Category: AM-NC

MIL-OSI United Nations: Gender just and disability inclusive climate action

Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

Time

10:30-11:15 CEST

About

This is a hybrid side event for UNFCCC SB62 in Bonn. The side event will highlight, through lived experiences and contributions and the insights of our panellists, how a gender just, inclusive and climate-resilient world requires designing and implementing accessible solutions to bring transformation for all. It will highlight new and practical guidance and solutions from a disability and gender perspective to demonstrate how to break down barriers to create equitable sustainable change.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Opens Ninety-First Session in Geneva

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women this morning opened its ninety-first session, hearing a statement from a representative of the Secretary-General and adopting its agenda and programme of work for the session. During the session, the Committee will review the reports of Afghanistan, Botswana, Chad, Ireland, Mexico, San Marino and Thailand, and adopt concluding observations on the reports of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, which it reviewed during a technical cooperation session held in Fiji in April.

Andrea Ori, Chief of the Groups in Focus Section, Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Representative of the Secretary-General, said he was pleased to announce the opening of the session, after the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was able to confirm it only last month due to the ongoing liquidity crisis affecting the United Nations.

Mr. Ori said this year marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 of 31 October 2000, a landmark document that recognised the disproportionate impact of conflicts on women and girls and the crucial role of women in conflict prevention, conflict management and sustainable peace efforts.

Noting with concern that some 120 conflicts were currently affecting civilians and communities worldwide, and that women and girls were primarily targeted by gender-based violence as a tactic of war, Mr. Ori commended the Committee on its work to update general recommendation 30, which provided authoritative guidance to States parties on concrete measures to ensure that women’s rights were protected before, during and after conflict.

Mr. Ori also announced with regret that the global funding crisis was affecting the Committee’s work directly. Due to the lack of funding, the Office of the High Commissioner was planning and operating under the assumption that no Committee would have a third session.

He concluded by thanking the Committee for its unwavering commitment and dedication to advancing women’s rights and wished it a successful and productive session.

Nahla Haidar, Committee Chairperson, said that the Committee was meeting in one of the most challenging times for the multilateral system, amidst devastating conflicts, a weakening of the rule of law, and scarce resources. Human rights mechanisms needed to be protected more than ever for the benefit of all stakeholders.

During the meeting, the Chair and Committee Experts discussed the activities they had undertaken since the last session. Bandana Rana, on behalf of Brenda Akia, Committee Rapporteur and Chairperson of the Pre-Sessional Working Group, and Jelena Pia-Comella, Committee Rapporteur on follow-up to concluding observations, also briefed the Committee on their work.

The Committee’s ninety-first session is being held from 16 June to 4 July. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet at 3 p.m. this today, Monday, 16 June, with the representatives of national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations of Mexico, Thailand and Ireland, whose reports will be reviewed this week.

Opening Statement

ANDREA ORI, Chief of the Groups in Focus Section, Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Representative of the Secretary-General, said he was pleased to announce the opening of the session, after the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was able to confirm it only last month due to the ongoing liquidity crisis affecting the United Nations. The Committee’s pre-sessional working group, scheduled to be held after this session, and the sessions of both Optional Protocol Working Groups directly preceding this session were cancelled due to lack of funding.

This year marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 of 31 October 2000, a landmark document that recognised the disproportionate impact of conflicts on women and girls and the crucial role of women in conflict prevention, conflict management and sustainable peace efforts, reflecting international human rights norms.

Some 120 conflicts were affecting civilians and communities worldwide, and women and girls were primarily targeted by gender-based violence, in particular sexual violence, as a tactic of war to humiliate, dominate, instil fear in, and displace communities. Situations of insecurity, organised violence and armed conflicts exacerbated pre-existing gender inequalities and placed women and girls at an increased risk of gender-based violence. Mr. Ori commended the Committee on its work to update general recommendation 30 on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations, which provided authoritative guidance to States parties on concrete measures to ensure that women’s rights were protected before, during and after conflict, and highlighted the importance of women’s meaningful participation in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding.

Mr. Ori welcomed that the Committee’s Chair would participate in the first panel of the 2025 annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women at the fifty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council, to be held on 24 June 2025 under the theme “Gender-based violence against women and girls in conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings”. The second panel of the Council’s annual full-day discussion would focus on the theme “Commemoration of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy focusing on overcoming barriers to women’s leadership in peace processes”.

Mr. Ori said the global funding crisis was affecting the Committee’s work directly. It was highly likely that, for those treaty bodies with three annual sessions, the Office of the High Commissioner would not be able to secure the funding to hold their third session. The Office was therefore planning and operating under the assumption that no Committee would have a third session. The Office had received only 73 per cent of its approved regular budget in 2025, and 87 per cent of its approved regular budget in 2024.

The United Nations Office at Geneva’s conference services had also adopted cash conservation measures, which would impact the conference support provided to the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, with an overall reduction of 10 per cent. With further reduction of the allotment, the mandated activities of treaty bodies would be even more affected in 2025 than in 2024. This would impact the treaty bodies’ ability to hold dialogues with States parties and to take decisions on individual communications, resulting in further delays and backlogs, and the Office was obliged to significantly reduce treaty body capacity building activities.

All this caused real damage to predictability, which was so important for States, civil society organizations and rights-holders to engage with treaty bodies. Given the overall reduction in funds and availability of support services, “business as usual” was no longer possible and the treaty bodies needed to plan on “doing less with less”.

The thirty-seventh annual meeting of Chairpersons of human rights treaty bodies was able to meet in Geneva from 2 to 6 June. The Chairs dedicated the meeting to the liquidity crisis, which was affecting the very existence of treaty bodies, and to discussing what could be done to increase predictability under the current financial and human constraints.

Mr. Ori said he was aware that the Committee had a heavy programme ahead for the next three weeks, including constructive dialogues with eight States parties, the consideration of several individual communications, and the adoption of an addendum to general recommendation 30 on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations. He concluded by thanking the Committee for its unwavering commitment and dedication to advancing women’s rights and wished it a successful and productive session.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said that more than 123 million people were currently displaced worldwide due to conflict situations, the majority of whom were women and children. What could be the role of the United Nations in the future if it could not prevent these conflicts?

Another Committee Expert asked why tens of countries were not providing the funds they had promised to provide. Was the United Nations considering reassessing its priorities to ensure that the Committee could hold three sessions each year?

A Committee Expert said that the members of the Committee did not take the current situation lightly. It was a grand shame and a disgust. How could Member States let this happen?

A Committee Expert said that reducing the activities of the treaty bodies would further silence them at this important moment. Human rights systems needed to be reenforced, and this required resourcing. How could this silencing be prevented?

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chairperson, said that it was unacceptable that the work of the treaty bodies was becoming less and less visible. The Committee hoped that something would happen that would allow it to hold its third session in September.

Responses by the Representative of the Secretary-General

ANDREA ORI, Chief of the Groups in Focus Section, Human Rights Treaties Branch, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Representative of the Secretary-General, said the Office of the High Commissioner shared the Committee’s concerns. This was a turning point in multilateralism and in international law. There were more than 120 conflicts in the world, the primary victims of which were women and children. Authoritarian regimes were taking advantage of and working to weaken the multilateral system.

Some 40 per cent of the United Nations’ regular budget depended on two States. If one of those States decided not to pay its dues, that shook the entire Organization. This was a major factor in the instability of the United Nations system. The Secretary-General was working to reform the system through the “UN80” initiative, looking for solutions that kept it functioning with limited resources.

The UN80 initiative was focused on reform. This was an opportunity to reform the whole system rationally, to allow it to meet the challenges of today. As part of the initiative, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was merging and regionalising its functions. The Office was thinking optimistically but planning for the worst. It needed to be proactive rather than reactive and consider alternatives to stabilise the human rights system. The Committee also needed to consider alternative ways of carrying out its activities and reviewing States parties. Together, the Office and the Committee could find solutions for the challenges they faced by taking proactive decisions.

Statements by Committee Experts

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chairperson, said that the Committee had taken decisions to increase the production of lists of issues prior to reporting. The United Nations system needed to not be reactive, and UN80 needed to implement thoughtful rather than patchwork reforms.

The Committee was meeting in one of the most challenging times for the multilateral system, amidst devastating conflicts, a weakening of the rule of law, and scarce resources. Human rights mechanisms needed to be protected more than ever for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Since the last session, the number of States parties that had ratified the Convention had remained at 189. On 15 May 2025, San Marino accepted the amendment to article 20, paragraph one of the Convention concerning the Committee’s meeting time, bringing the total number of States parties having accepted the amendment to 82. A total of 126 States parties to the Convention were currently required to accept the amendment for it to enter into force. The number of States parties that had ratified the Optional Protocol remained at 115, but Estonia was in the process of ratification.

Ms. Haidar said she was pleased to inform that since the last session, Afghanistan, Australia, Cyprus and Guinea-Bissau had submitted their periodic reports to the Committee. The interim government of Syria had decided to withdraw the combined third and fourth periodic reports that had been submitted by the previous regime and submit a new report under the traditional reporting procedure. The total number of States parties that had opted out from the simplified reporting procedure since the 2022 decision to make the simplified reporting procedure the default procedure remained at 13.

The Committee adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session, and Ms. Haidar and Committee Experts discussed the activities they had undertaken since the last session.

BANDANA RANA, on behalf of BRENDA AKIA, Committee Rapporteur and Chair of the Pre-Sessional Working Group, introduced the report of the pre-sessional Working Group for the ninety-first session, which met from 28 October to 1 November 2024 in Geneva.

The Working Group prepared lists of issues and questions in relation to the reports of Botswana, Cabo Verde, Czech Republic, El Salvador and Lesotho, in addition to lists of issues and questions prior to the submission of the reports of Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Malta under the simplified reporting procedure. The pre-sessional Working Group had the reports of these States parties, except for those of Equatorial Guinea, Libya and Malta, to be submitted in response to the respective lists of issues prior to reporting. It further had before it the general recommendations adopted by the Committee; draft lists of issues and questions and lists of issues prior to reporting prepared by the Secretariat; and other pertinent information, including concluding observations of the Committee and other treaty bodies. In preparing the lists, the Working Group paid particular attention to the States parties’ follow-up to the concluding observations of the Committee on their previous reports. The Working Group benefited from written and oral information submitted by entities of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, as well as by national human rights institutions. The lists of issues and questions and lists of issues prior to reporting adopted by the Working Group were transmitted to the States parties concerned.

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chairperson, said that, in light of the backlog of State party reports pending consideration by the Committee accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee had decided to postpone the consideration of the States parties referred to in the report of the pre-sessional Working Group to future sessions, with the exception of Botswana. The Committee instead decided to, during the present session, consider the reports of Afghanistan, Botswana, Chad, Ireland, Mexico, San Marino and Thailand, and adopt concluding observations on Fiji, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, following country exchanges held during the Pacific technical cooperation session in Suva, Fiji from 7 to 11 April 2025.

JELENA PIA-COMELLA, Committee Rapporteur on follow-up to concluding observations, briefed the Committee on the status of the follow-up reports received in response to the Committee’s concluding observations. She said that at the end of the Committee’s ninetieth session, follow-up letters outlining the outcomes of assessments of follow-up reports were sent to Belgium, Gambia, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. Reminders were sent to Honduras, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Ukraine, as their follow-up reports were scheduled for consideration at the ninetieth session but had not been received. Ukraine’s report had since been received and would be scheduled for assessment by the Committee at its ninety-second session in October 2025.

For the present session, the Committee would consider follow-up reports from Finland and Georgia, both received on time; Bahrain and Norway, received with a one-month delay; Armenia, with more than two months’ delay; and Mongolia, Namibia and the United Arab Emirates with more than five months’ delay. Reminders regarding the submission of follow-up reports would be sent to Costa Rica, Hungary and Mauritania.

___________

Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

CEDAW25.011E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Early Warnings for All for Guyana 1st National Consultative Workshop
Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

About

The Government of Guyana, in collaboration with the United Nations and key international partners, will host the First National Consultative Workshop on Early Warnings for All (EW4All) from June 24–26, 2025, in Georgetown. This high-level workshop will officially launch the EW4All initiative in Guyana and serve as a platform to take stock of the current status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), identify existing advancements and gaps, and develop a national implementation roadmap.

Organized by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), with support from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNDRR, WMO, ITU, and IFRC, the workshop will bring together stakeholders to strengthen coordination and advance risk-informed, multi-hazard early warning systems that reach the most at-risk communities with timely, actionable information.

What to expect?

A three-day stakeholders’ consultation exercise will be held June 24th – 26th 2025 in Georgetown, Guyana, with the aim to highlight the existing advancements and gaps for an efficient MHEWS in Guyana, while identifying the pertinent activities to be included in a concerted national roadmap or implementation plan that will address closing the identified gaps and advancing MHEWS in the country.

Specifically, the first national consultive workshop will:
- Validate draft reports on the identified gaps for an effective MHEWS;
- Facilitate the identification of elements not described or identified in the revision of the gap analysis;
- Take stock of the status of elements relevant to MHEWS in the country;
- Identify all key actors and stakeholders;
- Propose and formalize a national coordination mechanism for MHEWS (reengage the existing MHEWS Sub-Committee) that will ensure the implementation of the EW4All and MHEWS actions in the short, medium, and long term;
- Define the national implementation plan for closing the identified gaps and defining the way forward towards sound, effective and sustainable MHEWS in Guyana.
🕑 Time: 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM daily (Guyana Time | UTC-4)

📅 Date: 24-26 June 2025

📍 Where: Roraima Duke Lodge, Duke Street, Georgetown, Guyana

MIL OSI United Nations News –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Strengthening Business Continuity for MSMEs in Barbados Workshop
Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

About

The Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) will host the Strengthening Business Continuity for MSMEs in Barbados Workshop from June 17-18, 2025, at the United Nations House in Barbados.

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of Barbados’ economy, but disruptions—whether from natural hazards, cyber threats, or financial instability—can put businesses at risk.

This two-day workshop will empower MSMEs with strategies to navigate disruptions, improve disaster preparedness, and enhance long-term sustainability. Participants will benefit from practical strategies to strengthen their business continuity plans (BCPs), explore tools for operational stability, and learn how to integrate Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) to better anticipate, prepare for and respond to risks – ultimately helping to build a more resilient future for Barbados’ business community.

What to expect?
- Expert-led discussions on risk management & continuity planning
- Hands-on exercises to develop effective recovery strategies
- Introduction to Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) and how MSMEs can contribute to and benefit from these systems
- Networking opportunities with MSMEs and industry professionals
Date: 17-18 June 2025

Where: United Nations House, Balmoral Gap, Bridgetown, Barbados

MIL OSI United Nations News –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CEDB alerts public to deceptive content purported to be interviews with SCED

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) today (June 16) alerted members of the public to be on heightened vigilance against online deceptive advertisements purported to be interviews with the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, and urged them not to visit any suspicious transaction platforms via those websites or provide personal information.

The CEDB strongly clarified that the so-called interviews and remarks are all fictitious. The incident has been referred to the Police for follow-up investigation.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Johnson’s Jason Foster Recognized for New Technology Reporting Record

Source: NASA

Heading into a recent staff meeting for Johnson Space Center’s Business Development & Technology Integration Office, Jason Foster anticipated a typical agenda of team updates and discussion. He did not expect an announcement that he had been named a 2025 Rookie of the Year – Honorable Mention through the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s annual awards program.
Foster was one of only three technology transfer professionals across the federal government to be recognized in the Rookie of the Year category, which is open to early-career individuals with less than three years of experience. “It was definitely a surprise,” he said. “It was quite an honor, because it’s not only representing Johnson Space Center but also NASA.”

Foster is a licensing specialist and New Technology Report (NTR) specialist within Johnson’s Technology Transfer Office in Houston. That team works to ensure that innovations developed for aeronautics and space exploration are made broadly available to the public, maximizing their benefit to the nation. Foster’s role involves both capturing new technologies developed at Johnson and marketing and licensing those technologies to companies that would like to use and further develop them.
He describes much of his work as “technology hunting” – reaching out to branches, offices, and teams across Johnson to teach them about the Technology Transfer Office, NTRs, and the value of technology reporting for NASA and the public. “NTRs are the foundation that allows our office to do our job,” he said. “We need to know about a technology in order to transfer it.”

Foster’s efforts to streamline and strengthen the reporting and patenting of Johnson’s innovations led to his recognition by the consortium. His proactive outreach and relationship-building improved customer service and contributed to 158 NTRs in fiscal year 2024 – the highest number of NTRs disclosed by federal employees at any NASA center. Foster also proposed a three-month NTR sprint, during which he led a team of seven in an intensive exercise to identify and report new technologies. This initiative not only cleared a backlog of leads for the office, but also resulted in more than 120 previously undisclosed NTRs. “We are still using that process now as we continue processing NTRs,” Foster said. On top of those achievements, he helped secure the highest recorded number of license agreements with commercial entities in the center’s history, with 41 licenses executed in fiscal year 2024.
“I am very proud of my accomplishments, none of it would be possible without the open-mindedness and continuous support of my incredible team,” Foster said. “They have always provided a space to grow, and actively welcome innovation in our processes and workflows.”

A self-described “space nerd,” Foster said he always envisioned working at NASA, but not until much later in his career – ideally as an astronaut. He initially planned to pursue an astrophysics degree but discovered a passion for engineering and fused that with his love of space by studying aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering instead. In his last semester of college at California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, he landed a Universities Space Research Association internship at Johnson, supporting flight software development for crew exercise systems on the International Space Station and future exploration missions. “I got really involved in the Johnson Space Center team and the work, and I thought, what if I joined NASA now?”
He was hired as a licensing specialist on the Technology Transfer team under the JETS II Contract as an Amentum employee shortly after graduating and continually seeks new opportunities to expand his role and skillsets. “The more I can learn about anything NASA’s doing is incredible,” he said. “I found myself in this perfect position where literally my job is to learn everything there is to learn.”

Foster celebrates three years with NASA this July. In his time at the agency, he has learned the value of getting to know and understand your colleagues’ needs in order to help them. Before he meets with someone, he takes time to learn about the organization or team they are a part of, the work they are involved in, and what they might discuss. It is also important to determine how each person prefers to communicate and collaborate. “Doing your homework pays dividends,” Foster said. He has found that being as prepared as possible opens doors to more opportunities, and it helps to save valuable time for busy team members.

When he is not technology hunting, you might find Foster practicing the art of fire spinning. He picked up the hobby in college, joining a club that met at local beaches to practice spinning and capturing different geometric patterns through long exposure photos. “It was kind of a strange thing to get into, but it was really fun,” he said. His love of learning drives his interest in other activities as well. Gardening is a relatively new hobby inspired by a realization that he had never grown anything before.
“It’s a genuine joy, I think, coming across something with curiosity and wanting to learn from it,” he said. “I think it especially helps in my job, where your curiosity switch has to be on at least 90% of the time.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – News Release – Acting Governor Luke Issues Emergency Proclamation Relating to Wildfires

Source: US State of Hawaii

Office of the Governor – News Release – Acting Governor Luke Issues Emergency Proclamation Relating to Wildfires

Posted on Jun 15, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases

STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA

SYLVIA LUKE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
KE KEʻENA O KA HOPE KIAʻĀINA

EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION ISSUED RELATING TO WILDFIRES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2025

HONOLULU — Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, serving as acting governor, signed an Emergency Proclamation (EP) today at 6:08 p.m. in response to a brush fire fueled by strong winds around 9:54 a.m. on June 15 near mile markers 24 and 25 on Maui, in the Kahikinui area.

This 23rd proclamation is a supplement to the Emergency Proclamation issued on August 8, 2023, relating to wildfires in Lahaina, Kula and Kohala.

This proclamation authorizes the Adjutant General to activate the Hawai‘i National Guard to deploy state resources as needed to aid in fire suppression and protect public health and safety, property and natural resources.

It also suspends laws that might impede or delay the execution of emergency functions.

A copy of the executed EP is linked here and is posted on the Emergency Proclamations page on Governor Green’s website.

# # #

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

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

Shari Nishijima
Communications Director
Office of the Lieutenant Governor, State of Hawai‘i
Cell: 808-978-0867
Email: [email protected]

MIL OSI USA News –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Thales’ FlytOptim selected by Corsair to cut CO₂ emissions and advance sustainable aviation
Source: Thales Group

Headline: Thales’ FlytOptim selected by Corsair to cut CO₂ emissions and advance sustainable aviation

16 Jun 2025

Share this article
- Airline company Corsair has selected Thales’ flight optimization solution, FlytOptim, across all of its flights, which serve Africa, the West Indies, and the Indian Ocean (5000+ per year), to save thousands of tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year.
- Following trials, this solution has saved several hundred kilograms of fuel on each flight and helped avoid more than 300 tonnes of CO₂ on Corsair flight routes to the West Indies and Africa.
- With this solution, Thales, a key player in sustainable aviation, offers a systematic approach that can be quickly integrated by all airlines, seeking to reduce their environmental impact as of today.
FlytOptim is an intuitive AI-powered solution that enables pilots to optimize their vertical flight trajectory using real-time weather and aircraft data, thus enabling them to reduce their fuel consumption by 2%.

Harnessing AI to reduce emissions and advance sustainable aviation

This innovation uses Thales’ trusted AI and advanced prediction algorithms of its Flight Management System (FMS), PureFlyt, to identify the optimal vertical flight path, based on real-time weather and aircraft data (such as mass and position). When an optimization is possible, the alternative vertical flight path is sent directly to the pilot in the cockpit using existing communication channels. Once approved by air traffic control (ATC), the pilot can update the flight plan accordingly.

User-centric experience with no operational disruption

Designed together with pilots, FlytOptim’s intuitive design and efficient user-experience has seen an unparalleled adoption rate: after only a few weeks trial at Corsair, 80% of the flights were using FlytOptim. FlytOptim can be deployed quickly and easily, with no need to modify the aircraft or the airline’s existing IT systems.

A comprehensive range of more environmentally-friendly solutions

This solution marks another step in Thales’ roadmap towards climate-efficient aviation, offering both CO₂ and non-CO₂ reduction tools for pilots, dispatchers, air traffic controllers and flow managers. FlytOptim will progressively integrate Thales’ other green operations innovations including its contrail avoidance solution and the dynamic management of Air Traffic Control constraints, thus supporting aviation industry customers in their journey towards more efficient operations.

“The trial of FlytOptim was easy to implement, and its adoption by pilots went smoothly. The fuel savings achieved are clear and easily measurable. We are delighted to deploy this solution, which fully aligns with our environmental strategy and strengthens our commitment to a greener and more sustainable aviation. Corsair aims to be a leading player in decarbonisation, having completely renewed its fleet—which is one of the youngest in the world—and continues to work on various tools to reduce its environmental impact, such as FlytOptim.” Cyrille Digon, Director Flight Support and CSR, Corsair.

“We are proud to announce our new customer for our FlytOptim solution. This milestone is fully aligned with Thales’ strategy to help transform the aerospace industry future through innovative technologies that support more sustainable and responsible aviation.” Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice-President, Avionics, Thales.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.
MIL OSI Economics –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Luis de Guindos: Interview with Reuters

Source: European Central Bank

Interview with Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECB, conducted by Balázs Korányi and Francesco Cánepa on 12 June 2025

16 June 2025

President Lagarde said the ECB was in a good place now. Investors and ECB watchers took that to mean a pause in rate cuts is appropriate. Was that the correct interpretation?

The projections provide the key to understanding our policy decision. It’s almost a cliché now but the level of uncertainty is huge. So much so, we published alternative scenarios. The key differences in the scenarios relate to trade policy. In the baseline, we assume no retaliation and a 10% tariff. In the adverse scenario, we assume higher tariffs and retaliation.

The final outcome in trade negotiations is by far the most relevant factor of uncertainty that we considered in our projections, which are the basis for our monetary policy decisions. Nobody knows the final outcome of the trade negotiations and the impact it may have on the outlook for growth and inflation.

Having said that, markets have understood perfectly well what the President said about being in a good position. Even in this context of huge uncertainty, I think that markets believe and discount that we are very close to our target of sustainable 2% inflation over the medium term.

Your projections incorporate interest rate futures, which still price in one more rate cut. So, if the baseline materialises, we can still expect a cut?

We incorporate market expectations for interest rates into the underlying assumptions of our projection framework. But I think that, in this case, this assumption is not important compared with the consideration we give to trade issues in the June exercise. Trade has a greater magnitude of relevance in influencing our projections.

Would you say that risks to the inflation outlook are to the upside or the downside?

This is quite an important question. A tariff is a tax on imported goods. So the first impact is inflationary. But tariffs simultaneously depress demand, which can more than compensate for the initial inflationary impact. So, in the medium term, tariffs reduce both growth and inflation.

But there is another factor that is more difficult to calibrate. A fully fledged trade war could give rise to fragmentation in the global economy and distortions in the global supply chain. And that would be inflationary in the longer term.

So, with all these nuances, over the next two years tariffs would reduce both growth and inflation. But, if you look further out, you have to consider the potential impact that fragmentation could have. That goes beyond our projection horizon, but it is something that we will have to take into consideration in the future.

You now project inflation dipping below target and then coming back to 2%. We’ve seen such a scenario before, when the longer-term projection always points to 2%, partly because of mean reversion. So, how much weight do you attach to the 2027 projection? And do you give a lot of thought to this notion of mean reversion as a feature at the back of the projection?

When it comes to 2026, there are two key issues: the appreciation of the euro and the evolution of prices of raw materials, particularly energy. For 2027 a similar appreciation of the currency and a fall in energy prices is not expected to take place, and that is the reason why we expect inflation to come back up to 2%. But, of course, the level of uncertainty is huge. So, even though we are convinced that inflation will converge to our target, we need to stay data-dependent and decide meeting by meeting. Also, bear in mind that we have already reduced interest rates by 200 basis points – from 4% to 2%.

The risk of undershooting in any year is that it influences wage-setting and could perpetuate low inflation. In the first quarter of next year, you see inflation at 1.4%. Do you consider undershooting a significant risk?

I think inflation is going in the right direction. There is a clear deceleration, also confirmed by the latest data. But I don’t think that inflation hovering around 1.4% in the first quarter of 2026 is going to be enough to unanchor inflation expectations and modify the wage bargaining process. We clearly see that wage dynamics are cooling. But, even when you take all these factors into consideration, compensation per employee will be around 3% over time. So, the risk of undershooting is very limited in my view.

Our assessment is that risks for inflation are balanced. Clearly, 1.4% is below target. But we look at the medium term, and in the medium term there are other factors that can compensate for the short-term elements that can temporarily bring inflation down.

Europe is expected to spend more on defence. Do you think that greater military expenditure should come at the expense of other spending, or should it be financed from debt?

A lot of uncertainty still surrounds our fiscal policy assumptions and projections. Trade is prominently in the news, but fiscal policy is often overlooked.

First of all, fiscal policy in the United States is important. The new tax bill is going to increase the deficit, and the US fiscal position is already challenging. The debt ratio is over 100% and the fiscal deficit between 6% and 7%. So, markets are likely to start paying more attention to fiscal policy in the United States, which could give rise to increasing yields. I think this will catch the eye of markets more and more in the future.

In the case of Europe, we have seen a degree of decoupling in terms of yields with respect to the United States. But developments have been much more moderate.

Nevertheless, fiscal policy is relevant because there is an additional need to increase spending on defence, which is going to demand more resources. The starting point for some EU countries is not good. The EU does not have much fiscal space, so we have to look for social and political space in order to expand it.

We will need to have more support from the people of Europe, and governments will have to explain clearly the necessity for higher spending on defence, because it’s a question of independence and autonomy.

This extra spending may take some time to ramp up. Do you think ECB watchers or the ECB’s own projections overestimate how much fiscal support is coming?

There are different fiscal multipliers, and much will depend on the kind of fiscal spending that countries are going to pursue. This kind of expenditure takes time to be implemented, so the impact on inflation and growth is not going to be material in the short term.

Do you think the ECB can play a role in helping that defence spending, like with the targeted QE, targeted TLTRO, or some other tool?

I can assure you that this is something that we have not discussed.

We saw in the minutes of the Federal Reserve System’s May meeting that it had extended the swap line with the ECB. Nevertheless, given the political turmoil in the United States, do you think it would be a good exercise to look at scenarios in which US dollar funding dries up? Should the ECB be preparing the financial sector for such a scenario?

We believe that swap lines with the Federal Reserve are a good instrument in terms of financial stability for both the euro area and the United States. We are fully convinced that the swap lines will be maintained over time because they are positive for both sides and for global financial stability.

But markets are starting to openly doubt the status of the US dollar as the world’s leading reserve currency. And some central banks are even building up reserves in gold. Do you think it would be prudent for the ECB, and the Eurosystem more generally, also to start building up more gold reserves or reserves in assets other than US dollar-denominated assets?

The weight of gold in our reserves has been on the increase clearly because of rising gold prices. Central banks use gold as an instrument to diversify in moments of geopolitical risk, and that is understandable. Some are even looking at silver or platinum to diversify.

But the role of the US dollar as a reserve currency in the short term is not going to be challenged, in my opinion.

The role of the euro as a reserve currency in the global arena will depend on actions taken in Europe. If we can achieve a much more integrated goods and services market, then the capital markets union and the banking union will come about much more easily. It’s very difficult to make progress in the capital markets union or the banking union if you do not advance in the integration of the goods and services market.

You put out a report on the role of the euro last week, which covers basically to the end of last year. Can you provide us with a bit of insight on what’s been happening since 2 April. There’s been a lot of movement on financial markets. Have euro assets really benefited from capital leaving the US dollar, or is it mostly gold that has benefited?

If you look at market developments, we had a big decline and a risk-off movement at the beginning of April. And now market valuations have fully recovered – apart from the US dollar and commodity prices.

The policies of the new US Administration cover not only tariffs, but also fiscal policy and the regulatory frameworks for banks – in terms of the implementation of Basel III – and non-banks, and even for crypto assets. At the end of the day, this is a sort of change of paradigm. There have even been some doubts about how engaged the new US Administration is going to be with multilateral institutions.

Even though markets have recovered, setting aside the US dollar and commodities, there is something that is quite obvious. The correlation of asset prices has changed quite a lot since April. If you look at developments in stock and bond prices, the correlation has been different from the ones we had in the past.

Even in the case of yields on US Treasuries, we have seen ups and downs. But I think that the main element that indicates some doubts about the new US policies is the evolution of the US dollar. That’s quite clear.

The flipside of that is that the euro has become stronger. Is it becoming an issue for growth and for exporters? Can the euro zone even afford reserve currency status given the currency strength that comes with it?

I think that, at USD 1.15, the euro’s exchange rate is not going to be a big obstacle. And the question of the reserve status of the euro in the global arena is not going to have a significant impact in the short term.

In the short term, the status of the US dollar is not going to be challenged. In the medium term, the factor that is going to be key is the kind of policy that we implement in Europe. If we are able to become more independent, more autonomous in defence, and we start to do what we have to do for the integration of markets… gradually, over the medium to long term, the euro will gain market share. But, in the short term, a big jump in market share is out of the question.

So you don’t seem to be terribly concerned about USD 1.15 for the real economy. Accepting that you have no exchange rate target, what is the point where you become concerned that the exchange rate has a detrimental impact on the real economy?

Much more than a specific level, I think that we have to look at the speed of developments, how rapid the appreciation or depreciation is. And if there is a clear overshooting of the exchange rate, that is something we should analyse.

So far, the evolution has been quite controlled. Perhaps the surprise has been that, at the beginning of the year, most market participants believed that we could go to parity. And instead we have gone to the current level. I would not say that the exchange rate has been extremely volatile so far, or that we have seen a very rapid appreciation .

We take the exchange rate into consideration in our projections. The perception of the ECB is that the appreciation of the euro has so far been positive in terms of achieving our target for inflation. That’s one of the reasons why we have revised our inflation projections down for 2026.

A recent paper by Blanchard and Ubide has relaunched the idea of a European safe asset. You were on the other side of the fence when you were once a finance minister. Do you see growing chances of more joint issuance happening?

Ideas coming from the academic sphere are very good. The one you mentioned is a very interesting proposal for a EU safe asset in a very liquid and deep market. That is something we have to take into consideration.

But I think we have to do a lot of things before that. We need a much more integrated single market, and to make much more progress towards the capital markets union and the completion of the banking union. Simultaneously – and I feel we have made some progress here – we need the fiscal positions of euro area countries to be closer and disparities to be reduced.

So it’s an interesting proposal from an academic standpoint. But I think that, from a practical viewpoint, there are other necessary conditions before we get there and these are not yet in place.

Do you think it could be prudent for the ECB and the Eurosystem’s national central banks to bring back some of the gold reserves they store in New York?

There is no doubt in my mind that they are totally safe.

Even when a new Federal Reserve Chair will be appointed next year?

Well, I don’t know who the next Chair is going to be, but I expect it will be a competent and sensible person.

Fair enough. But has there been a discussion about this or didn’t it even come up?

Even the possibility of it didn’t come up.

Over the past few years, the ECB has learned some lessons, such as that you also have to react forcefully to inflation when it’s too high. This didn’t seem to be a problem a few years ago, yet all of a sudden it was. So, with that in mind, how would you like the new strategy document to reflect that?

As you have said, the framework for inflation was totally different five years ago. And now we have had a period of high inflation, which was an important change.

This is going to be a reassessment of our strategy review. In my view, we are not going to see modications in the definition of price stability. With respect to the toolkit, I think that all the instruments are going to remain available for use in the future.

Simultaneously, we have learned much more about side effects, and we are going to pay more attention to financial stability considerations. QE, for instance, was a new instrument added to the toolkit in 2015. What is important is that when you use an instrument, you can gauge its real impact. Sometimes it’s much easier to start using the instrument than to withdraw it — that’s something we have learned as well. And finally, the framework of the global economy is going to be very different from the one we had in 2021. In one sense, I think we are going to have a much more fragmented world.

In 2021, we didn’t have any discussions about trade. Deflation, or low inflation, was the main point of our review, and how close we were to the lower bound. At the same time, some academics raised the issue of the natural interest rate. This is interesting from a conceptual and an academic standpoint, but not for actual monetary policy decision-making.

What should we expect from the new strategy statement?

I would not expect big surprises. This is about evolution, not revolution. It is just a reassessment. It will be much more focused on how the framework for central banks and for the ECB has changed over the last five years.

In a multipolar world, what role can China play for the ECB as a partner, and the People’s of Bank of China particularly?

China is an important player. It’s the world’s second largest economy. We have some monetary arrangements with the central bank, like our swap lines.

Sometimes when we talk about trade policies, we look only at bilateral tariffs. But we need to have a holistic approach. In the case, for instance, of the negotiations between the United States and Europe, what is going to be key is not only the final outcome in terms of bilateral tariffs, but the potential impact of trade diversion. You need to be holistic with respect to trade, because otherwise, perhaps, you are missing the real impact that these trade negotiations are going to have.

Do you see that as a big risk, trade diversion? Your colleague Isabel Schnabel seemed to suggest this was not a major risk.

Well, I don’t know whether it’s going to be a big risk, but undoubtedly this is something that we have to monitor and take into consideration.

Could the ECB work with the People’s Bank of China, for example in the field of payments? China has its own digital currency.

We are fully behind a digital euro. We believe that it’s something that is going to be very important in Europe.

There will be new legislation in the United States about stablecoins. They are going to become a means of payment and most projects are going to come from the United States. My reading of the digital euro project is digital public money: it will be a means of payment, it’s not going to pay an interest rate, and it will not replace cash. We are going to take financial stability implications into consideration too.

People, at the end of the day, both in the analogue and digital context, always want to have public money. For them, that’s real money. And if people doubt whether they can transform their current account balance into banknotes, then a bank run can take place. The digital euro is going to play a similar role in a digital world.

If the case for a digital euro is so clear, why does the legislator not see it? Brussels has been dragging its feet. Why is that, and do you expect a change?

I hope that we will be able to convince the legislators, but you have to ask them why they have so many doubts. From our standpoint, it’s quite clear that a digital euro is something that is extremely relevant and useful in the payment context in Europe. And I think that eventually, they will be convinced of the clear advantages of a digital euro.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Thales and KNDS France unveil RAPIDFire Land, a land-based variant of the 40 mm RAPIDFire Naval defence system
Source: Thales Group

Headline: Thales and KNDS France unveil
RAPIDFire Land, a land-based variant of the 40 mm RAPIDFire Naval defence system

16 Jun 2025

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- RAPIDFire is a remotely operated artillery system co-developed by Thales and KNDS France. The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded a contract for the production of 48 of these systems, and the first two RAPIDFire systems ordered earlier are now operational on board France’s new-generation fleet replenishment tankers.
- RAPIDFire can be installed on multiple platform types, and the land-based version will meet emerging operational requirements, in particular to protect sensitive sites from a wide range of threats including saturation attacks.
- The Airburst munition, which represents the cutting edge of air defence capabilities, is reaching an important milestone.
Full qualification of RAPIDFire system

The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has already ordered 14 RAPIDFire systems to equip French Navy vessels. Two systems have been installed on board the fleet replenishment tanker (BRF) Jacques Chevallier, which has completed two long-duration deployments, including several live fire exercises, with France’s carrier strike group. Two others were recently installed on France’s second BRF tanker Jacques Stosskopf ahead of an upcoming long-duration deployment. A fifth system will soon equip a new French Navy offshore patrol vessel.

The RAPIDFire system was qualified in early 2025 and can now be used with all existing 40CT munitions.

As the first remotely operated 40 mm system to incorporate the 40CT cannon, RAPIDFire provides a close-in self-defence capability to protect platforms against modern air and surface threats. It features state-of-the-art optronics jointly designed by Thales and KNDS France, and the new 40 mm cased telescoped munition technology developed by CTAI, a subsidiary of KNDS France.

This solution provides unmatched firepower, with a ready rack of up to 140 rounds, corresponding to dozens of target interceptions with no need to reload. The fire control system recalibrates its aim after every round fired to account for the target’s speed and direction of travel. RAPIDFire is designed to engage a broad range of threats – from ships to light aircraft, drones, loitering munitions and missiles – at ranges of up to 4 kilometres. Its 40 mm cannon is compatible with all telescoped munitions, including the A3B (Airburst) round, which is particularly effective against aerial threats.

A multi-platform system for land and naval forces

RAPIDFire’s underlying technology is versatile enough for the system to be adapted for various applications. A land-based version is now planned following discussions with the French Air and Space Force on the need to protect high-value assets at its air bases in France and during overseas deployments.

KNDS France and Thales are developing the land version of RAPIDFire in two configurations:
- Semi-mobile for site protection, with a 20-foot platform set up on the ground that can be readily moved and re-deployed to other locations.
- Mobile, with the 20-foot platform mounted on a vehicle to protect high-value assets in the theatre of operations.
A3B, the ideal munition for air defence

Leveraging the proven airburst technology of the GPR-AB-T round, the Anti Aerial Airburst (A3B) munition delivers a payload of tungsten subprojectiles with a directional (frontal) terminal effect, providing enhanced effectiveness against various types of aerial targets: drones, helicopters, light aircraft, fighter jets, low-end subsonic missiles and RAM (rocket, artillery, mortar) threats.

Development of the A3B munition is ongoing (currently at Technology Readiness Level 5), with full operational capability in anti-air mode expected in 2027. A contract modification was awarded in late 2024 for the development, production engineering, qualification and delivery of a first batch of 500 A3B munitions with the RAPIDFire system.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

About KNDS

KNDS is the result of a joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Nexter, two of Europe’s leading manufacturers of military land systems, based in Germany and France.

KNDS has around 10,000 employees, with sales of €3.8 billion in 2024, an orderbook of around €23.5 billion and order intake of €11.2 billion.

Its product range includes tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery systems, weapon systems, ammunition, military bridges, information and command systems, training solutions, protection solutions and a wide range of equipment, as well as customer services.

The creation of KNDS marks the beginning of the consolidation of the land defence systems industry in Europe. The strategic alliance between KMW and Nexter strengthens the competitiveness and international positioning of both groups, as well as their ability to meet the needs of their respective national armed forces. It also offers European and NATO customers the possibility of greater standardisation and interoperability for their defence equipment, with a reliable industrial base.

KNDS is headquartered in Amsterdam.
MIL OSI Economics –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Thales launches the best-in-class simultaneous civil and military secondary surveillance air traffic radar, the RSM NG / IFF

Source: Thales Group

Headline: Thales launches the best-in-class simultaneous civil and military secondary surveillance air traffic radar, the RSM NG / IFF

Given the expected growth in air traffic over the next decades, airspace will become more crowded, and increasingly shared by civil and military aircraft. With increased traffic comes more data, and the need to identify aircraft (including uncooperative aircraft) quickly, precisely and in the most efficient, resilient, secure and manner. Air operation managers need to have a national air picture at their fingertips, instantaneously.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Christine Lagarde: Interview with Xinhua News Agency

Source: European Central Bank

Interview with Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, conducted by Su Liang on 12 June 2025

14 June 2025

I was in the audience in 2018 at the opening ceremony of the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai. You said in a speech there that China built a bridge to the world, built a bridge to prosperity and is building a bridge to the future – the three bridges, which is famous in China. Has anything changed in your mind – is China building new bridges?

I haven’t been back to China for six years – that was my last visit, six years ago. From what I have seen so far, I can tell you that this bridge to the future is clearly an enterprise that China is working hard on. The combination of robotic artificial intelligence, hard work by the Chinese people and the strategic approach to it are contributing a lot to that bridge to the future. Development will occur fast on a threefold basis: robotic artificial intelligence, hard work and all of that focused on the industries of the future, which are going to change the Chinese economy even faster and better.

How does the ECB see China’s role in the global economic recovery, especially amid this increasing fragmentation in global supply chains? What kind of dialogue or cooperation would you like to see between the ECB and Chinese financial institutions?

The main cooperation and dialogue that we have at the ECB with China is with the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), because we are both central banks for a large region. We share some of the same concerns, some of the same challenges and we have a strong and deep dialogue on those issues. We are both very attached to the regulatory framework and supervision that will sustain financial stability. Our primary responsibility at the ECB is price stability, and this is clearly defined in our strategy. We are within reach of the 2% medium-term inflation target that we have defined as price stability. But we cannot have price stability if we do not have financial stability. And that’s the reason why we – and I think the PBOC is on the same page – are very attached to a solid regulatory environment and strong supervision so that our financial sector is stable and solid, because it is in the interest of the people that we serve.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, the then European Economic Community. As President of the ECB and previously a politician in Europe, how do you see the cooperation between China and the EU over the past 50 years?

The cooperation between the European Union and China has been beneficial to both sides. We have increased the level of trade between our two regions, and we have seen increased direct investment over the course of the last few decades.

And what will that cooperation look like in the future?

I very much hope, in the interest of financial stability and price stability, that China and the European Union will continue to cooperate, will continue their dialogue, will be candid with each other and will play by the rules that they both agree to. I’m thinking of the WTO rules, for instance, as rules that both regions have agreed to support and have signed up to. I think that determination for dialogue, cooperation and working on win-win solutions is something that will continue to be shared.

You talked about stability and about the rules. Do you think what the United States government is doing now is kind of a risk to stability and the rules? They are raising tariffs and creating uncertainty in the world economy.

I would focus on your last point. The level of uncertainty caused by the announcements or the threats of decisions is dampening investment. It is leading all institutions to reduce their growth projections for the global economy, for the United States, for China and for Europe. It’s really a lose-lose situation that we have at the moment. The sooner the uncertainty can be removed and agreements can be found between the parties – on tariffs in particular, but on other issues as well, such as non-tariff barriers – the better off we will all be. Economic players, investors and employers have great difficulty dealing with uncertainty. The same applies to us as central banks because when we need to forecast, anticipate the evolution of the economy and project the level of prices, if we have this great uncertainty, it makes our lives really difficult.

So when the delegations of China and the United States in London said they had made progress, that’s good news.

I hope progress goes in the direction of removing as much uncertainty as possible. If it reaches a new equilibrium, which is beneficial for all countries, then it’s a positive.

It is impossible to talk about China-EU relations without talking about China-US relations. You worked both in Washington and Europe. How do you see current China-US relations and how do you think China-US relations will impact China-EU relations?

I don’t want to make any projections or anticipate what the outcome of the discussions will be between the Chinese authorities and the US authorities. This is for political leaders, for trade and commerce secretaries to discuss and to take forward. But what I observe is that all our countries – European Union Member States, China, the United States and many other countries – are intrinsically bound by supply chains. When you start dissecting a product and you realise what the origin of the product is, where the spare parts are coming from, what journey it takes to travel from one place to the other, it is amazing how countries are linked to each other. What will impact one will impact others, and if the situation is not resolved satisfactorily and the uncertainty is not removed, the corporate world will rethink their supply chains. They will rethink their supply and their sourcing, and that will cause more fragility and a period of uncertainty, during which growth will probably be impaired, during which we could have inflationary pressure as a result. And I think this is not in the interest of any country. As I said, it’s not just the United States, China and Europe, it’s many other countries as well.

I remember you once said you stand by Adam Smith, you stand by liberalism. Do you think what we are witnessing in the world is a kind of failure of liberalism, the rules of free trade?

We have to acknowledge what the benefits have been and where there have been downsides. The benefits have been incredible when you look at how much additional activity has prospered, how much growth has increased, how many people have been taken out of poverty, particularly in this country, in China, how the well-being of people has improved. There have been many benefits as a result of international open trade and free markets, but there have also been some negative consequences. There are areas in the world where industrial activity has died, where people have lost jobs and where measures have not been taken to deal with that. So we have to be mindful of that. We have to look at that very honestly and decide how we want to remedy those situations. It has a lot to do with reducing the disequilibrium, reducing the imbalances that we see both on an international but also on a domestic basis.

Like you said, China has had a lot of benefits from globalisation, and China is now the second-largest economy in the world, and we have heard some concepts like de-risking from China in Europe. What is your opinion on this concept?

The principle of de-risking is not surprising, and I think it has been accentuated by the COVID-19 period. You know, during the pandemic, countries and regions suddenly realised that they no longer had manufacturing facilities to produce some pharmaceutical goods (e.g. masks) that were needed, and they were dependent and vulnerable as a result. This desire not to be vulnerable, not to be exclusively dependent on one single source of supply, is completely legitimate to the extent that those products – not necessarily masks – are considered strategic. It’s completely normal that countries think they need to have alternative sources of supply. We need to have a degree of security of supply so that we are not at the mercy of a failure, or a unilateral decision that would expose the security of our people. So I don’t find anything surprising about it. It is legitimate, but it does not stop cooperation. It does not stop international trade.

When it comes to financial innovation, people always focus on digital financing and green financing. The ECB is actively exploring a digital euro. How will this influence the future of finance from the perspective of European bankers? And on green innovation in financing, how can the ECB and the PBOC cooperate in the future?

Firstly, both the PBOC and the ECB are working on a digital currency. China was ahead, it started earlier. We started six years ago, and we are getting to the point where, if the legislature supports the proposal, we should be ready to launch. Why are we doing that? Simply because of client demand, to put it very simply. Because many Europeans – not all, but many – like to pay electronically, digitally, without cash. Many Europeans still like cash. I like cash. So we will continue to have cash, and we will be issuing new banknotes in a few years’ time. But we need, as a sovereign expression on the financial stage, to be able to respond to the demand of our customers, Europeans. If they want cash, we should be able to print secure banknotes. If they want digital cash, we should be able to offer a digital euro. We want to make sure that we have a European offer that is available, so that within the entire euro area there is a means of payment and a solid currency that can help you transact both online, peer-to-peer, business-to-business, and that’s the purpose of the digital euro.

And what about green financing?

Green financing is an activity that is conducted by commercial banks or international institutions. The European Investment Bank, which is a public institution, also has a role. And as you know, Europe has approved a green bond framework that is available, which I think China has observed very carefully in order to issue its own framework. But it’s a matter for commercial banks.

My final question is the following: you were the second most powerful woman in the world according to Forbes in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. You have a life experience envied by women around the world. Do you have any advice for them on how to be successful?

Women have inside them the potential to thrive in whichever domain they choose. And I think that they should always draw on that confidence and energy without which things do not happen, and they should cultivate that and never be intimidated or refrain from achieving what they can. They have to believe in themselves. I hope they get the support that I was lucky to receive from family members and friends, as that is extremely helpful to continue doing what you want to do.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Privacy blind spot could stall AI’s future in UK homes, says new study

Source: Samsung

As smart technology and AI become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, new research finds that nearly 9 out of 10 Brits (89%) express concerns about their privacy.

But, for the majority of consumers, these concerns stop at their phones – despite other smart devices in the home also collecting personal data and being just as vulnerable to threats.

This new research from Samsung Electronics, which surveyed over 8,000 Millennial and Gen Z respondents across Europe, including the UK, reveals that over a quarter (28%) of young Brits never think about the security of their smart appliances. In contrast, 1 in 2 (53%) think about the privacy of their mobile phones every day – a worrying blind spot given how connected our smart devices have become, and with the number of smart homes in Europe expected to surpass 100 million by 2028.[1]

The research highlights how managing privacy can feel overwhelming for many – with over 1 in 10 (14%) of those surveyed saying it’s too complex, and 7 in 10 (70%) finding it stressful. Within Europe, Spain tops the list of countries where people find managing their privacy the most stressful (88%), followed by Greece (87%) and France (75%) and Italy (75%).

Privacy concerns among Brits are wide-ranging – from fears of financial theft (73%) to unease about metadata being used to identify them (61%).

The findings point to a deep education gap when it comes to privacy. Many want to take control of their data when it comes to their technology. In fact, almost 8 in 10 (78%) put such considerations front and centre at point of purchase, alongside their familiarity with the brand. Yet despite rising awareness, many still feel unequipped to take meaningful action:

Only 22% say they feel ‘very’ knowledgeable about privacy
Just over half (54%) are aware of the data their apps and devices collect about them
3 in 10 (28%) accept default settings on apps without fully understanding them
Almost 6 in 10 (57%) feel they can never be fully in control of their privacy across their devices
7 in 10 (70%) are calling for better education on data and privacy
Over 1 in 10 (14%) consumers say they trust brands to take the protection of their data seriously

These fears are holding UK consumers back from harnessing the full potential of the latest technology. 1 in 5 (18%) haven’t shared data between smart devices in the past year due to security fears—showing that Brits aren’t taking full advantage of connected living, and the enhanced lifestyle benefits it can bring.

Yet two thirds say they would be more open to fully embracing AI and smart-home technology if they better understood the benefits to their lifestyle (67%) and felt confident their data was secure (67%). From real-time smart home updates (15%) to personalised shopping discounts (15%), job opportunities (14%) and tailored fitness and health suggestions (14%), many recognise that they are missing out on everyday enhancements due to concerns around how their data is handled.

In light of these findings, Samsung is reinforcing its commitment to empowering users with strong safeguards and transparent privacy controls in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Dr. Seungwon Shin, Corporate EVP & Head of Security Team, Device eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics said: “At Samsung, we believe true innovation starts with people – which is why we put privacy at the core of everything we do. This research highlights a growing trend: while consumers are proactive about managing privacy on their smartphones, they’re often overlooking the broader ecosystem of connected devices. It also reflects a hesitation to fully embrace AI-powered experiences, largely driven by uncertainty around data use.

As advocates for privacy-first design, we’re committed to earning trust through transparency, choice, and built-in protections. Everyone should be able to explore new AI capabilities with confidence, knowing their data is protected and they remain in control. That’s why we’re focused on putting privacy in the hands of users – where it belongs.”

At the heart of this mission is Samsung Knox, the company’s government-grade security platform that safeguards its smart home appliances[2] and Galaxy devices. With the rise of connected living, Samsung is expanding Knox security across its ecosystem so users can enjoy smart appliances and AI-powered features with peace of mind[3]

Knox Matrix is Samsung’s long-term vision for connected security—where devices in the same ecosystem work together to safeguard one another. Built on private blockchain technology and backed by future-ready protections like post-quantum cryptography[4], Knox Matrix enables real-time, multi-device protection across smartphones, tablets, TVs, and more.

Complementing this is Knox Vault, which stores sensitive information like PINs, passwords and biometric data in a separate, hardware-based environment. This ensures that even if the main operating system is compromised, private information always stays protected.

With this layered security in place, users are empowered to manage their privacy across all their connected devices, making choices entirely on their own terms.

The research also shows that UK consumers want more than just promises—they’re seeking practical tools. 28% support clearer data usage policies, and almost the same amount value privacy information that’s simple and easy to understand (29%).

Recognising this need, Samsung is expanding its efforts to educate users and equip them with tools that put privacy into their hands across all Samsung devices. For more information on privacy, see here. For more information on the Samsung Knox security principles, see here.

[1]Research and Markets. (2024). Smart Homes and Home Automation Report 2024. Business Wire.
[2]Samsung Knox is applied to select appliances launched in 2018 and later.
[3]Samsung Knox Matrix cannot guarantee complete protection against all vulnerabilities within a user’s connected device ecosystem.
[4]Post-quantum cryptography is available on Galaxy S25 series.

MIL OSI Economics –

June 16, 2025
‘Cyber Suraksha’ exercise launched to boost national cyber security preparedness

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Defence Cyber Agency, operating under the aegis of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, has launched a cyber security exercise titled ‘Cyber Suraksha’. The exercise began on June 16 and will continue until June 27.

‘Cyber Suraksha’ is a multi-phased initiative aimed at enhancing cyber resilience at the national level. It brings together more than 100 participants from various national-level agencies and defence stakeholders. The exercise is designed to simulate real-world cyber threats and test the participants’ ability to respond to them in a dynamic, gamified environment. By combining structured training with hands-on challenges, it seeks to reinforce secure practices and sharpen the analytical and defensive skills of the participants.

A key feature of the exercise is the inclusion of a Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) conclave, which has been integrated to bridge the gap between technical execution and leadership roles. The conclave features discussions led by eminent speakers in the cyber security domain and will conclude with an immersive Table-Top Exercise, aimed at enhancing the strategic readiness of senior leadership.

‘Cyber Suraksha’ reflects a proactive approach by the Defence Cyber Agency to ensure continued cyber vigilance and foster a security-first culture across all levels of the national defence infrastructure. The agency also plans to make such exercises a regular feature to sustain a high level of preparedness and promote collaborative defence in the evolving cyber landscape.

June 16, 2025
Southwest Monsoon advances further; heavy rainfall expected in several regions: IMD

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported significant progress in the advancement of the Southwest Monsoon, with favourable conditions likely to push it further into more parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, the remaining areas of Vidarbha, and additional parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim within the next 24 hours.

Over the following two days, the monsoon is expected to spread into parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and east Uttar Pradesh.

The monsoon is currently active over the entire Konkan region, Central Maharashtra, parts of Gujarat, southwest Madhya Pradesh, and extended areas of Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim. The Northern Limit of Monsoon now stretches through key locations including Veraval, Bhavnagar, Vadodara, Khargone, Amravati, Durg, Chandbali, and Balurghat.

The IMD forecasts an active monsoon phase with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in south peninsular India and Konkan & Goa till June 16. Isolated areas may experience extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm.

In terms of temperatures, a 2–4°C drop in maximum temperatures is expected across Central India over the next 4–5 days, while no significant change is predicted for the rest of the country.

Weather forecast over Delhi-NCR during June 16-19

The weather forecast for Delhi-NCR from June 16 to 19 indicates generally to partly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms expected each day. These weather events are likely to be accompanied by gusty winds, temporarily reaching speeds of up to 60 kmph, particularly during the evening and night hours.

Overall, the period will be marked by slightly cooler than usual temperatures and intermittent rainfall, bringing some relief from the summer heat.

The IMD continues to monitor the monsoon’s progression and advises local authorities and residents to stay updated with regional weather alerts.

June 16, 2025

MIL-OSI Banking: Result: Conversion/Switch Auction of Government of India Securities

Source: Reserve Bank of India

A.	Source Security	8.15% GS 2026	8.24% GS 2027	8.26% GS 2027	8.26% GS 2027	7.06% GS 2028
B.	Notified Amount (in ₹ crore)	3,000	3,000	2,000	2,000	3,000
B.	Destination Security	6.19% GS 2034	6.64% GS 2035	8.33% GS 2036	7.40% GS 2062	8.24% GS 2033
C.	i. No. of offers received	3	3	6	1	6
	ii. Total amount of Source Security offered (Face value, in ₹ crore)	3,800.000	887.559	945.000	1,000.000	3,247.000
	iii. No of offers accepted	2	0	0	1	3
	iv. Total amount of source security accepted (Face value, in ₹ crore)	3,000.000	0	0	1,000.000	217.000
	v. Total amount of destination security issued (Face value, in ₹ crore)	3,136.604	0	0	1,001.241	199.334
	vi. Cut-off price (₹) / yield (%) for destination security	98.90/6.3473	NA	NA	104.71/7.0399	112.15/6.3493

A.	Source Security	7.06% GS 2028	8.60% GS 2028	7.59% GS 2029	7.59% GS 2029
B.	Notified Amount (in ₹ crore)	2,000	3,000	3,000	4,000
B.	Destination Security	7.06% GS 2046	8.33% GS 2036	7.57% GS 2033	8.32% GS 2032
C.	i. No. of offers received	0	10	10	13
	ii. Total amount of Source Security offered (Face value, in ₹ crore)	0.000	5,445.000	4,667.356	4,154.200
	iii. No of offers accepted	0	2	0	5
	iv. Total amount of source security accepted (Face value, in ₹ crore)	0	3,000.000	0	2,079.200
	v. Total amount of destination security issued (Face value, in ₹ crore)	0	2,820.191	0	1,971.281
	vi. Cut-off price (₹) / yield (%) for destination security	NA	114.16/6.5042	NA	111.11/6.3548

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2025-2026/549

MIL OSI Global Banks –

June 16, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Need to support the Cyclades affected by the devastating floods and the island regions more broadly – E-001363/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament

The mid-term review of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) was concluded in 2024, reinforcing the EU budget in key priority areas. The Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve was increased by EUR 1.5 billion.

The Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction — RESTORE Regulation[1] allows for flexibility by Member States impacted by natural disasters to use cohesion policy funding for reconstruction and repair.

The Rural Development Regulation[2] was amended to introduce a new measure, providing support to affected farmers, foresters, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

Member States could adjust their 2021-2027 cohesion policy programmes during their mid-term review[3], adding new priorities like enhancing water resilience.

Greece could benefit from these flexibilities once the regulation enters into force, including the financial incentives to implement these priorities rapidly and effectively.

The 2021-2027 cohesion policy programmes contribute EUR 1 billion to a national disaster risk management programme in Greece and EUR 10.5 million to a regional programme on climate-related risk management in Notio Aigaio[4].

The EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change can help the Cyclades and other islands test and deploy innovative solutions to build resilience to floods and other climate risks, as with Climate adaptation and resilience demonstrated in the Mediterranean region (CARDIMED) project[5].

Island regions face specific challenges, including suffering from extreme natural disasters that call for significant investments not only in post-disaster recovery but also in climate adaptation and resilience.

As announced in the communication ‘A modernised cohesion policy: the mid-term review’, the Commission will launch a consultation on the development of a Strategy for Islands to support them address their multi-faceted problems.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/3236 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1057 and (EU) 2021/1058 as regards Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE), entered into force on 24 December 2024, available at the following link https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3236/oj/eng.
- [2] Regulation (EU) 2024/3242 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2220 as regards specific measures under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to provide additional assistance to Member States affected by natural disasters, available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R3242&qid=1746172978914.
- [3] On 1 April 2025 the Commission tabled a legislative proposal and accompanying Communication. Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1058 and (EU) 2021/1056 as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review, available at: regulation-proposal-mid-term-review-2025_en.pdf: https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/communication/mid-term-review-2025/regulation-proposal-mid-term-review-2025_en.pdf; Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council A modernised Cohesion policy: The mid-term review, available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0163.
- [4] Technical assistance, including under the ‘Cohesion for Transitions Community of Practice’ initiative, could support the implementation of the programmes facilitating the green transition and for studies.
- [5] Climate Resilience & NBS | Cardimed: https://www.cardimed-project.eu/.
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Menstrual products: transparency and health risks – E-001083/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament

The new General Product Safety Regulation[1] strengthens the safety framework for consumer products, including menstrual products.

It requires manufacturers to perform an internal risk analysis for every product- taking into account consumer categories, including gender differences- and eliminate or mitigate all identified risks, including by adding warnings and instructions for safe use.

Also, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation[2] regulates chemical substances in consumer products and bans the use of certain hazardous substances (e.g. the dioctyltin (DOT) compounds) in menstrual products. Another restriction on skin sensitisers is in preparation too.

In the future, the Commission, in cooperation with the Consumer Safety Network and taking into account the number of accidents reported, could explore the development of future standardisation work[3].

In the Coordinated Activities on the Safety of Products 2022, menstrual products were tested against European and international standards, indicating overall compliance. Also, the Product Safety Award 2023 recognised companies innovating in menstrual product safety.

Finally, the Commission recognises the importance of research into menstrual product safety. While there are no initiatives under Horizon Europe, or the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV) programme at this stage, the Commission is open to exploring funding opportunities supporting scientific advancements and consumer safety in this area.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2023/988 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on general product safety, amending Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and the Council, and repealing Directive 2001/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 87/357/EEC. OJ L 135, 23.5.2023, p. 1-51, applicable since 13th December 2024.
- [2] Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC. OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1-850.
- [3] Official European standard setting organisations have started to develop certain deliverables on the topic notably with the CEN workshop agreement on absorbent hygiene products. While this standardisation deliverable will not per se deal with the toxic shock syndrome and warnings regarding the duration of use of products, it will provide for test method to assess the potential presence of trace chemicals in absorbent hygiene products useful for manufacturers as well as Market Surveillance authorities to test their safety. More info can be found here: https://www.cencenelec.eu/news-and-events/news/2023/workshop/2023-02-02-ahps/.
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: EIB supports with €1.6 bn the strategic Bay of Biscay electricity interconnection between Spain and France
Source: European Investment Bank

EIB
- Bay of Biscay is a landmark project for the European power system that will boost the interconnection capacity between the Iberian Peninsula and rest of continental Europe.
- Initiative to increase the exchange capacity from 2,800 to 5,000 megawatts (MW), improving reliability of power supply among France, Spain and Portugal and with the rest of Europe.
- Once operational the interconnection will contribute to ensure cleaner, more secure, and more affordable power for millions of citizens.
- With a total route length of 400 km, 300 km of which underwater, it will become the first submarine electricity interconnection between Spain and Fance.
- This is a Project of Common Interest for the EU being implemented through a joint venture between the transmission system operators of Spain, Red Eléctrica, and France, RTE, Réseau de transport d’électricité.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is pledging €1.6 billion to finance the construction of the Bay of Biscay electricity interconnection between Spain and France. The EIB financing for the Bay of Biscay project takes the form of loans to Spanish and French transmission-system operators Red Eléctrica and RTE Réseau de transport d’électricité.

The parties signed first loan tranches totalling €1.2 billion today at the EIB headquarters in Luxembourg. The event was attended by Nadia Calviño, president of the EIB Group, Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Marc Ferracci, French minister of Industry and Energy, Miguel González Suela, Spanish deputy secretary of State – for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Beatriz Corredor, chairwoman of Redeia, parent company of Red Eléctrica and Thomas Veyrenc Member of the Executive Board, director general for Finance, Strategy and Economics of RTE. This financial support adds up to the €578 million EU grant allocated to this project under the Connecting Europe Facility.

This is a landmark Project of Common Interest in which the EIB, the European Commission, Red Eléctrica and RTE are joining forces to strengthen cross-border electricity interconnections and hereby the overall European energy system.

“EIB support for the France-Spain electricity interconnection will be key to ensuring that the Iberian Peninsula is no longer an energy island. This agreement will lead to a major shift in energy integration, an important area for EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy.” said Nadia Calviño, president of the EIB Group”.

“Europe needs more integrated and more interconnected energy systems and markets. This is crucial to ensure our citizens have access to clean and stable supplies, wherever they are. This is what a genuine Energy Union is about, “said Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing. “I very much welcome the additional financial support offered by the EIB for a key project that will ultimately improve the lives of many across the Pyrenees and beyond.”

Construction of the Bay of Biscay link is already under way by Inelfe – joint venture by RTE and Red Eléctrica, and it is due to become operational in 2028. Once operational, the project will almost double the electricity exchange capacity between France and Spain to 5,000 MW. That means cleaner, more secure, and more affordable power for millions of citizens, while avoiding 600,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year.

The project will strengthen the interconnection capacity between France and Spain, helping the Iberian peninsula’s progress towards the EU interconnection target for Member States of at least 15% of installed production capacity by 2030. The Bay of Biscay project, together with the underground project between Baixas-Santa Llogaia and the improvement of the existing Argia-Hernani infrastructure will contribute to enhance the interconnection capacity between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe, while better integrating it within the EU energy market.

‘Today, with the support of the EIB, we take another step forward in this project, a bridge between nations and key for European cohesion that will enable us to tackle the greatest challenge of our time: the energy transition. That is why both countries must continue to work together to strengthen our connections, also through the two new projects planned to cross the Pyrenees’, said Beatriz Corredor, chairwoman of Redeia

“Today is a major milestone for the Bay of Biscay project, which will increase the solidarity between France and Spain but will also contribute to the development of exchanges of low-carbon, competitive electricity throughout Europe. Along with EU institutions – such as EIB – and other European TSOs, RTE is committed to ensure that the French power grid is fit to play its role of a European electricity crossroads, including through major reinforcement projects to avoid internal constraints, as laid out in our recent grid development strategy’, said Thomas Veyrenc, Member of the Executive Board, Director general for finance, strategy and economics of RTE.

The project reinforces the EIB´s role as the climate bank one of the EIB Group’s eight strategic priorities set out in its Strategic Roadmap for the years 2024-2027. The operation is also part of the EIB’s action plan supporting REPowerEU, the program to increase energy security and accelerate the energy transition by reducing the European Union’s dependence on fossil fuel imports.

Marc Ferracci, French minister for industry and energy: “We’re very happy today to have signed the first part of the investment in this interconnection project between France and Spain which will go through the Bay of Biscay. This will allow us to double the capacity of electricity transported between the two countries with 400 km of connection. It’s very important because it illustrates the will of Spain and France to go further in the decarbonisation of our economies. And it shows the solidarity that exists to meet Europe’s energy security challenge.”

“The signing of this agreement marks a major step towards building the Energy Union and strengthening the resilience of the European electricity system as a whole. I am confident that it will not be the last”, said Miguel González Suela, Spanish deputy secretary of State for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

Flagship project

The Bay of Biscay interconnection is classified by the EU as a Project of Common Interest or PCI, and is being delivered by Inelfe a joint venture between Red Eléctrica and Réseau transport d’électricité. It is co-funded by a Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) grant of €578 million.

The connection will link two alternating current systems via a submarine direct current line. At each end of the connection, stations in Cubnezais in France and Gatika in Spain will convert the direct current into alternating current for connection to the transmission grids of Spain and France.

The design of the project has been developed through an open and participatory process, with the aim of reaching the greatest possible consensus and ensuring the best solution from a technical, social, and environmental perspective.

The High-Level Group on Interconnections in South-West Europe, established in 2015 between Spain, France, and Portugal with the support of the European Commission, played a critical role in advancing the Biscay Bay project.

More information about the project is available here.

The EIB as a major financier of energy security and grids in Europe

In 2024, the EIB Group signed a record €31 billion to back EU energy security, including for efficiency, renewables, storage and electricity grids, which is expected to support over €100 billion in investment. A total of €8.5 billion financed electricity grids and storage projects, double the amount from previous year. This financing is helping to expand, modernise and digitalise electricity grids making them more resilient and allowing for more and better integration of renewable sources.

In Spain financing of energy security projects was higher than in any other EU country in 2024, totalling more than €5 billion, which is expected to support over €15 billion in investment. A total of €1.54 billion financed grids and storage projects, roughly double the previous year’s amount. In France financing of energy security projects in 2024 was in line with previous years at around €3.6 billion, of which €400 million went to finance grids and storage projects, while €3.2 billion went to other energy projects including renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

In the last 5 years (2019-24), EIB has financed €16.7 billion in energy projects in Spain, and €17.7 billion in energy projects in France.

Find out more about the EIB’s support for the energy sector here.

Background information

EIB

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund, signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.

All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.

In Spain, in 2024, the EIB Group signed new financing worth €12.3 billion for over 100 high-impact projects, while in France, the EIB Group signed new financing worth €12.6 billion also for over 100 high-impact projects, contributing to both countries’ green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and better services for their people.

High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

Red Eléctrica

Red Eléctrica is the transmission system operator (TSO) for the Spanish electricity system and Redeia’s flagship. Since 1985, Red Eléctrica guarantee the security of supply in Spain, driving its social and economic development. Now, the company is also the backbone of the energy transition in the country. www.ree.es

Réseau Transport d’Électricité

The French electricity-transmission-system operator, RTE, provides a public service: guaranteeing a constant supply of electricity throughout France, with the same standard of service, thanks to the efforts of its 10,025-strong staff. RTE manages electricity flows, balancing production and consumption in real time. RTE maintains and develops the high and very-high voltage grid (from 63,000 to 400,000 volts) which includes nearly 100,000 kilometres of overhead lines, 7,000 kilometres of underground lines, 2,900 operational substations, some jointly operated, and around fifty cross-border lines. With 37 interconnections with neighbouring countries, the French grid is the largest in Europe. RTE is an independent and neutral industrial operator of the energy transition, optimising and transforming its grid to connect new consumers and low-carbon electricity generation facilities.
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Review of the Digital Services Act – P-001672/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament

Pursuant to Article 91(1) of the Digital Services Act (DSA), by 17 November 2025, the Commission shall evaluate and report to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee on the application of Article 33 of the DSA and the way that the DSA interacts with other legal acts, in particular those listed in Article 2(2) and (3) of the DSA.

The Commission services, in close cooperation, have started the preparatory work towards the adoption of the report. The preparation of this report is closely aligned with the ongoing work of the Simplification Package[1].

The report will also be informed by surveys addressed to a variety of stakeholders (including civil society organisations, companies and regulatory authorities) and other relevant analysis.

Pursuant to Article 91(3) the DSA, the report may be accompanied by a legislative proposal to amend the DSA, if necessary. At this stage, however, there is no such indication.

The protection of freedom of expression was at the core of the design of the DSA. The DSA has inter alia increased the transparency and accountability over the content moderation decisions taken by providers of intermediary services and reinforced redress mechanisms for users.

In addition, the DSA requires providers of services designated as very large online platforms and very large online search engines to identify, assess and analyse, and effectively mitigate systemic risks stemming from the functioning, design and use made of their services and related systems, including in relation to any actual or foreseeable negative effects for the exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

The Commission is committed to protecting freedom of expression in monitoring and enforcing the DSA rules.
- [1] https://commission.europa.eu/news/commission-proposes-cut-red-tape-and-simplify-business-environment-2025-02-26_en.
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Study – The European Parliament’s oversight powers: Tools to scrutinise the European Commission – 16-06-2025

Source: European Parliament

The European Parliament is vested with powers of democratic oversight and political scrutiny vis-à-vis the European Commission. These powers of Parliament enhance the democratic legitimacy of the EU as a whole, and help increase the transparency and accountability of the Commission as the EU’s executive body. This study examines Parliament’s oversight and scrutiny powers over the Commission. It focuses mainly, but not exclusively, on the powers that are enshrined in specific provisions of the EU Treaties. This includes Parliament’s role in the Commission’s investiture, in motions of censure, parliamentary questions, committees of inquiry and special committees, and in the Commission’s obligations to report, consult and inform. It also looks into Parliament’s scrutiny over budgetary issues, of delegated acts, in the context of the EU legislative procedure and agenda-setting, of legal proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union, and of the EU’s external relations. The study builds on a previous EPRS study on parliamentary scrutiny of the Commission, originally requested by the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) in 2018. The data presented in this edition focus on the ninth term parliamentary term (2019 to 2024).

MIL OSI Europe News –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – ITRE Committee meetings – Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Source: European Parliament
The next ITRE committee meeting will take place on:

Wednesday, 25 June, from 9.00 to 12.30 and from 14h30 to 18h30 in Brussels

Thursday, 26 June, from 9.00 to 12.30 in Brussels
Newsletter 3/2024
ITRE Activity Report 2019-2024

Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Barbara Freeman: A Retrospective’ opens at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio

Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

A new engaging exhibition ‘Barbara Freeman: A Retrospective’ has opened at the F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio, Banbridge and runs until Saturday 27 September 2025.

This first large-scale survey of Freeman’s work introduces the public to this award-winning artist who has exhibited internationally and now in her late 80s, continues to experiment and push herself to create new innovative work.

The retrospective features a broad range of Freeman’s work from an early drawing ‘Homage to Dürer’ dating from 1973 to her new series of digital images ‘Time Past Remembered’ made this year and her award-winning film ‘Itacha’ from 2023.

Utilising a wide range of media including sculpture, painting, print, installation, sound and film, Freeman’s constantly evolving practice fluctuates between figuration and abstraction to explore themes including time, memory and history.

Speaking about the new exhibition, Gallery Curator and Manager, Dr Riann Coulter, said:

“This major survey exhibition showcases a striking collection of Barbara’s work and provides a fantastic opportunity to explore her artistic evolution over half a century of innovative art making.”

Born in London in 1937, Freeman studied at Central St. Martins and Camberwell Colleges of Art, followed by postgraduate study at the University of Leeds before moving to Belfast where she has lived and worked for over 40 years.

Collaboration is at the heart of Freeman’s art. She has often worked with composers and musicians to create installations that combine sound and image and respond to a particular place, both as a physical space and a sonic environment. In 2020, she joined Na Cailleacha, the collective of formidable older women artists based in Ireland, with whom she continues to work and exhibit.

Freeman’s work has been exhibited widely, with solo shows in Ireland, Britain, the United States, Hungary, Germany, and former Yugoslavia.

Her artworks have featured in collections displayed by the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Royal Courts of Justice, and The Royal Hospitals.

This exhibition has been curated by Dr Fionna Barber, Reader in Art History at Manchester School of Art and Dr Riann Coulter.

It will be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue featuring an essay by Fionna Barber and an interview between Freeman and art historian and Na Cailleacha colleague, Catherine Marshall.

The F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free. For further information, go to visitarmagh.com/femcwilliam

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Highland Council By-elections for Wards 6 & 10 – Voters urged to make sure their vote counts
Source: Scotland – Highland Council

Issued on behalf of the Returning Officer

Polling will take place on Thursday 19 June 2025 to elect one of nine candidates standing in The Highland Council’s Cromarty Firth Ward by-election and one of eight candidates for Ward 10 Eilean a’ Cheò. Voters are being reminded to make sure they are ready to cast their vote.

The single transferable vote system will be used. Instead of using a cross, voters should number the candidates in the order of their choice, putting a number 1 in the box next to the name of the candidate who is their first choice, 2 in the box next to their second choice and so on. Voters can make as many or as few choices as they wish.

The Council has created a short video that explains the process –

[embedded content]

Postal packs have been despatched to those registered electors that submitted a form by the postal vote deadline. Anyone who has requested a postal vote will not be able to vote in person at a polling station. If you are unable to post it in time, it is possible to hand in your completed postal pack into any of the polling stations located within wards 6 and 10 between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 19 June 2025. There are no restrictions on the number of postal votes that can be handed in to a polling station.

A list of polling station locations can be found on the Council’s website

For those opting to vote in person on Thursday 19 June 2025, polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm. Voters are reminded to check their poll cards as this will have details of where they need to go to cast their vote. There is no requirement to bring any form of voter ID or poll cards.

The candidates standing for election to Ward 6 – Cromarty Firth are:
- CHISHOLM, Steve – Alba Party for independence
- COSTIGANE, Ross – Scottish Liberal Democrats
- CROSS, Richard James – Independent
- FORBES, Ryan – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
- MACDONALD, Allan – Reform UK
- MACDONALD, Odette – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- PERERA, Michael Robert – Scottish Labour Party
- RATTRAY, Martin – Independent
- THOMAS, Anne – Scottish Greens
The candidates standing for Ward 10 Eilean a’ Cheò are:
- COUPLAND, John – Reform UK
- DICKSON, Campbell – Independent
- GILLIES, Christine – Independent
- LAWRENCE, Katy – Scottish Greens
- MAC A’ BHÀILLIDH, Màrtainn – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- MACDONALD, Jonathan – Independent
- MACPHERSON, George – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
- THOMSON, Fay – Scottish Liberal Democrats
The electronic election counts for both wards will take place on Friday 20 June 2025 at Kyleakin Village Hall starting at 11am. People will be able to follow the count and watch the declaration of the results live on our YouTube channel and follow the latest via the Council’s social media channels – @highlandcouncil

To support equal access for everyone and to assist with voting, a range of accessibility aids is provided, which also includes a new overlay. The overlay combined with the audio recording of the ballot paper, is intended to provide a complete self-service solution to the blind and partially sighted voters to vote independently and in secret.

All information about the by-election, including answers to frequently asked questions and short video clips to show how to vote is available by visiting the Council’s website www.highland.gov.uk/byelection
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Culture and tourism are important areas of cooperation between Beijing and Moscow – official

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

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) — “Culture and tourism are important areas of exchange and cooperation between China and Russia, as well as between Beijing and Moscow. In recent years, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Moscow has been increasing every year,” Guo Huaigang, director of the Beijing Culture and Tourism Bureau, told the Beijing Youth Daily on Thursday.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of sister city relations between Beijing and Moscow.

Guo Huaigang noted that since the establishment of sister city relations, the two cities have organized various events in such fields as economy, trade, science and technology, urban development, transportation, and humanitarian ties. The events under the “joint celebration of the two cities” in the field of culture and tourism have created a platform for exchanges and cooperation between the industries of the two cities, arousing the interest and desire of their residents to get to know each other.

According to him, Beijing received 293 thousand Russian tourists in 2024. In January-May 2025, Beijing received 175 thousand tourists from Russia, which is 83.9 percent more than the same period last year.

On June 12, the Moscow Seasons in Beijing festival kicked off in Beijing, presenting modern technologies and folk traditions of the Russian capital to the Chinese public in an authentic form over the course of four days. At the same time, Beijing organized a series of events in Moscow to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the twinning, including a roundtable on trade and economic cooperation and a youth hockey tournament. In particular, the Beijing City Department of Culture and Tourism held a presentation of Beijing’s tourism opportunities and a “Journey to the World of Peking Opera” event in Moscow.

“Thanks to joint efforts, the sister city relationship between Beijing and Moscow has been steadily developing,” Guo Huaigang said. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: EU hypocrisy fuelling suffering in Gaza

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

Brussels – The hypocrisy and inaction of the European Union and its Member States have allowed Israel to freely continue its massacre of Palestinians in Gaza with total impunity, said Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in a press conference in Brussels today. MSF calls for impartial needs-based aid to be facilitated into the Gaza Strip at scale, the protection of civilians, and the immediate restoration of a sustained ceasefire; European governments must act decisively to expedite this.

For more than 20 months, Israeli authorities and forces have inflicted a punishing campaign, including large-scale forced displacement, ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in Gaza. On a daily basis, our teams witness patterns consistent with genocide through deliberate actions by Israeli forces – including mass killings, the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure, and blockades choking off access to food, water, medicines, and other essential humanitarian supplies. Israel is systematically destroying the conditions necessary for Palestinian life. Gaza’s homes, hospitals, markets, water networks, roads, and power grids have been demolished, not by disregard but by design.

Children hold their empty pots at a community kitchen in northern Gaza, Palestine, February 2025.
Nour Alsaqqa/MSF

The European Union (EU) and European governments have the political, economic, and diplomatic means to exert real pressure on Israel to stop this assault and open Gaza’s border crossings to unhindered humanitarian aid. These are not theoretical instruments. They can be effectively mobilised in defence of international law and to protect civilians.

However, up to this point, the EU and its member states appear to have abdicated their political leadership to do so. Worse, recent statements European States have made, critical of how the war is being waged, highlights their hypocrisy as they continue to supply the weapons being used to kill, maim, and burn people who end up in our hospitals.

“The war in Gaza is one of the most egregious, deadly and ruthless wars waged on a people of our time,” says Christopher Lockyear, MSF Secretary General. “It is an orchestrated massacre of Palestinian people. It is purposeful ethnic cleansing.”

“Stopping this requires political courage, legal responsibility, and moral commitment,” says Lockyear. “The scale of suffering in Gaza demands more than empty rhetoric.”

Aid has been weaponised, used as leverage, conditioned, or blocked entirely. Since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation launched its activities on 27 May, as part of the US-Israeli scheme to instrumentalise aid, hundreds of Palestinians have been treated in hospitals, and scores have been killed, after being shot at these aid distribution sites while waiting to receive the basic necessities for survival.

“The imposed system of aid delivery is not only a failure, but it is dehumanising and dangerous,” says Lockyear. “It exposes thousands of Palestinians to unnecessary risks, leading to bloodshed that can be avoided if humanitarian organisations are allowed to provide aid impartially and safely, at the necessary scale that is so desperately need in Gaza.”

Today, Nasser hospital, southern Gaza’s main referral hospital for thousands of patients in the area, is barely able to continue working, due to repeated evacuation orders and movement restrictions on staff and patients. In recent weeks, MSF teams admitted over 500 patients requiring medical care to the hospital, while supporting the hospital’s medical staff to respond to repeated mass casualty influxes from constant bombings and attacks.

“Humanitarian organisations have set up makeshift hospitals to fill the gap, but they can in no way replace regular hospitals,” says Lockyear. “The remaining hospitals must be protected, and the entry of aid facilitated. Failure to do so will cost yet more lives.”

MSF, like many organisations, has repeatedly called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, unfettered humanitarian access, and respect for international humanitarian law – including the protection of medical staff and facilities.

Several governments continue to express concerns about the horrific situation in Gaza, but their statements that invoke concern with adherence to IHL are shrouded in hypocrisy as they continue to send the arms that kill and maim the children we treat.

“What people are experiencing in Gaza is beyond unbearable: it must stop now,” says Lockyear. “As this military onslaught against a besieged people rages on, the hypocrisy of EU states who speak but don’t act, is more obvious by the day.”

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MIL OSI NGO –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – KOF Economic Forecast, summer 2025: Swiss economy hit by international trade conflict

Source: KOF Economic Institute

The United States’ erratic trade policy has caused even more economic uncertainty in the sec-ond quarter of 2025. Tariffs are also weighing on the economic outlook.

Data revisions last year mean that KOF is sticking to its forecast of real, sport-adjusted GDP growth of 1.4 per cent for 2025 (1.0 per cent unadjusted) despite a deterioration in its assessment. Its GDP growth forecast for 2026, however, has been lowered by 0.4 percentage points to 1.5 per cent (1.9 per cent unadjusted).

The international trade conflict is more pronounced than was expected in the spring and is triggering a more marked deterioration in economic projections.

The latest KOF forecast is based on the assumption that the tariffs on exports to the United States in force at the beginning of June and the corresponding countermeasures will remain in place throughout the entire forecast period. This equates to a flat-rate 10 per cent tariff on most imports to the US with the exception of pharmaceutical products for the most part.

Companies fast-track exports to the US; countervailing trend likely to follow

The great uncertainty about the future of the United States’ trade policy and the announcement of tariff increases imposed on countries around the world have prompted firms to bring forward their production and exports of goods to the United States as much as possible. This yielded stellar growth in global trade in the first quarter and strong GDP growth in exportled countries such as Germany. In contrast, the disproportionately high growth in imports in the United States resulted in a negative quarter. Short-term demand for foreign goods displaced that for domestic goods and thus had an adverse impact on output in the US. Countervailing tr

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Awards Top 15 Youth-Led Health Innovations Under Bingwa PLUS Programme

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Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced 15 youth-led innovations as winners of the Bingwa PLUS Y-Health Incubator Pitch Competition, marking a significant milestone in empowering Africa’s next generation of public health leaders.

The competition, held in Abuja, Nigeria, from May 27 -30, 2025 showcased innovative health solutions developed by young African changemakers aged 18–35.

The 15 winning projects were selected from 30 finalists, who emerged from an initial pool of 50 pre-screened candidates. The finalists underwent a rigorous six-week self-paced training programme focused on health leadership, project design, communication, resource mobilisation, and monitoring and evaluation.

The Bingwa PLUS programme is an extension of the African Union Bingwa Initiative launched in 2022, designed to equip youth with the tools and resources to co-create scalable and sustainable health interventions. Supported by GIZAfrican Union and YouthHub Africa, the initiative reflects Africa CDC’s strategic focus on youth empowerment and innovation in public health.

During the two-day pitching event, the 30 finalists presented their solutions before a distinguished panel of judges comprising health experts, development partners, and industry leaders. The selected winners will each receive grants ranging from EUR 1,500 to EUR 3,000, alongside tailored mentorship from leading public health and innovation professionals to support implementation over the coming months.

“This event exemplifies the power of youth-led innovation in transforming health landscapes across Africa,” said Dr. Chrys Promesse Kaniki, Africa CDC Senior Technical Officer for Strategic Programmes and Youth Programmes Lead. “By investing in young leaders and their ideas, we are fostering a new generation of health innovators equipped to tackle Africa’s most urgent health challenges.”

The winning projects will now enter an intensive implementation phase, with ongoing mentorship and support to scale their impact across communities. Africa CDC and its partners will continue to track progress, document success stories, and promote these solutions through advocacy and technical collaboration.

To view the full list of winners, click here: Africa CDC Awards Top 15 Youth-Led Health Innovations Under Bingwa PLUS Programme

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

MIL OSI Africa –

June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Social Engineering 2.0: When artificial intelligence becomes the ultimate manipulator
Once the domain of elite spies and con artists, social engineering is now in the hands of anyone with an internet connection – and AI is the accomplice. Supercharged by generative tools and deepfake technology, today’s social engineering attacks are no longer sloppy phishing attempts. They’re targeted, psychologically precise, and frighteningly scalable.

Welcome to Social Engineering 2.0, where the manipulators don’t need to know you personally. Their AI already does.

Deception at machine levels

Social engineering works because it bypasses firewalls and technical defences. It attacks human trust. From fake bank alerts to long-lost Nigerian princes, these scams have traditionally relied on generic hooks and low-effort deceit. But that’s changed, and continues to.

“AI is augmenting and automating the way social engineering is carried out,” says Anna Collard, SVP of Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa. “Traditional phishing markers like spelling errors or bad grammar are a thing of the past. AI can mimic writing styles, generate emotionally resonant messages, and even recreate voices or faces (https://apo-opa.co/409nwPV) – all within minutes.”

The result? Cybercriminals now wield the capabilities of psychological profilers. By scraping publicly available data – from social media to company bios – AI can construct detailed personal dossiers. “Instead of one-size-fits-all lures, AI enables criminals to create bespoke attacks,” Collard explains. “It’s like giving every scammer access to their own digital intelligence agency.”

The new face of manipulation: Deepfakes

One of the most chilling evolutions of AI-powered deception is the rise of deepfakes – synthetic video and audio designed to impersonate real people. “There are documented cases where AI-generated voices have been used to impersonate CEOs and trick staff into wiring millions (https://apo-opa.co/4e4JBVv),” notes Collard.

In South Africa, a recent deepfake video circulating on WhatsApp featured a convincingly faked endorsement by FSCA Commissioner Unathi Kamlana promoting a fraudulent trading platform. Nedbank had to publicly distance itself from the scam (https://apo-opa.co/4e4JCJ3).

“We’ve seen deepfakes used in romance scams, political manipulation, even extortion,” says Collard. One emerging tactic involves simulating a child’s voice to convince a parent they’ve been kidnapped (https://apo-opa.co/3HY5WrR) – complete with background noise, sobs, and a fake abductor demanding money.

“It’s not just deception anymore,” Collard warns. “It’s psychological manipulation at scale.”

The Scattered Spider effect

One cybercrime group exemplifying this threat is Scattered Spider. Known for its fluency in English and deep understanding of Western corporate culture, this group specialises in highly convincing social engineering campaigns. “What makes them so effective,” notes Collard, “is their ability to sound legitimate, form quick rapport, and exploit internal processes – often tricking IT staff or help-desk agents.” Their human-centric approach, amplified by AI tools, such as using audio deepfakes to spoof victims’ voices for obtaining initial access, shows how the combination of cultural familiarity, psychological insight, and automation is redefining what cyber threats look like. It’s not just about technical access – it’s about trust, timing, and manipulation.

Social engineering at scale

What once required skilled con artists days or weeks of interaction – establishing trust, crafting believable pretexts, and subtly nudging behaviour – can now be done by AI in the blink of an eye. “AI has industrialised the tactics of social engineering,” says Collard. “It can perform psychological profiling, identify emotional triggers, and deliver personalised manipulation with unprecedented speed.”

The classic stages – reconnaissance, pretexting, rapport-building – are now automated, scalable, and tireless. Unlike human attackers, AI doesn’t get sloppy or fatigued; it learns, adapts, and improves with every interaction.

The biggest shift? “No one has to be a high-value target anymore,” Collard explains. “A receptionist, an HR intern, or a help-desk agent; all may hold the keys to the kingdom. It’s not about who you are – it’s about what access you have.”

Building cognitive resilience

In this new terrain, technical solutions alone won’t cut it. “Awareness has to go beyond ‘don’t click the link,’” says Collard. She advocates for building ‘digital mindfulness’ and ‘cognitive resilience’ – the ability to pause, interrogate context, and resist emotional triggers (https://apo-opa.co/3FF6Zwn).

This means:
- Training staff to recognise emotional manipulation, not just suspicious URLs.
- Running simulations using AI-generated lures, not outdated phishing templates.
- Rehearsing calm, deliberate decision-making under pressure, to counter panic-based manipulation.
Collard recommends unconventional tactics, too. “Ask HR interviewees to place their hand in front of their face during video calls – it can help spot deepfakes in hiring scams,” she says. Families and teams should also consider pre-agreed code words or secrets for emergency communications, in case AI-generated voices impersonate loved ones.

Defence in depth – human and machine

While attackers now have AI tools, so too do defenders. Behavioural analytics, real-time content scanning, and anomaly detection systems are evolving rapidly. But Collard warns: “Technology will never replace critical thinking. The organisations that win will be the ones combining human insight with machine precision.”

And with AI lures growing more persuasive, the question is no longer whether you’ll be targeted – but whether you’ll be prepared. “This is a race,” Collard concludes. “But I remain hopeful. If we invest in education, in critical thinking and digital mindfulness, in the discipline of questioning what we see and hear – we’ll have a fighting chance.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KnowBe4.

MIL OSI Africa –
June 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1 billion backed renewal of broken bridges, ruined roads and tired tunnels and new Thames Crossing cash
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

£1 billion backed renewal of broken bridges, ruined roads and tired tunnels and new Thames Crossing cash

Chancellor spends £1 billion to enhance and repair run down transport infrastructure and futureproof England’s road network.
Package also includes further £590 million to take forward the long-awaited Lower Thames Crossing, and follows record £15.6 billion investment in city region transport announced ahead of the Spending Review.

Funding will ensure vital upgrades are made to tired bridges, flyovers and tunnels across Britain, supporting highly skilled job opportunities, delivering on the Plan for Change.

Drivers across the UK will benefit from major investments to improve vital road structures, alongside committing cash to finally deliver a new Thames Crossing, working with the private sector.

Across Great Britain, approximately 3,000 bridges are currently unable to support the heaviest vehicles, restricting access for agricultural and freight transport in regions, and slowing down journeys.

And nationally, the number of bridge collapses has also risen – a stark reminder of the need for urgent action to turn the tide on the decade of neglect.

The Structures Fund will inject cash into repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn out tunnels across Britain, and ensure other transport infrastructure is both more resilient to extreme weather events and to the demands of modern transport – making everyday journeys safer, smoother and more dependable.

The government is also pledging a further £590 million to take forward the Lower Thames Crossing, the most significant road building project in a generation and a national priority- ending the painfully slow approach seen before.

The new crossing will cut frustrating congestion at Dartford, better linking up motorists and businesses in the Midlands and North with key ports in the South East, and spreading growth throughout the regions as outlined in the Plan for Change. The government will look to bring in private finance and expertise to support this major project.

These investments come as part of the new 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, which will be published later this week, and sets out clear, achievable and robust vision for projects over the next decade of renewal.

This also comes swiftly after a record £15.6 billion was announced at the Spending Review to enable local leaders to build long awaited projects like the Tyne and Wear Metro extension and the West Yorkshire Metro, and more investment to fund the TransPennine Route Upgrade and deliver East-West Rail.

The government is also delivering direct funding to support growth across the UK – with funding for five new rail stations in South Wales, and financial backing for carbon capture storage in Aberdeenshire.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

When it comes to investing in Britain’s renewal, we’re going all in by going up against the painful disruption of closed bridges, crossings and flyovers, and ensure they’re fit to serve working people for decades to come.

Today’s investment also goes even further and faster to spread growth by providing critical funding to take forward the Lower Thames Crossing – not just boosting connectivity in the South East, but ensuring a smoother, less congested passage of vital goods from Europe to our regions.

This is a turning point for our national infrastructure, and we’re backing it with funding to support thousands of jobs and connect communities, delivering on our Plan for Change.

Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:

We’re finally getting on with the Lower Thames Crossing — a crucial project to drive economic growth, that has been stuck in planning limbo for far too long.

This project is essential for improving the resilience of a key freight route and is critical to our long term trade with Europe. It will speed up the movement of goods from South East England to the Midlands and the North, crucial to thousands of jobs and businesses.

Our structures fund will make long-overdue investments to repair ageing structures across the country, speeding up journeys, restoring pride and delivering our Plan for Change to boost the economy and support regional growth.

Capital investment today will not only address these immediate risks over the next five years, but create skilled jobs in construction, engineering and maintenance, support vital regeneration in local areas by improving connectivity, and boost local economies by improving access to jobs, education and services.

We will set out more detail about how funding will be allocated shortly. This funding is additional to the funding local authorities will receive for highways maintenance, which will be set out in due course.

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Published 16 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 16, 2025