ESMA Conference 2017

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is opening today the registration for its “ESMA Conference 2017”, which will take place on 17 October 2017 in Paris, France. The ESMA Conference 2017 will be a unique gathering of political decision makers, global regulators and high-profile financial industry leaders.

Around 350 participants will discuss the state of European financial markets – including the key issues currently affecting the financial sector such as the macroeconomic environment, regulation, investor protection, innovation and last but not least Brexit.

ESMA invites you to its conference to reflect on the state of Europe’s financial markets together with its key speakers:

  • Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for the Euro and Social Dialogue as well as for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union.
  • Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s Chief Brexit Negotiator
  • Roberto Gualtieri, MEP, Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), European Parliament
  • Ashley Alder, Chair of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)
  • Xavier Rolet, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the London Stock Exchange (LSE)
  • Steven Maijoor, Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)

You can already reserve your seat by registering on the conference website: http://www.esma-conference-2017.eu/



8 dead in bus accident in SW China

Eight people died in a bus accident in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, local police said Wednesday.

The accident occurred at 11 a.m. Wednesday when a passenger bus collided with a cement tanker on a highway section in Lixian county. Seven people died on the scene and another in hospital.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.



News story: UK trains over 5000 Ukrainian Armed Forces

The Defence Secretary made the announcement following a meeting between him and his Ukrainian counterpart, Stepan Poltorak in London earlier today.

This comes as the UK prepares to refine Operation Orbital’s training model. Through increasing the focus on Train-the-Trainer as well as mentoring and advising, we expect this change to increase the operation’s impact on the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ training sustainability over the coming year.

British personnel have been in the country since 2015 on Operation Orbital, training the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a number of defensive skills such as the identification of mines and IEDs, medical care and logistics. Last year, Sir Michael confirmed that the training mission will continue until at least early 2018.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

We have now trained over 5,000 Ukrainian service personnel, sending a clear message that we are committed to supporting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As the UK is stepping up across the world, we are standing side by side with our Ukrainian friends.

During the meeting, the Defence Ministers also discussed how the UK can support defence and security reform in the Ukraine.

Mr Poltorak is in the UK to discuss his country’s progress in implementing reforms and the way forward to 2020 at the Ukraine Reform Conference in Lancaster House, along with other senior Ukrainian ministers. The major international conference will see the UK government and international partners reinforce their support for reform in the country.



UK Geoenergy Observatories

The UK Geoenergy Observatories project was formerly known as the Energy Security & Innovation Observing System for the Subsurface (ESIOS).



Partial amnesty for Grenfell survivors does not go far enough- Abbott

Speaking in response to the Home Office statement today on a partial
amnesty for Grenfell survivors, Diane Abbott MP, Labour’s
Shadow Home Secretary, said:

“I raised this question in parliament on Monday and am pleased
there has been some response from the Home Office. But the partial amnesty is
limited to twelve months, which does not go far enough.

“Some victims have literally lost everything in this horrific tragedy:
all their possessions, homes and loved ones. The idea that on top of this they
could be deported later is grotesque.

“To access all the support they need without fear of deportation, any
survivors concerned about their status must be given indefinite leave to
remain. Otherwise, they may just disappear off the grid.”

Ends