Reserves

    The SEC generally permits oil and gas companies, in filings made with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves, which are reserve estimates that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, and certain probable and possible reserves that meet the SEC’s definitions for such terms. Viper discloses only estimated proved reserves in its filings with the SEC. Viper’s estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2024 contained in this communication were prepared by Viper’s internal reservoir engineers and audited by Ryder Scott Company, L.P., an independent petroleum engineering firm, and comply with definitions promulgated by the SEC. Additional information on Viper’s estimated proved reserves is contained in Viper’s filings with the SEC. In this communication, Viper may use the terms “resources,” “resource potential” or “potential resources,” which the SEC guidelines prohibit Viper from including in filings with the SEC. “Resources,” “resource potential” or “potential resources” refer to Viper’s internal estimates of hydrocarbon quantities that may be potentially discovered through exploratory drilling or recovered with additional drilling or recovery techniques. Such terms do not constitute reserves within the meaning of the Society of Petroleum Engineer’s Petroleum Resource Management System or SEC rules and do not include any proved reserves. Actual quantities that may be ultimately recovered by the operators of Viper’s properties will differ substantially. Factors affecting ultimate recovery include the scope of the operators’ ongoing drilling programs, which will be directly affected by the availability of capital, drilling and production costs, availability of drilling services and equipment, drilling results, lease expirations, transportation constraints, regulatory approvals and other factors; and actual drilling results, including geological and mechanical factors affecting recovery rates. Estimates of potential resources may change significantly as development of our properties by our operators provide additional data. In addition, our production forecasts and expectations for future periods are dependent upon many assumptions, including estimates of production, decline rates from existing wells and the undertaking and outcome of future drilling activity, which may be affected by significant commodity price declines or drilling cost increases.

    Investor Contact

    Viper Energy:
    Chip Seale
    +1 432.247.6218
    cseale@viperenergy.com

    Sitio Royalties:
    Alyssa Stephens
    +1 281.407.5204
    IR@sitio.com

    Source: Viper Energy, Inc.; Diamondback Energy, Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • Break big smuggling syndicates, curb narcotics trade: FM Sitharaman tells DRI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday asked the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to adopt a holistic and technology-driven approach to tackle smuggling and narcotics trade amid increasingly complex geopolitical environment and security threats.

    In her address at the inaugural event of the DRI’s new headquarters, the Finance Minister said there was a need to go beyond surface-level enforcement and focus on uncovering deeper systemic threats.

    “Investigate holistically, keeping the big picture in mind, leverage all available resources to uncover deeper systemic risks and threads by connecting the dots,” she said.

    She emphasised that dismantling the entire smuggling syndicates must be the end-goal of any investigation, which must not stop at peripheral seizures.

    “It’s no good if you catch the small fish. The bigger smuggling chain has to be tracked and acted upon. We must take down those nefarious chains,” she added.

    Sitharaman identified narcotics as the most serious national threat and called for urgent coordination with state law enforcement agencies to prevent schools and colleges from being targeted by drug traffickers.

    She also underlined the importance of internal collaboration: “Internal coordination, when well managed, makes outcomes better.”

    The Finance Minister cited PM Modi’s ‘Reform, Perform and Transform’ mantra as the spirit with which the enforcement agencies should move forward.

    She spelt out three guiding principles for the agency’s approach: the rules must be applied fairly, public confidence in the trade system must be maintained, and the enforcement must be intelligent and high-impact.

    “Value- and trust-based compliance is important, not fear-induced compliance,” Sitharaman pointed out.

    She highlighted the need for deeper and faster integration of modern technology into enforcement frameworks. “There’s a lot of talk around AI, but I now want to see concrete output using AI,” she said, pressing for data-driven, intelligence-led action. “More modern technology use needs to be deeply and well integrated into the system – data analytics and so on,” she added.

    (With inputs from IANS)

     

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Magic Forest, the “Sunny Circle” and Krylov’s Fables: How Creativity Helps People with Mental Disabilities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A young man in a tailcoat and shirt front sits at a table with a goose feather in his hand and watches the Dragonfly flutter across a forest clearing, and the Fox coaxes a piece of cheese from the Crow: this is what the production of Ivan Krylov’s fables looks like at the Special Theatre. All the actors are people with mental disabilities, wards of the daytime employment resource centre “House under the Sun” in Yasenevo. The project was created by the charitable foundation for the promotion of social and cultural initiatives and guardianship “Lifestyle”, helps them develop their thinking, memory and speech, adapt to society, feel busy with something important, write a story about their own life. In 2024, the project of the Special Theatre Foundation won the competition “Moscow is a kind city”, and its authors received financial assistance for its implementation.

    mos.ru correspondents visited the Special Theatre and found out how children learn to transform into fairy tale characters, what talents they display and what they dream about.

    All in leading roles

    The Special Theatre operates in the House Under the Sun resource centre located on Golubinskaya Street (31, building 1), next to the Bitsevsky Forest natural and historical park. The Lifestyle Charity Foundation received this two-storey building free of charge from the Moscow Government, having won a competition for premises in 2020.

    Inside the “House in the Sun” we see painted houses on a bright green forest background, wicker balls similar to nests are hung from the ceiling. There are flowers in pots everywhere, stands with drawings of the wards, shelves with toys. And in one of the rooms, a wall is occupied by a felt glade-carpet “Magic Forest”: you can attach multi-colored oaks, frogs, swallows, squirrels on Velcro to it, creating your own universe. At the same time, visitors to the center try to remember the names of animals and plants.

    In the hall there is a motivational sign “Rules of the House in the Sun”: “Make each other happy. Believe in yourself. Always move forward. Do what you love.” Here all this works out.

    When we came to the Special Theatre, the guys were preparing for a performance based on Ivan Krylov’s fables. 30-year-old Igor Kotelnikov plays a fabulist. According to the plot, he has to observe his characters and then read a moral, for example: “How many times have we told the world that flattery is vile, harmful, but it’s all to no avail…” Despite his mental peculiarities, the young man was able to learn the text by heart.

    “This is not my first production. I used to play the bear in “Teremok”, the king in “The Bremen Town Musicians”, and the cat Basilio in “Buratino”. I also write a column called “Igor’s Chronicles” in our wall newspaper. I tell you what I have achieved here, how I help my mother clean the house, and how I take care of my family. In general, I can do a lot. I graduated from college, learned how to make notebooks, and won prizes in various nominations of the Abilympics competition,” admits Igor Kotelnikov, an actor at the Special Theatre and a protégé of “House Under the Sun”.

    Another young man, 29-year-old Ivan Pronin, has also achieved success. It is difficult for him to speak, but in the role of the host he recites from memory a philosophical text written by the teachers of the House under the Sun: “Each of us chooses which road to walk or drive, what good deeds to do.” These words have meaning: they concern, first of all, the guys from the House under the Sun. Any of them can choose a role in the Special Theater depending on their abilities and interests.

    Thus, 18-year-old Sergey Rogov is interested in zoology and takes excellent photographs of nature, but he has difficulty speaking and avoids people. In the play, he is a silent and serious Ant: he collects plastic fruits in a basket, drags a beanbag along the floor, where, according to the script, provisions for the winter are stored. And his peer Alisa Popova is fluent in written Russian and writes fairy tales, but has difficulty communicating – she is close to the roles of the Crow, Dragonfly and Cuckoo. To play such characters, the girl does not need to pronounce many words. For example, in a dialogue with the Rooster, she says only: “I am ready to listen to you, my godfather, forever.” And Ilya Shragin cannot speak, but he also found a role: he portrays a tree in an excerpt from the fable “The Pig Under the Oak.”

    “The theatrical project allows the wards to feel confident, needed, overcome shyness, learn the text as much as possible. They are very nervous before each performance and are happy when they are applauded,” says Inga Zhgenti, deputy director of the charitable foundation “Lifestyle”.

    Children from the special family centers “Rose of the Winds” and “Sem-Ya” came to the show. They laugh and clap their hands, watching the heroes of Ivan Krylov’s fables replace each other on stage. After the show, which lasts only 20 minutes, so as not to tire the actors and spectators, the guests are invited to a disco, and the little ones, together with the adults, happy and satisfied, dance.

    “We recently went on an excursion to the educational center of the Moscow Art Theater School. On the way back, the guys asked: when will their plays be shown on the big stage? Of course, we cannot promise them this, but we plan to hold such meetings regularly. In addition, we will continue to invite guests to us. We want to show the world that people with mental disabilities are just a little different. They are cheerful and sincere. It is easy with them,” says Olga Stukalova, head of the Dom pod Solntsem center and deputy director for educational programs at the Obraz Zhizni charity foundation.

    Creativity and play as ways to understand the world

    Currently, 55 Muscovites from their teens to 40s are studying at the House Under the Sun. About 20 people come here every day. In addition to rehearsals and performances, the center’s guests learn to draw, make felt dolls, dance, sing, and cook simple dishes at the Special Theater. This is how they develop fine motor skills, learn new words, and learn to take care of themselves.

    “Creativity helps people with mental disabilities to open up and learn to communicate. Most of our wards have poor speech, some can only count to 10, not everyone is able to move around the city independently. But here they have a goal – creation, they feel like real artists, musicians, actors,” says Olga Stukalova.

    A lesson in the creative studio lasts 45 minutes. As Inga Zhgenti explains, to make it easier for participants to understand what lessons they have today, the staff makes a personal visual schedule for each person every day. These are cards with images of what they have to do today (for example, a treble clef and the word “Music”), which are placed under the students’ photos on the board. After the lesson, each participant puts the card in a basket.

    We enter the music classroom. There are green and yellow paper ribbons with red carnations hanging from the ceiling: they set a positive mood. The students at their desks try to answer the teacher’s questions: “What kind of instrument is this? That’s right: spoons! And this? A tambourine! Well done!” Then everyone sings the songs “Sunny Circle, Sky Around” and “Let’s Go to the Garden to Pick Raspberries” in chorus.

    In another class, young people are making pictures out of plasticine; one makes a boat, another a peacock. Each person chooses the theme of the picture themselves. One young man is blind and has almost no memory or speech; he recognizes people by putting their hands to his face. However, he managed to make a pink screwdriver and a capybara out of plasticine.

    One of the favorite activities of the wards of “House under the Sun” is cooking. It is both creativity and acquisition of basic household skills.

    “I’ve been coming here since the center opened. I sculpt, draw, play music, and attend a book club. I love cooking. I’ve already baked a pie, made scrambled eggs, shawarma, salad, pizza, and pancakes in an electric pancake maker,” Ivan Pronin shares.

    According to Inga Zhgenti, the most effective way to teach people with mental disabilities is through play. At the same time, teachers make it clear that they value and respect their students and are happy to communicate with them. “Our main rule is let’s be friends,” the mos.ru interlocutor clarifies.

    You can support “Lifestyle” and other Moscow non-profit organizations (NPOs) with the help of charity service on mos.ru. In category “For people with disabilities” 13 verified NPOs are presented that help children and adults with special needs, including mental disabilities. To make a donation, simply select a program of assistance and indicate the amount of the transfer. You can support one organization, several, or all programs in a category at once: in this case, the amount will be equally distributed between the NPOs of the selected section.

    Quickly find out the main news of the capital inofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Bright life: how a capital NGO helps people with Down syndromeSign language interpreters, Braille and special transport: how VDNKh takes care of guests with disabilitiesDiagnostics of special children in Moscow is now fully available online

    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/154701073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The first passengers arrived from Uzbekistan to the Chinese city of Urumqi since the visa waiver agreement came into force

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    URUMQI, June 3 (Xinhua) — A plane carrying 160 passengers landed at Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi at 7:00 a.m. Sunday. They became the first passengers from Uzbekistan to visit China since the Agreement on Mutual Exemption from Visa Requirements between China and Uzbekistan came into force.

    The flight time from Tashkent to Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region /Northwest China/, is about five hours. According to an Uzbek citizen named Tadjibayev, he plans to take a tourist trip around Xinjiang for 21 days. He is extremely interested in visiting Lake Sairam-Nur, the ancient city of Kashi /Kashgar/ and other picturesque areas.

    Currently, every week, planes of the two countries’ airlines operate 18 flights on routes connecting Urumqi and Uzbek cities.

    The local customs service promised to do everything necessary to help passengers resolve any problems they may encounter during inspection.

    Under the agreement, citizens of both countries are exempt from visa requirements when entering, leaving or transiting through the territories of the two countries for a period of no more than 30 days for each individual stay and for a total period of no more than 90 days within any 180-day period.

    Moreover, the duration of each entry and stay on the territory of the states of both parties must not exceed 30 days.

    If citizens need to stay for more than 30 days, they must obtain an entry visa in advance. The visa-free regime does not apply to work, education, and media activities, as well as other activities that require prior approval from the competent authorities of the other party. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court over mass layoffs of federal employees

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 3 (Xinhua) — The Trump administration on Monday filed an appeal with the Supreme Court seeking to overturn a federal court’s ban on massive staff cuts and reorganization of federal agencies.

    On appeal, U.S. Solicitor General John Sauer argues that “control over federal agency personnel is fundamental” to the president’s powers, and “the Constitution does not create a presumption against presidential control over agency personnel, and the president does not require specific congressional authorization to exercise” his core constitutional powers.

    On May 30, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the Trump administration’s appeal, upholding a temporary injunction issued earlier by Judge Susan Illston of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The judge’s order prevents federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from making sweeping cuts and reorganizations.

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the massive layoffs and reorganizations would cause serious harm to many areas, including the nation’s food safety system and veterans’ health care, and should therefore be stayed pending litigation.

    On May 9, S. Illston issued a two-week injunction requiring federal agencies to cease enforcing the executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February and a subsequent memorandum issued by OMB. The court ordered agencies to cancel all notices of termination issued pursuant to the order, reinstate employees placed on administrative leave, and compensate them appropriately.

    In her ruling, S. Illston said that D. Trump must get congressional approval to reform federal agencies, which in turn cannot carry out massive reorganizations or layoffs without congressional permission.

    On May 22, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the ban extended indefinitely. The next day, the Justice Department appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 1 June 2025 Donors making a difference: tobacco control

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing over 8 million people a year globally.

    In February 2025, WHO marked the 20th anniversary of its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), providing a legal framework and comprehensive package of tobacco control measures. The WHO FCTC now has 182 Parties covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

    In 2007, WHO introduced a practical, cost-effective initiative to scale up implementation to reduce tobacco use called MPOWER. Today, 5.6 billion people are covered by an MPOWER measure which includes: monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; protect people from tobacco use; offer help to quit tobacco use; warn about the dangers of tobacco; enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and raise taxes on tobacco.

    MPOWER has helped to reduce global deaths from tobacco use and created a global partnership on tobacco control focused on supporting the highest burden countries in the world, with WHO recognized as a global leader.

    Thanks to commitment and powerful action in countries, and with support from key donors, tobacco use is declining across all WHO regions. Here are some stories from across the WHO regions demonstrating the impact of WHO’s work in this area.

    Tobacco free farms in Kenya and Zambia

    Tobacco free farmer from Migori County, Kenya. Photo by: WHO

    A record 349 million people are facing acute food insecurity globally. Food insecurity is further exasperated by tobacco production. Tobacco is grown in over 124 countries, taking up 3.2 million hectares of fertile land that could be used to grow food. Tobacco farmers often lack the confidence to shift away from tobacco due to market variability for alternative crops.

    WHO, in collaboration with partners, launched the Tobacco-Free Farms initiative in 2021 in Kenya and 2023 in Zambia.

    The initiative has supported over 8 600 farmers in Kenya and over 500 farmers in Zambia.

    The initiative seeks to move smallholder farmers away from tobacco growth and into nutritious food crops, by creating an ecosystem which could improve household food security and income generation. It may simultaneously add value to farmers’ land through rehabilitation of climate smart and other good agricultural practices.

    Read more about the initiative

    First ever WHO treaty marks 20 years of saving millions of lives worldwide

    Since the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and the MPOWER technical package that supports it, global tobacco use prevalence has dropped by one-third. The WHO FCTC has helped to save millions of lives through strengthened tobacco control measures around the world.

    Up to 5.6 billion people are now covered by at least one tobacco control policy and studies have shown a decline in global smoking rates. 138 countries require large pictorial health warnings on cigarettes packages because of the Convention and dozens more countries have implemented plain packaging rules on cigarette packages. Both measures serve as powerful tools to reduce tobacco consumption and warn users about the dangers of tobacco use.

    Over a quarter of the world’s population is now covered by smoke free policies which require bans in indoor and workspaces, saving millions of lives from the dangers of the second-hand smoke.

    More than 66 countries have implemented bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship which include bans on tobacco advertising in the media and sponsorship deals.

    Read the story

    Uganda’s anti-tobacco initiative yields results

    In 2022, WHO trained 157 law enforcement officers and 15 national trainers from five districts in Uganda to raise awareness and help enforce the smoking ban in public places. Photo by: WHO

    In 2007, Uganda signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a legally binding treaty that requires countries to implement evidence-based measures to reduce tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. In 2015, the country passed its Tobacco Control Act, which regulates tobacco products and their use, including in public places.

    These dual interventions have delivered notable results. Between 2014 to 2022, Uganda saw a 51% drop in the prevalence of tobacco use.

    WHO played a key role in supporting the Ugandan government’s efforts, building the capacity of tobacco control focal people in government entities since 2015.

    Read the story

    Legal measures drive down rates of tobacco use in Mauritania

    “Quitting smoking is the best decision I’ve ever made for my health and I’m very proud of it,” says Ifrah. “Giving up smoking is difficult, but not impossible. With willpower and determination, it can be done.” Photo by: WHO

    In 2018, Mauritania introduced legislation in line with WHO recommendations stipulating that all tobacco products on sale in Mauritania must carry a health warning covering at least 70% of the surface area of both sides of the packaging.

    These legal steps to introduce graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging are changing the status quo. The 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) shows that between 2012 and 2021, tobacco use in Mauritania has declined by 8%, from 18% to 10%. Nearly 25% of smokers in Mauritania first noticed health warnings on cigarette packages, while 14% of smokers thought about quitting because of warning labels.

    With WHO support, Mauritania’s Health Ministry has provided tobacco control training to 15 regional governors. Mauritania is also implementing awareness campaigns around the dangers of tobacco consumption, a ban on smoking in public places, and the introduction of tobacco taxes.

    Read the story

    Pan American Health Organization hosts regional workshop to implement effective tobacco tax policies

    Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in Latin America, contributing to high rates of non-communicable diseases. Despite clear evidence that tobacco taxation is one of the most effective public health interventions to reduce consumption, its use is still limited in many Latin American countries.

    PAHO/WHO, with partners brought together policymakers from 15 countries to participate in the 3-day workshop, “Advancing Tobacco Taxes in Latin America”.

    The meeting focused on addressing the ongoing public health and economic challenges posed by tobacco consumption in Latin American countries, emphasizing the potential of tobacco taxes as a cost-effective tool to reduce the burden of tobacco use. Participants included delegates from ministries of health and finance from Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

    Read the story

    Ministry of Health and WHO release Global Adult Tobacco Survey Indonesia Report

    The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Indonesia Report 2021 presents detailed information on tobacco use and key tobacco control indicators, using globally standardized protocols and methodologies. The report found that 34.5% of adults – 70.2 million people – used tobacco. Use of electronic cigarettes increased by 10 times in the last 10 years, from 0.3% in 2011 – when the last GATS was conducted – to 3% in 2021.

    Across Indonesia, WHO continues to advocate for implementation of strong tobacco control measures. This includes increased taxation of tobacco products, expansion of subnational bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and stronger, more effective implementation and enforcement of smoke-free policies.

    WHO encourages policy makers and public health researchers in Indonesia and globally to access and utilize the GATS Indonesia Report 2021, to better control tobacco and achieve a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

    Read the story

    World No Tobacco Day 2024 in Thailand: protecting children from tobacco industry interference

    Every year on 31 May, World No Tobacco Day highlights the dangers of tobacco use, exposes harmful business practices of tobacco companies, and empowers individuals to claim their right to health and protect future generations.

    In Thailand, a troubling trend is rising among the youth: the growing popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping, driven by aggressive marketing and appealing designs. A sharp rise in e-cigarette use was observed amongst Thai school-aged children (13–15 years), with prevalence increasing from 3.35% in 2015 to 17.6% in 2022, despite the sale of e-cigarettes being banned in Thailand. Children and young people are aggressively targeted through marketing that relies heavily on social media and influencers.

    The campaign exposed the tobacco industry’s deceptive practices and the real dangers of e-cigarettes, aiming to empower Thai youth to resist the lure of smoking and vaping. WHO urged all stakeholders – readers, parents, educators, policymakers – to unite in this fight, support anti-smoking campaigns, advocate for strict regulations, and educate communities to protect youth and secure a smoke-free future.

    Read the story

    Towards a tobacco-free Jordan: launch of national strategy to combat tobacco and smoking

    Minister of Health in Jordan delivering speech at the National Strategy to combat tobacco and smoking in all its forms launch. Photo by: WHO

    Jordan’s Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, officially launched the National Strategy to Combat Tobacco and Smoking in All Its Forms 2024–2030 and an accompanying action plan for 2024–2026. The landmark launch event was held on 6 June 2024 under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister of Jordan Dr Bisher Khasawneh.

    A startling 66.1% of males in Jordan are smokers, according to the 2019 Jordan National Stepwise Survey. A further 15.9% of males use electronic cigarettes. According to the WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030, published in 2023, Jordan is one of just 6 countries globally where tobacco use is still growing.

    The Ministry of Health developed the strategy in collaboration with the WHO Country Office in Jordan and incorporated contributions from various ministries, nongovernmental organizations and international experts. This approach has ensured that the strategy is a comprehensive, evidence-based road map tailored to the Jordanian context.

    Read the story

    WHO Director-General congratulates the Philippines on its progress in tobacco control, 10 years since the signing of the Sin Tax Reform Law

    In January 2023 in Manila, legislators of the Philippine Government, members of the Action for Economic Reforms and the Sin Tax Coalition, and representatives from WHO, development partners and civil society organisations marked the 10th anniversary of the passage of Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Reform Law.

    WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated the Philippines on putting this tax reform and other measures in place for tobacco control. As a result of the many measures taken, tobacco use has dropped from 30% in 2009 to 20% in 2021.

    “The taxes are having a clear impact. More smokers are trying to quit because of the high price of cigarettes. The Philippines is a great example for other countries of how raising tobacco taxes can save lives, reduce health costs, and raise revenues”, said Dr Tedros.

    Read the story

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Heritage New Zealand – New education resource on Ōtūmoetai Pā released

    Source: Heritage New Zealand
    A new multi-media education resource highlighting the unique heritage features of Tauranga’s Ōtūmoetai Pā has been launched and is now available to check out.
    The learning module can be found on the LEARNZ website (see link below) and features video interviews and a wealth of historical and other information that will be useful for students and those who have an interest in the history of Ōtūmoetai Pā and its surrounding area. It also covers the role of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga with archaeology.
    The series of videos include interviews with kaumatua Koro Des Tata (Ngāi Tamarāwaho), kaitiaki Barry Ngatoko (Ngāi Tamarāwaho) and Dean Flavell, the Pouarahi for the Tauranga Heritage Collection. Together they look after an important archaeological collection including taonga from excavations at Ōtūmoetai and the wider Tauranga Moana district until the new museum is built.
    Tauranga-based archaeologist Ken Phillips is also interviewed along with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga staff based in Tauranga, including archaeologists Dr Rachel Darmody (Ngāi Tahu) and Eleanor Sturrock; and Pouarahi Te Haana Jacob (Te Arawa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui).
    “This is a teaching resource that is perfect for the classroom as well as home research and learning,” says Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Director Regional Services Pam Bain, who coordinated the education initiative.
    “The content relates to different strands of the curriculum including Te Ao Tangata – Social Science; Pūtaio – Science; Ngā Toi – Arts; and Hangarau – Technology, to name a few. The stories are readily accessible and targeted to students, though people who may not have been in a classroom for many years should check out the link for sheer interest value. The material is fascinating.”
    Every year LEARNZ offers a variety of online field trips allowing students to connect with people and places around New Zealand and beyond. The online trips incorporate video, audio and written materials providing interactive experiences for students that aim to spark curiosity, activate prior knowledge and build learning.
    The LEARNZ online field trips have generated a huge amount of interest according to Clive Francis, LEARNZ Project Manager at Tātai Aho Rau Core Education.
    “It shows there is a real appetite for schools and kura to learn about Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories,” he says.
    “We are very grateful to the interviewees, the Ministry of Education and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga for their support to enable the field trip to happen.”
    Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga cares for 46 historic places around the country – many of which are open to the public and tell diverse stories. These range from New Zealand’s oldest building, Kemp House in Kerikeri to Totara Estate near Ōamaru, the farm that sent the first shipment of frozen lamb to Britain in 1882 – and almost everything in between.
    “Ideally students are able to visit these places for themselves, though realistically not everyone can do that,” says Pam.
    “LEARNZ provides wonderful alternative learning epxeriences for students that are the next best thing to being there.”
    The most recent Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga field trip organised through LEARNZ reached about 12,000 students through 98 educators around the country – an amazing result that shows the power of online learning and the widespread interest in heritage.
    “Tapping into this technology can bring our history alive and straight into classrooms around New Zealand – and even the world,” she says.
    Check out the Ōtūmoetai Pā learning experience for yourself: https://www.learnz.org.nz/Otumoetai251

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Privacy Commissioner – Supermarket trial of FRT: Inquiry results announced

    Source: Office of the Privacy Commissioner

    Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster has found that the live facial recognition technology model trialled by Foodstuffs North Island is compliant with the Privacy Act.
    However, his Inquiry report released today, shows that any business considering or using FRT needs to make sure it sets things up right to stay within the law.
    “While the use of FRT during the trial was effective at reducing harmful behaviour (especially reducing serious violent incidents) it has also shown that there are many things that need to be taken into account.
    “FRT systems have potential safety benefits, but they do raise significant privacy concerns, including the unnecessary or unfair collection of people’s information, misidentification, technical bias which can reinforce existing inequities and human bias, or the ability to be used for surveillance”.
    “These issues become particularly critical when people need to access essential services such as supermarkets. FRT will only be acceptable if the use is necessary and the privacy risks are successfully managed”.
    The purpose of the Privacy Commissioner’s Inquiry into Foodstuffs North Island’s trial use of live FRT was to understand its privacy impacts, its compliance with the Privacy Act, and to evaluate if it was an effective tool in reducing serious retail crime compared with other less privacy intrusive options.
    The Inquiry found while the level of privacy intrusion was high because every visitor’s face is collected, the privacy safeguards used in the trial reduced it to an acceptable level.
    “Foodstuffs North Island designed the privacy safeguards used in the trial with feedback from my Office. This has provided some useful lessons for other businesses which may be considering using FRT.”
    The main privacy safeguards in place during the trial were:
    – Images that did not result in a positive match were deleted immediately, as recommended by OPC – this meant there was very little privacy impact on most people who entered the trial stores
    – The system was set up to only identify people who had engaged in seriously harmful behaviour, particularly violent offending
    – Staff were not permitted to add images of children or young people under 18, or people thought to be vulnerable, to the watchlist
    – There was no sharing of watchlist information between stores
    – During the trial, the operational threshold that triggered an FRT alert was raised from 90% to 92.5% likelihood of the images matching, reducing the chances that people would be misidentified while managing down the “computer says yes” risk
    – Match alerts were verified by two trained staff, ensuring that human decision making was a key part of the process
    – Access to the FRT system and information was restricted to trained authorised staff only
    – Images collected were not permitted to be used for training data purposes
    – Systems were reviewed and improved during the trial where misidentifications or errors occurred.
    “There is still some work to do to increase the safety and effectiveness of FRT software use in the New Zealand context, as FRT technology has been developed overseas and has not been trained on the New Zealand population.
    “As a result, we can’t be completely confident it has fully addressed technical bias issues, including the potential negative impact on Māori and Pacific people. This means the technology must only be used with the right processes in place, including human checks that an alert is accurate before acting on it.”
    “Some improvements will also need to be made by FSNI before the use of FRT is made permanent or expanded to more stores. These focus on ensuring the documented processes and system settings are updated to match what happens in practice, including ongoing review of the use of FRT to make sure its use is justified as an effective tool for reducing serious harm offending.
    “I also expect that Foodstuffs North Island will put in place monitoring and review to allow it to evaluate the impact of skin tone on identification accuracy and store response, and to provide confidence to the regulator and customers that key privacy safeguards remain in place.
    “The trial findings will help other businesses to ask the right questions about whether FRT is necessary and appropriate for them and to understand what they would need to do to set FRT up and run it in a privacy protective way.”
    The report sets out my expectations for the use of FRT across nine key areas, says the Privacy Commissioner.
    The FRT trial started on 8 February and ended on 7 September 2024 and ran in 25 supermarkets. During the trial, 225,972,004 faces were scanned (includes multiple scans of the same person), with 99.999% of these deleted within one minute, and there were 1742 alerts of which 1208 were confirmed matches.
    OPC is currently developing a Biometric Processing Privacy Code, which applies to biometric information, including a photo of someone’s face used in a Facial Recognition System. The new Code is expected to be published in mid-2025. The Biometrics Code is designed to provide guardrails for the safe use of biometrics generally, including FRT, in New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greenhouse gas emissions statistics for 2023 now published03 June 2025 Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 48% between 1990 and 2023, but there was no reduction between 2022 and 2023. The latest dataset, which estimates emissions from a wide range of activities,… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    03 June 2025

    Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 48% between 1990 and 2023, but there was no reduction between 2022 and 2023. 

    The latest dataset, which estimates emissions from a wide range of activities, found Jersey emitted 357,626 tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2023. 

    Transport and heating buildings continue to be the biggest causes of Jersey’s emissions; with transport accounting for 43% of Jersey’s total emissions, and car fuel journeys specifically accounting for 26%. Heating and cooling homes and businesses account for almost 33% of Jersey’s total emissions. 

    The figures in the inventory are produced by independent organisation, Aether. The inventory provides estimates for historical emissions of greenhouse gases from 1990 until the most recent submission year, minus two. Therefore the 2025 inventory covers the period 1990 to 2023. 

    For more information and to see the full report, visit: Greenhouse gas emissions​.​​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Samaraneftegaz increases drilling volumes using new technologies

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    At Samaraneftegaz (part of the oil production complex of NK Rosneft), the drilling meterage in production drilling in 2024 amounted to 216 thousand meters of rock, which is 4% higher than the 2023 figure.

    The increase in penetration was achieved by implementing a set of measures to increase productivity in well drilling using new technologies. The actual commercial drilling speed exceeded the standard by almost 13%.

    Time costs have been reduced by using technology that has eliminated a number of drilling operations. A significant effect has been achieved by including logging devices in the working assembly, which makes it possible to conduct geophysical surveys simultaneously with the preparation of the wellbore.

    The introduction of modern drilling fluids has allowed, depending on the field, to reduce the time of drilling a well to seven days. The solutions have highly effective inhibiting properties that increase the stability of the well walls and eliminate the sticking of the drilling tool.

    During the construction of three wells, Samaraneftegaz tested a new Russian automated drilling control system with precise execution of the set parameters. The system’s characteristics allow for a reduction in well construction time due to an increase in the drilling speed by 10%. Vibration and wear of drill string elements are also reduced.

    Rosneft prioritizes innovation and defines technological leadership as a key factor in competitiveness in the oil market. The company systematically introduces new technological solutions throughout the entire production chain.

    Reference:

    JSC Samaraneftegaz, a subsidiary of NK Rosneft, carries out production activities in the Samara and Orenburg regions. Cumulative production since the beginning of development in 1936 exceeds 1.3 billion tons of oil

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft June 3, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New vision for transport unveiled for Stoke-on-Trent

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Tuesday, 3rd June 2025

    A new vision for transport has been launched to help ‘build a system that works for the people of Stoke-on-Trent’.

    The transport prospectus, titled ‘On the Move: Transport for Thriving Communities’, outlines transport priorities for the future which focus on bus, rail and active travel.

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s vision includes developing a reliable and affordable bus network, investing in roads to make them safer and smoother for everyone and ending gridlock by making major improvements to the city’s busiest roads.

    Other priorities include the installation of more cycle lanes, dropped kerbs and better crossings to make walking and cycling safer for pedestrians, investing in more electric vehicle charging points, promoting the switch to greener vehicles and continuing to improve the links between buses and trains.

    Residents, partners and stakeholders are now being asked for their views on the document, which will help to inform the development of the Local Transport Plan 2026-2040, and a six-week consultation is now underway.

    Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, regeneration and infrastructure, said: “We know that, right now, our transport system is not working as it should. It’s not working for older people, workers, families, students and small businesses.

    “Our vision sets out a bold, practical plan to fix our transport system, built around a core belief that everyone deserves access to safe, reliable, affordable and green transport.

    “That means better buses that actually go where people need them, when they need them. It means fixing our roads and pavements. It means making it safe and easy to walk, cycle or use a wheelchair. It means making greener travel the most convenient option – and giving people a real choice.

    “Real change takes all of us, so we want to hear your ideas, your frustrations and your hopes. Please have your say and help us to shape the future of transport in our city.”

    The launch of the transport prospectus comes just months after Stoke-on-Trent City Council gave the green light to its Joint Strategic Transport Statement. It was drawn up in partnership with senior leaders from Staffordshire County Council, to ensure we build a transport network that doesn’t stop at the city lines.

    The statement sets out a series of shared priorities which, like the prospectus, range from improving public transport, making the road network work more efficiently and promoting active travel.

    Residents, businesses and partners are now being encouraged to have their say on Stoke-on-Trent’s latest vision for transport. The survey and the transport prospectus can be viewed online at www.stoke.gov.uk/transportvision until Thursday 10 July.

    Alternatively, email publictransport@stoke.gov.uk with any detailed feedback or suggestions.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First schools install Great British Energy solar panels

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    First schools install Great British Energy solar panels

    First 11 schools across England have installed solar panels backed by Great British Energy, saving a total of £175,000 per year.

    • Schools across the country to install new Great British Energy solar panels thanks to government’s £180 million funding to cut bills for schools and hospitals
    • 11 schools have installed solar panels, saving £175,000 per year
    • Savings will be reinvested in schools as part of the government’s Plan for Change to fix public services – while providing clean power for pupils and teachers

    Pupils across the country will benefit from more money for textbooks and teachers, as the first schools are announced in Great British Energy’s rooftop solar rollout to cut energy bills.

    Schools are benefitting from funding for rooftop solar, with the first 11 schools estimated to save £175,000 per year after installing Great British Energy solar panels. The remaining schools set to benefit will be announced this summer, with all schools that are part of the scheme expected to have solar panels installed by the end of the year. 

    It follows the government’s announcement in March to award £180 million of funding for schools and hospitals to install rooftop solar, marking the first major project for Great British Energy – a company owned by the British people, for the British people.

    In England, around £80 million is supporting around 200 schools, alongside £100 million for nearly 200 NHS sites, covering a third of NHS trusts, to install rooftop solar panels that could power classrooms and operations, while giving them the potential to sell leftover energy back to the grid. 

    Great British Energy’s first investment could see millions invested back into frontline services, targeting deprived areas, with lifetime savings for schools and the NHS of up to £400 million over around 30 years.

    Schools and hospitals have been hit with rocketing energy bills in recent years, costing taxpayers millions of pounds, and eating into school budgets. This has been driven by the UK’s dependency on global fossil fuel markets over which government has no control. 

    Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

    Solar panels on school rooftops mean energy bills are cut and money can be invested directly into improving young people’s education while helping to tackle climate change for the next generation.

    Great British Energy is delivering rooftop solar as part of our Plan for Change that will support communities for generations to come, relieving pressures on our vital public services and ensuring investment is made in the future of our young people.

    Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier said:

    Within 2 months we are seeing schools supported by our scheme having solar panels installed so they can start reaping the rewards of clean energy – opening up the opportunity for more money to be spent on our children rather than energy bills.

    By partnering with the public sector as we scale up the company, we will continue to make an immediate impact as we work to roll out clean, homegrown energy projects, crowd in investment and create job opportunities across the country.

    Education Minister Stephen Morgan said:

    Through our Plan for Change, this government is supporting schools to save schools thousands on their bills so they can reinvest money saved into ensuring every child gets the best start in life.

    The installation of solar panels will also help pupils to develop green skills, promoting careers in renewables and supporting growth in the clean energy workforce.

    Currently only about 20% of schools have solar panels installed, but the technology has huge potential to save money on bills.

    Estimates suggest that on average, a typical school could save up to £25,000 per year if they had solar panels with complementary technologies installed such as batteries. 

    The funding will support the government’s clean power mission as well as helping to rebuild the nation’s public services. It forms Great British Energy’s first local investment, kickstarting the Local Power Plan and ensuring the benefits of this national mission are felt at a local level, with energy security, good jobs and economic growth. 

    Notes to editors

    The list of hospitals benefitting was announced in March and installations will start to complete this summer.

    The support will target schools with buildings that are able to accommodate solar panels in areas of England most in need. As part of this, government is selecting the schools which will be primarily clustered in areas of deprivation in the North East, West Midlands and North West, as well as at least 10 schools in each region. Each cluster will include a further education college which will work with the contractors appointed to promote careers in renewables to support growth in the construction and renewables workforce. This could be through work placements, skills bootcamps and workshops.

    Backed by £8.3 billion over this Parliament, Great British Energy will own and invest in clean energy projects across the UK. This will range from supporting local energy, like the solar power schemes announced today, to the £300 million invested to support offshore wind supply chains – unlocking significant investment in major clean energy projects that will revitalise the UK’s industrial heartlands with new jobs, alongside securing Britain’s energy supply.

    11 schools to have installed Great British Energy solar panels

    School name Region KW peak (installed capacity) Yearly energy generation (kWh) Simple payback (years) Yearly school bill savings (£)
    Charles Warren Academy South East 20 15,000 8 £4,500
    Feversham Primary Academy Yorkshire and the Humber 53 46,270 5 £13,000
    Harris Academy Chafford Hundred East of England 256 214,300 6 £44,500
    Harris City Academy Crystal Palace London 149 117,250 5 £24,500
    Notre Dame RC School South West 166 150,280 5 £27,000
    Oasis Academy Nunsthorpe Yorkshire and the Humber 92 101,695 4 £22,500
    St Boniface’s RC College South West 86 84,620 7 £13,500
    St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Poole South West 37 39,880 5 £8,500
    St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Axminster South West 13 12,200 12 £2,000
    Westfield Primary Academy East of England 56 54,050 6 £12,000
    Whiteknights Primary School South East 18 16,170 8 £4,500
    Total   945 851,715   £176,000

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: MSF calls for urgent aid to support Sudanese refugees fleeing to Chad

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

    June 3, 2025, N’Djamena: In the Tine transit camp and the nearby refugee camps in eastern Chad, close to the border with Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is scaling up its assistance to the newly arrived Sudanese refugees. They are fleeing escalating attacks and violence in North Darfur. Since the end of April an estimated 40,000 refugees, the vast majority coming from El Fasher and its surrounding camps for displaced people, have arrived in Tine, in Wadi Fira province. These extremely vulnerable people now face harsh overcrowded conditions and limited access to basic services.

    On arrival in Tine, some are malnourished and experiencing profound psychological distress due to the horrific violence in North Darfur and on the roads leading to Chad. The overwhelming majority are women and children coming from El Fasher and Zamzam camp for internally displaced people. They have already endured starvation as the Rapid Support Forces laid siege to these areas and famine conditions have been prevalent for months in Zamzam camp according to the Famine Review Committee.

    “We’ve walked a long way to get here. We passed through several villages to get to Tine to take refuge from the violence and bombings. We’ve been here for several days but we’re struggling to find food and water. We’ve been wearing the same clothes for days”, said a 20-year-old refugee woman. The Tine transit camp is currently hosting over 18,000 people, many of whom are sleeping on the bare ground in 40°C heat, with no shelter and severely limited access to water and food despite support from the host communities.

    MSF has scaled up its medical and humanitarian activities in the transit camp and at the Tine border to increase availability of primary healthcare services. Apart from nutrition screenings and vaccination at the border point, over the past weeks, MSF has carried out over 900 consultations per week in the health post at the transit camp. At the health post, the global rate of malnutrition among children under five is as high as 29% with 9% being severely malnourished. Routine vaccination efforts remain a priority in the camp as cases of measles have been detected. A mass vaccination campaign is ongoing. Finally, care for pregnant women and for survivors of sexual violence is also being provided at the health post. MSF teams set up referrals of critical patients to hospitals and will build an additional 50 emergency latrines. MSF is also preparing further distribution of therapeutic food and essential items. The organisation is also distributing 60,000 liters of water per day but this is only half of what is currently needed.

    ‘Sudanese refugees arrive exhausted, many malnourished and require immediate assistance. We ask donors, the UN and other humanitarian organisations to increase the mobilisation to provide or scale up support in terms of food, shelter, sanitation and medical care including mental health services. The current humanitarian response is insufficient and the upcoming rainy season it is likely to worsen living conditions, spread disease and exacerbate food insecurity and lack of sanitation.” says Claire San Filippo, MSF’s emergency coordinator for Sudan.

    Despite the immense needs in Tine transit camp and other refugee camps in Wadi Fira, MSF is witnessing very limited aid distribution despite solidarity from the host community and grassroot organisations. The financial crisis affecting the entire humanitarian sector is clearly being felt in eastern Chad. The war continues unabated in Sudan and more people are hoping to reach Chad.

    MSF is also present in refugee camps in Wadi Fira, such as Iridimi camp, where refugees from the Tine transit camp are being relocated. To help improve the dire situation in Iridimi camp which has reached its maximum capacity, MSF recently started supporting the Iridimi health center. The activities focus on the continuity of primary healthcare, vaccination, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, improving patient flow, reinforcing the referral system, and improving hygiene conditions at the health center. We also run mobile clinics in Chad, along the Sudanese borders including in Kulbus and Birak.

    The humanitarian situation at the border between Chad and Sudan has again reached a tipping point, with over 70,000 new refugees arriving in Chad since April 2025. Chad is already hosting over one million refugees, including more than 800,000 Sudanese who have arrived since the conflict began over two years ago.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Weather News – First week of winter brings stormy conditions and cold temperatures – MetService

    Source: MetService

    Covering period of Tuesday 3rd – Sunday 8th June – Another bout of windy and wet weather is due to run across New Zealand this week followed by a wintry feeling weekend with cold temperatures across the country and even some snowfall for the South Island.  

    MetService is forecasting a broad area of rain to move across the country from west to east during Wednesday, with the heaviest rain expected in Taranaki Maunga and Tasman District where Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued. The rain and strong winds are the result of a rapidly deepening area of low pressure forming off the eastern coast of Australia and crossing the country.  

    MetService Meteorologist John Law says, “This week we see another visitor arriving from the Tasman Sea and it’s set to bring some active weather with it, but it’s not just the wind and rain we have to watch out for, with cold air rushing in behind this system it’s going to be a much colder end to the week.”
     
    Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for Bay of Plenty east of Whakatāne and inland Gisborne/Tairāwhiti, Tongariro National Park, Taranaki Maunga, the Tararua Range, Tasman District west of Motueka and Marlborough Ranges. Heavy Rain Watches have been issued for Northland, Auckland, Buller, Grey, Westland and Fiordland.

    The rain on Wednesday is expected to be accompanied by thunderstorms in the northern and western parts of the North Island, with localised downpours, strong and gusty winds forecast. Strong Wind Watches have been issued for Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Taranaki, Wellington and Wairarapa.

    Overnight Wednesday, the Canterbury High Country is likely to find rain turning to snow, especially across the higher parts of the region and impacting the higher roads and passes. A Heavy Snow Watch has been issued for the region, with heavy snow possible above 300 metres (or possibly lower).

    “As we’ve turned into June the weather will be taking on a real wintry feel,” says Law. “On Wednesday, we’ll be expecting snow for some of the higher roads of the Canterbury region so take extra care and keep up with the latest forecasts as well as the latest road information from NZTA.”

    Temperatures are set to tumble for the end of the week, with daytime highs struggling to get beyond the teens across the country.  

    “The second half of the week will be feeling very different to the first, as cold southwesterly winds sweep across New Zealand,” says Law. “The coldest spots will be found in Central Otago, where daytime temperatures for Wānaka and Alexandra are only likely to reach 3°C or 4°C this weekend.”  
     
    While snow is set to stay about the high country on Wednesday and Thursday, the colder air on Friday brings the potential of snow to lower areas of Canterbury.
    “Cold air and wintry showers will feature in the forecast for parts of the South Island on Friday, but the heaviest snow is expected over the highest parts of Canterbury overnight on Wednesday. Snow is likely to near sea level on Friday for Canterbury, Otago, Southland and Fiordland. While this snow is likely to be significant and may cause disruptions to travel, at this stage warning amounts are not expected,” Law concludes.

    Understanding MetService Severe Weather Warning System

    Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (Localised Red Warning) – take cover now:

    This warning is a red warning for a localised area.
    When extremely severe weather is occurring or will do within the hour.
    Severe thunderstorms have the ability to have significant impacts for an area indicated in the warning.
    In the event of a Severe Thunderstorm Red Warning: Act now!

    Red Warnings are about taking immediate action:

    When extremely severe weather is imminent or is occurring
    Issued when an event is expected to be among the worst that we get – it will have significant impact and it is possible that a lot of people will be affected
    In the event of a Red Warning: Act now!

    Orange Warnings are about taking action:

    When severe weather is imminent or is occurring
    Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather
    In the event of an Orange Warning: Take action.

    Thunderstorm Watch means thunderstorms are possible, be alert and consider action

    Show the area that thunderstorms are most likely to occur during the validity period.
    Although thunderstorms are often localised, the whole area is on watch as it is difficult to know exactly where the severe thunderstorm will occur within the mapped area.
    During a thunderstorm Watch: Stay alert and take action if necessary.

    Watches are about being alert:

    When severe weather is possible, but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a warning to be issued
    Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather.
    During a Watch: Stay alert

    Outlooks are about looking ahead:

    To provide advanced information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings
    Issued routinely once or twice a day
    Recommendation: Plan.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace lights up Fonterra HQ with NZers’ passionate calls for environmental action

    Source: Greenpeace

    This morning, Fonterra’s Auckland headquarters were lit up by Greenpeace with dozens of messages from New Zealanders, who are calling on the dairy giant to take responsibility for its environmental impact.
    These messages included that of Gail, who said “With a dairy farm background I feel sad our dairy industry continues to pollute”.
    Greenpeace spokesperson Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn says “Fonterra is New Zealand’s worst environmental polluter. They’re cooking the climate with superheating methane gas, contaminating rural communities’ drinking water with harmful levels of nitrate, and destroying the rainforests of Southeast Asia for cheap cow feed.
    “New Zealanders care deeply about nature. No one wants to know that the butter they’re spreading on their toast, or the milk they’re pouring in their coffee, is linked to environmental destruction. But unfortunately, the way that Fonterra chooses to run its business means that is currently the case.
    “People have expressed their shame and disgust at Fonterra’s blatant disregard for protecting nature, and they’ve shared how the intensive dairy industry has impacted their lives. We’ve come here to bring their voices directly to Fonterra, to hold this superpolluter accountable for its environmental crimes.”
    Greenpeace recently announced that Fonterra is seeking three hundred thousand dollars in reparations over a peaceful climate protest that took place at the Fonterra Te Rapa factory last year.
    “This is a draconian effort to silence peaceful protest, but we will not be intimidated. Greenpeace and concerned individuals from across the country will continue to hold Fonterra accountable, despite their attempts to silence us,” says Deighton-O’Flynn.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Northland News – Follow burning rules, NRC urges

    Source: Northland Regional Council

    Northlanders are being asked to follow the rules – and be courteous – or risk fines and other penalties as the pre-Winter burning season comes to an end.
    Group Manager – Regulatory Services, Colin Dall, says in a typical year roughly a quarter of all calls to the Northland Regional Council’s 24/7 incident hotline (0800 504 639) involve complaints about burning and/or associated smoke nuisance.
    He says while for a long time the council had typically preferred to educate rather than take enforcement action, its approach had toughened in recent years as backyard burning continued to generate large numbers of complaints.
    The harder line also applies to those caught breaching the rules at industrial and trade premises.
    “Open burning at industrial or trade premises is not permitted under our Proposed Regional Plan and businesses breaching this rule are now more likely to receive a $1000 instant fine, rather than the warning they may have got previously.”
    Mr Dall says burning on trade and industrial premises must be done in an “incineration device”, which the Plan defines as:
    A device made from non-combustible materials designed to burn waste that:
    • contains all embers and sparks
    • has a grate and lid or spark arrestor, and
    • is not used to generate energy.
    He says an open 44-gallon (170 litre) drum is not deemed to be an incineration device.
    “Those breaching the rules are liable for enforcement action which can range from instant fines of up to $1000, abatement notices and prosecution – the latter with the risk of much stiffer penalties – through the courts.
    Mr Dall says last year the council had issued 38 infringement notices ranging from $300 to $1000, 56 abatement notices and there had been two court-ordered enforcement orders for burning-related incidents.
    He says the council’s Proposed Regional Plan effectively bans backyard burning in the more densely populated Whangārei urban area.
    “People living within the Whangārei city airshed – which is roughly bordered by Maunu, Onerahi, Tikipunga, Springs Flat and Hurupaki – can only burn some waste materials during the period from 01 September to 31 May the following year if the size of their property exceeds one hectare or they have a resource consent to burn.”
    “Only waste that is paper, untreated wood, cardboard or vegetation can be burnt.”
    Mr Dall says Northlanders outside the Whangārei urban area can still have outside fires, providing;
    • they don’t cause offensive or objectionable smoke or odour to neighbours
    • if the fire is going to last for more than 24 hours and is within 100 metres of a smoke sensitive area, the person lighting it needs to notify all neighbours within 100 metres of the fire
    • they don’t obscure vision along a public road
    • fires only contain waste that is paper, untreated wood, cardboard and vegetation (or animal remains where the burning is on agricultural land).
    (This ability to have fires obviously does not apply when restricted fire season or fire bans are in place.)
    Mr Dall says in general the regional council is keen to encourage alternatives to backyard burning (regardless of location) wherever possible.
    “Waste vegetation can be composted or mulched, larger branches can be used as firewood and paper and other materials can usually be recycled.”
    If waste vegetation is being burnt, a lot of problems can be easily avoided just by ensuring it has been given plenty of time to dry out, rather than burning it green.
    However, Mr Dall says even if some burning is allowed, council rules and national regulations specifically ban the burning of some materials on health and environmental grounds. These include rubber tyres, coated metal wires, treated timber, plastic containers, motor vehicle parts and waste oil.
    Mr Dall says general information on the rules around backyard burning – including a more detailed map of the existing Whangārei airshed – is also available at: www.nrc.govt.nz/backyardburning 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Jacobi Bitcoin ETF Opens to Retail Investors Following Regulatory Approval

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST PETER’S PORT, Guernsey and LONDON, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jacobi Asset Management announces today at Money 20/20 Amsterdam a major milestone in the evolution of digital asset investment in Europe. The Jacobi Bitcoin ETF, Europe’s first and only Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), is now open to both retail and professional investors following a landmark decision by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC).

    Retail investors, subject to the rules of their respective national regulators, can now access the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF via regulated brokerage and investment platforms. This step not only enhances accessibility but reinforces Jacobi’s mission to democratise secure exposure to digital assets.

    Originally launched in 2023 on Euronext Amsterdam, the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF is regulated to institutional-grade standards, offering a secure, transparent, and compliant vehicle for investors. Amidst the volatility of Bitcoin’s price action over the past few years, the fund maintained its minimum investment requirement in line with regulatory prudence.

    With Bitcoin now firmly established as a mainstream asset – adopted by corporations, institutions, and governments alike – regulatory frameworks are evolving to reflect its maturing role in the financial ecosystem. In response, Jacobi has secured the removal of the professional-only restriction and minimum investment requirement on its ETF. Jacobi was supported in this endeavour by Collas Crill, Midshore Consulting and Sigma Asset Management, all of whom have been working with Jacobi since before the ETF was launched.

    “This is a significant moment for both Jacobi and Guernsey,” said Peter Lane, CEO of Jacobi Asset Management. “Our fund was designed from day one with a regulated, institutional-grade structure that investors could trust and were familiar with. Now, with greater regulatory alignment and growing public interest, we’re delighted to expand access to all investors across eligible jurisdictions. We applaud Guernsey as an innovative jurisdiction who have embraced the evolution of digital assets and look forward to bringing more innovative, digital asset products to market with robust regulatory oversight.”

    Trusted Custody and Industry Recognition

    As the appointed custodian for the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF, Zodia Custody plays a critical role in safeguarding client assets with the highest standards of institutional-grade security and compliance.

    “Zodia Custody is proud to continue providing our institutional-grade custody solutions to the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF as they expand their offerings to retail investors,” commented Julian Sawyer, CEO of Zodia Custody. “Our role remains clear: to protect client capital without compromising on security or compliance.”

    The move has also been welcomed by Guernsey Finance, the promotional agency for the island’s financial services industry, as a landmark for the jurisdiction’s digital asset ambitions.

    “This development represents a major step forward for Guernsey,” said Rupert Pleasant, CEO of Guernsey Finance. “It signals our jurisdiction’s capability and readiness to support regulated digital asset products, bringing international innovation to our shores and expanding our profile in this fast-evolving sector.”

    About Jacobi Asset Management

    Jacobi Asset Management is a UK-based digital asset investment manager that bridges traditional finance with blockchain innovation. With the current fund offering regulated by the GFSC, Jacobi Asset Management brings institutional-quality investment products to professional and retail investors, grounded in transparency, regulation, and sustainability.

    Media Contact:
    PR & Communications
    Jacobi Asset Management
    press@jacobiam.com
    www.jacobiam.com

    The MIL Network –